USA - Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other magnates dumped billions in stocks between late 2023 and early 2024. In early March 2024, fear of a potential US financial and economic downturn spread among some internet users after they came across rumors alleging that several business tycoons recently sold billions of dollars in their own companies' stocks. "The Walton family just sold 4.5 billion of Walmart stock," the viral message read. "And, Jeff Bazo [sic] sold $8.5 billion today, Jamie Dimon sold $150m of JP Morgan, Zuck sold $400m, Buffett is selling ALOT! Something's up mate!" Market analysts consider the fact that so many high-profile business leaders sold within such a short time frame to be significant. The implication was that the finance magnates were preparing themselves for stock prices to plunge.

EUROPE - Germany's introduction of strict controls on all its land borders to crack down on migration and 'Islamist terrorism' has prompted anger from its European neighbours who are loathe to accept migrants turned away by Berlin. Interior minister Nancy Faeser, of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's struggling Social Democrat party (SPD), yesterday announced that harsher restrictions would be implemented across Germany's 2,300-mile land border from September 16. The scheme, which will last six months before review and enable authorities to reject more migrants directly at German borders, represents a significant extension of controls introduced last year on Germany's borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

GERMANY - Germany is “leaderless and incapable,” the country’s opposition leader claimed on Tuesday night as he walked out of a key meeting with the government to discuss steps to tighten up border security. Friedrich Merz, the head of the centre-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the talks had failed to come up with concrete steps to control Germany’s borders. He said: “The federal government is clearly hopelessly divided internally and cannot agree on effective measures. The federal government is incapable of action and leaderless.” It came as neighbouring Poland strongly criticised Berlin’s earlier announcement that it would impose nationwide border checks from next Monday, with Donald Tusk, the country’s prime minister, calling it “unacceptable” and a “de facto suspension of the Schengen agreement on a large scale”.

NETHERLANDS - Geert Wilders vows to copy it for the Netherlands and Hungary welcomes Berlin to the '#stopmigration club'. Civil war has broken out in Europe over Germany's new plans to introduce strict border controls - with populist leaders giving their support for similar measures. Yesterday Germany's government presented rigorous rules on asylum that would see more people turned away at its frontiers, a day after it announced it would start carrying out controls on all its land borders. While Germany risks alienating the Left with its hardened stance on migration, Dutch politician Geert Wilders vowed to copy the plan for the Netherlands. And Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán shared his support for the measures, welcoming Germany to the so-called #StopMigration club.

USA - The Ukrainian Armed Forces are in the midst of converging crises caused by the failed counteroffensive, the forcible conscription policy, and Zelensky’s Kursk blunder, which are leading to more desertions, defeats, and ultimately more desperation. CNN carried out a rare act of journalistic service with their detailed report about how “Outgunned and outnumbered, Ukraine’s military is struggling with low morale and desertion”. It candidly describes the numerous problems afflicting the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) at this pivotal moment in the conflict as they continue to occupy part of Kursk but are still losing ground in Donbass. Their story begins by introducing a battalion commander who lost most of the around 800 men under his control.

ISRAEL - With American efforts to mediate a solution going nowhere, Moscow appears the next best option for negotiations with Gaza. Amid stalled negotiations mediated by the US, Israel has apparently turned to Russia for assistance in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. According to a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, Netanyahu’s military secretary returned from Moscow on Sunday, September 1, after discussing a possible deal with Hamas. The statement did not clarify whether any agreements were reached. Israel’s appeal to Russia for help in releasing hostages from Gaza may seem unexpected, but is a logical move in the context of the prolonged and intense conflict with Hamas. With the diplomatic efforts of the US, Qatar, and Egypt yielding no tangible results, Israel opted to seek assistance from Moscow, as it has long-standing connections with Palestinian factions, including Hamas. This appeal underscores Russia’s strategic importance in the Middle East, where it acts not only as a partner to various players but also as a mediator capable of influencing parties that are less accessible to Western diplomats.

GIBRALTAR - Gibraltar's "way of life will disappear" if the new rules are brought in, it has been warned. The people of Gibraltar are facing uncertainty as the EU prepares to impose post-Brexit border changes that could cause chaos in the territory. On November 10, Brussels will bring in its Entry-Exit System (EES) at all borders, effectively resulting in a hard-border between the Rock and its neighbour Spain. Since the UK left the EU, the Spanish government has taken a relaxed approach to allow time for the EU and UK to come to an agreement regarding Gibraltar's long-term future. But talks aimed at implementing a common travel area between Gibraltar and the EU’s passport-free Schengen Zone have stalled. An open border is vitally important for the 15,000 people who cross the border every day for work and other reasons.

