Last week's post on Moon of Alabama: July 10 - Yellen's Visit To China Has Failed Related: - Did Xi Just Save the World? - Adam Tooze / Foreign Policy - Unlocked: A Century of American Economic Warfare - Peter...

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Iranians lash out at Russia after Moscow wades into Gulf territorial row

By severing its ties with the Taiwan region and establishing diplomatic relations with the Peoples Republic of China in 2019, the Solomon Islands has entered a new phase of rapid development and found a reliable partner to embark on a path of modernization and stability. In this edition of Leaders Talk, CMG anchor Zou Yun...

By Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. | The Defender | July 14, 2023

Former security state operatives occupy the highest positions at Big Tech internet platforms, and are responsible for censoring political content and limiting public debate, Glenn Greenwald reported on Tuesday.

Americans have been aware of security state efforts to control media narratives since the 1970s, when the Senates Church Committee exposed the CIAs Operation Mockingbird, Greenwald told listeners of his podcast, System Update.

Under that program, CIA agents covertly infiltrated and influenced the nations largest news organizations.

Project Mockingbirds exposure greatly embarrassed the media and the government,  as the CIA is forbidden from targeting the American public, Greenwald said.

Over the past decade, a series of whistleblowers revealed the U.S. security state has again amped up its covert targeting of American citizens, particularly since the start of the post-9/11 War on Terror.

News that intelligence agencies spied on Americans or infiltrated the news media was considered scandalous just over a decade ago.

But today, things have changed, Greenwald said. In fact, it has become common for top news outlets to openly hire former U.S. security state agents to report and comment on the news.

And in the last few months, the Twitter files and the latest Missouri v. Biden decision made clear how aggressive the censorship regime has become.

The U.S. government, in part, dictates what content social media platforms ought to allow on their sites, Greenwald said. But, he added:

Theres another element, another layer to it, which is theyve infiltrated these Big Tech companies these ex-CIA agents have exactly like theyve infiltrated corporate news outlets. Theyre all over these censorship regimes.

Greenwald said top positions at the tech firms are now held by people coming directly fro...

The Vilnius Summit, convened by the NATO Heads of State and Government on July 11-12, 2023, concluded with the release of an extensive communiqu. This document distinguishes itself from a typical summit declaration, serving instead as a strategic roadmap that outlines NATOs future direction in an ever-evolving world order.

The communiqu, detailed in its exposition of pivotal policy directions and strategic initiatives, encapsulates the collective vision of NATO members. Owing to its depth and breadth, this essay will focus on the salient points that underscore a significant shift in NATOs role and strategic posture.

The document signals the advent of a New Cold War, indicative of a shift in global power dynamics with NATO positioning itself against strategic competitors, notably Russia and China. Additionally, it broadens the traditional concept of security to incorporate the global commons, including oceans, space, technology, and cyberspace.

Released on July 11, 2023, the Vilnius Summit Communiqu heralds a new epoch in international politics. This era, while echoing past rivalries, is shaped by contemporary realities. The subsequent analysis dissects the communiqus main points and their implications for this emerging New Cold War.

NATOs Evolution and the Advent of a New Cold War

NATO, established on shared values of individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, was originally formed as a defensive alliance against the Soviet Union. Over time, NATO has had to redefine its role in a rapidly evolving world order, particularly in the post-Cold War era. This period brought into question NATOs identity and purpose in a world that seemed to have moved beyond the bipolar power dynamics of the Cold War.

The Vilnius Summit Communiqu describes NATO as the unique, essential and indispensable transatlantic forum to consult, coordinate and act on all matters related to our individual and collective security. This powerful reaffirmation underscores NATOs central role in preserving peace and stability across the Atlantic. Furthermore, it emphasizes NATOs commitment to defend each other and every inch of Allied territory at all times, thereby ensuring the protection of its one billion citizens and safeguarding freedom and democracy.

The communiqu, however, reveals a significant shift in NATOs strategic outlook. The Alliance is no longer merely a defensive entity but positions itself as a proactive force ready to confront emerging challenges in an increasingly multipolar world. The communiqu underscores a transition towards a broader definition of security that includes the global commons of oceans, space, technology, and cyberspace.

