The Russian government has decided to cancel tariff quotas on the export of raw rice. This document was published on the country's regulatory and legal portal.
The quotas that were in effect since 2025 have been canceled. They replaced a complete ban on the export of raw rice that existed since 2022. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Development of Russia received instructions to cancel single-instance export licenses.
Restrictions on rice exports were introduced after an accident occurred at the Fedorovsky mountain hydro facility in Krasnodar Krai. This incident led to a significant reduction in cultivated areas in Kuban, and the total harvest decreased by approximately one-third.
José Luiz Gandini, exclusive importer for Kia, stated that the expansion of Kia's headquarters' investments in Brazil, including the possible construction of a factory, is conditional upon the federal government forgiving a billion-dollar debt.
Gandini informed AutoPapo that Kia's headquarters, located in South Korea, is negotiating to obtain the cancellation of debts accumulated at the end of the 20th century, related to the incident involving the Asia Motors factory. He emphasized that if this forgiveness occurs, he will transfer control of the operation to the Asian representatives, operating only as a dealer.
The businessman stressed that this negotiation has no defined deadline, and until it is concluded, the current situation remains unchanged, and he will continue managing the brand's importation.
Although Kia and Hyundai belong to the same conglomerate, they operate autonomously in the country due to legal issues. Hyundai, for example, is managed directly by the South Korean headquarters, develops products specific to the national market, and has its own manufacturing unit in Piracicaba, São Paulo.
In contrast, Kia operates exclusively through the importation of models manufactured abroad, usually of higher value. This operation, conducted officially and exclusively by the Gandini Group since 1992, is the largest importer without local production and with continuous activity in Brazil.
Due to its smaller scale of operation and focus on an average ticket price rather than high volume, Kia's strategy restricts its sales. Globally, in 2025, Kia registrations represented about 75% of Hyundai's volume; in Brazil, Kia's share was only 3% compared to its larger sister.
The natural trend in the global automotive sector would be to integrate operations and use Hyundai's infrastructure to boost Kia's presence in the Brazilian market, which would require setting up a factory. Gandini confirmed knowledge of this intention from the South Koreans, mentioning that they heard the new Kia factory would be near the Hyundai unit in Piracicaba.
In the 1990s, Asia Motors Brazil received a reduction of import taxes of about 50%, under the condition of building a factory in Bahia. Although the automaker imported models such as Towner and Topic, the industrial unit was never completed.
Since the exemption was granted without fulfilling the counterpart, the government began demanding the saved taxes, in addition to applying penalties to Asia. When the debt was registered in active debt in 2003, the principal amount was approximately 217 million US dollars. With additions of interest and fines, the amount reached about 1.6 billion reais, then 2 billion reais, and reached approximately 6 billion reais, as determined by the STJ in 2023.
Asia Motors belonged to the Kia group and was later absorbed by Kia in Korea. The National Treasury alleges that Kia is the successor and attempted to direct the tax enforcement against it. However, in 2023, the STJ did not close the collection, returning the case to the first instance so that Kia's responsibility could be evaluated by the appropriate legal procedure.
Thus, despite the debt originating from Asia Motors Brazil, there is a risk of collection against the Korean headquarters. This risk discourages Kia from establishing a subsidiary, investing directly, or putting industrial capital in Brazil, as its assets could be subject to tax enforcement. For this reason, the operation remains under the management of the Gandini Group, and resolving this liability is seen as an essential preliminary condition for the headquarters to take over the business and build the factory.
According to TransUnion's Consumer Pulse Study (CPS) for the second quarter of 2026, South African consumers are grappling with rising inflation and declining financial optimism. Furthermore, 79% of respondents cited inflation as a major problem, forcing households to change their spending and borrowing habits to cope with financial pressure.
Households in South Africa are experiencing significant financial strain as the cost of living continues to outpace income growth. The CPS study revealed that nearly four out of ten South Africans (39%) expect to miss at least one bill or loan payment in the coming months, highlighting the persistent impact of inflation on family finances.
