10% is coming back in full force

 Sometime not in the distance past, 10% is the most important catchphrase in the developing world. Everything, every project and development, is about 10%.  Even retard politicians were suddenly rushing to promote more economic projects everywhere not because they are really into economic development for their countries, but because of 10%. There was this story of UN officials visiting developing countries to check on their progress. The govt officials would point to the schools, bridges, roads, etc etc to impress the UN officials. When asked about the cost, the govt official will say 10%. Then he pointed to a vacant space and said sports stadium. The UN officials looked keenly at the open space but could not see anything, no building around. The govt official smiled and said, 100%.

Corruption in the developing countries was a disease and got very bad when the appetite of the corrupt officials became too big, instead of a few hundred thousand bucks, it became a few millions, a few billions. Then the roof came crashing down, only some, as many continue to collect their 10% or 100% as long as they are not caught.

Taiwan's ruling party is banging in the Parliament for more fun, oops I mean fund, to buy more expensive American weapons from America's junkyard. The opposition parties have succeeded partially to cut it down to size, but still very substantial, like US$800m. The ruling govt is not happy and continue to ask for more, another US$400m or US$500m. The Americans are asking for US$14b! When a govt is so desperate asking for more money, they are not too far from the 10% formula. When a govt is so happy to spend money, big money, in the millions and billions, beware!

This 10% disease is now spreading to America. The biggest practitioner of big spending is none other than Trump. When America is so broke, he got his way to knock down the ballroom in the White House to be replaced with a new ballroom, probably called Trump and Melania's ballroom. This is only the appetiser. It is costing the American taxpayers something like US$400m. How much is 10% of US$400m? But Trump's demand is 15% like for Nvidia chips. In the case of the Board of Piss, it is 100%. And the War Secretary wants US$200b for his operation to kill Iranians, and a US$1.5 trillion defence budget.  Who cares about the US$40 trillion debt?

The appetite is growing really big, and growing bigger. There is no limit to greed. Beware when someone is demanding more money for big projects or expenditure. 10% is only a starter, very cheap. By the way, after returning from Beijing, Trump is saying that he wanted to build a Great Hall for the American people, to be bigger and grander than China's Great Hall of the People. 15%?

Taiwan believes it is independent or going to be independent. What a joke!

 The DPP and its followers believe that Taiwan is going to be an independent country. They proudly called themselves the independent movement, to be independent from China, their Motherland. And many daft Taiwanese are being duped into this silly idea. Politically and historically, Taiwan is a part of China and will always be a part of China. The present status is an aberration that will not last. Taiwan will be reunited with the Motherland sooner or later. Period.

What the daft Taiwanese did not know, they would not know, is that the fish in a fishbowl will be fish in a fishbowl. That is their place, they will not be free swimming in the river or the sea, but they think they are free. The sad thing is that instead of becoming an independent state, Taiwan now has two foreign masters, the Americans and Japanese. Both are pulling the strings and Taiwan is nothing but just a puppet, Everything the Taiwanese want to do, they must ask permission from their puppet masters, America and Japan. And they think this is normal, this is freedom and independence.

The AIT is the official govt of Taiwan. The Taiwanese from the ruling party and the opposition parties must pay homage to the AIT, to inform them of their every action, to seek their approval for anything they want to do. And they must crawl to Washington and often to Japan to get their blessings and support. This is how silly and pathetic the Taiwanese have become. Instead of being first class Chinese, they now have two foreign masters to rule over them. The Americans even demand protection money from the Taiwanese, pay up, pay up, and also decide to remove TSMC from Taiwan. And the Taiwanese cannot say no. It is just the way it is, Taiwan is 'independent' as a colony of the USA and a semi colony of the Japanese.

The Taiwanese need to get out of the fishbowl to look from outside, to see that they are actually living inside a fishbowl own by the American and Japanese. All the silly calls about being independent is to be a colony of the Americans and the Japanese.

Would the Taiwanese wake up from their silly dream and free themselves from their American and Japanese masters? When are they going to make decisions for their own future without having to ask for approval from the Americans and the Japanese? Stop being the dogs of the Americans and the Japanese.

India betrays everyone and thinks there is no consequences

What is India doing in international affairs? On hindsight, very simple - India is waiting to see who wins and then pick the winning side. This is the Indian DNA.

India was supposed to be Russia's close friend for decades but pivoted to USA when the mask fell. India's testicles have been caught in the US$ hegemony, as the Indian rupee is avoided by Russia and other countries. It has no cards to play, when Russia insisted on being paid in Chinese Yuan for weapons and oil and the US$ was its only lifeline.

India in BRICS was never about providing inputs to improve BRICS. It was to erect hurdles for BRICS in de-dollarization to please the USA. India is the USA's Trojan Horse in BRICS, answering to the USA, the side that is now still on the winning side, but not for long.

India betrayed Iran by allowing the USA to sink its unarmed warship taking part in a competition in India to leave port and targeted by the USA, killing hundreds of innocent Iranians. India is secretly supporting the Arabs, particularly UAE, against Iran. The outcome is still undecided, but India is waiting to see how it turns out with its bets.

There have been calls for Iran to replace India as the 'I' in BRICS. This is not without reason, as India is perceived as the traitor in BRICS. How much harm has India done to BRICS is not marginal. India is also in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, doing it dirty work for the USA.


Anonymous

The Chinese Genie is out of the bottle....

Without the bans, tariffs and sanctions, China will eat up the breakfast, lunch and dinner of USA entities. Just look at the number of patents filed by China over the last few years, putting the USA and the rest of the world in the dust.

Yet, despite all the above desperate measures, China is still powering ahead. The main preoccupation of the USA and the West is keeping China away from dominating the high-end chips and the AI sector. But China is not just concentrating its priority in the chips and AI sector. China is undertaking research and development in so many other areas if you care to keep track of China's domination now in chemical research, research papers in energy, physics, science, computer, high speed rails, aviation, shipbuilding and now moving into AI.

The USA knows China is chipping away at its last bastion, the semiconductor sector, while the AI sector is still a close call, and is making every effort to deny China the means to move ahead. Trying to stymy China now is an exercise in futility, once the Chinese are determined to break the stranglehold. Where China cannot get the top end ASML chipmaking machine, China will even make their own. Necessity is the mother of invention.


Anonymous

Malaysia - Another case of stupidity has no cure, another joke

 From Anwar warning to US$250m claim - what’s behind Malaysia’s response to Norway’s scrapped missile deal?

The strength of Malaysia’s case will depend on whether export approval was explicitly tied to delivery of the missiles, and what remedies exist if a sovereign government blocks the transfer, says an analyst.

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya’s RM1 billion (US$251.5 million) claim against a Norwegian defence company shows it is maintaining pressure on Oslo after the Scandinavian country unilaterally halted delivery of crucial naval missiles to Malaysia under a previously agreed contract, analysts say.

The notice of demand came after Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last week slammed Norway’s move to cancel export of its naval strike missiles (NSM), which were intended to equip Malaysia’s upcoming littoral combat ships (LCS).  CNA

After so many centuries of being controlled and duped by the white men, believing in white men's rule of law that applies only to daft coloured people, and this is happening again. Malaysia, like many developing countries, stuck with the colonial mentality and white men is the best, honourable, will play by the rule, bought missiles from Norway believing every word the white men said, and every word in the contract. Now the white men tore away the contract, refused to deliver, what can Malaysia do? Hopefully the money is not all paid upfront. Normally this is how white men deal with hungry and begging to buy white men stuff, will do to coloured developing countries. They know that these developing countries are hardup for white men stuff, pay upfront or else no contract.

And Malaysia is now trying to go the legal way, thinking that white men's law will be objective and impartial and they can win a legal case against Norway, to get the missiles it bought, or at least money back. Who is putting a break on this deal? No need to guess. But Malaysia, like all developing countries, will not want to know, thinking it is a level playing field, transparency and all is fair and square under the law.

What is the best response for Malaysia? Stop being daft, stop believing in white men. Money paid is gone, the missiles will not be delivered. White men still rule over the coloured people, in their thinking, in their minds, that white men is sikit atas, actually semua atas in the eyes of colonised minds.

Operation Kill Iranians - The ceasefire will be a disaster for Iran and Iranians

 The temporary ceasefire is exactly what the American and Israeli terrorists wanted, to be able to fly and sail near to Iranian shore without being fired upon, and to rush in and finish off Iran at their own time. Trump has threatened to end everything in Iran almost everyday. Do not take this as a joke. The first few days of saturated attacks on Iran failed with Iranian assets and facilities deep down in the mountains. The American and Israeli terrorists need more than bunker busters to reach their targets and need more powerful and deadly weapons. And this ceasefire is allowing them just to do that, bring in the big ones to finish off Iran and the Iranians.

The reported nuclear explosion in Israel is a deadly warning to Iran of what is coming. Iran did not claim to have attacked the nuclear facility. Speculations were that it could be a sabotage or Israel testing a tactical nuclear bomb but got out of control, and the mushroom popped up in Israel, with populated cities nearby. A mushroom cloud means dangerous radioactivity around the site with several kilometre radius, like a overblown Chernobyl or Fukushima. So far no declaration of emergency and evacuation from Israel. Silence! This must be the safest radioactive free nuclear bomb for sure. A detonation in open space must have its casualties and consequences. A nuclear explosion must have radioactive fallouts.

