News of the World

[kyonides]

Biden Asks Congress for Tens of Billions of Dollars to Back Federal Anti-Crime Plan

The Biden administration said on July 21 that it’s asking Congress for $37 billion in funding to deal with surging crime while calling for a ban on “assault weapons” and “high-capacity magazines.”

“We need to fund police who walk the beat, know the neighborhood, are accountable to those they are sworn to serve, and build community trust and safety,” the White House said in a statement, coming two years after top Democrats embraced the polarizing “defund the police” rhetoric amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests and riots.

The statement noted that the United States needs to “invest in mental health and substance use treatment services, crisis responders, and social workers to reduce the burden on police officers and prevent violent crime” while also expanding community interventions.
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Pro-gun groups have said that the terms “assault weapon” and “high-capacity magazine” are nebulous and don’t have a clear definition and that they prefer terms such as “modern sporting rifle” instead.

The emphasis is mine and I had a reason to do so; he's going against the Squad's plan to DE-fund the police nationwide. Yes, that group also includes AOC who was "arrested" by the police the other day. At least she pretended to be handcuffed while the  cops took her away from the scene.

It has been a very short time since Elvis the movie hit the theaters and now it is also hitting totally different,   the news on  crimes or mysteries!

Elvis Actress and Singer Found Dead in Nashville Apartment

Shonka Dukureh, an actress and singer who starred as Big Mama Thornton in the Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” movie died on Thursday, police said.

The 44-year-old was found unresponsive in her Nashville apartment by one of her two young children, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a written statement.
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The neighbor telephoned 911 at 9:27 a.m.

The cause of the actress’ death is unknown at present pending autopsy results from the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Russia, Ukraine Reach Deal on Grain Exports, Turkey, UN Say

Officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations have agreed to a deal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, according to Turkish and U.N. officials.

A general agreement that was reached during talks in Istanbul last week will be put into writing, and signed by all parties on July 22 at the Dolmabahce Palace offices in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office said in a July 21 statement.

There was no immediate confirmation of the deal from Moscow or Kyiv.

[DerVVulfman]

The deal on Grain was shortlived as...

RUSSIAN MISSILES STRIKES UKRAINE PORTS
THE DAY AFTER THE GRAIN DEAL!

The strike violates the UN-Brokered deal only just signed in Istanbul!

This is all you have to know about “agreements” with the Russians. Explosions in the seaport of #Odesa. One day after the agreement with #Turkey and #UN was signed re-export of #Ukraine’s #grain under which #Russia has committed not to shell the port.

It took less than 24 hours for Russia to launch a missile attack on Odesa’s port, breaking its promises and undermining its commitments before the UN and Türkiye under the Istanbul agreement. In case of non-fulfillment, Russia will bear full responsibility for global food crisis.

Thank you [President Biden] for the new defense aid package for Ukraine. Critically important, powerful arms will save our soldiers’ lives, speed up the liberation of our land from the Russian aggressor. I appreciate the strategic friendship between our nations. Together to victory!

Things appear to be growing more drastic for Russia as...

UKRAINE KEEPS BLOWING UP
RUSSIA'S AMMUNITION!

Based on NASA's satellite system, Russian artillery is growing quieter in the Donbas region. And with Russia's operations being less intensive, the war may be shifting south as Ukraine is taking advantage of the invading Russian army growing exhausted.

But along with that, the recent ix-round High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and M30/31 rockets supplied to Ukraine by the U.S. has been used to destroy Russian supply dumps as far as 50 miles away. Since then, a hundred of Russian targets have been destroyed by Ukraine with the slowly-growing arsenal they are receiving.

Judging by the size of those fires, they were brigade, divisional and corps level supply dumps, which are predominantly fuel and ammo. Specifically for the Russians and the way that they conduct war—it means a lot of artillery ammunition

[kyonides]

US Sold Nearly 6 Million Barrels of Oil Reserves to China, Records Show

The Biden administration has sold nearly 6 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve to an entity tied with the Chinese Communist Party, records show.

From September 2021 to July, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded three crude oil contracts with a combined value of roughly $464 million to Unipec America, the U.S. trading arm of Chinese state-owned oil company Sinopec. A Chinese firm with ties to Hunter Biden had made an investment in the national oil giant.

