After the United States announced that it would hold talks with Southeast Asian countries on the South China Sea issue, China issued a warning to Southeast Asian countries on Thursday, asking them not to cooperate with the United States on the South China Sea issue, because the United States is the “biggest threat” in the region.
Tag: USA
Alex Saab: Extradition Under Influence
On 12 June 2020, Alex Saab, Special Envoy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, was on his way to Tehran, Iran, on a humanitarian mission to alleviate the difficulties arising from the Covid-19 crisis in that country, when he was arrested by Cape Verdean authorities during a refuelling stop in the country. This arrest took place before the publication of the Interpol notice and was therefore carried out without a valid international warrant and in a totally irregular manner, since, as a special envoy of his country, he enjoys inviolability and diplomatic immunity and can therefore be detained only on the basis of an international warrant such as the one issued subsequently.
Putin Infiltrating the US & Canada Through Birth Tourism?
Russia continues to be a threat to the west and the democratic elections process. Last month, the UK Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament’s Russia Report was released. The committee was investigating Moscow’s interference in various election campaigns over the past year.
GCC Calls for Extension Of Iran’s Arms Embargo
Bloomberg News reported on August 9th, that it had a copy of a letter sent by the Gulf Cooperation Council to the United Nations Security Council. The letter called on the Security Council to extend the arms embargo against Iran, which expires in October, ending its five-year term.
Beirut Blast — Pope Francis, US First To Send Aid
Pope Francis today sent the first aid of €250,000 to Lebanon “to meet the needs of the Lebanese Church in these times of difficulty and suffering.” The donation “is intended as a sign of His Holiness’s attention and closeness to the affected population and of his fatherly closeness to people in serious difficulty.”
Storm Isaias Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction
Storm Isaias, which hit North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday, left a trail of destruction, including death and heavy flooding. The storm battered the east coast with rain and fierce winds, making a landfall as a Category One hurricane in Ocean Isle Beach afterwards.
Coronavirus — 18 Million Cases, 692,000 Deaths Worldwide
Recent data revealed that the number of people infected with the Coronavirus rose to about 18 million, while deaths rose to about 686,000 cases. Meanwhile, as of Saturday evening, local time, the United States counted more than 62,000 new infections with the new Coronavirus.
US Announces Troop Withdrawal from Germany
The United States has announced that it will withdraw 6,400 troops from Germany and relocate 5,400 to other European countries, reducing the number of US troops in Germany by about a third. The move is the largest troop transfer in Germany since the end of the Cold War and could begin next week.
US Orders Chinese Consulate in Houston Closed
The United States requested Wednesday that the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas be closed. This was in response to reports of officials inside the compound burning documents early Wednesday morning. China blasted the move as an “unprecedented escalation.”
Taliban Make Big Changes Ahead of Negotiations
The Taliban have made significant changes in its leadership ahead of negotiations with Afghan leaders. The group has appointed Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob to head its military wing. The 30 year-old is the son of the Taliban’s most feared founder. It has also added four other members to the 20-member negotiating team.
Iran Urges E3 Not to Support US on JCPOA
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Iran Nuclear Deal. The statement added that the JCPOA was “currently in serious danger,” and stressed that the international agreement would be scrapped if the international community did not act to protect it.
ICE, DHS Drop Plan to Deport Students
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would cancel a plan that would deport international students if they take exclusively online courses this fall. This decision was announced when a federal court began to hear a lawsuit filed by Harvard and MIT over this provision.
Yemen — US Seizes Ship, Arab League Targets Boat
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that US and allied forces seized a ship carrying Iranian weapons for Houthi rebels in Yemen on June 28. The names of all the passengers are not mentioned. Pompeo also renewed his call for the U.N. Security Council to extend its arms embargo on Iran.
China Opens “Security Office” in Hong Kong
With the opening of a “security office” in Hong Kong, the Chinese leadership has taken another step toward abolishing the “one country, two systems” principle. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam spoke at an official unveiling of a memorial plaque next to the “Security Office” mansion.
U.S. Court Awards $879 Million for Khobar Towers Attack
U.S. media have reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been ordered to pay fines and compensation to the wounded and first-degree families of the victims of the 1996 terrorist attack on the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. The attack killed 20 and wounded 498 others.
U.S. to Expel Foreign Students if Classes Online
The educational future of thousands of foreign students in the United States depends on the classes of these higher education institutions. At the request of the US government, foreign students studying at American universities who offer only online classes due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the coming winter semester must leave the United States.
