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Trotz 0:1-Rückstand gegen Winti: GC startet mit Vollerfolg in die neue Saison

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 21:09
Thun lässt Punkte liegen, GC erzittert sich den ersten Dreier. Das Roundup der Challenge League.
Categories: Swiss News

25-Jähriger bricht ihm Oberschenkelknochen: Senior (73) spitalreif geprügelt – weil er junge Frau verteidigte

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 21:04
Dieser Fall schockiert Italien. Ein 73-Jähriger verteidigt eine junge Frau vor ihrem aggressivem Partner (25). Dieser prügelt den Senioren daraufhin spitalreif. Die junge Frau verteidigt den Täter – ihren Verlobten.
Categories: Swiss News

Wise People Know That Winning a War Is No Better Than Losing One

Africa - INTER PRESS SERVICE - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 21:02

Liu Bolin (China), Guernica, 2016

By External Source
Sep 18 2020 (IPS-Partners)

US President Donald Trump and his ‘war council’ – led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – have amplified their aggression against China. What began as a trade dispute in the 1990s has now escalated into the United States making an existential challenge against China.

The threat against China is made not for irrational reasons, but for perfectly rational ones, which are laid out below in our Red Alert no. 9 (also available as a separate download from our website). These have to do with the emergence of China as a major economic and technological power. What most rankles the US ruling class is that the various hybrid war techniques to weaken or overthrow the government are simply not available. The only means at the disposal of the United States to hold on to its power – chillingly – is armed force.

Red Alert no. 9. The US-Imposed Hybrid War on China

Is the United States trying to impose a war on China?

For the past several decades, the US has conducted a trade war against China. There are two key issues that worry the United States: first, a trade imbalance that benefits China, and, second, the growth of the Chinese technology sector. Techniques that the US has used against China include: pressuring China to revalue its currency against the dollar, pressuring China to prevent ‘piracy’ on intellectual property in order to slow down its domestic intellectual property developments, and pressuring China to slow down or cease its Belt and Road Initiative.

The US has now begun a war against the Chinese economy. The attempt to isolate Huawei and ZTE from their suppliers and their markets will have a debilitating impact on the growth potential of the Chinese economy. The US has sanctioned roughly 152 companies that make chips and other products for Huawei and ZTE. Increased bans – through the US government’s Clean Network initiative – would prevent US companies from using Chinese cloud services and undersea cables, and it would ban Chinese apps from appearing on app stores. The US government has increased pressure on other countries to join in this campaign.

The US government has increased its military pressure along the eastern rim of China. This includes the 2017 revival of the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the US), the creation of the US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy (its key document from 2020 is called ‘Regain the Advantage’), and the development of a range of new weaponry, including cyberweapons. This military power has come alongside hostile rhetoric against China, with attention focused on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, and the depiction of the coronavirus pandemic as a ‘China virus’. Evidence is not as important here as the use of older racist and anti-Communist ideas to demonise China.

Liu Xiaodong (China), Wedding Party, 1992.

Why is the US increasing its pressure against China?

China’s technological advances could result in a generational advantage over the West. China’s scientific and technological developments came because of the country’s investment in higher education and in its ability to transfer technology from firms that entered the country to manufacture goods. In 2018, Chinese scholars for the first time published more scientific articles than their colleagues in the US, and Chinese firms filed more patent applications than US firms. Chinese tech firms have now produced products that appear to be ahead of US, European, and Japanese products. Examples for this include 5G, BeiDou (a better mapping technology than GPS), high-speed trains, and robots.

Faced with US pressure, China has crafted an independent trade and development agenda. Since the world financial crisis, China began diversifying its economy from reliance upon the US and European markets to build up its own internal market and to increase engagement with the Global South. The immediate projects that developed included the Belt and Road Initiative, the String of Pearls Initiative, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum. The Chinese government has also begun to pay more attention to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). These moves come alongside a remarkable poverty eradication programme.

Currently, China is highly dependent on imported energy – such as gas from ASEAN nations, Australia, and Qatar. The China-Russia 6000kms ‘Power of Siberia’ pipeline will bring 38 billion cubic metres of natural gas, a substantial increase to meet the demands for the 90 billion cubic meters consumed by China. In 2014, Russia’s multinational energy corporation Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation signed a $400 billion for a thirty-year deal.

Increasingly, China has attempted to build institutions outside of Western-controlled trade and development architecture, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (founded in 2014). As part of this, China has committed to de-dollarisation; China has proposed to hold its reserves and to conduct trade in currencies other than the US dollar. This is a long-term but inevitable development, and one that threatens the overall role of the Wall Street-Dollar complex. China’s cooperation with Russia is most advanced in this arena, with about 50% of Russia-China trade conducted in roubles and yuan (Russia owns about 25% of the global yuan reserves). Both Russia and China are divesting themselves of their dollar reserves. In January 2020, Russia sold $101 billion, or 50%, of its dollar reserves and moved $44 billion into Euros and $44 billion into yuan. The yuan, however, represents only 2% of global currency reserves.

