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☆ Russians vote in an election that Putin will win, but the Kremlin is looking for a landslide victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesThere are no surprises over who will win Russia's presidential election this coming weekend with incumbent, Vladimir Putin, set to win a fifth term in office, keeping him in power until at least 2030. The heavily stage-managed vote taking place from Friday to Sunday is not expected to throw up any nasty surprises for the Kremlin which told CNBC months ago that it was confident Putin would win the vote comfortably. That's particularly the case in a country where Russian opposition figures are not represented on the ballot paper or in mainstream politics, with most activists having fled the country. "According to official data, Putin received 77.5% of valid votes in the 2018 presidential election that saw a turnout of 67.5%. Russian opposition activists, most in self-imposed exile in order to evade arrest, imprisonment or attack, have also condemned the election.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Svetlov, Putin, That's, Alexei Navalny, there's, Vladislav Davankov, Leonid Slutsky, Nikolay Kharitonov, Russia's, Yekaterina Duntsova, Boris Nadezhdin, Andrei Kolesnikov, —, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Andreas Tursa, Russian Federation's, Yulia Navalnaya, Dmitrii, we're Organizations: Kremlin, CNBC, New People, Liberal Democratic Party, Communist Party, Russia's, Commission, Levada, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Putin, Teneo, Russian Democratic Society, Festival Locations: Kremlin, Ukraine, Russia, Klishchiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Europe, Kyiv, Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, London, Sirius, Sochi, Stavropolsky Krai, Krasnodar Krai

☆ Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff tells retail workers: AI won't steal your job. It can make you better at it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Generative artificial intelligence won't take jobs from retail workers; instead, it will make them better at their jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff told attendees at the National Retail Federation's annual conference in New York last week. They're not going to need as many agents," Benioff said. The system was able to augment those agents and make them better," Benioff said. With generative AI, he added, Gucci had taken its customer service agents to "a whole other level." "They're pretty incredible people, using generative AI for the first time," Benioff said.

Persons: Marc Benioff, Benioff, NRF, John Furner, Loro Piana, Gucci —, They're, That's, bam, Gucci Organizations: Business, Walmart, LVMH, Gucci, Kering Locations: New York, Italy

☆ Target and Walmart stores in the Bay Area are locking up underwear and socks to prevent shoplifting
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Target and Walmart stores in the Bay Area are putting underwear and socks behind locked doors. AdvertisementUnderwear and socks are some of the latest items to be locked up at Target and Walmart stores in the Bay Area, in the retailers' latest efforts to combat shoplifting, NBC Bay Area reported . One customer told NBC Bay Area that they had to wait 10 minutes for an assistant to retrieve an item. A Walmart store located in Hilltop, California is also keeping underwear locked up in a bid to prevent theft. Cesar Zepeda, a Richmond City councilmember, said in an interview with NBC Bay Area that retail theft is hurting the local community and its likely to lead to store closures.

Persons: —, Cesar Zepeda Organizations: Walmart, Service, Target, NBC Bay, NBC Bay Area, Richmond City councilmember, Social, National, Security Survey Locations: Bay, Hilltop , California, Richmond

☆ Google Cloud launches new generative AI tools for retailers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Alex Koller | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google launched several new tools for retailers using generative artificial intelligence to improve online shopping experiences and other retail operations, its cloud business announced in a release Thursday. Google Cloud's offerings are the latest example of generative AI's growing influence in the retail industry. Google's newly unveiled AI products additionally include tools for enhancing retailers' customer service systems and expediting their product cataloging processes. Beyond online shopping, brick-and-mortar stores are also getting new AI capabilities through Google Distributed Cloud Edge, an existing hardware and software product. The announcement of Google Cloud's latest AI tools comes just days before the start of the National Retail Federation's annual convention in New York City.

