Determined Leadership Everywhere Except Biden’s (Marxist Socialist Democratic War on American Energy Independence), Open the Spigots, (Resume Keystone XL) & Open the EastMed Pipeline!

Leadership starts at the top, and Zelenskyy's leadership -- even that of Europe -- stands in sharp contrast to the failed leadership coming from almost every corner of the Biden Administration. The Biden Administration has been quick to join in on the sanctions and other measures targeting Russia, but note: Biden has joined, he has not led. [T]he Biden Administration still refuses to reverse America's dependency on Russian oil and gas by increasing domestic production and opening pipelines at home. There also has been no move to close the gigantic loopholes that fail to sanction Russia's oil and energy sector... Under Biden's leadership, we are experiencing policies that ask Americans to sacrifice and end up paying for Russia's aggression, rather than unleashing American ingenuity and creativity to meet the challenge. Switzerland abandoned its famous neutrality to sanction Russia and freeze the legendary Swiss bank accounts of Russian oligarchs. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reversed course to close Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, now in bankruptcy, to Germany, and to bolster the German military. Sweden and Finland are seriously considering reversing long-held positions, in order to join NATO. Meanwhile the Biden Administration remains stuck on its policy of American energy dependency, even pulling the plug on the crucial EastMed gas pipeline to Europe from America's allies, Israel, Cyprus and Greece. The EastMed pipeline should be built without delay. Let us see to it that Ukraine does become the end of the line for Putin, who has already accumulated a long trail of war crimes and other atrocities. Putin's Waterloo. We have been imposing only half-hearted financial sanctions, "riddled with loopholes" and not hitting Russia's oil and gas. We have passively been watching Putin's savage assault on Ukraine in real time his countless war crimes -- including "pummeling civilian areas" and reportedly using cluster and vacuum bombs -- as well as the humanitarian crisis he has unleashed. Let us hope that Biden shows real leadership and changes course so that America will no longer be reliant on Russia and China, regardless of the outcome. Now that would be in the best interests of the United States. Leadership starts at the top, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's leadership -- even that of Europe -- stands in sharp contrast to the failed leadership coming from almost every corner of the Biden Administration. Pictured: Zelenskyy meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House on September 1, 2021. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) At present, Ukraine's forces look out-gunned and outnumbered by Russia's military. If Russian President Vladimir Putin ultimately does succeed in overpowering Ukraine and its capital, Kyiv, let us make sure it is his Waterloo. Boosted by the determined and pugnacious leadership shown by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, global reaction to Putin's invasion has been swift and hard on Russia. Sanctions on the Russian Central Bank and the restrictions on some Russian banks from the SWIFT banking transaction system have reduced the value of a Russian ruble to less than a penny while interest rates in Russia top 20%. The Russian stock market has been preemptively closed to prevent a crash, and Russian airlines are banned from flying over large swaths of the planet. Continue Reading Article

Russia Claims First Ukraine City, but can it hold it?

Foreign Policy Logo Foreign Policy Flashpoints MARCH 03, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER By Colm Quinn Welcome to Morning Brief, where we’re rounding up the latest on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the intervention of the International Criminal Court, and the renewed focus on oligarchs. Have tips or feedback? Hit reply to this email to let me know your thoughts. Peace Talks Resume But Bombardment Continues Russian and Ukrainian negotiators meet in Belarus today for peace talks as the war enters its second week. The talks take place as momentum slowly shifts toward the invaders, after Russia notched its first strategic victory late Wednesday as it captured Kherson, a city of around 300,000 people, and home to a port on both the Black Sea and Dnieper river. Kherson’s mayor said the city would now be in the hands of a Russian military administration. In Kharkiv, a monitor from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was killed in a Russian strike as the city continues to suffer bombardment. Russia’s forces in the south are attempting to shut off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea. Mariupol in the east is still surrounded, while an amphibious assault on Odessa could come as soon as today, according to U.S. officials. Logistical snags that have plagued Russian forces in Ukraine’s north have yet to improve, with a 40-mile military convoy headed in the direction of the capital Kyiv reportedly stalled. A U.S. defense official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said that food and fuel shortages have disrupted the vehicles’ progress and confirmed that Ukrainian efforts to target the convoy with artillery had seen some success. Meanwhile, the refugee exodus shows no signs of stopping, as U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi reported that the total number of those leaving Ukraine had reached more than 1 million. The death toll. As the information war proceeds in parallel with the destruction on the ground, both sides released contrasting Russian troop casualty numbers, with Russia’s defense ministry admitting to at least 498 dead and 1,597 injured while Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky gave a much higher figure: 6,000 dead. The truth is likely somewhere in between these two figures, but the fact Russia is announcing the figures at all is a turnaround from just a few days ago, when officials claimed zero casualties. Russia claims to have killed 2,870 Ukrainian soldiers and wounded roughly 3,700. There hasn’t been a corresponding claim from the Ukrainian side on their casualties sustained so far. See you in court? As the focus turns to civilians amid Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities, the International Criminal Court announced on Wednesday that it was opening an active investigation into war crimes committed against the civilian population, making it the 17th case the court is investigating around the world. The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has so far recorded 752 civilian deaths since the war broke out. It’s not clear what kind of justice the ICC could seek, since Russia (like China, India, Israel, and the United States), does not recognize the court. Ukraine, a country that has signed but not ratified the Rome Statute—the treaty establishing the court—has accepted the court’s jurisdiction in a previous case. Oligarchs under the spotlight. The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday announced the formation of a task force to track down and seize assets belonging to Russian oligarchs targeted by U.S. sanctions. (The group may want to begin with the state of South Dakota, which has fast become a money laundering mecca, according to Pandora papers leaks). The move comes as officials in Switzerland, another dark money haven, adopted EU sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, potentially freezing billions in assets. In the United Kingdom, whose capital has earned the nickname Londongrad for its soft approach on Russian oligarch investment in recent years, the government has been criticized for not moving quickly enough to target assets held there. Roman Abramovich, one of the world’s most famous oligarchs for his ownership of the Chelsea football club, is already attempting to get out of the limelight and away from sanctions. On Wednesday he announced he was selling the club after almost two decades as owner; he also appears to be hastily selling some of his exclusive London properties.