The test may be out of control, to be released into the atmosphere around populated areas. But it is still successfully detonated. Iran beware! This is coming for Natanz or Isfahan, maybe even Tehran or other Iranian cities. This is what Trump is warning about. Trump knows what the Israelis are planning. And with the ceasefire in force, this is unstoppable. The aircraft can fly close to Iranian borders and send the nuclear bombs into Iran, giving Iran no time to react. Once the bombs are released, it will be too late to take them down. And the Israeli terrorists will release them at Iran, believing that the Americans would have to come to their aid at all cost. This is the dangerous assumption that makes the Israeli terrorists behaving wildly, like savages. The only way to stop this is for the Americans to tell the Israelis that America will not back them if the Israelis use nuclear bombs. Israel has no capacity to take over the Middle East without the American terrorists. Would the Americans allow Israel to drag them into a nuclear war with Russia and China?

Iranians are living precariously and their lives hanging on a thread, at the mercy of the American and Israeli terrorists. This is very serious, a clear and present danger for Iran. A situation that the American and Israeli duped the Iranians into, with their defences down. With the ceasefire in force, there is nothing the Iranians can do about stopping it. Without the ceasefire, American and Israeli warplanes and warships cannot get close to Iran. Now the Iranian hands are tied, cannot fire when the warplanes and warships, with nuclear weapons, come close to Iranian borders to deliver their nuclear bombs, giving the Iranians no time to react.

The ceasefire is a deadly trap, an existential trap for the Iranians. Poor gullible Iranians being prepared for the slaughter by the American and Israeli terrorists. The American and Israeli terrorists can nuke Iran anytime, on a moment's notice!!!!

PS.  TEHRAN: Iran's army warned on Tuesday (May 19) it would "open new fronts" against the United States if it resumes attacks, after President Donald Trump said he had held off launching a new offensive in hopes of striking a deal.

The warning came amid a shaky ceasefire in place since Apr 8, with Washington and Tehran exchanging proposals in an effort to end the Middle East war, which began on Feb 28. CNA

The Iranians are crazy, as good as being stupid. If the American and Israeli terrorists nuke Iran, there is no chance, no second chance to hit back. Everything will be gone. Natanz, Isfahan and many underground facilities will be gone!

Lansi Technology founder Zhou Qunfei...honoured to sit between Musk and Cook in Xi Trump state banquet

At this U.S. visit to China dinner banquet, the most eye-catching figure in the prime center seat between Musk and Cook was Lansi Technology founder Zhou Qunfei—from a rural factory girl to China's richest woman, with absolutely no background to rely on, building everything from scratch through her own grit. She was born in a small village in Hunan Province. At age 5, her mother passed away, and her father became disabled and blind from a work injury, leaving the family in dire poverty with nothing to their name. At 16, unable to afford school fees, she was forced to drop out and head to Guangdong to work in a factory, grinding glass on the assembly line—working days away during the day and furiously self-studying at night, earning certifications in accounting, computer operations, and other skills. That's how she spent a few years, until she scraped together 20,000 yuan from her wages, rallied eight relatives including her brother, sister, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law, and started a small workshop in Shenzhen doing watch glass processing. She handled machine repairs and sales runs single-handedly, grinding away like that for another four years.

By the 2000s, the mobile phone industry began booming on a massive scale. By a stroke of luck, her watch glass factory landed an order for TCL phone screens. She spotted the huge potential in the phone glass market and quickly founded Lansi Technology, specializing in the production, R&D, and sales of phone glass. At first, they only handled domestic phones and knockoffs, but everything changed when she went after a Motorola order—foreign companies had insanely strict quality standards. She bet nearly all her resources to meet Motorola's demands and snagged the V3 order, which sold over 100 million units worldwide, catapulting Lansi Technology straight to industry leadership. From there, she smoothly secured deals with Nokia, Samsung, and other foreign giants.

The pivotal turning point hit again in 2007, when Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, revolutionizing phones toward full-glass touchscreens. Jobs' obsessive craftsmanship demands left the whole world scrambling for a supplier that could meet them. Zhou Qunfei keenly sensed this was another massive opportunity, so she led her team in a three-month joint push with Apple engineers, breaking through key processes to mass-produce the first-generation iPhone glass panels. That locked in a long-term Apple contract, and soon after, nearly all Apple gear—from iPads to MacBooks—went to Lansi Technology for production. It also propelled Lansi to become the world's top player in touch glass panels.

That's why she got to sit next to Cook. But why was Musk right there beside her too?

After dominating global glass panels, Lansi Technology branched into more diverse smart devices, including car cockpits and robots. In autos, they've already locked in deals with 30 carmakers like Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, and Li Auto for windows, center consoles, and more. In robotics, they handle joints, sensors, and other components—areas with deep overlap in Musk's businesses.

A girl who dropped out at 15 with just a junior high diploma, emerging from rural Hunan to build an empire from nothing and become China's richest woman—forty years later, stepping into U.S.-China talks, seated between Musk and Cook. That's Zhou Qunfei's story.

This shown that it's not necessary to have degrees and all.sorts of papers qualifications to be smart and.innovative!

Be SMART in your common sense and able to seize opportunities when arises with foresight and 🧠 brains


Virgo49


PS. A repost by Virgo

China in the process of making better chips than H200

The Huawei story did not register in the brains of the hillbillies. Sanctions against Huawei did not work, despite even rallying the doggies to do the same to Huawei. Huawei was to show the middle finger to the USA and its doggies by becoming even more self-sufficient and prospering. Huawei is now even making its own chips and EVs.

Trying to strangle China using Nvidia chips is exactly the same mistake being made by the USA against Huawei. When Trump refused to sell top end Nvidia chips to China, it just made China more determined to overcome the problem by attempting to make its own, now even intent on cutting off China's tech firms from using Nvidia chips. The message from the Chinese Government was clear enough, that if Chinese tech firms can find alternative domestically made chips, import of foreign chips will be curtailed. That message probably gave Jensen Huang sleepless nights.

Trump thought he was playing the winning card, trying to project a semblance of having the upper hand by giving permission to Nvidia to go ahead to sell H20 and H200 chips to China. China did not even take up the offer, excusing itself by citing its fear of backdoors in those chips, apart from other reasons. But the harm had already been done, and China has put in place restrictions to prevent Nvidia H20 and now H200 chips to be sold on the Chinese market. Nvidia can sell those chips to McDonalds, while Trump can add them to his bumper burger orders like potato chips.

Jensen Huang made a wasted trip to China. The market for Nvidia chips in China is gone for good. It is not temporary. It is permanent.


Anonymous

Iran is the 'I" in BRICS. China needs Iran in BRICS

Now there is a propaganda campaign trying to sour relations between China and Iran, claiming that China is throwing Iran under the bus, as a bargaining chip that the USA might likely do the same over Taiwan. But Taiwan is already part of China and cannot be used as a bargaining chip by the USA. China will never agree. Anyway, that has still not been established, as Trump is still looking at the sale of weapons to Taiwan and the need to convince the war-hawks in Washington.

China is not going to betray Iran over Taiwan for sure. The Taiwan issue can fester for another 76 years, and China can sit around and wait. The Chinese are very patient people. After all, China already tolerated the Taiwan issue since 1949 without attempting to attack the island. All that threat from China against Taiwan is just a figment of the imagination of the war-hawks in Washington. In any case, Xi has warned Trump that the Taiwan red line must never be crossed. Few words, but clear and unambiguous. Trump, I think, got the message and has warned Taiwan not to think about independence. What will the next USA President do is beyond us to anticipate. The further sale of weapons to Taiwan is a sticky issue. Let us see what happens next.


Anonymous

Lunatic Trump continues to push for more vanity projects under his name

SHANGHAI: Could a proposed US-China “Board of Trade” help stabilise ties ahead of this week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping?...

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who first outlined the proposal in March, said the mechanism would create a channel to formalise the kinds of goods traded between the two rivals. CNA

Megalomaniac Trump knows that this is his last two years before he disappeared like the dinosaurs. He is hastily trying to create more projects and monuments embossed with his name or image on them. Trump Tower is not enough, Trump Opera House, Trump Stadium, a better and more appropriate building will be Trump Museum to store his unwanted red caps. 

Trump will seize on every moment, opportunity, to want people to remember him, like what every dictator will do, knowing that his popularity will not last, like all dictators, will be demolished once he has fallen from power.

The Board of Piss has come and gone with the blink of an eye, with Trump pocketing all the monies for his family business. No body cares what happens to this board or the money he took. It is not accountable to anyone except Trump.

Now in this meeting with Xi, Trump is coming out with two more Boards, Board of Trade or Board of Investment to claim credit for them. Don't they have enough silly boards and institutions for trade and anti trade that they need two more Board of Piss with Trump's name on it but would be forgotten in due time?

It would be better for China to sign a trade agreement with the Trump family for some real business, producing more hats and MAGA souvenirs for sale to his supporters, Trump shoes, Trump pens, Trump panties, Trump diapers etc etc. Maybe have a joint production to produce an AI movie on Trump and his great and infamous achievements. He got another grand idea after his summit with Xi. He was impressed by China's Great Hall of the People and wanted to build one for America, maybe called Trump's Great Hall of America.

Trump is just an aberration, and a really bad one that will be thrown into the dustbin for good in less than two years and be forgotten, or as American jokes.

