International Relations

USA (DW):

How tech billionaires threaten democracy

Tech billionaires control essential digital platforms, critical infrastructure and vast amounts of data used by billions of people. Is their influence over politics growing too fast for governments to keep pace with?

I found this short video quite informative (and delivers the info quickly).   I am thinking about how Musk (for example) could be reined in the way the US previously nobbled Rockefeller and Standard Oil.  I cannot see Musk's empire being broken up just yet but I can see others like Google being broken up relatively soon.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et

5 men arrested on terror offences, but they were (if the story is to be believed) trying to attack a USAF base that is used to bomb Iran. Of course, bombing civilians with a B52 is war, but trying to bomb a B52 in order to stop it being used to kill civilians, is terrorism.

What a silly world we live in.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aFX3bv99n … dHJlZXQ%3D

I though readers might like to see some despot Iranian extremists forcing women to wear black letterbox cloths and smacking them in the teeth if they refuse.

Of course, the propaganda and reality aren't the same, and the food looks delicious. Some Iranians shared their bread with me when I met them in Jakarta - amazing food, and amazing generosity from amazing people - sorry, extremist nutters.

The five terrible terrorists who, we were informed, were planning to do very naughty things, have been released.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6e9elmpvglno

That means there no no explosives, weapons, or anything else.

Wat is that smell coming out of the news outlets, Trump, and the propaganda machine? Ah, it's the same stink you get up your nose when standing next to a bull with a stomach ache.

EU nations seek energy alternatives after spending over $113 billion extra since Iran war began

https://apnews.com/article/europe-irela … 9ba0960988

Removing the Ukrainians democracy, thus creating the conditions to force the Russian invasion, set up the US as the world's major gas and diesel supplier. The Iran war has allowed them to profit massively from their new position.

The rest of the world pays a heavy price for US oil wars.

The way to stop this is importing as much Chinese solar panels/other renewable energy tech as the EU and UK can get hold of, and do it as quickly as possible.

Then push to EV use (probably by using subsidies), especially small electric bikes that look like scooters, for commuting and other short range uses.

I have such a bike, so I can tell you it costs around GBP 0.04 to charge it for its 40 km range. That sounds like a really short range, but using it for shopping trips and so on means I have to charge it every couple of weeks. If i use it for work, I recharge every second day in order to be sure of the round trip.

Larger bikes, with far more range, cost up to 10 pence to recharge.

This will vastly reduce the need for oil, so remove most of the US war inflation you poor devils are suffering from.

As a bonus, cities will get cleaner and quieter.

The above will take a few years, so the EU/UK governments should declare immediate neutrality in all US wars, and buy Russian oil and gas in order to keep prices down for the people they are supposed to look after.

The bikes vary, but look like these.

https://artemishub.id/blog/electrum-lau … v-mobility

The five terrible terrorists who, we were informed, were planning to do very naughty things, have been released.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6e9elmpvglno
That means there no no explosives, weapons, or anything else.
Wat is that smell coming out of the news outlets, Trump, and the propaganda machine? Ah, it's the same stink you get up your nose when standing next to a bull with a stomach ache. - @Fred

They were stealing diesel.

The five terrible terrorists who, we were informed, were planning to do very naughty things, have been released.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6e9elmpvglnoThat means there no no explosives, weapons, or anything else.Wat is that smell coming out of the news outlets, Trump, and the propaganda machine? Ah, it's the same stink you get up your nose when standing next to a bull with a stomach ache. - @FredThey were stealing diesel. - @SimCityAT

But it made a really good scare story.

The upshot is, as I have asserted so many times, don't believe the 'news' until it's confirmed.

They were stealing diesel. - @SimCityAT

They must have been really thick to try and do that next to a military base when everything is on high alert.

Could have got themselves killed.

And Trump and Rubio jumping in without any basis. Made themselves look very stupid indeed.

But anyway, when it's £2 a litre, it's bound to become a more common problem..

But anyway, when it's £2 a litre, it's bound to become a more common problem.. - @fluffy2560

The price is something to do with the Ukraine and Iran oil wars.

I know a lot of people don't want to accept that because, in their tiny minds, the US removing Ukraine's democracy in favour of a government that has never held a free and fair election, is about democracy and freedom.

Some people are dumb enought to believe the US line.