Taiwan is left with an American president whose incompetence jeopardizes the free society they’ve fought so hard to achieve.

As Russia continues its military onslaught against Ukraine, the impending threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan has also become a hot topic among foreign policy analysts in legacy media. For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made clear its intention to capture the island nation, with incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and threats of military force becoming more frequent in recent years. With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, however, there is growing concern that such long-held desires by China to forcefully annex Taiwan could materialize sooner than originally anticipated. Since the beginning of Russia’s blitzkrieg against Ukraine, the CCP has wasted no time in ramping up its propaganda efforts over its fictitious territorial claims to Taiwan. During a press conference last week, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying publicly declared that “Taiwan is not Ukraine” when discussing comparisons between the two geopolitical flashpoints, while adding that Taiwan “has always been an inalienable part of China” and that such a claim “is an indisputable legal and historical fact.” China’s state-run media has also joined in the fray, with Global Times commentator Hu Xijin saying on Thursday that Taiwan should “get used to” People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft entering their airspace, while also threatening that there “may be more PLA aircraft fly there [Friday].” The tweet came in reply to a Thursday report from Taiwan’s defense ministry that documented nine PLA aircraft entering the southwestern region of the country’s ADIZ. In response to a potential uptick in military aggression from China, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has taken precautionary measures to maximize her nation’s regional and national security efforts. During a meeting with a working group tasked with overseeing the Ukraine crisis by her National Security Council last week, Tsai reportedly emphasized that all military and defense forces on the island “must raise their surveillance and early warning of military developments around the Taiwan Strait.” “But in the face of foreign forces intending to manipulate the situation in Ukraine and affect the morale of Taiwanese society, all government units must strengthen the prevention of cognitive warfare launched by foreign forces and local collaborators,” she said. Joe Biden’s Weakness Invites Aggression Whether it’s the invasion of Ukraine or the prospect of military action against Taiwan, the ability of rogue actors like Russia and China to advance their geopolitical goals without fear of significant consequence can be traced back to the weakness of one man: U.S. President Joe Biden. Throughout his short tenure as president, Biden has overwhelmingly failed to institute a foreign policy that instills fear and uncertainty in antagonistic nations on the international stage, thus leading to a much more unstable global political climate. As noted by Federalist senior editor John Daniel Davidson for instance, the current invasion of Ukraine can be directly attributed to the feckless approach to Russian aggression perpetuated by Biden and his administration. “[T]he United States needed to have a firm, steady hand in its dealings with Moscow,” writes Davidson. “In this, Biden failed miserably, coming into office with a lot of bluster about how he was going to take a firm line on Putin, that he alone knew how to deal with Moscow … The time to put pressure on Putin and declare that an invasion of Ukraine would be a ‘red line,’ has passed. Now, Biden is reduced to haggling publicly with our European allies over sanctions that will certainly be watered down given Europe’s energy dependence on Russia.” Coupled with his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and willingness to leave his own country’s borders wide open to potential foreign hostiles, Biden’s weakness telegraphs to the world that America isn’t led by a serious commander-in-chief who’s willing to enforce red lines when needed. For countries like China, which seeks to dethrone the United States as a regional and global hegemon, Biden’s four years in office are a political gift that permits them to fast-track and achieve objectives that were unattainable under the Trump administration. Taiwan Deserves Better U.S. Leadership For the people of Taiwan, the looming prospect of a Chinese invasion now threatens to destroy all that they’ve built over their nation’s history. What was once an island under strictly enforced martial law in 1949 has now become a fully-fledged democratic, capitalist society where the concepts of individualism and personal liberty are widely cherished. With Biden sitting in the White House, however, such remarkable accomplishments are now at risk more than ever. As Biden continues to fumble the ball on major foreign policy ventures and exemplify weak U.S. leadership to the world, Xi Jinping and the CCP are likely to become even more emboldened to escalate their military activities in the Taiwan Strait and accelerate plans for forced annexation of Taiwan. n

With its sovereignty and safety under increasing threat, the very least U.S. leadership could do for Taiwan is to emulate strength and dominance in the face of Chinese aggression. Instead, Taiwan is left with an American president whose incompetence jeopardizes the free society they’ve fought so hard to achieve. Shawn Fleetwood is an intern at The Federalist and a student at the University of Mary Washington, where he plans to major in Political Science and minor in Journalism. He also serves as a state content writer for Convention of States Action. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood

The weakness and incompetence of the Biden administration was irresistible to a tyrant like Vladimir Putin. And it may be to more tyrants, like Xi Jinping.

