In a blog article dated 21 June 2023, I wrote about a Five Eyes UAP forum held by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office Director Sean Kirkpatrick. In part, I looked at whether or not an Australian representative was at that forum. Here is an update.

Grant Lavac's questions

Hon Richard Marles MP Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

Australian researcher Grant Lavac, based in Melbourne, Victoria, submitted a number of questions to the Richard Marles, MP, Australian Minister for Defence, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. His questions were:

1. Why is Australia not publicly taking the issue of UAP seriously when our US ally is, and has publicly stated that UAP is a global issue requiring global cooperation and collaboration?

2. As the Australian Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister have you been briefed on the issue of UAP to date?

3. What was the extent of Australia's involvement in the Five Eyes forum on UAP and who from Australia was represented?

4. What is the extent of Australia's (past and present) in the Five Eyes Foreign Material Program (FMP)?

The Australian Government response

#Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic used by individuals, including some religious and. cult leaders, to undermine the beliefs and perceptions of others.

In the context of religious coercive control, here are ten examples of gaslighting phrases that may be used to dominate the belief system, thoughts, and actions of targeted individuals:

1. Youre just not spiritual enough to understand. This phrase dismisses any doubts or questions an individual may have by implying that their lack of understanding is due to a personal failing rather than valid concerns.
2. God revealed to me that youre under the influence of evil. By claiming divine insight, the cult leader suggests that any disagreement or resistance against their teachings is a result of external evil forces acting upon the targeted individual.
3. Your doubts are a sign of weak faith. This phrase aims to discourage critical thinking and self-reflection, dismissing any legitimate concerns or challenges to the cult leaders /pastors teachings as a lack of faith.
4. If you leave, youll lose your salvation. Cult leaders may use fear-based tactics to prevent individuals from leaving, suggesting that leaving the group or questioning their authority will lead to eternal damnation or separation from God.( The all powerful Father figure).
5. Only I can interpret the true meaning of the scriptures, you need to trust me. By asserting exclusive interpretive authority, the cult leader discourages independent study or alternative perspectives, maintaining control over the followers understanding of religious texts.
6. Your family and friends are trying to lead you astray they dont understand /they are not saved like you are. Cult leaders may isolate individuals by discrediting their relationships outside the group, creating an us versus them mentality that further entrenches loyalty to the leader.
7. Your negative experiences are a test from God. This phrase minimises any negative experiences or abuses suffered within the group, suggesting that they are part of a divine plan or a test of faith that must be endured.
8. Youre sinful, if you leave, youll never find salvation elsewhere. Cult leaders may instil a sense of guilt or shame in individuals, making them believe that they are unworthy of seeking freedom or finding spir...

Understanding Religious Vicarious Trauma and Identifying Religious Coercive Control: A Closer Look at the Pentecostal Church

In recent times, the mainstream media has brought attention to the Pentecostal church, shedding light on certain aspects that warrant further discussion and how to spot the warning signs.

I was working in the area of domestic violence and coercive control when a young family member was targeted for indoctrination on a youth camp, which is one of the most common practices in the recruitment process. Over the many years that she remained under the Pentecostal spell, I spoke out about what was clearly psychological and religious coercive processes. This created a great deal of conflict in relationships in my family and if this has happened to you it is important to know that feeling powerless, and unable to intervene, is very common vicarious trauma symptom in response to how high demand religions organise themselves.

I have written about how to recognise Spiritual Gaslighting here: https://carolom.wordpress.com/2023/07/01/spiritual-gaslighting-by-religious-cult-leaders/

Indoctrination-It begins with connecting with the kids in their high school settings so it is important to have a clear understanding with the school about their high school chaplaincy program to see if Pentecostal recruiters are able to have access to children without accountability structures in place.

It is common practice for the youth pastors to #lovebomb the kids in isolated camps settings where they skilfully apply Pentecostal practices of conducting rapidly changing psychological and emotional states in group settings, putting the teenagers (minors) through emotionally vigorous, mind altering worship, prayer, tears, arms raised leading to commanding them to give their life to Jesus, which usually includes the pastor who has indoctrinated them.

I have provided insights into how young people can be targeted for indoctrination on youth camps and potential tools for the recovery process for families when a member escapes a high-demand religion like the Pentecostal church or a cult.

Religious Vicarious Trauma: Religious vicarious trauma refers to the psychological and emotional distress experienced by individuals who are indirectly exposed to traumatic events through their association with a religious group or community.

