Boris Johnson resigns as Conservative party leader, plans to leave PM role this autumn

"Despite desperate attempts to cling onto power, U.K. Prime Minister Johnson was forced to resign after a record 59 government aids and cabinet ministers resigned following the sexual impropriety scandal involving the PM’s former deputy chief whip Christopher Pincher, whom Johnson had promoted to the role despite previously being informed of sex pest allegations made against the then-Tory MP." Breitbart

Russia To Hit Gazprom With $20 Billion Windfall Tax

"Russia’s lower house of parliament approved on Tuesday amendments in the country’s tax
code that would slap a windfall tax on Gazprom of the equivalent of $20 billion between September and November, which will boost Russia’s tax revenue income.   

 Russia is said to be earning more than $100 million every day from the gas it sells to Europe despite the slashed deliveries to major EU consumers in recent weeks, according to data from Independent Commodity Intelligence Services.

Despite the EU embargo on Russian seaborne oil, to take effect by the end of the year, and the drastically reduced pipeline gas supply, Russia continues to benefit from the high oil and gas prices. Despite Western sanctions designed to hurt Russia’s oil revenues and war chest, Moscow is still getting a lot of additional billions of U.S. dollars in oil and gas revenues." ZeroHedge

No decisions made on Kazakhstan joining sanctions on Russia

"There have been no decisions on Kazakhstan joining sanctions against Russia, Kremlin
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

According to him, the two countries maintain regular contact both at the highest level and at the level of governments. "So no such decisions have been made. On the contrary, there have been statements about determination to continue boosting our interaction, jointly respond to challenges coming from overseas and reduce the consequences of these unfriendly actions. This is what we are guided by," the Russian presidential spokesman noted, when speaking about relations between Moscow and Nur-Sultan.

Peskov added that Kazakhstan "undoubtedly" remained a friendly country for Russia." Tass

Covid in China: A city of 13 million forced to shut down again to avoid 'explosion' of cases

"Some parts of the ancient Chinese city of Xi’an was shut down again to avoid an explosion of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, owing to the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant. The officials said that businesses, schools and restaurants in Xi’an, which is home to 13 million people, will close for one week." WION

Biden Ships U.S. Oil Reserves to Foreign Countries

"Biden is shipping much-needed American oil to foreign countries, including… China.

The whole idea of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which is owned by the U.S. government, specifically the U.S. Department of Energy, is to hold on to about 700 million barrels of oil in the event of an emergency or disruption." Breitbart

Norway-Russia Tensions Escalate Over Sanctions Impacting Arctic Islands

"The latest point of confrontation between NATO and Russia is the Svalbard archipelago,
located midway between Norway and the North Pole. Moscow claims Oslo is restricting trade with the island's hundreds of Russian residents.

A top member of the Russian legislature is now calling for Moscow to leave its agreement with Oslo that resolved the territorial dispute over the far-northern archipelago." ZeroHedge

At least 2 killed in Russian shelling of Sloviansk

"At least two people have been killed and seven more wounded as Russian forces pounded the
eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, local authorities have said, as Moscow ramps up its assault on the Donbas region." AlJazeera

Saudis Unwilling To Upset Putin As Biden Begs For More Crude

"The world’s largest crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, continues to keep close ties with Russia
while the top oil consumer, the United States, pleads with major producers—including the Kingdom—to boost supply to the market and help ease consumers’ pain at the pump.  While the U.S. and its Western allies are sanctioning Moscow and banning oil imports from Russia, U.S. President Joe Biden is also turning to Saudi Arabia to ask it to pump more oil as Americans pay on average $5 a gallon for gasoline.  

Saudi Arabia has publicly reiterated its “warm” ties with Russia on several occasions since Putin invaded Ukraine, and considers keeping Russia in the OPEC+ alliance an important part of its oil policy." ZeroHedge

Russia warns Finland against NATO border base

"If Lappeenranta hosts a military base, it would make itself a target if a conflict ever erupted,
the State Duma speaker said..... “Hosting NATO bases would not protect either Finland or Sweden. To the contrary, it would expose to an attack the residents of the cities that host military infrastructure,” Volodin wrote on social media." RT

Russia, Venezuela to Expand Oil Sector Cooperation, Working on Pact to Circumvent Western Sanctions

"Moscow and Caracas will continue to expand their cooperation in the oil sector, and are
working on new agreements to circumvent Western sanctions in finance and logistics, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria has indicated." Sputnik

US Funding Software For Russians To Access Banned Websites

"The US is funding technology to allow Russian citizens to get past Russian government censors in efforts to circumvent an information crackdown related to the war in Ukraine.

The US-backed Open Technology Fund is paying out cash to a number of American companies who provide virtual private networks (VPNs). These are now seeking to allow Russians access free of charge, which aids in both accessing blocked websites and preventing Kremlin authorities from tracking IP addresses, thus better protecting online identity." ZH

Russia accuses Kyiv of firing missiles at border city of Belgorod

"Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov says at least 11 apartment buildings and 39 houses
were damaged, including five destroyed." AlJazeera

Shoigu Briefs Putin on Liberation of Lugansk People's Republic

"The news comes amid reports of Russian troops entering Lisichansk – the last major city in the Lugansk People's Republic under Ukrainian forces' control.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has briefed President Vladimir Putin on the complete liberation of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), which Moscow recognized earlier this year, from Ukrainian forces." Sputnik

Russia Now Demands Rubles For Grain As World's Largest Wheat Exporter

"Russia has pulled the trigger on expanding the list of commodities for which it demands

payment in rubles to now include grain exports, effective Friday per a government legal website.

So now grain, sunflower oil and extracted meal are the next to follow the March decision to charge clients from "unfriendly" countries - including major customers in Europe - in rubles for natural gas instead of the normative dollars and euros.

On top of this move, recently Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev announced that Russia's agricultural products will go to "friendly countries" only, and according to "who needs it most" - a hugely significant statement sure to continue sowing uncertainty and chaos for the global food supply." ZH

 

Ukraine separatists encircle Lysychansk

"Ukrainian separatists backed by Russia say they have “completely” encircled the key city of Lysychansk in the eastern Luhansk region." AlJazeera