Latest news with #Soviet-style
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Peru Two's Michaella McCullum soaks in the Benidorm sun after telling of prison ‘horrors' awaiting Brit ‘smugglers'
McCollum says young Brits 'won't survive' prison as she recalls maggot-infested meals and cockroach-covered tables WISH PERU WERE HERE WISH PERU WERE HERE Peru Two's Michaella McCullum soaks in the Benidorm sun after telling of prison 'horrors' awaiting Brit 'smugglers' PERU Two's Michaella McCollum has been spotted soaking up the sun in Benidorm — just days after warning that Brit 'smugglers' Bella Culley and Charlotte Lee could face 'prison horrors' she wouldn't survive. The 31-year-old convicted drug mule was seen in a pink Louis Vuitton bikini enjoying the beach in Spain. 10 Peru Two's Michaella McCollum cools off in the sea in Benidorm Credit: Splash 10 The convicted drug mule shows off her curves after recent a boob job Credit: Splash 10 Michaella plays with a beach ball while soaking up the Spanish sunshine Credit: Splash 10 McCollum served three years in a hellish jail after smuggling £1.5million of cocaine into Peru in 2013 Credit: Splash The mum-of-two, who had a boob job at the end of last year, was pictured cooling off in the sea and playing with a ball on the sand. McCollum served three years in a hellish jail near Lima after she and pal Melissa Reid were busted smuggling £1.5million of cocaine into Peru in 2013. Now, after carving out a new life as a public speaker and influencer, she has opened up about her time behind bars — and issued a chilling warning to 18-year-old Culley and 21-year-old Lee. 'I could not do 20 years in a prison like that. I just couldn't. And that's what those girls are facing,' she said. Culley was caught earlier this month with a 31lb stash of cannabis and hashish at Tbilisi airport in Georgia — and told a court she's pregnant. She's being held in a Soviet-style clink ringed by watchtowers. Lee, from south London, is locked up in Sri Lanka after two suitcases packed with 46kg of super-strength kush were allegedly found in her hotel room. The potent synthetic drug is 25 times stronger than fentanyl. Friends say she's been denied medicine and is forced to 'have a glass of water poured over her head' to clean herself. Brit 'drug mule' Charlotte May Lee, 21, tears up as cops wheel £1.2m kush haul into court she 'didn't know was in case' 10 Michaella McCollum (L) entering the Sarita Colonia jail with a police escort in October, 2013 Credit: EPA 10 View of the containment areas of the Ancon 2 prison, where McCollum served her sentence Credit: AFP McCollum compared their ordeals to her own — and said she 'couldn't imagine' how pregnancy would complicate Culley's ordeal. 'As a mum, I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to give birth in that sort of place, and to potentially have the child taken from you and put into care,' she said. 'That adds a whole new, terrifying, dimension. It's just incredibly sad.' Reflecting on her arrest at 19, McCollum said: 'The situation was almost exactly the same. 'Her mum had reported her missing, then it emerged that she'd been arrested. 'There were such parallels with my case – except it was just in a different country.' She added: 'They are 19 and 21. Whatever they have done, it's so young to be caught up in something like this, and I know what they are going to go through. 'And their families. It's the worst thing anybody can have to face.' 10 Bella May Culley was arrested on drug offences in Georgia Credit: Facebook 10 Bella pictured in court in Tbilisi after she was detained at the city's airport Credit: East2West Lee claimed she was duped by a mysterious Brit called 'Dan' who bought her a flight to Sri Lanka from Thailand — and then vanished. McCollum said she was also coerced — offered £5,000 to carry the drugs and manipulated by older men. 'At the time I was so high (on cocaine) that I could barely walk. Yet the men around me were all sober,' she said. 'I thought they were my friends, but actually they didn't give a s**t about me.' She added: 'It's easy to look at girls like this and think 'how could you be so stupid?' but I look back at myself and think exactly that. 'The vast majority were the victims of some sort of coercion, usually by men. 'Prisons all over the world are full of women who have been caught up in something like this.' The once notorious mule has now written a book, starred in a Netflix doc, and works with police to warn teens off drugs. With an estimated net worth close to £1million, she says: 'Even £50,000 isn't enough. No amount of money is worth your freedom.' 10 Part-time beautician Charlotte was arrested on May 12 after stepping off a flight to Sri Lanka from Thailand Credit: Sri Lanka Police
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Peru Two's Michaella McCullum soaks in the Benidorm sun after telling of prison ‘horrors' awaiting Brit ‘smugglers'
