Threat Matrix 2020

Established in 2001 after the 9/11 attack on America, this thread is designed to identify threats to America, both internal and external, and evaluate the probability of those threats occurring and the extent of potential damage. Discussions may stray into ‘tinfoil’ territory, but the goal is to peel back and confirm information so we can make founded decisions and actions.

I’m back, wish it was from a fun vacation, but it was anything but. Much of today is just my views summarizing in some instances the happenings that stood out over the past couple weeks as I digest for trends and current events.

Great Coronavirus Panic of 2020 -
Check numerous FR threads for more specific corona virus threads.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/13/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3864396/posts

New cases continue to rise, indicators that death rates could potentially be going up as well now. Numerous states regressing to lock down/shut down levels of economy activity.

CW2 -
Persistent trend is the continued blocking of traffic and surrounding/threatening vehicles and occupants. This is causing more and more incidents where the drivers accelerate out of the situation in fear for their lives. Judging from MSM attitudes, this tactic is taking support away from protesters. OTOH, this is no longer about ‘protests’ but fully onto the initial stages of an attempted Marxist overthrow of government, and such blockage/attacks serve to promote terror through out the community. Making people fear is key to their control of the region/city.

Portland, a citadel of antifa, has had ongoing riots for more than 40 days. In spite of this, Portland prosecutors just dropped the charges against Black Lives Matter and antifa rioters who have turned downtown Portland into a hell-scape. Rioters are arrested are ticketed and released. Through the riots a new umbrella organization has emerged called the Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front (PNYL), a group comprised of anti-capitalist and anti-fascist teens. It is reported that this organization, which incorporates antifa et al into a singular unit, is responsible for the violence seen the past couple months. Its leadership is still reportedly anonymous and operations still being studied. All is not well though, as the Seattle Times reported that, at times, the group’s motivation appears to be at odds with the Black community in the city. The paper described a scene were Black leaders in June denounced arson caused by PYNL at one of the locations.

Recent attacks in Portland have focused on the Federal court house and while the local police have been hampered because of the city’s catch and release policy, the federal marshals have not had their hands tied. Over the weekend, seven antifa leaders were arrested on Federal charges related to the attacks on the courthouse.

Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor both asking for federal $$$$ to rebuild, so far FEMA has said no. Expect more requests from democrat officials.

The attacks against statues and memorials continues, though not at the pace seen a week ago, due mostly to preemptive removals. Christian churches are not becoming more of a target with vandalism and disruptive protests of services becoming the trend. Catholic churches and statues of the virgin Mary being the focus of the last week.

Crime is continuing to skyrocket in metropolitan areas as police forces are strained to deal with riots/protests and the blue tsunami of retirement/quitting of police force members. In NYC, officials there are trying to limit how many can retire per week, to slow the flow. More than 150 Minneapolis officers are filing PTSD claims and readying to leave the force.

Seattle’s mayor is facing a recall election over her mismanagement of the rioting and destruction.

In a very disturbing development, Army training presentation stated “Make America Great Again” was a form of white supremacy. Somewhere in the bowels of the pentagon leftists are slipping this kind of slime into the training of our active duty and civilians. My only hope is that they find out who did it and get rid of them.

Economy -
With states reinstating varying levels of shut down, the economic recovery is in serious danger. Potential impacts include spike in unemployment and bankruptcies and permanent closures of food industry companies.

IAEA reports that oil demands are returning to normal levels following the corona virus global shut down. This is causing production and prices to rise. OPEC and other producers are beginning to loosen production curbs imposed several months ago to meet the growing demand.

The administration is considering a 1.5 Trillion stimulus package to keep what recovery has occurred going forward.

Israel/West Bank -
While I was out, no annexation - yet. Israel is likely reconsidering the potential costs both in military action and potential economic sanctions. France is pushing Israel to stop, saying it would end the “two state solution” the EU desires to impose on Israel.

Iran -
Iran has experienced six mysterious explosions, fires and expensive equipment failures since June 25th at facilities related to Iranian nuclear and missile research and development. On July 2nd there was a particularly violent explosion at a facility related to the Iranian nuclear weapons program. Officially, Iran considers these explosions accidents, unofficially it is believed the Israelis, perhaps with the American assistance. The most recent one yesterday. Some believe that cyber attacks have caused the incidents, while other indicate that in some instances explosives were planted. One assessment was that as much as 50% of Irans advanced centrifuges have been destroyed, potentially setting their nuclear program back 2 years. Thursday’s “accident” at an Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz allegedly caused the lost 80% of the uranium hexafluoride gas it needs in order to enrich uranium.

These setbacks come at a particular difficult time where money is very, very tight and associated sanctions will further complicated the reconstruction of the facilities. Net results are that the attacks have undermined Iranian credibility throughout the region as well as inside Iran.

In an effort to bypass sanctions and get a cash infusion, Iran announced a trade and military partnership agreement with China. China would receive significant deliveries of oil over the next 25 years (at a discounted price), while spending billions on investments in energy and other sectors.

Hong Kong -
The US is evaluating various economic sanctions against China/Hong Kong in response to recent laws imposed on the former British colony. U.S. government alerted American citizens on Saturday to “exercise increased caution” of potential detainment/arrests in China.

China/India -
Calm, not much in my news feeds except after action reviews indicate the initial Chinese operation caught India off guard.

Saudi Arabia -
After a considerable interval, Houthis launched an attack on a Saudi Arabian oil facility. Saudi officials said it intercepted ballistic missiles fired from Yemen overnight between Sunday and Monday. The four missiles and seven drones were launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Corona virus and decreased support from Iran due to its economic chaos are likely the reason for the long interval between attacks.

Great Coronavirus Panic of 2020 -
Many of the various categories I’m following have now integrated effects from this pandemic, but I’m keeping them separate for clarity. Check numerous FR threads for more specific corona virus threads.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/14/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3864709/posts

It looks from DoughtyOne that the long term trend of deaths is still trending down, in spite of the growth in infections over the past several weeks. If the proclaimed spike in infections is real, the death rate should start to rocket up but it isn’t showing signs. The 7 day and daily death charts do show some flattening in the trend, but still holding low in contrast to the reported infection increase.

“We’re moving back into a modification mode of our original ‘stay-at-home’ order,” California Governor Gavin Newsom. Small business owners are reporting that this second shut down will kill their businesses. There was no date given / forecast for lifting of restrictions.

