Tag: developed countries

PH: Net FDI hits over 4-year low of $368M in Sept, BSP reports

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

NET foreign direct investments (FDI) remained positive in September but were markedly lower compared to a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Tuesday.

…

“Investors often prefer safe-haven assets in advanced economies under these conditions,” he explained, adding that heightened geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties may have also further dampened investor confidence globally.

Net FDI hits over 4-year low of $368M in Sept, BSP reports

The US Dollar Can No Longer Threaten China and Russia

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

In 2022, the US kicked Russia out of the SWIFT system, causing significant losses for Russian businesses and ordinary citizens. Even Switzerland’s traditionally neutral banks joined this looting. The monopoly over the financial system and global currency once gave the U.S. and EU such capability, but at the 2024 BRICS summit, Western countries permanently lost this advantage.

The US Dollar Can No Longer Threaten China and Russia

Previously:

Russia outlines proposal for BRICS DLT cross border payment system

Russia outlines proposal for BRICS DLT cross border payment system

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

A new research paper out of Russia proposes the future of the international monetary and financial system. The country is the current chair of BRICS which is meeting next week. One of its proposals is a CBDC and DLT system to support local currency payments. While the paper makes some interesting points, the mixture of fact and propaganda undermines the document’s gravitas. The document was authored by the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Russia and Yakov and Partners.

Russia outlines proposal for BRICS DLT cross border payment system

Countries Eye Weight Tax To Counter Public Safety Threat Of Extremely Heavy, Large EVs

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Countries Eye Weight Tax To Counter Public Safety Threat Of Extremely Heavy, Large EVs

The electric Ford Lightning, for example, is a whopping 6,500 pounds. The Hummer EV is even heavier, clocking in at 9,000 pounds. Its battery alone weighs more than a Honda Civic. Experts have pointed out the significant safety ramifications of this transition for a while, but it’s still not clear that we’ve prepared the regulatory and policy landscape for such a transition.

Leading liberal Zionist voices call for ending U.S. aid to Israel

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The damage Israel is causing to its support base in the United States is becoming more apparent. A very bright warning flare went up this weekend, appearing once again in the New York Times. This time, it was columnist Nicholas Kristof who took a much bolder and far less speculative step than his colleague, Tom Friedman did last week by suggesting that the very heart of AIPAC’s mission—annual military aid to Israel—should be phased out.

Friedman, you might recall, floated the idea that a “reassessment” of the United States’ relationship with Israel might be on the horizon, if not already starting. As I noted, that was meant as a warning to Israel, not a reflection of any actual steps by Joe Biden’s White House to launch a policy process of reassessment. Indeed, as subsequent events confirmed, and as was indicated by the fact that Friedman cited no sources, even anonymous ones, this was the columnist trying to use his column to get Israel to back off because political winds are shifting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not heed the warning, instead moving forward uncompromisingly on his domestic agenda and misleading the media about his conversation with Biden. Needless to say, that didn’t sit well in Washington.

Leading liberal Zionist voices call for ending U.S. aid to Israel