I’ve 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

US STRONG-ARMS EU – G7 has an agreement on the profits from Russian assets.  

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RUSSIA VS NATO IN COUNTRY 404

BANDERASTAN

– 404: Ukrainian MPs proposed businesses pay $500 / month / employee to exempt them from mobilization ( Telegraph UK )

– 404: Ukraine government to file lawsuit at ICC about Russia‘s ‘deliberate’ starvation tactics in Mariupol ( Guardian UK )

– 404: ‘Every dollar counts’ – to pay for war, Ukraine embraces privatization – sell off a ‘range of companies’ ( NYT )

– 404: Avdeyevka map shows Ukraine’s defenses in crisis after Russian breach – even ISW admits ( Newsweek )

– 404: Ukraine Armed Forces said it shot down most Russian missiles and drones – yet Kiev burned ( NYT )

– 404: Ukraine strikes deal for US gas – with Venture Global – to ‘clip’ Russian energy influence ( FT UK )

NATO – BERLIN, RIGA, BRUSSELS

– 404: Ukraine ‘will end this war on our terms‘ – Elensky told Bundestag – ‘compromise over’ / ‘Ru must pay’ ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: ‘Don’t wait until Russia’s war is over to invest‘ – Elensky to hesitant businesses – convince them Ukraine is safe ( Euractiv )

– 404: Without more air cover ‘within weeks’ there won’t be enough power for winter – Energy minister Galushchenko ( Reuters )

– 404: Eleneksy mat German president Steinmeier to discuss energy situation, upcoming piss summit ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: Ukraine needs $10 to 30 billion in annual investments over next decade – PM Denis Shmyhal ( Xinhua XN )

– 404: Elensky is reportedly ‘bitterly disappointed‘ with China regarding his Swiss Piss Conference ( Spiegel DE )

– 404: Elensky warned against ‘pro-Russia rhetoric in EU‘ in his speech to German Bundestag ( DW DE )

– 404: Elensky asked for air defense support to ward off attacks on energy infrastructure ( Euronews )

– 404: Elensky escaped to Jeddah for unannounced visit – Saudi Press Agency ( Barron’s / WSJ )

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– EUK: Russia ‘may‘ be storing 100 nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad – ‘attack on EU likely‘ – Polish FM Sikorski ( NVO Ukraine )

– EUK: Germany and Ukraine signed ‘reconstruction declaration’ meant to boost future growth, cooperation – Lindner ( DW DE )

– EUK: Slovak defense minister says sending fighter jets to Ukraine was ‘treason’ – files criminal complaint ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– EUK: The EU signed ‘agreements’ worth  €1.4b with banks to attract private investment in Ukraine – Ursula VDL ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Russian spies pose as diplomats to attack / ‘sabotage‘ Europe – EU restrict their movement – Stoltenberg ( Times UK )

– EUK: AFD and BSW boycotted speech by ‘beggar’ Elensky – wearing ‘camouflage suit’ fighting ‘unwinnable war’ ( Times UK )

– EUK: Europe must turn off Russian gas to save Ukraine – British FS David Cameron jabs at Fra-Bel-Spa ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: For King and country? Europe‘s young are not willing to fight – ECHR survey says – only 22-29% willing ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Bulgarian president Radev blocked common B9 position on military aid to Ukraine – no joint declaration ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Germany and EU ‘promised‘ to repair and rebuild Ukraine‘s energy infrastructure – Scholz & Ursula ( Euronews )

– EUK: The Danube river is ‘key‘ to NATO‘s efforts to ‘keep the Black Sea free and open‘ – Ben Hodges et al. ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Kaja Kallas looks for an international way out as domestic opponents rally against her ( BNE Intellinews DE )

– EUK: The EU pledged to deliver €1.9b to Ukraine from EPF by end of month – Ursula VDL ( Straits Times SG )

– EUK: Kaja Kallas popularity plummets after resignations over military budget – Kusti Salm resigned ( Euractiv )

