Connect with us

International

Russia Receives New Sanctions From UK Over On-going War in Ukraine

Published

on

444 Views

The United Kingdom has issued fresh sanction against Russia on Friday, targeting imports of diamonds and other minerals in a bid to choke Moscow’s ability to fund the war in Ukraine.

Before a G7 summit in Japan began, London said it would introduce “a ban on Russian diamonds”, copper, aluminium and nickel, and sanction more entities involved in Moscow’s “military industrial complex”.

Russia’s diamond trade is estimated to be worth $4-5 billion a year, netting the Kremlin much-needed tax revenues.

Later in the day, the UK foreign office said the new sanctions would freeze the assets of 86 people and organisations.

These include “companies connected to theft of Ukrainian grain, and those involved in shipment of Russian energy”, it said.

The new sanctions will also target “advanced military technology and remaining revenue sources”.

The summit in Hiroshima is expected to bring a series of new sanctions on Russia — including US measures that will put 70 more Russian and foreign entities on a trade blacklist.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Sky News on Friday that his “straightforward” message for Russian President Vladimir Putin was: “We’re not going away”.

“One of the topics of conversation I’ll be having and have been having with my fellow leaders is about the longer term security agreements… for Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression,” he added.

The G7 as a whole is expected to work to tighten existing sanctions, close loopholes, squeeze Moscow’s access to the international financial system and commit to keeping Russian assets frozen until the end of the war in Ukraine.

On Friday, European Council President Charles Michel said the bloc would target the lucrative trade in Russian diamonds, which he joked “are not forever”.

EU member Belgium is among the largest wholesale buyers of Russian diamonds, along with India and the United Arab Emirates.

The United States is a major end-market for the finished product.

AFP

International

Japan hikes visa fees first time since 1978

The visa fee revisions – the first since 1978 – were made to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations”, said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

Published

on

By

22 Views

Japan has implemented a five-fold increase to visa fees for all foreigners, marking the first price hike in nearly 50 years.

From 1 July, single-entry visa fees will be raised from the current 3,000 yen ($18.69; £14) to 15,000 yen, while multi-entry visas will now cost 30,000 yen, up from 6,000 yen.

The visa fee revisions – the first since 1978 – were made to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations”, said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

“We do not anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism,” he added.

The Japanese yen has been weakening continually since 2021, and is now hovering near historic 40-year lows.

Continue Reading

International

Alan Greenspan, architect of the modern American economy, dies aged 100

For nearly 20 years, Alan Greenspan was charged with safeguarding the US economy and keeping the dollar sound.

Published

on

By

19 Views

Former US Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan has died aged 100, his wife has said.

NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell said in a statement reported by her employer that her husband had died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

Mitchell’s statement said Greenspan was “a giant of a man who helped shape the US economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes”.

For nearly 20 years, Alan Greenspan was charged with safeguarding the US economy and keeping the dollar sound.

As chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987-2006, a post described as the second most important after the presidency, he presided over the longest sustained period of US economic growth in a generation.

Described as the “God in the machine” of American finance, Greenspan declined all requests for interviews during his time at the Fed.

The media and the money markets hung on his few public statements, and a sign in his office said simply, “the buck starts here”.

Continue Reading

International

Andy Burnham sworn in as new MP after Starmer announces resignation

Burnham earlier said he would stand to replace the prime minister, with backing from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Published

on

By

16 Views

Andy Burnham is sworn in as the MP for Makerfield hours after Keir Starmer announces his resignation as Labour Party leader.

BBC reported that Burnham earlier said he would stand to replace the prime minister, with backing from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Streeting – who quit Starmer’s government last month – previously said he would contest any leadership race.

After being sworn in, Burnham was met with whoops and cheers as he had his picture taken with around 200 Labour MPs.

If there was any doubt the leadership election is over before it began, Burnham’s reception in Westminster Hall ought to expunge it, writes Henry Zeffman.

Speaking outside No 10 earlier, Starmer thanked his wife in an emotional speech and said he wanted to be the “best dad I can to my beautiful children”

Starmer says he’ll remain as PM until his successor is chosen, which will happen by the time “Parliament returns in September” – or sooner if Labour gets behind one candidate and there’s no contest.

Continue Reading

Trending