Patti Mohr

U.S.-Russia To Continue Talks On Sensitive Strategic Issues, Biden Says

8Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Geopolitics, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

U.S.-Russia To Continue Talks On Sensitive Strategic Issues, Biden Says

NATO Is At The Heart Of Most Sensitive Concerns December 8, 2021--In a virtual meeting held Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the rocky relationship between the two countries as well as other sensitive and strategic issues. Speaking with reporters today, Biden said U.S.-Russian teams are in "constant contact" to bring "down the temperature along the eastern front." Talks are likely to continue, Biden said, to address Russia's concern regarding the NATO alliance's expansionary aims. Ukraine, NATO & Russia Ukraine -- a country located between Europe and Russia and divided between the East and West -- is at the center of attention. In recent weeks, Russia amassed troops along the Russian-Ukrainian border. Biden said he made cl...

Germany’s New Coalition Government Puts Values First In Foreign Policy

8Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Diplomacy and International Law, Europe, EU, Eurozone, and United Kingdom, Human rights, Types of News: Analysis

Germany’s New Coalition Government Puts Values First In Foreign Policy

A Tougher Stance On China Is Likely December 8, 2021--It's a momentous day for Germany, Europe's largest economy, as that country replaces Angela Merkel with a new chancellor after 16 years of her leadership in and out of the country. The Bundestag officially recognized Olaf Scholz as head of the government. Scholz represents the center-left Social-Democratic Party (SDP). This Fall, the party signed an agreement with the Green Party (Greens) and Liberal Democrats (FDP) to rule the country. The coalition deal promises "an innovative alliance" of parties that represent different traditions and perspectives. 50% Off your first digital audiobook. "We can make a contribution to softening political divisions and can initiate new political creativity. In this way, we can modernize soc...

U.S. Treasury Breaches $28.9 Trillion Debt Limit

30Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

U.S. Treasury Breaches $28.9 Trillion Debt Limit

Treasury Secretary Yellen Says Uncertainty Exists Over Cash Balance On Dec. 15 November 30, 2021—The U.S. government breached its $28.9 trillion debt limit and is using extraordinary measures to borrow money to pay its bills, the Congressional Budget Office reported today. The CBO outlined the extraordinary measures the government is currently taking to stay afloat. The U.S. government has "no room to borrow under its standard operating procedures," the CBO said. If the Treasury transfers $118 billion to the Highway Trust Fund on December 15, as the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs it to do, it is likely to run out of cash. Running on Empty If the U.S. government runs out of options, it "would ultimately lead to delays of payments for some governme...

Fed Comes Under Pressure As Inflation Persists

30Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

Fed Comes Under Pressure As Inflation Persists

Fed Chair Says Inflation Now Likely To 'Linger Well Into Next Year' November 30, 2021—After months of downplaying inflation as a temporary condition, U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell said inflation has now spread much more widely beyond the sectors impacted by supply chain bottlenecks. 'Transitory' No More "I think it's probably a good time to retire that word and explain what we mean," Powell told senators at a Banking Committee hearing. Surging Economic Growth The U.S. economy is now growing at 5 percent, which is the "fastest pace in many years," Powell said. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is down to 4.6 percent. Asked by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., about the drop in the U.S. labor participation rate, Powell said fears about the pandemic are the likely cause. ...

WHO ID’s Omicron As Covid ‘Variant of Concern’

26Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

WHO ID’s Omicron As Covid ‘Variant of Concern’

Governments And Markets React To Variant Found in South Africa November 26, 2021--The World Health Organization identified a new variant, called Omicron, as a cause for concern on Friday and established a technical advisory group to study it. It comes as much of the world tries to recover from economic recessions due to the global pandemic. "This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs," said the WHO release. Financial markets reacted worldwide as governments instituted travel bans and braced for the potential for infection rates to rise. The scientific name is SARS-CoV-2 variant: B.1.1.529. Since scientists first discovered it on November...

