August 15
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s hopes for stability ahead of a historic Communist Party congress are quickly dwindling.
His country’s economic slowdown deepened in July as strict Covid Zero measures and a slumping real-estate market threaten the chances of a recovery to a “reasonable” range.
Key reading:
- China Announces Patrols to Protest US Senator’s Taiwan Visit
- China Shocks With Rate Cut as Data Show ‘Alarming’ Slowdown
- China Youth Jobless Rate Hits Record 20% in July on Covid Woes
- China’s Growth Seen Weakening in Months Ahead, Economists Say
Xi, who’s expected to secure an unprecedented third term at the congress meeting later this year, now has just a few months to rein in spiraling economic crises as well as flaring tensions with the US since his government responded to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan with its most provocative military drills in decades.
Economic data for July suggest confidence is collapsing among China’s businesses and households — retail sales, industrial output and investment all slowed last month, and youth unemployment climbed to a record 19.9%. That means even a surprise interest-rate cut by the central bank is unlikely to help much because there’s little appetite to borrow.
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The risk of a euro-area recession has reached the highest level since November 2020 as energy shortages threaten to drive already record inflation higher still, a Bloomberg survey showed. The rising cost of living is hurting companies and households, with Russia’s energy threats exacerbating the problem.
Covid curbs | To combat new Covid-19 outbreaks in outlying areas like Xinjiang and Tibet, Beijing is drawing on a security apparatus previously used to quell dissent against the Chinese government. Surveillance methods used against Tibetan Buddhists and mainly Muslim Uyghurs are helping enforce Covid Zero rules, ensuring there are no public displays of anger like those seen during the months-long lockdown in Shanghai.
- Mayhem erupted at an Ikea in Shanghai as health authorities tried to lock down the store on Saturday and quarantine those on site after learning someone who had been in contact with a Covid-19 patient had visited.
Best of Bloomberg Opinion |
- China’s Demographics Spell Decline Not Domination: Niall Ferguson
- Modi’s India Risks Making the Case for Partition: Nisid Hajari
- All I Want for Christmas Is a Reality Check: Maria Tadeo
Tight contest | Kenya’s electoral commission is close to announcing the final results of last week’s presidential election. Deputy President William Ruto clung to a narrow lead of 51.2% to 48.1% over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, according to data on the Nairobi-based Nation Media Group’s website.
Explainers you can use |
- A Desert Nation Turns to Hydroponics to Make Feed for Livestock
- Much of US Will Be an ‘Extreme Heat Belt’ by the 2050s
- UK Inflation Shock Is Within Whisker of Double Digits
Winter planning | Germany’s gas storage facilities have reached a fill level of 75% two weeks ahead of schedule, the country’s top regulator said, as Europe’s biggest economy tries to shore up supplies cut by Russia. Germany’s rules stipulate that storage facilities must be at least 75% full on Sept. 1, rising to 85% on Oct. 1 and 95% on Nov. 1.
News to Note |
- Mexico moved hundreds of troops into Tijuana to beef up street patrols after armed gangs hijacked and burned at least a dozen vehicles in the border city.
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ordered a review into claims his predecessor secretly took charge of multiple ministries during the pandemic, describing it as a “shadow government.”
- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he wants to “swiftly and properly improve” relations with Japan by overcoming problems stemming from historical disputes, as the two countries face “common threats.”
- Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivers his annual budget speech tomorrow that will outline how his government intends to bring fiscal consolidation back on track in the face of swelling state spending.
- South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana denied an allegation of sexual harassment, after being informed that a case was opened against him.
August 16
The sweeping Inflation Reduction Act just passed by Congress will not only slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, Democrats say, it will steer record funding to programs supporting environmental justice — that is, addressing the legacy of disproportionate environmental harm in low-income and minority communities and ensuring they are treated fairly in the future.
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Soon after taking office, Biden signed an executive order mandating that 40% of the benefits of select federal climate and energy programs flow to disadvantaged communities. The administration released the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool this past February that would define how “disadvantaged” or “vulnerable” could be measured in concrete terms, but the tool doesn’t explicitly account for race or ethnicity.