So isn't this a solid proof of ochlocracy alias  mob rule?

The sale would tap 5.9 million barrels in total from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to export to the Chinese firm. The latest contract was unveiled on July 10, consisting of 950,000 barrels sold for around $113.5 million.

The two most recent sales to Unipec came out of an emergency drawdown of the U.S. oil stockpile, initiated under President Joe Biden on March 31 in what he said would offset the loss of Russian oil in global markets and tame rising fuel costs at home.
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Sales to Unipec appear to fall in the lower price range among the successful buyers, a review of DOE contracts by The Epoch Times shows. For the 2021 contract, Unipec paid about $63 for each barrel, about seven dollars lower than the trading price at the time, and more than two dollars short of the highest price from other buyers in the sale.

And the Chinese are not even paying enough money for the oil as to justify the sale.  Why would you prefer a buyer that is not your best option at all over all the others?  

Global Gasoline Cracks Collapse, Blow to Refiners’ Profits

A sudden crash in global gasoline prices in the past two weeks has dented refiners’ profits, pushing up inventories in key trading hubs around the world while looming exports from China and India also add to pressure on growing stockpiles.

Refiners will be forced to cut gasoline output to safeguard themselves against losses and switch to producing more profitable fuels, traders say, but summer demand is also being hurt by high pump prices in the United States and Europe, and by instability and easing seasonal demand in some parts of Asia.

This has led to a rise in inventories from Singapore to Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp and the United States.
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Chinese state refiners are expected to raise refinery runs in August-September and increase exports to lower high domestic stocks after receiving new quotas, industry sources said.

One of the sources estimated national crude throughput could claw back to 14 million barrels per day or higher, after staying under that level for most of the past 12 months partly because of COVID-19 lockdowns.

India’s gasoline exports could rise by 15,000-20,000 bpd, bringing August and September exports to an average of 260,000 bpd, consultancy FGE estimates, following the removal of gasoline export duty last week.

Take in consideration that India has been purchasing lots of barrels of oil to... Russia!

GOP Planning Fauci Probe After 2022 Midterms

“One way or another, if we are in the majority, we will subpoena his records and he will testify in the Senate under oath,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who could become the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee chairman if Republicans win, told The Hill in a July 25 report.

After Fauci clarified comments last week that he won’t retire soon, Paul wrote on Twitter that Fauci will likely have to testify under oath in Congress.
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As [Fauci] mulled stepping down from his position in a Politico interview last week, Fauci noted that he will likely face investigations in 2022.

Supreme Court Blocks Biden Admin Policy Narrowing
Detainment, Deportation of Illegal Aliens

The Supreme Court, in a ruling without explanation on Thursday, allowed a federal judge in Texas to block the Biden administration’s immigration guideline that, according to the border states’ prosecutors, limits the ability of border agents to detain and deport illegal aliens.
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Put into practice, the September 2021 guideline designates that an illegal alien’s lack of legal authorization to stay in the United States “should not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them.”
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The high court’s ruling ... gives Texas and Louisiana a temporary victory, at least until the Supreme Court hears the case in the December 2022 argument session.
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According to Trump-nominated Judge Drew Tipton from the Texas District Court for the Southern District, it is “difficult to deny” that the DHS’s September 2021 memo inflicted harm on the state of Texas.

Tipton sided with the border states in saying that “uncontroverted evidence” shows that the September 2021 memo led to an increase in the flow of illegal immigrants into Texas, with the state needing to spend more money on prosecution, detainment, healthcare, and administration.

[DerVVulfman]

LIBERAL CITIES GET TASTE
OF BIDEN OPEN-BORDER POLICY

If they’re not going to come to the border, I’m going to take the border to them.

This is the attitude of may house and senate Republicans that have repeatedly visited the US southern border where illegal crossings have mounted to over two-million in 2022. And the closest Vice President Harris had been to the area in question was three-hundred miles away.

Once uncovered that President Biden secretly began transporting illegal aliens into the rest of the United States (link provided), Texas planned to follow suit and protest by bussing illegals to Washington DC. This was matched by Arizona, only to be ridiculed by then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

It’s nice the state of Texas is helping them get to their final destination.

