Wednesday, March 12

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.

IMF: Crypto, Stocks Surged In Response To Central Bank Policies Since 2020
11Jan By Patti MohrNo Comments
Big Tech, Digital Economy, Cryptocurrency, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Types of News: Brief, United States

IMF: Crypto, Stocks Surged In Response To Central Bank Policies Since 2020

In Effect, The Policies Pose The Risk Of Shocks To The Financial Systems Photo by BTC Keychain January 11, 2022--Cryptocurrencies and stock market equities skyrocketed as central banks produced loose monetary policies amid the 2020 global pandemic. Although cryptocurrency prices and some high-growth stocks have dipped since the start of the year, they both "surged amid easy global financial conditions," the International Monetary Fund reported on today. That may come as no surprise among high finance investors who carefully watch interest rates established by central banks, especially those in the United States and Europe. But today's report by the IMF appears to be the first acknowledgment from the multilateral organization that government agencies are fueling the boom in r...
Read More
Geneva Talks Avert US-Russian Conflict Over Ukraine, For Now
10Jan By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Types of News: Brief

Geneva Talks Avert US-Russian Conflict Over Ukraine, For Now

January 10, 2022--U.S. and Russian diplomats meeting in Geneva this week face a tall task: Deescalate tensions over Ukraine. Russia has around 100,000 troops positioned near the Russian-Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, the United States is saying it will strengthen its defensive agreement with Ukraine. So far, the meetings appear to be promoting diplomacy as the answer. Since the leaders from the two countries met virtually just over a month ago, both sides have significantly raised the stakes and preferred worst-case scenarios. US-Russian diplomats met in Geneva Jan. 10, 2022. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman represented the United States to meet with Sergey Ryabkov, Russian's deputy foreign minister. Russia Seeks Security Guarantees Russian President Vladimir Putin laid...
Read More
Israeli, Palestinian Authority Leaders Met In Person, And That In Itself Is Significant
30Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Israeli, Palestinian Authority Leaders Met In Person, And That In Itself Is Significant

December 30, 2021--Although there are no peace talks in place between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in central Israel this week. It's significant in that it was the first time Abbas visited Israel in a decade. It also marks a sign of support by Israel for the weak Palestinian government. Abbas represents Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. His leadership is often overshadowed by the Palestinian leadership in Gaza, which is controlled by militant Hamas. The year has seen rising tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, including a 22-day war between Israel and Hamas in May. Meeting Outcomes According to reporting by the Times of Israel, Gantz announced on Wednesday that Israel will offer the foll...
Read More
Russian Court Closes International Nonprofit Critical of the Soviet Union
29Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
Human rights, Types of News: Brief

Russian Court Closes International Nonprofit Critical of the Soviet Union

December 29, 2021--A Russian court closed a human rights organization called International Memorial for failing to mark a number of its social media posts as coming from a "foreign agent," the BBC reported on Tuesday. On its website, International Memorial is a Moscow-based nonprofit organization “studying political repressions in the USSR and in present-day Russia.” According to reporting by the BBC, the court prosecutor called the organization a “public threat,” saying it receives money from the West and focuses on crimes by the Soviet Union. Separately, a Moscow court closed its affiliate Memorial on Wednesday, the Financial Times reported. Representatives from many Western governments condemned the action. For example, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the group was...
Read More
Biden And Putin To Talk Thursday To Try To Ease Tensions
29Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Biden And Putin To Talk Thursday To Try To Ease Tensions

December 29, 2021--Amid rising tensions between the West and Russia, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet by phone on Thursday. The talks come as military tensions rise between Russia and the West over Ukraine. The phone conversation comes ahead of diplomatic meetings scheduled in January in Geneva between Russia and the United States. "By and large we are seeing positive traction at this point," Putin said of the discussions during his Dec. 23 annual press conference. He said the topic of Ukraine is "a formidable issue" concerning Russia's security. He added that conflict "is not our choice." https://youtu.be/fwThVdceKv4 Conflict "is not our choice," Putin said during his Dec. 23 annual press conference. Relations between Russia...
Read More
The Impact Of Conflict Still Reverberates Throughout The Middle East
29Dec By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Foreign Aid, International Development, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