There is a plethora of misinformation in corporate media on the potential World War III. Shocking, I know. Let’s clear a few things up: Vladimir Putin hasn’t lost. The West did not pull together under Joe Biden’s “leadership.” But Ukraine has most definitely won the propaganda war. The weakness and incompetence of the Biden administration was irresistible to a tyrant like Putin. That left Ukraine pretty much on its own as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United States were essentially irrelevant. The Ukrainian forces have exceeded expectations, but thus far Putin has not gone full Golden Horde on them. There is also a lot of smoke and mirrors in play, and as noted information warfare strategists Chuck D and Flavor Flav have advised, “Don’t believe the hype.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is no longer a former comedian, he’s a World War III rock star. When pictures of him in full battle rattle out with the troops were published, apparently the United States offered to whisk him to safety. His response was famously, “I don’t need a ride, I need ammo.” Add that to the Snake Island defenders telling a Russian warship threatening them to “Go f-ck yourselves” right before the shells started raining down. Then throw in a squad of supermodels carrying Kalashnikovs and 80-year-old guys showing up to fight with a couple of sandwiches and a bad attitude. That is a tremendous narrative of the plucky patriots fighting for their families and freedom. Those stories are all true, or maybe not. Zelensky is confirmed to have made his request for ammo, but the Snake Island heroes were captured, not killed. The supermodels are at least real on Instagram, and the same with the old guy and his lunch. At some level, perception is reality, and Ukraine has done a brilliant job of getting its message out. Now they are getting support based on the combination of information warfare and actual battlefield action. They seem to have stopped the Russian blitzkrieg. Kyiv has not fallen and the Russian advance appears to have stalled. There are also reports of major Russian casualties and destruction of equipment. But reports are not reality, and it’s worth examining them. Many came from the notoriously reliable interwebz and have run the gamut from unverified to happened seven years ago to absolute B.S. Information warfare is important in the modern social media battlespace, but it means less than the truth on the ground, which is far from certain. A few pictures of Russian vehicles abandoned by the road can be a sign their logistics aren’t up to snuff. Or show that when 10,000-plus vehicles are rolling through enemy territory, some break down or get ahead of fuel convoys. Video of Spetsnaz looting food from a store can show their troops are starving. Or it’s a reminder that Spetsnaz are commandos who operate well ahead of the chow wagons in the rear. It is clear that Ukraine was not toppled in a weekend, but that does not mean it couldn’t still be or that was even the goal. It has been my belief all along that Putin never wanted to own and occupy Ukraine. Assuming he does topple the government, and I think it’s premature to say he couldn’t, then he will face a massive insurgency. He was around for Afghanistan, and I can’t see why he would take that on again. He does want ownership of the two Russian-speaking provinces on his border with Ukraine in the west and official recognition of Crimea. Making a larger assault gives him bargaining chips to ensure he can trade a promise to not destroy the infrastructure for land deeds and removal of sanctions. There is talk of peace talks. Also, as if to punctuate his previous threat, Putin put his “defensive” nuclear forces on alert. However, talk is cheap until a deal turns into tanks rolling back to Mother Russia or at least back to the newer additions. But we can’t ignore that for the first time in decades mass formations of tanks rolled in Europe and the leader of a major power threatened nuclear attack. The damage and danger to Ukraine are huge. The return of nuclear brinksmanship is the real loss for the whole world. The failure to simply roll into Kyiv as the Russians thought they would is a major blow to their military morale and Putin’s image as the strong man. While the wins for Ukraine are not a bad thing, a wannabe tough guy with wounded pride could be. Putin now has to salvage something he can call a win and at a minimum now he needs to have Russian vehicles rolling in the streets of Kyiv. Even if he doesn’t topple the regime, that visual may be enough to salve his ego. But that means the gloves are all the way off and civilians are in the crosshairs. There are already credible reports of cluster munitions in built-up areas. We also must consider that Vlad wants a legacy worthy of his exalted image of himself as a major force in Russian history. Until now, he has done nothing worthy of that. Losing the Ukraine scrap is not an option for him. If it starts looking really bad, his inner megalomaniac may dominate. Making Russia the first country other than the United States to use a nuke in battle would certainly cement his spot in world history. You would have to go back to the fall of the Soviet Union for the last time there was a real concern that a rogue faction would grab nukes and use them. But this is the rightful(ish) leader threatening to use them against us or anyone else who intervenes. You can’t un-ring that bell. Neither the United State nor NATO was a serious threat to Putin’s plans, which is a problem. He can do a lot of damage without ever directly encroaching on a NATO country and triggering, theoretically, a response. And while Germany claiming they will spend 100 million euros on their military is a welcome sign, what if they had done so when President Trump pressured them to? Maybe a little peace through strength would have been an actual deterrent. Now we confront the worst-case scenario of a Dragon/Bear alliance between Russia and China. Xi and Putin met during the Olympics and Xi likely told Vlad. “Just hold off until after the closing ceremonies.” Then they made an energy deal to ensure Vlad had an outlet to replace Nordstream2. Love him or not, Donald Trump kept Putin, Xi, and even Kim Jong Un from causing major problems. He kept the Russians engaged and far from partnering up with the Communist Chinese. He put all of them on their back feet wondering kind of a deal might be possible but also worried what he might do if they stepped over the line. Biden can barely be certain what decade this is, let alone present a worthy adversary for these world-class tyrants. They are stealing Joe’s (and the world’s) lunch money while he wonders if today is butterscotch or chocolate pudding. This was mildly amusing during the campaign, but has gotten progressively more horrifying until now we approach a nuclear