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| Hello Insiders, 🗞️ In today's issue, we tackle urgent topics like Libya's neglect of critical warnings about a potential dam failure in Derna 🌊, an in-depth look at Russia's most trusted politicians 🇷🇺, and the Global South's push to reshape the current international order 🌍, among other key stories. ⏬ Don't forget to scroll down for our Quick Hits 💡 and a sneak peek at Upcoming Events 📅 you won't want to miss. 💬 Your insights are invaluable to us — feel free to hit reply and share your thoughts 💌. 👥 If you find our newsletter enlightening, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues. Thank you! Vildana
p/vildana-b | |
| 1 | | Decades of neglect by officials and the impact of climate change have led to the catastrophic failure of two dams in Derna, Libya, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 34,000 people. Experts had warned of the dams' vulnerabilities, notably in a 2022 paper by hydraulic engineer Abdelwanees Ashoor, the New York Times reports. More: - The dams, constructed in the late 1970s, had been poorly maintained since their inception.
- A 2021 state audit revealed that $2.3M allocated for the dams' maintenance was never actually used.
- Changes in the terrain due to climate change made the land less capable of absorbing water, increasing flood risks.
- A recent powerful storm led to the failure of both dams, causing catastrophic flooding in the area.
- Authorities consistently ignored multiple warnings, including academic papers highlighting the risks.
- Dr. Ashoor stated that the smaller al-Bilad dam was completely obliterated within moments during the disaster.
Zoom Out: -
Derna, originally an Ancient Greek colony, holds historical significance with its Hellenistic artifacts and multicultural heritage, influenced by Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic cultures. |     | |
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What the numbers say: In a survey conducted by Levanda in late June and early July 2023, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, emerged as the most trusted political figure in the nation, with more than 40% of those surveyed indicating their confidence in him. Following closely behind were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding public trust. Relevance: A recent poll indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin has retained public backing despite the increasing destruction caused by his military actions in Ukraine and the imminent threats posed to Russia and its forces. | | | |
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| 3 | | Leaders from the Global South, representing 80% of the world's population, convened at the G77+China summit to demand a restructuring of the international order. The summit highlighted the "multidimensional crisis" faced by developing nations, including unequal trade and climate change. More: - U.N. Chief Antonio Guterres joined the summit to call for a world more responsive to the needs of developing economies.
- Guterres emphasized that the current global system is failing developing countries facing many crises.
- Established in 1964, the G77 bloc aims to promote collective economic interests and enhance joint negotiating capacity.
- Latin American leaders like Brazil's Lula da Silva and Argentina's Alberto Fernandez were among the attendees.
- China's top Communist Party official, Li Xi, stated that South-South cooperation remains a priority for China.
- Argentina's President Fernandez highlighted that 90% of COVID-19 vaccines are in the hands of just 10 countries.
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| 4 | | Ovidio Guzman, son of notorious drug lord "El Chapo" (Joaquin Guzman), has been extradited to the U.S. to face fentanyl trafficking charges. This move aligns with the Biden administration's efforts to combat the opioid crisis. More: - U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the extradition as part of a broader strategy to dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel's operations.
- Guzman was captured in January in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa after an intense firefight.
- Previously, he was arrested in 2019 but was released by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to avoid further violence.
- U.S. officials identify Guzman as a key player in the fentanyl crisis, which results in nearly 200 American deaths daily.
- The rapid extradition process has been noted as even quicker than his father, "El Chapo," who was extradited in 2017.
- According to U.S. court documents, Guzman and his brothers have made hundreds of millions of dollars by flooding the U.S. with fentanyl.
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The fentanyl-fueled addiction crisis, responsible for over 100,000 American deaths annually for the last two years, impacts communities of diverse natures across the nation in various ways. | | | |
| 5 | | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent tour of Russia, including meetings with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, has fueled speculation about potential military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The tour comes after Kim appeared to endorse Russia's war on Ukraine earlier in the week. More: - Kim inspected Russian aircraft, including the Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, Su-34, Su-30SM, and Su-35S.
- The Kinzhal hypersonic missile system and Russia's Tu-214 long-haul passenger airplane were also displayed.
- Kim was "deeply impressed" by Russia's aviation technology during a visit to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Yuri Gagarin Aviation Plant.
- Moscow needs ammunition and shells for its war with Ukraine, while North Korea requires energy, food, and military technology.
- Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov sees "potential for cooperation" in aircraft manufacturing and other industries with North Korea.
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| 6 | | California has filed a lawsuit against major oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, alleging they deceived the public about fossil fuel risks. The state claims these actions have resulted in tens of billions of dollars in damages. More: - The civil case was filed in the superior court in San Francisco.
- The state of California alleges that the companies downplayed the risks associated with fossil fuels.
- The American Petroleum Institute is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.
- California is seeking an abatement fund for future climate-related damages.
- None of the companies or the American Petroleum Institute have responded to requests for comment.
Zoom Out: - Two recent lawsuits, one in Puerto Rico and one in Hoboken, New Jersey, accuse major oil companies of violating state and federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Acts; in contrast, the California lawsuit doesn't make similar claims under the state's RICO act.
- A similar fund was established after California cities sued lead paint manufacturers and reached a $305M settlement following years of legal battles.
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| 7 | | QUICK HITS - Hyperstack: Scale AI projects with NVIDIA GPUs. Enjoy per-minute billing. Secure your H100s & A100s today!*
- A year after Mahsa Amini's tragic death, the protester who was shot in the eye during Iran's crackdown is persisting in her fight while living in exile.
- The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, is investigating the EU-Tunisia agreement for human rights compliance.
- A Belgian court has handed down sentences of 20 years to life to six men for their involvement in a terrorist attack that killed 32 people in Brussels.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment that accused him of bribery, abuse of office, and conspiracy.
- The Los Angeles Angels placed superstar Shohei Ohtani on the injured list and announced he'll miss the rest of the season.
- Before launching your next influencer campaign, compare the latest cost metrics to your budget. Get the benchmarks in this blog.*
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