NYT is attempting to lay the blame for the increase in infections on the churches. According to the NYT, 650 cases are linked to churches. I’m no epidemiologist, but I don’t need to be, because simple math shows that 650 out of 3,000,000 cases across our nation means 0.0216 percent of them trace back to churches. Less than one-tenth of 1 percent should not — and cannot — be called a major source of this infection.

Dr. Fauci has come under considerable criticism from the Trump administration who’ve released numerous instances where the outspoken doctor has been grossly wrong on the pandemic. Recently Fauci stated the increase in infections was because the country didn’t shut down enough. Openly, Fauci was repudiated for his comments in that he doesn’t have the whole national interest in mind.

CW2 -
Tactics used by the leftists continue to morph. Current rage is road paintings of BLM and counter protests defacing them.

Economy -
News reports springing up concerning a coin shortage. Kroger foods is the latest example to stop giving change. Any ‘change’ would be put onto a gift card of sorts. They based their decision on the Federal Reserve’s announcement that there is a coin shortage in the US due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even my local Carl Jr’s fast food has signs warning of no change. It is reported that contributing to the lack of coin circulation is the fact that the US Mint has had to significantly reduce its production of coins while putting coronavirus protection procedures into place for employees.

Researchers from the University of Sydney have estimated that the effort to ‘control’ the corona virus has cost the global economy $3.8 trillion. I think that number is way too low.

Evidence that the economic foundations of California are starting to split apart come from the failure of the state to issue unemployment checks to those without work. Newsom has ordered the state’s EDD to delay unemployment checks for as many months as it takes to preserve the state’s rapidly-dwindling funds. The Mercury News reports that nearly 2 million Californians have yet to receive unemployment checks covering the first three months of the coronavirus lockdowns, which began in mid-March. It has been stated by the governor that California’s budget faces a shortfall of $54.3 billion. In California budget terms, the short fall is probably substantially larger.

Strategic Deployments -
Continued presence of two US carrier strike groups in the South China Sea area. Britain announced today that one of its carriers will be operating in the same area.

China -
The US has officially reject all Chinese claims to the south china sea. China not pleased.
Flooding of epic proportions continues across the country with multiple millions displaced. Eyes continue to be on the Three Gorges Dam which is thought to be structurally compromised and could fail catastrophically.

China said on Tuesday it would place sanctions on Lockheed Martin for its involvement in arms sales to Taiwan. This is another step in the escalating economic battle front developing with China over its Hong Kong take over spin off now being directed towards Taiwan.

Iran -
More internal discontent as factions are calling for a re-institution of the lockdowns to stem corona virus infections. Many government officials feel another round of quarantine would lead to widespread protests because most Iranians are still trying to recover economically from the last round of quarantine related economic lockdowns.

Lebanon/Hezbollah -
At least 28 missile sites connected to Lebanon’s Hezbollah terrorist organization have been located in civilian areas across Beirut, The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday, citing a report from the Alma Research and Education Center. Placement of these rocket and munition sites in the middle of civilian areas are a well established practice of Hezbollah and Hamas. Global news and anti-Israeli governments make hay out of civilian deaths in the past when Israel has hit these targets. Detection of such facilities has improved as well as the precision munitions Israel now has to minimize collateral damage, making such launch and storage sites move even more closely to civilian targets.

Hong Kong -
China warns that due to recent ‘unauthorized’ elections in Hong Kong, 600,000 may have violated the new law and face arrest and deportation to the mainland.

China/India -
OSINT imagery of the LAC shows PLA units may have fallen back into support camps and that the main area of contention appears to have been cleared. Deescalation appears to be slowly working in that China may perceive India has more backbone than they first anticipated.

Syria -
Turkey appears to be attempting to take a new security zone from the areas of Tirba Spi to Tal Kochar in Rojava, essentially extending it east to the Iraqi border. This triangular piece of Syria is in the extreme northeastern corner of the country. Such an expansion would permit Turkey to access the Rabia border crossing in Iraq

National turmoil continues on multiple fronts. Some of my observations from today.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/15/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3865032/posts

Time will tell if reported initial success of different vaccines will pan out or not. Moderna Inc’s experimental vaccine for the virus proved to be safe and to provoke immune responses in all 45 healthy volunteers in an ongoing Phase 1 study.

A study released Saturday by King’s College London shows that people may lose their immunity to COVID-19 within months and could be susceptible to reinfection on a yearly basis. Scientists at King’s College London analyzed the amount of antibodies in 90 patients and healthcare workers at Guy and St. Thomas’ NHS trust, per the study. The analysis found that antibody production peaked three weeks after symptoms began and then declined rapidly. The study found that 60% of patients developed a “potent” response with antibodies at the peak of their infection with the virus, but only 17% retained the potency three months later. Antibody levels dropped so sharply in some patients that they became undetectable. This study doesn’t address the presence of T-cells, which are an entirely different matter and retain the memory of Coronavirus for seemingly long after anti-bodies are lost.

The numbers game. The numbers updated by NCHS on July 13 show the weekly COVID-involved death count, based on death certificates, has been steadily dropping since the mid-April peak, even as the number of cases is rising, especially in Sunbelt states of Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. Preliminary data for the weeks ending July 4 (469 COVID deaths reported) and July 11 (137 COVID deaths reported) show the downward death count continues, even if those preliminary numbers will increase in the weeks ahead. CDC explains the lag time this way:
— Death certificates take time to be completed. Waiting for test results can create additional delays.
—States report at different rates. Currently, 63% of all U.S. deaths are reported within 10 days of the date of death, but there is significant variation between states.
—It takes extra time to code COVID-19 deaths. While 80% of deaths are electronically processed and coded by NCHS within minutes, most deaths from COVID-19 must be coded by a person, which takes an average of 7 days.

CW2 -
On July 4th, a group called Not F*****g Around Coalition (NFAC) marched on the Stone Mountain site. Now three activist groups, Protect the South, Heritage Not Hate and American Patriots USA are planning an event on August 15th. NFAC and antifa affiliated groups are calling for a counter march. Given that protesters on both sides are expected to be heavily armed there will be a heavy police presence to keep them apart.

Six weeks straight of riots have seized down town Portland OR, and local businesses have reported $23 million in losses due to looting and rioting that have gripped its downtown area since the end of May. Recent attacks have increasingly focused on federal property/facilities. As I noted before, the riots are being organized by an umbrella group called Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front. As with other areas where the cities have allowed rioting to continue unabated, Portland has witnessed a 380 percent increase in shootings over the past year.