– EUK: NATO support for Ukraine will not be voluntary but compulsory – Stoltenberg, Brussels ( Euronews )

– EUK: Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck called the lack of support for Ukraine ‘shortsighted‘ ( DW DE )

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– EUK: Stoltelberg made a surprise visit to Budapest, Hungary to discuss Hungary‘s opt-out stance on Ukraine ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Hungary agreed not to veto NATO’s deepening support for Ukraine in exchange for nonparticipation ( CNBC )

– EUK: ECJ fines Hungary €200m over ‘extremely serious’ breach of EU asylum law +  €1m per day!  ( Euronews )

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– LAT: Argentina joins Ramstein format ‘contact group’ meeting in support of Ukraine ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

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– USC: Germany and allies will supply Ukraine with ‘dozens’ of Patriot interceptors – 68 total – Pistorius ( Euromaidan Press )

– USC: Poland did not agree to transfer the Patriot battery – ‘it’s not going anywhere’ – Deputy DM Cezary Tomczyk ( RT RU )

– USC: Pistorious proposed ‘voluntary military service’ to boost depleted armed forces, after draft met opposition ( Reuters )

– USC: Biden approved the deployment of ‘rare $1.1b’ Patriot system from Poland where it protected US troops ( NYT )

– USC: Germany will transfer ‘a quarter’ of its Patriot systems to Ukraine – 3rd system delivered ‘soon’ ( Ukro Pravda )

– USC: Germany cannot supply more Patriot systems to Ukraine, urges allies to step in – Pistorius ( Sputnik RU )

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YANKEES VS EUROS IN PUGLIA

A GANG OF LOSERS

– EUK: Buoyant Giorgia Meloni joined by ‘lame duck’ leaders – Sunak, Macron, Scholz struggling at home ( Times UK )

– EUK: Emmanuel Macron‘s ratings reach lowest point in 5.5 years – 24% in new ‘Les Echos’ survey ( Les Echos FR )

– EUK: Six lame ducks and Georgia Meloni – meet the G7 class of 2024 – many fighting for life at home ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Welcome to the most unpopular G7 summit ever – participants lead global disapproval ratings ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Cruise ship meant to house police for G7 summit impounded over poor conditions – Italian Police ( Reuters )

– EUK: EU top jobs – commissioner, council president – talks are expected to gain traction at G7 Summit ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Italy‘s G7 venue is a faux medieval luxury resort far from public view – it’s called Borgo Egnazia ( ABC )

BANDERASTAN FRONT

– 404: Ukraine wants G7 to provide jets after $50b aid – Elensky arrived from Saudi Arabia after it was agreed ( Bloomberg )

– 404: Elensky expects ‘important decisions’ on helping Ukraine fight the ‘invading Russian forces’ at G7 summit ( BBC UK )

– 404: Elensky to G7 – We must create a mechanism for confiscating $300b in frozen Russian assets ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: Elensky called on G7 to draw clear recovery plan similar to ‘Marshall Plan‘ for Ukraine’s reconstruction ( CNN )

– 404: Biden, Elensky ‘inch toward NATO‘ with 10-year defense agreement – even if Trump wins ( Reuters )

– 404: Kiev signs ‘unprecedented’ 10-year ‘security deals‘ with US, Japan at G7 – Elensky ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

Current list of ‘bilateral security agreements’: UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Iceland  > now > US, Japan

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– USC: Biden flew to G7 summit in Italy focused on US sanctions on 3rd parties, and EU‘s $50b loan to Ukraine ( Reuters )

– USC: Blackrock and Microsoft CEOs attend G7 summit – to support ‘investment in developing countries‘ ( Bloomberg ☆ )

– USC: US, Britain, Canada accuse Russia of plot to influence Moldova election – State Dept joint statement ( Reuters )

– USC: Joe Biden vows US will support Ukraine ‘until they prevail in this war’ – after signing defense pact  ( FT UK )

– USC: A new way to make Russia‘s assets pay for Ukraine‘s defense and rebuilding – Janet Yellen ( WaPo 💬 )