The results indicate that despite adapting to difficult economic conditions, there is no widespread recovery. Instead, households are forced to make increasingly complex decisions as the pressure on purchasing power changes their approaches to spending, borrowing, and saving.
Ayesha Hatea, Director of Research and Consulting at TransUnion South Africa, notes that 'Consumers are still coping, but the margin for error is shrinking. Even a moderate increase in the cost of necessities forces difficult decisions, which is reflected in reduced confidence and more cautious credit behavior.'
Although the financial situation of households remains relatively stable compared to the previous year, confidence in the future continues to decline. The survey found that 43% of respondents feel their financial situation is better than expected, slightly lower than the 44% recorded in the second quarter of 2025. However, four out of ten consumers (40%) stated that their financial situation is worse than planned, indicating ongoing pressure on many families.
Financial optimism is also weakening: two-thirds (66%) of respondents are optimistic about their financial future, down from 71% the previous year, while the share of pessimists rose from 15% to 19%.
Income expectations are also falling. Seven out of ten South Africans forecast household income growth over the next 12 months, compared to 75% the previous year. However, the gap between earnings and the cost of living remains a serious issue: only 37% of respondents believe their income keeps pace with inflation, while 41% disagree.
It is unsurprising that rising prices for essential goods such as food and fuel rank among the top three problems for 79% of respondents. According to Hatea, inflation remains the biggest challenge for households. She emphasizes that 'even where incomes are growing, basic expenses quickly absorb that support. This makes budgeting discipline and financial literacy more important, as households need to know where they can adjust spending when pressure increases.'
Faced with increasing financial pressure, South Africans are tightening their household budgets and reducing spending on luxuries. More than half of respondents (53%) reported cutting non-essential expenditures in the last three months, including dining out, entertainment, and travel. Additionally, 28% canceled subscriptions or memberships, and 24% reduced or stopped spending on digital services such as internet, streaming platforms, and pay television.
The study also revealed various approaches to debt and savings. Nearly a third (32%) is accelerating debt repayment, and 27% are increasing contributions to reserve savings or stockpiles. One in five respondents reported increasing retirement savings. Nevertheless, not all households can strengthen their finances: fourteen percent are cutting pension savings, another 14% rely more on accessible credit, and 13% are using retirement savings to cover expenses.
In the future, consumers anticipate further increases in the cost of necessities. About 37% predict an increase in utility bills and loan repayments over the next three months, and a third expects higher medical expenses. While 36% intend to increase contributions to retirement savings or investments, 16% plan to reduce them.
Hatea concludes that 'These findings show how carefully households are trying to manage trade-offs. Some consumers are still building buffers and paying down debt, while others are using savings or credit to get through the month. Therefore, the overall picture is one of sustained financial adjustment, not simple improvement.'
Despite the financial pressure, access to credit remains an important part of financial planning. The vast majority of respondents (92%) believe that access to credit products is vital for achieving financial goals, which has not changed compared to last year. Perceived consumer access to credit is improving: 45% feel they have sufficient access to credit, up from 38% the previous year. Half of the respondents also believe they will be approved for a loan application.
However, improved confidence is not leading to increased demand. Only 36% of consumers plan to apply for new credit or refinance existing debt within the next year, remaining roughly unchanged from 2025. Among those considering taking out a loan but declining, 30% cite the cost of borrowing as the main reason. Credit history is a barrier for 23%, and concerns about income or employment for 22%.
The study also points to the growing adoption of digital financial services. Among digital banking users, 46% bank with purely digital institutions, and 56% used 'buy now, pay later' services. Nearly a quarter (23%) also uses digital or fintech providers.
Nevertheless, the rise in digital participation is accompanied by growing concerns about fraud and cybercrime. Over half of respondents (56%) reported being targeted by online, email, phone, or SMS scams in the last three months. The most common type of fraud is voice phishing (vishing), affecting 34% of victims, followed by SMS phishing (smishing) at 33%, and email phishing at 31%.