Persons: Carrie Tharp Organizations: Google, Amazon, National, CNBC PRO Locations: New York City

☆ Thanksgiving Day online sales jump as discounts motivate holiday shoppers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Online spending on Thanksgiving Day jumped 5.5% compared to a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, a reflection of holiday shoppers who are buying more of their gifts online and responding to discounts. It does not cover in-store purchases, where the majority of U.S. holiday purchases still take place. And shoppers responded: Online purchases of toys shot up 182% compared to average daily sales in October. Jewelry sales rose 126%, apparel rose 124% and personal care products rose 67%. Mobile shopping played a big role in Thanksgiving sales, with nearly 60% of sales coming through a mobile device — an all-time record for Thanksgiving, Adobe said.

Persons: That's, it's, Mario, Adobe Organizations: Adobe Analytics, National, Target, Disney, Adobe, Marvel, Mobile Locations: U.S

The extension of Black Friday sales and growing strength of other shopping events (hello Cyber Monday ) is also changing what holiday spending looks like today. The term “Black Friday” is several generations old, but it wasn't always associated with the holiday retail frenzy that we know today. In 2003, e-commerce accounted for just 1.7% of total retail sales in the fourth quarter, per the U.S. Commerce Department. BLACK FRIDAY 'MONTH’ AND THE RISE OF CYBER MONDAYIt's no secret that Black Friday sales don't last 24 hours anymore. Offering early deals for holiday sales helps extend that window.

Persons: wasn't, Jie Zhang, Harvey Sanders, University of Maryland’s Robert H, Jay Zagorsky, Zagorsky, I’m, Zhang, it’s, ” Organizations: National Retail Federation, Army, Navy, Associated Press, Retail Management, University of Maryland’s, Smith School of Business, COVID, Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, U.S . Commerce Department, Commerce Department, Small, National Retail, Adobe Analytics Locations: Philadelphia, York

☆ Civilian death toll in Ukraine tops 10,000 - U.N. Human Rights Office
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A worker inspects a site in a residential area damaged during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 21, 2023. REUERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - More than 10,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, with about half of recent deaths occurring far behind the front lines, the U.N. Human Rights Office said on Tuesday. The U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine, which has dozens of monitors in the country, said it expects the real toll to be "significantly higher" than the official tally since corroboration work is ongoing. "Ten thousand civilian deaths is a grim milestone for Ukraine," said Danielle Bell, who heads the monitoring mission. Older people who may be unable or unwilling to relocate to safer places make up a disproportionate fraction of those killed in Ukraine, the U.N. data showed.

Persons: Valentyn, Danielle Bell, Emma Farge, Andrew Heavens, Bernadette Baum, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Rights, Human Rights, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow

☆ Black Friday deals aren’t as good as you think. Here’s how to snag even lower prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

By most accounts, Black Friday and Cyber Monday promise some of the lowest prices of the season. This year, holiday spending during the Thanksgiving week may hit a record as consumers try to maximize the weekend's sales, a separate Deloitte Black Friday-Cyber Monday survey found. However, these are not necessarily the best deals of the year, according to Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at DealNews.com. A separate analysis of previous Black Friday sales found that 98% of the deals were the same price or cheaper at other points during the year. Stores try to tempt you with discounts, but "I don't know that Black Friday has the same level of value that it did years ago," Ramhold said.

Persons: Julie Ramhold, Ramhold Organizations: National, Deloitte, DealNews.com, Finance

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Wildlife officials across the Great Lakes are looking for spies to take on an almost impossible mission: stop the spread of invasive carp. Kayla Stampfle, invasive carp field lead for the Minnesota DNR, said the goal is to monitor when carp start moving in the spring and use the tagged fish to ambush their brethren. Political Cartoons View All 1256 ImagesFour different species are considered invasive carp: bighead, black, grass and silver. There is no hard estimates of invasive carp populations in the U.S. but they are believed to number in the millions. Wildlife agencies are still consolidating data on how many invasive carp that real-time tracking has helped them remove, U.S.

