Patti Mohr

In Contrast To NATO, Moscow-Based CSTO Is Silent On Ukraine

24Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Eastern Europe, Geopolitics, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council

In Contrast To NATO, Moscow-Based CSTO Is Silent On Ukraine

File photo: CSTO meeting 2020 March 24, 2022--The Russia-dominated military alliance known as the Collective Security Treaty Organization is keeping silent on the Ukraine crisis, including Russia's invasion and the humanitarian outflow of refugees. That stands in contrast to the 30 member NATO alliance, which issued a statement today in reaction to Russia's war in Ukraine. March Meeting on Crisis Response Meeting this month virtually, the Moscow-based CSTO staff discussed crisis-response initiatives with military representatives from its member states. Members include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. According to a March 24 news statement about the meeting, the representatives discussed the "military and political situation in the world and ...

24Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council

NATO Heads Of State Full-Text Statement

NATO Affirms 'Unwavering Support' For Territorial Integrity Of Ukraine March 24, 2022--While meeting in an extraordinary summit today, the heads of state of the 30 countries released a statement about Russia's war against Ukraine. The leaders expressed resolve to counter Russia's aggression and hold Russia and Belarus to account. Also, they called on China to "abstain from supporting Russia’s war effort in any way." The following is the full-text statement from the March 24, 2022 meeting: We, the Heads of State and Government of the 30 NATO Allies, have met today to address Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades. Russia’s war against Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe and is causing enormous human suffering and d...

Europe Shores Up Its Defence, Sets Up Security Plan

23Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Eastern Europe, Europe, EU, Eurozone, and United Kingdom, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Europe Shores Up Its Defence, Sets Up Security Plan

NATO Also To Strengthen Its Defense Capabilities In Europe And Perhaps Beyond March 23, 2022--This week political leaders are meeting on two tracks to build up security in Europe: in the NATO Alliance and in the European Council. Josep Borrell speaks ahead of European Council March 21, 2022 meeting. Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, European countries started plans to shore up their own defenses. It started in 2017 with talks of a voluntary defense arrangement among EU countries. Over time, it grew in. ambitions. After Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August, European leaders began talking about strengthening their own defense capabilities and building stronger autonomy in foreign policy. That led to the culmination of the Strategic Compass. It is a forward-looking defense ...

Council Of Europe Moves Forward Minus One: Russia

16Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

Council Of Europe Moves Forward Minus One: Russia

March 16, 2022--The human rights body for the European continent made a big decision today: It kicked one of its 46 members out. It is another sign of the turning point in history when the world becomes more divided. In what it said was "an extraordinary meeting" in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe revoked the membership of the Russian Federation after 26 years of its participation. Human Rights Body Statement The expulsion comes a day after the council's parliamentary assembly initiated the procedure. "Through their actions in Ukraine the Russian authorities deprive the Russian people of the benefit of the most advanced human rights protection system in the world, including the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights and our vast convention system," the council's l...

Four-in-Ten Americans Want To Do More To Help Ukraine

16Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Types of News: Brief

Four-in-Ten Americans Want To Do More To Help Ukraine

Pew Survey Finds 1/3 Of U.S. Adults Say They Are Willing To Risk Nuclear War To Help Ukraine March 16, 2022--A survey of over ten thousand U.S. adults by the Pew Research Center about Russia's invasion of Ukraine produced some interesting findings. Roughly half of the respondents said they consider Russia's war a "major threat" to U.S. interests. Republicans and Democrats agree on that, and they want to do more to help. Americans consider Russia's invasion of Ukraine a major threat and support tough sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, Americans are closely following news about the war. Strong majorities in both parties--more than 8 in 10--favor sanctions against Russia. Notably, more than a third of the respondents said they would favor "taking military action even if it risks ...

Russia Missed Deadline To Pay $117 Million Interest On Bonds

16Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

Russia Missed Deadline To Pay $117 Million Interest On Bonds

File photo 2018. Russian President Putin meets with Finance Minister Siluanov. Russian Finance Minister Orders Payment Transactions, Says It's Up To Washington To Approve It March 16, 2022--Russia missed a key deadline today to pay $117 million it owes on debt payments on two government bonds. Holders of the dollar-denominated bonds had not received a confirmation of payment at the close of business in London, according to reporting by Reuters. That kicks off a 30-day grace period lasting until April 15. If the Russian government does not make payments by then, creditors can officially declare a default on the bonds. The bonds don't come due until 2023 and 2043, but the interest payments are due now, NPR reported. Impact Of Sanctions Sanctions by a coalition of governments h...

U.S. Central Bank Begins Long-Awaited Rate Increases

16Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

U.S. Central Bank Begins Long-Awaited Rate Increases

No Curveballs Or Surprises In Fed's March Meeting March 16, 2022—For the first time in three years, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its Fed Funds Rate. The 0.25 percent change is the minimal increase it could take. Moreover, it comes as no surprise to the public or to financial markets, That's because the Fed previously announced its plans to begin increasing rates. Since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic with strong growth, many analysts criticized the Fed for moving too slow to raise rates as the U.S. prices rose. As the economy reopened from the pandemic, the inflation rate increased steadily to nearly 8 percent a year. "The time for rate increases has clearly come," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in his video meeting with reporters today. "We have to restore price stabi...

Global Growth Among G20 Dips Slightly, OECD Says

15Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Global Growth Among G20 Dips Slightly, OECD Says

Global Economy Mixed At End Of 2021 March 15, 2022—Economic growth in G20 countries rose at a modest 1.4 percent rate in the final two quarters of 2021, down from the estimated 1.9 percent, according to the OECD. Some countries experienced a slowdown while others increased economic activity. India's decelerating growth accounted for part of the dip. From the third quarter to the fourth quarter, economic growth in India adjusted downward from 13.7 percent to 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, in the European Union, economic growth slowed from 2.2 percent in the third quarter to 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter. In other countries, such as the United States, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, and Australia, economic growth accelerated.

UN Security Council Discusses Chemical Weapons

11Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

UN Security Council Discusses Chemical Weapons

Hearing Comes A Day After Council Examines Syria's Chemical Weapons March 11, 2022--With the sheer amount of devastation Ukraine is undergoing under the hand of the Russian military, it's hard to imagine it may get worse. But the possibility of more terror arose this week at the mention of chemical weapons. Today, the UN Security Council met at Russia's request after Russian diplomats accused Ukraine of having bio-labs in the country. It also came a day after the council heard remarks from a UN representative about Syria's chemical weapons program. Wild Accusations By Russia Pose Concerns For U.S., Ukraine Specifically, Russian diplomats asserted that Ukraine is producing bioweapons with the support of the United States. On Tuesday, State Department Official Victoria Nula...

Biden Takes More Economic Actions Against Russia

11Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Trade, Globalization, Disintegration, Nationalism, Populism, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

Biden Takes More Economic Actions Against Russia

De-Globalization Continues As Congress Targets Most-Favored Trade Status March 11, 2022—U.S. President Joe Biden announced additional economic and trade measures today that further divide U.S.-Russian business relations. Specifically, Biden said he is working with Congress to deny Russia its most-favored-nation trade status, which gives its goods preferential treatment. Congressional Trade Bills Hill lawmakers have introduced bills in the House and Senate, H.R. 6835, S. 3717 and S. 3722, to withdraw the Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia. It's fair to say the bills have bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, a high-ranking member of the tax committee, is the lead sponsor of one of the bills. "Russia must be denied the benefit of the ...