48 Million Americans

48 Million Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend (42 Million by Car and 6 Million by Air.) I know that sounds like a lot – and it is when talking about most other countries like Spain which has around that same number of People – but the United States has 330 Million People so roughly 282 Million Americans (the vast majority) aren’t going anywhere.

Whether you are traveling for the long holiday weekend or not please be careful with fireworks and your Pets who get scared of them, remember the Men and Women who have to work (Doctors, Nurses, Hospital/Nursing Home/Group Home Staff, Restaurant Staff, 911 Responders, Firemen/women, Cops, Paramedics, Soldiers, etc.) and above all – have a good and safe 4^th of July!

Important Island

 

Ukraine has retaken Snake Island from the Russians. What does that mean?

It means Ukraine now also regains access to parts of the Black Sea and goods (food, weapons, etc.) can now go from the Ukrainian-held Port of Odesa past Snake Island to Romania - an EU/NATO country) and to the West.

The Russians have been stealing Ukrainian Grain, Wheat, Raw Materials, etc. and bringing it back to Russia - which is why food prices are so high everywhere and why there are shortages on everything.

A Russian Defeat not only helps Ukraine, but also the whole World.

Sea Route

 

War Paws: Lokie

From War Paws:

“PLEASE HELP LOKIE TO COME HOME”

Lokie was born on a gas facility in Basrah about 18 months ago.  She never really fitted in with the rest of the pack dogs and as a result was attacked many times.  Thankfully for Lokie a kind contractor on the facility took her in and offered her safe shelter and the time has now come for him to take her home.

Lokie arrived with us in Erbil early June, she had been spayed by a local vet in Basrah and was suffering from an infection at the incision site but we were able to get that sorted out quickly and she is now settled into the boarding facility where she will be looked after until she is ready to be reunited with her dad.

Lokie’s dad has already covered approx half of her costs and we are now hoping that you can help us to spread the word and raise the remainder.  We only need to raise £2500 and just as soon as she has passed the FAVN blood testing and completed the 3 month waiting time we can get her on a freedom flight home.

Please share Lokie’s fundraiser, lets help this lovely girl to come home and see that there is a wonderful life ahead of her after such a rough start.

https://warpaws.org/donations/please-help-lokie-to-come-home/?fbclid=IwAR0CIltt_TffVG_C0Mo4EsU1HMz1iE1XsYpgYQOfxj4t0CGnFhEBuIh7hFE

Snake Island Freed

From Reuters:

“Russian forces withdraw from Ukraine's strategic Snake Island”

(A satellite image shows an overview of Snake Island, Ukraine, June 21, 2022.)

Russian forces have withdrawn from Ukraine's Snake Island, a strategic outpost in the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry and Ukraine's president's office said on Thursday. Snake Island, which Russia occupied on the first day of its invasion, achieved fame when Ukrainian border guards stationed there rejected a Russian warship's demand for their surrender. read more "KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job," Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, wrote on Twitter. read more

Russia's defence ministry confirmed Russian troops had withdrawn from Snake Island, calling it a "goodwill gesture" and saying the troops had fulfilled the tasks assigned to them. The Russian ministry added the move showed Russia was not impeding U.N. efforts to organise a humanitarian corridor to export agricultural products out of Ukraine. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the Ukrainian and Russian accounts.

On Wednesday Russia said it was ready to work with the United Nations to combat the risks of a global food crisis, following a conversation between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, but no concrete measures were announced at the time. Last month Britain's defence ministry said that if Russia were able to consolidate its position on Snake Island with strategic air defence and coastal defence cruise missiles, it could dominate the north-western Black Sea.

Ukraine's southern military command wrote on Facebook that Russian forces had evacuated in two boats following a operation involving missile and artillery units. Zelenskiy's chief of staff Yermak said Ukraine's armed forces drove Russian troops from the island and said Russia's claim the withdrawal was out of goodwill was untrue. He repeated Ukrainian accusations that Russia was provoking a global food crisis by blocking Ukraine's ports and targeting storage facilities. Since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, Ukrainian grain shipments from its Black Sea ports have stalled and millions of tonnes of grain are stuck in silos.

Moscow says the onus is on Kyiv to remove mines from the ports to free up shipping lanes and says Western sanctions against it are worsening the situation. A first cargo ship left the Russian-occupied Ukrainian port of Berdyansk in the Sea of Azov in Ukraine's east, a local official said on Thursday, after Russia said the port had been de-mined and was ready to resume grain shipments. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies, while Russia is also a key global fertiliser exporter and Ukraine is a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil.

^ This is the «Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй!»  («Російський військовий кораблю, іди нахуй») or "Russian Warship Go F%$K Yourself" island now back in Ukrainian hands. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russian-forces-have-withdrawn-snake-island-2022-06-30/

Hold Tight

 

Birthday Parties

Birthday Parties and Celebrations: 

 The earliest birthday parties were held because people believed evil spirits were particuarly attracted to people on their birthdays. At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration. To protect them from harm, friends and family would to come be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The tradition of children's birthday parties first started in Germany, Kinderfeste. The largest private birthday party to ever happen was in 1970 for Colonel Harlan Sanders' 89th birthday. The event was attended by over 35,000 people.

Birthday Cakes:    One theory about the origin of the birthday cake is that it originated with the Greeks, who baked round cakes representing the full moon for their moon goddess, Artemis. They placed candles on the cake to make it glow, like the moon. The Germans are also credited with the first cakes and candles. They used a sweet, layered cake and they put a large candle in the center of the cake to represent "the light of life." Some people believe the smoke from extinguished candles carries their birthday wishes up to heaven.

