Die Australische Brse macht jetzt doch keine Blockchain.

Charlotte Mortlock is a former SkyNews live cross reporter who left the media to work for left wing Liberal waste of space Andrew Bragg. So shes an ex journalist who has worked as a political staffer. Now shes trying to stop people with exactly her credentials from getting into parliament...

JOINT STATEMENT 20 May 2023 Prime Minister, President of the United States of America Australia and the United States commit to enhance bilateral cooperation under a Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact (the Compact), establishing climate and clean energy as a central pillar of the Australia-United States Alliance....

This is democrat Nebraska State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh who has been drinking the woke kool-aid of insanity. This is not a loop. There is an ending pic.twitter.com/6m1bPQRxNM ISI (@4Mischief) May 20, 2023

Introduction by DM

Your Sunday entertainment two videos that provide an entertaining view of the parallel universe we exist in.

[Very sad UPDATE below]

The Jimmy Dore We werent allowed to question the covid vaccines video (Onl...

(L) Michael Alexander, attorney, Photo: YouTube.com (C) Dr Mark Trozzi, Photo: torontocaribbean.com (R) Dr Crystal Luchkiw, Photo: barrietoday.com 

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB

Dr Trozzi is a physician in Canada who opposes what he sees (and what I see) as the Covid swindle. He does not use that word (and I dont either) but its a quick way to say that he is a dissident. He runs a website, drtrozzi.org, that delivers good information.

Recently, he reported on a young female doctor who has lost her medical license for having issued medical exemptions from the Covid vaccine. It is an uncomplicated case, and shows the procedure for disbarring a doctor, at least in one Canadian province, Ontario. I am including it here in my series of articles about Dr Russell Pridgeon in Australia, and his upcoming criminal trial, as...

Thanks to Underminder who writes: Not the NSW Police first rodeo. Too busy learning about hurting people's feelings at the academy to bother with common sense? 'Body-worn camera footage shows police handcuffing 81-year-old nursing home resident' piug

The newest one labelled as 'The Voice' is another ploy for the benefit of those in government and not their constituents.

It's about taking away the people's rights, the biggest land grab in the colony's history and other items on the agenda.

See video that the mainstream media did not report on:

Thanks for the clip Underminder - watch Albanese, not Biden. BIDEN TO REPORTER: Shush up, ok?! pic.twitter.com/shbunUzZaI Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 20, 2023 Imagine the outcry if Trump had told a reporter to Shush up But ..its OK that the Dribbler does it.

It's only taken them weeks after he's been criticised from one end of town to the other for his terrible Coronation commentary. So why now? Could it just be this - in Stan's own words: I am writing this because no one at the ABC whose producers invited me...

Supporters of Australias Constitutional Monarchy will be heartened to know Peter Fitz is inadvertently on their side. His track record is magnificent. Everything he backs goes the other way .. or just turns to poop. Pirate Peter is slowly becoming Punchline Pete.

There is a powerful prima facie case, which I will outline in this article and the below video, that Scott Morrison and his office oversaw a government conspiracy to cover-up the alleged []

I often hang out at Daily Kos, and its depressing how many ideologically pro-biden cheerleaders there are, there, as ideologically pro-trumpers, elsewhere. I guess the great game depends on having some on both sides.

Cant any of these people see that they are being played by a malicious system that is constructed to control their opinions and the expression of their opinions, in order to allow the ruling two-party system to continue pursuing its own imperialist agenda? In a few places I hear rumbles that progressives are disappointed that Biden appears to be about to cave to the hostage-takers which is not surprising, given that caving is what the democrats do. Theyre not a real opposition party, theyre doing their dance in order to eke out negotiating points of their own. I cant tell if any of them are purely delusional (therefore acting in good faith) or if theyre showing a level of cynicism that would embarrass a Talleyrand.

Midjourney AI and mjr: uncle sam, jumping off a cliff

Lets back up a second. The debt ceiling is a self-imposed financial control, on an organization that admits that it has no self-control, and consistently violates that control. The question is how much money do we print? and the answer is not as much as we want to its as much as we will allow ourselves to. The whole topic of national debt is not one I am qualified to get into, so I wont, but suffice to say it keeps going up when one party or the other spends like a drunken sailor, while the other wags a disapproving finger attempting to shame them. Thats the rough outline. But there is a deeper, more important outline, which is ignored pro forma.

In the latest debt ceiling kerfuffle, we are told that the republicans may trigger a default, and that voters should blame them not, say, blame everyone in Washington. Sure, the republicans are triggering it, but the democrats also helped arm that trigger, and even set up a count-down. Did you notice how both sides in this fake event, who cannot agree on anything, agreed that defense spending doesnt get touched? Oh, wait, I guess they do agree on something. They agree on $1tn in defense spending. Ive said this before, and Ill have to say it again: anyone who talks about the US deficit or budget, and does not mention defense spending, is not serious.

How not serious are...

I have been aware of the Satanic Temple as largely a group that seeks to dethrone religions dominance in US culture by demanding that the same privileges that are given to traditional religions, such as monuments in public lands, also be allowed to them. I knew that they use Satanic rituals and regalia even though they do not believe in Satan or the afterlife. It is political activism mixed in with cosplaying and performance art. They are in fact secular and supporters of a science-based worldview and fight racism and homophobia.

However they seem to be much larger than I had thought as evidenced by their convention currently underway at a Marriott hotel in Boston.

The Satanic Temple is recognised as a religion by the US government, and has ministers and congregations in America, Europe and Australia.

More than 830 people snapped up tickets for its late April convention, dubbed SatanCon.

Members say they dont actually believe in a literal Lucifer or Hell. Instead, they say Satan is a metaphor for questioning authority, and grounding your beliefs in science. The sense of community around these shared values makes it a religion, they say.

They do use the symbols of Satan for rituals for example when celebrating a wedding or adopting a new name. That might include having an upside-down neon cross on your altar while shouting: Hail Satan!

For many Christians, this is serious blasphemy.

Thats not wrong, agrees Dex Desjardins, a spokesperson for The Satanic Temple. A lot of our imagery is inherently blasphemous.

The event takes up the whole fourth floor of the hotel. The Satanists fill it with androgynous goth chic, flamboyant robes, hand-painted horns, diabolical tattoos, and high-maintenance moustache choices. Most people here are old enough to be parents, and several are. I spot at least one pushchair.

Presentations are given, including one called Hellbillies: Visible Satanism in Rural America, and a seminar on Satanism and self-pleasure.

Mixed in with all fun this is some serious political activism.

Political activism is a core part of The Satanic Temples identity. It believes religion and the state should be kept separate, and frequently files lawsuits in the US to defend the distinction. Their point is serious, but they relish bringing satire and outrageousness to the fight. In Oklahoma, for example, they asked to erect an 8ft (2.4m) Satanic statue at the state capitol when a monument of the Ten Commandments was put up, noting that the First Amendment requires all religions to be treated equally. (The Commandments were ultimately removed after a court battle.)

The Temple also advocates for abortion access, arguing th...

The total value locked (TVL) on the Cardano blockchain has hit a significant milestone after crossing 500 million ADA. This would come just a month and a few days after TapTools predicted an exponential increase in the networks TVL.

In this prediction, TapTools, a Cardano portfolio tracker, also reported different factors that could be pivotal to Cardanos explosive growth in the coming months.

Cardano DeFi Ecosystem Hits 500 Million ADA In TVL

Data from DeFi TVL aggregator DefiLlama reveals that the total value locked on the Cardano network now stands at 505.114 million ADA. This is equivalent to $186.18 million when converted to U.S. dollars.

Source: DefiLlama

This new milestone represents a staggering 91.9% increase in total value locked since the turn of the year. Meanwhile, in the last month, Cardanos TVL has jumped by nearly 8%, indicating a steady adoption of its DeFi ecosystem.

On-chain data shows that Minswap is, by a distance, the leading protocol on the network, with a TVL of $55.56 million. In fact, the decentralized exchange boasts a market share dominance of 29.84%.

Minswap protocol is followed by Indigo, a collateralized debt protocol, with a total value of $28.5 million locked on it. WingRiders, Liqwid, and Djed Stablecoin are three other notable protocols on the Cardano DeFi ecosystem, with TVLs of $17.51 million, $15.42 million, and $13.71 million, respectively.

It is important to note that total value locked is a metric that estimates the amount of cryptocurrency locked in DeFi protocols on a particular blockchain. It is calculated by summing up the value of all the crypto assets locked in various DeFi protocols on a blockchain. TVL can be represented in the native token of a blockchain (as in ADA for Cardano) or in USD.

ADA Price Shows No Significant Action

A skyrocketing total value locked is often an indicator of increased activity in a DeFi ecosystem. However, Cardanos impressiv...

Equipment for the countrys ground forces arrives with depressing regularity, years behind time, and substantially over budget, according to a report issued on April 19 by the British Parliaments Budgetary Control Committee. For instance, the programs, which provide new Ajax armored fighting vehicles and Morpheus tactical communication and information systems, have faced significant difficulties. According to the MPs assessment, the issue is made worse by underfunding of the defense budget expenditures and the pounds declining purchasing value in relation to the dollar.

Ten days later, on April 28 this year, the Royal Navy informed the public about the decision to decommission the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, launched just four years ago (in 2019), to be used as a donor for spare parts for the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier of the same class. According to the Royal Navy, the $3.72 billion aircraft carrier has docked more frequently than it has participated in naval operations, and the most recent maintenance cost $42 million.

This dispiriting news came just a month after the leaders of the US, the UK, and Australia had disclosed their ambitious long-term plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Canberra on the basis of British technology, which will cost the Australian budget $245 billion.

When it comes to extremely sophisticated projects like nuclear submarines, it seems inconceivable that the parties involved would be so irresponsible as to neglect to evaluate the contractors capacity to meet their obligations. Still, if you trust the claims made by senior US, British, and Australian officials, the opposite is true in the case of AUKUS. Canberra would never have consented to work together on submarine design and construction with Great Britains wan...

Puzzling voter turnout numbers and process failures risk turning a frustrated population away from democratic expression. Nigerias February 25 general elections may have raised more questions than answers about the countrys trajectory, and particularly about the strength of its democracy. Important electoral reforms were enacted in 2022 to improve the integrity and transparency of Nigerian []

The rapid growth of the new 988 mental health hotline has been greeted with positive media coverage. As many people expected, calls, texts, and chats to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, now renamed 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, started climbing immediately with the launch of the 988 number in July of 2022. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the nonprofit that was given centralized control over the 988 system, Vibrant Emotional Health (VEH), have been releasing monthly updates on key metrics.

In April 2023, compared to April 2022, calls answered increased by 52%, chats by 90%, and texts by 1022%. The trend was heralded by federal Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to CNN: Our nations transition to 988 moves us closer to better serving the crisis care needs of people across America. 988 is more than a number, its a message: were there for you.

However, as previously reported by Mad in America, a percentage of people who contacted the former National Suicide Prevention Lifeline were subjected to geolocation tracing of their phone, computer, or mobile device. The Lifeline advertised itself as a place for confidential discussions about suicidal feelings but, according to its own policy, if a call-attendant believed a person might be at imminent risk of taking their own life in the next few hours, days, or week, the call-attendant was required to contact 911 or a Public Safety Answering Point to send out police and/or an ambulance to forcibly take the person to a psychiatric hospital.

Many Lifeline users described the experiences of betrayal, public exposure, police interactions, loss of freedoms, and forced psychiatric treatment as dangerous, harmful and traumatizing.

So, since the transition to 988, has anything changed? As contacts to 988 rise, how many people are getting forcibly subjected to these types of unexpected, unwanted interventions?

It appears detention numbers are climbing dramatically, tooeven as VEH, SAMHSA, and many news outlets continue to obfuscate the facts publicly.

Contacts and Detentions Rising Together

For the ten-month period from July 2022 to April 2023, the new 988 Lifeline received more than 4 million total contactson pace to double the average...

(L) Patrick ODea at 2018 arrest, Photo: abc.net.au (not sure why the cops are pixelated) (R) Jahar Tsarnaev, age 19, at 2013 arrest, Photo provided by Massachusetts state police

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB

As Gumshoe News readers will know, I am trying to spotlight the upcoming trial of Dr Russell Pridgeon in order to examine its unfairness. Dee McLachlan had already been doing that since at least 5 April 2019, the day she filmed Pridgeons red-carpet speech. The present series is roughly based on a book Russell put together in haste before packing his toothbrush for (potential) prison. Its at Amazon with the title Everybody Knows.

In this article I will emphasize the deja vu-ness of the Pridgeon trial to a person (me) who has been very much involved in the Boston trial, United States v Tsarnaev.

NERC has invested 25 million in a host of high risk, high reward research projects to tackle critical environment challenges

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......

Liberal members boo and stage a walk-out on Liberal leader John Pesutto at the partys state council meeting in Bendigo #springst pic.twitter.com/xxAiy5OlJq Annika Smethurst (@annikasmethurst) May 20, 2023

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-vz4hg-14128af Gday Folks, On todays show Andy joins me to discuss the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum with our special guest, Grandmother Mulara. What is the Voice to Parliament? So far all we have been hearing and seeing are campaigns by the Government to Vote Yes in the referendum. But what is this referendum really []

Canberra sees its military outsourced, governed and policed by Washington, its strategic and operational goals dictated by the Pentagon.

The post Fears Of Abandonment: Australia, Biden And Cancelling The Quad Visit appeared first on OrientalReview.org.

HenryMakow.com May 16, 2023

This girl was not comfortable being a female. She identifies as a male. But how does she even know what a male is when masculinity is partly defined by looking after wife and children?

Young women! Do not listen to the liars urging you to question your femininity. Do not seek your identity from the word salad (LGBT+) presented by the world. Look inside to your soulfor your true identity.

What is your intuition and instincts telling you to be?

Women exchange power for love. Sex is symbol of this exclusive contract. Sex is an act of domination and possession. Women are damaged when they give themselves to a man and are then dismissed. 

(Disclaimer I am not trying to impose this template but rather to say that it has worked for centuries. This is why the usual suspects are trying to destroy it.) 

