The European Union (EU) imported more natural gas from Russia than from the United States between April and July, continuing a trend from the previous quarter. Recent data from Brussels-based think tank Bruegel revealed that the EU imported 13 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian gas in the second quarter of 2024, contributing to a total of 26 bcm for the year.
European utilities paid approximately €10 billion (~$11 billion) to Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy company. The transaction data suggests a direct benefit to Russian financial reserves. Meanwhile, imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) declined to 9.5 bcm, totaling 22 bcm over the year so far.
Norway, which is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) but not the EU, remains the bloc’s leading supplier of natural gas, but Russia has strengthened its role as the second-largest EU gas supplier.
The EU is enriching Russia despite the fact it is supposed to be assisting the U.S. in its support of Ukraine. The bloc claims it has supplied Kiev with $126 billion in aid since the start of the war, but it paid Moscow around $154 billion for Russian fossil fuels in just the first year of the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. […]
— Read More: thenationalpulse.com
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