Birthday Cards:   The tradition of sending birthday cards started in England about 100 years ago. Originally cards were often sent as an "apology" when a person couldn't visit somebody in person.

Birthday Song:   The Happy Birthday song is more than one hundred years old. It was written in 1893 by two sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill, who were schoolteachers in Louisville, Kentucky. The tune was originally a morning greeting to their students entitled "Good Morning To All." The lyrics were copyrighted in 1935, 11 years before Patty's death, and the ownership has swapped hands in multi-million dollar deals ever since. The current copyright is owned by Warner Communications. They purchased it in 1989 for more than $22 million dollars. Happy Birthday is recognized around the world and has been translated into dozens of languages. It is one of the three most popular songs in the English language.

http://www.birthdaycelebrations.net/traditions.htm

My Birthday!

 

4th Price Increases

From News Nation:

“Prices increase on ground beef, chicken, pork chops ahead of 4th of July weekend”

This year’s Independence day cookout will cost Americans more at the grocery store. The culprits are the same ones that have made headlines for weeks: inflation pushing up the costs of fuel, labor and fertilizer. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Americans, on average, will pay about $10 more than last year for all their holiday favorites. That’s the largest single-year jump in the cost of a cookout since the Farm Bureau started tracking that data 10 years ago.

Among the most significant increases are ground beef, chicken breasts, center-cut pork chops, and pork and beans. Ground beef has risen 36% in the last year, while boneless, skinless chicken breasts and center-cut pork chops have gone up by more than 30%. Sides are more too: pork and beans are 33% price, potato salad is up 19% and burger buns went up by 16%. Even desserts can’t escape inflation’s wrath— a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream and a 13-ounce bag of cookies together will set you back nearly 9.50 on average.

Matthew Telles, a Dumpling Professional grocery shopper, joined NewsNation’s Morning in America to share tips on how Americans can cut down on some of those food costs. He recommends creating a plan to prepare some extra time to shop at multiple stores. “I’m seeing variance in prices still across different products, one store is going to have something for those national price averages of like 30% increases on your proteins. Whereas you’re going to find some deals at some larger markets on those same proteins,” Telles said. Telles recommends consumers use coupon apps and stacks their coupons. Also, consider fuel points and which grocery stores will pay you for gas. He also recommends visiting your local farmer’s market for a much higher quality of produce products versus what you may find at the grocery stores. Lastly, visiting a butcher may help you reduce the cost you pay for meat. You can get the exact amount of weight that you’re looking for, so you don’t have to overbuy and you don’t have to underbuy,” Telles said. “I am seeing lower prices there because usually, they’re coming in for more local sources.” Luckily, not everything is more expensive than it was in 2021. Strawberries are 16% cheaper, potato chips are 4% less and sliced cheese went down by $13.

^ This is no real surprise. The price of everything has gone up since Russia’s War in Ukraine in February 2022 started. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/answersforamerica/prices-increase-on-ground-beef-chicken-pork-chops-ahead-of-4th-of-july-weekend/

TV Viewing

 

Boosting Europe

From Yahoo:

“U.S. to boost land, sea and air power in Europe in response to invasion of Ukraine”

President Joe Biden on Wednesday pledged to boost American military operations in Europe as he seeks to project a picture of strength and unity among NATO members while they grapple with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking on the first full day of the alliance's summit, Biden said the U.S. will deploy additional troops to Romania on a rotating basis, and enhance other rotational deployments in the Baltic states. He said the United States would maintain a permanent headquarters for the U.S. 5th Army Corps in Poland, a move that was originally planned by the Trump administration. The U.S. will also send two F-35 squadrons to the United Kingdom, stage additional air defense and other capabilities in Germany and Italy, and build up naval operations in Spain, increasing the number of destroyers stationed there from four to six.

Biden said the moves were intended to make sure NATO is ready to meet potential threats from air, land and sea. The announcement comes as NATO leaders meet in Madrid in what could be one of the most consequential gatherings in the military alliance's 73-year history. "In a moment when Putin has shattered peace in Europe and attacked the very, very tenets of rule based order," Biden said. "The United States and our allies are stepping up, proving NATO is more needed now than it ever has been, and it's as important as it has ever been." Earlier this year, the U.S. sent 20,000 additional troops to Europe, bringing the total U.S. armed forces on the continent to 100,000.

The Department of Defense declined to detail how many additional troops would be sent to Europe and where those troops would be coming for operational security and planning reasons, said Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international affairs. "NATO is strong, united and the steps we're taking during this summer will further augment our collective strength," Biden said. Biden was able to help get one contentious issue off the table ahead of Wednesday's meeting by urging Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to drop his opposition to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The three countries’ foreign ministers signed a memorandum Tuesday to confirm that Turkey will back Sweden and Finland’s NATO bids, removing the last clear barrier to their entry. Biden spoke with Erdoğan on Tuesday morning, encouraging him to “seize this moment and get this done in Madrid,” a senior administration official said. While the U.S. didn’t directly broker the deal, Biden tried “to help put a thumb on the scale to get this across the finish line,” the official said. Biden and Erdoğan are scheduled to meet Wednesday. The agreement to expand NATO and announcements about increasing the number of troops in the east are intended to greatly bolster the alliance's abilities to fend off any potential Russian aggression toward its member states.

