Ben’s latest outline for co-hosting the “Blowback” show with China Writer Billy Bob
Iβve already printed out my copy. Watch the show he co-hosted this week with China Writers’ Group member Billy Bob (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003511545399),
Blowback: Exposing Imperial Decline
https://www.youtube.com/@BlowbackExposingImperial-hh8ig
Outline
TOPICAL
THE OVERVIEW
THE THE GREAT SEVEN
– USC: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said G7 loan to Ukraine is definitely legal – ‘there’s no legal issue here‘ ( Politico US )
– USC: Why Ukraine isn’t ready for Putin‘s peace talks – historians, CEOs answer the same – only on our terms ( Bloomberg π¬ )
– USC: Biden met Pope Francis as G7 wrapped up ‘strongly pro-Ukraine‘ summit – surge of populism worried leaders ( WaPo )
– USC: Western leaders – Kamala, Scholz, Meloni, Sunak and Ursula – dismissed the Russian cease-fire terms ( Euronews )
– USC: Biden‘s condition shocked allies as G7 summit – one saying he’s the ‘worst he’s ever been‘ – report ( NYP )
– USC: US pushed through a 36-page G7 communique on 2nd day of the Italian summit ( Guardian UK )
β it condemned China‘s ‘harmful overcapacity‘ and ties to Russia – despite German ‘misgivings‘
β it expressed ‘full solidarity and support‘ for Israel, and reaffirmed unwavering support towards its security
β it said Russia must end its ‘illegal war of aggression‘ and pay for damage – exceeding $486b acc. to World Bank
ββββββββββββββββββ
– EUK: The Saudi Govt issued a statement how MBS won’t attend G7 due to ‘commitments related to Hajj’ ( Agenzia Nova IT )
– EUK: German Ch Scholz said Putin was trying to ‘dictate’ peace – ‘more just and equitable peace’ needed ( Telegraph UK )
– EUK: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the Russian president’s ceasefire proposal ‘propaganda’ ( BBC UK )
– EUK: Italian PM Meloni says EU states ‘won’t be directly involved‘ in G7 $50b Ukraine loan ‘for now‘ ( Telegraph UK )
β $50 billion has already been announced will be provided by the US, Canada, the UK and ‘probably‘ Japan ( Reuters )
THE SWISS THERAPY SESSION
– USC: Vice President Harris unveiled new $1.5b energy and ‘humanitarian‘ aid package for Ukraine at Summit ( Politico EU )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– EUK: Ukraine summit ‘strives for consensus’ – way forward now ‘uncertain‘ – unclear if future talks will include Russia ( Reuters )
– EUK: Colombian Pr Petro pulled out of Piss Summit because it was ‘not a free forum’ – conclusions ‘predetermined‘ ( Tass RU )
– EUK: Swiss President says conference revealed ‘differences in viewpoints‘ – countries refused to sign communique ( Tass RU )
– EUK: Disappointing end to Ukraine summit as allies agree to watered-down peace declaration – failure to sign ( Telegraph UK )
– EUK: Swiss ‘right-wing’ leader called Summit an ‘embarrassment’ and damaging the country’s traditional neutrality ( Reuters )
– EUK: 50 ‘heads of state’ attended Swiss Piss Summit at BΓΌrgenstock luxury resort in Lucerne, Switzerland ( Euronews )
– EUK: Swiss summit joint communique demands ‘territorial integrity’ of Ukraine – signed by 78 of 91 countries ( Euronews )
– EUK: Ukraine‘s global outreach hits wall as summit goals fall short – as key global powers failed to sign ( Bloomberg )
β Signed outside of US-dominated NATOstan : TΓΌrkiye, Milei’s Argentina, Iraq, Qatar, Rwanda, Jordan, the UN
β Withdrew support after : Iraq, Jordan
β Did not sign: Armenia, Brazil, Vatican, India, Indonesia, Colombia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Thailand, South Africa
– EUK: Meloni leads Europe against Russia as she sends ‘powerful’ ultimatum to Putin – after Swiss Summit ( Express UK )
β ‘accept peace now or we will force you to accept it on the battlefield‘
– EUK: The war between Russia and Ukraine is set to grind on as a diplomatic conference packs little punch ( AP )
– EUK: As Ukraineβs peace summit ends, many hope Russia will join future efforts ( AP )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– Ukraine Presidential aide Podolyak said Russia‘s ceasefire proposal was ‘highly offensive’ and a ‘complete sham’ ( Euronews )
