American economy is a Wall Street economy, up and down is controlled by Trump

I am a novice on economic issues, but when I read about Wall Street reaching all-time highs now and then, that mind-boggling but little understanding came crashing down after reading about USA consumer confidence hitting almost a 12-year low. Main Street has always been the first to know the economic problems arising, long before the Government will admit, and it applies to almost every country.

It looks like Wall Street and Main Street are moving in diametrically opposite direction in the USA while the Government is gloating about Wall Street all-time highs and the AI and data center euphoria. Now, who is telling the truth about the economy, and who is just spouting hot air and make belief?

USA AI will never be able to monopolize global usage. That is a given. While USA AI innovators are looking at making lots of money skinning users of its AI models that are so expensively priced, it cannot compete against Chinese open AI usage that are dirt cheap anywhere else. Even some USA consumers are using the cheaper but not much inferior Chinese AI apps, and the Government wants to clamp down on such usage, undoubtedly lobbied by the tech giants to do so. The USA AI innovators poured in hundreds of billions into AI development and cannot survive trotting out cheap open AI models for users. It will collapse in no time. On the other hand, Chinese AI innovators are able to offload open AI models for users due to its cheap electricity, low investment cost and the whole Global South to support it.

Not everyone needs top of the line AI benchmark big models for simple tasks. It is the same logic as thinking that the world needs only top-end cutting-edge chips when most consumer products only need legacy chips for controlling their functions.

China is now the top legacy chip producer, holding a 40% global market share and expanding. There is not much news about China selling such legacy chips even to the USA, as all the news is about who are making those top-end chips for specific usage like mobile phones and cutting-edge military weapons. Even the USA military is still using legacy chips from China for its warships, fighter jets, submarines and missiles, besides rare earth elements. China has many cards to play in the event of a war against the USA, and the USA knows it well enough.

Now Trump is backtracking sanctions against Russia, allowing Russian diesel exports, unnerving Zelenskyy to no end. Such a move means removing sanctions to give Russia more revenue to fund its war. I am sure NATO Europe will be having sleepless nights, asking what is next. After 4 years of sanctions on Russia, it did not collapse nor suffer defeat at the hands of 32 NATO countries supporting Ukraine. NATO Europe is still trying to flog a dying Ukraine horse and the latest action by USA will further fragment the bloc.

Trump's action is basically to bring down diesel prices before November, a sinister move at the right time before the mid-term when diesel prices are high. Whether that is going to be successful is left to be seen. Will Putin lend a hand to help Trump in November is questionable. Agreeing to sell is one thing. Doing it is another with political issues to be considered when November is over. Trump may go back on his word after November. Understand the picture dealing with a juvenile kid.


Anonymous

Invading and kidnapping Maduro and wife - When state terrorism is 'legalised' by the American terrorists

NEW YORK: The United States on Thursday (Oct 8) filed new torture charges against ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, bolstering a mounting criminal case against the pair held in US custody.

Maduro and Flores already face drug trafficking and firearms charges in the United States after they were snatched from their Caracas compound in an extraordinary US military raid in January.

A new court filing shows both are now further charged with conspiracy to commit torture against victims, including US citizens, in Venezuelan detention - with prosecutors detailing alleged waterboardings, rapes and beatings. CNA

The invasion of Venezuela by American terrorist forces and the kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife were the worst violation of international laws. The American terrorists deemed it fit to conduct such aggression against a neighbouring state and now putting up a show to put Maduro and wife on trial for fabricated drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit torture of victims. Such outrageous crimes against a neighbouring independent country and its leaders are intolerable crimes in international laws. However, no country deems it fit to condemn such grave crimes. And the American terrorists proudly continue to put on a farcical trial with no regards to international laws and world opinion.

 

Is there any country that would support such criminal acts by the USA? What principles have been violated and why no country would dare to open their big mouths against the rogues in the Washington regime? Fearing they will also be invaded and kidnapped by the American terrorists? The same crime was also committed against the former President Duterte of the Philippines, kidnapping of an ex President from its sovereign territory. And the criminal ICC judges also shameless going ahead to hold a trial against Duterte when the crime was kidnapping of Duterte committed by the IC.

The best part, Marco Rubio has just announced wide sanctions against the ICC, calling it a fake court and working to disband the ICC. The American kangaroo courts are just as fake as the ICC and should also be denounced and scrapped. Both are run by criminals, committing crimes against international laws, justice and human decency.

What happens to the basic human values of right and wrong? The American terrorists are lawless international criminals. The world is now ruled by might is right, by the international gangsters and state terrorists. Forget about the UN and all its silly organisations when basic human rights are violated with impunity. Rules of Law my foot. No world leader is fit to stand and speak in the UN. The UN has been hijacked by criminals and gangsters and strutting around threatening to annihilate the people of another country in an affront against the useless leaders of the world in the UN. 

This world has gone to the dogs. Americans are the worst terrorists, the savages that are bullying the whole world, and with silly allies and cronies still kissing their asses. Where is justice, where is the law, where is human decency? The American terrorists are above the law, they are the law!

Shame to the Americans. Shame to all the world leaders that are afraid to speak out against such extreme injustice and state terrorism.

India flogging a dead horse, IMEC

The India Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) joke died when Biden went out of the White House. Trump is not going to revive that project for sure, knowing he does not see India in good light. So, India can just live with the realization that the IMEC is a dead horse, stillborn project. Moreover, Trump is all for his 'USA first' doctrine, although action speaks 'softer' than words, meaning making others great again instead.