The last time the NATO leaders met, for an emergency meeting in Brussels in March, there was a sense of triumph among the members as they locked arms against Russia, fearing they could be next if Ukraine were to fall. It was a stark reversal from a few years earlier, when members openly questioned whether the alliance was still relevant. In NATO's updated Strategic Concept, a guiding document for the alliance, Russia was called "the most significant and direct threat to allies' security and to the peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area." It had previously been considered a "strategic partner." But while the 30 NATO members have maintained their resolve in supporting Ukraine, there have been diverging views over the intervening months on a variety of issues, from how far to go in punishing Russia to the level of military preparedness needed. Still, Biden hopes to project a show of unity to Russia coming out of the summit, an endeavor greatly aided by the deal among Turkey, Finland and Sweden. “We have to stay together,” Biden said this week before a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “Because Putin has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO would and the G-7 would splinter.  But we haven’t, and we’re not going to.”

Before the start of the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced a major overhaul of the group’s military posture and priorities, increasing the number of its forces at high readiness to more than 300,000 from the current level of 40,000, along with bolstering military supplies and equipment in the NATO members bordering Russia. The alliance will also make it clear in its so-called Strategic Concept that it no longer views Russia as a “strategic partner” but as a “direct threat to our security, to our values, to the rules-based international order,” he said at a news conference Monday. But a number of questions remain this week, such as how to fund efforts to build up NATO’s defenses. Just nine of the member countries are meeting the NATO target of spending 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, an amount that Stoltenberg said is becoming the “floor and not the ceiling.” “This constitutes the biggest increase of our collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War, and to do this we need to invest more,” he said.

Defense costs are rising as many countries feel the economic effects of rising inflation, particularly soaring energy prices, and German officials have warned Germany could slip into a recession if Russia were to further cut the amount of gas it is piping to the country. While the U.S. and Canada have already banned all Russian oil imports, the European Union is taking a more gradual approach, aiming to stop importing Russian oil by the end of the year. But the move has been opposed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. China has been another area of differing approaches among NATO members. The group is expected for the first time to discuss the “challenges Beijing poses to our security interests and values,” Stoltenberg said. While Biden has pushed for a hard line on China, other member countries have been hesitant in how far to go, given their economic dependence on China as a trading partner. But the U.S. has sounded an optimistic note that there will be enough common ground on the issue. In the Strategic Concept released Wednesday, the alliance identified China for the first time as posing a "challenge" to their interests. China's "malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security," the group wrote in the Strategic Concept. "We will boost our shared awareness, enhance our resilience and preparedness, and protect against the PRC's coercive tactics and efforts to divide the Alliance," the document statement. "We will stand up for our shared values and the rules-based international order, including freedom of navigation."

^ While I think the US needs to beef-up our Military we also need to make our other NATO Allies do the same. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-boost-land-sea-air-073237033.html

KSAR:Time Zone Shuffle

From Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s Facebook:

We're on the time zone shuffle here! As Oktay gets crated up and to the Kabul airport to leave for Dubai, Papo's puppies Artie and Atlas fly from Dubai to Istanbul, and Zeus and Andy fly from Istanbul to Toronto. Meanwhile in Vancouver, Bora has received her CDC exemption permit and made it to the US today for the long trek home, and the kitties Shiro and Gaara have finally made it to their owner in Ottowa after a long separation.

In the Kabul shelter, we've got Tilda running around like a loon, healthy and happy with three greedy-hungry open-eyed puppies rolling around like fat little sausages. Our vets have their hands full with several very critical cases, our staff are harvesting the many kilos of fruit from the trees in our facilities to give to local mosques arranging food donations for the poor, and Terrance is beating his own score of number-of-houseplants-peed-on-in-one-day.

To say we need help with finances is an understatement. One of our board members is going to start working with those who've offered to help fundraising and write grants this week, but we are paying expenses in enough countries to bring our Treasurer to tears, so if you can share our fundraisers (it's listed as our website) or donate through Facebook, it will be used for great things! 

^ To Donate: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/kabul-operations?fbclid=IwAR2Kvdty1PPlWuU2sGVWNrTeGqjarIYRioamzuUU0gm1lW2vj0OofPcFvmg

^

Before/After February

 

US Bolsters Alaska

From VOA:

“Alaska's Strategic Importance: US Bolsters 'Last Frontier' Bases on NATO's Western Flank”

(US Military bases in Alaska)

Known as America’s “Last Frontier,” Alaska conjures up thoughts of polar bears, subzero temperatures and expansive areas of little-explored terrain around the Arctic Circle. Alaska’s often harsh environment makes year-round living difficult at best, with some areas accessible only by boat or aircraft.

The state is more than double the size of Texas with a population about the size of Washington, D.C. Yet despite the geographic and environmental challenges, the U.S. military has staked its claim there since the 1860s, when the U.S. bought the territory from Russia and nearly a century before Alaska became a U.S. state. In the last decade, the military has redoubled its efforts in the far north, investing billions of dollars upgrading air and missile defenses while completely revamping the foundational structure of its Army forces.

At Eielson Air Force Base, near the Arctic Circle, the Air Force just added 54 of the nation’s new F-35 stealth fighter jets. The jets, perched at the top of the world, are prepared to respond to conflicts anywhere in the northern hemisphere. The base operates year-round, even in skin-burning minus 50-degree weather, when airmen can withstand the frigidity for only minutes at a time. In warmer weather, the base hosts multiple Red Flag Alaska exercises: war games for thousands of American troops to train in combat-like situations with allies from around the globe.