Now not a laughing matter, DC's mayor Muriel Bowser is calling the bus loads arriving a humanitarian crisis, this what conservatives have been calling the migrant surges since Biden took office.

Border towns have been coping with over one-million illegal immigrants since January last year with little resources to handle the influx. And now DC and New York City are complaining about busloads now arriving, despite claiming to be sanctuary cities.

Since both cities are now encountering what border cities have put up with, Karine Jean-Pierre, the current WH Press Secretary, now calls Texas and Arizona's bussing operations just wrong, refusing to follow up Fox News' criticism over the immigrants already being a burdon upon the smaller cities.

CHINA THREATENS TO SHOOT DOWN
NANCY PELOSI'S PLAN DURING TAIWAN TRIP

If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is [an] invasion. The [People’s Liberation Army] has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down.

China has threatened to use strong, even military action if Pelosi was to follow through with her trip to Taiwan. This despite Taiwan's history  dating back of the Nationalist forces withdrawal from mainland China in 1949. Despite this, China contends Taiwan belongs to this island that has been under the original government's control.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggests that if Pelosi and the Biden Administration backs down, it would be a political and military victory of sorts to China.

BIDEN'S INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
DOESN'T REDUCE INFLATION

The So-Called Inflation Reduction Act will actually increase prices over the next two years

The bill, a 725-page piece of legislation will raise tax on almost everyone, including those making less than $10,000, gives billions to those wanting to buy electric cars, and raise taxes on those producing energy on public lands.

Which Biden told told them to lease after cancelling their previous land leases.

What it doesn't do, however, is reduce inflation. Instead, it raises inflation through until 2024, this according ot the University of Pennsylvania (Study here).

Nichelle Nichols Dies at 89

The famed actress who played Star Trek's Uhura passed away Saturday night in Silver City, N.M

She is survived by her son, Kyle Johnson.

[kyonides]

Dear readers, please don't hate  cats!

Cats classified as 'invasive alien species' by Polish scientific institute

Study found that cats hunt and kill birds and other wildlife
but cat lovers are responding to the new accusation

The study, headed by PASIFIC biologist Wojciech Solarz, found that the damage that cats cause in terms of hunting and killing birds and other wildlife was enough justification to consider the animals invasive.

The "Felis catus" species, otherwise known as the house cat, was entered into a national database powered by the academy’s Institute of Nature Conservation — which holds 1,786 other species — and it heard no objection to that.
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The scientist told the AP that the public may have been become upset by false accusations that the institute was pushing to euthanize feral cats.

In an appearance on independent broadcaster TVN, Solarz mentioned that cats kill 140 million birds in Poland every year.
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The institute emphasized that it was only recommending that cat owners limit the amount of time their pets spend outside during bird breeding season.

Becky Robinson, president and founder of the Bethesda, Maryland-based, Alley Cat Allies — a leader in a global movement to protect cats and kittens — is skeptical, however, that other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand, won't continue efforts to get rid of cats.

Texas' Trump-themed burger joint draws in tourists

The 'Trump Tower' is a 16-ounce burger with American cheese and 'Trump' sauce

A Donald Trump-themed burger joint in Bellville, Texas, about 50 miles west of Houston, has become a big tourist draw and hit with the locals after opening in 2020, according to a profile this week in the Houston Chronicle.

Roland Beainy, a second-generation Lebanese American, opened Trump Burger just before the last presidential election, serving meals like the "Trump Tower," which is a 16-ounce burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and "Trump" sauce.
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Every burger comes with "Trump" branded on the bun. The menu also jokingly features a "Biden burger," which is just one ounce of beef for the tall price of $50.99.

US Navy developing water-based drones to combat
China 'pacing challenge' but wary of 'unproven technology'

One way that the Navy has identified water-born drones as an affordable but effective means of delaying that challenge: the Navy’s 5th Fleet has already deployed smaller drones of this nature in waters off the Middle East.

Four of the largest drones currently deployed will take part in a multi-nation naval exercise in the Pacific Ocean during the summer.

The drones would allow the Navy to maintain fleet size in comparison to China’s own growing fleet while hitting three targets: weapons range, scouting, and command and control. The technology also would avoid costly mistakes that have arisen with traditional ships in recent years.
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The Navy’s budget for the new fiscal year includes $433 million for "crewless surface vessels."

But retired Navy officer Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., urged caution in just throwing "all the resources at (robotic ships)" after years of failed ship programs, even though supporters highlight the cost-saving benefit of building drones over ships.

 Sadly, this wasn't a good weekend for actresses at all.

Pat Carroll, actress who voiced Ursula
in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid,' dead at 95

The Emmy Award-winning actress passed away at her home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while recovering from pneumonia, according to Variety.
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Carroll found a niche as a comedian on the late-night circuit beginning in the 1940s, and voiced several cartoon characters through the years before earning an Emmy for her work on "Sid Caesar’s Hour."
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She costarred as Prunella in a 1965 production of the musical version of "Cinderella," and worked on "Laverne & Shirley," "Busting Loose," "The Ted Knight Show" and "She's The Sheriff."

Other appearances included "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Love Boat," "Designing Women" and "ER."
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In 1989, she played the villainous sea witch Ursula and sang "Poor Unfortunate Souls," a role she once said was one of her all-time favorites.

[kyonides]

Biden Administration Confirms Plan to Give IDs to Illegal Immigrants

The pilot program from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is aimed at modernizing “documentation provided to some noncitizens,” an ICE spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email on July 29.

“Currently, noncitizens receive paper documents from the federal government about their immigration status. Paper documents pose a security risk, are easily lost, and degrade rapidly in real-world use, creating inefficiencies for the government and noncitizens. Moving to a secure card will save the agency millions, free up resources, and ensure information is quickly accessible to DHS officials while reducing the agency’s FOIA backlog,” the spokesperson said.

“For provisionally released noncitizens, the digital modernization will provide ongoing access to important immigration documents through the secure card and connected portal.”
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The program is being described as a concept, with specifics still being decided.
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The congressmen cited reports that said the card could let illegal immigrants travel by plane and receive benefits through certain aid programs, writing that the issuance of the cards “raises the possibility that illegal aliens will use these identification cards to improperly access benefits such as housing, healthcare, and transportation.”

Biden Seeks to Work on Nuclear Deal With China, Russia

Biden made the remarks prior to the opening of the 10th U.N. Review on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a 1970 treaty aimed at reducing nuclear weapons globally. The review, which happens once every five years, was scheduled for 2020 but was delayed because of COVID-19.
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Russia and the United States extended their New START treaty in February, which will extend caps on the number of strategic nuclear warheads that either nation will deploy and limits the number of land, sea, and air units capable of delivering them until 2026.

The United States and Russia have been able to reach agreements in the past on nuclear arms control measures, regardless of wider political disagreements. However, Biden suggested that Russia would need to demonstrate that it actually intends to abide by the terms of the treaty, given its invasion of Ukraine five months ago.
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“There can be no winners in a nuclear war and it must never be unleashed, and we stand for equal and indivisible security for all members of the world community,” [Russian President Vladimir Putin] wrote.

It was unclear if Putin knew the nature of Biden’s comments before drafting the letter. But an unnamed official in Russia’s Foreign Ministry mocked Biden’s statements in apparent disbelief.

 What the hell? How are they expecting to achieve such a goal when the last two US governments have been unable to make China respect any international agreement they have signed or even discussed? Besides Putin feels his country is strong enough to deal with US military aids sent to Ukraine and its currency has become stronger that it should be under normal circumstances. He's definitely not missing the chance to exploit Biden's weaknesses at all.

US, China Deploy Military Forces Near Taiwan Ahead of Pelosi Trip

China and the United States both deployed military forces to the region around Taiwan on Aug. 1 following Chinese threats of a military attack in response to a proposed visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced through state-owned media outlets that it would deploy forces for live-fire exercises in waters north of Taiwan, between mainland China and South Korea. The exercises are the latest in a series of back-to-back Chinese drills in the region. However, they’re notable in that the announcement was accompanied by footage of China’s DF-17 hypersonic missile.

Dubbed the “aircraft carrier killer,” the DF-17 is a nuclear-capable ballistic missile fitted with a hypersonic glide vehicle that allows its payload to glide in low orbit at great speed before plunging down on its target. The footage released this week marks the first time ever that a live fire recording of the weapon has been released.

