Saturday, December 28

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.

Ukraine to Sell 800 State-Owned Enterprises
21Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Ukraine to Sell 800 State-Owned Enterprises

October 21, 2019- Privatization is seen as a key to addressing widespread corruption in Ukraine, where the state is the largest asset owner. The government is preparing a list of 800 state-owned assets for sale, a top Ukrainian official told a gathering of business and government leaders in Washington, DC last week. "There are 61 central authorities running state-owned companies with no accountability whatsoever, and these guys are messing up the competition in every market you can think of," Tymofiy Mylovanov, Ukraine's Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, told members of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council in Washington, DC last week. "We have to get them under control." Mylovanov announced plans to list up to 800 of the 10,000 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) for ...
Read More
Pause in Turkey’s Offensive Gives Syrian Kurds Chance to ‘Get Out’
20Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Middle East, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief

Pause in Turkey’s Offensive Gives Syrian Kurds Chance to ‘Get Out’

October 20, 2019-The United States and Turkey reached an agreement on Syrian operations late last week after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an demanded that "all the terrorists" lay down their arms and "get out of the safe zone that we have designated." As a result of the agreement, Kurdish fighters, known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG), and their families are to evacuate from a designated zone along the Syrian-Turkish border. If they do not evacuate, Turkey has promised to relaunch its military offensive. While U.S. President Donald Trump called it a "ceasefire," others referred to the pause in fighting as a period of mass evacuation. It is not immediately clear if YPG fighters are leaving the area, but tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing to Iraq for safety. ...
Read More
British Parliament Delays Vote on Brexit Withdrawal
19Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Types of News: Brief

British Parliament Delays Vote on Brexit Withdrawal

October 19, 2019-During a rare Saturday session, the British parliament voted 322-306 to delay a vote on a deal that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson negotiated with the European Commission. The postponement dealt a blow to Johnson's plan to allow Britain to exit the European Union in its October 31 Brexit while averting economic shocks to consumers, businesses and citizens. Members of the Labour Party overwhelmingly voted for the amendment to postpone while Conservative Party members voted against it. Down to the Wire The delay is seen as a defeat for Johnson who has promised to steer Britain out of the EU on October 31 with or without a deal. A no-deal exit could mean economic disruptions, including food, fuel and medicine shortages, price hikes, problems at ports and...
Read More
U.S. Preps Sanctions Against Turkey in Wake of Military Incursion in Syria
14Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Geopolitics, Middle East, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Preps Sanctions Against Turkey in Wake of Military Incursion in Syria

October 14, 2019-As Turkey continued its military operation into northern Syria on Monday, U.S. lawmakers prepared to impose economic sanctions against current and former Turkish government officials contributing to the "destabilizing actions." While U.S. troops moved out of Syria, U.S. leaders prepared an economic response. In a published statement released on Twitter, U.S. President Donald Trump said he is preparing an executive order to impose the sanctions against "those who may be involved in serious human rights abuses, obstructing a ceasefire, preventing displaced persons from returning home, forcibly repatriating refugees, or threatening the peace, security, or stability in Syria." Aside from sanctions against individuals, further actions could include raising tariffs on s...
Read More
Tenuous US-China Trade Talks
14Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

Tenuous US-China Trade Talks

October 14, 2019--High-level trade talks between U.S. and Chinese leaders last week produced some results but left the possibility for higher tariffs open in December if details are not settled. "We have a great deal. We're papering it now," U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday. "China is going to keep their word. They want to make the deal." China's chief negotiator signaled modest support. "We have made substantial progress in many fields," Vice Premier Liu He said through an interpreter on Friday. "We are happy about it." The partial deal, which is not yet settled, comes at a time when trade between the two countries has fallen. According to a report today in the Financial Times, China's imports from the United States fell 26.4 percent in September while its exports t...
Read More
Turkey Drives Military Forces Into Syria
13Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Types of News: Brief

