Russia opens fire on ukraine

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It’s been almost three months now since Russia invaded Ukraine , and much of the latest news coverage has been depressingly predictable. It feels like every day, foreign correspondents share word of yet another Russian atrocity . Or, of outnumbered Ukrainian defenders still hanging on. Of a new show of defiance from President Zelenskyy. More countries, like the US, sending aid packages and weapons. More fighting, more dying. Journalists tasked with reporting this story certainly want to keep readers and audiences back home invested and caring about what happens. But rather than wrap their arms around the bigness and the battles that are part of this bloody geopolitical conflict roiling part of Europe, a group of NPR veterans decided to focus on the small, and the personal. Instead of covering the war the same way as most everyone else, the journalists launched a podcast in partnership with Spotify to … [Read more...] about Ukraine Stories Podcast: NPR Veterans Deliver A Tour De Force Of Narrative Journalism

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin This is Part I of a three-part series from an extensive interview with the former finance minister of Ukraine. The third one includes how to help Ukraine. She also gave career advice. Part I is here. Part I: The Enabler For years after World War II, there was a prevailing theory that when we are trading partners, we are less likely to have conflicts. Labeled “the liberal peace,” political scientists across disciplines believed ‘that mutual economic interdependence can be a conduit of peace,” because it “limits the incentive to use military force in interstate relations,” as the Cato Institute put it as recently as 2020. Companies opened markets across the globe and leveraged that access to reduce costs, building international supply chains. In the process, they created a complex web of trade, commerce and shipping that kept shareholders happy and executives on airplanes. It grew local economies, but also … [Read more...] about The Hidden Power Of ESG – Part 1 Of 3-Part Series: Interview With The Former Finance Minister Of Ukraine

- A + A NEW YORK (May 17): US retail sales grew at a solid pace in April, reflecting broad-based gains and suggesting demand for merchandise remains resilient despite rampant inflation. The value of overall retail purchases increased 0.9%, after an upwardly revised 1.4% gain in March, Commerce Department figures showed on Tuesday. Excluding vehicles and gas stations, sales rose 1% last month. The figures are not adjusted for inflation. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists had called for an 1% increase in overall retail sales from a month earlier and a 0.7% jump in the figure excluding autos and gas stations. Treasuries sold off after the report, while stock futures held gains and the dollar remained lower. "While the increase will look less impressive after taking price movements into account, today's data still suggests that the squeeze on household incomes from inflationary pressures isn't yet having a material impact on discretionary … [Read more...] about US retail sales show consumer standing firm in face of inflation

A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business' Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here . You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link. London (CNN Business) West Texas Intermediate crude, the reference point for US oil prices, usually trades at a discount of a few dollars to Brent crude, the global benchmark. But this morning, the near-term futures contracts for WTI and Brent are both roughly $115 per barrel — an indication of how the market has been scrambled by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine ahead of the busy summer driving season. "This is a significant development in my opinion," Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at Oanda, told clients on Tuesday. Quick rewind: Oil prices have jumped over the past week. Both WTI and Brent are trading near two-month highs. The national average for regular gas in the United States hit a fresh record of $4.52 a gallon on … [Read more...] about American oil is usually a cheaper option. Not anymore

A man walks as a restaurant gets ready at the croisette at the Croisette in Cannes, southeastern France, on May 16, 2022, ahead of the 75th Cannes Film Festival. The festival will take place from May 17 to 28. Image: AFP/Patricia de Melo Moreira The red carpet is ready for the opening of the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, with Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as the first guest of honor and a French zombie comedy to kick off proceedings. The masks are off, health passes are no longer needed and the world’s leading cinema get-together is ready to party after two years in which the pandemic put a dampener on proceedings. Whitaker, the 60-year-old star of “The Last King of Scotland” and cult films such as “Ghost Dog” and recent TV hit “Godfather of Harlem,” will pick up an honorary Palme d’Or at the opening ceremony on the Cote d’Azur. Image: Twitter/@forestwhitaker He won an acting award at the festival back in 1988 for his role as jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint … [Read more...] about Cannes film fest launches with veterans and zombies

London (CNN Business) Europe can't make up its mind on how to pay for Russia natural gas imports that continue to fuel homes, businesses and power stations. The confusion centers on the logistics of the payments themselves. Several European gas buyers have been preparing to work around the Kremlin's demand that gas bills be paid in rubles, rather than the euros or dollars stipulated in contracts. According to Russia's new payment mechanism, buyers in "unfriendly" countries must open two accounts at Gazprombank — one in euros and the second in rubles, from which payments for the gas would be made. But on Tuesday, the European Commission said companies opening an account in Russia's Gazprombank to allow their payments to be converted into rubles would fall foul of EU sanctions. That statement appeared to contradict guidance the Commission gave just four days earlier, which led some of Europe's biggest energy companies to assume they could get … [Read more...] about Europe is still confused about how to pay its Russian gas bills

China's Covid containment measures, especially in the world's largest port city of Shanghai, have influenced Thailand's supply chain security and could cast a shadow on local manufacturers' decisions in the medium term. How have China's port lockdowns affected Thailand's supply chain security? Nomura Securities said 40 cities in China are under full or partial lockdowns, or have implemented district-based controls. This means restrictions on mobility for businesses as well as local residents. Shanghai's port is one of the busiest in the world, with S&P Global Market Intelligence reporting there has been an increase in wait times in recent months for bulk cargo ships at anchor waiting to enter Chinese ports. The number of ships waiting has increased to 600-700 from 500 in early March, or about 20% to 40% more than two months ago. Mana Nimitvanich, first vice-president at Krungthai Bank on the Business Risk & Macro Research Team, said China's zero-Covid policy has … [Read more...] about Is Thai supply chain anchored to China?

The 75th Cannes Film Festival, opening ceremony and screening of the film “Coupez” (Final Cut) out of competition, Cannes, France, May 17, 2022. Julianne Moore arrives on stage with Vincent Lindon, jury president. Image: Reuters/Sarah Meyssonnier CANNES, France — The Cannes Film Festival rolled out the red carpet Tuesday as the Mediterranean port city filled up with cinema stars, festival-goers and oglers for the 75th anniversary event, bringing buzz and glamour back to the resort destination. “I’m simply overjoyed,” the festival’s jury president Vincent Lindon told a packed press conference, flanked by jury members: actors and filmmakers including Rebecca Hall, Noomi Rapace, Deepika Padukone, Jeff Nichols and Asghar Farhadi. The world’s biggest film festival runs from May 17 to 28, back to its traditional calendar following two years of pandemic disruptions, and marking the return of parties and high hopes from the industry that it will spark the return of audiences to movie … [Read more...] about Cannes Film Festival rolls out red carpet as crowds descend for 75th anniversary

A fun-filled event was organised for Ukrainians staying at The Kala Samui Hotel during the Songkran Festival, on Koh Samui. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan) SURAT THANI: Seventy Ukrainians, mostly women and children, who fled from their war-torn homeland have found peace and safety since arriving on Koh Samui. Supachai Pongchabapnapa, owner of The Kala Samui Hotel in tambon Maret, said he opened all of the hotel's 38 rooms to the Ukrainians, who had gradually arrived on the island since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24. Mr Supachai said since the hotel had been closed by the Covid-19 situation, he felt it would be better to open it to the Ukrainians for humanitarian reasons, rather than leaving it closed. He is charging them each 200 baht per night. For about two months, 70 Ukrainians, mainly women and children, have occupied the 38 rooms, from where some of them work online. There are no other guests at the hotel. Mr Supachai said he did not think about making a profit … [Read more...] about Ukrainians find safe haven on Koh Samui