showdown. Sadly, the vision of Biden as Slim Pickens riding the nuke like a cowboy in Dr. Strangelove seems an actual possibility. What happens when Xi decides Taiwan and all its chip factories are perfectly ripe for the picking with no one even marginally competent to be found in the U.S. leadership? One year and one month have led us to the point where World War III is not a joke; it may have already started. That hype you can believe and the only thing we can do is “Fight the Power.” I don’t mean get ourselves in a war or even a skirmish at this point. We have to fight the woke left’s fundamental transformation of the United States into a toothless, doddering mirror image of Biden they can operate like a puppet. While the left is having a momentary spasm of bellicose fantasy, it is not real and will quickly pass. Their nature is to be subservient, and that is what they want America to be. We must fight against their view of America as the soy-latte sipping, artisanal arugula-nibbling, one nation among many. That means peace through strength, which just happens to be the best way to avoid getting drawn into anybody’s wars. But first we need to hope Biden doesn’t somehow throw more gas on this potential nuclear barbecue. Elections have consequences. Jim Hanson is president of Security Studies Group and served in U.S. Army Special Forces.

As the Olympics heat up, China clamps down on dissent Selina Wang byline 2021Sandi Sidhu Profile By Simone McCarthy, Selina Wang and Sandi Sidhu, CNN Updated 0858 GMT (1658 HKT) February 11, 2022

Reporters press Eileen Gu over her citizenship. See her response Hear Eileen Gu react to her first gold of Beijing Olympics How a kid from the beach became a Winter Olympic champion Chinese social media turns on US-born figure skater after stumble eileen gu winter olympics intl ovn wire pkg vpx_00000214.png Meet the skiing sensation who's choosing to represent China instead of the US FILE - China's Peng Shuai reacts during her first round singles match against Japan's Nao Hibino at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 21, 2020. Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has denied saying she was sexually assaulted, despite a November social media post attributed to her that accused a former top Communist Party official of forcing her into sex. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File) Hear details of rare Peng Shuai interview with Western media Jake Tapper 0206 Jake Tapper calls out China's move during Olympics Opening Ceremony NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 08: Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc pose on the medals podium after winning the Pairs competition during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 08, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 'Didn't see ourselves represented': This figure skating pair is ditching the gender norms rooted in their sport Journalists are allowed to cover Beijing Olympics ... with a catch BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 07: Kamila Valieva of Team ROC reacts during the Women Single Skating Free Skating Team Event on day three of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 07, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Who is Kamila Valieva, the Russian figure skater at center of doping allegations? Nathan Chen reacts to winning his first Olympic gold USA's Nathan Chen competes in the men's single skating free skating of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 10, 2022. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images) Nathan Chen credits iconic figure skater for inspiration after winning gold USA's Chloe Kim reacts after her run in the snowboard women's halfpipe final run during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Genting Snow Park H & S Stadium in Zhangjiakou on February 10, 2022. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) Chloe Kim reveals biggest lesson she learned after 2018 Olympics 'I don't even want to watch it': Gold medalist reacts to dad's viral interview Will the Olympics make winter sports mainstream in China? Reporters press Eileen Gu over her citizenship. See her response Hear Eileen Gu react to her first gold of Beijing Olympics How a kid from the beach became a Winter Olympic champion Chinese social media turns on US-born figure skater after stumble eileen gu winter olympics intl ovn wire pkg vpx_00000214.png Meet the skiing sensation who's choosing to represent China instead of the US FILE - China's Peng Shuai reacts during her first round singles match against Japan's Nao Hibino at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 21, 2020. Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has denied saying she was sexually assaulted, despite a November social media post attributed to her that accused a former top Communist Party official of forcing her into sex. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File) Hear details of rare Peng Shuai interview with Western media Jake Tapper 0206 Jake Tapper calls out China's move during Olympics Opening Ceremony NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 08: Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc pose on the medals podium after winning the Pairs competition during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 08, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 'Didn't see ourselves represented': This figure skating pair is ditching the gender norms rooted in their sport Journalists are allowed to cover Beijing Olympics ... with a catch BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 07: Kamila Valieva of Team ROC reacts during the Women Single Skating Free Skating Team Event on day three of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 07, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Who is Kamila Valieva, the Russian figure skater at center of doping allegations? Nathan Chen reacts to winning his first Olympic gold USA's Nathan Chen competes in the men's single skating free skating of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 10, 2022. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images) Nathan Chen credits iconic figure skater for inspiration after winning gold USA's Chloe Kim reacts after her run in the snowboard women's halfpipe final run during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Genting Snow Park H & S Stadium in Zhangjiakou on February 10, 2022. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) Chloe Kim reveals biggest lesson she learned after 2018 Olympics 'I don't even want to watch it': Gold medalist reacts to dad's viral interview Will the Olympics make winter sports mainstream in China? Reporters press Eileen Gu over her citizenship. See her response Beijing (CNN)As Winter Olympians vie for gold in Beijing, global attention has turned to events in the extensive Olympic "bubble" -- a zone sealing off visiting athletes, media and participants from the rest of the host city to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But in a different part of Beijing, prominent human rights activist Hu Jia is again living in another kind of bubble: what he says is a house arrest imposed by authorities who want him out of public view during the Games. "They said Winter Olympics is a very important political event and no 'disharmonious voice' will be allowed -- like any criticism of the Winter Olympics, or any talk related to human rights," said Hu, who spoke to CNN during what he describes as a weeks-long restriction to his home. "In China, people like me are called 'domestic hostile forces'... that's why they have to cut me off from the outside world," said Hu, who gained international prominence as a champion of human rights in the early 2000s and was a friend to late Nobel Peace Prize winner and dissident Liu Xiaobo. Hu says he has been restricted to his residence, with the exception of trips to care for his ailing mother, since January 15. It's an escalation of the round-the-clock state surveillance Hu says he has been under for nearly two decades. It's also treatment he has become used to during sensitive political events in China. Hu said he was originally told to leave Beijing altogether and relocate to Guangdong during the Olympic period but an outbreak of Covid-19 prevented him from going. Human rights activist Hu Jia in Beijing in 2013. Human rights activist Hu Jia in Beijing in 2013. But Hu is far from the only dissident facing restrictions in the months leading up the Winter Games. William Nee, research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a non-profit network supporting rights advocates in China, said before the Winter Games there had been an uptick in reports of state security wanting to know people's whereabouts, house arrests and the detention of high profile activists and lawyers. "The Olympics has given China an opportunity to showcase its international clout and it doesn't want pesky activists disrupting that and talking about its human rights abuses," he said, adding that many prominent rights defenders are "surveilled by state security all the time" or subject to other measures of control. Rights experts say that crackdowns on activists and speech -- which can range from closing social media accounts to house arrests, detentions or enforced disappearances -- are typical in the lead up to sensitive events in China, where the Communist Party keeps a tight lid on dissent. "The point is to prevent any contact between the activists and, essentially, the outside world, which, during these events, tends to pay more attention to what's happening in China," said Maya Wang, a senior China researcher at the New York-based non-profit Human Rights Watch. But controls on dissent have been getting tighter year-round, blurring the line between normal and sensitive periods, according to observers. "The human rights environment in China has deteriorated pretty significantly in the last decade," Wang said. Guards secure barriers after a bus arrives at a hotel that is part of the Olympics closed loop bubble. Guards secure barriers after a bus arrives at a hotel that is part of the Olympics closed loop bubble. A shadow over the Games Concerns over China's human rights record have already cast a shadow over Beijing's Olympic Games, including a US-led diplomatic boycott over what Washington calls serious human rights abuses against Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in the country's far-western region of Xinjiang. China has denied these charges and pushed back on international concerns about its human rights record, calling these "political posturing and manipulation" in the lead up to the Games. Following a faxed request for comment on allegations that Hu Jia has been forcibly confined to his home during the Winter Olympics, and that other human rights activists have also been detained or monitored, China's Ministry of Public Security referred CNN to Beijing authorities. Multiple calls to the Beijing municipal government went unanswered. Hu, who rose to prominence for his activism related to HIV/AIDS in rural China, says the house arrest began after he posted on Twitter -- a platform banned in China -- describing a ramp-up of restrictions and controls on activists in the lead up to the Beijing Games,. He also noted the circumstances of jailed or missing dissidents while using a Winter Olympics hashtag in Chinese. Since then, security agents have visited him multiple times, Hu says, including once this week to instruct him not to discuss Olympic skier Eileen Gu. That was after Hu commented via Twitter on an article about the US-born athlete who is representing China at the Beijing Games. Ai Weiwei: International Olympic Committee 'standing next to the authoritarians' Ai Weiwei: International Olympic Committee 'standing next to the authoritarians' 17:36 Hu says he expects this period of house arrest could last through the country's annual legislative gathering next month. He says he'll spend the time reading. "It's so much better than my friends who are suffering in jail and prison. We are like (the difference between) heaven and hell, so I have nothing to complain about," Hu said in a recorded video dairy, where he is documenting this period of house arrest for CNN. "There is some level of stress for sure, my mental health, and so on. After all, you always want to be able to walk out of your home freely and stand under the bright sky," he said in another entry. But Hu is no stranger to harsher forms of confinement. Just months before Beijing hosted its last Olympics in 2008, Hu was handed a three-and-a-half year prison term for "incitement to subvert state power" -- a sentence that activists at the time linked to his work calling international attention to human rights abuses in China ahead of the Games. This time, Hu watched the Olympic opening ceremony from his elderly parents' home in Beijing -- the one place he says the security agents will allow him to visit and a privilege he says they have threatened to deny if he acts out. He also says if things escalate he could be imprisoned again. But nonetheless, Hu has a message. "This might be the only Olympics in history that has drawn so much attention to its host country's human rights issues. This is a really good opportunity to explore and discover China's human rights issues, including Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese... and also citizens, human rights activists, and dissidents like us who are in mainland China now," said Hu. "I hope the world will see this clearly and pay more attention to human rights issues...not just during the Winter Olympics...but also keep watching democracy, human rights, and the future of China," he said.