India lost out big on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) connectivity, which other countries in Central and South Asia are now benefiting. Now, India has no IMEC to crow about nor BRI to connect to Europe. Only the Red Sea corridor remains, which is beyond reprieve with the Middle East war ongoing.

Even Indian airlines cannot fly over Pakistan after the recent conflict and have to go a longer route, something unpalatable for airlines with fuel prices soaring. Which is why Air India is facing serious trouble ahead. Sorry for touching someone's nerve.

After all the years of gloating about India being the next superpower, as if Russia and China are not going to be around and the USA collapsing, India is still having a wet dream despite all the shortcomings. Without fast development, infrastructure building and job creation, India's hopes can be said to be based on fantasy.

But as long as the fanatic Hindus believe in holy man Modi, what does Modi care even if their dream falls apart.


Anonymous

America is so blessed. Run by a bunch of clowns led by a moron and still not collapsing

Holy shit, Trump is now threatening the world that those who do not call AI by his new name of 'Super Intelligence' are enemies. What kind of horseshit is the man trying to spout, thinking that everyone must follow what he renamed. He really thinks too highly of himself, when the world knows he is no more than just a clown clamoring for attention. His age is undeniably closer to death, but his thinking is aging backwards, in other words - childish.

Only dumb dicks care about his renaming 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America'. People and even Google Map still retain the use of the old name of 'Gulf of Mexico' on top of 'Gulf of America'. Only the rednecks and hillbillies will follow him into the sewers.

Trump is truly an 'unstable moron', not a 'stable genius' that he proclaimed himself. No genius in history will ever make such a self-proclamation. It is judged by others and proclaimed by peers. His actions came from his unstable mind and originated from his sleepwalking and depends on which side of the bed he woke up from. Imagine a leader leading a country having an unstable mind, whose actions is based on whims and fancies. It is a disaster that truly portends to the downfall of the USA.

Before 2016, not a few soothsayers had already prophesied that Trump will be the 45th and last President of the USA. That did not happen though, but the eerie part is that he is back in 2024/5 to finish his job, and it looks to be really coming true.


Anonymous

India has not given up on its big power dream

 The spate of humiliation that India went through recently did not in anyway affect India's big power dream. India is still calling itself the leader of the Global South, that it is speaking for and defending the interests of the Global South when it could not even protect its own interests. Defeated by Pakistan, got humiliated by Trump and kicked out of the failed Indo Pacific containment strategy of China, other countries would have curled up in some corner to nurse its wounds...but not India.

Modi and Jaishanker have stepped their diplomatic tours and appearance to court for supporters to join the Indian big power dream, to be the leader of the Global South. Modi knows that its game to ride on the Americans to counter China's influence is now in tatters. Maybe the next American president could want him back. Modi also knows that China will never trust India until the border issues are settled. Even his relation with Putin is questionable. Does Putin still has any fate in believing in the India game of playing both sides to serve its own interests above everyone's else.

India must raise its game, come up with some big plans, big strategies to attract the attention of the Global South and to show to the Americans that India is still a valuable partner. India's relations with the Arab and Muslim world have been compromised with his defence pact with Israel, meaning anti Arab and Muslims. What can India think of when China has taken the initiatives in several strategic and multi national projects like the BRI, BRICS and SCO? For the moment India has lost its magic to spin out something worthy of mentioning. The Indians have run out of ideas. India tried to be the leader in AI but fell hopelessly as it is not in the same league as China and America. No need to bother about high end chips. If India dares to crow about competing in chip manufacturing, it will be a laughing stock.

Finally India found a straw to grab on and hoping to push it as India's initiative to seek some recognition in the Global South. It was an idea or a red herring that desperate Biden threw up in the air as a great idea to counter China's BRI. Even the Americans could not come up with something better as China has made the first move and the BRI has covered every corner of the earth with more than 140 countries participating. But nevermind, anything will do for the the moment, better than nothing. Anyone remember what was dementia Biden's great and novel idea to challenge China's BRI? In short it is called IMEC, India Middle East Economic Corridor. This is supposed to link India through the Middle East, ie Saudi Arabia and Israel to Europe. The geography does not make sense, the road or sea route do not make sense. The pipeline through Saudi Arabia and Israel does not make sense. What goods are going to flow through this two patches of water and desert? Europe may have goods to send down to India. What is India going to send to Europe to warrant such a corridor?

Biden may not be serious, just throwing up an idea to please India in the meeting to be forgotten once he turned his back. But India is very serious. India thinks it was a great idea, even without Biden or the Americans. Modi believes India could take the lead with the support of Israel to make this happen, without understanding the politics and economics of this corridor. Modi and Jaishankar are now selling this IMEC as India's grand strategy to compete with China. Modi and Jaishankar did not see this IMEC as a dud from the beginning. India needs to do something worthy to show that it is a leader in the world.

We shall all pray and support India to turn this red herring into something real. Not to worry, India has many supporters and believers in whatever it says. Some rich countries with a lot of money and not knowing what to do with it will be throwing money into the IMEC because India said it is a good idea. And India will have a great project to rival the BRI in IMEC. By the way, where is Biden? Why no one else is talking about this dead horse, IMEC, but India?

India is also preaching to Europe with its great plan for a sort of alliance, with Europe and India as another pole to challenge China and the USA as one of the super powers. India still has high hopes for Europe without knowing that Europe is now a sick man in that corner of the world. The combination of hope, optimism and ambition are very powerful.