#Siege of Beijing

[liberty1776]

Genghis Khan BBC Part 4 5

Genghis Khan invading northern China   The Siege of  Beijing

[mariacallous]

Europe is under siege—not by armies but by supply chains and algorithms. Rare-earth minerals, advanced semiconductors, and critical artificial intelligence systems all increasingly lie in foreign hands. As the U.S.-China tech cold war escalates, U.S. President Donald Trump battles Europe’s attempt to regulate tech platforms, Russia manipulates energy flows, and the race for AI supremacy intensifies, Europe’s fragility is becoming painfully clear. For years, policymakers have warned about the continent’s reliance on foreign technology. Those alarms seemed abstract—until now.

Geopolitical flashpoints, from the Dutch lithography firm ASML’s entanglement in the U.S.-China chip war to Ukraine’s need for foreign satellite services, reveal just how precarious Europe’s digital dependence really is. If Europe doesn’t lock down its technological future, it risks becoming hostage to outside powers and compromising its core values.

Fragmented measures aren’t enough. A European Chips Act here, a half-implemented cloud or AI initiative there won’t fix a system where every layer—from raw materials to software—depends on someone else. Recent AI breakthroughs show that whoever controls the stack—digital infrastructure organized into a system of interconnected layers—controls the future.

The U.S. government ties AI research to proprietary chips and data centers through its Stargate program, while China’s DeepSeek masters the entire supply chain at lower costs. Europe can’t keep treating chips, supercomputing, and telecommunication as discrete domains; it needs a unifying vision inspired by digital autonomy and a grasp of the power dynamics shaping the global supply chain.

Without a coherent strategy, the continent will be a mere spectator in the biggest contest of the 21st century: Who controls the digital infrastructure that powers everything from missiles to hospitals?

The answer is the EuroStack—a bold plan to rebuild Europe’s tech backbone layer by layer, with the same urgency once devoted to steel, coal, and oil. That will require a decisive mobilization that treats chips, data, and AI as strategic resources. Europe still has time to act—but that window is closing. Our proposed EuroStack offers a holistic approach that tackles risks at every level of digital infrastructure and amplifies the continent’s strengths.

The EuroStack comprises seven interconnected layers: critical raw materials, chips, networks, the Internet of Things, cloud infrastructure, software platforms, and finally data and AI.

Every microchip, battery, and satellite begins with raw materials—lithium, cobalt, rare-earth metals—that Europe doesn’t control. China commands 60-80 percent of global rare-earth production, while Russia weaponizes gas pipelines. Europe’s green and digital transitions will collapse without secure access to these resources. Beijing’s recent export restrictions on gallium and germanium, both critical for semiconductors, served as a stark wake-up call.

To survive, Europe must forge strategic alliances with resource-rich nations such as Namibia and Chile, invest in recycling technologies, and build mineral stockpiles modeled on its strategic oil reserves. However, this strategy will need to steer clear of subsidizing conflict or profiting from war-driven minerals, as seen in the tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the latter’s criminal complaints against Apple in Europe—demonstrating how resource struggles can intensify regional instability.

Above this resource base lies the silicon layer, where chips are designed, produced, and integrated. Semiconductors are today’s geopolitical currency, yet Europe’s share of global chip production has dwindled to just 9 percent. U.S. giants such as Intel and Nvidia dominate design, while Asia’s Samsung and TSMC handle most of the manufacturing. Even ASML, Europe’s crown jewel in lithography, finds itself caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China chip war.

Although ASML dominates the global market for the machines that produce chips, Washington is using its control over critical components and China over raw materials to put pressure on the company. To regain control, Europe must double down on its strengths in automotive, industrial, and health care chipsets. Building pan-European foundries in hubs such as Dresden, Germany, and the Dutch city of Eindhoven—backed by a 100 billion euro sovereign tech fund—could challenge the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and restore Europe’s foothold.

Next comes connectivity, the digital networks that underpin everything else. When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Kyiv’s generals relied on Starlink—a U.S. satellite system—to coordinate defenses. And U.S. negotiators last month suggested cutting access if no deal were made on Ukrainian resources. Europe’s own Iris2 network remains behind schedule, leaving the European Union vulnerable if strategic interests clash.

Meanwhile, China’s Huawei still dominates 5G infrastructure, with Ericsson and Nokia operating at roughly half its size. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has even floated buying Starlink coverage, underscoring how urgent it is for Europe to accelerate Iris2, develop secure 6G, and mandate a “Buy European” policy for critical infrastructure.

A key but often overlooked battleground is the Internet of Things, or IoT. Chinese drones, U.S. sensors, and foreign-controlled industrial platforms threaten to seize control of ports, power grids, and factories. Yet Europe’s engineering prowess in robotics offers a lifeline—if it pivots from consumer gadgets to industrial applications. By harnessing this expertise, Europe can develop secure, homegrown IoT solutions for critical infrastructure, ensuring that smart cities and energy grids are built on robust European standards and safeguarded against cyberattacks.

Then there is the cloud, where data is stored, processed, and mined to train next-generation algorithms. Three U.S. giants—Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—dominate roughly 70 percent of the global market. The EU’s Gaia-X project attempted to forge a European alternative, but traction has been limited.

Still, the lesson from DeepSeek is clear: Controlling data centers and optimizing infrastructure can revolutionize AI innovation. Europe must push for its own sovereign cloud environment—perhaps through decentralized, interoperable clouds that undercut the scale advantage of Big Tech—optimized for privacy and sustainability. Otherwise, European hospitals, banks, and cities will be forced to rent server space in Virginia or Shanghai.

A sovereign cloud is more than a mere repository of data; it represents an ecosystem built on decentralization, interoperability, and stringent privacy and data protection standards, with client data processed and stored in Europe.

Gaia-X faltered due to a lack of unified vision, political commitment, and sufficient scale. To achieve true technological sovereignty, Europe must challenge the monopolistic dominance of global tech giants by ensuring that sensitive information remains within its borders and adheres to robust regulatory frameworks.

When it comes to software, Europe runs on U.S. code. Microsoft Windows powers its offices, Google’s Android runs its phones, and SAP—once a European champion—now relies heavily on U.S. cloud giants. Aside from pockets of strength at companies such as SAP and Dassault Systèmes, Europe’s software ecosystem remains marginal. Open-source software offers an escape hatch but only if Europe invests in it aggressively.

