The IMF will be forced to significantly worsen the forecast for economic growth in the world; On the eve of cold weather, people will leave the occupied cities. Korrespondent.net highlights the main events of yesterday.
The IMF may worsen its forecast for the global economy in July
The International Monetary Fund has warned that it will “significantly” worsen the prognosis for the global economy. Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Director of the IMF Strategy, Policy and Analysis Department, said this. Speaking at an expert forum after the meeting of G20 finance ministers in Indonesia, she recalled that after the start of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the fund had already worsened its forecast for global GDP growth from 4.4% to 3.6%. But since then, new problems have intensified: rising food and energy prices, the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic, and a slowdown in economic growth in China.
New wave of internally displaced people predicted in Ukraine
On the eve of the heating season in Ukraine a new wave is predicted internal movement of people from east to west of Ukraine. Thus, a part of the Zaporozhye region is actually cut off from gas supply, and there is no way to restore it yet. This means that there will most likely be no heating season in those places, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Irina Vereshchuk said.
Zelensky proposed to parliament to dismiss Bakanov
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft resolution on dismissal of the head of the security service Ukraine Ivan Bakanov. The dismissal of Bakanov will be considered by the Rada at the next plenary session. This issue will be the first item on the parliament’s agenda.
The Verkhovna Rada dismissed Maryna Lazebna from the post of Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine
The Verkhovna Rada at a meeting on Monday, July 18, fired Marina Lazebnaya from the post of Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine. 277 people’s deputies voted for Lazebna’s resignation from the post of head of the Ministry of Social Policy. Lazebnaya entered the Cabinet of Ministers with the advent of the government of Denys Shmygal in March 2020. Prior to that, she headed the State Social Service, since 2015 she has been engaged in the modernization of the social support system under the Ministry of Social Policy. Oksana Zholnovich, who now heads the Department of Social Policy and Health at the President’s Office, is being considered as a candidate for the post of head of the Ministry of Social Policy.
Ukraine has officially completed the ratification of the Istanbul Convention
Ukraine completed ratification of the Istanbul Conventionby submitting the relevant documents for safekeeping to the Council of Europe. The document will enter into force on November 1, 2022. The importance of the Convention is that it is the first international legally binding piece of legislation designed to protect the rights of women throughout the world and at all times: both peacetime and war.
Azerbaijan has signed an important agreement with the EU
Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen signed a memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy industry with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The Memorandum of Understanding on the Strategic Energy Partnership contains a commitment to double the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor to supply at least 20 billion cubic meters of gas to the EU annually until 2027. Azerbaijan is already expected to increase natural gas supplies to the EU from 8.1 billion cubic meters in 2021 to the expected 12 billion cubic meters in 2022.
Scholz announced the need to change the rules for making EU foreign policy decisions
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU can no longer afford exercise a national veto in foreign policy decisions if he wants to maintain a leading role in world politics. Scholz noted that Russia’s war in Ukraine makes unity in Europe even more urgent and reinforces the need to end the “selfish blocking” of European solutions by individual member states.
The EU Council approved the fifth package of military assistance to Ukraine for 500 million euros
Council of the European Union agreed on the fifth tranche of military assistance for Ukraine for 500 million euros. According to the decision of the EU foreign ministers, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the total amount of EU military assistance to Ukraine has reached 2.5 billion euros.
The number of cases of covid infection increased by a third in a week
The Ministry of Health reported that number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine over the past week increased by more than a third and now stands at 1431. A week earlier, this figure was 1056 cases. The top regions with the fastest growth in the number of cases included Kyiv (112 cases, +89.8%), Rivne (21, +90.9%), Donetsk (16, +128.6%), Chernihiv (15, + 150%), Transcarpathian (84, + 200%) regions.
The EU agreed on another package of sanctions against Russia
EU countries agreed on another package of sanctions against Russia, said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó. In particular, 48 citizens, including one deputy prime minister and several heads of regions, and nine companies were subject to restrictions. In addition, the EU will impose an embargo on gold and tighten trade in dual-use goods, further restrict government purchases and accept deposits, and prohibit the provision of accounting, auditing and tax advisory services.
Part of the EU zone faces drought
In the European Union 46% of the territory is at risk of drought, and 11% are already experiencing a lack of soil moisture. The effects of the drought are likely to affect agriculture in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Romania and France. To some extent, the July weather conditions will harm the agricultural producers of Hungary, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Croatia.
Gazprom announced force majeure on gas supplies to Europe
Gazprom announced force majeure in relation to gas supplies to Europe at least one major consumer. Gazprom’s letter said the company would not be able to fulfill its supply obligations due to “extraordinary circumstances” beyond its control. According to a Reuters source, we are talking about supplies via the Nord Stream gas pipeline, the main supply route to Germany.
Norway began raising money for Bayraktar for the Armed Forces
The Norwegians, following the Lithuanians and Poles, decided raise funds to buy a drone Bayraktar TB2 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The organizers of the fundraiser stated that every citizen can donate at least 10 crowns to Bayraktar TB2. Thus, they plan to collect 55 million crowns (about $5.5 million) and transfer them to the aid fund at the Ukrainian Embassy.
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