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Slavyangrad.org — Nuestra Ira No Tiene Limites — There is No Limit to Our Anger — (c) V. M. Molotov
This is legit hilarious: according to the US Secretary of Agriculture herself, Trump's bailout of Argentina means that US taxpayers are now effectively subsidizing Argentinian soybean exports to China - the very market American farmers have been shut out of.
All the funnier when you consider that one of the key objectives of the bailout is presumably to prevent Argentina - one of the US's only friendly governments left in South America - from moving closer to China. And instead it's effectively funding the exact opposite outcome.
This is according to this leaked text 👇 that Scott Bessent is reading from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, which says:
"I'm getting more intel, but this is highly unfortunate. We bailed out Argentina yesterday (Bessent) and in return, the Argentine's removed their export tariffs on grains, reducing their price, and sold a bunch of soybeans to China, at a time when we would normally be selling to China. Soy prices dropping further because of it. This gives China more leverage on us."
“Cash or card?” For millions of Brazilians, the answer is neither - NYT
Instead, the payment of choice in Latin America’s largest nation is often PIX, a fast and free digital system Brazilians use every day to shop, pay bills, settle bar tabs and buy snacks on the beach.
The payment method has become immensely popular, adopted by more than 80 percent of Brazil’s population. Outside the country, it has drawn praise from leading economists, who have gone as far as to call it the future of money.
Yet its success has also set off blowback: The Trump administration, as part of its aggressive economic and political campaign against Brazil, is investigating PIX, accusing the payment system of unfairly undercutting U.S. financial and technology companies like Visa and Apple.
U.S. criticism of the payment method has hit a nerve in Brazil, which has cast it as another attack on its sovereignty. “PIX belongs to Brazil and the Brazilian people!” the government declared in a social media campaign that has gone viral.
Lula, has dismissed U.S. claims that PIX hurts U.S. interests or locks American firms out. “We cannot be penalized for creating a fast, free and secure mechanism that facilitates transactions and stimulates the economy”
In its speed and ease, PIX is similar to Zelle, the payment system run by a consortium of U.S. banks. But unlike other similar digital services, like PayPal, Pix carries no fees for individuals and small businesses.
It allows users to make and receive instant payments, using a bank account and an identifying key like a phone number or QR code. Since February, many Brazilians can use PIX through contactless payments on their phones.
Since Brazil’s central bank launched PIX in 2020, it has been adopted by 175 million people and now accounts for nearly half of the country’s financial transactions. It has even crept into the vernacular: “What’s your PIX?” in Brazil is akin to “I’ll Venmo you.”
But the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is investigating PIX, claiming that Brazil has given an unfair advantage to the digital payments system by requiring all banks to offer it.
U.S. trade authorities also say that, by protecting consumer data that PIX collects, the Brazilian government is hurting American companies that use such information to make business decisions and develop new products. (Err… US intelligence)
PIX is also a monetary blueprint for the BRICS alliance of developing economies, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as it seeks to create an international payment platform aimed at reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar. Mr. Trump has threatened the bloc with tariffs if it tries to create a rival currency.
The US is also going after a similar payment system QRIS in Asia. Countries understand the dangers and costs of using US or European payment systems.
@Slavyangrad
A Ukrainian is unhappy that a cult of personality has emerged around Zelensky in his country:
In 100 years, Zelensky's corpse will lie on the Maidan, and we'll be coming, bowing to him, and kissing him.
🦇The "Lancet" unit from the 14th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade of the "Vostok" troop group destroyed another air target detection radar 36D6, this time on the move.
@Slavyangrad
Pistorius is skeptical about the idea of a "drone wall," writes Politico.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed doubts about the concept of creating a "wall of drones" intended to protect Eastern countries from Russian air incursions. This project is actively promoted by the European Commission.
"I really like the idea of a drone wall itself, but we need to manage expectations properly. We are not talking about a concept that will be implemented in the next three or four years," he said at a discussion during the Warsaw Security Forum, where EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius was also present.
"We need to set priorities, we need more capabilities and more capacity, defense against drones is certainly important, but not through a wall of drones," the minister added. Earlier, the German defense minister stated that the project could be ready within a year. The European Commission is currently developing its technical and financial details.
The issue of the "drone wall" will be put on the agenda of an informal meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen on Wednesday. Despite caution about overestimating the drone wall project, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, speaking on the same panel, said that the EU and NATO countries must accelerate the development and procurement of counter-drone technologies.