Against the eastward expansion of NATO and the emergence of the Quad, China and Russia have crafted a military and diplomatic Eurasian security bloc. This is evident in the arms deals and the military exercises, but also in diplomatic coordination. For example, Russian and Chinese foreign ministry spokespersons Maria Zakharova and Hua

Chunying said in late July that they would join efforts in combatting the information war against China and Russia. Chinese diplomats have taken a more forthright attitude in their statements; they have been dubbed the ‘wolf warrior diplomats’, an allusion to a popular film where a Chinese soldier from an elite Wolf Warrior troop defeats a group of terrorists led by an ex-US Navy Seal.

Clearly, the US has found that Chinese leadership has been unwilling to go the Gorbachev road – namely, to surrender the Chinese model to the will of the United States. There is no possibility that the Communist Party of China will dissolve itself. The Chinese middle class – possible fodder for a ‘colour revolution’ – does not have any appetite to overthrow the government. It is content with the direction of the government and sees that its government has improved living standards and has been able – unlike Western governments – to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic (as we write about in a series on ‘CoronaShock’). A Harvard University study shows that the government led by the Communist Party of China has increased its approval from 2003 to 2016, largely because of the social welfare programmes and the fight against corruption pushed by both the Communist Party of China and by the Chinese government. The overall approval stands at 93%.

Zhong Biao (China), Paradise, 2007.

What contradictions does the US war project face?

Chinese economic developments – such as the country’s capacity to outspend the US in development aid to outbid Western firms in trade deals – has produced alliances between China and key capitalist sectors in countries that have otherwise been secure US allies. Examples of this are amongst sections of the capitalist class in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, where Chinese investment has been welcomed.

The Chinese state has intensified its intervention in the tech sector inside China, with a $14 billion private and public fund to support tech developments. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) – China’s top chip company – had an initial public offering (IPO) in Shanghai which netted $7. 5 billion. As a consequence of such funds and its own scientific developments, China will soon be able to bypass the US chip firms.

China’s economic capacity continues to exert pressure on fragments of capital in different countries. For instance, Australian mining companies rely upon China to buy iron ore from Australia. These companies lobby Canberra not to take too hostile a position against China. Roughly one third of Australia’s total exports go to China; these include soy, barley, meat, fruits, gas, and the raw minerals. The Australian government is forced to acknowledge these concerns, even though it has a longer-term perspective than the short-term profit concerns of the mining conglomerates. China has already hedged its bets, increasing purchases of soy and meat from Argentina and Brazil, and it will likely buy more mined goods from Brazil (Brazil’s Vale is using massive ships to carry mined goods to China).

The US military is stretched thin between the conflicts in Venezuela and Iran, and now in China. The US Navy has had four secretaries in a year, part of the chaos in the Trump administration. As a consequence, the US Navy has complained about the lack of ability to handle so many theatres of war at the same time. China has developed sophisticated defence mechanisms, such as cyber warfare techniques that have the ability to shut down US communications, starting with their satellites, and such as their Dongfeng missiles, which are capable of hitting the US navy ships that are in the South China Sea.

The eighth century Chinese poet Li Bai wrote of the ugliness of war; as far as war is concerned, nothing has changed over the centuries.

Soldiers smear their blood on the dry grass

While generals map the next campaign.

Wise people know winning a war

Is no better than losing one.

The post Wise People Know That Winning a War Is No Better Than Losing One appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Excerpt:

Dedicated to Soni Prashad, 1929-2020, who spent her life looking for a better world.

The post Wise People Know That Winning a War Is No Better Than Losing One appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Categories: Africa

La police disperse de force une manifestation des admis à l’ENA

CRIDEM (Mauritanie) - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 21:00
Adrar-Info - Vendredi, la police mauritanienne a dispersé une manifestation organisée par les coordinateurs des candidats ayant obtenu une note...
Categories: Afrique

Der Abend auf Blick TV: Mimi Jägers Baby, Hoarau geht zu Sion und Sebastian Kurz in Bern

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:54
Der österreichische Kanzler Sebastian Kurz ist heute zu Besuch in Bern. Mimi Jäger hat ein gesundes Kind zur Welt gebracht und Guillaume Hoarau hat beim FC Sion unterschrieben.
Categories: Swiss News

War es ein Tierquäler?: Kater Elvis (†2) brutal getötet

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:51
Kater Elvis (†2), das Büsi von Selina S. (22) aus Wauwil LU, ist tot. Ihr Verdacht: Elvis wurde von einem Menschen getötet. Der Kopf hing nach hinten, ein Auge wurde ausgeschlagen und der Kiefer ausgerenkt.
Categories: Swiss News

Abdelaziz Medjahed installé au poste de DG de l’INESG

Algérie 360 - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:41

Le Premier Ministre, Abdelaziz Djerad, a présidé hier, jeudi 17 septembre, la cérémonie d’installation de M. Abdelaziz Medjahed au poste de DG de l’INESG. Au nom du Président de la République, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, le Premier Ministre, Abdelaiziz Djerad, a présidé la cérémonie d’installation de M. Abdelaziz Medjahd à son nouveau poste de Directeur Général de […]

L’article Abdelaziz Medjahed installé au poste de DG de l’INESG est apparu en premier sur .

