August 21, 2023

*) 'Public knows who I am': Trump to skip Republican primary debates New opinion polls reveal that more than 60 percent of Republican voters prefer former President Donald Trump, while Ron DeSantis, his closest competitor, captures 16 percent of GOP voters' favour. Trump says he would skip the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his popularity and recognition among voters as a testament to his standing ahead of the 2024 election. On a different note, he faces a deadline of Friday to turn himself in voluntarily in Fulton County, Georgia, following his recent indictment on criminal charges. *) Live blog: Ukraine nears deal with insurers to cover grain ships - report Ukraine is in the process of finalising an arrangement with international insurance companies to provide coverage for grain vessels navigating to and from its Black Sea ports. The scheme is currently under active discussion, involving various government ministries, domestic banks, and global insurance entities such as Lloyd's of London, as reported by the Financial Times. *) Israel to spend $843M on tightening control over occupied East Jerusalem In an effort to enhance its control over occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli government has introduced a budget proposal aimed at transforming the area's landscape in the next five years. The government has allocated 3.2 billion Israeli shekels ($843 million) to invest in occupied East Jerusalem from 2024 to 2028, according to an official statement. The Israeli government claims the purpose of this endeavour is to tackle social disparities and stimulate economic growth. *) China cuts key interest rate to put fizz back into flagging economy China's central bank reduces a significant interest rate to combat the economic slowdown following the Covid-19 pandemic. The world's second-largest economy is grappling with reduced market activity driven by labour market uncertainties and a sluggish global economy, resulting in weakened demand for Chinese products. Despite the economic downturn causi