At Clear Space Force Station, about 160 kilometers southwest of Eielson, the U.S. Space Force, Alaska Air National Guard and members of the Missile Defense Agency monitor threats in space, including North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launches. In December, the Clear station team received a new tool in their missile-tracking arsenal, the Long Range Discrimination Radar, or LRDR, which officials say is the most sophisticated ground-based radar on the globe, capable of seeing farther than other ground-based radars while simultaneously differentiating among multiple small objects.

At Fort Greely, an Army garrison about 120 km south of Eielson, a team of soldiers protects 40 ICBM-killing weapons known as Ground Based Interceptors in silos deep underground. The U.S. recently added 20 silos there, which will house new and improved anti-ICBM weapons known as Next Generation Interceptors around 2028.

At the Army’s Fort Wainwright, near the Arctic Circle, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near in the state’s largest city, Anchorage, soldiers this month were assigned a new identity, transforming from a hodgepodge structure under the U.S. Army Alaska flag to the newly resurrected 11th Airborne Division. The “Arctic Angels,” as they’re called, vow to “regain” American dominance in the Arctic.

VOA visited each of these military locations to get a first-hand look at the new upgrades in action, hidden in plain sight deep within the remote Alaskan wilderness.

^ It’s important for the US and NATO to reenforce these bases in Alaska since they are so close to Russia. ^

https://www.voanews.com/a/us-military-expands-its-footprint-in-alaska-s-far-north/6636625.html

Visiting

 

Kharkiv Blackout

From Euromaidan Press’ Facebook:

 The night is darkest just before the dawn

Kharkiv prepares for the night: it is pitch dark, like many other Ukrainian cities. The blackout makes it more difficult for Russian bombers to target the city, or for Russian saboteurs to plan attacks.

Photographer Paul Itkin made each of these frames over 7 minutes, because there was practically no light source in the city. Thanks to this, the stars resemble flying rockets.

"The night is darkest just before the dawn.

Perhaps this phrase is now best suited to describe Kharkiv.

I've been around enough, but I've never seen such dark nights in a city. This is so starkly clear on the very first evening upon arrival in the city. Looking out the window, you need at least a couple of minutes for your eyes to adapt so you can see at least something. It's the war blackout, curfew and no moon. I've never seen so many stars in a city.

Right after that, I began to think about which rooftop is best to shoot the city in this form ... I had taken many evening rooftop photos before, but this is completely different: climbing on the roof at night in a front-line city during a curfew under the sounds of sirens and explosions is some wild action, but it worked out. ...

But the city is standing, the Ukrainian flag is flying over the City Council, and on the right you can see the glow from the dawn and the silhouette of a construction crane.  This means that we will soon win and rebuild, the dawn is near🇺🇦

p.s: for the most daring, for complete immersion, a link to a recording of the sounds of the city, during which I took the picture.  (one of the explosions can be heard at 1:29)

itkinpaul.com/work/kharkiv-at-night

p.p.s: now there are many exhibitions dedicated to Ukraine, suddenly someone knows where this could go? I really want to see it printed in a huge format🤞🏻"

https://www.facebook.com/100004322232822/posts/2305899469564105/

Text & photos: Paul Itkin

25: Changes

From Reuters:

“Factbox: What's changed - or stayed the same - since Hong Kong returned to China”

Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 after 156 years of British colonial rule. China promised the city wide-ranging freedoms denied to those in mainland China for 50 years, although some say China has reneged on those promises, especially since 2020 under a new national security paradigm. read more Here's a look at what's changed and what has remained over the past 25 years.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE: Hong Kong remains a global financial powerhouse, although COVID-19 and tight restrictions have led to an exodus of talent and led to its border with mainland China being largely closed for two years, posing significant challenges for business. The city, up until 2022, was one of the top initial public offering (IPO) markets globally, but deal volumes have slipped this year in line with most major markets. There were just $1.4 billion worth of new listings in the first half, compared with $18.6 billion during the same period in 2021. The city remains the Asian regional hub for foreign banks given its proximity and connectivity to mainland China, which is likely to remain a major growth market, though it faces increased competition with Singapore.

RULE OF LAW: Hong Kong's British-rooted common law traditions and independent judiciary are fundamental to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity as a financial centre. The independence of the judiciary is guaranteed in the Basic Law, but critics say this is coming under unprecedented strain from a national security law China imposed in 2020. Under the law, Hong Kong's leader may designate which judges hear national security cases, and some sensitive political cases have seen defendants denied bail and a jury trial. Some Western jurists and judges have expressed concern over China-style justice percolating into Hong Kong. https://reut.rs/3A5XJMx Authorities, however, say the rule of law remains intact.

MEDIA FREEDOMS In 1997, Hong Kong was a vibrant regional media hub but in recent years, media freedoms have deteriorated sharply, according to groups like the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Latest data shows Hong Kong ranked 148th this year out of 180 places in Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, down from 18th spot in 2002. At least four media outlets have shut down since the national security legislation was implemented, and about a dozen editors, journalists and media executives were arrested. Jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai was arrested last year and faces possible life imprisonment in an ongoing national security case. Lai's popular pro-democracy newspaper, the Apple Daily, closed in June 2021 after hundreds of police raided its newsroom, and authorities froze assets. Lai and several senior journalists at the paper are being detained without bail, accused of collusion with foreign forces. Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) this year suspended its prestigious annual Human Rights Press Awards to not "unintentionally" violate any laws, according to a statement from the club president.

EDUCATION After mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, authorities introduced national security education in a bid to instill greater Chinese patriotism in the city's youth - who often see themselves as Hongkongers with an identity distinct from China. At least five universities have also introduced national security education as a graduation requirement. Such overhauls have sparked an exodus of students and teachers. More than 30,000 students quit schools between October 2020 and September 2021; and at least 4,050 teachers left public and private schools during the 2021/2022 school year, according to the Education Bureau.

