International Politics Thread - Disease and Disaster

[Raist]

EU is having none of it


(it's a whole thread so the embed is freaking out, just click the link you lazy gits)

[curly]

https://twitter.com/sannareya/status/1158693209847017472

[OnlyRegret]

as someone put it elsewhere
post-brexit, get strongarmed by moldova

[Raist]

The Pound has hit its lowest since 2010.


And in other good news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49263781

The UK's decades-long membership of the Interrail scheme, which allows people to travel around Europe on a single train ticket, is to end.

From January 2020, UK rail journeys will no longer be covered by either the Interrail or Eurail passes, said Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents UK train operators.

[Nintex]

https://twitter.com/talkRADIO/status/1159045843070128128

In other news, Boris barricading himself in no 10 after losing a confidence vote would be lit and actually plausible at this point.

[team filler]

https://twitter.com/philipoltermann/status/1158989071672389633

 

[Transhuman]

Reading American news:



Reading China News:



Reading British News:



Reading Australia News:

[Raist]

That butterfly's venom could kill you in about 15mins, btw.

[Raist]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49270872

The government is assuming that French preparations for customs and regulatory checks have markedly decreased the anticipated trade disruption from a no-deal Brexit, the BBC has learned.

Typical

UK officials had to use satellite photographs to estimate the potential for holding and processing facilities around French ports.
In April this secret assessment, shared with industry via non-disclosure agreements, was improved to 50-70% of freight stopped.

Excuse me?

[shosta]

via non-disclosure agreements

[Nintex]

Take that elitists who understand *checks notes* maps.


*everybody wants to rule the world plays*

Narrator: "Dominic Raab became Foreign Secretary. He still uses the same cup"

[Tripon]

NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Women's rights advocates have slammed a torrent of online posts by men from across India who expressed enthusiasm about marrying women from Kashmir after India's sudden removal of special rights from the disputed region made it more appealing to do so.

"It’s deeply sexist," said Rituparna Chatterjee, an activist writing a book on the #MeToo movement in India. "Women’s bodies have been battlegrounds for men for centuries. The latest comments of Kashmiri women, are only testimony to this fact," she said.

India struck down a constitutional provision on Monday that granted special status to residents of Jammu and Kashmir state, whose population is majority Muslim, including exclusive rights to owning property and getting state government jobs there.

Under the previous rules, women from the state who married outsiders lost those rights, and outsiders couldn't buy property in Kashmir. Now, residents of the state and people from other parts of India will be on an equal legal footing in Kashmir.

As supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party flooded social media with posts expressing jubilation about the constitutional change, many men among them said on Twitter and the video platform TikTok that this would make it easier for them to marry Kashmiris.

"Congrats India now unmarried boys can marry these smart girls from Kashmir after 370 removal," said one post, referring to the constitutional provision that was struck down. Another said: "Every Indian boy's dream right now: 1. Plot in Kashmir 2. Job in Kashmir 3. Marriage with Kashmiri girl."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/indian-men-see-policy-chance-085522052.html

Unintended (totally intended) consequence. Horny Indian men trying to sleep with Kashiri women.

[nachobro]

dear kashmir pls send bob and vagene

[Crash Dummy]

what's in it for the girl's parents?

[Nintex]

Shit just keeps exploding in Russia this week. What the hell is going on 
https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1159497803015610368

[Raist]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49280689

The EU should show "common sense" and agree to make changes to the Brexit withdrawal deal, Boris Johnson has told the BBC.

The prime minister said there was "bags of time" for the EU to compromise on the Irish border backstop plan before the Brexit deadline of 31 October.

He also warned MPs not to oppose Brexit, and to respect the 2016 referendum result.

[Brehvolution]

Shit just keeps exploding in Russia this week. What the hell is going on 
https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1159497803015610368

Only 3.6 roentgen.Not great not terrible.

[Raist]

[Nintex]

Welp the Italian coalition government with Lega and 5 Stars is no more.


Don't worry about Boris. Jeremy is on the case
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1159500283644448769

I like how they always spoil the plot to the next episode

Under 2011 legislation, a vote of no-confidence triggers a 14-day period during which Johnson can either regain the confidence of parliament by winning a vote, or rivals can pitch their own government and try to secure majority backing.