It occurs when individuals witness or hear about traumatic experiences that others within their religious c...

by Dee McLachlan

Has Klaus Schwab over-stepped his Great Reset plan and shot himself in the foot? It is becoming so obvious to so many what is unfolding yet he and they keep on rolling on with their plan and congratulating and rewarding the same people.

While young medical students a...

Taxpayer funded arseholes.

Obviously, one of the biggest problems with the death penalty is that if you get it wrong and they do occasionally get it wrong you cant take it back. Just ask the family of Cameron Willingham.

But another far less acknowledged problem is that on countless occasions, US states have ended up executing people who, by all any fair measure, are rehabilitated.

In 2001, in the course of a robbery, 25-year-old Jedediah Murphy kidnapped a 79-year-old woman, Bertie Lee Cunningham, before executing her in the trunk of her car. Murphy a product of Texas foster care system was caught and confessed to his crime.

The video below is part of an ongoing project from Houston MediaSource, which gives voice to prisoners awaiting execution on Texas infamous Death Row, a state where they take pride in killing prisoners regardless of their rehabilitation status, and sometimes even their guilt or innocence.

Murphy is scheduled for execution in October 2023. His insights in this interview are profound and moving, and should be required viewing for anyone who supports the death penalty.

As Murphy himself says: Be part of someone elses redemption, dont be part of their destruction.

You can read a petition for a writ of certiorari (a request for the US Supreme Copurt to review Murphys case) here.

The post The Most Compelling Cases Against The Death Penalty Are Often The Condemned Inmates Themselves appeared first on New Matilda.

Pope Francis has met with the family of imprisoned WikiLeaks founder and Australian publisher and journalist Julian Assange in a private audience in the Vatican.

Stella Assange, along with her children Max and Gabriel, and her mother and brother, met with Pope Francis on Friday.

In an interview with Associated Press, Stella Assange said she was grateful for the meeting.

[Pope Francis] has provided great solace and comfort and we are extremely appreciative for his reaching out to our family in this way, Ms Assange said. He understands that Julian is suffering and is concerned.

I have a lot of faith that the situation will change, and there are a lot of people around the world, from all parts of the world here and elsewhere, who are trying to get justice and see freedom for my husband.

Overnight, Julians brother Gabriel Shipton tweeted his appreciation at Pope Francis meeting with the family, noting his response was wildly different to that of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

https://twitter.com/GabrielShipton/status/1674754763651690496

Today Pope Francis in a show of care, compassion and humanity met with Julian Assanges family Stella Assange, her children, mother and brother. I couldnt help thinking back to last month when Stella was in Australia, Julians home, and the Prime Minister refused to meet her.

Assange remains jailed without charge in Britains Belmarsh Prison, as his lawyers fight his extradition to the United States for alleged breaches of the US Espionage Act. The charges relate to Assanges involvement with Chelsea Manning, a former US soldier who leaked Assange a trove of classified documents in 2010, including the infamous Collateral Murder video, which revealed US military targeting and killing innocent people, including journalists, in Iraq.

Assange has been effectively under arrest for more than a decade, after seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012. He remained there until 2019, when he was arrested by police after a new government in Ecuador revoked his asylum. Assange was jailed for a year for breaching earlier bail conditions, and has since been held without charge while he awaits a legal challenge to a US extradition warrant.

The post Pope Francis Meets With Family Of Julian Assange appeared first on New Matilda.

I think of our website, contributors, commenters, tipsters and readers as being like a family. And I have some important news to share with our online clan. On Friday I had a coronary angiogram - where a contrasting agent is injected into the body's blood supply to show up all...

Do you know how fresh and healthy grocery store produce actually is? The answer is not very! How can you tell how fresh and healthy grocery store produce actually is? All fruits and vegetables start losing precious nutrients as soon as theyre picked. And for some crops, you can be eating them weeks or []

The post 2023 Superfood Gardening Global Gathering Free 5-Day Online Event first appeared on Wake Up World.

Ukraines ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, was summoned to provide answers for his blistering critiques of Tel Avivs relations with Moscow, attempting to paint the Israeli government as deviating from a moral path due to its inability to cut relations with Russia. Despite the various means of support that Israel has provided to Kiev, it Read More...

The post After Ukraine Slams Israels Relations With Moscow, Will Tel Aviv Change Its Stance On The War? appeared first on The Last American Vagabond.

H.R. 3099 was Introduced in the House of Representatives on May 5, 2023. This bill, known as the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act, is the latest act by the United States in the service of Israel.

