The National Bank of Ukraine has revoked the license of Prosto Leasing LLC to operate as a financial company authorized to engage in financial leasing, according to a statement on the regulator’s website.
The basis for this decision was the second violation within a single year of the mandatory requirement for “Prosto Leasing” to submit to the NBU an assurance report on its annual financial statements (reporting data), namely, a violation of the requirements of the Regulation on the Authorization of Financial Service Providers and the Conditions for Their Operation, approved by NBU Resolution No. 199.
As previously reported, on July 7, 2025, a corrective measure was imposed on the company in the form of a requirement to take steps to eliminate (correct) the violations identified during the supervisory review. The violation was rectified.
In 2026, “Prosto Leasing” committed a repeat violation (its second within a single year): it failed to submit to the National Bank an assurance report on its annual financial statements for 2025.
The decision to impose a corrective measure in the form of license revocation was adopted by the National Bank’s Committee on Supervision and Regulation of Non-Bank Financial Services Markets on July 20, 2026. It takes effect on the date the company is notified of the decision.
Prosto Leasing LLC is a Ukrainian financial company that has been operating in the operating and financial leasing market since August 2021. On February 19, 2024, the National Bank of Ukraine renewed the company’s license to provide financial leasing services and made the corresponding changes to the Register of Financial Institutions.
According to Serbian Economist, the Ukrainian documentary “Night Shift,” directed by Megumi Lim, has been selected for the competition program of the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival, which will take place in Montenegro from August 22 to 28, 2026.
The festival’s documentary section will feature 26 films by filmmakers from various countries. Of these, 24 films will compete for the “Golden Mimosa” award, while two others will be screened out of competition. Screenings of the documentary program will take place from August 23 to 27 in the courtyard of writer Ivo Andrić’s house.
Ukraine will be represented by the film *Night Shift*, shot in 2025. Its director is Megumi Lim, a documentary filmmaker and journalist based in Kyiv who previously worked with international media outlets in Japan and China.
The 29-minute film tells the story of people who continue to work in Kharkiv during the nighttime curfew. The film’s protagonists are employees of public services and businesses who keep the city functioning amid regular Russian attacks. The filmmakers show how the war has changed Kharkiv’s nightlife and how residents maintain their usual rhythm despite the threats.
“Night Shift” marks Megumi Lim’s debut short documentary. In 2025, the film won the Audience Choice Award at the Kyiv International Short Film Festival and was also screened at several international film festivals.
The festival program in Herceg Novi also features documentaries from the United States, Norway, Greenland, Chad, Palestine, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Iran, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Finland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Colombia, Serbia, Georgia, Sweden, and Montenegro.
Vladimir Perović, the documentary program’s selector, noted that this year’s program focuses on the war in Ukraine, the situations in Palestine and Bosnia, climate change, the legacy of colonialism, historical memory, the status of women, and the challenges of coming of age.
The festival will take place under the slogan “All the Colors of Cinema” at several venues in Herceg Novi. In addition to the documentary section, the program includes regional feature-length films, European cinema, student films, television series, and events for film industry professionals.
Drinking up to five cups of caffeinated coffee a day is generally safe for most adults and may be associated with a reduced risk of several cardiovascular diseases, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA).
The document was published on July 20, 2026, in the scientific journal Circulation. Its authors analyzed the results of studies on the effects of caffeine on blood pressure, cholesterol levels, heart rhythm, and the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes.
For most adults, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is considered safe. This corresponds to approximately three to five standard cups of black coffee, each about 240 ml. However, the actual caffeine content can vary significantly depending on the type of coffee beans and the method of preparation.
According to the AHA, drinking two to four cups of coffee a day is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. In some studies, the lowest risk of coronary heart disease was observed in people who drank two to three cups a day.
Regular consumption of coffee without sugar, syrups, or cream is also associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, researchers emphasize that the benefits may be due not only to caffeine but also to other bioactive compounds in coffee that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Adding large amounts of sugar, sweet syrups, cream, and other additives can reduce the beverage’s potential benefits. The authors of the review also do not recommend extending the findings about coffee to energy drinks. High doses of caffeine and the additional ingredients in energy drinks can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart rhythm disturbances.
The method of coffee preparation also matters. Unfiltered coffee—including espresso, French press coffee, and Turkish coffee—contains cafestol, which may contribute to an increase in levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol. When a paper filter is used, the content of this substance is significantly reduced.
However, experts do not consider five cups to be a one-size-fits-all recommendation for everyone. The response to caffeine depends on age, genetics, metabolic rate, medications taken, and overall health. For some people, even a small amount of coffee can cause a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, high blood pressure, or sleep disturbances.
Most of the data analyzed comes from observational studies, so while they show an association, they do not prove that coffee itself directly prevents disease. The American Heart Association notes the need for additional randomized controlled trials.
Source: ScienceAlert
In the “Medium- and Long-Term Market” section of the UEB, trading continued for July and August 2026 resources. In total, nine companies placed bids to buy or sell natural gas: Ukrnafta, GPK Naftogaz Trading, the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System Operator, LTK Electrum, and others. In total, 4,350 thousand cubic meters of natural gas—for July and August 2026—were sold in the section via the GTS and UGS facilities.
In the UEB’s short-term natural gas market, participants submitted bids on the intraday market and the “day-ahead” market. A total of 56 trades were concluded, with a combined volume of 1,551 thousand cubic meters.
