World & Politics
UK retail sales hit pre-pandemic levels - 03/27/2023
The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) published figures for February's retail sales. The sales volume increased 1.2% when compared to January, exceeding expectations by 0.2% and representing the fastest rate of development since last October. The ONS added that "February 2023 saw a return of retail sales to levels seen before February 2020." The most significant growth in February was...
Finnish President signs laws on NATO membership - 03/24/2023
A law pertaining to Finland's NATO membership has been signed by Sauli Niinistö, the country's President. The paperwork needed for Helsinki to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has now been ratified. The Finnish government declared in May of last year that they made a quick decision to apply for NATO membership in light of the conflict in Ukraine. The majority of...
World Bank to allocate seven billion dollars to Egypt - 03/23/2023
Egypt will receive seven billion dollars from the World Bank for domestic initiatives up until 2027. According to Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt will receive $7 billion from the World Bank for initiatives in the country between 2023 and 2027. "The World Bank Group and the Arab Republic of Egypt have agreed to a new country plan for the years 2023–2027. Seven...
Japanese government allocates $15.2B to combat inflation - 03/22/2023
According to NHK television, the Japanese government has decided to allot over 2 trillion yen ($15.2 billion) for inflation-control measures. In order to address the nation's increasing prices, the government convened a conference of the "general issue on prices, wages, and welfare." The additional measures were agreed upon at the meeting. "Price rises around the world are still challenging to...
U.S. to declassify information on COVID-19 origin - 03/21/2023
A bill requiring intelligence organizations to disclose any knowledge they have regarding the genesis of COVID-19 has been signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden. In order to safeguard against the disclosure of information that could "harm national security," Mr. Biden pledged to declassify as much information as he could. This was done "pursuant to a constitutional mandate." "In order to...
EU expects growing defense expenditures of member states by 2025 - 03/21/2023
According to a report published by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the EU forecasts that member states' defense spending will increase by €70 billion by 2025 compared to 2021. "According to the 2022 Annual Defense Review, the EU spent €214 billion on security in 2021 (an increase of 6 percent over 2020). By 2025, additional development is anticipated...
Iraqi foreign minister reveals plans to supply gas to Europe - 03/20/2023
Iraq plans to work on gas fields so that it can export gas in the future to other nations, including the European Union, according to the foreign minister of Iraq, Fuad Hussein, speaking before the Iraq-European Union cooperation council. "We'll talk about various areas of collaboration, like gas and oil. Iraq, which already produces crude, will also start producing gas." "We are investing in...
UN: World cocaine production rose by a third in 2021 - 03/17/2023
Cocaine production has significantly grew in the face of lax anti-COVID measures after a decline during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when various nations implemented stringent border and lockdown restrictions, says the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The primary ingredient of the drug, coca, saw a 35 percent rise in production from 2020 to 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The...
FT: IMF to lend $15.6 billion to Ukraine - 03/17/2023
An extended lending scheme for Ukraine has been approved by the International Monetary Fund. It will cost $15.6 billion. The fund plans to make an announcement about the initiative soon. The Financial Times (FT), citing sources, claimed that talks between IMF officials and the Ukrainian government took place in Warsaw from March 8 to 15. The parties made "significant progress," according to a...
Xi Jinping: China is ready to expand access to local market - 03/16/2023
President of China and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping declared on Wednesday that his country is ready to increase and facilitate foreign nations' entry to its market. "The Chinese Communist Party is dedicated to promoting high-quality growth as well as prosperity worldwide. We will accelerate building of a new development model, continue to expand openness to the...