Goodness Gracious…! Food Shortages due to everyone & everything except no mention of the Biden Marxist Socialist Democratic Regime currently occupying our Nation’s Capital! It’s a replay of excuses used used by the Marxist Socialist Democratic Regime that produced today’s Venezuela! The Regime’s Propaganda Machine is spinning, spinning, spinning…to avoid responsibility! Time 4 Pitch Forks and Torches!!!

Here Are the Groceries You Might Be Missing On Store Shelves Due to Food Shortages In 2022 Jessica Sager If you’ve seen your local grocery store with empty shelves, you’re not alone: Food shortages are still haunting us in 2022. Find out below what food shortages are most common, why there’s a grocery shortage, and why shelves may be empty where you shop. Food shortages 2022 “Shortages may depend on where you buy your groceries as there are regional differences in supply,” Josh Brazil, VP of Supply Insights at project44, a supply chain visibility solution, says. That means some of you may be lucky enough to not have any food shortages at all! What’s missing from local grocery shelves may vary depending on where you live, as well as the climate where you live: Winter storms slow down supply chains in the short term (plus everyone rushing to buy bread and milk before a blizzard hits). Different regions may have shortages of different things, especially depending on whether you shop at big box stores or other shops, like local farmer’s markets. Related: 100+ Non-Perishable Foods Grocery Stores Shortages There are a number of variables at play in the grocery shortages we’re seeing this year. “It is a combination of factors: supply chain issues and driver shortages, scarcity of packaging, labor shortages at manufacturing and production plants as the workforce has not returned as facilities restarted from COVID closures,” Keith Daniels of Carl Marks Advisors told us. And, yes, COVID-19 plays a huge role, especially the latest variants. “Omicron infections impacting employees reporting to work at manufacturing and grocery stores, higher demand from consumers—particularly impacting the last few weeks as consumers revert to eating at home from restaurants out of fears of Omicron,” Daniels said. “The recent, abrupt winter weather is also slowing down distribution.” Current Food Shortages (iStock) Meat shortages, especially beef and poultry, will plague us again in 2022. Daniels says that meat and poultry are in short supply in many supermarkets. This is due to several factors, with manufacturing plant labor shortages causing most of the issues. Beef will likely see the most shortages because work in beef plants is more labor-intensive, according to Food Business News. Related: 30 Non-Perishable Snacks Dairy may be in short supply this year. A combination of expensive crops to feed livestock and chickens, combined with high transportation costs and shortages of packaging materials (especially plastics) may cause dairy shortages at your local supermarket. In addition to material shortages, labor shortages may also impact grocery shelves in terms of transportation workers as well as grocery workers to stock the dairy case. As a result, you may have fewer options in terms of your usual purchases of milk, cheese (especially cream cheese), yogurt, and other dairy items. There may be an egg shortage in 2022. (iStock) Similar to other food shortages we’ve encountered, COVID-related supply chain issues have interrupted the business side of commercial egg production. Increased expenses (feed, freight, labor costs), supply shortages, and government regulation have put a strain on the overall bottom line. As a result, producers may be reducing flock sizes, stopping shipping to some states, or selling eggs previously sold to consumers to manufacturers who use them as ingredients in other products, thus reducing the eggs available in supermarkets. Related: Having Trouble Finding A New Ride? What’s Behind the Car Shortage—And When It May Finally Be Over Sorry, vegans: Plant-based proteins may be in short supply this year. If you thought not eating meat or dairy would spare you from shortages, sorry to burst your bubble! Rick Williams, practice lead—operations and supply chain of JPG Resources, says that plant-based proteins (think tofu, almond milk, soy-based cheeses, etc.) has seen shortages, explaining, “Plant-based saw a huge rise in demand as animal-meat processors were forced to shut down operations.” We may see shortages of fruits, vegetables, and other goods made with produce. From crop failures (thanks to climate change!) to supply chain issues, certain fruits and vegetables may be in scarce supply—and so will goods that are made with produce. Williams explains, “Fruit and veggies were harvested and as consumers stockpiled, food processors had to purchase more to keep up with demand. This is impacting fruit and vegetables themselves, but also items such as soup that include vegetables as one ingredient of many.” DealNews.com consumer analyst Julie Ramhold says that the issues aren’t limited to fresh produce, noting that frozen veggies