finalized!!

GOLD PRICE CLOSED:  DOWN $6.45 TO $1921.35

SILVER PRICE CLOSED: DOWN $0.09   AT $22.61

Access prices: closes 4: 15 PM

Gold ACCESS CLOSE 1920.00

Silver ACCESS CLOSE: 22.60

Shanghai Gold Benchmark Price

USD  oz  gram  kilo  tola 

AM1928.73

PM1936.50

Historical SGE Fix

premium  $8,00

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Bitcoin morning price:, 27,749  UP 988 DOLLARS

Bitcoin: afternoon price: $28,406 UP 1645 dollars

Platinum price closing  $895,90 UP  $12.50

Palladium price;     $1150.05 UP $ 3.30

Palladium is continually being sold down and Pt/Pa is rising.

END

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Due to the huge rise in the dollar, we must look at gold and silver in currencies other than the dollar to understand where we are heading

I will now provide gold in Canadian dollars, British pounds and Euros/4: 15 PM ACCESS

CANADIAN GOLD: $2,612.25 DOWN 21.80 CDN dollars per oz (ALL TIME HIGH 2,775.35)

BRITISH GOLD: 1571.66 DOWN 19.72 pounds per oz//(ALL TIME HIGH//CLOSING///1630.29)

EURO GOLD: 1818.07 DOWN 20.36 euros per oz //(ALL TIME HIGH/CLOSING//1861.21)//

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EXCHANGE: COMEX

EXCHANGE: COMEX
CONTRACT: OCTOBER 2023 COMEX 100 GOLD FUTURES
SETTLEMENT: 1,927.400000000 USD
INTENT DATE: 10/13/2023 DELIVERY DATE: 10/17/2023
FIRM ORG FIRM NAME ISSUED STOPPED

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190 H BMO CAPITAL 1
323 C HSBC 2
363 H WELLS FARGO SEC 2
435 H SCOTIA CAPITAL 1

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TOTAL: 3 3
MONTH TO DATE: 9,661

JPMorgan stopped 0/3 contracts.

FOR OCT.:

GOLD: NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED FOR OCT/2023. CONTRACT:  3 NOTICES FOR 300 OZ  or  .00933 TONNES

total notices so far: 9661 contracts for 966,100 oz (30.049 tonnes)

FOR  OCT:

SILVER NOTICES:2 NOTICE(S) FILED FOR 10,000 OZ/

total number of notices filed so far this month : 481 for 2,405,000 oz

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END

GLD

WITH GOLD DOWN $6.45

INVESTORS SWITCHING TO SPROTT PHYSICAL  (PHYS) INSTEAD OF THE FRAUDULENT GLD/ : / HUGE CRIMINAL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 6.92 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD

INVENTORY RESTS AT 855.45 TONNES 

Silver//

WITH NO SILVER AROUND AND SILVER DOWN 9 CENTS  AT  THE SLV// A BIG CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A CRIMINAL WITHDRAWAL OF 2.664 MILLION SILVER OZ FROM THE SLV

INVESTORS ARE SWITCHING SLV TO SPROTT’S PSLV.

CLOSING INVENTORY: 447.730 MILLION OZ

Let us have a look at the data for today

SILVER//OUTLINE

SILVER COMEX OI FELL BY HUMONGOUS  SIZED 1784 CONTRACTS TO 126,032 AND FURTHER FROM  THE  RECORD HIGH OI OF 244,710, SET FEB 25/2020 AND THIS HUGE SIZED LOSS IN COMEX OI WAS ACCOMPLISHED DESPITE OUR MASSIVE   $0.90 GAIN  IN SILVER PRICING AT THE COMEX ON FRIDAY. WE HAD A MAJOR SPEC SHORT COVERING EPISODE IN FRIDAY’S COMEX TRADING.. TAS ISSUANCE WAS A   HUMONGOUS SIZED 962 CONTRACTS. THESE WILL BE USED FOR MANIPULATION LATER THIS MONTH/AS WELL AS TODAY. CRAIG HEMKE HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE CROOKS USE THE MID MONTH FOR MANIPULATION AS THEY SELL THEIR BUY SIDE OF THE CALENDAR SPREAD FIRST AND THEN KEEP THE SELL SIDE TO LIQUIDATE AT A LATER DATE.  THUS WE HAVE TWO VEHICLES THE CROOKS USE FOR MANIPULATION AND BOTH ARE SPREADERS:  1) AT MONTH’S END/SPREADERS COMEX AND 2/ TAS SPREADERS, MID MONTH. TOTAL TAS ISSUED ON FRIDAY NIGHT: 962 CONTRACTS. DESPITE MANY COMPLAINTS THAT THE CROOKS HAVE VIOLATED POSITION LIMITS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TAS ISSUED HAVE A VALUE  OF ZERO (AS TO POSITION LIMITS FOR OUR CROOKED BANKERS). THE PROBLEM OF COURSE IS THAT THE CROOKS DO NOT LIQUIDATE THE TAS TOGETHER BUT SELL THE BUY SIDE FIRST AND THEN LIQUIDATE THE SELL SIDE TWO MONTHS HENCE. IT IS OBVIOUS MANIPULATION TO THE HIGHEST DEGREE BUT IT NATURALLY FELL ON DEAF EARS WITH OUR REGULATORS (OCC) WHEN THEY RECEIVED OUR COMPLAINTS. IT THUS LOOKS LIKE THE FED (GOV’T) IS BEHIND ALL OF THESE TRADES

WE HAVE NOW SET ANOTHER RECORD LOW AT 114,102 CONTRACTS ///JULY 3.2023//  OUR BANKERS WITH THE HELP OF SPECULATORS AND HIGH FREQUENCY TRADERS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN KNOCKING THE PRICE OF SILVER DOWN (IT ROSE BY $0.90). BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN KNOCKING ANY SILVER LONGS AS WE HAD A HUGE SIZED LOSS OF 1059 OI CONTRACTS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES AS THE SPEC SHORTS CAPITULATED AND TRIED DESPERATELY TO COVER THEIR SHORTFALLS.

WE  MUST HAVE HAD: 

A STRONG  ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS( 725 CONTRACTS) iiii) AN  INITIAL SILVER STANDING FOR COMEX SILVER MEASURING AT 1.530 MILLION OZ (FIRST DAY NOTICE)  FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 50,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP + 0 CONTRACTS OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 0 MILLION OZ TODAY+   3.0 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK PRIOR //NEW STANDING IS THUS 2.550 MILLION OZ NORMAL SILVER DELIVERY + 3.0 EXCHANGE FOR RISK  = 5.55 MILLION OZ/////HUGE SIZED COMEX OI LOSS/ STRONG SIZED EFP ISSUANCE/VI)    HUMONGOUS SIZED NUMBER OF  T.A.S. CONTRACT ISSUANCE 962 CONTRACTS)/

 I AM NOW RECORDING THE DIFFERENTIAL IN OI FROM PRELIMINARY TO FINAL – REMOVED 343   CONTRACTS

HISTORICAL ACCUMULATION OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS OCT ACCUMULATION FOR EFP’S SILVER/JPMORGAN’S HOUSE OF BRIBES/STARTING FROM FIRST DAY/MONTH OF OCT: 

TOTAL CONTRACTS for 10 days, total 13,054 contracts:   OR 65.270 MILLION OZ  (1305 CONTRACTS PER DAY)

TOTAL EFP’S FOR THE MONTH SO FAR:  65.270 MILLION OZ 

LAST 23 MONTHS TOTAL EFP CONTRACTS ISSUED  IN MILLIONS OF OZ:

MAY 137.83 MILLION

JUNE 149.91 MILLION OZ

JULY 129.445 MILLION OZ

AUGUST: MILLION OZ 140.120 

SEPT. 28.230 MILLION OZ//

OCT:  94.595 MILLION OZ

NOV: 131.925 MILLION OZ

DEC: 100.615 MILLION OZ

YEAR 2022:

 JAN 2022-DEC 2022

JAN 2022//  90.460 MILLION OZ

FEB 2022:  72.39 MILLION OZ//

MARCH 2022: 207.140  MILLION OZ//A NEW RECORD FOR EFP ISSUANCE 

APRIL: 114.52 MILLION OZ FINAL//LOW ISSUANCE

MAY: 105.635 MILLION OZ//

JUNE: 94.470 MILLION OZ

JULY : 87.110 MILLION OZ 

AUGUST: 65.025 MILLION OZ 

SEPT. 74.025 MILLION OZ///FINAL

OCT.  29.017 MILLION OZ FINAL

NOV: 134.290 MILLION OZ//FINAL

DEC, 61.395 MILLION OZ FINAL

TOTALS YR 2022: 1135.767 MILLION OZ (1.1356 BILLION OZ)

JAN 2023///   53.070 MILLION OZ //FINAL

FEB: 2023:       100.105 MILLION OZ/FINAL//MUCH STRONGER ISSUANCE VS THE LATTER TWO MONTHS.

MARCH 2023:  112.58 MILLION OZ//FINAL//STRONG ISSUANCE 

APRIL  118.035 MILLION OZ(SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THAN LAST MONTH)

MAY 66.120 MILLION OZ/INITIAL (MUCH SMALLER THIS MONTH)  

JUNE: 110.395 MILLION OZ//MUCH LARGER THAN LAST MONTH

JULY 85.745 MILLION OZ (SMALLER THAN LAST MONTH)

AUGUST: 171.43 MILLION OZ (THIS MONTH IS GOING TO BE HUGE //2ND HIGHEST ON RECORD

SEPT: 72.705 MILLION OZ (SMALLER THIS MONTH)

OCT: 65.270 MILLION OZ (THIS IS GOING TO BE A STRONG MONTH FOR EFP ISSUANCE//

RESULT: WE HAD A HUGE SIZED DECREASE IN COMEX OI SILVER COMEX CONTRACTS OF 1784  CONTRACTS DESPITE OUR HUGE GAIN IN PRICE OF  $0.90 IN SILVER PRICING AT THE COMEX//FRIDAY.,.  THE CME NOTIFIED US THAT WE HAD A HUGE  EFP ISSUANCE  CONTRACTS: 725  ISSUED FOR OCT AND 0 CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR ALL OTHER MONTHS) WHICH  EXITED OUT OF THE SILVER COMEX  TO LONDON  AS FORWARDS. . WE HAVE A SMALL INITIAL SILVER OZ STANDING FOR SEPT OF  1.532 MILLION  OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 50,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP:+ A NEW ISSUANCE OF 0 CONTRACTS OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 0.0 MILLION OZ. THUS NEW TOTAL OF SILVER STANDING: 2.55 MILLION OZ+ 3.0 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK = 5.55 MILLION OZ////  /// WE HAVE A HUGE SIZED LOSS OF 1059 OI CONTRACTS ON THE TWO EXCHANGES. THE TOTAL OF TAS INITIATED CONTRACTS TODAY:  A   HUGE SIZED 962  CONTRACTS//CONSIDERABLE FRONT END OF THE TAS CONTRACTS WERE LIQUIDATED  DURING THE FRIDAY COMEX SESSION.   THE NEW TAS ISSUANCE FRIDAY NIGHT A HUGE (962) WILL BE PUT INTO “THE BANK” TO BE COLLUSIVELY USED AT A LATER DATE., .

WE HAD 2  NOTICE(S) FILED TODAY FOR 10,000  OZ

THE SILVER COMEX IS NOW BEING ATTACKED FOR METAL BY LONDONERS ET AL.

GOLD//OUTLINE

IN GOLD, THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST ROSE BY A STRONG  SIZED 5192 CONTRACTS  TO 442,054 AND CLOSER TO  THE RECORD (SET JAN 24/2020) AT 799,541 AND  PREVIOUS TO THAT: (SET JAN 6/2020) AT 797,110.

THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM PRELIMINARY OI TO FINAL OI IN GOLD TODAY:  – REMOVED 887 CONTRACTS

WE HAD A STRONG SIZED INCREASE  IN COMEX OI ( 5192 CONTRACTS) WITH OUR   $57.60 GAIN IN PRICE//FRIDAY. WE ALSO HAD A RATHER STRONG INITIAL STANDING IN GOLD TONNAGE FOR SEPT. AT 16.562 TONNES ON FIRST DAY NOTICE FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S  SMALL 400 OZ E.F.P. JUMP TO LONDON/NEW STANDING REDUCES TO 31.157 TONNES/   + /A HUGE (AND CRIMINAL) ISSUANCE OF 2715 T.A.S. CONTRACTS /// ALL OF..THIS HAPPENED WITH OUR $57.60 GAIN IN PRICE  WITH RESPECT TO FRIDAY’S TRADING.WE HAD A VERY STRONG SIZED GAIN  OF 12,401  OI CONTRACTS (38.57 PAPER TONNES) ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES.

E.F.P. ISSUANCE

THE CME RELEASED THE DATA FOR EFP ISSUANCE AND IT TOTALED A VERY  STRONG SIZED 7209 CONTRACTS:

The NEW COMEX OI FOR THE GOLD COMPLEX RESTS AT 442,054

IN ESSENCE WE HAVE A HUGE SIZED INCREASE IN TOTAL CONTRACTS ON THE TWO EXCHANGES OF 12,401 CONTRACTS  WITH 5192 CONTRACTS INCREASED AT THE COMEX// AND A VERY   STRONG SIZED 7209 EFP OI CONTRACTS WHICH NAVIGATED OVER TO LONDON. THUS  TOTAL OI GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES OF 12,401 CONTRACTS OR 38,57 TONNES. WE HAD THE FOLLOWING TAS CONTRACTS INITIATED (ISSUED):  A VERY STRONG 2715 CONTRACTS)

CALCULATIONS ON GAIN/LOSS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES

WE HAD A VERY  STRONG SIZED ISSUANCE IN EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS (7209 CONTRACTS) ACCOMPANYING THE STRONG  SIZED GAIN IN COMEX OI (5192) //TOTAL GAIN FOR OUR THE TWO EXCHANGES: 12,401 CONTRACTS. WE HAVE ( 1) NOW RETURNED TO OUR FORMER FORMAT OF BANKERS GOING LONG AND SPECULATORS GOING SHORT  ,2.) FAIR INITIAL STANDING AT THE GOLD COMEX FOR OCT. AT 16.562 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 400 OZ E.F.P. JUMP//NEW STANDING 31.157 TONNES// /// 3) ZERO LONG LIQUIDATION AND CONSIDERABLE  TAS LIQUIDATION AND CONSIDERABLE SPEC SHORT COVERINGS  DURING THE COMEX SESSION //4)  STRONG SIZED COMEX OPEN INTEREST GAIN/ 5)    STRONG ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL PAPER///6:    STRONG T.A.S.  ISSUANCE: 2715 CONTRACTS 

HISTORICAL ACCUMULATION OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS IN 2023 INCLUDING TODAY

OCT

ACCUMULATION OF EFP’S GOLD AT J.P. MORGAN’S HOUSE OF BRIBES: (EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL) FOR THE MONTH OF OCT :

TOTAL EFP CONTRACTS ISSUED:  43,893 CONTRACTS OR 4,389,300 OZ OR 136.52 TONNES IN 10 TRADING DAY(S) AND THUS AVERAGING: 4389 EFP CONTRACTS PER TRADING DAY

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO THE  SIZE OF THESE EFP TRANSFERS :  THIS MONTH IN 10 TRADING DAY(S) IN  TONNES  136.52 TONNES

TOTAL ANNUAL GOLD PRODUCTION, 2022, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD EX CHINA EX RUSSIA: 3555 TONNES

THUS EFP TRANSFERS REPRESENTS  136.52/3550 x 100% TONNES  3.86% OF GLOBAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION

ACCUMULATION OF GOLD EFP’S YEAR 2021 TO 2023 

JANUARY/2021: 265.26 TONNES (RAPIDLY INCREASING AGAIN)

 FEB  :  171.24 TONNES  ( DEFINITELY SLOWING DOWN AGAIN).. 