Persons: Kayla Stampfle, Fritts, Janet Lebson, Mark Fritts, Marc Smith, “, " Smith, James Stone, Stampfle, It's Organizations: —, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Agency, Minnesota DNR, Press, Fisheries, Water Resources Reform, Survey, Chicago Sanitary, The Minnesota DNR, Minnesota -, La Crosse, Fish, Wildlife, Cities, Lakes Regional Center Locations: LA CROSSE, Wis, U.S, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, St, Croix, Gulf, Mexico, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Chicago, Davenport , Iowa, The, Des Plaines, Sandusky, Minnesota, Minnesota - Wisconsin, La, Iowa, La Crosse

☆ Turkeys are cheaper, but inflation is 'clearly impacting' Thanksgiving food costs, economist says. Here's how to save
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The cost of turkey represents 45% of the classic Thanksgiving basket of food prices the bureau tracks. "Inflation is still clearly impacting food prices," Veronica Nigh, senior economist of AFBF, said in a press call. People are paying more at the grocery store. Consumers can expect to pay around 20% less for fresh cranberries compared to a year ago while canned cranberry sauce is up 7% from last year, Wells Fargo found. It "might actually be cheaper to go to a grocery store that you're not used to going to," Palmer said.

Persons: Veronica, AFBF, Kimberly Palmer, There's, Wells, Mark Hamrick, Maren Caruso, Palmer Organizations: American Farm Bureau, Finance, UBS, Bankrate, Stone Locations: U.S, Puerto Rico, . Ham, Wells Fargo

The American Farm Bureau Federation's annual survey of holiday food prices out Wednesday shows the full spread will run a party of 10 about 4.5% less in 2023 than in 2022. Her analysis, in fact, and the evolution of the farm bureau's Thanksgiving meal prices are a micro-version of the larger pandemic inflation story that households, elected officials and the Federal Reserve have been grappling with. The good news: The pace of change may remain slow going forward, with supply problems now largely sorted out and recent producer price data pointing to modest food inflation ahead. According to the farm bureau turkey prices are likely headed even lower after their survey. "Consumers who have not yet purchased a turkey may find additional savings in the days leading up to Thanksgiving," the organization said in a news release.

Persons: Betty Resnick, Resnick, Howard Schneider, Andrea Ricci Organizations: American Farm Bureau, Federal Reserve, Reuters, Federal, AAA, airfares, Consumers, Farm Bureau, Labor Department, Thomson

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Using your credit card rewards can save you money on travel, gifts, and the credit card bill. You can also earn rewards by strategically using your credit card to cover groceries, shopping, and travel. But your holidays don't have to be more expensive — if you use the right credit card rewards to make those purchases, you can save yourself some money. Here are three ways to use your credit card rewards for holiday shopping:1.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, National Retail Federation, National Retail

☆ US Supreme Court seeks Biden administration view on US Soccer antitrust case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Mike Scarcella | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The justices are considering whether to hear U.S. Soccer's appeal of a lower court's decision to allow the lawsuit by New York-based Relevent Sports to proceed. The lawsuit, filed in 2019 in Manhattan federal court against U.S. Soccer and FIFA, claimed the ban violated American antitrust law and sought to stop the two organizations from implementing it. U.S. Soccer is a member of FIFA, soccer's international governing body. The United States hosts "friendly" games involving foreign professional teams, but the games do not count in league standings. U.S. soccer has argued that it had no role as a FIFA member in forming the international organization's 2018 policy banning foreign clubs from holding competitive matches outside the teams' home countries.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Relevent's, Mike Scarcella, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, U.S . Soccer, FIFA, Soccer, soccer's, United States, Circuit, Appeals, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Manhattan, U.S, York

☆ [WATCH NOW] How to drive growth with seamless omnichannel payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Paypal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

At the recent event, "How Enterprise Merchants Can Leverage Seamless Omnichannel Payments to Drive Growth," experts shared insights on how to maximize customer conversions. Watch now and find out how to embed a seamless omnichannel experience into your customer engagement strategy. Omnichannel payments are vital to merchant growthOmnichannel can only deliver a seamless customer experience with a strong payment infrastructure behind it. Today's customers want a seamless omnichannel experience, and if your business can't offer that, they'll find one that can. Watch the video below to learn how adopting omnichannel payments can help your business drive greater growth.

