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.

Beijing Strikes Back Against Western Sanctions
17Jun By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Diplomacy, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Human rights, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

Beijing Strikes Back Against Western Sanctions

June 17, 2021--China's National People's Congress passed sweeping legislation last week to retaliate against Western sanctions and those who enact them. The Anti-foreign Sanctions Law gives China's authority to blacklist individuals and organizations who create or implement discriminating measures against China or its citizens or interfere with China's internal affairs, according to a Reuters analysis of the legislation. If targeted and placed on a blacklist, individuals and organizations could face the following consequences: Deportation from ChinaBanned from travel to China.Chinese assets dissolved or frozen.Transaction within China restricted. Western Sanctions The new law comes in response to sanctions that the European Union, United States, Canada and Britain issued ag...
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10Jun By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Types of News: Brief

UK, US Speak Out Against Belarus’ ‘Deteriorating Human Rights Situation’

A top diplomat with the United Kingdom today denounced the "deteriorating human rights" situation in Belarus. "The human rights situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate,” said U.K. Ambassador Neil Bush in a speech to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. “The UK calls for proper, transparent and independent investigations into all reports of mistreatment and violations of human rights. We continue to call for the release of all political detainees and journalists and those imprisoned for voicing opposition to the Lukashenko regime.” Forced Landing of Flight In particular, Amb. Bush condemned the May 23, 2021 forced landing of Ryanair Flight FR4978 by the Belarusian government. The original flight path was from Athens, Greece to Vilnius, Lithuania by the Bel...
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Millions Syrian Refugees At Risk of Losing Access to Humanitarian Aid
5Jun By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Foreign Aid, International Development, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

Millions Syrian Refugees At Risk of Losing Access to Humanitarian Aid

By Spencer Brooke Hayes June 5, 2021--More than 3 million Syrian refugees may lose access to food, medical supplies and humanitarian aide next month when a UN Security Council resolution expires. “It’s going to be a disaster if the Security Council resolution is not extended. We know that people are really going to suffer,” Mark Cutts, U.N. deputy regional humanitarian coordinator, told Reuters in a recent news report. "In northwest Syria you have some of the most vulnerable people anywhere in the world." UN Security Council mandate 2533 gives humanitarian agencies the right to cross the Syrian-Turkish border to deliver aid. The resolution comes up for review in July. According to reporting by Reuters Tuvan Gumrukcu, Russia and China reduced humanitarian access to border crossing...
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Inflation Jumps to 4.2 Percent in the United States
12May By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Inflation Jumps to 4.2 Percent in the United States

May 12, 2021--After months of speculation by economists and analysts about the potential for inflation in the United States, new government data shows the concerns were legitimate. Inflation in April rose to 4.2 percent, up from 2.6 percent in March. Moreover, it is the largest 12-month increase since 2008. It's a sign that the U.S. spending spree in the midst of the global pandemic may be hitting a wall. Further exacerbating problems are supply shortages in everything from labor to semiconductors to hot dogs. Highest Rising Prices The energy sector, in particular, draws attention as prices of oil and gas spiked. But even setting aside prices in food and energy, inflation nearly doubled, from 1.6 percent in March to 3 percent in April. Consumers found the highest rising p...
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US Government Gives Notice: No More Business With State-Owned Entreprises in Belarus
19Apr By Patti MohrNo Comments
Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

US Government Gives Notice: No More Business With State-Owned Entreprises in Belarus

April 19, 2021-The U.S. government today announced it is taking action in response to "sharply deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus" since the widely disputed August 2020 election. Since the election, hundreds of thousands of people have protested in the streets to protest the presidential rule of Alexander Lukashenko. The government responded with a violent crackdown. Today the government holds at least 340 people captive as political prisoners, according to the U.S. State Department. The 2020 Elections Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized Lukashenko as the president of Belarus while the European Union and the United States consider the election to be illegitimate. The EU has said the election was "neither free nor fair" and has issued multiple rounds of san...
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Climate Change Driving a Global ‘Race to the New Technology,’ US Envoy Says
25Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy, Types of News: Brief

Climate Change Driving a Global ‘Race to the New Technology,’ US Envoy Says

March 25, 2021--Climate change is driving a massive shift in investment and industry in the United States and around the world, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said today. 'Massive Transformation' "We are on the cusp of a massive transformation and ultimately the market is going to make the moves, not the government," Kerry said, during a virtural conference held by the Washington-based Institute of International Finance. In a conversation with IIE President and CEO Tim Adams, Kerry said climate change is driving widespread changes in industries and opening up markets in the future. "This is not something for people to be scared of. This is the biggest economic opportunity we have seen," Kerry said. White House Priority To emphasize the importance he p...
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Biden Hosts ‘Quad’ Virtual Conference with India, Japan, Australia
12Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

Biden Hosts ‘Quad’ Virtual Conference with India, Japan, Australia

Quad Meeting Comes a Week After China Strengthens Ties with ASEAN March 12, 2021--In his first multilateral summit since taking office in January, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a virtual conference today with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia. "The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific," Biden said. "The United States is committed to working with you our partners and all our allies in the region to achieve stability." The talks, known formally as the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” since their start in 2007, are designed to strengthen diplomatic, military and economic ties among the members. While not an alliance, the informal dialogue provides a structure for the leaders to work together. During the opening statements, the leaders e...
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China’s Leaders Want Hong Kong to Only Elect ‘Patriots’
7Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Communism, Dictatorship, Democracy, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

China’s Leaders Want Hong Kong to Only Elect ‘Patriots’

China Plans to Change Hong Kong's Election System; West Says Freedoms Are At Risk March 7, 2021-As China's National Legislature opened its annual legislative session on Friday, pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong and around the world watched with bated breath. This week, delegates at the National People's Congress (NPC) are taking up reforms to Hong Kong's electoral system that would guarantee only "patriots" serve. The proposed changes would effectively bring Hong Kong representatives under the control of China. China Wants Hong Kong 'Patriots' According to a transcribed statement of a speech by Wang Chen, China intends to change the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The senior Chinese lawmaker said the goal is to bring the politica...
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World Recovers on Divergent Economic And Income Paths
3Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

World Recovers on Divergent Economic And Income Paths

Projections for Global Growth and Income March 3, 2021 -- If vaccine distribution throughout the world is effective in fighting off the COVID-19 virus and its related variants, the global economy is likely to rebound with strength. The International Monetary Fund projects global growth to reach 5.5 percent by the year's end. Not surprisingly, however, as businesses resume activity, economies are likely to recover at different rates. In January, the IMF projected that the recovery would "vary significantly" based on countries' access to medical interventions of the virus, policy supports for the economy, exposure to other countries, and their pre-crisis structural issues. Economic Projections According to the fund's data mapper for 2021, regions like the Middle East, Sub-Sahar...
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Biden Orders Review of Supply Chain, Promises to Increase Domestic Production
27Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Trade, Types of News: Brief, United States

Biden Orders Review of Supply Chain, Promises to Increase Domestic Production

Feb. 27, 2021--Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and consumers around the world have faced shortages of food, medical supplies and prescriptions, industrial parts, and consumer staples. Supply chain interruptions, manufacturing delays and export restrictions have all impacted the way the world trades its goods. Policymakers are taking note, and the United States is no exception. Executive Order on Supply Chains This week, President Joe Biden ordered an administration-wide review of supplies for multiple industries, including semiconductors, high-capacity batteries, critical minerals and materials, such as rare earth elements, and pharmaceuticals. "We shouldn’t have to rely on a foreign country — especially one that doesn’t share our interests or our v...
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