Sunday, March 9

Domestic Politics

El Salvador’s Big Bitcoin Experiment
23Sep By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments
Cryptocurrency, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

El Salvador’s Big Bitcoin Experiment

Photo: Diario Libre Will It Be A Win-Win For Country And Currency? Editor's Note: In June, the World Bank rejected El Salvador's request for help in implementing Bitcoin as the country's legal tender. But that didn't stop El Salvador's ambitious leader, President Nayib Bukele, from making the cryptocurrency the country's national currency. Corresponding writer Ernesto Rodriguez examines the prospects for the country and currency in this report. September 23, 2021—It’s been a few years since cryptocurrency, and especially Bitcoins, appeared as a new exciting prospect in the world of economics. Since then, it has become an important part of the economic conversation, with some people worried about the lack of transparency they represent and others praising the freedom they see in a ...
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Venezuela Ups the Ante In Talks With Opposition Leaders
17Sep By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments
Diplomacy, Domestic Politics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

Venezuela Ups the Ante In Talks With Opposition Leaders

Next Round Of Talks In Mexico Are Scheduled For Sept. 24-27; Venezuela Now Wants Alex Saab Part Of Its Delegation Mexico is hosting talks between the Venezuela government and the opposition. Photo: Norway Foreign Ministry of Affairs Editors Note: Venezuela has been in the grips of political and economic crises for much of the past decade. It is the poorest country in South America with a per capita GDP of $3,374. Roughly 94 percent of the country lives in poverty, according to the United Nations. Nicolás Maduro, the successor to Hugo Chavez, rules the country with authoritarian control. The government controls much of the economy through ownership of major enterprises, price controls, and an overdependence on the state-run oil sector. And under Maduro's leadership and against the ...
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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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After Afghanistan’s Fall, Europe Seeks Greater Autonomy Over Its Foreign Policy
3Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Types of News: Videos

After Afghanistan’s Fall, Europe Seeks Greater Autonomy Over Its Foreign Policy

September 3, 2021--Disappointed about the way the U.S. military and political leadership withdrew from Afghanistan, European Union leaders said they have to strengthen their own defense capabilities and build stronger autonomy in foreign policy decisions. "What we need is a strong and common voice in the international scene," said David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament. "Europe must take up its own responsibility, must have a voice, which can be heard, and must set and protect its own interests." -Sept. 1 at the Bled Strategic Forum Reduce Reliance and Strengthen Auonomy President of the European Council Charles Michel, said the "chaotic withdraw from Afghanistan" forces European leaders to "reduce our dependenc...
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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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Despite Falling Numbers, U.S. Still Locks Up More Prisoners Than Any Other Country
18Aug By Patti MohrNo Comments
Democracy, Domestic Politics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief, United States

Despite Falling Numbers, U.S. Still Locks Up More Prisoners Than Any Other Country

Photo by Hédi Benyounes August 18, 2021--The U.S. prison population fell to the lowest level in 2019 since 1995, according to recently released data from the U.S. Justice Department. In 2019, U.S. correction facilities held 6.3 million people, about 65,200 fewer than the previous year. That represented about 1 in 40 U.S. residents under correctional supervision in America. Though the figure declined by about 3 percent over a decade, it still represents the world's largest per capita imprisonment, according to the data available by the World Prison Brief. China's Numbers Aren't A Total It's significant to note, however, that the imprisonment rate in China does not include people held in pre-trial detention – a figure that might total more than 650,000, or up to one million Uyghu...
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Biden, Automakers, UAW Unite to Promote Electric Vehicles
7Aug By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Domestic Politics, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos, United States

Biden, Automakers, UAW Unite to Promote Electric Vehicles

President Biden held an event with U.S. and Dutch automakers August 5, 2021 at the White House. Executive Order Establishes New Rule-Making on Emissions Standards And Sets Goal 50 Percent Electric Vehicles by 2030 August 7, 2021--President Joe Biden signaled a new push for U.S. battery manufacturers and lower greenhouse gas emissions with an Executive Order calling for half of all new cars and trucks made in America to be electric by 2030. In addition to setting that goal, the president called for federal investment in building a national network of a half-million electric vehicle charging stations, customer incentives that will result in more manufacturing and union jobs, financing and retooling the domestic manufacturing supply chain, and developing more clean technologies. Fund...
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EU Sanctions Eight More Individuals Over Nicaraguan Political Situation
6Aug By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

EU Sanctions Eight More Individuals Over Nicaraguan Political Situation

August 6, 2021—In reaction to more political arrests in Nicaragua, the European Union sanctioned an additional eight individuals. As the GER previously reported, the Nicaraguan government has been arresting political opponents and people who have criticized the government ahead of elections scheduled for November. The EU references the continued deterioration of Nicaragua's political situation, "The political use of the judicial system, the exclusion of candidates from the elections and the arbitrary delisting of opposition parties are contrary to basic democratic principles and constitutes a serious violation to the rights of the Nicaraguan people." More Arrests Last week, the Nicaraguan police arrested José Antonio Peraza, a political science professor and the leader of the...
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European Convention on Human Rights Gives More Say to National Governments
2Aug By Spencer HayesNo Comments
Europe, EU, Eurozone, Types of News: Brief

European Convention on Human Rights Gives More Say to National Governments

August 2, 2021 -- An amended framework for human rights decisions in a 47-member convention came into force yesterday after all members ratified an update called Protocol No. 15. Aside from administrative changes, the addition is meant to strengthen the role of state governments in international treaties. Stronger National Roles in Human Rights According to the explanation, the Court gives greater leeway to national governments to decide how to apply and implement the Convention. "This reflects that the Convention system is subsidiary to the safeguarding of human rights at the national level and that national authorities are in principle better placed than an international court to evaluate local needs and conditions," the explanatory report says. Background The decision to ref...
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U.S. Government To Breach $22 Trillion Debt Limit By August 1
29Jul By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Economics, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S. Government To Breach $22 Trillion Debt Limit By August 1

Total Public Outstanding Debt Is $28.4 Trillion Photo by Alexander Schimmeck. July 29, 2021—The United States government is expected to run out of borrowing authority on August 1. That is two to three months sooner than expected. As a result, beginning tomorrow, July 30, the Treasury will suspend sales of certain securities. The debt limit, however, is actually not so simple. Significantly, the implications are larger than sales of securities. Already Exceeding the $22 Trillion Limit Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrote to Congress late last week, asking lawmakers to either increase the current limit or continue suspending it. She said that would "simply allow Treasury to pay for previously enacted expenditures." Reaching the debt limit occurs every few years. It means ...
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