Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
www.bbc.com/news/business-68823399
www.bbc.com/news/business-68823399
An influential global body has forecast Russia's economy will grow faster than all of the world's advanced economies, including the US, this year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Russia to grow 3.2% this year, significantly more than the UK, France and Germany.
"Some North Korean artillery appears to be unreliable and ineffective, though. As an example, many defense experts cite North Korea’s 2010 shelling of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island during a flareup in tensions."Working backwards, when NK shells have a high failure rate when they hit, after a high failure rate in flight, it is a good guess they have a high failure rate during firing in the breech or barrel."According to South Korean military estimates, the North fired about 170 shells using a 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, or MRL. Fewer than half of them hit the island; of those, about 25% failed to detonate."
It is funny to see the usual talk about growth rate. Sure let’s say build 1000000 cars and then blow them up, GDP looks great , just ask the Chinese
He is so funny
“(IMF) expects Russia to grow 3.2% this year”
...in ruble terms. But the ruble has declined in value.
Prices for many staple items rose 25% this year in Russia, and the benchmark interest rate is 21%, meaning consumers and businesses must pay more than that. The Russian Central Bank has raised expectations of another rate rise at their next meeting.
Only basket cases Argentina and Turkey see problems like that this year, but both of them have turned the corner on their inflation trend lines, while Russia’s is still worsening.
In 1944, Nazi Germany had the “fastest growing” GDP in Europe, as Hitler’s Government opened the floodgates of printing new money, to fund their war effort - just like Putin’s Government has been doing. Economically, that money is wasted (malinvested) on things that produce no return on investment.
Russia’s economy is accelerating toward a cliff, with pressure building toward a few different economic crises simultaneously - a liquidity crisis, a currency collapse, a housing market bubble burst, and hyperinflation.
Putin did that.
“Lately there have been a lot of rumors that problems with mortgages in Russia will seriously worsen, even to the point of their complete disappearance. As a result, purchasing housing will become unaffordable for most of the country’s residents.”
Then the prices collapse, and many more people with existing mortgages will be under water (owing more than the properties are worth). Lots of existing Russian mortgages are highly overleveraged, where making the monthly payment exceeds 80% of the income of the home owner. It is worse than the creditworthiness problem that led to our 2008 housing crash.
Putin used Chinese style Government subsidized mortgages, to pump up GDP numbers over the last couple of years (greatly inflating new home prices), but now is backing off, because the costs have skyrocketed with the interest rates.
“www.bbc.com/news/business-68823399
An influential global body has forecast Russia’s economy will grow faster than all of the world’s advanced economies, including the US, this year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Russia to grow 3.2% this year, significantly more than the UK, France and Germany.”
Jon Boy, that article is from April. You are 6 months behind the times.
The IMF has lowered their GDP forecast for RuZZia for 2025 to 1.3%. That will be lower than the US and most of Europe.
Sorry Jon Boy.
Try, Try, Again.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/imf-ranks-russia-as-world-s-fourth-largest-economy-by-purchasing-power/ar-AA1sUaD6#:~:text=Russia%20just%20clinched%20fourth%20place%20on%20the%20global,economic%20growth%2C%20moving%20ahead%20of%20several%20Western%20economies.
Russia just clinched fourth place on the global economic ladder, based on purchasing power parity (PPP), in new data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
This makes Russia one of the top contributors to global economic growth, moving ahead of several Western economies. PPP adjusts for price differences across countries, giving more weight to nations with large populations and lower costs of living.
With this ranking, Russia now joins China, the U.S., and India in the top four, adding muscle to the economic power of BRICS. In its latest forecasts, the IMF emphasized a future where emerging markets are the heavy lifters.
purchasing power parity (PPP) is bull crap.
Its used by low income countries to tell their citizens their low salaries are OK because their costs are low.
List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita )
Russia 43rd, ahead of China (74), Brazil (80), Egypt (87), S. Africa (106), India (122)
But if you look at an actual real world number (straight up GDP), instead of someone’s abstract opinion (PPP calculations vary based on how analysts choose to weight variables - in other words, they are highly subjective, and vary between analysts), Russia has now dropped out of the top ten, passed by Canada, and soon to be passed by Mexico.