MARCH:.   276.50 TONNES (STRONG AGAIN/

APRIL:      189..44 TONNES  ( DRAMATICALLY SLOWING DOWN AGAIN//GOLD IN BACKWARDATION)

MAY:        250.15 TONNES  (NOW DRAMATICALLY INCREASING AGAIN)

JUNE:      247.54 TONNES (FINAL)

JULY:        188.73 TONNES FINAL

AUGUST:   217.89 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE.

SEPT          142.12 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE ( LOW ISSUANCE)_

OCT:           141.13 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE (LOW ISSUANCE)

NOV:           312.46 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE//NEW RECORD!! (INCREASING DRAMATICALLY)//SIGN OF REAL STRESS//SURPASSING THE MARCH 2021 RECORD OF 276.50 TONNES OF EFP

DEC.           175.62 TONNES//FINAL ISSUANCE// 

TOTALS: 2,578.08 TONNES/2021

JAN:2022   247.25 TONNES //FINAL

FEB:           196.04 TONNES//FINAL

MARCH/2022:  409.30 TONNES //FINAL( THIS IS NOW A RECORD EFP ISSUANCE FOR MARCH AND FOR ANY MONTH.

APRIL:  169.55 TONNES (FINAL VERY  LOW ISSUANCE MONTH)

MAY:  247.44 TONNES FINAL// 

JUNE: 238.13 TONNES  FINAL

JULY: 378.43 TONNES FINAL

AUGUST: 180.81 TONNES FINAL

SEPT. 193.16 TONNES FINAL

OCT:  177.57  TONNES FINAL ( MUCH SMALLER THAN LAST MONTH)

NOV.  223.98 TONNES//FINAL ( MUCH LARGER THAN PREVIOUS MONTHS//comex running out of physical)

DEC:  185.59 tonnes // FINAL

TOTAL: 2,847,25 TONNES/2022

JAN 2023:    228.49 TONNES FINAL//HUGE AMOUNT OF EFP’S ISSUED THIS MONTH!!

FEB: 151.61 TONNES/FINAL 

MARCH: 280.09 TONNES/INITIAL (ANOTHER STRONG MONTH FOR EFP ISSUANCE)

APRIL: 197.42 TONNES 

MAY: 236.67 TONNES (A VERY STRONG ISSUANCE FOR THIS MONTH)

JUNE: 172.667 TONNES (WEAKER ISSUANCE THIS MONTH)

JULY:  151.69 TONNES (WEAKER THAN LAST MONTH)

AUGUST:  195.28 TONNES (A STRONGER MONTH)//FINAL

SEPT: 254.709 TONNES (WILL BE LARGER THAN LAST MONTH AND A STRONG MONTH)

OCT. 136.52 TONNES. LIKE SILVER, THIS MONTH IS GOING TO BE A STRONG E.F.P. ISSUANCE.

SPREADING OPERATIONS

(/NOW SWITCHING TO GOLD) FOR NEWCOMERS, HERE ARE THE DETAILS

SPREADING LIQUIDATION HAS NOW COMMENCED   AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE  NEW  ACTIVE FRONT MONTH OF SEPT. WE ARE NOW INTO THE SPREADING OPERATION OF  GOLD 

HERE IS A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF HOW THE CROOKS FLEECE UNSUSPECTING LONGS IN THE SPREADING ENDEAVOUR ;MODUS OPERANDI OF THE CORRUPT BANKERS AS TO HOW THEY HANDLE THEIR SPREAD OPEN INTERESTS:HERE IS HOW THE CROOKS USED SPREADING AS WE ARE NOW INTO THE  NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF MAY HEADING TOWARDS THE  ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF JUNE., FOR BOTH GOLD:

YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST  STARTS TO RISE BUT SO IS THE OPEN INTEREST OF SPREADERS. THE OPEN INTEREST IN WILL CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL ONE WEEK BEFORE FIRST DAY NOTICE OF AN UPCOMING  ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH (SEPT), AND THAT IS WHEN THE CROOKS SELL THEIR SPREAD POSITIONS BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME OF THE DAY.  THEY WILL USE THE SELL SIDE OF THE EQUATION TO CREATE THE CASCADE (ALONG WITH THEIR COLLUSIVE FRIENDS) AND THEN COVER ON THE BUY SIDE OF THE SPREAD SITUATION AT THE END  OF THE DAY. THEY DO THIS TO AVOID POSITION LIMIT DETECTION. THE LIQUIDATION OF THE SPREADING FORMATION CONTINUES FOR EXACTLY ONE WEEK AND ENDS ON FIRST DAY NOTICE.”

WHAT IS ALARMING TO ME, ACCORDING TO OUR LONDON EXPERT ANDREW MAGUIRE IS THAT THESE EFP’S ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO WHAT ARE CALLED SERIAL FORWARD CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS AND THESE CONTRACTS ARE LESS THAN 14 DAYS.  ANYTHING GREATER THAN 14 DAYS, THESE MUST BE RECORDED AND SENT TO THE COMPTROLLER, GREAT BRITAIN TO MONITOR RISK TO THE BANKING SYSTEM.  IF THIS IS INDEED TRUE, THEN THIS IS A MASSIVE CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD AS WE NOW WITNESS A MONSTROUS TOTAL EFP’S ISSUANCE AS IT HEADS INTO THE STRATOSPHERE. 

The crooks also use the spread in the TAS  account  (trade at settlement).  They buy the spot TAS (e.g. June) and sell the future TAS two months out (e.g. August). Then they unload the front month (i.e. unload the buy side first so the price of gold/silver falls. This occurs in the middle  of the  front delivery month cycle. They unload the sell side of the equation, two months down the road.  The crooks violate position limits as the OCC refuse to hear our complaints.

First, here is an outline of what will be discussed tonight:

1.Today, we had the open interest at the comex, in SILVER FELL BY A HUGE  SIZED 1784  CONTRACTS OI TO  126,032 AND FURTHER FROM  OUR COMEX HIGH RECORD //244,710(SET FEB 25/2020).  THE LAST RECORDS WERE SET  IN AUG.2018 AT 244,196 WITH A SILVER PRICE OF $14.78/(AUGUST 22/2018)..THE PREVIOUS RECORD TO THAT WAS SET ON APRIL 9/2018 AT 243,411 OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS WITH THE SILVER PRICE AT THAT DAY: $16.53). AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, THE RECORD  WAS ESTABLISHED AT: 234,787 CONTRACTS, SET ON APRIL 21.2017 OVER  5 YEARS AGO.  HOWEVER WE HAVE NOW SET A NEW RECORD LOW OF 114,102 CONTRACTS JULY 3.2023

EFP ISSUANCE  A STRONG 725  CONTRACTS 

OUR CUSTOMARY MIGRATION OF COMEX LONGS CONTINUE TO MORPH INTO LONDON FORWARDS  AS OUR BANKERS USED THEIR EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO ISSUE:

DEC  725  and ALL OTHER MONTHS: ZERO. TOTAL EFP ISSUANCE:  725  CONTRACTS. EFP’S GIVE OUR COMEX LONGS A FIAT BONUS PLUS A DELIVERABLE PRODUCT OVER IN LONDON.  IF WE TAKE THE  COMEX OI LOSS  OF 1784 CONTRACTS AND ADD TO THE 725  OI TRANSFERRED TO LONDON THROUGH EFP’S,

WE OBTAIN A HUMONGOUS SIZED LOSS OF OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS FROM OUR TWO EXCHANGES OF 1059   CONTRACTS 

THUS IN OUNCES, THE LOSS  ON THE TWO EXCHANGES  TOTAL 5.295 MILLION OZ  

OCCURRED DESPITE  OUR   $0.90 GAIN IN PRICE …..(HUGE SHORT COVERINGS)

END

OUTLINE FOR TODAY’S COMMENTARY

1a/COMEX GOLD AND SILVER REPORT

(report Harvey)

b, ) Gold/silver trading overnight Europe,//GOLD COMMENTARIES

(Peter Schiff)

c) Commentaries from: Egon von Greyerz///Matthew Piepenburg via GoldSwitzerland.com, Pam and Russ Martens

ii a) Chris Powell of GATA provides to us very important physical commentaries

b. Other gold/silver commentaries

c. Commodity commentaries//

d)/CRYPTOCURRENCIES/BITCOIN ETC

 2.ASIAN AFFAIRS//

 

MONDAY MORNING//SUNDAY  NIGHT

SHANGHAI CLOSED DOWN 14.29 PTS OR .64%  //Hang Seng CLOSED DOWN 173.09 PTS OR 0.97%          /The Nikkei CLOSED DOWN 656.92 PTS OR 2.03%  //Australia’s all ordinaries CLOSED DOWN 0.40 %   /Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) closed DOWN AT 7.3122   /OFFSHORE CHINESE YUAN CLOSED DOWN TO 7.3124 /Oil UP TO 87.71 dollars per barrel for WTI and BRENT  DOWN AT 90.72/ Stocks in Europe OPENED  ALL GREEN// ONSHORE YUAN TRADING ABOVE LEVEL OF OFFSHORE YUAN/ONSHORE YUAN  TRADING WEAKER AGAINST US DOLLAR/OFFSHORE WEAKER

a)NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA

outline

b) REPORT ON JAPAN/

OUTLINE

3  CHINA

OUTLINE

4/EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

OUTLINE

5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

OUTLINE

6.Global Issues//COVID ISSUES/VACCINE ISSUES

OUTLINE

7. OIL ISSUES

OUTLINE

8 EMERGING MARKET ISSUES

9. USA

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1. COMEX DATA//AMOUNTS STANDING//VOLUME OF TRADING/INVENTORY MOVEMENTS

GOLD

 LET US BEGIN:

THE TOTAL COMEX GOLD OPEN INTEREST ROSE  BY A STRONG SIZED 5192 CONTRACTS  TO 442,054 WITH OUR HUGE GAIN IN PRICE OF $57.60 ON FRIDAY. SOME OF OUR SHORT SPECULATORS COVERED THEIR POSITIONS. 

EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE

WE ARE NOW IN THE NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF OCT..…  THE CME REPORTS THAT THE BANKERS ISSUED A VERY STRONG SIZED  TRANSFER THROUGH THE EFP ROUTE AS THESE LONGS RECEIVED A DELIVERABLE LONDON FORWARD TOGETHER WITH A FIAT BONUS.,

THAT IS 7209  EFP CONTRACTS WERE ISSUED: :  DEC 7209 & ZERO FOR ALL OTHER MONTHS:

TOTAL EFP ISSUANCE: 7209 CONTRACTS 

ON A NET BASIS IN OPEN INTEREST WE GAINED THE FOLLOWING TODAY ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES: A HUGE SIZED TOTAL OF 12,032  CONTRACTS IN THAT 7209 LONGS WERE TRANSFERRED AS FORWARDS TO LONDON AND WE HAD A STRONG SIZED GAIN OF 5192 COMEX  CONTRACTS..AND  THIS GAIN ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES HAPPENED WITH OUR HUGE GAIN IN PRICE OF $57.60//FRIDAY COMEX.   AS PER OUR NEWBIE TRADE AT SETTLEMENT (TAS) MANIPULATION OPERATION (WHICH CRAIG HEMKE HAS POINTED OUT HAPPENS DURING MID MONTH IN THE DELIVERY CYCLE), THE CME REPORTS THAT THE TOTAL T.A.S. ISSUANCE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT WAS A VERY STRONG 2715 CONTRACTS.  THROUGHOUT THE PAST WEEKS, THE BANKERS SOLD OFF THE LONG SIDE OF THE SPREAD WHICH  OF COURSE CONTINUES TO MANIPULATE THE PRICE OF GOLD SOUTHBOUND. (THEY KEEP THE SHORT SIDE OF THE CALENDAR SPREAD WHICH WILL BE LIQUIDATED TWO MONTHS HENCE)//

// WE HAVE A STRONG AMOUNT OF GOLD TONNAGE STANDING:   OCT  (31.169) (  ACTIVE MONTH)

 HERE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT STOOD FOR DELIVERY IN THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS OF 2021-2022:

DEC 2021: 112.217 TONNES

NOV.  8.074 TONNES

OCT.    57.707 TONNES

SEPT: 11.9160 TONNES

AUGUST: 80.489 TONNES

JULY: 7.2814 TONNES

JUNE:  72.289 TONNES

MAY 5.77 TONNES

APRIL  95.331 TONNES

MARCH 30.205 TONNES

FEB ’21. 113.424 TONNES

JAN ’21: 6.500 TONNES.

TOTAL  YEAR  2021 (JAN- DEC): 601.213 TONNES

YEAR 2022:

JANUARY 2022  17.79 TONNES

FEB 2022: 59.023 TONNES

MARCH: 36.678 TONNES

APRIL: 85.340 TONNES FINAL.

MAY: 20.11 TONNES FINAL

JUNE: 74.933 TONNES FINAL

JULY 29.987 TONNES FINAL

AUGUST:104.979 TONNES//FINAL

SEPT.  38.1158 TONNES

OCT:  77.390 TONNES/ FINAL

NOV 27.110 TONNES/FINAL 

Dec. 64.000 tonnes

(TOTAL  YEAR 656.076 TONNES)

2023:

JAN/2023:    20.559 tonnes

FEB 2023: 47.744 tonnes

MAR:  19.0637 TONNES

APRIL: 75.676  tonnes

MAY: 19.094 TONNES + 1.244 tonnes of exchange for risk =  20.338

JUNE: 64.354 TONNES

JULY: 10.2861 TONNES

AUGUST: 38.855 TONNES(INCLUDING .6842 EXCHANGE FOR RISK)

SEPT: 15.281 TONNES FINAL

OCT.    31.169 TONNES

THE SPECS/HFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOWERING GOLD’S PRICE( IT GAINED $57.60) //// AND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN KNOCKING ANY  SPECULATOR LONGS AS  WE HAD A VERY STRONG GAIN OF 12,401 TOTAL CONTRACTS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES. WE HAD A ZERO T.A.S. LIQUIDATION ON THE FRONT END OF FRIDAY’S TRADING.  THE T.A.S. ISSUED ON FRIDAY NIGHT WILL BE “PUT INTO THE BANK” TO BE USED AT A LATER DATE AT THE COLLUSIVE CHOOSING OF OUR BANKERS. IT DID HAVE SOME SPECULATOR SHORT COVERING WITH THE MASSIVE PRICE INCREASE.

WE HAVE GAINED A TOTAL OI OF 38.57 PAPER TONNES FROM OUR TWO EXCHANGES, ACCOMPANYING OUR INITIAL  GOLD TONNAGE STANDING FOR OCT. (16.562 TONNES) ON FIRST DAY NOTICE FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 400 OZ E.F.P. JUMP TO LONDON//NEW TOTALS STANDING:31.157 TONNES  ALL OF THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH OUR GAIN IN PRICE  TO THE TUNE OF $57.60.  FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE SPECULATORS HAVE GONE MASSIVELY SHORT WITH OUR BANKERS NET LONG.  THE BIG QUESTION IS NOW HOW MUCH GOLD WILL THE BANKERS PULL FROM OUR SHORT SPECULATORS.  CAPITULATION HAS STARTED IN EARNEST FRIDAY WITH THE MASSIVE PRICE RISE IN GOLD.

WE HAD  REMOVED 887   CONTRACTS  TO THE  COMEX TRADES TO OPEN INTEREST

NET GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES 12,401  CONTRACTS OR 1,240,100 OZ OR 38.57 TONNES.

