#the russian-canadian alliance

[captain-hollis]

I love the maps of the future earth you get in these shows

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #26

July 5-12 2024

The IRS announced it had managed to collect $1 billion in back taxes from high-wealth tax cheats. The program focused on persons with more than $1 million in yearly income who owned more than $250,000 in unpaid taxes. Thanks to money in Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act the IRS is able to undertake more enforcement against rich tax cheats after years of Republicans cutting the agency's budget, which they hope to do again if they win power again.

The Biden administration announced a $244 million dollar investment in the federal government’s registered apprenticeship program. This marks the largest investment in the program's history with grants going out to 52 programs in 32 states. The President is focused on getting well paying blue collar opportunities to people and more people are taking part in the apprenticeship program than ever before. Republican pledge to cut it, even as employers struggle to find qualified workers.

The Department of Transportation announced the largest single project in the department's history, $11 billion dollars in grants for the The Hudson River Tunnel. Part of the $66 billion the Biden Administration has invested in our rail system the tunnel, the most complex Infrastructure project in the nation would link New York and New Jersey by rail under the Hudson. Once finished it's believed it'll impact 20% of the American economy by improving and speeding connection throughout the Northeast.

The Department of Energy announced $1.7 billion to save auto worker's jobs and convert factories to electronic vehicles. The Biden administration will used the money to save or reopen factories in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia and retool them to make electric cars. The project will save 15,000 skilled union worker jobs, and created 2,900 new high-quality jobs.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development reached a settlement with The Appraisal Foundation over racial discrimination. TAF is the organization responsible for setting standards and qualifications for real estate appraisers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics last year found that TAF was 94.7% White and 0.6% Black, making it the least racially diverse of the 800 occupations surveyed. Black and Latino home owners are far more likely to have their houses under valued than whites. Under the settlement with HUD TAF will have to take serious steps to increase diversity and remove structural barriers to diversity.

The Department of Justice disrupted an effort by the Russian government to influence public opinion through AI bots. The DoJ shut down nearly 1,000 twitter accounts that were linked to a Russian Bot farm. The bots used AI technology to not only generate tweets but also AI image faces for profile pictures. The effort seemed focused on boosting support for Russia's war against Ukraine and spread negative stories/impressions about Ukraine.

The Department of Transportation announces $1.5 billion to help local authorities buy made in America buses. 80% of the funding will go toward zero or low-emission technology, a part of the President's goal of reaching zero emissions by 2050. This is part of the $5 billion the DOT has spent over the last 3 years replacing aging buses with new cleaner technology.

President Biden with Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed a new agreement on the arctic. The new trilateral agreement between the 3 NATO partners, known as the ICE Pact, will boost production of ice breaking ships, the 3 plan to build as many as 90 between them in the coming years. The alliance hopes to be a counter weight to China's current dominance in the ice breaker market and help western allies respond to Russia's aggressive push into the arctic waters.

The Department of Transportation announced $1.1 billion for greater rail safety. The program seeks to, where ever possible, eliminate rail crossings, thus removing the dangers and inconvenience to communities divided by rail lines. It will also help update and improve safety measures at rail crossings.

The Department of the Interior announced $120 million to help tribal communities prepare for climate disasters. This funding is part of half a billion dollars the Biden administration has spent to help tribes build climate resilience, which itself is part of a $50 billion dollar effort to build climate resilience across the nation. This funding will help support drought measures, wildland fire mitigation, community-driven relocation, managed retreat, protect-in-place efforts, and ocean and coastal management.

The USDA announced $100 million in additional funds to help feed low income kids over the summer. Known as "SUN Bucks" or "Summer EBT" the new Biden program grants the families of kids who qualify for free meals at school $120 dollars pre-child for groceries. This comes on top of the traditional SUN Meals program which offers school meals to qualifying children over the summer, as well as the new under President Biden SUN Meals To-Go program which is now offering delivery of meals to low-income children in rural areas. This grant is meant to help local governments build up the Infrastructure to support and distribute SUN Bucks. If fully implemented SUN Bucks could help 30 million kids, but many Republican governors have refused the funding.

USAID announced its giving $100 million to the UN World Food Program to deliver urgently needed food assistance in Gaza. This will bring the total humanitarian aid given by the US to the Palestinian people since the war started in October 2023 to $774 million, the single largest donor nation. President Biden at his press conference last night said that Israel and Hamas have agreed in principle to a ceasefire deal that will end the war and release the hostages. US negotiators are working to close the final gaps between the two sides and end the war.

The Senate confirmed Nancy Maldonado to serve as a Judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Maldonado is the 202nd federal Judge appointed by President Biden to be confirmed. She will the first Latino judge to ever serve on the 7th Circuit which covers Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Bonus: At the NATO summit in Washington DC President Biden joined 32 allies in the Ukraine compact. Allies from Japan to Iceland confirmed their support for Ukraine and deepening their commitments to building Ukraine's forces and keeping a free and Democratic Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. World leaders such as British Prime Minster Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, praised President Biden's experience and leadership during the NATO summit

[weemietime]

Blorbo

- Shayne or Weemie

- He/him, 33, Canadian

- ISTP, 8w9, sanguine

- Irish, French, Polish, Jewish

- Queer

- Find me on Reddit, and YouTube

- I run a mental health support group on Discord called Treehouse, the politics is kept low-key, moderates and progressives and allies are all allowed, people of all races, religions, sexualities, genders, etc are welcome. Our bread and butter is trauma and disorders that are caused by trauma such as cluster B personality disorders, OCD, certain psychotic features, attachment disorders, dissociative disorders, etc.

Posts about

- DDR, mutual aid, pragmatic pacifism

- ACAB, restorative justice, prison abolition

- Trauma, mental illness, indoctrination

- Zionism, New Iran, Land Back

- Diplomacy, international humanitarian law

- Post-economy, evolution beyond money

- Climate change, environmentalism

- Perpetration induced traumatic stress

Disclosure

- Religious Conservative Jew

- PTSD, SZPD, OCD, ADHD

- Physically disabled, chronic pain

- Former violent offender

- Sober addict

- I have a cortical visual impairment and visual agnosia, so sometimes I will misread or not see things properly. If I ignore or don't see something of yours it isn't on purpose.

Inline Tags (Theme)

#weemie #jumblr #hamas

#ask #mutual aid #szpd

#ocd #ptsd #lgbt #politics

#antisemitism #ableism #israel

Common Questions

What is antisemitism?

"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." IHRA, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

Antisemitism is spelled as one word, without the dash, as it is not bigotry against all Semites (Arabs + Jews), it is solely about Jews.

Is antisemitism the same as antizionism?