Rather oddly and unexpectedly, the postman came and gave me 5000 HUF for "diesel support".

It's not a lot - about $15 US.   

They know we have a diesel car (obviously).  I had not heard about this subsidy.   No subsidy for petrol/benzin.

The price will go down when Trump gets out of the Gulf.  Nothing to do with Ukraine other than the superb and effective strategy UKR is following to  bankrupt Russia's economy.   

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PO13BOfPvwY

The US has finally left Iraq - That's the country they invaded by lying about WMDs.

Camp victory, the amazingly stupidly named last US base over there, is now empty of US invasion/occupation forces.

Lots dead on both sides, but they don't matter because the US got $200 billion in oil contracts.

Was the war about WMDs, or just another oil war? I go with the latter.

What's a few dead US soldiers when it comes to all that profit?

Thing is, a lot of people believed the US lies, and some are still stupid enough to carry on doing so.

Re: Diesel- Then value-added tax (VAT), ranging from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary, is applied on top of everything, including the tax. It is a tax on a tax.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/30/die … e-mostise.

Some people believed that the new Hungarian governemt would take care of the people - That's one off 🤣

Now it's clear that the new lot are pretty much the same as the old lot, I'll bet their supporters feel silly.

HU (Daily News HU):

PM Magyar: Two former ministers in the hands of authorities

Miklós Seszták and Balázs Hankó were detained on Monday after parliament suspended their immunity, in a dramatic escalation of ongoing investigations involving former government officials.

They've started arresting former Fidesz ministers, presumably after they've gathered evidence of bribery and corruption.   

There's another story going around that Orban was directly involved in ordering the UKR bank transfer confiscation. 

These two ex-ministers will possibly be convicted if the evidence stacks up and in typical fashion, believing in Orban has not done them any good.  Others in the same position could well find themselves doing time.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science … f-35-615km

Chinese researchers say missile lidar model can spot US F-35 at up to 61.5km

I'll believe this when I see a serious backup source, but it rings true as LIDAR can spot what other detection technologies can't.

On the counter side, if the Chinese had developed this to any sort of level, they would be unwise to tell the enemy about it. The F35 is the United State's biggest bet when attacking countries,  so the shock of significant early losses when the start their next war would be devastating.

If this technology does get from unconfirmed computer models to reality,  that would make the most expensive aircraft project in the world pretty much worthless as its main advantage is gone. Without stealth, it's just another target for SAM sites,  and not an especially fast one.

DW:

US pressures EU allies to release diesel stockpiles

The United States on Thursday told its European allies, particularly Germany and France, to "immediately" release their strategic reserves of diesel to help lower the soaring price of the refined fuel.

It comes a day after President Donald Trump floated the possibility of banning US diesel exports to stem the rise in prices.

At an emergency meeting of the European Union's energy task force on Friday, an EU spokesperson said the bloc "fully rejects" the ban threat, saying it would "undermine ... trust in the US."

A cynical person might say Trump is trying to reduce diesel costs at home to win points for the forthcoming mid-terms.  I cannot see the EU and allies releasing stockpiles anytime soon.  They'll probably say, maybe gradually or we'll do in 40 days (when the mid-term results are in).

Meanwhile, prices at Auchan on Monday (much cheaper than the UK, HUF 701 is £1.58 whereas UK prices already beyond £2 a litre).  Grifter in Chief blames UKraine for high prices. Anyone who believes that, I've got a bridge I can sell them.

(uploading pics from my phone always rotates them)

DW:
US pressures EU allies to release diesel stockpiles

The United States on Thursday told its European allies, particularly Germany and France, to "immediately" release their strategic reserves of diesel to help lower the soaring price of the refined fuel.

It comes a day after President Donald Trump floated the possibility of banning US diesel exports to stem the rise in prices.

At an emergency meeting of the European Union's energy task force on Friday, an EU spokesperson said the bloc "fully rejects" the ban threat, saying it would "undermine ... trust in the US."

A cynical person might say Trump is trying to reduce diesel costs at home to win points for the forthcoming mid-terms. I cannot see the EU and allies releasing stockpiles anytime soon. They'll probably say, maybe gradually or we'll do in 40 days (when the mid-term results are in).

