Much needless fuss has been generated by President Joe Bidens cancellation of his visit to Australia for the Quad meeting, a now regular gathering of leaders from the US, Japan, India and Australia. He had other things on his mind: dealing with fractious debt ceiling negotiations taking place back in the United States.

Students of US history would, or should have appreciated, the two phenomena that speckle the fiscal landscape in Washington. One is the failure of Congress to pass a budget in a timely, mature fashion. Then comes that plague known as the federal debt ceiling.

Since 1976, 22 federal government shutdowns have taken place because of budgetary tardiness. The results, while affecting employment and the economy, are always seen as minor relative to any failures to lift the debt ceiling. The latter comes with paralysis, the literal shutting down of government, leaving many services undelivered, and staff furloughed and unpaid.

Raymond Scheppach, a public policy academic based at the University of Virginia, is even unsparingly hyperbolic on the consequences of hitting the ceiling. It could bring down the entire financial system. This in turn could devastate the world gross domestic product and create mass unemployment. Such is the wisdom of having a global system so heavily concentrated in the hands of one power and its corporate auxiliaries.

Those most upset were the security propagandists in Australia, straining in their efforts to detect any smoke signals from Beijing. Would these suggest glee and delight, perhaps some gloating that Washington was neglecting the Indo-Pacific in favour of domestic squabbles? Internal fiscal chaos might also be a sign of decline, prompting the mandarins of the Middle Kingdom to rejoice.

The sentiment was odd, even childish, typical of the abandonment complex that percolates through the Australian political establishment. Notice me, please, Daddy seems to be their governing consideration, and not doing so induces a state of anxiety verging on the pathological. James Curran identifies that instinctive zero-sum mentality typical of this confected new cold war, one that leads to tenuous conclusions: a Joe Biden no-show was deemed a win for China, a blow to Americas standing in Asia, a marker of US decline and a humiliating snub to [Australian Prime Minister] Anthony Albanese. For fans and well-wishers for a decline, if not retreat, of sprawling US global power, the only answer would be: If only....

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg9jWsgQdb4

from Ukraine/Russia border - Patrick Lancaster Indy journalist

Bilderberg 2023 van start, deze Nederlanders zijn van de partij

De politie is in groten getale aanwezig en er zijn zelfs bomhonden ingezet.

Bilderberg 2023 van start, deze Nederlanders zijn van de partij.

Kaag,  Rutte en andere bekende criminelen.

De komende dagen spreken de aanwezigen over onder meer kunstmatige intelligentie, het bankenstelsel, China, de energietransitie, Europa, fiscale uitdagingen, India, de NAVO, Rusland, Oekrane en Amerikaans leiderschap.

Namens Nederland nemen Ben van Beurden van Shell, Dolf van den Brink van Heineken, professor Victor Halberstadt van de Universiteit Leiden, minister van Financin Sigrid Kaag, Rolly van Rappard van CVC Capital Partners, premier Rutte en Peter Wennink van ASML deel aan de bijeenkomst.

Opvallende namen

Andere opvallende namen zijn: directeur van Vattenfall Anna Borg, Pfizer-baas Albert Bourla, voorzitter van het World Economic Forum Brge Brende, Henry Kissinger, secretaris-generaal van de NAVO Jens Stoltenberg, voorzitter van het Europees Parlement Roberta Metsola en EU-buitenlandchef Josep Borrell.

Depleted Gaza hospitals count losses after Israel's offensive

BY ANDREW KORYBKO | MAY 19, 2023

Two new narratives were introduced into the Wests information ecosystem over the past week. The first concerns the need to adapt to multipolar processes by engaging more with the Global South, which was expressed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, former US National Security Council member Fiona Hill, and Goldman Sachs President of Global Affairs Jared Cohen all on the exact same day last Monday. The next narrative complemented this one and came two days later on Wednesday.

Global affairs guru Henry Kissingers lengthy interview with The Economist from late April was published on that day, in which he devoted considerable time explaining why the US should revive its talks with China on a New Dtente that were unexpectedly derailed by Februarys balloon incident. CNN then reported on that same day that Biden administration looking at arranging high-profile visits to China by senior officials, which suggests that it was briefed earlier about his proposal and heeded his advice.

The first narrative about engaging more with the Global South complements the second one about reviving talks with China on a New Dtente in the sense that the former is one of the three prerequisites for successfully accomplishing the latter, at least according to how American policymakers likely view it. They want to signal that the US wont voluntarily cede influence in the Global South to China, but instead plans to compete with it there via economic and diplomatic means.

This goal will be greatly advanced through a combination of pragmatic engagement with the Global Souths informal Indian leader, whose Prime Minister visits the US late next month, and coordinating between Americas Buil...