HUB FOR EXPATS Once a popular base for expatriates and as a regional headquarters, COVID has battered the economy and triggered an exodus of talent. Tens of thousands have left, including 23,078 people in May, according to immigration department data. Meanwhile, visa applications from all countries under the "'general employment policy" fell by a third last year to 10,073.

^ Beijing’s Communist Dictatorship over Hong Kong (which broke the 1 Country 2 Systems Agreement) has turned Hong Kong into more like any Chinese city rather than as Hong Kong used to be. It’s sad to see it  - especially for those that lived under British Freedom. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/whats-changed-or-stayed-same-since-hong-kong-returned-china-2022-06-28/

25: Hong Kong

From Reuters:

“As Hong Kong marks 25 years since handover, people discuss highs and lows”

Hong Kong has weathered financial crises, mass demonstrations and COVID-19. As the city prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of its handover to Chinese rule, Reuters spoke to five people who described the highs and lows since 1997.

CHARLES LI, FORMER CEO OF HKEX:

"That period (1997) is really a period full of anticipation and much hope that this is the beginning of a very long ride and the best is yet to come." "Looking back, it largely has turned out to be the way that we have anticipated." "I think the best moment is sometime in April 2014 at Boao [Forum]. There were about two years of hard work prior to that, preparing, negotiating, and everything else for Shanghai-Hong Kong Connect because that's a transformative milestone for our markets. And for the first time, we were able to connect the two markets together." read more "The lowest moment for me, at least emotionally, probably was the past February and March, when the fifth wave of the pandemic hit ... This last one made a lot of people feel that this is almost like the last straw on the camel's back."

KIWI CHOW, DIRECTOR OF A DOCUMENTARY, "REVOLUTION OF OUR TIMES", ON THE 2019 PROTESTS:

"I feel the best scenes post-1997 was the Hong Kong in 2019. It did bring tremendous trauma, but I stress again, there were a lot of beautiful scenes in 2019, there was a lot of brilliance of human nature." "The lowest time was also 2019. So it was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. Seeing so many suffer in pain. The images shown in the news and my documentary were only the surface." "I hope the Hong Kong in 2047 will be a beautiful Hong Kong, a Hong Kong with freedom, a Hong Kong with a democratic society and the rule of law. This is the dream that has kept me positive and moving forward."

FRED HU, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF PRIMAVERA CAPITAL GROUP: "I still think on the whole it has been a successful journey in terms of the handover, in terms of the 'one country two systems'," Hu said, referring to the system that governs Hong Kong since its return to Beijing. "The best moment was summer 2008 when Beijing hosted the summer Olympics. The games were just spectacular ... I also felt a genuine, spontaneous, bottom-up outpouring of emotions for the Chinese nation among Hong Kong’s population, rank and file. In terms of public mood and how Hong Kong felt being part of China, that's the best moment." "No doubt the lowest was the second half of 2019 when the initially peaceful protest degenerated into ugly violence; (and) when a normally super-calm stable city was thrown into turmoil and unrest ... I was absolutely appalled by the violence and I was absolutely disappointed by the lack of constructive dialogue and compromises required to restore all the stability sooner than later."

DAVID CHIN, UBS's HEAD OF INVESTMENT BANKING FOR ASIA-PACIFIC: "Starting right after the handover, (it was) the Asian financial crisis," Chin said, referring to one of the low points for Hong Kong. "I still remember ... the stock market dropped by more than 1,000 points a day and then the Hong Kong government had to intervene to protect the peg and the stock market. And then people (would) say 'that's the end of Hong Kong as a capitalist market economy'. That was bad." "I'm still optimistic, but that is guided by my past 25 years."

SUM WAN-WAH, FORMER JOURNALIST AND BOOKSHOP CO-FOUNDER:

"During 1997, many said Hong Kong will die but in the end it didn’t. Hong Kong had a rather good development." "In the first few years ... it was like there was a real 'one country, two systems'. Hong Kong could keep its original lifestyle and status. To me, those were the best moments." "The worst moment of course was after the national security law was implemented. There were many things we could do in the past that we no longer can. Apart from the news, there are many things that will violate the law. The values we believed in are now at risk."

^ I wonder how many Hong Kongers actually feel that their Handover from the British to the Chinese was better for them 25 years later. We may never know because anyone who speaks their mind gets beaten-down by the Communist Officials from Beijing. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-marks-25-years-since-handover-people-discuss-highs-lows-2022-06-28/

NATO + 2

(Note: This Map doesn’t show Canada and the United States even though they are NATO member countries.)

Putin and his Nazi Zs said they were going to War in Ukraine to stop NATO’s expansion (and to wipe Ukraine off the face of the Earth.)

Today NATO, after Turkey agreed, will grow by 2 new Members: Sweden and Finland.

Not only has Putin and his Nazis failed in Ukraine, but they have failed with NATO.

Currently, NATO Member Countries that Border Russia: (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Poland) share a Border 781 miles with Russia.

Once Finland joins NATO will share a 1,611 mile Border with Russia.

That is 830 Miles of more NATO on Russia’s doorstep. And an attack on 1 member Country by anyone is seen as an attack on ALL Member Countries. - all 32 of them!

Thank you Putin!

You have waged a brutal War where Russians Rape, Torture and Murder innocent Men, Women and Children; you have led your Country to a Dictatorial Isolation; you have Defaulted for the first time in 104 years; but you have united NATO and the World against you -our common Evil.

