Last week, it became clear that the American economy had slightly declined in the first quarter of 2025. No surprise given the "100 days of chaos" (eg, FT, NPR). The Wall Street Journal gave a good explanation for the (annualized) 0.3% decline: "The U.S. economy contracted in the first three months of 2025, as businesses rushed to stock up on imports ahead of...
Military
Do the 50 U.S. States need a President?
Following the dismantling of the American federal Ministry of Education, and the transfer of its tasks to the 50 U.S. States, my blog title suddenly becomes relevant. Do California, Florida, and New York actually need (a) Trump?? “Following the American Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781 to establish the federal...
Every disadvantage has its advantage
Soon, Trump’s USA will negotiate with Russia about peace in Ukraine. Some European countries want - rather than need - to participate in such negotiations. However, not participating has more advantages than disadvantages. My explanation is important because everything follows Why. Successful negotiations will be claimed by its “parents”. Unsuccessful negotiations...
Marriages in China plunge by a record in 2024, fanning birthrate concerns (Reuters)
Intro LO: The most important quote might be in the 5th paragraph below: “He noted that the number of marriages in China last year was less than half of the 13.47 million in 2013.” Note: bold & italic markings by LO. Source: Reuters, 10 February 2025, Marriages in China plunge by a record in 2024, fanning birthrate concerns Hence, China may not have enough...
Can arrogance beat ignorance?
Following the stunning loss of Kamala Harris against Donald Trump on 5 November 2024, I wrote my blog: Did ignorance beat arrogance? My answer was an implicit No. The same No applies to my question above. In my view, both arrogance and ignorance can only be defeated by themselves. Hence, a self-inflicted loss by Harris, and a future self-inflicted loss by Trump,...
North Korea gives Xi a headache (Bloomberg)
Intro LO: In line with several earlier blogs, my first and foremost thought was this one: Can China - or anyone else - ever trust Russia ?? There are several Wikipedia articles on (military) conflicts between China and Russia, which partly relate to Russia assisting in the Mongol Empire attacks on China: The ancient, complicated and violent China-Mongolia relations;...
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