FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in September raised the forecast for world wheat harvest in 2022 to 787.2 million tons, which is 1% more than was harvested in 2021, according to a summary of the organization.
“And, perhaps, (the indicator) will reach an even higher, record level. This is due to a higher than expected harvest in the European Union and the Russian Federation,” the document says.
In general, world grain production will decrease by 1.7% – to 2 billion 768 million tons, including feed grain – by 2.8%, to 1 billion 468 million tons, “due mainly to unfavorable agrotechnical conditions in the United States “explain FAO experts.
In addition, global rice production in 2022 is expected to reach 512.8 million tonnes, down 2.4% from the all-time high of 2021. The decline in the forecast compared to September is due to a prolonged summer drought, high temperatures in China and flooding in Pakistan, the document says.
As expected, grain consumption in the 2022/2023 agricultural year may decrease by 0.5% – to 2 billion 788 million tons, mainly due to a decrease in feed consumption.
Dynamics of balance of payments of Ukraine in 1998-2022 (USD mln)
graphics of the Club of Experts
Oleksandr Buryak and Serhiy Buryak each became owners of 25% shares in PJSC Brokbiznes Insurance Company (Kyiv), according to information posted in the database of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission.
In addition, it is noted that Sergei Buryak did not previously own shares of the company, Alexander Buryak was the owner of 0.002723%.
As reported, IC Brokbusiness has been operating on the Ukrainian insurance market for more than 25 years and is represented in all regions of Ukraine. The insurer has 39 licenses for voluntary and compulsory types of insurance.
In January-June 2022, the company collected UAH 120.14 million in gross premiums, which is 3.46% more than in the same period a year earlier, made insurance payments and indemnities for UAH 29.56 million, which is 33.16% less than for the same period in 2021, and the level of payments decreased by 13.48 p.p. and amounted to 24.61%.
The equity capital of the company as of June 30 increased by 48.29% – up to UAH 135.85 million, while its gross liabilities decreased by 13.07% and amounted to UAH 121.25 million. As a result, there was an increase in the level of coverage of the insurer’s obligations by equity capital by 46.36 percentage points. Therefore, as of the beginning of the second half of 2022, equity covered 112.04% of the company’s liabilities. The volume of cash and cash equivalents amounted to UAH 117.99 million, an increase of 17.15%.
According to the results of the first half of 2022, compared to the first half of 2021, the insurer’s operating profit increased 14 times – to UAH 46.22 million, and its net profit increased almost 29 times – to UAH 44.53 million.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be held in Liverpool, the press service of the contest reports.
“The EBU and the BBC are delighted to announce that Liverpool has been selected as the host city of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest following a competitive selection process,” the post reads.
The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place at the Liverpool Arena on Saturday, May 13, and the semi-finals on May 9 and 11.
The BBC, together with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is organizing this event in coordination with the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne.
Simultaneously with the announcement of the host city, the EBU released the official Eurovision 2023 logo, which features the Ukrainian flag.
The logo design reflects that while the contest will be held in the UK, it will be held on behalf of Ukraine, the winner of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
“It is symbolic that the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be held in Liverpool, Odessa’s sister city. The organization of a competition of this level makes super high demands. I am sure that the city, recognized as the capital of pop music, will welcome them in the best way and present a music festival that will amaze both delegation, and fans of Eurovision,” commented the results of the selection of the head of the board “Suspilny” Nikolay Chernotitsky.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss also congratulated Liverpool on winning the qualifier.
“Huge congratulations to Liverpool for being chosen to host Eurovision 2023. A welcoming city with a rich musical heritage, Liverpool will put on an unforgettable show dedicated to Ukraine’s rich culture and creativity,” Truss tweeted.
In turn, the Minister of Culture of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko also expressed confidence that Liverpool will do an excellent job of holding the competition.
“I welcome the decision of the BBC to elect the city to host Eurovision 2023. I am sure that Liverpool will do an excellent job of holding such a large-scale holiday and reflect the traditions and characteristics of Ukraine in it,” Tkachenko wrote in his Telegram channel.
At the request of the Ukrainian authorities, Switzerland is providing Ukraine with a batch of equipment for extinguishing fires, cleaning polluted water and clearing rubble, the Federal Council of Switzerland reports.
“The Federal Ministry of Defence, Civil Defense and Sports and the city of Basel provided equipment worth a total of 5.2 million Swiss francs. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, which is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will finance and organize the transport of goods. The first two trucks left today Switzerland,” the statement said.
It is noted that all cargo will be transported by land transport in stages. The first two trucks with four construction vehicles left for Ukraine today. In total, Switzerland will supply 20 construction vehicles, three fire trucks and a smaller vehicle to transport equipment and personnel, two mobile containers for the collection and treatment of contaminated water, and two containers for emergency response, including handling equipment, lighting equipment and generators.
The goods will be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine after on-site training of specialists conducted by the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. Then the Ukrainian authorities will transport the equipment to places, including Kharkiv, for restoration and repair work.
The Association of Woodworking Enterprises of Ukraine public union asks the government not to impose licensing and quotas on the export of fuel wood from Ukraine, as this may upset the balance in the industry and lead to attempts to manually control the work of enterprises.
The negative impact on wood processing of the possible introduction of licensing or export quotas was reported on the association’s website on Friday.
It is clarified that the organization asks the Cabinet of Ministers not to adopt the relevant changes to Decree No. 1424 of December 29, 2021 regarding exported fuel wood in the form of logs, logs, brushwood, branches, knots, wood chips or cod, sawdust, cod, shavings, debris and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated or non-agglomerated, fuel briquettes and pellets.
“While the Ukrainian economy needs to be supported like never before, the Cabinet of Ministers may adopt changes to the legislation that will actually lead to an increase in the number of corruption schemes, pressure on woodworking enterprises and a decrease in the investment attractiveness of Ukraine,” the association emphasizes.
In addition, it is noted that the adoption of this document may lead to the fact that, under the guise of providing the domestic market with fuel lumber, the process of manual control over enterprises engaged in the corresponding production will begin to be set up.
Reportedly, the activities of the industry are already controlled by authorities, including when commissioning the necessary equipment, hiring workers, obtaining environmental permits, etc. The introduction of wood processing licensing will allow these departments to openly demand funds from exporting enterprises.
“We ask the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine not to accept this document, to hold additional discussions on this issue with representatives of business and the public in order to make effective decisions for the industry and the country’s economy as a whole,” the association quotes its head Pavel Vasiliev.