Ще раз дякую Путіну. Thank you again Putin!

We, every Nation and Person around the World, need to continue to work for Putin’s and Russia’s Defeat in Ukraine. To stop their War Crimes and Genocide (like the Bucha Massacre.) To lower Gas and Food Prices around the World. To end all the Shortages around the World.

Comforting Scout

From News Nation:

“Boy Scout comforts dying driver after train derailment”

A 15-year-old Boy Scout rushed from safety to comfort a dying driver after the dump truck he was in was struck by an Amtrak train.

Eli was traveling with his Wisconsin Boy Scout troop Monday afternoon when the fatal train wreck happened in rural Missouri, causing at least seven rail cars to tumble off the tracks and land on their sides. At least three people were killed and dozens of others were injured.

Dan Skrypczak, Eli’s father and the Appleton Troop 73 Scoutmaster, sat down with “Morning in America” to share what Eli had witnessed. Skrypczak, who was not traveling with the troop, said that Eli and his friends managed to get out of the train quickly and rushed to help others.

“Eli and another boy ran towards the front of the train, to try to determine if anybody was hurting in the vehicle. Eli found the driver and immediately started to render aid and comfort. There wasn’t a lot he could do. I know Eli felt horrible,” Skrypczak said.

“He was making indications that he was alive still. And he gave him some of his water and held his hand and tried to stop the bleeding.” Skrypczak told NewsNation’s Adrienne Bankert. “When we finally talked to him, he was pretty shaken up. He is a typical 15-year-old thinking he should be able to do what he can to save somebody,” he said. “(The driver) was hit by a train and unfortunately, you’re not likely to survive. And we tried to explain that to him.”

No one in the Boy Scout group was seriously injured, said Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations for the Boy Scouts of America. The scouts also administered first aid to several injured passengers, Armstrong said. “We’re proud of him. We love him for trying. We know that. That’s a difficult situation,” Skrypczak said. “It’s devastating, of course, but he’s a strong kid. He’s got the support of his troop mates, his friends at school here at home.”

It’s too early to speculate on why the truck was on the tracks, said National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. A team of NTSB investigators will arrive Tuesday, she said. Trains won’t be able to run on the track for “a matter of days” while they gather evidence, she added.

^ He is not only a great Boy Scout, but also a great Human Being. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/boy-scout-comforts-dying-driver-train-derailment/

20 Years!

From the BBC:

“Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years over sex trafficking”

(Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2005)

Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in a US prison for helping disgraced former financier Jeffrey Epstein abuse young girls. Maxwell, 60, was convicted in December of recruiting and trafficking four teenage girls for sexual abuse by Epstein, her then boyfriend. One of her accusers said outside the court in New York that she should stay in prison for the rest of her life. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. He had been awaiting his own sex trafficking trial. Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes took place over a decade, between 1994 and 2004.

Pronouncing sentence, Judge Alison J Nathan said Maxwell's conduct had been "heinous and predatory". "Ms Maxwell worked with Epstein to select young victims who were vulnerable and played a pivotal role in facilitating sexual abuse," she added. She said the case called for a "very significant sentence" and that she wanted to send an "unmistakable message" that such crimes would be punished. As well as jail time, the judge imposed a fine of $750,000 (£610,000). Maxwell, whose lawyers had argued for a term of less than five years, looked straight ahead and showed no emotion as the sentence was passed in front of a packed public gallery. Earlier, she addressed her victims. She said she empathised with them, adding that she hoped her prison sentence would allow the victims "peace and finality". Maxwell has been in custody since her arrest in July 2020, held mostly at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. The case against the British former socialite has been one of the highest-profile since the emergence of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak out about sexual abuse.

Analysis box by Nada Tawfik, New York correspondent

(Sarah Ransome (R) and Elizabeth Stein, alleged sexual abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein, arrive to the United States Federal Courthouse to attend the sentencing hearing for Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted last year on sex trafficking charges related to her time working with Epstein, in New York, New York, USA, 28 June 2022.)

The most shocking moment came when Ghislaine Maxwell stood up to speak. She addressed the victims directly - saying "I'm sorry for the pain you have experienced". She said she hoped they could now look forward and not back. She called Epstein a manipulative, cunning man who fooled all in his orbit. At the top of her statement, she said it was hard for her to address the pain and anguish. She said she wanted to acknowledge their suffering and that she empathised deeply with the victims. She said her association with Epstein was the greatest regret of her life. "My association with Epstein will permanently stain me," she said. The judge, ahead of sentencing, said what was not expressed in Maxwell's statement was an expression of her responsibility.

The victims were emotional as they spoke about the pain and anguish Maxwell caused them. They read their prepared statements - but Maxwell did not look at them as they spoke. The judge allowed four women to speak at Tuesday's hearing, as well as allowing a statement by Virginia Giuffre to be read by her lawyer in her absence. Annie Farmer, the only victim on the indictment to give evidence under her full name during the trial, was the first to speak. She had to pause midway through her speech in order to contain her emotions but continued to read her statement to the court in full. Sarah Ransome, who did not testify at the trial but was due to give an impact statement, spoke outside court alongside fellow accuser Elizabeth Stein. "Ghislaine must die in prison because I've been in Hell and back for the last seventeen years," Ms Ransome said. "I was 10 years old when Liz Stein was being trafficked. I was 10. That is how long this sex trafficking ring has been going on for. And it should have just taken one survivor to come forward for us to be taken seriously. It should not have been this hard."