Although the president’s infrastructure bill passed, it was in a whittled-down form, and his big economic and climate bill was on life support for another nine months. Margaret Walls, a senior fellow with Resources for the Future, a climate and energy think tank, noted in an analysis of the legislation that environmental justice concerns haven’t always been a priority in climate policy because they’re not really an ideal fit with climate concerns.
“We are linking these two things in our policy environment at the moment, and they aren’t that well linked. The environmental justice concerns, which have been around for decades, are often not linked to greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
Afghanistan
A year has passed since the Taliban stormed into Kabul, taking advantage of the power vacuum left by the departure of US and allied troops from Afghanistan.
The militant group made big promises as it established its Islamic Emirate and offered a fresh start. Women would be free to work and study, there’d be no safe haven for terror groups and old foes would receive amnesty.
Instead, as the country unraveled further, the new Taliban has proved to be just like the old Taliban.
Key reading:
- Taliban’s Rule Batters Afghanistan Year After US Departure
- US Rules Out Releasing $3.5 Billion to Afghan Central Bank
- Taliban Say Unaware of al-Qaeda Leader’s Presence in Kabul
For women it’s been a journey back in time to the era when the group held sway for five years before US troops arrived in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks on America in 2001.
For most other Afghans too, it’s hard to see a normal future.
The economy has cratered in the absence of foreign aid. Surging global food prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have combined with the worst drought in three decades to intensify the risk of famine. Aid agencies estimate nearly 23 million people, or more than half the population, face acute hunger.
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The historic US deal devoting $374 billion to climate and energy measures over the next decade is being touted as one of the most ambitious decarbonization commitments made by any government to date. Yet when you combine public and private investments aimed at accelerating the energy transition, China is by far and away the biggest spender, according to data compiled by energy research group Bloomberg NEF.
On tenterhooks | Tension was high in Kenya as the East African nation waited to hear from five-time losing presidential contender Raila Odinga on whether he will ask the courts to overturn William Ruto’s victory in last week’s election. A number of Odinga’s supporters took to the streets of Nairobi, the capital, late yesterday and set tires alight, but the situation was largely calm today.
- Click here to see charts showing the key economic challenges facing the new president.
Best of Bloomberg Opinion |
- Italy’s Right Clings to the Past — and Falls Flat: Maria Tadeo
- Europe’s Next Ukraine Mission Is on the Home Front: Editorial
- An Indigenous Voice in Parliament Is Long Overdue: Rebecca Jones
Union question | The rival contenders to be the UK’s next prime minister, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, head to Scotland today to pitch themselves to the Scottish Conservatives on their ability to hold Britain together. The party faithful will want to hear how they plan to head off Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for another independence referendum.
Explainers you can use |
- A Century of Fed Crises Holds Secrets to Fight Future Recession
- Why US-China Competition Is Heating Up in the Pacific
- Chinese Consumers Shun Debt, Threatening Global Growth Engine
Gold and chaos | The Central African Republic is defending the use of Russian assistance to take back rebel-held territory, despite claims of indiscriminate killings of civilians and looting of gold-mining sites. While analysts say the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, has been key to keeping President Faustin-Archange Touadera in power, Simon Marks and Mohammed Alamin write, the government denies the mercenaries are operating in the country.
News to Note |
- The US Justice Department said it opposes the release of an FBI affidavit justifying a search warrant used to remove documents from former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida last week.
- The UK is set to start formal dispute proceedings against the EU, accusing it of breaking the post-Brexit trade deal by blocking its access to three international science programs.
- Singapore’s wealthy may face additional taxes, Wong said, as the government seeks more inclusive growth in the city-state and looks for ways to shield the most vulnerable groups from high inflation.
- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s flip-flop over the sale of Exxon Mobil’s assets could discourage investment in Africa’s largest oil producer in the wake of industry reform.
- Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison today defended his move to secretly assume authority over five ministries, which has sparked an investigation from his successor.
And finally … As Covid-19 lockdowns, political upheaval and soaring costs drive expats from Hong Kong, and rival Singapore raises the bar for imported labor, young professionals looking for adventure and careers abroad are facing a dilemma. Which will be the cosmopolitan hotspots of the future with high-paid jobs and affordable luxury lifestyles? Read how a clutch of cities is emerging to challenge the old order, luring companies and start-ups to burnish their credentials as global hubs.
