Lot’s of stuff going on. I’ve collected a few articles to give an overview.
The Chinese are making relationships left and right. All sound promising, but the West collectively are lying weasels. And the Chinese are taking a “we’ll see approach”. Meanwhile the British is going to set up forward military bases in Japan to “counter China”, just like the USA is doing in South Korea, Australia and the Philippines.
But, I hope that sanity is forced upon the collective madness of the West. Because at this rate they will be radioactive in no time. Stupid acts deserve stupid prizes.
Have a good day everyone…
The Interior Ministry has said that violators of this ban will be subject to legal punishment, including fines and even jail time
By News Desk – May 16 2023
The Iraqi government issued a ban on 14 May outlawing the use of the US dollar for both personal and business transactions, coming as part of a growing ‘de-dollarization’ trend and an overall decline in Washington’s economic influence.
The ban was enforced on 14 May and aims to boost the use of Iraq’s local currency, the dinar.
It is also designed to reduce the gap between the official government exchange rate and the exchange rate offered by the black market, which continues to fluctuate and has resulted in price surges.
In a statement, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said: “The dinar is the national currency in Iraq. Your commitment to transact in it instead of foreign currencies boosts the country’s sovereignty and economy.”
The ministry added that anyone dealing in currencies other than the local currency would be subject to legal punishment and said that it is committed to “hold accountable anyone who attempts to undermine the Iraqi dinar and the economy.”
In order to properly enforce the ban, the Interior Ministry’s Crime Directorate has requested that traders sign agreements assuring the government that they will conduct transactions in local currency only.
According to General Hussein Al-Tamimi of the Crime Directorate, violators of these pledges will be forced to pay a fine of one million Iraqi dinars, adding that repeat offenders may be subject to prison time.
“If the violator repeats it, he will face an imprisonment penalty of up to one year plus a one-million Iraqi dinar financial fine. In case of a third violation, that penalty will be doubled, and we will have the business license turned,” the official added.
US dollars are already scarce in the country’s official markets as a result of recently imposed measures by Washington to control the movement of dollars inside Iraq. While the new government of Mohamed Shia al-Sudani
has moved swiftly to contain the financial fallout, these US policies have given rise to a debate inside Iraq about the benefits of de-dollarization.
Iraqi MP and member of the Finance Committee in Iraq’s Council of Representatives, Hussein Mouanes, told The Cradle in an exclusive interview earlier this month that “Iraq has been and continues to be a slave to the US dollar … every country’s economic strength depends on the strength of its currency.”
“It is clear that Iraq is economically dominated by the US, and our government does not truly control or have access to its own money … We believe that it is crucial to move away from the hegemony of the dollar, especially as it has become a tool to impose sanctions on countries. It is time for Iraq to rely on its local currency,” he added.
What the fuck?
Radiation from Ukraine Reaches Lublin, Poland!
Radiation and poisonous Uranian Dust has reached Lublin, Poland, from the ammunition dump hit in Ukraine last Friday. In that Ammo dump was about $500 Million of Depleted Uranium tank shells supplied to Ukraine by Britain. Now, the radiation and the poisonous dust, has reached Lublin Poland.
Levels of radioactivity shown on the graph above, were measured at the Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland). This indicates that dust from the uranium ammunition was blown by the wind from Khmelnitsky to Lublin.
2 days, 400 km away . . .
Those who were outdoors and breathes the poisonous, radioactive, dust, are highly likely to suffer serious respiratory illness, and later, lung cancer. Now that the dust has arrived, and some of it presumably settled on the ground, rain will carry it into ground water, where it will quietly POISON the water for decades.
Women who drink the water, especially while pregnant, will likely miscarry (lose) the baby, or see it born with hideous birth defects.
All this because NATO couldn’t mind its own business, and stay out of the Ukraine-Russia fight. NONE of this had to be.
Control your emotions
1. Control your thoughts when you are alone.
2. Control your tongue when you are with friends.
3. Control your decisions when you are angry.
4. Pay attention to your behavior when you sit in a group.
5. Control your pride when someone praises you.
And last
6. Control your emotions when someone says wrong about you.
UK media admits, ‘shock and awe’ sanctions have failed
“‘Europe’s “peace dividend” is over.'”
The M.I.C. crosses the Atlantic.
3 MAY—Maybe you recall all the post–Cold War talk of a “peace dividend” and maybe you don’t: It depends on when you took up residence on this mortal coil. The term arose as the Soviet Union disintegrated and was commonly mentioned during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, 1989–1993. A dramatic reduction in defense spending, and a corresponding increase in expenditures on education, health care, and so on, was put around as one of Bush I’s outstanding achievements.
That was the peace dividend.
The thing you need to know about all the talk of a peace dividend back then is that it was all talk. And the thing you need to know now, with Cold War II in more or less full swing and the proxy war against Russia raging in Ukraine, is that there is no longer any need to know anything about the peace dividend: As we speak it takes its place as an artifact of another time, a curiosity in the way of … what? … maybe Eisenhower’s promise of free electricity in his “Atoms for Peace” speech, delivered at the United Nations in 1953.