Silly American propaganda would not now work anymore once the Arabs and Muslims are secretly talking together

 Saudi Arabia launched covert attacks on Iran as regional war widened: Sources

The United Arab Emirates also carried out military strikes on Iran early last month, the Wall Street Journal reported, revealing previously unknown participation in the war by the two countries.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia launched numerous, unpublicised strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks carried out in the kingdom during the Middle East war, two Western officials briefed on the matter and two Iranian officials said.

The Saudi attacks, not previously reported, mark the first time that the kingdom is known to have directly carried out military action on Iranian soil and show it is becoming much bolder in defending itself against its main regional rival.  CNA

The American terrorists are now so desperate that they have to resort to their stupid lies even knowing that they would not work anymore. First they tried to incite the Iranians to attack UAE by claiming UAE was hitting back at Iran. Now they are claiming that Saudi Arabia is also hitting back at Iran, to drag Saudi Arabia into their war with Iran. In the early days of this war, the Americans were spreading lies that MBS were telling the Americans to finish off the Iranians. Is this really believeable? The intent of releasing this lie was to pitch the Iranians against the Saudis. It did not need any second guess. Just look at the sources of these misinformation will tell where they are coming from. The Iranians are not hitting Saudi and Emirati strategic targets for obvious reasons. 

Both Saudi Arabia and UAE will be flattened if Iran believed in these American lies. Yes, Iran bombed some parts of Saudi Arabia and UAE. But these are American assets only. And the Iranians are closely in touch with the Saudis and Emirati on what they are going to hit, sparing the assets of Saudis and Emirati. New reports that UAE have started to attack Iran. How true is this? UAE inviting its own destruction? Another case of Mickey Mouse threatening a bigger power? Also reported that the drones that attacked UAE nuclear plant flew in from the West.

The clowns in Washington still think the Arabs and Muslims are stupid and can be manipulated by them to fight and kill each other. They cannot believe that the Arabs and Muslims are having their own communication networks to keep in touch and inform each other of the progress of this anti American and Israeli war.

The American and Israeli terrorists are running out of ideas and out of wits. Once the Arabs and Muslims are united, they cannot be divided and killed one by one by the American and Israeli terrorists anymore.  The Israelis cannot control America for long. Trump's term is coming up, and it might be shorter if his health does not allow him to stay on. The next American President is unlikely to be tainted by the Epstein episode and be controlled by the Israelis. Mickey Mouse Israel's days are numbered.

Xi Trump Summit - A lesson for juvenile delinquents

Sensible adults talking to kids and juvenile delinquents cannot produce workable solutions. While the Trump administration, with its juvenile leaders, continue to treat China like bitter enemies, USA business leaders going to China will not get what they want, despite the gloating about deals here and there.

China will give token deals in order not to cut off ties completely. That is not China capitulating as some people seem to think. China will still buy USA agricultural products to keep USA farmers dependency on China intact. China is throwing straws at drowning entities to keep them alive, not to allow them to disappear completely and lose the leverage totally.

Boeing knows the Chinese market for planes is huge and cannot be dispensed with. The Chinese domestic aviation sector can survive on COMAC planes coming on-line fast. Boeing wants a piece of the action. Nividia needs the China market for its chips, but whether China falls for the same ploy to buy more Nvidia chips is the question. China had already put top priority on Chinese semiconductor firms to entice them to power their foray into chips. Letting Chinese tech to go back to buying Nvidia chips is betraying its own semiconductor players. China is intent on cutting its dependence on foreign chip makers knowing that it is a National Security risk if conflicts arise. The current chip war already revealed the consequences of putting China's National Security under undue pressure.

On the other hand, USA can cut off deals with China firms, but they already have alternative markets to enter into. China has all the cards to play around with, both its huge consumer market and the equally huge market it can get into in the Global South and had already positioned itself for any decoupling.

The USA tried playing the decoupling card and found itself shooting its own foot. Years of sanctioning Chinese firms did not collapse those Chinese firms like Huawei, but is instead making them more resilient, while USA firms being targeted are finding the going unsustainable. Companies like Boeing, Nvidia and a host of USA technology firms still wants to go into China to make money. The visit of Trump to China clearly shows that the new mantra is co-operation and allowing both sides to grow instead of throwing brickbats and bombs at each other.

But the last word is still for China to beware of USA treachery. The USA can never ever be trusted to honor its obligations. That is clearly shown over the last couple of decades.


Anonymous

Boeing deal subject to many conditions and also time factor

I do not think the Boeing deal is realistically possible. We must remember that Boeing is one of the USA's main weapon manufacturers and helping Boeing is not in the interest of China. China should even stop supplying rare earth elements and titanium, among other components to Boeing under a dual use prohibition. But Boeing and Airbus had been given the exemption earlier.

In any case, China is trying to compete in the aviation sector as well, with COMAC and the C919 plane already on the market. Why help Boeing when certification of its C919 had been stymied by the West? So, unless China can get certification for the C919 and other planes made by COMAC, China must pay back the USA in its own coin by not buying from Boeing.

Trump can gloat all he can about the deal, but are the deals already signed? China needs thousands of planes for its expanding domestic aviation sector alone, and Boeing knows the market in China is immense and cannot be ignored.


Anonymous

India itchy for a role in international affairs

 The American and Israeli Operation Kill Iranians is still in full steam, but failing. In a sense, this is the first time that the Arab and Muslim states have taken a cooperative stand for their own interests despite tremendous pressure and coercion from the American and Israeli terrorists to drag them to fight Iran and get themselves destroyed, and they are doing extremely well.  The American and Israeli terrorists are spreading vicious lies that Saudi Arabia and UAE have started to attack Iran with the Saudis being thrown under the bus, claiming that the Saudis have asked the American terrorists to kill all the Iranians. This lie is very deadly and the Iranians could easily be provoked to bomb the hell out of Saudi Arabia. But it didn't work. The Iranians, Arabs and Muslims knew this dirty trick of the Americans well enough not to be duped. 

The latest is that UAE is trying to form a coalition with Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join the killing of Iranians. How much truth is there? The Saudis and Qataris are smart enough not to be dragged in, when fight a losing war and fall into the trap of the provocateurs and be destroyed? I may be wrong in this as UAE's nuclear plant has just been hit by Iranian drones, probably a warning that it can be worse.

What has India got to do with this? India has been in the cold wilderness of international affairs after being bashed by Trump. It ended up as a nobody, not trusted by Trump, Putin or Xi. The Operation Kill Iranians gives India an opportunity to put its little itchy fingers into the pudding. And as Chairman of the BRICS Meeting, this topic became the main agenda. And as usual, whenever India is around, BRICS would not be able to get a consensus on any issue, and ended up with no joint statement to condemn the American and Israeli terrorists. This is India's message to the Americans and Israelis that India is on their sides.

Not only that, in a critical time like this, India signed a joint defence pact with UAE, for what, against who? What can India do with a pact with the UAE? If the UAE really intends to attack Iran, and Iran hits back, UAE will be flattened in hours. Will India come in to help UAE to fight Iran? This will be the greatest joke of the century, more laughable than Operation Sindoor. Iran is many times more powerful than Pakistan and is capable of taking on the American and Israeli terrorists at the same time. What is India to Iran? India wants to tempt a war with Iran to protect UAE? But all noise and no substance is what India is. India just want to be noticed that it is a 'super' power and wants to be involved in everything in the world like it really matters. This is the moment for India to be noticed. But this involvement is not for free. There is a price India will have to pay. 

The US will not appreciate India's move to be cosy.  China and Russia too would not be happy with this. This is at most a tiny pyrrhic victory for India. Iran will remember this, and so will be the Arab and Muslim states.

China is about keeping the cost of everything down. The West is about selling more and more expensive goods

China is not like Japan or Germany, easily taken to the cleaners for trying to be better than the USA. That is the price to be paid if you depend too much on the market in the USA.

China has been able to learn some useful lessons from the humbling experience of the Japanese and Germans. Diverting and spreading out its eggs by not relying too heavily on the USA has been beneficial for China. China did not have to wait for the USA to give permission for it to progress, but just did it, not yesterday, but more than thirty years earlier, building bridges and increasing trade with countries all around the world, helping poor countries to rise to benefit China with a bigger market, securing raw materials it needs, building up its manufacturing base which have resulted in being able to produce goods cheaper than others to dominate markets it goes into.

China has now built up its fortress of independence in many sectors and powering ahead in its export sector and reaping record trade surpluses that unnerves the USA and the Europeans. In the process they are trying to curb the Chinese export juggernaut, even shamelessly asking China not to produce too much and allow them to keep up. Did the world ask the USA not to produce too many weapons for use against other countries or printing too much toilet papers? The USA just ignored what the rest of the world wanted and treating them as mere noises without caring two hoots. It is after all the sole superpower and can do what it wants and brushing aside what the rest of the world thinks. But others have to follow rules they set. That is the hypocrisy.


Anonymous

Marcos and the US have a common objective, to control the Philippines. The ICC is run by criminals controlled by the Americans

Half caste Philippines thinks it can behave like the Europeans, trying to punch above its weight. These rotten prawns do not realize their place in the world, thinking that just because the USA is behind them, they can sashay around like the real McCoys.

