Yakutia has temporarily suspended payments to Russian military personnel due to regional budget shortfalls and the inability to accurately forecast demand. Finance Minister Ivan Alekseev confirmed the pause, citing difficulties in predicting the number of individuals requiring funds, but assured that the government had secured the necessary funds. The republic had previously allocated significant funds per contract soldier, including federal, regional, and municipal contributions. This action follows a trend of regional governments across Russia, including Tatarstan and Saint Petersburg, reducing or eliminating enlistment bonuses due to increasing budget deficits.
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In a shift to address budgetary demands, Russia’s Central Bank has initiated the sale of physical gold from its reserves. This change involves “mirroring” Finance Ministry transactions within the National Wealth Fund, moving from paper-based operations to actual sales on the domestic market. The National Wealth Fund’s gold holdings have significantly decreased since the invasion of Ukraine, indicating a reliance on these assets to fund wartime spending. These gold sales, along with similar yuan transactions, aim to inject foreign currency into the domestic market and stabilize the ruble amid declining oil and gas revenues.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has stated the federal government should not bail out the artificial intelligence industry, citing potential economic instability mirroring the 2008 financial crisis. Echoing industry concerns, she noted the AI investment boom may be a bubble, and a bailout would be unconscionable while denying essential resources to everyday Americans. Similar concerns were raised by Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding potential plans to use taxpayer funds to support AI companies. There are worries the Trump administration may be favoring AI executives with regulatory changes and public funds.
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The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service reports a crisis of confidence in Russia’s banking system, marked by a shift towards short-term deposits and dwindling demand for longer-term investments. Three-month deposits have surged in popularity, while those exceeding a year have plummeted, reflecting widespread distrust in the unstable Russian economy. This trend suggests a deepening economic crisis, as banks struggle to attract clients and key sectors falter. The situation is further compounded by the ongoing war in Ukraine, international sanctions, and predictions of long-term economic stagnation.
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A significant portion of the U.S. economy, representing about one-third of the nation’s GDP, is facing recessionary pressures, exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown. According to Moody’s Analytics, 22 states are either in a recession or at serious risk, with states like Maine, Oregon, and Illinois already experiencing downturns. The shutdown, coupled with pre-existing economic challenges like rising food prices and tariff impacts, is intensifying economic distress, potentially leading to further job losses and reduced benefits for millions of Americans. Economists caution that a prolonged shutdown could have severe repercussions, potentially pushing the U.S. economy into a recession.
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Despite efforts by the US Treasury Secretary to prop up the Argentine peso, including interventions and potential financial aid, Argentines remain unconvinced, leading to continued dumping of the currency. These interventions, while initially providing temporary relief, have pushed short-term interest rates to unsustainable levels and have not restored faith in the peso. With an upcoming election potentially impacting President Milei’s free-market agenda, the market anticipates a devaluation, as the current exchange rate does not reflect Argentina’s inflation, and capital flight persists. Experts suggest that a devaluation is seen as inevitable, with the size of the decline potentially dependent on election outcomes.
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Tariffs Are Way Up. Interest on Debt Tops $1 Trillion. And DOGE Didn’t Do Much.
Well, this is quite a picture we’re looking at, isn’t it? We’ve got tariffs on the rise, the interest we’re paying on our national debt is breaking the $1 trillion mark, and, according to some, DOGE – presumably referring to something implemented or influenced by a particular political group – didn’t exactly deliver as promised. Honestly, it feels like we’re sifting through a tangled web of cause and effect, where the consequences of certain actions are only now starting to fully manifest. The whole situation is unsettling.… Continue reading
Russian government plans to raise value-added tax (VAT) to 22% in 2026, alongside other tax reforms, are expected to accelerate inflation. Deputy Governor of the Russian Central Bank, Aleksei Zabotkin, anticipates the VAT increase will add 0.6-0.7 percentage points to the consumer price index, as it is Russia’s main turnover tax. The government also plans to lower the threshold for the simplified taxation system (STS) and abolish tax breaks for IT companies. These measures, coupled with existing tax hikes and declining oil and gas revenues, are intended to fund the war against Ukraine and address a soaring budget deficit.
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Russia’s Putin denies economy is stagnating, as evidence suggests otherwise, and this is a narrative that feels increasingly familiar. It’s like a broken record, where the leader insists everything is fine while the facts on the ground tell a different story. The similarities between this and certain situations in the US are striking. It seems the denial of economic realities has become a common tactic in some leadership circles.
The current economic situation is, frankly, concerning. Reports indicate that Russia is planning to significantly increase its borrowing, likely to offset the massive government spending. This spending is, at least in part, propping up the economy, so without it, things could get much worse, and rapidly.… Continue reading
Evergrande, once China’s largest property developer, has been delisted from the Hong Kong stock market after its spectacular downfall. This marks the end of the road for the company, which was built on massive debt and saw its valuation plummet by over 99% after the onset of the crisis. The company’s collapse, fueled by over $300 billion in debt and regulatory changes, has significantly impacted China’s economy, contributing to a property slump and decreased consumer spending. Experts predict more property firms will likely collapse, suggesting the crisis is far from over.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood