What is the Inflation Rate?

The inflation rate is the average annual change in prices that consumers see reflected on store shelves. The rate of inflation is determined by how, where and when new money enters the economy. This process increases the general price level, but it also distorts relative prices and wages, as well as rates of return on investments.

Inflation occurs when the amount of money circulating in an economy exceeds the growth in the overall economy’s output. Generally speaking, governments and central banks target a modest inflation rate, which keeps the purchasing power of consumers steady. Consumers often respond to this with increased spending, which in turn helps boost the economy and business profits. However, when inflation becomes out of control, the effect is more severe and may lead to higher interest rates on loans and mortgages, as well as a slowing economy.

Some types of inflation are considered good, such as demand-pull inflation. This type of inflation is caused by a surge in demand for goods and services due to economic factors, such as low unemployment or an increase in government spending. However, this inflation can also stretch resources and lead to supply chain disruptions, which in turn drive up prices for consumers.

High inflation is generally viewed negatively, as it can devalue the purchasing power of people’s savings and salaries. Additionally, it makes it difficult to save for future needs or invest in stocks and bonds. Inflation can also make a country uncompetitive, as prices for products may rise faster than the country’s wages and other costs of production. For this reason, many statistical agencies report a measure of core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices to more accurately detect longer-term trends in prices.

A Degree in Global Affairs Can Open Up a Variety of Career Paths

The world’s most pressing issues, from terrorism and refugee crises to global inequality and environmental challenges, require collaboration between governments, international organizations and private corporations. A degree in global affairs gives you the skills and experience to tackle these challenges in the real world—and open up a variety of career paths.

What is the difference between global affairs and international relations?

While many universities use the terms “global affairs” and “international relations” interchangeably, they are actually two different academic fields. Global affairs is an umbrella term that houses disciplines like political science, history, sociology and environmental studies, while international relations is a more specific field that looks at the interactions between countries, groups and individuals.

Our interdisciplinary approach to global affairs means you’ll have the opportunity to build your knowledge of key regions, topics and issues in ways that reflect how the world really works. You’ll be challenged to think flexibly across cultures, time periods and systems—skills that employers in all sectors want in their employees.

You’ll apply your academic training in a real-world policy challenge during a capstone course at the end of your senior year. Students can choose to complete their capstone in a substantive seminar of their choice or take the global affairs senior essay course (GLBL 4500). In either case, students are responsible for securing their own academic advisor and a secondary reader. The number of spaces for the global affairs capstone is limited and applications will be made available in the fall of sophomore year.

Developing Your Story

Developing your story means taking your raw material and refining it into a polished narrative. This process involves identifying and ordering the conflicts, obstacles and challenges your character will face, as well as their character arcs, in a way that will keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

One of the most important aspects of any story is creating characters with whom the readers will empathize. To do this, you need to understand who they are and what drives them as individuals. For this reason, we recommend spending time developing your characters before getting started on the plot development phase of your project.

In addition to a clear understanding of your character’s background and personality, we also recommend focusing on their motivations and fears. This will help you understand what kind of external conflict to use in your story, as well as what internal conflicts will be necessary to arouse emotion and create tension.

As you develop your story, it’s helpful to have a physical space where you can chart your timeline and organize the key elements of the plot. Many writers find that using a whiteboard or corkboard is ideal, as it allows them to make notes and visualize the story in a real-world context. Using different colors or sticky notes can also be helpful for identifying different areas of the story, such as setting, character arcs and plot points. You can also use dialogue to reveal character traits, as the language they choose and the mannerisms that recur will give insight into their personalities.

What You Need to Know About the Crypto Market

Cryptocurrency markets operate 24/7 – unlike traditional stock markets – making them more accessible to traders around the world and allowing continuous trading. The total market cap of cryptocurrencies is the combined value of all of the tokens in circulation, allowing investors to buy and sell assets at any time.

Price changes are a critical indicator of market sentiment and can suggest trends or opportunities for traders. Understanding these metrics is essential to making smart investment decisions in the cryptocurrency space.