Estimated gold volume today:// 182,281  poor

final gold volumes/yesterday   341,756 strong/

//speculators have left the gold arena

//OCT 16/ /// THE OCT.  2023 GOLD CONTRACT

Gold	Ounces
Withdrawals from Dealers Inventory in oz	nil
Withdrawals from Customer Inventory in oz	397,257.761 oz  OZ 12,356 kilobars Brinks Malca Manfra           .
Deposit to the Dealer Inventory in oz	nil
Deposits to the Customer Inventory, in oz	nil oz
No of oz served (contracts) today	3  notice(s) 300 OZ .00933 TONNES
No of oz to be served (notices)	356  contracts    35600 oz 1.107 TONNES
Total monthly oz gold served (contracts) so far this month	9661 notices 966,100  OZ 30.049 TONNES
Total accumulative withdrawals of gold from the Dealers inventory this month	NIL oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of gold from the Customer inventory this month	x

0 dealer deposit:

total dealer deposits:  0 oz

customer deposits: 0

total customer deposits:  0 oz

we had  3 customer withdrawals

i) Out of Brinks 40,671.02 oz (1265 kilobars)

ii) Out of Malca 6751.710 oz (210 kilobars)

iii) Out of Manfra: 349,835.031 oz (10,881 kilobars)

total withdrawals 397,257.761 oz

Adjustments; 0

total adjusted 0

CALCULATIONS FOR THE AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR OCT.

For the front month of OCTOBER we have an oi of 359  contracts having LOST 6 contracts. We had 2 contracts filed on Friday, so we lost 4 contracts or an additional 400 oz will stand for delivery at the comex in this active delivery month of October.  These guys were EFP’d to London for immediate delivery over there.  Our short speculators have been met with physical delivery demands by the bank.  The only way they can obtain gold is through these EFP’s where delivery is taken in London on a T + 2 basis. We had the commencement of gold speculator short covering.

NOV GAINED 234 CONTRACTS  to stand at 1683

December GAINED 3107  contracts up to 363,011 contracts.

We had  3 contracts filed for today representing 300    oz  

Today, 0 notice(s) were issued from J.P.Morgan dealer account and  0  notices were issued from their client or customer account. The total of all issuance by all participants equate to 3   contract(s) of which 0   notices were stopped (received) by  j.P. Morgan dealer and  1  notice(s) was (were) stopped   received by J.P.Morgan//customer account   and 0 notice(s) received (stopped) by the squid  (Goldman Sachs)

To calculate the INITIAL total number of gold ounces standing for the OCT. /2023. contract month, we take the total number of notices filed so far for the month (9661 x 100 oz ), to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of  OCT. (359  CONTRACTS)  minus the number of notices served upon today  3 x 100 oz per contract equals 10,001,700 OZ  OR 31.157 TONNES the number of TONNES standing in this active month of OCT.  

thus the INITIAL standings for gold for the OCT. contract month:  No of notices filed so far (9661) x 100 oz +  (359) {OI for the front month} minus the number of notices served upon today (3)  x 100 oz) which equals  10,001.700 oz standing OR 31.157 TONNES 

TOTAL COMEX GOLD STANDING: 31.157 TONNES WHICH IS HUGE FOR AN ACTIVE BUT GENERALLY WEAK DELIVERY MONTH. (OCT). Somebody is after a considerable amount of gold from the comex. 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

COMEX GOLD INVENTORIES/CLASSIFICATION

NEW PLEDGED GOLD:

241,794.285 oz NOW PLEDGED /HSBC  5.94 TONNES

204,937.290 PLEDGED  MANFRA 3.08 TONNES

83,657.582 PLEDGED JPMorgan no 1  1.690 tonnes

265,999.054, oz  JPM No 2 

1,152,376.639 oz pledged  Brinks/

Manfra:  33,758.550 oz

Delaware: 193.721 oz

International Delaware::  11,188.542 oz

total pledged gold: 1,973,753.218  OZ   61.39 tonnes

TOTAL OF ALL GOLD ELIGIBLE AND REGISTERED:  19,919,086.373 OZ  

TOTAL REGISTERED GOLD 9,991.235.674   (310.769  tonnes)..

TOTAL OF ALL ELIGIBLE GOLD: 9927,850.699 OZ  

REGISTERED GOLD THAT CAN BE SERVED UPON: 8,017.482 (REG GOLD- PLEDGED GOLD) 249.377 tonnes//dropping like a stone

END

SILVER/COMEX

OCT 16

//2023// THE OCT 2023 SILVER CONTRACT

Silver	Ounces
Withdrawals from Dealers Inventory	NIL oz
Withdrawals from Customer Inventory	978,313.023 oz Brinks CNT JPMorgan Loomis .
Deposits to the Dealer Inventory	nil oz
Deposits to the Customer Inventory	nil oz
No of oz served today (contracts)	2  CONTRACT(S)    (10,000  OZ)
No of oz to be served (notices)	29 contracts  (145,000 oz)
Total monthly oz silver served (contracts)	481 Contracts  (2,405,000 oz)
Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from the Dealers inventory this month	NIL oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from the Customer inventory this month

i)  0 dealer  deposit

total dealer deposit: 0

total: nil oz

i) We had  0 dealer withdrawal

total dealer withdrawals: 0 oz

We had  0 deposits customer account:

total customer deposit nil oz

JPMorgan has a total silver weight: 135.634  million oz/271.928 million  or 49.87%

Comex withdrawals  4

i) Out of Brinks 245,135.510 oz

ii) Out of CNT: 31,417.213 oz

iii) Out of JPMorgan: 601,405.100 oz

iv) Out of Loomis: 100,295.200 oz

total: 978,313.023 oz

adjustments: 0

TOTAL REGISTERED SILVER: 37.678 MILLION OZ//.TOTAL REG + ELIGIBLE. 271.928 million oz

CALCULATIONS FOR THE NEW STANDING FOR SILVER FOR August:

silver open interest data:

FRONT MONTH OF OCT /2023 OI: 31   CONTRACTS HAVING GAINED 3  CONTRACT(S). WE HAD 7 NOTICES FILED 

ON FRIDAY, SO WE GAINED  10 CONTRACTS AS WE HAD A QUEUE JUMP OF 50,000 OZ

NOVEMBER LOST 5 CONTRACTS TO STAND AT 428

DEC. LOST 1988 CONTRACTS TO STAND AT 101,208 .

TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED FOR TODAY: 2 for  10,000  oz

Comex volumes// est. volume today 36,928 //extremely weak

Comex volume: confirmed yesterday 79,575// strong

To calculate the number of silver ounces that will stand for delivery in OCT. we take the total number of notices filed for the month so far at 481 x  5,000 oz = 2,405,000 oz 

to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of OCT (31) and the number of notices served upon today 2 x (5000 oz) equals the number of ounces standing.

Thus the  standings for silver for the OCT/2023 contract month:  481 (notices served so far) x 5000 oz + OI for the front month of OCT (31) – number of notices served upon today (2 )x 500 oz of silver standing for the OCT contract month equates to 2.550 million oz + .0 MILLION  oz of exchange for risk today + 3.0 million oz prior//new totals:  5.550 million oz.

There are 37.638 million oz of registered silver.

The record level of silver open interest is 234,787 contracts set on April 21./2017 with the price on that day at $18.42. The previous record was 224,540 contracts with the price at that time of $20.44

END

GLD AND SLV INVENTORY LEVELS

OCT 16/WITH GOLD DOWN $6.45 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A CRIMINAL WITHDRAWAL OF 6.92 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD/ //: / /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 855.45 TONNES

OCT 13/WITH GOLD UP $57.60 TODAY:NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: //: / /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 862.37 TONNES

OCT 12/WITH GOLD DOWN $3.00 TODAY:BIG CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF .86 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD//: / /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 862.37 TONNES

OCT 11/WITH GOLD UP $11.20 TODAY:NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD:HUGE CHANGES: / /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 861.51 TONNES

OCT 10/WITH GOLD UP $30.60 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD:HUGE CHANGES: A WITHDRAWAL OF 5.77 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 861.81 TONNES

OCT 6/WITH GOLD UP $13.05 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD:HUGE CHANGES: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.73 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 867.58 TONNES

OCT 5/WITH GOLD DOWN $1.35 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD:HUGE CHANGES: A MASSIVE WITHDRAWAL OF 5.77 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// /// // INVENTORY RESTS AT 869.31 TONNES

OCT 4/WITH GOLD DOWN $7.40 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 1.44 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/// : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 875.08 TONNES

OCT 3/WITH GOLD DOWN $6.90 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 1.44 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/// : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 875.08 TONNES

OCT 2/WITH GOLD DOWN $19.35 TODAY:NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: LD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 873,64 TONNES

SEPT 29/WITH GOLD DOWN $11.15 TODAY:NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: LD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 873,64 TONNES

SEPT 28/WITH GOLD DOWN $13.45 TODAY:HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 4.88 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 873,64 TONNES

SEPT 26/WITH GOLD DOWN $XXX TODAY:SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.31 TONNES OF GOLD OUT 05 THE GLD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 878.52 TONNES

SEPT 26/WITH GOLD DOWN $13.40 TODAY:SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.31 TONNES OF GOLD OUT 05 THE GLD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 878.52 TONNES

SEPT 22/WITH GOLD UP $5.70 TODAY:SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD DEPOSIT OF 0.58 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 878.83 TONNES

SEPT 21/WITH GOLD DOWN $25.60 TODAY:SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.58 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD/ : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 878.25 TONNES

SEPT 19/WITH GOLD UP $0.60 TODAY:NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : // //INVENTORY RESTS AT 880.217 TONNES

SEPT 18/WITH GOLD UP $8.40 TODAY: SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : A DEPOSIT OF 0.57 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// //INVENTORY RESTS AT 880.217 TONNES

SEPT 15/WITH GOLD UP $13.20 TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.055 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// //INVENTORY RESTS AT 879.70 TONNES

SEPT 14/WITH GOLD UP $1.00 TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : A WITHDRAWAL OF 4.63 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// //INVENTORY RESTS AT 882.01 TONNES

SEPT 13/WITH GOLD DOWN $2.00 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 886.64 TONNES

SEPT 12/WITH GOLD DOWN $11.20 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 886.64 TONNES

SEPT 11/WITH GOLD UP $4.45 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 886.64 TONNES

SEPT 8/WITH GOLD UP $0.35 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD : / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 886.64 TONNES

SEPT 7/WITH GOLD DOWN $0.20 TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.22 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD.: / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 886.69 TONNES

SEPT 6/WITH GOLD DOWN $8.80 TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.16 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD.: / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 889.81 TONNES

SEPT 5/WITH GOLD DOWN $13.50 TODAY: SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD A DEPOSIT OF 0.87 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD.: / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 890.97 TONNES

SEPT 1/WITH GOLD UP $1.00 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD A DEPOSIT OF 0.87 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD.: / //INVENTORY RESTS AT 890.10 TONNES

GLD INVENTORY: 855.45 TONNES

Now the SLV Inventory/( vehicle is a fraud as there is no physical metal behind them

OCT 16/WITH SILVER DOWN 9 CENTS TODAY: BIG CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A CRIMINAL WITHDRAWAL OF 2.664 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 447.730 MILLION OZ

OCT 13/WITH SILVER UP 90 CENTS TODAY: BIG CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.375 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 450.394 MILLION OZ

OCT 12/WITH SILVER DOWN 19 CENTS TODAY: BIG CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.825 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 451.769 MILLION OZ

OCT 11/WITH SILVER UP 17 CENTS TODAY: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A WITHDRAWAL OF .366 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 452.594 MILLION OZ

OCT 10/WITH SILVER UP 25 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A DEPOSIT OF 1.833 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 452.960 MILLION OZ

OCT 6/WITH SILVER UP 69 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A DEPOSIT OF 0.916 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 451.127 MILLION OZ

OCT 5/WITH SILVER DOWN 8 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : //A MASSIVE DEPOSIT OF 8.328 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 450.211 MILLION OZ

OCT 4/WITH SILVER DOWN 34 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 441.883 MILLION OZ

OCT 3/WITH SILVER DOWN 2 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 441.883 MILLION OZ

OCT 2/WITH SILVER DOWN 98 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 441.883 MILLION OZ

SEPT 29/WITH SILVER DOWN 28 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.183 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 441.883 MILLION OZ

SEPT 28/WITH SILVER DOWN 8 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. A WITHDRAWAL OF 4.88 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 442.066 MILLION OZ

SEPT 27/WITH SILVER DOWN 20 CENTS TODAY: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. A WITHDRAWAL OF .641 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 448.392 MILLION OZ

SEPT 26/WITH SILVER DOWN 20 CENTS TODAY: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. A WITHDRAWAL OF .641 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 448.392 MILLION OZ

SEPT 22/WITH SILVER UP 13 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 449.492 MILLION OZ

SEPT 21/WITH SILVER DOWN 13 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 449,033 MILLION OZ

SEPT 19/WITH SILVER UP 0 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A WITHDRAWAL  OF 1.1 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 449.033 MILLION OZ

SEPT 18/WITH SILVER UP 11 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A DEPOSIT  OF 1.651 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 441.332 MILLION OZ

SEPT 15/WITH SILVER UP 37 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.31 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV. : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 439.681 MILLION OZ

SEPT 14/WITH SILVER DOWN 16 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: : // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 440.736 MILLION OZ

SEPT 13/WITH SILVER DOWN 23 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 1,009 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV//: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 440.736 MILLION OZ

SEPT 12/WITH SILVER UP 1 CENT TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 3.209 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV//: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 439.727 MILLION OZ

SEPT 11/WITH SILVER UP 19 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 3.209 MILLION OZ INTO TEH SLV//: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 439.727 MILLION OZ

SEPT 8/WITH SILVER DOWN 8 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 436.518 MILLION OZ

SEPT 7/WITH SILVER DOWN 21 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: // /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 436.518 MILLION OZ

SEPT 6/WITH SILVER DOWN 36 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.373 OZ OF SILVER OUT OF THE THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 436.518 MILLION OZ

SEPT 5/WITH SILVER DOWN 69 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 734,000 OZ OF SILVER OUT OF THE THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 437.891 MILLION OZ

SEPT 1/WITH SILVER DOWN 20 CENTS TODAY: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.375 MILLION OZ OF SILVER OUT OF THE THE SLV// /.////INVENTORY RESTS AT 440.00 MILLION OZ

CLOSING INVENTORY 447.730 MILLION OZ//

PHYSICAL GOLD/SILVER COMMENTARIES

1:Peter Schiff/Mike Maharrey

Peter Schiff: The Government Is Lying About Inflation

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 01:30 PM

Via SchiffGold.com,

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/peter-schiff-government-lying-about-inflation

The CPI has cooled in recent months, but Americans say they’re still struggling with rising prices and they’re worried about inflation. Why is there this dichotomy between people’s perceptions and the official data?

Peter Schiff recently appeared on Real America with Dan Ball to talk about the economy. He said the problem is the government isn’t being honest about inflation.

Dan opened the interview noting that the recent fight over the House speaker wasn’t really about the speaker. It was about the enormous national debt and ever-increasing government spending. The US government added over $1 trillion to the national debt in just three months. Dan said he doesn’t see any “silver clouds” in the future. Peter agreed, saying it’s “all rain clouds.”

The problem has been over a decade of reckless spending financed by debt on the part of not only just the federal government, but look at all the state and municipal governments, corporate America, households — everybody has gorged themselves on this debt fest that was served by the Federal Reserve.”

Artificially low interest rates incentivized this borrowing for the better part of a decade. Now we have a pile of debt that can never be repaid.