PERU Two's Michaella McCollum has been spotted soaking up the sun in Benidorm — just days after warning that Brit 'smugglers' Bella Culley and Charlotte Lee could face 'prison horrors' she wouldn't survive. The 31-year-old convicted drug mule was seen in a pink Louis Vuitton bikini enjoying the beach in Spain. Advertisement 10 Peru Two's Michaella McCollum cools off in the sea in Benidorm Credit: Splash 10 The convicted drug mule shows off her curves after recent a boob job Credit: Splash 10 Michaella plays with a beach ball while soaking up the Spanish sunshine Credit: Splash 10 McCollum served three years in a hellish jail after smuggling £1.5million of cocaine into Peru in 2013 Credit: Splash The mum-of-two, who had a boob job at the end of last year, was pictured cooling off in the sea and playing with a ball on the sand. McCollum served three years in a hellish jail near Lima after she and pal Melissa Reid were busted smuggling £1.5million of cocaine into Now, after carving out a new life as a public speaker and influencer, she has opened up about her time behind bars — and 'I could not do 20 years in a prison like that. I just couldn't. And that's what those girls are facing,' she said. Advertisement Read more world news Culley was caught earlier this month with a 31lb stash of cannabis and hashish at Tbilisi airport in Georgia — and told a court she's pregnant. She's being held in a Soviet-style clink ringed by watchtowers. Lee, from south London, is locked up in Sri Lanka after two suitcases packed with 46kg of super-strength kush were allegedly found in her hotel room. The potent synthetic drug is 25 times stronger than fentanyl. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Exclusive Friends say she's been denied medicine and is forced to 'have a glass of water poured over her head' to clean herself. Brit 'drug mule' Charlotte May Lee, 21, tears up as cops wheel £1.2m kush haul into court she 'didn't know was in case' 10 Michaella McCollum (L) entering the Sarita Colonia jail with a police escort in October, 2013 Credit: EPA 10 View of the containment areas of the Ancon 2 prison, where McCollum served her sentence Credit: AFP McCollum compared their ordeals to her own — and said she 'couldn't imagine' how pregnancy would complicate Culley's ordeal. Advertisement 'As a mum, I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to give birth in that sort of place, and to potentially have the child taken from you and put into care,' she said. 'That adds a whole new, terrifying, dimension. It's just incredibly sad.' Reflecting on her arrest at 19, McCollum said: 'The situation was almost exactly the same. 'Her mum had reported her missing, then it emerged that she'd been arrested. Advertisement 'There were such parallels with my case – except it was just in a different country.' She added: 'They are 19 and 21. Whatever they have done, it's so young to be caught up in something like this, and I know what they are going to go through. 'And their families. It's the worst thing anybody can have to face.' 10 Bella May Culley was arrested on drug offences in Georgia Credit: Facebook Advertisement 10 Bella pictured in court in Tbilisi after she was detained at the city's airport Credit: East2West Lee claimed she was duped by a mysterious Brit called 'Dan' who bought her a flight to Sri Lanka from Thailand — and then vanished. McCollum said she was also coerced — offered £5,000 to carry the drugs and manipulated by older men. 'At the time I was so high (on cocaine) that I could barely walk. Yet the men around me were all sober,' she said. Advertisement 'I thought they were my friends, but actually they didn't give a s**t about me.' She added: 'It's easy to look at girls like this and think 'how could you be so stupid?' but I look back at myself and think exactly that. 'The vast majority were the victims of some sort of coercion, usually by men. 'Prisons all over the world are full of women who have been caught up in something like this.' Advertisement The once notorious mule has now written a book, starred in a Netflix doc, and works with police to warn teens off drugs. With an estimated net worth close to £1million, she says: 'Even £50,000 isn't enough. No amount of money is worth your freedom.' 10 Part-time beautician Charlotte was arrested on May 12 after stepping off a flight to Sri Lanka from Thailand Credit: Sri Lanka Police 10 Charlotte formerly worked as an air stewardess Credit: Tim Stewart Advertisement
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India Becomes 4th Largest Economy: What students need to know about GDP, economic growth & global rankings