Over time, strategic procurement and robust investments could loosen U.S. Big Tech’s grip. A top priority should be a Europe-wide, privacy-preserving digital identity system—integrated with the digital euro—to protect monetary sovereignty and curb crypto-fueled volatility. Piece by piece, Europe can replace proprietary lock-in with democratic tools.

Finally, there is AI and data, the layer where new value is being generated at breakneck speed. While the United States and China have seized an early lead via OpenAI, Anthropic, and DeepSeek, the field remains open. Europe boasts world-class supercomputing centers and strong AI research, yet it struggles to translate these into scalable ventures. The solution? “AI factories”—public-private hubs that link Europe’s strengths in health care, climate science, and advanced manufacturing.

Europeans could train AI to predict wildfires, not chase ad clicks, and license algorithms under ethical frameworks, not exploitative corporate terms. Rather than only mimicking ChatGPT, Europe should fund AI for societal challenges through important projects of common European interest, double down on high-performance computing infrastructure, and build data commons that reflect core democratic values—privacy, transparency, and human dignity.

The EuroStack isn’t about isolationism; it’s a bold assertion of European sovereignty. A sovereign tech fund of at least 100 billion euros—modeled on Europe’s pandemic recovery drive—could spark cross-border innovation and empower EU industries to shape their own destiny. And a Buy European procurement act would turn public purchasing into a tool for strategic autonomy.

This act could go beyond traditional mandates, championing ethical, homegrown technology by setting forward-thinking criteria that strengthen every link in Europe’s digital ecosystem—from chips and cloud infrastructures to AI and IoT sensors. European chips would be engineered for sovereign cloud systems, AI would be trained on European data, and IoT devices would integrate seamlessly with European satellites. This integrated approach could break the cycle of dependency on foreign suppliers.

This isn’t about shutting out global players; it’s about creating a sophisticated, multidimensional policy tool that champions European priorities. In doing so, Europe can secure its technological future and assert its strategic autonomy in a rapidly evolving global order.

Critics argue that the difference in mindset between Silicon Valley and Brussels is an obstacle, especially the bureaucratic nature of the EU and its focus on regulation. But other countries known for bureaucracy—such as India, China, and South Korea—have achieved homegrown digital technology from a much lower technological base than the EU. Indeed, through targeted industrial policies and massive investments, South Korea has become a world leader in the layers of chips and IoT. The EU currently already has a strong technological base with companies such as ASML, Nokia, and Ericsson.

European overregulation is not the issue; the real problem is a lack of focus and investment. Until now, the EU has never fully committed to a common digital industrial policy that would allow it to innovate on its own terms. Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s recent report on EU competitiveness—which calls for halting further regulation in favor of massive investments—and incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bold debt reforms signal a much-needed shift in mindset within the EU.

In the same spirit, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched a defense package providing up to 800 billion euros to boost Europe’s industrial and technological sovereignty that could finally align ambition with strategic autonomy.

If digital autonomy isn’t at the forefront of these broader defense and infrastructure strategies, Europe risks missing its last best chance to chart an independent course on the global stage.

To secure its future, Europe must adopt a Buy European act for defense and critical digital infrastructures and implement a European Sovereign Tech Agency in the model of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—one that drives strategic investments, spearheads AI development, and fosters disruptive innovation while shaping a forward-looking industrial policy across the EU.

The path forward requires ensuring that investments in semiconductors, networks, and AI reinforce one another, keeping critical technologies—chips, connectivity, and data processing—firmly under the EU’s control to prevent foreign interests from pulling the plug when geopolitics shift.

Europe’s relative decline once seemed tolerable when these risks felt hypothetical, but real-world events—from undersea cable sabotage to wartime reliance on foreign satellite constellations—have exposed the EU’s fragility.

If leaders fail to seize this moment, they will cede control to external techno-powers with little incentive to respect Europe’s needs or ideals. Once this window closes, catching up—or even keeping pace—will be nearly impossible.

The EuroStack represents Europe’s last best chance to shape its own destiny: Build it, or become a digital colony.

[wutheringheightsfilm]

5, 10, 22, 31 !! :3

5. What’s something you learned while researching a fic?

While writing Odd Geometry I've learned lots! I think my favorite bit though so far has been looking up different architectural schematics for Beijing (I was using the layout of some of the city walls as inspiration for the siege at Hejian coming in chapter 12) and that was super fascinating.

10. Is there a character or ship you'd love to write for, but haven't yet?

I saw @llycaons blogging about jiang yanli/qin su recently and I found that really interesting, but there's also mianqing... I want to write a fic centered around women! But who knows if I'll ever get around to it. There's also the BBC Merlin story rewrite I want to do, and have actually outlined, but just haven't written. Who knows. I do have an actual dissertation I'll need to be writing so...

22. Did you do anything special to celebrate finishing a fic?

Well when I finish odd geometry I'll let you know! Aside from one shots, I've never finished a fic before. LMAO

31. What fic meant the most to you to write?

This question is honestly two fold... because there is a set of stories my friend @robertwalton and I write together that is technically fanfic, but it's also technically not... (if we just changed the names of the characters it wouldn't be fanfic at all, it's completely unrecognizable from their original properties) and getting to write within that universe has been so special to me... but Odd Geometry also has meant so so much because it's been such a collaborative effort and it's been coming together so beautifully.

thank u jana ily 🩷

[darkmaga-returns]

As U.S. tariffs tighten the screws on China’s export machine, Beijing is striking back—with strategic precision. Export restrictions on rare earths are now Beijing’s latest move to break down European trade barriers and push back against escalating pressure from Washington.

In today’s global trade standoff, the gloves are off. The U.S. is wielding its market clout—25% of global consumption originates from the American domestic market. Anyone in the export business must deal with the United States. China, meanwhile, holds an unchallenged monopoly on rare earths—and is making it clear it will not hesitate to weaponize that dominance. The stakes are rising, and national interests now override globalist courtesies.

No Friends—Only Alliances

Europe is learning the hard way: in geopolitics, there are no friends, only temporary alliances. China’s tightened export controls on rare earth elements risk plunging Germany’s industrial sector into a severe resource crisis. With nearly 85% of global rare earth refining under its control, Beijing is the chief supplier of key metals like dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium—critical for electric motors, medical tech, and defense systems.