Coronavirus — India Surges to Third, U.S. Widens Lead
The number of people infected with coronavirus in India has increased dramatically, giving it the third-highest number of cases in the world. India overtook Russia on Monday, with more than 720,000 cases, behind only the United States and Brazil. Meanwhile, the United States has recorded more than 13,000 infections in just 24 hours.
US Seeks to Seize Iranian Gasoline Bound for Venezuela
Donald Trump’s administration has instructed prosecutors to file a lawsuit to seize four Iranian tankers carrying gasoline to Venezuela, according to Reuters. The lawsuit aims to seize Iranian tankers, prevent future deliveries of gasoline to Venezuela, and increase sanctions and economic pressure on both.
Russia’s New SU-57 Fighter a $7 Billion Liability
Russia announced a 5th generation prototype of the SU-57 fighter jet. The new model, Metropolis, is expected to be completed by 2022. The tests of the Metropolis are scheduled to start in two years. Currently, tests of pre-production samples of the SU-57 are being completed.
War on Statues Extends to Alaska
In Alaska, a group of local residents demanded that a monument to the chief ruler of the Russian colonies in North America, Alexander Baranov, be demolished. There have been localized protests in Alaska pertaining the monument. One has to ask what this movement, in Alaska and on the mainland, is really about.
Pompeo Says U.S., EU Should Jointly Confront China
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States and the EU must reach a consensus on the China issue so that they can jointly confront China. Washington regards Beijing as a threat, and accuses it of stealing European technology to develop its own economy.
Iran Tests New Cruise Missiles in Gulf of Oman
Iran said on Thursday that it had tested new cruise missiles during an exercise carried out in the North Indian Ocean, near the Gulf of Oman. During the exercises, which saw Navy forces engaged, medium and long range missiles were launched, both land-sea and sea-sea, from the coast and from the bridges of the ships.
Coronavirus — Only Half of Americans Would Get Vaccine, Poll Says
People in the United States believe that even if scientists succeed in developing a vaccine for coronavirus, barely half of the American people will have access to it. Ordinary people do not seem to be very optimistic about a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by medical researchers around the world.
Coronavirus Roundup — Brazil, Berlin, Balkans
US President Donald Trump has announced a ban on entry to the United States from Brazil due to the rising incidence of the coronavirus in the country. Cases of the coronavirus continue to rise in Brazil, with 16,000 more cases reported in the past 24 hours and 653 deaths.
WOW! 3D Printer Used to Print Nuclear Reactor in US
The Oak Ridge Laboratory announced a revolutionary project that includes using 3D printing technology to produce a state of the art nuclear reactor. The prototype of its core was printed in just three months. According to the standards of the nuclear industry, this is a super pace. The hexagonal structure took close to 40 hours to build, with temperatures reaching over 1,400 degrees Celsius around the melt pool where a laser heats and melts while adding a new layer.
Corona is Like a World War But Everyone is On One Side
Bill Gates described Corona Pandemic “like a world war but everyone is on one side.” The whole world is together at war with Corona virus. Even the most Orthodox religious Jew, Muslim and Christian have accepted quarantine. Religion teaches to accept the sufferings of life as divine providence even to accept suffering as rebuke from God for the sins of man. Even though almost all the religious leaders, told their followers to accept the demands of the secular Ministry of Health. Mayor De Blasio explained “Government is essential for life.” Religion is also essential for life.
US Deports Infected Migrants to Guatemala
The disagreement between Guatemala and the United States due to the deportation of migrants in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is now public. For weeks, there were serious suspicions about some of the Guatemalan migrants returned by the US authorities. They were infected after unsuccessfully trying to enter the country with the highest number of cases and deaths from covid-19 in the world.
VECTOR in Russia Developed Coronavirus Test To Test Almost 100 People At The Same Time
The numbers continue to increase in US and it is predicted that in many US states the peak of the coronavirus will not hit fully until May. Hence, it could mean the shut down of all non essential businesses can continue into May. In Canada, it seems the closures will last until at least June 30th. However, the situation is being accessed daily.
Shock Wave Glider Technology Can Be Used For Mars Travel By NASA
Patrick E. Rodi from Rice University came up with a solution for an aircraft to be able to ride a shock wave and use its power for good instead of fighting it. Dr. Rodi worked in the aerospace industry for 23 years specializing in high speed aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, and vehicle design, most recently as a Lockheed Martin Fellow and as the AeroSciences Lead on the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle program. Currently, he is a a Professor in Practice at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University.
