Romanian authorities have detained influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate as part of a new investigation into alleged crimes, including human trafficking and sex with a minor. The Tate brothers, previously indicted on charges of human trafficking and rape, were questioned after searches in Bucharest and Ilfov county. Romania’s DIICOT stated the probe involves trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements, and money laundering. The brothers, known for promoting a controversial ultra-masculine lifestyle, deny the charges. Andrew Tate criticized the new allegations as baseless.
Read more at: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/8/22/andrew-tristan-tate-detained-in-romania-in-new-trafficking-probe
Ukraine reported destroying Russian pontoon bridges in the Kursk region using U.S.-made weapons, while Moscow claimed to have halted Kyiv’s advance and gained ground in eastern Ukraine. Since crossing into Kursk on August 6, Kyiv has announced battlefield successes. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy emphasized strengthening forces around Pokrovsk and urged allies to send munitions. Ukraine aims to create a buffer zone in Kursk, with videos showing strikes on pontoon crossings and Russia reporting the destruction of at least three bridges over the Seym River.
Read more at: https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-says-it-hit-pontoon-bridges-in-russia-with-us-made-weapons/7752231.html
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a historic visit to Ukraine, focusing on economic, defense, and technological cooperation. Analysts suggest the visit aims to balance India’s perceived pro-Russia stance, following Modi’s recent Moscow trip and India’s historical ties with Russia. This visit, the first by an Indian PM to Ukraine, comes after Modi’s controversial meeting with Putin, which coincided with Russian missile strikes in Ukraine and drew criticism from Zelenskyy. Modi condemned attacks harming innocents but did not directly address the strikes.
Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/india-modi-ukraine-zelenskyy-russia-putin-3140f2f1b9b3c0e6c910f2afcedd0337
An attempt to use an extendable robot to remove a fragment of melted fuel from Fukushima Daiichi’s Unit 2 reactor was suspended due to a technical issue. Workers found that five pipes used to maneuver the robot were placed incorrectly and couldn’t be fixed within the radiation exposure time limit. The robot, which can extend up to 22 meters, was to collect a fuel fragment, marking the start of the challenging fuel debris removal phase. The mission’s new start date is undecided, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings.
Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/japan-fukushima-nuclear-fuel-debris-cbaaeb5a501af755108393e416456f77
Moscow experienced one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks since 2022, with Russian authorities claiming to have destroyed all drones targeting the capital. Ukrainian forces continue to advance in Russia’s Kursk region, striking bridges, airfields, and an oil depot. In Bryansk, Russian forces repelled a Ukrainian incursion. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin credited strong defenses for intercepting the drones. Russia reported downing 45 drones overnight, including 11 over Moscow, though these figures are unverified.
Read more at: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/moscow-comes-under-one-of-ukraines-largest-drone-attacks-as-fighting-rages-in-kursk-eastern-ukraine
Stocks paused their rally near record highs as traders awaited key speeches from the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan leaders. MSCI’s All Country World index rose 0.1%, and Europe’s Stoxx 600 index increased 0.3%, driven by Deutsche Bank’s positive forecast. US futures were flat, with 10-year Treasury yields steady at 3.79% and the dollar unchanged. Market gains in August were supported by expectations of US rate cuts, but traders remained cautious ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s upcoming speech. Recent payroll revisions and Fed minutes indicated a potential case for rate cuts.
Read more at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/asian-equities-rally-fed-dovish-222152872.html
The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.799%, and the 2-year Treasury yield increased to 3.929%. This followed dovish Federal Reserve meeting minutes and a significant downward revision in payroll data, boosting expectations of an interest rate cut next month. Market participants are pricing in a 66% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut and a one-third chance of a 50-basis-point cut in September, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.
Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/22/us-treasurys-in-focus-as-investors-await-jackson-hole-symposium.html
Mike Lynch, 59, was on trial in San Francisco facing 17 fraud charges and a likely 25-year sentence. Despite spending £30m on legal fees and having a 0.5% chance of winning, he was acquitted after 13 years of gathering evidence. Back in the UK, Lynch celebrated his “second life,” expressing emotional gratitude for everyday sights. This month, he took family, friends, and lawyers on a Mediterranean cruise aboard his luxury sailboat to continue the celebrations.
Read more at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mike-lynch-dead-billionaire-yacht-sinks-b2599640.html
Paramount Global’s board extended the go-shop window for its Skydance Media deal by 15 days to consider a $6 billion acquisition proposal from an investor group led by Edgar Bronfman Jr., up from $4.3 billion. The offer includes a $1.7 billion pool to give nonvoting shareholders a $16/share buyout premium. This move temporarily halts the planned merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media. The board’s special committee confirmed receipt of Bronfman’s proposal.
Read more at: https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/paramount-extends-deal-review-period-after-edgar-bronfman-jr-increases-6-billion-1236113984/
If today is your birthday, expect to meet powerful people this year; resist their influence and follow your own path. Aries should avoid mistakes at work, while Taurus can relax and let life unfold positively. Gemini should not isolate themselves from the world.
Read more at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/horoscopes/article-your-daily-horoscope-august-22-2024/