It is really mind boggling that the country can allow a disgraced family of crooks to return to the Philippines, after its patriarch, Ferdinand Marcos, stole so much wealth from the Philippines people, and yet be allowed to rule the country. The USA professed to hate dictators but continuously supported Ferdinand Marco's corrupted regime during his tenure as President from 1965 till 1986.

I do think that Bongbong Marcos was a stooge put into power by the USA, knowing that he could be controlled by the USA by holding him hostage with all the wealth still in the USA hands. That he is a puppet of the USA is no conspiracy theory, just hoping to do anything for the USA's interest in order to get his hands on the ill-gotten wealth of his father. Remember that the Pinoy voters were dirt poor and anything can be achieved through just a little fragrant grease, which the USA is well aware of.

To do that they had to demonize the rule of Rodrigo Duterte, painting him as a rogue leader trying to get rid of the drug cartel in the Philippines, a move deemed a violation of human rights. How about the USA using the military to target those Venezuelans accused of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea? Who is going to speak out for those killed by the USA? What is the ICC doing? It cannot just open and close its eyes as it deemed beneficial.


Anonymous

SIA, Singapore national carrier and one of the best in the world, caveat, how long it can remain so

 SIA is Singapore's pride, one of the most successful airline in the world. It has faced many crises but survived. It quickly rebounds from making losses to making profits and regularly rewards its shareholders and employees with good dividends and bonuses. The successes did not come easy. It is not just good reputation but good management, setting high standards of service, quality and safety records and many others. On its own, it is very unlikely that such a well managed airline would go under. It did faced an internal crisis in the 70s and LKY threatened to close it down. The troublemakers got the message and the airline returned to normal service. 

Success breeds success, but also breeds conceit. It is very tempting to keep on expanding, acquisition etc to increase revenue and profit. Nothing wrong with that. But the world is not Singapore. Singaporeans have this tendency to think the world is like Singapore, all decent and proper, plays by the rule, no cheating, no foul play. The way Singapore imports foreigners in the millions and fully trusts their credentials, papers and qualifications is bizarre. Singapore takes them at face value, with little checking or too difficult to verify, so never mind. If the foreigner can outtalk or outwit the Singaporean interviewers it is ok. Fake qualification or no qualification, can work good enough. Can you imagine with the millions of foreigners, many are fakes and cheats, Singapore could hardly fish out the cheats and fakes. But I digress.

SIA has a record of mergers and acquisition, buying up poorly run and money losing airlines. This is not a bad thing, a common thing by corporations seeking to spread their wings. With SIA's good management practices and standards, it should be easy to revamp the operation and services of the new acquisition and turn them around to become better managed and profitable businesses. 

In reality this is not that simple, not always the case. Things are not that simplistic. The culture and politics of the acquisition could be very messy and beyond control. If SIA has no ability to take full control of the management, to run the new acquisition into another little SIA without interference, it is better to play safe and avoid the risk. Remember, SIA is public money and have to be careful with how money is invested, and has to answer not only to the shareholders, but to the employees and the govt. SIA is best to play it safe in M and A.

Some countries are very good in playing dirty, attract investments and then run down the corporation and making big losses, and demand the investors to pick up the tab, pay for the losses. Paper gains or losses are very easy to cook. They make money from stupid investors by raping the investors. And if the stupid investors refuse to pay up, they will sell off the corporation to their left hand with big losses to wipe out the investors. Either way, stupid investors will lose and lose and eventually becoming an ATM without being wiser.

The world is not as clean, decent and proper like sanitised Singapore when management is above board and operates under proper rules and regulations. Many countries make easy money by cheating and raping their stupid investors. And suckers are born every day, and thinking they are not suckers. Period.

Lebanon is the next Gaza, day by day, piece by piece, under the white men's rules based order

BEIRUT: An Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh killed at least seven people, including a child, and wounded 15 on Saturday (May 9), Lebanon's health ministry said.

The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah militants in the town, accusing them of planning attacks against Israeli soldiers.  CNA

Anyone hoping that the Israelis would stop killing Arabs and Muslims, and Iranians, must soak his head in the toilet bowl for a good wash. Netanyahu just announced that the war is not over. The arrogant Israeli terrorists are very clear in what they want...kill the Arabs and Muslims and takeover their lands.

Poor Palestinians are about to be wiped out, being neglected and rejected by the whole world with no one to turn to except the Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis, and Iran. Every Palestinian in Gaza and the West Bank are waiting to be terminated, and it would not be long. UN and other international agencies are too busy with the superficial things that would not annoy the Americans and the Israelis. 

Now the Israelis are turning fully at Lebanon, to repeat what they had done in Gaza. And similarly, the Lebanese are being bombed and killed daily. Did anyone in the kind and compassionate West bothers to say anything? Did the American terrorists, the champion of human rights and protection of the weak Muslims bother to say anything, do anything? Did any country bother to open their big mouth to speak for the Lebanese or to condemn the genocide happening in Lebanon?

The bottom line, who cares? If the murderers are the American and Israeli terrorists, who dares to speak out to offend their masters? Even the Arabs and Muslims are too busy cozying up to the Americans and the Israelis. Where got time for their brothers and sisters in Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon. The Palestinians and Lebanese should be thankful that the Arab and Muslim states did not join the American and Israeli terrorists in the genocide. UAE is starting to join the American and Israeli terrorists to kill Iranians.

What happens to democrazy, human rights, protection of Muslim minorities....?

Venezuela is a good example of traitors selling out their country

 Venezuela's interim Government had already given the country to the USA on a platter by betraying Maduro and I am hardly surprised. The interim Government of Venezuela can try to put on a good show, but I am not convinced and I am sure many others too. When traitors are conniving with the enemy, it is very difficult to do anything. The saying that it is more difficult to counter a thief in the house than one from the outside is absolutely true!

Xi had been very astute in getting rid of those he could not trust and who can blame him for being too careful. We know that white ants are not ants but termites hiding among the woodwork and can take down the whole country if they are allowed to destroy the foundation. You cannot see them openly, hidden from sight, but they are doing very destructive work that you are not even aware of. Oh yes, the USA and the West will chant that the Chinese Communist Party is very cruel and wicked for not allowing the termites to destroy the country. And the doggies will follow up by singing the chorus.

I am beginning to think that George Orwell, who wrote Animal Farm, to use satire to vaguely criticize the Soviet Union's communist regime, did not foresee that what is happening with democratic USA is the exact mirror of what he tried to tell us about the Soviets. The Ruling Elites (The Pigs) in the so-called Democratic Government of USA had been brainwashing the population (the other animals) by chanting the twisted propaganda - two legs bad (represented by China) and four legs good (representing the USA) and the people had been totally brainwashed into believing in the propaganda.

Thankfully, some USA people, living in, working in and travelling to China have managed to destroy the propaganda of the USA and the world can now see the hypocrisy of the USA, after having taken off their tinted lenses and discarded their prevalent view of China.

Anonymous

So easy to increase trade between China and the USA. Just remove all the bans, tariffs and sanctions

 The USA has practically been written off from the business circle of the Chinese, who are now more interested in the visit of other leaders whom they can expand their export base. China's trade with African is booming, with China having given all African countries, save for one, zero tariff entry into China.

Why talk to USA business leaders when Trump is trying to cut them off from doing business with the Chinese and vice versa, with all the sanctions lists being floated? Moreover, doing business with USA entities is now like a revolving door trade policy, with new sanctions added depending on the mood and whims and fancies of Trump.

China must not even think of investing in the USA now and risk losing its pants. The USA debt conundrum is unsolvable and the printing of toilet papers to keep the US$ hegemony in ICU is not going to go on forever without the US$ being consigned to its main use in the toilet.

Anonymous

Sorry Jensen Huang, Nvidia is cooked for good. So are the other chip manufacturers

 Actually lunatic Trump should be the one saying sorry to Jensen Huang and Nvidia for ending its good run to make more money from China. Nvidia is as good as PNG in China, Persona Non Grata.  Its business with China has grinded to zero. The best chip maker, with the most advanced chips that every country wants, cannot sell a single chip to China, its former biggest customer. Billion dollars of profits just vanished from thin air. Nvidia is now faced with over capacity and an over flowing warehouse of H200 chips begging for customers.

And which joker to blame? No prizes for guessing right. China would be very happy to buy as many H200 chips as it could afford and Nvidia would be laughing to the banks. This is the cruelest joke lunatic Trump pulled on Nvidia. And Nvidia will not only report on lower profits, but may have to scale down production with retrenchment, and many high earning Americans will lose their jobs.

Clown Trump thinks he can switch on and switch off the sale of high end chips to China depending on whether he wets his diapers the right side or wrong side. China now has many serious questions and concerns about using Nvidia chips. Reliability of supplies, vicious kill switches or bugs embedded in the chips are serious issues that China cannot risk. The stakes are too high and pervasive. And why pay overpriced chips just because Trump added a 15% to the price for himself?

The bigger strategic decision, China needs to be totally independent and self sufficient in its own chip infrastructure, cannot be held hostage by the American manufacturers. The decision has been made, no more foreign chips. China will make and control its own chips that span across all industries and products and services, completely free from American control and coercion. Period.

Jensen Huang can kiss the Chinese market goodbye. He may want to start a joint manufacturing plant in China with Chinese participation, transparency, equity and control in the future. China will be fully decoupled from the Americans when chips are concerned.

