Luring investment a high priority for Xi’s US trip

On November 15, the heads of state of China and the US did meet in person to discuss the trade dispute, technology bans, political issues, and Taiwan-related issues.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that they will match on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, which will take place from November 15 to 17.

On November 14, 2022, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping next met in Bali, Indonesia.

Major US business professionals will be invited to dinner with Xi on November 15 during his trip the following week, according to a Bloomberg report. &nbsp,

It is anticipated that Xi may take advantage of this opportunity to urge US businesses to invest in China, which has experienced capital outflows this time.

Breakfast with Xi

At a dinner meal co-hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US- China Business Council, Xi may speak as the special guest of honor. &nbsp,

To attend the event, each student must spend US$ 2,000.00. For US$ 40, 000 each, eight VIPs will be able to eat at a desk with Xi.

The most significant diplomatic relationship in the world is that between China and the US. The future of humanity will depend on how China and the US getting on, Xi said on October 9 to the bipartisan US Senate committee led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing.

We have a thousand motives to enhance China-US relations, but not one purpose to destroy them, he said, saying this repeatedly, including to many leaders.

In light of a decline in China’s foreign direct investment ( FDI) by 14.7 % year over year to about US$ 132.9 billion in the first nine months of this year, Xi made his remarks. &nbsp,

Since August, China’s Ministry of Commerce has stopped stating its foreign direct investment ( FDI) in dollar terms. Asia Times estimated the 14.7 % decline using the FDI in renminbi terms. &nbsp,

According to data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange ( SAFE ) on November 3, direct investment liabilities, a measure of FDI, were down$ 11.8 billion in the third quarter compared to US14.1 billion during the same time last year.

For the first time since 1998, the weekly number is negative, indicating that China is having trouble luring international businesses and investments.

A difficult path lies away.

According to Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the two sides have agreed to work together for the meeting between the two Presidents in San Francisco.”

He said,” In the interim, it wo n’t be easy sailing to San Francisco, and we cannot leave it to autopilot to get us there.” ” The two sides must go back to what the two President in Bali agreed upon and actually take action on it.”

Beijing believes that the US has failed to carry out the agreement reached by Xi and Biden in the Bali meeting over the previous month. The discussion was characterized by Beijing as “five hoo” and “four no- purposes.”

The “five noes” are Biden’s assurances that the US wo n’t try to start a new Cold War, alter the Chinese political system, reestablish alliances with China, support Taiwan independence, or support two Chinas or “one China on Taiwan.” The “four no-intentions” indicate that the US has no desire to engage in combat with China, to try to de-couple with it, obstruct China’s financial advancements, or to contain China. &nbsp,

Chinese officials have repeatedly stated since the Bali conference that the US has accede to China’s “reasonable problems,” or “five needs,” which include the cancellation of additional tariffs imposed on Chinese goods, sanctions against Chinese businesses, investment restrictions, device export controls, and US-imposed Xinjiang solution bans. &nbsp,

Bao Ming, a retired military officer of the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ), writes in an article that was published on Tuesday that” the US must meet several reasonable concerns and requirements of China” in order to realize the Sino-US summit in San Francisco. &nbsp,

He claims that” the US, no China, failed to keep its guarantees.”

The Biden administration has attempted to improve relations with China but has encountered robust domestic resistance, he acknowledges some real social constraints on how far BiDEN you go.

Due to intense social pressure from Republicans and perhaps Democrats, Bao claims it is difficult for Biden to change his position on business, the high-tech restrictions, Taiwan, Ukraine, or South China Sea problems. &nbsp,

He claims that in order for Biden to overcome social challenges and make China and the US’ shared interests outweigh their differences, only a significant incident event like the Pearl Harbor incident or the September 11 incident can do so.

He continues by saying that the Israeli-Palestinian issue, which has the potential to escalate into a major local battle, may present China and the US with an opportunity to begin working together.

Read: Chinese tech giants ‘ “de- risk,” but deliberately

At&nbsp, @jeffpao3 is Jeff Pao’s Twitter account.

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Melting pot, multicultural myths fall to demography

Israel, which has a 9.3 million-person community, has welcomed 331,000 Israelis back since October7.

There were 43.7 million people living in Ukraine in 2020. &nbsp: About 2.8 million people have left for Russia since the battle began in February of last year, while 6 million have stayed in the West and traveled to Europe, the US, and Canada, making up about 20 % of the country’s population.

Millions of people have been fleeing different Islamic nations, most notably Syria and Yemen, where Sunnis and Shias brutally murder one another. Few Westerners who are at ease returning to any of these nations to engage in combat, and no one has spoken out against the atrocities committed by the two Muslim sects or denounced their financial backers. &nbsp,

What does voting with one’s legs, whether during migrations or protests, reflect, then? &nbsp,

I wo n’t get into comparing religious fervor or patriotism, even though these feelings do reflect some deeply held—or unfelt—hopes for the future. I’ll just think about the effects of dry amounts.

On March 15, 2022, Ukrainians were running from the conflict move toward a coach in Krakow that would take them to Berlin. Image: Online

Ukraine had 1.22 reproduction in 2020, which is significantly lower than alternative. Women and children make up nine out of ten migrants in Ukraine. While most Russian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, an estimated 25 % of Russian children have. &nbsp,

When hostilities end, did these war refugees return, or does their husbands and fathers follow them to Europe? &nbsp,

Europe has been significantly tightening its immigration from Muslim nations since October 7 and sending brainwashed Muslims back to their home countries. &nbsp, However, Western nations also have extremely low fertility rates, far below the replacement rate of 2.1, with Greece, Finland, and Austria at 1.4, Italy at 1. 2, and Poland at 2.2.

