Patti Mohr

Israel Bombs Syrian Capital of Damascus, Amid Sectarian Conflict

16Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Israel Bombs Syrian Capital of Damascus, Amid Sectarian Conflict

Military Strikes Weaken Israel-Syrian Rapprochement Since Fall of Assad Image pulled from social media on X July 16, 2025—The Israeli government conducted military strikes against Syria today, hitting sites in the capital of Damascus and in the southern part of the country where sectarian clashes continue. The military strikes killed three people and injured 34 others, according to the Syrian government. The conflict weakens warming relations between Western countries, including the U.S. and European governments, with the new Syrian regime. They also suggest the rapprochement between Israel and Syria in the wake of the fall of the 24-year reign of the Bashar al-Assad regime may only be an illusion. The Assad regime fell to Israel and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebels led...

Globally, Dissatisfaction With Democracy Grows

10Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Types of News: Brief

Globally, Dissatisfaction With Democracy Grows

July 10, 2025—An increasing number of people in Western democracies are expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of their representation in government, according to an annual survey by Pew Research. The survey shows that a median of 64 percent of adults is dissatisfied with the way democracies are working today, up from 49 percent in 2017. Pew’s research suggests that people still prefer the idea of representative government but are “frustrated with political elites or feel their views are not truly represented in government.” Survey countries included Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The results varied widely with the highest dissatisfaction rates coming from the United States...

1Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

Senate Clears Trump’s Mega Budget Bill

Tax Cut Extension Would Increase the U.S. Debt by $4.2 Trillion July 1, 2025--The Senate approved President Trump's signature budget and policy bill today, as Vice President JD Vance broke a tie vote, clearing the bill for the House. The legislation, formerly known as the "Big, Beautiful Bill," would reduce taxes on the wealthy, cut the SNAP food aid program, and reduce the Medicaid healthcare for low-income people by $1 trillion. Furthermore, H.R. 1 would implement significant budgetary and policy changes. The new text totals 887 pages.The bill masks an estimated $3.3 to $3.8 trillion revenue loss to the federal budget. The bill, H.R. 1, would raise the current U.S. national debt of $37 trillion to historic new highs. The House passed a different version of the bill in May, rockin...

Less Than 4 Percent of People in Gaza Want Hamas to Lead, Poll Shows

12Jun

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Domestic Politics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Less Than 4 Percent of People in Gaza Want Hamas to Lead, Poll Shows

June 12, 2025—Only 4 percent of the population in Gaza wants Hamas to remain in control, according to a recent poll commissioned by Zogby Reseach Services. In a poll conducted by Zogby for the Tony Blair Institute from April 9 to May 12, 2025, the majority of people in Gaza stated that they would prefer government by the Palestinian Authority (35 percent) or a transitional international coalition that works with local administrators (27 percent). Palestinian Authority Commits to Major Reforms & Elections It comes at a time when the PA outlined plans for reforms and governance. It also comes ahead of a major international conference for a two-state solution cosponsored by France and Saudi Arabia. Today, French President Emmanuel Macron released a letter from PA President Mah...

U.S. Removes Welcome for Students from China

29May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Globalization, Disintegration, Nationalism, Populism, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S. Removes Welcome for Students from China

State Department Announces 'Aggressive Revocation' of Visas for Chinese Students May 29, 2025—In another move to assert control over U.S. universities, the Trump Administration announced an aggressive policy to revoke visas for students from China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the department and the Department of Homeland Security would “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” He said the government would also scrutinize future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. The change in policy impacts more than 270,000 students of the 1.1 million international students enrolled in U.S. universities. Moreover, the decision is expected to have a detrimental financial impact ...

Gaza in ‘Darkest Point Yet’ Under Militarized Food Distribution System

28May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Types of News: Brief

Gaza in ‘Darkest Point Yet’ Under Militarized Food Distribution System

Entire Population Facing Famine As US-Israel Take over 'Trickle' of Aid May 28, 2025—Israel and the United States implemented a new mechanism for aid distribution in the Gaza Strip under a controversial plan to replace UN-aid groups with military and private contractors. Facing pressure from the United Kingdom, France and Canada to allow aid into Gaza, Israel has allowed a small amount into the small enclave, but not nearly enough, humanitarian aid leaders say. Aid leaders say the population in Gaza is enduring the "darkest point yet" in the brutal conflict and occupation of the Israeli military. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has faced a litmus test over how it would respond. Arguably, it has failed. Rather than fighting the Hamas militant brigades, the Israeli military has ...

United Kingdom Faces Calls to Impose Sanctions on Israel

28May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

United Kingdom Faces Calls to Impose Sanctions on Israel

Over 800 Prominent U.K. Lawyers Call for Immediate Sanctions and Other Actions May 28, 2025—Under mounting evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the strong likelihood of genocide by Israel against Palestinians, the United Kingdom is facing pressure to act to uphold international law. On Monday, over 800 lawyers signed a letter calling on U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take decisive steps, including sanctions, to uphold the rule of law. “All States, including the UK, are legally obliged to take all reasonable steps within their power to prevent and punish genocide; to ensure respect for international humanitarian law; and to bring to an end violations of jus cogens norms of international law. The UK’s actions to date have failed to meet those standards,” the ...

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

23May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Diplomacy and International Law, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, United States

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

DHS Says Harvard Conducts ‘Pro-Terror’ Activities May 23, 2025—As part of its ongoing battle to control U.S. federally-funded universities, the Trump Administration amplified its criticism of Harvard University on Thursday, accusing the 388-year old U.S. institution of carrying out “pro-terrorist conduct.” Harvard University responded forcefully, saying the government is trying to "control whom we hire and what we teach." The university was quick to file a lawsuit, which a federal judge supported with a restraining order against the government on Friday. But the federal action leaves both the university and students in limbo. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security decertify the institution’s student and exchange visitors program. “This administration is holding Harvard...

22May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

House Passes Massive Budget Bill

Big, Beautiful Bill Would Add $3.8 Trillion to the $36.9 Trillion U.S. Debt The House passed a significant budget bill in the wee hours of the morning that would add $3.8 trillion to the U.S. debt of $36.89 trillion. The chamber voted 217-212 on final passage at 2:30 a.m. "The House has passed generational, truly nation-shaping legislation," House Speaker Mike Johnson said. Trump’s party, the Republicans, control both chambers of Congress. They have a 220-212 majority in the lower chamber. Next, the Senate will take up the measure. It is divided on a 53-47 margin. 'Big and Beautiful' Basics Called “The Big, Beautiful Bill,” H.R. 1 is 1,100 pages long. A summary of it is available through Congress.gov here. For details to changes to federal spending, see the CBO. On ...

United States: The Big, Beautiful Bond Drop

21May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

United States: The Big, Beautiful Bond Drop

Trump Budget Plan Prompts Rating Drop And Loss of Confidence in Treasuries May 21, 2025—The bond markets for long-term U.S. Treasuries spoke clearly on Wednesday, and it wasn’t pretty. The 30-year Treasury yield rose to 5.096 percent as bond dealers sold off U.S. long-term debt holdings. The bond markets underpin a country's economic stability. Volatility in government bonds can impact politics, as it did in the United Kingdom under the short-term leadership stint of Liz Truss. Now, President Trump is testing the limits as he pushes forward a multitrillion-dollar budget plan for the next 10 years. Trump and House Republicans call it the tax cut and budget plan the “big, beautiful bill,” but today, the bond markets signaled their displeasure. Furthermore, the Financial Times warned...