– USC: Joe Biden says ‘democracies can deliver’ as G7 agree on ‘breakthrough’ $50b aid deal ( Guardian UK )

– USC: Moldova‘s fate is tied to Ukraine‘s – now is the time for the west to ‘go big‘ on Moldova ( CSIS )

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– EUK: German energy giant Uniper terminates gas supply contracts with Gazprom subsidy, ending relationship ( RT RU )

– EUK: G7 leaders agree ‘provisional‘ deal to ‘engineer‘ $50b loan to Ukraine using interest on Russian assets ( Euractiv )

– EUK: German Uniper won $14 billion arbitration ruling against Gazprom – for ‘termination of gas‘ by Russia ( Reuters )

– EUK: Pope Francis to meet Biden, Elensky, Macron and Modi on sidelines of G7 – first Pope to attend ( Reuters )

– EUK: The cost of ‘carbon conflict‘ – Russia could face €30b climate reparations bill for war in Ukraine ( Euronews )

– EUK: European experts ‘concerned’ by rise of US-sanctioned ‘strongman’ Delyan Peevski in Bulgaria ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Britain announces sweeping sanctions on Russia, including ships in Putin‘s ‘shadow fleet‘ ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: UK PM Rishi Sunak announced record-breaking $300m financial aid package at G7 ( NVO Ukraine )

– EUK: Putin‘s latest gambit shows how desperate he is – Richard Kemp on Cuba ( Telegraph UK 💬 )

– EUK: US, Europe to ‘lock up’ Russian assets until it pays for war – clearing way for $50b loan ( AP )

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– RUC: ‘US and their asshole allies‘ are waging war on Russia with no rules – we should reciprocate – Medvedev ( Newsweek )

– RUC: Russian Navy warships conducted military drills en route to Cuba – 66 miles off Florida – with hypersonics ( WaPo )

– RUC: The trading of US$ and EU€ officially stopped on the Moscow Stock Exchange as of June 13 ( Kommersant RU )

– RUC: Attempts to use frozen assets would be criminal, response would be very painful for EU – Zakharova ( RT RU )

– RUC: Putin set to visit DRRK – actively being prepared – and Vietnam – not yet confirmed ( Vedomosti RU )

– RUC: Putin ratified Moon-station deal between Russian Interkosmos and China‘s CNSA ( Tass RU )

CHYNA FRONT – WORRIES

– USC: US plans drone ‘Hellscape‘ to deter China from attacking Taiwan – but time running out – admiral Sam Paparo ( WaPo )

– USC: US lawmakers pass Tibet policy bill that questions China‘s claims, cites ‘disinformation‘ – on Biden‘s desk ( SCMP CN )

– USC: US widened sanctions on Russia to discourage countries such as China from doing business with Moscow ( AP )

– USC: EU tariffs on China too low to protect car industry – 100% wouldn’t be enough – former US trade official ( Euractiv )

– USC: US expands sanctions against Russia by targeting Chinese companies helping Putin’s war in Ukraine ( PBS )

– USC: DJI to the rescue? US police want China drones despite Washington clampdown – 97% Chinese ( Nikkei JP )

– USC: A new Chinese ‘megaport’ in Chancay Peru is ‘rattling’ US Army and State Department officials ( WSJ )

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– EUK: European dairy, pork producers wary of Chinese retaliation for tariffs – only France and Spain support them ( Reuters )

– EUK: Global Euro holdings fell by €100b last year – Russian asset fears, Ukraine could erode further – ECB report ( FT UK )

– EUK: Scholz loses to Ursula – German car manufacturers are nervous about tariffs on Chinese EVs ( Berlier Zeuting DE )

– EUK: Brutal truth about war on Chinese EVs – biggest losers of EU sanctions may be western brands ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: The EU commission notified carmakers of tariffs of 17-38% on Chinese EVs – revenue of €2bn a year ( FT UK )

– EUK: G7 to call on China to stop helping Russia‘s war – draft statement seen by reporters ( Bloomberg ☆ )

