Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has claimed that US President Donald Trump has promised him control of several US public health agencies if he wins a second term as president. The agencies Kennedy mentioned include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and a few others, as well as the Department of Agriculture. During a recent rally, Trump said that Kennedy would be allowed to “go wild on the food” and “go wild on the medicines”.
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Over 21,000 migrant workers have died in eight years working on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 project, according to an ITV documentary. Some workers have reported feeling like “trapped slaves,” citing human rights abuses such as alleged unpaid wages and illegal work hours. Human rights groups have raised concerns about exploitation of migrant workers and potential displacement of locals. The documentary highlighted the effects of long work hours, insufficient food, lack of rest, and stressful conditions on the workers’ health. ITV’s figures indicate that many of the deceased were from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
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Zelenskyy’s recent comments about the lack of a meaningful response from Western allies to North Korea’s military involvement in the Ukrainian war have struck a personal chord with me. Watching as the situation continues to evolve, it feels like there is a growing disparity between the gravity of the circumstances and the lethargic nature of international reactions. For a leader at war, the expectation is simple: if one area escalates, the response should match that intensity. But, what does it say about our global priorities when allies are, as Zelenskyy put it bluntly, sitting on “zero” response?
The deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia should have raised alarm bells across the globe.… Continue reading
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted that Ukraine will not concede its territories, regardless of the outcome of the US election or changes in American support. Zelenskyy said that a reduction in backing for Ukraine by a new US president could encourage Russia to try to annex more land and would limit Ukraine’s ability to win its ongoing war. Although Zelenskyy suggested that Donald Trump might want to pressure Ukraine to surrender territory for a deal with Russia, he maintained that that would not be feasible. He added that Ukraine is not interested in Russian territory.
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A man who destroyed signs supporting Democratic politicians Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at an early voting site in Raleigh has claimed he was the victim. The man, who was seen on video shouting at other voters, ripping up signs and arguing with people who confronted him, said he believed signs left on government land were litter and he was entitled to remove them. The Democratic coordinator for the early voting site disagreed, while state laws suggest taking or damaging campaign signs can lead to a fine or jail time. Police have not yet said whether they will arrest the man.
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The refusal of the Georgian president to recognize the parliamentary election results marks a pivotal moment in Georgia’s political landscape, and I feel a mix of concern and urgency as I contemplate the implications. It is disheartening to witness how the ideals of democracy can be so easily undermined in a nation that has struggled for its independence and the right to self-determination. The call for public protests by the president underscores a broader narrative about resistance against an increasingly authoritarian regime. This struggle is not just about Georgia; it resonates with a global audience as similar patterns of governance emerge in various democracies around the world.… Continue reading
Footage of former US President Donald Trump climbing clumsily into a rubbish truck wearing a fluorescent safety vest has raised concern among social media users about his health. Trump wore the high-visibility item, traditionally linked with garbage-men, during a campaign stop in Wisconsin, reportedly in response to President Joe Biden calling his supporters “garbage”. Matt McDermott, senior vice president of Whitman Insight Strategies, shared footage on social media of Trump missing the truck’s handle and appearing to be unstable, with the caption: “Trump seems to be really struggling physically”. Commenting on the video, attorney Jeffrey Evan Gold said: “[He] just gave right out there”. Defender of Trump’s move, Alana Mastrangelo, a journalist at Breitbart News, countered with: “Joe Biden calls millions of Americans ‘garbage.’ The next day Trump gets picked up… by a garbage truck. He’s playing chess. They’re playing checkers”.
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Women are dominating early voting for the 2024 elections in the US, contributing 54% of the more than 58 million mail-in and in-person votes that have been cast, causing concern among Donald Trump’s supporters. In battleground states Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina, the gap is at least 10 points and in Pennsylvania, the largest swing state, women have cast 56% of the votes. It is not known how these women voted, but supporters of Trump fear this trend may sway the election in favor of Vice-President Kamala Harris. Harris has championed abortion rights in her campaign, aiming to appeal to all women, including Republican women dissatisfied with Trump. However, it is uncertain if the rise in female voters will be beneficial exclusively for Harris as Trump has recently encouraged all Republicans to vote early.
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The US in brief’s team from The Economist will be providing rapid analysis of the US election results on Tuesday, November 5th. The fastest analysis will be available on their app and home page on election day. Detailed live results will be published on their page soon after the first polls close at 6pm EST/11 pm GMT.
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Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, vows that Ukraine will not make territorial concessions, regardless of the results of the US elections or the degree of future support from the United States. He expressed concern regarding a potential shift in US policy if Donald Trump wins the presidency and seeks to force Ukraine into surrendering its territory as part of a deal with Russia. Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine does not constitutionally have the right to relinquish its legitimate state territories and would not recognise occupied territories as Russian. He also indicated that Ukraine will continue to reclaim its own territories.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood