Alan Zweibel

China’s economic momentum slowed broadly in November, with a marked weakening in consumer spending, adding pressure on Beijing to stabilize household and business demand in the world’s second-largest economy... China’s retail-sales growth slowed to its lowest level since 2022, while investment and the property market continued to deteriorate, according to data released Monday by China’s National Bureau of Statistics... China’s economic growth has defied expectations this year, but expansion has been driven in large part by strong exports, while other pockets of the economy, such as investment and the property market, have struggled. https://archive.ph/v0tI9 One of the main reasons for trying to strength in exports, if not the main reason, is that it keeps its currency at a depressed level. Good for exports but bad for Chinese consumers. And as long as they continue to do that, talk of a BRICS currency replacing the dollar is just talk.

For China, President Trump’s moves to loosen chip controls, soften U.S. rhetoric and stay silent on tensions with Japan amount to a rare string of strategic gains. For Beijing, the shifts in Washington’s approach suggest that Mr. Trump has less of an appetite for confronting China over ideology, technology and diplomacy. Some commentators in China have hailed these developments as irrefutable signs of American decline and Chinese ascendancy. https://archive.ph/gd1zB Don't pick fights you can't win.

At least $1.7 trillion of imports are now excluded, either because they are duty-free or subject to another tariff. President Donald Trump promised that a wave of emergency tariffs on nearly every nation would restore “fair” trade and jump-start the economy. Eight months later, half of U.S. imports are avoiding those tariffs. https://archive.ph/ZIB3n Some very informative notes at the the conclusion of the article idicate that 1.7 trillion is probably a conservative figure. Must be exciting to be in the manufacturing business and not know from one day to the next what your input costs will be.

Let's face it. Canada has been provoking the United States for years with the longest undefended border between two nations in the world. It's about time that America struck back!

You just don't get it. The headline of riclag's post was that Sky News was slamming immigration policy? When hasn't Sky News slammed Labor and its policies?

Well, you've demonstrated that clearly by not pointing out one error that I've made.

So, everyone in Australia is in agreement with Sky News' position. And in the last election citizensvoted for labor did so by mistake? It was an oops mmoment And the criticism by Sky News was unusual?

The bystander who tackled one of the gunmen in the attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney was seriously injured, according to Australian officials, who on Monday identified him as Ahmed el Ahmed. Mr. el Ahmed’s intervention was caught on video and ricocheted across social media after the shootings. His actions garnered wide praise as Australia has been left reeling from one of the worst terrorist attacks in its history and Jews around the world are increasingly fearful. https://archive.ph/MQ4Ap

You mean Rupert Murdoch doesn't really own Sky News Australia?

Now I see what you're up to. You're just trying to cop a cheap feel. I'll have you know that I'm not that kind of superhero. Surely there must be some fellow super villain out there who can satisfy your needs.

You mean the Sky News that's controlled by Murdoch? I'm shocked! Et tu, Rupert?

Now you're rubbing it in. That's just cruel.

Now you're being silly. Everybody knows that The Hive exists in an alternative universe where Superman is not nearly so cool.

Here I thought you were my biggest fan. So disappointing.

And then it's off with you to the Phantom Zone. Oh wait a minute...come to think of it I think that's where we all are already.

China is so hopping mad that it's exports have already exceeded 1 trillion dollars which is a record over any previous entire year. And 2025 isn't even finished yet. They're growling all the way to the bank.

Oh no! You know who I really am? In that case, who could you really be but Lex Luthor. Anyway, I got to get back to the fortress of solitude to watch Pluribus in 4D. Catch you later! And I do mean catch you.

It's not so much about the rate as the reason why the tariff is being imposed. They're valid when they're being used to protect a nascent industry. The amount of the tariff should be enough to protect that industry for a limited period of time. But it's nuts to be targeting the entire world.

Excellent point!

And not a word of thanks to you from any of them.

What don't you understand about what I just wrote? Targeted tariffs are one thing, imposing them universally is quite another.

As noted before. Biden's tariffs were targeted in a limited way at China. Trump has targeted everyone including China.

I can't speak for spidermike but I was pretty much I always am. Biden's tariffs were limited and targeted. Trump is pretty much spraying shrapnel.

Yes, it's such a good thing that religion is making a comeback in Russia with the enthusiastic support of Vladimir Putin. And the Russian Orthodox Church is returning the favor: Russian Orthodox Church declares “Holy War” against Ukraine and West By Brian Mefford Russian Orthodox Church declares “Holy War” against Ukraine and West The Russian Orthodox Church has approved a remarkable new document that spells out the Kremlin’s intention to destroy Ukraine while also making the ideological argument for a broader confrontation with the Western world. The decree was issued during a March 27-28 congress of the World Russian People’s Council, which is headed by Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill. It calls the invasion of Ukraine a “Holy War” with the explicit aim of extinguishing Ukrainian independence and imposing direct Russian rule. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/russian-orthodox-church-declares-holy-war-against-ukraine-and-west/ From Chatbot AI: Christians in Russia Under Attack From Putin’s Law Banning Evangelism Outside of Churches Impact on Religious Groups The laws have significantly impacted various religious minority groups known for their evangelism or who operate outside of traditional structures, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Pentecostals, and others. Jehovah's Witnesses The group's door-to-door practice was effectively banned, and the organization was later labeled an "extremist" group by the Russian Supreme Court in 2017, leading to a complete ban and persecution of its members. Baptist Churches Many Council of Churches Baptist congregations, which often meet in homes and refuse state registration based on their history of resisting state control during the Soviet era, have faced ongoing crackdowns, court orders, fines, and closures of their places of worship. Other Protestants Missionaries for groups like the Seventh-day Adventists have had to adjust their operations, with the Church officially registering its "missionaries" as "volunteers" to comply with the law and avoid discussing faith outside of approved locations. Russia's Patriarch Kirill in furore over luxury watch The Russian Orthodox Church has apologised for showing a photo of its leader Patriarch Kirill that was doctored to airbrush out a luxury watch he was wearing. The gold Breguet watch is estimated to be worth more than $30,000 (£19,000) and was spotted by Russian bloggers. The watch's reflection could be seen in the 2009 photo on the church's website. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17622820

Well, I believe that Russia is more than halfway to being an Orwellian state. I believe that Vladimir Putin is trying to recreate the Russian empire. Do you know that he calls the war that's being waged against Ukraine a "Special Military Operation"? And that it's actually a crime to call it a war? And what's even more unbelievable, there is at least one poll-takers in this forum who has adopted that usage.