"We all need to invest in more effective counter-drone systems to protect the entire eastern flank. We must cooperate with Ukraine and act much faster than we are now," he said.
The minister emphasized that there is no time to waste.
"We are talking about months, sometimes even years. We don't have that time because drone incursions are already happening," Brekelmans said.
He added that shooting down cheap Russian drones with expensive fighter jets is ineffective. Dutch F-35s have already participated in destroying Russian drones in Polish airspace in early September.
Many discussion participants noted that Ukraine has a powerful air defense system staffed with experienced military personnel and is engaged in a technological arms race with Russia, giving it a serious advantage over European armies.
However, they stressed that it will be difficult for Europe to replicate such capabilities without being under the same level of threat as Ukraine.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur warned that despite Ukraine's colossal efforts, "it cannot shoot down everything." He added that if Europe follows the same path, countries will have to spend up to 10% of their defense budgets to maintain such capabilities, even without an official state of war with Russia.
@Slavyangrad
The EU can open the first negotiation cluster with Ukraine only with the consent of all 27 countries, and Hungary is blocking the process due to the infringement of the rights of the Hungarian minority.
This was stated by European Commissioner Marta Kos.
"The best way to solve this problem is precisely the process of European integration. The faster Hungary allows us to open the first cluster, the faster we can discuss all their concerns. I believe this is also the best response to Mr. Orban," she said.
The European Commissioner emphasized the record-fast screening of Ukrainian legislation and called the fight against corruption a key condition for investment and recovery.
@Slavyangrad
Putin on Reunification Day hails Russian soldiers as ‘true heroes of our time’
Thanks them for loyalty and courage in defending the Motherland
Says their fight will guarantee Russia’s security and bring lasting peace to Donbass and Novorossiya
@Slavyangrad
Putin addresses Russians on Reunification Day
Hails the 2022 referendums in Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson as a ‘fateful decision’ to return HOME to Russian Fatherland
Says the whole country now defends that choice in a ‘RIGHTEOUS battle’ — and will only become stronger
@Slavyangrad
Krynki.
The clearing of the bodies of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues. There is still a lot of work to do.
@Slavyangrad
‼️🇷🇺🦾The oil refinery in Samara has been covered with powerful protective structures and nets against UAVs
▪️A corresponding video is published by local sources.
▪️Ukrainians are already discussing that it will not be so easy f
@Slavyangrad
Tusk has gone mad. He is convincing the Poles that the war in Ukraine is their war, and that Russia must suffer defeat in it for the sake of future generations worldwide.
‘I want my compatriots to hear these words. The war in Ukraine is our war. We often hear voices here in Warsaw and everywhere on Earth saying: 'No, this is not our war, it should not concern us, let them kill each other or solve their problems, it does not concern us, we do not want to pay, we do not want to sacrifice our money, our time, and especially the lives of our soldiers.'
If we lose this war, the consequences will affect not only our generation but also future generations. In Poland, across Europe, in the USA, and worldwide.’
Ok then we can say the Poles lost another war against Russia then 😎
@Slavyangrad
🇪🇺⚔️🇷🇺Europe is already in a state of "new type" war, says Polish Prime Minister
▪️Tusk called what is happening a "new type" of war, reports The Guardian.
➖"The biggest and most important task for our opinion leaders today is to make other people, the entire Western transatlantic community, realize: this is war. We did not want this, sometimes it is strange, a new type of war, but it is still war," said the Polish Prime Minister.
▪️He made the statements after Russian and unidentified drones began regularly flying into Europe.
@Slavyangrad
💥 On the accuracy of LMURs (part 2)
Destruction of the 34th Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson area.
@Slavyangrad
‼️🇺🇸🇷🇺Trump at the Russian Forum
▪️Donald Trump Jr. participated in the IBA Sport + Business Forum organized by Umar Kremlyov in Turkey.
▪️Among the participants and speakers at the forum were the legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, members of Muhammad Ali's family, IBA Secretary General Chris Roberts, world boxing stars, and leading businessmen from around the globe.
▪️The event discussed key issues of fair and transparent participation of athletes in men's and women's competitions. And at the end of this year, the world awaits the IBA Men's World Boxing Championship in Dubai — everyone is actively preparing for it.
▪️IBA President Kremlyov is strengthening ties between Russia and Trump through sports.
