BRAZIL - Brazil is being hit with the worst drought in 70 years, leading to wild fires and lower air quality as rivers begin to dry up in the Amazon. An “apocalyptic” drought has hit the Amazon as shocking pictures show areas almost completely dried up. It comes as Brazil has been hit by its worst drought in 70 years. Forest fires have become out of control, capable of devastating large areas of protected habitats. Researcher Ana Paula do Amaral Cunha, from Cemaden, says humidity levels are “as low” as they are in the Sahara desert right now. And that the South American nation is in the midst of the “most extensive dry season for at least 70 years”.

USA - Around the country, Americans have begun waking up to the possibility that the health care system is more interested in your wallet than it is in your cure. Which is why extra caution should be taken when it comes to earth-shattering diagnoses like cancer. “The ridiculous cancer screening programs that are designed to bring in customers to medical centers are diagnosing cancer that isn’t cancer,” Dr Pam Popper, an internationally recognized expert on nutrition, medicine, and health and the founder and executive director of Wellness Forum Health tells Liz Wheeler of the “The Liz Wheeler Show.” “In other words, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is not cancer, it’s a risk factor for breast cancer,” she continues. “A lot of people are being treated for cancer because they have risk factors, which is great for the industry, not so great for the patient.”

USA - Former CIA and Pentagon advisor Jim Rickards warns… "I predict the coming election will trigger a 50% market collapse... and violent riots on the streets". If you’re worried about the recent market volatility…you need to see what Former CIA and Pentagon Advisor Jim Rickards is predicting for this November. Jim is a lawyer and economist who’s worked at the highest levels of Wall Street and international finance across five decades. And he correctly predicted the last two major financial crises in America. In the summer of 2008, he wrote a letter to top advisors in the presidential campaign saying: “We can expect another panic spike in October 2008. This financial crisis is not over.” Three weeks later, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt…

USA - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has sold another massive stake in Bank of America - raising red flags in an ominous sign for Wall Street investors. The Omaha-based financial conglomerate has seen its stake in BofA fall by around 150 million shares, bringing the total sales since mid-July to nearly $5.4 billion. Berkshire has traditionally been bullish on financial companies, leading some analysts to call Buffett's sell-off a clear warning that tougher times may lie ahead. BofA has been Buffett's most favored stock over the last seven years and the bank's largest single shareholder. His selling of such a large number of shares over such a short period of time could suggest that economic turbulence or further market turmoil is on the way.

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.