[theculturedmarxist]

Beijing has condemned what it called a “heinous attack” on a Gaza hospital that brought the Palestinian death toll to nearly 3,500, and it warned that the region will be “engulfed” without a complete ceasefire.

Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun delivered China’s statement to the UN Security Council on Wednesday as Washington voted amid the Israel-Gaza war against a United Nations resolution to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

During the Security Council’s emergency briefing on Wednesday – a day after a deadly blast on Al-Ahli hospital killed hundreds of civilians and medical workers – Zhang denounced an “indiscriminate use of force” and urged Israel to “effectively fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law”. The Israeli military has denied claims it was behind the attack.

“Developments over the past few days have amply demonstrated that an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire must be the overriding priority … Without a comprehensive ceasefire, any amount of humanitarian assistance will be a drop in the bucket,” Zhang said in a strongly worded statement to the council.

“If the current fight in Gaza is allowed to drag on, the end result will not be a complete military victory for any side, but rather most likely will be a catastrophe that will engulf the entire region, that will probably completely end the prospect for the two-state solution,” Zhang said.

China’s embassy in Israel has advised its nationals to leave the country or return to China as soon as possible to “avoid risks and ensure safety”, especially while commercial flights are still operating.

At an earlier vote, the United States was the only country in the 15-member council to veto a Brazil-sponsored resolution to condemn all violence against civilians in the war and urge humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Russia and Britain abstained.

“Arab countries have issued a strong call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. The international community should heed this just call of Arab countries and the Palestinian people, and unite all diplomatic efforts towards this goal,” said Zhang, who warned against plunging the Israeli and Palestinian people into “a vicious cycle of hatred and confrontation”.

The conflict had been brewing for decades before Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, during which the disparity of force and casualties between Israel and Palestine widened as more Palestinian territories were occupied. According to UN numbers, between 2008 and just before the current conflict began, 6,407 Palestinians were killed compared with 308 Israelis.

Zhang further suggested that Palestinians were left with few options to survive Israel’s carpet bombing, stressing that “the basic needs of the people in Gaza must be ensured”.

“Tens of thousands of people have been forced to move south because of the emergency evacuation order issued by Israel, only to suffer from air strikes in the south as well,” Zhang said, noting Israel’s total siege of water, electricity and fuel in the Gaza Strip.

Since its occupation of the West Bank in 1967, Israel has controlled all water resources and water-related infrastructure. Water consumption by Israelis is at least four times that of Palestinians living in the occupied territories, according to Amnesty International.

Supplies, electricity and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip are similarly controlled by Israel.

[paganimagevault]

Sogdian and Chinese men of the Tang Dynasty 618-907 CE

Despite the An Lushan revolt probably primarily consisting of populations physically similar to modern-day East Asians, as shown by the leadership overwhelmingly of Kumo Xi and Turkic ancestry, Caucasoid populations such as the Sogdians were targeted for their foreign appearance. The butchers actually seem to have been initially on the Turkic side and were defectors who switched sides to join the Tang Chinese side later. Tian Shengong was initially a supporter of the Turkic rebellion but defected to China later, he was the leader behind the Yangzhou Massacre of 760.

Gao Juren was the leader behind the ethnic cleansing of Sogdians in Fanyang and Youzhou. He initially supported the Turkic rebellion and appears to have been of Goguryeo origins (one source said he came from present day North Korea precisely) but defected to China later. Gao Juren was killed a short time after this: "The former Yan rebel general Gao Juren of Goguryeo descent ordered a mass slaughter of West Asian (Central Asian) Sogdians in Fanyang, also known as Jicheng (Beijing), in Youzhou identifying them through their big noses and lances were used to impale their children when he rebelled against the rebel Yan emperor Shi Chaoyi. High nosed Sogdians were slaughtered in Youzhou in 761. Youzhou had Linzhou, another "protected" prefecture attached to it, and Sogdians lived there in great numbers. Because Gao Juren, like Tian Shengong wanted to defect to the Tang dynasty and wanted them to publicly recognize and acknowledge him as a regional warlord and offered the slaughter of the Central Asian Hu "barbarians" as a blood sacrifice for the Tang court to acknowledge his allegiance without him giving up territory, according to the book, "History of An Lushan" (安祿山史記). (taken from Wikipedia)

From Medium:

"Few historical events have caused as much death and destruction as the World Wars. The An Lushan rebellion was one of them. The An Lushan revolt, also called the An-Shi rebellion, occurred in China from 755 to 763 AD. It was one of the bloodiest wars in human history. In 754, 52 million people lived in China, but after the war, that number dropped to 16.3 million in 764.

You may wonder if a fight in the eighth century killed as many people as the First World War.

If Chinese censuses are to be trusted, the answer is yes. Steven Pinker, a rationalist thinker, called the disaster “the biggest atrocity in history,” since it wiped away one-sixth of humanity.

Historians are divided about the death toll. Many of the deaths happened during the period because the empire was in chaos. Some experts suggest people leaving Tang China and taking refuge in neighboring regions caused the drop in population.

At Fanyangn, the Tang general Gao Jure killed all the Sogdians, even the children. He distinguished them by recognizing them by their eyes and noses. This is one of the earliest documented cases of ethnic cleansing in history, in which the rulers targeted citizens based on their ethnicity.

Tang forces slaughtered thousands of Persian and Arab merchants during the Yangzhou massacre (760) on the suspicion of assisting the rebels.

In Chinese society, the trust had completely broken down.

One of the worst tragedies happened in the city of Suiyang. After a brutal siege by the Yan forces, the Tang defenders ran out of food. The Tang soldiers, however, refused to submit. Zhang Xun, the general defending the city, murdered his concubine in front of his men and fed her to them. The troops cried, but when commanded by the general, they ate the poor woman.

Cannibalism was rampant during the siege of Suiyang. People began devouring the dead, and families began exchanging their children for food. The soldiers soon started eating the old women and then turned on young women and men of all age groups. Estimates suggest that 20,000 to 30,000 people were eaten. Yet, the Tang army refused to submit.

The number of people who died during the An Lushan rebellion could have been anywhere from 13 million to 36 million. It is easy to argue that the civil war was one of the most catastrophic disasters in human history."

-Prateek Dasgupta, The Bloody 8th Century Conflict That Wiped Out One-Sixth of the Human Population

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 11/15/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 11/15/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

Russia

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been trained across Europe for the war with Russia. French trainers say they are careful not to get close to the Ukrainian cadets over fears they will be killed on the frozen front lines. The AP reported that Ukrainian soldiers preparing for deployment have resigned themselves to the “grimness of the future.” The Institute 

A facility to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets was officially opened in Romania on Monday as NATO countries are working to get the US-made warplanes to the battlefield in Ukraine. AWC

China

Biden Hopes Normal Coorspondace Between Washington and Beijing Can Be Reestablished During Meeting with Xi. X

Expectations are low for the meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping that will take place Wednesday in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. AWC

Israel

The UN says 100 of its staff have been killed in Gaza. X

A group of US-based aid, advocacy, and religious groups sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging the Pentagon to scrap plans to provide Israel with 155mm artillery rounds due to the massive civilian casualty rate in Israel’s war on Gaza. AWC

A State Department dissent memo obtained by Axios slams President Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, saying the US is backing Israeli “war crimes.” AWC

Dozens of State Department Employees Have Signed Dissent Cables Slamming Biden’s Support for Israel. X

More than 400 US officials from 40 government agencies have sent a letter to President Biden criticizing his unconditional support for Israel’s war in Gaza in the latest example of dissent from within the US government. AWC

Hamas’s armed wing said Monday that it discussed with Qatari mediators a deal to free up to 70 Israeli hostages in exchange for a five-day ceasefire and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. AWC

Doctors at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital are pleading for help as the medical facility has ceased functioning after its power failed over the weekend amid an Israeli siege. The medical staff has refused to evacuate the hospital due to fears that the approximately 700 hundred patients they would leave behind will die. AWC

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is expected this week to introduce a bill to block an arms transfer to Israel, which will mark the first piece of legislation aimed at reining in President Biden’s strong support of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza. AWC

Two members of the Israeli Knesset wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal arguing for Western countries to take in refugees from Gaza as Israeli officials continue to call for Palestinians to be pushed out of the enclave. AWC

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other members of Congress spoke at a pro-Israel rally at the National Mall in Washington DC on Tuesday, where demonstrators made clear their opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza. AWC

Dutch Defense official in Israel says violates “international treaties and laws of war” and increases the chance of regional escalation. X

Around 180 decomposing bodies at the al-Shifa hospital will be buried in a mass grave at the hospital. X

Middle East

US Forces in Iraq and Syria Targeted at least Four Times After US Airstrikes on Sunday. XAWC

A US official told Reuters on Tuesday that up to seven people were killed in the US airstrikes in eastern Syria on Sunday that targeted Shia militias. AWC

Read More

[ultramaga]

"Tariffs = Higher prices" It's funny how Leftists had no problems with the tariffs when it wasn't done by Trump.

Leftism could be summed up by "it's good when WE do it!" "Mass deportations = broken communities" Sorry your community of criminals is being broken up. You can re-unite with the thieves and murderers at their new address - Columbia.

"Gay and trans rights = human rights" No, humans have human rights - there's no separate species called "trans".

You don't have a right to sexually mutilate the kiddies. Get over it.

"Doing the nazi salute"

You wouldn't know what a Nazi looked like if they goose stepped on your face.

Leftists love the tactic of taking natural human behaviours and maliciously misinterpreting them.

The ADL and Israel made it clear that Musk didn't Sieg Heil, he danced and scrunched and - as his words made clear beforehand - gave his heart to the audience.

Leftists spend two years praising actual islamofascists, people who unironically do give nazi salutes and who do buy mein kampf - and are now pretending to give a damn about antisemitism?!!!

Some not so hot takes:

Tariffs = Higher prices

Mass deportations = broken communities

Gay and trans rights = human rights

Doing the nazi salute on live tv = being a nazi

How can anyone disagree with this stuff dude

[ij-reportika]

BREAKING: Remembering the Tiananmen Square Massacre – A Brutal Chapter in History

On June 3-4, 1989, Beijing’s Tiananmen Square became a battlefield where ~1.5M pro-democracy protesters faced a ruthless crackdown by the CCP, leaving 10,000 dead and over 1M brutally injured. Today, we unveil a chilling report exposing the horrors of that day.

Here is a heartful op-ed written by Dolkun Isa: https://ij-reportika.com/justice-for-tiananmen-is-justice-for-all/

Read the comprehensive Report by https://x.com/ijreportika:

On-the-Ground Horror Unveiled

Eyewitnesses recount a night of terror: tanks crushed crowds, soldiers fired on unarmed citizens, and blood-soaked streets marked the death of hope. Our new report uncovers the raw, unfiltered truth of the massacre.

A City Under Siege

As darkness fell on June 3, 1989, the CCP’s military unleashed lethal force. Protesters were shot point-blank, some trampled by armored vehicles. A survivor’s haunting words: “It was a slaughter.” Our report reveals the scale of this brutality.

Global Condemnation, CCP Silence

The world condemned the massacre, but the CCP buried the truth—10,000 lives lost, over 1M injured. Tank Man’s defiant stand remains a symbol of courage, his fate still a mystery. Foreign journalists faced death and torture. Our report exposes the cover-up.

TiananmenSquareMassacre #StopCCPGenocide

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 5.27 (before 1960)