Economy -
Economists note that 32 percent of American households missed rent or mortgage payments for July. That number is up slightly from June’s 30 percent and May’s 31 percent. With eviction protections made during the corona virus emergencies phasing out in most places by the end of July, there are as many as 28 million people that could be evicted.

The Federal Reserve is warning that the recession may end up being longer than currently projected. More talk of a “W” shaped recovery where gains are set back by more shutdown due to resurgence of the virus.

August 1 is becoming an important day because unemployment assistance boost of $600/mo will be ending. Any guess why corona virus shut downs have commenced in advance of this date?

China -
China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday again hinted at the possibility that Beijing could declare an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over South China Sea, one day after the U.S. government for the first time rejected the legality of most of China’s maritime claims in the strategic waterway. The commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Force warned last month that such a move would impinge on international airspace, impacting not just PACAF but other nations in the region too. Beijing claims virtually all of the 648,000 square miles of the waterway – everything within the vaguely-demarcated “nine-dash line” on official Chinese maps which tracks the coastline of Vietnam, skirts the coast of Malaysian Borneo and Brunei, then runs up along the western edges of the Philippines towards Taiwan.
Any declaration of an ADIZ is not in itself unprecedented, what is in this case the vast territory covered and the hoops commercial and private aircraft will have to jump through to get ‘permission’ to transit the zone.

Israel/West Bank -
Jordan warns, once again, that any unilateral action by Israel to incorporate portions of the West Bank would be met with substantial opposition by Jordan and other nations.

Lebanon/Hezebollah -
Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces say crime rates have shot up this year amid Lebanon’s worst economic turmoil since the 1975-1990 civil war.
The ISF recorded 863 thefts and robberies in the first half of this year, up from 650 for all of 2019, according to a document seen by AFP. The growing trend is the theft of food and infant supplies. Lebanon is now looking to make a deal with the devil (China) for aid.

Hong Kong -
The US has ended the special trade status of Hong Kong because China had taken away Hong Kong’s freedom after it imposed a new security law. China has vowed to retaliate. Scrapping Hong Kong’s special status will mean companies based there will now have to evaluate what this means for them. Hong Kong is a re-exporting hub, which means that goods that go through Hong Kong to the US but have come from somewhere else - like China for instance - have avoided the tariffs the US has slapped on China. Now that Hong Kong’s special status is gone - mainland Chinese companies may look for another place to send their goods

Miscallaneous -
Azerbaijan and Armenia are close to open war as both sides have deployed attack drones to target key locations and leaders. Forces have been shooting at each other for the past 3 - 4 days.

Ethiopia announced that it has begun to fill the reservoir behind the recently constructed Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Built with the assistance of China, it is planned to be the largest hydroelectric project in Africa. However, both Egypt and Sudan are not agreeable to the project as no guarantees of downstream flow have been given to sustain their agriculture and cities. Egypt has threatened war if flow is not guaranteed, especially during periods of drought.

Buckle up, the remainder of 2020 is not going to get any smoother (and we may REALLY wish for murder wasps before its end)

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/16/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3865339/posts

Orlando news station WOFL-TV has uncovered a major discrepancy in Florida’s coronavirus statistics. According to WOFL, the Florida Department of Health has said that “countless” coronavirus testing sites across The Sunshine State have reported a near 100% positivity rate — which means every single person tested was positive— while other laboratories have reported extremely high positivity rates. If extrapolated out, this revelation will cast doubts on the validity of the magnitude of corona virus ‘spike’ reported in Florida.

CW2 -
Chinook Land Autonomous Territory (CLAT) in down town Portland is still in existence. Beginning late Tuesday - Early Wednesday protesters started setting up tents and barricading streets around Lownsdale Square, across the street from the Federal Courthouse. Same location was used during the ‘occupy’ protests of 2011. NYLF has stated the same goal as the CHOP/CHAD in Seattle which was dismantled last week. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler tweeted a statement that federal employees/law enforcement should “stay inside their building, or leave Portland altogether.” He further asked DHS to clean up the graffiti on the building. Portland’s civic leadership has been overall supportive of antifa et al and has tied the hands of law enforcement to control rioting. Downtown Portland has suffered tens of millions of dollars damage from vandalism and arson over the past several months of rioting.

More front organizations associated with this action to put into our collective data base. Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front, which has been behind the scenes coordinating the Portland violence now appears to be affiliated with something called CrimethInc. From Wiki “CrimethInc., also known as CWC, which stands for either “CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective” or “CrimethInc Ex-Workers Ex-Collective”,[2] is a decentralized anarchist collective of autonomous cells.[3] CrimethInc. emerged in the mid-1990s,[4] initially as the hardcore zine Inside Front, and began operating as a collective in 1996.[5] It has since published widely read articles and zines for the anarchist movement and distributed posters and books of its own publication.” A tweet from Crimethinc states - “Let’s be clear. Every single person in a police uniform—every mercenary who takes a paycheck from the government in return for abdicating responsibility for the harm they perpetrate against society—is the enemy of freedom, of humanity. They won’t stop until we stop them.”

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan, who knelt with protesters at the beginning of June, was one of four NYPD officers injured during protests in New York on Wednesday. Video has also come out that base ball bats were handed out by a driver from the trunk of a vehicle prior to the counter protest and assaults. NOTE: You CANNOT appease these Marxists.

Economy -
Hospitals across the country are facing potential bankruptcy due to the restrictions placed on ‘elective’ procedures this spring. They are busy rescheduling procedures but much damage has been done and potential reinstatement of restrictions may prove unrecoverable.

Delta Airlines has posted a 7 Billion dollar loss due to the corona virus. Disruptions caused by the virus resulted in a 94 percent drop in passenger revenue and an 85 percent reduction in capacity. Airline states it could take years to recover. Other airlines are likely in the same boat.

China -
Megafloods continue and continued monitoring of the Three Gorges Dam.

Israel/West Bank -
Some Israeli officials have stated that a coronavirus resurgence and divisions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have sidelined its plans to annex parts of the West Bank. “It’s a matter of right plan, wrong time,” a senior Blue & White minister said. “We are in the middle of the biggest crisis Israel has seen in decades...and it would be irresponsible and insensitive to tend to anything else at the moment.”

