Wednesday, November 27

Globalization, Global Disintegration

Key Takeaways From PM Boris Johnson’s Address To Parliament on Ukraine
Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Diplomacy, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis

Key Takeaways From PM Boris Johnson’s Address To Parliament on Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses his parliament on Feb. 24, 2022. February 24, 2022--The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the House of Commons today, rallying the British people in what is likely to be a long battle against the Russian government in the aftermath of its assault on Ukraine. Here are some key points from the question and answers: Tougher Finance in London. Britain is likely to crack down on financial transactions. London has long been the home of financial transactions and attracts some of the world's big money players. With that, it's earned a reputation as a tax haven, a safe haven for hiding and even laundering cash. That's all about to change as U.K. politicians hone in Russian banks, oligarchs and business transactions. "We mu...
Biden Aims To Secure U.S.-Based Critical Minerals
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

Biden Aims To Secure U.S.-Based Critical Minerals

Feb. 24, 2022--U.S. President Joe Biden met with corporate executives, labor leaders, and California Governor Newsom on Tuesday to announce a commitment to reduce America’s dependency from other nations for critical minerals like lithium and graphite. It is part of Biden's review of U.S. supply chains, which started with an executive order in 2021. The goal, according to the White House statement, is to reduce dependency on China. While moving toward self-sufficiency, the White House is focused on creating sustainable jobs within this industry while benefiting communities. The private sector is taking action. Corporate leaders discussed their plans to extract, collect and recycle critical minerals. Industry Advances Along that line, this Spring, Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewable...
Australia Has Ruled, And It’s A Grand-Slam Crackdown On Speech
Democracy, Domestic Politics, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Type of Post: Essays & Travel Writing, Types of News: Analysis

Australia Has Ruled, And It’s A Grand-Slam Crackdown On Speech

Three-Panel Judge Backs Immigration Official's Right to Make Personal Decision over Visa Status January 16, 2022—A three-judge panel made a decision today in the case of Novak Djokovic versus an immigration minister, and the decision is final. The 20-time-Grand Slam title champion lost his appeal to stay in the country; the government's deportation order stood, and Novak Djokovic left the country. Game over. What Happened? The troubling part of the story is the legal reasoning behind the decision. The court order on January 16 said, "reasons to be published at a later date." Ruling by three-judge panel that gave the final word in the Novak Djokovic visa case. In short, it was not because of Djokovic's vaccination status or visa status. Either one of those issues, if they ...
World Health Organization Recommends New COVID-19 Vaccines
Globalization, Global Disintegration, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

World Health Organization Recommends New COVID-19 Vaccines

Omicron Variant Marks A New Cycle In Vaccine Manufacturing To ensure vaccines intended to prevent COVID-19 work, manufacturers should update the compositions of the current vaccine, according to a 16-member technical advisory group for the World Health Organization. The recommendation comes as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 sweeps through communities around the world. In a statement issued yesterday, the technical advisory group encouraged vaccine developers to study immune responses for their vaccines against the new variants of concern. To date, there are five known variants of concern:  Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. "While the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the world, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is expected to continue and Omicron is unlikely to be the la...
As Migrants Freeze on EU-Belarus Border, Political Tensions Heat Up
Globalization, Global Disintegration, Human rights, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

As Migrants Freeze on EU-Belarus Border, Political Tensions Heat Up

Photo Source: Belarus Government November 11, 2021--Political tensions between the European Union and the dictatorship of Belarus are rising, and the lives of thousands of migrants are caught quite literally in the middle. President Alexander Lukashenko, whom many call the last dictator in Europe, has been systematically encouraging migrants into his country only to push them across the border into Europe. Now, as cold weather sets in, thousands of migrants are camped between the Poland and Belarus border, under siege. Belarus encourages visa-free travel through the Minsk airport from Turkey. Migrants are reportedly coming from war-torn countries of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Yesterday, the Belarus border officials said they met with delegates from the UN High Commissioner for Refuge...
U.S. House Passes ‘Huawei Loophole’ And Other Tech-Security Bills
Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S. House Passes ‘Huawei Loophole’ And Other Tech-Security Bills