The New York Times published a remarkable piece on this topic last week under the headline, “The ‘Peace Dividend’ Is Over in Europe. Now Come the Hard Tradeoffs.” There are two ways to read this lengthy report, text and subtext.
On one hand, it tells us exactly what the head promises: European leaders, in response to the Ukraine crisis, now plan to dump a lot more money into the weapons of war and a lot less into the social-democratic apparatus—welfare programs, social programs, cultural programs—in which European citizens have long taken pride.
On the other, this piece has a special message for Americans: There shall be no more daydreaming about how good the Danes or the French have it. The military-industrial complex has crossed the Atlantic. Neoliberalism has won. It is indeed the end of history. It is “TINA” time: “There is no alternative,” as Margaret Thatcher famously used to say. The future will be no different from the present.
Rest of the article HERE
Space
Tlayudas
Yield: 10 tlayudas
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn masa mix
- 1 1/8 cups water
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying
- 1 1/2 cups pinto refried beans
- 2 cups mole poblano (one 16 ounce jar)
- 1 whole chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the corn masa mix with water and a pinch of salt. Knead and let rest.
- Form 10 medium-size balls; flatten into tortilla shape. Cook on pan or griddle. Then fry until golden. Drain.
- Heat beans and mole separately. Spread each tlayuda with a tablespoon of beans; top with shredded chicken and mole. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
Best of Larry, Darryl, and Darryl (part 10)
Why So Many Americans Are Leaving The Great Lakes States
Over the past 10 years, China’s sci-tech strength has grown along with the development of the country’s economic strength, becoming a driving force for Chinese modernization, according to a press conference on Monday.
China’s sci-tech strength and its global influence in innovation have been significantly enhanced, Wu Zhaohui, vice minister of science and technology, told a press conference on the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing.
The R&D investment of Chinese society has increased three times from 1 trillion yuan (about $144 billion) in 2012 to 3 trillion yuan in 2022, according to Wu.
In terms of the quantity and quality of its scientific research personnel, China has maintained its first-place global position for many years, he said.
According to annual statistics issued by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, which is under the Ministry of Science and Technology, China had 1,808 “hot papers” as of September 2022, accounting for 41.7 percent of the world’s total and ranking first globally.
Hot papers refer to those published within the previous two years that are cited a sufficient number of times in the most recent two months to be placed in the top 0.1 percent when compared to peer papers.
China’s sci-tech innovation props up the country’s industrial transformation and development, and its ability to serve high-quality development has been significantly boosted, Wu said.
The volume of technology contract transactions in China is relatively large, rising from 600 billion yuan in 2012 to 4.8 trillion yuan in 2022, Wu said.
In the past decade, China has won major scientific research achievements, including its development of quantum information, nuclear power technology and AI technology. These technologies have not only spawned and promoted the development of strategic emerging industries, but have also accelerated the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.
The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum will focus on cutting-edge technologies and future industries, and showcase the latest technological advances in the fields of the metaverse, AI, quantum information, brain science, and cell and gene therapy, said Yu Yingjie, vice mayor of Beijing. Many advanced technological achievements will make their debuts at the forum’s exhibition.
The ability of China’s sci-tech services to improve people’s livelihoods and meet their demand for better lives has been greatly increased.
Science and technology are important guarantees for food security. According to Wu, the contribution rate of agricultural science and technology has increased from 53 percent 10 years ago to 62 percent in 2022. “Agricultural science and technology have contributed a lot to China’s rural vitalization and poverty alleviation.”
Sci-tech innovation propels the development of smart medical care and the new medicine. Internet hospitals allow medical resources to be allocated in a more balanced way.
In recent years, many Chinese-developed anti-cancer drugs have been listed, and the five-year cancer survival rate in China has increased from 30 percent to 40 percent, Wu said.
The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum is scheduled to take place in Beijing from May 25 to 30. Themed “Open Cooperation for a Shared Future,” it will include conferences, exhibitions, research achievement releases, competitions in cutting-edge fields and technology trading.
Opening Train Fight Scene | The Equalizer 2
China appreciates Norway’s firm adherence to one-China policy
China appreciates Norway’s firm adherence to the one-China policy and appreciates that the two countries respect and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Friday.
Qin made the remarks when jointly meeting the press with Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
Qin said that after candid talks with Huitfeldt, they both have confidence in and expectations for the development of China-Norway relations. He noted that the most important experience of the steady development of bilateral relations lies in adhering to mutual respect, equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win results, and in seeking common ground while reserving differences.
The two sides exchanged views on the idea of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the next step, and agreed to resume and accelerate bilateral exchanges as soon as possible, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance understanding and deepen friendship through more frequent people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Qin said.
