AndreasHG

If you prefer Russian news outlets (notoriously unbiased) you can read this: Putin's Russia is heading to the exact same spot that caused the Soviet Unione to collapse, and the Tzarist Russia to collapse: "it's the economy, stupid".

'The head of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, Anatoly Aksakov, supported the idea of reintroducing food stamps, as in the USSR. Earlier, the governor of the Kaliningrad region, Alexei Besprozvannykh, announced plans to introduce food social cards in 2025.' 'Dmitry Yanin, Chairman of the Board of the International Confederation of Consumer Societies (KonfOP), said mk.ru that the measure proposed by Anatoly Aksakov could help about 18 million Russians who live in poverty. He noted that each such citizen could be allocated 3 thousand rubles a month [approximately $28.80 at the current exchange rate], which would be allowed to be spent only on the purchase of food.' The proposal, a clear indication that the Russian economy is deteriorating under the growing cost of Putin's "Special Operation", has been announced on a number of Russian news outlets, including several online. Pensioners, government and state-owned enterprise employees are the one suffering the most due to the galloping inflation, because their pensions and salaries do not increase at the same rate inflation erodes their purchasing power. В ГОСДУМЕ ПОДДЕРЖАЛИ ИНИЦИАТИВУ О ВВЕДЕНИИ.. | Говорят Мытищи | VK В России задумались о введении продуктовых социальных карт: по примеру СССР - МК

Thank you for posting it: Very informative video.

In 2023, with the Tories firmly in government, benefitting of an overwhelming majority in the House, a total of 1.129 milion people immigrated to the UK (net of British nationals re-immigrating into the country). In 2016, the year Brexit was approved, 0.514 million immigrants were recorded. These numbers prove that a zero-immigration target is unachievable. Actually, the truth is, without immigration, the UK economy would be toast. If the Tories doubled the number of (legal) immigrants in few years, it's because they know at least one thing or two about the UK economy. Electoral promises to allure the masses are one thing, responsible policies, to keep the economy growing, are a completely different thing.

It's debatable. Taxes in most countries are a mix of progressive taxes and flat taxes. The US is no exception.

Dig a bit deeper and you'll find that the top 1% is made almost exclusively by the top salary earners (taxable earnings from 680k USD upward). Who Pays Federal Income Taxes? Latest Federal Income Tax Data An analysis on the top 25 richest people gave a stark result: 'According to Forbes, those 25 people saw their worth rise a collective $401 billion from 2014 to 2018. They paid a total of $13.6 billion in federal income taxes in those five years, the IRS data shows. That’s a staggering sum, but it amounts to a true tax rate of only 3.4%.' 'No one among the 25 wealthiest avoided as much tax as Buffett, the grandfatherly centibillionaire. That’s perhaps surprising, given his public stance as an advocate of higher taxes for the rich. According to Forbes, his riches rose $24.3 billion between 2014 and 2018. Over those years, the data shows, Buffett reported paying $23.7 million in taxes', i.e. less than 1‰. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2021/06/08/richest-americans-including-bezos-musk-and-buffett-paid-federal-income-taxes-equaling-just-34-of-401-billion-in-new-wealth-bombshell-report-shows/ The reason is that the Federal Income tax heavily penalizes salaries vs. capital gains. Capital gains are tax-free until they are realized. If this is a good thing or a bad thing is debatable. But the result is that the middle class, making its living working and earning salaries, bear the brunt of the federal expenses. The ultra rich and the 50% at the bottom of the pyramid live in a tax-free heaven, and their only concern (provided they are concerned at all) is the size of the public debt.

In what might well be a world's first, the Thai taxman has been able to introduce two consumer taxes, both based on retail prices, albeit retail prices assessed using different criteria: one actual (7% VAT), and one calculated on a phantomlike "recommended" retail price (excise tax). Couldn't the Thai taxman simply increase the VAT on goods subject to the excise tax? This approach would have probably been too transparent and didn't leave enough room for the revenue department officers to exercise their good judgment and sole discretion, and be graciously rewarded for them.

Not a good reason to soaking him in coffee, but George Santos (a.k.a. Anthony Devolder, a.k.a. George Devolder, a.k.a. Anthony Zabrovsky, a.k.a. Delio da Camara da Costa Alemao) is not a politician: George Santos is a con man. He is the sixth member of the House to be expelled, the only Republican, and the only member expelled without first being convicted of a federal crime or having supported the Confederacy.

