Author: Marshall Jennings

Paris, Brussels (20/10 – 87) In an atmosphere of justifiably feverish global anger, following the murderous attacks by Hamas troopers on a “peace concert” held near the border with Gaza and the massive retaliation by Israel, several nations have declined to jump on the bandwagon: notably, Malaysia is one. Anwar Ibrahim, its Prime Minister, has issued a statement refusing to make a reflexive condemnation of Hamas. History and alliances will tell us why. When attempting to figure out the way Malaysia is distancing itself from “world opinion” (actually the “management of consent” by administrative state-directed corporate media) it is important…

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is working with a team of researchers from across the country to address organic-compliant food safety concerns for the produce industry. The effort is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant as part of the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension initiative to help solve critical organic agriculture issues. The research team consists of food scientists from K-State and four additional universities — the University of Missouri, the University of Arizona, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia — and has an overall goal of developing new…

It’s been a busy few years of summits for Central Asian states. The leaders of the five countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) have held high-level meetings with Russia, China, India, the Gulf states, the president of the European Council, and now for the first time with U.S. President Joe Biden, scheduled on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly opening in New York next week. The renewed attention in the region from U.S. policymakers likely is part of their push to counter the influence of China and to court regional leaders after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. But…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Grief counselors are on site at Bullitt Central High School, after a student was killed in a car crash Friday night in Shepherdsville. The crash happened at Deatsville Road and Colyer Lane about 10:15 p.m. According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Ava (Luci) Krueger was taken to UofL Hospital where she died on Saturday morning. Luci was a passenger in the car that crashed. No details were released about the driver or the circumstances of the crash. Luci is survived by her parents, Amie and Todd Krueger, and her brother Noah. The Krueger family released…

Four Australian defense personnel are missing in the water off the east coast of Australia after they were forced to ditch their Taipan helicopter in the sea during joint wargame drills with the United States late Friday. Speaking at a press conference in Brisbane on Saturday, Defense Minister Richard Marles said the search was ongoing for the four crew of the Australian Army helicopter. “We meet this day with a heavy heart. Last night, just after 10.30, an Australian Army helicopter, an MRH-90, ditched in waters close to Hamilton Island. The helicopter was engaging in a two-helicopter mission,” Marles said.…

The US State Department on Thursday ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel from Haiti as the security situation in the country deteriorates. “On July 27, 2023, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees,” the agency said in an updated travel advisory. “U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges,” the travel advisory urges. “U.S. citizens wishing to depart Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and only do so when…

The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed at its meeting on 28 July to a request from the European Union for the establishment of a compliance panel to review the United States’ implementation of an earlier panel ruling regarding US countervailing duties on ripe olives from Spain. The DSB also adopted a panel ruling in a complaint filed by Japan regarding China’s imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of Japanese stainless steel. United States — Anti-dumping and countervailing duties on ripe olives from Spain The European Union submitted a request for the establishment of a compliance panel to determine whether the…

Paris, Brussels (29/7 – 75) Kazakhstan has started arbitration proceedings against companies developing Kashagan and Karachaganak oilfields, over US$13 billion and $3.5 billion respectively in costs deducted as part of profit-sharing deals, its Energy Minister said on April 11. “I can only say these lawsuits have been filed in the interest of the people of Kazakhstan,” Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev told reporters, declining to provide any further details about the claims. The offshore Kashagan field in northern part of the Caspian Sea, one of the biggest discoveries in recent decades, is being developed by Italian Eni, British Shell, French TotalEnergies,…

If there is a war with China over Taiwan, America’s regional allies aren’t likely to join the U.S. in fighting it. While it is often assumed in Washington that it could count on at least some of its treaty allies to support and join American forces, this is based on best-case scenarios and wishful thinking. Even the most reliable treaty allies, including Japan and Australia, would be reluctant to join what would be a very costly U.S. war effort. In the absence of allied support, the already daunting challenge of defending Taiwan would become even more difficult. The Wall Street…

Much of what is happening in the world today is a direct result of the US political system collapsing into chaos. The country is deeply polarized and most Americans have gravitated to one of two extreme political sides, with few asserting a moderate, centrist view. Angry discourses are exhibited by elected officials from the president down. Senators, governors and even local legislators have thrown themselves into heated and angry public diatribes in which there is no real discussion of the issue, only bullying of other people’s viewpoints. Former President Donald Trump’s weakness when he was in office was his inability…