Tuesday, December 24

Types of News: Brief

News briefs are shorter stories about current events. It’s the who-what-when-and-where. “Just the facts, ma’am.” Please see our writers guidelines.

Corruption Case Proceeds Against Israeli PM After A Long Delay
10Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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Syria’s Assad Regime Falls to HTS Rebels, Israel
9Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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European Commission Calls for Reforms in Hungary
9Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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U.S. Household Debt Tops $17 Trillion
24Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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Taliban Government Auctions Off Mining Rights
26Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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Israel’s Covert Decade-Long War Against the ICC
28May By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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ICC Filed Applications for Arrest Warrants for Hamas, Israeli Leaders
20May By Patti MohrNo Comments
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...
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U.S. Massive Deficits Pose ‘Significant Risk’ for the Global Economy
19Apr By Patti MohrNo Comments
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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Top PAC Recipients in the U.S. House 2023-2024
6Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief, United States

Top PAC Recipients in the U.S. House 2023-2024

Eye on Politics March 6, 2024-As the U.S. political cycle kicks into higher gear, it's time to take a closer look at who is running with what resources. Political action committees, known as PACs, play a significant role in U.S. elections. Below is a list of House members receiving the most PAC money, according to data from Open Secrets. The top receiver, Jason Smith, Republican from Missouri, is chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. The top five contributors to Rep. Smith in the 2023-2024 cycle are the National Association of Realtors, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Apollo Global Management, Herzog Contracting, and the Alliantgroup.
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Senators Say ‘No’ To Biden’s Unapproved Arms Transfers To Israel
9Jan By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Types of News: Brief

Senators Say ‘No’ To Biden’s Unapproved Arms Transfers To Israel

January 9, 2024—A group of 12 Senate Democrats are pushing back against President Biden's request to gain authority to permit arms transfers to Israel without going through the normal process. Biden's Arms Transfers To Israel Since October 7 Since October 7, 2023, President Joe Biden has twice invoked emergency authority in shipping military weapons to Israel without first securing congressional authority. On December 9, Biden released a $106.5 million sale of high-explosive anti-tank shells, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Notably, it included consulting services by "U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program support." The second unauthorized ...
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