Last week’s release of roughly three million additional documents from the U.S. Justice Department’s years-long investigation into the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has shed new light on the late financier’s connections with powerful people around the globe. While references to Donald Trump have predominated headlines, journalists have also identified several high-profile Russian politicians, businessmen, and public figures mentioned in the Epstein files — including President Vladimir Putin himself. Here’s what we know so far.

Georgy Avaliani, a 47-year-old father of three, was mobilized into the Russian army in the fall of 2022. He fled the front line as soon as he was deployed, only to be arrested, held in a “torture basement,” and sent back to his unit. It took two more attempts for him to successfully escape abroad. Under pressure from Russia’s military police, his wife and children soon followed. But although Avaliani is still on Russia’s federal wanted list, Germany’s migration office rejected his family’s application for political asylum. According to a new report by the independent outlet Mediazona, this is part of a broader trend. Citing Vladimir Putin’s claims that Russia’s mobilization drive has ended, Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) appears to be conflating deserters with draft dodgers — and erroneously concluding that neither are at risk of persecution in Russia, Mediazona says. Moreover, according to the outlet, German authorities appear to be issuing cookie-cutter rejection letters, putting those seeking asylum at risk of deportation to Russia.

One of the biggest concerns for Russians at the start of this year is the rapid rise in the cost of basic necessities. Across the country, prices for vegetables, fruit, meat, dairy products, pet food, and other everyday goods have climbed sharply. Meduza asked its Russian readers from different regions how higher prices are reshaping their daily lives — and what they’re bracing for next. We’ve translated some of the most notable responses into English.

2026.02.03

Gold mines have been mining at a higher grade than the reserve grade for much of the last decade. Purposely mining areas of the orebody with the highest-grade material is known as high grading. 

Mining the high-grade accessible areas of their deposits was one way for operations to bolster margins when facing low metal prices.

Small wonder the #1 risk identified for mining companies over 2026 is rising operational complexity which is being driven by more complex ore bodies, much deeper mines and significantly declined ore grades.

Continue reading Peak gold – Richard Mills at Ahead of the Herd.

2026.01.30

Rick Mills, Editor/ Publisher, Ahead of the Herd: 

It’s good to be talking to you again Quinton. We had an exceptional year in 2025 and I’m looking for a repeat for my readers in ‘26. We’ve got a hell of a market for commodities and precious metals and metals.

The Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Index is heading for its strongest monthly gain in decades. Bloomberg’s index is up a whopping 15%, that blows past some of the China-centric bull market super-cycle months that started back in ‘02.

Continue reading Under the Spotlight -Quinton Hennigh, CEO San Cristobal Mining at Ahead of the Herd.

By Patrick Oppmann – CNN World

Havana, Cuba – As tensions between the US and Cuba rise to the highest levels since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the mood was grim at a recent staff meeting at the US Embassy in Havana.

“If you don’t have your bag packed yet, then pack your bag,” US Charge d’Affaires Mike Hammer said, according to a person present at the meeting.

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Continue reading ‘A hurricane is coming’: Havana prepares people for war as US shuts off Cuba’s oil valve at Ahead of the Herd.