Patti Mohr

At G20, India PM Pushes Digital Currency Model

25Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Types of News: Analysis

At G20, India PM Pushes Digital Currency Model

The Digital Rupee Is Backed By A Biometric Infrastructure System February 25, 2023—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged G20 delegates meeting in Bengaluru yesterday to follow India's lead in adopting a digital currency model. The digital rupee, as it's known, is run by blockchain and other technologies and is an alternative to cryptocurrency and cash. India's central bank announced its launch in February 2022. By November, it issued its first pilot and began promoting the digital rupee's adoption early this year. This week, India's leaders took that launch one step further: They began pushing the digital rupee abroad as they hosted the G20. "Over the past few years, we have created a highly secure, highly trusted, and highly efficient public digital infrastructure,"...

It Was ‘The Furious Year Of Invincibility’

24Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Globalization, Disintegration, Nationalism, Populism, Types of News: Videos

It Was ‘The Furious Year Of Invincibility’

Key Excerpts From Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Speech At One-Year Anniversary Of War Feb 24, 2023—A year ago, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surprised Russian President Vladimir Putin and the world by staying in the capital city of Kiev to fight back against Putin's invasion. Today, one year into the war, Zelenskyy addressed his nation about the war. Below are key excerpts from his speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8DmKLL6E_g&t=11s "A year ago, on this day, from this very place, at about seven in the morning, I addressed you with a short statement. It lasted only 67 seconds. It contained the two most important things, then and now. That Russia started a full-scale war against us. And that we are strong. We are ready for anything. We will defeat eve...

Disney Faces Shareholder Proxy Vote On China

23Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Globalization, Disintegration, Nationalism, Populism, Types of News: Analysis

Disney Faces Shareholder Proxy Vote On China

Disney in Shanghai UPDATE: The shareholder proposals went down at the April 3, 2023 annual meeting. Feb. 23, 2023—Coming soon on a proxy vote near you: Disney shareholders will have a say in whether the company should disclose details about its operations in China. The Walt Disney company, DIS, faces several shareholder proxy votes when it holds its annual meeting on April 3. They include votes about its charitable contributions, its political contributions, and its business in China. The National Legal and Policy Center, NLPC, a Disney shareholder, is proposing the latter. Specifically, the public-interest nonprofit group is asking Disney to do the following: "Report annually to shareholders on the nature and extent to which corporate operations depend on, and are vulnerable ...

17Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Economy Is Still Hot

Gas And Food Prices Continue To Climb; Jobs Market Still Tight Despite Layoffs February 17, 2023—The U.S. economy continues to run more hot than cold, despite previous forecasts that a recession would loom early in 2023. The IMF had projected a steep decline for the global economy at the beginning of the year. Then, the World Bank said the world was "perilously close" to falling into a recession. But despite the doom and gloom, the U.S. economy keeps growing. Prices are climbing; the job market remains tight even as certain economic sectors deliver layoffs; and U.S. equity markets are rising. Inflation: Prices Still Rising Inflation in the United States remains high, even as the overall CPI figure comes down from its peaks of 8.6 percent and 9.1 percent of an annualized...

NATO Steps Up Support For Ukraine Sovereignty

14Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

NATO Steps Up Support For Ukraine Sovereignty

NATO defense ministers met Feb. 14, 2023 in Brussels. February 14, 2023—As the war in Ukraine intensifies even beyond the intense fighting that has taken place to do, the NATO alliance and its members are amping up their support for Ukraine. NATO defense ministers and staff met in Brussels today to plan to provide more military support for Ukraine, increase the production of defense equipment, and strengthen and replenish members' own stocks of goods. Support for Ukraine includes training pilots, heavy weaponry, the modern air defence systems, the ammunition, and tanks. Asked by a reporter ahead of the meeting about the NATO's involvement in supplying equipment to Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it is right to support Ukraine's fight to maintain its sover...

Turkey Demands Finland And Sweden Extradite ‘Terrorists’

19Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

Turkey Demands Finland And Sweden Extradite ‘Terrorists’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks out against asylum policies that harbor terror suspects. NATO Expansion Opposed By Turkey And Hungary January 19, 2023—NATO defense ministers met in Brussels yesterday, joined by their counterparts from Finland and Sweden, two countries eager to join the alliance. But to join NATO, Finland and Sweden need to win over all 30 NATO members, and that's not so easy. Since May of 2022, Turkey and Hungary have opposed their membership bids of Finland and Sweden. In Turkey's case, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long complained that the two countries provide refuge for Kurdish terrorists. This week, he reiterated his call for Sweden and Finland to extradite more than 100 asylum seekers to Turkey. "For this to pass the parliamen...

U.S. Debt Fast Approaching Its Legal Limit

17Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Debt Fast Approaching Its Legal Limit

Treasury Secretary Warns That U.S. Government Likely To Hit Debt Limit On Thursday January 17, 2023—It's been a little over a year since Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told a Senate panel the U.S. debt of $28 trillion didn't matter. Now, 16 months and over two trillion dollars later, Yellen is warning that the government will hit its legal debt limit of $31.381 trillion on Thursday. She estimates Treasury can keep paying its bills until about June, but it won't be easy. In fact, Treasury is forced to take extraordinary accounting measures to keep the government running. The extraordinary has become ordinary in American federal bookkeeping. For Yellen, like many in Washington, the problem is still not the debt; it is the debt limit under U.S. law. It is that limit that the governm...

Facing A Surge In COVID-19, China’s Epidemic Control Is Put To The Test

16Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

Facing A Surge In COVID-19, China’s Epidemic Control Is Put To The Test

WHO Asks China To Cooperate On Understanding COVID-19 Origins January 16, 2023—After a three-year span of its zero-COVID policy ended last month, China's health system is once again being put to the test. On Saturday health officials held a press conference releasing information and putting a positive spin on China's management of the virus. But the World Health Organization is asking health officials in China for more detailed data. Furthermore, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wants China to coordinate more to help the agency understand the origins of the virus. China's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference on COVID-19 on Saturday, January 14, 2023. WHO Seeks Information, Transparency Since ending its strict zer...

Which Countries Escape The Economic Gloom?

11Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Which Countries Escape The Economic Gloom?

Global Growth Forecasts For 2023 January 11, 2023—The global economy is "perilously close to falling into a recession," the World Bank warned yesterday, with a forecast that projects 1.7 growth for the world. That projection is down significantly from the bank's forecast last June. Persistently high inflation, rising interest rates, and weakening confidence are bringing growth estimates down in an atmosphere of gloom. "The global economy is on a razor's edge. Even a small shock can trigger an outright recession," said Ayhan Kose, director of the World Bank’s Prospects Group. "The slowdown is a very sharp one, and it is broad-based." Economic Growth Continues While that is gloomy news, it might not be as bad as it sounds. For instance, a lot of economies are likely to continue...

Biden Wades Into Immigration Debate On Visit To Border

9Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

Biden Wades Into Immigration Debate On Visit To Border

El Paso prepared for the president's Jan. 8 visit. January 9, 2023—The immigration issue is about the largest hot-button political issue in U.S. politics today. It is one of the most emotionally charged issues generating the highest level of noise and legitimate criticism. Moreover, it's about as difficult to enter the political discourse as any. The battle is fierce, and it's nearly impossible to find a consensus. It involves the question of care for humanity as well as the legitimate right of a nation-state to define its borders. Any pragmatic solution is likely to be attacked from multiple sides. Also, it's hard to find common ground for even a debate. But there are some things people can't argue about. Migrants On The Streets Here's a basic fact of the immigration proble...