The 3-Ds of antisemitism are Demonization, Delegitimization and Double-Standards. If your criticism of Israel doesn't apply to any other country, if the way you talk about Israelis doesn't match how you talk about Russians, Iranians, Chinese, etc. then it is antisemitism.

What antisemitism is not

Criticism of Israel on its own (i.e. crimes, gov't, policies)

Palestinian self-determination

Palestinian flags, pride, culture

Criticism of religious Judaism (i.e. trauma, harm)

Is accusing Arabs/Muslims of antisemitism racist/Islamophobic?

It is racist to accuse Arabs of being de facto antisemites.

It is racist to presume Arabs are all Muslim as well.

It is not racist to acknowledge that Islam is foundationally taken from Jewish texts and histories, which have been misinterpreted and abused to justify antisemitic violence. It is not racist to hold Islam accountable for the imperialism that pervades its evangelical arm.

Just like it isn't racist to do the same for Christianity. And we hold this standard for Judaism as well. Just like it isn't antisemitic to criticize the harms that Jewish religion has caused for others (such as LGBT), it isn't Islamophobic to do the same.

How prevalent is antisemitism?

It's baked-in to two of the world's major religions, Christianity and Islam. Unfortunately that means antisemitism is the de facto sentiment of a majority of the world's population. Antisemitism is one of the oldest, longest hatreds. That means we are often subjected to historical revisionism, such as denying the severity of the Holocaust, or publishing encyclopedias, textbooks, as "information" with clearly antisemitic content pasted over real events. 

A good example is a look at the Wikipedia article for what Zionism is.

This clearly shows that Wikipedia is being subjected to antisemitic historical revisionism.

What is the alt-left?

We will use the BITE model for indoctrination as popularized by Steven Hassan in Combating Cult Mind Control. BITE stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotion. The most common form of indoctrination is called a thought-terminating cliche, or a fallacy-fallacy.

For example:

P1: "Israel is committing genocide!"

P2: "How many people have Russia killed so far"

P1: "500,000"

P2: "Do you think Russia is committing genocide?

Should we eject Putin from the UNSC?"

P1: "That's whataboutism!"

Resist this "whatabousim" idea, as it is designed to terminate all objections to clear hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is different than whataboutism, because it is a double standard, one of the 3-Ds of antisemitism.

So what is Zionism?

Zionism is the acknowledgment that Jews are the indigenous population of Israel, who have a right to self-determination in their homeland. Zionism is extremely broad. Some people don't even require Israel to be the Jewish country (their goal is simply safety and community for Jews world-wide, in Some Place), but this is a more secular argument.

Some people believe Zionism is only applicable to Jews (i.e. you cannot call yourself a Zionist if you are not a Jew), others are OK with goyim using the term as well. You'll have to feel that out, as both sides of the equation have a right to exist. Personally I use Zionism in as broad a definition as possible, so it does include non-Jews, with the exception of Messianic Christians, and evangelical hoo-hah.

When you're discussing Zionism with a Jew, especially as a non-Jew, you need to listen to what they describe Zionism as. It is de-legitimizing (another of the 3-Ds) to claim that Jews can't be trusted to point out antisemitic rhetoric. Jews define antisemitism, and we define Zionism. They are words about us, for us. 

In some cases people will say wrong dumb shit, so refer back to the first part of what antisemitism isn't. E.g. if someone (even a fellow Jew) says holding a Palestinian flag is antisemitic, they are actually being antisemitic themselves.

Is goy a slur?

No, in fact the term "gentile" was popularized by the KKK. Gentile is based off of a Christian scholar's interpretation of the term goy (Saint Jerome). Goy simply means "nations", as in non-Jewish people. Goyim/goy is not a slur. Some people might use it derogatorily, the same way Black people might speak negatively about white folks who have been racist to them.

It's still not a slur. We prefer to use goy because it is our word, we like it, and it doesn't have a history of being lobbed at us by mask-wearing wizard KKK freaks. Terms like "zio", "zionazi" etc are also slurs developed by David Duke.

You're a conservative who believes in prison abolition and social justice blah khadl blargo de glarm hlblehgah?

Conservative Judaism is a progressive, egalitarian denomination of Judaism. We believe in conserving the spirit of the Torah, but produce adaptive Responsa as we gain more scientific and social understanding. it is not Republican/political conservatism.

Why do you post all these gibberish asks by idiots?

That's actually the reason I am here! To do outreach to people who are brainrotted. I was an extreme kid. I was indoctrinated into a violent armed gang at age 8, and we had a lot of the same ideology.

Violence is cool, and our enemies should die and be hurt, brutality should be rewarded, etc. I want to dismantle this pipeline. I want to use my experiences to be a force for good, because that gives meaning to my life.

But I get that it's annoying to constantly read bullshit, so you don't have to follow me!

Is Israel committing genocide?

As it stands now, I'm keeping an eye on things. The simplest opinion I have is that we don't have any real data to work with, so we can't make conclusions. But we do have testimonies, believable ones, from people who were there and who are documenting the Likud war crimes.

So far, there is not conclusive proof that Israel is committing genocide in a systematic way. Some Israeli politicians are saying genocidal rhetoric, (one egregious piece of evidence is Halevi's statements that bombing Gazan civilian areas would "soften the battlefield," which is an open statement he made to media, this would mean he supports giving orders to deliberately target civilian areas - this is genocidal!) but this is separate from genocidal actions.

It's possible the answer to this question will change to yes and I have always been open about that. And if it does become yes, I will say yes.

[fatehbaz]

After the closure of their flagship shopping location in Winnipeg in 2020, what’s going on with Canada’s beloved retail department store, the former fur trade monopoly leader, once a central force in the British Empire’s control of North America, the Hudson’s Bay Company? The empire lives on, continuing to control land through Canadian and US real estate companies. Liquidating real estate can keep the money and keep the land in the same hands.

Regarding the decline of the oldest European company in North America, and “new” manifestations of imperialist conceptions of land: I wanted to summarize the reporting work of Don Gillmor, in an article for The Walrus published in January 2023. (Credit to Gillmor for piecing together these threads of thought and framing the story, here.)

So the “oldest company in North America” is the Hudson’s Bay Company. After chartering in the 1670s, HBC “owned” vast stretches of land and was central to British and later Canadian control of “the West,” and then enjoyed decades of celebration in the twentieth century as a retail department store chain. HBC’s flagship store in Winnipeg was finally closed in November 2020. At the time, commercial real estate firms “valued the building at $0.” As Gillmor puts it: “Millions of Canadians grew up with the Hudson’s Bay Company as a place to buy towels and clothes, but land has always been at the heart of HBC. Canada’s oldest company began as a land deal (at least from the European perspective) during an outbreak of the bubonic plague and may end as a real estate deal in another plague.”