In the current tumult of Pakistans politics, the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his ongoing dispute with the Pakistan military echo similar crises in the nations history. Having been released on bail, Khans bold challenge to the military has incited unprecedented levels of protests and unrest across the country. Understanding these historical episodes, specifically the militarys evolving role in governance, can shed light on the present situation.

Pakistans political history is marked by repeated military interventions that have shaped the administration and direction of its civilian and military institutions. Since the countrys founding in 1947, there have been three successful coups in 1958, 1977, and 1999 that serve as key reference points in understanding the civil-military dynamic. As we explore the current conflict, comparing it with these historical events and analyzing their effects on civilian institutions can provide valuable insight.

The post Backgrounder: Pakistans Civil-Military Crisis appeared first on Geopolitical Monitor.

Zelensky arrives in Saudi Arabia to attend Arab League summit

<blockquote> <h5><a href= "https://www.globalresearch.ca/ongoing-fascist-repression-pakistan/5819354" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;">By Junaid S. Ahmad | <em>Global Research</em> | May 18, 2023</span></a></h5> </blockquote> <p>Confirmed and corroborated by at least two dozen of my former students both inside Pakistans military-intelligence apparatus as well as those protesting it. This is the face of fascism, the culmination of a year-long Washington-backed regime change operation against former prime minister Imran Khan.</p> <blockquote> <p>Around 7000+ PTI supporters and workers across Pakistan are in illegal custody of multiple LEAs and Police at the moment and not presented in any court after so many days of abduction.</p> <p>The IG of Punjab himself claimed 3500+ abductions in Punjab. The actual number is around 5000+ for Punjab and 2000+ for KP & Islamabad.

No law permits any custody after 24 hours without presenting the accused in courts. Out of ~5000 abductions in Punjab, only ~200 presented in Punjabs courts so far.</p> <p>None of them were not involved in any kind of vandalism at all and arrested just because they are peaceful PTI Supporters/Workers and their families.</p> <p>Its the first time in history that political workers female family members are also being picked up to pressurise and humiliate them. In one case, an 8 year-old kid was also kidnapped for a few hours.</p> <p>Hundreds of them are reportedly being tortured and pressurised to give false statements against PTI leadership.</p> </blockquote> <p><em>Prof. Junaid S. Ahmad teaches Religion and Global Politics, and is the Director of the Center for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality, Islamabad, Pakistan. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.</em></p>

By Thierry Meyssan | Voltaire Network | May 16, 2023

Pakistan has never been independent. It has always remained a toy in the hands of the United Kingdom and the United States. During the Western war against the Afghan communist regime, it became a rear base for Bin Ladens mujahideen and Arab fighters. However, for the past decade, a cricket champion like no other has been trying to liberate it, make peace with India and create social services: Imran Khan.

Imran Khan, world cricket champion and former Prime Minister. He is fighting for a modern, more social and independent state.

The Pakistani population is rising up against its army and its political personnel. Everywhere, demonstrations are forming in support of the former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, who has just been released but is the subject of a hundred legal proceedings.

WHO IS IMRAN KHAN?

Imran Khan comes from an illustrious Pashtun family. His father is descended from an Indian general and governor of the Punjab, and his mother from a Sufi master who invented the Pashto alphabet. He was educated in Lahore, then in England at Oxford. He speaks Saraiki, Urdu, Pashto and English....

India slammed in new US report on religious freedom

Pakistan has never been independent. It has always remained a toy in the hands of the United Kingdom and the United States. During the Western war against the Afghan communist regime, it became a rear base for Bin Laden's mujahideen and Arab fighters. However, for the past decade, a cricket champion like no other has been trying to liberate it, make peace with India and create social services: Imran Khan.

Live from Ox Sam Camp at Peehee Mu'huh (Thacker Pass)Censored NewsMay 15, 2023The defenders of the Paiute Massacre Site are prepared to be served with a restraining order. Lithium Americas of Canada is targeting two non-Indians, in order to distract from the fact that Paiute descendants of a survivor of the massacre here are leading the ceremony and road blockade.Ox Sam Camp said late today,

The 75th anniversary of the Nakba brought unprecedented coverage in American media of the Palestinian experience.

Established in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has evolved into a significant regional organization in Eurasia, attracting increasing attention from both member states and observers worldwide. This backgrounder seeks to offer an in-depth understanding of the SCOs history, its strategic motives, and the trends that have emerged over time, while also examining its role and relevance in contemporary geopolitics.

Brief History of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The SCO was founded by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in June 2001. The organization initially emerged from the Shanghai Five, which was formed in 1996 with the aim of demilitarizing the common borders of its members following the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Over time, the organization has grown, incorporating India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, in addition to multiple observer and dialogue partners like Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia, among others.