Trump does not care a wee bit or would have sleepless night on the fate of Nvidia and its employees. He will continue to clown around and amuse himself as long as he is in the White House. China will not care who will be the next POTUS as it would not change anything. The hillbillies are hillbillies. 

The damage to Nvidia and the chip manufacturing industries is as widespread and long lasting as the weaponising of the dollar. Trust is gone and will never return. The Washington clowns are really good in bringing down America in double quick time.

US China relations - going forward is easy if leaders are sensible adults

BEIJING: A Sino-US relationship based on “constructive strategic stability” - that was the new phrase introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping on the first day of his high-stakes summit with United States counterpart Donald Trump.

During their meeting on Thursday (May 14) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said he and Trump agreed to make such a relationship the “new positioning” of bilateral ties, according to the Chinese readout.

Centred on cooperation as the mainstay, measured competition, manageable differences and “lasting stability” where peace can be expected, this formulation would guide China-US ties for the next three years and beyond, the Chinese supremo added. CNA

Trump's trip to China is like sabbatical, away from his savage world of wars, destruction and mass murders. It is a good respite from his insane world of killing innocent people, stuck in his insanity devoid of human conscience and compassion. The calm and civilised atmosphere in Beijing, in the Great Hall of the People may bring some senses to lunatic Trump, that the world does not need more wars, killing and destruction. Sitting down together for dinner is better and more rewarding than chest thumping and tearing off the shirt and snarling like gangsters.

Xi, in his quiet and composed manner, is trying to bring some sense to Trump and his savages, telling him that both can compete peacefully without going to war, to self destruct. The message is simple and clear. Trade and free competition without war and destruction will benefit both countries and the world. And it cost nothing, just some small change for good food and good wine. It costs much less than a Tomahawk cruise missile to make 200 people happy and have a good time.

And this was exactly what Trump was doing in China, bringing in his top CEOs, not for war, but for more trade and economic cooperation that would benefit both sides. It would be completely meaningless and a waste of time, if after leaving China, Trump and his clowns would return to their savagery to attack China all over again. It must have dawned on Trump that his trade wars,, tariffs and sanctions, are killing the American economy, hurting the American people, killing his giant corporations, the biggest victim is Nvidia, with the best and most expensive chips but no buyer or not enough buyers because of the silly policy of not wanting to sell to China. Boeing is also gravely affected. 

Now Trump is bringing Nvidia, Boeing and more than 15 top American companies to China, to sell to China, to ask China to buy from them. This makes a mockery of all the trade wars, tariffs and sanctions against China. Trump is calling for a reset, back to first base, more trade. And this is also the message that Xi is sending to Trump.

The Americans want to buy and sell to China to profit from trade. China also wants to buy and sell to America to profit from trade. Both parties buy and sell what is beneficial to them, not what they do not want to buy or sell. Free trade is the way to go and both can prosper from trade. It is basic economics 101.

What have the Americans gained from all the trade wars against China and the world? What have the Americans gained from the hot wars in Ukraine and the Middle East? Nothing. War is no longer a profitable business, especially fighting a war that cannot win or a losing war. War is draining away all the resources from real manufacturing of goods and services.

Would Trump learn anything from his trip to Beijing and return to sanity? This trip is a silent admission that his trade war has failed, lost. America now needs China badly to revive its economy and big corporations from going bust.

Israel is the king puppet master, assassinating JFK, blackmailing Trump, ordering American boys and girls to fight and die for Israel

Now the USA and Israel are dragging the UAE and Saudi Arabia into the stewing pot of Iran by throwing them under the bus, with the accusation that these two doggies were involved in the Iranian attacks. UAE and Saudi Arabia have plenty of baggage to be settled with Iran, during and after the war. Netanyahu now claims he visited UAE secretly during the war and the UAE has denied such a visit. Who is lying and who is telling the truth?

The Arabs cannot be trusted anyway. The Saudis were reported to be involved in the 911 attacks together with the Israelis, with the USA providing the loophole for the attack to be carried out for the purpose of going to war with Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan. The Saudis underwrote the costs: the Israelis provided the terrorism know how and the USA closed its eyes.

The assassination of John F. Kennedy provided an insight into why he was assassinated. The Israelis were developing the bomb at that time, under the nose of the USA, at the Dimona Nuclear center. Kennedy knew and was doggedly against the idea, and plans were put in place to monitor the ongoings at the Dimona Nuclear facilities. This did not go down well with the Israelis under Ben Guiron, the then Prime Minister of Israel. Not long after the assassination of Kennedy in November 1963, Ben Guiron resigned in January 1964. When Lyndon B. Johnson took over, Israel was quietly proceeding to develop the bomb without the further interference of the USA.

The story about Lee Oswald being the one carrying out the assassination and Jack Ruby in turn assassinating him is all hogwash, created to cover up the trail leading to the CIA that was complicit with the Israelis. Oh yes, they called the CIA involvement as a conspiracy theory, and much effort was made to deflect the accusation. The USA has all the propaganda machine to do the impossible. The same with the 911 story.


Anonymous

Operation Kill Iranians - Trump cannot wait, Iran can, sitting on home ground advantage

Trump's ego is so important that he is content to flog a dying horse struggling on the ground. How long can he keep up the fake facade? He could not even keep his eyes open at events, just like a drug addict.

Trump said that he does not need China to end the Iran War. Neither does Xi wants to help the USA directly to end the war. Better that he does not broach the issue when meeting Xi in Beijing. Otherwise, if the does broach the issue, it will be one big dick stuff in his mouth. Hope that Xi does not touch on the Strait of Hormuz issue as well. Both can wait, while pump prices and consumer products continue to rise in the USA the longer the war drags on.

Iran is standing by its demands and not capitulating, no sweat waiting as this is its home ground or front yard. Just keep those missiles and drones hidden and ready and its troops on the alert. Iran can now monitor USA warships and major movements from its satellite eye in the sky provided by Russia and China. Russia has much more credible intelligence that we credit them for.

If Afghanistan can survive twenty years of USA occupation on its soil mind you, and adequate logistical support, what is waiting a few years by Iran for the USA to crumple under heavy logistical constraints and human morals decaying on vessels lying around the Gulf under intense heat generated by the sun on steel plates.


Anonymous

US India relationship framed in a photo

 

US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb 13, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo)

Anyone still trying to understand US India relationship needs only to study this photo and it says everything. Watch the body language, the facial expression of Trump and Modi...it is as good as Modi begging Trump for handouts, pleading and pleading, while Trump was like reprimanding him for asking too much. I have given you enough, stop asking for more.

All the false pride and arrogance of Modi disappeared in the presence of Emperor Trump, not much different from the colonial days when an Indian leader appeared in front of the British lords.

Modi is the national pride of India, the nationalist and hero of India?

When Mickey Mouse states ruled the world

  When the Brits, benefitting from the advances in the first Industrial Revolution expanded overseas to conquer the world of mainly agrarian or primitive states, it was a piece of cake. A few gunboats and a few thousand soldiers could conquer tribes and countries that were still defending themselves with bows and arrows and swords. Every little European state jumped into the formula, armed themselves with modern weapons and went around the world to conquer and seize lands and assets of tribes and ancient states. It was highway robbery, banditry, piracy, in the name of the states or the monarchs.

We came, we saw, we conquered. These were lovely phrases in the western literature, in their history books. There was no crime, no crime against humanity, no human rights, when the white savages run wild around the world, committing genocides, massacres, looting and plundering countries and tribes, slavery and ruling over lesser people, called subhumans, to dispose their assets, lands, wealth and their lives. 

The rest of the world were no match against modern weapons in the hands of savages that called themselves civilised, armed with a book called the Bible, to civilise the uncivilised by calling the victims as savages and massacring them for trying to fight and defend their rights to exist.

Then followed a few hundred years of so called western civilisation ruling the world. And the subhumans of the world became the ruled, the slaves or semi slaves of the white men. And they lived peacefully, some happily, under white men's rule, white men's rule of law and white men's system. For those that benefitted from the white men's rule, they are in love with the white men, and wanting to preserve the white men system, defending the white men system, ignoring the plight and suffering of other subhumans and lesser humans under the oppression of the white men and the white men system. What is happening in the Middle East is an excellent example of this colonial mindset.

Several hundred years of white men rule has come to passe. And many subhuman and lesser countries have learned and acquired the science and technology of the whites and possessed the same weaponry as the white men to defend themselves and their countries. The white men did not make this easy, subtly managing and manipulating the coloured people using the white men system to remain the controlling power, the privilege class, by keeping the coloured people free, prosperous but never to challenge white men supremacy.

The small Mickey Mouse states still believe that they could continue with this unequal white men system, that they are still in charge, in control and domination of the coloured people. Many of the coloured people states are now much bigger and stronger, economically and militarily than the white Mickey Mouse states of Europe. Still the Mickey Mouse states think they can freely kick the big coloured states anytime they want, anywhere they want, anyhow they want with impunity, without fear of being whacked by the newcomers of wealth and military power.

The three tiny Baltic states are a joke in their own right, thinking they are white supremacist states. Holland, once the Dutch Empire, Denmark, Poland, Finland etc etc, all acting aggressively, unthinkingly that they are still top dogs in international affairs without realising that at most they are little poodles or Mickey Mouse that are totally inconsequential in international affairs. Like Britain, they are still barking very loudly, but not more than a chihuahua in realpolitik. They did not know their time is over. They still want to relive their past glorious days, that they can still call the shot. Britain today is another Mickey Mouse.