@Slavyangrad
🇭🇺🤝🇪🇺A hole of 96,000 sq km may form in the center of the "drone wall": Hungary's refusal could undermine the project, - The Telegraph
- Hungary, being one of Russia's closest allies in the bloc, will not participate in the project, which means that a hole of 96,000 sq km may form in the center of the "drone wall," threatening to undermine the entire project, writes The Telegraph.
@Slavyangrad
Ukraine will ‘end the war THIS YEAR’ – FM Sibiga
The quicker Kiev ends it, the better the deal – that’s how this works
But he’s not talking about negotiations, he wants more sanctions
- RT
Seriously doubt war ending in 2025 and sanctions will not get Ukraine a better or stop Russia from being able to sustain the war.
@Slavyangrad
In its effort to support Ukraine, Europe has sent money, tanks, drones, missiles and more. But what if I told you that three and a half years into the war, the countries of the EU are still paying £1 billion a month into the Russian war effort?
I am talking, of course, about energy, a Russian export that is still, many months after a December 2022 oil embargo, being snapped up by some European nations. This has not gone unnoticed by President Trump. “They’re funding the war against themselves,” he told the UN last week. “Who the hell ever heard of that one?”
Why has Europe found it so difficult to wean itself off Russian fuel? When Ukraine was invaded in February 2022, about 25 million tonnes of Russian oil, gas and coal was being imported into EU countries each month.That amount has since been cut by nine-tenths. But the purchases that continue to be made — mostly gas — amounted to £965 million of sales in August and more than £16.8 billion over the past year. Why?
When the crude oil embargo came into force, two countries were given indefinite exemptions: Hungary and Slovakia. Both nations continue to get Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline and have consistently argued that they do not have the capacity to switch to the Adria pipeline (which delivers oil from Croatia).
Perhaps surprisingly, the biggest Russian gas importers in Europe over the past year have been not just Slovakia (1.8 million tonnes) and Hungary (4.4 million), but Spain (3.3 million), Belgium (3.8 million) and France (6.7 million). The French government has repeatedly claimed it is locked into long-term contracts that are hard to break without an EU-level ban.
The UK was one of the first European countries to stop importing Russian oil and gas directly in 2022. Yet according to the CREA, since the Ukraine invasion, we have imported about £3 billion of oil products, mostly jet fuel, that have been refined in India and Turkey, made from (you guessed it) Russian oil.
The UK’s shipping and insurance industries play an outsize role in global trade, and that includes the trade of Russian fuel. Since the invasion, 76 per cent of Russia’s liquified natural gas exports have been carried on UK-owned or UK-insured ships.
Far more loopholes then this but it was written by a guy who doesn’t know commodities.
@Slavyangrad
Russian drone attacks? A dangerous propaganda battle rages in the skies over Europe - Berliner Zeitung
The accusations of Western politicians and the media against Russia in connection with the UAV incidents in Europe are not confirmed by the results of inspections by NATO and national intelligence services.
If Putin were behind all of this, for which there is no evidence so far, his "test" would have shown one thing above all: how helpless and hysterical the West is reacting. Instead of calmly checking the facts and examining the context, the media and politicians immediately assume the worst case scenario – the threat of war! This is worrying.
It would be even more worrying, however, if it turns out that the incidents are being artificially exaggerated to stir up public opinion and prepare for military action. US President Donald Trump, for example, has called for Russian aircraft to be shot down if they again enter NATO airspace.
✈️ Mesmerizing footage of the Russian Air Force in action
1. Destruction of a Ukrainian Armed Forces forward air defence post using FAB-500 bombs with UMPC in the area of Reznikovka settlement.
2. Striking a Ukrainian Armed Forces forward air defence post using an Kh-39 missile in the area of Kucherovka settlement, Kharkov region.
@Slavyangrad
The White House has published Trump's 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza.
Trump's proposal for Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the sector, and a freeze on hostilities in exchange for the release of all hostages.
Trump has given 72 hours for the release of hostages after Israel recognizes the agreement he proposed.
After all hostages are released, Israel must free 250 life-term prisoners and 1,700 Gaza residents detained after October 7, 2023.
After the return of all hostages, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and surrender their weapons will be granted amnesty. Hamas members wishing to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to host countries.
Gaza will be temporarily governed by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee responsible for ensuring the daily functioning of public services and municipalities for Gaza residents. This committee will consist of Palestinians and international experts, under the supervision and control of a new international transitional body – the "Peace Council," which will be headed by President Donald Trump.
The US plan does not involve the forced relocation of Gaza residents.