The two sides compared notes on trade and investment, marine affairs, green transition, climate change, cultural exchange, tourism and local-to-local cooperation, Qin said.
China has decided to enlist Norway as one of the eligible countries for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy in relevant Chinese port cities, and the two countries have just signed a new version of the bilateral agreement for the avoidance of double taxation, Qin said, adding that relevant cooperation results will bring more dividends to Chinese and Norwegian companies and people.
Noting that next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, Qin said the two sides have agreed to organize a series of celebration activities to make the bilateral exchanges and cooperation even closer and lay a more solid foundation for the next 70 years of exchanges.
Qin pointed out that the Chinese government has made unremitting efforts to protect human rights, and that Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet-related issues are not human rights issues, but issues related to safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. China firmly opposes external forces taking advantage of these issues to create instability in China.
The essence of the Taiwan question is a fight against secession, Qin said, adding that China expects the Taiwan Strait to remain peaceful and stable, and to achieve peaceful reunification of China.
It is the “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces and some countries’ connivance and support for the “Taiwan independence” that have been undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, Qin said, stressing the unwavering determination of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Qin said that peace and development are the most enduring wishes of mankind, and that both China and Norway believe that the more turbulent the world is, the more necessary it is to strengthen dialogue and exchanges.
Both sides firmly support world peace, globalization and free trade, and support countries to jointly address climate change and achieve sustainable development, he added.
China is willing to join hands with Norway to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Qin said.
China also stands ready to strengthen cooperation in peace and reconciliation affairs with Norway, and promote world peace and development, he added.
Qin emphasized that the top priority for the Ukraine crisis is to facilitate a cease-fire and a cessation of hostilities without delay, and ultimately resolve the crisis through political negotiations. China will always stand on the side of peace and insist on promoting peace talks, he noted.
It is hoped that all parties involved in the crisis will remain calm and restrained, make joint efforts to resolve the crisis through negotiations, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture so as to achieve enduring stability and security in the region, he said.
6 MINUTES AGO, This is DEVASTATING news for the U.S.!
https://youtu.be/B8WEI-okUg8
Chinese commerce minister calls for common interests with Australia to be expanded
China’s Minister of Commerce has called on Australia to make joint efforts to expand common interests, and urged the two countries to address each other’s concerns on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, according to a commerce ministry statement on Saturday.
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao made the remarks on Friday when co-chairing the 16th China-Australia Joint Ministerial Economic Commission in Beijing with visiting Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell, the statement said.
The two economies are highly complementary and have fruitful economic and trade cooperation, Wang said, calling for the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in Bali to be implemented, for common ground to be sought while reserving differences, and for practical cooperation to be advanced.
China will accelerate its establishment of a new development pattern and promote high-level opening-up, which will bring new opportunities to countries around the world, including Australia, Wang noted.
He said China is willing to work with Australia to expand areas of cooperation, and it hopes Australia will provide a sound business environment and treat Chinese companies and products fairly and justly.
In his remarks, Farrell said that the two sides have recently made substantial progress in advancing bilateral economic and trade relations, and in the proper handling of each other’s key economic and trade concerns, according to the statement.
Australia is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with China on multilateral and regional platforms such as the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Farrell added.
The two ministers have also agreed on several issues, including restarting the free trade agreement joint committee, strengthening green and low-carbon cooperation, and supporting cooperation between enterprises from both countries in the fields of digital trade and e-commerce.
HOLY $#!+!!! RUSSIA Just Sent NATO a NUCLEAR MESSAGE
The Ukrainian taunting is very ominous.
China, Japan defence ministers talk over direct line
Defense ministers of China and Japan held a conversation through a direct telephone line for the first time as part of a maritime and aerial communication mechanism on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of National Defense said.
“On the afternoon of May 16, State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu for the first time held a telephone conversation with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada via a direct telephone line within the framework of the maritime and air communication mechanism of the defense ministries of the two countries, exchanging views on the defense relations between the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the establishment and use of the direct telephone line is “a practical measure to implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries”, which will “effectively enrich the communication channels between the defense departments of the two countries”, “strengthen the crisis management capabilities of the two sides in sea and air”, and “further contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability”.
The operation of the line was of significance because 16 years have passed since Beijing and Tokyo agreed on the launch of such a measure.
The talks began in 2007 when China and Japan initially agreed to set up a maritime and aerial communication mechanism to build confidence and prevent unexpected contingencies.
However, the launch of the mechanism then became a long-pending issue as Tokyo continually provoked Beijing over territory and history disputes.
A thaw in bilateral relations in 2018 saw the establishment of the maritime and aerial communication mechanism between the two countries, and as the pillar of that mechanism, the direct telephone line was set up between their defense authorities this March.
