Cost living russia

Ukrainian officials say the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol is running desperately low on food and essential goods with no new expected deliveries from the occupying forces. Alexander Motuzyanyk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, on Thursday presented the grim outlook for the southern port city that's seen some of the heaviest fighting in the war with Russia. His assessment follows humanitarian agencies also reporting they've been unable to deliver relief to Mariupol's civilian population. "Our intelligence reports that in Mariupol, as well as in most of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian invaders, almost all stocks of food, as well as essential goods, have been exhausted, and there are no new deliveries from Russia," Motuzyanyk said at a press briefing in Kyiv, reports Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Motuzyanyk said that there has been a big jump in prices of essential foods since the start of June and a drop in humanitarian aid, according to the news … [Read more...] about Russia halts Mariupol deliveries as ‘almost all’ food, goods gone: Ukraine

Recovery from the pandemic by Scottish businesses is starting to falter, economic experts have warned. Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute made the statement on Thursday as it scaled down its forecast for economic growth in 2023, with the cost-of-living crisis taking a toll on both companies and consumers. The think tank said it now expects growth of 0.5% next year, instead of the 1.5% it previously forecast, due to the impact of rising costs and the likelihood that they will persist for longer than first predicted. In its latest quarterly economic commentary report, the institute said consumers are starting to modify their spending behaviour in response to the ongoing crisis, with more than half reporting they are spending less on non-essential items. A further third of consumers said they are now spending less on essential items such as food and fuel, while the cost of properties is seeing a significant increase. Recommended Over … [Read more...] about Economic recovery starting to falter as cost of living bites, experts warn

LONDON (AP) — The British monarchy's publicly-funded spending rose by 17% to 102.4 million pounds ($124 million) in the past year, with the renovation of Buckingham Palace taking up a large part of the expenses, royal accounts published Thursday showed. The palace’s annual Sovereign Grant report showed that royal spending went up by 14.9 million pounds compared to the previous year. Critics described the spending as excessive amid Britain’s cost-of-living crisis. Property maintenance accounted for a big chunk of the spending — about 64 million pounds — because of a 10-year project to overhaul pipes, wiring and electricals at Buckingham Palace. Costs for official tours also went up, as the royals returned to making overseas visits after the lifting of coronavirus restrictions. The most expensive official royal tour in the past year was the trip taken by Prince William and his wife, Kate, to the Caribbean in March that cost about 226,000 pounds. The trip, meant to boost … [Read more...] about UK royals’ spending up 17%, mostly for palace overhaul costs

President Joe Biden refused Thursday to ask Saudi Arabia to produce more oil to bring down the cost of gasoline in the United States and around the world. Biden was specifically asked during his press conference in Europe about what he would say to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about oil during their scheduled meeting in July. “No, I’m not going to ask them,” he said, noting that he already “indicated” to all the Gulf heads of state his desire for them to produce more oil. “I hope we see them, in their own interest, concluding that makes sense to do,” Biden said. Biden argued that his trip to Saudi Arabia was about Middle East peace negotiations with Israel, not the production of oil. “I’m sure — it’s in Saudi Arabia, but it’s not about Saudi Arabia,” he said. “It’s in Saudi Arabia.” Biden said he was not even sure he would end up speaking to the Saudi leaders. “I’m not even sure; I guess I will see the King and the Crown … [Read more...] about Joe Biden Insists He Will Not Beg Saudi Arabia to Produce More Oil

Russia has ramped up its crackdown on opposition to Vladimir Putin 's Ukraine war by arresting and fining party members, lawyers and activists who have publicly denounced the ongoing conflict. Oleg Mammadov, an activist and member of Russia's Libertarian Party, is just one of a growing number of people across the country who have been punished in the wake of new stringent laws that effectively criminalize all criticism of Putin's war. In the early hours of Friday morning, Mammadov's apartment was searched, the social media channels of the branch of the Libertarian Party in Bashkortostan, Russia, said in a statement. The 20-year-old wasn't at home, but his grandmother was, the statement said, noting that Russian security forces told her that the search was being conducted because "Oleg is allegedly spreading fake [information] about the [Russian] army on his Telegram channel." Russian security forces reportedly seized an old laptop, a router, and also looked through messages … [Read more...] about Multiple Russian party members arrested, fined for denouncing Putin’s war

