Thursday, March 6

Author: Patti Mohr

Patti Mohr is a U.S.-based journalist. She writes about global diplomacy, economics, and infringements on individual freedom. Patti is the founder of the Global Economic Report. Her goal is to elevate journalistic principles and share the pursuit of truth in concert with others.
Private Prison Firms Eye Profit in Trump Mass Detentions
Types of News: Brief, United States

Private Prison Firms Eye Profit in Trump Mass Detentions

February 18, 2025--President Trump, who ran on a campaign of law-and-order and promises to focus on detaining immigrants who came to the country illegally, is already making big changes to the detention system. He reversed a Biden-administration executive order that blocked the Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals Service from signing new contracts with private detention companies. Private prison companies are taking notice and making capital investments in the expectation of winning federal contracts for detaining people. "The new year is just underway, and the landscape is already changing in ways that are likely to positively impact our business," said Damon Hininger, chief executive officer of CoreCivic. "As the new administration modifies immigration policy and enacts new legisl...
DOGE: Trump Administration Fires Federal FAA Employees
Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief, United States

DOGE: Trump Administration Fires Federal FAA Employees

"air traffic control tower" by Sean MacEntee is licensed under CC BY 2.0. February 17, 2025-No agency is left untouched in the Trump Administration's government overhaul. Several hundred employees from the Federal Aviation Administration received emails over the weekend informing them they have been fired. According to the Associated Press, the firings impact support staff for FAA radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance, and one air traffic controller. This comes just weeks after a fatal plane and helicopter crash in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The Impact The FAA has roughly 50,000 employees. The layoff primarily impacts staff that was newly hired or promoted in the last year. According to USA Today, the layoff affects 400 workers. The USAT article, which cited Da...
Corruption Case Proceeds Against Israeli PM After A Long Delay
Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Democracy, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Corruption Case Proceeds Against Israeli PM After A Long Delay

Netanyahu Has Avoided Facing Court And Potentially Years in Prison Reuters video stream Dec. 10, 2024 December 10, 2024—After a long delay, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced an Israeli court today in resumption of a criminal trial on charges dating back to 2019. “Everything is at stake,” said Alexis Bloom, director of the 2024 documentary, “The Bibi Files,” during an interview with MSNBC. “This trial is an incredibly important event for Netanyahu, and he’s been assiduously trying to avoid testifying.” The case is not only significant as a domestic matter. Observers argue that it has implications for the widening wars in the Middle East. “It’s his attempt to avoid a legal reckoning that has caused all sorts of damage in the Middle E...
Syria’s Assad Regime Falls to HTS Rebels, Israel
Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Syria’s Assad Regime Falls to HTS Rebels, Israel

Israel Claims Victory And Territory Beyond Golan Heights Jolani speaks to a crowd on Sunday, December 8, 2024, after capturing the capital. December 9, 2024—The 24-year reign of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria is over. Assad fled to Russia as opposition forces closed in on the capital, Damascus. The victors are Islamist Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, also called Muhammad al-Jawlani, an affiliate of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, and the Israeli government. Just prior to overtaking the capital, Jolani gave an exclusive interview with CNN. He said he wanted to free Syria from Iranian influence and set up an Islamic government with institutional structures to establish order for the state. Terrorist Designation Jolani (also spelled “Jawlani”) i...
European Commission Calls for Reforms in Hungary
Europe, EU, Eurozone, Geopolitics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Bit, Types of News: Brief

European Commission Calls for Reforms in Hungary

EC Says It'll Withhold $1B If Changes Aren't Made December 9, 2024—The European Commission is on the verge of withholding €1 billion in funds to EU-member Hungary unless that government reforms 17 measures by the end of the year. The EC is already blocking €12 billion in funds to Hungary. Among the measures that the EC demands Hungary complete are anti-corruption and conflict-of-interest legislation, according to reporting by Politico Europe. Hungary is increasingly at odds with the European Union under the right-wing leadership of Viktor Orbán. EU lawmakers have grown increasingly discontent with EU-member Hungary over a series of infringements on human rights as well as concerns about corruption. In 2022, the EC announced that Hungary's government could no longer be considered a...
U.S. Household Debt Tops $17 Trillion
Finance, Investing, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Household Debt Tops $17 Trillion

