MY THOUGHTS on News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

New York Times: “America’s Foes Are Joining Forces.” And adds: “Under both Donald Trump and President Biden, Washington has helped create the very anti-American partnerships it now bemoans.” Sans his mouth, Trump had better relations with China, Saudi Arabia, India, Brazil, and of course, Russia. Good for the U.S. Biden’s blunders? Most recent: How he messes up U.S. efforts to ease tension with China and his approval of shipment of cluster munitions to Ukraine. 

       Review of President Biden’s foreign affairs playbook: Haphazard pullout from Afghanistan. Lukewarm leadership attendance to Summit of the Americas. Economic sanction of Russia that didn’t work. The Taiwan Drama that went pfft. And his weird anti-Xi retort after State Secretary Antony Blinken’s China visit and before Treasury chief Janet Yellen trip. When I say Trump’s friendship with Washington’s rival is good is mainly economic smarts per continuous dealmaking over geopolitical narcissism hinged on military machismo to decide who is #1. 🏦😕🗽

Associated Press: “China accuses US of turning Taiwan into a powder keg.” China’s Defense Ministry says the U.S. is turning Taiwan into a powder keg with its latest sales of military equipment worth $440.2 million to the island. China is Taiwan’s top trading partner. Worth of business: Almost $300 billion, which is 23 percent of Taiwan’s total trade. With the U.S.? 13 percent. Ergo, why would Taiwan fight China? Or why not the U.S. talk about microchips over weapons? 🇨🇳☮️🇺🇸

       Facts behind the intrigue: Taiwan is world’s #1 microchips producer. Top clients of Taiwan’s giant electronics manufacturer Foxconn are U.S. Big Tech, #1 is Apple. Foxconn, which is global, has 12 factories in China, more than in any other country, including the largest in Shenzhen. 

New York Times: “Ruling Puts Social Media at Crossroads of Disinformation and Free Speech.” The Times infers, this is a “broader effort by conservatives to document what they contend is a liberal conspiracy to silence their views.” My FB Friends list is almost split between Conservatives and Liberals, which dominate my Homepage talk. I was a Left-leaning radical, now proudly unaligned. Yet when I chat with a New Left(ist) on my Page, I end up senselessly pissed.📱🗽📲

New York Times: “Is Botswana Getting a Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds?” Many in the country are pushing to get a better deal from the industry. African countries Botswana, Congo, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Lesotho are in the Top 10 of diamond mining countries. A more fair treatment of poorer countries on the trade table should be the focus over the ideological purity of “correcting” political systems that cultural facts don’t support. 

       While Russia is the world's largest diamond mining country and Canada is 3rd, African nations dominate the diamond production chart. But giant industry buyers such as the London-based De Beers treat them badly on the negotiating table. Related news: “When It Comes to Rubies, Is Mozambique the New Star?” And adds: “The $34.8 million auction price for a gem discovered in the East African country has the jewelry industry buzzing.” 🇧🇼💎🇧🇼

Rolling Stone: “Twitter Is So Heated Over Threads That They're Threatening Legal Action.” Threads is a new microblogging platform (like Twitter) from Meta/Facebook. Threads reached 75 million users in its first 48 hours, breaking a record set by ChatGPT. Recently, Twitter owner Elon Musk challenged Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg to fisticuffs in a "cage match." Mark accepted. But there’s no date for the “fight” yet. Are you interested now? Let’s get ready to rumbleeeeee! 🐦🙃🕶

Associated Press: “The US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package.” A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that ejects smaller submunitions, and designed to kill personnel–and civilians–and destroy vehicles. The move would easily invite outrage from some allies and humanitarian groups that have long opposed cluster bombs. Is this Ukraine’s war or U.S. war vs Russia? 

       President Biden’s decision, part of a new $800 million military aid package he promised Volodymyr Zelensky, comes as Treasury chief Janet Yellen–following State secretary Antony Blinken–is in China to help ease tensions between Washington and Beijing. The world is very aware that the end of war hinges on how China deals with Russia, and whenever the U.S. and E.U. stop sending arms aid to Ukraine. ☮️☮️☮️

Associated Press: “Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announces resignation after ruling coalition fails to agree on migration policy.” In total, 46,460 asylum seekers and following relatives entered the Netherlands in 2022. Although the number is a lot lower than Germany’s hosting of 2.2 million refugees, including more than 875,000 Ukrainian refugees, the migrant overflow stays as Europe’s decades-old unsolved crisis. 

       In April this year, some 75,000 applications for asylum were lodged in the EU+, up by nearly a quarter (24 percent) compared to April 2022. Meanwhile, Germany (2.2. million) now ranks behind Turkey (4 million) as the country that takes in the most refugees. The ongoing Ukraine War spiked refugee presence in Europe. So it continually confounds me why Europe, especially Germany, insists on tossing military aid to Ukraine instead of maximizing diplomatic channels to peace negotiation. 🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾

New York Times: “Court Rejects U.K. Plan to Fly Asylum Seekers to Rwanda as Unlawful.” I concur with relocating refugees to places/countries where cultural facts are closer to them so assimilation isn't a major issue. Giant economies can of course help by providing more economic investments to these countries or via refugee aid coursed through the United Nations Refugee Fund (UNREF) or direct aid.  Problem is, refugees favor Europe or America. 

       Refugees apparently risk life and limb to enter Europe and the U.S. Though they can cross the border to another country. Turkey hosts the most number of refugees, 4 million. From there, other nations help. The E.U. struck a deal with Turkey in re refugee aid but politics got in the way; it didn’t really work. Meanwhile, in Africa, South Africa boasts some of the most progressive asylum laws in the world. Instead of being forced into sprawling camps, once migrants apply for asylum, they can live and work anywhere in the country until the state determines whether or not they qualify as a refugee. ✈️🇬🇧✈️

New York Times: “Prigozhin Is Said to Be in Russia, as Wagner Mystery Deepens.” And adds: “After the mercenary boss staged a brief insurrection in Russia, the leader of Belarus said his country had taken him in, but now says the Wagner leader was in St. Petersburg and then `maybe he went to Moscow.’” Ah. The Ukraine War is a Netflix-styled political action thriller. Starring a dramatic buffoon and a stoic villain royale, plot twists abound a-la Jack Ryan intrigue. ☮️☮️☮️

Associated Press: “Las Vegas incident: Britney Spears says Wembanyama’s security struck her; Spurs rookie says he was grabbed.” I am not interested with what really went down. Nobody’s hurt? Fact is, Wemby hasn’t really shown his stuff in real NBA contest but hey! He's in The News, Hollywood-style. And all of a sudden Britney is in the spotlight. Kinda moved me to listen to her new duet with Elton John, “Hold Me Closer.” But uhh who held and grabbed who? 🏀🎲🏀