Author: Steven Sahiounie

Net incomes are expected to rise by the most in five years, according to the Ministry of Economic Development Real earnings in Russia during 2023 will grow more than previously expected, the Ministry of Economic Development stated on Friday, predicting an increase of 5.4%. The figure is a substantial upgrade from the ministry’s earlier projection of 2.6%, and would represent a five-year maximum. “We expect an increase in the income of the population, first of all, wages. This year, in real terms, they will grow by more than 5%,” the head of the ministry, Maksim Reshetnikov, was quoted by Interfax as…

Global venture capital investment in the sector has hit its lowest level since 2020 Private funding in crypto startups has fallen dramatically this year as the industry reels from scandals, bank implosions and regulatory uncertainty, Bloomberg reported this week, citing data from research company PitchBook. Global venture capital (VC) funding for crypto startups totaled $2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023, its lowest level since 2020, according to PitchBook. The figures represent an 80% slump in private VC investment compared to an all-time high of $12.3 billion recorded in the same period last year, data showed. Crypto…

Overspending and historic drought have sent prices in Argentina surging to highest in two decades Inflation in Argentina saw an enormous year-on-year surge to 104.3% in March, marking the highest annual rate since 1991, according to data released by the National Institute for Statistics and Census (INDEC) on Friday. The inflation-rate reading for the month came in at 7.7%, higher than the median forecast of 7% among analysts polled by Bloomberg. Economists surveyed by Reuters had provided a more pessimistic outlook of 7.1%. The total inflation for the first three months of the year was 21.7%. In February, the inflation…

By:Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Palestinian resistance group Hamas attacked Israel with rockets coming from South Lebanon on April 6. The resistance was responding to the repeated attacks on Palestinians praying inside the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. Extremist Jewish settlers had insisted on going to the Mosque, against long standing traditions, which provoked tensions and the Israeli police used brutal tactics on the Palestinians praying, including beating women and arresting 400. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and supports the expansion of Jewish settlements…

Maria Zakharova stressed that Moscow views this decision by Oslo as a “deliberate escalation of animosity toward Russia” Norway, by announcing the expulsion of 15 Russian diplomats, has confirmed its status as a country hostile to Russia and this decision will be followed by a tough response, a commentary by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova published on Friday said. “A serious blow was dealt to Russian-Norwegian relations. Again and again, Norway confirms its status as a country hostile to Russia. These actions won’t be left without a reaction on our part, we will provide a tough response,” the diplomat…

Former US president asked for a delay after it transpired plaintiff Jean Carroll’s defense had been funded by a Democratic donor A federal judge has refused to postpone Donald Trump’s trial involving a lawsuit by former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who is accusing the former US President of rape in the mid-1990s. The Trump defense asked for deferment after finding out that a major Democratic Party donor had covered some of Carroll’s legal fees. Judge Lewis Kaplan did, however, allow Trump’s attorneys on Thursday to gather more information as to who exactly is picking up the tab for…

The top diplomat recalled that Poland had amassed major military contingents on the border with Belarus Russia in its military-political and diplomatic planning takes into account attempts by the West to foment conflicts near its borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference following his visit to Uzbekistan on Friday. “We stay on guard, we see this (Western attempts to provoke conflicts near Russia’s borders – TASS), and we take it all into account in our planning in political, military, diplomatic and other respects,” he said. The West has tried to drag the Georgian leadership into creating a…

Israel has closed the airspace near its northern and southern fronts out of fears of new attacks by Iran’s allies on Quds Day. The Airports Authority informed civilian pilots on April 13 that flying is prohibited within six kilometers of the borders of Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. The ban, which will remain in effect until April 16 afternoon, applies primarily to agriculture and other light aircraft, as airlines never fly in such close proximity to the two fronts. Last week, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deployed additional Iron Dome air defense batteries across the country following warnings received…

Mass marches started in the capital city of Tehran to commemorate the International Quds Day, and to express support for the Palestinian people and rejection of the Israeli occupation. The march in Tehran began with the massive participation of Iranian citizens, and carried the slogan “Palestine is the focus of the unity of the Islamic world, Jerusalem is on the threshold of liberation “, IRNA news agency reported . Participants raised Palestinian flags and banners praising the Palestinian cause, calling for supporting Palestinian people, and denouncing the Zionist crimes. The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a press statement, “The…

Jack Teixeira was charged with unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information Jack Teixeira, the US airman suspected of leaking hundreds of classified documents online, appeared for the first time in a Boston court on Friday. The alleged leaker faced formal charges of unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. Teixeira, an enlisted airman first class and member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was arrested at his home by the FBI on Thursday. The leaked Pentagon documents had been circulating online for weeks already before drawing the attention of…