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We start at this time with Donald Trump’s announcement that he will not be participating in the upcoming Republican presidential debates. The announcement comes simply days earlier than the opposite candidates are set to sq. off on Wednesday evening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“The general public is aware of who I’m and what a profitable presidency I had, with power independence, robust borders and army, largest ever tax and regulation cuts, no inflation, strongest economic system in historical past and rather more,” Trump confirmed in a social media put up on Sunday. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES”, he added.
Trump holds a commanding lead within the get together’s polls. A CBS survey launched on Sunday, cited by Trump, confirmed that 62 per cent of doubtless Republican main voters now say they’d again the beleaguered former president. This gave him his largest result in date, though his marketing campaign has been overshadowed by prison fees introduced in opposition to him at a federal and state stage.
Trump’s closest contender is Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who trails him by a large margin, garnering the assist of solely 16 per cent of these polled. The seven remaining presidential hopefuls have solely single-digit assist.
The New York Occasions on Friday reported that as a substitute of collaborating within the first debate, Trump was planning to sit down for an interview with Tucker Carlson, the firebrand conservative tv host previously at Fox Information. Trump has not confirmed that plan, however such a call can be notably painful for Fox as a result of it’s internet hosting the talk on Wednesday.
Former vice-president Mike Pence criticised Trump for not showing, telling ABC Information on Sunday, “each certainly one of us that has certified for that debate stage should be on the stage, be keen to sq. off, reply the robust questions and likewise draw a bright-line distinction [on various issues]”.
Right here’s what else I’m conserving tabs on at this time:
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China: The nation’s central financial institution has cut a benchmark lending rate however defied market expectations by leaving one other unchanged as policymakers grapple with their response to slowing financial momentum.
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Outcomes: Zoom experiences second-quarter outcomes after calling for staff to return to the office this month. Demand for the video conferencing platform’s providers has dropped as extra corporations undertake hybrid work. Self Storage Group additionally has earnings.
5 extra prime tales
1. Unique: Citigroup’s chief is contemplating a plan to disband the financial institution’s largest division in what can be essentially the most vital structural shake-up in practically 15 years. The plan would have an effect on the Institutional Purchasers Group, which generated practically three-quarters of the financial institution’s web earnings final 12 months. Here’s why Jane Fraser wants to split it into three units.
2. Saudi border guards have killed lots of of Ethiopian migrants making an attempt to cross into the dominion from Yemen over the previous 18 months, a rights group has stated, alleging safety forces “fired explosive weapons” and in some circumstances requested migrants which of their limbs they would like to be shot. Here are more details from the 73-page report by Human Rights Watch.
3. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese organized a two-week internship at PwC in 2021. That is the latest sign of the close ties between the country’s government and the consultancy industry. The internship came about two years earlier than it was revealed {that a} senior accomplice in PwC’s tax follow had leaked confidential authorities data to colleagues each in Australia and abroad about plans to crack down on tax avoidance by multinational corporations.
4. Ukraine nears cope with world insurers to cowl grain ships. The scheme, which might be put in place as early as subsequent month, is a vital step in the country’s attempts to create a safe corridor for exports after Russia withdrew from a UN-brokered deal final month. If profitable it may see as many as 5 to 30 ships lined to journey to and from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
5. The $25tn world personal funds trade is braced for some of the sweeping regulatory reforms in its historical past because the US Securities and Trade Fee prepares to impose robust necessities on personal fairness, actual property and hedge funds when it meets on Wednesday. Here’s more on the far-reaching rules.
The Massive Learn
Welcome to the à la carte world. Because the post-cold struggle age of America as a sole superpower fades, the outdated period when international locations had to select from a prix fixe menu of alliances is shifting right into a extra fluid order. The stand-off between Washington and Beijing is presenting a chance for a lot of the world: not simply to be wooed but additionally to play one off in opposition to the opposite — and many are doing this with alacrity and increasing skill.
We’re additionally studying . . .
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Public well being: International locations want to begin working collectively on the most dangerous pathogens to keep away from repeating the errors of Covid-19, the World Well being Group’s chief scientist stated in an interview with the FT.
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Credit score Suisse: What began as Switzerland’s public embarrassment is now a source of increasing political pressure, writes Jonathan Guthrie, as voters watch UBS intently forward of October elections.
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Power in solidarity: As autocrats around the globe strengthen ties, human rights activists are calling for greater global co-operation, writes creator and journalist Kim Ghattas.
Graphic of the day
Automobile producers, mining corporations and battery builders are all attempting to carve out an area on the planet of next-generation batteries, forming a sequence of alliances whereas putting technological bets. However no matter expertise turns into dominant, batteries powering tomorrow’s electrical automobiles would require vast amounts of mining and processing.
Take a break from the information
With the Church of Scotland poised to make some deep cuts, the FT Weekend Essay examines the social penalties of non secular retreat and the way Scotland misplaced the religion.
Further contributions from Benjamin Wilhelm.
