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Russian billionaires lose $3.1 billion after Kremlin's tax hike proposal
Russian billionaires lost more then $3 billion in one day after President Putin’s economic assistant proposed to raise the taxes on the leading companies in Russia’s mining and metallurgy sector, finanz.ru reports.
In a letter addressed to Putin, presidential aide Andrey Belousov named 14 companies from which the budget could collect an additional 500 billion rubles ($7.53 billion USD) to implement Putin's May decree.
Emphasizing the “need to share”, Belousov pointed out that oil companies …
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The US freezes Open Skies Treaty with Russia
Paragraph 1242 of the Defense Bill, approved by the US Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, stipulates the refusal to allocate money for financing the Open Skies Treaty.
It is indicated in the Defense Bill that the funds cannot be used in 2019 to carry out observation flights. It is noted that the restriction can be lifted if the US president presents the corresponding committee of the Congress a certificate confirming the fulfillment of the agreement terms by Russia.
The document …
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US court refuses to dismiss the case against company owned by Putin's associate
On Monday, the District Court of Columbia (DC) refused to dismiss the case against the Russian company Concord Management and Consulting, which is accused of financing a propaganda operation designed to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in favour of Donald Trump. The court considered that the special prosecutor Robert Muller did not exceed his power. Concord Management and Consulting petitioned for the closure of the case, insisting that the special prosecutor Müller was …
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Merkel to discuss Ukraine and Nord Stream 2 with Putin in Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Schloss Meseberg on August 18, the federal government announced. Merkel will discuss “current foreign policy issues” with Putin, including the Syrian conflict, the situation in eastern Ukraine, and issues in the energy sector, particularly the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will transport gas directly from Russia to Germany.
“Next Saturday, on August 18, the chancellor and government representatives will …
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Iran introduces next generation ballistic missile
On Monday, August 13th, the Iranian military introduced a ballistic missile of a new generation named Fateh. “Nothing will stop this missile,” reports the Tasnim agency, quoting the Iranian Minister of Defense Amir Khatami.
Khatami noted that the new short-range ballistic missile was “100 percent manufactured in Iran.” The missile’s technical specifications are not disclosed, but, according to the head of the Ministry of Defense, the missile has “maneuverability” and “high targeting accuracy.” …