Sunday, November 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.

Turkey: NATO Should Have Stopped Russia’s Invasion
25Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, International Law, Legal Battles, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

Turkey: NATO Should Have Stopped Russia’s Invasion

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an joins a virtual NATO meeting on Feb. 25, 2022. Source: Turkey's Government February 25, 2022--As Russia closed in on Ukraine's capital city Kyiv, the NATO alliance held an emergency virtual meeting today. Just hours before the meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an suggested that NATO and the European Union should have stopped the invasion. "NATO should have taken a more decisive step," Erdogan said to reporters, according to Reuters and other press reports. "The EU and all the rest of the West have failed to display a decisive and serious stance. They give plenty of advice to Ukraine. It’s not possible to get a result through this advice," Erdo?an said. Turkey is a NATO member and a neighbor of Russia. In a press release on Thur...
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South Korea Joins G7 Countries In Condemning Russian Invasion
25Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

South Korea Joins G7 Countries In Condemning Russian Invasion

February 25, 2022--South Korea's Foreign Ministry today condemned Russia's armed invasion of Ukraine and promised to respond with economic sanctions against Russia. Up until today, the country stopped short of outright condemning the actions even while voicing support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. "As a responsible member of the international community, the Korean government will support and join the international community’s efforts, including economic sanctions, to curb armed invasion and resolve the situation peacefully," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said today in a press release. Previously, South Korean Spokesperson Choi Youngsam had expressed "serious concern" and directed people to a Feb. 22 statement in which the ministry urged the parties "to continue to seek a p...
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G7 Countries Coordinate Actions Against Russian War
24Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

G7 Countries Coordinate Actions Against Russian War

UK, US Intensify Sanctions Against Russian Entities Feb. 24, 2022--Leaders of the G7 countries held an emergency meeting today in response to Russia's attack on Ukraine. The members include the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy. They along with the European Union coordinated plans to accelerate financial penalties and restrictions against Russia. In no uncertain terms in their statement, the leaders condemned Russia's war on Ukraine as well as participation by Belarus: "We the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) are appalled by and condemn the large-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation against the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, directed partly from Belarusian soil," the leaders said. "This...
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Amid Russian War, IEA Closely Watching Oil & Gas Markets
24Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Amid Russian War, IEA Closely Watching Oil & Gas Markets

Photo: IEA February 24, 2022--As Russia intensified its war against Ukraine and G7 countries accelerated sanctions against Russia, the International Energy Agency announced it is closely monitoring the world's supply of oil and gas. Russia is the world's second-largest oil producer. Only the United States produces more oil at this time. According to the IEA, "Russian oil exports transiting Ukraine via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline to supply Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic" are most likely to be impacted by the conflict. "While the specific impact on world oil markets is yet to be determined, IEA Member Countries stand ready to act collectively to ensure that global oil markets are adequately supplied," the agency said on Tuesday. The United States: 12.1 m...
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Biden Aims To Secure U.S.-Based Critical Minerals
24Feb By Jacob DavenportNo Comments
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...
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International Community Responds to Russia’s Breach of Ukraine’s Borders
23Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, International Law, Legal Battles, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

International Community Responds to Russia’s Breach of Ukraine’s Borders

February 23, 2022—The international community rallied support for Ukraine and joined the United States in issuing new sanctions against Russia. It comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine after recognizing them as independent states. Today, leaders from Poland and Lithuania stood by the side of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a news conference as he asked for an "immediate and harsh" response by the international community. And respond, they did. The European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and Canada announced new sanctions against Russia. This follows yesterday's announcement by U.S. President Joe Biden about the "first tranche of sanctions." In some cases, like those in the United Kingdo...
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UK Moves One Step Closer To Trans-Pacific Trade Deal
23Feb By Jacob DavenportNo Comments
Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

UK Moves One Step Closer To Trans-Pacific Trade Deal

February 23, 2022—Since beginning negotiations to join one of the world’s largest trade agreements last Summer, the United Kingdom reached a major milestone this month. Signing new trade deals is a significant goal for Britain's post-Brexit strategy. After eight months of talks, the United Kingdom is moving to the final stages of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. That's because a CPTPP Accession committee approved moving Britain into the second phase of negotiations. The Japanese government, which is chairing the Accession Committee for the UK, confirmed that step on Feb. 18. 'Largest Free Trading Club' UK's Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan commented on the significance of joining the trade deal. "CPTPP is one of the large...
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US, Japan And South Korea Issue Statement For ‘Free And Open Indo-Pacific’
14Feb By Jacob DavenportNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, International Law, Legal Battles, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

US, Japan And South Korea Issue Statement For ‘Free And Open Indo-Pacific’

Leaders Condemn Missile Launches By DPRK February 14, 2022--Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, the top diplomats for the United States, Japan, and South Korea released a joint statement promising to collaborate on an Indo-Pacific strategy. The statement comes after North Korea (DPRK) launched nine ballistic missiles in the month of January, challenging the Biden Administration. U.S. Strategy for the Indo-Pacific In response to that and other diplomatic challenges, namely by China, President Joe Biden released a new strategy this month for the Indo-Pacific region. The strategy suggests the United States is stepping up its diplomacy, foreign assistance and participation in regional organizations to counter China's growing influence in the East and South China Seas. U.S....
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Hundreds Of NGOs Pressure Olympics Sponsors For Action
8Feb By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Diplomacy, Domestic Politics, Human rights, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

Hundreds Of NGOs Pressure Olympics Sponsors For Action

Photo by Chinese-Australian Artist Badiucao for the Human Rights Watch February 8, 2022—As Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 commenced on February 4 in China, more than 240 non-governmental organizations from around the world joined hands to demand answers from the corporate sponsors of the games. "It’s not possible for the Olympic Games to be a ‘force for good,’ as the International Olympic Committee claims, while the host government is committing grave crimes in violation of international law," said Sophie Richardson, a director at Human Rights Watch, in a news release. According to the HRW, human rights advocates have documented scores of abuses by China since the Olympic committee selected Beijing for the 2022 Winter Games. These include: Arbitrary detention, torture, and forced...
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EU Backs Lithuania Against China Trade Restrictions
2Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Global Trade, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief

EU Backs Lithuania Against China Trade Restrictions

EU Commissioner meets with the Lithuanian president. Lithuania's Recognition of Taiwan is at the Center of the Trade Spat February 2, 2022--The European Union opened a dispute in the World Trade Organization against China in defense of EU-member Lithuania. The request for dispute consultations alleges that China restricted trade with Lithuania in violation of international rules governing trade. According to the EU, the trade restrictions are "novel, numerous, recurrent, and persisting" and "show a targeted prohibition or restriction" against Lithuanian goods and services. Furthermore, the complaint says, trade restrictions impact supply chains throughout the EU. Finally, the EU claims the restrictions violate the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT). 'No Othe...
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