Channel 4 will air a three-part documentary on the legal battle between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in January. Director Emma Cooper’s Depp v Heard will reflect on what the 2022 proceedings showed “about violence, gender and the memeification of justice in the era of post-truth”, according to the broadcaster. Depp had sued Heard for $50m in 2022 after an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post on domestic abuse. Although she did not name Depp, he claimed her comments had cost him film roles. Heard countersued, alleging defamation, and the case was eventually settled in December. During seven weeks of court hearings, their legal teams attracted attention on social media. Among images that went viral were of Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, two lawyers for Depp. Chew is known for his passion for candy and showtunes, as well as representing clients such as Cher and two Olympic gold medalists. Vasquez, meanwhile, appeared in images likened to Thor, and has become NBC News’ legal analyst.
US Democratic Party lawmakers are demanding accountability for the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was fatally shot while covering a raid on the occupied West Bank city of Jenin in May last year. The lawmakers, joined by the journalist’s family, have renewed calls for an independent investigation into Abu Akleh’s death, with some proposing the reintroduction of bills specifying US involvement in Israeli rights violations in Palestine. The US provides $3.8bn in aid to Israel yearly and previously opposed efforts to seek accountability for Abu Akleh at the International Criminal Court.
Republican Congressman Clay Higgins yanked and shoved an activist who he claimed was mentally disturbed during a press conference outside the US Capitol. Jake Burdett, an activist with leftist political views, was filming and asking questions of the GOP lawmakers present when a man in a suit approached him, later to be revealed as Higgins. The footage of the altercation was shared widely on social media, prompting a Change.org petition calling for Higgins' arrest. Mr Higgins claims Mr Burdett was "threatening" and "a police code referring to mentally disturbed individuals".
Concern over debt limit talks follows Biden to Group of 7 meeting in Japan
CNN
23-05-18 20:00
US President Joe Biden attends the G7 summit in Japan under the shadow of a possible default on US debt. The risk to global finances is intensified as Biden seeks to gain group approval for joint action against Russia and China, actions that could become dependent on economic and financial strength. Extensive sanctions are expected to be imposed on Russia and major powers such as Germany have already warned against the import of certain Russian goods. Almost a fifth of Russian GDP is thought to be generated through embargoes and the IMF is concerned a full sanctions program could cause "massive contagion effects".
Law professor and originalist Michael Stokes Paulsen has given a speech claiming that something is wrong with the US Supreme Court’s approach to section one of the Fourteenth Amendment, which he feels goes beyond decisions he feels are wrong. Paulsen believes that the current Supreme Court only enforces the last two clauses of section one - addressing the rights of all persons - rather than the first three clauses, which address the status and rights of citizens, and that the Court’s approach is resulting in a jurisprudence that lacks any relationship to the original meaning of the amendment’s ‘Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses.’ Paulsen suggests that “An increasing number of scholars now believe that the “Equal Protection of the Laws Clause” guarantees nothing more than the equal protection of the natural rights of life, liberty, and property—natural rights that belong to all persons regardless of citizenship,” and claims the current Supreme Court “leaves those three opening clauses unexamined and unenforced.”
Paulsen concludes by suggesting that the overall approach to the Fourteenth Amendment, focusing only on the last two clauses, has created an entity resembling “the terrible truth [that] is unavoidable when you and your grandson try to set the space shuttle upright on the table…. [A] terribly shaped creation that most likely will not work as originally intended.” Protest, civil disobedience, and appeals to the Constitutional amendment process are the only ways to redress the Supreme Court’s current trend, Paulsen advises.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has called for a shift in US foreign policy that focuses more on Taiwan and less on Ukraine in a speech entitled, "China and Ukraine: A Time for Truth". The senior senator spoke at The Heritage Foundation in February 2023, and argued that the US should work to deter China from invading Taiwan rather than getting involved in the Ukraine conflict. Hawley criticized the "uniparty" of neo-conservatives and liberal globalists for perpetuating what he called the "story of American empire". He claimed that the current foreign policy has not worked for decades and has been detrimental to American security and the economy.
