In Israel, two elderly women who were held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for more than a year were released on Monday, while hundreds of others remain in captivity. The women described their ordeal of being kidnapped and taken to a tunnel network, where they endured harsh conditions and threats. Meanwhile, Israel’s defense minister announced that the country is preparing for a large-scale military operation against Hamas from the air, ground, and sea.
In the US, former President Donald Trump filed new motions to dismiss the federal election subversion case against him, arguing that the indictment violates his free speech rights and is a vindictive prosecution. Trump is accused of conspiring to block the official counting of electoral votes by Congress on January 6, when his supporters stormed the Capitol. The special counsel in charge of the case rejected Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution and urged a judge to proceed with the trial.
In Australia, the Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock ruled out setting an employment target, as it does with inflation, to guide the adjustment of interest rates. Bullock said in her first major speech since taking office last month that the RBA’s focus is on achieving full employment and price stability, and that linking interest rates to a specific employment level would be too rigid and risky. She also said that the RBA expects inflation to rise gradually over the next few years3.
In Canada, a massive snowstorm hit parts of Ontario and Quebec, dumping up to 40 centimeters of snow and causing widespread power outages and travel disruptions. The storm also affected parts of New York and Vermont in the US, where some areas received more than 30 centimeters of snow. The storm was caused by a low-pressure system that moved from the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic coast1.
The United Auto Workers union ordered 6,800 workers to strike a huge Ram truck facility in Michigan on Monday, after failing to reach a new contract agreement with Stellantis, the company that makes Ram trucks. The union said it launched the strike because Stellantis refused to address its demands on wages, benefits, health and safety, and job security. The strike could affect the production and supply of one of the most popular and profitable vehicles in the US market1.
A new report by international researchers claims Earth’s climate is “clearly under siege” by human-caused changes. The report, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, warns that the world is entering uncharted territory, with unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures, melting ice, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss. The report calls for urgent and ambitious action to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change1.
A new book by two former NASA scientists explores what it takes to stop climate change and avoid its worst consequences. The book, titled “What It Takes to Stop Climate Change”, argues that the US is incapable of implementing big projects of the past, such as the Apollo program or the interstate highway system, and that combating climate change is a big project that requires bold leadership, innovation, and collaboration. The book also outlines a roadmap for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
A new study by Australian researchers reveals how rising temperatures are affecting the health and survival of songbirds.The study, published in the journal Science Advances, found that songbirds struggle to keep their young healthy when exposed to heat stress. The researchers monitored the nests of 27 species of songbirds in Australia and found that higher temperatures reduced the quality and quantity of food available for the chicks, increased their risk of dehydration and predation, and impaired their growth and development4.
Sensex down 826 pts! 4 reasons behind Oct 23/2024 The biggest highlight of the hour is that the stock market crashed pretty badly today. Sensex was over 800 pts down whereas Nifty was down 261 pts. The bloodshed on Dalal Street wiped off Rs 7.56 lakh crore of investor wealth. The BSE market cap also slid to Rs 311.33 lakh crore
Rishi Sunak’s standing while nearing First Anniversary as UK PM British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is approaching his one-year anniversary in office with little room to make changes if he wants to win the next general election, which is scheduled to be held by the end of 2023.
Sunak took over as Prime Minister in October 2022, following a chaotic 49-day period after the resignation of Liz Truss. He inherited a country that was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and high inflation.
Sunak has achieved some successes in his first year in office. He has managed to calm down the factional fighting within the Conservative Party, although only temporarily. He has also restored some credibility to the Prime Minister’s office, although not significantly.
However, Sunak’s administration has also been criticized for its handling of the economy and the migrant crisis. Inflation currently stands at 6.7%, economic growth is low, and over 26,000 refugees have landed on the south coast of England so far this year.
Sunak’s job approval ratings are also at an all-time low. A recent survey showed that Labour is leading the Conservatives by 12%.
Some experts believe that the only way for Sunak to win the next election is if the cost of living crisis eases. Others believe that he could win if Labour makes mistakes or if he is able to polarize voters with “culture war” issues.
However, many experts believe that voters have already made up their minds about Sunak and the Conservatives. They are simply looking for a change, and neither Sunak nor his party can offer it.