The United States announced that it was moving a carrier strike group and air support closer to Taiwan. The USS Ronald Reagan is typically stationed at Yokosuka, Japan, and is moving back into the South China Sea after making a five-day port call in Singapore last week.

Grain ship leaves Ukraine port for first time since Russia blockade

A ship carrying Ukrainian grain has left the port of Odesa for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion under an internationally brokered deal to unblock Ukraine’s agricultural exports and ease a growing global food crisis.

The Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razoni, carrying 26,000 tonnes of corn, finally set sail for Lebanon on Monday morning, according to Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry, following weeks of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, led by Turkey and the United Nations.

The Russian blockade of Ukraine’s ports since the start of the war in February has stoked a worldwide grain shortage that has caused the UN to warn of a looming hunger catastrophe.
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The Kremlin said the news of the departure was “very positive” and Turkey’s defence ministry said more ships would follow. Kubrakov said 16 loaded vessels had been stuck in Ukraine’s ports since the Russian invasion began and that officials planned for the ports to regain full transport capacity in the coming weeks.

Fighting meanwhile continued across Ukraine’s frontlines, according to Ukraine’s general staff, as four additional US-supplied Himar long-range rocket systems as well as a third German Mars II, another long-range rocket system, arrived in Ukraine.

I guess they badly needed some good news and here they are. Let's hope that nobody dares to attack the port or the ships at some point.

[kyonides]

Why Dems oppose voter ID — yet push ID cards for illegal migrants

During recent election seasons there has been a debate over whether a voter must present an identification card to cast a ballot and, if so, what type?

Congressional Democrats are considering legislation that would provide secure identification cards, not to US citizens for the purpose of voting, but to those who crossed our southern border in violation of our immigration laws, which the Biden administration has mostly refused to enforce.
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In our upside-down legal system where lawbreakers are often treated better than law-abiders (New York City and California are the most egregious examples), ID cards can only encourage more people to come to America, where they can count on free stuff and other goodies normally reserved for US citizens.
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Will all those crossing the border take the card? Or will some believe it’s just a way for the government to track their movements and make sure they show up for court hearings, where a judge will determine the legitimacy of their claim that they fled persecution in their home countries?
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It is more than ironic that Democrats want to pass out ID cards to people who have broken our immigration laws while simultaneously opposing requiring the presentation of voter ID on Election Day.

Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, voicing U.S. 'solidarity' as China fumes

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday on a trip she said demonstrates American solidarity with the Chinese-claimed self-ruled island, but China condemned this first such visit in 25 years as a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Pelosi and the rest of her delegation disembarked from a U.S. Air Force transport plane at Songshan Airport in downtown Taipei after the nighttime landing on a flight from Malaysia to begin a visit that risks pushing U.S.-Chinese relations to a new low. They were greeted by Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, and Sandra Oudkirk, the top U.S. representative in Taiwan.
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China immediately condemned Pelosi's visit, with the foreign ministry saying it seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The ministry said it lodged a strong protest with the United States.
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In a Washington Post opinion piece released shortly after she landed, Pelosi outlined her reasons for visiting, praising Taiwan's commitment to democratic government while criticizing China as having dramatically increased tensions with Taiwan in recent years.
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Pelosi also cited China's "brutal crackdown" against political dissent in Hong Kong, as well as its treatment of Muslim Uyghurs and other minorities, which the United States has deemed genocide.

[kyonides]

Olivia Newton-John, singer and actress, dead at 73

Olivia Newton-John, the Australian singer whose breathy voice and wholesome beauty made her one of the biggest pop stars of the '70s and charmed generations of viewers in the blockbuster movie "Grease," died on Monday, according to a statement from her husband. She was 73.

Trump says Mar-a-Lago home in Florida 'under siege' by FBI agents

Trump likened the reported 'siege' to what occurs in 'third-world countries'

Former President Trump on Monday said that his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida is "under siege" by a "large group" of FBI agents.

"Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before. After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate," Trump said. "It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections." 

"Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries. Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before," Trump said, alleging that the FBI agents broke into his safe.

Multiple sources tell Fox News the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago is related to the materials Trump allegedly brought to his private residence after his presidency concluded. That matter was referred to the Justice Department by the National Archives and Records Administration, which said it found classified material in 15 boxes at the residence.

