MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Associated Press: “A Ukrainian man fleeing war is rescued with his kitten after a perilous journey through Romanian mountains.” First, I have to wonder if the man had a family. Yet it is apparently easier to simply tuck your cat in your backpack and run. Anyhow, we are again told of an individual who regards a cat as a dear friend and family. I will do the same, for sure. I will not, ever, leave Fizz and Ching and Arrow behind. ☮️🇺🇦😽

NY Times: “How Much Did Trump, Biden and Harris Raise? A Stunning $4.7 Billion.” Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris broke PAC fundraising records. Joe won in 2020 though his failed tenure didn't exactly please his backers. Then Kamala lost. Blue has been out-PAC'ing Red since Obama days. Why not limit campaign donations? Give to government projects as China's “Common Prosperity” does? 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “How Trump Targeted Undecided Voters Without Breaking the Bank.” As a total underdog, Donald Trump proved it in 2016, versus Hillary Clinton. I was shocked. Yet after his 4 years and then Joe Biden's four years, I am not surprised why he won again. No amount of “dirt” in his spit or din of vilification drive vs him, mostly powered by PAC dough, can blur or erase the POTUS performance board. 🏛🗽🏛

AP: “GOP agenda: Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts.” Although mostly media bluster, the tariff story is a wait and see situation. Deportations? That noise is no different from the 2016 noise. (Fact: Barack Obama was the prez who deported the most number of migrants.) And now tax cuts. Let us see. My pragmatic girth doesn't really hinge on future tenses. 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “Stellantis and Samsung Will Get $7 Billion to Build Battery Factories.” Joe Biden also invested $6+ billion to entice semiconductor giant TSMC of Taiwan to build a plant in Texas. The project's operation was halted due to scarcity of skilled workers, which need training from the Taiwanese. Hey, why not invest as well in other industries? Americans don't even buy EVs compared with China and Europe. 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “Are Tax Credits the Best Way to Get Americans to Buy E.V.s?” This: The U.S. is not a top consumer market for electric vehicles. America is a distant third (9.5 percent) behind China (37 percent) and Europe (24 percent). So why did Joe Biden invest so much on EV production with the purpose of competing with China when the “contest” is lopsided? Calculated risk that wasn’t calculated. 

       Global annual sales of EVs, per 2023 data: China is #1 at $8+ million; U.S., $1.3 million. News adds: “The Inflation Reduction Act was a compromise between competing priorities. Evaluating the law on the effectiveness of the $7,500 tax credit for E.V.s is tricky.” 🚗🚕🛻

Washington Post: “Nearly every household in America has a car.” The U.S. and New Zealand are tied for the most cars per capita in the world, with around 0.9 vehicles per person. Iceland and Luxembourg also have high car ownership ratios. The country with less cars is Ethiopia, 2 automobiles per 1,000 people. I am not a fan of cars although, where I live, I need it. But what we need are more public transports. 🚗🇺🇸🚙

New York Times: “A Culture-War Battle Convulses a School Panel in Liberal Manhattan.” Yup, it’s all about transgender students’ participation in sports. Boom! We got problemo, of course! Then, teachers and their supervisors and parents talk (and sometimes “fight”) about matters that are beyond the current “culture war” discourse cycle. You know what I mean? Or you don't know what I mean? Have we forgotten? 📝😫🧮

NY Times: “How Australia Will (or Won’t) Keep Children Off Social Media.” Critics say big questions remain whether the ban will really protect young people. Sure, Big Tech loses some profits, especially if other countries follow Australia's lead. Meanwhile, do parents really have time to engage their children beyond the internet per se? For example, would you talk to your kids without imposing your politics on them? 📱🇦🇺📲

AP: “US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine.” The Biden administration rushes to spend all the Congress approved money it has left to bolster Kyiv before Mr Trump takes office next month. Sure, the taxpayer money was okayed by lawmakers, right? Might as well waste them before Mr Trump uses them for home-based exigencies? $1 billion is not spare change. ☮️☮️☮️

Thailand’s Economic Story.

Previously posted on my Facebook page. Not updated. 

HISTORICALLY known as Siam, Thailand, located in Southeast Asia, is an old country that has never been colonized despite European conquests of most of the region in the past. European contact began in 1511 with a Portuguese diplomatic mission to Ayutthaya, which became a regional power by the end of the 15th century. Ayutthaya reached its peak during cosmopolitan Narai's reign, gradually declining thereafter until being ultimately destroyed in the Burmese–Siamese War.

