Blogging Leave

MARK ALEXANDER: I have been blogging here and elsewhere for a very long time now. As a result, I need some R&R; I am feeling exhausted.

For this reason, I have decided to take a break from blogging for a little while. I need to re-charge the batteries. I therefore ask for your understanding. I shall be back with you as soon as possible. But a little rest will be good for me at this time.

For all the support you have given me thus far, I thank you all kindly. Naturally, all the content of the blog will remain at your disposal.

I thank you for your understanding; and, naturally, for your continued loyalty.

Best wishes to all
Mark Alexander

Special Address by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission | Davos 2023

Jan 17, 2023 | The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

‘Tax Us Now’: Ultra-rich Call on Governments to Introduce Wealth Taxes

THE GUARDIAN: Disney heiress and actor Mark Ruffalo among ‘patriotic millionaires’ who addressed world’s elite at Davos

Abigail Disney was part of a group of 205 millionaires and billionaires from 13 countries to sign the letter. Photograph: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
More than 200 members of the super-rich elite are calling on governments around the world to “tax us, the ultra rich, now” in order to help billions of people struggling with cost of living crisis.

The group of 205 millionaires and billionaires, including the Disney heiress Abigail Disney and The Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo, on Wednesday called on world leaders and business executives meeting in Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF) to urgently introduce wealth taxes to help tackle “extreme inequality”.

“The current lack of action is gravely concerning. A meeting of the ‘global elite’ in Davos to discuss ’cooperation in a fragmented world’ is pointless if you aren’t challenging the root cause of division,” they said in an open letter published on Wednesday. “Defending democracy and building cooperation requires action to build fairer economies right now – it is not a problem that can be left for our children to fix.

“Now is the time to tackle extreme wealth; now is the time to tax the ultra rich.” » | Rupert Neate, Wealth correspondent | Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Der Bitcoin steigt über die 20 000-Dollar-Marke. Ist der Krypto-Winter damit schon wieder vorbei?

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Die bekannteste Krypto-Währung Bitcoin hat am Wochenende bisweilen mehr als 21 000 Dollar gekostet. Anleger fragen sich nun, ob die Branche den Untergang der Krypto-Börse FTX bereits verdaut hat.

Der Kollaps von FTX letzten November kam einem Erdbeben in der Krypto-Welt gleich. Hinzu kamen die steil steigenden Zinsen. Diese beiden Faktoren führten dazu, dass die Kurse vieler Krypto-Währungen markant fielen. Allen voran der Bitcoin-Kurs. Der Wert der gemessen an der Marktkapitalisierung wertvollsten Digitalwährung brach seit letztem April von rund 46 000 Dollar auf 16 000 Dollar ein. Am Wochenende hat der Bitcoin die 20 000-Dollar-Marke aber wieder überschritten. » | Isabelle Wachter | Montag, 16. Januar 2023

Nouriel Roubini : « Nous entrons dans la grande stagflation »

LE MONDE : Inflation, guerre commerciale, réchauffement climatique… Dans un entretien au « Monde », l’économiste américain, réputé pour son pessimisme, dresse la liste des grandes menaces auxquelles nos pays seront confrontés ces prochaines années.

Il est l’un des rares à avoir vu venir la crise de 2008. Parfois surnommé « Docteur Catastrophe » en raison de ses prévisions très sombres, Nouriel Roubini, professeur d’économie à la Stern School of Business de l’université de New York, a publié un nouvel ouvrage (Mégamenaces, Buchet-Chastel, 384 pages, 23,50 euros), où il recense les risques auxquels nos économies seront confrontées en 2023 et au-delà. A commencer par celui d’une crise financière.

Vous êtes l’un des rares à avoir vu venir la crise de 2008. La situation d’aujourd’hui est-elle comparable ?

Difficile à dire, car nous sommes confrontés à une série de risques aux horizons temporels différents. A court terme, il y a ceux liés à la guerre en Ukraine, bien sûr, à l’inflation et au spectre d’une crise financière qui pourrait advenir ces prochains mois ou dans les deux ou trois années à venir. S’ajoutent à cela des « mégamenaces » susceptibles de se matérialiser plus ou moins sévèrement sur le long terme, et qui ne relèvent pas seulement de l’économie. » | Propos recueillis par Marie Charrel | vendredi 13 janvier 2023

Article réservé aux abonnés

Croatia Adopts Euro, Joins Schengen: What Are the Pros and Cons? | DW News

Jan 1, 2023 | Croatia has dropped its currency the kuna to adopt the European common currency, the euro. The Balkan nation becomes the 20th member of the eurozone. Croatia had to meet strict economic conditions to join. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Zagreb to mark the occasion. Croatia also became the 27th member of the passport-free Schengen zone, which allows more than 400 million people to move freely through its borders.