The only thing we were able to do is pay the interest because it was practically zero. Well, now its not zero anymore. The prime rate is at eight-and-a-half, so, many people are paying more than 10% to borrow money. Long-term Treasuries are almost at 5%. They haven’t yielded that much in over 15 years. But they’re going a lot higher. We’re still early in this journey back to normal rates. And in fact, we’re not going to have normal rates. We’re going to actually have higher than normal rates. But the problem is we can’t handle it because we have much higher than normal debt.”

Dan noted that credit card debt has skyrocketed while savings have plummeted. But higher interest rates should slow spending and increase savings. Peter said this just goes to show the Fed’s inflation fight isn’t working.

It’s not resulting in more savings. It’s just resulting in more spending. The problem is people are spending more but buying less because the extra spending is a function of higher prices.”

Dan played a clip of a man walking through Cosco showing how much prices have gone up in the last year. It’s clear that a lot of prices have risen far more than the CPI data reveals. Peter said those photos don’t lie.

It’s just the CPI that lies.”

In 2013, the CPI indicated that the cost of newspapers and magazines had increased by 30% over the previous 10 years. Peter went back and looked at the actual prices. The real increase was 130%. What happened to that other 100%?

Obviously, it got lost in the sauce of the CPI. So, the government is not honest about inflation.”

Peter said this is one of the reasons President Biden is so unpopular.

The reason his popularity is so low is because the economy stinks. It’s because inflation is so much higher than the CPI reflects. That’s why people are struggling. That’s why so many people have second and third jobs. They can’t make ends meet with their first job because the cost of living has gone up so much.”

Is there any good news? Peter said there really isn’t, but you can try to protect yourself.

Once you recognize the problem, even though you can’t solve it or do anything about it, you can at least protect yourself, protect your family. You can invest in the right things. You can buy gold or silver and get out of US currency. You can buy quality assets around the world — dividend-paying foreign stocks to try to protect your wealth. Because this inflation tax is going to get much, much higher in the coming years, and if you don’t want to pay the tax, then you’ve got to do whatever you can to avoid it as best can by divesting of what’s being taxed, which is your dollars. Your paycheck is going to be taxed, your savings, your investments. But to the extent that you can get some of that out of the US dollar, you can at least avoid part of that inflation tax.”

end

2 Commentaries from: Egon von Greyerz///Matthew Piepenburg via GoldSwitzerland.com, Pam and Russ Martens//JAMES RICKARDS//JOHN RUBINO

END

3,Chris Powell of GATA provides to us very important physical commentaries

A must read..

Brien Lundin on the Israeli-Hamas war and how this might force the Fed’s hand

(Brien Lundin)

Brien Lundin: Gaza war won’t hold gold up but might force Fed’s hand

Submitted by admin on Sat, 2023-10-14 09:58Section: Daily Dispatches

By Brien Lundin, Editor
Gold Newsletter, Metairie, Louisiana
Friday, October 13, 2023

(Excerpted by permission.)

With Israel preparing to cross into Gaza, no one wants to not own gold going into the weekend.

Safe haven assets are soaring today, but for this rally in gold to hold, we’ll need the geopolitical situation to force the Fed’s hand.

A $50 day in gold is a rare event, and it’s one that obviously has many gold bugs dancing a jig.

Their euphoria should be tempered by recognition of the cause of this price spike — which is Israeli forces massing for an imminent march into Gaz

As I’ve repeated ad infinitum for many years, rushing into gold on the basis of a geopolitical event is almost always a losing proposition. With a regularity that’s deflating for doom-and-gloomers, peace always seems to break out.

And when it does, only the nimblest of traders are able to sell their gold near the peak of the run and pocket any profits at all.

The simple fact is that there’s no rationale for the global price of gold rising due to some non-financial, non-monetary crisis. And that’s why these sorts of rallies always seem to end up with the price of gold falling back to where it was, or even lower.

All this said, this time could be different. Why? 

Because this geopolitical crisis has a chance of forcing a shift in Federal Reserve monetary policy — at least a declared “ceasefire” in the Fed’s rate-hike crusade, if not a full pivot.

As you know, the markets have been anticipating that some sort of an event, precipitated by the harshest rate-hike cycle ever coming on the heels of the easiest monetary policy in history, would force the Fed to retreat.

Like race horses chomping at their bits in the starting gate, the stock, bond, and metals markets have been straining to price in rate cuts. There have been, in fact, a few false starts, with the horses forced to re-enter the starting gates, to again await whatever the next crisis catalyst may be.

There is no shortage of candidates, including the banking system, corporate bankruptcies, soaring debt-service costs, and, of course, the oncoming recession. 

I have maintained that the next crisis was likely to be spawned by something out of left field, something few if any were considering.

The Hamas attacks on Israel would fit that description perfectly.

So good news for gold bugs will once again come with bad news for the world.

That’s likely to come, unfortunately, but if it doesn’t prompt the Fed to retreat, we’ll likely see the price fall right back down. 

Remember, this is precisely what happened after Russia invaded Ukraine.

In that situation, though, the Fed was just beginning its crusade of rate hikes and
inflation was still raging. Today the Fed has reached or is about to reach the end of that cycle and would look favorably at any excuse to exit. 

So this time could be different for that reason.

There’s also the chance that this rally goes far enough to get gold to a new record high above $2,060, and that brings in enough buying to establish the new bull market that gold is due in any case.

We’ll see, but caution remains the buzzword. …

—–

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end

end

END

4, OTHER IMPORTANT GOLD/SILVER COMMENTARIES//

5 a. IMPORTANT COMMENTARIES ON COMMODITIES:

END

5 B GLOBAL COMMODITY ISSUES/FOOD IN GENERAL//FREIGHT

END

6.CRYPTOCURRENCY//DIGITAL CURRENCY// COMMENTARIES/

 1.YOUR EARLY CURRENCY VALUES/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN AND EUROPEAN BOURSE MOVEMENTS/AND INTEREST RATE SETTINGS MONDAY MORNING.7:30 AM

ONSHORE YUAN:   CLOSED DOWN AT 7.3122  

OFFSHORE YUAN: DOWN TO 7.3124

SHANGHAI CLOSED  DOWN 14.29 PTS OR .46%

HANG SENG CLOSED DOWN 173.09 PTS OR 0.97% 

2. Nikkei closed  DOWN 656.96 PTS OR 2.03 % 

3. Europe stocks   SO FAR:   ALL RED

USA dollar INDEX DOWN  TO  106,23 EURO RISES TO 1.0531 UP 30 BASIS PTS

3b Japan 10 YR bond yield: RISES TO. +.756 Japan buying 100% of bond issuance)/Japanese YEN vs USA cross now at 149.55/JAPANESE YEN FALLING AS WELL AS LONG TERM 10  YR. YIELDS RISING //EVENTUALLY THIS WILL BREAK THE JAPANESE CENTRAL BANK

3c Nikkei now  ABOVE 17,000

3d USA/Yen rate now well ABOVE the important 120 barrier this morning

3e Gold DOWN /JAPANESE Yen DOWN  CHINESE ONSHORE YUAN: DOWN//  OFFSHORE: DOWN

3f Japan is to buy INFINITE  TRILLION YEN worth of BONDS. Japan’s GDP equals 5 trillion USA

Japan to buy 100% of all new Japanese debt and NOW they will have OVER 50% of all Japanese debt. 

3g Oil UP for WTI and UP  FOR Brent this morning

3h European bond buying continues to push yields lower on all fronts in the EMU. German 10yr bund UP TO +2.7870***/Italian 10 Yr bond yield UP to 4.811*** /SPAIN 10 YR BOND YIELD UP TO 3.931…** 

3i Greek 10 year bond yield RISES TO 4.290

3j Gold at $1915.20 silver at: 22.57 1 am est) SILVER NEXT RESISTANCE LEVEL AT $30.00

3k USA vs Russian rouble;// Russian rouble DOWN 0  AND  5 /100        roubles/dollar; ROUBLE AT 97.29//

3m oil into the  88  dollar handle for WTI and 90  handle for Brent/

3n Higher foreign deposits moving out of China//  huge risk of outflows and a currency depreciation. This can spell financial disaster for the rest of the world/

JAPAN ON JAN 29.2016 CONTINUES NIRP. THIS MORNING RAISES AMOUNT OF BONDS THAT THEY WILL PURCHASE UP TO .5% ON THE 10 YR BOND///YEN TRADES TO 149.55//  10 YEAR YIELD AFTER FIRST BREAKING .54% LAST YEAR NOW EXCEEDS THAT LEVEL TO 0.756% STILL ON CENTRAL BANK (JAPAN) INTERVENTION

30 SNB (Swiss National Bank) still intervening again in the markets driving down the FRANC. It is not working: USA/SF this 0.9036 as the Swiss Franc is still rising against most currencies. Euro vs SF 0.9505 well above the floor set by the Swiss Finance Minister. Thomas Jordan, chief of the Swiss National Bank continues to purchase euros trying to lower value of the Swiss Franc. 

USA 10 YR BOND YIELD: 4.707 UP 8 BASIS PTS…

USA 30 YR BOND YIELD: 4.863 UP 8 BASIS PTS/

USA 2 YR BOND YIELD:  5.075  UP 2 BASIS PTS

USA DOLLAR VS TURKISH LIRA: 27.88…(TURKEY SET TO BLOW UP FINANCIALLY)

GREAT BRITAIN/10 YEAR YIELD: UP 17  BASIS PTS AT 4.5120

end

2.a  Overnight:  Newsquawk and Zero hedge:

Futures, Yields Rise Amid Hopes For Diplomatic Solution To Israeli War

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 08:20 AM

US index futures are European bourses reversed earlier losses and traded higher, led by small-caps, as Treasuries resumed their slide after Friday’s gains while oil dropped on hopes that a diplomatic solution may emerge to the Israel-Hamas conflict: Secretary of State Blinken has returned to Israel and Joe Biden could follow on Wednesday or Thursday according to unconfirmed reports, as they seek to avoid an escalation. As of 7:45am, S&P futures were 0.3% higher while Nasdaq 100 futs gained 0.1% after declines on Wall Street at the end of last week. The US Dollar started the session lower and commodities came for sale across all three complexes.  Brent crude oil held near $91 a barrel, after surging almost 6% on Friday. Gold fell but bitcoin surged.

In premarket trading, Pfizer dropped more than 3% after the pharmaceutical giant slashed its revenue and earnings forecasts. Apple dropped as much as 1.7% after a study suggested the iPhone 15 is selling far worse in China than its predecessor. Market tracker Counterpoint Research estimated sales of the company’s new iPhone are down 4.5% compared with the iPhone 14 over their first 17 days after release. European energy stocks were boosted by recent gains in oil prices, with Shell hitting a record high. Semiconductor stocks in Europe and US underperformed after Bloomberg reported that the US plans to close the loopholes in rules restricting China’s access to advanced semiconductors and chipmaking gear. Meanwhile, crypto-exposed stocks rose tracking the Bitcoin price as the digital asset rose toward the $28,000 level. Here are some other notable premarket movers:

• Instacart shares advance 1.8% after a slew of brokers initiated coverage on the online grocery delivery firm with buy-equivalent recommendations.
• Lululemon shares rose 4.7%, putting the athletic-apparel brand on track for a seventh-straight day of gains, after S&P Dow Jones Indices announced on Friday that the company would replace Activision Blizzard on the S&P 500.
• Manchester United fell 9.9% amid ongoing speculation over a possible deal for the Premier League team. Bloomberg News reported that the Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad J.J. Al Thani has withdrawn its bid.
• Trade Desk dropped 4.1% as CEO Jeffrey Terry Green reported a series of insider stock transactions amounting to $14.9 million.
• Pfizer fell 2.6% after the pharmaceutical giant slashed its revenue and earnings forecasts for the year after agreeing to take Paxlovid doses back from the US government amid fading demand.
• Chip equipment stocks including Applied Materials, KLA and Lam Research slipped after Bloomberg News reported that the US plans to close the loopholes in rules restricting China’s access to advanced semiconductors and chipmaking gear.
• Enphase Energy drops as much as 2.2% after BMO Capital Markets downgrades the solar energy equipment maker to market perform from outperform, saying that a trough in US residential solar demand is deeper than expected.
• Instacart advances 2.1% after a slew of brokers initiated coverage on the online grocery delivery firm with buy-equivalent recommendations.
• Novavax (NVAX) falls as much as 4.7% after the Financial Times reported that EU regulators have delayed a decision to approve the company’s revised Covid-19 vaccine.
• Nvidia (NVDA) slips 1.2% and other semiconductor stocks in Europe and US underperform on Monday after Bloomberg News reported that the US plans to close the loopholes in rules restricting China’s access to advanced semiconductors and chipmaking gear.
• Stocks exposed to cryptocurrencies rise in US premarket trading on Monday, tracking the Bitcoin price as the digital asset rose toward the $28,000 level. Bitcoin gains 2.3% to trade at $27,832 as of 4:53 a.m. New York time, a one-week high. Crypto stocks gaining in US premarket trading include: Riot Platforms +5.2%, Marathon Digital +5.6%, Hut 8 Mining +8.5%, Coinbase Global +2.2%, Cleanspark +6.3%, Hive Digital Technologies +6.6%, crypto miner Bitdeer Technologies +16%

Markets were calmer Monday after last week’s rush into haven assets, as investors await further developments in the Middle East. As BBG notes, the war is an additional concern for traders already busy interpreting the outlook for the economy and interest rates, just as the latest earnings reporting season gets into full swing.

As the earnings season ramps up, Wall Street strategists warned that the outlook for corporate profits is weakening and could remain subdued. Morgan Stanley’s Michael Wilson said earnings revisions breadth — referring to the number of stocks seeing upgrades versus downgrades — for the S&P 500 has fallen sharply over the past couple of weeks. Citigroup’s index of earnings revisions shows downgrades have outpaced upgrades for four straight weeks ahead of the reporting season. JPMorgan strategist Mislav Matejka expects this to continue. Citigroup Inc.’s index of earnings revisions shows downgrades have outpaced upgrades for four straight weeks ahead of the reporting season. JPMorgan strategist Mislav Matejka expects this to continue.

That said, Geopolitics remains front and center: weekend reports that Biden is considering an Israel trip boosting hopes for a diplomatic solution as the US backchannels with Iran; meanwhile Bloomberg reported that the US continues to reduce/restrict China’s access to chips pushing Chinese stocks lower. The House is set to vote on the next speaker is tomorrow.

Over the weekend US officials rushed to speak with Middle Eastern nations — including back-channel talks with Iran — to contain the conflict. President Joe Biden is weighing visiting Israel himself and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to arrive Tuesday, according to Bild Zeitung. Jordan’s King Abdullah II is in Rome, where he’s expected to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as part of an effort to ease tensions.

Elsewhere on the political front, Polish equities jumped the most since May 2022 and the zloty rallied as a bloc of pro-European opposition parties appeared on track to unseat the nationalist government.

Meanwhile, the yield rollercoaster is back with big swings returning to Treasuries, where 10-year yields jumped and clawed back much of last week’s 19 basis-point drop, while those on the 30-year climbed 10 basis points.

“The geopolitical tension in the Middle East remains the key focus of the market,” said Luke Hickmore, investment director at Abrdn Investment Management. “It might seem calmer now, but if the war widens to include other parts of the area then that means more pressure on oil and more uncertainty for the market to cope with. It’s going to be a big driver here.”