15 Facts That Show The American Family are In Deep Trouble
https://youtu.be/_deRVUlFYPY
Best of Larry, Darryl, and Darryl (part 4)
China and Central Asia countries share experience and good practices when fighting desertification
The straw checkerboard sand barriers in Jiuquan City, northwest China’s Gansu Province.
Using straw checkerboard as a barrier for sand fixation was a technology adopted during the construction of railway in Karakum Desert in Central Asia. In the 1950s, the technology was used in the construction of Baotou-Lanzhou Railway that crossed the Tengger Desert. Chinese scientists found that straw checkerboards of about 1 meter squared were the most effective and cheapest.
Building the ecological barrier around Astana
Scientists from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Kazakhstans Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University and the Committee of Forestry and Fauna have also worked together on building the ecological barrier around Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. They selected 32 desert plants that can adapt to the harsh conditions and planted them at the 3.3-hectare plant breeding base. Finally they built 23-hectare demonstration zone in Astana
Restore the dried-up seabed Aral Sea
The Aral Sea, located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, was once the world’s fourth-largest lake. Farmland expansion, rising temperatures and a lack of water-saving technology caused the sea to shrink to just 10 percent of its original surface by the end of the 1990s.
The dried-up seabed is highly prone to sand and dust storms, which can blow up to 75 million tons of sand, dust, and salt across Central Asia, according to the World Bank. Li said that China’s desertification control experience can be applied to the ecological problems that the Aral Sea is facing.
Pants that are suitable for desertification control are selected to restore the dried-up seabed, and drip irrigation technologies were introduced to save water.
martin sheen meets robert duvall
Minnesota Isn’t What You Think It Is Anymore
Geopolitics at play:
- China cancelled 80% of their corn order from the United States
- AND purchasing similar products from South Africa and Brazil
- Likely: to ensure stable future supplies free from geopolitical constraints and to support fellow BRICS nations
Now FRANCE announces Supplying LONG RANGE Missiles to Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that France will follow in the UK’s footsteps and quickly send its version of the Storm Shadow long-range missile to Ukraine.
This comes after the United Kingdom sent Storm Shadow missiles.
Both the Storm Shadow and the SCALP have a range of 250-300 nmi.
These are precisely the type of long range weapons that can be used by UIkraine to strike targets inside Russia; which Russia warmed the West not to send.
If Western weapons start hitting targets inside Russia, then Russia will hold the West — not Ukraine – responsible, and the West will be subject to Russian attack in their own countries.
World War 3 is deliberately being started by we in the West.
Americans and Europeans would do well to make preparation for bombs to start falling in their respective countries.
Have emergency food, water, fuel and communications gear. There’s very little time left before things start going “wild weasel.”
Reality today
Chinese Apps continue to gain global popularity, counterbalancing with those from US
Smartphone applications developed by Chinese companies are expanding internationally. A survey of the five most downloaded apps in 95 countries and regions revealed that Chinese apps, such as the video publishing software “TikTok”, made up more than 30% of the total. Compared to three years ago, the proportion has increased and is now on par with US applications. Despite increased regulation in the US for reasons of safety and security, the prevalence of Chinese applications has continued to grow.
Based on data from Sensor Tower, a US-based research firm, the Nikkei analyzed new downloads of Google and Apple’s app release services in the US from January to March 2023. Out of the top 5 apps in 95 countries and regions, including Japan, China, and the US, Chinese apps accounted for 33%, or 156 out of 475. This represents an increase of approximately 8 percentage points compared to Q1 of 2020.
The app with the highest number of downloads is TikTok, developed by ByteDance, which ranks among the top five in 82 countries and territories, accounting for 86% of the total. Additionally, CapCut, a video editing application provided by the same company, has also experienced significant growth and is ranked among the top five in 48 countries (51% of the total).
SHEIN, an online clothing shopping application that imports apparel and groceries from China at a competitive price point, has gained significant popularity among the younger demographic. It has secured a spot in the top five rankings across ten countries, primarily in European and South American regions such as Spain and Brazil.
In terms of countries and regions, four Chinese applications occupied four out of the top five positions in the United States, ranking first, second, third and fifth respectively. Chinese apps are present in 90% of countries and regions’ top five rankings while only ten countries including Japan and India have no Chinese apps among their top five.
Regarding the Chinese app, Toshihiko Okano from NTT Data stated that “new technologies and initiatives are required in the Chinese market from a user-centric perspective. The companies that have succeeded in China are expanding their business globally and demonstrating strong competitiveness.” He also mentioned that TikTok’s algorithm for recommending videos based on users’ preferences and SHEIN’s ability to leverage the Chinese supply chain to ensure stable product supply are both supported by young people.
In the past, the top five apps in the US accounted for over 30% of the market share, which is comparable to China’s app market. Meta apps like Instagram alone held a quarter of the total share, but American companies’ overall percentage dropped from over 50% in January to March 2020. Currently, Chinese and American enterprises are counterbalancing each other.
This has raised a number of concerns as the Chinese government is entitled to request personal data held by domestic Chinese companies.
