Recortes presupuestales en Europa
Los recortes presupuestales se han convertido en estrategia común entre los países afectados por la crisis bancaria reciente de acuerdo al artículo publicado hoy en Le Monde. Los “planes de ajuste” han implicado la disminución del gasto en diversos sectores de las economías nacionales. En España, por ejemplo, se han congelado cerca de 200 proyectos que incluyen carreteras y ferrocarriles; en Gran Bretaña, los proyectos afectados son principalmente cárceles, colegios y hospitales. (Le Monde)
México: Lucha contra el narcotráfico
El ex presidente Vicente Fox publicó su carta “Momento de reflexión y propuestas” en la que critica la estrategia de Calderón en la lucha contra el narco. Bajo reserva del Universal habla de las críticas del ex mandatario a la estrategia del actual y de las posibles fracturas dentro del PAN.
Ley Antiinmigrante en Florida
Bill McCollum, fiscal general de Florida, propuso una ley contra la inmigración ilegal en su estado. De acuerdo con su despacho, la ley va un paso más allá que la propuesta en Arizona. (Más de esto en Reforma.)
Patrick Signoret e Isabel Gil
Showing posts with label Power and policy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power and policy. Show all posts
11 August 2010
Power and Policy Team Update (English)
U.S. Mid-term elections
Several states held primary elections. There was no clear trend in the results: incumbent candidates, candidates backed by party establishment, Tea Party candidates, outsiders, candidates endorsed by Obama...all kinds of candidates won. Read about the mixed results in the Washington Post. On the other hand, Politico says it was a good night for Democrats, because their big establishment candidates won, while the Republican's winning candidates were mostly outsiders who don't look strong for the general election (November 2).
In other election analysis, The Economist warns that the ethics trials of two senior Democrats could spell trouble for the party in November. Congressmembers Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters' districts are safely Democratic, but other districts are not.
Turkey: emergency security summit
Days before the upcoming referendum, Turkey’s Prime Minister convened an emergency security summit in response to information received by the government about plans to create chaos in 30 districts prior to the September 12th referendum. More about the summit and the events leading to it in this Sabah article.
Iraq’s new government
In its Weekly Geopolitical Update, Barclays discusses the absence of a new government in Iraq as the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches. No alliances have been made, violence has risen, and relationships between Iraq and its neighbors are growing more and more tense.
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
Several states held primary elections. There was no clear trend in the results: incumbent candidates, candidates backed by party establishment, Tea Party candidates, outsiders, candidates endorsed by Obama...all kinds of candidates won. Read about the mixed results in the Washington Post. On the other hand, Politico says it was a good night for Democrats, because their big establishment candidates won, while the Republican's winning candidates were mostly outsiders who don't look strong for the general election (November 2).
In other election analysis, The Economist warns that the ethics trials of two senior Democrats could spell trouble for the party in November. Congressmembers Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters' districts are safely Democratic, but other districts are not.
Turkey: emergency security summit
Days before the upcoming referendum, Turkey’s Prime Minister convened an emergency security summit in response to information received by the government about plans to create chaos in 30 districts prior to the September 12th referendum. More about the summit and the events leading to it in this Sabah article.
Iraq’s new government
In its Weekly Geopolitical Update, Barclays discusses the absence of a new government in Iraq as the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches. No alliances have been made, violence has risen, and relationships between Iraq and its neighbors are growing more and more tense.
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
10 August 2010
Power and Policy Team Update (español)
Venezuela y Colombia restablecen relaciones
Hugo Chávez viajó a Colombia para reunirse con el nuevo presidente de Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos. Acordaron restablecer las relaciones diplomáticas. Entre otros acuerdos, Chávez dijo que no tolerará a las FARC en su territorio. Habían cortado las relaciones cuando Colombia acusó formalmente a Venezuela de apoyar a los guerrilleros colombianos, hace menos de un mes. (Vea las declaraciones de Santos, y las declaraciones de Chávez.)
Patrick Signoret e Isabel Gil
Hugo Chávez viajó a Colombia para reunirse con el nuevo presidente de Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos. Acordaron restablecer las relaciones diplomáticas. Entre otros acuerdos, Chávez dijo que no tolerará a las FARC en su territorio. Habían cortado las relaciones cuando Colombia acusó formalmente a Venezuela de apoyar a los guerrilleros colombianos, hace menos de un mes. (Vea las declaraciones de Santos, y las declaraciones de Chávez.)
Patrick Signoret e Isabel Gil
Power and Policy Team Update (English)
Monetary policy decisions
The Bank of Japan agreed unanimously to leave its rates unchanged. (See the bank's statement.)
The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at 0-0.25%. The FT, among others, interpreted the decision and the statement as a) a downgrade in the Fed's economic outlook; b) a move towards monetary easing by "reinvesting proceeds from expiring mortgage-backed securities in longer-term Treasuries, thereby preventing a natural shrinking" of the central bank's balance sheet. (Read the Fed's statement.)
Afghanistan civilian deaths
The first six months of 2010 have seen an increase of 31% in conflict-related civilian deaths compared to the same period in 2009, according to a United Nations report published today. According to the report, two critical developments increased harm against civilians: anti-government elements (AGEs) "used a greater number of larger and more sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) throughout the country; and, the number of civilians assassinated and executed by AGEs rose by more than 95 per cent and included public executions of children." (Hat tip: NYT)
H1N1
The World Health Organization declared on Tuesday that the H1N1 influenza pandemic is officially over. The H1N1 virus killed 18, 499 people. (We read this in this LA Times article.)
Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic ties
Hugo Chávez went to Colombia, met with Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia's new president, and they restored diplomatic relations. Chávez had broken ties with Colombia when the latter formally accused Venezuela of supporting leftist Colombian guerrillas, less than a month ago. (See the video of Santos' statement.)
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
The Bank of Japan agreed unanimously to leave its rates unchanged. (See the bank's statement.)
The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at 0-0.25%. The FT, among others, interpreted the decision and the statement as a) a downgrade in the Fed's economic outlook; b) a move towards monetary easing by "reinvesting proceeds from expiring mortgage-backed securities in longer-term Treasuries, thereby preventing a natural shrinking" of the central bank's balance sheet. (Read the Fed's statement.)
Afghanistan civilian deaths
The first six months of 2010 have seen an increase of 31% in conflict-related civilian deaths compared to the same period in 2009, according to a United Nations report published today. According to the report, two critical developments increased harm against civilians: anti-government elements (AGEs) "used a greater number of larger and more sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) throughout the country; and, the number of civilians assassinated and executed by AGEs rose by more than 95 per cent and included public executions of children." (Hat tip: NYT)
H1N1
The World Health Organization declared on Tuesday that the H1N1 influenza pandemic is officially over. The H1N1 virus killed 18, 499 people. (We read this in this LA Times article.)
Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic ties
Hugo Chávez went to Colombia, met with Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia's new president, and they restored diplomatic relations. Chávez had broken ties with Colombia when the latter formally accused Venezuela of supporting leftist Colombian guerrillas, less than a month ago. (See the video of Santos' statement.)
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
09 August 2010
Power and Policy Team Update (English)
UK budget cuts
Budget cuts in Great Britain, $130 billion over the next five years, have been labeled by a UK think tank as the “longest, deepest sustained period of cuts to public services spending since World War II.” (Hat tip: NYT.)
North Korea
Tensions escalated between North and South Korea as the North fired more than 100 rounds of artillery in response to war drills performed by the South last week. (Read about it in the LA Times.)
Iran
This LA Times article describes how China, Russia, India and Turkey are seizing opportunities in Iran and are undermining the sanctions imposed on Iran by the West. “Efforts by the United States and its European allies to build a united front to halt Iran's nuclear program are facing increasingly bold resistance from China, Russia, India and Turkey…”. Sanctions took effect on July 1st.
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
Budget cuts in Great Britain, $130 billion over the next five years, have been labeled by a UK think tank as the “longest, deepest sustained period of cuts to public services spending since World War II.” (Hat tip: NYT.)
North Korea
Tensions escalated between North and South Korea as the North fired more than 100 rounds of artillery in response to war drills performed by the South last week. (Read about it in the LA Times.)
Iran
This LA Times article describes how China, Russia, India and Turkey are seizing opportunities in Iran and are undermining the sanctions imposed on Iran by the West. “Efforts by the United States and its European allies to build a united front to halt Iran's nuclear program are facing increasingly bold resistance from China, Russia, India and Turkey…”. Sanctions took effect on July 1st.
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
06 August 2010
Power and Policy Team Update (español)
Seguridad en la frontera México- EUA
Un proyecto de ley que contempla 600 millones de dólares para mejorar la seguridad en la frontera de México fue aprobado por unanimidad en el Senado de Estados Unidos. (Hat tip: Reforma)
México: Narcotráfico
A demás de reconocer la colaboración de México con Estados Unidos en la lucha contra el crimen organizado y el terrorismo; el Reporte Anual de Terrorismo en el Mundo, publicado por el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, afirma que no hay indicios de que en México existan organizaciones terroristas. Sin embargo, resalta la creciente tendencia de los cárteles mexicanos a recurrir a tácticas terroristas. (Leer sobre el reporte en El Reforma $.)
Turquía
El día de ayer concluyó la sesión anual del Consejo Supremo Militar turco. Lo que normalmente era considerado un trámite meramente burocrático y militar se convirtió en un suceso político importante para el gobierno de Erdogan. Este consejo es para decidir la renovación de la cúpula militar de acuerdo con los valores heredados del fundador de la República de Turquía, Mustafá Kemal Atatürk. El primer ministro logró que el general Hasan Igsiz, acusado de la trama golpista Ergenekon, no subiera al poder. (Leer sobre esto en El País.)
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
Un proyecto de ley que contempla 600 millones de dólares para mejorar la seguridad en la frontera de México fue aprobado por unanimidad en el Senado de Estados Unidos. (Hat tip: Reforma)
México: Narcotráfico
A demás de reconocer la colaboración de México con Estados Unidos en la lucha contra el crimen organizado y el terrorismo; el Reporte Anual de Terrorismo en el Mundo, publicado por el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, afirma que no hay indicios de que en México existan organizaciones terroristas. Sin embargo, resalta la creciente tendencia de los cárteles mexicanos a recurrir a tácticas terroristas. (Leer sobre el reporte en El Reforma $.)
Turquía
El día de ayer concluyó la sesión anual del Consejo Supremo Militar turco. Lo que normalmente era considerado un trámite meramente burocrático y militar se convirtió en un suceso político importante para el gobierno de Erdogan. Este consejo es para decidir la renovación de la cúpula militar de acuerdo con los valores heredados del fundador de la República de Turquía, Mustafá Kemal Atatürk. El primer ministro logró que el general Hasan Igsiz, acusado de la trama golpista Ergenekon, no subiera al poder. (Leer sobre esto en El País.)
Patrick Signoret and Isabel Gil
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