Iran -
Amidst the ‘mysterious’ explosions at key Iranian facilities , today a large fire tore through the Port of Bushehr , destroying at least seven vessels. The incident is unfolding just 12 miles away from Iran’s only nuclear power station, lending to the suspicious cause and location. The vessels are reported to be traditional wooden dhow vessels under construction, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Hong Kong -
China is vowing to retaliate against US ending of Hong Kong’s preferential trade status and imposed sanctions on officials who crack down on rights. Some analysts see this removal as a hard hit to the stomach of China’s economy. Hong Kong is a re-exporting hub, which means that goods that go through Hong Kong to the US but have come from somewhere else - like China for instance - have avoided the tariffs the US has slapped on China. Now they can no longer be avoided.

Afghanistan -
US forces have reportedly pulled out of 5 bases IAW the treaty with the Taliban.

Miscellaneous -
Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia are continuing. Small level unit activity, no major force engagements nor any major troop movements towards the conflict area being reported.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/17/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3865677/posts

New England Journal of Medicine in an article stated that the Moderna coronavirus vaccine caused adverse events (side effects) in over 50% of clinical trial participants, including, “fatigue, chills, headache, myalgia, and pain at the injection site.” While it generates antibodies in the short term, studies indicate those antibodies fade very quickly, rendering the vaccine pointless in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

CW2 -
In a quick turn around that didn’t catch my radar until well after it happened, Portland Thursday morning closed down CLAT. After giving the occupants 10 minutes to leave the park, police moved in, arresting nine individuals for trespass and disorderly conduct. Antifa rioters are not giving up on the CLAT. They have already attempted to swarm the park to resurrect the CLAT, but so far police have been successful in stopping them. Rumor has it that the President applied some kind of ‘leverage’ to the Portland mayor - possibly the declaration of martial law or some other application of Federal forces - to get the mayor to clean up his mess.

Economy -
Initial weekly jobless claims came in at 1.3 million for the week ending July 11. It did mark the 15th straight weekly decline in initial claims.
U.S. retail sales increased a better-than-expected 7.5% in June.
That was on top of the 18.2% jump in May, which was the biggest gain since the government started tracking the series in 1992.

Strategic Deployments -
The USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz strike groups are back together operating in the South China Sea to continue naval exercises. The Ronald Reagan had broken off to conduct ops in the Indian Ocean.

China -
The Hong Kong Autonomy Act, signed Tuesday by U.S. President Donald Trump has some big teeth in that it targets Chinese banks for sanctions as well. Banks will loose access to the international reserve currency and could become unable to transfer U.S. dollars, both will severely impact international trade by China.

Israel -
Israel was reported to have been hit by new cyber attacks this week. The attacks targeted agricultural water pumps in the Upper Galilee and infrastructure in the center of the country. There was no significant damage caused. It is likely the culprit was Iran, with whom Israel have been engaged in an ongoing cyber battle over the course of the past year.

Israel is also moving forward to increase cooperation with Greece as an alliance to counter the growing aggression of Turkey in the region. Israeli and Greek generals met to discuss matters of mutual defense. Israel and Greece signed a deal in December for a $7 billion, 1,180-mile EastMed gas pipeline to run from Israel through Cyprus and Greece to Europe.

Iran -
Iranian MP Ardeshir Motahari, tweeting about the incidents that have been happening in his country, says that a foreign adversary recently attacked Iran using drones. He promises Iran will carry out revenge and says the age of “hit and run” attacks is over. Shortly thereafter, US intelligence detected ADA radar activation and the European Aviation Safety Agency has warned that passenger jets flying through Iranian airspace are at risk of being targeted by Iran’s air-defense systems.

In June, the IAEA said in a report to member states that there is a “serious concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied access to the Agency... to two locations.” IAEA has been a paper tiger, but a report like this will permit the US and allies to justify further sanctions on the country.

Major protests broke out in southwestern city of Behbahan, prompting internet shut down for the region and sever police response. Reportedly thousands gathered chanting “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, my life for Iran”.

Hong Kong -
See Bank Impacts from US sanctions above

China/India -
Indications that India & China both have agreed at specific points to re-deploy towards their regular posts on respective sides of LAC. Will have to confirm but suggests that some of the talks have borne some fruit.

Miscellaneous -
Ok, now this little spat between two third world countries is about to get spicy. Azerbaijan has threatened to bomb the Atomic Energy Station in Armenia if Yerevan strikes Azerbaijani strategic sites.

Relatively short today, Biggest concerns are a blow up of CW2 going from ‘cold’ to hot as the election approaches, while current rioting simmers on the back burner.

Wuhan Virus -

DoughtyOne post as of 7/17/2020 (no new post as of when I put this together)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3865677/posts

Dozens of refrigerator trucks head to Arizona and Texas as the states’ coronavirus cases skyrocket and concerns that morgues will exceed their capacity.

Economy -
Reminder - Federal eviction moratorium expires in July, along with enhanced jobless benefits. At least 12 million didn’t make a payment last month and 24 million uncertain about the current month. This is probably the most explosive situation surrounding the pandemic shut down. Similar being mirrored in the commercial sector as closed businesses haven’t been paying rent/lease either.

Restruant bankruptcies are increasing among those who rely upon sit-down service. Food businesses that have a strong delivery component - such as pizza - have endured the corona virus shut down very well.

CW2/Civil Unrest -
What we’re seeing now is not democracy. It’s a classical marxist rebellion.

Denied their own “CHOP”, Portland rioters tried to focus on one a police precinct and shifted back towards the Federal court house. The attack on the Federal court house was particularly aggressive with rioters using fireworks and other explosives to try to keep federal law enforcement trapped inside the building. They also placed fencing and sandbags in front of doors. Portland police eventually came around to disperse the rioters and relieve the siege. Portland’s mayor’s call for removal of DHS marshals has emboldened the rioters.

There is a video circulating out there claiming to capture DHS arresting an antifa member well away from rioting and carrying them off in an unmarked minivan. My thoughts are this is dubious - no where near the rioting, antifa very passively submits to arrest (review other arrests - they go crazy screaming and resisting), vanilla “police” tactical uniforms, etc. Reports that DHS has confirmed the validity - but this comes through MSN sources.

In Chicago, a protest at the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park devolved into a violent riot, complete with assaults on police and an attempt to pull down the statue. Rioters initially were able to drive the police away but reinforcements arrived and they regained control of the scene.

