Ruble is crashing as new sanctions take effect

 

The currency of Russia sank overnight during trading as the ruble plunged in value against dollars.

Significance? The dive reveals that the ever-increasing number of restrictions of the U.S., the European Union and the United Kingdom will be a huge blow to Russia's economy -- which is the 11th largest in the world -- and its citizens and its people, causing an event that could ripple throughout the world financial system.

• The Russian central bank increased its interest rates from 9.5 percent to 20%, and announced a variety of actions in response on Monday.

Information: Shortly before midnight in New York the ruble was down more than 25 percent against the dollar according to figures from Fact Set
.

• Since the beginning of the year, the value of the dollar has fallen by more than 40%..

How does it work A hit such as this on a nation's currency is somewhere along the border between psychological and economic combat.

• It is threatening to wipe out much of the savings based on rubles in Russian banks.
• This will push the rates of inflation that are already high in Russia to a new high.
• This causes people to take out their cash in large quantities and then quickly attempt to convert it into more secure currencies, such as the euro, the dollar or cryptocurrency currencies. ( Runs on ATMs are already getting underway in Russia this weekend.)
• The rate of interest is soaring as investors across the globe are spooked by the thought that banks can lend money to other countries who use currencies that may become unusable.
• The high interest rates put the economic brakes forcing people out of work when prices rise and prices rise, a terrible combination of circumstances referred to as the stagflation.

Our thoughts:I feel real sympathy for Russian people who have to cope with this. They're suffering from an act of a dictator who is beyond their control.

What's on our radar: An economic shock that this magnitude will shake global markets, possibly in unpredictably ways. Investors seem to be preparing by shifting away from market risk and into the security of bonds issued by government.

• Futures markets point to the possibility of a fall in prices once trading begins from New York.
• The prices of U.S. Treasury bonds are significantly higher because investors are rushing to purchase what's generally regarded as the safest investment on the planet.

Flashback The possibility is not out of the the possibility that a financial institution like an investment fund for instance is not in a position to take on an event this massive. Remember that this was Russian state's bankruptcy in its 1998 bonds that destroyed the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management and nearly triggered an economic crisis.

Ex-Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat reportedly died in a helicopter crash

An Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. “An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident,” the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.

There were 14 people on board, including Rawat’s wife, security commandos, and the pilot.

#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.

(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.

(Pics Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/miALr88sm1

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

The local military officers, who reached the location, we're told that local residents had taken two passengers who had suffered 80% burns to the hospital, ANI reported.

Search and rescue teams are checking nearby bases for more passengers.

More details are awaited.

What will Cristiano Ronaldo's Man Utd shirt number be?

Cristiano Ronaldo has now made a sensational return to his former home of Old Trafford, having signed for Manchester United for an initial £13 million (€15m/$18m) fee with add-ons of up to £7m (€8m/$9m). 

The striker had informed Juventus coach Max Allegri of his desire to leave Serie A for opportunities elsewhere, and while Manchester City seemed to be the favourites to sign him, it was Man Utd who won the race.

Ronaldo is famed for his relationship with the number seven, but what shirt will he wear at Manchester United? Goal takes a look at the possibilities, the options available as well as Ronaldo's squad number history.

What shirt number will Cristiano Ronaldo wear at Man Utd?

It has not yet been confirmed which number Ronaldo will wear at Man Utd.

Ronaldo has long been synonymous with the number seven, and has even built his entire brand under the 'CR7' name

Currently, the number seven at Manchester United – which Ronaldo has previously worn during his first spell – is being occupied by Edinson Cavani.

The issue would be resolved should Cavani end up leaving Man Utd this window, but Goal can confirm that the Uruguay international's future is still firmly in Manchester.

Ronaldo would likely not be happy to wear a number that isn't seven, a number that has also been worn by United club legends such as David Beckham, George Best, Denis Law, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson.

But for now, the number is currently unavailable to the Portugal captain.

The number nine (Anthony Martial), which Ronaldo has also worn in the past, is currently taken.

What shirt numbers are available to Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd?

Currently, should Ronaldo be unable to take up number seven, he would have to make do with one of the following available numbers: 12, 15, 24, 30, 31, 33, 35.

What numbers has Cristiano Ronaldo worn before?

Though Ronaldo has built his entire career around his favoured number seven, it wasn't always the number that he was associated with.