– Ukraineβs FM Kuleba said that ‘the next summit should end the war’ – and that Russia is needed at the table as well ( RT RU )
– Ukraineβs ‘President’ Elensky – Ukraine will present action plan to Russia at second peace summit ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )
– Ukraineβs ‘President’ Elensky described the war as ‘absolutely unprovoked‘ / ‘the only person who wanted it is Putin‘ ( speech )
– Polish President Andrzej Duda – ‘this dragon needs to be decapitated’ through to the tough stance of the free world ( speech )
– Polish President Andrzej Duda proposed Russia be ‘divided into 200 ethnic states‘ called it a ‘colonial power’ ( speech )
– Finnish President Stubb ‘strongly urged‘ China – non-participant – to ‘convince Russia to end the war’ ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )
– Finnish President Stubb said Ukraine starting peace process from a position of strength – stronger than 3 weeks ago ( speech )
– Finnish President Stubb lamented loss of territory to Russia during and before WW2 – ‘Russia invaded‘ Finland ( speech )
– Italian Prime Minister Gergia Meloni said Russia will accept terms on Ukraine or it will be ‘forced to surrender‘ ( speech )
– US Vice President Kamala Harris said the Ukraine war ‘remains an utter failure for Putin‘ in meeting with Elensky ( Reuters )
– US Vice President Kamala Harris told Elensky that the US supports ‘a just and lasting peace‘ for Ukraine ( AP )
– British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Putin had ‘no interest in genuine peace’ in Ukraine ( Independent UK )
– EU Council President Urusula von der Leyen called on Russia to stop it’s ‘imperialist violence‘ ( speech )
– Moldovan President Sandu called Ukraine‘s Peace, Moldova‘s peace – ‘Slava Ukraini‘ ( speech )
THE ACTUAL WAR FRONTS
– 404: Fmr. Dep. Health Minister Zahriychuk, ten doctors were detained in the case of illegal sale of human organs ( Antikor UA )
– 404: Ukraine to get German ‘Frankenstein’ A/D tank – ‘state of the art guns’ grafted onto ‘cold-war-era hulls’ ( Telegraph UK )
– 404: ‘This is like Gallipoli’ – wounded and outnumbered Ukrainians describe hardest battle yet – holding Krynky ( Times UK )
– 404: Arms prices are soaring – ‘we need Β£800b to beat Putin‘ – ~$1t Ukraine says – prices rose five and sixfold ( Times UK )
– 404: Ukraine–Russia talks are as elusive as ever – but in 2022 they were talking – full set of documents ( NYT )
– 404: The Crimean Bridge has little military value β Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmitry Pletenchuk ( RT RU )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– USC: US Navy faces its most intense combat since World War II against Yemenβs Houthi rebels – leaders and experts ( AP )
– USC: US House of representatives passed defense bill automatically registering men 18-26 for draft ( Fox )
– USC: ‘Houthi‘ attack forces crew to abandon Greek-owned Tutor coal carrier in Red Sea ( Guardian UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– EUK: In southwestern France, Ukrainian pilots are learning to fly fighter jets – F-16s and Mirage-5s to be sent later ( Euronews )
– EUK: NATO in talks to put more nuclear weapons in Europe – Stoltenberg issued ‘stark warning’ about China ( Telegraph UK )
– EUK: Germans are worshiping the God of War once more – long road back to former combat power – Axe ( Telegraph UK π¬ )
– EUK: ‘Augsburg we can still defend, Berlin and MΓΌnchen no longer‘ – KNDS tank builder chief says 300 tanks left ( FAZ DE )
– EUK The Kiev Symphony Orchestra has found a new home in Germany – 70 musicians, β mobilization age men ( DW DE )
– EUK: Sweden scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian Su-27 over border – Armed Forces statement ( Telegraph UK )
– EUK: The German opposition wants Ukrainian men to return home and fight – Thomas Frei, CDU party said ( RT RU )
– EUK: ALL six British Royal Navy attack submarines are confined to port – docked awaiting repairs ( Daily Mail UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– RUC: Xi Jinping claimed the US was trying to goad Beijing to attack Taiwan – April 2023 meet with EU commission ( FT UK )
