Forest Green
ACCESS: Above Top Secret
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As Russia braces for a long war, state orders to arm, fuel, feed and clothe the army are injecting vast sums of money into the economy.
This has led to a boom where many expected western sanctions to deal a painful blow: Russia’s economy is forecast to grow 3 per cent this year, far above the US and most European states.
The effect is most pronounced in rustbelt regions such as Anton’s Chuvashia in central Russia, which is home to 1.2mn people and where Soviet factories have been revived and are working around the clock to supply the war.
“Some of the most underperforming regions have suddenly started to grow. Manufacturing regions, areas where there is a lot of defence and related industry,” said political scientist Ekaterina Kurbangaleeva.
“The most under-developed regions and the low-income segments of the population are the ones that are winning,” Kurbangaleeva said. “That’s where the money is going.”
Understanding the experience of regions like Chuvashia is critical for forecasting Russia’s long-term ability to sustain its war of attrition against Ukraine, both economically and politically, analysts say.
And Taiwan it seems:It is time for Europe to panic
Under a Trump-Vance administration, there is a very real chance that the Continent will be standing alone against the Russian threatwww.telegraph.co.uk
The clash of hope and what reality will bring - wait and see.Germany hopes Ukraine will be able to meet the bulk of its military needs with the £38.4 billion in loans from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets agreed by the Group of Seven (G7), and that funds earmarked for armaments will not be fully used.
There's a difference between not supporting independence and not being willing to defend its full autonomy. There is literally nothing to gain from an independent Taiwan except a name plate in front of a seat at the UN. And in exchange for that nameplate you most likely get a war, which is a hell of a price to pay for a name plate. Even Taiwan doesn't want that:
In addition, a formal declaration of independence would be so unpopular with Taiwan's voters that it's hard to imagine any politician or party pursuing it. According to opinion polls, only 4.5 percent of Taiwan's public supports an imminent declaration of independence, while 88 percent support preserving the status quo, at least for now.
Poland will be the European superpower pretty soon.
UK has placed a couple of large ammunition contracts during the last week despite the defence review. A £6.5bn framework agreement with MBDA that allows them to order what they need from its catalogue over the next decade and a £176m contract with Thales to replenish LMM Martlet stocks (following a £69m contract earlier in the year for long lead items for Martlet).