 Possession is the Essence of Marriage

(Updated from Dec. 2009 and April 1, 2018)

Click to enlarge

by Henry Makow Ph.D.

My wife recently asked me why I loved her.

Rather than enumerate her good qualities, I answered honestly: Because you belong to me.

At the risk of being politically incorrect,  many men do not seek great beauty, brains or sex, but the simple feeling of possessing a woman. In other words, what they seek is a degree of ownership or power. This is part of masculine identity.

And many women have the complementary desire, to be possessed, to totally belong...

I've received a number of notes from members of the Victorian Bar who are quite properly furious about their leadership's public support for Albanese's Voice. This note is typical: Dear colleague, I write to you in response to the Bars forthcoming Poll on whether, in essence, the Victorian Bar should...

Thanks to reader John P for this:

The presumption of innocence has been dangerously warped by the #MeToo movement, Bruce Lehrmanns lawyer Steven Whybrow SC has claimed. Read and watch his full first interview since Mr Lehrmann's trial over Brittany Higgins rape allegations: https://t.co/CgCYO411r6 pic.twitter.com/o1r1RklaGO The Australian (@australian) May 19, 2023

Liberal members boo and stage a walk-out on Liberal leader John Pesutto at the partys state council meeting in Bendigo #springst pic.twitter.com/xxAiy5OlJq Annika Smethurst (@annikasmethurst) May 20, 2023

pic.twitter.com/gKww03ZFAC lifelong nuggets fan (@annamelissa) May 19, 2023

Excellent point. VOTE NO! #PerthNews #QLDPOL pic.twitter.com/7yZXsNvU5d JILL (@1Swinging_Voter) May 19, 2023

An advocacy group representing people with disabilities has criticised a senior constable for his use of a taser on a 95-year-old woman with dementia at her Cooma aged care facility.

Key points:

• ...

We have a dream... One day our pilots will protect our skies with modern F-16s. Today, our heroic country has taken a huge step towards this goal! The free world is launching a program to train our pilots on F-16s! Thank you President Biden for this long-awaited decision! Thank pic.twitter.com/d7EqXBocUp...

A frame of a CCTV video, purportedly depicting a major blast at an ammo depot in Khmelnintsky, Ukraine.

Sputnik 19.05.2023

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev warned on Friday that a radioactive cloud was heading towards Western Europe following the destruction of a Ukrainian warehouse storing British-supplied depleted uranium ammunition.

Sputnik News spoke with Dr. Chris Busby, physical chemist and scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk, about how the Wests decision to provide depleted uranium (DU) ammunition to Ukraine has potentially caused a continent-wide ecological disaster. Below is his answer in full.

Recently, several web media outlets provided videos of an enormous explosion in the town of Khmelnitski, located to the West of Kiev, and about 200 km from the border with Poland. There were two major explosions which produced a massive roiling swirling fireball which, like an atomic bomb, developed upwards and formed a mushroom cloud, which was black.

I have represented nuclear atmospheric test veterans in the Ro...

The Execs and Down sides of Do My Homework for Me Services: An extensive Analysis

In present day fast-paced surroundings, learners in many scenarios uncover by by themselves overcome with tutorial duties. With limited deadlines, tricky coursework, and extracurricular commitments, it truly is no shock that some school learners look for exterior aid to alleviate their workload. one fashionable answer is turning to do my homework for me companies. This document aims to provide a comprehensive investigation inside the experts and negatives of these suppliers, shedding light-weight throughout the ethical important things to take into account and potential favorable aspects and downsides for college kids.

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How these options can actually allow higher education learners even more effective take care of their time.
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Examining the moral implications of outsourcing tutorial succeed.
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The risk of gaining overly reli...

The MintPress podcast The Watchdog, hosted by British-Iraqi hip hop artist Lowkey, closely examines organizations about which it is in the public interest to know including intelligence, lobby, and special interest groups influencing policies that infringe on free speech and target dissent. The Watchdog goes against the grain by casting a light on stories largely ignored by the mainstream, corporate media.

Even as Israels war against Palestine continues unabated, a new movement has arisen in the United Kingdom, challenging the Israeli war machine and it has been winning some impressive victories.

Founded in 2020, Palestine Action is a grassroots activist movement that seeks to end British complicity in Israeli war crimes by shutting down arms manufacturing sites across the U.K. Today, Lowkey welcomes back Palestine Action co-founder Huda Amori to talk about the rise of her organization that has taken the country by storm and has weapons manufacturers fleeing. Born in the U.K., Amori is a Palestinian-Iraqi whose father was chased out of his home by Israeli soldiers in 1967, and forced to flee, without even a pair of shoes.

Decades later, Amori has found a way to fight back, using direct action to occupy and shut down Elbit Systems, Israels largest arms firm. With the help of the community in her native Oldham, Amori and Palestine Actions occupation has forced Elbit Systems to leave the town and sell their factory at a substantial loss. Last summer, they abandoned their London headquarters. And last winter, the British Ministry of Defence canceled around 280 million (around U.S.$350 million) of contracts with the company.

Elbits products, such as drones and surveillance tech, are directly used on the civilian population of Palestine, Amori explained. They are then marketed as battle tested around the world and sold to countries like Australia and India.

If you are building weapons here to be sent back to Israel to be used against Palestinians, or if you are a customer of weapons that have been developed on the Palestinian people, then you are just as guilty, Amori said, adding:

For example, the British Ministry of Defence buy many of these weapons after they have been developed and used against the Palestinians, which only encourages the further development and use of weapons on Palestinians, and to continue the occupation. This cycle of violence just continues to benefit the oppressors and work against the oppressed.

...

The Queen Is Dead Stan Grant 4.80 15 ratings5 reviews From Stan Grant, leading journalist and author of the critically acclaimed bestsellers Talking to My Country and Australia Day , comes an extraordinary and powerful call to action. 'History is not weighted on the scales, it is felt in our...

MEDIA RELEASE 19 May 2023 Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong today announced financial sanctions and an export ban, targeting sectors of economic and strategic significance to Russia. These additional targeted measures aim to slow Russias war machine. Australias action is...

I speak of truth, not grievance. Yet that is not how it has been reported. Racism is a crime. Racism is violence. And I have had enough. I am writing this because no one at the ABC whose producers invited me onto their coronation coverage as a guest ...

ASX has abandoned its software rebuild using blockchain technology to explore more conventional options.

Australian crypto exchanges report no problems with their payment providers, but the lack of local laws means more debanking incidents cant be ruled out.

The year is 1998 and a spectre is haunting capitalism from ages six and upthe spectre of virtual and robotic kin. All the powers of the capitalist class have entered an unholy alliance to exploit this spectre: Tyco, Hasbro, and Mattel, or: Tickle Me Elmo, Furby, and Tamagotchi.

The post Long Furby memory hole appeared first on Overland literary journal.

Our source will remain anonymous.

There's an overall modest increase in spending, but only because of food items - the only categories to record growth on last year (we've gotta eat). But imagine you're operating a business in these markets; Jewellery (down 21.1%), Home Furnishings (down 17.5%), Electronics (down 15.9%) and Lodging (down 14.8%). Apparel...