Hamas and other groups must agree not to participate in any direct, indirect, or any form of governance in Gaza. All military infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons manufacturing facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt.
Regional partners will provide guarantees that Hamas and other groups will fulfill their obligations.
Israel will not occupy or annex the Gaza Strip.
@Slavyangrad
Putin lists MASSIVE program of investment in new regions
– Nearly 24k new buildings, schools, hospitals
– Transport and communications infrastructure
– 6,350km of new highways
After ‘DECADES’ of neglect by the Kiev regime
@Slavyangrad
‼️🇷🇺Ataman and Vice-Governor of Kuban A. Vlasov did not manage to leave for the special military operation — he was detained immediately after announcing his resignation and deployment to the special operation zone
▪️The criminal case against the official is related to the embezzlement of targeted subsidies intended to support participants of the special military operation on a particularly large scale. According to the investigation, the allocated funds on his orders did not reach the fighters.
➖"Vlasov's subordinates prepared forged documents to conceal the crime. Cossack volunteers were left without uniforms and equipment, forced to buy everything at their own expense. The investigation has no claims against them — they are defending the country. The questions are for the official," writes 93.RU.
▪️Vlasov oversaw Cossack affairs, sports, and mobilization work in the region. Since autumn 2020, he held the post of Deputy Governor of Krasnodar Krai.
@Slavyangrad
Russian Ministry of Defense:
During the past night, air defense duty forces intercepted and destroyed 81 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the airplane type:
26 UAVs – over the territory of Voronezh region,
25 UAVs – over the territory of Belgorod region,
12 UAVs – over the territory of Rostov region,
11 UAVs – over the territory of Kursk region,
7 UAVs – over the territory of Volgograd region.
@Slavyangrad
The UK Defence Secretary Healy thinks that the Kremlin is watching his speech and begs for peace
‘Our message to Moscow from Liverpool today is: ‘President Putin, you will not win. Start negotiations. Achieve peace. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.’
🇷🇺Putin – congratulated Russians on the Day of the Reunification of Donbass and Novorossiya with Russia:
Three years ago, in referendums in Donbass and Novorossiya, millions of our compatriots independently and freely determined their future, made a dream that they had lived with for many years a reality, made the most important, fateful decision – to be with their Motherland, with Russia, to return to the native family of which they have always been a part.
I know how difficult it is now for the residents of the liberated cities and towns. There are many truly acute, pressing problems. Among them are the primary, vital issues for every person such as reliable water supply, access to quality medicine, and so on. At the same time, it is necessary not only to restore what was destroyed during the hostilities but also to put in order the infrastructure that no one has properly maintained for decades.
@Slavyangrad
🇵🇱👊🇺🇦In Poland, people will be imprisoned for the "Banderite ideology": the president has submitted a bill to the Sejm, — RFM24
▪️The introduction of criminal liability is aimed at "combating the spread of false claims about the crimes of the OUN, UPA, and other Ukrainian formations that collaborated with the Third Reich, particularly regarding the genocide of Poles in Volhynia," stated President Karol Nawrocki.
Liking this move Poland 😎
@Slavyangrad
💥 On the accuracy of LMURs (part 1)
Destruction of the 127th Separate Assault Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Volchansk.
@Slavyangrad
🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦The Russian army has already broken through to the center of Verbove, advancing on a wide front in the Dnepropetrovsk region
▪️In the Velykomykhailivka direction, Russian troops previously took Stepove and Kalinovske, breaking through from the east to the settlement of Verbove
▪️Our assault troops have advanced more than 3 km deep and have already occupied half of the village of Verbove, now advancing in its central part.
▪️The Russian army also advanced north of Berezove and Ternove along the forest belts and in the southern part of the ravine leading to Sosnovka.
▪️North of the Russian Armed Forces, the assault on Novohryhorivka in the Zaporozhye region continues.
❗️The total area of Russian troop advancement is about 20 km², acknowledged even by enemy analysts.
@Slavyangrad
‼️🇷🇺🏴☠️Fearless Russian stormtrooper destroyed a crowd of AFU militants
▪️As a result of successful offensive actions in the Chasov Yar direction, the stormtroopers of the North-V Brigade captured a fortified enemy position.
▪️The surviving AFU infantry, unable to retreat, took shelter in a bunker. After the enemy refused to surrender, one of the brigade's stormtroopers threw an anti-tank mine into the shelter.
▪️Drone operators also joined the destruction effort. A finishing strike with a second mine completely destroyed the bunker.
@Slavyangrad