During the trial, Ms Farmer and three other women, identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy, testified that they had been abused as minors at Epstein's homes in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. They recounted how Maxwell had talked them into giving Epstein massages which turned sexual, luring them with gifts and promises about how Epstein could use his money and connections to help them. Maxwell's lawyers have tried to portray their client as a positive influence on other inmates in jail, offering to teach them yoga and help them learn English. The crimes of Epstein, who mixed with some of the world's most famous people, were first reported in the media in 2005 and he served prison time in Florida in 2008-09 on a state charge of procuring a minor for prostitution. Following numerous lawsuits, he was arrested again in 2019 in a federal case in New York. At least eight women wrote letters to the judge describing how they had suffered.

Victims speak of their pain

(Annie Farmer, a victim of Jeffery Epstein, arrives with lawyer Sigrid McCawley for the sentencing of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., June 28,2022.)

In her written victim impact statement, Ms Farmer said: "For a long time, I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein committed against me and pretend they hadn't happened. "I didn't talk about it for years. It was the type of dark memory that feels safest to keep locked away, and so I did the best I could. The world did not cooperate with this strategy, however. "Something would bring to mind this experience and my body would respond with an upset stomach and physical shakiness. I'd feel irritable, have trouble focusing, and feel disoriented... "One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein's abuse was a loss of trust in myself, my perceptions, and my instincts."

Virginia Giuffre wrote: "Ghislaine, 22 years ago, in the summer of 2000, you spotted me at the Mar-a-Lago Hotel in Florida, and you made a choice. You chose to follow me and procure me for Jeffrey Epstein. "Together, you damaged me physically, mentally, sexually, and emotionally....Without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell". A woman referred to in court as "Kate" wrote in her statement: "The consequences of what Ghislaine Maxwell did have been far reaching for me. "I have struggled with, and eventually triumphed over, substance use disorder. I have suffered panic attacks and night terrors, with which I still struggle. I have suffered low self esteem, loss of career opportunities. I have battled greatly with feeling unable to trust my own instincts in choosing romantic relationships. "What happened to me at that young age changed the course of my life drastically forever." Another accuser, Juliette Bryant, wrote that she had never felt okay since the day Maxwell and Epstein "got their hands" on her. "Thinking about them still gives me frequent panic attacks and night terrors," she said. "All of the victims, including myself, are eternally grateful for everyone that has helped expose these criminals."

^ Being 60 years old hopefully she will die of old age in those 20 years. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61970358

Turkey Agrees!

From Reuters:

“Turkey clears way for Finland, Sweden to join NATO – Stoltenberg”

(Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Finland's President Sauli Niinisto, Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrive to sign a document during a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain June 28, 2022.)

Turkey has agreed to support Finland and Sweden's bids for NATO membership, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. "I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO," he told reporters on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Madrid. "Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports and the fight against terrorism," he added.

^ This is great news! ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/turkey-clears-way-finland-sweden-join-nato-stoltenberg-2022-06-28/

Molly Pitcher

From This Day In History’s Facebook:

The Battle of Monmouth occurred on June 28, 1778. The battle gave Washington the chance to show off his better-trained Continental Army after Baron Von Steuben had worked his magic at Valley Forge. It featured Washington's angry confrontation with his second in command Charles Lee after Lee had botched the start of the battle. And it saw the birth of a legend.

MOLLY PITCHER Mary Hays’ husband joined the Continental Army and she went along as a camp follower. Camp followers were women who accompanied armies on the march to provide services like cooking and laundering. And maybe some professional comforts. “Sergeant Molly” was at Valley Forge and she made some money to supplement her husband’s salary by washing and cooking. She was like one of the guys. She smoked a pipe, chewed tobacco, and swore a lot. The next summer, she was with her husband at the Battle of Monmouth. He was a cannoneer with the 1st Pennsylvania Artillery. Molly had an important role that very hot day. She carried water from a nearby spring to the parched soldiers. They would yell “Molly, the pitcher!”, hence her famous nickname. When her husband was felled by heat stroke (some say he was wounded), she took his place swabbing his cannon. In 1822, the Pennsylvania legislature granted her a $40 yearly pension.

Changing Australia

From the BBC:

“Australia census: Five ways the country is changing”

(Australian migration. Top overseas countries of birth. The data shows the top five overseas countries of birth for residents of Australia.)

The results of Australia's five-yearly census have been released, painting a picture of a country undergoing significant change. The population grew to 25.5 million in the 2021 survey - up 2.1 million from 2016 - and average incomes were slightly higher. The census also revealed trends that will help shape the country's future. Here are five.

Australia is becoming less religious For the first time, fewer than half of Australians (44%) identify as Christian, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said. Just over 50 years ago, the proportion was about 90%. Although Christianity remains the biggest religion, it is closely followed by those with no religion at all. That cohort has increased to 39%, up by almost 9%. Hinduism and Islam are the fastest growing religions in Australia, but each are followed by only around 3% of the population.

But it's also becoming more diverse Modern Australia has been built on immigration. And now - in another first - more than half of people were born overseas or have a parent who was. Migration has slowed during the pandemic, but more than a million people have moved to Australia since 2016. Of those, almost a quarter were from India. India has overtaken China and New Zealand to become the third-largest country of birth, behind Australia and England. One in five people speak a language other than English at home - most commonly Chinese or Arabic - an increase of almost 800,000 since 2016.