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– LAT: Argentine president will travel to China in coming weeks, meet Xi Jinping – ‘currency swap’ deal reinstated ( Clarin AG )

– LAT: Argentina loses appeal over $1.5b payment to hedge funds – setback for Milei’s ‘cash-strapped’ govt ( FT UK )

– LAT: Violent protests erupt as Milei‘s austerity overhaul passes the Argentine Senate ( Guardian UK )

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– ASO: South Korea, US warn against North Korea–Russia military ties ahead of Putin visit – emergency phone call ( Euractiv )

– ASO: Empty classrooms, silent halls – Taiwan’s declining birthrate forces schools to close – economic crash ( Guardian UK )

– ASO: Philippines sees China posing ‘existential threat’ in South China Sea – DefSec Gilbert Teodoro said ( FT UK )

– ASO: France suspended New Caledonia‘s ‘electoral reform’ – after unrest, eight deaths, €1b damage ( Politico EU )

– ASO: In China‘s backyard – Asia-Pacific – America is a ‘humbler superpower’ – no longer dictating terms ( NYT )

– ASO: New Zealand abandons 2018 ban on oil/gas exploration amid fears of blackouts ( Telegraph UK )

– ASO: Record number of Kiwis leave New Zealand under ‘cost of living’ pressures ( Guardian UK )

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– RUC: Hong Kong Security Office to use new natsec powers to cancel passports of six self-exiled activists in Britain ( Reuters )

– RUC: Countries back out of Swiss Ukraine conference – 93 to 78 – ‘withdrawals could rise‘ – unnamed diplomat ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Chinese officials urged dialogue and consultation, but but will take all measures to defend enterprises ( Euractiv )

– RUC: China‘s EV makers saw EU tariffs coming and already have a plan – factories in EU, joint ventures ( WSJ )

– RUC: China pushes rival Ukraine peace plan before Swiss summit – 10 unnamed diplomats say ( Reuters ☆ )

– RUC: Cars? Pork? Perfume? China has many options if a trade war breaks out with Europe ( AP )

WEST ASIA / AFRICA FRONT

– EUK: Meloni wants to present Italy as new European face in Africa – pushed for continent to be central at G7 ( Al Jazeera QT )

– EUK: Europe wants a mutually beneficial partnership with Africa – security and prosperity interconnected – Ursula VDL ( X )

– EUK: With the African Development Bank we will create innovative financial instruments – Meloni at G7 ( Agenzia Nova IT )

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– USC: Deadly and wildly profitable Uranium fever breaks out – metal’s price up 233% – world re-embraces nuclear ( Bloomberg )

– USC: China and Russia are beating the US in Africa – US should give ‘anchor’ countries support – Stavridis ( Bloomberg 💬 )

– USC: Draft G7 communiqué supports US Gaza ceasefire, concerned about Israel–Lebanon conflict ( Reuters )

– USC: Negotiators are ‘racing to fill the gaps’ in Gaza ceasefire deal, Blinken told reporters ( Times UK )

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– ISR: Israeli official – unnamed – said Hamas ‘changed all meaningful parameters’ for Gaza ceasefire deal ( Reuters )

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– WEA: Hezbollah claims it attacked 9 Israeli military sites using rockets, drones ( Reuters )

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– PAL: Israeli forces advance deeper into Rafah as ‘diplomacy falters’ – ‘one of the worst nights of bombardment’ ( Reuters )

– PAL: Hamas submitted a response to ‘US-backed’ ceasefire plan, demands commitment to permanent ceasefire ( BBC )  

– PAL: Israel forces dressed as Palestinian refugees for ‘hostage rescue operation’ – Israeli sources ( ABC )

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– UN: ‘Immense’ scale of Gaza killings amount to crimes against humanity, UNHRC inquiry finds crime on ‘both sides’ ( Reuters )

– UN: Hamas welcomed US-drafter UNSC resolution on permanent Gaza ceasefire, did not say it accepted ( Times UK )