Even if Ukraine and Russia are able to negotiate a cease-fire with Russia sooner rather than later, given that the average of all European nations is 1.53, it would n’t be surprising that Europe would even be eager to let the young Ukrainian diaspora settle within its borders.

By the way, Russia’s fertility rate is 1.5, which is significantly lower than successor, and no one is entirely sure how many of its children have perished in the war and who have survived.

The US, what about it? Although no one is entirely sure how many thousands entered through the southern border with Mexico and what their potential effects on overall demographics may be, its reproduction in 2020 was roughly 1.64, which is also less than the replacement level of 2.1.

Demography and rights were frequently predicted in the 1970s to be a deadly combination financially, historically, and socially. Andnbsp, Citizens made these observations before the fertility of their nations fell and before some places declared themselves” shelter cities,” promising shelter, health, and knowledge to anyone who arrived.

The British concept of the “melting pot” had not been abandoned by those naysayers. Their assessments were based on the idea that the pot may “unmelt” when certain guidelines fast affected a sizable population, fostering traditions and creating customs that were inconsistent with what made the US tick and, more generally, with American principles and institutions. &nbsp,

a demonstration in favor of Palestinians in the US. CNN Screengrab picture

New pro-Palestinian mobs demonstrate that both the American “melting pot” misconception and Europe’s “multi-culturalism” were scientific abstractions. The majority of participants covered their faces, as crooks have always done, though demonstrators against Hamas do not.

Both fail when a sizable number of immigrants immigrate quickly into the nation—and the election pot, but not the “melting pot,” adhering to customs and practices that do not align with the basic institutions of the West.

The decline in law enforcement over the past few years in both the US and Western Europe, which has been rationalized by a great deal of greatly discounted educational jargon, fully demonstrates Confucius ‘ observation that” Human nature is alike—habits of thought make us various.” In addition, &nbsp,

This article is based on Brenner’s History: The Human Gamble ( 1983 ), Betting on Ideas ( 1985 ), and” How to Relink 7 Billion People” ( American Affairs ).

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China trumpets Albanese visit as a ‘clear change in attitude’

Both nations agreed it was crucial to maintain the speed in their gradually warming relationships while also expanding their areas of cooperation as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concluded his four-day visit to China.

Both sides emphasized how complement their financial relations were and expressed optimism about exploring fresh areas of collaboration in agriculture, renewable power, and climate change.

Additionally, they pledged to continue their just resumed high-level conversations. These include the yearly summits of the prime minister as well as other political, corporate, and business discussions.

What mattered most to China, while American media coverage concentrated on the trip’s historical significance and significance from a business perspective? How was the visit it covered by the media?

Beijing undoubtedly sees the trip as a significant turning point in diplomatic ties. According to official media coverage, the two nations have no historical ties and have shown in the past how a firm bilateral relationship may be advantageous to both parties.

Albanese’s efforts to bring their relationships back to this level were praised by President Xi Jinping, who referred to the visit as” a new starting point.”

Albanese’s presence at the China International Import Exhibition in Shanghai was likewise cited by the Chinese internet and some Chinese Australians as a representation of the significance of Australia to China. This was interpreted by them as a sign that Australia” did not agree with US attempts to detach from China.”

The major Chinese part takeaways

Albanese’s journey on the Chinese part has taught him a number of significant lessons. Nevertheless, China saw the trip as a chance to re-engage Australia, an important US supporter in the area and business partner.

Beijing has been changing its foreign policy after realizing that its financial pressure on the Scott Morrison administration was ineffective and that it was still being pursued by the US in an effort to restrain its fall.

It has been contacting some US allies and partners, including important member states of the European Union, and inviting them to various political activities set up by China. Additionally, it has been holding diplomatic discussions with senior representatives from these nations on significant economic and political issues.

Chinese leaders acknowledged that the American Labor Party’s standard foreign policy emphasizes working with international organizations like the UN and regional institutions. As a result, they concentrated on China and Australia’s shared interests ( trade, climate change ), as well as their shared identities ( Asia-Pacific nations ).

Depending on which side you look at it, they also subtly ( or bluntly ) reminded Canberra that its alliance commitments with the US and membership in security agreements like AUKUS and the Quad should not be at the expense of Australia-China relations and most definitely not Chinese interests.

The Indo-Pacific is being affected by the AUKUS nuclear submarine package. US Embassy in China picture

Australia is set an example for different US friends in an opinion piece, according to the Communist Party-run Global Times:

After a bloody conflict with China since the US declared China to be its No. 1 alliance, Australia has become the first US allie to clearly alter its stance toward China. 1 business rival. Given the ups and downs of China-Australia relationships, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and yet US allies in Europe may consider themselves.

Given the challenges China is currently facing, Beijing considered the financial plan to be extremely important.

There is a restriction to the harsh sanctions China may impose on Australia given the nature of the trade between Australia and China. In actuality, bilateral trade has increased overall, reaching nearly$ 300 billion in 2022 despite the tensions that existed with Australia during the Morrison administration. This demonstrates the resilience of these economic relations as well as how complement the two markets are in reality.

During Albanese’s visit, Chinese officials and the internet emphasized this, which is why they were so important of the notion of “decoupling” from the Chinese economy.

In fact, Beijing is very concerned about any certain steps that restrict industry in the high-tech sector, such as with semiconductors. They characterized “decoupling” as going against free industry and protectionism. For limitations have been adopted more frequently in recent years by the US and its supporters.

What was n’t said was crucial.

