From RT (may be banned in your country, route VPN through Hong Kong if needed), March 9:
One of the world’s largest tobacco manufacturers, Philip Morris International (PMI), said on Wednesday it was reducing production volumes and suspending planned investments in Russia amid ongoing supply chain disruptions and a changing regulatory framework.
The announcement comes as major international businesses are pulling out of Russia due to Western sanctions against Moscow over its military offensive in Ukraine.
The previously planned investments in the country by the tobacco giant included new product launches, as well as commercial, innovation, and manufacturing investments. Philip Morris owns such brands as Parliament, Marlboro, Chesterfield, L&M, Next, as well as Heets sticks for IQOS.
PMI clarified that it will continue to pay the salaries of all of its more than 3,200 employees in Russia.
Earlier, UK-listed tobacco firm Imperial Brands also suspended all operations in Russia, following international sanctions against the country.
Some of the other companies that have pulled out - "Russki couch potatoes arise, you have nothing to lose but your blubber butts":
KFC and Pizza Hut parent company Yum Brands Inc.
Video game maker, Electronic Arts.
Disney
Goldman Sachs
Mastercard, Visa...and many more
No word on whether the Mir card will counter-sanction, or what will become of:
I'm not sure if it says anything about our readers but the most popular links we've ever had were "UPDATED--'The Karl Marx Credit Card – When You’re Short of Kapital'":
Is it a tragedy? Is it a farce? In the land once called East Germany, in a town once called Karl-Marx-Stadt, a bank called Sparkasse Chemnitz ran an online poll letting customers vote for images to place on their credit cards. And the hands-down winner was Karl Marx, an ironic pick given that … well, you don’t need me to explain why.And
In response to this selection, Planet Money has encouraged readers to post a tagline for the card on Twitter, using the hashtag #marxcard. Here are a few of our favorites so far:
- There are Some Things Money Can’t Buy. Especially If You Abolish All Private Property.
- From each according to their ability, to each according to his need. For everything else, there’s
#Marxcard.- The Marx Card – Because Credit is the Opiate of the Masses.
- The Karl Marx MasterCard – When You’re Short of Kapital
Okay, The Second Time Is Farce: Some Additional Taglines for the Karl Marx Credit Card
It's Everywhere You Want To Be But Can't Go Due To Internal Travel Restrictions #marxcard
A spectre is haunting Europe - the spectre of cash back and low, low interest rates. #marxcard...MORE