---

In 2022, as part of what many observers and some Indigenous critics considered a superficial public relations campaign, HBC “gifted” the 500,000 square-foot downtown Winnipeg building to the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, an “alliance of southern First Nations communities in Manitoba.” Critics haven’t all been impressed.

Here, Gillmor cites some local commentary: “[A]n episode of Media Indigena, a podcast broadcast from Winnipeg by journalist Rick Harp, [...] offered another perspective. A guest, Kenneth Williams, an assistant professor with the University of Alberta’s department of drama, suggested that, as reparations, it wasn’t enough. HBC exploited Indigenous people for centuries [...]. And the Winnipeg store was ground zero for this trade, with the largest fur storage facility in western Canada, a vault that could hold 12,000 furs. Williams suggested ‘the inspired act of reclamation’ was merely HBC getting rid of a toxic asset.”

Current HBC governor and chairman, Richard Baker, seems to be purposely liquidating HBC’s assets, to cash out, so to speak. In a 2020 interview, Baker said: “We’re not a department store chain. We’re a holding company that owns many billions of dollars of real estate.”

---

Since inception, it been all about land.

So the “company’s roots can be traced back to 1665″ when Pierre-Espirit Radisson traveled to London to ask for the financial backing of King Charles II. This was the same year that up to one-fifth of London’s population had died during an outbreak of bubonic plague. By 1670, King Charles II “granted the charter that started the Hudson’s Bay Company, but the ownership of the land was largely an abstraction. He had no idea of its size and viewed it as a commodity. [...] The imbalance of power meant that the colonizer’s mercantile philosophies” including apparent human detachment from and lordship over land “became the foundation” for British imperial power in Canada.

---

In 1867, “the Dominion of Canada was formed, but much of the west was still controlled by HBC.” In that same year, “the Americans bought Alaska from the Russians,” and so, to compete with the United States, both the British government and infamous Canadian prime minister Macdonald pressured HBC to sell much of western North America to the Canadian government at a discount price, giving Canada so-called “ownership” of a massive stretch of land "twice the size of Alaska.”

---

And now, the chairman of HBC is cashing out. And the Empire’s found new ways to mask its activities while still keeping land in the same hands.

According to Gillmor: “In 2012, he took the company public and acquired the upscale department store Saks [...]. In March 2020, [...] Baker won his bid to take the company private once more [...]. In Canada, the last of the big homegrown department stores (Simpson’s, Eaton’s, Sears, and Zellers) were all gone. In the US, Macy’s was closing stores; Neiman Marcus, Barneys, JCPenney had all filed for bankruptcy [...]. Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University and a former CEO of Sears Canada, saw it as a thinly veiled strategy to strip the assets of HBC so only the real estate remained [...]. ‘It’s a ­financial play,’ he said, ‘which gives him the ability to manipulate the real estate assets of Hudson’s Bay, both in Canada and the US.’ [...] ‘Baker will liquidate the Bay,’ Cohen predicted. ‘He will liquidate.’ If he does -- its Bay Days sales and Stanfield underwear finally gone -- all that will be left will be the land. Currently, it is controlled by deeds, leaseholds, and leases that are shared by Baker, venture capitalists, equity partners [...].”

Meaning that the future of the HBC stores and other properties across North America remains similar to the initial colonization project. Again from Gillmor: “[T]his version of the land echoes that of the seventeenth century: its ownership [...] complex [...] and profiting someone in another country.”

Land profited kings. Land now profits CEOs and venture capitalists and property management companies.

---

All quotes above were excerpted from Gillmor’s article: Don Gillmor. “Why Hudson’s Bay Company’s Future Is in Question.” The Walrus. 4 January 2023. [Bold emphasis added by me.]

---

Related.

In an article from October 2020, on the eve of the Winnipeg store’s closure, Manitoba-based reporter Niigaan Sinclair offered some commentary. Following quote from: Niigaan Sinclair. “Right place, right time: Downtown Bay building a monument to colonization’s brutality, but it could be transformed into a place of Indigenous positvity, reconciliation.” Winnipeg Free Press. 5 October 2020.

Three-and-a-half centuries after Hudson’s Bay Co. received its first charter -- giving Prince Rupert and his “Company of Adventurer’s of England” an exclusive trading monopoly over the entire Hudson Bay drainage basin -- it’s biggest symbol of colonization is coming to an end. [...] [T]he company plans to close its six-storey flagship store at Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard, literally Canada’s gateway to the West. So this is how colonization ends. The people who profit the most take all they can from the land and people within it, and then quietly leave when there’s nothing left to take. Soon, all that will be left is an empty [...] pile of plaster and metal that will cost millions to repair or remove for those who actually live here. Really, though, this is how colonization continues. HBC is not a retail empire -- never really was -- but a massive real estate company. Just as King Charles II gave Prince Rupert lands that were not his to give, HBC holds deeds to billions of dollars of global property [...] and will march on. [...] HBC’s legacy of exploitation, violence and theft is permanent, though. HBC began with profits from the slave trade and cheap goods from the British colonies. It was instrumental in manufacturing goods for the Commonwealth [...]. Alongside were billions built off Indigenous lands and resources.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.3 (before 1960)

69 – The Roman legions on the Rhine refuse to declare their allegiance to Galba, instead proclaiming their legate, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor. 250 – Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to make sacrifices to the Roman gods. 1521 – Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. 1653 – By the Coonan Cross Oath, the Eastern Church in India cuts itself off from colonial Portuguese tutelage. 1749 – Benning Wentworth issues the first of the New Hampshire Grants, leading to the establishment of Vermont. 1749 – The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, is published. 1777 – American General George Washington defeats British General Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton. 1815 – Austria, the United Kingdom, and France form a secret defensive alliance against Prussia and Russia. 1833 – Captain James Onslow, in the Clio, reasserts British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. 1848 – Joseph Jenkins Roberts is sworn in as the first president of Liberia. 1861 – American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States. 1868 – Meiji Restoration in Japan: The Tokugawa shogunate is abolished; agents of Satsuma and Chōshū seize power. 1870 – Construction work begins on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, United States. 1871 – In the Battle of Bapaume, an engagement in the Franco-Prussian War, General Louis Faidherbe's forces bring about a Prussian retreat. 1885 – Sino-French War: Beginning of the Battle of Núi Bop. 1911 – A magnitude 7.7 earthquake destroys the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan. 1911 – A gun battle in the East End of London leaves two dead. It sparked a political row over the involvement of then-Home Secretary Winston Churchill. 1913 – An Atlantic coast storm sets the lowest confirmed barometric pressure reading for a non-tropical system in the continental United States. 1913 – First Balkan War: Greece completes its capture of the eastern Aegean island of Chios, as the last Ottoman forces on the island surrender. 1920 – Over 640 are killed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes the Mexican states Puebla and Veracruz. 1933 – Minnie D. Craig becomes the first woman elected as Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives, the first woman to hold a Speaker position anywhere in the United States. 1944 – World War II: US flying ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington is shot down in his Vought F4U Corsair by Captain Masajiro Kawato flying a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. 1946 – Popular Canadian American jockey George Woolf suffers a concussion during a freak racing accident; he dies from the injury the following day. The annual George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is created to honor him. 1947 – Proceedings of the U.S. Congress are televised for the first time. 1949 – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, is established. 1953 – Frances P. Bolton and her son, Oliver from Ohio, become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress. 1956 – A fire damages the top part of the Eiffel Tower. 1957 – The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch. 1958 – The West Indies Federation is formed.[ 1959 – Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state.