The discrepancy between what Beijing claimed to be a powerful visit and what was really accomplished was n’t much covered in the Chinese internet.

One may argue that both sides discussed clear issues, such as how bilateral relations have largely stabilized since 18 months ago. Albanese was “pushing on an empty door,” as China analyst Richard McGregor adeptly noted.

This is not meant to minimize the advancements made thus far. In “resetting” the relationship, both governments ‘ intentions to continue and improve the numerous conversations between officers from their respective nations are crucial.

In times of crisis, these channels of communication are crucial for managing wars and preventing them from getting out of hand.

Although resetting the marriage was a clear goal in the long run, there were also significant short-term benefits. This is evident in the way the state advertising downplayed the AUKUS and South Pacific wars, where China’s effect has alarmed Canberra and Washington.

China has expressed its displeasure with the AUKUS and continues to view it as a significant barrier to the further development of diplomatic relations. However, Xi told Albanese that they could collaborate on issues relating to regional stability.

Where there are attempts to reason unrest in the Asia-Pacific place, we must first be on the lookout for them and then combat them.

The Chinese part also sees an opportunity for the two nations in the Pacific in terms of local economic development and how both Australia and China can contribute.

Jingdong Yuan teaches as an associate professor of Asia-Pacific Security at the University of Sydney.

Under a Creative Commons license, this essay has been republished from The Conversation. read the article in its entirety.

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US Navy taps 3D printers to rescue its sub-making plan

In the midst of a developing martial ship-building competition with China, the US Navy hopes that 3D printers will maintain its ramped-up nuclear submarine generation schedule.

Defense News reported this month that the US Navy plans to 3D print a variety of metal parts as standard parts for installation on the new vessels in order to build the Virginia-class attack submarines ( SSN) and the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine ( SSBN ) on schedule.

The US Navy’s present limited use of 3D printers for smaller repair parts aboard ships will soon be replaced by common use in its submarine-industrial center, which is expected to increase output to its highest level in 40 years. This is being supported by the Antioxidant Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia.

According to Defense News, the US Navy and the middle are working together to set up a system of 3D printers partners and an electronic order guide to manage the workload, along with 28 approved plans for different submarine parts.

The UK and Australia are partners in the AUKUS empire, which aims to establish a global community of more than 50 locations to 3D-print material components for new submarines. According to the Defense News statement, it also intends to release a modern order guide in 2024 with at least 15 3D printing partners that will produce between 150 and 200 components.

As the US Navy strives to achieve a submarine design price not seen since the 1980s, the switch from anad impromptu to widespread use of 3D printing technology will be difficult. According to experts cited in the Defense News review, the technology must be sophisticated enough to meet stringent production standards, noting important certification and qualification requirements.

Some companies use cameras and sensors to track their 3D printers process and spot flaws in real time, reducing the frequency of end-of-production assessment to one in 100 things, in order to maintain quality control.

The US Navy is urging politicians to review the increased use of 3D printers so that it can create three ships annually, according to a report by Defense One from last month. According to Defense One, Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker, the US Navy’s top client for attack submarines, additive manufacturing is crucial for adhering to construction schedules and preserving new submarine operation.

The use of 3D printers will be essential to maintaining US underwater production on schedule. Social image

The US Navy plans to increase production to one Columbia course and two Virginia school ships annually, according to the source, and the first 3D-printed parts are already being installed. It mentions that the US Navy is asking for more money, with the White House suggesting$ 3.4 billion for the creation of technologies like additive manufacturing and part tests.

The US Navy’s ability to meet operating needs is being hampered by problems with underwater production. A condition of 66 to 72 Addresses to hinder and fight enemies, specifically China, was mentioned in the Biden administration’s shipping plan for the fiscal year 2022. There are now only 49 ships in the US Navy, and their operational rates are dubious.

Emma Salisbury mentions in a War on The Stones article from last month that after 1992, the US underwater business base’s production declined significantly due to an abrupt decline in demand after the Seawolf SSN programme was terminated at the end of the Cold War.

She points out that there are now fewer production sites because Electric Boat and Newport News, two renowned US underwater builders, closed their off-site construction and machining facilities. According to Salisbury, the reduction in lively suppliers in the submarine industry and shipyards was caused by challenges in finding and keeping skilled workers.

According to a Defense News statement, from about 17, 000 manufacturers to simply 5, 000 today, the industrial center of businesses supplying US underwater output has decreased by more than 70 % since the 1980s. According to &nbsp, the US Navy started producing one Virginia-class underwater annually as late as 2013, but by governmental 2026, it intends to produce five times as many.

According to a USNI report from March 2023, it will take Electric Boat and Newport News five years to be able to consistently deliver two Virginia-class attack boats annually, with the two shipyards now on track to produce about 1.2 boats annually.

Submarine upkeep emphasizes the manufacturing difficulty. Less than one-third of US Navy SSNs have completed repair on schedule over the past ten years, according to a report released in September 2022.

According to the report, the earliest Virginia-class boats are the most challenging to repair on schedule, with the group returning to service nearly nine months later than anticipated. The Los Angeles-class boats, in contrast, require four and a half months to complete inspection, according to the document.

China is also making steady progress in both quality and quantity with its submarine software. The US Navy already employs 71 ships, a fleet of 53 SSN, 14 SSBN, and four SGNs that are entirely powered by nuclear energy. China, in contrast, had 44 conventional attack submarines ( SSKs ), 6 SSNs, and 6 SSBNs as of March 2023.