MY OBSERVATIONS: Overall, activity like in Portland and Chicago has declined nationwide. However, smaller scale activity continues - the kind I think of maintaining the intimidation factor. These include the ability of small groups to block streets/intersection, mobilize smaller ‘peaceful’ protests in smaller communities with the underlying threat of violence. Now the legal arms are bending governments to enact demands of police defunding/disbanding. Not rocket science - no police then the rioters can act with impunity to exact revenge on what ever target they choose.
Second serious trend continues - increasing display of arms by both sides and increasingly violent threats. As the election approaches it will only take a small spark in some areas to ignite a shooting incident between the left and right.

China -
Epic flooding has renewed throughout the Yellow River Drainage. One dam has already failed. Saw a second (probably a spillway control structure) within a couple of feet from being overtopped. Three Gorges Dam under considerable scrutiny. This flooding is hitting a significant region of Chinese industrial centers - including Wuhan.

Domestically, the situation has changed significantly from virus to riots/insurrection now back to virus.

Wuhan Virus -

DoughtyOne post as of 7/18/2020
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866182/posts

Today’s post 7/19/20
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866325/posts

Of all the insanity, more appears. The nefarious Dr Fauci has come out and praised how New York “handled” the corona virus. He must have forgot that nearly 50% of the deaths were due to New York placing infected patients into nursing home/long term care facilities and infecting/killing the most vulnerable there.

More numbers gaming, Texas has reduced its infection numbers by over 3000 due to incorrect reporting.

Nationally, deaths have not spiked as the number of reported infections have.

Economy -
More companies announcing bankruptcy. Others trying to stablize in the face of a second shutdown.

CW2/Civil Unrest -
What we’re seeing now is not democracy. It’s a classical marxist rebellion.

Reports that the DOJ is looking at whether or not deliberate spreading of the corona virus is occurring and if chargeable as terrorism. In Florida, corona virus “parties” allegedly by gang members to put fear into locals has been reported. there is reportedly a FBI alert issued Thursday that extremist groups have instructed their followers to spread COVID-19 at places of worship, markets, and political offices.

FAA has issued a NOTAM for Portland thru August 16th. Reason is Special Security. Many wondering if a more aggressive action on the federal level is pending. Others look at the potential for rioters using drones to cause trouble. There was a report of a Portland Police aircraft circling the down town last night. Monitoring.

DHS has confirmed law enforcement strike teams are working in Portland targeting rioters for arrest and prosecution. With the screams of ‘storm troopers’, democrats from pelosi on down are condoning the rioters while denouncing legitimate law enforcement tactics.

Portland law enforcement got a slap in the face last night when the Portland Police Association building was set on fire. The police response was swift. Also, federal law enforcement was banned in the Portland police EOC.

China -
Rumblings in the international banking system centered on China. Bank runs are reported to have begun at Chinese banks after what is being described as “rumors” were spread on social media warning depositors of bank failures. The thing is, before the beginning of the global economic collapse China’s banking system was already seeing bank failures and being the largest banking system in the world it is extremely significant for the global economy.

If megaflooding isn’t enough, the locust plague is growing on the western side of the country and so far has advanced essentially unchecked, destroying square mile after square mile of crops and vegetation.

These natural disasters are putting extreme stress on the Chinese economy, The flooding is impacting key industrial centers around Wuhan while food supplies are being threatened.

Israel -
Netanyahu’s corruption trial is scheduled now for January 2020. His lawyers are still pushing to delay it until mid 2021.

Iran -
An explosion was reported in an oil pipeline in Iran Saturday, the latest in a mysterious series of blasts and blazes that have occurred throughout the country. Some of these can be explained away as due to maintenance failures, though others clearly have targeted the Iranian nuclear program. A third possibility is that government protesters are branching out and launching limited sabotage on Iranian sites. Just this past week protests were violently put down by the government. Direct (or indirect, i.e. helping mossad) acts may be what’s coming next as protests to topple the government continue.

Iran also has announced that they have estimated that over 25 million of its citizens have been infected by the corona virus. That is nearly double the global tally.

Iraq -
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is on a visit to Iraq to maintain pressure on Baghdad to maintain its strategic alliance with Iran amid US-Iran tensions. His visit comes after at least two visits by IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani, who took over from Qasem Soleimani after the US killed him next to Baghdad International Airport in January. Iran has fallen onto hard times maintaining the devout loyalty of Iraqi militia groups. Following the death of Soleimani, funds to these groups have dropped off substantially and Iraqi popular support has wained.

Libya -
Rumors that Egyptian AF has started bombing GNA forces near the town of Sirte. These forces have Turkish military elements embedded. Egypt has repeatedly stated that Sirte is the red line in the sand that GNA needs to stay away from. These attacks are reportedly due to to GNA forces moving to take Sirte. Earlier in the month, Egypt deployed armor units to the border as a warning. If Egypt has started air attacks, it will dramatically increase tensions with Turkey who is supporting the GNA because it can secure oil rights from them. Egypt is supports the LNA forces currently holding Sirte.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/19/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866325/posts

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the 12th straight week of a declining coronavirus death rate in the U.S. “Based on death certificate data, the percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza or COVID-19 (PIC) decreased from 8.1% during week 27 to 6.4% during week 28, representing the twelfth week of a declining percentage of deaths due to PIC,” the CDC website states. Why isn’t this on MSN news?

CW2 -
Rioting kicked up a notch in both Portland and Seattle this weekend, bolstered in part by support from the liberal/Marxist city leadership of those cities. In both cities, law enforcement has had its hands increasingly tied and now almost appears pinata-like in their efforts. Police precinct buildings and federal buildings are the current focus. A riot organizer in Portland was recorded calling for the abolition of the United States - this is not about Floyd anymore.

Today (Monday) has been announced by BLM as “Strike for Black Lives Day”, calling for walkouts across the nation to try to force businesses to submit to black racism through intimidation. I wouldn’t be surprised that businesses that don’t take a knee will be vandalized/burned later tonight.

High profile Michelle Malkin was assaulted at a Back the Blue rally in Denver over the weekend and prevented from speaking. Reports are that the police refused to make any arrests and allowed the rioters to shut things down.

MY OBSERVATIONS - Folks, the ugly factor is going to go off the charts as we approach the election. The trend is there. The tempo of rioting had stepped back for a short period, but now is increasing in the BLM/Antifa strongholds of Portland and Seattle. I strongly suspect the relatively ‘calm’ period was for restock and reevaluation of the tactics and progress used. I also think that the reinvigorated attacks in Portland and Seattle are in part designed to test new tactics, coordination and methods. It also looks like here they are concentrating their efforts to embarrass the federal law enforcement and government through a sustained, violent effort. I think their end goal is to try to provoke a kinetic response from the Feds.