– RUC: China stockpiling nuclear warheads faster than US and Russia – great powers to step back and reflect? ( Times UK )
– RUC: Russian special forces killed Islamic State-linked hostage takers in Rostov – free two guards, kill six ( Guardian UK )
– RUC: NATO chief is saber-rattling with nuclear weapons – more nukes on standby is double standards – Peskov ( RT RU )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– ASO: US–Canada–Japan–Philippines conduct exercises in Manila‘s ‘exclusive economic zone’ in South China Sea ( Reuters )
– ASO: Putin will visit Vietnam highlighting ‘communist-ruled’ nation’s loyalty to Russia, triggers US rebuke of Hanoi ( Euractiv )
– ASO: Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro says to resist China‘s ‘reckless behavior’ in S-C Sea ( Reuters )
– ASO: China views Taiwan‘s ‘elimination‘ as national cause – Taiwan ‘President’ Lai Ching-Te says ( Reuters )
– ASO: Putin to visit Pyongyang at Kim Jong Un‘s invitation – as US and allies ‘decry military ties‘ ( Reuters )
– ASO: China‘s premier Li arrives in Australia – says ties are ‘back on track‘ – first visit in 7 years ( Reuters )
THE INFORMATION WAR
– 404: Time will play in Ukraine‘s favor once F-16s and more Western aid arrive – commander Syrskyi said ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )
– 404: Ukraine‘s Azov Brigade sends direct message to US after arms ban lifted – ‘this is a new page in our history’ ( Newsweek )
– 404: US munitions finally start arriving on Ukraine front line – but wonβt be enough – Ivan Havrylyuk 1st D-DM ( Telegraph UK )
– 404: US is ‘deliberately delaying‘ training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots – arms and munitions commission Ustinova ( Guardian UK )
– 404: ICC is investigating alleged Russian cyberattacks in Ukraine as ‘war crimes’ – Ukraine ‘collecting evidence’ ( Euractiv )
– 404: ‘Football is not just a sport’ – Ukraine national team make emotional plea ahead of Euro 2024 debut ( Euronews )
– 404: Putin could use nuclear weapon if heβs losing – Security Council head Oleksandr Lytvynenko ( Times UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– USC: Watchdog panel says members of Canada‘s parliament colluded with foreign powers – but won’t name names ( WaPo )
– USC: Pentagon ran secret campaign to undermine China in Philippines – clandestine op to undermine Sinovac ( Reuters )
– USC: OpenAI appoints former top US ‘cyberwarrior’ retired Army General Paul Nakasone to its board of directors ( AP )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– EUK: EU urges China to stop human rights crackdown – Xinjiang in particular, also Tibet, Hong Kong – statement ( Reuters )
– EUK: Georgia is ‘actively working’ to restore diplomatic relations with Russia – Mtavari state broadcaster ( Novaya Gazeta EU )
– EUK: UK‘s MI5 issued Chinese spy alert to divert attention from PM Johnsonβs lockdown scandal, court hears ( Reuters )
– EUK: Europe‘s ‘march to the right‘ leaning closer to Putin, worries Elensky – public opinion is also ‘shifting’ ( Times UK )
– EUK: French Army COS Pierre Schill says conflict with Russia proves that public opinion must be controlled ( RT RU )
– EUK: Chinese firm sought to use Imperial College London to assess AI for ‘possible military use‘ ( Guardian UK β )
– EUK: Britain shouldnβt wave the nuclear white flag. We could flatten Russia – Hamish DBG ( Telegraph UK π¬ )
– EUK: Putinβs nuclear arsenal is crumbling. Ukraine can take it out for good – Hamish DBG ( Telegraph UK π¬ )
– EUK: Rod Stewart booed by German crowd for Ukraine support ( Euronews )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– LAT: Brazil seeks pro-Bolsonaro rioters who fled to Argentina – official request to identify, before extradition ( Guardian UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– ASO: ‘In need of munitions‘ for the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin will visit DPRK for the first time in nearly 25 years ( NYT )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– AFR: US Embassy employee – husband of US diplomat – charged with sexually abusing girls in Burkina Faso home ( WaPo )