According to a report from the US Congressional Research Service ( CRS ) released last month, China is modernizing its submarine fleet with newer models, such as the Type 095 cruise missile submarine ( SSGN ) and Class 096SSBN. Both are apparently getting close to the increased Akula I class SSN in Russia in terms of propulsion, quieting, sensors, and weaponry.

China and Russia are working together to develop a next-generation atomic underwater. Online Screengrab image

According to the CRS statement, increased cooperation with Russia may help China’s efforts to modernize and enhance its submarine army, including known engine and noise reduction weaknesses.

According to a recent briefing slide from The Warzone, China is currently 200 times more capable of producing surface warships and submarines than the US. The US Office of Naval Intelligence ( ONI ) has highlighted this significant gap in US and Chinese shipbuilding.

The quotes from the ONI slide show that by 2035, the difference between China and the US will be considerably wider.

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Biden-Xi meeting: Better China-US ties benefit global markets

Good developments in the China-US partnership, as emphasized by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, may usher in a convincing period for the world’s financial markets. &nbsp,

According to Han, new meetings “have sent out positive signals and raised the objectives of the global community on the development of China-US relationships.”

They come before a much-anticipated conference between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping that is scheduled for next week. This meeting has the ability to ease tensions and offer many benefits to the global financial system.

The two financial behemoths ‘ improved diplomatic ties would first help to increase business security. &nbsp,

The new trade tensions between China and the US have frequently led to business fluctuations and increased confusion. &nbsp,

Investors, who are vulnerable to geopolitical risks, frequently respond uncomfortably to trade disputes and social unrest between key economies. These risks can only be reduced by a more cordial marriage, which will also result in an environment where markets function more predictably.

Additionally, a strengthening of relations between China and the US is possible to create new opportunities for cooperation and business alliances. &nbsp,

Both nations have significant financial clout, and their assistance may fuel global economic expansion. Cross-border investments would be encouraged and the exchange of money between the two countries would become easier with more trade opportunities, lower tariffs, and an empty financial dialogue. &nbsp,

This cooperative strategy may serve as a catalyst for the development of global financial markets by encouraging economic growth and interconnectedness.

For foreign companies operating in China and the US, the potential for reduced trade hostilities is likewise encouraging. A more amicable partnership may result in a kinder business environment with fewer regulatory ambiguities and trade barriers. This, in turn, may have a positive effect on organizational earnings, increase investment confidence, and propel stock market performance globally.

offer stores

Additionally, a strengthened marriage might help to stabilize global supply chains. Companies have had to reevaluate their supply chain methods as a result of new business tensions, which has frequently resulted in disruptions and higher costs. &nbsp,

These worries may go away if China and the US took a more collaborative stance, which would make it easier for companies to enhance their supply chains and run more effectively. As businesses gain from increased operating efficiency and cost-effectiveness, this, in turn, may have a spiraling effect on the financial markets.

A good trajectory may improve the efficiency of international financial institutions in addition to providing financial advantages. Both nations are crucial to organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF). &nbsp,

A more cordial relationship between them would ensure a more robust and tenacious global financial architecture and structure, as well as more efficient decision-making and policy cooperation within these organizations.

Last but not least, the significance of Presidents Xi and Biden’s conference transcends financial concerns. The highest level of political commitment denotes a commitment to discourse and amicable conflict resolution. &nbsp,

Assuring investors and industry participants that political leaders are working toward a collaborative and mutually beneficial future, this does produce an overall feeling of higher levels of global balance.

The financial markets stand to gain from a more collaborative and related global economic landscape as the globe eagerly observes the political developments.

Nigel Green is the CEO and founder of the deVere&nbsp Group. @nigeljgreen on Twitter, follow him.

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Egypt’s Sisi poised to fall on Gaza inaction, dire economy

For Egypt, the terrible discord between Israel and Hamas could not have come at a worse time. In December, a general election will be held for Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the original military strongman who came to power in 2013 amid the tumultuous consequences of the Arab Spring.

It will be a risky election because of his country’s financial problems and the political and humanitarian disaster that is taking place on its border.

After years of military dictator under Hosni Mubarak, Sisi formally assumed power in July 2013. A short and turbulent interlude that saw a Muslim Brotherhood-backed government led by scientific Mohamed Morsi struggle to maintain order followed Mubarak’s 30-year rule, which came to an end in April 2011 during the Arab Spring.

The following year, in a vote that drew harsh criticism from around the world, Sisi ousted Morsis from office in July 2013 and received 96 % of the vote. Since then, he hasn’t really faced any considerable political opposition, but this can still not account for how unpopular some Egyptians find him to be.

Sisi currently controls what most professionals would say is a candidate for the state’s worst-performing business. The youth unemployment rate is currently at 17 %, and annual inflation reached a historic high of 38 % in September.

Numerous rounds of currency devaluation and an upcoming mandated loan by the International Monetary Fund have added to this financial crisis. Struggling Egyptians may be forced to a degree of poverty not seen since the Ancient bread riots of 1977 by an aggressive austerity program imposed by the IMF.

Sisi will have to run for reelection against this shaky backdrop. Given that Sisi has ruled Egypt with an iron palm since ousting the Muslim Brotherhood in the terrible revolt of July 2013, you could be excused for assuming it would be a simple box-ticking training.

Since then, no vote has been free and fair, and in the intervening years, Egypt’s independent media has all but been destroyed. While civil society, which was once a vibrant social circle, now looks back on Mubarak’s tyranny with some nostalgia, opposition events have either been suppressed or co-opted.

It first appeared as though Sisi would face a reputable opposition, and this was the first time since he assumed power. Previous MP Ahmed Tantawi, a candidate for the Civil Democratic Movement, established himself as an MP by publicly criticizing Sisi in front of the legislature and abstaining from participating in the National Dialogue.