[Raist]

The GBPUSD rate is at its lowest since the mid-80's.

I might need some care packages brehs. Just don't ask bork to take care of the shipment.

[Nintex]

The GBPUSD rate is at its lowest since the mid-80's.

I might need some care packages brehs. Just don't ask bork to take care of the shipment.

I've got you friend. If you need anything just slide in the DM's.
Because I'm Dutch shipping shouldn't be too expensive either.

https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1159483591006593026

Anyhow, Boris isn't the brightest of the bunch and might be a bit too optimistic about his post-brexit expectations but so far he hasn't acted like a cartoon villain such as Salvini or some of Trump's cabinet members.
As far as unelected leaders go, you could've had a lot worse 

[Joe Molotov]

(Image removed from quote.)

Damn, she must have had a lot of work done in three years, she looks way younger.

[Nintex]

https://twitter.com/akihheikkinen/status/1159884077228548097

https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1159542202693033985

 

[Raist]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49290926

The chancellor has told the BBC that he does not expect the UK to slide into recession after data showed the economy shrank by 0.2% between April and June.

Sajid Javid was speaking after the Office for National Statistics said the economy had contracted for the first time since 2012.

The surprise decline came after Brexit stockpiles were unwound and the car industry implemented shutdowns.

The pound slid after the data was released, raising fears of a recession.

farageprettygood.gif etc

[Nintex]

Most of Europe is already in a recession or close to it right now.

The only reason certain stock markets are going up is because most European bonds (Dutch, German etc.) have negative interest rates so investors put their money in stocks, real estate and commodities.
But all other indicators have been red for months now. Even CHINAH has slowed down significantly. The only economy still performing well above expectations (on paper at least) is the US.

With Italy spiraling out of the control(again) and Boris leaving the EU by the 31st of October 'no matter what' I suspect von der Leyen will do more than offer free WiFi to boost the EU economy.
But because she was never a candidate we haven't got the faintest idea what her economic policies are.

[Tripon]

https://twitter.com/uncoolfellazone/status/1160135031689568257

[Madrun Badrun]

https://www.newsweek.com/brexit-based-lies-yorkshire-grandma-revealed-anti-brexit-graffitist-1453648?utm_source=Public&utm_medium=Feed&utm_campaign=Distribution

[Raist]

https://www.newsweek.com/brexit-based-lies-yorkshire-grandma-revealed-anti-brexit-graffitist-1453648?utm_source=Public&utm_medium=Feed&utm_campaign=Distribution

"Had I known I was being filmed I would have dressed up a bit more," Jones said to The Times when asked about the video.

[Nintex]

In other news. The renewable energy bubble is popping.
Michael Moore was doing a documentary to show how great it is, but had to admit that it actually doesn't work.
In fact, it costs more energy to produce/maintain etc. than it actually delivers. It does in no way make us less depended on fossil fuels.
And now others have joined in echoing the same thing. Going as far as to say that Germany should've bet on nuclear energy instead.

https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/1159663891871387659

https://twitter.com/ShellenbergerMD/status/1160429994163593216

Fun fact, Germany is now mostly reliant on energy imports from countries like Russia and to a lesser extend Norway.

[Rufus]

Shellenberger is a hack.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/05/06/the-reason-renewables-cant-power-modern-civilization-is-because-they-were-never-meant-to

At least he doesn't try to hide that NIMBYs are the reason deployment of wind turbines is slowing down.

[shosta]

In other news. The renewable energy bubble is popping.
Michael Moore was doing a documentary to show how great it is, but had to admit that it actually doesn't work.
In fact, it costs more energy to produce/maintain etc. than it actually delivers. It does in no way make us less depended on fossil fuels.
And now others have joined in echoing the same thing. Going as far as to say that Germany should've bet on nuclear energy instead.

https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/1159663891871387659

https://twitter.com/ShellenbergerMD/status/1160429994163593216

Fun fact, Germany is now mostly reliant on energy imports from countries like Russia and to a lesser extend Norway.

That Quillette article is dishonest about where reduction in the cost of solar have come from. It is not externalized to taxpayers.