European stocks are slightly lower with the Stoxx 600 down 0.1%. Mining and energy names are outperforming. Major markets are mostly lower with only the UK and SXXP in the green. Regional bond yields are higher helping banks outperform with energy and GLP themes also acting well. Energy prices remain the key to UK/EU recession outcomes; BOE seen on hold. In individual stock moves Monday, Manchester United Plc slumped 18% after Bloomberg News reported that a Qatari group of investors had withdrawn its bid to buy the English football club. Here are some of the most notable European movers:

• Salzgitter rises as much as 7.2% and SSAB advance 5.2% as JPMorgan upgrades the steel products makers, saying their relatively large exposure to European spot prices could accelerate near-term earnings momentum in an upturn
• Kion rises as much as 3.6% and is the biggest gainer on the Stoxx 600 industrial index after the German warehouse-equipment firm upgraded its full-year Ebit guidance, citing supply chain and pricing improvements
• Synthomer gains as much as 4.8% after Peel Hunt upgrades to buy to reflect potential opportunity into the recovery
• SoftwareOne shares rise as much as 6.9% to CHF19.29 after Reuters reported the Swiss software provider received non-binding bids last week from private equity firms Bain Capital and Apax Partners
• Oriola shares rise as much as 8.3% on Monday, reacting to the Finnish health-care company’s late-Friday announcement that it had agreed to offload its shares in Swedish pharmacy chain Svensk dos
• Warsaw’s WIG20 equity index surges as much as 4.9%, as exit polls show Poland’s pro-EU opposition is on track to win a majority in Sunday’s election
• Tupras fall as much as 2.3% after UBS downgrades the Turkish oil refiner to sell from neutral, citing the lack of further share-price catalysts after the upcoming 3Q results
• MTU Aero shares open as much as 1.5% higher before falling, after Hauck & Aufhaeuser upgrades the engine manufacturer to buy from hold, predicting “material upside” for the shares
• Telecom Italia shares fall after advancing as much as 3.3% in early trading after the phone company said it received a binding offer from KKR for its fixed network unit
• Atos shares fall after soaring as much as 22%, the most since 2007, after the French tech firm said Chairman Bertrand Meunier is stepping down amid a shareholder revolt over his turnaround plan for the company

Earlier in the session, Asian stocks fell in the start of the week as a selloff in the region’s semiconductor stocks and ongoing tensions in the Middle East sap risk appetite. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell as much as 0.9%, extending losses from Friday, with Taiwan Semiconductor, and Samsung among the biggest drags. A gauge of the region’s chipmakers fell 1.9% after Bloomberg reported that the US is considering further restrictions to curb China’s access to advance semiconductors. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Gojek Tokopedia tumbles to a fresh low after its co-founder sold shares.

• Chinese stocks in mainland and Hong Kong declined despite fresh liquidity injection by the central bank, underscoring concerns that Beijing’s efforts may not be sufficient to revive confidence in the country’s economy. China’s property stocks are also trading close to their lowest level since 2009 while participants digested several recent developments including the PBoC’s decision to maintain the 1-year MLF rate, as expected, with the operation the largest MLF net injection since December 2020. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the US is to take steps to prevent American chipmakers from selling AI chips to China that circumvent government restrictions and that China’s securities regulator will restrict securities lending which local press suggested could help support markets as it would tighten rules for short selling.
• Australia’s ASX 200 was subdued amid underperformance in tech, telecoms and industrials but with losses stemmed by resilience in commodity-related industries.
• Japan’s Nikkei 225 underperformed and gapped below the 32,000 level despite the lack of fresh pertinent catalysts.
• Stocks in India dropped for a third straight session following global risk-off sentiment amid the Israel-Hamas war and a slump in Asia chip stocks. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.2% to 66,166.93 in Mumbai, while the NSE Nifty 50 Index was little changed at 19,731.75. Of the 18 sectoral indexes tracked by BSE, eight fell and 10 gained. Stocks across Asia declined.

In rates, treasuries are in the red with US 10-year yields rising 9bps to 4.70% as bunds and gilts follow suit.  Treasuries were cheaper across the curve in a bear-steepening move with 30-year yields cheaper by 10bp on the day. Similar losses seen across core European rates as flight-to-quality bid from Friday is faded following diplomatic efforts to contain the Israel-Hamas conflict. Beyond Middle East conflict, focal points this week include a packed Fed speaker slate headed by Chair Powell at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday. US yields cheaper by 1.5bp-10bp across the curve with long-end-led losses steepening 2s10s, 5s30s spreads by ~7bp and ~5bp on the day; 10-year yields around 4.69% with bunds and gilts outperforming by 3bp and 1bp in the sector.  US auctions this week include $13b 20-year bond reopening Wednesday and $22b 5-year TIPS new issue Thursday

In FX, the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index falls 0.1%. The Swiss franc is the weakest of the G-10 currencies, falling 0.1% versus the greenback. The kiwi rose 0.6%, leading Group-of-10 gains against the dollar climbing as much as 0.8% to an intra-day high of 0.5929 after the New Zealand center-right opposition party won Saturday’s election.

• EUR/CHF slipped 0.37% to 0.9513 as safe-haven flows sees the Swiss Franc inch closer to revisiting its all-time high on a trade-weighted basis; EUR/CHF one week implied volatility hit the highest since March as geopolitical risk boosted demand for tail-risk hedges
• EUR/PLN dropped as much as 1.8% to 4.4541, after the Polish election result saw the Polish Zloty climb the most in 18 months; investors piled cash into Poland as markets braced for a pro-EU party win

In commodities, Brent futures drop 0.3% to trade near $90.60. Spot gold loses 1% to around $1,914.

Bitcoin jumped but failed to breach the USD 28k mark in European hours and as such remains just shy of the early-October best around the figure. Action which follows gains in APAC trade which have been attributed by some to the SEC’s decision not to appeal the Grayscale ruling.

US economic data slate includes October Empire manufacturing at 8:30am the Budget Statement; data this week includes retail sales, industrial production, housing starts/building permits and existing home sales. Scheduled Fed speakers include Harker (10:30am and 4:30pm); this week includes Williams, Bowman, Barkin, Kashkari, Waller, Harker, Cook, Jefferson, Powell, Goolsbee, Barr, Bostic, Logan and Mester

Market Snapshot

• S&P 500 futures up 0.1% to 4,362.75
• MXAP down 0.9% to 155.62
• MXAPJ down 0.7% to 488.82
• Nikkei down 2.0% to 31,659.03
• Topix down 1.5% to 2,273.54
• Hang Seng Index down 1.0% to 17,640.36
• Shanghai Composite down 0.5% to 3,073.81
• Sensex little changed at 66,278.75
• Australia S&P/ASX 200 down 0.3% to 7,026.55
• Kospi down 0.8% to 2,436.24
• STOXX Europe 600 little changed at 448.79
• German 10Y yield little changed at 2.78%
• Euro up 0.2% to $1.0533
• Brent Futures down 0.5% to $90.40/bbl
• Gold spot down 1.1% to $1,912.24
• U.S. Dollar Index down 0.16% to 106.48

Top Overnight News

• China’s central bank stepped up efforts to support the nation’s economic recovery and debt sales by delivering the largest cash injection since 2020 with one-year policy loans. The PBOC added a net 289 billion yuan ($39.6 billion) into the financial system via the so-called medium-term lending facility, the largest monthly injection since December 2020. At the same time, it drained a net 134 billion yuan of short-term liquidity through open-market operations. BBG
• China is tightening curbs on short-selling activities as authorities step up efforts to shore up a struggling stock market. The Securities Regulatory Commission said with effect from Oct. 30, hedge funds wishing to short sell a stock must hold 100% of the value of the transaction in their account while other investors need to have at least 80%. BBG
• President Biden is weighing a trip to Israel, adding to the US diplomatic push after Antony Blinken held a round of talks with Arab leaders to discuss the Israel-Hamas war. Blinken returns to Israel today. The US said it held back-channel talks with Iran, warning it not to escalate the conflict. BBG
• The Israeli military is preparing to invade the Gaza Strip soon with tens of thousands of soldiers ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclave’s current leadership, according to three senior Israeli military officers who outlined unclassified details about the plan. NYT
• A surge in global borrowing costs, triggered by a sell-off in US Treasuries, means eurozone rate-setters have probably done enough to tame inflation, the governor of Spain’s central bank has said. FT
• Italy’s cabinet will approve a new budget on Mon that increases the deficit to 4.3% of GDP from 3.6% at a time when markets are pushing back against elevated sovereign issuance. RTRS
• A changing of the guard among the biggest buyers of US Treasuries has Wall Street veterans bracing for further pain in the world’s largest bond market. Increasingly absent are steady-handed investors including foreign governments, US commercial banks and the Federal Reserve. In their place, hedge funds, mutual funds, insurers and pensions are piling in. Market watchers are quick to note that unlike their more price-agnostic predecessors, the new buyer base is likely to demand a heavy premium to finance Washington’s spendthrift ways, especially with debt sales set to surge as deficits swell. BBG
• Individual investors are dialing back how much risk they are taking across markets. Some are accumulating cash or stashing it in funds tracking bonds or money markets to take advantage of yields that have soared to 16-year highs. Others are backing away from turbocharged bets on stocks, borrowing less to amplify their positions. Many have pulled money out of U.S. stocks, putting equity exchange-traded and mutual funds on track for the first year of outflows since 2020. WSJ
• Economists are increasingly upbeat on the prospects of US growth – the odds of a recession within the next year have fallen to 48% vs. 54% in the last WSJ poll from July. WSJ
• Last week HFs sold Staples at the fastest pace in 11 weeks amid the sector’s price underperformance. Last week’s short selling in Staples was the largest in 3 months and ranks in the 98th percentile vs. the past five years. The Prime book is now U/W Consumer Staples by -3.8% vs. the S&P 500 Index (versus -3.4% last week), which is in the 89th percentile vs. the past year and in the 95th percentile vs. the past five years.

A more detailed look at global markets courtesy of Newsquawk

Asia Pacific stocks were mostly lower amid ongoing geopolitical concerns with the Israel-Hamas conflict threatening to spill over to neighbours in the region. ASX 200 was subdued amid underperformance in tech, telecoms and industrials but with losses stemmed by resilience in commodity-related industries. Nikkei 225 underperformed and gapped below the 32,000 level despite the lack of fresh pertinent catalysts. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp. saw somewhat varied price action with the Hong Kong benchmark choppy and the mainland ultimately pressured as participants digested several recent developments including the PBoC’s decision to maintain the 1-year MLF rate, as expected, with the operation the largest MLF net injection since December 2020. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the US is to take steps to prevent American chipmakers from selling AI chips to China that circumvent government restrictions and that China’s securities regulator will restrict securities lending which local press suggested could help support markets as it would tighten rules for short selling.

Top Asian News

• PBoC conducted CNY 789bln in 1-year MLF with the rate kept unchanged at 2.50% vs CNY 500bln maturing.
• PBoC said the number of bright spots in China’s economy is increasing and China will pay more attention to the balance between economic growth and sustainability, while China will focus on expanding domestic demand, boosting confidence and accelerating the virtuous circle of the economy, according to Reuters.
• PBoC Governor Pan met with IMF MD Georgieva and said China is looking forward to the timely conclusion of the 16th IMF quota review increase and realignment with the quota realignment fundamental to IMF’s governance form. PBoC’s Pan also stated the IMF’s quota realignment should reflect members’ relative weights in the global economy and strengthen the voice and representations of emerging markets and developing countries.
• US is to take steps to prevent American chipmakers from selling AI chips to China that circumvent government restrictions with the US efforts part of upcoming restrictions on AI chip exports to China to be announced this week.
• China’s securities regulator said will restrict securities lending and appropriately curb securities lending by strategic investors and senior management of listed firms, according to Reuters. Furthermore, Chinese press suggested the latest securities rule is to help support markets and cited efforts to tighten rules for short selling.
• EU foreign policy chief Borrell said the EU has ties with China that are independent of other nations, while it was also reported that EU’s Mora is to visit China for follow-up talks.
• New Zealand shifted to the right in a rejection of the Labour Party and PM Hipkins conceded defeat, while National Party leader Luxon is set to become the next PM.
• Japanese top currency diplomat Kanda says interest rates is merely one factor in FX; intervention is one option when excessive FX moves are seen; JPY is still perceived as a safe asset, alongside the CHF and USD.

European bourses are under modest pressure as the weekend’s deluge of geopolitical developments keeps tensions elevated and the tone tentative, Euro Stoxx 50 -0.2%. As such, sectors are tilting into the red overall despite an initially firmer start to European trade with the morning’s main movers driven by individual updates around stocks including Telecom Italia, Atos and Ocado. Stateside, futures are slightly firmer on the session awaiting fresh catalysts with the aforementioned tentative tone capping and real action, ES +0.1%. Apple (AAPL) iPhone 15 sales -4.5% in the China debut YY, via Counterpoint.

Top European News

• BoE Governor Bailey said he is puzzled by stubborn pay growth in the UK but added that they have had some good news on inflation recently, while he also commented that workforce dropouts hit the UK growth and stoke prices.
• BoE’s Pill says we must not declare premature victory after mechanical fall in headline inflation; if we look at market inflation expectations, we cannot be complacent. Thinks more of BoE rate rise has been transmitted than 20-25% but not dramatically so.
• ECB President Lagarde said the labour market shows no real sign of weakening.
• ECB’s Nagel reiterated that inflation remains too high and policy is to remain restrictive for the foreseeable future.
• ECB’s de Cos said higher borrowing costs underline governments’ need to reduce deficits next year, while the surge in global borrowing costs, triggered by a sell-off in US Treasuries means eurozone rate-setters may have done enough to tame inflation, according to FT.
• ECB’s Wunsch (Hawkish) says that discussing PEPP is not a pressing issue, a matter of consistency. Fine with it being discussed in October or a bit later, via Econostream. On whether they are at terminal rate “maybe, maybe not”. Chances of hiking after pausing are far from marginal.
• Polish PM Morawiecki said the ruling nationalists PiS will try to form a government if the president gives them this task after exit polls showed the ruling nationalists with 36.8% of votes and the largest opposition group Civic Coalition received 31.6% of votes, according to Reuters.
• Italian PM Meloni says 2024 budget contains measures worth circa EUR 24bln in tax cuts and higher spending.
• German Finance Minister Lindner said to the UK “If you want to intensify your trade relationship with the EU – call us!”, via BBC
• UK government is reportedly “quietly drawing up plans to hold key trade talks with China for the first time in five years”, via Politico citing officials, adding that the government is considering a range of options for strengthening ties.

Fixed Income

• Greenback gravitates ahead of NY Fed manufacturing survey and Fed’s Harker, while keeping tabs on geopolitical news, DXY towards base of narrow 106.400-610 range.
• Franc sags after pre-weekend safe haven advance, USD/CHF back above 0.9000.
• Yen pivots 149.50 vs Dollar eyeing yields and latest verbal intervention from Japan’s top FX diplomate Kanda.
• Kiwi back on 0.5900 handle vs Buck and Zloty above 4.5000 against Euro after NZ and Polish elections.
• Euro flanked by decent option expiries vs Dollar at 1.0500 and between 1.0540-50.
• Cable straddles 1.2150 as Pound digests hawkish-leaning comments from BoE’s Pill on inflation.
• Loonie tethered to 1.3650 against its US rival pre-Canadian data and BoC outlook survey.
• PBoC set USD/CNY mid-point at 7.1798 vs exp. 7.3121 (prev. 7.1775).

Fixed Income

• More momentum fading in debt as Bunds test 129.00 after topping 130.00 last week, Gilts lose grip of 94.00 handle compared to 95.50+ m-t-d peak and T-note touches 107-09+ vs 108-16 pre-US CPI.
• BTPs also underwater within 109.76-31 range and digesting Italy’s EUR 24bln budget of tax cuts and spending.