1096 – Count Emicho enters Mainz, where his followers massacre Jewish citizens. At least 600 Jews are killed. 1120 – Richard III of Capua is anointed as Prince two weeks before his untimely death. 1153 – Malcolm IV becomes King of Scotland. 1199 – John is crowned King of England. 1257 – Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and Queen of the Germans at Aachen Cathedral. 1644 – Manchu regent Dorgon defeats rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allowing the Manchus to enter and conquer the capital city of Beijing. 1703 – Tsar Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg. 1798 – The Pitt–Tierney duel takes place on Putney Heath outside London. A bloodless duel between the Prime Minister of Great Britain William Pitt the Younger and his political opponent George Tierney. 1798 – The Battle of Oulart Hill takes place in Wexford, Ireland; Irish rebel leaders defeat and kill a detachment of militia. 1799 – War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeat the French at Winterthur, Switzerland. 1813 – War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George. 1860 – Giuseppe Garibaldi begins the Siege of Palermo, part of the wars of Italian unification. 1863 – American Civil War: The first Union infantry assault of the Siege of Port Hudson occurs. 1874 – The first group of Dorsland trekkers under the leadership of Gert Alberts leaves Pretoria. 1883 – Alexander III is crowned Tsar of Russia. 1896 – The F4-strength St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado hits in St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois, killing at least 255 people and causing over $10 million in damage. 1905 – Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima begins. 1915 – HMS Princess Irene explodes and sinks off Sheerness, Kent, with the loss of 352 lives. 1917 – Pope Benedict XV promulgates the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the first comprehensive codification of Catholic canon law in the legal history of the Catholic Church. 1919 – The NC-4 aircraft arrives in Lisbon after completing the first transatlantic flight. 1927 – The Ford Motor Company ceases manufacture of the Ford Model T and begins to retool plants to make the Ford Model A. 1930 – The 1,046 feet (319 m) Chrysler Building in New York City, the tallest man-made structure at the time, opens to the public. 1933 – New Deal: The U.S. Federal Securities Act is signed into law requiring the registration of securities with the Federal Trade Commission. 1935 – New Deal: The Supreme Court of the United States declares the National Industrial Recovery Act to be unconstitutional in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, (295 U.S. 495). 1937 – In California, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic, creating a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County, California. 1940 – World War II: In the Le Paradis massacre, 99 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to German troops; two survive. 1941 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims an "unlimited national emergency". 1941 – World War II: The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic, killing almost 2,100 men. 1942 – World War II: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is fatally wounded in Prague; he dies of his injuries eight days later. 1950 – The Linnanmäki amusement park is opened for the first time in Helsinki. 1958 – First flight of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

[velvialifestylesummit]

The ostensible strategic recalibration of Russia and China in military alliance may be impeccable for the time being but premeditated look can be deceiving without considering the actuality of historical relationship in the past century including the disastrous moment of China in WWII. This includes the sole development of nuclear submarine without technical support of Russia and the ceded territory of Manchuria China under the coercive treaty of annexation. The vexed city of Vladivostok tends to recall the actual relationship of China and Russia. Irrespective of the specious allegations of Sergey Lavror the top diplomat of Russia to palliate the fabricated alliance of BRICS, the plangent military insurgency of Pakistan and China telltales the actual standpoint of China in WWIII. Undeniably the uncompromising naval deterrence of India to lockdown the maritime passage of Karachi can trigger new conflict in the Arabian Sea. The so-called strategic alliance of Russia and China under the interactive manipulation of Putin and Xi does not represent the historical relationship of Beijing and Moscow in the past. The siege of Russia and its military counterparts could become otherwise should there be a change of leadership for Kremlin and Beijing in the years to come. Indeed the first lady of Kremlin supporting the regime of Putin should be nominated for the next presidency of Kremlin instead of nominating a figurehead as the president to lead the Russia Federation under morass condition. Likewise the unapologetic worship of Japan to honour its military cemetery for WWII appears the actual relationship of Japan with the countries in the vicinity. It reminds the necessary military resurgence of Japan in confronting the unfinished impact of WWII on the national security of Japan and Taiwan amid the maturity of WWIII in 2025. The island chain relationship of Japan and Taiwan is likely to be destroyed by the hypersonic bombardments of China where the energy infrastructure of Taiwan and Japan can be razed overnight. The unprotected Finnish border facing the military deployments of Russia appears the looming continental warfare of Europe which should be recalibrated to strengthen the continental security with massive hypersonic missiles for urgent deployments, it appears the citadel of Helsinki is now under the military lockdown for airstrike bombardments of Russia with explicit ultimatum of war from Moscow to NATO. Being instantly labelled as the vicious regime of NAZI associated with the massive carnage in Russia resulted the sacrifice of 26 Million of Russian people during WWII, the volte-face of Finland is likely to be the next country in war amid the incredulous military recalibration of Russia and its counterparts in the region. Nonetheless the neutrality of WWIII will be the final judgement in the destiny of Europe.

[rainytimetravelfart]

10 Essential Navy Current Affairs for 2025: Charting the Future of Maritime Power

The tides of global defense are shifting, and nowhere is this more evident than in the blue waters patrolled by the world’s naval forces. As 2025 sails into the horizon, the navy current affairs 2025 are rich with innovation, international strategy, and groundbreaking advancements that are redefining maritime power and security. From AI-assisted vessels to climate-responsive operations, the world’s navies are not just adapting — they’re evolving.

Here are 10 essential navy current affairs for 2025 that every defense analyst, maritime enthusiast, and global citizen should know.

1. AI-Integrated Warships Take the Helm

One of the biggest leaps in navy current affairs 2025 is the deployment of AI-assisted combat ships. The U.S. Navy, Indian Navy, and Royal Navy have started integrating AI into ship command, threat detection, and navigation systems. These "thinking vessels" are capable of autonomous decision-making during high-stakes missions, reducing response time and increasing tactical efficiency.

Imagine a warship that can scan, assess, and counter a drone swarm without waiting for human command—this is no longer science fiction; it's active reality.

2. Green Naval Operations Go Full Steam

As global pressure mounts to combat climate change, navies are stepping up. The Royal Australian Navy has launched a new fleet of hybrid-electric patrol ships, while the Scandinavian coalition has pioneered biofuel-powered vessels. Sustainability in defense is not only ethical—it’s becoming a strategic advantage.

In 2025, expect sustainability to be a front-line factor in naval policy and procurement. The oceans demand it.

3. Quad Maritime Exercise Intensifies Indo-Pacific Strategy

The navy current affairs 2025 spotlight shines brightly on the Quad alliance—India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia. Their latest naval drills in the Indo-Pacific featured real-time cyber defense simulations, joint anti-submarine warfare, and satellite-synced fleet maneuvers.

This exercise marks a firm stance against aggressive maritime expansion and sends a powerful message about strategic unity in turbulent waters.

4. Unmanned Submarines Revolutionize Undersea Warfare

Say hello to the ghost fleet. In 2025, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) have evolved from prototypes to mission-ready assets. These stealthy, AI-driven machines are being used for surveillance, mine detection, and even covert strike operations in contested zones.

The U.S. Navy’s Orca XLUUV and India’s AUV-3 “SeaSura” are leading examples of this silent revolution beneath the waves.

