Globalism / Great Reset –
See Credit Suisse in Economy below
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See New York Quarantine lawsuit in Wuhan below
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The Department of Energy is conducting this gas stove grab through a rule that would impose extreme energy performance standards on residential cooktops. The department’s proposed rule sets requirements for gas cooktops at the maximum technologically feasible or “max-tech” level. Based on the Department of Energy’s own analysis, gas cooktops at the max-tech level represent just 4% of current market share and exclude all conventional free-stand ranges.
Any rule that causes 96% of the products available today to be eliminated from the market is an extreme regulation. In fact, it is essentially an outright ban on gas stoves
OBSERVATION – Been following this for a while. Thwarted by backlash for a complete ban of gas stoves, they are now coming at it from a regulatory level – and achieving a 96% ban. I don’t remember the American people clammoring for such action, but this is just continuing evidence that the US is subordinate to the WEF and its goals.
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More related energy control grabs – can also link to Economy below
“The Biden administration is strengthening the ‘Good Neighbor’ rule, to cut pollution from power plants and factories in the West and Midwest that wafts east.”
According to our long-suffering environmental journalist at the NY Times, Coral Davenport: “The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized a rule forcing factories and power plants in 23 Western and Midwestern states to sharply cut smog-causing pollution that is released from their smokestacks and fouls the air in Eastern states.”
“Known as the “good neighbor” rule, the new regulation strengthens and expands an earlier interstate air pollution standard that was enacted during the Obama administration. While that rule directed power plants to clean up their emissions, the revised rule enforces similar controls on mills, factories and other industrial facilities.”
“The good neighbor rule holds that states should take measures to ensure that their pollution doesn’t affect downwind states. It directs coal-burning power plants and industrial facilities such as iron, steel, cement and concrete manufacturers in the Western and Midwestern states to reduce their emissions of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant that causes smog and is linked to asthma, lung disease and premature death.”
“Soot and exhaust belched from those industrial facilities is carried by prevailing winds toward Eastern states, causing high levels of pollution in states with fewer industries.”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2023/03/16/e-p-a-tells-states-clean-up-your-smokestacks/
OBSERVATION – Essentially EPA is grabbing more authority to regulate and change America’s primary energy production – and to force the politically motivated shift away from fossil fuels in both power production and industry towards the unicorn and rainbows of ‘green energy’. Meanwhile, they turn a blind eye to the disaster at East Palistine Ohio.
Wuhan virus –
Late in the day on Monday March 13, 2023, just hours before the deadline, New York Attorney General, Letitia James, filed an appeal to try to overturn our successful lawsuit that struck down Governor Hochul’s unconstitutional “Isolation and Quarantine Procedures” regulation.
The case, Borrello v. Hochul, which we won last July, was brought against the Governor and her Department of Health, on behalf of a group of NYS Legislators, Senator George Borrello, Assemblyman Chris Tague, Assemblyman (now Congressman) Mike Lawler, together with our citizens’ group, Uniting NYS.
The main premise of the case was breach of Separation of Powers – meaning the Governor and her Department of Health did not have the authority to make their dystopian “Isolation and Quarantine Procedures” regulation.
The Regulation:
For anyone unfamiliar with this regulation, it allowed the Department of Health to pick and choose which New Yorkers they could lock up or lock down, with no proof that you were ever even exposed to, let alone actually sick with, a communicable disease. They could have locked you down in your home, or they could have removed you from your home and forced you to quarantine in a facility of their choosing.
There was no time restriction, so you could have been quarantined for however long they required – days, weeks, months. There was no age restriction, so they could have done this to you, to your child, to your grandchild, etc. In the true fashion of a totalitarian regime, they could have told you what you could and could not do while in quarantine. They literally could have controlled your every move.
The regulation allowed them to use law enforcement to enforce their orders of isolation or quarantine, which means you could have received a knock at the door from your local police or sheriff telling you that you had to go with them… by order of the Health Department.