In May 2023, a Sisi-sponsored initiative was introduced. It was marketed by the government as an all-inclusive platform for discussing Egypt’s economic and political difficulties, but detractors have dismissed it as nothing more than a tool for Sisi to further his own plan.

Due to Tantawi’s position on the release of political prisoners, his plan gained support from well-known left-wingers, scholars, and even some Muslim Brotherhood officials who were in captivity. In Egypt’s prisons, there are reportedly 40 000 democratic captives, many of whom belong to the Muslim Brotherhood.

On October 13, however, Tantawi withdrew his election, claiming that pro-government” thugs” were preventing people from registering their help for his campaign.

Tantawi’s recognition represents a fundamental change in Ancient politics, even if his failed campaign wasn’t directly threatening Sisi. Sisi is vulnerable because he has handled Egypt’s financial issues so poorly in recent years.

And his propensity for careless remarks hasn’t helped; once, when questioned about the skyrocketing cost of gumbo, a staple food in ancient Egypt, the man advised them to follow the prophet Muhammad’s example and” eat departs.”

War is about to break out

Sisi’s government must perform a challenging balancing act as the war in Gaza draws near. Israel is determined to protect its boundary, regardless of the repercussions for Egypt. However, Sisi’s home failure might exacerbate home weaknesses. The regime may suffer greatly from the thought of thousands of Gazans perish while Egypt’s Rafah border remains locked.

Given his near ties to the Israeli government, Sisi should exercise caution. Egypt has participated in the 16-year Jewish blockade of Gaza, which has resulted in strict restrictions on the border crossing at Rafah.

But now that an election is approaching, he must satisfy an Iranian populace that is much more friendly to the plight of the Gazans than the Israelis. As the number of Palestinians killed as a result of Israel’s battle in the Gaza Strip rises, he has come under fire from competitors who claim that his administration has staged protests to capitalize on open sympathy.

The threat posed by Egypt’s well-established Islamic movements, however, poses the real threat to his leadership at home. In 2011, Mubarak was overthrown and Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood took control of Tahrir Square thanks to a common rebellion that was sponsored by Muslims.

The army in Egypt is now being strongly cautioned by history to never be careless about the potential danger posed by Islamic movements. Sisi’s government has exerted every effort to obliterate the Brotherhood.

Tens of thousands of people have been subjected to random hold without a test or given lengthy prison term for opposition in military authorities in the ten times since his security forces massacred more than 900 people while violently dismantling large anti-government sit-ins in Rabaa al-Adawiya and al – Nahdo rectangles.

His government’s treatment of Morsi was perhaps the most egregious example of crooked use of energy. After spending six times in solitary confinement, the former president passed away after collapsing inside the plaintiff’s” box” in court in Cairo.

Dealing with the flaws of a faltering business is one factor for an president. It is quite another to host a resentful populace who is witnessing an atrocity against individual freedom just outside its borders. The opposite will have more weapons than they have had in years if the Sisi plan keeps allowing this to happen on its watch.

Gillian Kennedy teaches politics and international relations at the University of Southampton.

Under a Creative Commons license, this essay has been republished from The Conversation. Read the article in its entirety.

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Putin bringing Kim dangerously out of the cold

Kim Jong Un, the supreme head of North Korea, traveled to the Russian Far East on a formal basis from September 12 to September 17, 2023. The journey was longer and more intensive than his first one, which was from April 24 to 26, 2019. Kim’s travel plans made it clear that a key goal of his trip was to advance defense and scientific ties with Russia.

In Vostochny, Kim held a one-day mountain with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The main Russian missiles, Soyuz and Angara, were highlighted during the Russian host’s tour of the shuttle with his North Korean visitor. Kim then traveled to a factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur where some of Russia’s most cutting-edge planes are produced.

Kim spent two full days in Vladivostok, the last stop on his journey across the Russian Far East. He went to an airfield and saw a variety of Russian fighter planes and tactical aircraft. Additionally, the North Korean president was housed on a guided missile ship.

Regarding the content of the Putin-Kim speaks in Vostochny, not much is known. No agreements were signed, and no combined statement was made public. Putin and other Russian authorities made it clear that” all problems” were discussed, including the possibility of diplomatic military cooperation and the nbsp. The visit was hailed as a turning point in” strengthening strategic and tactical cooperation between the two countries” by North Korea & nbsp.

Sergey Lavrov, the Soviet Minister for Foreign Affairs, was sent to Pyongyang in October, which also happened to be the 75th anniversary of the establishment of political relations, as a follow-up to the Kim-Putin mountain. Lavrov spoke with Choe Son-hui, his North Korean rival, and Kim Jong Un was present.

Moscow’s relations with Pyongyang were described as a” strategic, all-encompassing partnership” by the Russian foreign minister & nbsp. The Kremlin reportedly used the term” strategic” to describe bilateral cooperation with North Korea for the first time at this point.

Numerous aspects are bringing North Korea and Russia closer together. North Korea is the only UN part, aside from Syria, to acknowledge Crimea, Donetsk, Luganzhn, Zaporizhzha, and Kherson as Soviet lands. Moscow appreciates North Korea’s willingness to speak out in favor of Russia and openly violate the West.

Russia is dubious that South Korea is simply giving Ukraine” non-lethal” products. Asia Times Files, AFP, and South Korean Air Force image

There is no question that South Korea’s aid for Ukraine also serves as a driving force for Moscow to adopt Pyongyang. Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, has become one of Volodymyr Zelensky’s principal foreign supporters. & nbsp,

Despite Seoul’s claims that it only offers non-lethal assistance to Ukraine, it is well known that Russian forces on the Russian frontlines are very likely to be killed by South Korean artillery shells that are formally sent to replenish US weapons depots.