THE ECONOMIC WAR
– USC: ‘higher interest rates’ have created 63 ‘problem banks‘ and $517b in ‘unrealized losses‘ – FDIC report ( Business Insider )
– USC: Treasury must promote crypto stablecoins backed by dollar to stave off US debt crisis – keep up with China ( WSJ π¬ )
– USC: After ‘foreign agent’ law caused ‘uproar’ – Georgian dream has fast-tracked another ‘concerning’ law ( Atlantic Council )
– USC: FAA investigating how counterfeit Titanium got into Boeing and Airbus jets – falsified documents from China ( NYT )
– USC: Biden ready to reopen US oil stockpile if petrol prices surge again – Hochstein says fuel cost still too high ( FT UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– EUK: More Germans buckle under debt after ‘rocky few years’ for Economy – inflation, high energy costs, interest ( Bloomberg )
– EUK: Denmark seeks to stop shadow tanker fleet carrying Russian oil in Baltic Sea – no clarification on measures ( Reuters )
– EUK: Russia overtook US as gas supplier to Europe in May – highlighting ‘difficulty’ in weaning off Russian energy ( FT UK )
– EUK: Birmingham, UK‘s second-largest city is forced to dim lights and cut sanitation services due to bankruptcy ( ABC AU )
– EUK: Scholz demands more ‘team spirit’ from bickering coalition partners as 2025 budget showdown looms ( Bloomberg )
– EUK: Germany blocks first-ever sanctions on Russian liquified natural gas – talks fell apart the last minute ( Politico EU )
– EUK: Germany mulls migration pact with Uzbekistan to deport Afghans – and avoid deals with Taliban ( Bloomberg )
– EUK: Spain has resumed imports of Russian iron, steel and aluminium after three-month pause ( Lenta RU )
– EUK: The high cost of living is still biting the UK. Many donβt think the election will change anything ( AP )
– EUK: Putin‘s ‘blood fertilizer‘ is flooding Europe – imports have grown by 920% ( Bild DE )
– EUK: Surge in ‘vanishing’ pubs as 80 locations close per month ( Telegraph UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– LAT: 72% of Argentinians say economic situation has worsened since Javier Milei came to power – new poll ( La Politica )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– ASO: India, US commit to addressing barriers to bilateral trade, cooperation – Sullivan in New Delhi ( Reuters )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– RUC: China has become a scientific superpower – from plant biology to superconductor physics, cutting edge ( Economist UK )
– RUC: China opens tit-for-tat anti-dumping probe into European pork imports – Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France ( Euractiv )
– RUC: Americaβs assassination attempt on Huawei is backfiring – growing stronger and less vulnerable ( Economist UK )
– RUC: Russia will demand compensation for sanctions – Medvedev – others nations should do the same ( RT RU )
THE POLITICAL SH*TSHOW
– USC: Biden, Obama and Kimmel warned about the ‘dangers of a Trump presidency‘ at star-studded LA fundraiser ( WaPo )
– USC: Trump threatens to cut US aid to Ukraine quickly if reelected – allies scrambling to secure long-term aid ( Politico US )
– USC: Top CEOs flock to Trump again – US bank leaders want ‘seat at the table’ – JPMorgan, BOA, Citi, Wells Fargo ( WSJ )
– USC: Clooney, Kimmel and other ‘a-listers‘ at Hollywood Biden gala raised a record $28m in donations ( Telegraph UK )
– USC: Clooney, Roberts and Spielberg among ‘big names’ at Biden fundraiser – Obama in ‘supporting role’ ( Times UK )
– USC: Joe Biden to paint Trump as ‘unhinged’ felon in $50mn ad campaign – ahead of first tv debate ( FT UK )
– USC: The Biden campaign needs younger voters – and younger celebrity backers ( WSJ )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– EUK: EU ambassadors agree ‘in principle’ to negotiate membership ‘frameworks’ for Ukraine, Moldova – June 25 ( Politico EU )
– EUK: ‘Russian roulette’ – French centrist are ‘losing sleep’ after Macron‘s gamble on snap election ( Guardian UK )
– EUK: In Macron‘s home town Amiens, voters ditch him to ‘restore order’ – flock to ‘hard’ left and right ( Times UK )
– EUK: Baerbock is ‘interested’ in running for Chancellor again – a shock to Robert Habeck ( Bild DE )