Coronavirus: 1,900 New Deaths in U.S., 42 New Cases in China
Worldometers tracked 1,900 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States on Thursday, and more than 33,500 new cases. As of 8:00 UTC Friday, there were 16,697 total deaths in the United States, making it the second-worst affected country in the world, coming only behind Italy (18,279).
Are We Forgetting About Increasing Domestic Violence Risk Due to Quarantines Across the Globe?
Currently, coronavirus has been the main topic of discussions and news around the globe. Coronavirus is a global pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China. Many countries around the world closed their borders, implemented quarantines and limited movement. According to John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center there are 367,457 reported cases of the virus around the world and over 16,000 deaths. In the US alone the number of infected people has exceeded 40,000.
Russian Scientists New Intriguing Work in Electronics Protection On Spacecrafts
Russian scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with other Russian institutions, completed research of the properties of a copolymer based on polyaryleneetherketones to assess the prospects of its application in space technology. The purpose of this study is to protect the electronics on a spacecraft, which is effected by the surrounding plasma. There are only three centers across the globe that have the necessary equipment and experts to successfully analyze the effects of electrification of materials for spacecraft in conditions close to its original state.
Russia is Using Warships to Secure Nord Stream 2 Completion
In order to complete Nord Stream 2, Russia decided to have the Gazprom vessels accompanied by Russian warships. The route is from the Indian ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Nord stream 2 is a new export gas pipeline from Russia to Europe via the Baltic Sea. The combined capacity of each of the two Nord streams lines is expected to be 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Thus, the total design capacity of Nord stream and Nord stream-2 is 110 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
New Research of Muscle Regeneration Using 3D Printer
New technology allows a person to gain muscle using 3D printer technologies. The new technology has been created by US and German scientists. The skeletal muscles are one of the hardest to restore after any illness, accident or surgery. This is a great opportunity in the field of reconstructive surgery. The 3D printing technology provides a myriad of opportunities.
Alert! Russia Developing Coronavirus Vaccine – How to Track Virus Using Interactive Tool in Real Time
St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera FMBA of Russia is working on creating a vaccine for coronavirus. The vaccine is planned for the fall of 2020. Additionally, the clinical trials will begin in the winter months including preclinical tests on mice. It will take several more months. Thus far, the vaccine is supposed to be readily available in the Summer 2021.
Project Management for IT-Related Projects
In Chapter 2, we explained how to draw up a plan for a project. One of the things that we did was to allocate an estimated duration to each of the activities to be carried out. This allowed us to calculate the overall duration of the project and to identify when we would need to call upon the services of individuals to carry out their tasks. In this chapter, we will explore further the ways in which these estimates can be produced.
Russian Special Forces Received New Virtual Reality Simulators – What Does the Training Entail?
Russian special forces will start training in a virtual reality setting. The new developed simulation training is specifically geared towards paratroopers. The vertical reality simulator was designed by the Man & Technologies Lab. According to the company’s website Man & Technologies lab is a full cycle engineering design bureau. The company specializes in the technology. However, interestingly there is no mention of any defense speciality.
Coronavirus Impact On Global Economy and Expected Outcomes
Coronavirus has become a global scare. The World Health Organization considers coronavirus “High Risk.” The emergence of an economic storm could be inevitable. Kondratiev cycles predicted economic slowdown. Kondratiev explained the existence of large economic cycles by the fact that the duration of functioning of various created economic goods fluctuates. Similarly, they require different time and different means to create them. Large cycles can be seen as disrupting and restoring the economic equilibrium of a long period. The main reason for them lies in the mechanism of accumulation, accumulation and dispersion of capital sufficient to create new elements of infrastructure.
Coronavirus Fears Present Phenomenal Opportunities for Savvy Income Investors
As fears of the continued global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to drive financial markets to new lows, savvy investors should take note of the excellent opportunities that this massive global sell-off is creating.
The World Health Organization on Coronaviruses:
“Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.”
Wow! New Technology to Create Diamonds
The cost of making artificial diamonds is a very expensive process. It consumes large amounts of energy with the high costs. Now a unique new technology has been announced, which is a collaboration by American and Chinese chemists, to create much cheaper precious stones from crude waste. The project involved chemists from the Stanford University, California, University of Chicago and the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research in China. A full spectrum of the technology has been published in the scientific paper the Science Advances Journal.
US Proposes Blue Dots Agreement to Counter One Belt One Road Initiative in Asia
This week there was a discussion in Russia about the possible countermeasures the US is planning against China’s One Belt One Road Initiative. Interestingly, due to the coronavirus and China, the stock markets are experiencing a turmoil.