Meanwhile, prices at Auchan on Monday:



(uploading pics from my phone always rotates them) - @fluffy2560

Simply declare peace and neutrality,  then buy Russian and Iranian oil.

EU and UK citizens get much lower prices. Of course you have to alienate the US, but it's only a matter of time before that happens anyway.

BBC:

G7 countries to release 'up to 100 million barrels' within four months - Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron says G7 leaders have agreed to work "in a coordinated manner" to help bring down diesel prices.

Writing on X, he says they have agreed to:

1. Make production "more flexible" to maximise production at refineries
2. Release strategic reserves of "up to 100 million barrels" within four months, "with our partners", under the coordination of the International Energy Agency
3. Avoid measures which would restrict the exchange of energy and petroleum products between partner countries

I saw on the DW site videos, European reserves are 300M barrels which is equivalent to just 10-11 days (!!!) worth of consumption.  So this is just nothing much - about 3 days of consumption.   It will do nothing to address the cause of the problems.   But it looks like something useful but it allows for the mid-terms and aftermath so nothing unexpected.

Isn't it such a strange world when one has family that lives in, France, Spain, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Slovenia, and Austria and how one talks between each other.

I saw on the DW site videos, European reserves are 300M barrels which is equivalent to just 10-11 days (!!!) worth of consumption. So this is just nothing much - about 3 days of consumption. It will do nothing to address the cause of the problems. But it looks like something useful but it allows for the mid-terms and aftermath so nothing unexpected. - @fluffy2560

The cause of the problem is a fat idiot in the White House.

The solution is not to follow the fat idiot in the white house.

That means immediate neutrality in US wars, including no assistance such as use of bases .It also includes stopping all weapons sales to Ukraine.

Massive, free international business leads to peace because war is too damaging to that business to even consider. The west (excluding the US until it changes its policies of political interference and military interventions) should take a serious look at the Chinese model.

No wars, no aggression,  no intimidation,  just raw business.

Asia is coming together in ways the EU wants, but  will never achieve, because their stupid politicians are chasing ideologies over realities.

Want a unified payment system, we are building one. I can pay using QRIS from my phone in many countries,  but nobody had to pretend an Italian Lira had the same value as a German Mark to do it.

Any government's first duty is to its population,  not messing around in other countries' politics and pushing political ideals onto other nations.

You are responsible for your own ridiculous fuel prices because you allow your political elite to continue their idiocy.

EU and UK inflation is directly caused by two things:

1. US oil wars
2. EU and UK politicians added to the ill effects of US oil wars.

The US bullies, bashes, and destroys to get what it wants, but China persuades and builds in order to project influence and create wealth.

The US wanted influence in Indonesia,  so it paid NGOs to cause trouble, and the press to print the US version of the truth. The US also tried, and epically failed, to get their man in as president.

China has build toll roads, brought manufacturing,  and generally built  infrastructure that makes like easier for everyone,  and all while enriching local workers.

A trip from Cirebon to Jakarta was around 7 hours not many years ago, but Chinese investment in toll roads has dropped that to two hours.

Handy for private cars, but imagine the massive, ongoing savings for the transportation industry, thus the whole country.

No bombs and no bullets, and no attempt to take over the Indonesian government,  but massive, benign influence all over Asia.

At the end of the day, China has what it wants, and everybody is happy about it.

The EU is actively rejecting what has brought so much good to Asia. What a set of morons.

Isn't it such a strange world when one has family that lives in, France, Spain, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Slovenia, and Austria and how one talks between each other. - @SimCityAT

I think it's not so strange.  I think about free movement in the EU.  It brought us all together across Europe and previous migrations helped mix us up.  It's a progress to peace in my mind.  One doesn't want to fight against one's family.

Isn't it such a strange world when one has family that lives in, France, Spain, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Slovenia, and Austria and how one talks between each other.  - @SimCityAT
I think it's not so strange. I think about free movement in the EU. It brought us all together across Europe and previous migrations helped mix us up. It's a progress to peace in my mind. One doesn't want to fight against one's family. - @fluffy2560

We could joing back again

The UK would do a lot better to work on a trading relationship with China.

The UK, if it stopped investing in crap and went for Chinese assisted infrastructure, especially renewable energy systems, would have the EU begging to join the UK in a few short years.

Neither lot can solve the US oil war fuel crisis,  but Indonesia has set up mitigation strategies that have insulated us from much of it.

Guess what, we went with Chinese gear and it's working very nicely. The EU could follow this sensible path so easily,  but their rubbish idealism stops them helping their population out of the US caused mess.

The idiots are running around like headless chickens on crack, but they have the vision of bads with sunglasses because they can't see an easy and obvious solution that other countries have opted for, and is working well.

We could joining back again - @SimCityAT

Yes please!

I had a feeling it would be an item in the 2nd term of a Labour government.

Brexit was about immigration beforehand but now rejoining is about defence. 

I think if there was a referendum  now we'd be back in within a couple of years.

One if the things I never understood about complaints about immigration is that the UK is flooded with non-Europeans in the health service.  All the Docs my parents saw were from places like India.  Nothing wrong with it per se.

But ethically, why bring people from Asia and lower their resources when there's loads of people with similar or better officially  already recognised qualifications right next door?

That's not racist, it's just logistically daft for regional stability.

CNN (Russia):

Dozens quarantined after researcher at Russian plague laboratory dies of ‘unknown’ infection

Dozens of people were reported to be in isolation after a Russian laboratory worker at an institute dedicated to studying the plague and other infectious diseases died of an undisclosed illness.

The researcher, a 28-year-old female laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia, in the town of Shelekhov, died after being diagnosed with a pneumonia of “unknown” origin, according to Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian agency that handles infectious disease.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Russia should share more information about the circumstances of the researcher’s death.

Question is what RFK Jr is going to say about it?  Chicken Soup? Or Hegseth? Testosterone?  Trump? Bleach?

I suppose if there became a need for a vaccine, none of these people would take it.   That in a nutshell is why Darwin was correct.  Those nutters will die out and the rest of us will survive.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News … urope.html

U.S. and Russia Discuss Reviving Russian Gas Sales to Europe

All the propaganda about the nasty Russians,  and it boils down to cash in pockets.

I'm truly shocked anyone is rubbish minded enough to believe US propaganda,  but a lot of people appear to be that stupid.

CNN (YT):

Today (Friday 09 October 2026) ,  The Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize.

Trump offered his opinion:

I Settled 8 Wars, Stopped World Obliteration, Trump On Why He Deserves A Nobel Peace Prize

Discussed by Reuters and by AP

Looks to me like he's way wrong on his numbers.  This is the way (of Trump).

CNN (YT):Today (Friday 09 October 2026) , The Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize.Trump offered his opinion:I Settled 8 Wars, Stopped World Obliteration, Trump On Why He Deserves A Nobel Peace Prize Discussed by Reuters and by APLooks to me like he's way wrong on his numbers. This is the way (of Trump). - @fluffy2560

Prominent Contenders and Reported Nominees

1. Donald Trump: Nominated for his involvement in regional peace initiatives and foreign policy mediation efforts.
2. Mark Carney: Canadian Prime Minister mentioned in expert discussions and prediction markets.
3. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukrainian President recognized for his wartime leadership and international diplomacy.
4. Pope Leo XIV: Mentioned as a potential contender for his positions on global conflicts.
5. International Space Station (ISS): Highlighted by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) as a symbol of multilateral cooperation.
6. Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms: Noted for providing community-led humanitarian aid.
7. Mykola Kuleba & Save the Children: Recognized for efforts to protect children in conflict zones.

www.nobelpeaceprize.org

• Date & Time: October 9, 2026, at 11:00 am CEST

• Location: Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway

• Total Candidates: 287 nominees (208 individuals and 79 organizations)

CNN (YT):Today (Friday 09 October 2026) , The Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize.Trump offered his opinion:I Settled 8 Wars, Stopped World Obliteration, Trump On Why He Deserves A Nobel Peace Prize Discussed by Reuters and by APLooks to me like he's way wrong on his numbers. This is the way (of Trump). - @fluffy2560 Prominent Contenders and Reported NomineesDonald Trump: Nominated for his involvement in regional peace initiatives and foreign policy mediation efforts.Mark Carney: Canadian Prime Minister mentioned in expert discussions and prediction markets.Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukrainian President recognized for his wartime leadership and international diplomacy.Pope Leo XIV: Mentioned as a potential contender for his positions on global conflicts.International Space Station (ISS): Highlighted by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) as a symbol of multilateral cooperation.Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms: Noted for providing community-led humanitarian aid.Mykola Kuleba & Save the Children: Recognized for efforts to protect children in conflict zones. www.nobelpeaceprize.org - @SimCityAT

I'm expecting a neutral result.  Maybe the ISS or the Pope.  Pope's done nothing much. All mouth and cassocks. Zelelnsky not yet.  Maybe when the war is over.

