SWITZERLAND - It seems as if not a generation goes by when some megalomaniac does not rise to proclaim, “If only the world does exactly as I demand, I will deliver you paradise here on Earth.” Usually, these same narcissists go down in history remembered as either vainglorious buffoons or bloodthirsty tyrants — often both.
CHINA - The conflict in Ukraine will spin out of control if a peace process does not start soon, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has said. The fighting between Russia and Ukraine has reached a “critical juncture,” Qin stated during his annual press conference in Beijing on Tuesday. “There will either be cessation of hostilities, restoration of peace and a move towards political settlement, or fuel will be added to the fire, the crisis will expand, and the situation will get out of control,” he warned.
USA - The Boeing Company is outsourcing nearly 700 white-collar American finance and human relations jobs to Bengaluru, India while securing millions more in United States tax dollars through congressionally-approved spending packages to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. Last month, reports confirmed that Boeing is laying off roughly 2,000 American employees doing financial and human resources (HR) work. Almost 700 of their jobs will be outsourced to India through the multinational corporation’s contract with Tata Consulting Services (TCS), an outsourcing firm based in India.
USA - Is this really so shocking? Yes, when I was growing up I would drink water directly from the garden hose that was used to water the lawn. In fact, kids all over America would drink water directly from a garden hose in the old days. It wasn’t a big deal.
EUROPE - The EU is conducting a “food war” against traditional Western dietary habits, according to Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Krzysztof Cieciora. The remarks came after a European Commission ruling in January approved the use of house crickets in food. Appearing on Poland’s Radio Lodz on Friday, Cieciora alleged that EU officials “are trying to change trends,” and argued that their recent decision represented “a battle” and “a food war.”
ISRAEL - On Friday, dozens of Israeli pilots — reservists who remain engaged in active service — met with the head of the Israel Air Force to raise burning concerns over the direction the governing coalition is taking Israel, and the consequences for their vital, ongoing role in the country’s defense. Noting that they represent hundreds more pilots across the IAF, they told him they felt the need to stress something that should not need stressing — that they will refuse to carry out illegal orders.
ITALY - Italy’s first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is steadily becoming the most important political leader in Europe. Some are even saying that it is her destiny to be the next Angela Merkel. If so, that would mean a dramatic change in direction for the European Union towards what she calls a confederal, instead of a federal, Europe — a Europe of sovereign nations rather than a superstate which, she told Italy’s most famous talkshow host Bruno Vespa, would “do less, do better.”
EUROPE - A shift to a wartime economy model in the EU has become imminent according to the commissioner for internal market of the European Union, Thierry Breton, who argued that the European defense industry must shift "to a wartime economy model to cater for our defense production needs." Breton explained that with the support of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the two were "determined to support the production ramp-up of the European defense industry to face the realities of a high-intensity conflict — starting with the question of ammunition," news outlets said Saturday.
USA - School board member suggests it isn't 'safe' to hire Christian teachers due to their support for monogamy, family, and sexual morality. A member of a woke school board responsible for Arizona's largest elementary district suggested last week that she wouldn't feel safe bringing in "biblically minded" teachers from a Christian university who hadn't ideologically conformed to the satisfaction of LGBT activists.
USA - A Christian school decided that sharing the Gospel was not enough and embarked on an effort to appease radical-left LGBTQ activists. They paid a fatal financial price for this move. Urban Christian Academy in Kansas City is a private, K-8 school which provides tuition-free education for low-income students. The school had always preached inclusivity in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ. The first part of their mission statement correctly notes that Jesus welcomes everyone.
USA - A gray-haired man walks through an office lobby holding a coffee cup, staring ahead as he passes the entryway. He appears unaware that he's being tracked by a network of cameras that can detect not only where he has been but also who has been with him. Surveillance technology has long been able to identify you. Now, with help from artificial intelligence, it's trying to figure out who your friends are.
USA - Remember the Beatles song, “Day Tripper”? You know, the 1965 tune, forever in rotation somewhere, that includes the lyric, “It took me so-o-o long, to find out. And I found out.” Well, that’s the way I feel about green energy. I found out. Call me slow if you wish, but I can explain. You see, I was always puzzled as to why the greens — starting from the top with Joe Biden and his must-hire from the donor class, climate envoy John Kerry — have been so adamant about “de-carbonizing” the US and yet have been so uninterested when the rest of the world keeps “carbonizing.” If someone wants to use a gas stove in the US, the greens are noisy in opposition, and yet when China builds a slew of new coal plants, they are silent. And, as some say, silence means consent.
USA - US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said this week that the US must prepare to win a future war with China over Taiwan by beefing up its military deployments in the region. "I personally am not of the view that an amphibious invasion of Taiwan is imminent," Wormuth said at an American Enterprise Institute event, according to Voice of America. "But we obviously have to prepare, to be prepared to fight and win that war."
CHINA - China is finally stepping up to its role as a superpower. This will change the world. The international sphere is aligning along two blocs, one led by the US and its allies, and the other by Beijing and Moscow. China has stepped up its diplomatic activity considerably. This is not only because it has broken out of the long-standing pandemic isolation that previously hampered its outreach. The main motive is that China’s role and weight in the international arena have grown to the point where contemplative detachment is no longer possible. This is an important shift in Chinese self-awareness; the question now is what changes in international practice it will lead to.
CHINA - China announced it will boost its military budget by nearly $230 billion this year amid concerns it will launch an invasion of Taiwan. The money is set to 'boost combat preparedness and enhance military capabilities,' claimed Premier Li Keqiang ahead of a draft budget presented to the National People's Congress in Beijing.
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The views expressed in this section are not our own, unless specifically stated, but are provided to highlight what may prove to be prophetically relevant material appearing in the media.