GZERO World Clips
How Putin’s war increased theft of car parts
How Putin’s War Increased Theft of Car Parts | GZERO World
August 09, 2022
Russia’s war in Ukraine has had a global impact, causing global food shortages, an increase in refugees and skyrocketing energy prices. But it's also responsible for a rise in one type of petty crime in the United States? Thieves have been stealing catalytic converters or CATs, which help reduce toxic fumes from vehicles.
Why? Because they're made with palladium, of which the Russians control 40% of the global supply.
And it's not just palladium. Prices of many precious metals have jumped since the invasion.
Meanwhile, things have gotten so bad in America that CAT thefts are on the rise. And you know whom to blame for that.
Watch the GZERO World episode:Explaining inflation & what's next for the US economy
More For You
From shopping to services, consumer spending is showing strength across categories. Holiday shopping got an early start, and it’s not just higher earners filling their carts. Bank of America Institute sees continued spending growth recovery for lower- and middle-income households. See what’s driving the trends.
Most Popular
Members of the Green Bangla Garment Workers Federation hold a protest rally demanding the immediate reconstitution of the wage board for garment workers and the announcement of a minimum wage of Tk 30,000 in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 9, 2026.
Mamunur Rashid/NurPhoto
Garment workers in Bangladesh have taken to the streets over the past week, demanding higher wages and forcing more than 600 factories to shut down nationwide.
As AI creates new opportunities, the people who understand a community best play an important role in determining how those opportunities take shape. Across the US, Microsoft is supporting AI literacy classes as part of a new program developed in collaboration with the Public Library Association, working through trusted local institutions to help people build practical AI skills. By pairing new technology with local knowledge, the initiative is helping communities explore how AI can support their needs and open new possibilities, while putting local leaders and organizations at the center of that work. Read the full story here.
People cast ballots inside the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections during early voting ahead of the midterm elections in Cleveland, Ohio, US, November 1, 2026.
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
We’re breaking down the three main issues that could help decide tomorrow’s elections: the cost of living, Israel, and AI.
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.