In response to the Chinese app, countries are strengthening controls in areas such as risk management for safety and security. The US and Europe have prohibited its use on public terminals for government employees, while Montana state legislature passed a bill in April banning the activities of TikTok’s operating company. Additionally, in April, the US parliamentary advisory body published a report titled “Risk of Data Infringement and Intellectual Property Infringement” regarding SHEIN.
New Chinese apps continue to be introduced and welcomed despite the presence of adverse forces. Temu, the most downloaded online shopping app in the US and Canada from January to March 2023, was released by China’s PDD Holdings in the autumn of 2022, and the photo-sharing app “Lemon8” by ByteDance, released after the autumn of 2021, is also gaining popularity in Japan and US.
Summertime thoughts
16/05/2023
Journalist John Pilger’s 2017 documentary The Coming War With China warned that the US had established a “perfect noose” of 400-odd military bases surrounding China, while former Australian PM Paul Keating recently asserted that the AUKUS deal makes us part of this “containment policy”.
Indeed, the AUKUS, local US force posture initiatives and increasing interoperability between US and Australian forces have heightened the premise that this relationship has relegated our nation (Australia) to the status of a vassal state: independent domestically but ever-compliant with US foreign policy.
However, the increasing deployment of US troops and arsenal to Australian shores doesn’t complete Washington’s agenda, as there is an island nation to the north of this one, that being Papua New Guinea, which the White House is interested in incorporating into its ring around Beijing’s neck.
This process involves AUKUS power Australia acting in a similar manner to that of the US in regard to us, when it comes to accessing and periodically obtaining control over certain Australian military facilities, as Canberra is taking a similar path at PNG’s Lombrum Naval Base in Manus province.
And while most Australians are aware that Joe Biden is coming to our country next week as part of the China-focused Quad alliance leaders meeting, many are unaware that the US president will also be paying a visit to our northern neighbour on his way, seeking to establish defence agreements.
Of strategic importance In USA, Australia Militarizing PNG , a paper released last month, journalist and ex-PNG foreign affairs officer Dominic Navue Sengi describes the AUKUS pact as “a case of vassals”, specifically our country and the United Kingdom, “lining up together under US leadership”.
Sengi outlines that he’d predicted in 2006 that PNG would be of increasing importance to the western alliance, when it began targeting China in the South China Sea, as PNG sits squarely in “an island chain”, commencing in Tokyo to Saipan and onto Guam: “the US’ so-called ‘big spearhead’ looking into China”.
The PNG journalist is also clear about the reason why the US-led AUKUS has China in its sights, which is not, as Australian authorities and media have asserted, due to Beijing posing any military threat to Washington or Canberra, but rather it’s that it’s likely soon to surpass US hegemonic economic power.
That the “USA and Australia have inserted militarily in PNG territorial jurisdiction” is obvious to many, writes Sengi, adding that the main development that sees AUKUS powers threatening PNG’s sovereignty and independence is via their involvement in the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island.
Yet, what Sengi describes as the AUKUS powers making forays into his nation’s jurisdiction involves a scenario whereby it’s Australia that’s asserting control over the PNG coastal military base, in a not dissimilar way to how the US has the ability to assert ultimate command over certain facilities here.
Increasing interoperability with PNG
The Obama administration shifted US military focus to the Indo Pacific region with its 2011 Pivot to Asia . And the following year saw the Gillard government agree to increasing US military presence in the north of Australia, which was officially established under the 2014 Force Posture Agreement.
This arrangement permits US forces to access dozens of local Australian bases and take control of them during any upgrades it decides to do.
And it further provides for the presence of 2,500 US marines in Australia, as well as increasing interoperability between air forces, and with the AUKUS, it also extends to navies.
In a similar manner, Australia now has access to PNG’s naval base on Manus Island. This was established via the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding for the Joint Initiative at Lombrum Naval Base , which aims to redevelop it and increase interoperability between both nations’ defence forces.
“The joint initiative will enhance PNG Defence Force capability to protect its borders and maritime resources through a broad program of mentoring, tailored training, infrastructure development and shared facilities at the PNG defence force base,” said then Australian defence minister Christopher Pyne.
Sengi suggests that secretive MoU implementation arrangements permit aspects of the multimillion-dollar redevelopment to remain hidden even to PNG cabinet ministers, with the obvious question triggered being whether Australia and the US are planning Lombrum to be an AUKUS submarine base.
A key feature of AUKUS is that Australia initially allows the US and UK to establish a joint rotational nuclear-powered submarine force here by 2027, which is prior to our nation then acquiring its own eight nuclear-powered attack-class subs, with all of this being in aid of mounting tensions with China.
Of increasing importance
Australian PM Anthony Albanese was over in PNG for a two-day visit in mid-January with the primary aim of releasing a Joint Statement of Commitment to Negotiate a Bilateral Security Treaty with his PNG counterpart James Marape: an agreement that involves increasing interoperability on security.