The Moscow-Pyongyang relationship is also the result of economic calculations. The most natural place for a business partnership would be North Korean labor in exchange for Russian goods and cash.

The most interesting feature of Kim’s conference with Putin may have been the potential for North Korean arms sales to Russia, though both North Korea and Russia deny that this was a possibility. In any case, even if North Korean munitions did make it to Russia, they may only serve as a support force there.

Pyongyang might be thinking about receiving Russian money, oil, and food in exchange for labor and weapons for short-term business reasons. However, Kim is probably most drawn to a long-term balance of power analysis.

North Korea can now feel safe in its corporate isolation thanks to nuclear weapons. However, nuclear weapons are subject to technical change, just like all other weapons. Pyongyang runs the serious risk of having its atomic weapons replaced by new, emerging arms. Even its most cutting-edge delivery vehicles are woefully out of date by Russian and US criteria.

The combined power of the US-South Korea alliance is greater than that of North Korea’s standard forces, which are also ill-equipped to handle the new era of very precise weapons, remote sensing, and potent artificial intelligence.

For the time being, nuclear weapons may serve as Pyongyang’s barrier against head-on aggression, but in the majority of another crisis situations, they are useless. Kim Jong-un is unable to utilize his nuclear arms in a conflict that he anticipates winning.

The recent & nbsp trilateral summit at Camp David serves as an example of the US-South Korea-Japan coalition’s emergence, which worries North Korea even more.

North Korea is unable to effectively close the growing gap in contemporary warfighting functions on its own. Finding proper friends is the only way to address the exceedingly precarious balance of military strength.

As Kim Jong Un departs for a meeting with Vladimir Putin in September, North Vietnamese soldiers bid him farewell. Image: KCNA

Moscow might be a willing man, giving the North access to crucial non-nuclear weapons and systems like fighter jets and reconnaissance satellites. Russia and North Korea may also conduct joint military exercises, a possibility that was alluded to perhaps before Kim’s explore.

A transfer to the Cold War era, when Moscow and Beijing served as Pyongyang’s security underwriters, may occur in the years to come. However, the functions may be divided differently this time. & nbsp,

While Russia serves as the North’s principal military ally, China will continue to serve as Pyongyangs primary financial patron and political protector. If only because it has little to gain with Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, Moscow will be content with such a position.

At Far Eastern Federal University’s Vladivostok School of Regional and International Studies, Artyom Lukin holds the positions of Associate Professor and Deputy Director for Research.

This andnbsp, post, and was originally published by East Asia Forum and are being reprinted with permission from Creative Commons.

This article’s original version was released .38north.org/2023/09/does-kims-visit-to-russia-signal-an-end-to-north-koreas-strategic-solitude/” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>here, in & nbsp, 38 North.

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To challenge Russia, Turkey courts its Turkic brethren

Turkey’s focus is shifting more and more to establishing a footing in former Soviet republics of the South Caucasus and Central Asia, while the world continues to concentrate on de-escalating the Israel-Has conflict and the ongoing fight in Ukraine.

Shared society serves as the justification for closer relationships. The Organization of Turkic States ( OTS) has negotiated trade and security agreements, which serve as the impetus.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated at the OTS conference last week that Turkey is connected to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan by the Turkish language home. Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan. The Greek leader claimed that echoing calls for a typical Turkish alphabet helped the nations’ unification.

The appeal, though mainly symbolic, was a call for Turkey to abandon Cyrillic, the foundation of the Soviet script, and replace it with the Latin alphabet, which was adopted by Turkey in 1928.

Azerbaijan, an alliance of Ankara, made the transition in 2001, which was seen as a clear rejection of previous Russian law. In the 1990s, Turkmenistan, an OTS spectator, switched to Latin and handwriting yet earlier.

Of course, the business serves as more than just a repository for popular scripts for Turkey. Instead, it’s an emerging andnbsp, tool that could aid Turkey and the NBP in driving Russia out of the South Caucasus and into Central Asia, two strategically significant areas where Turkic-speaking people make up the majority of society. & nbsp,

Whether another members share Turkey’s motivation is the key problem. According to current information, they might not.

For instance, one of Turkey’s objectives is to convince OTS countries to support the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus( TRNC ) and nbsp. TRNC is regarded by the global community as a component of the Republic of Cyprus and is only recognized by Turkey. TRNC is an observer status to OTS, similar to Turkmenistan.

Members of the Organization of Turkic States, however, seem to have different opinions about TRNC. There was no official TRNC presence in Astana last week, in contrast to the previous OTS summit & nbsp, which took place in Ankara in March and treated Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar like a head of state.

Another political issues are even more contentious. & nbsp,

Despite being allies, Turkey and Azerbaijan have completely different perspectives on the Israel-Gaza fight. While the citizens of Azerbaijan openly support Israel, and Baku provides Israel with 60 % of its oil requirements, Erdogan spews anti-Israel language.

Another area of contention is business passageways. The Middle Corridor & nbsp project, a transportation route beginning in Southeast Asia and China that travels through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and on to Europe, is quickly coming to fruition with the cooperation of Azebran, Kazakhstan and Turkey. & nbsp,

Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have backed Russia’s plans to construct the & nbsp, Southern Transport Corridor, which would effectively bypass Kazakhstan.

The desire to abandon Russia’s sphere of influence is what most, if not all, former Russian Turkic-speaking nations have in common.