This bill establishes the position of Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords within the Department of State. For anyone who does not remember, the Abraham Accords are agreements to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states that do not recognize Israel. It is an anti-Palestinian accord more than anything. It should be named a bill to guarantee that governments who go against the wishes of their people and are willing to turn their backs to the plight of the Palestinian people will be rewarded.

The first four members of the Arab League to sign this accord were the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The initial signing took place in the White House during the Trump administration, and it should be noted that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu were the only heads of state present. The other countries sent their foreign ministers, ostensibly so as not to be seen signing this disgraceful agreement. It is worth noting that there was extensive widespread opposition to normalizing relations with Israel in all countries that signed the accords.

A US ambassador in the service of Israel

According to the bills text, the Special Envoy, who shall have the rank and status of ambassador, shall serve as the primary advisor to the U.S. government for expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords. The duties of the Special Envoy include:

Encouraging countries without diplomatic relations with Israel to establish formal diplomatic, economic, security, and people-to-people ties;
Expanding and strengthening existing relationships between Israel and Muslim-majority countries; and
Coordinating efforts across the U.S. government and engaging diplomatically with foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords.

The language in the bill demands that we ask why in the world is the U.S. government engaged in serving the interests of Israel so blatantly. Indeed, the U.S. will be selling arms to these countries, but a larger picture here is not being discussed, at least not enough. You have to hand it to Israel and even more to the Israeli lobby here in the U.S.: They got a superpower to work as Israels sales agent and pay for it. American taxpayers will now be paying additional millions of dollars to solicit or rather bully countries who have not yet established relations with Israel to do so. Is this the best use of American taxpayer dollars? Does this serve Americans in any way? The answer to both questions is No!...

READ MORE AT UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY  Moves by the Albanese Government to fine social media...

Can Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mount a serious primary challenge against President Joe Biden? That is the question on everybodys mind following a poll earlier this month showing Kennedy with a very robust favorability rating. And, after crunching the numbers, we have a definitive answer: Yes. If the two competed for the Republican nomination, RFK Jr. would be a formidable opponent for Biden.

Just last night, both Sean Hannity and Bill OReilly, two stalwarts of right-wing blowhardiness, raised the possibility that the son of Democratic icon Bobby Kennedy could upset the incumbent president.

They are absolutely correct. In a GOP primary, Kennedys high favorability among voters of Donald Trump would probably carry the day for him. That is especially true because Republicans do not like Joe Biden.

A whopping 61 percent of Trump voters have a favorable opinion of Kennedy. That is higher than the favorability ratings of Mike Pence (not surprisingly), Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and Vivek Whateversmarmy.

As it turns out, only two presidential candidates have a higher favorability score among Republicans than Kennedy and neither of them is named Joe Biden.

In fact, the president languishes at the bottom of the Republican primary field with a favorability score of five percent and, lets face it, the handful of Trump voters who said they liked him were probably drunk, high, or didnt understand the question.

This is just more evidence that it would be a very bad idea for Biden to enter the GOP primary as he would be an underdog not just against Kennedy but also just about everybody else.

And, in a head-to-head matchup with RFK Jr. for the Republican nomination, Biden would get crushed.

There are two reasons for that: First, there is a multibillion-dollar right-wing propaganda machine that has been painting Biden as a (senile...

Well, as you can tell, this week we've all been guessing what's going on with the so-called coup, so today (Friday) I have decided

The post THAT RUSSIAN COUP THING YET AGAIN appeared first on The Giza Death Star.

I have compiled the following information after many years of meeting women in domestic violence shelters who have experienced violence both in their adult relationships and as a child in the family or caregivers home.

Please note that whilst the following can be perceived as precluding gender diversity as it relates specifically to the women I have met in Domestic Violence Womens shelters for over 35 years where the issue of women overcoming the impact of a violent father /primary caregiver is very current in many womens lives. However this does not preclude maternal violence or the diverse range of primary carers and gender diversity outside of the traditional father / mother / daughter /son narrative.

Conflicted Loyalty and Vicarious Trauma Symptoms

1. Conflicted Loyalty: Women who have grown up with a violent father often experience conflicted loyalty due to the complex dynamics of their relationship. They may feel torn between their love for their father and the fear and pain caused by his violent behavior.
2. Fear and Anxiety: Women who have experienced violence from their primary paternal figure may develop intense fear and anxiety as a result of living in an unpredictable and violent environment. They may constantly anticipate danger and have...

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB

A lawsuit in the US District Court of Eastern Missouri will be a turning point, I hope. The alleged misdeeds of a GAL: Guardian ad Litem were so egregious that no one can excuse them. In June 2023 it was ruled that the GAL may not have immunity.