may also face shortages. (iStock) There will likely be a canned food shortage in 2022. High prices and low availability of aluminum may cause canned food and beverage shortages this year, much like the end of 2021. This extends not just to canned food, but also canned pet food. We may see shortages of imported goods. Imported foods like cheeses, boba, and other foreign-produced items may be in short supply due to availability, supply chain issues, and higher costs to transport goods overseas. Related: 20 Comfort Food Dishes That Don’t Require an Extra Trip to the Grocery Store You may experience a pet food shortage in 2022. Reuters reports that increased costs for pet food ingredients like corn, soy, meat, and some specific oils, have contributed to pet food shortages in certain retailers. Bottled water and soda shortages may occur. Because there isn’t enough plastic for supply to meet demand, you may experience shortages of things like bottled water, juices, and other soft drinks. (iStock) Toilet paper, paper towels, and other paper goods may face shortages. It may be time to invest in a bidet, because toilet paper is in short supply again. Ramholdexplained, “This is an item we had already seen purchasing limits placed on again as of a month or so again, so it’s not surprising it may be part of why we’re seeing empty shelves in the grocery store. It’s subject to the same problems as other products — supply chain issues, labor shortages due to illness, etc., so some retailers have tried to preempt further issues by reinstating those purchasing limits.” This extends to paper towels as well. You may have to say no to noodles in the case of a pasta shortage. Ramhold says the pasta shortage that frustrated many a carb lover in 2021 is continuing in 2022. “This is a staple for many households, and with the threat of inclement weather in some areas, some shoppers may be stocking up on these items in an effort to have easy meals on hand should they be snowed in, but still have power,” she said. “However, even without the threat of winter weather, shoppers may be stocking up like normal and facing empty shelves because shipments are having trouble getting to grocery stores.” Boo to a booze shortage—but liquor may be hard to come by! Like in 2021, we may see a liquor shortage due to low supplies of glass for bottling. Why are shelves empty in 2022? Winter storms may cause empty shelves for the short term—and climate change is causing long-term issues. Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations, said that the snow and ice storms around the country are a big cause of shortages, though once things thaw out, that may subside—but don’t get too excited just yet. “Grocery deliveries have been significantly disrupted as major roads experience shutdowns and dangerous conditions,” he explained. “While each winter storm only lasts for a couple of days, the accumulated snow and ice that remain can cause long-lasting poor driving conditions, delaying grocery deliveries.” “The winter storms across much of the country have caused major short-term delays in recent weeks. Although many of the delays we’re experiencing right now are short-term, it can also affect long-term issues,” he said. “Depending on the severity and spread of winter storms, crop production can be disrupted, posing a long-term problem on certain crop supply. For example, last year’s February freeze in Texas cost about $155 billion in economic damage and losses, with a significant portion of that due to citrus losses.” Brazil also points out that climate change is a key factor in lack of production—and, thereby, food shortages. Related: These Cheap Grocery List Ideas Will Help You Save Money and Stay on Budget Cyberattacks have slowed supply chains. MerchantMaverick.com retail and shopping analyst Shannon Vissers says that the cream cheese shortage in particular is due to ongoing supply issues stemming from a cyberattack. Some meat plants were also subjected to cyberattacks in the last quarter of 2021, and they’re still feeling those effects today. Packaging materials are facing their own shortage. The scarcity of aluminum and plastics makes many manufacturers unable to keep up with the demand for packaged items, leading to shortages of products like bottled beverages and canned goods. Labor shortages at manufacturing and production plants may cause some grocery shortages. If food manufacturers and distributors are missing workers, it will affect the availability of certain foods. “Some companies may be facing product shortages because of interruptions to the production lines, with many people out sick due to COVID-19,” Ramhold says. “Because of that, production amounts may be down right now, although they could potentially turn around in the next few weeks as workers recover and return to work.” The Great Resignation plays a role also, with fewer workers settling for union-busting and low wages — and proving just how much we’ve undervalued and underpaid workers that we proudly deem “essential.”

Something I Found While Looking for Something Else…Enjoy!