This week, European gas contracts rose in price again. The M+1 TTF rose in every session: from 48.8 euros/MWh at the close of the previous Friday to about 57 euros/MWh on the morning of July 17 (+15%). The main drivers were the resumption of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran and new risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The status of the strait and differences in interpretation remain highly contentious. The market is once again assessing not only the actual availability of Qatari LNG, but also freight rates, insurance, and shipowners’ willingness to call at ports in the region.
Natural gas imports from Europe stood at 1.6 million cubic meters per day.
In 2024, nearly 31.6 million jobs in European Union countries were supported by final demand for European goods and services from non-EU countries, Eurostat reported on July 20, 2026.
This figure represents 14.4% of total employment in the European Union. In 2010, external demand supported 22.6 million jobs, or 11.5% of employment. Thus, over the course of 14 years, the number of jobs linked to foreign consumers increased by approximately 9 million.
Gross value added generated in the EU as a result of final consumption and investment outside its borders rose from EUR1.3 trillion in 2010 to EUR2.788 trillion in 2024. Its share of the EU economy’s total value added rose from 13.3% to 17.2%.
The United States remains the largest external market for the European economy. U.S. demand supported approximately 6 million jobs in the EU, or 19.1% of all employment linked to final demand outside the bloc. The United States also accounted for EUR585.8 billion in value added—21% of the total.
The United Kingdom generated demand that supported 3.4 million jobs in the European Union, or 10.6% of the corresponding employment. China ranked third with 3.1 million jobs and a 9.8% share. However, in terms of value added generated, China, at EUR289.8 billion, outpaced the United Kingdom, which stood at EUR276 billion.
Swiss demand supported approximately 1.5 million jobs in the EU and generated EUR126.6 billion in value added.
Eurostat’s calculations are based on the FIGARO cross-country tables and take into account not only employees of companies that directly export products but also employment across the entire production chain—including suppliers of raw materials, components, and services. External final demand refers to goods and services purchased outside the EU for consumption or investment.
Eurostat also provides a broader measure of the impact of exports, which includes intermediate goods and services: in 2024, exports to countries outside the EU supported 32.9 million jobs, or 15% of total employment, and generated EUR2.905 trillion in value added.
The growing dependence of European employment on external markets highlights the importance of the EU’s trade relations with the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. Potential tariffs, trade restrictions, or a decline in demand in these countries could affect not only European exporters but also companies operating within their associated supply chains.
EMPLOYMENT, EUROPEAN UNION, Eurostat, EXPORTS, UNITED STATES
According to Serbian Economist, Serbia has extended tariff quotas on imports of cement and certain types of steel products through the end of 2026. Once the established import volumes are exhausted, additional duties of 50% will be imposed.
The restrictions were originally introduced from January 1 through June 30, 2026, based on a government decree aimed at protecting industries of strategic importance to Serbia’s economy. However, the measure’s validity has been extended through December 31, with a simultaneous revision of some quotas and the list of commodity codes.
The quotas apply to Portland cement, hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel, rebar, hot-rolled wire rod, and certain other iron and steel products.
Quotas have also been established for certain categories of nails and wire, welded pipes, reinforcing mesh, and lattice structures. Goods that are not produced in Serbia have, in certain cases, been exempted from the restrictions.
The additional duty is added to the standard customs rate. For example, if the standard duty is 10%, once the quota is exhausted, the total burden on the importer can reach 60%.
In the first phase, the total quota volume was 421,1 thousand metric tons. Of this, 250,35 thousand metric tons were allocated to cement, 44,7 thousand metric tons to hot-rolled steel, and approximately 7,2 thousand metric tons to cold-rolled products.
Another 67,85 thousand metric tons consisted of quotas for rebar and wire rod in coils, and 51 thousand metric tons—for rebar in bars.
The quotas are allocated among countries based on their share of shipments to the Serbian market in 2020–2024. The largest volumes are allocated to the European Union, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Albania.
Ukraine also received a separate country quota; in previous years, it supplied Serbia with rolled steel, rebar, wire, and other iron and steel products.
For hot-rolled steel, the total quarterly quota is approximately 22,000 metric tons. Products of Ukrainian origin account for just over 1,000 metric tons per quarter.
An additional 600 metric tons per quarter is allocated for shipments of rebar and hot-rolled wire rod in coils from Ukraine. Once these volumes are exhausted, the relevant products may be subject to an additional 50% duty.
In 2024, Serbia imported $23.15 million worth of iron and steel from Ukraine, as well as an additional $9.55 million worth of finished iron and steel products.
However, not all Ukrainian exports are subject to the new restrictions. The application of quotas depends on the specific customs code of the product.
For Ukrainian metallurgical and metalworking enterprises, Serbia’s decision means that small, regular shipments will be eligible for preferential terms only within the established quotas.
Larger shipments or goods cleared after the quota has been exhausted may become uncompetitive due to a sharp increase in customs costs.
The Serbian government explains the restrictions as necessary to preserve domestic cement and steel production, support traditional trade flows, and ensure the stability of the domestic market.
Additional factors include the tightening of European protective measures against steel imports and the rising costs Serbian companies face for energy and compliance with environmental requirements.
For Serbian manufacturers, the decision may provide additional protection against foreign competition. At the same time, the quotas pose a risk of rising raw material costs for construction companies, manufacturers of metal structures, pipes, wire mesh, and other businesses that rely on imported rolled steel and wire.
https://t.me/relocationrs/3280