I offer you a brief review of the lawsuit that has been filed, by zeroing in on the main parts. I make no clai...

Media release

On 20 July 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense published a media release titled "DoD Announces the Establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office." The text of the release reads:

https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/03/2002592680/-1/-1/0/210212-A-BI463-0003.JPG

"On July 15, 2022, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence [DNI], amended her original direction to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security by renaming and expanding the scope of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group [AOIMSG] to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office [AARO], due to the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2022, which included a provision to establish an office, in coordination with DNI, with responsibilities that were broader than those originally assigned to the AOIMSG.

Today, USD (I&S) Hon Ronald S.  Moultrie informed the department of the establishment of AARO within the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, and named Dr. Sean M. Kirkpatrick, most recently the Chief Scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center, as the Director of AARO.

The mission of the AARO will be to synchronize efforts across the Department of Defense, and with other US federal departments and agencies, to detect, identify and attribute objects of interest in, on or near military installations, operating areas, training areas, special use airspace and other areas of interest, and, as necessary, to mitigate any associated threats to safety of operations and national security. This includes anomalous, unidentified space,...

1.00 AUD = 0.00002 BTC
0.00010 BTC = 4.55 AUD
Converter

by G5

Barr, Roberts, Pence, and McConnell as The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse, who facilitated the fraud of 2020.

I have written of th...

Factories sulk with sweat and grit Cafes and hairdressers wild with renewed hustle Slick-back and jet-black and conk shaved of sick disarray, and one dark fringe longer and falling without the need to flick it back.

The post Poetry | GENTRIFYING PARRA appeared first on Overland literary journal.

Im honoured to be a long-list finalist for the Moore Prize, a global literary and human rights award. My book, The Palestine Laboratory, has been selected alongside 13 other titles.

The Moore Prize is international, with submissions coming from all over the English speaking world (and beyond through translations). Its headquarters are in the UK.

Its wonderful to have my book and work recognised.

Heres the full details:

The Christopher G. Moore Foundation is delighted to announce an exciting long list of 14 books that are outstanding in their portrayal of a wide range of human rights themes. The trustees of the Foundation were impressed with the record number of books submitted this year. Each long listed book has been chosen because of its fine quality of writing and ambitious, brave and original approach to highlighting crucial human rights issues across the world.

The 2023 long list titles are as follows (alphabetical by author surname):

• The Fifth Act Americas End in Afghanistan by Elliot Ackerman

• I Feel No Peace Rohingya Fleeing Over Seas and Rivers by Kaamil Ahmed

• Masters of the Lost Land The Untold Story of the Fight to Own the Amazon by Heriberto Araujo

• ...

My interview on the BBC World Services daily program, Newsday, about my new book, The Palestine Laboratory.

I talked with the host James Copnall about the EU use of Israeli drones and the Israeli arms industry.

My interview starts at 35:30.

The post BBC World Service interview on The Palestine Laboratory appeared first on Antony Loewenstein.

Malicious Attacks on Chinas Patriotic Education Law Aim to Weed Out Patriotism

By Global Times

Jun 29, 2023 09:18 PM

Three men hold Chinese national flags at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Tuesday after the flag-raising ceremony. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Imagine if a government were to introduce legislation against drug dealing, who would feel the most frightened and troubled? The most likely answer would be drug dealers. In the case of China's recent legislative push for the spirit of patriotism in the country, some forces have exposed themselves as those "drug dealers."

This week, a draft patriotic education law was submitted to China's National People's Congress Standing Committee for its first reading. Several external voices subsequently attempted to give such an effort a bad name in different ways. Some criticized the draft for "brainwashing younger generations," some said it was "forcing people to love tyranny," and others saw it as a way to "suppress dissent." 

Patriotic education is an important component of national education in almost all countries. If we observe the global scenario, we will find that it is a common practice in many nations to promote and guarantee patriotic education through the rule of law.

For example, a study reveals that the US has more than 600 laws and regulations and more than 1,700 provisions related to patriotism, forming a patriotism-revolved legal system consisting of federal legislation, state legislation, and presidential executive orders to ensure the cultivation of patriotism. 

However, when it comes to China, every aspect of a similar legislative move is interpreted through a distorted lens. It is extremely absurd and malicious for some external forces to use such a double standard.

Patriotism has been deeply rooted in Chinese culture since ancient times. It is regarded by the Chinese people as one of the most important traditional virtues and is taught to children generation after generation. The smear campaign against Chinese patriotic education legislation is clearly...