August 17
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Mounting concern over semiconductor demand is sending shudders through North Asia’s high-tech exporters, which historically serve as a bellwether for the international economy. South Korean behemoths Samsung and SK Hynix have signaled plans to dial back investment outlays, while across the East China Sea in Taiwan, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker indicated a similar expectation.
War strategy | For weeks, Ukrainian forces have methodically targeted supply lines of Russian troops occupying the strategically important southern city of Kherson. Yet a large-scale offensive to retake it may not be close. Outgunned despite supplies of new weapons from its US and European allies, Ukraine’s military has so far focused on a policy of attrition, blowing up bridges to isolate and wear down Russian forces.
Best of Bloomberg Opinion |
- From the Rhine to the Tigris, Rivers Are Warnings: Andreas Kluth
- Russian Emigres Should Stay Mum on Visa Bans: Leonid Bershidsky
- Can Xi’s China Correct Course on Covid — Like Vietnam? Shuli Ren
Vote challenge | Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga rejected his narrow loss in last week’s presidential elections and is widely expected to challenge the official results in court, setting the stage for a protracted battle over control of East Africa’s biggest economy. The dispute and delay in swearing in William Ruto as the new leader poses a risk to political stability in Kenya, where previous votes were marred by violence.
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Explainers you can use |
- Why East Africa Is Facing Its Worst Famine in Decades
- All You Need to Know About Moderna’s Omicron-Targeted Vaccine
- The Sticky Issues Holding Up a New Iran Nuclear Deal
Talking peace | South Korea doesn’t back the use of force to bring down the North Korean regime, President Yoon Suk Yeol said. He added that he’s open to speak with leader Kim Jong Un and has an “audacious plan” of food, energy and infrastructure aid for Pyongyang if it decides to give up its atomic weapons.
News to Note
- A United Nations slavery expert deemed that accusations people are being used for forced labor in Xinjiang are “reasonable,” in one of the clearest criticisms of China’s human rights practices from within the world body.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first public appearance in two weeks, in a sign that the Communist Party’s annual secretive summer retreat on the Yellow Sea has ended.
- Even if Germany can meet its target of having its gas inventories 95% full by November, that would only cover about 2-1/2 months of demand if Russia cuts off supplies completely, the head of the energy regulator said.
- South African opposition parties that formed coalitions to wrest control of a number of towns from the ruling African National Congress are considering campaigning jointly ahead of a national and provincial vote in 2024.
- Thailand’s biggest opposition party vowed to raise living standards as it unveiled a large list of candidates in its bid to end more than eight years of military-backed rule in general elections expected early next year.
And finally … One of the world’s richest men played an important role in getting the Democrats’ landmark climate, tax and health-care bill across the line. In an interview with Bloomberg Green, billionaire philanthropist and clean-energy investor Bill Gates revealed how he tried to keep the legislation alive by lobbying senators including West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, who had shut down an early version.
August 18
With Boris Johnson still in power but not in the office, the challenges awaiting whoever replaces him as UK prime minister grow more daunting by the week.
Whether ruling Conservative Party members vote for Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, the next occupant of 10 Downing Street faces a baptism by fire.
Key reading:
- UK Tory Leadership Rivals Attacked Over Unfunded Tax Cuts
- Britons Face Days of Upheaval as Transport Strikes Spread
- UK Recession Will Force Next PM Into U-Turn, Blanchflower Says
- Another Holiday, Removal Vans Fuel Sense Johnson Has Checked Out
- Truss Leads Sunak by 32 Points in Latest UK Tory Members Survey
- Brexit Dominates Truss, Sunak’s Bid for Northern Ireland Votes
Inflation is at a 40-year high, with soaring food and energy bills fueling a cost-of-living crisis as the economy lurches toward a lengthy recession. Rising interest rates are piling further pressure on hard-pressed households.
Nationwide rail strikes resuming today continue a summer of industrial discontent over pay, while an eight-day walkout starting Sunday by dock workers at the country’s largest container port threatens shortages of goods in supply chains still stretched by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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President Jair Bolsonaro poured big money into the Brazilian economy to improve his re-election chances. So far, it hasn’t paid off. Opinion polls released this week show the incumbent behind his rival, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, by more than 10 percentage points despite the passage of an aid package worth some 41.3 billion reais ($8 billion).
