Global
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A China-Thailand military air force exercise recently deployed Chinese and Swedish warplanes above this Southeast Asian nation but below their friendly warplanes, Chinese criminals, cheap goods, e-commerce and investment are annoying the close relations between Thailand and China.
Even with Chinese boots in the sky during the Aug. 18 to Aug. 29 Falcon Strike 2024, the U.S. expects its non-NATO treaty alliance with Thailand will remain secure if regional tensions between Washington and Beijing increase.
Bangkok tries for balanced relations with both superpowers, and neutrality when Washington and Beijing sink into confrontations.
For Falcon Strike, "the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent some of its main combat aircraft to Thailand," China's Global Times reported.
The joint air force training exercise, seventh in its annual series, is using refurbished U.S.-built Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base as its headquarters.
The U.S. Air Force launched bombing raids from the northeast base in the 1960s and 1970s during the Vietnam War.
Most of us believe in fair pay for honest work. So why aren’t low-wage workers better paid?
After 30 years of research, I can tell you it’s not because employers don’t have the cash. It’s because profitable corporations spend that money on their stock prices and CEOs instead.
Lowe’s, for example, spent $43 billion buying back its own stock over the past five years. With that sum, the chain could’ve given each of its 285,000 employees a $30,000 bonus every year. Instead, half of Lowe’s workers make less than $33,000. Meanwhile, CEO Marvin Ellison raked in $18 million in 2023.
The company also plowed nearly five times as much cash into buybacks as it invested in long-term capital expenditures like store improvements and technology upgrades over the past five years.
Lowe’s ranks as an extreme example, but pumping up CEO pay at the expense of workers and long-term investment is actually the norm among America’s leading low-wage corporations.
With assassination by pagers and electronic devices occurring in Lebanon, the weaponization of things electronic, the world has entered into a sphere of activity where there is no refuge, no safety, no security, and no privacy.
This weaponization, the booby trapping of, the hacking of all things electronic can make phones, laptops, computers, television and radios vulnerable to being blown up.
It affects all modes of communication, transportation, utilities, all local and state law enforcement, all national defense installations, including nuclear sites, the entire infrastructure of modern life. Nothing is protected and nothing is safe. Everything electronic is a weapon.
Never in its history of war, and military occupation has Israel been so incapable of developing a coherent plan for its future, and the future of its victims.
Even a quick glance at headlines in international media reveals the depth of the Israeli dilemma. While Tel Aviv continues to carry out a genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, it seems to have no idea what to do beyond simply destroying the Strip and its people.
Even the country's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, who could soon be officially wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), indicated on multiple occasions that Israel has no post-war plan in Gaza.
We start with ALAN MINSKY, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, who unveils PDA’s new electronic, state-by-state guide to voting in America.
GREG PALAST follows with an in-depth report on how the voting rights of millions of Americans—mostly of color—are being challenged by “Vigilantes” across the country.
RAY MCCLENDON of Communities United reports from Atlanta in horrifying detail about the nightmare of what’s being done to the voting rights process in Georgia.
Georgia election protection activist MARILYN MARKS confirms Greg’s report on the Vigilante culture and their physical assault on the democratic process.
Arizona election audit specialist JOHN BRAKEY introduces his new “ABE” audit software and discusses the situation in his state.
Current State Senator and former Secretary of State KEN BENNETT compares notes on what’s happening with elections in Arizona alongside those in Georgia.
Radio host LYNN FEINERMAN chimes in with her concerns on the safety of the November vote.
Election Protection stalwart LORI GRACE then contributes her unique and powerful overview.
“The man suspected in the incident . . . camped outside the golf course in West Palm Beach with food and a rifle for nearly 12 hours, according to court documents filed Monday. He is accused of lying in wait for the former president before a Secret Service agent opened fire, thwarting the potential attack.”
The guy was apparently waiting to assassinate Donald Trump — attempt #2 this election season to kill the former president. The would-be alleged assassin was thwarted before he fired a shot, but still . . .
What the hell?