Trump will never ever win it.  80% or more of the planet actively dislike the guy.

And as for Machado giving her prize to Trump?  What the hell for? She's got nothing out of it and the Maduro regime is effectively still in power at Trump's behest while the US raids the country's resources. Apparently there's $13B missing out of the oil cash register.

I guess Machado thought she was going to be replacement President in Venezuela. 

I'm going to watch the announcement live.

Sweden:

Navi Pillay won the 2026 prize. 

Looks like a safe bet of a solid contribution on law and human rights.

I'd never heard of her but I've read her bio.  Really long contribution over a professional life.

The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to South African jurist Navanethem "Navi" Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to South African jurist Navanethem "Navi" Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law. - @SimCityAT

It will absolutely annoy Trump.  Yay!

BTW, a new thing today is the supposed public execution of the Army Major who shot and killed 13 soldiers.  He's a wheelchair.   So we're facing video of him being shot dead while sitting down.  OK, he's guilty but this is like bread and circuses and a public spectacle.   It seems very weird.

I'm suddenly thinking this is like Iran hanging people publicly. 

I am not sure what the world is coming to.

US etc:

As expected Trump goes bananas and throws his toys out the pram

US announces sanctions on the International Criminal Court

Wasn't unexpected.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/0 … a-01114977

Trump lifts sanctions on Russian diesel, suggests US may buy amid surging fuel prices

It's pretty obvious that Trump's policies caused a worldwide mess, but many still fail to see that politicians put votes above the truth ... and chaos for cash.

A roughly 55/45 split on Russia/US world diesel supply (plus small players) has turned into a mostly expensive US monopoly that has pushed costs up for everyone.

They achieved their effective monopoly by telling the world how evil their only serious competitor is, and the world believed them.

WMD lies killed loads of mysterious Muslim people that nobody in the west knew or cared about, but the Russia lies have hit the western world in the pocket.

When will blind fools finally wake up and see the US is the real danger to world peace and stability,  and has been since WWII?

US etc:
As expected Trump goes bananas and throws his toys out the pram

US announces sanctions on the International Criminal Court

Wasn't unexpected. - @fluffy2560

The bigger picture is far more important than the rather narrow, unthinking Trump angle expressed above.

The real danger for the US is a serious weakening of their almost automatic ability to force other countries to blindly follow US sanctions.

The US says sanction it, and the western world falls into line, but I predict that the EU, Canada, and even the lapdog UK will not only ignore sanctions,  but actively work against them.

Once a number of powerful countries do that, the whole concept of US led sanctions becomes open to question, and might very well be the start of free thinking and freedom of decisions for many countries that will severely weaken the United States' grip on the world.

UK and allies back International Criminal Court over US sanctions

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-09/uk- … -sanctions

UK and allies back International Criminal Court over US sanctions
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-09/uk- … -sanctions - @SimCityAT

In a joint statement, the remaining G7 nations – the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – as well as Denmark and the Netherlands, said they “regret and strongly disagree with” the sanctions.

I just predicted that - See my post above

UK and allies back International Criminal Court over US sanctions
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-09/uk- … -sanctions - @SimCityAT

Yup.  Seems a bit desperate of Trump to try and distract from his own woes.

We'll only get a real indication of how underwater he is when the mid-terms are in. Polls indicate he's viewed very (very) negatively. 

As usual, politicians go stale after about 8 to 12 years.  They run out of ideas and become more extremist in order to claw back some support.     

Normally they get voted out. 

Or as history shows, they get lead poisoning in a bunker or end up hanging from a lamppost.

UK and allies back International Criminal Court over US sanctions
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-09/uk- … -sanctions - @SimCityAT In a joint statement, the remaining G7 nations – the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – as well as Denmark and the Netherlands, said they “regret and strongly disagree with” the sanctions.
I just predicted that - See my post above - @Fred

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