Relatively slow week plus lots of travel. Here’s my views on what’s happening
Iran
Apart from Iran beating its chest, not much has occurred. It appears that Bolton for the moment has been reigned in. However, situation still tense.
Israel
Apart from the “normal” strike/counter strikes the biggest is the impending second election. Netanyahu was unable to form a coalition. Watch to see how the surrounding terror groups try to exploit this.
Also, the awaited peace plan is expected out shortly (first part of June). Abbas has already rejected it, so unless other arab states can twist his arm, it is DOA.
Venezuela
With effective political opposition effectively eradicated, the country continues into a tailspin. Inflation reportedly hit 10 MILLION percent. Even criminals are suffering, since no one has any thing left of value. Observers are saying that the conditions are the worst seen in over 50 years (even post WW2). Diseases like malaria are starting to spread across the country as the medical system has imploded due to lack of supplies and poor conditions.
N Korea
After shooting off some short range stuff, Kim has returned to dormancy. Big on his list of problems is the famine that is starting to ravage his country (again). Even military has started raiding the countryside around bases for food. This reportedly has driven farmers farther away from these bases.
US
The Central US is staggering under record flooding, and tornadic activity. This has resulted in substantial losses of livestock, grain harvested stores and has delayed planting. The outlook is for more of the same for the extended forecast period.
Ebola
Still out of control and health care workers being targeted for killing. Vaccine seems to have helped where administered, but terrorist attacks on health care workers have effectively stopped their work.
Financial
Normally I stay out of this except for the interesting post on zerohedge regarding the stock price for Deuteches Bank. This bank is one of those ‘too big to fail’ ones that has great potential TO fail. Commentary is that if the share price reaches $6.40 (American dollars) that the bottom will fall out and since this bank is so overloaded with derivatives and bad loans it could trigger a global crash. Keep monitoring, yesterday finished at $6.92 having fallen from around $13.06 last August 2018.
Been on the go but doesn’t mean I’m not watching.
N. Korea
Continued uranium enrichment. Kim toeing line with ‘tactical’ rocket launches. Trump is so far tolerant.
Kim also killed those involved in the fiasco in Vietnam - those fired by Trump should be thankful for whom they work for.
Iran
More chest beating by Iran. But they are pulling a long game. US forces can only maintain a high level of readiness for so long before starting to lose their edge. Iran is waiting/watching for an opening that is also timely. We are now several weeks into this.
Iran also had more supplies destined for Hezbollah destroyed recently. Syria/Russia show no interest in shutting this down.
Global Food Issues
Flooding is expected to continue along the Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and other rivers for the next several weeks. Crop planting (principally corn and soy) is woefully behind and probably won’t be able to be made up this year. Swine “ebola” epidemic currently centered in China has forced the destruction of about 30% of the hog production. this epidemic has spread throughout most of asia and has reportedly pushed into eastern Europe.
Israel vs ALL
Standard sporadic terror issues, quite given that Netanyahu didn’t get a majority govt formed and now new elections are due.
The Gaza/Hamas rocket attacks of last month exposed a weakness in Iron Dome - mainly that it can eventually be overwhelmed by volume of fire. Israeli know how may be able to fix some of that, but I suspect IAF may be more aggressive in attacking potential launch sites and not those that had just recently fired. This will cause additional collateral damage, but the Trump Administration so far hasn’t been concerned about that.
Still waiting for details on the new peace proposal.
Ebola
Out of control and now documented in Uganda.