88-year-old Australian Doctor Freed 7 Years After Kidnapping by Islamic Extremists in West Africa

By ROD McGUIRK

FILE - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong listens beside Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during a joint press conference at a hotel in Makati City, Philippines on Thursday May 18, 2023. An 88-year-old Australian doctor held captive in West Africa for more than seven years has been released, the Australian government said on Friday, May 19.(Lisa Marie David/Pool Photo via AP, File)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) An 88-year-old Australian doctor held captive by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than seven years has been freed and has returned to Australia.

Ken Elliott was safe and well and was reunited with his wife and their children on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

Im very pleased to advise that Dr. Ken Elliott, whos been held hostage in Western Africa for some seven years, has been reunited in Australia with his family, Wong told reporters in Sydney.

Elliott and his wife were kidnapped in Burkina Faso, where they had run a medical clinic for four decades. Jocelyn Elliott was released three weeks later.

We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us, Elliotts family said in a statement released by Wongs department.

We express our relief that Dr. Elliott is free and thank the Australian government and all who have been involved over time to secure his release, the family statement said.

Wong said no ransom was paid to secure Elliotts freedom, but no other details on his release were disclosed. Media reported he was reunited with his family in Perth, the west coast city where he is from.

At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr. Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength, the family added.

The militant group behind the kidnapping, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, rose to prominence in large part through kidnap-for-ransom operations targeting foreign aid workers and tourists....

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong, I originally thought you were just a Putin supporter. Yet as time has gone by, it is becoming very clear that you are correct and that Zelensky is waging this war for the West to conquer Russia. His meeting with the Pope and rejecting his offer to mediate clearly established he will not seek peace. Are we headed into a nuclear war? Did Ukraine really shoot down a Russian hypersonic missile?

Concerned

KL

ANSWER: There is a major problem with Ukraines claims of shooting down a barrage of supersonic missiles. This cannot be confirmed independently and Ukraine is notoriously always putting out fake news typically to get more money. The incentive to create this type of fake news is that Western countries who have been supporting Ukraine are concerned that the military support for Kiev may soon peak as they run out of funds. There is concern that funds for Ukraine will be curtailed ahead of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, the Financial Times recently reported. The Neocons are desperately trying to create World War III before the 2024 election. They are fighting against any cutbacks for Ukraine. This has highlighted that European officials now are increasingly concerned about the flow of aid next year as the US enters a divisive presidential campaign.

According to the FT, Washington has been Kievs major source of military aid. US officials interviewed by the newspaper say the remaining funds preapproved by Congress could sustain Ukraine for about another five months. Western officials in regular contact with the US over Ukraine told the FT that Washington sees that period of time as the last real chance for Kiev to change the situation on the ground. There is a twist. That is the debt ceiling and funds would stop flowing after June 1st unless Biden yields on his insane agenda.

European official told the FT newspaper We cant keep the same level of assistance forever.  Politico reported earlier that only $6 billion of the original $48 billion military aid package that the US had approved previously i...

My US mainstream TV debut just happened!

MSNBCs Medhi Hasan introduced my new book, The Palestine Laboratory, and gave it the proper context. Then we spoke about Israels ethno-nationalism, the arms trade and using Palestine as a testing ground.

The fact that this discussion can happen, on prime-time US TV, shows that theres an increasingly open space (in some places!) to discuss Palestine.

The post MSNBC interview on The Palestine Laboratory appeared first on Antony Loewenstein.

The Human Rights Law Centre is calling on the South Australian Legislative Council to block proposed anti-protest laws that were rushed through the House of Assembly by the Malinauskas Government. If passed, the laws would undermine the ability of everyone in SA to exercise their freedom to peaceful protest.

The Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Bill 2023 (SA) could see people hit with fines of up to $50,000 and three-month jail terms, merely for blocking a footpath. It disproportionately criminalises peaceful protests, for instance people handing out pamphlets about gambling harm in front of a shop in Rundle Mall, or workers gathering on a footpath to demand better pay and conditions.

In the last five years, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland have all passed anti-protest laws which impose severe penalties on people for engaging in peaceful protest. South Australias proposed anti-protest laws would carry the harshest financial penalties in Australia.

David Mejia-Canales, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre said:

Two days after the Malinauskas government told gas corporations that the state is at their service, the SA Government is making good on its word by rushing through laws to limit the right of climate defenders and others to protest.

Australias democracy is stronger when people protest on issues they care about. But the SA Governments knee-jerk action in response to peaceful climate protestors at an annual fossil fuels conference, is yet another attack on peoples right to protest.

The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy; from First Nations land rights to the eight-hour workday - protest has been crucial to achieving  many important social changes. 

This knee-jerk reaction by the South Australian government will undermine the ability of everyone in SA to exercise their right to peacefully protest, from young people marching for climate action to workers protesting for better conditions. The Legislative Council must reject this Bill.

Background

On Wednesday morning, Extinction Rebellion protesters suspended themselves from a bridge and closed traffic for 90 minutes.

By Thursday afternoon, the SA Government, with support from the opposition passed changes to the Summary Offences Act, which currently imposes a $750 fine and no jail time.

Photo credit: Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Media contact:
Thomas Feng
Media and Communications Manager
Human Rights Law Centre
0431 285 275
...

The leading Swedish daily newspaper, Aftonbladet, has published a fascinating story about the Nakba and my new book, The Palestine Laboratory. Written by Shora Esmailian, the article assesses the legacy of the Nakba and how Israel now uses the weapons of war to promote itself around the world.

Heres the PDF: Shora Esmailian om Nakba, 75 r

The English translation (via Google Translate):

The violence against Palestine breeds the arms trade
Today it has been 75 years since the Nakba the great catastrophe of the Palestinians

Remember the Palestinian General Strike of 1936 and the mass protests of 1939 that challenged the British colonizers transformation of the Palestinian Mandate into a national home for Jews.
Remember the 1967 war, when the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights came under Israeli occupation.
Remember the first intifadas grassroots organizing with mass rallies, neighborhood schools, subsistence farming and feminist awakenings. Also remember the stones that were then thrown at the occupying forces.
Remember the so-called peace talks and Yasser Arafats handshake with Yitzhak Rabin.

Remember the armed struggle during the second intifada and also its suicide bombings. Remember the international activists who were run over and killed by Israeli bulldozers and snipers.
Remember the demonstrations in the West Bank against the wall. Remember those protests both through the ballot and in the streets against their own political leaders and remember the international calls for boycotts, sanctions and divestment to put pressure on the state of Israel.
Remember the rockets from Gaza and also remember the peaceful mass protests at its borders.
Remember Khader Adnan, the first Palestinian prisoner to die on hunger strike on May 2 this year.

Remember the entire Palestinian struggle on this day, when 75 years have passed since al-Nakba the great catastrophe for the Palestinians in 1948, when the State of Israel was established and between 750,000 and 800,000 Palestinians out of a population of almost two million were forced to flee. When 531 villages were razed to the ground, 15,000 people were killed and the rest were raped, beaten and captured.

The fight for freedom has been going on for almost a hundred years and is a smorgasbord. Its just a matter of picking and choosing among fighting organizations, ideologies and tactics. It has been peac...