Persons: Julie Fergerson, Fergerson, they're, Cindy Turner, Adam Kronengold, Vince Camuto, Eddie Bauer, Kronengold, Turner Organizations: Merchant Risk Council, PayPal, National Retail, Retail, Authentic Brands, Insider Studios Locations: National Retail Federation's, PayPal Braintree, Braintree

☆ Al-Dawsari, Kerr take Asian confederation's Player of the Year awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari has been named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year with Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr taking the women's title at the regional body's awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday. Al-Dawsari, who scored Saudi Arabia's winner in their shock 2-1 victory over Argentina at the World Cup last year, took the men's award after also leading Al-Hilal to the final of the Asian Champions League and the Club World Cup. The awards were being held for the first time in four years as a result of the disruption caused to the game across the continent by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerr, who on Monday had finished as runner-up in the Ballon d'Or vote in Paris, won her award for the second time having previously been named the confederation's best female player in 2017. Shui Qingxia claimed the honours in the women's coaching category after she led China to the Women's Asian Cup last February in India, the country's first continental title since 2006.

Persons: Salem, Dawsari, Sam Kerr, Qatar's Almoez Ali, Mathew Leckie of, Kerr, Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa, China's Zhang Linyang, Saki Kumagai, Japan's Hajime Moriyasu, Shui Qingxia, Michael Church, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Football, Chelsea, Saudi Arabia's, Asian Champions League, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Australia, Doha, Argentina, Al, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Paris, China's, Japan, Germany, Spain, China, India

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis in Gaza deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | Seán Federico O'Murchú | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

"By failing to condemn Hamas, Russia is giving cover to a terrorist group that brutalizes innocent civilians. It is outrageous, it is hypocritical, and it is indefensible," US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in justification to the US' vote. She previously compared the attacks executed by Hamas to the "most heinous atrocities committed by ISIS." "We cannot support a resolution which fails to condemn Hamas’ terror attacks," Ambassador Barbara Woodward, the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN, said in her explanation of vote. Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya claimed the resolution failed to get adopted because of the western bloc's selfish intentions.

Persons: Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Barbara Woodward, Nicolas de Rivière, UN Vasily Nebenzya, Nebenzya Organizations: United Nations Security, ISIS, UN, France's, UN Security Council, Russian, Novosti Locations: Israel, United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, Gaza, Moscow

☆ Poland’s goodwill toward Ukraine is eroding. The far right is taking advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

The group is capturing voters from the ruling populist party, forcing a hardening in the government's tone towards Ukraine. Anna Martynenko fled to Poland with her sons, in the first weeks of the war in Ukraine. “In our relationship, between Poland and Ukraine, there were many things that were not solved – for years,” he adds, with some weariness. But whoever enters power next week, displaced Ukrainian Martynenko believes – and hopes – that Poland’s support will not waver further. When Poles welcomed her last spring after she fled Ukraine, “I knew that everything is OK,” she said.

Persons: they’re, Poland’s, “, I’m, ”, Przemysław Chinek, –, Rob Picheta, Zelensky, Mateusz, Tomasz Piotr, Katarzyna, Anna Martynenko, Gianmarco Ercolani, Pew, Dan Kitwood, Sławomir Mentzen, TikTok, Martynenko, Filip Gajos, Mentzen, ” Chinek, “ Everybody, Dariusz Stola, ” Stola, “ There’s, Simon Oshinski, Volodymyr Zelensky, Rob Picheta “, Adam Zaleski’s, we’re, Adam Zaleski, Slovakia –, ” Zaleski, Zaleski, Justyna –, Rob Picheta Zaleski Organizations: Poland CNN, European Union, CNN, Confederation, Law, Justice, Ukraine, NATO, Pew Research Center, Twitter, “, ”, Polish Academy of Sciences, EU, United Nations General Assembly, PiS Locations: Lublin, Kostrogaj, Poland, wardrobes, European, Lublin’s, Russia, Ukraine, “, Ukraine’s, Moscow, Kyiv, Warsaw, Lodz, “ Ukraine, Soviet Union, Volhynia, Poland’s, Europe, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine freezes assets of three Russian tycoons worth $464 million, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian court has frozen the Ukrainian assets of three Russian businessmen over their alleged support for Russia's war in Ukraine, prosecutors and the security service said on Friday. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said assets owned by Mikhail Fridman, Pyotr Aven and Andrey Kosogov had been frozen. It said the frozen assets included securities and corporate rights of mobile phone operators, a mineral water producer, financial and insurance companies. "The beneficial owners of the companies are three Russian oligarchs who own one of the largest Russian financial and investment consortia," it said. Since the beginning of Russia's military invasion in February 202, Ukraine has repeatedly seized and nationalised property belonging to Russian businessmen involved in financing the aggression.