5. Naval Cybersecurity Under Siege

With digitization comes vulnerability. 2025 has seen a sharp uptick in cyberattacks on naval infrastructure. From communication jamming in the South China Sea to ransomware targeting Western naval databases, cybersecurity has become as critical as sonar.

Nations are rapidly deploying cyber fleets—specialist units designed to counter digital threats on the high seas.

6. China’s Blue-Water Ambitions Expand

A key player in navy current affairs 2025, China continues to expand its blue-water navy, including the addition of its fourth aircraft carrier and several nuclear-powered submarines. Their presence in the Indian Ocean and Arctic routes has triggered alarm bells in both NATO and ASEAN corridors.

Observers warn of a growing imbalance in regional maritime power, with Beijing's strategy shifting from coastal defense to global reach.

7. Women in Command – A Maritime Milestone

Diversity sets sail as navies across the globe elevate women into top command roles. The Indian Navy recently appointed its first female carrier battle group commander, while the U.S. Navy saw a record number of women assuming submarine captaincy.

This shift isn’t just about representation—it’s about reshaping the leadership fabric of naval culture.

8. Rescue and Relief Missions Dominate Peace-Time Ops

Climate disasters have pushed navies into humanitarian frontlines. Cyclones in Southeast Asia, tsunamis in the Pacific, and oil spills in the Atlantic saw naval forces conducting high-risk evacuations and aid delivery.

The humanitarian dimension is now an essential pillar of modern naval deployment.

9. Arctic Naval Race Heats Up

With melting ice caps opening up new trade routes, 2025 has seen increased naval activity in the Arctic. The U.S., Russia, Canada, and China have all enhanced their icebreaker fleets and Arctic surveillance systems.

The Arctic, once a frozen no-man’s-land, is becoming the new maritime chessboard of the 21st century.

10. India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (INS Vikrant II) Sets Sail

A proud moment in navy current affairs 2025 is the commissioning of India’s second indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant II. Built with state-of-the-art radar systems, vertical launch missiles, and carrier-borne drones, it’s a testament to India’s growing maritime self-reliance.

This addition elevates India’s power projection capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, balancing regional naval power dynamics.

Final Thoughts: Navigating the Future

The navy current affairs 2025 highlight one undeniable truth: sea power remains a cornerstone of global security and diplomacy. As nations compete, collaborate, and innovate, the naval domain is being transformed not just by technology, but by values—sustainability, inclusivity, and humanitarianism.

In an era where the oceans connect us all, staying updated with these developments is not just for defense professionals—it's for everyone.

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[ad_1] China is promoting Chinese culture domestically against Western influence, which could be a tangible sign that the country is preparing for an extended period of isolation or siege.“China has expanded an initiative to create a new academic discipline that aims to stamp out Western bias in ethnic studies as Beijing works to consolidate its narrative on a unified national identity,” according to a South China Morning Post report. This could be a new concept bypassing the old binary division between ethnicities inherited from the USSR.“Museums should ‘refute all kinds of wrong historical views, including attempts to create a binary opposition between China’s Central Plains and the border areas, between Han and non-Han groups, and between Han culture and the cultures of ethnic minorities,” said Pan Yue, director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, who is ethnically Han.Pan, an extremely sophisticated official, is also in charge of the campaign against Western bias. Thus, the project could be coherent: reinforcing national unity without ethnic divisions that “mischievous foreigners” could exploit and gradually stamping out Western cultural influence, which “mischievous foreigners” could again use for undue impact in the country.Besides national concerns, there are real cultural issues. Ge Zhaoguang (whose essays are also translated on this website) notes in the third volume of his “Zhongguo Sixiang shi” (History of Chinese Thought, 2001) that at the turn of the 20th century, China reorganized all its thinking according to Western categories. China didn’t have subjects like philosophy, religion, or economy, which were introduced via Japanese translations. The recategorization of thought brought a new worldview and system to rearrange even past Chinese knowledge and tradition. This realignment was perhaps never fully socially digested, and the Chinese lived between two worlds, the new Western and the traditional one, neither fully grasped. Mao’s Cultural Revolution also addressed the issue by attempting to wipe out the culture of the past, but things possibly got worse. This attempt seems, at first glance, more cautious and more grounded. Yet these actions could hamper other developments.Talking to a Western WorldBeijing sees the US as deep in an opioid crisis, similar to what contributed to the downfall of the Qing dynasty 200 years ago. The official People’s Daily reported that with 5% of the total world population, the US consumes 80% of all the world’s opioids.About 200 years ago, the imperial court restricted opium imports at the beginning of the 19th century. Still, British traders argued it was the only product the Chinese were willing to buy from abroad.The British, in 1840, and then an alliance of Western powers in 1856, fought two wars to liberalize the opium trade in China. Historically, the Chinese blamed opium addiction for the ensuing national decadence, while foreigners shrugged off the issue, arguing that the Chinese people’s consumption was the problem.Currently, the US and China are locked in a controversy over fentanyl consumption in America. Components for fentanyl—a synthetic drug that can be manufactured anywhere—are mainly exported by China. Those components are also used to produce medical drugs for clinics and hospitals.It seems like an opium crisis in reverse two centuries later. American officials blame China for turning a blind eye to the trafficking of fentanyl components. At the same time, the Chinese argue that American addiction to opioids is the real issue, asserting that blaming China won’t resolve it.The US is losing its young lives and its moral compass in the fentanyl crisis, which is possibly the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 49. The US and China are collaborating to stem the fentanyl trade, but the US isn’t apparently satisfied with the results. Two centuries ago, these tensions led to war. Will there be a new opium war now?In a parallel development, China is ramping up its diplomacy to replace the US, which is rattling the world with tariffs.A culture of communicationThe world relies on Western culture for communication. It’s not just a matter of language; it’s an issue of culture. Herein lies a dilemma: if China promotes its culture to replace Western culture, it risks losing the “language” needed to engage with the world. China may even require further Westernization to communicate with America amid its opioid crisis or to replace the US altogether.Replacing the Western culture that has shaped the world for five centuries is a daunting task that cannot happen overnight. It requires considerable time. If the US is stepping off the center stage and China wishes to engage with the world, it must be able to talk through “Western culture”; otherwise, it will not understand and will not be understood. Moreover, if the US opioid crisis leads to a collapse, China will again need to communicate with Americans and Europeans. In a century or so, they might learn “Chinese culture,” but in the meantime, they must understand and be understood. In this new context, China’s Westernization would be necessary.Stamping out Western concepts could be beneficial if China is defeated globally and the US survives its many crises.Yet there’s a deeper underlying problem: many Western concepts and categories are no longer relevant. The crisis initiated by US President Donald Trump reflects a sense of insecurity and threat that America feels as a nation and within the global system.China’s systemic approach to rethinking cultural categories mirrors its overall problem-solving methodology: there must be a system reset. The answer may not be ideal, but the issue is undeniably real.It’s unclear if the US will use a holistic, systemic approach to tackle its domestic problems that translate into the opioid crisis and the trade controversy, which deal with China but do not end with China. It’s also unclear whether its present strategy will suffice to cope with systemic China.This article first appeared on Appia Institute and is republished with permission. Read the original here. [ad_2] Source link