Furthermore, the regulation had no procedure by which you could be released from quarantine, no way for you to try to negotiate your way out. And it was not COVID19 specific. There was a laundry list of “communicable diseases” that could have triggered this nightmare loss of freedom – diseases such as Lyme, Toxic Shock Syndrome, COVID19 and so many others.
https://brownstone.org/articles/governor-hochul-files-appeal-in-quarantine-camp-lawsuit/
OBSERVATION – Article cited at length. This also put wuhan infected into nursing homes – killing untold seniors already suffering from ailments. This also shows the extreme medical tyranny that the powers that be want to maintain over the population – and just how willing the sheeple are to bow to any edict. Should the WHO get it way – similar edicts may come into effect globally – even here in the USA as a whole.
Economy –
More nasty facts are coming out about SVB and its activities that certainly contributed to its failure. SVB execs may have failed to hedge against interest rate risk, they did signal $73.45 million in virtue donating to Black Lives Matter and related entities, according to a database maintained by the Claremont Institute which lists nearly $83 billion in donations to the Marxist organization.
ALSO – CA gov Newscum likely violated the law in pushing for a bail out of SVB, given that three of his wineries accounts were held in the bank as well as a lot of other intermingling of interests. Newsom also didn’t mention his wife Jennifer Siebel’s professional ties to the bank. In 2021, Silicon Valley Bank gave $100,000 to the charity founded by Siebel, the California Partners Project, at the request of Newsom. John China, president of SVB Capital and responsible for SVB’s funds management, is himself a founding member of the California Partners Project’s board of directors.
OBSERVATION – Follow the money, SVB now appears to be up to its eyebrow in questionable actions and accounting.
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Tyson Foods has announced plans to lay off nearly 1,700 employees. Tyson will be closing two chicken plants in May, one in Arkansas and one in Virginia.
In a statement, Tyson said it will be closing down the facilities and focusing on optimizing operations by utilizing full capacity at existing plants.
OBSERVATION – This will not help poultry prices in near or long term.
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Yesterday, chaos increased with Credit Suisse shares dropped by as much as 30.8%, leading a 7% fall in the European banking index, while five-year credit default swaps (CDS) for the flagship Swiss bank hit a new record high, reviving fears of a broader threat to the financial system. Switzerland is under pressure from at least one major government to intervene quickly on Credit Suisse, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters, after the Swiss bank led a rout of European bank stocks on Wednesday.
Later last night, Credit Suisse announces $53.7 billion loan from Swiss central bank. Before that it was estimated that Credit Suisse had a probability of default of 47%.
OBSERVATION – The combination of a too fast rising Fed (and other govt) lending rates combined with poor management and shakey economic conditions left over from the wuhan plandemic will lead to more of these banks coming to the edge and some falling over in the coming months. These actions, like those for SVB, are only wallpaper over much broader banking problems. Please note – the WEF will leverage these crises as part of their economic ‘reset’. You don’t ‘reset’ unless the system gets completely broken.
RELATED - European Central Bank raised interest rates by 0.50% to 3.50% overnight.
This is doing the same to European banks as the fed increases to US banks. More evidence of potentially maneuvering for a global take down?
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Fears of further meltdowns of smaller, regional banks like SVB has caused a lot of money transfers by individuals/companies out of such banks and into the bigger ones like BoA and Chase.
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It is estimated that there is $620 billion unrealized potential loss remaining in the banking system – due largely to the rapid prime rate increases and corresponding jump in short term bonds versus long term bonds (which these banks invested heavily in). This is placing the Fed between a rock and a hard place. Though slightly lower, inflation is still far above the fed’s goals. However to continue increasing the rate will lead to more stress on the banking system. To back off rate increase, the fed sees the potential of inflation taking off again. This potential bomb was quietly acknowledged by the Federal Reserve’s emergency loan program that may have to inject as much as $2 trillion of funds into the US banking system and ease the liquidity crunch, according to JPMorgan Chase
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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $3 billion in grants had been requested across 47 states to build or expand domestic fertilizer production facilities. The USDA recently distributed $29 million to projects that can ramp up fertilizer production in 2023 or 2024.
