Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/bahamian-banks-lasers-tragedy-yemen-politics-and-russia/
In the realm of digital currencies, investigative journalist Whitney Webb has shed light on the connections between FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried and the future of digital currencies in the United States. Webb’s report highlights the takeover of a small rural bank by the chairman of Deltech, a Bahamian bank tied to FTX, and the subsequent influx of funds from FTX and Bankman-Fried. This bank then gained approval to join the Federal Reserve System, despite concerns about foreign control. Webb also explores the partnership between Moonstone Bank and Fluent Finance, a company aiming to create a digital dollar stablecoin. The goal, according to Webb, is to have Wall Street issue the digital dollar, rather than the Federal Reserve, in order to maintain control and preserve the fractional reserve model.
In the defense sector, the UK’s DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system has achieved a significant milestone. Developed through a partnership between the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and industry partners MBDA, Leonardo, and QinetiQ, the DragonFire system has successfully fired a high-power laser against aerial targets. The cost-effective weapon system, which boasts pinpoint accuracy and low long-term costs, is being considered for incorporation into future Air Defence capabilities by both the Army and Royal Navy.
In a tragic incident, Air Force Staff Sgt. Kory Wade, 33, drowned during a training exercise on Theodore Roosevelt Lake in Arizona. An autopsy revealed that Wade had 80% blockage of his coronary artery, which led to a cardiac event causing him to fall into the water. The Ground Accident Investigation Board found that Wade, despite being qualified to operate the Advanced Rescue Craft, did not wear a flotation device at the time of the incident.
In international news, the United States and Britain have launched an aerial assault on Yemen in response to attacks on ships in the Red Sea. This action has been criticized for violating Yemen’s sovereignty and being a declaration of war without parliamentary or congressional approval. The Ansarallah movement, joined by the Yemeni armed forces, had previously launched drone and missile strikes on the Israeli-owned port of Eilat in support of Gaza. The US and Britain’s dual attack targeted over 70 Ansarallah targets, but the blockade remains in place, causing a significant drop in activity at the Israeli-owned port.
In the political sphere, the career of Paul Finley, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, has been highlighted for its relevance to current political dynamics. Finley’s authorship of the War Powers Act has been discussed in relation to President Biden’s bombing of Yemen without Congressional approval. The article also delves into the history of US involvement in Vietnam and the role of the pro-Israel lobby in American politics.
Finally, historian and political analyst Emmanuel Todd has published a book titled “The Defeat of the West” that challenges the prevailing narrative of Russophobia and the aggression of Putin. Todd argues that the West’s downfall is due to factors such as the end of the nation-state, de-industrialization, the decline of Protestantism, and the obsession with Forever Wars. He predicts that Russia will ultimately win against NATO and that Germany and Russia will collaborate in the future.