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Trump’s Tariff Offensive Falters as China Shows Resilience

Bond market backlash curbs tariff ambitions while China’s domestic demand and tech self‑reliance blunt Washington’s coercive strategy

President Donald Trump’s latest tariff broadside was billed as a decisive break with ‘unfair’ trade, yet after a week of market turmoil and diplomatic estrangement the United States stands largely alone, its leverage blunted, while Beijing signals it can endure a long economic siege.

The Power Play Behind the Tariffs

Arthur Kroeber, writing in the Financial Times on 13 April, contends that the president’s trade war is less an economic strategy than “a desire to accumulate and exercise power”. Tariffs offer two attractions: they can be imposed unilaterally and, in Trump’s long‑held view, the rest of the world will pay almost any price for access to the US consumer. A blanket 10% duty now covers nearly all imports, with steel, aluminium and vehicles taxed at 25%, and Chinese goods hit by an eye‑watering 145% surcharge. The White House portrays this as coalition‑building against Chinese mercantilism. In reality, says Kroeber, the aim is to “remove the constraints imposed by the global economic order on the unilateral exercise of US power”.

Markets Clip Washington’s Wings

Investors delivered an early judgement. Yields spiked and equities slid when the administration threatened fully reciprocal levies; within 48 hours the plan was watered down. “The bond market sets the size of his tariff stick, and it is much smaller than he thought,” Kroeber observes. With financial conditions already tight, a fresh round of duties would risk another rout, leaving the president little room to escalate. Trading partners have noticed. Leaders from Tokyo to Brussels now seek narrow deals exchanging token concessions for lower tariffs, confident Washington cannot credibly raise the ante.

Beijing’s Quiet Preparation Pays Off

At first glance China looks cornered — exports to the United States are shrinking and diplomatic solidarity is thin. Beneath the surface, however, years of US export controls have forced companies to “get very good at making things without American technology”. Domestic demand has been muted by earlier monetary restraint, yet President Xi Jinping has pivoted towards consumption‑led growth. Releasing that pent‑up spending power could offset lost US orders and attract fresh capital, limiting any slide in the renminbi to a modest two or three percent.

Supply Shock Meets Stagflation Risk

The United States relies on Chinese inputs at roughly three times the rate China depends on US components. Higher costs are already squeezing manufacturers and feeding consumer inflation. Kroeber warns of a “supply shock and possible stagflation” that fiscal tweaks cannot cure. By contrast, Beijing confronts a demand shortfall — a problem amenable to monetary easing and targeted stimulus. The asymmetry undercuts Washington’s hope that tariffs alone will compel capitulation.

Strategic Failure Looms

Trump’s bet was that fear of exclusion from the world’s largest market would force allies into line and China to its knees. Instead, allies mistrust American motives, financial markets police the scale of the offensive, and China is structurally fitter than assumed. “If the aim is to get Beijing to bend the knee before US power, the result will only be frustration and disappointment,” Kroeber concludes. On current evidence the tariff war is set to end not in triumph but in higher prices at home, frayed alliances abroad and a Beijing emboldened by its resilience.

✱ Arthur Kroeber’s article in the Financial Times can be read here.

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Xi's Plan for Dealing with Trump's US

// Analysis of CCP’s Contingency Blueprint Amid U.S. Economic Warfare (via Transcript)

Abstract

This is not a simple trade dispute. It is a declaration of ideological and geopolitical incompatibility. The reciprocal tariff moves between the Trump administration and Xi Jinping’s China mark a deeper shift—away from globalization as we knew it, and toward systemic bifurcation of world order into rival economic blocs with military implications.

ANALYSIS:

1. THE STRATEGIC MANIFESTO IN DISGUISE Xi’s internal CCP resolution—kept behind “confidential room” doors and reportedly leaked by disillusioned insiders—is less a reactive tariff playbook and more a grand design for post-American hegemony. Framed as a “decisive great struggle,” the document outlines a multi-front confrontation: economic, military, political, and cultural. That phrase alone suggests Maoist resurrectionism fused with Leninist realpolitik, dressed in a 21st-century narrative shell.

2. WEAPONIZING GLOBALIZATION AGAINST ITS ARCHITECT The United Front strategy is laid bare: flip America’s allies by stoking resentment over U.S. tariffs. Xi’s gambit is to isolate Trump globally by leveraging WTO sympathies, bolstering ties with Germany, France, and even wavering U.S. partners like Japan and South Korea. It’s a classic reversal play—use U.S. liberal institutions (WTO, multilateralism) to undermine U.S. unilateral power. But the Achilles heel is trust. China’s domestic repression and aggressive military posture drain credibility, even among nations economically entwined with it.

3. ECONOMIC WEAPONS OF MASS DISRUPTION The resolution proposes financial first strikes—mass liquidation of $1 trillion in U.S. Treasuries and $2 trillion in U.S. corporate securities. Coupled with a forced repatriation of officials’ offshore funds, this is both deterrent and threat. But it’s a Pyrrhic blade: slashing global market stability and decoupling from U.S. markets would detonate internal Chinese pain faster than American collapse.

4. FROM CURRENCY TO CONFLICT When strategy touches the Taiwan Strait, rhetoric becomes raw. The CCP envisions a “systematic information-based full-domain” war, with the strategic goal of pushing the U.S. military east of Hawaii. This is not bravado—it’s a doctrinal plan. The resolution describes nuclear deterrence, decapitation strikes on Guam, and a frontal conventional war—all while assuming domestic unity and command fidelity. But Beijing’s internal whisper campaigns suggest the opposite: paranoia, factional disloyalty, and the specter of a military coup during wartime.

