Types of News: Analysis Archives

31Dec

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

PROFILE: Gabriel Boric, Who He Is And Why He Matters

"We are a generation that emerged in public life demanding our rights be respected as rights and not treated like consumer goods or a business," Gabriel Boric said after winning the Chilean presidency on December 19, 2021 with 56 percent of the vote. Chile's New Leader Brings A New Kind Of Left To Latin America December 31, 2021--By this point, talking about controversial leaders in Latin America might be a cliché in itself. But still, almost every election in the region has at least one person that can raise a few eyebrows. Chile had two: Pinochet defender José Antonio Kast and Gabriel Boric, the far-left leader, and elected president. Boric is an interesting leader. For one, he is the youngest president to rule the Andean* country. Also, at age 35, he is the first president to b...

Central Banks Fuel Stock Market Expansion in 2021

30Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Global Economics, Types of News: Analysis

Central Banks Fuel Stock Market Expansion in 2021

Low-Interest Rate Environment Also Contributing To Rising Cost of Housing December 30, 2021--With near-zero interest rates by central banks in the United States and Europe, companies raised $12 trillion in 2021 sales of stocks, bonds, and new loans. That's up 17 percent from 2020, according to reporting by the Financial Times. Low-interest rates make borrowing easier and increase the money supply. The downside is they encourage riskier investments, benefit those who already own assets, and can skew the societal risk toward inflation. In effect, investors benefit while consumers pay more. Cash to Keep Flowing in 2022 The trend is likely to continue in 2022. Research by J.P. Morgan suggests the U.S. Federal Reserve will continue a "broadly accommodative" policy despite its tape...

Time Is Running Thin On Iran Deal, Negotiators Say

23Dec

By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Middle East, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

Time Is Running Thin On Iran Deal, Negotiators Say

Nuclear Inspectors Are To Partially Resume Monitoring Of Sites Editor's Note: Diplomats representing Germany and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council are working with Iranian representatives to restore the Iranian nuclear deal (JCPOA). The talks first started in 2019. They continued this year. Now diplomats involved say the next few weeks are critical make-it-or-break-it time. Iran is getting closer to building a nuclear weapon. Iran, meanwhile, is asking the United States to waive nuclear-related sanctions and add oil to the list of products that the country can trade. Journalist Ramsha Zubairi reports on recent developments. December 23, 2021--Talks to restore Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in Vienna came to a halt on Friday. Today, they are officia...

After Venezuelan Elections, Those Who Wanted Change Look For New Strategy

10Dec

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Types of News: Analysis

After Venezuelan Elections, Those Who Wanted Change Look For New Strategy

Editor's Note: The elections this Fall in Venezuela marked the first time in four years the opposition took part. The Opposition represents the interim government led by Juan Guaidó, who is recognized by the United States and 50 other countries as the rightful leader of the country in the aftermath of the 2018 fraudulent election. The opposition boycotted the 2018 and 2020 elections. But with recent talks between the opposition and the government in Mexico, they are engaging more in politics For many of the nearly 6 million expats who left the country in the wake of political and economic crises since 2015, the hope is for a new government and a better life for the Venezuelans left behind. Ernesto Rodriguez, one of those expats, analysizes the outlook for that in the essay below. By ...

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...

Nicaragua Proves That Elections Don’t Mean Democracy

23Nov

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Democracy, Domestic Politics, Human rights, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

Nicaragua Proves That Elections Don’t Mean Democracy

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife vote Nov. 7 in a "sham election" that gives him a 4th term. Political Repression Is Becoming A Trend In Nicaragua And Beyond November 23, 2021—It's a tale as old as time: A revolutionary hero defies a dictatorship, said hero becomes an international icon and beats the dictatorship. (Maybe even the rock band The Clash releases an album named after the movement.) And then, finally, that hero becomes a new dictator himself. That's the history you can see repeating itself in the Russian and Cuban revolutions. And now, in Nicaragua, and it's happening with President Daniel Ortega. Unfortunately, a trend is surfacing, and it's bad for democracy. Acts of repression by the Nicaraguan government are becoming the new normal in many parts ...

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...

A Critical Look At Fossil Fuel Subsidies

17Nov

By Guest WriterNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Analysis

A Critical Look At Fossil Fuel Subsidies

If We Want To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, We Should Not Pay People To Burn Fossil-Fuels By Max Roser November 17, 2021--Instead of making fossil fuels more expensive, many governments do the opposite: They subsidize them. Having access to reliable and affordable energy is important to people, so it’s understandable that governments support energy access. But if these subsidies support the consumption of fossil fuels it comes with a large downside, air pollution and accelerated climate change. This year, world leaders agreed to reduce fossil fuel subsidies. It is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that they want to reach by 2030. As so often with progress, the world rarely solves a problem through a single event. Repealing subsidies is a process. H...

India Aims for 2070 Net-Zero, Asks For $1 Trillion

12Nov

By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Foreign Aid, International Development, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Analysis

India Aims for 2070 Net-Zero, Asks For $1 Trillion

COP26 event Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Editor's Note: One of the outcomes of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland was a pledge by India to reach "net-zero" within 50 years time. Net-zero means that a country or company would compensate for greenhouse gases it emits, bringing the total to zero. India has long been a holdout of promising net-zero. The announcement by Prime Minister Modi to set a target breathed life into the conference. Moreover, it's significant because India is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, after China and the United States. It is also noteworthy because as the world's sixth-largest economy, a shift to a green economy would impact financing. By Ramsha Zubairi November 12, 2021 — When Indian ...

Citing ESG, BNY Mellon Cuts Ties With Controversial Coal Group

8Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

Citing ESG, BNY Mellon Cuts Ties With Controversial Coal Group

In the Wake Of A COP26-Led Pledge To Transition Away From Coal, Wall Street Takes Notice UPDATE: As of August 11, 2026, a U.S. court dismissed a bribery case against Gautam Adani after the Trump Administration's Justice Department dropped its case against the Indian billionaire and conglomerate chief. Adani had reportedly vowed to put $10 billion in foreign investment into the United States. Meanwhile, the Adani coal project mentioned in this story below moved forward. Private hedge funds picked up where BNY Mellon bank left off. U.S.-based King Street Capital Management and U.K.-based Sona Asset Management financed a 6-year, approximately US$207 million loan for Adani’s coal port operations in Australia in 2025. A year earlier, King Street Capital Management and Farallon Capital Manage...