Commodities

• WTI Nov and Brent Dec futures were subdued intraday settling higher by almost USD 5/bbl each on Friday amid the growing Middle Eastern tensions heading into the weekend; however, benchmarks have lifted incrementally off of lows with WTI edging into positive territory most recently.
• WTI Nov resides around USD 87.75/bbl (in a USD 87.07-87.98/bbl range) while Brent Dec sits around USD 90.75/bbl (in a USD 90.18-91.20/bbl parameter).
• Dutch TTF prices are softer intraday to the tune of around 2.5% at the time of writing, but prices remain around EUR 52/MWh as LNG workers in Australia are poised to resume strike action.
• Spot gold has reversed some of its marked upside from Friday, as we await the next set of updates on the geopolitical front; though, the yellow metal remains above the USD 1915/oz mark but has lost the 100-DMA at USD 1922/oz.
• Russian Deputy PM Novak says Russia and Venezuela have agreed to seek ways of boosting cooperation in oil and increasing oil output.

US Event Calendar

• 08:30: Oct. Empire Manufacturing, est. -6.0, prior 1.9
• 14:00: Oct. 16-Oct. 20: Sept. Monthly Budget Statement, est. -$150b, prior -$429.8b

Central bank speakers

• 10:30: Fed’s Harker Speaks on the Economic Outlook
• 16:30: Fed’s Harker Speaks About the Economic Outlook

DB’s Jim Reid concludes the overnight wrap

Morning from New York. I say morning but it’s only just gone midnight here after a late and delayed landing. That left plenty of time to write this on the plane after a busy weekend celebrating my wife’s 50th birthday. It ended with her going to see Madonna live last night while I travelled. I’m not entirely sure who got the short straw.

In the overnight session there has been some relief that a ground offensive hasn’t begun yet in Gaza and that diplomatic channels seems to be open for now. President Biden is considering a trip to Israel in the next week which will be an important event. For now we are retracing some of Friday’s flight to quality bid as markets feared a weekend of escalation. Yields on 10yr USTs (+5.18 bps) are at 4.66% as we go to print. S&P 500 (+0.20%) and NASDAQ 100 (+0.26%) futures have edged higher with Oil stable for now after a spike on Friday.

Most Asian equity markets are retreating this morning though as Friday’s sentiment spills over with additional news that the US plans new tighter curbs on China’s access to advanced semiconductor chips. As I check my screens, the Nikkei (-1.64%) is the biggest underperformer across the region with the KOSPI (-1.06%), the CSI (-0.80%), the Shanghai Composite (-0.56%) and the Hang Seng (-0.39%) also dropping in early trade.

Outside of events in the Middle East it looks a busy week but without an obvious focal point. There is a barrage of Fed speak before their media black-out at the weekend but Powell’s speech at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday will be the highlight. We detail who is speaking in our day-by-day calendar at the end but DB’s Brett Ryan’s week ahead gives a bit more detail of their various biases here. The key data point will likely be US retail sales (tomorrow) which we expect to decline (-0.1%) after two strong months, but we also have a lot of US housing data with the NAHB (tomorrow), starts/permits (Wednesday) and existing home sales (Thursday). US weekly jobless claims (Thursday) corresponds to payrolls survey week so will be used to fine tune estimates. Staying with the US, earnings season will start to get into gear with the highlights being Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Johnson and Johnson (tomorrow), Morgan Stanley, Tesla, Netflix, ASML, and Procter & Gamble (Wednesday), TSMC (Thursday) and American Express (Friday). Tesla and Netflix probably have the most ability to move macro markets given their size.

China sees its monthly activity dump on Wednesday where signs of a turnaround will be scrutinised. This is the same day as UK inflation comes out (preview here). The UK labour market data tomorrow is interesting as unemployment is now 0.8pp above the lows at 4.3% and has increased more than anywhere else in the DM world. UK retail sales is out on Friday.

In Europe we have the ZEW survey in Germany (tomorrow) and the PPI report on Friday, with retail sales for France also due that day. With regards to German PPI it’s expected to hit -14.2% YoY from -12.6% the previous month so crazy numbers historically after peaking at an even more crazy +45.8% YoY just over a year ago.

In Japan the national CPI on Friday will be the last before the October 31st BoJ meeting where YCC is likely in our opinion to be abandoned. So an important print.

Now, looking back on last week. We closed out the week with an air of nervousness surrounding events in the Middle East after it was reported on Friday that the Israeli army announced a 24-hour evacuation order for over one million civilians in north Gaza. On Friday, we also had the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment preliminary survey results for October. The headline result surprised significantly to the downside at 63.0 (vs 67.0 expected), down from 68.1 in September. 5-to-10-year inflation expectations rose to 3.0% (vs 2.8% expected), and 1-year inflation expectations jumped from 3.2% to 3.8% (vs 3.2% expected). A few months of higher energy prices seems to now be filtering through to short-run expectations and thus complicating central banks’ policy choices. Fortunately for now long-run expectations remain under some control.

Ultimately, these inflation numbers were secondary to news of the Israeli army’s evacuation order. US 10yr Treasury yields fell -8.6bps on Friday and -19.0bps on the week as investors fled to quality, the largest weekly decline in yields since mid-July. 30yr yields also fell, down -21.4bps week-on-week (and -10.1bps on Friday), the largest weekly decline for 30yr yields since the first week of 2023. Interesting we had one of the largest rises in 30yr yields in the last decade on Thursday with a poor auction so there is an element that Treasuries are a bit of a reluctant flight to quality flow recipient. German 10yr bund yields followed the global picture, falling -14.8bps week-on-week (and -4.9bps on Friday) .

With risk-off sentiment dominating, equities struggled at the end of the week. The S&P 500 dipped -0.50% on Friday, although it was still up +0.45% week-on-week. Technology was buffeted on Friday, as the tech-heavy NASDAQ dropped -1.23% (-0.18% on the week). Weak performance was most evident for the mega caps as the Magnificent Seven index fell -2.05% (-0.39% on the week), led by the likes of Tesla (-2.99%) and Nvidia (-3.16%). In Europe, the STOXX 600 slipped -0.98% on Friday but was up +0.96% week-on-week.

Oil spiked sharply on Friday on the news in Israel, as concerns over risks to oil supply from the Middle East rose. It was also boosted by news of the US sanctioning two shipping companies for violating the price cap on Russian oil. Brent broke through the $90/bbl level, rising +5.69% to $90.89/bbl. The +7.46% weekly increase, is its largest since February. WTI crude climbed +5.77% to $87.69/bbl, and +5.92% in weekly terms. With the geopolitical backdrop increasingly fragile, the haven of gold also rose +3.28% on Friday to $1933/ounce (and +5.45% week-on-week), its greatest daily increase since the banking stress in March. However, European gas futures took the prize for the week, after prices rose +51.0% week-on-week to EUR 55.35/MWh (and +3.87% on Friday), its greatest percentage increase since March 2022 just after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

2 B) NOW NEWSQUAWK (EUROPE/REPORT)

Geopolitical developments keep tensions elevated and the tone tentative – Newsquawk US Market Open

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 06:31 AM

• European bourses are under modest pressure as geopolitical developments keep tensions elevated and the tone tentative
• Israeli military spokesperson said their goal is to completely destroy the governing and military capabilities of Hamas.
• Iranian Foreign Minister said ‘If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger’
• DXY towards the lower-end of bounds with CHF lagging after recent haven demand while JPY notes Kanda’s remarks
• Fixed benchmarks continue to ease as upward momentum fades, numerous central bank officials provide commentary
• WTI, Brent and XAU are subdued/flat intraday after Friday’s marked advances
• Looking ahead, highlights include NY Fed Manufacturing, NZ CPI, Speeches from Fed’s Harker & ECB’s Lagarde, Earnings from Charles Schwab Corp.

More Newsquawk in 3 steps:

1. Subscribe to the free premarket movers reports

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EUROPEAN TRADE

EQUITIES

• European bourses are under modest pressure as the weekend’s deluge of geopolitical developments keeps tensions elevated and the tone tentative, Euro Stoxx 50 -0.2%.
• As such, sectors are tilting into the red overall despite an initially firmer start to European trade with the morning’s main movers driven by individual updates around stocks including Telecom Italia, Atos and Ocado.
• Stateside, futures are slightly firmer on the session awaiting fresh catalysts with the aforementioned tentative tone capping and real action, ES +0.1%.
• Apple (AAPL) iPhone 15 sales -4.5% in the China debut YY, via Counterpoint.
• Click here for more details.

FX

• Greenback gravitates ahead of NY Fed manufacturing survey and Fed’s Harker, while keeping tabs on geopolitical news, DXY towards base of narrow 106.400-610 range.
• Franc sags after pre-weekend safe haven advance, USD/CHF back above 0.9000.
• Yen pivots 149.50 vs Dollar eyeing yields and latest verbal intervention from Japan’s top FX diplomate Kanda.
• Kiwi back on 0.5900 handle vs Buck and Zloty above 4.5000 against Euro after NZ and Polish elections.
• Euro flanked by decent option expiries vs Dollar at 1.0500 and between 1.0540-50.
• Cable straddles 1.2150 as Pound digests hawkish-leaning comments from BoE’s Pill on inflation.
• Loonie tethered to 1.3650 against its US rival pre-Canadian data and BoC outlook survey.
• PBoC set USD/CNY mid-point at 7.1798 vs exp. 7.3121 (prev. 7.1775).
• Click here for more details.
• Click here for the Option Expires for the NY Cut.

FIXED INCOME

• More momentum fading in debt as Bunds test 129.00 after topping 130.00 last week, Gilts lose grip of 94.00 handle compared to 95.50+ m-t-d peak and T-note touches 107-09+ vs 108-16 pre-US CPI.
• BTPs also underwater within 109.76-31 range and digesting Italy’s EUR 24bln budget of tax cuts and spending.
• Click here for more details.

COMMODITIES

• WTI Nov and Brent Dec futures were subdued intraday settling higher by almost USD 5/bbl each on Friday amid the growing Middle Eastern tensions heading into the weekend; however, benchmarks have lifted incrementally off of lows with WTI edging into positive territory most recently.
• WTI Nov resides around USD 87.75/bbl (in a USD 87.07-87.98/bbl range) while Brent Dec sits around USD 90.75/bbl (in a USD 90.18-91.20/bbl parameter).
• Dutch TTF prices are softer intraday to the tune of around 2.5% at the time of writing, but prices remain around EUR 52/MWh as LNG workers in Australia are poised to resume strike action.
• Spot gold has reversed some of its marked upside from Friday, as we await the next set of updates on the geopolitical front; though, the yellow metal remains above the USD 1915/oz mark but has lost the 100-DMA at USD 1922/oz.
• Russian Deputy PM Novak says Russia and Venezuela have agreed to seek ways of boosting cooperation in oil and increasing oil output.
• Click here for more details.

NOTABLE EUROPEAN HEADLINES

• BoE Governor Bailey said he is puzzled by stubborn pay growth in the UK but added that they have had some good news on inflation recently, while he also commented that workforce dropouts hit the UK growth and stoke prices.
• BoE’s Pill says we must not declare premature victory after mechanical fall in headline inflation; if we look at market inflation expectations, we cannot be complacent. Thinks more of BoE rate rise has been transmitted than 20-25% but not dramatically so.
• ECB President Lagarde said the labour market shows no real sign of weakening.
• ECB’s Nagel reiterated that inflation remains too high and policy is to remain restrictive for the foreseeable future.
• ECB’s de Cos said higher borrowing costs underline governments’ need to reduce deficits next year, while the surge in global borrowing costs, triggered by a sell-off in US Treasuries means eurozone rate-setters may have done enough to tame inflation, according to FT.
• ECB’s Wunsch (Hawkish) says that discussing PEPP is not a pressing issue, a matter of consistency. Fine with it being discussed in October or a bit later, via Econostream. On whether they are at terminal rate “maybe, maybe not”. Chances of hiking after pausing are far from marginal.
• Polish PM Morawiecki said the ruling nationalists PiS will try to form a government if the president gives them this task after exit polls showed the ruling nationalists with 36.8% of votes and the largest opposition group Civic Coalition received 31.6% of votes, according to Reuters.
• Italian PM Meloni says 2024 budget contains measures worth circa EUR 24bln in tax cuts and higher spending.
• German Finance Minister Lindner said to the UK “If you want to intensify your trade relationship with the EU – call us!”, via BBC
• UK government is reportedly “quietly drawing up plans to hold key trade talks with China for the first time in five years”, via Politico citing officials, adding that the government is considering a range of options for strengthening ties.

EUROPEAN DATA RECAP

• UK Rightmove House Price Index MM (Oct) 0.5% (Prev. 0.4%); YY (Oct) -0.8% (Prev. -0.4%)
• German Wholesale Price Index YY (Sep 2023) -4.1% (Prev. -2.7%); MM (Sep 2023) 0.2% (Prev. 0.2%)

NOTABLE US HEADLINES

• US House will vote on GOP Rep. Jim Jordan’s nomination for House Speaker on Tuesday at approximately 12:00EDT/17:00BST, according to Reuters.
• UAW said they unfortunately had to escalate their action and that they came to get another offer from Ford which gave them the exact same offer as two weeks ago, according to Reuters.
• US SEC chair Gensler urged regulators to tame AI risks to financial stability.
• Fed’s Goolsbee (2023 voter) said progress was not stalling on getting inflation back to the 2% target; cautioned tying upcoming decisions to a narrow set of data, according to an FT interview.
• Click here for the US Early Morning Note.

GEOPOLITICS

ISRAEL-HAMAS

• Israeli military spokesperson said forces are preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans which include combined coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land, while their goal is to completely destroy the governing and military capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organisations. Furthermore, the spokesman said the operation will take a long time and that residents of Gaza should leave and not return until told to for their own safety but Hamas has been preventing people from leaving, according to Reuters.
• Israeli military spokesperson said Hezbollah is escalating the situation on the Lebanon border to hinder the Gaza counter-offensive and Israel is prepared to fight on two fronts and even more if required, while an Israeli military spokesman said more than 600,000 Gazans have relocated southwards and that more than 200 Hamas members in the West Bank were detained since October 7th.
• Israeli PM Netanyahu’s national security adviser said Israel is not trying to be drawn into a two-front war and that Hezbollah’s actions are under the escalation threshold so far, while the adviser added they hope Hezbollah won’t de facto bring about the destruction of Lebanon, according to Reuters.
• Iranian President Raisi said in a phone call with French President Macron that ’the Zionist regime’s actions are a reminder of Nazi actions’, while he also stated that Palestinian resistance groups make their own decisions and urged France to prevent oppression and injustice, according to Reuters.
• Iranian Foreign Minister said ‘If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger’ and warned heavy losses will be inflicted on the US if the scope of the Gaza war widens. Iran’s Foreign Minister also said that Iran will not remain an observer in this situation and informed Israel via its allies that ‘tomorrow will be too late’ if its crimes in Gaza continue.
• Iran has reportedly made no decision about whether to open a new front against Israel, according to an Iranian source close to the government, but added that a meeting was to be held on Sunday night in a Hezbollah command center in Lebanon, NYT reported.
• Iran’s mission to the UN said if Israel’s ‘war crimes, genocide’ is not halted immediately, the situation could ricochet far-reaching consequences.
• US President Biden said deploying US troops in the Middle East war is not necessary and Israel has one of the finest fighting forces, while he is confident Israel is going to act under the rules of war and said it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza. Biden stated he believes Hamas must be eliminated entirely but said there must be a path to a Palestinian state and his message to Iran is don’t come across the border and don’t escalate the war, while it was also reported that President Biden is considering visiting Israel in the coming days.
• US National Security Adviser Sullivan said the US does not have new intelligence that the threat on the ground is different today and there is a risk of conflict escalation. Sullivan added that they cannot rule out that Iran would choose to get directly engaged in some way and that the US is concerned about proxy forces, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, according to a CBS interview.
• US Secretary of State Blinken will head back to Israel on Monday for further consultations with Israeli leaders.
• US officials said the US is sending a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean, according to ABC News.
• US Senate Majority Leader Schumer said he will lead an effort in the Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself, while he told Israeli leaders it is important to minimise civilian casualties in Gaza.
• US Secretary of State Blinken said his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince MBS was very productive, while the Saudi Crown Prince stressed in a meeting with US Secretary of State Blinken the kingdom’s refusal to target civilians in any way or disrupt infrastructure and vital interests that affect the lives of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, the Saudi Crown Prince emphasised the Kingdom’s desire to intensify communication while working to calm the situation in Gaza and help lift the siege, according to Reuters.
• UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL said its headquarters in South Lebanon was hit by a rocket and military escalation continues at the Lebanon-Israel border despite their efforts.
• Syria said Aleppo airport is out of service following an Israeli air strike.
• Russia asked the UN Security Council to vote on Monday on the draft resolution on Israel and Gaza calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
• Egypt proposed a summit on current developments and the future of the Palestinian issue, according to Reuters.
• Israeli Communications Minister said they are seeking cabinet approval for a proposed shutdown of Al Jazeera and said Qatar’s Al Jazeera is helping Hamas, inciting against Israel, and is filming Israeli troops in vulnerable areas.
• US, Israel and Egypt agree to a ceasefire in southern Gaza to commence at 07:00BST, coinciding with the re-opening of the Rafah border crossing, via Reuters citing Egyptian security sources. Subsequently, Hamas said it had no information on this. Reports after the time indicated that the border had not been reopened.
• Israeli military says Iran instructed Lebanon’s Hezbollah to carry out Sunday’s attacks at the Lebanon-Israel border.