In real dollars, rather than imaginary units.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 28, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly acknowledged Russia’s labor shortages on October 28, but highlighted Russia’s low unemployment rates in an attempt to reframe this challenge in a beneficial light and claim that the Russian economy is able to sustain a long war in Ukraine. Putin held a meeting with the Russian government about the economy on October 28 and highlighted Russian industrial growth and low unemployment rates.[11] Putin claimed that Russian industry has grown 4.5 percent in the first eight months of 2024 and that Russia’s manufacturing and mechanical engineering sectors grew by 8.15 percent and almost 20 percent, respectively. Putin claimed that Russian unemployment is at a record low for the third month in a row at 2.4 percent and particularly highlighted low unemployment rates among Russians under the age of 25. Putin noted, however, the Russia’s economy “slowed somewhat” in the third quarter of 2024 and that the Russian economy is facing “difficulties and imbalances,” such as international sanctions against Russia and Russian personnel, technology, and logistics shortages. Putin claimed that the 2025–2027 federal budget will focus on developing a supply-side economy, increasing the production of goods and services, launching new investment projects, and creating modern jobs in all sectors. The September 2024 draft bill of the 2025–2027 federal budget expected Russia to spend about 41 percent of its annual expenditures on national security and defense in 2025 — somewhat at odds with Putin’s claimed desire to focus on goods and services and new investments.[12] A Russian insider source claimed on October 28 that several major Russian political figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, CEO of Russian financial development institution DOM.RF Vitaly Mutko, CEO of Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec Sergei Chemezov, and Russian elites Oleg Deripaska and Alexei Mordashov, are expressing their discontent with the Russian Central Bank’s announcement to raise the key interest rate to 21 percent.[13] ISW recently assessed that Russia’s economy and war effort is coming under increasing strain, which will pose increasingly acute challenges to Putin’s ability to sustain the war over the long term.[14]
Georgian civil society, opposition, and international election observers continue to reject the results of the 2024 Georgian parliament elections amid a large-scale demonstration in Tbilisi on October 28. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili urged Georgian citizens to take to the streets of Tbilisi on October 28 to protest the election results that local Georgian and international election observation bodies have largely condemned for large-scale voting irregularities.[20] Zourabichvili, alongside various representatives from pro-Western opposition parties, addressed thousands of peaceful protesters and stated that they will continue to reject the reportedly fraudulent and Russian-influenced election results and urged Georgians to continue to collect evidence of voting irregularities.[21] Member of the opposition Unity-National Movement Party Giorgi Vashadze called for an international administration to hold snap elections without the participation of the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC).[22] Zourabichvili and the opposition stated that they will continue to challenge the election results and noted that they will clarify their next steps in the coming days. The Russian information space continued to express jubilation over the Georgian Dream victory while Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev called for the arrest of Zourabichvili for “calling for a coup.”[23] US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated on October 28 that the US will not rule out possible consequences to Georgian officials if the Georgian Dream party continued its anti-democratic trajectory, urging the party to conduct full investigations into allegations related to the results.[24] Twenty-eight European Union (EU) ministers issued a joint statement on October 28 expressing concern over voting irregularities and stated that the violations of electoral integrity are “incompatible” with EU candidate country standards, highlighting a potential further deterioration in Georgia’s EU membership prospects.[25]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-28-2024
Israeli Strikes Knocked Out All Of Iran’s S-300 Air Defense Systems: Officials
The apparent destruction of the last three Iranian S-300s would pave the way for expanded Israeli airstrikes.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/israeli-strikes-knocked-out-all-of-irans-s-300-air-defense-systems-officials
—
New Chinese Mystery Flattop Emerges
The vessel, which appears to have been built very quickly, has features in line with an amphibious assault ship or small carrier.
https://www.twz.com/sea/new-chinese-mystery-flattop-emerges
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
Reporting From Ukraine Uncensored Combat Footage (from this and past Reports) is found on Telegram:
https://t.me/RFUEnglish or @RFUEnglish
[ You need to have the Telegram app to view the larger videos. ]
The complete transcript.
—
[ Russians Try to Outflank Key Stronghold ]
—
Today [ Oct 29 ], there are a lot of updates from the Kurakhove direction.
Here, after capturing Vuhledar, Russian forces are ramping up a decisive push around Novoukrainka, aiming to outmaneuver Ukrainian defenses before the autumn rains create a muddy deadlock.
With mounting pressure on the villages of Shakhtarske and Bohoyavlenka to the west and east, the situation on the ground is shifting rapidly as Russian troops inch closer to their goals.
If we look at the topographic map, we can see that Novoukrainka is located on the same hill ridge as Vuhledar. Ukrainians have established significant defensive positions there, so any Russian attempt to storm the village directly would lead to significant losses, with little chance of securing even incremental gains.
With Russians racing against time to make more progress before the upcoming rain season turns the fields into mud, they opted for a different strategy: flanking Novoukrainka by advancing westward and eastward towards Shakhtarske and Bohoyavlenka.
Both villages are situated in the lowlands. In Shakhtarske, Russian troops will be advancing on level ground, while in Bohoyavlenka, they’ll be approaching from higher ground, enabling them to secure elevated fire control over the area, potentially simplifying their assault.
In Shakhtarske, Russian forces launched multiple waves of attacks from Zolota Nyva, varying in size and intensity. Geolocated combat footage from the first wave shows a large contingent of mechanized vehicles advancing rapidly along the main road into the village, utilizing nearby tree lines and smoke screens for cover against Ukrainian artillery and drone fire.