       Yet Siam/Thailand, then and now, remains as one of a few countries that was never conquered by a foreign power. Not unless it is all about economics.

       The 1997–98 Asian financial crisis began in Thailand and then quickly spread to neighboring economies. It began as a currency crisis when Bangkok unpegged the Thai baht from the U.S. dollar, setting off a series of currency devaluations and massive flights of capital. Thai bhat, that time, reached almost 53.

       That crisis could be happening again. Economists predict that Thailand is expectedly to be one of the first to be impacted if the U.S. falls into a recession. Already, as we speak, as the U.S. struggles to get off decades-high inflation, Thai bhat is now at 38—down 22 percent compared with three years ago, before the pandemic. The record low was 22 in 1978. 🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭

THAILAND relies heavily on tourism for its economic growth. Tourist spending accounted for approximately 11 percent of Thailand’s GDP in 2019, or before the pandemic. The country welcomed almost 40 million visitors that year and generated more than $60 billion in revenue, according to World Bank data. Most of tourism’s drivers are Chinese visitors but with Covid travel restrictions in place in Beijing these days, Bangkok only sees darkness.

       Economists who watched the 1997 currency crash say Thailand’s current downturn predictably follows, after Singapore. Thailand’s inflation rate is at a 14-year high of 7.86 percent. After Singapore and Thailand, next to go down in the region are the economies of Indonesia and the Philippines, due to their “domestic oriented economies.”

       Economics is complex and I don’t claim I know much. I just read. The rising strength of the U.S. dollar, which has been appreciating against other currencies since last year but began rising particularly rapidly this summer, is the result of multiple causes. Foremost of which is the decision by U.S. central bankers at the Federal Reserve to begin aggressively raising interest rates to fight inflation.

       The Federal Reserve’s determination to crush inflation at home by raising interest rates is inflicting pain in other countries — pushing up prices, ballooning the size of debt payments and increasing the risk of a deep recession.

       Interest rate increases are pumping up the value of the dollar — the go-to currency for much of the world’s trade and transactions — and causing economic turmoil in both rich and poor nations. In Britain and across much of the European continent, the dollar’s acceleration is helping feed stinging inflation. 🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭

THAILAND’s chief industries are machinery, electronics, foods and wood, chemicals and plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, stone and glass, textiles and furniture. Investments by foreign businesses soared by nearly 75 percent during the first half of 2022 compared to the same period last year as companies.

       Investment is one of the three key pillars of the Thai economy, along with exports and consumption. The sharp rise in the value of foreign investments is a sign that global businesses still see Thailand as a competitive location for their operations. Until the U.S suffers its own economic problem/s.

       Top three trading partners: United States, China, Japan. As Bangkok’s top trade buddy, Washington has showered the former with attention in recent years. In June this year, Thailand joined 12 other countries in signing up to the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a diverse trade platform that will now be negotiated among partners over the next 18 months.

       The dependency with U.S. investments, however, is majorly blamed for the current currency crash. For one, imports from the U.S. have grown costly etc etcetera. 🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭

ANYHOW, the power struggle between the United States and China is a loud reality in Thailand as both superpowers escalate presence in the country. Although the U.S. is ahead in FDIs, China remains as an important ally to Thailand, partly because of its influence and prominence in the region.

       Trade between Beijing and Bangkok has risen fast in the last few decades. Bilateral trade in 1999 was worth $4.22 billion. Fast forward: China exports to Thailand last year was a whopping $69.36 billion against a mere $5.2 billion in Thai imports.

       China also has military relations with Thailand. Among other deals, in 2017, the Royal Thai Navy signed a contract with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation for a S26T diesel-electric submarine, which is derived from the Type 039A submarine. The submarine is expected to be delivered in 2023.

       I can discuss this more and connect it with the 1997 currency crash (with emphasis on George Soros’ dubious “speculative investing”) but suffice to say that, these days, foreign military subjugation doesn’t define invasion. It’s all economics.

       For the meantime, the bigger news in Thailand is this horror: “After Day Care Massacre, Thailand Is Roiled With Grief.” News adds: “Anguished families were coming to terms with the loss of their young children as the nation pondered issues like gun violence and the widespread availability of deadly weapons.” 🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭

BURKINA FASO.

