European

Wheat prices surged to a new record high in European trading on Monday after India decided to ban exports of the commodity as a heatwave hit production. The price jumped to 435 euros (Rs 35,260) per tonne as the Euronext market opened, up from the previous record of 422 euros (Rs 34,180) reached on Friday. On the Chicago Board of Trade, just before trading opened the price of the SRW wheat futures contract hit $12.35 (Rs 961) a bushel, an increase of 4.9 per cent. Global wheat prices have soared 40 per cent on supply fears since Russia’s February invasion of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, which previously accounted for 12 per cent of global exports. The spike, exacerbated by fertiliser shortages and poor harvests, has fuelled inflation globally and raised fears of famine and social unrest in poorer countries. India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, said on Saturday that it was banning exports after its hottest March on record, with traders needing express government … [Read more...] about Wheat Prices Hit Record High in European Trading After India Bans Export Due to Scorching Heatwave

Click here to read the full article. Sidley Austin , a law firm with offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific, is going big on sports law. Our sister site Sportico has learned that Charles “Chuck” Baker and Irwin Raij , most recently co-chairs of O’Melveny & Myers’ sports industry group, are joining Sidley as co-chairs of its Entertainment, Sports and Media industry group. The move will bring expertise in ownership transactions, stadium construction, media rights and international deal making. Baker has negotiated on behalf of buyers and sellers of pro teams. He counseled David Tepper in the billionaire’s purchase of the Carolina Panthers and has advised Arctos Sports Partners when the group acquired ownership stakes in NBA and NHL teams. Baker also represents Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly , an investor in the Los Angeles Lakers who has agreed to purchase Chelsea FC, and he negotiated on behalf of Kevin Durant when the Brooklyn Nets star … [Read more...] about Charles Baker and Irwin Raij Join Sidley Austin as Co-Chairs of Entertainment, Sports and Media Industry Group

David Cameron's memoir will finally be released in September - a month before the deadline for Britain to leave the EU. Publishers Harper Collins have confirmed the book's title will be "For the Record", and it will be released on September 19. And for those who dream about having the former Prime Minister's words whispered directly into their ears, an audiobook version of the tome will be released on the same day. Mr Cameron, who promised the EU referendum as part of the Tory manifesto in 2015, is understood to have privately promised Theresa May he would not publish the memoir until after Britain had left the European Union so as "not to rock the boat". In a tweet, Harper Collins said: "We are pleased to announce that William Collins – an imprint of HarperCollins UK – will publish former Prime Minister David Cameron’s autobiography this autumn. "FOR THE RECORD will be released on Thursday 19th September, in hardback, ebook and audio." Preview manuscripts have been … [Read more...] about David Cameron book release date confirmed – and it’s before the Brexit deadline

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said Monday that Ukraine is the only country that encourages "Nazism" at the state level, and some Russians are now accusing NATO hopeful Sweden of having a similar position. "But nowhere at the state level are the Nazis glorified. Nowhere," Putin said during a Moscow summit, according to Russian-state-owned news agency Ria Novosti. "And nowhere in civilized countries are thousands of neo-Nazi torchlight processions with neo-Nazi symbols encouraged by the authorities. This is not done anywhere. Unfortunately, this is happening in Ukraine." Putin has repeatedly declared that one of Russia's goals in invading Ukraine is the "denazification" of its neighbor , but Ukraine, whose president is Jewish, has strongly refuted the allegations that its government is led by Nazis. Meanwhile, as Putin has focused on purported Nazis in Ukraine, posters have reportedly emerged on Moscow's streets accusing some famous Swedish figures of supporting … [Read more...] about Putin keeps “Nazism” focus on Ukraine as Russians point to NATO hopeful

At least five superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs have docked in Turkey since the start of the war in Ukraine, marking an attempt by the nation's ultra-rich to avoid Western sanctions. For months, Russian oligarchs have scrambled to relocate their assets , including luxury yachts and private jets, to avoid having them seized by the United States and European countries. Turkey has since become a safe haven, as the nation has yet to impose its own sanctions against Moscow for its ongoing invasion. The latest superyacht, a $400 million luxury vessel dubbed the Flying Fox, arrived in Bodrum, Turkey, on Sunday morning, according to Insider. That ship is owned by Dmitry Kamenshchik, chairman of Moscow's Domodedovo airport. Other yachts that have sailed to Turkey belong to former KGB agent Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, steel mogul Alexander Abramov, and billionaire Roman Abramovich. As Newsweek previously reported, Abramovich sent a $600 million yacht named Solaris to Bodrum on … [Read more...] about Turkey becomes haven for superyachts owned by sanctioned Russian oligarchs

