Viscount Christopher Monckton has become notorious for his climate change denial, despite scientific evidence proving him wrong time and again. Steve Bishop writes.

CLIMBERS ON Scotland’s Ben Nevis this summer may come across the tragic figure of a man labelled as one of the world’s most notorious climate science deniers searching for signs of a non-existent glacier.

Kiev launched its cross-border incursion into Kursk Region in an attempt to instill fear among the Russian population, a senior aide to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said.

Ukrainian forces began an offensive in the Russian region earlier this week, allocating troops for the operation despite being pushed back elsewhere on the front line. Kiev’s objectives include placing Russians under psychological pressure in a bid to erode support for their government, Mikhail Podoliak stated in a television interview on Thursday.

“Today they have a war that is expanding deeper inside the Russian Federation. Will they fear that? Yes,”he claimed. “Do they respond to anything but fear? No, and everyone should realize that at last.” 

From the ongoing US involvement in Ukraine, to an enduring US military presence in the Middle East, and growing US-Chinese tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of who controls the US Congress and regardless of who sits in the White House, these conflicts continue forward – often with a Democratic president setting the stage for his Republican successor, and vice versa. 

BY Brian Berletic

Why, no matter who Americans vote into power, US foreign policy, and even domestic policy, seems to steamroll forward regardless?

The Albanese government with their policy is likely to turn Australia into the 51st state of the United States, writes former Prime Minister of Australia, Paul Keating.

Introduction: Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have been in the US for talks with the Secretaries of Defense and State this week. Australia has pledged to increase the frequency of American troops rotating through the country.

Former prime minister Paul Keating is a critic of the Labor Party’s all-in support for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, and our growing military relationship with the US.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar ran Gaza so well, Benjamin Netanyahu once spoke in his own cabinet in favour of supporting Hamas against the Palestinian Authority, Marwan Bishara reminds us.

“It’s very important to recall the last six years from 2017 to 2023, until when the October 7 attack happened – for six years Yahya Sinwar was basically the ruler – he governed Gaza. Gaza was a well-run machine. Some people argue it was better run than the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, in the sense that everything from water and sewage and electricity to security and order; education, medical and so on and so forth.

3 hours ago — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is joyous about the joy. “All the things that make me mad about those other guys and all the things they do wrong, ... Harris and Walz seize on joyful message in contrast to darker Trump themes...

https://www.washingtonpost.com › politics › 2024/08/08

MEANWHILE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYPaMB6l10E

Now that Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has become Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, it is ostensibly time for the media to scrutinize his record and past statements. (Emphasis on ostensibly.)

Quite a few developments today. Let’s start with the FBI raid on Scott Ritter’s home today. I am giving a shout out to Mark Wauck, a retired FBI agent who frequently links to my posts, for his latest post on this. Mark writes:

I continue my book like a gourmet, bite by bite. Let us first look at the sanctions which have been so successful for Russia and so quickly accelerated European descent. First of all Todd reminds us that the West (the “Anglo-Saxon” world with its European dominions in capilotade) is not much, neither militarily, nor economically (the GNPs are implausibly rigged…), nor demographically:

BY Nicolas Bonnal

The dramatic events of July this year have shaken not only America, but the entire Western community. The ongoing standoff between the two major American parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, has caused the world to take a different look at the capabilities of the United States.

The fact that Biden stubbornly assured everyone of his ability to lead the United States for another four years, before doing a U-turn overnight, under pressure from senior figures in the Democratic Party, has caused America’s image in the eyes of the world to fade.

    BY Vladimir Mashin

A palace coup

JD Vance will bring a unique religious perspective to former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, since he’s done more spiritual exploration than many politicians.

Vance, who was unveiled as Trump’s running mate on Monday, grew up believing in God but not affiliating with a faith group, attended an evangelical Christian church off and on as a teen and then entered a period of near-atheism in his twenties. He ultimately chose to join the Catholic Church as an adult.

BY Kelsey Dallas

Here’s what Vance has said about his faith over the years.

JD Vance’s religion

Did you notice that we’ve lost the press freedom that is essential in our democracy? If you’re like many people, probably not.

Do you believe that a free press is a Constitutional guarantee? Most people likely think it is indeed guaranteed. Actually, it is not.

Here’s the real story as I see it:

“Freedom of the press is an implicit and essential right of the people. It is not just freedom of speech for journalists. If a democracy is going to work, citizens have got to make informed political choices. The media are the people’s primary means for keeping informed. Many believe that press freedom exists if the media are free of governmental control and that pluralism prevails. That view misses the main point. A good share of the media has got to be free to serve the people.”

On Monday, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, met with Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi in Tel Aviv as the two militaries are preparing to defend Israel from an expected Iranian reprisal attack.

Kurilla also met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who said the visit from the CENTCOM chief demonstrates strong US support for Israel. “Your arrival in Israel at this time is a direct translation of US support for Israel into action,” Gallant said. “The relationship between Israel and the United States is unshakable.”

The swimmers who missed the Opening Ceremony cruise have enjoyed one at sunset thanks to the mining magnate.

Athletes in golden boots danced down a yellow carpet on the River Seine to celebrate their success at the Paris Olympics.

Australia’s swimmers missed the Opening Ceremony cruise but on Monday they enjoyed one at sunset thanks to billionaire sports sponsor Gina Rinehart.

On 6 Aug, 1945, approximately 200,000 people in the hitherto untouched town of Hiroshima perished in the worlds first use of a nuclear weapon in anger. On 9th Aug, a somewhat smaller number in Nagasaki likewise perished. Only the authority of secretary of state Stimson, who had visited the city of Kyoto, famous for its ancient temples, prevented that city from being bombed, and from further use of nuclear weapons.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will be the running mate of current Vice President Kamala Harris, the US Democrats have announced, with two weeks still to go before the party’s convention.

Walz’s nomination was leaked to the media earlier on Tuesday, sinking the hopes of the faction urging the choice of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked TimWalz to be my running mate,” Harris said on X (formerly Twitter). “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work.”

Walz responded by saying it was “the honor of a lifetime” to join the campaign.