Just like a contagious virus, once the gene of stupidity starts circulating within a family, there is no way to contain it.

Iran went through different political phases, before turning into the dead-end street it finds itself in now. Iran made several attempts to normalize its relationship with the West, and particularly with the United States. The Iran-Contras affair in the first half of the 80s, and Mohammad Khatami's presidency, from1999 to 2005. Both wasted opportunities in my opinion, due to disagreements within the Iranian clergy on the appropriate course of action to be taken, and Western (especially American) intransigence. Interestingly, as recently as 2023 Khatami urged the "prioritizing of Iran's national interests" and called for the adoption of a “moderate” foreign policy. The same message was repeated when commenting Hamas attack on Israelis innocent civilians on October 7, 2023. While praising the attack as a "great Achievement for the people [of Palestine]" he again emphasized the necessity of political prudence, paying attention to national interests in Iran and avoiding hasty and provocative positions, considered the interference of political polarization in foreign positions harmful to both Iranians, Palestinians and Muslims, and expressed his hope that what has happened now in the occupied territories will ultimately benefit the oppressed people of Palestine and the nations of the region (Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Reaction to Al-Aqsa Storm / Force and Occupation Are Not the Source of Legitimacy). Not everything is necessarily lost when it comes to Iran. And I hope Trump, with his out-of-the-box way of thinking, may find a way to crack this nut. After all, he didn't hesitate to sit down with rocket man during his first presidency. He may find the time to sit down with Ali Khamenei or, hopefully, with Khamenei's more pragmatic successor and have a fruitful meeting.

Israel is an importer of oil and gas, it has a vested interest in keeping the oil and gas flowing and their prices low. Iran, on the other end, is an oil exporter, a member of the OPEC, and it has a vested interest in keeping the oil flowing. There is no structural reason for any enmity between Iran and Israel. The only reason is that after the revolution, because of Khomeini's obtuse dogmatic stance with regards to everything Western, and the hostage taking in the Theran American Embassy, Iran found itself out in the cold, without American protection, at the mercy of the Soviets (Iraq). Hit by sanctions, limited in its capability to export its oil, Iran was left with only one choice. Accept to act as a proxy for Russia and threaten the oil exporting countries in the Gulf, jeopardizing oil supplies and pushing oil and gas prices up, for the benefit of Russia.

Maybe because "that country" always behaved in a much more responsible way than Iran (and other countries on the US black list). Even the recent events surrounding Gaza are a reaction (maybe disproportioned, albeit I disagree) to the heinous crimes committed by Hamas on October the 7th, 2023. On the other end I do not see how bombing Iran can prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear deterrent. North Korea couldn't be stopped, and Iran has infinite more resources than the economically broken, tiny, enslaved, Asian country, Iran's nuclear program can be delayed but not stopped. There is another fact I find disturbing. The list of countries that are at odds with the US is getting longer and longer. It is much easier to make it into the list than to drop off of it. There was a time the USA and Iran cooperated in a transactional agreement, in which each partner had something to gain. It took a congressional committee, and the crucifixion of several dozen Reagan administration officials in front of the public opinion, including Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and Lieutenant colonel Oliver North, to scrap it. After that, no more serious attempts to open the communication channels between the two countries was done. I consider that a lost opportunity. Iran is in a delicate geostrategic spot, right on the way from Moscow to the Iraqi and Saudi oil fields. The only serious military aggression post-revolutionary Iran recorded against its territorial integrity was carried out by a Soviet Union loyal ally (Saddam Hussein's Iraq), not by the USA and not by Israel. The Shah relied on the USA for his own and his country security. After the Khomeini led revolution, the USA left Iran out in the cold, giving Iran very few options.

Good: It's time Russians learn to produce what they consume, and not just exploit their natural resources and live like rentiers, killing or stabbing in the back each other, to secure a larger personal share of the oil and gas generated bonanza. When they will start having to use their brains to make a living, they may also start appreciating the unique value of each human being, and of the contribution each individual can benefit to the society, instead of regarding fellow citizens as dangerous competitors or useful cannon fodder.

