A recent amendment to Russia’s anti-extremism legislation categorizes alienating territories from the country as extremism. The change arguably serves as a deterrent to the current mass protests in the Far East city of Khabarovsk, a persistent threat to the regime’s stability, as well as a new legal provision for anti-extremism legislation that has already been used.

Recent declines in the dollar have once again raised questions about its status as the de facto global reserve currency. But the current depreciation in the greenback is more the result of a perfect short-term storm, as opposed to a permanent global retreat from the dollar. 

Domestic and international events are increasing the appeal of nationalistic parties.