The document recognizes that the geopolitical landscape has evolved, ack...

Iranian press review: One person executed almost every 12 hours in 2023

7 Jul 2023 Source: The Wall Street Journal By Al Mayadeen English The increasing economic growth opportunities between China and the Middle East pose a great threat to the US and its influence in the region in the coming decades. After Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia in December to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin []

• U.S. officials are reportedly planning to restrict Chinese companies access to cloud computing services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft, as a security measure to safeguard advanced technology.
• The proposed controls would require providers to obtain government approval before offering cloud services that utilize powerful artificial intelligence (AI) chips to Chinese clients, closing a loophole in existing chip export sanctions. The U.S. Commerce Department is expected to announce these measures in the coming weeks. 
• In response, the Chinese government plans to implement controls on exports of gallium and germanium, crucial materials for semiconductor production, potentially impacting the chip manufacturing industry.  Read More

The post US Plans to Restrict Chinese Access to Cloud Services appeared first on The Clarion Project.

Mike Whitney The Unz Review July 12, 2023

Look carefully at the chart above. What do you see?

You see the development of a high-speed rail system that is unrivaled anywhere on earth. You see the actualization of plan to connect all parts of the country with modern-day infrastructure that reduces shipping costs, improves mobility and increases profitability. You see a vision of the 21st century in which state-directed capital links rural populations with urban centers lifting standards of living across the board. You see an expression of a new economic model that has lifted 800 million people out of poverty while paving the way for global economic integration. You see an industrial juggernaut expanding in all directions while laying the groundwork for a new century of economic integration, accelerated development and shared prosperity.

Is there a high-speed rail system in the United States that is comparable to what we see in China today?

No, there isnt. So far, less than 50 miles of high-speed rail has been built in the United States. (Amtraks Acela, which reaches 150 mph over 49.9 miles of track, is the USs only high-speed rail service.) As everyone knows, Americas transportation grid is obsolete and in a shambles.

But, why? Why is the United States so far behind China in the development of critical infrastructure?

Its because Chinas state-led model is vastly superior to Americas carpetbagger model. In China, the government is directly involved in the operation of the economy, which means that it subsidizes those industries that enhance growth and spur development. In contrast, American capitalism is a savage free-for-all in which private owners are able to divert great sums of money into unproductive stock buybacks and other scams that do nothing to create jobs or strengthen the economy. Since 2009 US corporations have spent more than $7 trillion on stock buybacks which is an activity that boosts payouts to rich shareholders but fails to produce anything of material value. Had that capital been invested in critical infrastructure, every city in America would be linked to a gigantic webbing of high-speed rail extending from...

Kit Knightley Off-Guardian July 13, 2023

In yet another blow to the globalist plan for World Domination, last week the government of Shanghai has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with US-based pharmaceutical company Moderna.

For anyone living in a cave on Mars for the last couple of years, Moderna are an mRNA-focused research company who produced only the second ever safe and effective mRNA vaccine basically just a few days after Pfizer produced the first.

Thanks to Modernas rushed and untested vaccine the first product they ever successfully brought to market over the course of the pandemic their stock value increased over 2000%, from $19 per share to $450.

Modernas founders were among the 44 new billionaires (totally accidentally) created by Covid.

and now they get a brand new research centre in Shanghai, along with investment and co-operation from the local government and permission to run human trials using Chinese citizens, according to China Daily:

Moderna, the United States-based pharmaceuticals manufacturer, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with authorities in Shanghai on Wednesday, marking the companys first investment on the Chinese mainland.

Under the agreement among the Shanghai Commission of Economy and Informatization, the district government of Minhang and Moderna, the parties will collaborate on investment, research and development, production and commercialization in the biomedical sector, it was announced by the Minhang district government on Thursday.

The companys first investment project on the Chinese mainland will involve setting up an R&D base in Minhang and conducting clinical trials on new medicines to put its products on the market, and produce and sell them in China.

Now, since Im reliably informed China are some kind of multilateral, anti-globalist 5th columnist who only pretended to go along with the Covid narrative (for as yet unknown reasons), my first thought was that this must be some kind of trick.

