Latest news with #Yekaterinburg
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Putin official caught flying racy mistress, 23, around Russia on prized $100m military jets as sex scandal rocks Kremlin
A SEX scandal has rocked the Kremlin as a top Putin official has been revealed using $100million military planes to transport his mistress around Russia. Maria Shalaeva, 23, shared online she was being flown on a defence ministry Ilyushin-76 aircraft for a weekend getaway to Rostov-on-Don - the same location of Russian armed forces war headquarters. 10 10 10 One independent media outlet has dragged in the name of Putin's trusted defence minister Andrei Belousov, 66, as the suspected lover. He is said to be a known womaniser from earlier email leaks, and his photograph appears on a video she posted. It is also clear from one video her lover has grey hair, as does Belousov, who was a Kremlin apparatchik before becoming defence minister. Yet there are strong indications that her man - apparently seen in shorts from behind on the plane - could be younger. Whether the affair is Belousov or another senior official figure in the Russian power structure, the disclosure triggered fury over what is seen as a security breach. As the scandal unfolded today, military sources indicated that the Kremlin 'sugar daddy' had been visited at work by the secret services after the mistress's revelations. Shalaeva, from Yekaterinburg, boasted in now-deleted posts - that she was flying to Rostov-on-Don, a city she had visited before with her lover. The airport, however, is being closed to all but military planes. The 23-year-old went on to reveal her beloved booked her a manicure appointment in the city. She posted: 'Who's saying planes don't fly to Rostov? From 'moving' corpse & corruption scandal to quick 'suicide' story: 5 glaring questions in gun death of Putin minister 'They do - just not all of them, and not for everyone. Anyway, I flew back to Rostov again. Can't seem to let it go.' She said her lover is 'a Kremlin man, though, that's another story. Reliability level is 200%.' She admits to bringing her three-year-old son Tim on the trip, leading to speculation he is her lover's offspring. 'At three years old, he's already flown in a military aircraft,' she posted. 10 'Tim got to sit right in the cockpit and even grabbed some crisps from the pilot. 'We were greeted warmly. Timmy was chilling, watching cartoons the whole ride.' Shalaeva says her lover calls her "yebobo [crazy]" and sometimes asks if she's ever had a concussion. She insisted he was 'not military!! Not FSB either! Now, I know who he is, but I'm not allowed to say.' Belousov, an economist and civilian technocrat, is not a career soldier and holds no formal military rank - but his authority rivals that of Russia's top generals. In Rostov, Shalaeva, her son, and her mystery man were reportedly picked up by a 'very expensive foreign car,' rumoured to be a Maybach. Nexta independent media - a respected outlet originally from Belarus and now Warsaw-based - linked her to Belousov, but without giving any verification. 'In private posts, Shalaeva hints that it's Belousov himself, the new defence minister of the Russian Federation [who is her lover],' stated Nexta. 'The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation flies his mistress on a military plane.' It was local media in Rostov that first flagged the scandal, without naming names. Russian outlets have so far avoided identifying the man. Retire Major General Vladimir Popov didn't mince words: 'Everyone will be found and punished.' He made it clear Belousov bears ultimate responsibility for the military flight. 'If this reaches the defence minister, I expect he'll come down hard for such poor oversight. And from there, the punishment will trickle down.' 10 10 10 Pro-Kremlin military blogger Andrey Medvedev added: 'It seems the Military Counterintelligence Department has plenty to do.' 'I can imagine how much information the SBU [Ukrainian security service] and Western intelligence agencies get just from monitoring social networks,' he wrote. 'In a photo posted by this reckless girl, you can find all sorts of interesting details to understand which planes fly to Rostov, who arranged those rides for her. And so on.' It comes as the Kremlin was accused of covering up the death of a sacked Russian minister after signs of torture were allegedly found on his body just 24 hours before his apparent suicide. Roman Starovoit, who was Vladimir Putin's transport minister for less than a year, was dismissed from his post on July 7 - just hours before he was found dead. Telegram channels with links to the Russian security forces reported Starovoit's cause of death as suicide - claiming the minister was found dead with gunshot wounds. However, an independent Russian media outlet now reports that he had been beaten before his death. News outlet SOTA claims that signs of torture were visible on his body. Starovoit's glam girlfriend could also be banned from his funeral. 10
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-07-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
From Russia, Alkhorayef Says Saudi Aims to Lead in Future Tech