Russian President Vladimir Putin 's reliance on oligarchs could prevent him from reviving the Soviet Union, experts said. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some raised concerns that Putin could be seeking to revive the Soviet Union. But a return to Soviet-style economics could threaten the wealth of his allies in Russia's oligarchical class, so it's unlikely he would seize their assets, Bryon Moraski, a professor of Russian politics at the University of Florida explained to Newsweek . Putin relies on both popular and elite support for legitimacy, Moraski explained. This means that any efforts to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs could cause him to lose the support of his closest allies, potentially leaving him in a difficult position as the president. "There wouldn't be an ideological reason for Putin to go through some kind of process for the redistribution of property," Moraski said. Brian Taylor, a professor of Russian politics at Syracuse University, offered … [Read more...] about Putin allies’ wealth will keep him from reviving USSR

Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning Finland and Sweden about joining NATO , saying an expansion in membership could bring a heightened response from his own Russia-led military alliance. On Monday, Putin spoke alongside leaders from Russia's allies in Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at a Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Moscow. He called on the countries to streamline their operations and ensure that various law enforcement agencies and security services are working in coordination, adding that his administration will equip forces with the latest weaponry. "I'm positive that these measures will help to improve the level of coordination, combat readiness of our forces, and generally speaking, the peacekeeping potential of forces," Putin said, according to a translation from Russian state media RT. His remarks come after Finland confirmed last week that it will apply to join NATO after decades of military nonalignment. Sweden's … [Read more...] about Putin’s trying to ramp up allies’ military capabilities to counter NATO

Donald Trump Jr., a prominent and vocal member of the MAGA crowd, has some concerns when it comes to Finland possibly joining NATO. On Monday morning, Trump Jr. shared his thoughts on the possibility that the European country may become the newest member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In his statement , posted to Twitter , Trump Jr. brought up Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a reason to reconsider the possible move. "I get there's nothing going on at home that Congress could be worrying about, but after decades of not being in NATO and being just fine isn't the notion of eliminating this buffer zone a bit how the Ukraine invasion started?" he wrote. The statement from the eldest son of former President Donald Trump came after the Nordic country and neighboring Sweden both indicated they wanted to join the international military alliance. The decision to apply for membership was influenced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Jr. throws cold water on Finland joining NATO

Palestinians rallied on Sunday to mark the "Nakba," or catastrophe, 74 years after Israel's creation, with condemnation spreading over a police raid on the funeral of a slain journalist. The annual demonstrations across the occupied West Bank, annexed east Jerusalem and inside Israel came with tensions high over the killing of 51-year-old Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh. The Palestinian-American was shot dead on Wednesday during an Israeli raid in Jenin, a West Bank flashpoint. A Palestinian militant wounded in clashes there, Daoud al-Zubaidi, died from his injuries in an Israeli hospital Sunday. Israeli police have vowed to investigate the chaos that marred the day of Abu Akleh's funeral, after television footage seen worldwide showed pallbearers struggling to stop the casket from toppling to the ground as baton-wielding police descended upon them, grabbing Palestinian flags. The scenes Friday sparked international condemnation, including from the United States, United … [Read more...] about Palestinians mourn Israel’s creation amid outcry over funeral raid

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) – Belgrade was targeted by a series of bomb threats on Monday, including threats against schools, bridges, restaurants and a soccer match, bringing rush hour traffic to a standstill in the Serbian capital. Police said in a statement that no explosive devices were found after different searches. It was not immediately clear who was behind the purported emailed threats. Nearly 100 elementary schools were evacuated after the threats, as well as several restaurants, including McDonald’s and shopping malls, bridges, a zoo, the airport, a railway station and the water supply company. A soccer premiership game was postponed as police searched the stadium. Police have blocked traffic over the bridges during the rush hour, creating a huge gridlock. “Even though the threats seem to be false, we should not take them lightly,” said Branko Ruzic, a Serbian government minister. Authorities have not stipulated who is behind the threats that have been recorded over … [Read more...] about Serbian Capital Paralysed by Day of Bomb Threats