In order to provide Turkey with a chance to engage, Kazakhstan wants to strengthen relationships with its neighboring Turkish says and the West. Kyrgyzstan is a factor as well. Despite being a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization( CSTO ), Russia recently bought Turkish-made & nbsp, Akinci, and Aksungur drones, which are used for border security. & nbsp,

In a 2022 border conflict, Kyrgyzstan already has Turkish-made Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles( UAVs ), which it reportedly andnbsp used against Tajikistan. & nbsp,

Turkey is using financial participation in addition to military equipment to encourage engagement with the former Soviet Central Asian nations. For instance, Turkish companies’ investments in Uzbekistan have already reached a & nbsp of$ 1.5 billion, while Ankara’s goal is to reach the US$ 10 billion and its bilateral trade target with Kazakhstan.

However, the issue for Ankara is that OTS people are landlocked nations that are heavily reliant on Russian landscape. For instance, oil and gas pipelines that cross Belarusian territory are used by Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, two major energy exporters, to reach their clients in Europe.

Turkey’s attempt to overtake Russia in the region may be difficult as long as Russia continues to be a significant transit nation for the energy resources of the Turkish world.

The truth is that OTS people from post-Soviet area need Russia just as much as they want to strengthen their relationships to Turkey. Each continues to be a part of the Russian-dominated & nbsp, Commonwealth of Independent States, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the CSTO, which is still led by Moscow. & nbsp,

These alignments imply that Turkey’s vision of an Ankara-led Turkish world order is exceedingly myopic for the majority of Turkish states. For Turkey’s comrades in former Soviet republics, the last chapter with Moscow has not yet been written, even though Erdogan may understand it simply as characters on a piece of paper.

Become a follower of this author on @ nikola _ mikovic.

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Gerontocracy: Why are US politicians so old and refuse to retire?

Bill Clinton joined President Joe Biden in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act when he arrived at the White House in the early months of 2023. It was difficult to ignore the fact that Clinton had been in business for three years and that, at the age of 77, he is in some ways three years younger than Biden.

The second senior to hold the Oval Office is Biden, who is 80 years old. His main rival, original President Donald Trump, is 77. According to a Monmouth University poll conducted in October 2023, almost three-quarters of voters believe Biden is too old to run for office, and almost half believe Trump is as old as he should be.

President George H. W. Bush, my former boss, wisely decided against challenging Clinton once more in the 1996 vote. He would have been 72 years old at the 1997 inaugural if he had run and won.

Instead, he delighted in a fantastic follow-up that included skydiving, grandkids, and charitable causes. The question of why Biden and Trump, who are more than 15 years older than the typical American retirement age, are reapplying for one of the hardest jobs in the world is raised by Bush’s post-presidential living and American principles of retirement in public.

a preference for older folks

Two of the three oldest presidents to have ever held office are Trump and Biden. Before Ronald Reagan took office, William Henry Harrison held the distinction of being the oldest leader always elected for 140 times. Reagan was 69 years old at his first inaugural in 1981, while Harrison was only 68 when he took office in 1841.

Reagan was the oldest man to have ever held the office of leader when he retired at the age of 77. After Reagan and Biden, Trump left company at the age of 74, making him the third-oldest person to do so.

The median age in America is 38.9 years older, according to the Census Bureau. However, with the House and Senate having typical age of 58 and 64, both, the term” gerontocracy” is frequently used to describe the governing class of the country.

The name” government by the old” is defined by Teen Vogue, which just published a narrative explaining the term to younger citizens. Gerontocracies are more prevalent among spiritual authorities like the Vatican or Iran’s ayatollahs. During the Cold War, they were also prevalent in socialist ruling boards like the Soviet Politburo. Old leaders are less common in democracies.

The White House is beyond.

There are other aging US leaders besides Biden and Trump; there is a nonpartisan tendency among Democrats and Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democrats Chuck Schumer, both of whom are 72 years old. Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, was really re-elected and is 90 years old with no plans to retire. 81-year-old separate senator Bernie Sanders has made no mention of retiring.

Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California and former Speaker of the House, only announced that she is seeking reelection for her 19th whole term in office at the age of 83. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who serves as the nonvoting member from Washington, DC, and Bill Pascrell Jr., both of New Jersey, are 86 years old.

Both California Democrat Maxine Waters and Kentucky Republican Harold Rogers are 85 years old. Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland, is 84. None of these lawmakers have stated they are retiring, and the list goes on.

A few years back, a local doctor from Capitol Hill made headlines when he admitted to filling the treatments for members of Congress’ Alzheimer’s medications. The third-oldest House and Senate since 1789, each of the 20 oldest members of Congress is at least 80 years old.

A man stands at a lectern with other people around him.
Senator Mitch McConnell appeared to thaw in July 2023 as he spoke with the internet and questioned his age and health. Getty from The Conversation / Drew Angerer

delayed pension

What’s happening around?

Due to inflation or a lack of benefits, the majority of baby boomers who postpone pensions do so because they cannot afford to stop working. However, each of these social figures has a sizable banks balance; many of them are businessmen. In addition to Medicare, they may also receive state pensions and health care rewards if they retired. Therefore, it’s not possible economic for them.

According to one theory, it’s defense. Nobody enjoys being reminded of their own deaths. I am aware of people who associate retreat with death, frequently because of acquaintances they know who passed away shortly after stepping down. This may help to explain why Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Senator Dianne Feinstein both served for such a long time before passing away at the ages of 90 and 87, both.

