Focus on Beirut for a moment. What did we just witness happening at the port there? The massive explosion that rocked the whole city felt like an attack. And I use the term “felt” for a purpose here. For in a world where media or even governments can no longer be trusted, we are left with our gut and intuition to protect us. Yes, everything about the Lebanon incident feels like an attack…
Politics
Middle East - Lebanon
10.08.2020
Scandal between South Korea and New Zealand over Alleged Sexual Assault
On July 28, 2020, South Korean President Moon Jae-in held talks over the phone with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. According to official reports, the South Korean leader requested New Zealand’s support for South Korea’s candidate running to be the World Trade Organization’s next director-general — Trade Minister…
Eastern Asia - South Korea
09.08.2020
Iran-Chinese Joker in a Game against the United States
The recent sanctions and isolationist policy of the White House towards China and Iran declaring them to be the US adversaries directly gave an impetus to countermoves of these countries against Washington’s policy. In that regard, the preparation announced by Iran in July for concluding a bilateral strategic Pact between Tehran and Beijing, involving an unprecedented…
Middle East - Iran
07.08.2020
Australia: Willing Pawn in US Struggle with China
Upon reading Australia’s new defense strategy, one might think its authors believe they are surrounded by nations invaded and destroyed by China with Australia next in line. News headlines declare, “Australia’s new defence strategy unveils a significant strategic shift in foreign policy to meet new threats from China,” “China the unspoken threat at centre…
Asian-Pacific region - Australia
07.08.2020
The Latest 2+2 Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN)
On July 27-28, the regular AUSMIN forum for consultations bringing together the Australian Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defense with the US Secretaries of State and Defense was held in Washington. On the face of it, the event seems to have become more or less of a routine, as it has been held annually for the past…
Asian-Pacific region - Australia
06.08.2020
Who is Britain’s Main Enemy Today?
The current political elite of Britain, being in a deep existential crisis, as many media outlets are already writing about, was looking forward to the long-awaited publication of the Russian Report, the release of which was delayed by Boris Johnson for 10 months. And finally, the intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament published…
Europe
05.08.2020
Beirut Goes Up in Smoke
To see Beirut and its port area with a huge mushroom cloud hanging above is a truly surreal sight. But what is not surreal in battered Lebanese capital? A big part of the downtown looks flattened, thoroughly ruined. One of my Japanese friends based in Beirut exclaimed: “It looks like Hiroshima!” It does. Who is behind the carnage? What really happened? Nobody is claiming responsibility…
Middle East - Lebanon
Economics
07.08.2020
America’s Royals Bid the Common Folk to “Find Something New”
When I read this week that Princess Ivanka Trump telling American workers they need to eat cake, I’ll admit still being surprised by the Trump White House. According to the reports, Ivanka told the country’s laid-off workers to consider alternative career paths because their old jobs won’t be coming back. For those of you in disbelief like…
USA in the World
06.08.2020
Sino-Iran Deal and the Future of Gulf Geo-Politics
Whereas the recently announced Sino-Iran deal cuts at the US policies vis-à-vis both China and Iran, China’s multi-billion dollar is quite likely to change the balance of power in the Middle East to Iran’s favour. With China establishing a direct presence in Iran and around the Persian Gulf/Strait of Hormuz, not only will Iran’s military position change and its capacity…
Middle East - Iran
28.07.2020
PETA-UK Scam a Warning to Trading With West
Animal rights front PETA and British retailers and media have teamed up to deliver a collective and politically-motivated blow to Thailand’s agricultural exports and in particular its large coconut industry (second largest coconut exporter in the world). PETA makes the absurd claim that Thailand’s immense coconut industry depends on “monkey labour…
Southeast Asia - Thailand
27.07.2020
China's Vision in a Post-COVID World
On 13 July an international newscast reported that the European Commission will discuss as a priority on how the EU should react to China’s national security law for Hong Kong, a sovereign decision taken by Beijing to protect the citizens of the Chinese territory, Hong Kong, from western instigated riots and acts of terror. This is apparently an issue…
Eastern Asia - China
24.07.2020
Shifting Business Models of Higher Education
I suspect some colleges and universities will go under in the wake of COVID 19, as they faced with bankruptcy and are having to deal with lower enrollments too. It might be a good time for military recruiters, at least in the US. The capitalist model is in dire straits, some claim is even falling, especially the business model for higher education. But it is it…
USA in the World
20.07.2020
Is America’s Second Corona Wave a Political Hoax?
For several weeks, just as most states across the United States began to reopen, following three months of lockdown to “flatten the curve”, several states including Texas and Florida began reporting record new numbers who tested positive for the coronavirus. At least that is what the world is being told. More careful investigation suggests…
USA in the World
20.07.2020
Saudi Arabia: Ambitious Plans and Facts on the Ground
Saudi Arabia has announced plans to implement an ambitious $800 billion initiative aimed at increasing the size of Riyadh in the next decade, and at transforming the capital into an economic, social and cultural hub in the Persian Gulf region. The ambitious strategy was presented by Fahd Al-Rasheed, the President of the Royal Commission…
Middle East - Saudi Arabia
Society
08.08.2020
Coronavirus Causes Political Lunacy and Psychosis
“Coronavirus affects almost the whole body including mental health. Researchers have found that some patients suffer from hallucinations and perception disturbance,” writes Der Spiegel, a quite reputable German magazine. One might question this report issued by the German publication, referring to a poll carried out among British doctors, the results of which…
USA in the World
06.08.2020
Beirut is in Ruins Once Again
A powerful explosion occurred in the vicinity of the Port of Beirut on 4 August in the evening. Many city blocks were damage, and the echo from the explosion resounded across many hundreds of kilometers, even reaching Nicosia, journalists from Cyprus TV channels reported. Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud declared that the consequences of the explosion are comparable to the bombings…
Middle East - Lebanon
05.08.2020
“Gone with the Wind” Returns with Vengeance and Insight!
It is bad enough that the media can no longer to be trusted, and worse that there are few alternative choices to turn to for reliable information that is free from spin. The audio recording group I’ve been associated with recently posted a solidarity message in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and against police brutality. America is rediscovering values…
USA in the World
04.08.2020
Our Planet Missed Opportunity to Fight side-by-side against the Pandemic!
It is time to stop irresponsible finger-pointing. All over the world, as this essay is being written, well over 17 million COVID-19 cases have been reported, and 676,000 people died. And instead of concentrating on serious research, trying to save human lives and attempting to stop the global calamity, ‘residents’ of the White House…
Eastern Asia - China
04.08.2020
Is the Coronavirus in North Korea, and if so, How?
On July 26, 2020, North Korea reported for the first time a case of a person suspected of having COVID-19. According to the Korean Central News Agency, a person with suspected virus symptoms “illegally crossed” the border of the DPRK on July 19. He was detected in Kaesong City, which is located close to the border with South Korea. His tests showed an inconclusive…
Eastern Asia - North Korea
03.08.2020
Kurds Rebuild Ties with Washington to Even the Score with Ankara and Damascus
The cultural identity of the Middle East where peoples lived for century without statehood has given the Kurds a particularly strong incentive to carry on their struggle for independence over the last few decades, and American political strategists have taken full advantage of this. That is why the Kurds have been designated…
Middle East
30.07.2020
Vietnam – Entire Country Mobilized to Save People from COVID-19
When I used to grow up in a socialist Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, we were told that even if one single human life was endangered, the entire country had to stop and fight for his or her survival. That is how we were raised. That was our culture, or call it the foundation of our worldview. I remember, once there was an explosion…
Southeast Asia - Vietnam
