0710GMT//Putin cuts civilian spending; Russia to grow bananas for the first time
SPENDING CUTS: Putin signed a plan to cut government spending on civilian projects this year in Russia because of a drop in income linked to soft oil and gas prices. (COMMENT: The "war economy" has been protected, of course. Instead, the Russian government will cut spending on industrial development, science, civilian aviation, civilian shipbuilding and energy infrastructure. Importantly too, the Kremlin's massive propaganda project, mainly pumped through education, and its project to boost birth rates have been protected.)
EXPORT DROP: Barley exports from Russia have halved this year, the Kommersant newspaper has reported by quoting government data. It said that all grain exports from Russia were down significantly. (COMMENT: A 50% drop in barley exports will alarm Russian government officials. This is a larger drop than for other grain types. Once again, the problem is low crop yields because soaring employment and fuel costs have dissuaded farmers from sowing fields and harvesting. This is pushing up the price of food in Russia and damaging export earnings.)
MY FIRST BANANA: Russia will be growing bananas for the first time in 2027, the head of the southern Stavropol Krai region has said. Vladimir Vladimirov said that an "investor" had paid for a series of massive greenhouses in the region to grow exotic fruit in Russia, including bananas. (COMMENT: This is all part of Russia's wartime drive to become self-sufficient.) (NOTE: The "My first banana" reference is a nod to a strategy card in the boardgame '1989: Dawn of freedom' that simulates the fall of the Iron Curtain in Europe. It is highly recommended. More info here)
MILITARY RECRUITMENT: Russia's Duma passed a law to increase fines for failing to tell military recruitment of a change of address.
NORTH KOREA LINKS: Russia's Nordwind Airlines has applied to run a twice-weekly service between Moscow and Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. (COMMENT: This is all part of the image-building between Russia and North Korea. They are "normalising" ties, talking up tourism and business opportunities etc. The first regular commercial airline to fly between the two capitals would be a major step towards "normalising" these ties. Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, only agreed to set up regular civilian flights to Pyongyang with North Korean dictator Kim Jung-un earlier this month.)
MISSILE ATTACKS: Russian missiles hit residential blocks and a hospital on Tuesday in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, killing at least 19 civilians and injuring hundreds, Ukrainian officials said. (COMMENT: The Kremlin, as usual, denied accusations. Ukrainian officials said that the attack essentially amounted to a "rejection of a peace deal".)
AFRICA DIPLOMACY: Assimi Goita, the head of Mali's ruling military junta, met with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to sign several bilateral agreements to strengthen trade, energy and security. (COMMENT: The Kremlin has sponsored coups in Mali and other Western African states against pro-West governments and now props up these proxies. It views Africa as a Western "Achilles Heel" and an easy way to hoover up support for its various policies. Kremlin mercenaries, Wagner and now Africa Korps, are very active in Mali.)
NEWS MATRIX:
The most important story in today's News Matrix is the federal cuts to Russia's civilian economy. The importance of the Mali leader popping up in Moscow to sign deals with Putin can be debated but it is not a surprise. Plans to grow bananas in Russia are, though, clearly surprising.