India has officially outpaced Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, marking a historic leap that carries profound implications for its future and global influence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a press conference after the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, the think tank's CEO, B V R Subrahmanyam, confirmed: 'We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a $4 trillion economy as I speak,' Subrahmanyam said, as quoted by PTI. The peg of this remarkable story lies not only in India's growing GDP but in how this economic metamorphosis reflects shifts in global power, opportunities for young Indians, and the structural evolution of the country's mixed economy. Understanding GDP and its impact on students GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time frame. It is a broad indicator of a nation's economic health, and for students—particularly those studying economics, public policy, or international relations—grasping the implications of GDP is essential. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts India's nominal GDP for 2025 at $4.187 trillion, marginally ahead of Japan's, validating Subrahmanyam's announcement. India's ascent in the global GDP rankings is not merely symbolic. It reflects rising production, expanding markets, and strengthening macroeconomic resilience, all of which influence policymaking, job creation, and global negotiations. How did India get here? A quick economic retrospective India's economic journey has not been linear. Post-independence, India adopted a Soviet-style command economy with extensive state control, known as the Licence Raj. The 1991 balance of payments crisis catalyzed a sweeping liberalisation, ushering in market reforms, deregulation, and increased foreign investment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Today, India operates as a developing mixed economy—a hybrid of private enterprise and strategic public sector control. It maintains dominance in sectors such as railways, banking, and telecommunications, while simultaneously cultivating tech unicorns and attracting global manufacturers. Subrahmanyam pointed to favourable geopolitical dynamics and hinted at further economic reforms, stating that a second round of asset monetisation would be unveiled by August 2025. India's economic engine: Domestic consumption and global trade Nearly 70% of India's GDP is fuelled by domestic consumption, underlining the critical role of India's burgeoning middle class. Complementing this is India's strong performance in global trade. In 2022, India ranked 10th in imports and 8th in exports, according to WTO data. With the digital economy expanding and infrastructure development accelerating, India's trade capacity is only expected to grow. In addition, India continues to lead in remittance inflows, topping the global chart with receiving remittances of over 100 billion for the third consecutive year, accounting for over 14% of global remittances, as per the World Bank. What this means for students: Key economic indicators to watch For students, understanding the nuances of India's rise requires attention to a broader set of indicators beyond GDP: Index India's Rank Significance Global Firepower Index 2025 4th Highlights India's strong military capabilities alongside economic heft Global Innovation Index 2024 39th out of 133 Indicates scope for growth in R&D and technology-driven transformation Human Development Index 2023–24 134th out of 193 Reflects need for improvement in education, health, and living standards Global Hunger Index 2024 105th out of 127 Underscores inequality and undernutrition in certain population segments World Competitiveness Index 2024 39th Measures ability to generate long-term economic value through reforms Air Quality Life Index 2024 – (Delhi: 84.3 µg/m³ PM2.5) Pollution remains a drag on urban livability and health outcomes Rule of Law Index 2024 79th Points to systemic reforms needed in governance and legal infrastructure World Press Freedom Index 2024 162nd out of 180 Raises concerns about media independence and institutional transparency These indices remind students that GDP alone does not tell the full story. For inclusive, sustainable growth, improvements in human capital, governance, innovation, and environmental health are essential. India's economic future: Third largest by 2028? Subrahmanyam projected that if current momentum continues, 'It is only the US, China, and Germany which are larger than India, and if we stick to what is being planned and what is being thought through, in 2.5-3 years, we will be the third largest economy.' IMF data supports this optimism, with projected growth at 6.5% in both 2024 and 2025, significantly above the global average of 3.3%. However, per capita income still lags behind developed economies. India's per capita GDP is estimated to reach $2,880 in 2025, up from $1,438 in 2013–14—signifying progress, but also room for improvement. Challenges that persist: Growth with inequality Despite impressive macroeconomic numbers, India continues to grapple with jobless growth, income disparity, and low workforce productivity. The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (2024) reported that 234 million Indians still live in acute poverty. This paradox of rising GDP and persistent poverty is a critical subject of study for policy and economics students. Moreover, India's 126th rank in the World Happiness Report and 108th in the Gender Inequality Index show that social development must catch up with financial growth.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What Trump could do if he's serious about trying to make companies 'eat' tariff price hikes
