The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced a project strategy to support small farmers in a number of frontline regions and will provide them with $1,000 vouchers to purchase grain seeds for the upcoming spring and autumn sowing campaigns, the FAO press service reports.
“FAO is committed to empowering farmers to rebuild and sustain their livelihoods by providing access to quality agricultural inputs, strengthening local economies and promoting the long-term resilience of war-affected communities,” the statement said.
The initiative is funded by the governments of Germany and France. It is expected to be an important step in restoring agricultural production and strengthening the food security of communities affected by the ongoing war.
The program will be open to 550 small and medium-sized farmers who cultivate land plots ranging from 10 to 300 hectares in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions. Priority will be given to farms run by women and those operating near the frontline, where farming conditions remain difficult.
Farmers interested in participating can apply for assistance through the State Agrarian Register (SAR) until January 26, 2025. After the applications are processed, selected participants will receive confirmation through the SAR, as well as detailed information on how to receive and use the vouchers.
FAO noted that applying does not guarantee assistance, as eligibility will be determined based on specific program criteria.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved $250 million in financing to support Uzbekistan’s accelerated climate transition to a green, inclusive and resilient economy.
This project marks an important milestone in promoting sustainable economic growth in line with the Uzbekistan 2030 Development Strategy, as well as the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The project will cover three interrelated areas. First, it will improve climate-related governance structures. Second, it will focus on improving water and land management while promoting economic resilience. Thirdly, the project will accelerate the transition to low-carbon solutions in key sectors such as energy and transportation, prioritizing energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
In addition, the project will pay special attention to the implementation of sustainability and climate risk disclosure practices for state-owned enterprises, as well as to the expansion of renewable energy initiatives that benefit women and vulnerable communities.
Forecast of power system capacity deficit, %
Open4Business.com.ua
Ukraine is planning to complete a large-scale reconstruction of the international road border crossing point (IRCP) Yahodyn (on the border with Poland) by 2028. According to the Operational Plan of the Border Infrastructure Development Strategy with EU countries and the Republic of Moldova until 2030, posted on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers, it is planned to build a terminal, a bridge crossing over the Western Bug River, parking lots for trucks, reconstruction of access roads.
It is planned to allocate UAH 400 million – half of the necessary amount of UAH 850 million – for the construction of the terminal at PP already in 2025. The remaining 450 million UAH will be financed in 2026, including at the expense of international technical assistance.
In addition, “reconstruction of the existing section” is envisioned, for which UAH 5 million of the required UAH 868 million has been allocated in 2024. In 2025 it is planned to allocate UAH 65 million, in 2026 – UAH 400 million and the same amount in 2027. The works will be financed from the state budget and international technical assistance.
At IACP “Yahodyn” in 2025 will be introduced a video monitoring system “Traffic Management System”, for which 150 million UAH will be allocated at the expense of international technical assistance. In addition, the purchase of a scanning system of mobile type with portal scanning function will be completed by the end of 2025. For this purpose 55.4 million UAH will be allocated at the expense of the loan of the Republic of Poland. The first tranche – 55.4 million UAH for the purchase of the system was allocated in 2024.
The project of reconstruction of IACP “Yagodin” provides for the construction of a new bridge crossing over the river Western Bug – 1.5 billion UAH. For the realization of this project it is planned to allocate UAH 20 million in 2025, UAH 500 million in 2026, UAH 500 million in 2027 and UAH 480 million in 2028, including at the expense of international technical assistance.
In addition, it is envisaged to overhaul the public highway of state importance M-07 and the approaches to the auto terminals of Yagodyn No. 2 and Yagodyn No. 3. In 2025, UAH 236.09 million out of the required UAH 236.66 million will be allocated for the implementation of this project, including at the expense of EU technical assistance, in particular, the CEF project (covers 50% of project needs – IF-U). In 2024, UAH 0.56 mln was allocated for the project implementation.
Among other things, the construction of new parking lots for trucks is envisaged, for which UAH 179.8 million will be allocated in 2025 and UAH 227.9 million in 2026, including at the expense of CEF mechanisms. In 2024, UAH 3.74 million out of the required UAH 411.16 million has been allocated for the project implementation.
Reconstruction and overhaul of the M-07 Kyiv-Kovel-Yagodin highway with a length of 69.9 km is envisaged. In 2026 it is planned to allocate UAH 2.5 million, in 2027 – UAH 4.5 million and another UAH 4.5 million in 2028 out of UAH 11.5 million required for the realization of this project. Funding will be provided from the state budget.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he is stepping down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, but will remain as head of government until the Liberals elect a new leader, Reuters reports, citing Trudeau’s speech.
“I intend to resign as party leader. And as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a rigorous, nationally competitive process,” he said on Monday.
His decision to resign was preceded by a drop in the party’s popularity and open conflicts with other leading Liberals. He said he would remain as prime minister until a new Liberal Party leader is elected.
Trudeau has been heading the government since 2015. However, his popularity has plummeted due to record inflation, rising food prices, and an acute housing crisis. Recent polls have shown that the ruling Liberal Party has an approval rating of 16%, the worst in more than 100 years. The opposition Conservatives, on the other hand, have come out on top in electoral preferences.
Earlier it became known that Trudeau would announce his intention to resign on Monday, January 6. This was reported by the Toronto Star newspaper, citing a high-ranking source. A month ago, US President-elect Donald Trump ridiculed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he called the “governor” of the non-existent state of Canada.
He wrote about this on his social network Truth Social.
Trump commented on the meeting with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, noting that he had the pleasure of having dinner with “Governor of the Great State of Canada, Justin Trudeau, the other day.”
“I look forward to meeting with the Governor again so we can continue our in-depth tariff and trade negotiations, the results of which will be truly spectacular for everyone!” Trump added.
Spain has a multi-level taxation system that includes state, regional and municipal taxes. Let us consider the main taxes in force in the country at the end of 2024 – beginning of 2025.
Let’s start with taxes for individuals:
Income tax (IRPF ) – a progressive scale of rates is applied, consisting of federal and regional parts. The federal (central) part of the rates includes:
Regional authorities set additional rates, which may vary depending on the autonomous community.
Thecapital gains tax is variable, and gains from the sale of real estate and other assets are taxed at the following rates:
Real estate tax (IBI): An annual tax whose rate varies from 0.4% to 1.1% of the cadastral value of the property, depending on the municipality.
Wealth tax: Applies to individuals with net assets above a certain threshold, with progressive rates ranging from 0.2% to 3.5%, depending on the region.
Taxes for legal entities:
Corporate income tax (Impuesto sobre Sociedades): The standard rate is 25%. For small businesses with a turnover of less than €1 million, there is a reduced rate of 23%. New companies can apply the 15% rate for the first two years of profitable activity.
Value added tax (IVA):
Other taxes and duties:
Inheritance and gift tax: Progressive rates from 7.65% to 34% apply, but rates and exemptions may vary significantly from community to community.
Property Transfer Tax (ITP): Charged on the purchase of second-hand real estate, the rate is usually around 6-10% of the value of the property, depending on the region.
Social contributions: Employers and employees are required to make social security contributions. The general rate for the employer is about 29.9% of the employee’s salary, and for the employee – about 6.35%.
The Spanish tax system is characterized by progressive and diverse taxes, which requires careful planning when doing business or living in the country. It is recommended to consult with professional tax advisors to ensure compliance with current legal requirements and optimize the tax burden.
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