Sources: Reuters
The Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts that by the year's end, global spending on food imports will have increased by 10 percent from the previous year to reach "an all-time high" of US$1.94 trillion, due to currency depreciations and the war in Ukraine. "The bulk" of this increase in spending will be by high-income countries while food import "volumes are also expected to rise." $2022-11-11
A United States grand jury awards former professional basketball player Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, $16 million against the Los Angeles County sheriff's and fire departments for releasing graphic photographs of the former player, their 13-year-old daughter, and the other victims of the helicopter crash. Another victim's widow receives $15 million. $2022-08-24
Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, the founder of the Indonesian hardline Islamist group Islamic Defenders Front, is sentenced to eight months in prison for holding several mass events in violation of Indonesia's COVID-19 regulations, and is fined Rp 20 million (US$1,400) for a specific event held at an Islamic boarding school in West Java. $2021-05-27
Italy approves a new $4.7 billion stimulus package in its 2021 budget to foster an economic rebound from the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. $2020-10-18
State-run oil company Saudi Aramco reports that profits in the first half of 2020 plunged by 50% compared to the same period last year, with decreased demand in oil caused by COVID-19 cited as the main reason by CEO Amin H. Nasser. The company plans to uphold its promise of paying out US$75 billion in annual dividends in spite of this. $2020-08-9
A Dutch appeal court reinstates order for Russia to pay $50 billion over Yukos. $2020-02-18
At a United Nations donor conference nations pledge US$2 billion in aid for Yemen, with almost half coming from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. $2018-04-3
The current largest cruise ship in the world Royal Caribbean International's $1.35 billion MV "Symphony of the Seas" commences its maiden voyage. $2018-03-31
According to an advisor to Gambian President Adama Barrow, more than 500 million dalasi, equivalent to US$11.3 million, are reported missing from state coffers after former President Yahya Jammeh left the country in exile. $2017-01-23
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency orders Volkswagen to fix nearly 500,000 VW and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015 that include software that circumvents EPA emissions standards. The company's illegal use of so-called "defeat devices" threaten public health, in some cases releasing 40 times the pollution standard of nitrogen oxide emissions. The company faces possible U.S. fines of up to $37,500 per vehicle for the violations which could total more than $18 billion. $2015-09-18