Thursday, May 2

Types of News: Analysis

Deeper analysis on world diplomacy, economics and geopolitics.

Why The Wuhan Lab Story Matters
27Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Big Tech, Digital Economy, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis

Why The Wuhan Lab Story Matters

Information Control Skewed Science And Public Opinion Feb. 27, 2023—On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal broke the news about a leaked classified U.S. intelligence report that says the Covid-19 virus most likely originated from a laboratory leak. The report matters in more ways than one. At stake are lessons for international cooperation in organizations, trust in government and responsible media management. The article carefully points out the disparate views of different U.S. agencies and says the newly leaked report comes from the Department of Energy. That's significant because DOE "has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of U.S. national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research." According to the WSJ, the DOE and the FBI believe ...
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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,...
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Disney Faces Shareholder Proxy Vote On China
23Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Finance, Investing, Globalization, Global Disintegration, 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...
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Biden Wades Into Immigration Debate On Visit To Border
9Jan By Patti MohrNo Comments
Migration, Immigration, Borders, 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 probl...
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In Communist China, Xi Is Completely And Unquestionably In Charge
7Nov By Patti Mohr1 Comment
Communism, Dictatorship, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

In Communist China, Xi Is Completely And Unquestionably In Charge

Xi's in charge. Communism vs. Democracy: Why It Matter November 7, 2022—If you want to know what communism looks like, you don't need to spend time in China, Cuba, Laos, or Vietnam. You don't even need to spend hours watching the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the twice-a-decade gathering that selects the country's highest rulers. All you need to see is one minute of the final ceremony right before officials announce the new leaders. It was at that moment that party members came for former President Hu Jintao. Note, the 79-year-old Hu served as China's president from 2003 to 2013. As a leader, he served during unprecedented growth that cemented China's status as a world power. But that record didn't secure him much dignity to let him stay seated during the ann...
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What Happens When China Buys Up Europe’s Ports?
2Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Europe, EU, Eurozone, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis

What Happens When China Buys Up Europe’s Ports?

China's Xi Jinping has a stake in developing relations with Greece and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Photo: Li Xueren/Xinhua China's State-Owned Cosco To Buy Stake In Another European Port November 2, 2022—Greece may be a pioneer and champion of democracy, but in the business of trade it owes a great deal to communist China. In fact, its largest port, Piraeus, is owned by a Chinese state-owned shipping company called Cosco Shipping. That's the subject of a fine piece of reporting by Kaki Bali for Germany's DW, called "In Greece's Largest Port of Piraeus, China Is The Boss." Bali looks at the implications on trade and geopolitics as China's Cosco buys up ports in Greece, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and Brussels. Noting the modernization of the port and jobs,...
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3 Things That Cross The U.S.-Mexican Border: Drugs, Guns, And Migrants
19Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Diplomacy, Types of News: Analysis

3 Things That Cross The U.S.-Mexican Border: Drugs, Guns, And Migrants

October 19, 2022—The United States and Mexico have at least three things in common: drugs, guns and migrants. The U.S.-Mexico border is porous, and trafficking of all three runs rampant. In the United States, deadly drugs from the South kill Americans. Conversely, in Mexico, illegal firearms from the North empower cartels and endanger society. Meanwhile, migrants from around the world risk their lives to make it across the border. A Shared Border, Shared Problems Leaders in both governments recognize the problems. Their presidents are making plans to address them. Speaking by phone late Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador reviewed plans to improve security along the border, prosecute gun traffickers, reduce illegal migrat...
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The End Of A Laissez-Faire Economy?
10Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis, United States

The End Of A Laissez-Faire Economy?

Photo by Yibei Geng October 10, 2022—Free-market economies where business drives decisions based on supply and demand is still a concept. But many analysts are now asking how diligently is that concept being followed in practice? 'New Rules' for Business? Writing for the Financial Times, columnist Rana Foroohar says business leaders now have new rules to follow to succeed. For one, they need to cozy up to political bigwigs in Washington, D.C. It is not just that President Joe Biden and the Democratic-led Congress are enacting industrial policies, it is also a time of where the global economy is getting more competitive. Supply chains are regrouping and former trading partners are breaking up, or "decoupling." Ms. Foroohar says the U.S. government is not "yet in the business...
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Venezuela’s Communist Control Of The Economy Cracks Open An Inch
10Jun By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments
Communism, Dictatorship, Types of News: Analysis

Venezuela’s Communist Control Of The Economy Cracks Open An Inch

Editor's Note: The Venezuelan economy is one of the most repressed in the world. In fact, the country ranks next to last on the Heritage Foundation's 2022 Economic Freedom Index. The only country with worse rankings is North Korea. But there are a few signs the country's leaders are seeing at least some value in the capitalist model. Even as Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro courts despots in Iran and Algeria, he is opening up the government's ownership of some parts of the economy, at least a crack. The story below is by Ernesto Rodriguez. Source: My Expat Diary June 10, 2022—If you’ve been following Venezuela’s and Latin America’s news, you might have seen something extremely curious: Predictions of growth from the Venezuelan economy. They come from various places: the Inter...
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Why JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon Warns About An Economic ‘Hurricane’
7Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Economics, Types of News: Analysis

Why JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon Warns About An Economic ‘Hurricane’

And How He Is Preparing For The Storm As Head Of One Of The World's Largest Banks JP Morgan head Jamie Dimon spoke at Bernstein's Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on June 1, 2022. June 7, 2022—When Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase, warned about an economic "hurricane" on the horizon, much of the world of news and finance took notice. It's not just that Dimon heads up one of Wall Street's largest and most successful firms, it's that he is often right. Moreover, Dimon is normally an optimist. “It's a hurricane,” Dimon said. "Right now, it’s kind of sunny, things are doing fine. Everyone thinks the Fed can handle this. That hurricane is right out there down the road coming our way. We just don’t know if it’s a minor one or Superstorm Sandy or Sandy or Andrew or...
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