A financial crisis that has long been predicted by Russia experts and Kremlin insiders appears to have finally arrived as banks see depositors scramble to pull out their money amid fears it may be seized. In the first half of August, Russians withdrew $3.4 billion (286.4 billion rubles), according to central bank data cited by
Meanwhile, the M23 rebel group that controls parts of the east of DR Congo has announced new restrictions on movement between government-held and rebel-held areas of North Kivu province. Shared taxis and passenger boats between the areas will be suspended for one month starting on Saturday. Other transport will continue to operate under strict health
Rothesay County Championship, Division One, The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day one) Somerset 348-5: Thomas 110, Nicholls 96, Abell 65; Snater 2-68 Essex: Yet to bat Bonus points: Somerset 2pts, Essex 1pt Match scorecard Josh Thomas posted an eye-catching hundred as title-chasing Somerset assumed a position of strength on the opening day of the
First Rothesay Test, Headingley (day one of five) Pakistan 171 all out: Shafique 61; Tongue 5-46, Robinson 5-51 England 112-2: Root 37*, Gay 33; Abbas 1-34 England are 59 runs behind Scorecard Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each took five wickets to give Joe Root the ideal start to his second spell as England captain
Root, England’s greatest batter and a veteran of 166 Tests, said he hoped his “natural persona” is suited to bringing a sense of calm to the men’s national team. Off-field issues dominated last winter’s tours, including an incident involving Harry Brook and a nightclub bouncer in Wellington and the team’s drinking during a mid-Ashes trip
The total solar eclipse on August 12 produced some of the most spectacular images of this phenomenon in recent years. But the mini golden age of eclipses in Europe is just beginning. The so-called “Iberian eclipse trio” still has two events to go—and both promise to be even more incredible than the one that just
