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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 MADRID (AP) — The Spanish government has approved a package of emergency economic measures worth more than 9 billion euros ($9.5 billion) to try to temper the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Saturday. “This war, and its economic and social consequences, have produced an extraordinary uncertainty when it comes to the European and international economy and, of course, the Spanish one,” Sánchez told reporters. “Consequently, we are cushioning this effect with the instruments that we have and sharing in a fair, equitable way the economic and social costs of the war,” he added. The measures include a cut in the tax on electricity, from 10% to 5%, a reduction in the cost of monthly transit passes and a one-time payment of 200 euros ($211) for people who earn less than 14,000 euros ($14,756) a year and are not already receiving … [Read more...] about Spain unveils emergency actions to curb soaring living costs

Srinagar: Kashmiris have increasingly started turning to the world-wide web to find matches for their sons and daughters as traditional ways of arranging marriages have become a time-consuming and expensive affair. Many Kashmiri men and women have registered themselves on matrimonial sites on the Internet after facing problems in finding a decent match using the good old traditional way of engaging a marriage broker. "The best thing about matrimonial sites is that you have a wide range to choose from and the process is almost anonymous as nobody in your neighbourhood or relations knows about it," says a candid 27-year-old dentist Sanaa who has registered herself on one of the country's leading matchmaking sites. Another reason for choosing the Internet, she says, is that the sites charge nominal fees when compared to marriage brokers in Kashmir, who have become a "huge liability" considering the expenses associated with marriages. Sanaa's views are echoed by Neyaz Ahmad, a … [Read more...] about Kashmiris go Online for life partners

More than 40 per cent of adults in England have gained weight since the first lockdown in March 2020, according to a 2021 Public Health England survey. The research found that people gained more than half a stone on average, but one in five put on a stone or more. For those aged between 35 to 65, the average weight gain was more than 10lbs. Separate NHS research found that people seeking help to lose weight during the pandemic were 5lb heavier on average than those starting a health service weight loss programme in the previous three years. Five pounds might not sound like much, but it is considered “clinically significant”. Gaining even 2.2lb can increase a person’s risk of Type 2 diabetes by about 8 per cent, the NHS warns. With life now bearing some resemblance to pre-Covid normality, we can think about getting ourselves on the road to a healthy lifestyle and weight. But anyone who has previously attempted to traverse the quagmire that is the dozens of diet plans out there … [Read more...] about Kickstart your healthy weight loss journey with Optifast

Consumer expert Martin Lewis has said he was turned down for a peerage - as he was too busy. The MoneySavingExpert revealed that he applied for a place in the House of Lords but said he had been "honest" that he might not have time to attend many debates. In an interview with the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, Mr Lewis said he was recently grilled by the House of Lords Appointments Commission over his bid for a crossbench peerage. But he said he told the commission he was "very busy" with his role as a consumer champion and looking after his daughter. Mr Lewis has become a formidable critic of the Government's efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis as pressures mount on household budgets. Money Saving Expert's Martin Lewis has been challenging the Government over the cost of living crisis ( Image: PA) But he said: "I never attack the Tories, I attack the policies of the Government." Mr Lewis told the podcast he was a member of the Liberal Democrats … [Read more...] about Martin Lewis says he was rejected by House of Lords as he was too busy

LONDON (AP) – A defiant British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in a stubborn standoff with his frustrated Conservative Party on Saturday, after two thumping special election defeats renewed calls for a major change of government direction. Johnson dismissed the defeats as predictable mid-term blues, and said people expecting “some sort of psychological transformation” from him should know “that is not going to happen.” The prime minister told the BBC said he believed “voters are heartily sick of hearing about me and the things I´m alleged to have done wrong. What they want to hear is what we’re doing for them.” “What I want to do is to get on with changing and reforming and improving our systems and our economy,” he said. Despite the bullish tone, this is a perilous moment for Johnson, who is due to be out of the U.K. until Thursday at a Commonwealth meeting in Rwanda, a Group of Seven leaders’ gathering in Germany and a NATO summit in Spain. Simmering concerns about … [Read more...] about Defiant Boris Johnson Baulks at Calls to Resign After By-Election Losses