Ahead Of Honduras Critical Election, Political Violence Emerges

26Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Democracy, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Ahead Of Honduras Critical Election, Political Violence Emerges

U.S. And China Vie For Influence In Honduras As Taiwan Arises As An Issue November 26, 2021—Ahead of Sunday's election in Honduras, the people face a critical choice between a corrupt status quo and an alternative that may bring in a left-wing and perhaps "communist" agenda. The election has implications for Central America and beyond. The battle is between the conservative National Party, in power since a 2009 coup and run by a corrupt leader, versus the left-wing Libre Party. The Libre Party candidate Xiomara Castro is leading in the polls. If she wins, she's expected to usher in change. Story Update: Libre Party candidate Xiomara Castro, 62, won the election after running on an anti-corruption platform. She replaces President Juan Orlando Hernández as the country's top lea...

Palestinian State-Building Faces ‘Considerable Obstacles,’ Norway FM Says

18Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Foreign Aid, International Development, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Palestinian State-Building Faces ‘Considerable Obstacles,’ Norway FM Says

Meeting in Oslo, Norway of the AHLC on Nov. 17, 2021. Credit: MFA/Mathias Rongved Separately, U.S. Ambassador to UN Tours Middle East, Emphasizes U.S.-Israel Ties & Remarks on Refugees November 18, 2021--Following a ministerial meeting of donors and interested parties supporting Palestinian governance, Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited "significant challenges" facing the Palestinian Authority, including budgetary problems, widespread unemployment, occupation, and an "enormous need" for investment. "Comprehensive, far-reaching measures are needed to reverse the negative economic trend in Palestine and strengthen the Palestinian institutions that the donors have been helping to develop for nearly three decades," said Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitf...

As Israeli Leader Rejects Palestinian State, Norway Steps Up Diplomacy

17Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Domestic Politics, Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

As Israeli Leader Rejects Palestinian State, Norway Steps Up Diplomacy

November 17, 2021--Amid a rejection of the two-state solution by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Norway's Foreign Ministry is hosting talks today with the goal of building up rule of law in the Palestinian territories. Today's meeting in Oslo, Norway represents the first in-person ministerial meeting by the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in two years. Norway's newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt led the discussion. It's significant on multiple fronts. First, Norway is often instrumental in achieving breakthroughs in diplomacy. Earlier this year, the country's representatives achieved a solution for aid workers to continue to use a border crossing between Turkey and Syria. Later they helped bring Venezuelan leaders together with its opposition in Me...

Institutional Investors Increasingly Cite Climate Change As Portfolio Risk

15Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Types of News: Brief

Institutional Investors Increasingly Cite Climate Change As Portfolio Risk

Insurance Investors Also Say Low Interest-Rate Regime Drives Them Into Riskier Assets November 15, 2021--More than one in three insurers now consider environmental changes as "a serious threat" to their investment strategies, according to an annual survey by BlackRock, the largest investment firm in the world. BlackRock released the findings of its annual survey today. The asset management firm surveyed 362 insurance company executives located in 26 markets and representing $27 trillion in assets. Changes in institutional investment impact global markets, which affect the overall global economy as well as individual savings. Climate Change Exposure The firm reported that 95 percent of insurers surveyed said they are taking into account the risk of climate change while makin...

As Migrants Freeze on EU-Belarus Border, Political Tensions Heat Up

11Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Eastern Europe, Globalization, Disintegration, Nationalism, Populism, Human rights, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

As Migrants Freeze on EU-Belarus Border, Political Tensions Heat Up

Photo Source: Belarus Government November 11, 2021--Political tensions between the European Union and the dictatorship of Belarus are rising, and the lives of thousands of migrants are caught quite literally in the middle. President Alexander Lukashenko, whom many call the last dictator in Europe, has been systematically encouraging migrants into his country only to push them across the border into Europe. Now, as cold weather sets in, thousands of migrants are camped between the Poland and Belarus border, under siege. Belarus encourages visa-free travel through the Minsk airport from Turkey. Migrants are reportedly coming from war-torn countries of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Yesterday, the Belarus border officials said they met with delegates from the UN High Commissioner for Refuge...