The Indigenous population is large The number of people who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jumped by a quarter from the last census. Births contributed to the growth but people are also becoming more comfortable with identifying themselves as Indigenous, the ABS says. Indigenous Australians now number 812,728 - about 3.2% of the population. The data shows there are 167 active Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander languages, spoken by more than 78,000 people across Australia. Estimates of Indigenous population size before Europeans arrived in 1788 range from 315,000 to more than one million people. It sharply declined from that point due to new diseases, violence, displacement and dispossession.

Millennials now have the numbers  Another key finding is that Australia is on the cusp of a significant generational shift. Baby Boomers - those born between 1946 and 1965 - have previously been the country's largest generation. Now Millennials - born between 1981 and 1995 - have caught up. Each generation accounts for 21.5% of the population. That's likely to hugely inform policies on issues such as housing and aged care, experts say.

Home ownership is stagnant, but caravans are increasingly popular A similar share of Australians to 25 years ago are buying houses, but fewer are paying them off. The number of people with a mortgage has doubled since 1996, with property prices skyrocketing since. Australian cities now rank among the worst globally for housing affordability, according to a 2022 report. But the census also revealed that more people are turning to alternative dwellings - something likely spurred on by the pandemic. The number of caravans - popular with domestic tourists - jumped by 150%. Australians now own 60,000 caravans and almost 30,000 houseboats.

^ This is interesting to note. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-61961744

Earthquake Aid

From Reuters:

“U.S. to provide nearly $55 mln more humanitarian aid for Afghanistan -Blinken”

The United States will provide nearly $55 million in immediate aid for Afghanistan in response to an earthquake that last week struck a remote southeastern region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday.  At least 1,000 people died, more than 3,000 others were injured and 10,000 homes destroyed by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the area near the country's border with Pakistan on June 22.

The new U.S. assistance will be used to supply relief to people impacted by the disaster in the form of cooking ware, jerry cans for water, blankets, clothing and other items, including hygienic supplies to prevent a waterborne disease outbreak, Blinken said in a statement. The earthquake, he said, "intensified the ongoing humanitarian crisis the Afghan people have endured for too long." The new aid brings to more than $774 million the amount of U.S. humanitarian assistance provided for Afghanistan since last year, when the Taliban seized power as the last U.S.-led troops withdrew after 20 years of war with the hardline Islamists. The pullout and cutoffs by the United States and other funders of direct assistance on which the impoverished nation depended worsened financial and humanitarian crises that have seen the economy collapse and millions endure food shortages.

Since the earthquake, aftershocks have hit the stricken region, leaving partially damaged homes uninhabitable and the area unsafe for survivors, according to a senior Afghan official.

^ The US and other countries need to make sure that the assistance is going to those that need it and not helping the Taliban. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-provide-nearly-55-mln-more-humanitarian-aid-afghanistan-blinken-2022-06-28/

Nazi Convicted

From the BBC:

“Nazi camp guard, 101, given five years for aiding murder”

(Former Nazi concentration camp guard Josef S (R) hides his face with a folder as he arrives on June 28, 2022 at a gym used as a makeshift courtroom in Brandenburg an der Havel, eastern Germany, where his verdict was spoken)

A former Nazi concentration camp guard identified as Josef S has been given a five-year jail term for assisting in the murder of thousands of prisoners at Sachsenhausen near Berlin. The oldest Nazi criminal ever to stand trial in a German court, he had always denied being an SS guard at the camp. He was found guilty of aiding and abetting the murders of 3,518 people. He was complicit in the shooting of Soviet prisoners of war and the murder of others with Zyklon B gas. The defence had called for his acquittal and is set to appeal against the prison sentence.

Tens of thousands of people died at Sachsenhausen during World War Two from starvation, forced labour, medical experiments and murder by the SS. More than 200,000 people were imprisoned there, including political prisoners as well as Jews, Roma and Sinti (Gypsies). "I don't know why I'm sitting here in the sin bin. I really had nothing to do with it," Josef S said in his closing statement on the eve of the verdict in Brandenburg an der Havel.

Judge Udo Lechtermann told him that despite his claims to the contrary the court had found that he had worked at the concentration camp for around three years from 1942. "You willingly supported this mass extermination through your occupation," he said. Putting Nazi camp guards on trial only became possible in 2011, when ex-SS guard John Demjanjuk was found guilty. That verdict prompted a search for individuals who were still alive. Four years later, the so-called "bookkeeper of Auschwitz", Oskar Gröning, was given a jail term. And a 97-year-old former concentration camp secretary is currently on trial in northern Germany.

Josef S is not fully identified in Germany because of privacy conventions. Although his name and birth details were given on the documents of an SS guard, he claimed he had not been at the camp and worked instead as a farm labourer. He is unlikely to serve any of his sentence as Germany's highest court will first have to rule whether to allow his appeal, and that will take several months.

^ In case you were thinking: "Why do I post things about World War 2 and the Holocaust 77 years after it ended?"

This is one reason why. The murderers are still out there. The other reason: Neo-Nazis and Nazi-wannabes like Putin are using the same methods to make history repeat itself.

Even if he doesn’t spend 1 night in prison at least the world will know he is a Nazi and he will die knowing the world knows he is a Nazi.  ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61963473

2007 Vs 2022

Monument to Princess Olga (a Saint in Eastern Orthodox Christian Religions), St. Andrew (one of the Apostles) and Cyril and Methodius (Creators of the Cyrillic Alphabet) – I took this when my Mom, Sister and I went to Kyiv, Ukraine in November 2007.

The Monument being covered-up to protect it from Russian Bombs and Bullets –  I didn’t take this picture – February 2022 - Kyiv, Ukraine.