The geopolitical landscape continues to shift as the conflict in Ukraine persists, with the potential for negotiations and peace agreements being explored amidst economic difficulties and the involvement of external forces such as the US and Russia. Meanwhile, the global economy is experiencing a shift in inflation from goods to services. Import prices of consumer goods excluding autos dipped again in October, reflecting part of the input costs for retailers like Walmart and Amazon. However, while falling prices are good for consumers, they exert downward pressure on revenues and profit margins, which is not favorable for stocks.
In the realm of digital infrastructure, the United Nations Development Program has launched a new initiative called “50in5” which aims to introduce Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in fifty countries over the next five years. This comes as the European Parliament and Council of Europe agree on a new framework for a region-wide European Digital Identity (eID) system.
The housing market, however, is experiencing one of its grimmest periods since the Covid pandemic, according to the National Association of Homebuilders survey. Affordability is a significant concern as existing home prices return to record highs and mortgage rates remain high.
In a historical revelation, a young girl was involved in a covert operation to eliminate Fidel Castro in the summer of 1963, using a silent shot of super cancer causing poison, derived from a monkey simian virus called SV-40.
On the military front, evidence suggests that the Israeli military targeted not only Hamas fighters but also Israeli captives on October 7th, executing a policy known as the Hannibal directive. This directive aims to prevent Israeli troops from falling into enemy hands, even if it means killing the captured soldiers and civilians.
China’s economy and society are facing various issues such as declining consumer spending, lending, and youth unemployment. The significant demographic decline in China, coupled with political purges and economic challenges, poses a threat to China’s status as an economic power.
In environmental news, a new study suggests that plants will absorb 20 per cent more carbon dioxide than predicted by the end of the century, indicating that climate models may be overestimating how fast the planet will warm. Bill Gates, a climate optimist, believes that humanity will find ways to address climate change, although he acknowledges that emissions will continue to rise and temperature will increase unless massive carbon removal is implemented.
In a related development, Gates has invested $6.6 million in a startup called Kodama Systems, which aims to bury dead trees underground to prevent their carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. This process, known as biomass burial, could help contain carbon dioxide underground for many years and also prevent wildfires.
Finally, Captain Shane Murdock, a pilot with over 40 years of experience, warns that the aviation industry is on the brink of disaster. He believes that many pilots are suffering severe adverse reactions to the Covid-19 vaccines, including heart inflammation, brain fog, insomnia, blood clots, and anaphylaxis. Murdock claims that some pilots are not reporting these health issues for fear of losing their jobs.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/the-world-in-flux-ukraine-inflation-digital-infrastructure-and-more/