Hawley recounted his own experience in Hong Kong in October 2019, describing it as a scene of “chaos” and “the true face of Chinese tyranny”. He warned that the same thing could happen in Taiwan if the US does not “change course soon”. Hawley cautioned that the “familiar and comforting story” of American military might and infinite power has created a false sense of security, and did not believe that China would not challenge the US.
The senator argued that the current foreign policy has failed because it is over-committed and over-reliant on the dream of liberal empire. He accused the uniparty of being unwilling to acknowledge the tough trade-offs that exist, and of writing blank checks to other countries. Hawley did not provide specific details on what a foreign policy focused more on Taiwan and less on Ukraine would look like or how the US would achieve it.
Russ Vought, President of the Center for Renewing America and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget, has spoken to The Daily Signal about what he sees as the increasing power of the state and the need to arm ordinary Americans with the truth. In his opinion, the growing government is in danger of becoming a "woke and weaponized government" led by the likes of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, dividing America by creating oppressors and the oppressed and making all its policy based on "climate-change extremism". Vought sees the culprit of today's big government as being very different from when it first became a concern: no longer Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter but a much more dangerous and divisive force.
The conversation begins with Vought telling the audience at the Heritage Foundation that the roots of his political dedication stretch back to his mentor, Phil Graham, a senator from Texas who advised him that if he wanted to know everything, he should make budget his focus. From there, Vought spent 12 years in Congressional budget oversight committees. However, Vought didn’t feel that he was making as big a change as he wanted from the inside, so he joined Heritage and became a vice president at Heritage Action for America, where he was instrumental in starting the Sentinel Program. That gave him the opportunity to equip grassroots network operatives with information as if they were members of Congress.
Roberts and Vought mutually agree that an appeal to American ordinary people can defeat huge, rolling top-down governance, which has led to the debt-ceiling debate raging again across Capitol Hill, with Republicans looking to redefine the state from the ground upwards. The discussion moves then to the debt ceiling, where the surge in Washington spending combined with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing Congress to consider increasing the debt limit, due to run out in mid-March. Vought says “we have a debt crisis” that can only be resolved “by dealing with the spending problem” resulting from the “essential theft” of taxpayer money by the political establishment.
The LA Galaxy are set to take on DC United in their latest MLS game, with the Galaxy hoping to turn around their three-game road slide. DC United is 2-2-2 at home and 2-3 in one-goal games, while the Galaxy are 0-4-2 in road games and 0-3-1 when scoring only one goal. Christian Benteke is United's top performer with five goals, while Dejan Joveljic and Marky Delgado lead the way for the Galaxy. Several players on both teams are expected to sit out due to injuries.
UK savers can now invest in the first long-term asset funds (LTAFs) following over six years of research by the UK government and the financial regulator on pension fund diversification into illiquid assets such as roads, bridges, airports, and private equity. With stock market volatility, advocates for the infrastructure sector believe it is a potential alternative to equities offering an inflation hedge, low volatility, higher dividend yields based on inflation-linked revenue streams, and defensive capabilities. The LTAF's launch suggests it is time to invest in infrastructure. Infrastructure investment covers water, energy, roads, airports, education, border security, healthcare, and communication systems. Investments in schools, hospitals, and renewable energy generators can be considered lower risk than assets exposed to the economic cycle, says Gravis' Head of Energy and Infrastructure Ed Simpson. There is also potential to align the sector with environmental, social, and economic considerations, with key types of infrastructure playing a central role in building a greener future. The bullish infrastructure sector is looking to align with Biden's $1.2tn infrastructure law and the EU's Global Gateway investment programme. However, there are also uncertainties and risks associated with these assets; governments can be guided more by politics than economics, fall out with private partners, and change policies with elections.