– EUK: ‘Ukraine-skeptic’ Peter Pellegrini – is sworn in as Slovakia‘s new president ( Telegraph UK )
– EUK: EU leaders meet to ‘divvy up‘ top jobs – informal summit in Brussels to discuss, ‘assign‘ top jobs ( Euronews )
– EUK: EU leaders expected to agree to top job ‘package deal‘ over dinner ( Euractiv )
β ‘new consensus‘: Von der Leyen for Commission, Kaja Kallas for High Representative, AntΓ³nio Costa for Council
– EUK: No political deal on EU top jobs after leaders’ meeting / dinner in Brussels – despite hopes of agreement ( Euronews )
THE WEST ASIAN GENOCIDE
– USC: In the ‘search for hostages’ the US is Israel‘s ‘key intelligence partner‘ – extraordinary amount of support provided ( WaPo )
– USC: ‘Key democrats’ approve major $18b arms sale to Israel, 50 F-15s – pressure from the Biden administration ( WaPo )
– USC: US ‘envoy’ Amos Hochstein dispatched to Israel for talks to avert deeper conflict with Hezbollah ( Guardian UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– ISR: Israel announced daily ‘tactical pause’ to ‘allow aid into’ Gaza – Netanyahu found the break ‘unacceptable‘ ( Telegraph UK )
– ISR: Netanyahu dissolved his 6-member war cabinet amid row with army – decisions to be made with advisors ( Telegraph UK )
– ISR: Netanyahu and Ben Gvir denounced ‘tactical pause’ – ‘whoever decided it was a fool and should lose their job’ ( Reuters )
– ISR: Israel‘s DM Gallant rejected Macron‘s initiative to ‘work together to defuse situation with Lebanon‘ ( Times of Israel )
– ISR: Netanyahu sits on dual bombs : Ultra-Orthodox draft exemption passed, but Ceasefire outcome looms ( Times UK )
β Netanyahu: I did not really mean it – the proposal was forced on me by Gantz and the ΒAmericans
β Netanyahu: It does not matter because Hamas will never accept it anyway
– ISR: Israel defense exports hit record $13.1 billion in 2023 – government report – doubled over past five years ( Reuters )
– ISR: Likud MK Nissim Vaturi compares anti-government protests in Israel to ‘a branch of Hamas‘ ( Guardian UK )
– ISR: 11 funerals for IDF commanders, soldiers held across Israel – three separate ‘incidents’ in Gaza ( TO Israel )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– WEA: Hamas response to Gaza ceasefire proposal was consistent with US plan’s principles – Haniyeh ( Reuters )
– WEA: Erdogan says Biden is facing a test of sincerity in handling the Gaza war – at G7 summit ( Reuters )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– PAL: The war in Gaza has wiped out entire Palestinian families. We document 60 who lost dozens or more ( AP )
– PAL: ‘Maybe itβs better my children are in heaven‘ – Eid in the ruins of Gaza – praying for ceasefire ( Times UK )
ββββββββββββββββββ
– UN: UN Humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths: world leaders failing us – breaking compact between people, power ( WaPo π¬ )
– UN : WFP senior official Carl Skau warned of water and sanitation catastrophe if Gaza conflict continues ( Euronews )
– UN: Gaza hostilities continue despite Israeli armed forces announcement, UNRWA chief Lazzarini ( Reuters )
APPENDICES
APPENDIX : Videoclips
– Trudeu’s salute : https://x.com/narrative_hole/status/1802417505560100896
– Bridget Bink’s fears : https://x.com/ivan_8848/status/1801724277844283715
– Biden raising funds : https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1802548158003900724
– Romanian fans vs Ukraine : https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1802721452753326527
– Rutte thinks Putin panics : https://x.com/SonjaEnde/status/1802705488741581226
– NATO kidsβ propaganda : https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1802719146699821245
– Kirby – gotta win war first : https://x.com/BowesChay/status/1802786917445963885
– Zaporozhye βUkraineβ : https://x.com/OlgaBazova/status/1802612093352325174
APPENDIX : Legend
π¬ = Opinion piece
β = Exclusive
USC = United States + Canada
RUC = Russia + China
EUK = Europe + United Kingdom | 404 = Ukraine
WEA = West Asia, formerly Middle East | ISR = Israel | PAL = Palestine
ASO = Australia + Oceania
AFR = Africa
LAT = Latin America