PNG is set to sign a so-called security pact with the US though there are serious questions about the lack of sovereignty for the small nation.

I was interviewed about it on Sky News Australia, speaking as the co-founder and co-editor of Declassified Australia.

The post Sky News Australia interview on PNG independence at risk under US security deal appeared first on Antony Loewenstein.

from G5

McGregor, McGovern, and Johnson here; are sane Intel analysts. I had previously encountered McGovern.

Johnson correctly describes how Western Intel has been subjugated for the ridiculous belief that repeated false narratives of propaganda prevail. As absurd as the equally ridiculous notion of Shock and Awe.

Propaganda may have domestic political value at best. But what the Americanised suck in, has nothing to do with The Russian Military retaking Europe. This time from American NAZIS.

It widens...

Micro and nanoplastics are pervasive in our food supply and may be affecting food safety and security on a global scale, a new study led by CSIRO, Australias national science agency, has found.

The study is one of the first to analyse the academic literature on microplastics from a food safety and food security risk viewpoint, building on past studies which primarily tracked plastics in fish.

It shows that plastics and their additives are present at a range of concentrations not only in fish but in many products including meat, chicken, rice, water, take-away food and drink, and even fresh produce.

Plastics enter the human food chain through numerous pathways

CSIRO analytical chemist, food safety specialist and lead author of the paper, Dr Jordi Nelis, said these plastics enter the human food chain through numerous pathways, such as ingestion as shown in the fish studies, but one of the main ways is through food processing and packaging.

Fresh food for example can be plastic free when its picked or caught but contain plastics by the time its been handled, packaged and makes its way to us, said Dr Nelis.

Machinery, cutting boards, plastic wrapping can all deposit micro and nanoplastics onto our food that we then consume. This study highlights the need to understand what plastic could end up in food to manage food safety and security.

Biosolids

Another important pathway for these contaminants to enter our agriculture system is through biosolids sourced from wastewater treatment.

Biosolids are a rich fertiliser for agricultural land, but they can contain plastic particles from many sources, such as from the washing of synthetic clothing.

These particles could build up in the soil and change the soil structure over time, which may affect crop production, food security and ecosystem resilience. For example, plastic materials can trick the good bacteria in the soil into thinking they are the roots of plants, meaning the plants end up with less of the nutrients they need.

The study also discussed how additives in plastics that help make plastic work in our modern world can leach into our environment, potentially contaminating our food supply. Additives that make plastic flexible or resistant to UV radiation, for example, can include flame retardants, heavy metals, phthalates, hardeners or other chemical compounds.

More research is needed

There are currently no definitive studies that demonstrate micro and nanoplastics in the environment cause harm to humans, however more research is needed to fully understand health effects.

More research is also needed to better understand the effects of plastics and their additives on food safety and...

The Institute of Public Affairs launch of Ian Plimer's new book from Connor Court Publishing, 'Not For Greens', in Melbourne on Tuesday 22 July 2014.

Cuscal, the company that handles the Australian dollar on- and off-ramping for the exchange, declined to comment specifically on why it decided to pull support for Binance Australia.

<div id="cyclelinks"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href= "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj1wZ761Xlr_K_vXIsfIxKTGJwN44r582NfhL0ALuugXx7BApSs1dvKd-nHg2_Zwpy8MQ9VQwHyjsX36085nzdY__0ODNzmqUBy87IwEwm82Emb5uObPuKoAOUZhtmPtYRulhQPqWqQ_2Jb-8h5YkWGPBOydq_0iCaF0EMNjmzVBKfrHvK5z_hchIcg/s1023/Ray%20White.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src= "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj1wZ761Xlr_K_vXIsfIxKTGJwN44r582NfhL0ALuugXx7BApSs1dvKd-nHg2_Zwpy8MQ9VQwHyjsX36085nzdY__0ODNzmqUBy87IwEwm82Emb5uObPuKoAOUZhtmPtYRulhQPqWqQ_2Jb-8h5YkWGPBOydq_0iCaF0EMNjmzVBKfrHvK5z_hchIcg/s320/Ray%20White.jpg" width="320"></a></div> <br> <p class="dropcontent">The colonys laws have been set up to benefit actions in business/commerce/trade.</p> <p class="dropcontent">The tax system has been (deliberately) geared up to the benefit of corporations, many avoid paying tax altogether for their entire business existence. </p> <p class="dropcontent">Throughout all this unfairness persons who participate in the economy have been classified as consumers, where consumer law has been introduced to give an illusion of fairness.</p> <p class="dropcontent">Sure, many examples can be brought up in court cases where the corporations lost and the consumer allegedly won.</p> <p class="dropcontent">Australia is a protectionist nation, and will go to any lengths to keep this, irrespective of how the consumer is harmed, as long as the government isnt.</p> <p class="dropcontent">One industry that is allowed to continue racketeering is the real estate industry, because the government directly benefits from this.</p> <p class="dropcontent">IF a licenced motor car trader sells an automobile, checks & balances must be made, where the road-worthiness of the vehicle must be proved with the appropriate paperwork.

The onus is then on the (licenced) seller.

No such luck in the the real estate market.

In MANY instances a residential dwelling is presented to a prospective consumer and the realtor is fully aware of the dwellings pitfalls, which are deliberately hidden from the purchaser.</p> <p class="dropcontent">Not only this, but the agent is absolved from any responsibility or liability, where a 180 is done and this falls on the purchaser, under a scam called due diligence.</p> <p class="dropcontent">In Victoria, the due diligence checklist falls under the responsibility of the consumer as stated in the institution called Consumer Affairs Victoria, at the time of this post, under the address: <a href= "https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/duediligencechecklist"><i><span style="color: #38761d;"> https://www.co...

Unbelievable. These are crazy times. TAMPONS AND SANITARY PADS IN MEN'S TOILET Sydney university. Decline of Western civilisation accelerates. pic.twitter.com/vbIPluFStG Dr David Adler (@DrDavidAdler1) May 18, 2023

The issue of gambling advertising has resurfaced after federal opposition leader Peter Dutton announced that the Coalition government will move to ban sports betting advertising during the broadcasting of games and that would include air time an hour on either side of a sporting game.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told media that he personally finds betting advertisements during sporting matches annoying and that there is a review underway.

Its not enough

But Associate Professor, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing at RMIT, Dr Lauren Gurrieri, says that concentrating efforts around footy matches is not enough.

Gambling marketing is pervasive and is increasingly becoming normalised as part of sporting culture more broadly.

Duttons call to ban sports betting advertising during and on either side of the broadcast is an important step in the discussion towards decoupling this association. However, it wont be enough to deter people.

Dr Gurrieri says every year the gambling industry continues to up its investment in advertising. According to Nielsen Research, Australias gambling industry increased its spend on advertising by almost $200m in 10 ye...

Matthew Elmas  wrote (the new Daily 4 May 2023) about the escalation of government subsidies handed to fossil fuel companies, as the government spruiked its claim that it will act far more decisively and go further on the reduction of carbon emission. It doesnt add up. Its time to put an end to it.

The value of subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuel companies across Australia will reach a record $57.1billion in the next four years.