OTHER

• Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev raised the Azerbaijani flag in the city of Khankendi which is the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh which is known as Stepanakert by Armenians, according to state news.
• Ukraine’s Finance Minister said donor tiredness is growing as the war drags on, according to Reuters.
• Russian President Putin said Russian forces improved their position at almost the entire contact line with Ukrainian forces.
• Russia’s Black Sea fleet conducted drills with rocket launchers in Crimea, according to the Sevastopol Governor.
• Russia scrambled a SU-27 as a US Global Hawk drone approached the Russian border over the Black Sea, according to IFAX the Russian Defence Ministry.
• Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi will discuss all aspects of bilateral relations this week and Moscow sees China’s One Belt One Road summit as essential to promote cooperation in Eurasia, according to Russian agencies.

CRYPTO

• Bitcoin bolstered but failed to breach the USD 28k mark in European hours and as such remains just shy of the early-October best around the figure. Action which follows gains in APAC trade which have been attributed by some to the SEC’s decision not to appeal the Grayscale ruling.

APAC TRADE

• APAC stocks were mostly lower amid ongoing geopolitical concerns with the Israel-Hamas conflict threatening to spill over to neighbours in the region.
• ASX 200 was subdued amid underperformance in tech, telecoms and industrials but with losses stemmed by resilience in commodity-related industries.
• Nikkei 225 underperformed and gapped below the 32,000 level despite the lack of fresh pertinent catalysts.
• Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp. saw somewhat varied price action with the Hong Kong benchmark choppy and the mainland ultimately pressured as participants digested several recent developments including the PBoC’s decision to maintain the 1-year MLF rate, as expected, with the operation the largest MLF net injection since December 2020. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the US is to take steps to prevent American chipmakers from selling AI chips to China that circumvent government restrictions and that China’s securities regulator will restrict securities lending which local press suggested could help support markets as it would tighten rules for short selling.

NOTABLE ASIA-PAC HEADLINES

• PBoC conducted CNY 789bln in 1-year MLF with the rate kept unchanged at 2.50% vs CNY 500bln maturing.
• PBoC said the number of bright spots in China’s economy is increasing and China will pay more attention to the balance between economic growth and sustainability, while China will focus on expanding domestic demand, boosting confidence and accelerating the virtuous circle of the economy, according to Reuters.
• PBoC Governor Pan met with IMF MD Georgieva and said China is looking forward to the timely conclusion of the 16th IMF quota review increase and realignment with the quota realignment fundamental to IMF’s governance form. PBoC’s Pan also stated the IMF’s quota realignment should reflect members’ relative weights in the global economy and strengthen the voice and representations of emerging markets and developing countries.
• US is to take steps to prevent American chipmakers from selling AI chips to China that circumvent government restrictions with the US efforts part of upcoming restrictions on AI chip exports to China to be announced this week.
• China’s securities regulator said will restrict securities lending and appropriately curb securities lending by strategic investors and senior management of listed firms, according to Reuters. Furthermore, Chinese press suggested the latest securities rule is to help support markets and cited efforts to tighten rules for short selling.
• EU foreign policy chief Borrell said the EU has ties with China that are independent of other nations, while it was also reported that EU’s Mora is to visit China for follow-up talks.
• New Zealand shifted to the right in a rejection of the Labour Party and PM Hipkins conceded defeat, while National Party leader Luxon is set to become the next PM.
• Japanese top currency diplomat Kanda says interest rates is merely one factor in FX; intervention is one option when excessive FX moves are seen; JPY is still perceived as a safe asset, alongside the CHF and USD.

2 c. ASIAN AFFAIRS

MONDAY MORNING/SUNDAY NIGHT

SHANGHAI CLOSED DOWN 14.29 PTS OR .64%  //Hang Seng CLOSED DOWN 173.09 PTS OR 0.97%          /The Nikkei CLOSED DOWN 656.92 PTS OR 2.03%  //Australia’s all ordinaries CLOSED DOWN 0.40 %   /Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) closed DOWN AT 7.3122   /OFFSHORE CHINESE YUAN CLOSED DOWN TO 7.3124 /Oil UP TO 87.71 dollars per barrel for WTI and BRENT  DOWN AT 90.72/ Stocks in Europe OPENED  ALL GREEN// ONSHORE YUAN TRADING ABOVE LEVEL OF OFFSHORE YUAN/ONSHORE YUAN  TRADING WEAKER AGAINST US DOLLAR/OFFSHORE WEAKER

2 d./NORTH KOREA/ SOUTH KOREA/

//NORTH KOREA/

END

2e) JAPAN

JAPAN/

end

JAPAN

end

3 CHINA /

CHINA/JAPAN/DEMOGRAPHICS

Both China and Japan have a demographic problem with plummeting birth rates. This has some inflationary aspects to it but mostly deflationary

(zerohedge)

China’s Birth Rate Plummets 10% To Lowest On Record

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023 – 10:40 PM

China’s birthrate fell 10% last year to its lowest level on record, a significant drop in spite of extensive efforts by the CCP to encourage people to get busy.

The country had just 9.56 million births in 2022, the lowest figure since they began keeping records in 1949, according to a report by the National Health Commission.

The high costs of child care and education, growing unemployment and job insecurity as well as gender discrimination have all helped to deter many young couples from having more than one child or even having children at all. -NBC News

China’s population also fell for the first time in six decades, dropping to 1.41 billion people – a demographic shift that’s caused officials to worry that the country will ‘get old before it gets rich’ – with a slowing economy and declining tax receipts amid increases in government debt due to soaring health and welfare costs.

According to the report, the demographic downturn is largely thanks to China’s one-child policy imposed between 1980 and 2015. Nearly 40% of Chinese babies last year were the second child of a married couple, while 15% were from families with three or more children.

The sharp decline in births comes despite Beijing’s efforts to increase child care and provide other financial incentives. In May, President Xi Jinping presided over a panel to study the topic.

Not just China

As we noted in June, Japan’s birth rate has also plummeted to a record low for the seventh straight year, with the number of babies born falling below 800,000 this year, health ministry data showed on June 2.

The number of newborns in Japan fell to 770,747 this year, down 40,875 from the previous year and the lowest since the country began record-keeping in 1899, Kyodo News reported, citing health ministry data.

Japan’s fertility rate—the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime—fell from 1.30 in 2021 to 1.26 last year, equivalent to the previous low recorded in 2005. The number is far below the 2.07 rate necessary to sustain a stable population.

The decline in Japan’s birth rate is attributed to people delaying parenthood due to the economic impact brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the prevailing trend among couples to delay marriage, according to the report.

The US birthrate has also been in decline, falling slightly in 2022 compared to 2021, with roughly 3.7 million babies born nationwide. It still hasn’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels according to the CDC.

And as Mike Shedlock noted two years ago.

More via Mish Talk, worth a review:

The Pandemic Caused a Baby Bust, Not a Boom

Scientific American reports The Pandemic Caused a Baby Bust, Not a Boom

When the COVID pandemic led to widespread economic shutdowns and stay-at-home orders in the spring of 2020, many media outlets and pundits speculated this might lead to a baby boom. But it appears the opposite has happened: birth rates declined in many high-income countries amid the crisis, a new study shows.

Arnstein Aassve, a professor of social and political sciences at Bocconi University in Italy, and his colleagues looked at birth rates in 22 high-income countries, including the U.S., from 2016 through the beginning of 2021. They found that seven of these countries had statistically significant declines in birth rates in the final months of 2020 and first months of 2021, compared with the same period in previous years. Hungary, Italy, Spain and Portugal had some of the largest drops: reductions of 8.5, 9.1, 8.4 and 6.6 percent, respectively. The U.S. saw a decline of 3.8 percent, but this was not statistically significant—perhaps because the pandemic’s effects were more spread out in the country and because the study only had U.S. data through December 2020, Aassve says. The findings were published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.

Birth rates fluctuate seasonally within a year, and many of the countries in the study had experienced falling rates for years before the pandemic. But the declines that began nine months after the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency on January 30, 2020, were even more stark. “We are very confident that the effect for those countries is real,” Aassve says. “Even though they might have had a bit of a mild downward trend [before], we’re pretty sure about the fact that there was an impact of the pandemic.”

Covid Accelerated the Existing Trend

Covid accelerated the already declining birth rates. 

Given the 16-year lag between births and the civilian noninstitutional population coupled with the aging of the workforce there will be fewer and fewer workers supporting retired workers on Social Security. 

Notice the relatively steep decline in the birth rate starting in 2008 and continuing through today. 

That impact will start showing up in 2024 and last a minimum of 12 years.

How long depends on whether the birth rate picks up after Covid. I highly doubt the birth rate will pick up.

Deflationary and Inflationary Impacts

1. Inflationary: Shortage of workers increases wage pressures
2. Deflationary: Fewer workers support an increasing number of retirees
3. Deflationary: Older workers need more assistance, buy fewer things, travel less. 
4. Deflationary: More government debt and deficits. Government spending has a negative impact on real GDP.

*  *  *

Time for another sexual revolution?

end

4.EUROPEAN AFFAIRS//UK /SCANDINAVIAN AFFAIRS

EUROPE/SWEDEN

Exactly what we promised would happen: Europe is now shaken by an Islamist terrorist attack in Brussels and the shooter is still at large. We now await with bated breath for an islamist attack in the USA

(zerohedge)

Europe “Shaken” By “Islamist Terrorist Attack” In Brussels; Shooter Still At Large

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 04:15 PM

Update (1730ET): French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Europe had been “shaken” by a “terrorist attack” in Brussels, after two Swedes were killed in a shooting.

“A few minutes ago, Brussels was hit again by an Islamist terrorist attack which apparently, as I speak to you, took the lives of at least two other Europeans, two Swedes,” Macron said during a visit to Tirana, according to AFP.

Perhaps most ironically, given the comments from various world l;aders about this “terrorist” attack by a muslim man, who recorded a video of himself explaining this was to “avenge the Muslims that have died for their religion”, the Belgian prosecutor has issues a statement that there is ‘no immediate link to Israel-Hamas’.

“So there has been a claim via social media where someone says he is the perpetrator, that he has sympathies for IS, and what is also important, he mentions the Swedish nationality of those victims,” Eric Van Der Sypt, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office, told the Belgian broadcaster VTM.

“For now, at the current stage of the investigation, there would be no relationship to the conflict in Gaza,” he added.

Hmm…

Belgium’s government crisis center confirmed reports of the killings and asked the public not to share images or videos that might be related to the incident.

As a reminder, Brussels was hit by major Islamic State terrorist attacks in 2016, which left more than 30 people dead and hundreds injured.

*  *  *

Update (1630): Belgium’s crisis center has raised Brussels’ terror alert status to its highest level, and France was tightening controls at its border with Belgium, France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said.

“Horrified by the terrorist attack which left two victims in the heart of Brussels,” Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said in a post on the X social media network.

“All necessary means must be mobilized to combat radicalism.”

“We are monitoring the situation and ask the people of Brussels to be vigilant,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a post on X, but appeared to confirm the link to terrorism:

“I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish prime minister following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels.

“Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners, the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”

Additionally, the Euro 2024 soccer qualifier between Belgium and Sweden (taking place in Belgium’s national stadium in Brussels) has been abandoned at half-time after the attack, with fans locked in the stadium.

No suspect has yet been arrested.

*  *  *

As Remix News’ Thomas Brooke reported, two people have been shot dead and others injured in central Brussels on Monday evening and the perpetrator remains at large, Belgian police have said.

Authorities have confirmed a shooting took place in Ieperlaan at around 7:15 p.m. local time and two people of Swedish nationality were killed.

The victims are understood to have been supporters of the Swedish national football team and were visiting the Belgian capital to attend the European Championship qualifying fixture between the two nations at the Heysel Stadium on Monday evening.

Amateur footage circulating outline showed the perpetrator, dressed in a fluorescent orange jacket and wearing a white helmet, equipped with an assault rifle on the rampage in the city. The suspect arrived at the scene on a scooter before opening fire in the street causing pedestrians to flee into a nearby apartment building.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1713989778008342996&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Fi-did-it-avenge-muslims-belgium-issues-highest-terror-alert-after-mass-shooting&sessionId=4e280ac6f39e489fc21b6f04b63afe2363712e88&siteScreenName=zerohedge&theme=light&widgetsVersion=01917f4d1d4cb%3A1696883169554&width=550px

The man followed those fleeing the scene into the lobby of the residential building before firing several more shots, before returning to his scooter and taking off at speed.

Belgian media reported eyewitness testimony which stated the shooter shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire.

Additional footage circulating online purports to be a video message recorded in Arabic by the shooter who is wearing the same identifiable clothing following the attack. According to the Sudinfo news outlet, the attacker said his motivation for the mass shooting was to avenge the deaths of Muslims around the world and boasted about killing “infidels.”

“In his very violent speech, he said he had shot two people to ‘avenge the Muslims and that we live and die for our religion,’” the news site stated.

The tweet is viewable here but not embeddable…

Crisis meetings have taken place between the Belgian federal police, the Brussels local police, the security services, and Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden and Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne.

Authorities have not yet made an arrest and the suspect remains at large.

This is a developing story…

5 RUSSIA//UKRAINE AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

ISRAEL/HAMAS/GAZA/SATURDAY

Israel delays its all out assault on Gaza. It will allow for time for the civilians to flee to the south part of the GAZA strip.

(zerohedge)

Israel Delays All-Out Assault On Gaza Amid Growing International Pressure, As Civilians Flee To South

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023 – 05:10 PM

Update(1710ET): International pressure, including from the United States, for Israel to allow more time for Palestinian civilian evacuations of the northern half of Gaza Strip has grown. There appears to be some level of delay at this moment on the part of Israel’s military. Currently, there’s widespread expectation that Al Awda Hospital is about to be bombed, but Israel has extended an earlier 2-hour evacuation warning and deadline, it appears: 

The humanitarion organization had previously said they were given only two hours to evacuate. They now say the order has been extended to 6am local (03 GMT). “The evacuation of patients remains complicated,” the organisation said on X

Hamas as well as Palestinian media have alleged that Israeli forces have killed some 70 men, women, and children as they were trying to flee to safety. There has been no response from the Israeli government regarding these specific allegations.