OBSERVATION – It will take years and a maze of regulations to navigate through before this increased production actually hits the farm. There are not too many facilities that can ramp up short term production.
China –
According to Taiwanese authorities, defense spending is set to focus on a “total blockade” scenario by China. This is one of the most likely scenarios that China will use to force Taiwan to capitulate to its demands. It is the least risky to China but could force a confrontation sooner with the US and other nations that will force the blockaide to supply Taiwan.
North/South Korea –
A North Korean missile was launched at a high angle and flew for about 1,000 km and reached an altitude of roughly 6,000km before splashing into the Sea of Japan, outside the Japanese Economic Exclusion Zone.
With just over an hour of flight time, definitely within ICBM territory, Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-17 perhaps.
OBSERVATION – These high angle flight tests serve to help test reentry vehicles for eventual warheads. Because NK doesn’t have the assets to receive telemetry from the rocket, high angle shots are done. In contrast, US Minutemen ICBS are launched from the US and into US controlled areas of the Pacific.
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Been noted for most of a year now, rumblings of a NK nuclear test are increasing given the current rhetoric from NK towards the south and US joint exercises. I expect such a test to be of a miniaturized warhead capable of being placed on their Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-17 ICBM or the rumored solid fuel ICBM under development.
Japan –
The Japanese Prime Minister has called an Emergency National Security Meeting following the ICBM launch by North Korea.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Russia is rapidly losing its capability to sustain offensive operations in these fronts due to the huge resource drain Bahkmut has created. Some offensive operation will continue to be attempted, however, a lot of assessment indicates they’ve lost the capability to sustain a credible offensive to try to capture the Donbas region having frittered away resources against Bahkmut.
Russia is also capable of launching more cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure -primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
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It is being estimated that Russia has managed to increase the amount of territory it controls in Ukraine by 0.039% in February—the equivalent of around 233.94 sq km (90.3 sq mi). This at the cost of about 30,000 Russian lives.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu following drone incident. This is the second time the two have spoken since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. -FOX
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The Pentagon has released footage of what it says is a Russian aircraft conducting an unsafe intercept of a US Air Force surveillance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.
The 42-second video shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as it passes, the Pentagon said.
The US military said it ditched the MQ-9 Reaper in the sea Tuesday after the Russian fighter jet poured fuel on the unmanned aerial vehicle and then struck its propeller.
Economic Impact –
Putin urged Russia’s billionaires and business elite to invest in new technology, production facilities and enterprises to help Russia overcome what he said were Western attempts to destroy its economy. Putin told the business leaders that Russia was facing a “sanctions war” but was swiftly reorienting its economy towards countries that had not imposed sanctions on Russia, and thanked them for working to help the Russian state.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures rising to the mid 30’s – lower 40s with rain/snow over most of the forecast period
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Fighting continues around Bakhmut and Avdiivka with minor gains by Russian forces. Heavy propaganda war by both sides over the significance of the fight for Bakhmut.
Russian Territory –
A fire tore through offices of the security services in a southern region of Russia bordering Ukraine, the emergency services said, according to Russian news agencies.
Images circulating on social media showed a massive blaze tearing through a building in a built-up urban area with a huge plume of black smoke billowing over the fire.
NOTE – Suspicious fires have been reported at significant facilities across Russia. Uncertain if related to espionage but this one definitely fits the bill for such.
OUTLOOK –
Russia is running out of time to achieve its goal of capturing Donbas. Since the start of its offensive, approximately 233.94 sq km (90.3 sq mi) of Ukraine territory has been seized – all at heavy losses in men and material. Russian forces are rapidly finding itself in a very weak position that Ukraine can exploit later in the spring. It will have to decide if continuing the fight for Bahkmut are worth the potential disaster a Ukrainian offensive can cause to overstretched and weakened forces.