June 15, 2023, podcast host Joe Rogan interviewed¹ Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for three hours. Contrary to so many other interviewers, Rogan allowed Kennedy ample time to discuss his views on vaccines without interruptions.

The facts laid out by Kennedy apparently rubbed vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez² the wrong way. In a June 17 tweet, Hotez posted a Vice article titled Spotify has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogans Vaccine Misinformation.

Addressing the author of that smear piece, Hotez stated, Its really true @annamerian just awful. And from all the online attacks Im receiving after this absurd podcast, its clear many actually believe this nonsense. Never mind the fact that Hotez, in April 2020, was allowed to argue his pro-vaccine stance on Rogans show.³

Hotezs fly-by smear attempt set off an extended back-and-forth Twitter exchange between Hotez, Rogan and Kennedy. In the video above, comedian Jimmy Dore reviews those exchanges.

Rogan Offers Hotez $100K to Debate Kennedy

Rogan replied to Hotez tweet, saying, Peter, if you claim what RFK Jr. is saying is misinformation, I am offering you $100,000.00 to the charity of your choice if youre willing to debate him on my show with no time limit.

Kennedy also chimed in, tweeting, Peter. Lets finally have the respectful, congenial, informative debate that the American people deserve. Hotez replied to Rogan, Joe, you have my cell, my email, Im always willing to speak with you.

Rogan, in turn, replied This is a non-answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit Vice article. If youre serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person.

Hotez came back at Rogan: Joe, if you are serious about addressing vaccines + the fact that 200,000 unvaccinated Americans needlessly perished during our awful delta/BA.1 COVID waves ... because they fell victims to vaccine disinformation: I want to have that discussion.

So, hes willing to go on Rogans show again by himself. But not with someone who knows the science w...

Contributed by Ben Wilson

Protests are rocking France again. This time its over the police shooting and killing of a 17 year old at a traffic stop. Being of Algerian descent, he was not white, and like in the United States, racial killing of black and Brown skinned people by police is commonplace.

Videos from the incident show two police officers leaning into the driver-side window of a yellow car, and as the car drives away, one of the officers shoots into the window. Later on, the car appears crashed into a nearby post. This is a George Floyd type moment.

Prosecutors quickly urged for the police officer who fired to be investigated and he is in custody and possibly facing being charged with intentional homicide. President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the killing. But this has not been enough to contain the anger.

French President decries police shooting of 17 years old

Video from ABC News

The government is now having crisis meetings to deal with the situation. Police claims that the seventeen year old was known to them and was speeding away havent convinced anyone. Video footage on the scene and widely broadcast show the gun poking through the car window while the car was stopped. The officer fired at point blank range.

Paris is a segregated city. Police have a reputation for targeting working class and African communities. Complaints about racial profiling by police have been common,

Nanterre, where Nahel M lived, happens to be one of these communities, and anger has been simmering, waiting for a catalyst to ignite an explosion. This was it.

Police responded brutally, and unrest quickly spread across France.

Protests continue in France following police shooting 

Video from ABC News (US)

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (6/29/23).
As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant.
(https://www.rokfin.com/TLAVagabond)(https://www.bitchute.com/channel/24yVcta8zEjY/)

!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");

 

Rumble("play", {"video":"v2uhjm3","div":"rumble_v2uhjm3"});

Video Source Links (In Chronological Order)

The ending video I forgot to include:
https://twitter.com/thebabylonbee/status/1674516355935252487



Malaria found in US for first time in 20 years
A Billion Lab-Grown Mosquitos Are Being Released and People Are Freaking Out
Mosquitoes Turned into 'Flying Vaccinators' | Fox News
New Tab
(19) Coronavirus Plushie on Twitter: ""Saying I'm anti-vaccine is a way of silencing me" @RobertKennedyJr answers a question from a doctor about his stance on vaccines. Video credit @NewsNation #Kennedy24 #Kennedy2024 https://t.co/EQ7D2PldDO" / Twitter
(19) Chief Nerd on Twitter: "They will not tell you that theres any vaccine that has ever undergone a long-term placebo controlled trial prior to licensureYou can go to my website and see where the HHS says yeah there are none. https://t.co/5gfkdsFvRM https://t.co/lSKDgENZzV" / Twitter
(19) Aaron Siri on Twit...

Woke NSW Labor insanity here caving in to Aboriginal spirituality.

Mount Warning, like all Australia, was there long before the Aboriginal walked down from SE Asia.