These types of scams would be impossible if Chinese citizens had a modicum of trust in the Chinese authorities and were confident that they would follow the legal process. What they tell us is that corruption and malpractice are so common in China that Chinese citizens believe without hesitations they can be targeted with entirely made up accuses, have no recourse against them, and have to bend to any extortionary request advanced by those in position of authority. Xi Jimping's far-reaching anti-corruption campaign is nothing, but a purge directed against political rivals and has had no impact on the daily life of ordinary Chinese citizens.

I have a hard time understanding the stance of the British right leaning journalists working for GB News, unless they are promoting a pro Farage agenda. Brexit has caused a surge in the immigration of Muslims who have replaced Eastern European as a major source of cheap labor in the UK. This is something that happened with the Tories firmly in government, benefitting of an overwhelming majority in the House, and has nothing to do with Labor (which is certainly not improving the state of affairs anyway). In 2023 these were the top 5 nationalities of immigrants in the UK: Indian (250,000), Nigerian (141,000), Chinese (90,000), Pakistani (83,000), Zimbabwean (36,000). In total, approximately 1.03 million people from outside the European Union migrated to the UK in the year ending December 2023. This compares with 126,000 people from European Union countries, and 61,000 British nationals. In 2016, the year Britain voted for Brexit, the total number of people moving to the UK was made up of 264,000 non-EU citizens, 250,000 EU citizens and 74,000 British citizens. Not only immigration was lower and comparatively under control, but the ratio was by far more in favor of immigrants having an European cultural background. Bottom line: Britons have been screwed by Brexit. It's time to face reality, learn the bitter lesson and move on. This is the British way. Keep on moaning is utterly un-British.

The most disturbing aspect of the whole set up is the use of small children as a tool to obtain more money. Children who grow up on a sidewalk, next to adults, who only a DNA test could prove are their natural parents. And no one knows what happens to them as soon as they grow up and disappear from the streets.

LOL. SHure. But both Joes can’t

LOL From one average Joe to another one. Both cannot put Syria on the world map. One out of dementia, the second one out of pure, cultivated ignorance.

Yes, what is the big fuss about it... ..he just applied vaudeville language to international diplomacy. He is just a clown at the service of a clownish and braggart America in which education and good manners have long gone missing. Better get used to it. It’s the new normal. The average Joe in charge of the Nation.

'Under her leadership, Italy has witnessed a troubling decline in civil liberties.' 'Meloni’s government has implemented laws criminalizing surrogacy abroad and blocked birth certificates for children of same-sex couples. Hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community have surged, and Italy has plummeted in European rankings for LGBTQ+ rights.' These statements greatly exaggerate the impact of Meloni's policies on civil liberties and ignore the fact that some measures were implemented to please the Catholic church, which controls an important electoral group in Italy. Mussolini himself did his best to be endorsed by the Catholic church and Pope Pius XI called Benito Mussolini "the man of providence".

Inflation must be higher. Otherwise, the real interest rate Russian banks pay to the central bank to borrow liquidity would be a staggering 14.5 to 15%, something unheard of. Russian private borrowers would pay even more and the whole economy would be at risk of collapsing. As a reference, as of September 19, 2024, the real interest rate in the United States was -1.28%. The real interest rate is calculated as follows: Real Interest Rate = Nominal Interest Rate - Inflation Rate