As an old intelligence officer, I’m reviewing potential actions that the more radical elements of these Marxists could use and it isn’t pretty. Imagine Yugoslavia on steroids. No matter who wins in November, the violence will step up an order of magnitude -Biden wins generates vengeance attacks on republicans. Trump wins generates vengeance attacks on republicans. Buckle up and make preparations now (and not just bullets - food, medical, comms, etc - this will be a prolonged event). Republicans in these hell hole liberal/Marxist run towns will be hardest hit.

Economy -
More rumblings from food suppliers on lack of aluminum cans for products. Heavy buying continues of basics causing stores to have difficulty keeping store shelves filled. Walk through your local store or walmart - shelves are pretty thinly stocked. Begin stocking up on critical items now, shelves will empty out fast if there is another nation wide (or even local) rush.

Iran -
Yesterday I noted an pipeline explosion. Sunday, an explosion was reported at the Islamabad power plant in Iran’s central Isfahan province, the latest in a mysterious set of explosions and blazes that have rocked the Islamic Republic. If these are, in fact, deliberate attacks, then Iran is facing a total intelligence breakdown.

Iran’s problems aren’t in this area alone, but some estimate the country’s inflation rate at about 105% with recent protests kicked off this weekend following increases in gasoline prices.

N Korea -
Long time absent but now it appears Kim is becoming more active. Kim himself led the large-scale meeting that is believed to have included officers of the General Political Bureau, the General Staff, the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces, vice directors of major WPK Central Committee departments and commanders within the Korean People’s Army. According to North Korea’s state-run KCNA news service, top of the agenda was “the key issues of further bolstering a war deterrent of the country”. Various observers think this may be tied to an effort to boost NK’s nuclear forces.

Libya -
Egypt is on the verge of entering the conflict in Libya due to GNA forces pushing to control the coastal town of Sirte. In June, Egyptian President Sisi categorized the cities of Sirte and Jufra as “red lines” that mustn’t be crossed. Any encroachment on these cities would compel Egypt to intervene in order to safeguard its national security. He ordered Egyptian armored forces to the border to bolster his statement. Over the weekend GNA forces maneuvered to try to take control of the city, with some reports that those forces were attacked by Egyptian air forces. Egyptian involvement in the conflict will place them directly opposite Turkish forces said to be accompanying GNA elements pressing Sirte.

Miscellaneous -
More small scale skirmishes along the Azerbaijan/Armenian border.

Many, like me, are most likely suffering from Crisis Fatigue and are trying to fit the current chaos into our comfy normalcy bias. We have to face these realities head on, otherwise we will crumble. Buckle up.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/21/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866903/posts

While he notes a slight rise in deaths, the trend in my eyes has returned to being flat. This is contrary to what would be expected by such a reported skyrocketing number of new cases. Something in the numbers is not matching here - or the nature of the virus has changed to becoming less lethal. More time will tell.

In one of many reports on potential vaccines, the World Health Organization applauded newly published data by Oxford University and Astra Zeneca on a potential coronavirus vaccine. However, the agency cautioned that it’s still early and further evidence of the vaccine’s effectiveness is needed.

CW2 -
Riots in Portland changed in nature with a group of “parents” marching to protect their poor, battered children” who think their right to assemble includes destroying property and attacking law enforcement. They are easily identified in photos/videos from last night wearing safety yellow (or equivalent). This new tactic is designed to mute the more than apparent truth that these ‘protests’ are anything but peaceful and to try to apply more leverage against the presence of Federal officers in Portland. This caused last nights crowds to be one of the largest to date.
The Portland Police Union boss has stated that the city government is condoning and even encouraging the violence. In an interview with KATU News, Portland Mayor Wheeler essentially put forward that he is willing to let the rioting go on indefinitely.

MY OBSERVATION - Portland is a safe city for these marxist anarchists - and I’m not talking about the rioters. This escalation of protests have a single focus - embarrass the administration by forcing Federal LEO’s to stand down and abandon the city. It is almost inconceivable what may happen if that occurs as the Portland police have their hands tied. Is this building to a Ft. Sumter moment?

As if we need further evidence of MSM promotion of the marxist overthrow of the nation and destruction of any opponents, the NYT has threatened to doxx Tucker Carlson’s new address in an upcoming article. Carlson moved his family to a new location after being doxxed earlier and having antifa crowds banging on his front door. Carlson has warned the NYT not to follow through with it.

Economy -
Metals prices, particularly silver, have taken off. Silver punched through the $20/oz ceiling yesterday and is climbing (early this morning over $21/oz). These prices are paper - not the physical metal. Prices for physical gold and silver are even higher (silver American Eagles running +25% above spot price). Market analysts note there has been a steady flow of safe-haven and chart-based buying in the two precious metals recently.

Once selling at less than $0/barrel, oil prices have climbed to the $40/barrel range, slowly eating through the glut produced earlier. Price fall was stopped when Saudi Arabia convinced other oil producing nations to drastically cut production. Now, with higher prices, SA and these other countries are looking to increase production again which may trigger another fall in prices.

China -
In response to US Aircraft Carrier battle groups operating in the South China Sea, China has deployed fighter aircraft to two islands it administers in the contested Paracel Archipelago along with a series of warships.

The combination of locust, flooding and plagues have some warning that China’s food supply is endangered this year. In combination with factors in other countries with their crops (drought, locust, extreme weather, corona virus) have some warning of shortages and even higher prices.

Israel -
See Syria

West Bank -
PA announces alarming coronavirus infection rates in the West Bank. As with other countries, economic chaos has also ensued and the patience of the residents is beginning to grow thin. It hasn’t helped that the PA severed all ties with Israel, including civil and security coordination, prohibiting medical aid.

Hong Kong -
Joining Australia, UK suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong over a new security law for the ex-colony. In response, China warned of ‘consequences’ for interfering in China’s internal affairs.

Libya -
Still watching to see how involved Egypt will get in this conflict - potentially going head to head with Turkey in some instances.

Syria -
Israel hit several locations around and in Damascus yesterday. One Syrian AA missile apparently crashed into northern Jordan, igniting a grass fire. Reports indicate Israeli air raids struck a major Iranian-backed ammunition depot on the edge of the capital and Iranian fighters were reportedly killed. Many reports of a lot of Soviet made Pantsir missiles intercepting the ground. . . . .