A new report by the Australia Institute found subsidies for fossil fuel giants in federal and state budgets will soon cost taxpayers 14 times more than the Disaster Ready Fund.

Although the Albanese government has stopped some of the Morrison governments more egregious handouts, it has kept other ones, said Rod Campbell, a research director at the Australia Institute.

Total assistance to fossil fuel producers from governments has fallen from $11.6 billion in 2021-22 to $11.1 billion in 2022-23 $9.7 billion of which will come from federal coffers.

From there, however, payments will rise to a record level in the next four years, driven by expectations of even higher fuel tax credit payments.

A year on from the climate election and we have fossil fuel subsidies breaking records in tandem with the rising global temperatures that put our economy at risk, Mr Campbell said.

Australian governments are now planning to spend more on exacerbating climate change through these subsidies than they are on getting ready for climate disasters.

Prominent examples of federal fossil fuel handouts identified in the report include a $1.9 billion plan to support a petrochemical hub in Darwin and $141 million for carbon capture and storage.

Exemptions under the fuel tax excise for fossil fuel companies are tipped to generate $7.8 billion in tax credits for fossil fuel firms in 2022-23.

Major gas projects like Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct and the Kurri Kurri Power Station are receiving huge handouts from the Commonwealth government, Mr Campbell said.

These subsidies provide a huge opportunity for governments that are looking to cut costs and take climate action. Its time to stop funding climate change and start funding the response.

Am...

ASIA:

Japans economy experienced a faster-than-expected recovery in the first quarter, coming out of a recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth was primarily driven by increased consumption following the pandemic, which helped counter the challenges posed by global economic conditions. However, concerns have arisen due to signs of a slowdown in economic growth in the United States, Europe, and China. This uncertainty has raised questions about when the central bank can withdraw its extensive stimulus program. Recent government data showed that Japans economy grew by 1.6% in January-March, surpassing market expectations and marking the first increase in three quarters. The nominal gross domestic product also reached a record high, supported by rising prices.

The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:

• NIKKEI 225 increased 480.34 points or 1.60% to 30,573.93
• Shanghai increased 13.09 points or 0.40% to 3,297.32
• Hang Seng increased 166.68 points or 0.85% to 19,727.25
• ASX 200 increased 37.60 points or 0.52% to 7,236.80
• Kospi increased 20.74 points or 0.83% to 2,515.40
• SENSEX decreased 128.90 points or -0.21% to 61,431.74
• Nifty50 decreased 51.80 points or -0.28% to 18,129.95

The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:

• AUDUSD decreased 0.00437 or -0.66% to 0.66153
• NZDUSD decreased 0.00357 or -0.57% to 0.62123
• USDJPY increased 0.851 or 0.62% to 138.521
• USDCNY increased 0.04441 or 0.63% to 7.05311

Precious Metals:

• Gold decreased 25.84 USD/t oz. or -1.30% to 1,955.88
• Silver decreased 0.306 USD/t. oz or -1.29% to 23.420

Some economic news from last night:

Japan:

Adjusted Trade Balance increased from -1.21T to -1.02T

Exports (YoY) (Apr) decreased from 4.3% to 2.6%

Trade Balance (Apr) increased from -755.1B to -432.4B

Australia:

Employment Change (Apr) decreased from 61.1K to -4.3K

Full Employment Change (Apr) decreased from 82.5K to -27.1K

Unemployment Rate (Apr) increased from 3.5% to 3.7%

New Zealand:

PPI Input (QoQ) (Q1)...

Its our first actual installment of Whiskey & IR Theory in Space! We discuss Star Trek: The Next Generations gay rights episode, The Outcast, which Dan uses to introduce his students to different modes of reading the politics of (and in) science fiction. PTJ and Dan summarize the episode (can you spoil an 30+ year-old TV show?), discuss their own reactions to it, and then Dan talks about how his students respond to it differently now than they did a 10-15 years ago. The two hosts conclude by descending into rambling geekery as they discuss what theyll cover in the second installment of the series. 

The answer, by the way, is the two short stories that PTJ opens his class with: Ursula K. Le Guins The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, and N.K. Jemisins Those Who Stay and Fight. 

The Whisky: Port Charlotte CC:01

Republicans have been demanding answers on the lack of transparency on visitor logs from President Joe Biden's Delaware home and the response they just got won't make things better moving forward. The U.S. Secret Service is reportedly refusing to hand over emails identifying visitors to Biden's homes in Delaware as a Freedom of Information Act request was filed. The officer said in a letter: "Please be advised that emails reflecting visitors to President Biden's residences in Wilmington, Delaware, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware are not agency records subject to the FOIA. See Doyle v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 959 F.3d 72 (2d Cir. 2020) (finding that emails regarding expected visitors to the sitting President's residence were not agency records subject to the FOIA.)." The NY Post noted that it had filed its own FOIA request and that the Secret Service claimed last year that "no records were located" of Biden's Delaware visitors. It reported: "A Secret Service FOIA officer cited a...

Extinction Rebellion and other climate activists have made their presence felt in Adelaide over the last week with a series of protests targeting Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) and their fossil foolish champions such as Santos, and the Labor government has responded with extraordinary over-reach in response to the mere hint of a little disruption. In contrast they have advised the fossil fuel industry they are at their disposal

Contrary to many politicians belief nonviolent disruption and protest has a history in social movements going back many years. Yes folks, we did not win workers rights, the 8 hour day, votes for women and Aboriginal people, and saved national treasures like the Daintree, Kakadu, Walmadan/James Price Point, and old growth forests across the country by standing quietly in the corner, and waving a sign. Disruption was involved. Nonviolent disruption. Civil disobedience.

In terms of this week, its difficult to work out which aspect is more shocking

• A South Australian Labor government seemingly writing up and smashing through legislation in one day, increasing penalties for Obstruction of a Public Place by 7000% in response to the Liberals throwing around a figure of a $50,000 fine on talkback radio to punish climate protesters in a valiant attempt to steal the crown from NSW Labor and their widely condemned protest laws rapidly passed in a few days
• Santos Ltd demanding that a climate activist pay them $4900 for a cleaning fee apparently with a serious face, with their track record of shocking environmental vandalism outlined below. And apparently telling APPEA conference they were on the right side of history
• The South Australian Police Commissioner casually wishing he could cause death or serious injury to an Extinction Rebellion activist hanging from a rope as part of the APPEA protests activists. ...

Russia's first-ever wheeled self-propelled howitzer, the 2S43 Malva, has successfully completed trials and will enter service, Director of Uralvagonzavod Aleksandr Potapov said on Wednesday. The weapon has been described by the media as Moscow's answer to French-made Caesar howitzers, some of which were delivered to Ukraine last year. "Yes, the Malva should soon join [the troops]. Everything is fine with it," Potapov told TASS news agency on the sidelines of the MILEX-2023 arms expo in Minsk, Belarus. Equipped with a 152-mm gun, the Malva (Mallow) is designed to fire at a wide range of targets, including enemy artillery batteries and armored convoys. It is more mobile and less expensive to produce than tracked systems.

