Amid trade wars, diplomatic tiffs and propaganda sniping, the ugliness between China and Australia seems set to escalate as Beijing enters an agreement with Papua New Guinea to establish an industrial foothold within the narrow Torres Strait. Radio Australia reports that… Read moreStrategic strait at issue in Australia-China rift
As Trump and Hegseth explicitly broach the surrender of Ukrainian territory to Russia, a poorly positioned Zelensky is acceding to demands that he turn a large portion of his country's strategic mineral wealth over to the US in compensation for military aid. Especially at issue are Ukraine's significant reserves of lithium—critical to de facto "co-president" Elon Musk's e-vehicle interests. In announcing a new lithium refinery in Texas, Musk called the mineral "the new oil." The premium on Ukraine's strategic minerals is elevated by China's perceived design to establish control over the planet's rare earth elements. However, as Zelensky is quick to emphasize, nearly 20% of Ukraine's mineral resources are in areas under Russian occupation. (Map: ResearchGate)
An utterly maddening story in the Princeton Planet Dec. 8 informs us that exiled Chinese dissident Teng Biao has been facing protests at his home in New Jersey’s Princeton Junction—by fellow opponents of China’s dictatorship. They are, absurdly, accusing him of being… Read moreTrump co-opts Chinese dissidents —stirring dissent
President Donald Trump announced Dec. 10 that Morocco and Israel have agreed to normalize relations, adding that the US will formally recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the occupied territory of Western Sahara. Trump’s official proclamation states that “as of today, the United States recognizes… Read more‘Abraham Accords’ betray Palestinians …and now Sahrawis
President Trump has ordered the withdrawal of nearly all US troops from Somalia by mid-January, the Pentagon announced Dec. 4. The US currently has about 700 troops in the country, assisting local forces to fight al-Shabaab and insurgents operating in… Read moreTrump announces (pseudo-) withdrawal from Somalia
The popular vlogger and comedian Katie Halper, whose journalistic take-downs of the Democratic Party establishment have certainly been deftly exploited (at least) by the Kremlin propaganda machine, wears the accusation that she is a “useful idiot” for Russia as a badge… Read moreKatie Halper: ‘Useful Idiot’ or Russian ‘infiltrator’?
The world is breathing a collective sigh of relief after General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy officially contacted the team of president-elect Joe Biden, marking the Trump administration’s belated initiation of the transition process. However, the widespread portrayal that Trump has blinked… Read moreWill strikes on Iran be Trump’s Plan B?
Following an outburst of angry protest across the country, Peru’s third president in less than a week was sworn in Nov. 16, with a coalition cabinet aimed at bringing the country back from the brink of chaos. The crisis was… Read morePeru: after deadly repression, protesters win a round
Ten days after the Associated Press called the election for Biden, cracks are finally beginning to emerge in the consensus that he will be allowed to take office without a fight. Trump, refusing to concede and incessantly tweeting about how he… Read moreTrump preparing post-election coup: deal with it
Following his visit to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations earlier this month, Burmese junta leader Min Aung Hlaing thanked Russia for the fighter jets and helicopters it has provided his military government. The junta, which came to power in the February 2021 coup, is currently facing an insurgency by a number of armed ethnic and opposition groups across Burma. Rights groups accuse the Tatmadaw, as the Burmese military is known, of routinely targeting civilian populations and infrastructure in its aerial attacks. While in Moscow, Min Aung Hlaing also met for the first time with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, another key patron of his regime (Photo: Russia MoD via The Irrawaddy)
In Bolivia’s eastern lowlands, known as Oriente, the regionally powerful right-wing social networks have responded rapidly to the victory of socialist candidate Luis Arce in the weekend’s presidential elections. Hundreds filled the streets of the region’s principal city, Santa Cruz,… Read moreProtests break out in Bolivia’s Oriente
Luis Arce, candidate of the party of ousted president Evo Morales, has seemingly swept to victory in Bolivia’s Oct. 18 presidential elections. While the official count is technically still pending, results place him with more than 50% of the vote—well… Read moreBolivia: back to ‘socialism,’ or meet the new boss?
