WORLD NEWS FLASH
UNITED STATES
Despite an abysmal debate performance and several people asking him to step away, the Commander-in-Chief says he is not going anywhere.
Over the past week, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has made the rounds on television, radio, and in person to vehemently declare that he is staying the 2024 Presidential Race despite people in his own party expressing their concerns about his health.
First up was a taped interview with ABC News correspondent George Stephanopoulos. While there were no extreme slip ups like in the debate, Biden did draw concern from the fact that when he was asked if he watched the debate afterwards, he could not remember if he did.
In subsequent events, Biden did not have much trouble, as he declared he is the only one who could defeat former President Donald J. Trump – which he did in 2020. The current President even wrote a two-page letter to Democrats staunchly defending his position.
Still, the doubts did not stop. On July 8, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had to fend off questions regarding the President’s health after reporters prodded her on the presence of a neurologist who visited the White House eight times in the past year.
One thing that is absolutely certain since the debate is that the mainstream media has now turned on the President. The era of calling videos painting Biden in a bad light “Cheap Fakes” has already ended, with the gaffes no longer being called inauthentic.
Finally, this new stance of uncovering every little detail has given credence to some of his opponent’s rants about the system being rigged, from calling the media “fake news” to some of his more outlandish theories, such as the 2020 Presidential Election. Although he lost, the cover-up of Biden’s health struggles does not give the smell of a “smoking gun” but the smell of something “fishy.”
Even worse for Biden, the July 11 sentencing of Trump in the hush money case has been pushed back to Sept. 18, due to Judge Merchan allowing the former President’s lawyers to argue about certain evidence used in the trial, now rendered inadmissible due to the Supreme Court’s July 1 Presidential Immunity ruling.
“The July 11, 2024, sentencing date is therefore vacated. The Court’s decision will be rendered off-calendar on September 6, 2024, and the matter is adjourned to September 18, 2024, at 10:00 AM for the imposition of sentence, if such is still necessary, or other proceedings,” Merchan said in response to the request to delay sentencing.
The part where Merchan said, “if such is still necessary” draws concern, as it opens the door for the case to either get a re-trial or be dismissed all together. Should that happen, then Trump would no longer be a “convicted felon” – one of the main sticking points of Democratic campaigning this November.
MASS SHOOTING UPDATE
Information recent as of 7-9-2024 at 12 p.m.
2024 Mass Shooting Stats: (Source: Mass Shooting Tracker – https://www.massshootingtracker.site/data/?year=2024)
- Total Mass Shootings: 327
- Total Dead: 403
- Total Wounded: 1357
- Shootings Per Day: 1.71
- Days Reached in Year 2024 as of July 9: 191
CARIBBEAN
THE AFTERMATH OF BERYL
Hurricane Beryl, which left a trail of destruction from the Caribbean to Mexico – and now the United States – has once again underscored the urgent need for robust early warning systems, the UN meteorological agency (WMO) said on July 8.
Beryl is the strongest hurricane ever to form in the Atlantic during June and rapidly intensified from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm, briefly reaching Category 5 with winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph).
It made landfall in Texas early Monday morning local time as a Category 1 hurricane, causing a dangerous storm surge and the risk of flash flooding.
It is expected to weaken rapidly as it moves further inland, according to the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) specialized regional center Miami, which is operated by the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
WMO also warned of a very intense hurricane season, with up to 25 named storms expected through November. Among them, eight to 13 could develop into hurricanes.
“We need to be especially vigilant this year due to near-record ocean heat in the region where Atlantic hurricanes form and the shift to La Niña conditions, which together create the conditions for increased storm formulation,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General.
“This is why WMO and its partners have prioritized early warning action in small islands under the international Early Warnings For All initiative.”
As access improves, the full impact of Hurricane Beryl is becoming clear.
UN humanitarian teams in Jamaica, where the hurricane made landfall at 5:00 PM on July 3, report a “sobering picture of widespread damage and destruction.”
More than 250 roads together with critical infrastructure have been extensively damaged by fallen trees, flooding, and storm surges. Many houses have lost their roofs, according to a humanitarian bulletin issued on July 7.
“(A UN team) visited Old Harbor Bay, Portland Cottage, Rocky Point, Alligator Pond and Treasure Beach. They witnessed many families in need of water, food, cleaning, and reconstruction supplies for their homes, as well as psychological support.”
About 160,000 people, including 37,000 children, are estimated to require humanitarian assistance.
In the eastern Caribbean, where Hurricane Beryl first made landfall on 1 July, islands have reported “severe damage” and “significant destruction.”
“Exact numbers remain a challenge, as assessments are ongoing amid damage to logistics, power and communications services, as well as power cuts,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a bulletin, also issued on Sunday.
Damage to small airstrips and reliance on smaller boats are hampering logistics efforts, complicating assessments, and delivery of aid.
In Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, as well as northern areas, are among the hardest-hit, with limited public transportation links between Carriacou and the mainland.
Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also severely affected. Authorities are housing vulnerable people in tourism facilities and conducting assessments. An unknown number of people have evacuated the island.
EUROPE
A NEW ERA IN THE UK
On July 4, citizens of the United Kingdom had their own Independence Day of sorts, as by way of their vote they are free of Conservative governance.
In an election called forth by then-UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Labour Party took power by claiming 411 of the 650 available seats in Parliament, leaving the Conservative Party out of the driver’s seat for the first time in 14 years. The “Tories” only took 121 seats, while the Liberal Democrats picked up the rear with 72.
Once the election was done, Sunak gave notice to King Charles III and the UK public that he would step down as Prime Minister, clearing the way for Labour Party leader Keir Starmer to take the seat.
“I have heard your anger, your disappointment; and I take responsibility for this loss,” said Sunak in defeat. “To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly but without success I am sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved.
“It pains me to think how many good colleagues who contributed so much to their communities and our country will now no longer sit in the House of Commons. I thank them for their hard work, and their service.
“Following this result, I will step down as party leader, not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place.
“It is important that after 14 years in government the Conservative Party rebuilds, but also that it takes up its crucial role in Opposition professionally and effectively.”
As for the winning, Starmer made his own remarks and then soon after made his introduction to various world leaders via phone calls.
“Good afternoon… I have just returned from Buckingham Palace where I accepted an invitation from His Majesty the King to form the next government of this great nation,” Starmer said.
“I want to thank the outgoing Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. His achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country, the extra effort that will have required, should not be underestimated by anyone. We pay tribute to that today, and we also recognise the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership.
“But now our country has voted, decisively… For change. For national renewal. And a return of politics to public service.
“When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation. A draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future…
“…If you voted for Labour yesterday, we will carry the responsibility of your trust, as we rebuild our country. But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact – especially if you did not, I say to you, directly, My government will serve you.
“Politics can be a force for good – we will show that. And that is how we will govern. Country first, party second…
“…You have given us a clear mandate… And we will use it to deliver change… To restore service and respect to politics… End the era of noisy performance… Tread more lightly on your lives… And unite our country.
“Four nations… Standing together again… Facing down, as we have so often in our past… The challenges of an insecure world… Committed – to a calm and patient rebuilding.
“So with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service. In the mission of national renewal.
“Our work is urgent… And we begin it today.”