Russia Sanctions Embassy Bank Accounts in Response to Finlands Unfriendly Acts Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov reiterated that the principle of reciprocity and the principle of an appropriate response to unfriendly steps would continue to prevail in relations

 Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, May 18. /TASS/. Russia will not let the unfriendly actions of other countries go unanswered, adhering to the principles of reciprocity and responding appropriately, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

Speaking about the restrictions placed on the use of the bank accounts of the Finnish embassy and consulate general in Russia, the Kremlin spokesman pointed out that, "this is not an initiative of the Russian side." "We are only responding to the situation created by the authorities of a number of Western countries, including, to our regret, Finland," Peskov said. "We always say that we cannot and will not let any unfriendly action go unanswered," the Kremlin spokesman pointed out.

According to him, Moscow's response to Finland's note will include a reiteration of Russia's position: "The principle of reciprocity and the principle of an appropriate response to unfriendly steps will continue to prevail in our relations."

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that restrictions had been placed on the use of the bank accounts of the Finnish embassy and consulate general in Russia. She pointed out that these actions were a mirror response to similar restrictions placed on the Russian diplomatic mission in Finland, which has been limited to using an account at a Finnish bank only. Zakharova noted that Russia has repeatedly raised the issue of lifting restrictions on Russian diplomatic missions with the Finnish side. However, according to her, Finland has chosen a non-constructive approach, which contradicts the obligations of the host country to ensure the normal functioning of forei...

May 19th, 2023 By Amelia Harris Staff Writer for Wake Up World Happiness is a fundamental aspect of human life, yet it is often elusive and hard to define. What makes us happy? What factors contribute to our overall sense of well-being? These are questions that scientists have been studying for decades, and the answers []

The post The Science of Happiness: Understanding What Makes Us Happy first appeared on Wake Up World.

From ANH-International

Much has changed since the World Health Organization (WHO) was established in the wake of World War II. Like a newborn, the WHO was initially nave and came in with noble intentions. It evolved its view of health, moving from one that was just the absence of disease, towards a more holistic concept, being a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. At the heart of its Constitution it positioned enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for every human being.

After two traumatic world wars, people recognised that a common patchwork of sovereign nations with shared ideals and priorities would be the best way of raising health standards around the world, while recognising that empowering individuals to take control of their own health would be a powerful step towards this goal. The Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 makes a refreshing read. In particular: Principle IV, that reinforces the importance of the individual, as well as the collective, in planning and implementing their health care; and Principle VI, with a nod to Nuremberg and the Doctors Trial, requiring that primary health care must be based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology.

With the very recent, coercive manner by which C19 genetic vaccines were rolled out experimentally on the masses many of these often desperate to regain livelihoods and be released from lockdowns its clear that the WHO Constitutional principles and those from Alma-Ata, were disregarded (see here, or here).

Like a child transforming from innocent to nasty teenager, the WHO appears to have used the covid-19 crisis as a catalyst for an about-turn on its more altruistic and democratic approach.

In the case of a child, most cases can be put down to the negative influences coming from the immediate environment of that child such as the parents and the local community. With an organisation, its not that different because its down to who controls it; and the control of.........

By New Zealand/Aotearoa for a World BEYOND War, May 18, 2023

A New Zealand peace network says the budgets record military spending will please our most dangerous ally the United States but dramatically increase the risk of propelling us into a nuclear war.

World BEYOND War spokesman and former Disarmament Minister, the Hon. Matt Robson, says the dramatically increased military spending a record $6.6 Billion is not driven by any real security needs but rather that Prime Ministers Ardern and Hipkins signed up to the containment policies of nuclear armed NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).

The steady increases over the last five years, and the planned future big ticket items to make New Zealand interoperable with NATO, are  justified by the lie that New Zealand is threatened by China and Russia, he says.

The real security threat is New Zealand having a dangerous ally in US- led NATO, which is increasing its  bases and  concentrating its military might on Chinas doorstep, says Mr Robson.

As an Asian partner, along with big military spenders Japan, Australia  and South Korea the price tag of interoperability with  NATO is to continually increase military spending, he says.

Our biggest trading partner China has but two military bases outside of its territory, while the US and its NATO allies have them globally with almost 500, and expanding, in the Pacific.

The US is now seeking to add Papua New Guinea to that list. That tells you which country  is driving militarisation of the Pacific our most dangerous ally, the US, says Mr Robson.

World BEYOND Wars Vice President Liz Remmerswaal says this spending takes away from New Zealands social and economic needs at a time when people are hurting.

We are dealing with the effects of a global pandemic as well as cyclone damage and a climate crises, she says.

New Zealands social and economic development, the basis of our actual security, require cooperation with China on multiple levels, including climate change and development strategies with and for our Pacific neighbours, and this should be our focus, says Mrs Remmerswaal.

Our security is not served by going deeper into the nuclear arms of NATO and being at war with China and Russia.

The...

One of Australias Big Four banks announced efforts to combat crypto fraud activities aimed at reducing losses from scams.

Sydney, Australia (Photo by Johnny Bhalla/Unsplash)

The crypto-friendly fintech said that the license would hold it to a higher regulatory standard that could give consumers confidence.

Australian dollar deposits and withdrawals have been impacted due to a decision made by its third-party provider, Binance Australia says.

The Australian digital dollar was used in a trade for a United States dollar stablecoin using an Ethereum layer-2 blockchain.

As of 2021, the U.S. obesity rate among adults over the age of 20 was 41.9%.¹ Unfortunately, people have been indoctrinated into thinking that magic pills are the answer, opposed to taking a long, hard look at your lifestyle, diet and eating habits.

Wegovy (semaglutide), given as a weekly self-injection, has become so popular that, in early May 2023, Novo Nordisk announced it would cut the supply of starter doses for the U.S. market to safeguard continuity of care for existing patients.² As reported by CNBC:³

Novo Nordisk reported forecast-beating first-quarter sales Thursday following a spike in demand for its blockbuster weight-loss drug ... [Chief financial officer Karsten Munk] Knudsen said the company was ramping up supply every day, and currently had two contract manufacturers working to boost output, with a third expected to come online in the second half of 2023.

He added that there were further plans to increase production in the coming years. This is also a reflection of a very big market and a very big unmet need for safe and efficacious medication, and thats where Wegovy comes in, being very efficacious and safe for patients [with obesity], he said.

What You Need to Know About Wegovy

Wegovy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2021 for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol).⁴

The drug is indicated for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater who have at least one weight-related ailment, or in patients with a BMI of 30 or greater.

According to the FDA, the active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.⁵

GLP-1, which semaglutide mimicks, also lowers blood sugar and slows the passage of food through your gut.⁶ Gastrointestinal side effects are so common, the dose must be gradually increased, from 0.25 milligrams to 2.4 mg over the course of 16 to 20 weeks.

In all, safety and efficacy have been studied in four 68-week trials involving a total of 2,600 patients who got the drug and 1,500 who got a placebo. In the largest placebo-controlled trial, nondiabetic patients who received Wegovy lo...

UKRAINE 26.08.2022 - 17982 views     

ZELENSKYS DRUG DEALER DETAINED REPORTS

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Zelensky's Drug Dealer Detained - Reports

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On August 25th, a drug dealer was detained in Kiev. According to Ukrainian media reports, the man was engaged in the supply of drugs for deputies of the ruling party of Vladimir Zelensky, Servant of the People.