NEWS: “After Coup in Burkina Faso, Protesters Turn to Russia for Help.” / “Military Takes Power in West African Nation of Burkina Faso.” Mutinous officers claim that the public was fed up with President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré because of his inability to stop attacks by Islamist militants. And the military organization is fed up as well with France, former colonizer and now supposedly a benefactor, to stop the violence so now they call for Russia’s help.

       Burkina Faso has been severely affected by the rise of Islamist terror in the Sahel since the mid-2010s. Terrorist activity primarily involves religious terrorism conducted by foreign-based organizations, mostly concentrated in the Hauts-Bassins, Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord, Sahel, and Est regions, along the border with Mali and Niger.

       A series of attacks in Ouagadougou in 2016, 2017, and 2018 by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliates was particularly deadly, garnering international attention. And, of course, Washington’s (re)focus of military focus from Afghanistan and Syria to this region, also in pursuit of Boko Haram northeastern Nigeria, and Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

       While the majority of the violence is blamed on terrorism, communal frustration among the 21 million population over the lack of economic development is also a tremendous contributory factor in the strife.

       In its early years, Burkina Faso was subject to instability, droughts, famines and corruption. Various coups have also taken place: 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, an attempt in 1989, 2015, and this year.

       But why seek Russian intervention? Turns out, the two countries have a history of cordial relations. However, Vladimir Putin is obviously very busy with Ukraine to pay attention beyond, for now. 🇧🇫☮️🇧🇫

NOT entirely unexpected that Ouagadougou calls out for Moscow’s help in these times of trouble. Diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and the Soviet Union were established in 1967. And then after the breakup of the USSR, Burkina Faso recognized Russia as the Soviets’ successor.

       However, despite token economic exchange as well as cultural interface by way of Russia’s offer of educational opportunities in Moscow for Burkina Faso students, Ouagadougou’s top trading partners are not the Kremlin. Burkina Faso’s main business ally is its neighbor Cote d'Ivoire, followed by China (surprise!) Ghana, France, and India.

       In recent years, Burkina Faso's mining industry has been expanding and is now the most important sector of the economy. Main exports are gold, which comprise 70 percent of total exports, plus cotton, zinc, phosphate rock, and livestock. Although China has already sunk investment in the country, it hasn’t really followed through due to pressing issues, utmost is the continuing internal strife.

       Ouagadougou is the only African state to have twice recognized the Republic of China or Taiwan: in 1964 and in 1994. As a result, Taiwan helped finance some of Burkina Faso leaderships’ political programs to the detriment of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. Yet in 2018, Burkina Faso cut ties with Taiwan and then re-established diplomatic relations with the Mainland.

       Beijing, meantime, is very wary of the active terrorism in the region—but expressed willingness to provide assistance if Ouagadougou fights terror groups and safeguard national security. Wait and see. China doesn’t normally gamble FDIs in countries beset by conflict. And as the usual case, it is the U.S. that takes care of that troublesome political gig. This time though, Burkina Faso is calling on Russia, which is of course a BFF of China, to fix its mess. 🇧🇫☮️🇧🇫

APPARENTLY, Russia or President Vladimir Putin is busy with the Ukraine situation to give attention to Burkina Faso. Meantime, the United States’ presence in BF is more via Peace Corps programs and Washington’s aid to the constantly beleaguered nation is still extremely limited although investment possibilities exist, especially in the mining and communications sectors. But when?

       Which brings us to China. In 2018 or prior to Covid-19 pandemic, Beijing unveiled a whopping $60 billion African aid package, all related to the Belt and Road Africa infrastructure development fund. The budget has long surged as BRI pushes through.

       Before all these, the IMF has declared Africa the world’s second-fastest growing region, and many are predicting that it is well on its way to becoming a $5 trillion economy, as household consumption is expected to increase at a 3.8 percent yearly clip to $2.1 trillion by 2025. The attention of the world is now drifting towards Africa. Regardless of the political instability, China coming-in is no longer a radical projection. Beijing is very interested.

        Besides, despite internal troubles, Burkina Faso still registers a fine GDP growth rate of 6.67 percent, a huge jump from 2020’s and 1.93 percent and 2019’s 5.7 percent. Also, the country, which is around the geographic size of Nevada, is relatively easier to handle, per infrastructure upgrade.