Also, hilariously, the comments section, is full of climate deniers 

[Flannel Boy]

Most of Europe is already in a recession or close to it right now.

Aren't two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth required for a recession? I don't think a single EU country had negative growth in the first quarter of 2019. Outside of the UK and Germany (Italy was flat), which countries had (or are expected to report) a contraction in the second quarter?

Also, the EU recently reported its lowest unemployment rate since they started keeping records.

[Nintex]

Most of Europe is already in a recession or close to it right now.

Aren't two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth required for a recession? I don't think a single EU country had negative growth in the first quarter of 2019. Outside of the UK and Germany (Italy was flat), which countries had (or are expected to report) a contraction in the second quarter?

Also, the EU recently reported its lowest unemployment rate since they started keeping records.

Employment numbers are good, but some of those numbers are measured differently than before. Still, that is positive.
Yet, growth is slowing a to a crawl.

The single currency area’s economy expanded by just 0.2 per cent in the second quarter according to Eurostat, the European Commission’s statistics bureau, confirming that growth slowed during the spring on the back of weaker global demand.

Last quarter we only had a 0.2% growth and the first quarter 0.4%. In fact most of that 'average' comes from countries like Spain and Italy which are finally picking up after years of negative growth rates or other economic problems like housing bubbles.
We're pretty much looking at another lost decade if the governments don't act.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/18/business/europe-economy-lost-decade/index.html

Q3 likely won't look much better. The hot weather will be blamed and the summer holidays yadayada but the core issue persists.

[Raist]

Most of Europe is already in a recession or close to it right now.

Aren't two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth required for a recession? I don't think a single EU country had negative growth in the first quarter of 2019. Outside of the UK and Germany (Italy was flat), which countries had (or are expected to report) a contraction in the second quarter?

Also, the EU recently reported its lowest unemployment rate since they started keeping records.

Nintex was too lazy to click the link in the post he replied too

[Nintex]

The numbers don't tell the entire story. Take the Dutch economy for example.
Currently the housing market is a trainwreck. There's not enough housing period, so prices keep going up.

A friend of mine bought a house for 185k about 5 years ago. He never got around finishing the renovation.
He's going to sell it for 250k unfinished in a worse state than it was when he bought it.

A 40 km2 (15 square miles) apartment in this area sets you back 189k. They used to go for ~100 - 120. Amsterdam real estate is insanity. Up to 1 million for a regular family home.
There is what is best described as a single government mandated mortgage package available across all the different banks with a set interest rate. Meanwhile rents keep going up as well.
Some research was done which showed that before 33% of income on average would be spend on rent/mortgage and these days it is up to 50%, sometimes even 60% to 70%.

This bubble will pop and you don't want to be on the other side of it.

[shosta]

Nintex, growth in Europe is slow and Germany declined but yearly growth for the whole market is still going to be 1.4% in 2019 (and 1.9% in 2020 - an increase). That is not a recession, or "close to a recession", that has been the normal in Europe for many years. If you are actually worried about a recession maybe you should stop casually boosting Trump and Boris Johnson who are the biggest threats to global growth in the next year.

[shosta]

The numbers don't tell the entire story.

Actually you said something specific and someone said something else that directly refuted it so, yes, you were wrong.

Currently the housing market is a trainwreck. There's not enough housing period, so prices keep going up. [...] This bubble will pop and you don't want to be on the other side of it.

It's possible but that's just one market, and it's only true for a few cities.

[Yeti]

The numbers don't tell the entire story. Take the Dutch economy for example.

[Raist]

The numbers don't tell the entire story. Take the Dutch economy for example.
Currently the housing market is a trainwreck. There's not enough housing period, so prices keep going up.

A friend of mine bought a house for 185k about 5 years ago. He never got around finishing the renovation.
He's going to sell it for 250k unfinished in a worse state than it was when he bought it.

A 40 km2 (15 square miles) apartment in this area sets you back 189k. They used to go for ~100 - 120. Amsterdam real estate is insanity. Up to 1 million for a regular family home.
There is what is best described as a single government mandated mortgage package available across all the different banks with a set interest rate. Meanwhile rents keep going up as well.
Some research was done which showed that before 33% of income on average would be spend on rent/mortgage and these days it is up to 50%, sometimes even 60% to 70%.