Former Washington DC police lieutenant, Shane Lamond, has been arrested for obstructing an investigation and making false statements and allegations that he leaked information to Enrique Tarrio, leader of extremist group The Proud Boys. Mr Lamond has been indicted with one count of obstruction of justice and three counts of making false statements. It is alleged that he was in regular contact with Mr Tarrio from July 2019, and used Telegram to reveal confidential information about the Proud Boys and police investigations to him.
A senior officer in the Washington Metropolitan Police Department's intelligence unit has been arrested and charged with obstructing justice and making false statements to investigators following allegations that he leaked information on an investigation into a 2020 Black Lives Matter rally supporting George Floyd to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. Federal prosecutors claim that Lt. Shane Lamond, who has worked for the force for 24 years, sent warnings to Tarrio about the impending arrest warrants against him and other Proud Boys leaders. He also stands accused of providing information to Tarrio about the theft of a "Black Lives Matter" banner from a DC church that was subsequently vandalized, as well as lying to investigators about their interactions. Lamond, who has been placed on administrative leave, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years for the charges against him.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was welcomed back into the Arab fold at the annual Arab League Summit held in Jeddah last week, following over a decade of ostracism. This return poses a "conundrum" for the US, which has failed to prevent its Arab allies from rebuilding ties with Syria, with whom it has not had diplomatic relations in a decade, AFP reports. Yacoubian of the US Institute of Peace said the US was unsure how to deal with the new normalisation, summarising the "tricky, gnarly, complex challenge" under president Joe Biden. According to AFP, Washington's preferred course of action is to gain concessions on expanding humanitarian access, reducing Iran’s control, combating ISIS and countering trafficking of Captagon, but this would require accountability from the Syrian government. Without this, Washington will not be willing to reduce its heavy sanctions and ease its continued blocking of foreign reconstruction funds. The reintegration of Assad has been ongoing since 2018 when the UAE reopened its embassy in Syria, following years of stunted relations which culminated in Syria being suspended from the Arab League in 2011.
Nearly half the US population relies on money from the government to help make ends meet, but few are making backup plans should a political stand-off over the debt ceiling lead the country to "unprecedented economic chaos," according to a BBC report. Under these uncertain conditions, it is unclear what would happen if the US defaults, especially as government agencies are not providing many clues about if or how they are preparing. Three out of four Americans have concerns about potential financial fallout from a US debt default, according to an Ipsos/Reuters poll.
As the West surges toward electric cars, here’s where the unwanted gas guzzlers go
CNN
23-05-21 04:49
The West’s shift to electric vehicles could result in millions of gas-guzzling cars being exported to West Africa and other developing countries, where demand for used vehicles is growing. Benin is one of Africa’s top importers of used vehicles, many of which are shipped thousands of miles from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States. The global market for used light-duty vehicles grew by almost 20% from 2015 to 2019, when over 4.8 million were exported. In Kenya and Nigeria, for example, more than 90% of cars and trucks are used imports. As electric vehicles become more popular in developed countries, more older gas-powered models will be shipped overseas. Experts warn that this will divert climate and environmental problems to countries already vulnerable to climate change and damage their attempts to cut planet-warming pollution. Regulations aimed at reducing pollution and increasing safety for imported cars into West Africa have tended to be weak. But Benin and 14 other members of the Economic Community of West African States have agreed in principle to a set of vehicle emissions regulations in the region.
The US government's focus on four Mexican individuals known as "Los Chapitos" as the culprits behind the influx of synthetic opioid fentanyl into the country is a convenient distraction from the real causes of the crisis, writes Lisa Tilley in Al Jazeera. As Tilley indicates, over-prescription of opioids and the pharmaceutical industry's irresponsible practices that fuelled the crisis have not been adequately addressed. There has been no reappraisal of the wide-reaching implications of America's capitalist foundations, in which corporate profit is deemed more important than human life. The poorest in society, who are disproportionately affected by the fentanyl crisis, are also the least valued. Additionally, a lack of healthcare, insurance, and secure housing has made at-risk groups more vulnerable to opioid overdoses. Tilley argues that the capitalist superstructure, built on the misery of impoverished communities, is responsible for society's addiction to cheaper painkillers.