The supply of a cryptocurrency can influence its price. If demand for a cryptocurrency increases but the supply remains limited, its price will rise. The reverse is also true. Crypto prices are often influenced by news events and speculation.

A key aspect of any crypto marketplace is the security of user deposits. Many of these exchanges offer a range of features like multi-signature wallets that allow users to control their own private keys. These can be custodial or non-custodial and are available for both software and hardware.

Another important consideration is the reliability of the exchange’s infrastructure. Ideally, a platform should commit to 95%+ uptime to ensure that their algorithms can reliably adapt to market conditions and optimise asset pricing. Additionally, it is a good idea to check whether an exchange has an anti-money laundering program and adheres to KYC/AML regulations in the countries in which they operate. This is essential to avoid potential legal risk and promote a safe and secure crypto ecosystem.

What Is a News Outlet?

A news outlet is a newspaper, magazine, or TV show that reports the latest events and trends. News outlets often cover politics, crime, business, sports, and weather. Many also feature editorials, columns, and political cartoons. The emergence of the Internet has made it easier for individuals to publish their own articles, which often lack proper fact-checking or editing. Because of this, many readers must be careful about what they read online.

Founded in 1851, The Atlantic is a long-read news outlet that covers politics, culture, science, and the big ideas that shape our lives. Their stories are smart, layered, and made for people who want more than just breaking news. With 27 million readers online, plus over 1 million still reading in print, they’re a reliable source of thoughtful journalism that doesn’t chase clicks.

The Associated Press (AP) is the oldest and most trusted news source in the world. Its newsrooms around the globe pump out text, video, and photos to thousands of media companies and clients. Governments, schools, finance platforms, and tech companies all tap AP for planning, alerts, and verified updates.

The People’s Daily is China’s biggest state-owned news outlet and gets more than 200 million visits per month. Its tech stories focus on China’s digital policies and tech ambitions, which are often closely tied to government-backed research initiatives. They’re a popular choice for people who are interested in keeping up with developments in the Chinese tech scene.

The Rise of National News

The boundaries between the world of journalism and the world outside have been blurring for some time. This blurring, while potentially a source of risk, is also the foundation for progress. In a digital age when the news industry is growing rapidly, many traditional news media outlets have found that they must change the way they operate to stay competitive and keep their audiences engaged.

National news, as the name suggests, is a type of media coverage that reports on events occurring in a country or region of the world. National news can be found in newspapers, magazines, radio and television, although most people now access their news online rather than from traditional media channels.

For example, CBS News has long been a hugely popular TV news outlet with big shows like 60 Minutes and CBS Evening News. But they realized that the future was online, and they’ve now shifted their focus to creating a lot more stories for people who live on their phones. They’re now getting more than 9.5 million pageviews per month, which is much bigger than their TV reach.

Another big player in national news is the non-profit PBS. Their news and public affairs programming includes Frontline, PBS NewsHour, and Washington Week. They’re a big part of the media landscape in America, and they get high ratings for their trustworthy journalism. They’re known for their calm reporting and in-depth interviews, and they’re also a big name in podcasting with shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. In addition to broadcasting nationally, they have 349 member stations across the US that show their content locally. They’re often viewed as more trustworthy than CNN and other news outlets, and they’re known for their fairness.

What Is Economic Growth?

Economic growth happens when there’s an increase in the production of goods and services for a given period compared to a previous one. It’s typically measured in terms of a country’s gross domestic product (or GNP) — but other metrics can also be used. The main reason that economic growth is important is that it often leads to a higher standard of living for the people within a nation. That’s because the people that make up a nation tend to see their incomes rise as economic growth occurs, and they can then use that money to buy things that make them happier.