A 48-year-old man was identified Yuriy Chernetsky. According to the local prosecutors office, he systematically sold cocaine in the capital of Ukraine. More than 20 bags of cocaine, as well as money, ammunition and scales were seized in his car.

Ukrainian media claimed he supplied cocaine to the president to the deputies of the Zelenskys party.

The suspect was detained with a possibility for release on bail of 4 million hryvnia. He faces up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Zelensky's Drug Dealer Detained - Reports

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Zelensky's Drug Dealer Detained - Reports

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Zelensky's Drug Dealer Detained - Reports

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Zelensky's Drug Dealer Detained - Reports

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President Zelensky often appears on public drugged. He was even suspected of being drugged during his interviews to foreign media. LINK

Advisor to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Arestovich has recently called not to condemn Vladimir Zelensky for his addiction, confirming that the Ukrainian president as well as Ukrainian servicemen do drugs.

Zelensky's Drug Dealer Detained - Reports

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Answering the qu...

ASIA:

Indias economy is expected to grow by 5.8% in 2023, driven by strong domestic demand, although high funding costs and weak external demand pose challenges. The United Nations report also predicts a growth rate of 6.7% for India in 2024. Inflation is forecasted to decrease to 5.5% in 2023, aided by stable global commodity prices and a slower currency depreciation. In April, Indias retail inflation reached a low of 4.70%, staying below the Reserve Bank of Indias target range of 4%.

The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:

• NIKKEI 225 increased 256.60 points or 0.84% to 30,093.59
• Shanghai decreased 6.76 points or -0.21% to 3,284.23
• Hang Seng decreased 417.68 points or -2.09% to 19,560.57
• ASX 200 decreased 35.50 points or -0.49% to 7,199.20
• Kospi increased 14.42 points or 0.58% to 2,494.66
• SENSEX decreased 371.83 points or -0.60% to 61,560.64
• Nifty50 decreased 104.75 points or -0.57% to 18,181.75

The major Asian currency markets had a green day today:

• AUDUSD increased 0.00166 or 0.25% to 0.66716
• NZDUSD increased 0.00331 or 0.53% to 0.62641
• USDJPY increased 1.145 or 0.84% to 137.515
• USDCNY increased 0.00583 or 0.08% to 7.00403

Precious Metals:

• Gold decreased 6.61 USD/t oz. or -0.33% to 1,981.99
• Silver increased 0.025 USD/t. oz or 0.10% to 23.758

Some economic news from last night:

Japan:

GDP (YoY) (Q1) increased from -0.1% to 1.6%

GDP (QoQ) (Q1) increased from 0.0% to 0.4%

Australia:

Wage Price Index (QoQ) (Q1) remain the same at 0.8%

Some economic news from today:

Japan:

Industrial Production (MoM) (Mar) decreased from 4.6% to 1.1%

EUROPE/EMEA:

Stellantis, one of the worlds largest car manufacturers, has warned that British car plants could shut down and result in significant job losses unless the Brexit deal is renegotiated promptly. The company, which owns brands such as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, and Fiat, explained that the current deal would subject them to...

Are there any telltale signs of a narcissist beyond glaringly white teeth and an excessive number of selfies on their phone? Recent research suggests that the answer might be right above their eyes in their eyebrows, to be precise.

A study by the University of Toronto, featured in the Journal of Personality, proposes that individuals with distinguished eyebrows are more likely to exhibit traits associated with narcissistic personality.

The term narcissist originates from the ancient Greek tale of Narcissus, a youth who fell hopelessly in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Generally, individuals with pronounced narcissistic traits rank high on the self-admiration scale. They frequently make positive initial impressions, appearing likable and charismatic, but also demonstrate self-centered and egotistical behavior, often coupled with an inflated sense of their own abilities or looks.

Heres a list of common traits often associated with narcissism:

• Excessive Self-Importance: Narcissists often have an inflated sense of their own importance. They believe they are superior and expect recognition as such, even without commensurate achievements.
• Sense of Entitlement: Narcissists typically feel entitled to special treatment and unquestioning compliance with their expectations.
• Exploitation of Others: Narcissists are often willing to take advantage of others to achieve their own ends. They may disregard the feelings and needs of others.
• Lack of Empathy: Narcissists may struggle to identify with the feelings and needs of others. They might dismiss or disregard the feelings of others as irrelevant or unimportant.
• Envy: Narcissists may either believe others are envious of them, or they themselves may be envious of others.
• Arrogance: Narcissists often display haughty or arrogant behaviors or attitudes. They might come off as conceited, boastful, or pretentious.
• Fantasies of Success and Power: Narcissists often fantasize about unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.

Interestingly, they seem to have remarkable eyebrows too.

Remember, having a few of these traits doesnt necessarily mean someone is a narcissist. Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as diagnosed by professionals, is a severe and pervasive pattern that significantly impacts a persons life, relationships, and functioning.

The research team reached this conclusion by photographing nearly 40 undergraduate students with neutral facial expressions. These students were then subjected to a psychological evaluation known as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory to measure the potency of any narcissistic character...

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The shadow of stigma that surrounds depression and other mental health conditions is subtle yet widespread, often going unnoticed. It persists even when depression is being discussed openly, constraining how we understand and perceive the individuals living with depression and the different forms it can take. As such, certain indicators of high functioning depression may be missed even by those well-versed in mental health matters.

Depression is frequently portrayed as affecting predominantly white, cisgender, heterosexual women, and depicted as an overwhelming, debilitating sorrow that confines sufferers to their beds.  This perception fails to acknowledge the existence of high-functioning depression, thus depriving people of the opportunity to identify their condition and seek necessary help.

High functioning depression, also known as persistent depressive disorder (PDD) or dysthymia, is a chronic form of depression, as explained by the Mayo Clinic. Although the symptoms of high functioning depression may be less severe than those of major depressive disorder, WebMD notes that the depression symptoms can persist for a long time, often two years or longer. High functioning depression allows individuals to maintain their daily routines despite enduring feelings of sadness or fatigue. However, it remains a serious condition that requires attention and treatment. Your worth extends beyond your productivity, and you deserve more than just going through the motions. If any of the following signs resonate with you, consider consulting your GP to explore potential treatments.

1 Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Emptiness

Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness or feeling down are a major symptom of persistent depressive disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic. Its normal not to feel joyous every moment of the day, but if you find that your usual state is one of sadness or numbness, it might be time to book an appointment with your doctor.

2 Disrupted Sleep Patterns

WebMD identifies insomnia or excessive sleep almost every day as another sign of high functioning depression. If youre routinely struggling to sleep or consistently getting 10 hours of sleep yet still feel tired at work, it might indicate a deeper issue that warrants professional advice.

3 Unexplained Physical Pain

If youre experiencing persistent headaches that no amount of painkillers can alleviate, or constant back pain with no discernible cause, it could be a sign of high functioning depression. Talkspace suggests that aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause could be indicative of this condition.

4 Lack of Joy in Previously Enjoyed Activities

Psychologist Suzanne Leckie, in an interview with Womens Health Australia, noted that experiencing less pleasure in usual a...