[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: NORAD and allies practice interception of B-1s returning from Europe

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 01/07/2023 - 15:00in Military

The U.S. and its allies intercepted American B-1 bombers crossing the Atlantic towards North America, in an exercise led by NORAD simulating an enemy attack on June 26.

During an exercise called Noble Defender, the B-1 Lancers who were leaving Europe after a month of deployment of the Bomber Task Force (BTF) were successively tracked and intercepted by the military of the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

A NORAD official said that two B-1s were received in the skies by four UK fighters - two F-35s and two Eurofighter Typhoons. Denmark sent two F-16s, Sweden sent two JAS39 Gripens, Norway sent two F-35s and Finland sent two F-18s.

“All nations sequentially intercepted the B-1 Lancers in the North Atlantic region and on the east coast of Canada while transiting from Europe to North America on June 26,” NORAD said in a statement published on Twitter.

Protecting themselves from the simulated threat to the U.S. and Canada were two U.S. F-15C Eagles from the Barnes National Air Guard Base, Massachusetts, two CF-18 fighters from the Royal Canadian Air Force - a variant of the American F/A-18 Hornet - and a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker, the NORAD official added. NORAD, short for North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a joint effort of the U.S. and Canada.

“The NORAD units performed maneuvers designed to defend North America's eastern approach to simulated cruise missile threats in this particular operation,” according to the 104ª Hunting Wing in Barnes.

The NORAD officer noted that the command performs regular iterations of the Noble Defender, which vary depending on the specific exercise, to keep its forces ready.

“These interceptions demonstrated a cooperative and collaborative layered defense to strengthen our ability to prevent potential threats,” NORAD added in its statement.

The interceptions made a full-circle deployment for the B-1s assigned to the 7ª Bomber Wing at Dyess Air Base, Texas. The "Bones" were immediately received by a Russian Su-27 fighter when they entered European airspace at the end of May. A total of four B-1s completed the BTF, which involved the first U.S. bomber landing in Sweden since World War II, while the U.S. seeks to signal its growing alliance with the possible NATO member.

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe said in a press release that the highlights of the deployment included “the historic landing in Sweden and the first hot pit refueling in Romania”.

“The landing in Sweden strengthened not only the friendship between the U.S. and Sweden, but also the collective defense of Europe,” the USAFE statement added.

The aircraft also flew over the Baltic and the Balkans, participated in a defense exercise in the Arctic, flew to the Middle East and returned in a launch of a long-range JASSM missile and JDAM guided bombs over Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and participated in the Paris Air Show.

“Throughout their rotation, the B-1B Lancers have built critical relationships in the Arctic, Central and Eastern European regions, which has increased the coalition's ability to respond to incursions that threaten freedom of maneuver and navigation,” USAFE said.

Source: Air Force & Space Magazine

Tags: Military AviationB-1B LancerNORADUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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[libertariantaoist]

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 6/5/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

US News

The FBI is looking to gather new information about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reported on Thursday. AWC

Rodolphe Jaar was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the plot to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021. AJ

Mexico

Mexican TV has reported that a militant affiliated with Mexico’s Gulf Cartel was spotted carrying an advanced rocket launcher, the same type that the US has shipped thousands of to Ukraine. AWC

Russia

The Russian Defense Ministry said early Monday that Ukraine began a “large-scale offensive” by launching attacks along five sections of the frontlines in the eastern Donbas region. AWC

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey has not changed its position on refusing to allow Sweden in the alliance. Boston Herald 

The US will focus its efforts on arming Ukraine and not attempting to bring the war to a negotiated settlement, America’s top diplomat said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out a plan to massively expand Kiev’s military before talks begin. AWC

The Pentagon Thursday said it’s awarded a contract to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to ship Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine. AWC

 Ukrainian soldiers trained by NATO and armed with Western weapons will serve as the “tip of the spear” during the upcoming counteroffensive against Russian forces, according to the Washington Post. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said this support represents the “next level” of security assistance. The Institute

The Kremlin says it will not reenter the New Start treaty until Washington lifts its hostile policy towards Russia. Fox News

Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to launch its counteroffensive. The Hill

China

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced Thursday that the US and Taiwan signed the first trade agreement under a new economic initiative that was launched last year. AWC

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and said a conflict between the US and China would be an “unbearable disaster,” a warning that comes amid soaring tensions between the two powers. AWC

US Indo-Pacific Command accused a Chinese warship of acting in an “unsafe manner” when it passed a US Navy guided-missile destroyer that was transiting the Taiwan Strait with a Canadian frigate on Saturday. AWC

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the One China policy is still in effect. Politico

Germany will send two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024. Reuters

Iran

Iran’s navy commander said Friday that Tehran was working to form a naval alliance with several Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq. AWC

Somalia

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced that it launched an airstrike in Somalia on June 1, marking the second US bombing in the country within a week and the third since May 20. AWC

