World & Politics
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...
UN: Over 8,200 civilians killed in Ukraine in one year - 03/15/2023
The number of civilian deaths in Ukraine has been updated according to statistics from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The statistics shows that between February 24, 2022, and March 12, 2023, there were 8,231 fatalities and 13,734 injuries. 3,664 men, 2,173 women, 260 boys, 203 girls, as well as 31 children, and 1,900 adults—the gender of whom could not yet be determined—died after...
BBC World Service receives £20 million to fight misinformation - 03/15/2023
The U.K. Department of Foreign, Commonwealth, and International Development revealed a one-time donation of £20 million (or roughly $24.13 million) to the BBC World Service. The money is designated "to safeguard all 42 language services of the World Service for the next two years and to fight misinformation," according to a statement from the ministry. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly...
EU to send €2bn to European Peace Facility to pay for arms supplies to Ukraine - 03/09/2023
The European Union (EU) authorized a €2 billion increase in the European Peace Facility's budget. The money will be used to pay for EU military aid to Ukraine. "The European Peace Fund will receive an extra €2 billion, as approved by the EU ambassadors today. The EU's ongoing commitment to providing military support for Ukraine and other allies is made clear by this decision," the EU Council's...