US-RUSSIA ruffle over the drone downing may escalate if the US resumes flights in the near future. Further escalation if Turkey allows US naval forces into the Black Sea to recover the downed drone. Russian naval operations are already reported at the crash site, so it is unlikely that the US will get elements there soon enough to do any good, but may get forces there for future efforts – i.e. the next time Russia downs a drone or any related aircraft.
In order to have forces to blunt the Ukrainian offensive, Russia needs to push a new mobilization now as it takes multiple months of training to bring conscripts up to speed on equipment and organize units for battle. Some of the conscripts from last summer’s mobilization are getting training in Belarus, but Russia is behind the power curve to man-up for Ukraine’s turn.
Right now Russia’s defensive plans are to protect Crimea at all costs while trying to fix Ukrainian units in the east. Ukraine OTOH has a lot of options with the concentrated application of new equipment and trained soldiers in a combined arms strike anywhere along the front.
Finally, rumors of increased naval activity by Russian cruise missile capable ships deploying out into the Black Sea. I don’t think Russia has rebuilt the stock pile of missiles enough yet for a strike so soon after the last. Intervals have grown from less than a week to now nearly a month between barrages.
Poland –
Polish authorities have broken up a Russian espionage network and arrested a number of those involved who were planning sabotage operations inside the country. Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak described the effort as a “great success” and said additional details would be released later today.
OBSERVATION - These operations were likely directed to interrupting the supply lines into Ukraine from Poland.
Finnish president Sauli Niinisto will travel on Friday to Turkey to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a bid to seal the Finish application to join NATO. Ankara has signaled that it is ready to approve Finland’s bid to join NATO after months of hold ups from Erdogan, who is seeking reelection this year.
OBSERVATION - Economics may be starting to drive Erdogan’s move to ok Finland (and eventually Sweden) as economic conditions in Turkey – especially following the earthquakes – are in a tailspin and he can’t afford losing NATO and EU related trade.
Iran –
The Chinese Ministry of Defense this morning announced joint naval drills with Russia and Iran in the Gulf of Oman. The drills start today and run through 19 March.
OBSERVATION – More critical to Iran, but force projection by China. The Gulf of Oman is the key access point to the Persian Gulf and oil traffic. Exercise is more symbolic than tactical at this stage.
Syria -
Syria recognizes the self proclaimed ‘new borders’ of Russia which include Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzia regions ‘based on historical facts’, says Syrian President Al-Assad.
OBSERVATION – Assad in his meeting with putin yesterday had little to offer except to cheerlead.
Turkey -
“Turkey is ready to let US warships pass through the Bosphorus, because of the “incident” with the MQ-9 and Su-27” - Turkish Defense Minister
OBSERVATION - This in the context of ships to recover the remains of the drone Russia knocked down a couple days ago.
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See NATO/Europe above on Finland and Sweden admittance to NATO above
A little more abbreviated today – busy day ahead.
Globalism / Great Reset –
The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States has announced that it is launching an instant payment transfer service called “FedNow Service,” which has features of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and some analysts believe is the first big step towards a “digital dollar.”
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced that the U.S. is rolling out the FedNow instant payment transfer service in July.
“The Federal Reserve announced that the FedNow Service will start operating in July and provided details on preparations for launch,” the announcement read.
https://beckernews.com/the-federal-reserve-announces-its-first-big-step-towards-a-digital-dollar-49617/
OBSERVATION – Incramentalism at its best.
Wuhan virus –
Remember - “15 Days to Slow the Spread” (March 16, 2020)
Economy –
The elephant in the room no one is talking about as banks wobble and crash are derivative holdings.