Some view it as identity-driven. Many of the top leadership I’ve observed have put in so much effort over such a long period of time that their very identities are entwined with their positions. Additionally, years of hard work prevent them from having habits to pass the time in their later years.

Ego is another idea. Some legislators believe they are essential and the only people who could possibly carry out the task. They don’t specifically seem modest.

In the social sphere, their curiosity is frequently also related to energy. These are the people who ask themselves,” Why wouldn’t I want to stay casting the vote in a House or Senate that is sharply split, or stay giving speeches and flying around on Air Force One as leader?”

Why so few of them want to leave is understandable.

Years restrictions?

Age restrictions for national elected office have been called for. When many, federal law enforcement personnel are required to retire at age 57. The same goes for regional park rangers. However, there is no upper age limit for the most difficult job in the world.

There are other options available to those who believe that compulsory retirement is insensitive and subjective. Democratic candidate Nikki Haley has called for mandatory mental competency tests for elected officials who are 75 years of age and older, though she has stated that passing would not be a requirement for office and that failing wouldn’t be grounds for removal.

A poll conducted in September 2023 reveals that vast majority of Americans support skills assessment. The general public would be able to distinguish between sharpened and unsharp people in this way. To me, it seems like a good idea.

The same goes for being kind enough to pause and consider people. and having the insight to understand that life is short and involves more than just going to work. And having the kindness to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans, as the country’s second-youngest president, John F. Kennedy, previously said.

I’m 70, so I have a lot of sympathy for these people, but 80 seems much younger than it used to, in my opinion, says my partner professor Larry Sabato, chairman of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. But no, it’s absurd. We must resume electing individuals in their 50s and earlier 60s. Additionally, the poll reveals that the majority of Americans do respond,” Amen, nephew.”

Mary Kate Cary is the chairman of Think Once and an adjunct professor of politics at the University of Virginia.

Under a Creative Commons license, this essay has been republished from The Conversation. Read the article in its entirety.

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EMPACT making impact on intellectual property crime

The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats, or EMPACT, is a comprehensive strategy for the European Union’s struggle against prepared and serious international violence.

From information exchange to training and shared administrative actions aimed at dismantling criminal networks, member states and several EU institutions, bodies, and agencies collaborate on a variety of fronts to maintain internal security. & nbsp,

Organized and major international crime harms both people and society at large, causing significant economic harm. & nbsp, Criminal networks are frequently very complex, so any strategy with the goal of reducing violence must be both multidisciplinary and multi-agency in order to make the struggle effective and efficient.

While the average consumer’s perception of intellectual property ( IP ) crime is typically not one of grave wrongdoings, it is actually connected to other serious crimes like online and offline fraud, online identity theft, forced labor, tax evasion, and, in some cases, even the financing of terrorism.

This” soft” form of crime, as it is frequently believed, depends on numerous actors to create, put together, repackage, relabel, and distribute goods. The scammers operate on and across continents without giving any consideration to health, human rights, or environmental issues. & nbsp,

The volume of international trade in counterfeit and pirated goods was estimated to be as much as US$ 464 billion, or 2.5 % of global trade, in 2019, according to a joint report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development( OECD ) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office( EUIPO ).

Meanwhile, up to 5.8 % of EU imports — up to€ 119 billion($ 134 billion ), or counterfeit and pirated goods— were imported into the country.

These numbers are important, resulting in annual losses of billions of dollars in taxes and reasonable product sales, as well as hundreds of thousands of lost jobs, not to mention things that are more difficult to quantify, like harm to a company’s status or competitiveness.

A rough estimate of the amount of fake goods entering or leaving Southeast Asia in 2017 was$ 36.4 billion. To create calculations more accurate, more unified concepts and data collection techniques used among Southeast Asian nations are still lacking.

More than ten years ago, the EU introduced EMPACT as a member-state-driven initiative to combat coordinated and severe international crime, including IP offense. Since then, it has grown to be an ongoing tool with an annual policy cycle of four years.

Threats and danger objectives are identified in each period, and strategies for addressing them are developed. Actions are then taken and successes are evaluated.

The document includes EU organizations like Europol and the EUIPO, as well as rules police and customs officers from member states. Since the EU lacks a common criminal code, EMPACT has made it possible for cross-border law enforcement to collaborate in order to address the increasingly transnational and yet transcontinental nature of IP violence.

115 fraudulent cosmetics and fragrance, 1.2 million fake car parts, 100 kilograms of illegal drugs and 2 million medical products, and 320, 000 fake clothes and accessories were arrested and taken as a result of EMPACT operations in 2022, among other things. The counterfeit goods that were seized were valued at€ 42 million.

There is room for improvement even though the value of the international trade in fake and pirated products has remained large and stable over the past ten years, at an average of about 2.5 % of all industry.

Through a variety of government-to-government assistance programs, the EU has been assisting non-EU nations in advancing IP rights security and police. For instance, the IP Key South-East Asia job focuses its enforcement efforts on capacity-building, sharing the most recent enforcement best practices, and establishing networks of cooperation with regional federal law enforcement authorities.

In the meantime, non-EU nations from all over the world are welcome to participate in EMPACT businesses if they want to stop the creation and distribution of fake and illegal items.

The names and objectives of these activities vary. Operation Elektron, for instance, deals with bogus electronic devices, while Operations Aphrodite engages in illegal physical and online trade in phony cosmetics, and Operations Fake Star involves fake goods that violate well-known brands.

The fight against IP offense and all other arranged and major international crime is a never-ending effort that requires the full support of all important authorities and the general public.

Less Internet violence improves safety, business profitability, economic wealth, and security while also improving environmental protection. It also makes people safer.

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