Diplomatic effort | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the western city of Lviv to consider possible diplomatic steps to end Russia’s war. They’re also expected to discuss increasing exports of Ukrainian grain to world markets.
Best of Bloomberg Opinion
- Don’t Believe the Forecast. China Is Just Fine: Anjani Trivedi
- War in Ukraine Is How the Soviet Union Finally Ends: Hal Brands
- Roots of the Rushdie Attack Lie in India, Not Iran: Mihir Sharma
Distant promise | In the face of high inflation and unemployment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly told voters that India is just beginning a “golden era” that will run for the next quarter century. Modi used the Hindi term “amrit kaal” 14 times in a speech this week to mark the 75th anniversary of independence from British rule, the most on a single day this year. An analysis of dozens of speeches shows the mention of the term seems to spike when the government is under pressure.
Explainers you can use |
- Covid’s Harmful Effects on the Brain Reverberate Years Later
- Modern-Day Militia Ready for Fight Against US Election Hacking
- How a Bloomberg Reporter’s Family Escaped the Taliban
Big hole | The US dollar’s relentless climb is blowing a hole in the finances of developing nations, fueling inflation, deepening poverty and fanning unrest. Worldwide, 36 currencies have lost at least a 10th of their value this year, and policy makers are, collectively, burning through the equivalent of more than $2 billion of foreign reserves every weekday to prop up them up.
News to Note |
- Biden won temporary permission to pause energy leases on federal lands and waters, after a US appeals court found a trial judge’s order against the moratorium too vague to review.
- Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong will plead guilty in the city’s largest national security case, local media reported, after being detained for more than a year without a trial date under a law drafted by China.
- Haitian gangs are buying unprecedented quantities of high-powered rifles at shops in Florida and smuggling them out of the US, fueling a wave of violence that’s destabilizing the Caribbean nation, US law-enforcement officials said.
- China has vowed to ensure unmarried mothers receive maternity benefits, as the world’s second-largest economy revamps a slew of policies in a bid to boost its falling birthrate.
- Sweden’s right-wing opposition may be on the way to unseat Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democratic government, as it holds a narrow lead in a poll published less than four weeks before general elections.
And finally … As record-breaking temperatures arrived earlier this year and lingered longer, the Indian subcontinent is facing the possibility that punishing heat may be the new normal. Pakistan’s Jacobabad district is one of the few places in the world to have breached the so-called wet-bulb temperature threshold of 35C — the combination of heat and humidity that’s considered the theoretical limit for survival and roughly equivalent to a heat index of 160F. With governments struggling to put in place funds and plans, our team of reporters takes a look at how communities are cobbling together their own coping strategies.
August 19
Indonesia’s Bali is nicknamed the “Island of Gods” for its vibrant beauty that lures tourists worldwide. Its charms will be on display to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in November, too.
The Russian and Chinese leaders plan to attend the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesian President Joko Widodo told Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait in an interview yesterday, the first confirmation that Putin and Xi intend to show up at the meeting of the world’s largest economies.
Key reading:
- Xi and Putin to Attend G-20 Summit in Indonesia, Jokowi Says
- The US-Led Drive to Isolate Russia and China Is Falling Short
- Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Says Indonesia Invited Him to G-20 Summit
- Boris Johnson Says He’d Be ‘Amazed’ If Putin Attends G-20 Summit
- Follow our rolling coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine here.
That presents major challenges for US President Joe Biden and other Group of Seven leaders.
Xi hasn’t left China since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted. His presence in Bali would open up the prospect of a first face-to-face meeting with Biden as China and the US navigate surging tensions over Taiwan.
The G-7 pushed to exclude Putin from the Bali summit. Indonesia resisted, arguing it must stay neutral as host nation, and instead invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a guest as well.
If Zelenskiy comes, Putin risks a confrontation with a leader he’s refused to meet.
Still, the Russian president’s readiness to go to Bali indicates confidence he won’t be an international pariah, underscoring divisions between the G-7 and states in the global south over isolating his country for the invasion.