President Trump has taken aim at at least four retailers in recent weeks over possible tariff price hikes with an effort that, for now at least, is largely about applying public pressure to CEOs. "I'll be watching," he told Walmart (WMT), with harsh words also directed toward Amazon (AMZN), Ford (F), and Mattel (MAT). There are also hints Trump could do more than just watch with additional tariffs threatened in one instance and an array of additional tools at the president's disposal if he decided to escalate further. Options range from things like industry-wide investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), other government investigations into specific products and company profits, pushing for new Capitol Hill legislation on the issue, or even price controls via executive order. If some of those options sound familiar, that's because many of these tools were considered and even employed during Joe Biden's presidency as part of the then-Democratic charges of "price gouging" amid inflation. Formal inquiries were even launched in certain areas like meatpacking. Other options for Trump stretch back much further, notably a Richard Nixon-issued executive order in 1971 that imposed a 90-day freeze on wages and prices during that inflation crisis. Ryan Bourne, an economist at the Cato Institute, has studied the issue and says the US remains a long ways politically from something like those draconian Nixon-era policies. But he nevertheless sees a sort of bipartisan elevation in recent years in government willingness to interfere in business pricing decisions. "I do worry that we're on the conveyor belt towards that type of policy," he said of price controls in a recent interview. For now, he added, businesses are in an environment where CEOs "increasingly have to second-guess how the president or the administration will react to them." Trump has not suggested that price controls are in the offing. He also spent much of the last campaign attacking a Kamala Harris plan for a ban on food price gouging with his allies saying it amounted to "Soviet-style" controls. Yet Trump has made clear he is aggressively watching the issue and keeping his options open, posting this past weekend that Walmart, along with China, should "'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING." Likewise, a plan by Amazon to label tariff costs was labeled by the White House a "hostile and political act." Trump also responded to a suggestion that Ford could raise prices by saying "they wouldn't sell any cars" if they did and that if Mattel acted, "we'll put a hundred percent tariff on his toys." Trump has also seen some results from his public-pressure campaign, which included multiple calls to CEOs from both the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. One recent success for the White House came when Home Depot (HD) publicly pledged in multiple interviews this week not to raise prices. It's a stance that Trump's aides celebrated, but D.A. Davidson Managing Director Michael Baker argued in a recent Yahoo Finance video interview that it was a stance that wasn't that different from Walmart's. "It's much more about signaling," he said. "I don't really think those two companies, Home Depot and Walmart, are doing things that much differently. It's just how it's articulated." And Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research noted that other companies may have little choice but to risk Trump's ire given thin profit margins in retail, writing, "if they don't raise their prices ... that's not a sustainable business model." The situation has been further confused by the White House often taking the position that it's foreign companies that absorb the tariffs, even as multiple retailers have offered warnings about the pressure they are under. "The president is committed to ensuring that prices remain low for American consumers, and he maintains the position that foreign countries will absorb these tariffs," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said recently. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Yet it's a position that few economists agree with. The Cato Institute's Bourne said this week that increasing pressure on prices could fuel the developing bipartisan narrative that "greedflation" — the charge of companies taking excessive profits during a crisis — is a problem that needs addressing. During Biden's presidency, "you saw a lot of browbeating of companies over shrinkflation and junk fees," he said, adding that something similar could take further root under Trump, especially if tariff-fueled price volatility leads to unrest for consumers. For now, though, Bourne added, "I fundamentally think this is just about trying to jawbone companies." Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What Trump could do if he's serious about trying to make companies 'eat' tariff price hikes