Turkey Drives Military Forces Into Syria

October 13, 2019-Turkey drove its military forces into northern Syria this week, driving out Kurdish forces and civilians and inciting international criticism. Turkish President Recep Erdogan annouced the drive earlier in the week, saying he intends to create a buffer zone where he can resettle up to 3.6 million Syrian refugees now living in Turkey. Since January, U.S. and Turkish leaders have discussed creating a "safe zone" in the region. For Kurds living and fighting in the area, the zone is anything but safe. Turkish forces and their allies captured several villages over the weekend along the Syria's Northern border, according to reports in Al Jazeera. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned that civilian lives are in danger amid the new fighting. "Hund...
Read More
EU-UK Talks Intensify Ahead of Oct. 31 Brexit
11Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

EU-UK Talks Intensify Ahead of Oct. 31 Brexit

October 11, 2019--With less than three weeks to go before the United Kingdom exits the European Union without a plan to trade with the rest of Europe, new hope for a deal emerged on Friday as the chief negotiator for the European Commission indicated that talks are intensifying "in a constructive spirit." "We are intensifying technical discussions with the United Kingdom over the coming days, in a constructive spirit," Michel Barnier, the European Commission's Chief Negotiator, said today on Twitter. Earlier in the week, Barnier suggested that an agreement would be "difficult, but still possible." EU Position: No Hard Border in Ireland The European Union would only support a withdrawal agreement if it "avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland, protects the all-island eco...
Read More
US Debt Tops $22 Trillion as Lawmakers Deliver New Deal
23Jul By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Domestic Politics, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief, United States

US Debt Tops $22 Trillion as Lawmakers Deliver New Deal

July 23, 2019--U.S. lawmakers agreed to raise the limit on incurring national debt to $22 trillion to July 31, 2021. They also agreed to a two-year budget agreement that increases spending by $320 billion. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it a "bold, bipartisan and a victory for Democrats and the American people." President Donald Trump said in a tweet the deal is "a real compromise in order to give another big victory to our Great Military and vets." According to Pelosi's statement, the deal increases both defense and non-defense spending and avoids a government shutdown. The U.S. national debt has risen from $11.9 trillion in 2009 to $22 trillion in 2019. Meanwhile, the interest on the debt (marketable non-government) has risen from 2.28 percent to 2.5 percent in th...
Read More
Do-or-Die Brexiteer Boris Johnson to Become UK Prime Minister
23Jul By Patti MohrNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

Do-or-Die Brexiteer Boris Johnson to Become UK Prime Minister

July 23, 2019--Boris Johnson, outspoken Eurosceptic politician in the United Kingdom won the conservative party's election to succeed Theresa May as head of party and state in a sweeping victory. Johnson won 92,153 Tory-party votes, nearly double that of his opponent Jeremy Hunt. That gives him a strong mandate to lead his country out of the European Union -- a process that proved too difficult for his predecessor. In his victory speech following the vote count, Johnson said it is "a pivotal moment in history." He said leaders have to reconcile "the deep desire for" friendship, free trade and mutual support for security between the Britain and Europe and "the simultaneous desire, equally deep and heartfelt, for democratic self government." A 'Do-or-Die' Brexit Strategy ...
Read More
WTO Deals Blow to U.S. Case Against China’s State-Subsidized Pricing
18Jul By Patti MohrNo Comments
Communism, Dictatorship, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

WTO Deals Blow to U.S. Case Against China’s State-Subsidized Pricing

July 18, 2019-- The world's litigation body for trade disputes dealt a new blow to a multiyear effort by U.S. representatives to counteract pricing impacted by state-owned enterprises. The decision impacts a wide range of products, including solar panels and aluminum. More striking, it weighs in on the mounting tension in the global economy between competing economic systems. What: This Week's Action Late Tuesday, a World Trade Organization appellate body upheld a decision by a lower panel regarding U.S. tariffs on a series of mostly industrial products imported from China that U.S. officials believe to be subsidized and under priced. Products impacted include solar panels, wind towers, steel cylinders and sinks, kitchen shelving, lawn groomers, aluminum extrusions and a serie...
Read More

Contact Us