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.

Musk’s $8 Twitter Pay Plan
2Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Big Tech, Digital Economy, Types of News: Brief

Musk’s $8 Twitter Pay Plan

November 2, 2022—As the new owner and head of the world's social media gathering place, Elon Musk has a plan to make it a little less free. That is, he intends to charge $8 a month to Twitter users who want validation backing their accounts that they are legitimate. The validation would come from a blue check mark next to their names and handle. Moreover, that check mark could come with the privileges, such as priority in receiving replies, mentions, and search rankings, the ability to post long videos and audio, and half as many ads. Revenue the company receives from charging the fee could help Twitter reward the content creators, Musk said. Here he is discussing his vision in an archived video released today. Are you buying in? See video here. https://video.twimg.c...
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Migrant Workers At U.S. Military Bases Face Forced To Stay By Private Contractors
31Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Human rights, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief

Migrant Workers At U.S. Military Bases Face Forced To Stay By Private Contractors

Photo NBC Complaints Of Forced Labor Linger While Private Firms Continue To Win U.S. Contracts October 31, 2022—In an irony of ironies, the U.S. government opposes to human trafficking and forced labor at the same time that its Defense Department hires private contractors that routinely conducting those practices.  Migrant civilians working on U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf are subject to trafficking and abusive labor practices, according to a groundbreaking investigation conducted by a team of international journalists. The team included investigative reporters from the Washington Post, NBC News, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalists to uncover the story. Their findings came to light late last...
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Musk’s Challenge Is Living Up To The Promise
27Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Big Tech, Digital Economy, Types of News: Brief

Musk’s Challenge Is Living Up To The Promise

Innovator Says That, Unlike Traditional Media, Twitter Won't Cater To Polarizing Extremes Elon Musk meets with Twitter staff ahead of the purchase. Photo: Walter Isaacson October 27, 2022—A day ahead of closing a $44 billion deal to buy one of the world's largest social media platforms, Elon Musk said he is acquiring Twitter to empower citizen journalism and make it a place where people from various views can come together to conduct health debate. Twitter is one of the world's most popular social media sites. While it is well behind Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Google's YouTube, TikTok, WeChat, and Telegram in terms of users, it boasts of strong engagement among its monthly average users of around 436 million people. Musk is known for his innovation, leadership, and tough ma...
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For All The Fuss With Truss, It’s Over
20Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

For All The Fuss With Truss, It’s Over

Proposed Deficit Spending Put The British Economy At Risk And Created Turmoil October 20, 2022--British Prime Minister Liz Truss announced today she'll be stepping down next week when her party chooses a new leader. She said she informed King Charles she is resigning as leader of the Conservative Party and head of the country's government. "This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security," Truss said on Twitter. It's been a bruising time for Truss. She served a total of 44 days after Queen Elizabeth made Truss's appointment to office official before peacefully passing away. As the country buried their beloved queen, an era of British strength faded with her. U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss resig...
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U.S. Treasury Assesses Impact Of Sanctions On Russia
17Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Treasury Assesses Impact Of Sanctions On Russia

U.S. Government Warns About Secondary Sanctions To People Or Entities Supporting Russia's War October 17, 2022—As Russia has waged war against Ukraine and Ukraine fought back, Western governments have carefully weighed in on the battle through the global financial system. It's a powerful economic coalition that comprises 37 countries. The U.S. government alone issued roughly 1,500 new sanctions and amended 750 more. They target Russia's defense industrial base, the aerospace sector, the microelectronic industry, financial institutions, elites and oligarchs, luxury goods, and oil refining. The sanctions are having an impact on the Russian economy. But is it enough to have an impact strong enough to end the war? Impact of Sanctions On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department rele...
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EU Advances Bosnia And Herzegovina Membership Request
14Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Europe, EU, Eurozone, Geopolitics, Human rights, Types of News: Brief

EU Advances Bosnia And Herzegovina Membership Request

European Commission Demands Candidate Countries Provide Stronger Human Rights Protections October 14, 2022—The European Commission gave the green light to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its candidacy to join the 27-member European Union. The decision, which comes with stipulations, moves to the European Council. EU leaders are aspiring to expand their bloc as a way to spread their perspective on the world stage. Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi called the enlargement policy a "geostrategic investment" in the continent's peace and stability. Candidates for the EU Line Up Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia are the latest countries to request membership. The bloc already has many countries waiting to get in, including Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo. "The Western Balkans are ...
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Turkey And Russia Discuss Energy Deals, Trade in Food
13Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Turkey And Russia Discuss Energy Deals, Trade in Food

October 13, 2022—On the sidelines of a conference in Kazakhstan, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed trade of Russian grain and fertilizer and plans for Russia to run nuclear plans in Turkey. Energy Deals In addition to the nuclear deals in Turkey, they also discussed transporting Russian gas through Turkey via its ferry system. Putin said Turkey is "the most reliable route to deliver gas to the European Union," according to various news sources that quoted the Kremlin. He added that the hub in Turkey would be a "platform not only for supplies, but also for determining the price." Turkey To Transport Grain And Fertilizer Erdogan said facilitating trade of grain and fertilizer from Russia to other countries is of...
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NATO Reaffirms Support For Ukraine, Strengthens Air Defense
13Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

NATO Reaffirms Support For Ukraine, Strengthens Air Defense

Photo by Kongsberg October 13, 2022—As NATO ministers met in Brussels yesterday and today, Russia's bombardment of Ukraine's capital and nine other cities was fresh on their minds. The war intensified, and NATO and the G7 nations of Western countries strengthened their support for Ukraine. Ukraine has asked the military alliance of 30 countries to fast track its request for membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that would lead to World War II. And many NATO-member leaders took heed. "We do not want world war," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter. Germany, meanwhile, is leading the effort to strengthen Europe's military defense. Air Defense System While NATO treads lightly on expansion. Today, 14 NATO members agreed to jointly develop an air de...
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ESG And GOP Don’t Mix
11Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Brief

ESG And GOP Don’t Mix

State treasurers from GOP-led states say ESG investing harms fossil fuel industries. US Republican Treasurers Withdraw $1 Billion From BlackRock Funds October 11, 2022—State treasurers from Republican-led states of Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah aren't buying into BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's idea of the power of capitalism to make the world a better place. In fact, they are pulling their state's funds from BlackRock funds altogether. The state GOP treasurers say they oppose BlackRock's position on prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in investment decisions. "Corporate America is now at war with the states that make their living in the fossil fuel business," said John Schroder, Louisiana State Treasurer, during a podcast interview with ...
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As The Fed Raises Rates, U.S. Debt Matters More
4Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

As The Fed Raises Rates, U.S. Debt Matters More

October 4, 2022—For years, the policy wonks and heads of government departments told the public that the U.S. national debt didn't matter because borrowing costs were so low. Now, as the Federal Reserve leads central banks in raising interest rates, the price of debt suddenly matters. For the first time, the U.S. debt topped $31 trillion, U.S. Treasury reports. That's up from $16 trillion in 10 years. Moreover, that figure is set to rise. For one, Congress keeps spending more than it is taking in with revenues. By August, the government ran a budget deficit of $944 billion during the first 11 months of the fiscal year, the Congressional Budget Office reported. Here's a look at the FY2022 budget. Source: Treasury, August Monthly Statement Rising Costs of Deficits and Debt ...
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