A quick and simple definition of XOXO – what it means, why it is used, and how to use it in text messages… If you have a phone, or a teenager/millennial in your home, you’ve probably seen the text XOXO. But what does XOXO actually mean? Like other internet slang, SMH, for instance, or Yeet, these abbreviations can be confusing at first glance. “XOXO” Definition: What It Means XOXO means hugs and kisses. Simple, right? The X means kiss and the O means hugs, so XOXO technically means kisses, hugs, kisses, hugs. Although plenty of people in America abbreviate it to XO, meaning kisses and hugs. But is this really the case? As with all things internet-based, the meaning of XOXO is up for debate. According to The New Yorker, XOXO is actually used to convey “light affection” but make sure you use it correctly because getting it wrong can indicate strong sexual desire. For instance, “XOX” indicates a heavy sexual desire, so if you see this inside a Tinder message, chances are your date will go well. Not to be confused with “XOX”, “XO” is, again, a term used for light-to-moderate affection like when you send your aunty a message, thanking her for xmas gifts. So, to recap: XOXO means light affection, XO also means light affection. And XOX means I want to jump your bones. Confused? This is just the tip of the iceberg. Online, XOXO is basically level one for letter-based sigils. You have plenty of other acronyms like NSFW, IIRC, IMHO, ROTFL, LMAO, and, of course, LOL which means laughing out loud – not Lots of Love. Why Do People Use XOXO? XOXO is used as a term of endearment. If you like someone and you want to express affection towards them, you can sign off an email, text message, or social media update with XOXO. The most common use of XOXO is inside WhatsApp, although people use XOXO in all kinds of settings. Those that are very meta even say it IRL – IRL means In Real Life, by the way – although this isn’t exactly common and probably isn’t advisable, especially if you born before the 2000s. OK, so we’ve covered XOXO. But what about other, popular text message abbreviations? As noted above, there is plenty of text-based slang online, in forums, in WhatsApp group chats, and on Facebook. Here’s a list of the 10 most-used and popular texting abbreviations and what they mean. Most Popular Texting Abbreviations & What They Mean ROFL – Rolling on floor laughing STFU – Shut the F**K up LMK – Let me know ILY – I love you YOLO – You only live once SMH – Shaking my head LMFAO – Laughing my freaking Ass off NVM – Never mind There are the basic ones, the type you’ll see most online. But there are plenty of more esoteric texting abbreviations you’ll come across – and some are downright bonkers! I mean, check out these ones: 420 – Marijuana 2M2H – Too Much To Handle 1NAM – One In A Million @TEOTD – At The End of The Day AAP – Always A Pleasure YGM – You Got Mail ACC – Anyone Can Come BAMF – Bass Ass Mother F****R BFFLNMW – Best Friends For Life No Matter Water I could go on, but I won’t. There are literally thousands of texting slang terms used today all over the world. And these are just the English language-based ones. Once you start looking at other languages, you get thousands more… Variations of XOXO XOXO is a popular slang term all by itself but like like popular things it is now evolving and changing with new variations. In what is perhaps the most meta thing ever, XOXO is now often abbreviated in an even shorter version – XO What does XO mean? As before, it means hugs and kisses; it is a message of love and affection. It is different from XOXO in that it connotes just hugs and kisses, not multiple hugs and kisses. Or, more likely, it is just easier to type out on a smartphone keyboard. So, if a girl sends you a message with XO at the end of it, it means she’s sending you hugs and kisses. Similarly, if a boy ends a message with XO, it means he is sending the recipient hugs and kisses. The gender of the sender has no effect on the meaning of the phrase. XO means hugs and kisses, regardless of who is sending it. Why Does “O” Mean Hugs? People have used “x” to mean kisses for hundreds of years. Well before the rise of smartphones, people were signing off cards with an “x” or multiple “x’s” to indicate love, but more specifically kisses. It has been a common practice sign the middle ages – but back then it meant something else. Back in the middle ages, letters were the ONLY form of long-distance communication. And people would seal their envelopes with a Christian cross and then kiss it. This was done to signify sincerity, faith, and honesty. This tradition carried forwards into the modern era but lost its theological meaning – the cross simply became a kiss or a term of affection. So, we know why “x” means kiss but how in the heck does “o” mean hug? It’s actually a really interesting story; and one that is still rather unclear today. The origins of “x” and “o” being used together are often linked to the game tic-tac-toe and, back when literacy rates were extremely low, and “x” and an “o” were two symbols that illiterate people knew and could use to communicate. The game (tic-tac-toe), which has roots in ancient Egypt and Rome, was played with pebbles or coins until it moved to paper. “These are two of the simplest contrasting symbols, easy to master by illiterate people,” says David Parlett, author of “The Oxford History of Board Games.” The Washington Post What is totally unclear is how the symbols from the ancient game, tic tac toe, changed meanings and began to be used to mean hugs and kisses. One of the first instances of XOXO being used was in 1960; it concerned a letter from two children to Santa Clause: “Dear Santa, How are you? I am fine. . . . Will you please bring me a play rifle and . . . please Love & Kisses XOXOXO DAVY MIKEY & CHERYL.” Similarly, the phrase began to appear in adverts and newspaper articles during the mid-1970s. But linguists are at a loss as to how XOXO came to mean hugs and kisses. It is truly a mystery, something that no one can explain. Its origins started with tic tac toe but morphed at some point to mean something else entirely. Frequently Asked Questions Q: What Does XOXO Mean? XOXO means light affection, XO also means light affection. You could use XOXO to sign-off a text or email to a good friend or a family member like your mum or dad. Q: What Are The 10 Most Popular Texting Abbreviations? The 10 most used texting abbreviations are as follows: ROFL – Rolling on floor laughing STFU – Shut the F**K up LMK – Let me know ILY – I love you YOLO – You only live once SMH – Shaking my head LMFAO – Laughing my freaking Ass off NVM – Never mind Q: What Does LOL Mean? Contrary to popular belief, LOL means laughing out loud, not Lots of Love. Q: What Does NSFW Mean? If you see the phrase NSFW, it means what you’re about to look at is NOT suitable for viewing in a work environment. NSFW means Not Suitable/Safe For Work. Usually, NSFW is used to tag adult content and/or stuff that is not suitable for younger viewers/minors. richard goodwin Richard Goodwin Richard Goodwin has been working as a tech journalist for over 10 years. He is the editor and owner of KnowYourMobile.