“The sticking point, at least at the outset of this mess, will be Credit Default Swaps (CDSes.) Those are derivative contracts. The counterparty risk for banks, trading partners, and customers engaged with Credit Suisse is now off the charts. But that may be the case with the majority of European banks, within a few days. (BNP-Parabas, HSBC, Barclays, Société Générale SA, Banco Santander, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Banking Group PLC, ING Bank, Standard Chartered, UBS, Rabobank, Commerzbank, Svenska Handelsbanken, Bayerische Landesbank, et cetera.)
In 2002, mega-investor Warren Buffett wrote that derivatives were “financial weapons of mass destruction.” At that time, their total “notional” value (the value of the underlying assets from which the “derivatives” were “derived”) was estimated at $56 trillion. Investopedia reported in May 2022 that the derivatives bubble had reached an estimated $600 trillion according to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), and that the total is often estimated at over $1 quadrillion. No one knows for sure, because most of the trades are done privately.
As of the third quarter of 2022, according to the “Quarterly Report on Bank Trading and Derivatives Activities” of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the federal bank regulator), a total of 1,211 insured U.S. national and state commercial banks and savings associations held derivatives, but 88.6% of these were concentrated in only four large banks: J.P. Morgan Chase ($54.3 trillion), Goldman Sachs ($51 trillion), Citibank ($46 trillion), Bank of America ($21.6 trillion), followed by Wells Fargo ($12.2 trillion). A full list is here. Unlike in 2008-09, when the big derivative concerns were mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps, today the largest and riskiest category is interest rate products.”
https://www.unz.com/article/the-looming-quadrillion-dollar-derivatives-tsunami/
OBSERVATION – With challenging and rapidly changing economic conditions, this derivatives could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
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The chances of the United States falling into a recession in the next twelve months have increased to 35 percent because of the “near-term uncertainty around the economic effects of small bank stress,” Goldman Sachs warned Thursday.
After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which has placed pressure on additional institutions, such as Credit Suisse in recent days, Goldman Sachs’ outlook on the U.S. economy has soured amid numerous crises under the Biden administration.
The banking stress is expected to be felt by local community banks. According to Barron’s, “The stress will lead to small banks with a low-share of deposits covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reducing lending by 40%, they estimated, with others cutting lending by 15%.”
OBSERVATION – More at play in this economy than simple, raw inflation.
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The Philly Fed said that its index for current general activity rose one point to a minus 23.2, the seventh consecutive negative reading. While that is an improvement from the minus reading of 24.3 in February, any reading below zero indicates a contraction in activity from the previous month. Economists had forecast the index to come in at minus 15.8, so the reading is worse than expected.
OBSERVATION – A regional analysis that has shown to be somewhat reflective of the country in general.
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First Republic Bank will receive $30 billion from some of the top U.S. banks in a bid to stabilize the troubled firm, the banks confirmed in a March 16 joint statement.
The banks that will provide deposits include Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, BNY-Mellon, PNC Bank, State Street, Truist, and U.S. Bank. Those deposits will be uninsured, the statement said.
OBSERVATION – More bandaids and hopium that they can sneak through this without a major collapse.
Biden / Harris watch –
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer revealed Thursday that subpoenaed bank records indicate President Biden’s daughter-in-law Hallie was the previously unknown family recipient of Chinese cash in 2017, The Post can exclusively reveal.
President Biden, who allegedly was the “big guy” mentioned in communications about the same Chinese venture, dined at Hallie Biden’s residence last Friday during his regular weekend trip home to Delaware. It’s unclear if they discussed the looming bombshell, which Comer (R-Ky.) publicly teased Monday night on Fox News’ “Hannity.”
The records show Hallie Biden received $35,000 over two transfers in 2017 from Biden family associate John “Rob” Walker after he received $3 million on March 1, 2017, from the Chinese State Energy HK Limited, a firm affiliated with CEFC China Energy.
The first transfer to Hallie from Robinson Walker LLC was for $25,000 on March 20 of that year, Comer wrote in a Thursday morning memo to committee members.
In 2017 Hallie Biden opened up about her romance with Hunter Biden.