U.S. credit card debt. Photo source: picryl. November 14, 2024--U.S. consumer debt reached a new high in the third quarter of 2024 of $17.94 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Mortgage debt accounts for the largest amount, 70 percent, of total consumer debt. Compared to 10 years ago, U.S. households owe 55.5 percent more on mortgages: $12.6 trillion today compared with $8.1 trillion in the third quarter of 2014. Mortgages account for the largest share of U.S. debt. Chart: Mohr Media. Data NY Fed. Consumer debt on credit cards and auto loans stood at $1.17 trillion and $1.64 trillion, respectively, rising moderately. It's an 8 percent increase on credit card balances from the year before. As a whole, 3.5 percent of American household debt was in some st...
Taliban Government Auctions Off Mining Rights
Diplomacy, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Brief

Taliban Government Auctions Off Mining Rights

June 26, 2024—Nearly three years into reclaiming its rule over Afghanistan, the Taliban government is raising revenue auctioning mining rights to gems and critical minerals to the highest bidders. The Islamic Taliban government has struggled economically and diplomatically since it took control of the country in August 2021. But since the beginning, its leaders asserted they have their own sources of income. Notably, the land is rich in gold, gemstones, metals, oil and gas, and minerals. Mining Rights As Diplomacy The Financial Times examined 128 contract sites, finding that more than half are developed or expanded. The paper notes that auctioning of mineral and gem rights might help the government form relations with other governments and raise billions of dol...
Israel’s Covert Decade-Long War Against the ICC
Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief

Israel’s Covert Decade-Long War Against the ICC

May 28, 2024--Three years ago, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. The time period included the 2014 Israel-Gaza War, in which 2,300 Palestinians were killed. The investigation would put hundreds of Israelis, including soldiers and political figures, at risk of prosecution. The ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda promised a fair process that would bring accountability and justice for Palestinians and Israelis. “In the end, our central concern must be for the victims of crimes – both Palestinian and Israel – arising from the long cycle of violence and insecurity that has caused deep suffering and despair on all sides,” said Bensouda. 'Fiercely Resisted' Inquiry The Guardian described it as a "long...
ICC Filed Applications for Arrest Warrants for Hamas, Israeli Leaders
International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

ICC Filed Applications for Arrest Warrants for Hamas, Israeli Leaders

May 20, 2024—The International Criminal Court announced they are taking the first step to provide accountability in the Israeli-Hamas war that started October 7, 2023. The prosecutors applied for arrest warrants today for three Hamas leaders and two Israeli leaders: Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif), Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant. ICC Prosecutor Khan announces arrest warrants against Hamas and Israeli leaders. Specifically, the ICC charged the Hamas officials—Sinwar, al-Masri, and Haniyeh—with the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed October 7, 2023: Extermination; Murder; Taking hostages; Rape and sexual violence; Torture; Other inhumane acts; Cruel treatment...
U.S. Massive Deficits Pose ‘Significant Risk’ for the Global Economy
Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Massive Deficits Pose ‘Significant Risk’ for the Global Economy

IMF Warns the United States and China about Massive Deficits April 19, 2024--Even though consumer prices are coming down, high interest rates due to U.S. and China's deficits pose significant costs to other countries and carry a risk to global financial stability, the International Monetary Fund warned this week. "Loose fiscal policy in the United States exerts upward pressure on global interest rates and the dollar. It pushes up funding costs in the rest of the world, thereby exacerbating existing fragilities and risks," said Vitor Gaspar, IMF director of fiscal affairs. Rising Debt Poses Costs By the end of the decade, global debt is likely to reach 99 percent of global GDP. The rising debt levels are increasing "volatility in the United States, raising risks elsewhere thr...

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