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Fueling unrest | While Putin’s war has sent Europe scrambling to secure enough fuel to keep its people warm in the coming winter, poorer nations are struggling to ensure energy flows to their citizens already hit by surging inflation and food shortages. With gas prices more than 150% higher since the Russian invasion, and wealthier nations able to pay more to ensure adequate supplies, developing countries can’t compete.
Best of Bloomberg Opinion |
- Kenya’s Economy Can’t Afford a Political Crisis: Bobby Ghosh
- New Israeli-Palestinian Clash Shows Worse to Come: Hussein Ibish
- Putin Offers Russians a Potemkin Future: Clara Ferreira Marques
Ally caves | The FBI search of former US President Donald Trump’s Florida residence and his taking the fifth in a deposition by New York’s attorney general ratcheted up pressure on the CFO of the Trump Organization to plead guilty to tax fraud. Patricia Hurtado and Erik Larson report on the radical turn by Allen Weisselberg, who had fought the charges for more than a year before entering a guilty plea on 15 counts.
- Portions of the FBI affidavit used to secure a search warrant for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate should be unsealed, a federal judge in Florida said.
Fighting words | The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rejected a disarmament-for-aid deal offered by South Korea’s president, calling it a “stupid” plan and dismissing the idea of engaging with Seoul. “We just don’t like Yoon Suk Yeol as a human being,” Kim Yo Jong said of the conservative leader in Seoul who took office in May and pledged to take a hard line toward Pyongyang.
News to Note |
- The UK’s opposition Labour Party demanded an early recall of Parliament to tackle soaring household energy prices and stave off the worst effects of a cost-of-living crisis.
- President Jair Bolsonaro managed to lift his popularity slightly among potential voters after a multibillion-dollar blitz to stimulate the Brazilian economy ahead of general elections, according to a DataFolha poll.
- Enoch Godongwana said he plans to continue exercising his duties as South Africa’s finance minister, after the police informed him that a criminal complaint of sexual assault has been made against him.
- London’s subway network largely ground to a halt today as workers went on strike, bringing more labor disruption to Britain’s embattled transport system.
- Widodo once again pushed for changes to the Indonesian central bank’s charter to task monetary authorities with supporting job growth along with maintaining currency and price stability.
August 20 – August 21
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Click here for this week’s most compelling political images.
Biden Signs Tax-Climate Bill, Marking Long-Sought Democratic Win
The US president signed the sweeping climate law, cementing a major legislative win ahead of the midterms. Jordan Fabian reports how the measure, which no Republican lawmaker supported, caps Democrats’ tumultuous effort to approve new social and economic programs.
Trump’s Deepening Peril Put Squeeze on CFO to Take Deal, Testify
The FBI search of Trump’s Florida residence and his taking the fifth in a deposition by New York’s attorney general ratcheted up pressure on the CFO of the former president’s Trump Organization to plead guilty to tax fraud. Patricia Hurtado and Erik Larson report on the radical turn taken by Allen Weisselberg, who had fought the charges for more than a year.
- Portions of the FBI affidavit used to secure a search warrant for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate should be unsealed, a federal judge in Florida said.
- The US Justice Department must release a 2019 memo advising then-Attorney General Bill Barr on how to handle the conclusion of the Mueller investigation and the department’s decision not to charge Trump for obstruction of justice, a federal appeals court ruled.
The historic US climate deal is being touted as one of the most ambitious decarbonization commitments made by any government to date. But when you combine public and private investments aimed at accelerating the energy transition, China is by far and away the biggest spender.
Putin’s War in Ukraine at a Standstill, Western Officials Say
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is at a near-operational standstill, with neither side currently able to launch an offensive that would materially affect the course of the conflict, according to an assessment from Western officials. Now the question is whether Ukraine can mount a credible counterattack in the fall, Emily Ashton and Marc Champion report.
Ukraine Strategy Targets Russian Army’s Lifelines in Kherson
Ukrainian forces have methodically targeted supply lines of Russian troops occupying the strategically important region and city of Kherson. But that doesn’t mean they may be close to launching a large-scale offensive to take it back.