The reason for the discussions is to develop additional strategies between Russia and China pertaining to the One Belt, One Road initiative, despite the virus outbreak. US Secretary Mike Pompeo also announced that US President Donald Trump has invited Southeast Asian leaders for a meeting in Las Vegas next month. The summit is supposed to take place March 12, 2020.
US Imposes Additional Sanctions – How Does It Affect Russia’s Weapons Industry?
The United States imposes sanctions on 13 foreign entities and individuals in Russia, China, Iraq, and Turkey under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). The announcement was confirmed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on @twitter.
The Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act authorizes the United States to impose sanctions against foreign individuals, private entities, and governments that engage in proliferation activities.
US Presidential Election 2020 – Sanders, Bloomberg, Trump – Who Does Russia Prefer?
The 2020 US election campaign is gaining momentum. Since the counting problems at the Iowa Caucuses (when the result could not be determined for more than a week), Bernie Sanders’ momentum has not slowed down. “Socialist” Bernie Sanders is accused of being a “Kremlin henchman.” Still his Democratic opponents from the right– Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg– have been fading.
How Does the American SLRC Cannon Compare to China and Russia?
The first open image of one of the most original, modern American weapons projects-a large-caliber Strategic Long Range Cannon (SLRC). It is being developed under the US Army, and is designed to shoot high-precision missiles at a range of “more than 1000 miles” (sea). In 2019, it was reported that funding for the program should start in fiscal year 2020, and that the SLRC prototype should be ready in 2023.
US Nuclear Weapons Strike Scenario – Analysis of Multiple Outcomes – US vs Russia
The United States has conducted a military exercise that simulates a retaliatory strike using nuclear weapons after Russia’s use of low-power nuclear weapons in Europe against NATO countries. This was announced on February 21, 2020 at a briefing for journalists by a high-ranking Pentagon representative stating that “We conducted a small exercise, let’s say.” The scenario included a war in Europe being waged by Russia, and Russia decides to use limited low-power nuclear weapons against an object on the territory of NATO countries.
Russia’s Chukavin Sniper Weapon and the Future in the Field
Previously, JSC Kalashnikov presented a semi-automatic sniper rifle Chukavin Sniper Rifle or SVCh. It is much more than just a rifle. The SVCh is a promising platform for the entire line of small arms. The Chukavin Sniper Rifle is expected to replace the Kalashnikov rifle. The semi-automatic Chukavin is also slated to replace the Dragunov sniper rifle, a semi-automatic sniper/designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR and developed in the Soviet Union. (VIDEO)
Fixed Income 2: Finding Attractive Income Opportunities in a Yieldless World
A monthly performance review of Durig’s high yielding Fixed Income 2 (FX2) Managed Income Portfolio which also explores the many benefits that the portfolio can provide to investors.
Performance Highlights
- Over 6% in Cash Generation Alone
- Year-to-Date Return of 6.20%
- Trailing 1 Year Return of 7.72%
- Trailing 3 Year Return of 9.03%
- Trailing 5 Year Return of 9.13%
- Annualized Return Since Inception of 8.72%
- Average Bond Maturity of 4 Years
- Alpha of 10.58 (vs. Benchmark)*
- Beta of -1.22 (vs. Benchmark)*
- Excess Return of 4.32% (vs. Benchmark)*
Turkey Analysis – Will Kremlin Retaliate with a Covert Operation Against Erdogan?
The results of the new survey are available pertaining to the approval of the head of state of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The poll results were posted on Twitter by the @Metropol. The survey posed a straightforward question of whether or not the public approves of the current head of state’s activities. Thus far Erdogan is at a 41.9% approval rate.
New Anti-spy Bracelet Design to Suppress Microphones and Listening Devices
US Engineers and researchers developed a new means of ensuring privacy in the 21st century, which is saturated with technological threats, on the eve of the Chi Conference On Human Factors in Computing Systems 2020, which will take place in Hawaii on April 25-30. The ACM CHI Conference is generally considered the most prestigious in the field of human–computer interaction and is one of the top ranked conferences in computer science.
Belarus Changing Coat of Arms – Are They Ready to Join the European Union?
Belarus is planning on changing its coat of arms. The official announcement has not been made, however the new changes are already circulating on Vkontakte, a Russian online social media and social networking service based in Saint Petersburg. VK is available in multiple languages, but it is predominantly used by Russian-speakers.