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[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] US President Joe Biden has said he is “proud” to call Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his “friend” and would be forever grateful for his “partnership and leadership.” Biden said Trudeau strengthened the alliance between the US and Canada. Biden also recalled his last visit to Ottawa, where he mentioned that the US chose to link its future with Canada, knowing there was “no better ally, no closer partner, and no steadier friend.” His statement comes a day after Trudeau announced that he would be stepping down as Canada’s PM and Liberal Party leader. In a post on X, Biden stated, “The last time I visited Ottawa, I said that the United States chooses to link our future with Canada because we know that we’ll find no better ally, no closer partner, and no steadier friend. The same can be said of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The US-Canada alliance is stronger because of him. The American and Canadian people are safer because of him. And the world is better off because of him. I am proud to call him my friend. And I will be forever grateful for his partnership and leadership.” In the statement released by the White House, Biden reflected that Trudeau was the first foreign leader he spoke with upon becoming President. The US President said he talked with Justin Trudeau on Monday and appreciated their enduring partnership. He noted that they stood with the people of Ukraine in the face of the Russian offensive. Joe Biden said that Trudeau, over the past decade, has led with “commitment, optimism, and strategic vision.” In a statement, Biden stated, “When I became President, he was the first foreign leader I spoke with. I spoke to him yesterday and expressed my appreciation for his partnership over the years. Together, we’ve tackled some of the toughest issues our nations faced in decades, from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change to the scourge of fentanyl.” “We’ve stood together with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression to defend our nation’s most sacred value: freedom. And we have made generational investments to strengthen our supply chains and rebuild our economies from the bottom up and middle out–establishing North America as the most economically competitive region in the world,” he added. On Monday, Trudeau said he had spoken to the Liberal Party President to start looking for a new Prime Ministerial candidate. “I intend to resign as party leader and Prime Minister after the party chooses the next leader. I can’t be a good candidate if I have to fight internal battles. I have asked the liberal part president to search for a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister,” he said. Trudeau said he advised Governor General Mary Simon that Canada needs a new session of Parliament. He said she agreed to the request to prorogue Parliament until March 24. “We have worked for this country. We are at a critical moment in the world. Canadian resilience motivates me to serve. I am a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians, I care deeply about this country, and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians. The fact is despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralysed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history. That’s why this morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of Parliament. She has granted this request, and the House will now be prorogued until March 24,” Trudeau said. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] US President Joe Biden has said he is “proud” to call Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his “friend” and would be forever grateful for his “partnership and leadership.” Biden said Trudeau strengthened the alliance between the US and Canada. Biden also recalled his last visit to Ottawa, where he mentioned that the US chose to link its future with Canada, knowing there was “no better ally, no closer partner, and no steadier friend.” His statement comes a day after Trudeau announced that he would be stepping down as Canada’s PM and Liberal Party leader. In a post on X, Biden stated, “The last time I visited Ottawa, I said that the United States chooses to link our future with Canada because we know that we’ll find no better ally, no closer partner, and no steadier friend. The same can be said of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The US-Canada alliance is stronger because of him. The American and Canadian people are safer because of him. And the world is better off because of him. I am proud to call him my friend. And I will be forever grateful for his partnership and leadership.” In the statement released by the White House, Biden reflected that Trudeau was the first foreign leader he spoke with upon becoming President. The US President said he talked with Justin Trudeau on Monday and appreciated their enduring partnership. He noted that they stood with the people of Ukraine in the face of the Russian offensive. Joe Biden said that Trudeau, over the past decade, has led with “commitment, optimism, and strategic vision.” In a statement, Biden stated, “When I became President, he was the first foreign leader I spoke with. I spoke to him yesterday and expressed my appreciation for his partnership over the years. Together, we’ve tackled some of the toughest issues our nations faced in decades, from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change to the scourge of fentanyl.” “We’ve stood together with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression to defend our nation’s most sacred value: freedom. And we have made generational investments to strengthen our supply chains and rebuild our economies from the bottom up and middle out–establishing North America as the most economically competitive region in the world,” he added. On Monday, Trudeau said he had spoken to the Liberal Party President to start looking for a new Prime Ministerial candidate. “I intend to resign as party leader and Prime Minister after the party chooses the next leader. I can’t be a good candidate if I have to fight internal battles. I have asked the liberal part president to search for a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister,” he said. Trudeau said he advised Governor General Mary Simon that Canada needs a new session of Parliament. He said she agreed to the request to prorogue Parliament until March 24. “We have worked for this country. We are at a critical moment in the world. Canadian resilience motivates me to serve. I am a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians, I care deeply about this country, and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians. The fact is despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralysed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history. That’s why this morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of Parliament. She has granted this request, and the House will now be prorogued until March 24,” Trudeau said. [ad_2] Source link

[michaelcosio]

KOSOVO: KAMENICA: ARRIVAL OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS

(10 Jul 1999) English/Nat

Russian peacekeepers have arrived in eastern Kosovo for their first deployment as part of international peace keeping force in the war-torn province.

The contingent arrived from Pristina where Russia has been flying in more troops throughout the day.

The Russians will at first be operating in a sector controlled by the U-S forces.

NATO has refused to give the Russians their own sector fearing further ethnic division.

Albanians have vowed to leave areas in which the Russians are deployed, fearing bias towards the Serbs.

The first Russian peacekeepers to be deployed in Kosovo's towns left Pristina airport on Saturday.

The Russian troops had started to arrive in significant numbers earlier on Saturday.

In June a contingent of two-hundred paratroopers caused NATO great diplomatic discomfort by taking over the Pristina airport before the alliance's troops arrived.

The Russians said the troops would have arrived earlier if it hadn't been held up by disagreements with NATO.

NATO refused to give the Russians their own sector - saying it would cause an influx of Kosovo Serbs into that area causing even more partition in the province.

Russia agreed to send troops to operate in peacekeeping sectors run by German, French and American troops.

The contingent will operate from the small eastern town of Kamenica.

They will be setting up a base in a damaged factory on the outskirts of the town.

The factory had previously formed part of the U-S army headquarters in the area.

Deployment of Russian troops in Kosovo has been met by dissent from ethnic Albanians who believe the troops will favour Serbs - Moscow's traditional Slavic allies in the region.

One Russian commander tried to quell the concerns saying the troops would do their part as peacekeepers and help both sides alike.

KFOR will be closely monitoring their deployment.

SOUNDBITE: (English) "Today some Russian elements deployed from Pristina airport to the American controlled sector in Kosovska Kamenica, which is the eastern part of the American sector. These are advanced batallion elements which will begin the immigration training and reconnaissance required for them to identify precise locations where they will set up their camps, conduct their patrol and set up their roadblocks" SUPER CAPTION: Luis Garmeau, Lieutenant Commander of the Canadian Navy

More Russian troops are expected to arrive in the next few weeks after some five Russian ships loaded with five hundred vehicles and two thousand personnel arrive in Greece.

The Russian contingent in KFOR is eventually expected to number three thousand six hundred troops.

