PRESS TV, London
2022 has been dominated by a cost-of-living crisis, and the figures are staggering. Inflation is running at a double-digit pace, the highest in 40 years and far outpacing wage growth. While food prices have shot up almost 20% and the cost of heating a typical home has jumped more than 150%.
As temperatures plummet below zero and desperation rises, key sector worker unions have launched mass strike actions to pressure the government to raise wages.
The government has pinned much of the blame on economic recovery from the Covid era, however, critics say it’s ruling Conservative incompetence and leadership instability that has left the economy in a dire state.
A lesser-discussed reason for a Europe-wide crisis is the ongoing Ukraine war. Britain has remained a staunch supporter of continued fighting, even upping it’s shipments of arms and financial support.
Fuel prices, food costs, energy bills, low wages, strikes and inflation have all marred 2022. Does the current government have what it takes to resolve these issues in 2023? Perhaps, bit not without major cost to the taxpayer.
The prices of some life-saving medicines have soared to levels that are unaffordable for ordinary people in Venezuela as the United States has ramped up military presence in the Caribbean off Venezuela's coast, alongside escalating sanctions, blockades and military threats against the oil-rich South American nation since late August.
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At a northeastern suburb in the capital city Caracas, locals can still purchase most of the commonly used medicines at a major supermarket, where some antibiotics have been sold out, and some first-aid medicines and supplies have become too costly for ordinary residents.
"I'm here mainly to buy antibiotics. I have problems with my lungs. But I can't get all I want, such as vancomycin," said a resident named Alfonso.
"Recent tensions have affected the supplies and prices of drugs. The prices of cancer drugs, insulin drugs and albumin are very high, and most patients here cannot afford them," said Giovanna Gonzalez a ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is prepared to use military force to achieve the goals of its special military operation if Ukraine continues to delay peace talks.
During an inspection of a Russian armed forces command post on Saturday, Putin stressed that Moscow will not allow Kiev’s obstruction to prevent progress.
“If the Kiev authorities do not want to resolve the matter peacefully, we will accomplish all the tasks before us in the course of the special military operation by military means,” he said.
The Russian leader noted that the Ukrainian authorities are not moving toward a peaceful resolution, adding, “We see that even today, unfortunately, the leaders of the Kiev regime are in no hurry to resolve this conflict peacefully. I spoke about this a year ago in a speech at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Putin also received reports from Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and commanders of Russia’s “Centre” and “East” military groups.
Meanwhile, ...