– UN: Israeli cabinet discusses ‘punitive measures’ against UN agencies – visas, boycotts, terminate missions ( FT UK )

– UN: UNRWA accuses Israel of frequently preventing aid from entering Gaza ( Guardian UK )

THE CAUCASUS FRONT

– WEA: PM Pashinyan declared that no Armenian officials would visit Belarus while Lukashenko remains in power ( Reuters )

– WEA: Armenian peace deal with Azerbaijan needs ‘adjustments’ b4 signing – no constitution change – Pashinyan ( Reuters )

– WEA: Georgia has begun preparations for opening an embassy in Moscow, restoration of diplomatic relations ( Sputnik RU )

– WEA: Armenia will leave Collective Security Treaty Organization – ‘Russia‘s military alliance‘ – Pashinyan ( Andalou TR )

– WEA: Armenia and the US to become ‘strategic partners‘ – US to ‘assist’ with military, judiciary, democracy ( RT RU )

– WEA: Armenia erupted in violent protests as it nears ‘peace deal’ with Azerbaijan – against Pashinyan ( Euractiv )

– WEA: Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan hosted US asst. SecState James O’Brien ( Public Radio AR )

ELECTION SHENANIGANS

– EUK: Macron‘s call for elections adds to fears of financial woes – debt €3t / 110% of GDP – pandemic, energy subsidies ( NYT )

– EUK: France‘s top companies should ‘mobilize’ against Le Pen – German companies did against AFD – IM Lescure ( Reuters )

– EUK: Macron‘s election gamble triggers chaos and anger inside his party – openly questioning decision ( Bloomberg ☆ )

– EUK: Macron ‘doesn’t want to hand the keys of power to Le Pen‘ – addressing voters at press conference ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Both chambers of Swiss parliament spurn EU climate ruling – accuse ECHR of ‘judicial activism’ ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Europe‘s voters send a message to their failing leaders – a ‘salutary shock’ – Editorial Board ( Bloomberg 💬 )

– EUK: French parties reject Macron’s offer for alliance against far right – Socialist, Greens, Les Republicans ( FT )

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– USC: Biden‘s aides ‘wary but not worried’ of EU far-right gains – hope US sees importance of transatlantic relation ( Politico US )

– USC: Policy Horizons Canada – govt think tank – report ‘Disruptions on the Horizon’ worries about a US ‘civil war‘ ( Politico US )

– USC: ‘The appeal of an American Caesar‘ – rightwing intellectuals assemble ‘authoritarian playbook’ for Trump ( FT UK 💬 )

– USC: Scientists and ‘federal agencies’ fear Trump, safeguard research – including ‘climate science‘ from ‘meddling’ ( WaPo )

– USC: Donald Trump promises to cut taxes and regulations in pitch to top US CEOs – Citigroup, JPMorgan, Apple ( FT UK )

– USC: Biden pushed to keep mentions of reproductive rights in G7 statement – Meloni sought to strip – US officials ( CNN )

– USC: A Trump win could see a mass purge of State Department – US diplomats fear – Heritage report ( Guardian UK )

– USC: Biden‘s approval rating just hits lowest mark on record – 37.4% – five months to elections ( Business Insider )

– USC: US Congress holds attorney-general Merrick Garland in contempt over Biden audio recordings ( FT UK )

– USC: Biden‘s Israel policy may hasten Trump‘s rise – European ‘allies’ fear Biden’s downfall ( Politico EU )

– USC: ‘The most courageous thing that Joe Biden can do’ – is choose not to run – Bret Stephens ( NYT 💬 )

APPENDICES

APPENDIX : Videoclips

– Urusula Putin must fail : https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1800575257981661460

– Russia’s missile test : https://x.com/ricwe123/status/1800893871066648744

– Armenian parliament : https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1800921381821202483

– G7 begins Italy : https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1801201599517200705

– Blinken to Hamas: https://x.com/afshinrattansi/status/1800894065288089885

– Ukraine too victim: https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1801256332160356613

APPENDIX : Legend

💬 = Opinion piece

 ☆  = 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