And ahead of the 24 May Sydney Quad Leaders’ Summit, US president Biden will be dropping in on PNG
to sign a defence agreement with that nation, which was finalised a fortnight ago, and he’ll also be meeting with 18 leaders of Pacific Island nations, with regional security likely to be the focus.
The second item on Biden’s PNG agenda is the signing of a Ship Rider Agreement , which will permit the US Coast Guard to patrol PNG waters, whilst also allowing the island nation’s military personnel to join onboard, with the aim of initiating them into the latest technologies.
“A US-China conflict could play out across the whole Pacific, including Melanesia and the Polynesian islands, not just in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, which puts PNG and the Solomons firmly in the spotlight,” UNSW Professor David Kilcullen told Reuters last week.
But according to Sengi, the Lombrum base MoU, the Ship Rider Agreement and the pending bilateral security arrangements with both Australia and the United States, all point to a situation whereby his nation has unwittingly been drawn into the noose of US bases tightening around China.
“The issues of command and control, of non-discriminate interoperability and training of naval officers, the parking of Australia’s hypersonic military transport assets and munitions are not particularly transparent,” the PNG journalist warns in his report.
And this lack of clarity, the former foreign affairs public servant maintains, poses issues for all levels of governments, as well as his nation’s peoples, in terms of how this growing interdependency with the AUKUS powers will impact PNG’s “sovereignty and national interest and foreign policy”.
Paul Gregoire is a Sydney-based journalist and writer. He has a focus on social justice issues
Fantasy And Funny Paintings By The Illustrator Sergey Svistunov
Russian artist Sergey Svistunov was born in a small city in Moscow region in 1985. Now he is a professional 2D illustrator and hobbyist making awesome funny and mainly fantasy (but also horror) style pictures. Sergey has the high level of skills and unbridled flight of fancy. His paintings include terrible monsters, fantasy girls, mystical landscapes, and just strange mythical essences. So let’s have a look at his great job.
The United States, under the current administration of Biden, has taken a significant diplomatic offensive step in Japan. They have planned to open a NATO office in the country. While this news does not come as a surprise to me personally, as I have been predicting this scenario, it does shed light on the future of East Asia.
It appears that the “Ukraine 2.0” plan is gaining momentum as Washington is making efforts to contain China’s rise. The focus is on utilizing the Taiwan card and ensuring that semiconductor chips do not fall into Mainland China’s hands. This is crucial as it would undermine the Anglo-Saxon empire’s significant monopoly in that area.
NATO plans to take first step in Asia-Pacific by opening Tokyo office, undermining regional peace NATO is reportedly planning to open a liaison office in Tokyo, the first of its kind in Asia, which Chinese analysts believe is a dangerous sign that the violent multilateral organization will take its first aggressive step in the Asia-Pacific, actively pushed by Japan. In response to the reported plan, Mao Ning, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told media on Thursday that Asia is an anchor for peace and stability and a promising land for cooperation and development, not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition. NATO's continued eastward foray into the Asia-Pacific and interference in regional affairs will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability and stoke camp confrontation. This calls for high vigilance among regional countries, Mao warned. Through the potential move, a prototype of a military alliance consisting of the US, some European countries and Japan could be further formed, which will obviously target China, Chinese analysts warned, noting that Japan joining NATO cannot be ruled out in the future. Japanese media outlet Nikkei Shimbun revealed the plan between NATO and Japan. The office, which could be opened next year, will allow NATO to conduct periodic consultations with Japan and key partners in the region such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand "as China emerges as a new challenge, alongside its traditional focus on Russia," Nikkei reported. The plan was confirmed by both Japanese and NATO officials, Nikkei reported. If Tokyo provides the funding for the Western military alliance to gain a foothold in Japan, it would symbolize a new phase in defense cooperation, Nikkei noted. Although Nikkei said that NATO-Japan cooperation, going forward, will focus on challenges that transcend regions, such as cyber threats, disruptive technology and disinformation activities, Chinese analysts predicted that the Tokyo office is certain to develop into a frontline against China through strengthening military and security cooperation. Liu Jiangyong, vice dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, believes that the liaison office will cover not only East Asia, but also regions ranging from Northeast Asia to the Indian Ocean and further to the South Pacific, so as to form an arc of military deterrence encircling China. Specifically, the NATO-Japan collusion aims to deter China on the Taiwan question, the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea issues, Liu told the Global Times on Thursday. Japan has actively pushed for NATO's eastward advance, Liu pointed out. Japan is currently taking advantage of the so-called dramatic change in the security situation to push for a constitutional amendment with ruthless ambition. If the constitutional amendment is made, it is conceivable that Japan could formally join NATO, through which the US, some European countries and Japan will be ready to form a global military alliance against China, Liu said.
What is China doing?
But why NATO is in Asia in the first place?
