Author: Steven Sahiounie

Bitcoin and ether rose as much as 4% in the past 24 hours after a steep fall on Friday as contagion risks from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank spread to crypto markets, specifically the exposure of USD Coin-issuer Circle to the bank. Ether (ETH) rose over $1,450 while bitcoin (BTC) jumped over the $20,000 mark on Saturday to post early signs of market stabilization. Both tokens fell below strong resistance levels on Friday. Other cryptocurrencies did not post similar gains, however, suggesting traders were not taking risks on lesser-known tokens yet. Polygon’s matic (MATIC) was up 1.6% while BNB…

NEW YORK — The United States rushed to seize the assets of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after it experienced a run on the bank. Silicon Valley, the nation’s 16th-largest bank, failed after depositors — mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies — hurried to withdraw money this week as anxiety over the bank’s balance sheet spread. It is the second biggest bank failure in U.S. history, behind Washington Mutual during the height of the financial crisis more than a decade ago. Silicon Valley was heavily exposed to the tech industry and there is little chance of contagion in the banking…

Peru’s economy re-opens after three months of violent protests, damage has been inflicted on mining, tourism, key areas. Lima, Peru — The anti-government protests that killed dozens and dealt body blows to some of Peru’s most critical sectors are starting to wane but they have left their mark on the country’s economy. Operations in the country’s copper-rich south are steadily ramping up and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu, the nation’s crown jewel, are once again open to foreign tourists. But for three months, vital highways were choked off by boulders and burning tyres, lucrative copper mines were paralysed and the rail…

Amid the wave of loud claims on the upcoming Ukrainian offensive on Crimea, the Kiev officials do not hide the Nazi nature of their goals. Adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine turned to direct threats to the citizens of the Russian peninsula. The tourist season in Crimea this year will be “hot,” said Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, in his recent interview. “Ukraine will explain that it needs to be treated not with respect, but with great fear,”  Mikhail Podolyak Podolyak believes that the population…

Since February last year, DB Cargo has transported 1,300 containers of humanitarian aid to Ukraine The German railway carrier Deutsche Bahn has stopped delivering humanitarian cargo to Ukraine free of charge, the German weekly Spiegel reported citing sources. After the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, the carrier began to transport aid there free of charge as a sign of support. “This support ended as quickly as it began. As of January 1, 2023, [subsidiary] DB Cargo appears to no longer be offering free transportation,” the magazine says. Since February last year, DB Cargo has transported 1,300 containers of humanitarian aid…

A blast hit the capital of Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province on Saturday, police said, days after an explosion claimed by Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) killed the province’s governor. “A blast has taken placed in the second police district of Balkh,” said Mohamad Asif Waziri, Balkh’s police spokesperson. “We will share details later.” He said the authorities did not expect a high number of casualties but were investigating. A journalist based in Balkh, Mohammad Fardin Nowrozi, told Reuters he and several other journalists were injured in the explosion, but did not provide further details. The cause of the blast was not…

The United Nations observed the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia with a special event on Friday, emphasizing the need for concrete action against rising hatred, discrimination, and violence against Muslims. The observation followed the unanimous adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution last year, which proclaimed March 15 as such an international day, calling for global dialogue that promotes tolerance, peace, respect for human rights and religious diversity. Nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide face bigotry and prejudice solely because of their faith, according to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Moreover, Muslim women face “triple discrimination” because of their gender,…

Syria welcomed an agreement reached between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic Republic of Iran to resume diplomatic relations, saying the step will enhance security and stability in the region, Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry added that Syria highly appreciates the great efforts exerted by Chinese leadership to reach the step. That important step will lead to booting cooperation and stability in the region, and it will positively reflect the common interests of the two peoples in particular and peoples of the region in general, according to the statement. “Syria hopes those efforts would…

Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has affirmed that the global war scheme against Syria had failed whether in military, security or politically aspects, and this is a great achievement, stressing that openness towards Syria now is a recognition of its victory. ‘Many Arab countries want to restore their relations with Syria, but the US objection is the obstacle’, Sayyed Nasrallah said in speech during memorial ceremony for Commander Assad Mahmoud Saghir. Nasrallah added that Syria has always been the basis of the resistance front against the Zionist enemy, and it will remain the basis of resistance axis, asserting that…

Iran and Saudi Arabia will reopen diplomatic missions in their respective countries following negotiations in Beijing. After seven years of strained ties, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen missions in respective countries after a series of talks brokered in Beijing, China under the auspices of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. According to the joint statement, “the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume diplomatic ties and reopen embassies and missions within two months of talks.” Moreover, Iran and Saudi Arabia said they “thank the Republic of Iraq and the…