Persons: Mikhail Fridman, Keren Hayesod, Pavel Golovkin, Pyotr Aven, Andrey Kosogov, Vladimir Putin's, General's, Pavel Polityuk, Timothy Heritage, William Maclean Organizations: Alfa, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Ukrainian Security Service, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Russian

☆ US expels two Russian embassy officials -State Dept
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The United States has expelled two Russian embassy officials after Russia earlier expelled two U.S. diplomats from the American embassy in Moscow, the U.S. State Department said on Friday. "In response to the Russian Federation's specious expulsion of two U.S. Embassy Moscow diplomats, the State Department reciprocated by declaring persona non grata two Russian Embassy officials operating in the United States," a State Department spokesman said. "The Department will not tolerate the Russian government's pattern of harassment of our diplomats," the spokesman said, adding that "unacceptable actions against our Embassy personnel in Moscow will have consequences." Russia said on Sept. 14 that it was expelling two U.S. diplomats whom it accused of working with a Russian national charged with collaborating with a foreign state. Relations between Moscow and Washington have plunged to their worst point in more than 60 years because of the war in Ukraine.

Persons: Washington, Simon Lewis, Ismail Shakil, Elaine Monaghan, Susan Heavey, Katharine Jackson, Sandra Maler Organizations: United, U.S . State Department, Embassy, State Department, Relations, Thomson Locations: United States, Russia, Moscow, U.S, Embassy Moscow, Russian, Washington, Ukraine, The U.S

☆ Spanish court includes former women's soccer coach Vilda in probe over Rubiales kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The investigating judge at Spain's High Court has expanded the scope of a sexual assault probe over the allegedly non-consensual kiss on women's national team player Jenni Hermoso to include Jorge Vilda, the squad's former coach, the court said on Wednesday. Vilda was sacked by interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha 10 days after FIFA suspended Rubiales from his post. The coach was widely criticised for repeatedly applauding Rubiales during an emergency RFEF assembly in which the latter railed against "false feminism" and vowed not to resign. Spanish media reports have said Vilda allegedly pressured Hermoso to put out a statement exonerating Rubiales. After the controversial kiss, the RFEF issued a statement quoting Hermoso as saying the kiss was a "mutual, totally spontaneous gesture".

Persons: Jenni Hermoso, Jorge Vilda, Judge Francisco de Jorge, Luis Rubiales, Vilda, Pedro Rocha, Rubiales, De Jorge, Hermoso, Albert Luque, Ruben Rivera, Jorge, Inti Landauro, David Latona, William Maclean Organizations: Spain's, RFEF's, FIFA, England, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Hermoso

☆ Shoplifting and other inventory loss cost retailers $112 billion last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Retailers lost a record $112.1 billion to inventory shrink in 2022, per an industry survey. External and internal theft accounted for roughly two-thirds of the losses. AdvertisementAdvertisementRetailers reported losing a record $112.1 billion to inventory shrink in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation's annual Retail Security Survey, published Tuesday. Combined, the two categories of theft account for roughly two-thirds of total shrink. As a percentage of sales, inventory shrink ticked up to 1.6% from 1.4% in 2021, and the total losses are roughly $18 billion higher than the prior record of $94 billion in 2021.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, National, Security

MADRID (AP) — Some of Spain's World Cup-winning players started reporting to training camp on Tuesday despite not wanting to be called up for the national team while fighting for changes in the soccer federation. It was the latest embarrassing chapter in Spanish soccer in a crisis ignited by former federation president Luis Rubiales kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women's World Cup last month. Tomé left Hermoso off the list “as a way to protect her,” she said. On Monday, the federation released a statement in which it publicly reiterated to the players its commitment to structural changes. Tomé, an assistant to Vilda at the World Cup, included in her first list some of the players who rebelled.

