Wednesday, November 6

Types of News: Analysis

Deeper analysis on world diplomacy, economics and geopolitics.

A Critical Look At Fossil Fuel Subsidies
17Nov By Guest WriterNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

A Critical Look At Fossil Fuel Subsidies

If We Want To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, We Should Not Pay People To Burn Fossil-Fuels By Max Roser November 17, 2021--Instead of making fossil fuels more expensive, many governments do the opposite: They subsidize them. Having access to reliable and affordable energy is important to people, so it’s understandable that governments support energy access. But if these subsidies support the consumption of fossil fuels it comes with a large downside, air pollution and accelerated climate change. This year, world leaders agreed to reduce fossil fuel subsidies. It is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that they want to reach by 2030. As so often with progress, the world rarely solves a problem through a single event. Repealing subsidies is a process. H...
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India Aims for 2070 Net-Zero, Asks For $1 Trillion
12Nov By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Foreign Aid, International Development, Types of News: Analysis, UN Security Council

India Aims for 2070 Net-Zero, Asks For $1 Trillion

COP26 event Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Editor's Note: One of the outcomes of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland was a pledge by India to reach "net-zero" within 50 years time. Net-zero means that a country or company would compensate for greenhouse gases it emits, bringing the total to zero. India has long been a holdout of promising net-zero. The announcement by Prime Minister Modi to set a target breathed life into the conference. Moreover, it's significant because India is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, after China and the United States. It is also noteworthy because as the world's sixth-largest economy, a shift to a green economy would impact financing. By Ramsha Zubairi November 12, 2021 — When Indian ...
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Citing ESG, BNY Mellon Cuts Ties With Controversial Coal Group
8Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Types of News: Analysis

Citing ESG, BNY Mellon Cuts Ties With Controversial Coal Group

In the Wake Of A COP26-Led Pledge To Transition Away From Coal, Wall Street Takes Notice November 8, 2021--When the United Kingdom's COP26 Presidency declared a major agreement on coal financing last week, some of the biggest coal-producing and consuming countries were noticeably absent: India, China, Australia and the United States. It was significant on multiple counts. First countries are significantly falling short of the emissions reductions needed to keep the Earth from warming within the target 1.5 degree Celsius. A recent UN report noted that 15 major fossil fuel producing countries plan to continue production. Second, new coal projects in India and Australia are putting locals at risk of losing their land. Adani Group: New Coal Mines Vs Local People One group, in...
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U.S. Government Adds Four Spyware Companies To Trade Blacklist
4Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Human rights, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

U.S. Government Adds Four Spyware Companies To Trade Blacklist

Israeli Spyware Firm NSO Group Named On Commerce Department's Prohibited List November 4, 2021—In a move meant to put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. Commerce Department announced yesterday it is adding four companies to a list of companies subject to trade restrictions. The four companies include Israel-based Candiru and the NSO Group, a Singapore-based company called the Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE (COSEINC), and Russia's Positive Technologies. In effect, the decision puts the companies on trade blacklist that imposes extra licensing requirements. Specifically, companies on the Entity List under Export Administration Regulations face limited availability of most license exceptions for, exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) to...
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A Closer Look: Causes & Effects of Global Coal Shortage
4Nov By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Global Economics, Types of News: Analysis

A Closer Look: Causes & Effects of Global Coal Shortage

AP photo of Northwest China Coal Shortages Caused Power Outages in India, China And Tajiskistan By Ramsha Zubairi November 4, 2021—Coal prices surged this Fall, producing electric outages in multiple countries. As the global economy continues to get back on track after the pandemic, coal industries struggle to meet the rising demand for the commodity. Graph by Trading Economics. In recent weeks and months, many communities in India, China and Tajiskistan faced some of the worst power outages that they have in years. In China, the population got by with streetlights and elevators turned off and limited heating of offices. Some factories and schools were also forced shut to manage the electricity crisis. Overall, China underwent what has been its worst power shortage in de...
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Cryptocurrencies Are Hot Despite The Warnings. Here’s Why.
3Nov By Jesús CedeñoNo Comments
Cryptocurrency, Types of News: Analysis

Cryptocurrencies Are Hot Despite The Warnings. Here’s Why.