OBSERVATION – This is a serious accusation - potentially the fire behind all the smoke of the highly questionable biden family income stream. Were it to be just about anyone else, the walls of justice would be quickly moving in.
CW2/Domestic violence –
In 2018, California voters approved Proposition 12, which banned the sale of meats raised in confinement. At issue is the law’s requirement for Midwestern farmers to submit to inspections from California regulators before being allowed to sell pork in California. Midwestern farmers are already subject to their own state and federal regulations. This case will clarify the Interstate Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (FO)
OBSERVATION – kalifornia was using leverage against midwestern farmers because the sheer mass of state’s population caused it to be a major buyer of poultry products. Thus extending its regulations to other states to conform. Part of kalifornia’s argument has also been for the producers to sell their products elsewhere. Unfortunately those farmers are linked to food production companies that sell the products to kalifornia – leaving them with few choices. I hope the USSC rules against kalifornia just like they did when kalifornia added a clean air fee on cars purchased out of state but licensed in kalifornia. I got several hundred dollars back in the late 90’s when that scam was overturned.
But as noted – this regulatory overstepping is a classic red/blue divide that needs to be put in its place.
Strategic Activity / Deployments –
U.S. – Philippine “Balikatan” war games began this week, one month after Manila granted extensive new base access to the U.S. military. The war games will involve 3000 troops from the Philippine and U.S. military and are set to scenarios where the joint force will simulate sinking a hostile vessel in Philippine waters and then defend the island nation with HIMARS and Patriot missile air-defense systems. In a first for the annual exercise, Japan sent observers as part of a new tripartite Japan-Philippine-U.S. alliance.
North/South Korea –
North Korea says it fired a Hwasong-17 ICBM on Thursday.
Japan –
On Thursday, Japan deployed several hundred Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) troops, including anti-ship and anti-air units, to a new garrison on Ishigaki island. This is the latest step in a general defensive build-up of Japan’s southern islands.
OBSERVATION – Chinese aggression in the region isn’t limited to Taiwan. China has disputed territorial claims of numerous islands in the S China Sea region.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Russia is rapidly losing its capability to sustain offensive operations in these fronts due to the huge resource drain Bahkmut has created. Some offensive operation will continue to be attempted, however, a lot of assessment indicates they’ve lost the capability to sustain a credible offensive to try to capture the Donbas region having frittered away resources against Bahkmut.
Russia is also capable of launching more cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure -primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
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Logistics –
Chinese companies are shipping rifles, body armor to Russia, Politico reported. Customs data obtained by the newspaper reveals direct shipments of Chinese assault rifles, as well as drone shipments and body armor routed via Turkey and the UAE.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures rising to the mid 30’s – lower 40s with rain/snow over most of the forecast period
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Fighting continues around Bakhmut and Avdiivka with minor gains by Russian forces. Some observers/OSINT folk suggesting that the information on those battles indicates Russia is running out of steam.
OUTLOOK –
No significant change in the outlook. Russia appears to be trying to consolidate gains while continuing to pressure Ukraine while Ukraine continues it economy of force operation to bleed Russian forces.
Reports that Wagner is committing more of its better, more experienced forces in order to press the attack in Bahkmut. Result are high losses and little gains.
Moldova/Transnistria -
The Moldovan Parliament has voted in favor of officially changing the name of the state language from “Moldovan” to Romanian.
“Moldovan” was a concept invented by the Soviets in an attempt to justify its annexation of Bessarabia (Moldova) from Romania in 1940.
OBSERVATION - Tensions continue in Moldova as the pro-Russian Transnistria region creates pushback for the Romanian majority to reach back to their roots.
Poland –
Poland set to turn over a dozen Mig – 27 fighter/bombers to Ukraine.
Macron invokes Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, which allows the government to unilaterally pass any law without a vote. Rioting broke out at the Place de la Concorde tonight as tens of thousands gathered to oppose the French government’s steps to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.