FinPol Digest

 Typhoon Gaemi has caused significant damage in Taiwan, including flooding in low-lying areas, landslides, and destruction to homes and shops. The storm, which swept through the western Pacific, has resulted in at least 22 fatalities in the Philippines due to flooding and landslides, and three deaths in Taiwan, with over 220 reported injuries. In response to the typhoon, offices and schools in Taiwan have been closed for the second consecutive day. Residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid coastal areas. Despite having robust warning systems, Taiwan's topography, high population density, and advanced economy make it challenging to completely mitigate the impact of such storms. The capital, Taipei, experienced an unusually quiet day with light rain and occasional gusty winds. In the Philippines, the death toll continues to rise due to drownings and landslides, with at least three individuals reported missing. Additionally, an oil tanker named MT Terra Nova, carrying appr...

  The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during his July 13 rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, has raised questions about the assailant’s proficiency with firearms. Reports reveal that the 20-year-old suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a local gun range. Despite this, he was not well-known in the community. Sources indicate that Crooks had previously tried out for the rifle team at Bethel Park High School around 2018-2019 but failed to make the team. According to TMZ, his attempts were reportedly disastrous; he even shot across a different lane during practice. On one occasion, he missed a target 107 feet away, hitting a target belonging to someone else. This incident contributed to his failure to join the team. A former classmate expressed surprise that Crooks managed to get so close to targeting Trump, noting that despite his initial poor performance, he may have improved his skills significantly since joining the...

  China has halted negotiations on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control with the United States in response to Washington's arms sales to Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory. The U.S. described Beijing’s decision as "unfortunate." Analysts warn that this move could significantly hinder global arms-control efforts. The nuclear weapons discussions between China and the U.S. began in November to alleviate mutual distrust before a summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. However, no further dialogue had been publicly announced since then. In January, a White House official urged Beijing to respond to "substantive ideas on risk reduction." A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Wednesday that the U.S.'s arms sales to Taiwan had "seriously compromised the political atmosphere for continuing the arms-control consultations." As a result, China has decided to suspend discussions on a...

 The recent decision by French prosecutors to appeal the arrest warrant issued for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raises serious doubts about the French judicial system's commitment to impartial justice. While the prosecutors do not dispute the evidence of Assad's involvement in crimes against humanity, their appeal suggests a concerning lack of political willpower to hold the Syrian leader accountable. The arrest warrant, issued in late June, was a significant step forward in the pursuit of justice for the victims of Assad's brutal crackdown on civilian populations, including the horrific chemical attacks in Adda, Douma, and Eastern Ghouta. The fact that the French judiciary recognized the gravity of these crimes and the irrelevance of a sitting head of state's immunity in such cases should have been celebrated as a victory for the rule of law. However, the prosecutors' decision to challenge this ruling at the Court of Cassation undermines the credibility of the ...

President Joe Biden’s recent verbal slip-up at the NATO summit has sparked widespread attention on social media. During his speech, the POTUS mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'President Putin' in front of global leaders, leading to a viral video capturing Zelensky’s stunned reaction to the gaffe. A video shared by an X user captured the moment with the caption, “Watch Zelensky's reaction as Biden calls him Putin.” Biden initially said, “And now I want to hand it over to the President of Ukraine who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.” Zelensky paused momentarily in surprise before proceeding to the podium. Quick to correct himself, Biden added, “President Putin, you can beat President Putin. President Zelensky, I am so focused on beating Putin. We got to worry about it anyway,” and then proceeded to shake hands with Zelensky. This incident wasn’t the only verbal misstep Biden made during the sum...

  Two adults were killed at Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, and dozens were wounded when a missile struck the facility. Many patients, relatives, and staff had fled to basements in time to avoid the worst of the blast. Oleh Holubchenko's team was in the middle of surgery on five-month-old Taras when an explosive wave sent the medics flying across the room. Shards of glass tore into Holubchenko's back and his colleague Ihor Kolodka's face. The baby remained in place on the table, surrounded by shattered equipment and five bleeding adults. "Is everyone alive?" Holubchenko recalls shouting. Anesthesiologist Yaroslav Ivanov grabbed the manual resuscitator to keep the baby breathing after the ventilator broke. Worried the ceiling would collapse, some team members ran to the basement with Taras. These were the dramatic moments after a missile struck Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in central Kyiv on Monday, an assault that shocked Ukrainians and prompted angry cond...

  During the upcoming Muharram festival, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is poised to determine the status of major social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The Punjab government has proposed a temporary ban on these platforms, citing concerns over the dissemination of "hate material" during the observance of this significant period for Shia Muslims. Muharram, marked by gatherings to commemorate the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson, symbolizes resistance against oppression for Muslims worldwide. Historically, Shia Muslims conduct processions and rallies, especially on the 9th and 10th days of Muharram, which can draw large crowds. This period also sees heightened security measures in Pakistan, including occasional internet and social media shutdowns to deter potential terrorist activities, given the historical tensions between Sunni and Shia communities. Extremist Sunni factions in Pakistan have targeted Shia Muslims, viewi...

  Labour leader Keir Starmer has dismissed Rishi Sunak's recent efforts as "desperate," as the Prime Minister intensifies attempts to raise concerns about a potential massive Labour victory in Thursday's UK election. With the Conservative campaign becoming increasingly frenetic, Sunak warned that a complacent Conservative voter turnout could result in Starmer securing a parliamentary majority exceeding 200 seats, granting what he described as a "blank check" for the opposition's agenda. "I don't want people to sleepwalk into that," Sunak emphasized, denying any concession of defeat while acknowledging the challenging polling trends favoring Labour. The Tory strategy has shifted towards mitigating potential losses, urging former supporters considering abstention or backing alternative parties to rally behind the Conservatives on election day. In a social media video, the Conservative campaign suggested dire economic consequences under a Labo...