SEC’s new climate disclosure rules may have limited impact on emissions reduction

Source: Niskanen Center
by Shutin Pomerlau

“The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved rules requiring large publicly-traded companies to disclose certain climate-related information. These new rules aim to leverage investors to encourage public companies to address climate risks and reduce emissions. … Although well-intentioned, these rules are unlikely to make a meaningful long-term impact on emissions reduction.” (03/28/24)

https://www.niskanencenter.org/secs-new-climate-disclosure-rules-may-have-limited-impact-on-emissions-reduction/

Five Reasons Biden Should Negotiate a Deal to Free Assange

Source: Common Dreams
by Bill Blum

“The British High Court of Justice in London has given WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a significant reprieve in his fight against extradition to the United States on charges of espionage. In a 66-page judgment issued on March 26, a two-judge panel stopped short of granting Assange outright permission to appeal the extradition order signed in 2022 by the British Home Secretary. But the panel held that permission will be granted unless the U.S. provides assurances that if Assange is sent to the United States, he will be ‘permitted to rely on the First Amendment, that [he] … is not prejudiced at trial (including sentence) by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same First Amendment protections as a United States citizen, and that the death penalty is not imposed.'” (03/28/24)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/5-reasons-biden-free-assange

Lloyd’s boss: Baltimore disaster may be the largest-ever marine insurance payout

Source: CNBC

“The collapse of a major Baltimore bridge and its knock-on effects could result in the biggest-ever marine insurance payout, the chair of insurance giant Lloyd’s of London said on Thursday. Analysts have forecast that insured losses from the disaster would amount to a figure in the single-digit billions, after a huge cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. Six people were presumed dead. … Baltimore is the 11th biggest port in the U.S. and the country’s busiest for the import and export of autos and light trucks. Supply chain operators are scrambling to minimize the impact on trade. Morningstar DBRS analysts said in a Wednesday note that insured losses could total between $2 billion and $4 billion, depending on the length of time that the port is blocked.” (03/28/24)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/28/baltimore-disaster-may-be-largest-ever-marine-insurance-payout-lloyds-.html

Now For Something Completely Different with Brian Wilson, season 3, episode 12

Source: Now For Something Completely Different with Brian Wilson

“The Return of the Two and Only! Talk radio’s Brian Wilson (back from surgery) and author Jim Bovard (back from book signing), eviscerate Government attacks on Free Speech, Gun Control and citizen surveillance — and have a good time doing it!” (03/27/24)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-two-and-only-brian-wilson-and-james-bovard-s3-ep12/id1638506178?i=1000650652460

Is America a Rogue Superpower?

Source: Antiwar.com
by Ted Snider

“‘Unipolar’ used to mean that the United States was, at least in theory, alone in leading the world. Now ‘unipolar’ means that the United States is alone and isolated in opposition to the world. In global affairs, a hegemon is a nation that leads because it has the consent of the other nations who believe in its goals and values. The United States has recently demonstrated, though, that it has given up any pretense of using its leadership to pursue the goals of the global community, and instead is openly using the global community to pursue its own goals.” (03/29/24)

https://original.antiwar.com/ted_snider/2024/03/27/is-america-a-rogue-superpower/

Tipping Point: CBO Director’s Warning on America’s Fiscal Path

Source: Independent Institute
by Craig Eyermann

“The director of the Congressional Budget Office is sounding the alarm on the U.S. government’s unsustainable fiscal path. … Swagel’s bigger message is that the growing cost of financing the national debt increases the risk of a government-debt-induced fiscal crisis in the United States. The ‘snap back,’ he fears, would be in the form of a sharp increase in interest rates should the bond market become reluctant to loan money to Uncle Sam. That scenario played out in the United Kingdom in 2022 under Prime Minister Liz Truss, which led to her resignation in very short order. Can something similar happen in the U.S.? It may be more likely than many would like to admit.” (03/28/24)

https://blog.independent.org/2024/03/28/tipping-point-cbo-directors-warning-on-americas-fiscal-path/

Kennedy picked running mate Nicole Shanahan for one big reason: Money

Source: Washington Post
by Karen Tumulty

“To paraphrase the memorable words of a notable figure who once ran for vice president on a third-party ticket: Who is she? Why is she here? With apologies to Adm. James Stockdale, a man with a distinguished military career who lightheartedly posed those questions about himself as Ross Perot’s running mate during his opening statement at the 1992 vice-presidential debate, they are worth asking in all seriousness about the selection that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday. … Whatever Shanahan’s other virtues, the most important reason for her selection is that she is worth a fortune as the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin …. Now that Shanahan is on the ticket with Kennedy, campaign finance law allows her to pour unlimited amounts of money into his campaign — something he badly needs.” (03/27/24)

https://archive.is/DPVjV

Putin: Russia will not attack NATO, but F-16s will be shot down in Ukraine

Source: Reuters

“Russia has no designs on any NATO country and will not attack Poland, the Baltic states or the Czech Republic but if the West supplies F-16 fighters to Ukraine then they will be shot down by Russian forces, President Vladimir Putin said late on Wednesday. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has triggered the deepest crisis in Russia’s relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Speaking to Russian air force pilots, Putin said the U.S.-led military alliance had expanded eastwards towards Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union but that Moscow had no plans to attack a NATO state. ‘We have no aggressive intentions towards these states,’ Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript released on Thursday.” (03/28/24)

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-tells-pilots-f16s-can-carry-nuclear-weapons-they-wont-change-things-2024-03-27/

Latvia: Karin to resign as foreign minister

Source: Baltic Times [Latvia]

“After a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) today, Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) has decided to step down. Karins will officially resign on April 10. He explained that this date was chosen so that Saeima could approve a new foreign minister during a parliamentary sitting the next day — April 11. For several months now, the scandal of private flights used by working delegations led by Karins during his time as prime minister has been a topic of public criticism. A reported, the Prosecutor General’s Office has opened and handed over to the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) for investigation the use of contract flights by Karins for working trips during his time in office.” (03/28/24)

https://www.baltictimes.com/karins_decides_to_step_down_as_foreign_minister/