Perhaps the Chinese government is simply helping produce Modernas products in order to profit from Covid hysteria by selling them to idiotic Western governments, right?

but, alas, it doesnt look that way according to the Financial Times:

Any medicines produced under this agreement will be exclusively for the Chinese people who face many of the same health challenges that affect other communities around the world, the company said in a statement.

Yes, it seems all the *ahem* medicine Moderna produces in...

Frank Bergman SLAY News July 13, 2023

World Economic Forum (WEF) members are celebrating the emergence of digital cash as governments around the globe prepare for cashless societies.

During the WEFs Summer Davos event in China last month, attendees were buzzing about the advancement of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Over 1,500 government, corporate, and academic leaders, including a large delegation from Saudi Arabia, gathered for the WEF summit in Tianjin, China on June 2729.

The main topic of discussion during the three-day conference, also called the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, was how the WEFs agenda can be amplified in cashless societies through the use of CBDCs.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang kicked off the summit with an address in which he called for more globalization.

The second-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party also warned there will be more public health crises, which he suggested will bring new opportunities to advance the globalist agenda.

COVID-19 will not be the last public health crisis humanity faces, said Qiang.

Global public health governance needs to be enhanced.

Other notable moments included a panel discussion titled Chinas Economy: The Big Rebound? during which Cornell Professor Eswar Prasad advocated for governments using CBDC to control citizens purchases.

As Slay News reported, Prasad gloated that a digital dollar could be used to strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights by blocking them from buying ammunition and other less desirable items.

A CBDC is a digital currency issued and governed by a central bank.

In the case of the United States, a CBDC would be a digital currency issued and controlled directly by the Federal Reserve.

A CBDC would replace cash for all transactions and be controlled by the central bank.

It would be backed by the central bank and its value is manipulated by the Feds monetary policies.

However, whereas cash transactions are anonymous, CBDC transactions are not.

The monitoring of CBDC transactions has already been confirmed by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

But anonymity would not be the only casualty of CBDC as one of the key features would be the ability to monitor what individuals purchase to control and limit what they spend.

During a panel discussion at Summer Davos, Prasad boasted to WEF members that digital currencies offer governments the benefit of controlling what taxpayers purchase.

If you t...

Drago Bosnic Despite all the failures of its favorite puppet regime, as well as the inability to hide or spin this for propaganda purposes, NATO seems to be expanding its comprehensive aggression against the world. This time, its target is the Asia-Pacific region, particularly its foremost power China. The United States aims to use the belligerent...

The Cradle | July 13, 2023

Saudi Arabia imported record levels of Russian fuel oil in June, bringing in 910,000 metric tons, a nearly tenfold increase from the same period last year, to meet summer power generation needs.

Since the start of 2023, Saudi imports of Russian fuel have nearly doubled from last year. As of June, the kingdom imported 2.86 million metric tons of fuel oil, exceeding the 1.63 million metric tons imported for all of 2022.

Alongside many countries in the Global South, the kingdom has been ramping up its purchases of discounted Russian fuel over the past several months, allowing Moscow to negate much of the effects of western sanctions and a G7 price cap imposed on their energy sector.

The news comes just over a month after Saudi officials announced plans to cut oil production levels by an extra one million barrels per day (bpd) in July a cut that came on top of a massive reduction in oil output implemented since last October by OPEC+ member states, including Russia.

In May, Bloomberg reported, Saudi Arabia is snapping up millions of barrels of Russian diesel that Europe no longer allows, while simultaneously sending its own supplies back to buyers in the EU.

Traders and analysts believe the kingdom has been conducting this scheme to generate higher profits by taking advantage of western sanctions.

India and China are two other nations taking advantage of the situation, buying as much as 80 percent of the oil that Moscow exported in May.

In May 2023, India and China accounted for almost 80 percent of Russian crude oil exports, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report.

Russian fuel exports to Africa have also skyrocketed over the past year, increasing nearly 14-fold since the start of the war in Ukraine. Before March 2022, Moscow exported 33,000 bpd of refined products to African nations; by March 2023, exports soared to 420,000 bpd.

Kit Knightly In yet another blow to the globalist plan for World Domination, last week the government of Shanghai has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with US-based pharmaceutical company Moderna. For anyone living in a cave on Mars for the last couple of years, Moderna are an mRNA-focused research company who produced only the second