       However, it would seem Burkina Faso has no choice. It seeks Russia’s help but Moscow is into Ukraine at this moment. As ever, smaller/poorer nations will have to wait till the larger geopolitical catfight subsides or ends before their “benefactors” could put attention on them. But knowing China, it quietly courses its moves with certainty on the sideline—as we view the Ukraine Drama. 🇧🇫☮️🇧🇫

MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

NY Times: “Trump Wants to Shake Up Health Care. Many Americans Don’t Mind.” Voters galvanized by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to “Make America Healthy Again” said they believed the health establishment “was dismissive and even corrupt.” Modifications and changes in Health Care are imperatives. Yet I would rather wait and see what RFK Jr. would be actually doing. (Visual: Forbes.) 

       News adds: “Donald Trump already had an edge among young white men four years ago, although he widened the gap this year. His support among both groups increased by about 20 percentage points this year, according to AP VoteCast — and their feelings toward Trump got warmer, too.” 🏛🗽🏛

New York Sun: “Could Mayor Adams of New York Make His Way Back to the GOP?” Not new and surprising in the universe of traditional politics, isn’t it? Anywhere in the world. Turncoatism etcetera. But first, Mr Adams has to earn a pardon from Papa Joe, LOL! And then Papa Don will see. Anyhow, Eric’s New York future or political tomorrow is hazy. An example of the state's underperforming Dems. 🏛🗽🏛

Washington Post: “Trump hesitates to personally lobby for endangered Cabinet picks.” It'd seem Don–with the obvious advice of Elon and Vivek--tossed gambits and “bait and switch” tactics out there with these nominees to test the playing field on Trump Part 2. Even if some are eventually hired, we know that the incoming POTUS can easily fire them. But I still give them the benefit of the doubt, in case they’re confirmed. 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “Tim Walz Says He Was ‘a Little Surprised’ Trump Won.” I admit, I was surprised or overwhelmed in 2016 that Donald Trump won over Hillary Clinton. Then, I was somehow surprised that Joe Biden beat him in 2020. This year? Nope. I am not surprised at all that he clobbered Kamala Harris and the Dems, trifecta in fact, despite their runaway advantage in PAC money, like they always did. 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “The Supervillain Is the Hero Now.” News adds: “How Americans learned to root for the dark side — from the Joker and `Wicked’ to Elon Musk.” What makes Elon the supervillain? Of course we all know that already. He hooked up with the most hated dude by the Left side of the glade. Yet what has Mr Musk done (or didn't do) that makes him different from the other 800 U.S. billionaires? 😒💸🥹

Associated Press: “University admissions: California bill would give public university admission priority to slaves’ descendants.” That'd mean ALL African-Americans, I reckon. But many Asians have been enslaved as well during colonization years. Etc etcetera. California, ah California! The overreach for ideological purity (sic!) is unbelievably whacked. Why don’t they fix gut-related problems, instead? Homelessness? 😏😒🤨

Rolling Stone: “Timothée Chalamet Says Bob Dylan Is 'A Fantastic Singer'. Here's How He Learned to Sing Like Him.” Sweetly intriguing, indeed! After a few minutes of some of his movies, I am still hardly a fan of Mr Chalamet (not yet?) He sang all the Bob Dylan songs in this movie. That's enough reason to see “A Complete Unknown” the moment it is available. (And Mr Dylan himself aided in making this movie.) 🎥📹📽

AP: “Trump calls for 'immediate' cease-fire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible.” As Joe Biden stokes more fire in Ukraine, Mr Trump works to end it. My favored side is VERY clear here: The D’s dove negates his “eerie” POTUS mouth. The East Bloc’s Warsaw Pact ended in 1991. NATO would have ended, too. Need I type up how much taxpayer money is wasted in military machismo? ☮️☮️☮️

AP: “Syrian government falls in stunning end to 50-year Assad family rule.” The Syrian Prime Minister said the government is ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and hand over power to a transitional government. Middle East bottlenecks: Syria and Iran. Now, Bashar al-Assad is out. Long time coming. Meanwhile, Iran’s new moderate leadership would be no brainer as Donald Trump sits. (Photo: CTTO.) ☮️☮️☮️