A lot of material to digest this morning.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/22/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3867230/posts

CDC stated that the actual case count could be 6 - 10 times higher than reported. They don’t have a clue or a handle on this. It is little surprise that hospital reporting is being sent to a more diligent, accurate database.

Yesterday, President Trump openly endorsed the wearing of masks as a means to reduce the transmission of the corona virus.
California has surpassed NY for number of confirmed corona virus cases. NY still leads in deaths with neighbor NJ at number two.

CW2 -

Nearly 200 Minneapolis police officers have “applied to leave” the department. This is approximately 20% of the police force.

In Portland, the protective “parents” have caused the ranks of the protesters to swell substantially. These “parents” are not passive, but actively joining the other rioters in vandalizing and attacking law enforcement.

Planned events include an anarchist group Youth Liberation Front (YLF) announcing a nationwide march “against the institution of policing” for 25 July “in solidarity with the ongoing resistance” in Portland, Oregon. Affiliated organizations have already announced plans to march in solidarity in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tennessee, and Maryland. They have been involved up to their eyeballs in the violence in Portland.
Also on the 25th, Not F*cking Around Coalition (NFAC) announced a march on Louisville KY. Grandmaster Jay - the cultish group leader, gave some general details of the march - noting two different operational groups (Red and Blue) as well as intelligence operations and having his subordinate commands conduct training and rehearsals for the event. As of now, there is no clear connection between the YLF and NFAC events.

MY OBSERVATION/COMMENTS - Some observers indicate that the Marxists are attempting to create their own “Kent State” moment so that they can pivot that to claim the high ground in the insurrection and gain popular support. Others suggest that the provocation is intended to create a similar, but slightly different narrative like that of Tienanmen Square or more likely Arab Spring in Egypt - forcing the government / Trump to deploy the military under martial law conditions to stop the riots. In Egypt, the army eventually sided with the protesters and force then Egyptian President Mubarak to resign. Either scenario, the goal is to gain the popular support of the population and exert increased leverage against President Trump and the right. The President almost took the bait earlier this year in response to focused attacks on the White House but was pulled back. DHS counter-riot special units dispatched to Portland and possibly next to other cities, is a more flexible tool to selectively target and arrest rioters without the full on physical war that has characterized law enforcement efforts to date.
WARNING - if the left doesn’t get the government to play its game, I fully expect that they will initiate actions thru a red flag of their own creation and with the willing support of the leftist media, try to generate a narrative that it was the government/law enforcement that fired the first shots.

Economy -
Silver and gold continue to be red hot. Part of the price increase is linked to the decline in the dollar - which is usually an inverse relationship between it and metals. The second part is global insecurity and the stocking up of metals to hedge against a more devastating economic crash if the corona virus ‘second round’ has teeth.

Strategic Deployments -
The USS Reagan is conduction joint operations in the Japan Sea region.

China -
The U.S. has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston in what a Chinese official called an outrageous and unjustified move that will sabotage relations between the two countries. This follows indictments of two Chinese citizens accused of trying to illegally obtain corona virus as well as other trade secrets over the course of 10 years. They operated from China under the protection of the Chinese government. In related, Tuesday night Houston fire and police responded to a report of a fire in the consulate courtyard. Apparently they were burning some sort of documents.

Meanwhile, as US carrier groups exercise in the South China Sea, Chinese air forces conducted a near by live fire exercise simulating attacks on naval vessels, firing over 3000 rockets.

On another economic front, the U.S. Commerce Department added to an economic blacklist on Monday 11 Chinese companies it said were implicated in human rights violations regarding China’s treatment of Uighurs in the western Xinjiang region. The step, which leaves the firms unable to buy components from U.S. companies without U.S. government approval, prompted an accusation of slander from China, which vowed to take measures to protect its companies’ rights. China (and the US companies profiting from it) is also being targeted for the use of slave labor to produce products for sale overseas. Some of the most egregious examples are Nike shoes, made by laborers paid less than a dollar / hour to produce shoes sold for hundreds of dollars in the US.

N Korea -
Due to the corona virus border shutdown, NK lost access to foreign cash and trade with China dropped 70%. This has served to further the economic crisis in NK brought on by sanctions and skewed spending by NK on military / nuclear force modernization.

Libya -
The play for Sirte is coming into greater focus. Turkish and supported GNA elements are maneuvering to take the city/region, it opens up the ability to take control of the oilfields further to the east. The Turkish forces are composed mainly of Syrian Arab mercenaries. Current estimate of mercenaries in Libya is approximately 15,000.

Turkey has been making a big play over the past year in an effort to control oil in the Mediterranean Sea region, first by bullying Greek exploration efforts, blocking an Israeli pipeline, pushing to control Syrian oil fields and now through its agreements with the GNA (if victorious) for off shore rights and now the oil fields east of Sirte. Turkey has claimed a huge swath of the Mediterranean – and claiming it is a “blue motherland” for Turkey. Ankara has sent drilling vessels and naval drills to test Athens and signed a deal with the embattled government in Libya to lay claim to a huge area of water between Cyprus and Greece. Other NATO nations have criticized Turkey for its aggression towards fellow NATO ally Greece.

Egypt has stated that Sirte is their red line in the sand and will join the conflict if Turkish/GNA elements continue. Egyptian involvement is a risk, its troops are poorly trained versus the combat experienced Turkish mercenaries. On the 20th the Egyptian parliament authorized the government to send troops into Libya to deal with the growing Turkish threat.

Although adversaries in Syria, Turkey has been seeking Russian help to keep Egypt out of the fight, perhaps trying to rely on Russia’s historic support of Egypt to sway them. For its part, Russia seems to want to avoid an expansion of the conflict.

MY OBSERVATION - Turkey is trying to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and sees itself as the leader in the Middle East. Its involvement in the region is second only to Iran and it is its rival for power. As Turkey slips even further towards Islamic radicalism, it will only become more aggressive.

China/India -
Things remain calm but India has redeployed some of its advanced jet fighters closer to the border just in case. China has been busy too, with numerous support bases and encampments throughout the region on their territory.

Miscellaneous -
Locusts have ravaged Africa and western Asia, now they are devouring crops in Europe, with worst infestation in 70 years hitting Italy. Fears of widespread famine being expressed by UN as natural disasters combined with corona virus shutdown continue.

Very busy report today.

Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/23/20

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3867567/posts

The Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday morning a nearly $2 billion deal with Pfizer and BioNTech for 100 million doses of a potential vaccine. Under the agreement, the government can buy an additional 500 million doses and the vaccine would be provided to the public “at no cost.” This purchase/contract is without even a confirmed/proven vaccine

Congress is still hammering out details of a second relief bill, which top lawmakers expect to pass in August. Republicans are considering extending the enhanced unemployment insurance designed to mitigate the economic damage from the coronavirus at a slashed rate of about $100 per week, or $400 a month. Expect it to easily be in the trillion dollar range.

CW2 -
Andy Ngo has documented that the “Portland Moms” are just your plain Antifa rioters wearing a yellow shirts. I noted yesterday that these yellow shirts were actively participating in the violence. Leftists in Portland have also doxxed 38 Federal LEO’s working in Portland with calls to harass and hurt their families. Meanwhile, Portland Commissioner Chloe Eudaly wrote in a statement - “The Portland Police Bureau has collaborated with federal occupiers. This collaboration needs to end immediately.”

In a piece of sweet karma, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler got the full treatment while participating in last night’s riots at the Federal Building. First prior to the riot, Wheeler had attempted to address the crowd, acting like he was just another member of the protests, if not their self-appointed leader. But as the AP reports, most of the people out in the streets were jeering him. In fact, many called upon him to resign. Then on the front lines while at the fence protecting the federal courthouse, actually at the fence as rioters began to try to tear it down, he got his wish to get his first whiff of tear gas. As his security detail tried to get him out of the area (but this was a peaceful protest), he was further assaulted by the mob. This certainly won’t deter the leftist in him, but should put a chill into these leftist mayors and city leaders - these rioters don’t care a bit about who you are. Just like rioters attacked the Oakland mayor’s house this week and others protested the Seattle mayor and select councilmen’s homes. To the rioters (and those providing support and direction) they are just useful idiots.

The administration is sending more federal law enforcement officers into various cities, however, leftist rulers of those cities are making plans to stop them. Philadelphia District attorney is looking at ways he can have them arrested. Declared cities federal agents are being sent to include Albuquerque and Chicago. Mayor De Blasio of NYC threatened to sue if Federal officers protect federal property in NYC. Agents reportedly have also been seen in Detroit.

The Youth Liberation Front (YLF) announced that additional solidarity protests have been scheduled in Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; Newark, New Jersey; Las Vegas, Nevada; Denver, Colorado; and Richmond, VA for for the weekend of 25 July. These protests will likely devolve into riots and violence.

Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib appeared to suggest federal law enforcement would have to arrest her before arresting criminals in her Detroit district. The progressive Democrat claimed that “they’ll have to arrest me first” when speaking in opposition to President Trump’s plan to reinforce Detroit with federal police.
Many would say “works for me”. Just another instance where democrat leaders are condoning violence in cities in an effort to leverage / terrorize the public to not vote for Trump.

MY OBSERVATIONS - Violence level is gradually ramping up, especially if the YAF is successful in organizing and executing protests/riots this weekend. The deployment of federal leo’s to embattled cities has kicked the hornets nest of leftist democrat leaders and could instigate increased participation in riots across the country. Need to watch and see what happens this weekend.

Economy -
The New York Federal Reserve’s Weekly Economic Index (WEI) indicated that the economic recovery is now reversing course. The index — a composite of consumer behavior, the labor market, and production levels — indicated that economic conditions are worsening at an increasing pace.

Evidence that job growth has stagnated as well. New claims for unemployment benefits rose to 1.41 million last week, data from the Department of Labor showed Thursday. This is the 18th consecutive week of initial claims above 1 million.

Sales of existing homes jumped nearly 21% in June compared with May, according to the National Association of Realtors. This is the largest monthly gain since the Realtors began tracking the data in 1968. It came after sharp declines over the previous three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sales were still 11.3% lower annually.

Now in addition to having the most reported infections in the country, California has the highest number of permanent business closures. Newsom’s latest lockdown version 2.0 will only ensure that number grows.

China -
A Chinese scientist suspected of visa fraud and concealing ties to the military has fled to China’s consulate in San Francisco, the US says. In response, China condemned moves against its scientists and consulates in the US. Court filings by prosecutors in a federal court in San Francisco say the defendant, named as Juan Tang, was a biology researcher at the University of California, Davis. She claimed to have never been in Chinese military, yet she is seen wearing a military uniform in photographs obtained by the US. This is part of an ongoing crackdown on Chinese efforts to illegally obtain government and private secrets. The administration says that it is not out of the question if more consulates are closed.

Israel -
The Israeli military said Thursday it was reinforcing the country’s northern border with infantry troops after the Hezbollah terror group threatened to retaliate for the killing of one of its fighters in an alleged IDF raid in Syria earlier this week. On Monday, Israel attacked sites belonging to Hezbollah and several other organizations backed by Iran, south of the Syrian capital killing at least two hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah has been closely working with the Syrian Govt to put down the rebellion against Assad’s government as well as helping to establish Iranian bases and facilities ultimately designed to permit a second front for Hezbollah when they finally start their war with Israel.

Iran -
Israel is reportedly asked Russia to reign in Iranian missile operations and they answered Monday night during IAF strikes on Iranian munitions sites by allegedly scrambled a fighter from Syria’s Khmeimim Air Base to intercept, but not attack IAF aircraft.

Iraq -
For the about the third time this week, a contracted convoy supporting Allied operations was hit with an IED attack. No causalities or significant injuries have been reported.

N Korea -
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is out of hiding , inspecting what he called a new “model” chicken farm under construction.

Libya -
Russia and Turkey have both called for a ceasefire in the country. However, Turkey continues to position its forces to capture the town of Sirte. The LNA has sent fighters and weapons to bolster its defense of Sirte. Turkish officials warned against Egyptian involvement - “I believe it will be a dangerous military adventure for Egypt.”

China/India -
According to Times of London, China is continuing the deployment of troops and equipment on the LAC and are also not honoring their commitment for disengagement at the friction points in Eastern Ladakh. They are also not moving back as per the agreed terms decided by both sides. OSINT recently indicated that there was a pull back from the immediate disputed zone, but that China had established many bases on its side of the border region (yesterday’s report). Could be what is being reflected.

Miscellaneous -
Armenian-Azerbaijani border continues relative calm overnight, with minimal shots being fired. War of words between the two countries continues unabated though.

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