5. THE DOMESTIC UNRAVELING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Yuan Hongbing’s disclosures tap into rising anxiety within CCP ranks. Far from projecting strength, Xi’s internal maneuvers appear to be galvanizing existential dread among the party elite. With youth unemployment skyrocketing and the legacy of COVID mismanagement still festering, officials fear both revolt and internal mutiny—particularly from the military, where many officers are reportedly “double-faced.” A war could be Xi’s attempt to save his regime—or the trigger for its collapse.

6. TRUMP’S COUNTER-NARRATIVE: DUEL OF DESTINIES From Trump’s camp, the logic is blunt and binary: destroy China’s economic rise now or let American primacy rot. In this framing, the trade war is not about balance of payments—it’s a preemptive strike in a civilizational rivalry. Yuan paints it as fated—the irreconcilable clash between Xi’s communist totalitarianism and Trump’s nationalist capitalism. It’s Carl Schmitt’s friend-enemy distinction taken global.

SUMMARY: The document is not merely a wartime protocol—it is a paranoid projection of a fading empire preparing for confrontation on every front. Xi’s strategic vision reveals a worldview in siege mode, trying to forge order from domestic chaos and external hostility. But the internal signals—panic, whispers of mutiny, disbelief in strategic fantasies—suggest a regime teetering on the brink. Meanwhile, Trump’s maneuver pins China into a corner where every reaction digs the grave deeper.

This isn’t about tariffs. It’s about tectonic plates of power grinding toward a rupture in the Taiwan Strait.

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The New Age of Geopolitical Organization

The New Age of Geopolitical Organization

While the world was focused on the trade war, indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the Uited Stated, AP News reported.  The talks come on the heels of an unflattering IAEA report and a trilateral summit among Russia, Iran and China.  The goal was onve again moving Iran toward normalization after the JCPOA was abandoned by the US in 2015.

In recent times the US has been focused on Iran after its show of military capacity in the Levant.  Iran has proven to be more capable, connected and military savvy than first predicted. Many of It's allies in the Middle East have also proven capable of breaching Tel Aviv's "Iron Dome."  Since the Gaza siege, Israel has been proven to be highly impregnable and dependent on NATO/G7 alies.  A 2024 Al-Jazeera report revealed that most reconnaissance missions and other air cover was provided by its Wester allies.  The European strongman in the Levant has proven to be nothing more than a mildly useful Western proxy.

While Iran protested the IAEA report, it has also protested recent United Nations overtures, LeMonde News reports.  According to reports a official has threatened to oust the UN official on site.  However this is not without precedent,  as World body institutions have often directed  schizophrenic moves that bolster unterests ahead of state rights.  Most recently the ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Ex-Philippine president, who was detained in his state which does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. These moves were also condemned by China, which has been supportive of the UN cgarter.

The Philippino arrest happened almost days between an announcement by Hungary that it would be ceding from the ICC as it welcomed its regional own.  The European leader ruling  the Israel of the Levant visited Hungary in 2025.  The recent criticisms in Europe seem to stem from the worldwide leverage of these bodies to demand justice, where such mechanisms once turned a blind eye. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo,  Haiti and other Global South states have demanded the withdrawal of UN troops, missions and mandates.  As it becomes clearer in a more connected world who benefits and who does not benefit from such operations and organizations.  Apart from ineptitude in peacekeeping, negotiating and other directives, many states have seen these institutions work on behalf of the Rules Based Order and not charter rules.

Even international financial organizations like the IMF, World Bank, and World Trade Organization have proven detrimental to economies over the years. Just recently, US lawmakers uncovered an IMF scheme to deposit environmental levies from foreign mining companies in Centra Africa into offshore banks to appeciate, Bloomberg News reported. From destructive financial policies to useless austerty measures and debt traps, world financial institutions have played a vital role in subjugating the Global South.  The obsessive and incessant need to privatize public works and infrastructure has left emerging economies pawned to dark money hedge funds and multinationals that stomp out domestic SMEs and local control.

While ceasefires were organized in late 2024-early 2025, the carnage contiues in Gaza.  Just recenty, over 1000 IDF and scholars signed six petitions demanding an end to the ethnic cleansing campaign and a hostage agreement.  If it seems cyclical,  it's because it is.  The Levant has been under siege since the advent of the Post World War II order.  It is perhaps why the Levant tilts at its most precarious now, with the least popular support ever.  A report by Gallop revealled many Americans have waned, with support dropping massively since the seige began.

Additionally, China has levied multiple complaints against the USA for market hostilities, during Uncle Sam's nearly 10-year Trade War.  Yet dispute these moves, nothing has come of those complaints. Beijing has accomplished more in its own responses and strategies than international organizations today.  It is not that these bodies could not be helpful, they simply do not have the means to be effective.

While it is not recommended that the UN be sidelined immediately, it is obvious that a new world body is essential.  Even the architects of the Old Order are disengaging and dismantling these Post World War II institutions, as the USA has pulled out of UNRWA, Reuters reported. For far too long such bodies have been idealistic bubbles of diplomatic elocution, rather than execution. Ads to that, they have been heavily funded and managed by the receding Rules Based Order which has begun to fails to serve its own authors. Very little has been accomplished where it mayters most; and those most susceptible to its limited powers to punish and reprimand have been developing economies and proxy strongmen from the Global South. 

The swinging bond market, trade war, Ukraine conflict, money system decline, dedollarization, industrialization among other geopolitical changes is forcing a new world.  And it is reasonable to assume that the UN will eventually have to concede alongside the old order that created it.  These are not hard concepts because their causes are moving the world ever closer to a new age. 

It is during these formative ties that states should begin formulating a new framework for international geopolitics.  These talks can be had at major summits like the G77, OPEC/+ and regional meets like the Turkiye-Africa Summit.  The UN charter has perhaps passed its usefulness.   New treaties and new ideas are necessary to keep up with the new leadership, technology and systems emerging to reshape our world. The old gaurd must step aside. The New Age of Geopolitical Cooperation must emerge. Because the old one is falling apart.

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