Categories: Afrique

An Sekretärin geschickt: So erklärt der Priester sein Penis-Bild

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:29
Via Whatsapp verschickte ein Priester aus der Zentralschweiz ein Penis-Bild an eine Pfarramtssekretärin. Der Geistliche wurde daraufhin freigestellt. Der Priester sieht sich als Opfer, spricht von «einem perfiden Spiel».
Categories: Swiss News

Maroc : Moulay Hassan, l’autre combat de Mohammed VI

Afrik.com - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:26

Le roi du Maroc, Mohammed VI, devra mener le combat de sa vie pour parvenir à assurer la transmission du pouvoir à son fils par ailleurs héritier du trône, Moulay El Hassan. Chasse au trône au Maroc ? Rien n’est moins sûr. Toutefois, l’on sait que le roi Mohammed VI a un combat à mener, pas […]

L’article Maroc : Moulay Hassan, l’autre combat de Mohammed VI est apparu en premier sur Afrik.com.

Categories: Afrique

Punkt per Fallrückzieher: Shaqiri zaubert im Fussball-Tennis

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:19
Xherdan Shaqiri zeigt im Training des FC Liverpools sein ganzes Können. Im Fussball-Tennis packt der Zauberzwerg einen Fallrückzieher aus – und punktet!
Categories: Swiss News

Mauritanie: voici de quoi ont discuté le Premier ministre mauritanien et l’ambassadeur du Maroc, lors de leur entretien

CRIDEM (Mauritanie) - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:16
Le360 Afrique - Le Premier ministre mauritanien, Mohamed ould Bilal, a reçu en audience l’ambassadeur du Royaume du Maroc, Hamid Chabar. Un...
Categories: Afrique

Sie sollen sich ruhig über ihr Bikini-Foto aufregen: Sonya Kraus wünscht Hatern viel Spass

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:08
Sonya Kraus ist entspannt im Pool, Ashley Tisdale erwartet Nachwuchs und Oliver Pocher zeigt eine neue Seite. Willkommen zu den Foto-Storys des Tages!
Categories: Swiss News

Stefanie Heinzmann spricht über Zeit in Kinderpsychiatrie: «Ich fand es cool, immer dünner zu werden»

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:06
In jungen Jahren kämpfte die Walliserin Stefanie Heinzmann mit Selbstzweifeln. Dies ging so weit, dass sie sich selbst begann zu verletzen und letztendlich in eine Psychiatrie einwies.
Categories: Swiss News

Cameroun : le MRC de Kamto appelle à une manifestation contre Biya

Afrik.com - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:04

Pour exiger le départ du Président camerounais et faire annuler les élections régionales, l’opposant Maurice Kamto est favorable à l’organisation de manifestations pacifiques dans le pays. Faire partir l’actuel Président Paul Biya et obtenir l’annulation des élections régionales au Cameroun, c’est ce que veut l’homme politique et leader du parti MRC, Maurice Kamto. Et ce […]

L’article Cameroun : le MRC de Kamto appelle à une manifestation contre Biya est apparu en premier sur Afrik.com.

Categories: Afrique

Szlovák válogatott szélső érkezett a Fradihoz

Bumm.sk (Szlovákia/Felvidék) - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:01
Nemzetisport.hu: A Ferencváros labdarúgócsapata bejelentette, hogy szerződtette a kétszeres orosz bajnok, 58-szoros szlovák válogatott szélsőt, Róbert Makot (29). A balszélső – aki a jobb oldalon, valamint csatárként is bevethető – legutóbb a török Konyaspornál futballozott, ahonnan márciusban távozott, azóta nem volt csapata.

Emberek között sem szelídül meg teljesen a farkas

Bumm.sk (Szlovákia/Felvidék) - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 20:00
Bár az ember nevelte farkasokat a kutyákhoz hasonlóan sok mindenre meg lehet tanítani, irányításuk, féken tartásuk, azaz kezelhetőségük szempontjából soha nem lesznek a kutyákhoz hasonlatosak – derült ki az Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE) etológusainak legújabb vizsgálatából.

Reggeli talajmenti fagyokra figyelmeztetnek a meteorológusok

Bumm.sk (Szlovákia/Felvidék) - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 19:55
Elsőfokú riasztást adott ki a Szlovák Hidrometeorológiai Intézet (SHMÚ) szombat hajnalra a várható talajmenti fagyok miatt az ország nagy részére.

Einwanderungshürden werden erhöht – Rot-Grüne Regierung ist plötzlich knallhart: Schweden will keine Moria-Migranten aufnehmen

Blick.ch - Fri, 09/18/2020 - 19:49
Das bisher so offene Schweden sperrt bei der Aufnahme von Migranten aus dem abgebrannten Lager auf Lesbos. Nach der grossen Einwanderung vor fünf Jahren hat die rot-grüne Regierung ihren Kurs geändert.
Categories: Swiss News

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