The Impact Of Conflict Still Reverberates Throughout The Middle East

Editor's Note: This year we saw international diplomats try to work out political solutions for many of the Arab Spring countries. Meanwhile, humanitarians worked directly with the people impacted by conflict and natural disasters. Fabrizio Carboni is one of them. He is regional director for the Near and Middle East for the International Committee of the Red Cross. The news is difficult to take in. But solutions cannot come unless we understand the issues impacting people. December 29, 2021--Fabrizio Carboni, regional director for the Near and Middle East for the International Committee of the Red Cross, discussed the major challenges faced by the Middle Eastern countries of Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Iraq in 2021.  "What we see ...
Read More
Eurozone Inflation Varies Widely By Country
28Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Eurozone Inflation Varies Widely By Country

As the euro-area grows, so does euro-area inflation rate. Overall, the inflation rate reached 4.9 percent by year's end. Some see the rise in prices moderating next year. While others see it persisting and posing a threat to the economic recovery. With the rise in oil prices and supply bottlenecks making global trading more expensive in 2021, consumers around the world are coping with higher prices. Central banks in Europe and the United States are beginning to reduce their stimulus programs. Yet the European Central Bank plans to continue purchasing assets, albeit at a slower pace, while maintaining its policy of zero-to-negative interest rates into 2022. What's interesting is that the inflation rate varies widely in the eurozone, from a moderate 2.2 percent annualized increase in ...
Read More
U.S.-Russia To Continue Talks On Sensitive Strategic Issues, Biden Says
8Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

U.S.-Russia To Continue Talks On Sensitive Strategic Issues, Biden Says

NATO Is At The Heart Of Most Sensitive Concerns December 8, 2021--In a virtual meeting held Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the rocky relationship between the two countries as well as other sensitive and strategic issues. Speaking with reporters today, Biden said U.S.-Russian teams are in "constant contact" to bring "down the temperature along the eastern front." Talks are likely to continue, Biden said, to address Russia's concern regarding the NATO alliance's expansionary aims. Ukraine, NATO & Russia Ukraine -- a country located between Europe and Russia and divided between the East and West -- is at the center of attention. In recent weeks, Russia amassed troops along the Russian-Ukrainian border. Biden said he made cl...
Read More
U.S. Treasury Breaches $28.9 Trillion Debt Limit
30Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Treasury Breaches $28.9 Trillion Debt Limit

Treasury Secretary Yellen Says Uncertainty Exists Over Cash Balance On Dec. 15 November 30, 2021—The U.S. government breached its $28.9 trillion debt limit and is using extraordinary measures to borrow money to pay its bills, the Congressional Budget Office reported today. The CBO outlined the extraordinary measures the government is currently taking to stay afloat. The U.S. government has "no room to borrow under its standard operating procedures," the CBO said. If the Treasury transfers $118 billion to the Highway Trust Fund on December 15, as the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs it to do, it is likely to run out of cash. Running on Empty If the U.S. government runs out of options, it "would ultimately lead to delays of payments for some governme...
Read More
Fed Comes Under Pressure As Inflation Persists
30Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

Fed Comes Under Pressure As Inflation Persists

Fed Chair Says Inflation Now Likely To 'Linger Well Into Next Year' November 30, 2021—After months of downplaying inflation as a temporary condition, U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell said inflation has now spread much more widely beyond the sectors impacted by supply chain bottlenecks. 'Transitory' No More "I think it's probably a good time to retire that word and explain what we mean," Powell told senators at a Banking Committee hearing. Surging Economic Growth The U.S. economy is now growing at 5 percent, which is the "fastest pace in many years," Powell said. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is down to 4.6 percent. Asked by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., about the drop in the U.S. labor participation rate, Powell said fears about the pandemic are the likely cause. ...
Read More

Contact Us