NATO or the US empire is essentially seeking to mobilize their so-called Indo-Pacific allies, who are actual puppets, as they prepare for war with China. As I predicted, Japan is being transformed into a base for white soldiers from various countries to be stationed on the Japanese mainland.
They are being prepared for the next major war, which would involve the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US on one side, and China and Russia on the other. It seems they are aiming to turn Asia into a scenario reminiscent of the Middle East.
With the establishment of a NATO office, there will likely be more strategic plans, coups, and various forms of warfare aimed at destabilizing Southeast Asia. The objective would be to create puppet regimes that align with the interests of the US and its allies, particularly in countering China’s influence. In some cases, this may even involve proxy wars similar to the Vietnam War, as a means to hinder China’s development and create further challenges for the country.
I miss days like that…
Is China prepared?
The good news is that China has been well-prepared and aware of these developments for years.
Upon Xi Jinping’s election as the leader of China, he prioritized the modernization of the Chinese military.
Through significant investments and training, China has transformed itself into a formidable power, particularly in terms of advanced technology.
While China may not have surpassed the US in this regard, it has reached a level where it can effectively face potential US conflicts in the Asian region.
In my view, one of the most significant contributions of China to this century is the leadership of Xi Jinping. While some may label me as a propagandist or wumao, I believe that a closer examination of China’s current military development reveals a leader who is thoroughly prepared.
Xi Jinping has effectively communicated the importance of being ready to face potential challenges and has motivated the Chinese people to stand strong, ensuring that China will not experience humiliation again.
His leadership has instilled a sense of preparedness and determination within the nation.
Chinese, at the same time, are ready to exact revenge on Japan for its past crimes in WWII. What’s ironic is that the Chinese are eagerly awaiting Japan’s involvement in the Taiwan conflict, as it would provide an opportunity for them to deliver the final blow, similar to how Stalin defeated Hitler during WWII.
Good luck with that Japan
Can the NATO plan work
If you ask me about their expertise in destabilization, oh boy, they sure can do that!
But let’s not forget how their grand adventures in Vietnam and Afghanistan turned out. It’s like watching a tragic love story, they always end up retreating back to their homes.
A person who understands Asia will know that Asians won’t allow Western powers to dominate them anymore.
They may attempt to create coups in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, or Vietnam, but the people will rise up and overthrow those puppet regimes. They are even ready for proxy wars if necessary.
While I personally dislike war, if the US believes they can win, they are welcome to try.
Even Taiwan will eventually reunify with China, and Japan will remain under our control. Japan will not be turned into a Western colony like Australia. If necessary, we will counter any attempts by Western forces by encouraging Asian immigration rather than allowing Western influence to prevail.
While we may not be able to prevent the Japanese people from the alleged genocide plan orchestrated by Western globalists, we are determined to ensure that Japan does not become another Australia.
We will resist any attempts to impose foreign control and strive to safeguard Japan’s sovereignty and identity.
Resistance will continue!
Casino: Rise of the Vegas Mob
Tablecloth-Stainer Chicken
(Mancha Manteles de Pollo)
Ingredients
- 2 dried mulatto chiles, toasted, seeded, de-veined, rinsed
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 small sweet potatoes, pared
- 2 medium tomatoes, broiled
- 1 medium white onion, coarsely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
- 1 broiler-fryer chicken, cut into quarters
- 1 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 cup cubed, pared fresh pineapple
- 1 tart apple, pared and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired
- Fresh cilantro sprigs
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Place chiles in small bowl with boiling water; let stand 1 hour.
- Cut potatoes lengthwise into quarter; cut quarter crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Place chiles and 1/3 cup of the soaking water in blender container; discard remaining water. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic and cinnamon; process until smooth.
- Heat lard in deep 10-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Cook 1/2 chicken at a time, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes; remove chicken to plate.
- Remove and discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings from skillet. Add chile mixture to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Add stock; heat over high heat to boiling. Add chicken, potatoes, pineapple and apple to skillet; simmer, covered, over low heat until chicken is tender, about 45 minutes.
- Remove chicken, potatoes and fruits to deep serving plates, dividing evenly; keep warm, covered.
- Skim and discard fat from cooking liquid. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat until sauce is slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir in salt. Spoon sauce over chicken; garnish with cilantro.
- Serve with lime wedges and Bolillos.
Happening Now: Kalibr Cruise Missile Launches from Black Sea – PATRIOT MISSILES ***JAMMED*** FAILING!
The Russian Navy is launching a salvo of Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea against Ukraine. Dozens of missiles are heading toward Kiev. . . .
GoodFellas | Henry Hill | Tommy DeVito | Airline Diner | Bamboo Lounge
REPORTS: CHIEF JUSTICE OF UKRAINE SUPREME COURT ARRESTED AFTER $3 MILLION BRIBE
The head of Ukraine’s Supreme Court has been apprehended by Ukrainian prosecutors over allegations of bribery, following the recent revelation of widespread corruption within the court.