Biden trades productive G7 abroad for Washington chaos as debt default looms
CNN
23-05-21 22:48
As world leaders gathered in Hiroshima for the G7 summit, the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a reminder of the ongoing war between his country and Russia. Some diplomats and officials are worried about the potential negative impacts of a future presidency by Donald Trump or a like-minded Republican in relation to Ukraine, given Trump’s controversial comments at the 2019 G7 summit asking why Russia could not be included in the talks. The main focus of the G7 summit this year was Ukraine and sending a clear message of unity in support for the country, which has been waging a war against Russian-backed separatists since 2014. There was also growing willingness to adopt a critical approach to China. However, this was marred by concerns back in Washington, where there was a stalemate over raising the federal borrowing limit, with an increasing risk of government shutdowns and defaults looming. The mounting anxiety about the “Washington chaos” was another reminder of the delicate state of global diplomacy.
Exclusive: Paul Whelan tells CNN he’s confident ‘wheels are turning’ toward his release
CNN
23-05-21 20:59
US citizen Paul Whelan, who was wrongfully detained in Russia, has spoken to CNN from his prison camp in Mordovia expressing his confidence that his case is a priority for the US government. However, he hopes his situation could be resolved faster. “I feel that my life shouldn’t be considered less valuable or important than others who have been previously traded,” he said. Whelan has been imprisoned for 52 months and has concerns that he could be left behind, particularly after the Russian authorities wrongfully detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich.
Former President Donald Trump is facing further legal troubles as the US National Archives has found records proving that he and his advisers knew they were breaking the rules by taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago. Sixteen records have been sent to Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the investigation into whether Trump illegally retained classified documents. Trump is also facing accusations of illegal retention and divulgence of classified information in Ukraine and China, as well as campaign finance violations. He currently faces an investigations by the New York attorney general over false valuations and the misallocation of charitable donations, and a tax fraud investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
The ex-president’s legal defence effort is now without one of its top attorneys, who has left and blamed Trump’s top aide Boris Epshteyn for being dishonest and unforthcoming in his work to assist Trump’s lawyers with the investigation into illegal retention of classified documents. A subpoena response from former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Trump’s former close adviser Steve Bannon that was scheduled for May is expected to provide more details about the Mar-a-Lago situation. Trump described the events of 6 January, when a group of his supporters breached the Capitol building, as a “beautiful day” in a recent CNN town hall, and has suggested that he might run for president again in 2024.
The recent discovery of Trump’s knowledge of broken rules regarding classified documents and past accusations of fraud and campaign finance violations are putting the ex-president under increasing legal pressure. Trump has a range of investigations open against him and his associates, and the loss of one of his top attorneys to his legal defence effort undoubtedly presents a setback.
Portuguese wine sales have soared by up to 70% over the past five years as US tourism to Portugal explodes, according to reports by several US and UK importers. Raymond Reynolds, who brought Portuguese wine to the UK in the 1990s, said the opening up of Portuguese wineries and the cultivation of emerging indigenous grape varieties has been welcomed by consumers in the US and the UK. Maxwell Working of New York importer Skurnik said that although Greece had become a key wine producer off the radar for now, Portuguese wines were becoming more established with Filipa Pato’s Bairrada reds selling well in New York. While the market has become congested, Reynolds sees continued growth due to the country's spectrum of winemakers and dedicated terroirs: "The good thing is we are just at the beginning of this journey”. Hague and Kastner director John Kapon said Portugal was now catching up with Italy in quality.
The G7 nations are to examine artificial intelligence (AI) models using a working group to develop a response to the potential threats posed by the technology. The group will evaluate the impact of generative AI models such as ChatGPT and prime the G7 leaders' discussions before the end of this year. Alongside challenges such as the definition and categorisation of AI dangers, the group will address discrimination, disinformation, dislocation and devastation. The latter includes incorporating AI into lethal autonomous weapons systems, which may only be prevented through global treaty or regulation.