Falls Creek, Australia, has seen a whopping 90cm (35 inches) of snow fall in the last seven days. After a slow start to the season, which saw Falls Creek unable to open for snowsports on Opening Weekend, the weather gods have made up for it, taking the average depth at the Victorian ski resort to 97cm (38 inches). The area saw a nice top up of 23 cm (9 inches) in the last 24 hours.

ASIA:

A recent report revealed that internet shutdowns in Manipur and Punjab, India, had a significant economic impact. The shutdowns cost the Indian economy an estimated $1.9 billion, led to a loss of $118 million in foreign investment, and resulted in approximately 21,268 job losses. This highlights Indias high risk of internet shutdowns, which stood at 16 percent in 2023, one of the highest in the world. The report also noted that global internet shutdowns reached a record high in 2022, with governments implementing restrictions during civil unrest, exams, and elections, causing major economic consequences. Governments often mistakenly believe that shutting down the internet can control unrest, misinformation, and cybersecurity threats. However, these shutdowns severely disrupt economic activity, impacting e-commerce, time-sensitive transactions, employment, business-customer communications, and creating financial and reputational risks for companies.

The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:

• NIKKEI 225 increased 40.15 points or 0.12% to 33,234.14
• Shanghai decreased 6.99 points or -0.22% to 3,182.38
• Hang Seng decreased 237.69 points or -1.24% to 18,934.36
• ASX 200 decreased 1.60 points or -0.02% to 7,194.90
• Kospi decreased 14.17 points or -0.55% to 2,550.02
• SENSEX closed
• Nifty50 closed

The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:

• AUDUSD increased 0.00318 or 0.48% to 0.66308
• NZDUSD decreased 0.00033 or -0.05% to 0.60707
• USDJPY increased 0.305 or 0.21% to 144.765
• USDCNY increased 0.01954 or 0.27% to 7.26174

Precious Metals:

• Gold increased 1.92 USD/t oz. or 0.10% to 1,909.34
• Silver decreased 0.123 USD/t. oz or -0.54% to 22.597

Some economic news from last night:

Japan:

Retail Sales (YoY) (May) increased from 5.1% to 5.7%

Australia:

Retail Sales (MoM) (May) increased from 0.0% to 0.7%

New Zealand:

ANZ Business Confidence (Jun) increased from -31.1 to -18.0

Some economic news from today:

Japan:

Household Confidence (Jun) increased from 36.0...

Beatboxing became popular in the 1980s, when Doug E. Fresh performed the style around the New York City hip-hop scene. However, the seeds of this vocal technique, which involves making two sounds at once, can be found hundreds of years ago in the vibrato of the Zulu isicathamiya vocalists and tabla bols of Hindustani singers. But could this vocal style have roots further back? According to a new study in PNAS Nexus, researchers have found some clues in one of our closest animal kin the orangutans. Researchers observed orangutans for 3,800 hours in Borneo and Sumatra, recording two populations making beatbox-like vocalizations. Humans rarely produce voiced and voiceless noises simultaneously. The exception is beatboxing, Madeleine Hardus, study co-author, said in a statement. But the very fact that humans are anatomically able to beatbox, raises questions about where that ability came from. We know now the answer could lie within the evolution of our ancestors. Orangutans can produce special calls that involve combining two different sounds. For example, females in Sumatra produce kiss squeaks at the same time as rolling calls to alert other orangutans of predators. The studys authors say this highlights their impressive vocal control and coordination skills. https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2023/06/29200208/orangutan_compressed.mp4   Humans use the lips, tongue, and jaw to make the unvoiced sounds of consonants, while activating the vocal folds in the larynx with exhaled air to make the voiced, open sounds of vowels, Adriano Lameira, associate professor of psychology at the University of Warwick and co-author of the research, said. OrangutansThis article was originally published on Mongabay

If you want to ignite a firestorm among scholars of English literature, just bring up the possibility that the author of the works that now constitute the Shakespeare canon were not written by the historical figure William Shakespeare but by another author who, for whatever reason, chose to be anonymous and had him act as a front. To keep the issue under discussion clear, some people refer to the author of the canon as the Bard and to the historical figure as William Shakespeare, so that the question can be formulated as to whether the Bard was William Shakespeare or someone else.

One would think that the issue would have been resolved by now but part of the problem is that although many doubts can be raised as to Shakespeare being the Bard, the alternatives also have problems. Furthermore, one could analyze the question from different disciplines such as literature, history, and linguistics, each with their own methodologies, and arrive at different conclusions.

Elizabeth Winkler is the latest to enter into this minefield with a new book, according to this article.

