Red scare strikes again. The latest victim is Linda Sun, who had faithfully served two New York governors for 15 years. Now hauled before a federal court, she stands accused of being a secret Chinese agent.

When education has fallen short, the law must step in to do its job.

The pizzazz of the Paris Olympics has long since died down. But a residual excitement still bubbles after the cheers and tears are gone.

Columbia University's president, Minouche Shafik, has bowed out. After months of turmoil, with the arrest of over 400 Columbia students and the injury of some, followed by a stinging vote of no-confidence by the faculty, and the resignation of three of its deans, the inevitable has happened.

Judging by the horrendous death toll alone, one country would fit four-square into the definition of a terrorist state. That country is Israel. In the month of July, the Israeli army has targeted 10 schools in Gaza. In the latest attack, over a hundred women, children and the elderly were pulverized by an Israeli missile, while kneeling in prayer. Body parts went flying everywhere. This atrocity was swiftly condemned by the UN, as an International Court of Justice arrest warrant still hangs over Netanyahu's head, but he knows he is untouchable.

Once every four years, the world comes together to witness "the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat". Only the Olympics can engulf a nation in a wave of euphoria—sweeping everybody off their feet--the rich and famous, unlettered peasants or day laborers who live from hand to mouth. No one is immune to its magic. The games filter down to the tiniest village, to the humblest abode, displacing traditional festivals as tribal celebrations. The Olympics have totally conquered the Chinese people.

Can the fall of the God-defying American empire be far behind?

The inevitable has happened. Biden has quit the race cold turkey, calling off his re-election campaign, and quickly offering his blessing to his Vice President. Now all eyes are on Kamala Harris to ward off the Trump menace. She will need a ton of luck and political smarts to become the first woman of color to occupy the Oval Office.

Things have come full circle. The powerful American newspaper Wall Street Journal, touted as a defender of the rights of journalists has just delivered a one-two punch to one of its haloed Hong Kong employees, Selina Cheng, who covered the car and energy sectors in mainland China. Cheng was fired, not for incompetence or conduct unbecoming a reporter, but for, of all things, being elected chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). In an instant, her star power fizzled out.

As the shots rang out at Trump's rally, he faltered but did not fall. And now, with his nine lives, Trump claims his victory is divinely pre-ordained. No sooner had the bullets hit the wrong targets than US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene took to her megaphone to tell the world that it is God's hand that has saved Trump's life.

The assassin's bullet failed to neutralize America's curse. Instead, it has all but sealed his electoral victory.

Yes, no-drama Starmer has retaken No. 10 for Labor. But from day one, his plate is piled high with problems. He has lost no time in promising a reset to get Britain out of the mess.

Things are looking downright ugly in the US. But when America asks for a savior, all it gets is a Satan. A self-seeking man-child who idle-boasts about Making America Great Again is about to hurl it into the ninth layer of hell.

America is staring at a horrendous Hobson's choice. In November, it must pick either a convicted felon or a cognitively impaired doddering 81-year-old as leader. In the presidential debate, it was painful to watch Biden's struggling incoherence. Alarmed by Biden's obvious mental decline, some Democrats are openly calling for him to drop out of the race. Biden and Trump are running neck and neck in the polls. At this point it is a toss-up. But Biden has another worry.

Throughout history, China's merchant class had sat at the bottom of the totem pole—disrespected and marginalized. Scholars ranked first, followed by farmers, and then artisans. This social hierarchy has stood unchanged for more than two millennia.