A key driving force of the SCOs growth has been in response to the enlargement of Western institutions like NATO and the EU. The increasing great power competition between the West and countries like China and Russia has driven these nations to establish and enlarge regional platforms like the SCO without requiring a common doctrine that impedes sovereignty.

The post Backgrounder: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) appeared first on Geopolitical Monitor.

Een Indiase miljardair die als premier van het straatarme Verenigd Koninkrijk verarmd uranium wapens aan het Zelensky-regime in Kiev levert om daarmee Rusland te bestoken. En gelachen dat we hebben. Kijk maar: showtime.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine made it clear that the long-range Storm Shadow missiles received from the UK are intended to hit the naval base of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in Sevastopol.

The moment when you realize that the distance from the front line to warships with Caliber missiles in the Sevastopol Bay is 298 km 700 meters, such a caption on Twitter is accompanied by a photo of the laughing Pres...

This article comes from one of our regular article-sifters-and-sharers, and it's more grist for the mill as you consider what is behind the moves

The post INDIANA OUTLAWS CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY appeared first on The Giza Death Star.

F.M. Shakil The brief arrest of the former PM has again unleashed political turmoil in Pakistan, amid speculation that powerful military opponents may have orchestrated the unrest for their own interests. Following the spectacular arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan over an alleged corruption case on 9 May, Pakistan veered into anarchy and mayhem for...

One must ask how prepared Manila is to weather potential economic reprisals, especially from Beijing. As US-China rivalry intensifies, pressure on allies and partners grows. Strategic access in return for economic concessions or security assistance plays out in the Indo-Pacific region. Cases abound, from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines to the Marshall Continue reading As US-China Rivalry Boils, Manila Should Play its Cards Well 

• Meta identified three advanced persistent threat (APT) groups using elaborate fictitious personas on Facebook and Instagram to target individuals in South Asia with social engineering tactics.
• The APT groups masqueraded as recruiters, journalists, military personnel, and romantic connections and relied heavily on social engineering rather than malware to trick victims.
• Meta disrupted 110 accounts linked to Bahamut, 120 accounts associated with a Pakistan-based APT group, and 50 accounts tied to an India-based threat actor dubbed Patchwork.
• Meta also took down six adversarial networks from the U.S., Venezuela, Iran, China, Georgia, Burkina Faso, and Togo that engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior on various social media platforms. Read More

The post Meta Uncovers Cyber Espionage Operations Across South Asia appeared first on The Clarion Project.

Today former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was arrested while visiting the Islamabad High Court in an unrelated case. The arrest comes at a critical point for Pakistan's economy. Behind the scene U.S. and China are wrestling for influence....

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has emerged as a central factor in regional and global politics, economics, and security. As the flagship project under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it aims to create a network of infrastructure projects, energy production, and trade routes connecting Chinas western region to Pakistans Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. Spanning over 3,000 kilometers and with an estimated price tag of over $60 billion USD, the majority of the projects are located in Pakistans Balochistan province and are principally funded by Chinese lenders, including the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China.

The post CPEC: The Long and Winding Road to Realization appeared first on Geopolitical Monitor.

Leonard Peltier/Photo by Gloria LaRivaStatement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues22nd SessionApril 25, 2023AIM-West Oral InterventionItem #4Each year we are saddened to remind this forum that Mr. Leonard Peltier, Anishinabe and Dakota and an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, has been wrongfully

The G7, formed in 1975, is an intergovernmental political forum of seven member states of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union (EU). Historically, these countries are amongst the most influential ones, with significant political, economic, and military power. Japan assumed the G7 Presidency for 2023 and the 49th G7 Summit is scheduled to be held from 19-21 May 23 at Hiroshima.

Considering the increasing role of other countries in global politics, the G20 (Group of Twenty) was created which included emerging economies such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey, along with the countries of the G7. Though the G20 was formed in 1999, initially it was attended only by finance ministers and central bank governors. The G20 represents over 80% of global GDP and two-thirds of the worlds population and provides a platform for both advanced and emerging economies to discuss and implement coordinated international responses on globally important issues, making it the premier forum for economic cooperation. India assumed the G20 Presidency for 2023 and the 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit will be held in New Delhi in September 2023.

Importance of critical minerals  

Critical minerals are those non-fuel minerals that are essential for the economic and national security of a country, but are vulnerable to supply chain disruption. These include lithium, cobalt, graphite, copper, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals, amongst others. These minerals are essential for clean energy technologies such as wind turbines, solar PV panels, storage batteries and electric vehicles. Therefore, their availability plays an important role in the sustainable energy transition.

The supply-demand gap of critical minerals in widening. The IEA forecasts that, driven by increasing deployment of clean energy technologies, the overall demand for critical minerals could increase by as much as six times by 2040, with the demand for lithium, graphite, cobalt and nickel increasing...