In recent days, newspapers and televisions have been relaunching the news coming from Syria, regarding the imminent fall of the Assad family regime, which has ruled the country with an iron fist for almost 55 years. Few regimes in the Middle East have stood out for cruelty and sadism directed against the local population, particularly against the Sunni majority, as the Assads' regime. 13 years ago, a civil war erupted in Syria, triggered by the chain reaction that was the Arab Spring, and the regime was saved only because of the massive intervention of Russian troops, Iranian military advisors and Hezbollah militias. The civil war continued uninterrupted since then, alternating bloody clashes which also saw the use of chemical weapons against the civilian population, to moments of precarious truce, exploited by the belligerents to strengthen their respective positions. This was until two weeks ago. Last week, with a blitz that surprised all observers, taking advantage of the progressive weakening of the Russian military presence and the obliteration of the Hezbollah militias carried out by Israel, the troops opposing the Assads conquered new positions. Today they arrived just 10 kilometers from Damascus, the Syrian capital, which is preparing to suffer a siege. The Assads' regime days seem numbered. Neither Russia, nor Iran and much less Hezbollah have the military strength to oppose the rebel forces supported by Turkey. But not everyone is aware of what is at stake with the Assads' regime fall. The entire Russian military presence in the Mediterranean Sea is ensured by two bases only, both located in Syria. The Tartous (Тартус) facility, on the Syrian coast, is Russia's only naval repair and supply center in the Mediterranean Sea. The loss of this base relegates the Russian naval presence in southern Europe to the Black Sea alone, rendering it essentially useless and exposed to easy attacks in the event of conflict with NATO. The Khmeimim Air Base (Хмеймим), also Hmeimim Air Base, is, on the other end, the only Russian operated airbase in the Mediterranean Sea. Again, the loss of this facility would push Russia away from the southern flank of NATO, deep into the Black Sea. Reuters published yesterday an interesting article detailing the alarmed reactions of prominent Russian military bloggers, faced with the risk that the entire Russian military presence being obliterated from the Mediterranean Sea, relegating Russia to the simple role of medium sized Asian power, subordinated to the economic and military might of China. An unintended consequence of Putin's criminal military adventurism. https://www.reuters.com/world/russian-bases-syria-threatened-by-insurgent-advance-say-moscows-war-bloggers-2024-12-07/

It arrives timely to coincide with the Christmas holidays, the period in which the greatest number of travelers to the West and within Christian countries is recorded, and just in time for the inauguration of the second Trump administration. Only this time the Chinese got smarter. They chose Africa to disseminate the virus. Of course, I don't have a shred of evidence and it's just conjecture. But QAnon is already fabricating gathering evidence, and we will hear about it soon.

Since you mention stupidity, I guess you realize that Human Trafficking is a legal term, and only the Law establish when the crime of human trafficking is committed. Likewise you fully understand that only the Law states when there is consent, and when, on the other end, a person is "coerced" into an activity "without his/her consent". Don't you? Yes, you do. You're smart and you know it all. The Thai Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act is very clear with regards to what Trafficking in Human beings means (Microsoft Word - Trafficking_in_Persons_Act_B.E.2551) Chapter I, section 6, paragraph 2 clearly states: "procuring, buying, selling, vending, bringing from or sending to, detaining or confining, harboring, or receiving a child; is guilty of trafficking in persons. ". What is a child? Section 4 gives a clear answer: "“Child” means any person under eighteen years of age.". So yes, from the Thai Law point of view, this was 100% "Human Trafficking". You think they are not trafficked. But instead they are. The issue is that you do not understand that there is no consent. For a very simple reason: a minor, in Thailand, similarly to what happens in the USA, Australia, the UK, France, Germany, etc., is not 'sui juris'. Minors have not the full legal capacity to act on their own behalf and are under the authority of another person (usually the parents). A minor in Thailand refers to any person under the age of 20, unless they are married. A minor is restricted from doing juristic acts – for example, signing contracts. When minors wish to do a juristic act, they have to obtain the consent from their legal representative, usually the parents and otherwise the act is voidable. The exceptions are acts by which a minor merely acquires a right or is freed from a duty, acts that are strictly personal, and acts that are suitable to the person's condition in life and are required for their reasonable needs. A minor cannot 'consent' to become a prostitute. A minor can only be 'coerced', from a legal point of view, to become a prostitute. I think you are now in a better position to understand what stupidity is. Exactly: it is the definition of human trafficking.

LOL. The Rubble is still down a whopping 9.8% year over year to the US Dollar, while the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Центральный банк Российской Федерации) key rate is set at a mind blowing 21%. For your reference, the Federal Reserve's interest rate is between 4.50% and 4.75%, the ECB's rate is 3.25%, the Thai central bank's rate is 2.25%, and the key rate of the Central Bank of Kenya is set at 11.25%. But don't worry, Ivan, there are central banks that are doing an even job better than the Russian central bank's one: Iran's key rate is 23%, the overnight lending rate of the Egyptian Central Bank is 28.25%, the key rate of the Argentine Central Bank is 32%, while the reference of the Venezuelan Central Bank is 59.23%. With a bit of luck, your country will beat them all in the race to raise the lending rate by the end of next year. But sorry, I assumed you understand the implications of a high interest rate for the economy. Only now I realized that you, poor Ivan, have no idea of what a rate is. I forgot that the Marxist economics taught in Soviet Union completely ignored this issue.