MY THOUGHTS on News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Associated Press: “The Supreme Court rejects Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loans.” A sharply divided SC ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loans. I agree. Meanwhile, budget cuts in federal programs loom per debt limit issue. It’d be unfair for govt employees to lose jobs as 20 percent with student borrowings are “forgiven.” Why not waive the majority’s mortgage, car, and credit card debts? 

       News adds: “The 6-3 decision, with conservative justices in the majority, effectively killed the $400 billion plan, announced by President Joe Biden last year, and left borrowers on the hook for repayments that are expected to resume by late summer.” (Art: Vox.) 🏦🗽🏦

New York Times: “With Resounding Win in Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis Tightens Grip on Power.” And adds: “His party’s election victory comes as the country experiences strong economic growth.” Whatever the political leaning, economics decides elections. Industrial output rebounded in annual terms in the quarter, while inflation fell and the labor market tightened. But Greece’s public debt is still 196.6 percent of GDP, the highest in Europe. Mr Mitsotakis gotta work more. 

       Greek voters chose to look past scandals and disasters that have tarnished Mitsotakis’ government. But as I pointed out, Greece is still magnificently mired in debts. The most  indebted economies in the euro zone: Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium. Kyrios Kyriakos’ leadership must sustain (or improve) the economic growth to keep up repayments. 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

New York Times: “U.S. Charges 4 Chinese Firms With Selling Chemicals to Make Fentanyl.” And adds: “The indictments are part of a strategy attacking every stage of the supply chain for the opioid, which kills thousands each year.” Again, the Chinese are blamed. Most APIs or “active (or main) pharmaceutical ingredients” in a medicine that cause the desired effect are imported from China, true. But the manufacturer of the finished product is U.S./European Big Pharma. 

       Back in history, opium poppy gave birth to morphine, codeine, heroin, oxycodone etcetera. “Black powder” that was used by old China for festivity fireworks evolved into gunpowder. And so on and so forth. Science and technology of the West developed these as consumer products. China et al had the raw materials that the West needed until commercial expansionism, excessive capitalism, and unabated consumerism evolved into mass production. Yet when we get addicted, we blame the Chinese. 🩹🩺💊

Time: “Inside Zelensky's Plan to Beat Putin's Propaganda in Russian-Occupied Ukraine.” The drama thrillers seem to punctuate this war. Nord Stream 2 bombing, grains deal sabotage, drone strikes in Moscow, Nova Kakohvka dam incident, and now Wagner Group’s failed coup? Collateral damage in body bags pile up and property rubbles litter. But who is really winning in the propaganda war? And how much taxpayer money the U.S. has already wasted in this war? 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦

New York Times: “How Fox News (Yes, Fox News) Managed to Beat ‘The Tonight Show’.” And adds: “Greg Gutfeld has installed his brand of insult conservatism as the institutional voice for the next generation of Fox News viewers..” Well, late night (talk) TV is all about insult vs. insult. Viewers seem to relish bad, dirty jousts. Yet Fox News remains as the most watched cable news network in the United States. MSNBC, second; CNN, third. Insult is also profitable. Wild, wild America. 🗣📺🙉

New York Times: “Days after the deadliest shipwreck in the Mediterranean in years, an E.U. official said that Greek authorities continue violating the rights of migrants.” According to UNHCR, annual deaths and missing since 2014 were estimated at 3,231. I think, more. Yet the answer to this tragedy isn’t asylum or inclusion. End of wars and continuous trade negotiations for common economic progress are. Which superpowers and regional alliances can do. 🏃‍♀️🛶🏃

New York Times: “Biden Administration Engages in Long-Shot Attempt for Saudi-Israel Deal.” White House is pressing an aggressive diplomatic effort as Riyadh makes significant demands in exchange for normalization “... including a nuclear deal and a robust U.S. security pact.” Hopeful here. China brokered a Saudi Arabia/Iran handshake. The U.S. takes the cue. But Riyadh has tough negotiating leverage. But peace is possible. That is, if Mr Joe doesn’t say anything untoward again. 

       Saudi Arabia and Israel have never established diplomatic relations. In 1947, Saudi Arabia voted against the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which aimed to split the territory of British Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state. As of 2023, negotiations to establish diplomatic relations were ongoing. I concur with this initiative. 🇸🇦🇺🇸🇮🇱

Time: “Japan Sends Male Minister to Lead G7 Meeting on Women's Empowerment.” Japan vaulted as the world's second largest economy (behind the U.S.) in 1968; in 1973, the nation was added to the group then known as “Group of Five.” Obvious reason. But Japan possesses a distinct cultural persona from its G7 pals. So Tokyo is expected to toe the line on issues such as women, war, politics etcetera to stay neutral, without alienating G7’s rival, BRICS. 

       In 1973, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank proposed the addition of Japan to the informal gathering of the world’s advanced economies (the U.S., U.K., West Germany, and France). The group was then known as the "Group of Five.” Later, Italy and the European Union were added. In 2010, China dislodged Japan as world’s #2. Then came BRICS (Brazil Russia India China South Africa). Meanwhile, China is Japan’s top trading partner. Almost 95 percent of Japan’s fuel is imported from Saudi Arabia, a BRICS buddy. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

New York Times: “Competing Accounts of Justice Dept.’s Handling of Hunter Biden Case.” Ah Washington primetime drama and political paradoxes. Trump was impeached for withholding military aid to Ukraine and his fervent call to investigate Hunter’s role in Kyiv’s natural gas industry. Meanwhile, President Biden throws billions$ of taxpayer money to Ukraine, hence war continues. Something’s weird here. Just weird. 🏦🗽🏦

       News adds: “An I.R.S. investigator’s testimony describing strains over the inquiry into President Biden’s son is at odds with the version laid out by Attorney General Merrick Garland.”

New York Times: “With Reversed Hind Legs and a Loose Tongue, a New Ugly Dog Champion Is Crowned.” What hypocrisy! It is incorrect to call a human being ugly yet we frolic on a national contest about the ugliest dog? Is there such a thing as an ugly dog, or animal, oh really? “Ugly” pertains to humanity; not an animal fact. Besides, would you want to organize an “Ugliest Man, Ugliest Woman, or Ugliest LBTQI” contest? Do you want to be shamed forever? 🐕🐩🐕‍🦺