Tag: current affairs – international

UK government is losing face on strikes; and millions of votes

Polly Toynbee This is deeply embarrassing. Today the Fire Brigades Union called off its planned strikes after being offered 7% for this year backdated, plus 5% next year, by the National Joint Council that negotiates for local authorities. Its members have yet to agree, but council workers settled for a similar deal because local authorities jointly are free to… Read More UK government is losing face on strikes; and millions of votes

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Central banks: How independent are they?

Vasso Ioannidou  Sotirios Kokas  Thomas Lambert  Alexander Michaelides  4 Feb 2023 It is natural to expect that if the original goal of improving de jure central bank independence were to reduce political interference, de jure independence should be negatively correlated with politically motivated appointments. Therefore, if the stated goal is to make the central bank… Read More Central banks: How independent are they?

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British Petroleum scales back climate goals as profits more than double to £23bn

Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the TUC, said hard-pressed families were being treated like “cash machines” and would “rightly feel furious”. Calling for higher windfall taxes on oil and gas companies, he added: “As millions struggle to heat their homes and put food on the table, BP are laughing all the way to the… Read More British Petroleum scales back climate goals as profits more than double to £23bn

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An ‘inland tsunami’: 15 million people are at risk from catastrophic glacial lake outbursts

Rachel Ramirez, CNN Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, and are leaving massive pools of water in their wake. The meltwater fills the depression left behind by the glacier, forming what’s known as a glacial lake. As temperatures get warmer and more pieces of the glacier melt away, the lake rises — and living downstream… Read More An ‘inland tsunami’: 15 million people are at risk from catastrophic glacial lake outbursts

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Desperation and anger grow in search for Turkey and Syria earthquake survivors. Death toll nears 8400

Anger has mounted in Turkey over what was described as a slow and inadequate response by authorities to the powerful earthquake that also hit neighbouring Syria, as the death toll passed 8,000 and chances of finding survivors narrowed. Rescuers worked through the night on Wednesday, searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings, while freezing conditions, destroyed roads… Read More Desperation and anger grow in search for Turkey and Syria earthquake survivors. Death toll nears 8400

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US Surrounds China With War Machinery While Freaking Out About Balloons

By Caitlin Johnstone / CaitlinJohnstone.com In what Austin journalist Christopher Hooks has called “one of the stupidest news cycles in living memory,” the entire American political/media class is having an existential meltdown over what the Pentagon claims is a Chinese spy balloon detected in U.S. airspace on Thursday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his scheduled diplomatic visit to China after the… Read More US Surrounds China With War Machinery While Freaking Out About Balloons

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Will India remain untouched by the slide of Adani?

the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau Investigation and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office are silent. The overwhelming signal that the Adani imbroglio sends to international investors is that India lacks effective regulatory mechanisms. Bharat Bhushan The Indian government will not remain untouched by the slide of Gautam Adani. This is evident from the video appearance… Read More Will India remain untouched by the slide of Adani?

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Opposition raises pitch on Adani issue; Congress to launch nationwide protests on Monday

Opposition parties on Sunday stepped up their attack on the Modi government over the Adani issue, with the Congress alleging that its “silence smacks of collusion”. Ahead of the party’s planned nationwide protests on Monday, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said they will pose three questions a day to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over… Read More Opposition raises pitch on Adani issue; Congress to launch nationwide protests on Monday

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