EUROPE - A study, led by economist and Former Italian PM Mario Draghi, says vast funds are necessary to prevent the group of nations falling behind China and the USA. A highly anticipated report commissioned by the EU calls for a “new industrial strategy for Europe”, and warns the bloc will need to raise investments by €800 billion (£674 billion) a year to avoid "a slow agony". The study, led by economist and former Italian PM Mario Draghi, says the funds are necessary for the EU to meet its key competitiveness and climate targets, and fund urgent reform to prevent the group of nations falling behind China and the United States. Mr Draghi warned the bloc's aims to strengthen its geopolitical relevance, social equality and decarbonisation are being threatened by the superior growth and productivity of the two superpowers. “We have reached the point where, without action, we will have to either compromise our welfare, our environment or our freedom," he added.

EUROPE - As Europe braces for key elections, the resurgence of far-right politics in Germany and beyond is sparking panic among EU leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sounded the alarm on the rising influence of far-right populism in Europe, cautioning against its divisive and destructive agenda. His remarks come amid growing concerns over the potential outcomes of the upcoming European Parliament elections, set to take place in June. Speaking at a gathering of centre-left European parties in Bucharest, Romania, Chancellor Scholz highlighted the imminent threat posed by right-wing populist movements. He stressed the dangers they pose to the unity and stability of the European Union, particularly through their campaigns targeting refugees and minorities.

USA - We are witnessing nothing short of a war on history, a moral crusade which seeks to make people ashamed of their origins and who they are. Nowhere is this crusade more aggressively pursued than in the United States of America and nowhere are the consequences more wide-reaching and destructive. The tentacles have reached into every corner of education and public life, as I explain in my new book. The importance of Lincoln in all this can hardly be overstated. Born in a log cabin in Kentucky, he rose to become not just the 16th President but among the most consequential of all to hold that office.

USA - Thousands of people east of Los Angeles have been ordered to flee their homes from an out-of-control wildfire that has burned through a large area of forest. In southern California, currently in the grip of a ferocious heatwave, the so-called Line fire has burned areas around San Bernardino national forest, about 65 miles (105 km) east of Los Angeles. As of Monday morning, the blaze had charred more than 23,000 acres of grass and chaparral and blanketed the area with a thick cloud of dark smoke. Only 3% of it is contained, threatening more than 36,000 structures, including single- and multi-family homes and commercial buildings, the US Forest Service said. The California fire burned so hot on Saturday that it created its own thunderstorm-like weather systems of pyroculumus clouds, which can create more challenging conditions such as gusty winds and lightning strikes, according to the National Weather Service.

USA - There are many people across the country looking at everything that’s taken place over the past 10-15 years and asking, “What happened?” It’s obvious to many that this is no longer the country our parents knew. As a Baby Boomer, it’s NOT the country I once knew. America has a broken moral compass. We’ve lost our common sense. Things that would have been laughed at as being absurd a decade ago are now doctrines that could destroy your life because you disagree. “Men can now get pregnant”; “masking, social distancing, and vaccines will prevent COVID”; “the George Floyd riots were mostly peaceful.” These are just a few examples, although “Trump was a Russian asset” and “Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation” were a few of my personal favourites.

USA - The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance pushing for babies to receive three unlicensed Covid mRNA shots before they are nine months old. However, COVID-19 poses virtually no risk to children and infants, vaccinated or otherwise. In addition, there are no licensed Covid vaccines for children aged 12 and under. Yet, according to the CDC, nine-month-old babies can only be considered “up to date” if they receive multiple doses of the mRNA injections. Yet, despite the CDC’s recommendations, the latest Pfizer and Moderna mRNA injections are not licensed in the United States for children under 12.

GERMANY - The new Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has won double-digit support in state elections in Thuringia and Saxony. While some of its positions overlap with the far right, it draws voters away from other political parties. Sahra Wagenknecht, one of Germany's most divisive political figures, has seen a resounding success in two state elections, even though she is not on the ballot. In both Saxony and Thuringia, the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) — which the former Left Party parliamentary leader founded in January — ended up well ahead of the parties that make up Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government: the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP). Espousing an unusual mix of left-wing economic policy and anti-migration rhetoric, the BSW is now set to play a part in government building in the two eastern German states, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won over 30% on Sunday.

GERMANY - The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) wants to be part of new governments in Saxony and Thuringia. Some of its key demands have been rejected by potential coalition partners. Could the new party still be a kingmaker? "We have become a power player in Germany," Sahra Wagenknecht said at her first press conference following state elections in Saxony and Thuringia on Sunday. In both states, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party she founded in January came in third. Now comes the business of forming new governments. And if parties are to do this without the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as all have pledged, the new BSW could become a kingmaker. "The people, and I have noticed this on the campaign trail, are putting great hope in us," emphasized Wagenknecht. The success of the BSW shows how few people still trust in the established parties, and how many voters feel let down.