Monday, March 10

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.

China: National Security Law Brought Hong Kong ‘On Track’
30Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Communism, Dictatorship, Democracy, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

China: National Security Law Brought Hong Kong ‘On Track’

June 30, 2021-China's Foreign Minister Wang Wenbin said China's National Security Law brought Hong Kong "back to the right track." Asked about allegations of human rights issues during a press conference today, Wang said Hong Kong is back on track and "the rule of law and justice have been upheld." Hong Kong Source: Mohr Media, file photo "This is an undeniable fact that any unbiased people would recognize," Wang said. Moreover, he cited economic statistics to back up his assertion that the world supports China's rule over Hong Kong. China's Crack Down on Freedoms As the GER has previously reported, Hong Kong has cracked down on speech since the new National Security Law and the election law have taken effect. China, meanwhile, credits the National Security Law for making...
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Australia Asks WTO For Dispute-Talks Over Waning Wine Sales in China
29Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Trade, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

Australia Asks WTO For Dispute-Talks Over Waning Wine Sales in China

June 29, 2021-Australia requested dispute consultations in the World Trade Organization with China this week over its wine imports. Specifically, Australia is challenging China's anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of Australian wine. The WTO is the world's largest body for settling trade disputes. Australian exports of wine are facing countervailing measures in China over trade disputes. Photo credit: Just Wines According to a Reuters news story published in the Spring, Australian wine exports from AU$325 million in the final quarter of 2019 to AU$12 million in December of 2020. The agreements cited are the WTO's Anti-Dumping Agreement, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. China-Australia Trad...
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In the Wake of Sanctions, Ties between Belarus and Russia Strengthen
25Jun By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

In the Wake of Sanctions, Ties between Belarus and Russia Strengthen

June 24, 2021 -- In response to new human-rights related sanctions by Western countries, Belarus is strengthening its relationship with Russia.  “We are categorically against sanctions. Recently, unfortunately, politicians in the West have shown a lowered level of political responsibility and literacy. They assumed the right to say what is right and what is wrong, to promote ‘lofty values’ and force everyone to comply with these ‘values’,” said Vladimir Makei, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, told BELTA, a state-run news agency in Belarus. Earlier this week, the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, and Canada announced new rounds of sanctions against individuals and entities close to the Alexander Lukashenko regime. It comes in response to worsening political repre...
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Britain Considers Joining Trans-Pacific Trade Deal
25Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

Britain Considers Joining Trans-Pacific Trade Deal

June 25, 2021-The United Kingdom started talks this week to join one of the world's largest trade agreements. "The launch of negotiations marks a huge milestone in our accession process, and I look forward to talks starting in the coming weeks," Liz Truss, UK's International Trade Secretary, said. CPTPP: 11 Plus One The government announced the CPTPP talks on Tuesday with much fanfare. Japan's Yasutoshi Nishimura is leading the talks on behalf of the pact. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a trade pact with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The 11 countries signed it in 2016 after years of negotiating. If Britain joins the 11-nation pact, the CPTPP would grow ...
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Palestinian Authority Turns Away Soon-to-Expire COVID-19 Vaccines from Israel
23Jun By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Types of News: Brief

Palestinian Authority Turns Away Soon-to-Expire COVID-19 Vaccines from Israel

June 23, 2021 --Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh cancelled an agreement last Friday to accept a million of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine doses this Summer in exchange for giving Israel a similar number of doses the PA Health Ministry is expecting to receive this Fall. It would have been one of the first deals between the two governments since Naftali Bennett took over as Israeli Prime Minister June 13. The deal, however, did not last. Israel’s shipment of vaccines does not hold up “to the specifications contained in the agreement," said Ibrahim Melhem, the PA government spokesman. “The government refuses to receive vaccines that are about to expire.”  In response, the Israeli Health Ministry said the vaccine doses given to the PA were "identical in every way to...
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US, EU, UK and Canada Target Belarus Officials with New Sanctions
21Jun By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

US, EU, UK and Canada Target Belarus Officials with New Sanctions

June 21, 2021- In a coordinated effort to counter an escalation of human rights violations and repression by Belarus, the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, and Canada announced today a new round of sanctions against individuals and entities close to the Alexander Lukashenko regime. "Today's actions, taken on both sides of the Atlantic, hold accountable those who continue to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people through abuses of human rights, attacks on the free press, and disregard for other fundamental freedoms," said Andrea Gackju, Director of U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, according to a press release. EU Sanctions List of Individuals Grows The EU's sanctions now include 78 more people and eight more entities. In total, th...
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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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