Crackdown On Chinese-Based Technology Indicates A Turning Point In Industry Collaboration October 21, 2021—The U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of bipartisan bills yesterday intended to protect the U.S. communications industry and consumers from foreign security risks. The Secure Equipment Act would instruct the Federal Communications Commission to "no longer review or approve" radio-frequency devices posing national security risks to the United States. The House passed it with overwhelming support on a 420-4 vote. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., introduced the bill along with strong bipartisan support. Only four members -- Reps. Sean Casten, D-Ill., Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., -- voted against it. It came to be known ...
Russia Severs Ties With NATO After 25 Years
Diplomacy, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

Russia Severs Ties With NATO After 25 Years

October 19, 2021—In another indication of global disintegration, Russia severed its ties with the 30-member NATO alliance. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the country's withdrawal on Monday. It came in reaction to NATO expelling eight Russian diplomats from Russia's mission to the alliance earlier this month. NATO had accused the representatives of spying on the Western alliance for Russia. The historic decision to end relations with NATO signifies the growing tensions between Russia and the West, and in particular the NATO alliance. Russia had taken part in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994. While a formal statement addressing the latest developments from the Russian Foreign Ministry is yet to be released, Lavrov said that urgent issues between Rus...
In A Sign Of Global Disintegration, Microsoft Closing LinkedIn In China
Big Tech, Digital Economy, Communism, Dictatorship, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

In A Sign Of Global Disintegration, Microsoft Closing LinkedIn In China

Decision Ends The Era Of Western-Owned Social Media In China File photo from LinkedIn in China October 14, 2021—In a sign that the global world is becoming more divided, Microsoft's LinkedIn is closing its operations in China. The company is planning to replace its LinkedIn in China with a China-centric application called InJobs. The goal of that standalone app is to help "China-based professionals find jobs in China and Chinese companies find quality candidates." Notably, it will not include a social media feed and will not allow users to share posts or articles. Mohak Shroff, LinkedIn's senior vice president of engineering announced the decision today in a blog post. "While we’ve found success in helping Chinese members find jobs and economic opportunity, we have not foun...
Central Asia Looks To Regional Alliances, UN For Leadership
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis, UN Security Council

Central Asia Looks To Regional Alliances, UN For Leadership

September 23, 2021--Leaders from Pakistan, Tajikistan, and other Central Asian countries are strengthening regional alliances and looking to the international community for help in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and security concerns in the region. In the absence of U.S. and NATO military involvement in Afghanistan, new partnerships and ways of thinking are taking shape to influence the region. Of first and foremost concern for many of the area’s leaders is the massive humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said it is in the international community's collective interest to support the people of Afghanistan. “This moment should not be squandered," he said. “We must remember that the previous Afghanistan government survived on...
ESSAYS: History Is Cyclical, And Humans Are Migratory
Migration, Immigration, Borders, Type of Post: Essays & Travel Writing

ESSAYS: History Is Cyclical, And Humans Are Migratory

Ernesto Rodriguez moved to Madrid, Spain in 2019, escaping the political and economic crises in Venezuela. History doesn’t repeat itself exactly, but it does rhyme. Immigrant. It’s a loaded word. Honestly, it took a few months for me to assume it as mine. Its three syllables need to cover a crisis, a trauma, and a common name for more than 5 million Venezuelans. But it’s not just attributed to us. It’s also the reality of my grandparents, who had to leave Spain due to the economic crisis after the Spanish civil war. It's also true of for millions of displaced refugees from the Middle East, or even of a young person moving to Los Angeles to try his or her hand at showbiz. As the Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler sings, “Somos una especie en viaje.” We are a species of trave...

Contact Us