He wore the number 28 during his career at Sporting Lisbon, and it was his preferred number when he signed for Man Utd under the management of Six Alex Ferguson in 2004.

It was Ferguson who persuaded Ronaldo to take up the iconic number seven jersey, due to his confidence that the forward could reach the same astronomical heights as previous wearers of the shirt.

Indeed, a new era began at Old Trafford when Ronaldo assumed the number seven shirt, and the rest is history.

Ronaldo did have to initially make do with the number nine shirt when he transferred to Real Madrid in 2009, until the number seven was vacated by club legend Raul, who left for Schalke in 2010.

Arsenal vs Chelsea FC: Live Stream

Arsenal host Chelsea in a Premier League London derby on Sunday with pressure already on the Gunners to cause an upset.

Mikel Arteta’s side have had something of a frustrating transfer window despite the £50m arrival of Ben White, and stumbled into the new season with a 2-0 opening-day defeat at newly-promoted Brentford.

The performance and result set alarm bells ringing, and Arsenal must pick themsleves up quickly if they are to better last season’s eighth-placed finish.

As for Chelsea, the Champions League holders are expected to be serious title contenders this term - especially after re-signing £97.5m Romelu Lukaku. The Blues brushed off Crystal Palace 3-0 last weekend, and Thomas Tuchel will be confident of three more points in north London... but anything can happen in a derby.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Arsenal vs Chelsea is scheduled for a 4:30pm BST kick-off on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

The match will be played at the Emirates Stadium.

Where to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea

TV channel: The match will be televised on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or Sky Go.

Arsenal vs Chelsea team news

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both missed the trip to Brentford due to illness, and Arteta is unsure whether the forwards will be available for this weekend.

Eddie Nketiah would have been an option, but he is out with an ankle injury, while Thomas Partey (ankle) and Gabriel (knee) are also sidelined.

Folarin Balogun struggled in leading the line at Brentford, and Arteta could be tempted to deploy Gabriel Martinelli up top with Bukayo Saka coming on in the flank.

As for Chelsea, club-record signing Lukaku has declared himself fit to face the Gunners, with the only question mark over whether he will start or come off the bench for his second debut for the Blues.

N’Golo Kante should be back from an ankle injury, though Ruben Loftus-Cheek is out after testing positive for Covid-19 - and Hakim Ziyech is recovering from the shoulder injury he picked up in the Super Cup win.

Trevoh Chalobah has started the season well with a memorable goal against Palace, and could start once again here - though Tuchel may be tempted to bring Thiago Silva back in for his experience.

On paper, Chelsea are firm favourites for this derby - but given Arsenal won both meetings last season, it is unwise to back a comprehensive victory.

Much will depend on whether Aubemayeng and Lacazette are available, as Arsenal looked short of attacking ideas against Brentford in their absence.

Still, Chelsea will fancy their chances of a win with Lukaku likely to play some part.

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Arsenal wins: 80

Draws: 58

Chelsea wins: 65

Arsenal won both League meetings last season, beating Chelsea 3-1 at home in December and leaving Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 victory in May.

Death toll rises to 77 from Turkey floods; 47 reported missing

At least 77 people have been killed and emergency workers continue to search for 47 others missing after flash floods swept through Turkish Black Sea provinces, authorities said.

The floods last week brought chaos as torrents of water tossed dozens of cars and heaps of debris along streets, destroyed buildings and bridges, closed roads and damaged electricity infrastructure.

At least 62 people died as a result of floods in Kastamonu province. Another 14 people died in Sinop and one in Bartin, the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said on Monday.

Forty-seven people were reported missing in Kastamonu and Sinop, it said.

AFAD said some 8,000 personnel, backed by 20 rescue dogs, are involved in the rescue and assistance efforts.

Drone footage showed massive damage in the town of Bozkurt in Kastamonu province, where rescue teams searched demolished buildings.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated from affected areas, some with the help of helicopters and boats, AFAD said. About 40 villages remain without power.

Weather forecasters warned of further flooding because of expected heavy rainfall on Monday in Black Sea provinces to the east of the regions affected last week.

The heavy flooding came after Turkey endured a searing heatwave and as crews in the south were taming wildfires that raced across the country’s Mediterranean coast.

Climate scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events – such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms – as the planet warms.