It is better that these Mickey Mouse European states take a look at the mirror and see who they really are and who the rising powers from the Global South are. Many of their colonies are now many times their size, economically and militarily. For goodness sake, stop being foolish and know where you are now vis a vis the rest of the world.

The whites, the so called superior race, cannot be as stupid as states like the little brain Philippines, to go around thumping their chests against super powers like China and Russia or Iran. See what is happening to Mickey Mouse Ukraine with the clowns running the country to the ground?

Rogue Americans tried to stop China in everything. China just moved on and on...unstoppable

China did not have to do anything and only had to do what it wants and deemed necessary to do.

China did not have to respond to the USA when building its high-speed railway system. Sanctioned from approaching the International Space Station, China did not have to respond to the USA when building its Tiangong Space Station. China did not have to respond to the USA before going into EV manufacturing. It did not have to respond to the USA trying to demonize its domination in shipbuilding, wind turbines and solar panels.

China is not India, being told to ask the USA for permission to buy Russian oil or else. China can do what it deems essential for its National Security matters. More than that, China does not need to succumb to threats regarding its purchase of Russia oil and gas. China is now saying, USA sanctions should be ignored as far as China is concern. That message is now officially sent to oil refiners, and others sooner or later. That shows the confidence that China now has, knowing that de-coupling from the USA is on course and progressing well. China does not have to depend largely on the USA market for its products. The trade surplus that China accumulated year after year, despite exporting less to the USA, is the proof that China can move away from selling to the USA. That card can no longer be played by the USA against China and Trump can impose tariffs of 1,000% if he likes.


Anonymous

American clowns can shout, scream and threaten...China just sit quietly and watch, do nothing is good enough

More in connection with the above comment: Cut off by mistakenly pressing the wrong button, sorry - Anon 9.56

The question facing the USA is how successful this exercise will be when rare earth and tungsten, essential raw materials for weapons are all controlled by China. China is not going to allow companies buying its rare earth and tungsten to be used for making weapons that are primarily intended to be used against China. Only a fool will allow that to happen. The moment companies using rare earth and tungsten enters the weapons production sector, China will add them to the list of companies to be denied its rare earth and tungsten supplies. That means the end of their normal business model. The USA Government is not one that will not change its stance, not even with legally binding agreements with sovereign countries.

Of course, the USA can overcome this by building its own rare earth and tungsten refining facilities, but the timeline is not years but decades. By that time, China will not be the same China as today. The USA clowns under Trump can overcome this by using Lego Bricks, lol.

So, try rattling China all they want, but China will be waiting for that to happen and cut off those private companies thinking of jumping on the weapon production wagon. The cost to them could be massive.


Anonymous

Sanctioned Marco Rubio in Beijing with Trump...caveat

 Many China watchers are quite disgusted that China allowed an anti China man that has been sanctioned by China to be allowed into China. Some are even more furious listening to the Ah Q explanation on why Marco Rubio was allowed into China with the Chinese character of Marco Rubio being changed to facilitate his entry as a different person.

The official version is that China sanctioned the person Marco Rubio but not the Secretary of State of USA. One is a person, the other is an official appointment, an office. Of course the difference is very subtle and subjective as Marco Rubio is still Marco Rubio no matter what is his designation, a senator or a Secretary of State.

Mike Pompeo was also the Secretary of State but is still under sanctioned after he left office. The man being sanctioned is Mike Pompeo. And the man Marco Rubio will be like Pompeo, will be sanctioned for life once he left office.

The changing of Rubio's name in Chinese is to let the Chinese tracking system to continue to track Marco Rubio but allowed a temporary reprieve for the Marco Rubio as the Secretary of State. Once Rubio leaves office, this little alteration will be removed from the tracking system, and his name stays in the sanctioned list...not allowed to enter China, unless he is removed from sanction.

China has made an exception administratively for political reason. It is a loophole but only temporary. But Rubio's sanctioned status did not mean he got a free pass. As Secretary of State, he is important enough to be seated in the main table with Xi and Trump. But he was left out of the protocol loop. He came early, on his own to the Great Hall of the People, but not one of the VVIP was there. He was left alone without knowing what was happening. He was lost, without anyone to talk to and did not know what was happening. A cold shoulder treatment.

Rubio arrived finding an empty table...where is everyone?

Xi and Trump and the rest of the VVIPs in the main table came in together. Very likely they were ushered into a special room for some private socialising and chit chat, to get to know each other better, ... without Rubio's presence. Rubio was not invited into the private room with Xi, Trump and all the top Chinese leaders. There is a price to pay for being a sanctioned man in China.

Rubio waited alone, looking very lonely and lost.

PS. Pete Hegseth was not given a seat in the main table with Xi and Trump.

America does not want to be the world's policeman....they want to be themselves, the terrorists of the world

US President Donald Trump posts a map graphic depicting Venezuela as America's 51st State. (Image: Truth Social/Donald Trump)

The American terrorists have usurped the role of international policeman since they became the undisputed superpower, unchallenged. And who are they protecting the world from...ihe American terrorists themselves. They controlled the narrative and the media and spread the lies that China, Russia and friends are threatening the world, wanting to invade and conquer the world, not today but tomorrow, just like the narrative that the end of the world is coming, not today but tomorrow. And many brain dead and unthinking choose to believe in these lies.

For decades, the American terrorists have been ruling the world, controlling and dictating to the world, beating up anyone or any country that dares to defy them, to want to walk an independent path.  They spread fears, create threats to justify their military presence, in the same way they create enemies to justify the huge military budget and military forces. No country is threatening or able to threaten the American Empire. It is the American terrorists that are threatening everyone. But the lies and narratives have sunk into the numbskulls of many silly countries that they now believe they needed the Americans as the policeman to protect them from imaginary threats manufactured by the Americans.

Recent events have offered more proof that the threats were all lies, fiction. The real warmongers, troublemakers, mass murderers were the American terrorists. Their lies that China, Russia, North Korea and friends are the threats have fallen flat. None of these countries are threatening anyone or at war with anyone. Only the American terrorists are at war all over the world.

Trump may not be smart, but he can see clearly that no want is believing in the American lies and narratives anymore. Not even the diehard believers and brain dead and the unthinking. The American terrorists are everywhere fighting wars and committing war crimes, genocides, The very dense would look foolish to claim otherwise.

Trump is now telling silly American allies that they are on their own, to spend on military budget to defend themselves, against their own imaginary enemies. The Asean countries can continue to believe in the American lies that China, Russia and North Korea are the biggest threats and can continue to live with these lies.

The American terrorists know that no one, other than the very dense, would still believe that they should be the policeman of the world, policeman for SE Asia. The Americans did not want to be the fictitious policeman anymore. So what do they want to be? 

The American terrorists know that they cannot lie to the world anymore. So Trump decides to be what they are, no more kidding, no more lies. The American terrorists want to be terrorists, international gangsters, pirates and world bullies. Like it or leave it, these are the true colours of the American terrorists. They are going to terrorise the world, behave like gangsters and pirates, take what they want, attack any country they want, stop freedom of navigation, blockade trade routes right in the face of their silly believers, shocking them into disbelief. Trump and his Washington rogues are telling the world how foolish are the leaders of their allies, believing in American lies, that the American terrorists are the good guys when they are the savages, the warmongers, the liars.

Today, any silly leaders in the American terrorists camp that stood up to sing praises of American goodness will make themselves look silly to the world and to their own people. The silence cannot be missed. They are smart enough not to say anything, to look away, and the smarter ones are quietly dissociating themselves from the American terrorists, the international gangsters and pirates starting wars and instability around the world.

American and Israeli terrorists spreading lies that UAE is attacking Iran. They think UAE are stupid

It has been reported that the UAE had secretly joined the USA and Israel in attacking Iran. This is asking for trouble that the UAE is least expected to do so, even as a close ally of the USA and Israel.

As they say, people in glass houses should not throw stones and nowhere is it more dangerous than for the UAE to do it. With all the infrastructures constructed to lure rich people to invest in Dubai, the UAE is cutting its nose to spite its face. Iran will not let this pass easily and Dubai's reputation will bite the dust. The damage is now unravelling.

Dubai is already toast, with the rich leaving over safety reasons, tourist arrivals at a standstill, yachts rusting at marinas and anchorages, high-end cars abandoned, low hotel occupation rates unseen before, shopping malls empty and workers laid off en masse and also leaving as well. You do not have to be a genius to understand why. Dubai is no longer safe, no longer an investor paradise, no longer a tourist must visit destination. Dubai is all an artificial hype-up facade losing its attraction fast. That is all going down into history making a beeline into the history books.


Anonymous

Trump needs to meet Xi to let the Americans know that he is still in the game

Looking at the body language of Xi in the video of him meeting Trump with a handshake, did anybody see Xi not seemingly interested in doing so. Too bad, he has to act diplomatically, but the message seems obvious. Why am I meeting you must have crossed his mind. China no longer sees Trump as someone to welcome and look up to. Xi is behaving just like an adult meeting a three-year old kid and of little consequence.