The doubters point to Shakespeares lack of higher education and aristocratic background and the scarcity of personal documents and literary evidence directly linking him to the works. Some suggest candidates such as Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe or Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, as potential authors of Shakespeares plays.

It would of course have been the hoax of the millennium: no need to fake a moon landing. The theory remains decidedly fringe, outside the mainstream academic consensus and, as Winkler puts it, not permitted. In her book, Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies, she writes that it has become the most horrible, vexed, unspeakable subject in the history of English literature.

In literary circles, even the phrase Shakespeare authorship question elicits contempt eye-rolling, name-calling, mudslinging. If you raise it casually in a social setting, someone might chastise you as though youve uttered a deeply offensive profanity. Someone else might get up and leave the room. Tears may be shed. A whip may be produced. You will be punished, which is to say, educated. Because it is obscene to suggest that the god of English literature might be a false god. It is heresy.

But Winkler not only looks at the authorship question but also at why this topic arouses such strong passions on all sides, and why defenders of Shakespeare as the Bard are so determined to rebut any challenge to his authorship. After all, there is nothing really tangible involved in the answer, either money or other forms of reward. We have the canon. Shouldnt that be enough?

Her book makes three compelling arguments: tying th...

......

Sometimes you come across people that permanently change the way you think. About life, yourself, or an area of study. They instill a sense of resolute optimism about the world and your abilities. Bear Braumoeller was that person for us. Wise, accomplished, brilliant, humble, and kind. Anyone who can be remembered that way lived life well. Bear is one of those people. He was our professor, mentor, colleague, and friend. We were richer for knowing him, and are poorer for his passing.

We first got the chance to meet Bear during our recruitment process to Ohio State. We gravitated toward him and his research. Bear went out of his way to bring in the best and brightest graduate students to the program, and was absolutely relentless in his efforts. He took phone calls from us, discussed all of our options, and went out of his way to procure funds and opportunities for every student. Bear was known to showcase some of the best places to eat in Columbus, too. We all got along with Bear immediately, and he became a powerful force in our proverbial corner, helping us navigate and thrive in graduate school.

Weve been fortunate to have terrific professors, but Bear was an unusually good professor. In graduate seminars, we were exposed to a wide breadth of topics in political and social science. The breadth that Bear introduced in his courses was unique for a political science class. Most importantly, he taught us how to read books and articles critically and constructively. Graduate students are often great at tearing apart a piece of scholarship. And thats important. But published works are generally published for a reason, he reminded us, and so its equally important to identify their strengths in addition to their weaknesses. That approach cultivated humility (there are always tradeoffs in research) but was also encouraging. If graduate students think pieces published by top scholars in good journals are bad because we only focus on their downsides, how could we possibly do good work?

Bears take on the literature and the discipline was just like his research interests: complex, rich, and nuanced. He loved what he studied, and his knowledge in these areas often seemed encyclopedic. He would recommend a citation and quote on a whim, from memory. He always asked big, important questions, and he did his best to answer them. His two books, The Great Powers and the International System and Only the Dead, address two important questions in international politics: how leaders and historical circumstances jointly shape major historical outcomes, and whether war is declining. He was methodologically sophisticated, but for him it was about getting closer to the truth. He truly didnt care what method you used if it fit the question. He had a great academic pedigree (University of Chicago, University of Michigan) but he wasnt elitist. He wanted to hear from smart people, and he believed in demystifying the academy, making it acc...

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday hosted a roundtable discussion with leading critics of prevailing health policy who debated topics ranging from public health agency capture to climate change. Approximately 11,000 viewers watched live as Dr. Pierre Kory, Maureen McDonnell, Mikki Willis, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Patrick Gentempo, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Sayer Ji and Del Bigtree asked Kennedy, founder and chairman on leave from Children's Health Defense (CHD), a series of questions about how his administration would address key issues of concern to the medical freedom movement. "This is the moment when the collapsing center, the disintegrating center, the dysfunctional health system finally opens up and what has so long been 'alternative' might become a new mainstream that could transform the health of this country," roundtable facilitator and author Charles Eisenstein said, kicking off the discussion.

READ MORE AT COINTELEGRAPH  A draft bill from the Australian government is threatening tech and...

A common belief is that, throughout history, men have been the hunters and women the gatherers. But new analysis turns this on its head - revealing that women hunt in the majority of foraging cultures and employ a greater variety of weapons and hunting strategies than their male counterparts. Researchers from Seattle Pacific University analysed data from the past 100 years on 63 foraging societies around the world, including in North and South America, Africa, Australia and Asia. They found women hunt in at least 79 per cent of these cultures, regardless of whether they have children or not. More than 70 per cent of female hunting appears to be intentional, the team said, as opposed to the opportunistic killing of animals encountered while performing other activities.

