Tuesday, April 29

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.

Taliban Seeks UN Recognition, Says It Has Its Own Income Sources
24Sep By Srinidhi RajagopalNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Types of News: Brief

Taliban Seeks UN Recognition, Says It Has Its Own Income Sources

At The Same Time, The Taliban Rejects 'Interference' And Rights Of Women And Girls September 24, 2021—Just as the world is coming to terms with a complete takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the organization has written a request to join the talks at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly. Challenges Expected The unexpected request, which was addressed to the U.N. Secretary-General, is an example of the political challenges the Taliban now face.  According to reporting by the Associated Press, the U.N. committee that generally meets in November will issue a ruling “in due course.” The bigger issue is how to gain legitimacy after forcefully taking over the country in the vacuum of power left by U.S. and NATO forces. It's true the former Afghan government and mil...
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India Raises Concerns About Rising Regional Extremism
17Sep By Srinidhi RajagopalNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

India Raises Concerns About Rising Regional Extremism

September 17, 2021—Meeting with regional leaders in Tajikistan today, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern that the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan could exacerbate extremism in the area. "I believe the biggest challenges in this area are related to peace, security and a trust deficit," Modi said. "The root cause of these problems is the increasing radicalization. Afghanistan has made this challenge more clear." Taliban Influence Abroad Diplomatic leaders in India's capital New Delhi are apprehensive about the growing influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the progress of peace talks between the two countries. The biggest challenges India faces as a result of the Taliban takeover in Kabul, seem to be peace, security and trust deficit. The Indian Exter...
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns — Again — About Breach Of Debt Limit
9Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns — Again — About Breach Of Debt Limit

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck, courtesy Unsplash U.S. Government Likely to Run Out Of Cash By October Without Act of Congress September 9, 2021--U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrote another letter to leaders of Congress yesterday, pleading for lawmakers to authorize a higher level of government spending than the $28.7 trillion currently owed. Having breached the last debt limit long ago, Treasury is relying on extraordinary measures, such as suspension of making payments to certain disability and benefits funds and thrift savings plans, to pay its bills. Like Yellen's last letter in July, the Sept. 8 letter does not mention the amount of the current U.S. debt. Neither does it mention that the U.S. government surpassed the last debt limit of $22 trillion long ago. Congre...
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WTO Rejects All Legal Claims By China in U.S. Tariffs on Solar Imports
3Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Trade, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

WTO Rejects All Legal Claims By China in U.S. Tariffs on Solar Imports

U.S. Safeguard Tariffs Set To Expire in February 2022 September 3, 2021--The world's legal body for settling trade disputes rejected a complaint yesterday by China over U.S. tariffs on solar products made in China. The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement body denied all of China's claims against the U.S. safeguard tariff on China-made solar materials called Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products. A safeguard measure is a temporary trade restriction countries apply to an import that occurs in such high quantities that it causes serious injury to the domestic industry. They are allowed under WTO rules for emergency and temporary use. Dispute Started in 2018 In 2017, the U.S. International Trade Commission responded to a complaint by Suniva, Inc. and SolarWorld Am...
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Biden Defends Exit From Afghanistan, Cites Trump’s 2020 Agreement With The Taliban
31Aug By Patti MohrNo Comments
Democracy, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos, United States

Biden Defends Exit From Afghanistan, Cites Trump’s 2020 Agreement With The Taliban

Nation-Building Through The Military Does Not Work August 31, 2021--In a significant and riveting speech, President Joe Biden defended his decision to complete the withdraw of U.S. troops from war-torn Afghanistan. The speech is noteworthy not only for its forcefulness. It is also relevant for its acknowledgment of a failure and an end to a U.S. policy of promoting democracy through the use of military forces. Biden faced opposition in the United States and around the world for his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJRpSm4DdPk
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The Hidden Heroes of the Afghan Refugee Crisis
25Aug By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Human rights, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

The Hidden Heroes of the Afghan Refugee Crisis

August 25, 2021--As observers around the world watch in horror the collapse of human rights in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, humanitarians are stepping up to the plate to assist vulnerable members of Afghan society. Governments Relocating Refugees In a press briefing this week, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price discussed successful relocations from Afghanistan. He credited a number of contributions by countries in the relocation efforts. Specifically, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Italy, Bahrain, and Germany. These governments have assisted in the transit of at-risk Afghans, US citizens, and other Afghan evacuees. Alongside those efforts, Germany, Spain, and Italy have deployed armed troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation. These forces are...
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In Emergency Meeting, G7 Makes Coordinated Plan on Afghanistan
24Aug By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Geopolitics, Human rights, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

In Emergency Meeting, G7 Makes Coordinated Plan on Afghanistan

European Council Urges U.S. Military to Keep Kabul Airport Open 'As Long As Necessary' to Complete Evacuations August 24, 2021--In an emergency meeting on Afghanistan held virtually today along with heads of NATO and the United Nations, leaders in the G7 industrialized countries promised a series of steps to stay active in dealing with a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the fallout of the ensuing humanitarian crisis. The G7 includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Japan. Facing the largest humanitarian crisis of the year due to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the G7 leaders met to coordinate a diplomatic strategy. Namely, the G7 leaders promised to take the following actions: Coordinate the immediate international humanitar...
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Investors in Asia Embracing New Sustainable Technologies
24Aug By Frank McMullinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Finance, Investing, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Investors in Asia Embracing New Sustainable Technologies

Photo of Shanghai by Alexander Schimmeck courtesy Unsplash. CONFERENCE COVERAGE: Talks Show Investors Pivoting To 'Purposeful' Portfolios August 24, 2021--Leaders from financial investment firms, consulting agencies, nonprofits and startups met virtually last week to spur collaborations and sustainable investments in Asia. The South China Morning Post’s held the event, called Asia Sustainability Conference. As investors continue to flock to rapidly-developing markets in Asia, the conference reflected growing demand for investment opportunities in line with environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria. "Going forward, we are all equal. There is so much pressure to look at sustainable investments that, with new investments, we are on par with the rest of the world," s...
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IMF Making $650 Billion Available to Members On Monday
20Aug By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Economics, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

IMF Making $650 Billion Available to Members On Monday

Fund Blocks Afghanistan And Venezuela From Benefitting From Special Drawing Right In an emergency decision, the IMF is creating reserves for nearly all members. Countries can exchange it for cash or keep as reserves. August 20, 2021--The International Monetary Fund is set to make available $650 billion in drawing rights on August 23 to nearly all of its 190 members. Creating Cash through Special Drawing Rights It's a historic distribution by the fund, made to mitigate the impact of the global pandemic. The IMF executive board approved the emergency decision in July. IMF members will be able to exchange the Special Drawing Right for hard currency with central banks of countries. They could also keep it as part of their reserves. The allocation is neither a donation nor a ...
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Afghanistan’s Fall Creates The Worst Humanitarian Crisis of the Year
19Aug By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief

Afghanistan’s Fall Creates The Worst Humanitarian Crisis of the Year

Scenes of chaos at the Kabul airport. August 19, 2021-- The jaws of Hell opened this week as Kabul, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, parting the gates for the worst humanitarian crisis of the year. Images from around Afghanistan emulate the disruption and chaos that has come from this growth in Taliban power: Taliban members smiled at the media cameras in their conquered territories. Afghan civilians clung to US Air Force planes departing from Kabul, pleading for a way out of the country. As The New York Times put it, this week's events are "a symbol of America's military might, flying out of the country even as Afghans hung on against all hope." https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1427292291320975360?s=20 'Cannot Abandon The People of Afghanistan' Half of the count...
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