Tunisia’s Trade Deficit Worsens By 67% To $3.25 Billion In The First Five Months

Tunisia’s balance of trade deficit worsened by 67% to 9.92 billion dinars($3.25 billion) in the first five months of this year, from a deficit of 5.94 billion dinars in the same period of 2021, figures from the state Institute of Statistics showed on Saturday.

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High Oil, Wheat Prices To Burden Egypt With Over $10 Billion, Finance Minister Says

Oil prices staying at $122 per barrel will cost the Egyptian budget $7.2 billion, Finance Minister Mohamed Maiit told CNBC Arabia on Sunday.

Maiit said that higher global wheat prices and pressure on the Egyptian pound would burden the government with an additional $3 billion, CNBC reported.

Egypt has been suffering from a shortage of foreign currency since the coronavirus pandemic chased away many tourists, international portfolio investors withdrew funds and the Ukrainian crisis pushed up commodity import prices.

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Justin Bieber Is Showing Early Signs Of Recovery, Surgeon Says

Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber is showing early signs of making a recovery after he was diagnosed with a virus that left half of his face paralysed, according to a surgeon who specialises in face paralysis.

In a video posted on Instagram, Bieber said he had contracted Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which affected nerves in his ear and face. He noted that his right eye was not blinking.

Charles Nduka, a consultant plastic reconstructive surgeon in Britain and the co-founder of health charity Facial Palsy UK, said about 75% of patients with the syndrome who receive early treatment, including steroids and antivirals, make a full recovery.

“I did notice in the video shared by Mr Bieber that he does appear to have some evidence of recovery, which is encouraging,” Nduka told Reuters.

“With facial paralysis one of the most obvious things is patients are unable to close their eye fully to blink and they are unable to smile,” Nduka added.

“Before the smile recovers, the first thing that will develop is there is increasingly symmetry in the face at rest. So, the base of the nose often elevates slightly, and the mouth becomes more even. On the video that was shared I could see some signs that there is some early recovery.”

Bieber, 28, said he was physically unable to perform his upcoming shows.

Nduka said he works with patients in the entertainment industry and it is important they first address any issues weakening the immune system before returning to work.

“They will be under financial pressures and all sorts of pressures to get back out there as soon as possible, but doing so will only lead to longer-term problems,” he said.

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All Bridges To Key Ukraine City Severodonetsk Destroyed – regional governor

All three bridges to the embattled city of Severodonetsk have been destroyed, says regional governor Serhiy Haidai.

In an update, he says although Russian troops have not completely captured the city – which is at the centre of the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops – all bridges leading to the regional centre have now been destroyed, making the evacuation of residents and the transportation of goods impossible.

Residents who remain in the city are surviving under extremely difficult conditions, he adds, with the city under heavy fire.

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Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Second Longest-Serving Monarch In History

Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her 70th year on the British throne earlier this month, has became the world’s second longest-serving monarch, with only France’s Louis XIV ahead of her in the history books.

Having ruled for 70 years and 127 days, Elizabeth II has beaten the likes of Franz Joseph I, who ruled over Austria and Austro-Hungary for almost 68 years, and Thailand’s Bhumibol Adulyadej, taking over the second place from the latter on Monday.

Elizabeth II became queen at 25, after her father, King George VI, died on 6 February 1952. Ruling over the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms, she is already the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, as well as the longest currently serving head of state.

Louis XIV, also known as le Roi Soleil or Sun King, reigned over France from age four, but he only took over the rule himself in 1661.

Elizabeth II would have to rule until May 2024 to become the longest-serving monarch in history.

Although Elizabeth II, now 96, reached the seven decades mark in February, her Platinum Jubilee celebrations were marked with four days of festivities across the UK just last weekend.

Despite fewer public functions as of late due to mobility problems, the queen made an appearance at the Buckingham Palace during the Jubilee weekend.

She thanked the British public at the end of the celebrations in a statement, saying that she was “humbled and touched” and that she continued to be “committed to serving you to the best of my ability.”

 

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Crypto Firm Celsius Pauses All Transfers, Withdrawals As Markets Tumble

 Cryptocurrency lending firm Celsius Network will pause withdrawals and transfers between accounts due to “extreme market conditions”, the company said on Monday, in the latest sign of pressure in the crypto industry.

Bitcoin extended earlier declines after Celsius’s announcement, falling more than 6% to as low as $24,888, an 18-month low. Ether , the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, dropped more than 8% to $1,303, its lowest since March 2021.

“We are taking this necessary action … in order to stabilize liquidity and operations while we take steps to preserve and protect assets,” the company said in a blog post.

“Furthermore, customers will continue to accrue rewards during the pause in line with our commitment to our customers.”

Celsius Network, which raised $750 million in funding late last year, is a significant player in crypto lending. It offers interest-bearing products to customers who deposit their cryptocurrencies with the company, and lends out crypto currencies to earn a return.

As of May 17, the company had processed $8.2 billion worth of loans and had $11.8 billion in assets, according to its website.

It said in August last year that it had more than $20 billion in assets.

While crypto lending has become increasingly big business, the sector has come under regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the U.S. read more

Crypto markets have been under pressure in recent months, falling alongside other so-called risk assets as interest rates have risen around the world.

Price falls have also both been caused by and contributed to the collapse of some crypto projects. Most notable was the fall of stablecoin TerraUSD, which last month broke its dollar peg and collapsed in value, rocking the crypto industry.

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Prince Harry Falls Off Horse In Front Of His Celebrity Friends

 Prince Harry fell off his horse in front of his celebrity friends as he returned to the polo field in California after a flying visit to Britain for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee where he reportedly only had a ‘quite formal’ 15 minutes with his grandmother.

The Duke of Sussex, 37, was unscathed in the incident at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, as was his ride, but it was a bad omen for the royal whose Los Padres team also lost the match 12-11 yesterday.

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