During the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference taking place in Singapore from June 2-4, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that the United States is not trying to form a new Western defense-oriented NATO-like bloc in the Asia-Pacific region. The Pentagon chief ascertained those present that the interests of European powers in the region are not only military-related, and therefore, of course, Europe is present here because it wants to guarantee the preservation of good relations with the countries of the region.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles echoed his American counterpart. According to him Canberra sees no signs of NATO being exported to the Indo-Pacific region, and the countrys alliances with Western nations, such as QUAD and AUKUS, are aimed at maintaining peace in the region and exchange of military technologies, including nuclear technology, through which Australia intends to ensure collective security and a rules-based order.

Statements by US and Australian senior officials appear to be a response to Chinas leadership accusations that Washington is waging a campaign to contain China and thus poses unprecedented challenges to Beijing, and that the real purpose of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region is to surround the PRC, including by creation of integration. However, the pacifying messages from the US and Australian representatives do not look sincere at all against the background and in the context of the events that occurred the day before, during and immediately after the Singapore conference.

For example, in the midst of the Shangri-La Dialogue (June 3 to 5), Japan, the United States, Australia and, more importantly, NATO member Canada held their first three-day joint maritime exercise in the East China Sea. The purpose of the exercise was to practice cooperative maritime skills as part of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The US and Canadian ships passed through the Taiwan Strait on their way to the exercis...

When theres political mileage to be made, not to mention mates to be helped, the Australian Labor Party can move with surprising speed. And then theres the partys response to the Sterling First rent-for-life scam, and the fate of the 100 or so elderly victims whove been left floundering for years. Robert Barwick, Research Director for the Australian Citizens Party, explains.

The questions now being asked about Labor Finance Minister Katy Gallaghers speedy compensation payment to Brittany Higgins, within months of taking office, highlight Labors betrayal of the elderly victims of the Sterling First rent-for-life scandal, who remain uncompensated and facing eviction and homelessness.

The Australian Citizens Party (ACP) is calling on the Albanese government to act on Labors pre-election rhetoric and compensate the Sterling First victims for the Australian Securities and Investments Commissions (ASIC) failure to police the Sterling Income Trust Ponzi scheme.

Timeline of a betrayal

In 2015 serial Ponzi scheme offenders launched the Sterling First rent-for-life scheme targeting retirees looking to downsize, but ASIC ignored the directors connections to past financial failures.

In 2015-2017 ASIC ignored multiple complaints about Sterling First, marking them NFANo Further Action despite knowing the scheme was falsely advertised and targeted vulnerable elderly consumers.

In 2017 ASIC ignored a complaint about Sterling First from a Western Australian government department for six months, before finally launching an investigation.

In 2019 Sterling First collapsed, ruining around 130 elderly victims who had paid their rent in advance for the rest of their lives. Renowned consumer advocate, Denise Brailey, began working with the Sterling First victims to achieve an inquiry and compensation.

In 2021 the ACP got involved in the campaign for justice for the Sterling First victims, and in August 2021 mobilised people all over Australia to call and email Senators to request an inquiry into the Sterling First scandal and ASICs failures.

In October 2021, Labor Party Senators Louise Pratt and Deb ONeil took the lead in establishing a Senate inquiry, which held powerful hearings that confirmed ASIC received multiple warnings on Sterling First, but failed to act.

In February 2022 the Senate inquiry released its final report, which slated ASICs performance, including i...

Brian Houston likened himself to the great explorer Captain James Cook in his book Live Love Lead (2015).

In Live Love Lead Brian Houston likened himself to great pioneers, adventurers and explorers like Captain James Cook who discovered, charted and mapped Australia and New Zealand.

By Paul Collits | TCW Defending Freedom | June 27, 2023

What exactly do you do when your country betrays you and disgraces itself before the world?  When you find out that it is run by thugs and goons? When just about no one in the political class has the moral compass and the spine to stand up for you? When your fellow citizens turn on you if you dared to question things?

If you are John Stapleton, a retired Aussie journalist, you write a 450-page book about it. You call it Australia Breaks Apart. You write uncomprehendingly, elegantly, passionately, even elegiacally, ashamed, still shaking your head in disbelief, three years after a ho-hum virus called by the powers-that-be Covid reached our shores.

Surely these words could be writ...

READ MORE AT CALDRON POOL  On George Orwells birthday, the Australian federal government declared it...