What’s been making the News?

As the weather conditions have been changing with severe fires and flooding all over the World, in Europe, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia & the Pacific, South America & the Middle East, urgent calls have been made by Climate Change Experts and the UN for nations and countries to take the issue seriously and implement agreed solutions to meet their net zero carbon emissions target that would help to reduce the adverse effects of climate change. Temperatures have risen from the 30‘s - mid 30s to 40 - 45 degrees in many Southern European Countries, as well as, in the US & China among others!

 

President Biden announced that, he will be running for a second term in office with VP, Kamala Harris as his running mate for 2024 with the new slogan ‘Finish the job’ while Robert F Kennedy Jr, nephew of former President John F Kennedy, filed the paperwork to stand for the democratic nomination against Biden. Some of the legislations that President Biden wishes to advance include, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Respect for Marriage Act. Robert Kennedy is 69 yrs old and an Environmental Lawyer who became known for his anti-vaccine stance and campaign during Covid. He differs from President Biden on issues such as, corporate influence in government, censorship, civil liberties, poverty, corruption, and US war/Foreign Policy while Republicans blame the President for ‘out-of-control government spending, high rate of inflation and increasing the national debt and have criticised him for not doing enough about illegal immigration.”

 

However, it is noteworthy to state that, the President passed the “bipartisan Infrastructure plan, the CHIPS plan and the American Rescue Plan, in response to the COVID pandemic, as well as, having advanced his landmark legislation - the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Respect for Marriage Act.

 

The SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon resigned as the Party’s leader while her husband was taken into Police custody for questioning about missing Party campaign funds contributed/donated by members seeking Scottish Independence. The Party Treasurer was also questioned by the Police as well as, Nicola Sturgeon herself. Investigations continue. It turned out that there hadn’t been an audit as the Auditors for the Party had stepped down and the Party indicated they were looking for an Auditor. Watch the space, particularly in the next elections!

 

As Ukraine continues with its counter summer offensive against Russian invasion, Ukraine President has sought more support for short and long range missiles, as well as, jet fighters that would help in combating Russian missiles and destruction of his People and Country.

NATO held a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania with all G7 leaders and their Defence Chiefs, in which, they agreed to bolster security across land, sea and air for Ukraine by providing it with modern equipment. Ukraine has been requesting membership of NATO but NATO couldn’t offer it membership because it would technically thrust NATO into war with Russia since there is already an on-going invasion that Ukraine is trying to repel/fight back. However, a Council was established known as the NATO-Ukraine Council that would deal with Kyiv and the Transatlantic Military alliance, which is a platform for NATO and Ukraine to make decisions as equals. The Council is a part of the multi-year package designed to draw Ukraine closer to the alliance, and they reaffirmed that "Ukraine will eventually become a member of NATO" and the Council cannot be blocked by individual allies or members.

The Wagner group’s leader, Yevgeny Prighozin and his forces who have been fighting in Russian occupied areas of Ukraine, in the East, marched with his troops back to Russia to protest what he saw, as lack of proper strategic planning & interest/action by the Russian military leaders and just as they were nearing Moscow, their forces were repelled with air raids and the Wagner leader, asked his troops to back down and return to their base/HQ pending negotiations with Moscow. He was later sent to Belarus while his troops were asked to sign new contracts with the Russian State military, as their private army status would be revoked and cease to exist. There have been speculation since then, as to, the whereabouts of the Wagner Chief and the status of his military, which has now been confirmed by Russia, that the group, have been fighting for and on behalf of Russia and used as a private army, following years of denial by the State of Russia.

 

The International bodies and Organisations have warned about the conflict in Sudan, which could result in a full blown Civil war if not resolved! The internal struggle is between two Generals, one leading the Country’s regular army, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the Head of the Armed Forces and President and his Deputy/leader of the Para-military force, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, (otherwise known as Hemedti), following the 2021 coup, in which, it was agreed that the Country would be led by a Council of Generals. “They have disagreements on the direction of the Country and proposed Civilian rule.

The contending issues include, how to bring into the country’s military, the 100,000 strong RSF troops and who would lead the force? The RSF was formed in 2013 by the notorious Janjaweed militia that brutally fought rebels in Darfur, where they were accused of ethnic cleansing and since then, Gen Dagalo has built a powerful force that has intervened in conflicts in Yemen and Libya. He has also developed economic interests, including controlling some of Sudan's gold mines. The RSF has been accused of human rights abuses, including the massacre of more than 120 protesters in June 2019. Such a strong force outside the army has been seen as a source of instability in the country”.

 

JP Morgan took over troubled and failing bank First Republic established in 1985 as a mid-sized US lender, similar to the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), in a deal brokered by the Regulator. It took over all of the remaining deposits after the bank lost 40% of deposits/100billion and the assets of First Republic. Customers of the San Francisco based bank withdrew $100 billion (£79.6bn) and JP Morgan took on First Republic’s $173bn of loans, about $30bn of Securities and $92bn of Deposits. The FDIC will share the losses on loans with the JP Morgan as part of the Agreement and it is estimated that the FDIC losses is valued at $13bn while the bank’s 84 offices in 8 states have re-opened as branches in JP Morgan Chase Bank.

 

The US narrowly avoided defaulting on its National debt when Congress agreed to extend the debt stimulus. The President has since signed a bill to suspend the U.S. government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, averting a first-ever default, as always.

Pakistan’s Imran Khan, 72, was ousted out of office, in a no-confidence vote by Pakistan Parliament, following allegations of multiple corruption. He accused the military of colluding with the govt, led by PM, Shahbaz Sharif to oust him, in a politically motivated action. His supporters had earlier prevented him from being arrested from his home and when he eventually went to Court, he was arrested but later released until he is due to appear in Court, again!

 

James Cameron, the Hollywood Film Director James Cameron, who directed the 1997 movie Titanic, had completed 33 submersible dives to the Titanic wreck without incident. He says the Titan sub was built of carbon fibre and titanium and was never certified. The Titan Sub lost both communication and navigation following a catastrophic event. The sub's electronics, communication system and tracking transponder all failed, at the same time. May they all RIP. The question being asked by many is should people really be visiting a site of human wreckage as a tourist attraction especially, if they are not Deep Sea Divers or Explorers that are looking for answers, treasures or human remains? It is now being investigated as to what happened to the titan Sub after the remains were recovered?

 

Ex-President Trump was indicted on 37 counts of criminal charges for wilful retention of sensitive documents and govt secrets that were stored in a shower, bathroom, ballroom and bedroom at Mar-a-Lago and for obstructing the Govt’s effort to retrieve the documents. Special Counsel, Jack Smith, the Lead Investigator, wants a speedy trial. “Nauta, 40, was indicted alongside Mr Trump for aiding and abetting crime by helping to move and hide the boxes containing classified information, both before and after a search of Mar-a-Lago, as well as, making false or misleading statements to the FBI. He faces 6 felony charges, including, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document, and concealing a document in a Federal investigation, each of which carry, prison sentences of 20 years, according to the indictment.” The charges to conceal, making false statements and representations carry 5 yrs in Prison! Mr Trump faces more indictments on January 6th, as well as, trying to interfere with the 2020 Election results in Michigan and the state of Georgia.

The French Open and Wimbledon have come and gone with Novak Djokovic winning the French Open and Carlos Alcaraz winning Wimbledon while Iga Swiatek won the Women’s French Open title and Marketa Vondrousova won Wimbledon. We now look forward to the US Open. Congratulations to all winners in the various categories/tournaments.