[starseedfxofficial]

The Trading Tango Nobody Wants: Forex Opportunities from US-Russia Tensions The Trading Tango Nobody Wants: When Diplomacy and Forex Collide It seems like every day there’s a new plot twist in the global political drama, and if you’re a Forex trader, you know these shifts can turn into unexpected opportunities—or traps. Today, we’re diving deep into how some international chatter might just impact your trades in surprising ways. But let’s start with a personal story. Have you ever bought a pair of shoes online, only to find they fit like a glove…for a toddler? Yeah, a total blunder. Trading is kind of like that sometimes. Without the right information, you might just be stepping into a market with two left feet. So, let's decode some of the recent geopolitical chatter, give you the heads up that others might miss, and make sure you’re not buying a size too small for your portfolio. Putin, Biden, and the Forex Domino Effect In the latest news, the US Ambassador to the United Nations hinted at more security aid for Ukraine, while French President Macron gave a thumbs-up to Biden’s decision allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons against Russia. Meanwhile, a Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia would love to ‘tango’ with the US again, though they won’t dance alone. Oh, and by the way, Russia and China’s foreign ministers are apparently best buddies again, holding a cozy chat about their ‘unprecedented’ strategic ties. All of this geopolitical tension reads like a spy novel, but how does it actually affect you, the savvy Forex trader? Well, here’s the deal: news like this often leads to market sentiment shifts that ripple through currency pairs faster than rumors at a family reunion. The Dollar, the Euro, and the Ruble Walk into a Bar... Okay, no bars here—just some potentially sharp market moves. When the US pledges more support to Ukraine, we usually see an uptick in safe-haven demand. Traders pile into the US Dollar (USD) or even the Swiss Franc (CHF), leaving riskier currencies like the Euro (EUR) or Russian Ruble (RUB) a bit battered. Macron’s public approval of Biden’s move further underscores Europe’s alignment with the US, which might strengthen the Euro in the short term, particularly against emerging market currencies. But here’s where it gets really interesting... Hidden Pattern Alert: USD vs. Risk Sentiment A lesser-known but juicy nugget? The correlation between geopolitical risk and commodities, like oil, has been unusually high lately. When tensions flare, it’s not just about currencies; energy prices go haywire too. For traders, this spells out opportunities in the Canadian Dollar (CAD), since CAD moves in line with crude oil’s twists and turns. Picture this: every major political statement is a spark to crude prices, and the CAD catches fire right after. Want to take advantage? Keep an eye on crude oil futures every time Russia and Ukraine enter the headlines—it’s like having a cheat sheet for the next CAD move. China and Russia’s Cozy Chats: The Yuan's Hidden Agenda While we’re at it, let’s talk about China. EU foreign chief Borrell pointed out China’s increasing role in Russia’s war efforts. In simple terms, the stronger the China-Russia alliance becomes, the more confidence Beijing gets in using its influence—and that affects the Yuan (CNY). A typical reaction? As Russia cozies up to China, you might see CNY strengthening as China flexes its muscles in global affairs. In Forex land, contrarian moves often yield big returns, so consider taking a second look at any decline in USD/CNY as an entry opportunity—after all, the dragon doesn’t roar without shaking things up. The Tango Without a Partner: Russia's Currency Conundrum Russia said they’re ready to ‘normalize ties’ with the US, but apparently, they won’t ‘tango’ alone. Now, I’m no dance expert, but here’s the takeaway: Russia’s rouble (RUB) is likely to get jostled around like a solo dancer at a wedding reception if this diplomatic uncertainty continues. The truth is, ambiguity isn’t sexy for traders—it’s terrifying. If Russia continues hinting about changing its nuclear doctrine while holding off on specifics, that could drive the RUB lower against the USD and the EUR due to higher perceived risk. Here’s the contrarian play: if you’re gutsy, you could look for buy opportunities in RUB when market sentiment overreaches and prices are oversold. However, tread carefully—diving into the Russian market without a solid plan could feel like buying those two-left-footed shoes. Strategic Bilateral Talks and Forex Pair Volatility Russia and China meeting on the sidelines of the G20 might not make front-page headlines for everyone, but for a trader in the know, it’s a different story. The Russian Ruble and the Chinese Yuan are expected to continue their tango—this means heightened volatility in their respective Forex pairs. Savvy traders might look at EUR/CNY or even USD/CNY for arbitrage opportunities based on the fluctuating narratives between these two powerhouse nations. The Overlooked Factor: China and Commodities Here’s a hidden gem that often goes unnoticed: as China increases its involvement in the Russia-Ukraine narrative, the impact on commodities such as iron ore, copper, and natural gas could drive emerging market currencies like the Australian Dollar (AUD). China is a major player when it comes to importing raw materials, and any fluctuation in China’s political landscape could give you clues on where the AUD might be heading. Picture the Australian Dollar as a surfer catching the waves of Chinese industrial shifts—you just have to be ready to paddle in the right direction. Forex Lessons in Diplomacy Politics might not always feel like the most approachable topic, but when you start looking at it through the lens of Forex opportunities, it turns into a treasure trove. It’s like finding hidden Easter eggs that everyone else overlooked. The key here is to stay nimble and use a contrarian lens—while everyone else might be focusing on the noise, zero in on the signals. And speaking of signals, why not take this deeper? Join our StarseedFX Community to get daily alerts, expert analysis, and live trading insights that will keep you ahead of the curve. You’re not just here to follow the market; you’re here to lead. If you’re not already keeping a trading journal, you’re leaving strategic advantages on the table—grab our Free Trading Journal and start refining your edge today. Remember, in Forex, just like in dance, timing and moves matter. So why not join the community and learn a few new steps that others won’t see coming? Essential Takeaways for Traders: - Hidden Patterns: Tensions involving the US, Russia, and China drive energy prices, indirectly influencing CAD and AUD. - Contrarian Insights: Watch for opportunities in RUB and CNY when sentiment overshoots. - Commodity Connections: China’s role in geopolitics affects commodities, which directly ties into AUD and CAD moves. Ready to step into the market with both the confidence and the humor of a pro? Make sure to check out our Smart Trading Tool for next-level precision in every trade you make. Let’s make sure your Forex shoes fit perfectly this time. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[jafanadis]

Full Name: Brandon Caleb Firkins

Nickname: Ares, Baal, Belial, Crystal Blue, Satan, Pierogi

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Orientation: Bi

Height: 6’1

Species: Human

Nationality: Canadian (British, Quebecois, Ukrainian)

Occupation: Mercenary

Alliance: The Jade Owls

Alignment: Anti-Hero

Theme Song: Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman

Character Song: Mechanical Resonance from Sonic Adventure

Voice Claim: Ares from The Gods’ School (Griffin Puatu)

About

Brandon is an independent Mercenary who works for Lord Kwadou of The Akryan Brotherhood. Thrown into things beyond his control, he was captured by Kwadou's retinue and quickly won his captor over by single handedly defeating a Blue Narl with only his newly discovered Umbrakinesis. Now conscripted to serve the Akryan lord, Brandon travels throughout Otacaia with Kwadou performing tasks on behalf of the Akryan Brotherhood and his own accord.