Saudi Arabia is leading a sweeping industrial transformation aimed at reshaping the national economy and securing a leading position in advanced sectors, the kingdom's Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said. Speaking at the main session of the INNOPROM 2025 international industry fair in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Alkhorayef highlighted Saudi Arabia's early adoption of future technologies and its efforts to boost production capabilities within global value chains. He outlined that the National Industrial Strategy, launched in 2022, serves as the operational framework for the kingdom's industrial vision. The strategy focuses on three integrated pillars targeting key industrial groups. The first pillar covers industries related to national security — including food, pharmaceuticals, water, and military sectors — which Saudi Arabia aims to localize through active partnerships. Alkhorayef said the second pillar focuses on industries that leverage Saudi Arabia's relative advantages, including abundant natural resources such as oil, gas, and minerals, as well as its strategic geographic location that positions the kingdom as a global logistics hub. Key sectors under this pillar include advanced petrochemicals, mining, and value-added manufacturing. The third pillar targets future-oriented and emerging technologies. Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen its position in the early adoption of cutting-edge technologies through clear incentive policies. These include support for research and development, applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing. Complementary measures such as the local content policy prioritize domestic products and bolster reliance on national capabilities, he added. Alkhorayef also outlined recent developments in the kingdom's mining sector, a key focus of Vision 2030. He said efforts have followed three main tracks, starting with expanded geological exploration that boosted the estimated value of Saudi mineral reserves from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion. These reserves include strategic minerals such as phosphate and copper, with ongoing attention to social and environmental considerations in mining areas. The second track involves strengthening international partnerships through the annual Riyadh International Mining Conference, which has evolved into a global platform addressing challenges related to securing critical raw materials for the energy transition. The conference fosters coordination among governments, private sector players, and academic and research institutions to enhance the mining sector's efficiency and sustainability. Alkhorayef expressed gratitude for the Russian government's contributions to the event. Highlighting strong Saudi-Russian ties, he said there are promising opportunities to deepen cooperation, particularly given the alignment between Saudi Vision 2030 and Russia's 2030 national development goals in economic growth, digital transformation, and technological leadership. Alkhorayef noted that the launch of the Saudi-Russian Joint Committee in 2002 and the opening of the Saudi commercial attaché office in Moscow in 2022 marked key milestones in advancing the partnership. He pointed to significant growth in bilateral trade, which surged from $491 million in 2016 to over $3.28 billion in 2024.
Arabian Business
09-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Saudi Arabia highlights $2.5tn mineral wealth and industrial roadmap at INNOPROM 2025 in Russia
Saudi Arabia has unveiled bold plans to reshape its industrial future and accelerate global leadership in advanced manufacturing and critical minerals during INNOPROM 2025 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Speaking at a strategic session titled 'Technological Leadership: Industrial Breakthrough,' Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef laid out the Kingdom's vision to become a global force in future technologies and Industry 4.0 innovation. The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia was honoured as a strategic partner at this year's INNOPROM exhibition—highlighting its increasing international engagement in industrial cooperation and technological advancement. Saudi Arabia industrial strategy A National Industrial Strategy built on three pillars: Localising critical industries including food, pharmaceuticals, water, and defence Leveraging natural resources such as oil, gas, and minerals for advanced petrochemicals and mining Pioneering future sectors including AI, 3D printing, and smart manufacturing (Industry 4.0) Strong focus on R&D, local content development, and technology adoption incentives Alkhorayef announced that the Kingdom's mineral wealth is now estimated at $2.5tn, up from $1.3tn, thanks to extensive geological surveys. Key resources include phosphate, copper, iron ore, zinc, and other strategic minerals vital for the energy transition and industrial supply chains. The Future Minerals Forum (FMF)—hosted annually in Riyadh since 2022—has emerged as a global platform for dialogue on mineral resilience and responsible sourcing, uniting governments, investors, academia, and industry experts across the value chain. The minister highlighted the alignment between Saudi Vision 2030 and Russia's economic diversification goals, pointing to shared priorities in digital transformation, innovation, and non-oil growth. He referenced the establishment of the Saudi-Russian Joint Committee in 2002 and the opening of the Saudi Commercial Attaché office in Moscow in 2022 as pivotal steps in deepening bilateral cooperation.