There are a whole retinue of top business leaders expected to follow Trump to Beijing on the 14th. What are they going there for, since Trump has been making every effort to cut off USA companies from dealing with China - the technology sector especially. China is already well prepared into de-coupling from the USA, so any trade discussion will end up being an exercise in futility. Since the USA was so keen to de-couple from China much earlier, China is helping them in this endeavor if they find it difficult to do so now. Nvidia has lost the China market already as openly declared by the man himself, Jensen Huang. China is not going to welcome the USA AI conglomerates now trying to do business in China. China is a big market for them but is now closed to them for good. Forget about agriculture as China has already found widespread alternative sources for food.

Xi has already instructed Chinese companies not to use USA or Western chips if domestic production is available. That gives Chinese chipmakers the impetus to go headlong into chip manufacturing, with Huawei and SMIC taking up the challenge, including many others. They know such instructions are unlikely to be reversed going forward. Sure, catching up takes time, but let not the USA chipmakers be lulled into a false sense of security that they will always be one step ahead. If they close their eyes like the North American Indians, they will not lose their land, but their pants will be at stake.

Xi's body language tells us who he hates to meet and who he finds pleasure in meeting. And Trump is definitely not one he will cherish meeting.


Anonymous

Breaking News - China gives Trump a first snub on arrival in Beijing

 This 4 min clip says a lot about Trump's visit to Beijing. The first snub that Trump took was the stair for him to descend from the aircraft. No red carpet on the stair, just bare aluminium. Not only that, it was only about 3 feet wide on the top half and widen slightly to 4 feet on the lower half, meant for one person at a time. Trump took notice of it the moment he stepped out from the plane. And he had to walk down carefully on the naked aluminium stair. But China still gave him the red carpet on the ground, not to embarrass him too much. The reception party, including guard of honours was scaled down.

A few things to take note. The visitors that came down, following behind Trump, were a couple of his family members and Musk, Jensen Huang, and a handful of others. Notably absent were Marco Rubio and Tim Cook. It seemed to be a downsized party. Were there last minute changes, dropouts? If Marco Rubio was there, he would be standing beside Trump or at least one step behind him. Tim Cook would also be with Musk or Jensen Huang. They could not be hiding in the plane as they were not seen departing with the main delegation.

Needs confirmation when the meeting starts tomorrow if those absent were really absent. It was reported all over that Marco Rubio was in the delegation, as well as Tim Cook. There were supposed to be 12 CEOs but expanded to 15 with Jensen as a last minute inclusion. Or he was added because many backout from this trip, including Tim Cook?

Pioneer and CHAS cards losing their values and being abused by profiteers

 The Pioneer card, Merdeka card, CHAS card, were introduced by the govt to help Singaporeans fight the rising cost of living for the seniors that are now mostly retired and the lower income citizens. They provide subsidies for medical and dental care, subsidies for public transport and top ups for Medisave and also discounts in Fairprice supermarkets,  among others.

The initial launch of the Pioneer card was very well received with generous subsidies in medical and dental care. Seniors using the card for simple dental treatment were pleasantly surprised that the subsidies were good enough for the full treatment without having to pay a single cent with cash. But as they said, good things don't last long. Within a few years, simple dental treatment that used to cost nothing, meaning no need to pay with additional cash, now could cost a few hundred bucks.

The subsidies did not change in percentage terms, I think. If this is not the reason for having to pay with so much cash, then it must be the total cost of the dental treatment. From having to pay nothing to having to pay more than $200 after deducting subsidies, it would mean that the treatment would have ballooned to more than $200 for a simple dental treatment. A $200 out of pocket payment is now beyond the reach of many seniors and low income citizens. Has someone been taking advantage of the subsidies or abusing it by jacking up the cost of dental treatment because of the Pioneer card, turning it into a gimmick?

The govt may want to step in to determine how much should be reasonable for out of pocket payment with subsidies to make dental treatment really affordable. This was the reason by these cards came into being.  For retirees with no income, a $20 or $30 out of pocket payment is already quite a lot to pay, let alone more than $200 and after a hefty subsidy! Some parties are gaming the system and profiteering from it, destroying the meaning of these cards. Something has gone very wrong, but no one bothers.

The CHAS card is also usable in NTUC run Kopitiam for special meals at $3. The Kopitiam is the go to place for many average citizens, the backbone of the average citizens' lifestyle. If the average the citizens cannot even afford to eat in the Kopitiam, then this is going to become a crisis in time to come. The least the govt should do is to ensure that the citizens are decently fed at a decent price. Filling the stomach is about the most basic of human needs. When the Kopitiams and hawker centres are becoming unaffordable to the average Singaporeans, the pain will grow.

Other than a little subsidies from CHAS card, the govt may want to consider capping the rentals of Kopitiams and hawker centres to control the prices of the 3 meals of the average citizens. Rent control may be necessary as this is a major item that is pushing up the prices of basic meals. Not everything should be subject to market forces, letting the operators and landlords push up the prices determined by free market mechanism. 

Lately, with so many things happening around the world, the cost of living is getting out of hand. Govt handouts and CDC vouchers may not be enough, temporary and uncertain. It is time for the govt to take affirmative actions to systematically control the rising cost of basic needs like food, transportation and medical care. Leaving everything to free market forces can be very cruel to the average Singaporeans. Singapore must not blindly follow the American and western models of govt that are failing and hurting their citizens. A model with Singapore characteristics to meet the needs of our citizens can be developed to make living and the challenges of rising cost of living more bearable is warranted. No one will be left behind should not be an empty promise in a world that is getting more harsh and inhuman and financially demanding.

Trump asking Xi's help to ask Iran to stop the war. Why?

 According to lunatic Trump and drunkard Hegseth, the American terrorists are winning the war. They have obliterated everything the Iranians have. The Iranians have been beaten and have nothing to hit back, about to surrender. If these are the truths, why is there a need to ask Iran to stop the war? Just a few more days, a few more attacks, and Iran will be finished.

This is looking like a Freudian Slip by clown Trump again. When he is winning, why begging Iran to stop? The likely truth, the Iranians are hitting the Americans so hard, everywhere, that it is really painful. The American terrorists cannot bear the pain and the losses, please stop hitting us, Iran. And the real war hasn't started. The American boys and girls are not on the ground in Iran. When that happens, that is when it really hurts. This time, many American boys and girls are going to be burnt alive, torn to pieces by the Iranians. No more cake walk. The American military generals know it, but not clown Trump and drunkard Hegseth.

Trump the terrorist chief is still threatening to wipe out the Iranians. Is he really thinking that if the Iranians stop hitting the Americans, then the Americans can sail and fly their warships and warplanes to the Gulf and then launch a massive attack to finish off the Iranians? This temporary ceasefire is exactly what the Americans want and needs, to be able to fly and sail near to Iran without being hit and showing to the world that their warships can get near to Hormuz. The truth is that the Iranians allow them to do so but with every warship and warplane being tracked and locked on and could be taken down at the flip of a button. The American warships and warplanes operating near Iranian shores are at the mercy and pleasure of the Iranians.

The extension of the ceasefire by lunatic Trump exactly for this reason, to move all their war assets to the coast of Iran. Iran is not stupid and can see through this mischievous trick. Any warship or warplane that comes too near Iran will be shot at. The American terrorists tried several dry run of their tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. It seemed that one of the tankers had been attacked and downed by the Iranians, probably by using electronic jamming to cripple the avionics and electrical systems of the tanker.

Iran must keep hitting the American terrorists. Any pause would allow the American terrorists to regroup near Iran for their attack. Be warned, the American terrorists have not withdrawn a single soldier from the region, in fact sending in more troops and war assets. The real evil intent of the American terrorists has not changed. The mission is to destroy Iran and kill all the Iranians. Period.

Do not be deceive by Trump and the Washington rogues that they are now meeting Xi in Beijing. The last time when Xi met Trump in Brazil, rogue Trump arrested Meng Wanzhou in the midst of the dinner. Never trust the American terrorists. They can attack Iran any time they like, without notice, especially when the guards are down.

If the American terrorists want to stop the war, they don't have to ask anyone for help. They can simply walk away, withdraw all their forces. Iran is not going to chase them or going after them once they withdraw. It is the American terrorists that dictates the war, not anyone else. All the lies about asking China or Europeans to help open the Hormuz is to drag them into the war, to escalate the war. Period.

China does not need to fight fire with fire

The anti-China bots are saying that Chinese aircraft carriers are ineffective to project power beyond the South China Sea and are therefore junks. Why would China want to project power beyond the South China Sea, knowing that the days of aircraft carriers are basically now surviving on hype and posturing as a result of the war against Iran.

China was never in the game of competing with the USA in the number of aircraft carriers or projection of power. China, over the last few decades, has studied the vulnerabilities of air-craft carriers and formulated counter measures against USA power projection using aircraft carriers and is not pouring resources into it. Of course, as a major power, China only needs a few aircrafts carriers for defensive purposes, same as even smaller countries.

China has found its way to deal with aircraft carrier's power projection threat by using its hypersonic drones and missiles. Those drones and missiles cost just a tiny fraction of the cost of building an air-craft carrier, highly effective and the math show the reason why China did not embark on fighting fire with fire. And Iran has proven the effective usage of such anti-aircraft carrier drones and missile capabilities.

Moreover, maintaining an aircraft carrier fleet needs all the support ships moving all around the world needs huge logistical support - fuel, food, crewing and port calls, which China does not have such support anyway. And countries now giving support to the USA in terms of logistic like refueling are now wary of retaliations by enemies of the USA. The USA is facing such a problem in the Middle East now, having been denied such support in its war against Iran.