Personality

Brandon is a man of many talents who is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his image and standing in life. He is a hard-working, intelligent, strategic, adaptable, and savvy man. However, he is an abusive bully who also maintains his standing through emotion, verbal, and physical threats. He can be arrogant, aggressive, overly ambitious, selfish, and prideful. He has no issues using whatever underhanded methods at his disposal to get what he wants, if it means using brute force or toying with someone's feelings so be it. Brandon is also narcissistic taking great care of his physical appearance, he knows he is a handsome man and likes to use that as one of his tools and wishes to keep looking young and attractive as long as possible. He is quite passionate about certain things that interest him, and he can be quite hedonistic and sensual to any man or woman, Human or Otacaian, who catches his fancy. Brandon is a man who hates failure, it was ingrained into his head never to fail at anything otherwise you are seen as weak and incompetent. He always feels the need to come out on top because that is how he was raised and how he is as a person. If there’s one thing that Brandon hates more than losing, its people pitying him and seeing him as weak. He does not tolerate anyone babying him or treating him like a child, he will hold a deep grudge for anyone who does so.

Miscellaneous

He speaks with a British Columbian accent, specifically from the Vancouver area.

He has the power of Umbrakinesis, which is the opposite of Lumokinesis. Users of this fearsome power can manipulate, create, and shape darkness and shadows, some users can cloud their environment in darkness, solidify darkness, create shadow constructs, absorb light, use shadow camouflage, and create balls of shadow in their hands as weapons. Brandon acquired this power late in life.

He is proud of his partial Ukrainian heritage and believes his birth as Canadian was misplaced in a way. He enjoys Ukrainian culture and food.

He is of English, Quebecois, and Ukrainian ancestry, with some Italian, Russian, Irish, and German.

He was the captain of several sports teams when he was younger and worked as a personal trainer.

Has a birthmark on his upper right hip.

Wants to be in the military as a general or as a police chief on a police force.

Hates facial hair, always shaves his face. Would never be caught dead with a beard or moustache.

He can play the saxophone.

Used his younger cousin Russell as a punching bag when they were younger, once he assaulted Russell with a baseball bat.

He was quite sadistic and ableist as a child but grew out of it when he became older and developed a conscious.

He despises his cousin Russell because his mother, Arianna, had a secret affair with his father, Benjamin after the death of Russell’s father and Benjamin’s brother, Mitchell. Brandon has deep resentment toward Russell and his mother towards this.

Otacaia, and all of its characters, species, races, information, et al © Jafan Adis, 2022-2024, All Rights Reserved.

[head-post]

NATO chief warns of consequences if China continues to support Russia in its war against Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned China over its continued support for Russia, emphasising that “there will and must be some consequences.”

It’s not sustainable and viable that China continues to fuel the biggest security threat challenge for NATO allies, especially in Europe, by propping up the Russian war economy.

Stoltenberg spoke to reporters in Ottawa, where he arrived to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The alliance chief also welcomed Canada’s status as a NATO ally.

Asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea, Stoltenberg noted the importance of unity among NATO allies.

It’s extremely important that we [NATO], in light of the alignment between Russia, China and North Korea, are also working more closely with our partners in the Asia Pacific, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia.

Stoltenberg continued by warning China over its behaviour in support for Russia, underscoring that “there will and must be some consequences.”

Asked about Canada’s plans to meet the alliance’s goal of having members spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, Stoltenberg urged allies to meet the target. He also stressed the importance of NATO investing in its defence and preventing war.

The best way to ensure that we preserve peace is to stand together as NATO and invest as we have agreed. We have agreed in NATO to invest at least 2%.

Ahead of the press conference, Stoltenberg was presented with the Louis St. Laurent Award of Excellence for his “outstanding service to peace and security” during an event hosted by the NATO Association of Canada and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.

Read more HERE

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.3 (before 1960)

69 – The Roman legions on the Rhine refuse to declare their allegiance to Galba, instead proclaiming their legate, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor. 250 – Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to make sacrifices to the Roman gods. 1521 – Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. 1653 – By the Coonan Cross Oath, the Eastern Church in India cuts itself off from colonial Portuguese tutelage. 1749 – Benning Wentworth issues the first of the New Hampshire Grants, leading to the establishment of Vermont. 1749 – The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, is published. 1777 – American Revolutionary War: American forces under General George Washington defeat British forces at the Battle of Princeton, helping boost patriot morale. 1815 – Austria, the United Kingdom, and France form a secret defensive alliance against Prussia and Russia. 1833 – Captain James Onslow, in the Clio, reasserts British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. 1848 – Joseph Jenkins Roberts is sworn in as the first president of Liberia. 1861 – American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States. 1868 – Meiji Restoration in Japan: The Tokugawa shogunate is abolished; agents of Satsuma and Chōshū seize power. 1870 – Construction work begins on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, United States. 1871 – In the Battle of Bapaume, an engagement in the Franco-Prussian War, General Louis Faidherbe's forces bring about a Prussian retreat. 1885 – Sino-French War: Beginning of the Battle of Núi Bop. 1911 – A magnitude 7.7 earthquake destroys the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan. 1911 – A gun battle in the East End of London leaves two dead. It sparked a political row over the involvement of then-Home Secretary Winston Churchill. 1913 – An Atlantic coast storm sets the lowest confirmed barometric pressure reading (955.0 mb (28.20 inHg)) for a non-tropical system in the continental United States. 1913 – First Balkan War: Greece completes its capture of the eastern Aegean island of Chios, as the last Ottoman forces on the island surrender. 1920 – Over 640 are killed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes the Mexican states Puebla and Veracruz. 1933 – Minnie D. Craig becomes the first woman elected as Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives, the first woman to hold a Speaker position anywhere in the United States. 1944 – World War II: US flying ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington is shot down in his Vought F4U Corsair by Captain Masajiro Kawato flying a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. 1946 – Popular Canadian American jockey George Woolf suffers a concussion during a freak racing accident; he dies from the injury the following day. The annual George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is created to honor him. 1947 – Proceedings of the U.S. Congress are televised for the first time. 1949 – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, is established. 1953 – Frances P. Bolton and her son, Oliver from Ohio, become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress. 1956 – A fire damages the top part of the Eiffel Tower. 1957 – The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch. 1958 – The West Indies Federation is formed. 1959 – Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state.

[usafphantom2]

Dozens of Hornets fighters retired by Australians may go to Ukraine

Australia has 46 F/A-18 Hornet fighters that could help Ukraine and are at risk of being destroyed.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 04/21/2023 - 17:30 in Military, War Zones

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has several dozen fourth-generation F/A-18 Hornet fighters in its inventory. They can be donated to Ukraine, but they run the risk of being discarded.

Australia deactivated 46 F/A-18 Hornet jets last year, after the arrival of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters.

In 2019, Morrison's government agreed to sell 25 of the 75 planes it originally bought to the Royal Canadian Air Force for 90 million Canadian dollars, or about $4 million each.

The Australian government wanted to sell 46 remaining planes to an American company, which provides training for military pilots, a year before the jets were retired. Three years later, eight were allocated to museums and one to training. The rest remains stored. The Australian Department of Defense does not say where the other planes are.