This bubble will pop and you don't want to be on the other side of it.

This has absolutely nothing to do with a "recession".

[kingv]

Most of Europe is already in a recession or close to it right now.

Aren't two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth required for a recession? I don't think a single EU country had negative growth in the first quarter of 2019. Outside of the UK and Germany (Italy was flat), which countries had (or are expected to report) a contraction in the second quarter?

Also, the EU recently reported its lowest unemployment rate since they started keeping records.

Nintex was too lazy to click the link in the post he replied too

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Growth over the previous quarter is a really weird metric. There’s a ton of seasonality in the economy because of holidays and shit, so you should always compare with last year.

[Nintex]

3 days ago:


Today:
https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1160953365209198592

Meanwhile in Argentine
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1160943505532948481

[Raist]

"We need to leave the EU because muh democracy"





"Even if it means that the PM must forcibly shut down parliament"


https://twitter.com/chriscurtis94/status/1161018469451784192

[shosta]

That majority of Conservative voters

[Tripon]

https://twitter.com/yuenok/status/1160519152685027328

[shosta]

Holy shit, countries in the Arabian peninsula spent 100 BILLION USD on arms and military equipment last year.

www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2019/08/zarif-arms-sales-gulf-tinderbox-ready-blow-190812101726183.html

[Great Rumbler]

Holy shit, countries in the Arabian peninsula spent 100 BILLION USD on arms and military equipment last year.

www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2019/08/zarif-arms-sales-gulf-tinderbox-ready-blow-190812101726183.html

[Nintex]

Puppet ruler 
https://twitter.com/TheAPJournalist/status/1161102935922810880

So it's all going downhill fast
https://twitter.com/JournoDannyAero/status/1161200664908726272

[Nintex]

https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1161229951049375744



 

[shosta]

On the bright side, Turkey shot down a Chinese drone with a laser cannon. You read that correctly.



It's a fuckin laser cannon.

[Nintex]

https://twitter.com/dcexaminer/status/1161305213841682439

 

Convinced that the Matrix is broken yet

It's crazy to see all the Chinese bots go up in real time
https://twitter.com/IceXuvida/status/1161355252127244288

https://twitter.com/sbzsa/status/1161356615343398913

Pay close attention and you can learn how information warfare works.

[Joe Molotov]

Russian's new missile killed 5 of their own guys, how many of our guys have our missiles been able to kill?

[Nintex]

The Chinese information warfare tactics are disgusting.
They used the bots before to sow discontent about the Paris terror attacks.

One thing their Hong Kong signal boosting does is showing us just how far and wide these Chinese bot networks have spread across Twitter and elsewhere.
It's time we took them all down and made people aware of their existence.

[Transhuman]

On the bright side, Turkey shot down a Chinese drone with a laser cannon. You read that correctly.

(Image removed from quote.)

It's a fuckin laser cannon.

I imagine most of that damage is from the crash not the laser

[naff]

I imagine most of that damage is from the crash not the laser

pfft. v obvious this is the effect of the immense heat generated as the pilot de-synchronised and the A.T. Field disintegrated.

[shosta]

[Raist]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49348072

Speaking during a Facebook event hosted at Downing Street, Mr Johnson said he wanted to leave with a deal but "we need our European friends to compromise".

"There's a terrible kind of collaboration as it were, going on between people who think they can block Brexit in Parliament and our European friends," he added.

"The more they think there's a chance that Brexit can be blocked in Parliament, the more adamant they are in sticking to their position."

[Raist]

How lovely.

https://twitter.com/oliver_wright/status/1161573881863376896

[Joe Molotov]

Only 3 million? Confirmed, USA still the best at having healthcare no one can afford.

[Nintex]

Maybe you can also ask Boris your questions Raist.

[Raist]

Yeah, I'm sure these aren't curated to hell and back, or written by his own staff.

Actually scratch that, he probably makes them up as he goes along, that iPad just has a picture of Thatcher in kinky lingerie.


Also, while answering a question from Scotland:



Nice