Anonymous

China does not need to do anything, just wait for the Washington clowns to destroy America with their stupidity

China does not have to stand up, not this time, not any other time. China just has to sit down calmly, watch the circus clowns perform and let them make the same mistakes again and again. Even Iran is learning from China, not resorting to showboating, even if on the upper hand, but just a balance measure of silence and making sure to be alert.

Keeping the enemy guessing is the best strategy. Not letting the enemy know the plan is the best way to keep the enemy on tenterhooks. Xi plays his cards close to his chest, giving nothing away, just cool, calculated and quiet response when the time comes. Nothing loud, nothing unsettling for the rest of the world and always having a strategic mindset already predetermined.

Trump always chicken out when his rhetorics finds no headway without any exit plan. China makes decisions with always an alternative plan in place and have little to chicken out. Just look at China's foray in renewables, into EVs, shipbuilding, battery technology, electrification of its transport system and building logistics catering to renewables. It does not waiver in the face of sanctions and that sends a message to the USA regarding its resolve in semi-conductors and AI. Sure, China is still behind the USA in semi-conductors, but do not bet on China being always behind the curve.

Chinese EVs were laughed at by Elon Musk. How could Chinese EV makers compare with Tesla, the king of EVs. Now his is not laughing for sure. Jensen Huang of Nividia is more circumspect and has seen the tip of the iceberg regarding China's semi-conductor and AI ambitions. He is wary and he knows what the Chinese can accomplish. It takes a Chinese to understand what and how another Chinese mind works and thinks.


Anonymous

Driving the evil American Empire out of Asia and Africa

 The thought of this happening seems impossible. American presence was everywhere, bribing, influencing and subverting the govts of the world as the evil Empire. With lunatic Trump and his clowns in Washington, half the work has been done. The hardcore Europeans are quietly working to get themselves detached from the American Empire while Trump is doing everything to dissociate with Europe. The push and pull factors are working in unison to make this happen.

In Africa, 53 of the 54 African states are with China except for nondescript Eswatini still having diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Americans have lost Africa through neglect and abuses. Yes, the Americans treat Africa as a shithole country, unworthy of their interests, except to destabilise Africa and make them poor and dysfunctional.

The last remaining American presence is in the Middle East but evaporating soon. The Arab and Muslim countries have had enough of the humiliating presence of the American terrorists in their lands, the condescending attitude and contempt for anything Arab, and the open agenda to erase Arabs from their lands to be replaced by Greater Israel. The Arabs and Muslims are not stupid and know this is coming and has to be stopped. The failure of Operation Kill Iranians, and also kill Arabs and Muslims have opened the eyes of the Arab and Muslim states that the moment has come to end the oppressive rule and abusive presence of the Americans and also the Israelis. 

Iran has stood up and not going to be defeated by the American and Israeli terrorists, with the help of its allies, China, Russia, North Korea and many across the world. The whole world is disgusted with the American and Israeli terrorists and their ethnic cleansing of the Arabs and Muslims. The mood of the world has changed. The once believed, invincible evil American Empire and the invincible Israelis are now fiction, fallen myths. Iran has destroyed every American military base and port in the Middle East and in the process of destroying Israel, the tiny stretch of stolen Palestinian land.

With no functional American bases in the region, all within striking distance of Iranian missiles and drones, Israel is the last standing pad for the Americans to launch and conduct mischief in the Middle East and Asia. The Arabs and Muslims must be planning to take out Israel for good from the Middle East to end American and Israeli presence forever. Israel or Palestine is the last foothold of the Americans in Asia and Africa. This thorn must be ripped off for peace and stability in the Middle East and Asia and Africa.

When this is done, Asia and Africa will be free of American military presence and influence for good. This not only ended the evil American Empire but also the final chapter of white imperialism and colonialism in Asia and Africa. The vestigial piece of white men's rule over Asians and Africans will be the peripheral colonies of the American Empire, ie Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. But this uncomfortable state of affair, the unwelcome presence of white men in Asia and Africa will take a little more time to cleanse but will be cleansed.

The white men do not belong to these parts of the world. The Americas will have to deal with the white men on their own at their own time. But they will not be alone. Asia and Africa will be behind them to make their jobs easier if they wish for it.

Trump's unwelcome visit to kiss Xi's ass

Trump coming to Beijing with demands is a sure thing and the West is already expecting it. Xi's willingness to compromise is another thing. We have gone through that scenario many times before. Demand for more rare earth, demand for more sales of soya beans to China, demand for China to cut down exporting, even demand that China must not retaliate when Trump enacted his trade war during his first term. What were the results? Back to square one as always and still working inside the same square again during this visit. Even if nothing is agreed, Trump will still claim victory. Stay tuned and expect the expected.

It is true that Xi is not looking forward to meeting Trump. Why should he be when he is holding all the cards? Trump has no cards to play and needs to visit Beijing, not the other way round that others without cards have to go to Washington to do some ass kissing. After this, Trump is talking about inviting Xi to visit him in Washington. Again, why would Xi want to visit him in Washington, which Trump will probably try to spin it into Xi also needing to kiss ass, lol. I do not expect Xi to go to Washington, the last place he should go to.

Right now, so many world leaders have already gone to Beijing to visit Xi. Mark Carney of Canada, Emmanuel Macron of France, Friedrich Merz of Germany, Kier Starmer of UK, Abbas Araghchi the Foreign Minister of Iran, Sergei Lavrov the Foreign Minister of Russia, while some others are on their way. Oh, lest I forgot, Taiwan's KMT leader, Cheng Li-wun, just visited China, as only an opposition political leader, and given a tumultuous welcome everywhere she goes. So, what is the beef about all the song and dance regarding Trump's visit anyway? China will just do its part diplomatically, nothing to gloat about even if that visit does come about.


Anonymous

Renewable energy is the future. Why Hougang did not have piped gas. Is it in India?

As the world migrates to renewables, the USA will be awash with fossil fuel, just like rare earth dirt. Then what? Fossil fuel may be cheaper for the USA when the Middle East War winds down, but cost of production will shut down most oil exploration and refiners.

China is in the forefront of building Thorium nuclear power generators and expects to sell them globally. What does that mean for fossil fuel? It does not have to cut off fossil fuel totally, as it takes time for renewables to take root. But when the pros outweigh the cons of using renewables, the adoption will see a titanic shift. The USA will have to start demonizing China for selling Thorium nuclear power plants as it did in wind turbines and solar panels.

Let me illustrate my own experience using LPG gas for boiling water and cooking. Hougang does not have piped gas for your information. Using a kettle to boil water in the past took almost 10 minutes. Using an electric kettle just took me about 5 minutes. One LPG gas tank lasts me slightly more than a month, including usage for cooking. Now that same tank lasts me more than 2 to 3 months, using a combination of microwave and electric kettle. This isn't a joke, just personal experience. I am, honestly speaking, a very skeptical person, but has been converted to using electric whenever I can. I intend to buy an induction cooker if LPG gas price escalate due to the war in the Middle East.


Anonymous

2047 - India will be the new top super power

 Jeffery Sach said India will become a developed nation by 2047. Modi and his ministers went one big step further and declared that 2047 India will overtake China, and of course the USA, as the world's number one super power, economically, militarily and in technology. This is great news for the Indians and also for Singapore. Singapore's big gamble to place all its bets on India needs not wait for another 100 years. 2047 is only 20 years from now. Singapore will be the biggest beneficiary when India becomes the number one super power. Some Singaporeans will proudly say, there I told you, I predicted this to happen. Modi may want to move his capital to Singapore and also appoint a state PM for Singapore. This must be the best news for Singapore and Singaporeans. Singaporeans can then invest more in India to earn more rupees. And the rupees will replace the dollar as the international reserve currency. No need for the Singapore dollar any more. The mountains of rupees Singapore is holding will appreciate overnight. Huat ah!

There are many caveats for this to happen. Both China and the USA will have to stop their growth in the next 20 years. And there is a high possibility that this will really happen. The USA is in rapid decline and may even implode with all the self inflicted policies of destruction under Trump and his clowns and supported by an equally daft population of uneducated hillbillies and rednecks. The Americans believe that they did not have to work, did not have to be productive, just be a military power to control and rule the world by force, by the law of the jungle.... and underestimating the rest of the world to rise and challenge the Americans' military might, destroying the American hegemony in the dollar and the financial system.

China may also start to decline with its ageing population and will wither and die as predicted by Gordon Chang and all the great American anal-lysts. This is the conventional wisdom of the day, that a big young population will be more productive than an ageing population. And China's decline must start from now and its economy runs to a standstill as predicted by Gordon Chang and wished for by the Americans and whoever that want to see the collapse of the Chinese and the rise of China. There are many ifs for this to happen, and Gordon Chang and Modi may live long enough to see this happening....2047.

The Indians may have their wish come true. And those Singaporean gamblers placing their bets on India to overtake China may also live to see this day happening...in their wildest wet dreams.

Start counting from now to 2047. The USA and China's GDP growth must be at a standstill from 2026 and the next 20 years and India must be growing at 20% annually to be mathematically possible, not another wishy washy day dream.

Better start to learn Hindi and how to sing the Indian national anthem, be proactive and prepare for the new future for those who will still be around to see this day.