Here's A Helpful Guide To Understanding Cryptos By Jesús Cedeño November 3, 2021—Just about everybody with internet access has heard about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies these days. They may not really understand them, but they have heard of them. New Economic System Cryptocurrencies and blockchains (the technology that makes most of them work) were created to show that a new kind of economic system is possible. One where central banks, commercial banks and other traditional financial institutions are no longer in control. Investing in cryptocurrencies is a hot topic all over the world, with over $133 billion worth of crypto being traded every day and a global market capitalization that exceeds $2.6 trillion.1 However, there have been several warnings issued relating to cry...
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Let’s Talk About Defining ESG –Literally
2Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Types of News: Analysis

Let’s Talk About Defining ESG –Literally

Photo by Mohr Media As Investors Take Interest In Corporate Policies, Governments Look To Harmonize ESG Disclosure November 2, 2021—As employees, consumers and investors demand greater transparency about corporate practices,  there's increasing interest in defining standards for environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure. While the concept of ESG has been around for years, leaders in the both public and private sectors are taking a greater interest in refining the definition. Furthermore, as world leaders try to harness the power of the private sector to reach net-zero goals to stem the warming of the climate, ESG becomes even more useful. "Financial markets play a significant role in shifting capital to a sustainable future," Securities and Exchange Commission ...
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Middle East Faces ‘Increasingly Desperate Reality’
2Nov By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Diplomacy, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Middle East Faces ‘Increasingly Desperate Reality’

UN Envoy Says Israeli Evictions Of Palestinians And Property Seizures Spurs Violence November 2, 2021—In recent weeks, a Middle East envoy to the United Nations expressed warnings about Israel-Palestinian relations. Demolition of homes by the Israeli military, construction of illegal housing by settlers, and evictions and displacement of Palestinians from their homes are causing a desperate and dangerous situation in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. For the Palestinians and the Bedouin community, these actions meant homelessness and loss of property. For Israeli citizens, the provocative actions by their government and illegal settlers put them at a greater risk of violence. In the following article, contributing writer Ramsha Zubairi reports. In his testimony to the Secu...
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Coal, China And Climate Change
1Nov By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Domestic Politics, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Analysis

Coal, China And Climate Change

Editor's Note: As the COP26 takes place this week, many leaders on climate action are pointing to China and calling on the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide gas to do more. This is the first of a series of reports on coal production and consumption by contributing writer Ramsha Zubairi. China's Climate Goals Are 'Unimpressive,' Observers Say November 1, 2021—China is the biggest producer, consumer and importer of coal, and as the country’s economy continues to grow post-pandemic, its demand for the commodity moves in the upward direction. That makes China's absence from this year's COP26 especially worrisome for climate activists. With global climate change happening now, it is increasingly necessary to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. More than 70 percent of e...
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As It Faces Global Backlash, Facebook Reports Strong Earnings
28Oct By Srinidhi RajagopalNo Comments
Big Tech, Digital Economy, Types of News: Analysis

As It Faces Global Backlash, Facebook Reports Strong Earnings

Company Faces Scrutiny In India Where Hate Speech Flourished October 28, 2021—The backlash against Facebook's policies continued to make waves internationally this week. But even as the trove of internal documents leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen reached more journalists, none of that showed up on the company's balance sheet. Strong Profits This week the social networking site declared strong earnings growth and a larger user base. According to the company's reporting, the platform's daily active users increased by a solid 6 percent, year over year, reaching close to 2 billion people. Furthermore, the company's revenue increased 35 percent, from $21 billion in 2020 to $29 billion in 2021. Also, its net profits increased 17 percent, from $7.8 billion to $9.2 billion...
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