Federal law bars the removal of classified documents to unauthorized locations, though it is possible that Trump could try to argue that, as president, he was the ultimate declassification authority.

GOP Issues Warning as Democrat ‘Inflation Reduction Act’
Includes Hiring of 87,000 New IRS Agents

The measure, known as the “Inflation Reduction Act,” was approved in a 51–50 vote as Vice President Kamala Harris served as a tie-breaker for Democrats. A provision includes the hiring of 87,000 IRS agents, a move that was defended by Democrats, who said the funding would target people who cheat on their taxes.
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Democrats have pointed to a May report from the Government Accountability Office showing that IRS audits have dropped over the past decade, including audits for the wealthy.

In a recent letter to Congress, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said if an additional $80 billion is given to the agency via the legislation, it wouldn’t increase audits for households that earn less than $400,000 per year.
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But Republicans say the IRS will target middle-class Americans with the tens of thousands of extra agents.
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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said those agents will “target Americans with 1.2 million new audits, more than half of which would be for people making less than $75,000 a year.”

[kyonides]

The FBI's first raid was scandalous but it seems they've not learned their lesson  because they keep raiding Republicans just because.

FBI Seized Rep. Scott Perry’s Cellphone One Day After Mar-a-Lago Raid

Perry was approached with a warrant for his cellphone by three FBI agents while he was traveling with his family on Tuesday, Fox News reported.
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Perry also criticized U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for his leadership over the Department of Justice.
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Although no motive for the seizure of Perry’s phone has been reported, the Philadelphia congressman has been a target of the Democrat-led January 6 Select Committee for months.

Perry was the first House member the January 6 committee sought testimony and documents from, including all “relevant or electronic or other communications” Perry had with Trump and his legal team.

Commerce Department Accuses Chinese Company of Illegally Shipping Equipment to Iran

The Department of Commerce accused China’s largest wire and cable manufacturer, Far East Cable, of violating export controls aimed at preventing the shipment of equipment to Iran.

In a charging letter (file) issued July 29, the department said that Far East Cable committed 18 violations of U.S. export controls between 2014 and 2016. During that time, the department alleged Far East Cable entered an agreement to supply equipment from China’s ZTE to Iranian companies, effectively circumventing export restrictions against ZTE.
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The charges developed out of an investigation opened into ZTE, a Chinese telecoms equipment company, in 2012. ZTE ultimately reached a series of settlements with the department in 2017, admitting to violating U.S. export control rules and sanctions on Iran.
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During that investigation, in 2014, the department alleged that Far East Cable picked up ZTE’s contracts and went on to act as an intermediary by delivering American technologies to Iran and obfuscating ZTE’s role in the transactions.

Far East Cable contracted with Telecommunications Company of Iran and Khadamate Ertebati Rightel, another Iranian company, the letter said.

Both companies were customers of ZTE. Both companies also suspended shipments of items originating from the United States to Iran in 2012. The following year, however, ZTE made plans to resume shipments to Iran through Far East Cable, the letter said.

[kyonides]

Russia deepening ties with Sudan, sets sights on establishing naval base

Russia’s proximal closeness with Sudan has concealed the Russian theft of Sudan’s gold

Russia has set its sights on Port Sudan on the Red Sea “as a key naval hub” for itself, Al-Monitor reported on Friday.

Russia has been deepening ties with Sudan, which became isolated internationally after Sudanese Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan took power in a military coup on Oct. 25, 2021.

The United States, the European Union and the World Bank consequently stopped all financial aid to Sudan, which has been described as a failed state. It is rife for exploitation by international actors such as Russia, which reportedly has smuggled out of Sudan billions of dollars in gold.

An associate professor of public policy at the American University in Cairo, Hamed El Tijani Ali, said in December, “Sudan has become a failed state and one of the most corrupt states of the world.”

...

According to Al-Monitor, “With the exception of the Syrian Port of Tartous, the only real foreign maritime facility where Russia really intended to have a serious presence was Port Sudan.”

“The relevant agreements had been reached under Omar al-Bashir,” the report said. “However, in April 2021, the Sovereign Council of Sudan suspended the agreement with Russia to create a logistics center. This happened at a time when the Russian military had already started to deliver military equipment there.”

Facing increasing isolation after the military coup in October, Sudan is apparently ready to welcome a Russian naval base in the country.