Furthermore, 26% of respondents reported being informed that their personal information or online account data was exposed due to a data breach in the previous three months. Consumers are taking steps to enhance their online security: more than half (53%) change passwords in response to cybersecurity issues, 37% check their credit reports, and 12% purchase antivirus or internet protection software.
Despite the challenging economic environment, the study shows that South Africans are actively managing their financial well-being. More than a third (34%) monitor their credit reports monthly, 13% do so weekly, and 6% do so daily. More than half of respondents (52%) believe their credit score will improve if lenders consider additional financial information beyond traditional credit reports, including rent payment history, 'buy now, pay later' transactions, and short-term loan repayments.
Overall, the latest Consumer Pulse Study from TransUnion paints a picture of resilience tempered by growing financial constraints. South African households continue to adapt by cutting non-essential spending, managing debt more carefully, and seeking greater control over their finances; however, persistent inflation and the rising cost of living continue to test their ability to withstand further economic shocks.
According to a report analyzing the cost of living and quality of life, Delhi is recognized as one of the most affordable large cities in the world for romantic dates and relatively inexpensive for housing, although residents' salary levels are also among the lowest.
The report also found that Delhi offers the most budget-friendly broadband internet in the world: a monthly connection costs $7.3 (approximately 703 rupees), which is the lowest price among a sample of 69 cities.
In the Deutsche Bank study titled 'Mapping the World's Prices 2026,' which compares cities based on parameters such as prices, wages, and quality of life, it was noted that a 'cheap date' in Delhi costs $103 (about 9,920 rupees). This is significantly lower than $475 (about 45,750 rupees) in Geneva, which ranks first in expense in the index.
The 'cheap date' index accounts for expenses on a bottle of wine, a pair of jeans, a dress, two coffees, a dinner for two, two cinema tickets, two transit tickets, and a 5 km taxi ride.
According to the report, property rates in the city center remain low compared to international markets, averaging $2,465 per square meter (about 237,000 rupees), placing Delhi at 65th place in the global ranking. Compared to other major cities, it is noted that property prices in Delhi have decreased by 9.8 percent in dollar terms over the last decade but recovered by 15.7 percent since 2019.
In the 2026 ranking, Delhi ranked 66th out of 69 cities, with a net monthly income of $538 (about 51,800 rupees), equivalent to 10 percent of the level in New York. Historical data shows that the monthly salary in Delhi was $633 in 2012, $653 in 2016, $556 in 2019, $607 in 2025, and $538 in 2026. In contrast, Zurich topped the salary rankings with a net monthly pay of $8,363 (about 805,200 rupees).
The report indicates that salaries in Delhi have dropped by 17.7 percent in dollar terms over the past decade and by 3.3 percent since 2019. It was also observed that some daily expenses in the city have sharply decreased in dollar terms over the last decade: the cost of a gym membership decreased by 38.3 percent, a pair of jeans by 36.9 percent, and a summer dress in a chain store by 26.5 percent.
For coffee lovers, Delhi remains one of the cheapest tracked cities, where a regular cappuccino costs $2.40 (about 231 rupees), placing it among the ten cheapest cities in the index. Rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the city center is about $685 (about 65,970 rupees) per month.
Delhi ranked 52nd out of 69 cities in the 'Oasis' index, named after the famous British rock band, which measures the cost of five beers and two packs of cigarettes. The cost of this index in the capital was $18.8 (about 1,800 rupees), which is approximately 35 percent cheaper than in New York. Delhi's position in the 'Oasis' index improved by seven places compared to 2025 but worsened by one place compared to 2016. The index cost increased by 36 percent in dollar terms over the last decade and by 13.1 percent since 2019.
Furthermore, gasoline prices in Delhi are almost comparable to those in New York in dollar terms, at $1.05 per liter versus $1.08 in New York. The report also highlighted that the city has some of the lowest global prices for basic utilities, mid-range restaurant food, and consumer clothing, such as branded jeans.