New York Times: “Could Trump Make the Ultimate Deal With Iran?” New talks should relax the nuke (or WMD) agenda, without taking it out of the first page. Iran is obviously hobbling and gasping economically for years now, even before Covid. China's continuous purchase of Tehran's oil keeps the country above neck-deep murk. So I concur that the tandem of Musk/Ramaswamy sits with Iran's new moderate leadership. 🇺🇸☮️🇮🇷

MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Time: “Trump Is Welcomed by French President Macron in Paris as Zelensky Joins Their Meeting.” Two beleaguered heads of state that are now wanting real POTUS help. The time to show the world that the U.S. still rules the universe, at least politically. A foreign affairs terrain that Joe Biden obviously ruined for America. Ukraine post-war would be in ruins. And France is currently in a political mess. Let's see. 🇷🇺🇺🇦🇺🇸

NY Times: “Collapse of France’s Government Further Burdens Its Weak Economy.” Already struggling with flat growth and a large debt and deficit, the country faces a new period of instability. The European Union’s collective economy, mired at 0.4 percent, needs utmost attention. France's turmoil is similar to what’s going on in Germany and the U.K. First in the agenda: Stop military aid to Ukraine and help end that war. 🇺🇳🇫🇷🇺🇳

New York Times: “The Far Right Just Toppled France’s Government, and Nobody Knows What Happens Next.” Too much ideological overreach over gut-level realities. That'd be the foremost blunder of the Left. Meanwhile, the media's obsession with stereotyping people's sentiment as populist Right takes us away from where life really breathes. No alignment, no politics: And economic life in Europe has been hobbling. Fact. 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

Time: “When College Kids Can’t Afford Food.” Repeat: In America? Where 40 percent of food is wasted? A large amount of food that could feed people in need, and that is instead sent to landfills. Reasons behind the “free lunch” debate in grade schools are mostly political but college “kids,” you reckon? Or the high-maintenance “wellness” diet that they prefer is beyond their budget. Otherwise food is a-plenty. 😏🍲🤨

NY Times: “No One Should Go Hungry in America.” Lawmakers try to find long-term solutions to food insecurity. Feeding America fills some void. Meanwhile, a huge 40 percent of consumable food in America are tossed to landfills, annually. So availability of food isn't the issue. Here, in the house, we are prepared for three zombie apocalypses, LOL! Meanwhile, pickiness for dinner chow could make brat people hungry, indeed. 🥑🗽🍲

Washington Post: “Teen son is nasty to his parents, polite to the rest of the world.” I know of many friends--or people that I actually know in person, long before Facebook was born–who are so polite to their family but the exact opposite on Facebook. Some, I had to unfriend before we totally erase what remains of our friendship. Yet many have disowned family and friends due to differences in opinions and beliefs here. 😏😒🤨

RS: “Internet Takes Lack of Sympathy Further, Thirsts Over Suspect in Health Insurance CEO shooting.” / WP: “The UHC CEO was killed. Why did some people celebrate?” Given, Brian Thompson is evil as in Big Business is Evil. Would it justify vigilantism or “Let's take the evil guy out!” pop culture fix? Some exalt the death. Ponder: Unabated mass shootings and continued arms aid to two ongoing wars. (Photo: ABC.) ☮️🤨☮️

New York Sun: “Can America Afford To Risk Six More Weeks of Biden in the White House?” Pardon of the errant son is a huge concern, sure. My main worry is Joe's intent to escalate hostilities in Ukraine as peace efforts start to gain traction. His okay to authorize Ukraine to use powerful long-range American weapons versus Russia is feared to gain a parallel thumbs up in the Middle East as tempest in Syria escalates. 🏛🗽🏛

NY Times: “Ukraine Makes a Case to Trump’s Team as Its Officials Visit U.S.” The only case that Team Zelensky can put on the table in Trump’s Washington is the end to the war. Of course, Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin are no brainers to Donald. What I see on my pragmatic board: U.S. energy biggies handle Naftogaz, Gazprom operates Nord Stream 2 per EU market, no NATO entry to Kyiv, election in Ukraine. 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦

AP: “Desertion threatens to starve Ukraine’s forces at a crucial time in its war with Russia.” No need to discourse why wars need to end or prevent them from happening at all. Apparently, Ukraine's soldiers are tired and frustrated trying to win a war that can't be won. Yet it'd seem before Joe Biden goes, he is “leaving” utter destruction and deaths behind, posing deterrents to Donald Trump’s contrary playbook. 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