The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rejected a disarmament-for-aid deal offered by South Korea’s president, calling it a “stupid” plan and dismissing the idea of engaging with Seoul.
NATO Races to Counter Russia’s Threat in Europe’s Weak Spot
Putin’s war has put the geopolitical spotlight on Europe’s southeastern flank, a region that has long struggled to catch up economically with the continent’s richer west. As NATO races to bolster its military posture along the Black Sea, the efforts are raising questions over why it wasn’t done before, Michael Winfrey and Andra Timu report.
Biden Faces G-20 Quandary Between Joining Putin or Staying Home
Biden is facing a dilemma after Indonesia announced that Putin and Chinese President Xi will attend this year’s G-20. Courtney McBride explains how he can either join the event with leaders he has sought to isolate or skip it and forgo a chance to shape its outcome.
Germany’s Summer of Near-Free Rail Travel Is Almost at an End Germany’s three-month experiment giving people a monthly 9-euro ($9.20) ticket to travel anywhere on regional trains, trams and buses is leaving many consumers wanting more. Carolynn Look, Agatha Cantrill and Josefine Fokuhl look at how the popular program has caused the use of public transit to soar.
UK Travel Chaos Stretches Into Weekend With National Rail Strike
Disruptions to Britain’s transport system are extending into the weekend as train workers seeking to preserve jobs and earn more walk out again. Siddharth Philip reports how the latest strike comes a day after London’s subway network ground to a halt.
Xi Starts March to Third Term With Problems Mounting Everywhere
China’s president is entering the most challenging period in his decade-long rule. As Rebecca Choong Wilkins writes, Xi must tackle everything from tension over Taiwan to Covid-19, a real-estate crisis and economic weakness as he closes in on clinching an unprecedented third term.
Best of Bloomberg Opinion: |
- Biden, Putin and Xi? Showing Up Isn’t Enough: Clara F. Marques
- Look! A Sign Democracy Isn’t Totally Broken: Jonathan Bernstein
- War in Ukraine Is How the Soviet Union Finally Ends: Hal Brands
- Help the World’s Cities Prepare for Extreme Heat: Editorial
- New Israeli-Palestinian Clash Shows Worse to Come: Hussein Ibish
Odinga Rejects Kenya Election Outcome, Plans Legal Challenge
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who narrowly lost last week’s presidential elections, rejected the official results, setting the stage for a protracted battle over control of East Africa’s biggest economy. David Herbling and Simon Marks look at how the dispute poses a risk to political stability in Kenya, where previous votes were marred by violence.
Toxic Plastic Kills in Africa While Corporations Play Blame Game
Plastic pollution is a scourge in West African countries such as Ghana, once the world’s seventh messiest nation and now hailed as a cleanup success story. As Kit Chellel and Ekow Dontoh explain, an initiative to re-use waste backed by major Western companies is better at deflecting blame than recycling.
- What’s Boosting Nuclear Power? War and Climate Change
- The ‘Darwinian’ System to Select UK’s Prime Minister
- What Are Recessions? Plus Thoughts on the Next One
- Why Oil-Rich Angola Is Ripe for Political Change
- What Is the Circular Economy and Where Does It Lead?
Flare-Up in Ethiopia Tensions Dulls Hopes of Lasting Peace Deal
Ethiopia’s government and rebels from the Tigray region accused each other violating a March truce after more than 16 months of fighting, dampening hopes that a permanent peace deal is within reach. Simon Marks and Samuel Gebre report on the conflict that has devastated the lives of millions.Covid’s Harmful Effects on the Brain Reverberate Years Later
Covid-19 survivors remain at higher risk of psychotic disorders, dementia and similar conditions for at least two years, according to a study from Oxford University researchers. Cognitive deficits known as “brain fog,” epilepsy, seizures and other longer-term disorders remained elevated 24 months later, Jason Gale reports.And finally … As many as 100 million people — more than 1% of the global population — were fleeing conflict, violence, human-rights violations or persecution worldwide in May, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Annmarie Hordern tells the story of one such family from Afghanistan who were among the thousands forced to flee their homes after the fall of Kabul a year ago.
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The family’s passport photos.
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Some View on the World 
2 thoughts on “Balance of Power in the 3rd week of August 2022 from Bloomberg”