Persons: Montse Tomé, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Tomé, ”, ” Hermoso, “, ” Tomé, Spain’s, Miquel Iceta, ” Iceta, —, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Vilda, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Local, Spain, FIFA, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Madrid, Spanish, Spain, Switzerland, Valencia, Sweden

☆ Analysis-Poland's PiS Faces Far-Right Challenge Over Ukraine Support
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

While Poles' overall attitudes to Ukrainian refugees remain positive and support for Kyiv's war effort is almost unanimous, research shows that critical views are becoming more widespread. SHIFTING VIEWSA survey last month showed that the number of Poles who support allowing refugees from Ukraine in has fallen to 69% from 91% just after the war started. Other research has shown a higher level of aversion to Ukrainian refugees among young women than in other demographics. POLISH PUSHBACKIt is against this political backdrop that PiS decided to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports in response to rising anger in the party's rural heartlands. "When it was necessary, we opened our hearts, we opened our homes for refugees from Ukraine," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said.

Persons: Alan Charlish, Marek Strzelecki WARSAW, Slawomir Mentzen, Piotr Muller, CBOS, Anna Brylka, PiS, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland, Marek Strzelecki, Agnieszka Pikulicka, Justyna, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russia, Justice, Confederation, Reuters, EU, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Warsaw, heartlands, Kyiv, Western

☆ Spain's soccer president resigns 3 weeks after kissing player at Women's World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Once the most powerful man in Spanish soccer, Rubiales insisted the kiss was consensual and done in a "moment of jubilation." "The former president of the Spanish soccer federation has done what he had to do," Spain's Secretary of State for Sport Víctor Francos told Spain's Cadena SER radio. Rubiales said that he had told interim Spanish federation president Pedro Rocha — who replaced him when Rubiales was suspended on Aug. 26 — of his resignation late Sunday night. The uproar against Rubiales coincides with a strike by Spain's women's league as its players call for higher wages. Those included the coaches of Spain's women's and men's teams.

Persons: Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Reuters Luis Rubiales, Spain's, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Sport Víctor Francos, Spain's Cadena, Pedro Rocha —, Piers Morgan, Britain's, Luis, Morgan, Letizia, Princess Sofía, Spain —, –, — Rubiales, Alexia Putellas Organizations: Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF, Reuters, Spain, England, FIFA, Twitter, Rubiales, State, Sport Víctor, Spain's Cadena SER, UEFA, Women's Nations, Pachuca, Barcelona, League, Ballon, Saudi Locations: Spanish, Sydney, Australia, Portugal, Morocco, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Europe, Ballon d'Or, Africa, Madrid

☆ Russian Agricultural Bank could have SWIFT access within 30 days, UN tells Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 8 (Reuters) - A Russian Agricultural Bank subsidiary in Luxembourg could immediately apply to SWIFT to "effectively enable access" for the bank to the international payments system within 30 days, the United Nations told Russia in a letter, seen by Reuters on Friday. A key Russian demand has been the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payments system. "SWIFT has already confirmed that an expedited application process could be possible, bringing the time for effective access within 30 days," Guterres wrote. Russian fertilizer companies would also have to apply to national authorities within the EU for exemptions and the U.N. would engage with the EU on those requests. "The United Nations can help clarify the authorization process for different EU ports and work with Russian counterparts on obtaining the authorizations/permits pre-departure, if required."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, SWIFT, Antonio Guterres, Sergei Lavrov, Guterres, Lavrov, Russia's, RAB, John Neal, Lloyd's, Michelle Nichols, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Russian Agricultural Bank, United Nations, Reuters, RSHB Capital S.A, Russian, Black Sea Initiative, Russian Foreign Ministry, UN Secretariat, SWIFT, European Union, UN, RAB, Facility, Lloyd's, RIC, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Bosnia, Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Russia, United, Moscow, Turkey, Ukraine, London, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands

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