President Trump has taken aim at at least four retailers in recent weeks over possible tariff price hikes with an effort that, for now at least, is largely about applying public pressure to CEOs. "I'll be watching," he told Walmart (WMT), with harsh words also directed toward Amazon (AMZN), Ford (F), and Mattel (MAT). There are also hints Trump could do more than just watch with additional tariffs threatened in one instance and an array of additional tools at the president's disposal if he decided to escalate further. Options range from things like industry-wide investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), other government investigations into specific products and company profits, pushing for new Capitol Hill legislation on the issue, or even price controls via executive order. If some of those options sound familiar, that's because many of these tools were considered and even employed during Joe Biden's presidency as part of the then-Democratic charges of "price gouging" amid inflation. Formal inquiries were even launched in certain areas like meatpacking. Other options for Trump stretch back much further, notably a Richard Nixon-issued executive order in 1971 that imposed a 90-day freeze on wages and prices during that inflation crisis. Ryan Bourne, an economist at the Cato Institute, has studied the issue and says the US remains a long ways politically from something like those draconian Nixon-era policies. But he nevertheless sees a sort of bipartisan elevation in recent years in government willingness to interfere in business pricing decisions. "I do worry that we're on the conveyor belt towards that type of policy," he said of price controls in a recent interview. For now, he added, businesses are in an environment where CEOs "increasingly have to second-guess how the president or the administration will react to them." Trump has not suggested that price controls are in the offing. He also spent much of the last campaign attacking a Kamala Harris plan for a ban on food price gouging with his allies saying it amounted to "Soviet-style" controls. Yet Trump has made clear he is aggressively watching the issue and keeping his options open, posting this past weekend that Walmart, along with China, should "'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING." Likewise, a plan by Amazon to label tariff costs was labeled by the White House a "hostile and political act." Trump also responded to a suggestion that Ford could raise prices by saying "they wouldn't sell any cars" if they did and that if Mattel acted, "we'll put a hundred percent tariff on his toys." Trump has also seen some results from his public-pressure campaign, which included multiple calls to CEOs from both the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. One recent success for the White House came when Home Depot (HD) publicly pledged in multiple interviews this week not to raise prices. It's a stance that Trump's aides celebrated, but D.A. Davidson Managing Director Michael Baker argued in a recent Yahoo Finance video interview that it was a stance that wasn't that different from Walmart's. "It's much more about signaling," he said. "I don't really think those two companies, Home Depot and Walmart, are doing things that much differently. It's just how it's articulated." And Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research noted that other companies may have little choice but to risk Trump's ire given thin profit margins in retail, writing, "if they don't raise their prices ... that's not a sustainable business model." The situation has been further confused by the White House often taking the position that it's foreign companies that absorb the tariffs, even as multiple retailers have offered warnings about the pressure they are under. "The president is committed to ensuring that prices remain low for American consumers, and he maintains the position that foreign countries will absorb these tariffs," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said recently. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Yet it's a position that few economists agree with. The Cato Institute's Bourne said this week that increasing pressure on prices could fuel the developing bipartisan narrative that "greedflation" — the charge of companies taking excessive profits during a crisis — is a problem that needs addressing. During Biden's presidency, "you saw a lot of browbeating of companies over shrinkflation and junk fees," he said, adding that something similar could take further root under Trump, especially if tariff-fueled price volatility leads to unrest for consumers. For now, though, Bourne added, "I fundamentally think this is just about trying to jawbone companies." Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