Russia Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
A million Indians could immigrate to Russia — business leader
Up to one million Indian nationals could immigrate to Russia by the end of 2025 to help address a severe shortage of skilled labor, according to Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) President Andrey Besedin. In an interview with the Eurasian News Agency (EAN), he stated that Indian officials told him the figure during a meeting earlier this year, adding that a new Indian consulate is set to open in the city of Yekaterinburg to manage the expected arrivals. 'As far as I've heard from my Indian colleagues, up to one million specialists from India will arrive in Russia, including the Sverdlovsk Region, by the end of the year,' he said. Besedin said Russia's industrial enterprises are under pressure to expand production, both due to state policies on import substitution and the demands of the ongoing military operation in Ukraine. However, he noted that the region lacks a sufficient number of qualified personnel. 'Part of the workforce has been sent to the special military operation, and the youth are not going to factories,' he said. According to Besedin, Indian migrants are expected to work in metallurgy and mechanical engineering. Talks are also underway with Sri Lanka and North Korea about potential labor cooperation, Besedin said. He acknowledged that Russia lacks experience working with migrants from these countries but described the initiative as a 'new level of international labor cooperation.' Russia's Ministry of Labor has forecast a shortage of 3.1 million workers by 2030, and reported that in 2024, companies hired only 47,000 qualified migrants from countries whose citizens require a visa for entry. Following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in March 2024, Russia has implemented stricter migration controls. More than 190,000 foreign nationals were expelled from the country that year, according to the Interior Ministry. A new federal agency was established in April 2025 to enforce immigration rules and reduce violations. Despite the increased restrictions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that reducing the number of labor migrants would not be in Russia's interests. He noted that the country is facing a shortage of workers and warned that lowering immigration levels could render development goals 'less realistic.' At the same time, he emphasized the need to ensure that immigrants obey the law.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan, Russia discuss steel mills revival, industrial cooperation at INNOPROM forum
ISLAMABAD: Russia and Pakistan discussed plans to modernize a major steel complex and expand industrial cooperation during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the INNOPROM Annual Industrial Forum in Yekaterinburg, state media reported on Tuesday. The meeting between Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Industries and Production, and Russian Trade and Industry Minister Anton Alikhanov focused on reviving Pakistan's dormant steel industry and enhancing bilateral trade. INNOPROM is Russia's largest annual industrial trade fair, bringing together government delegations, business leaders and technology firms from over 30 countries to explore partnerships in manufacturing, engineering and high-tech industries. 'Both sides reviewed technical aspects of modernizing the Pakistan Steel Mills to establish a cutting-edge metallurgical facility,' Pakistan Television (PTV) reported. 'The discussions also explored ways to enhance trade ties and promote industrial collaboration between the two countries.' Earlier this month, Russian Consul-General Andrey B. Fedorov told Arab News Moscow expected to finalize an agreement with Islamabad this summer to construct a new steel mill in Karachi. The original Pakistan Steel Mills, once the country's flagship industrial complex, was built in the 1970s with Soviet assistance. While it symbolized national self-sufficiency, the mill has been non-operational since 2015 due to years of financial mismanagement, political interference and mounting losses. Technical experts from Russia have already inspected the proposed site for the new facility, and another delegation is expected soon to draft a detailed roadmap. Russia has a long history of industrial cooperation with Pakistan, having previously built key infrastructure projects such as the Guddu Power Station in Sindh in the 1980s, one of the country's major electricity producers. Moscow and Islamabad have expanded cooperation in recent years despite global tensions over the war in Ukraine.