Measuring economic growth isn’t easy, though. First, GDP doesn’t capture everything that adds value to a society. For example, caring for children doesn’t count if it’s done by parents (but it does if it’s carried out by paid childcare workers). Also, counting up an economy’s overall GDP can give a false picture as it can fluctuate from one period to the next depending on what kind of activities are taking place. For example, a big surge in economic activity at the start of the year is typically caused by businesses rushing to stock up on foreign goods ahead of rising tariff rates.

There are different types of economic growth, but most involve increasing the availability of resources or improving productivity. This can be achieved by growing the physical capital of a nation through investing in new tools and machines, or it can happen with the help of technological advances.

How to Write a News Update

A news update does exactly what the name suggests – it keeps your audience in touch with all the latest developments on a particular topic. It may evoke images of black-and-white journalism in major newspapers or the nightly news recap on television, but it can also be a company-wide email or newsletter that highlights key projects, achievements and milestones.

Your news update should start with a strong hook that piques the interest of readers. This should be something like a dramatic anecdote, surprising fact or key data point. Then introduce your story with a summary that answers the five W’s and one H (who, what, when, where, why and how). This is known as the lede or the nut graph, and it’s essential to include this in your release because busy journalists have very short attention spans.

After delivering the key facts, your story should continue with more background information, analysis and other details that support the headline. You can also use quotes from experts or other sources to add credibility, humour and depth to your story. However, be careful not to overdo it with quotes — these can quickly derail the flow of your narrative and make your news release seem less credible.

Use images and video where possible to break up text and illustrate complex or technical topics. These can convey a greater sense of impact and reality than words alone can. For example, a photo of a building collapsing or a recording of a call to emergency services can convey more in terms of emotional intensity than a written description could do.

World Leaders Must Put the Refugee Crisis First

refugee crisis

Each year, millions of people are forced to leave their homes in search for safety and a better life. Some become refugees, others are migrants seeking work or education opportunities. Many die trying to reach their destinations. World leaders should put people’s lives first, stopping the deadly smuggling of people on dingy boats, and investigating and prosecuting those who profit from people trafficking.

Refugees need a safe place to live that protects their human rights, allows them to become productive members of society, and gives their children the best chance to thrive. Governments should invest in comprehensive policies for hosting refugees that respect their legal status, including rights to freedom of movement and employment. They should fully meet funding appeals for refugee response, as well as supporting host countries in achieving economic development.

Countries of origin must stop using refugees as bargaining chips in international politics and cease triggering new displacement with their unsustainable conflict and instability. They should also provide the means for refugees to return voluntarily, if that is what they want.

In the meantime, governments should promote the integration of refugees into their communities to alleviate suffering, and foster a culture of acceptance that is based on the value of diversity. They should combat all forms of xenophobia and discrimination against refugees and migrants. And they should support a global network of cooperation on conflict and fragility that focuses on people’s right to protection and security rather than national ownership.

How to Write Business News That Keeps Your Audiences Engaged

business news

Business news covers financial topics that impact the everyday lives of a wide range of people. It’s an essential genre for keeping investors, employees, and business partners informed about major changes in the marketplace.

Business journalism helps readers navigate the complexities of the financial world by simplifying complex jargon and strategies. It also helps keep stakeholders informed and aware of ethical concerns like supply chain transparency, corporate accountability, and environmental impacts. Business news articles also expose fraud and other suspicious activities, allowing the public to stay safe from scams and make informed decisions in their best interest.

Readers want to feel that your content is relevant to their practical daily experiences. To earn that relevance, focus on your audience’s specific needs and interests rather than the broader issues surrounding an issue. Avoid overly generalizing or assuming your readers are experts in all areas of business. For example, if you’re writing about the manufacturing industry, consider how your readers will interpret data from two different sources: China’s official PMI and the independent Caixin. Both may present slightly different figures for the same month, but presenting them side by side will allow your readers to determine which data set is most trustworthy.

Incorporate engaging multimedia into your business news articles to keep your audiences engaged. Visuals such as infographics, statistics, and quotes help to reinforce the main points of your story and make it more relatable. Additionally, audio recordings of your news stories can add a personal touch and increase your reach with a receptive audience.