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi brushed off concerns for his government’s survival on Thursday, a day after he returned early to Rome from the NATO summit in Madrid amid tensions boiling up among his key coalition allies. "The government doesn't risk (collapse), because of national interests, because of the interests of Italians, which predominate,'' Draghi told an evening news conference. His remarks followed a Cabinet meeting of his nearly 1 1/2-year-old pandemic unity government, whose partners include populists, centrists, left-leaning and right-wing forces. Draghi also expressed confidence that populist leader Giuseppe Conte, his predecessor in the premier's office, wouldn't yank his 5-Star Movement from the coalition. In a phone conversation on Wednesday, Conte “confirmed the (Movement's) intentions not to exit from the government.” Conte had recently blasted Italy’s continuing to send military aid to Ukraine in the war launched by Russia. Until last week, the … [Read more...] about Italy’s Draghi brushes off concerns his coalition could fold

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) published a report Thursday that showed the oil industry booming with ten-percent growth, thanks in no small part to President Joe Biden’s attack on the American energy industry, while unemployment fell to 10.1 percent, its lowest level since 2008. The robust Saudi economy will complicate President Biden’s efforts to wheedle or cajole more oil out of the Saudis during his visit in July , a last-ditch bid to bring U.S. gas prices down before the midterm election. Biden has little leverage over the Saudis, and they will see no good reason to bring oil prices down by increasing output. Outside the still-dominant oil industry, the Saudi economy grew by 3.7 percent, while Biden’s policies have pushed America to the edge of a recession , and possibly over the edge. Even as it approaches a 15-year low, Saudi unemployment is still high by U.S. standards due to a very low workforce … [Read more...] about Let’s Go Brandon! Saudi Economy Booms amid American Energy Crisis

Without Odessa, Ukraine cannot even think of a rebuild, that is if and when the war ends. The nation has been set back by decades following the war waged on it by Russia – or what Russian president Vladimir Putin calls military operation – and cast an economic uncertainty on Europe as well as globally. It is important also to understand why the Russian takeover of Odessa scares Europe and the US. If Odessa falls, Russia can access Moldova’s Russophone regions like Transnistria as well. Along with Moldova’s Transnistria and southeastern Ukraine, it would mean that Russia controls Black Sea and a significant part of world trade. Odessa port has the facility of dealing with various cargo types. It handles all kinds of shipments starting from crude oil, petroleum products, LPG and vegetable oils to all kinds of metals, cast iron and bulk such as sugar, grains, paper bundles, and perishable goods like fruits and other items. Ukraine is economically reliant on Odessa and Russian forces … [Read more...] about The Event Of Odessa Falling Into Russian Hands Scares US, Allies. Here’s Why

The United States on Thursday blocked a US-based company worth more than $1 billion linked to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, saying the ally of President Vladimir Putin used it to funnel and invest shadowy funds. The Treasury Department said that Kerimov, a billionaire active in Russian politics, secretly managed the Delaware-based Heritage Trust which put its money into a number of large public companies. Heritage Trust, set up in 2017, brought money into the United States through shell companies and under-the-radar foundations established in Europe, Treasury Department officials said. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen vowed that the United States would keep taking action “even as Russian elites hide behind proxies and complex legal arrangements.” The United States will “actively implement the multilaterally coordinated sanctions imposed on those who fund and benefit from Russia’s war against Ukraine,” she said in a statement. The action comes weeks after Fiji handed to … [Read more...] about Washington Blocks More Than $1 Billion in Russian Oligarch’s US Assets

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called for an intensified effort to end the war in Ukraine, adding that there were “no losers in a just peace”. Erdogan said Turkey was trying to pursue “a balanced policy” because of its heavy reliance on Russian energy imports. Turkey has supplied Ukraine with armed drones and other weapons, but Erdogan also enjoys a close working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We should intensify our diplomatic efforts for a long-lasting ceasefire,” Erdogan told reporters at the end of a NATO summit focused on Russia’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. The Madrid gathering saw the US-led military alliance formally invite Finland and Sweden to join the bloc. Their membership applications were held up until the last moment by Erdogan, who sought guarantees that the Nordic countries would join Turkey’s fight against banned Kurdish militants and to swiftly extradite suspects. The dispute was resolved by a 10-point … [Read more...] about Turkish President Erdogan Makes Call to ‘Intensify’ Efforts to End War in Ukraine