International

CA average price for gallon of gas hits ‘record high’, fears of increase after sanctions against Russia

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2022

On Tuesday President Joe Biden addressed the world, announcing sanctions against Russia. While he said his administration would try to keep gas prices from skyrocketing, Americans need to be “honest” about sacrifices.

“As we respond, my administration is using every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump,” he said. “As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well, here at home. We need to be honest about that.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that gas prices are “higher than ever” and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight as the U.S. and Russia begin to spar over Ukraine. According to the American Automobile Association, a gallon of regular gas across California hit a record high of $4.742 on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s average of $4.742 is 3 cents higher than just last week’s average, 10 cents higher than last month’s average, and well over the $3.573 average a year ago. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Russia is the world’s third-largest producer of petroleum and other crude oil.

The threat of military conflict between Russia and Ukraine lead some to fear Russia will cut off natural gas exports after the sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. The Los Angeles Times reports:

California doesn’t import any oil from Russia. As of 2020, the state brought in 24% of its oil from Ecuador, 23% from Saudi Arabia and 20% from Iraq, according to the California Energy Commission.

Still, the absence of a major exporter such as Russia would increase global demand for oil from other countries, which could affect the retail price in California. The state has become increasingly dependent on oil imports as it attempts to move away from fracking, making it increasingly vulnerable to external price swings.

International

Mental health crisis spikes among Afghan women after Taliban regained control two years ago

Published

7 days ago

September 21, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The women of Afghanistan are suffering a mental health crisis since the Taliban regained power two years ago. According to a joint report from three U.N. agencies released Tuesday, approximately 70% of women experience feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression.

The numbers continue to rise, as there has already been a significant jump between April and June of this year alone, with an increase from 57% the preceding quarter.

The report, conducted by U.N. Women, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, interviewed women online, in-person and in group consultations as well as individual telesurveys.

592 Afghan women in 22 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces took part in the study. The Associated Press reports:

They have barred women from most areas of public life and work and banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade. They have prohibited Afghan women from working at local and non-governmental organizations. The ban was extended to employees of the United Nations in April.

Opportunities to study continued to shrink as community-based education by international organizations was banned and home-based schooling initiatives were regularly shut down by the de facto authorities — a term use by the U.N. for the Taliban government.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world with restrictions on female education and the rights of Afghan women and children are on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The report also served as a vessel for Afghan women to send a message to the rest of the world: do not validate the Taliban government. Forty-six percent of women said international recognition of the Taliban government should not happen under any circumstances, while 50% warned that recognition should only occur under specific conditions contingent on improving women’s rights.

The report notes that the women expressed concern that recognition would only encourage the Taliban government to continue becoming stricter in their policies and practices against women and girls.

Afghan women had specific ideas and suggestions: they “urged the international community to continue political and economic sanctions against the Taliban, including by not granting exemptions to a travel ban. They urged an increase in engagement with the Taliban on gender equality and women’s rights, including by engaging community and religious leaders in awareness and advocacy efforts” writes the Associated Press.