The official’s identity has not been disclosed by prosecutors, who stated that they have yet to receive a formal “notice of suspicion.”
However, local media outlets have reported that Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev was taken into custody in relation to a bribe amounting to nearly $3 million.
In an official statement posted on both its Telegram and Facebook social media accounts, Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, in collaboration with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, declared that they had exposed extensive corruption within the Supreme Court.
This corruption allegedly involved a scheme where the court’s leadership and judges received bribes. Attached to the announcement, was an image depicting stacks of cash placed on a sofa.
Notice he was apparently bribed with . . . AMERICAN MONEY. Your tax dollars going to Ukraine as “aid” are really going into various pockets over there!
From Fangtengboo who is in China now. His first impressions
Posted by Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波
I’m in China now. This is a short account of what I noticed in those first days.
The last time I was in China was in November and December 2018, just before Corona. Before (2004 — – 2016) I lived in Suzhou and before that in Shanghai. Yesterday I was briefly in Shanghai, this morning I was in Nanjing, today and tomorrow in Suzhou.
The Chinese are much richer than we are.
Obvious.
Traffic:
Traffic is very quiet, in my estimation 40% of the cars are electric. In China, electric cars are easy to recognize by their green and white license plate. I don’t see any bicycles (really zero, not a single bicycle seen) but electric scooters. All cars are shiny new, I don’t see any rickety second-hand cars driving around. All cars are mid-range or higher, I have not seen any small cars. About half of the cars are German brands (Volkswagen Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW), all of which are made in China. I’ve also seen a lot of Maserati, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and other super luxury cars here, more than I’ve ever seen together in Western Europe. This morning I saw a pink pink Porsche driving next to me. Traffic is heavy in China, there are too many cars. But still there are no big traffic jams. The Chinese drivers are starting to get a little more experience and discipline. Ten years ago, traffic was chaotic and noisy.
Stay and eat
Tonight I am in “Sweet Garden Hotel”, just below “the Pants”, the iconic tower building at Lake Jinji in Suzhou. We went to eat in a seafood restaurant on the 4th floor in “the Pants” All kinds of fish and shellfish, lobster and crab, … super fresh (the fish still alive in an aquarium) eat as much as you can for less than 160 RMB /person. Yesterday we ate so terribly well in Shanghai Xujiahui. All staff incredibly obliging. In almost all hotels, large and small, you now see robots driving around.
Bank
This afternoon I was in the head office of ICBC bank in Suzhou where I have always been a customer. Again everyone very friendly and helpful. My bank account has been unblocked and I can use WeChat Pay again, because cash is almost no longer used in China. In the bank I used to see shabbily dressed Chinese who put money in their account in a plastic bag. That time is now over. I now see dolled-up ladies coming to discuss and rearrange their investments. Also a lot of super rich people in their twenties and thirties.
HST trains
On the Shanghai – Nanjing connection, an HST train runs on average every 15 minutes. They stop at only one or two HST stations (not all HST stations) between Shanghai and Nanjing. Some trains fly at a speed of 300 km/h through the HST station of Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, … That gives an effect like a fighter jet flying through a tunnel. Over the entire route, the HST trains run over “bridges”, on pillars that are sometimes only 2 meters high, the tracks are nowhere directly on the ground. The tracks are incredibly accurate, because when I put a bottle of water on my table, I hardly see any vibrations in the water. All HST trains have WiFi and a USB connection in every seat to charge your smartphone. All trains in China run punctually to the nearest half minute (more punctual than in Japan). The HST trains stop in the stations for exactly 70 seconds. Everyone has assigned places in the trains (That was already the case before the time of the high-speed trains). On the platform, the passengers are waiting at the correct carriage and door. Train tickets are now electronic with an app. There are hardly any regular “slow” trains running anymore.
China no longer needs us.
Where I used to see quite a few foreigners on the street, in the restaurants and on the trains, there are hardly any to be seen anymore. All together I saw 5 foreigners in China so far. Europeans. The Americans have all left. The knowledge of English in China (until 5 years ago it was better/more than in Japan, Korea or Thailand) is declining again. Chinese people now address me in Chinese and expect a conversation in Chinese. Always incredibly friendly and helpful.
Green
A tree is planted wherever there is a square meter of space in the city. All rivers, creeks, streams and watercourses are now neatly cleaned up with plantings and parks. Between Nanjing and Wuxi, where there used to be a lot of swamps, I now saw extensive tree nurseries, fish ponds and fish farms. Everywhere, really everywhere you look around you see new buildings, metro stations, roads, bridges, highways and HST train connections; under construction or just finished. But between all those new constructions, greenery is being planted diligently, every square meter counts. Highways are built “on growth”, for the expected traffic within three or five years.
In China, if you look around, you see surprising things every few minutes on average, things that you don’t see in the west.