Boris Johnson planned to build a £150,000 treehouse for his son Wilf at Chequers, it has been reported. The prime minister and his wife Carrie wanted to build the treehouse during autumn 2020 but had to pull the plug after it raised security concerns. The treehouse's design included bulletproof glass but could be seen by the roadside, prompting police to warn the PM about the risks involved. There were discussions about having Lord Brownlow, a Tory donor ranked the 521st richest person in the UK last year, fund the project, with plans for the treehouse drawn up for the country retreat, it has been reported. Some No10 aides warned Mr Johnson against the project due to the cost and the matter of it being more expensive than some homes in many parts of the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Carrie, their son Wilfred and dog Dilyn “He was told it would look terrible,” a government source told The Times . The newspaper reports that it is unclear whether the Chequers … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson ‘planned to build £150,000 treehouse for son Wilf’ at Chequers

Bharat C. Raval, president of the Indian Salt Manufacturers’ Association (ISMA), started his career as a salt inspector with the Gujarat government. After spending 19 months in the government, he was attracted towards the salt cooperatives initiated by none other than Dr. Verghese Kurien, the ‘Milkman of India’. Kurien trained Mr. Raval at the Sabarmati Salt Farmers’ Society where he joined in April 1988 as a procurement executive. Nearly 35 years later, Mr. Raval feels that the salt industry is facing huge challenges in meeting the demand and in tackling the realisation crisis faced by salt farmers. Initially, the society where Mr. Raval worked produced 30,000 metric tonnes of salt. It reached up to 7,00,000 metric tonnes in three years, by 1991. “We have also operated CSR activities those days by providing health infrastructure support to salt farmers. Farmers were getting ₹ 17/per tonne when we entered the sector and the the price went up in the first years to ₹27 per tonne and … [Read more...] about Crisis in salt sector hits 5 lakh people in Gujarat

Police fired tear gas to disperse anti-abortion demonstrators from outside the Arizona Capitol Friday night, forcing lawmakers to huddle briefly in a basement inside the building as they rushed to complete their 2022 session. Thousands of protesters had gathered earlier on the Capitol grounds in Phoenix, divided into groups both supporting and condemning the US Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade. SWAT team members with the Department of Public Safety fired tear gas from second floor of the old Capitol building to disperse protesters in the mall between the current House and Senate buildings. KPHO-TV reported the officers opened fire when several anti-abortion protesters started banging on glass doors of the Senate building. Authorities said there were no injuries or arrests. The incident sent Senate lawmakers into the basement for about 20 minutes, said Democratic Sen. Martin Quezada. Stinging tear gas wafted through the building afterward, forcing the Senate to … [Read more...] about US Abortion Ruling: Police at Arizona Capitol Fire Tear Gas, Disperse Protesters

The Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk is now under the "full occupation" of Russian forces following a weeks-long battle. Mayor Oleksand Stryuk said on national television: "The city is now under the full occupation of Russia. They are trying to establish their own order, as far as I know they have appointed some kind of commandant." Russia's Interfax news agency also cited the defence ministry as saying the city in the Luhansk was now under full control of Russian forces. Previously home to more than 100,000 people, Severodonetsk is now largely destroyed following concentrated shelling during the Russian offensive. The plan from Ukrainian officials was reportedly never to fend off the Russian advance, but rather fight a war of attrition leaving Vladimir Putin's forces vulnerable to a counter-offensive. Advertisement Having withdrawn from Severodonestk, Ukrainian forces will be looking to mount another defence at the nearby city of Lysyschansk, across … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: Severodonetsk now under Russian control following weeks-long battle

U.S. President Joe Biden and his G7 counterparts will agree on an import ban on new gold from Russia as they broaden sanctions against Moscow for its war against Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday. The United States has rallied the world in imposing swift and significant economic costs on Russia to deny President Vladimir Putin the revenue he needs to fund his war. According to the source, the U.S. Treasury Department will issue a determination to prohibit the import of new gold into the U.S. on Tuesday, which will further isolate Russia from the global economy by preventing its participation in the gold market. Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. … [Read more...] about Joe Biden, G7 Leaders to Agree on Import Ban on Russian Gold: Source