If the agreement is not signed, the RAAF simply intends to discard the fighters, which could help the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the war against the Russian Federation.

In international circles, much of the debate about the Ukrainian Air Force focuses on the F-16, the most numerous fighter plane. The F/A-18, which the RAAF retired in 2021, is a similar crop and performs the same combat functions as the F-16. Both are from the same time as the MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 still used by Ukrainians.

These F/A-18 have been updated to level A++. The fighters are equipped with AN/APG-73 radar. They can carry AGM-158 JASSM, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, Harpoon missiles, as well as JDAM, JDAM-ER and Paveway II bombs.

The F/A-18 Hornets arrived in Australia in the second half of the 1980s. Legally, as the F/A-18 were manufactured in the United States, the approval of the Biden administration would be required. There may be advantages in the US and Europe, allowing Australia to go first. As relatively strange to the conflict, the Australian government could make it easier for other countries to follow it with little financial or political cost to itself.

The remaining aircraft are in excellent condition and come with spare parts. This means that there are, within a member of Ukraine's military alliance, enough surplus combat jets for an entire medium-sized air force.

Australia is not the only country that has F/A-18 Hornet fighters available for sale. Spain is in the process of retiring its jets as well. Canada, Finland and Switzerland have plans to use the planes for several years, until they start receiving the new F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.

Tags: Military AviationF/A-18C/D HornetRAAF - Royal Australian Air Force/Royal Australian Air ForceWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 7/17/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

News Roundup 7/17/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

US News

The House on Friday passed its version 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in a vote of 219-210, which largely fell along partisan lines due to amendments added by Republicans relating to social policies in the military. AWC

A group of Senators have reintroduced legislation to prevent an American president from withdrawing from the North Atlantic alliance. A version of the bill failed to pass the legislature during the Trump administration. The Institute

Russia

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said Monday that he will be the Republican co-sponsor of an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that aims to block the provision of cluster bombs to Ukraine. AWC

A Kremlin spokesman said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after his short-lived mutiny. AWC

NATO is set to drop the requirement for Ukraine to go through a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to join the alliance, AFP reported on Monday. AWC

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new military buildup in Eastern Europe. He claimed the move was needed to combat Russian aggression. The Institute

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to back Sweden’s NATO membership on the eve of a two-day NATO summit in Lithuania. AWC

A Ukrainian general told CNN on Thursday that Ukraine has received a shipment of US cluster bombs, controversial munitions that have a devastating impact on civilians. AWC

NATO will push back a decision to open a liaison office in Japan to this fall or later due to French objections to the plans, Nikkei Asia reported on Monday. AWC

The House on Thursday night voted down an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act that would have prohibited the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine. AWC

The Washington Post reported Thursday that US officials at the NATO summit in Vilnius were so angry over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s criticism that they almost scaled back the commitment made to Ukraine in NATO’s communiqué. AWC

President Biden on Thursday signed an executive order allowing the Pentagon to mobilize 3,000 reservists for deployments in Europe, where the US military has significantly increased its presence since Russia invaded Ukraine. AWC

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that Russia will view US-made F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as a nuclear threat because they are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. AWC

Hungary has said it will approve Sweden’s NATO bid now that Turkey has dropped its objection, but both the Hungarian and Turkish parliaments will not take up the issue until the fall. AWC

President Biden and other Group of Seven leaders on Wednesday pledged long-term support for Ukraine and announced that they would each negotiate a bilateral security deal with Kyiv. AWC

Rheinmetall, Germany’s leading arms maker, will open a plant to manufacture tanks and other armored vehicles in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks as the West is looking to boost Ukraine’s weapons industry. AWC

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Wednesday that Ukraine needs to show more gratitude for the support it receives from the West when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s criticism of NATO’s communiqué. AWC

Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), confirmed on Wednesday that he spoke with CIA Director William Burns after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s short-lived rebellion. AWC

The Biden administration is quietly debating whether or not to provide Ukraine with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a range of up to 190 miles, The New York Times reported Tuesday. AWC

The White House said Tuesday that NATO membership for Ukraine isn’t going to happen anytime soon since it would mean war with Russia. AWC

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday defended the Biden administration’s decision to arm Ukraine with widely-banned cluster munitions, which have a devastating impact on civilians. AWC

Eleven NATO members agreed on Tuesday to start training Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16s in Europe this August, the first step toward getting the American-made fighter jets to the war zone in Ukraine. AWC

NATO leaders issued a communiqué on Tuesday at the end of the first day of the alliance’s summit in Vilnius that dealt with the issue of Ukraine’s future membership. AWC

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that the Biden administration will move forward with a $20 billion sale of Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. AWC

NATO is set to drop the requirement for Ukraine to go through a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to join the alliance, AFP reported on Monday. AWC

A senior Defense Intelligence Agency official has described the war in Ukraine as a “stalemate” and said none of the weapons the US and NATO are providing will help Ukrainian forces “break through” in their counteroffensive. AWC

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russia has a “sufficient” supply of cluster munitions to use if Ukraine employs the controversial weapons. AWC

Belarus announced Friday that members of the Wagner mercenary force were in the country training Belarusian soldiers. AWC

The White House said Friday that the 3,000 reservists President Biden has made available for the Pentagon to deploy to Europe would serve “administrative” functions. AWC

China

A US Navy spy plane flew over the Taiwan Strait on Thursday as China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was conducting drills to the south of Taiwan. AWC

President Biden’s nominee to replace Gen. Mark Milley as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday that he would pursue establishing more bases in the Indo-Pacific region and increase support for Taiwan to prepare for a future war with China, Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday. AWC

Indonesian President Joko Widodo warned Friday that the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can’t become a “proxy” for any country as tensions between the US and China are soaring in the region. AWC

Korea

Pyongyang accused the US military of conducting provocative surveillance flights which infringe on its airspace and trespassed in its exclusive economic zone on Monday. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) admonished Washington that if such provocations persist, American reconnaissance planes may be shot down. The Institute

Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo held joint naval drills testing missile defense in international waters between Japan and South Korea on Sunday. The Institute

Middle East

A new US intelligence report has reaffirmed that Iran is not trying to build nuclear weapons despite constant claims made by Israel and Western media outlets to the contrary. AWC

Washington announced a plan to deploy additional fighter jets to the Middle East to prevent Iran from seizing ships in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon is additionally evaluating proposals to send more military equipment into the region to address Russian aircraft operating in Syrian skies. The Institute

US Central Command on Sunday said that it killed an ISIS “leader” in a drone strike in eastern Syria that it launched on July 7 and suggested that a civilian may have also been injured in the bombing. AWC

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Sunday that it launched three airstrikes in Somalia and claimed the bombardment killed 10 al-Shabaab fighters. AWC

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