The Russians aimed to reach the village outskirts quickly, leveraging the short, paved route to establish a foothold before Ukrainian forces could mount an effective response. However, Ukrainian troops detected the assault early and were able to counter the advance.
Despite the heavy Russian deployment, which included dozens of armored vehicles, Ukrainian defenders managed to repel the attack, reportedly destroying around 20 pieces of Russian equipment, as confirmed in published footage. This early detection and swift response proved crucial in halting the initial Russian push toward Shakhtarske.
Learning from the initial probing attacks which fell short due to heavy losses and insufficient surviving forces to reach their objectives - Russian forces next deployed an even larger contingent to ensure enough units would make it to the outskirts of Shakhtarske. This wave included several “turtle” tanks alongside dozens of standard tanks and armored personnel carriers. In one video, a turtle tank is shown leading a column, equipped with anti-mine trawls and electronic warfare systems.
Despite that case, this vehicle being struck by an FPV drone shortly after and catching fire. But due to the sheer number of troops, the Russians managed to push forward and secure a foothold at the village outskirts.
At the same time, Russian forces launched an assault from a nearby coal mine toward Bohoyavlenka, aiming to intensify pressure on Ukrainian defenders in Novoukrainka if successful. Leveraging their advantageous position on higher ground, the Russians initially advanced around Bohoyavlenka, establishing fire control from the surrounding hills. This tactic enabled them to push gradually into the southern and western outskirts, sparking heavy clashes.
Under constant surveillance and artillery fire, the Ukrainian forces found holding their positions increasingly costly, prompting a fighting withdrawal to the northern part of the village. Soon after, geolocated footage emerged showing Russian soldiers raising their flags over a local kindergarten in the center, signaling that most of Bohoyavlenka had likely fallen under their control.
Overall, the Russians successfully capitalized on their momentum following the capture of Vuhledar, pushing their assaults forward, while Ukrainian forces struggled to reorganize their defensive lines in time to counter the renewed offensive.
Although the next Ukrainian stronghold, Novoukrainka, sits on elevated ground, Russian forces are gradually outflanking it, advancing into the lowlands and establishing footholds in the nearby villages of Shakhtarske and Bohoyavlenka.
This maneuver, despite Ukraine’s currently active supply routes and logistical support, places the defenders in Novoukrainka at risk of encirclement. With the first Russian frontal attacks on the village now underway and intense fighting ongoing, the coming days will reveal whether the Ukrainian forces can stabilize the frontline and put the Russian advances to a halt.
Kremlin snuff box, 10/29/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
The Kremlin is confident in Trump’s victory, but there is a problem with negotiations
The Presidential Administration is convinced that Donald Trump will be able to win a landslide victory in the US elections. It is worth recalling that Trump’s main opponent, Kamala Harris, did not plan to take part in the elections at all. She replaced the noticeably aged Joe Biden, as they say, “on the fly.” She probably won’t be able to win, they say in the Kremlin.
Trump’s victory [ https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/4166 ] creates the preconditions for future peace negotiations on the terms of completing the NWO. And here there is a nuance, our sources say.
“Trump promises a quick freeze ( of the conflict - Ed. ). But did anyone even ask whether we need it? There is a feeling that the peace conditions being discussed are unacceptable for Russia,” the AP’s interlocutor said. He refused to specify which points of the negotiation process may not suit Moscow.
At the same time, another interlocutor emphasized that any conversations about the future of the so-called Ukraine should take into account the interests of Russia. He also recalled that demilitarization and denazification were Moscow’s conditions at the beginning of the Northern Military District, “and we will not retreat from our goals.”
It is worth noting that this belligerent position of the Kremlin is to some extent alarming. There are also those among the elites who advocate a more restrained dialogue with Trump [ https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/4385 ].
“You first need to clearly listen to proposals, and not immediately cut from the shoulder,” said a source close to Anton Vaino. We wrote earlier that some in Moscow fear that if there is no progress in the settlement already under Trump, he may take sharp steps in the other direction, which will complicate the situation.
Rs up 38,000 ballots cast in Nevada. 4 days of early voting left.
Huge turn around from 2020.
Willie Brown’s mistress will have to rely on independents to win Nevada. And by a large margin. Possible, but seems unlikely.
There seems little enthusiasm for her.
My lay person opinion: Ds have a turnout problem.
Retired French General suggests @realDonaldTrump is a Russian agent.
"It's obvious. He is an agent, led and directed. For the last 4 years, he has been receiving instructions remotely."
The desperation is palpable. pic.twitter.com/JlpgcOfpw9— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) October 29, 2024
Ukraine has asked for Tomahawks...
good, good and good
“Ukraine plans to draft 160,000 more people”
Droning Chechnya
“A drone attacked Chechnya, hitting the Russian Special Forces University. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov reports that the strike hit the roof of an allegedly vacant building on the campus in Gudermes, sparking a fire.”
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1851178868851282104
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.