An Israeli i24 News anchor has also posted the following allegation:

i24 has also highlighted the following new to emerge video from the Saturday music festival massacre by Hamas:

GRAPHIC VIDEO: Hamas terrorists methodically shoot at every portable toilet at the Israeli desert rave to make sure no partygoers survive

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israel-gives-11-million-gazans-24-hours-evacuate-northern-strip-hamas-says-ignore

Update(1425ET): Fears of an imminent all-out ground and aerial assault are growing, after one of northern Gaza’s main hospitals has sent out an SOS message. Hospital officials say they’ve been given two hours to evacuate. The WHO has decried this as life-threatening for patients there:

A Gaza activist organization describes of the hospital: 

Al Awda Hospital, established in 1997, is the first-line hospital in the Gaza Strip and provides health services to all inhabitants in the northern part of the region. Al Awda is the main provider of maternity services in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and is the only provider of Fluoroscopy services. It is also authorized as an educational hospital from some universities in the Gaza Strip to train nursing students.

But where will they go?

Over 40 US lawmakers in the House have sent an urgent letter to President Biden:

More than 40 U.S. lawmakers urged the Biden administration to push Israel to follow international law amid Israel’s looming military campaign in Gaza and to establish a humanitarian corridor.

“We are deeply concerned about the order to evacuate over a million civilians out of northern Gaza and the devastating humanitarian consequences that would ensue,” wrote the House members.

“As both the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights said, imposing a complete siege on Gaza and depriving 2.3 million Palestinian civilians who have nowhere else to go — half of whom are children — of food, water, and electricity, would be a violation of international humanitarian law,” they added.

* * * 

END

SATURDAY

Hamas Claims 26 Hostages Died From Israeli Airstrikes, Including Foreigners, After IDF Finds Several Bodies

SATURDAY, OCT 14, 2023 – 09:55 AM

Israeli media is reporting a “greenlight” has been given for the expected major Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip as massive convoys of Palestinian civilians have been observed fleeing to the southern part of the densely populated strip. So far there has been limited ground incursions by the army into the strip, targeting Hamas operatives and reportedly to gain intelligence on the whereabouts of hostages. 

The United Nations has issued a report saying at least 423,000 Palestinians have already been internally displaced within Gaza and this massive figure is expected to ratchet further. Likely it has surpassed a half-million as of Saturday, following the Israeli-issued evacuation order, which included dropping thousands of leaflets and warnings over Gaza City. 

The UN said it “considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.” Middle East Eye and other regional sources have said over 700 Palestinian children were killed in one week of fighting. As of Friday Israel authorities tallied that over 1,300 Israelis were killed by the Hamas terror attacks on the southern settlements and the music festival, and rocket fire, with at least 3,200 wounded. 27 among the dead were Americans.

Middle East Eye on Saturday reports the following of the mounting Palestinian death toll in both Gaza and the West bank as follows:

Israel has killed at least 2,215 people in Gaza over the past week, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Of those killed, 724 are children and 458 are women. Some 8,714 people have been wounded in the besieged enclave in that time, it added. 

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have killed 54 people and wounded 1,100 others in the occupied West Bank.

According to a review of the last hours of developments, the population is about to run out of water as the remaining supply dwindles after Israel cut off external supply sources: 

• UN agency for Palestinian refugees says its shelters in Gaza “are not safe anymore” as it warns water running out for besieged enclave’s residents.
• More than 320 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours, including many women and children killed in Israeli air raids on convoys fleeing Gaza City, according to health officials.
• The rising toll comes as Israel continues bombing Gaza a day after telling 1.1 million residents to head south ahead of a looming ground offensive following Hamas’s attack inside Israel last week.
• At least 2,215 Palestinians have been killed and 8,714 wounded in Israeli air attacks on Gaza. The number of people killed in Israel has reached 1,300, with more than 3,400 wounded.
• In the occupied West Bank, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the past week has topped 50. More than 1,000 have been wounded and hundreds arrested.

The fate of the estimated 100 to 200 hostages in Hamas captivity still remains largely unknown, but Hamas in statements which have been underreported in Western press has claimed that over two dozen of the hostages have been killed by the IDF’s ongoing aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip: 

Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades said nine more captives were killed in indiscriminate Israeli shelling in the last 24 hours, including a number of foreigners. 

Qassam has previously announced the death of 17 captives in Israeli air stikes in Gaza over the past week. 

Sky News and others are also reporting, based on Israeli sources, that bodies of hostages have been recovered after some of the initial IDF infantry cross-border raids which began Friday into Saturday:

Raids carried out on the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces discovered human remains of those who had been missing since Hamas’s attack last weekend, local media is reporting.

According to Haaretz, armed forces entered an enclave where it is thought up to 200 people were being held hostage by Hamas, and retrieved the bodies of several people.

Items belonging to the missing people were also discovered. 

The US said Friday it chartered its first successful evacuation flight, with talk of more to come.

There are Americans (many of them likely dual nationals) among the population of Gaza, which Washington says it is trying to facilitate safe exit for as Israeli airstrikes continue. Dangerously, the lone Raffah border crossing into Egypt has at this point been bombed several times. 

But regional media is reporting there’s been a diplomatic breakthrough on this front, as Israel, Egypt, and the United States have forged an agreement to let foreigners residing in Gaza pass through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.

Scene from the frontlines as the IDF build-up outside Gaza continues:

Huge civilian convoys have been witnessed fleeing to the southern half of Gaza, creating bottlenecks…

The Times of Israel cites a senior Egyptian official as follows:

The official says Israel has agreed to refrain from striking areas the foreigners would pass through on their way out of the besieged Palestinian territory. He adds that Qatar was involved in the negotiations and the participants received approval from the Palestinian terror groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The agreement  does not deal with hostages being held by Hamas.

A second official at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing point says they received “instructions” to reopen it on Saturday afternoon for foreigners coming from Gaza.

But Egypt is by and large not letting Gazans exit, even erecting bigger concrete barriers of extra border protection, amid what’s setting up to be a catastrophic humanitarian crisis as the Israeli pressure ratchets.

The IDF says it is about to attack the northern half of the Gaza Strip with “great force” – while the US and other countries are urging for caution regarding Palestinian civilians. Below is rare footage of an elite Israeli rescue squad in action (intentionally blurred by IDF sources):

Washington has still all the while said it “stands with Israel” – and has not tried to actually halt the unrelenting IDF bombardment of civilian areas.

Meanwhile, things continue ratcheting in south Lebanon, with reports of new strikes being exchanged between Israel and Hezbollah, and other pro-Palestinian factions.

end

SAUDI ARABIA/ISRAEL/SATURDAY

Saudi Arabia’s real goal in their negotiations with Israel is an iron clad protection pledge.  Saudi Arabia is not too sure that they could get it from China and/ or Russia.  Now that is put on hold.  Israel loses very little from the delay.

(zerohedge0)

Saudi Arabia Puts Israel Deal On Ice, Engages With Iran In Latest Hit To Us Foreign Policy

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023 – 07:20 PM

As widely expected, Saudi Arabia has put its US-backed plans to normalize ties with Israel on ice indefinitely, Reuters reported citing two sources, signalling a rapid reversal (and rethinking) of the Kingdom’s foreign policy priorities as war escalates between Israel and Hamas.

Meanwhile, as reported previously, the rapidly escalating war has also pushed the kingdom to engage with Israel’s sworn enemy, Iran: earlier this week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took his first phone call from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as Riyadh tries to prevent a broader surge in violence across the region.

Two sources told Reuters there would be a delay in the US-backed talks on normalization with Israel that was a key step for the kingdom to secure what Riyadh considers the real prize of a U.S. defense pact in exchange, although it may just as well settle for a higher oil price now that geopolitical risk premium has exploded higher.

As a reminder, until Hamas sparked a war on Oct. 7 by launching an attack on Israel, whether with or without Iran backing, both Israeli and Saudi leaders had been saying they were moving steadily towards a deal that could have reshaped the Middle East.

While Saudi Arabia – birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest sites – had until the latest conflict indicated it would not allow its pursuit of a U.S. defense pact be derailed even if Israel did not offer significant concessions to the Palestinians in the their bid for statehood, sources had previously said. But an approach that sidelined Palestinians would risk angering Arabs around the region, as Arab news outlets broadcast images of Palestinians killed in Israeli retaliatory airstrikes.

Hamas fighters killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their Oct. 7 attack and more than 1,500 had been killed by Friday in Israel’s ongoing strikes on Gaza in response, according to official reports.

The first Reuters source said talks could not be continued for now and the issue of Israeli concessions for the Palestinians would need to be a bigger priority when discussions resumed – a comment that indicates Riyadh has not abandoned the idea, although the probability of Palestine getting bigger concessions now from the Biden admin is negligible.

The Saudi rethink highlights challenges facing Washington’s efforts to deepen Israel’s integration in a region where the Palestinian cause remains a major Arab concern.

“Normalisation was already considered taboo (in the Arab world) … this war only amplifies that,” Saudi analyst Aziz Alghashian said.

The Reuters source said Washington had pressed Riyadh this week to condemn the Hamas attack but said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan pushed back. A U.S. source familiar with the issue confirmed this.

Meanwhile, Biden’s top National Security advisor Jake Sullivan once again lied, and told a White House briefing this week that the normalization effort was “not on hold” but said the focus was on other immediate challenges. The truth: the normalization effort is not only “on hold” but absent a miracle, is dead.

* * *

Meanwhile, the regional conflict has also prompted the Saudi crown prince and Iran’s president to speak for the first time after a Chinese-brokered initiative prompted the Gulf rivals to re-establish diplomatic ties in April. A Saudi statement said the crown prince told Raisi “the kingdom is exerting maximum effort to engage with all international and regional parties to halt the ongoing escalation”, underling Riyadh’s move to contain the crisis.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters the call, made by Raisi to the crown prince, aimed to support “Palestine and prevent the spread of war in the region”. “The call was good and promising,” the official said.

A second Iranian official said the call lasted 45 minutes and had the blessing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Saudi government did not provide further details on the call but the statement said the crown prince stated the kingdom’s “opposition to any form of civilian targeting and the loss of innocent lives” and expressed Riyadh’s “unwavering stance in standing up for the Palestinian cause”.

Bottom line: while just one week ago the US was making progress in pushing Saudi Arabia and Iran far apart, events from last weekend have reminded the middle east that, at the end of the day, Arabs will be Arabs.

END

Saturday

US Confirms 2nd Carrier Group En Route To “Deter Hostile Actions Against Israel”

SATURDAY, OCT 14, 2023 – 09:00 PM

Update (2100ET): The Pentagon has ordered a second carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, according to two US officials, as Israel prepares to expand its Gaza operations.

The first carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Saturday night that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrying nine aircraft squadrons, as well as two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser, will soon join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group in the region to “deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel.”

The Biden administration made clear that the carrier, and its accompanying force, are not there to engage in combat activities on behalf of Israel but rather to deter others from entering the conflict, including Hezbollah.

“The increases to US force Posture signal the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war,” Austin stated.

Additionally, the US administration has so far ruled out sending military personnel into Gaza as part of any Israeli ground invasion or attempt to free American hostages there, only aiding the IDF with intelligence and operation planning.

*  *  *

Update (1330ET): The Israeli military has announced it is prepared for a coordinated air, ground and naval offensive in the Gaza Strip “very soon,” according to reports from AP.

In a nationally broadcast address Saturday night, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari issued a new appeal to residents to move to the southern Gaza Strip.

“We are going to broadly attack Gaza City very soon,” he said.

He accused Hamas of trying to use civilians as human shields.

Meanwhile, the social media rhetoric between leaders has gone to ’11’…

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei expects a “complete victory”…

Calling on all Muslims to join the fight…

Israeli PM Netanyahu made his views very clear:

Live feeds below on Gaza: 

Israeli media is reporting a “greenlight” has been given for the expected major Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip as massive convoys of Palestinian civilians have been observed fleeing to the southern part of the densely populated strip. So far there has been limited ground incursions by the army into the strip, targeting Hamas operatives and reportedly to gain intelligence on the whereabouts of hostages. 

The United Nations has issued a report saying at least 423,000 Palestinians have already been internally displaced within Gaza and this massive figure is expected to ratchet further. Likely it has surpassed a half-million as of Saturday, following the Israeli-issued evacuation order, which included dropping thousands of leaflets and warnings over Gaza City. 

The UN said it “considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.” Middle East Eye and other regional sources have said over 700 Palestinian children were killed in one week of fighting. As of Friday Israel authorities tallied that over 1,300 Israelis were killed by the Hamas terror attacks on the southern settlements and the music festival, and rocket fire, with at least 3,200 wounded. 27 among the dead were Americans.

Middle East Eye on Saturday reports the following of the mounting Palestinian death toll in both Gaza and the West bank as follows:

Israel has killed at least 2,215 people in Gaza over the past week, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Of those killed, 724 are children and 458 are women. Some 8,714 people have been wounded in the besieged enclave in that time, it added. 

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have killed 54 people and wounded 1,100 others in the occupied West Bank.

According to a review of the last hours of developments, the population is about to run out of water as the remaining supply dwindles after Israel cut off external supply sources: 

• UN agency for Palestinian refugees says its shelters in Gaza “are not safe anymore” as it warns water running our for besieged enclave’s residents.
• More than 320 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours, including many women and children killed in Israeli air raids on convoys fleeing Gaza City, according to health officials.
• The rising toll comes as Israel continues bombing Gaza a day after telling 1.1 million residents to head south ahead of a looming ground offensive following Hamas’s attack inside Israel last week.
• At least 2,215 Palestinians have been killed and 8,714 wounded in Israeli air attacks on Gaza. The number of people killed in Israel has reached 1,300, with more than 3,400 wounded.
• In the occupied West Bank, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the past week has topped 50. More than 1,000 have been wounded and hundreds arrested.

The fate of the estimated 100 to 200 hostages in Hamas captivity still remains largely unknown, but Hamas in statements which have been underreported in Western press has claimed that over two dozen of the hostages have been killed by the IDF’s ongoing aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip: 

Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades said nine more captives were killed in indiscriminate Israeli shelling in the last 24 hours, including a number of foreigners. 

Qassam has previously announced the death of 17 captives in Israeli air stikes in Gaza over the past week. 

Sky News and others are also reporting, based on Israeli sources, that bodies of hostages have been recovered after some of the initial IDF infantry cross-border raids which began Friday into Saturday:

Raids carried out on the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces discovered human remains of those who had been missing since Hamas’s attack last weekend, local media is reporting.

According to Haaretz, armed forces entered an enclave where it is thought up to 200 people were being held hostage by Hamas, and retrieved the bodies of several people.

Items belonging to the missing people were also discovered. 

END

SUNDAY

Israel-Hamas War Latest: Israeli Troops Amass At Border As Iran Warns It Will Intervene If Ground Offensive Launched

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023 – 09:55 AM

Summary:

After giving the northern Gaza strip an evacuation ultimatum on Friday, Israel has so far withheld from launching a “significant” ground operation, with some speculating that requests from the US to evacuate all US citizens out of Palestine ahead of the invasion is what is holding Israel back. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday said that if Israeli “war crimes & genocide” are not stopped, the war might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer “a huge earthquake.” Meanwhile, Axios reported that Tehran has sent Jerusalem a message through the UN that it will intervene if the campaign in Gaza continues, and particularly if it launches a ground offensive.

This was followed by news Sunday morning that the US has been backchanneling with Iran in recent days to warn against escalating the conflict in Israel (after all, Biden can’t afford to lose those sanctioned Iranian oil exports whose re-embargo would promptly send the price of oil above $100).

Another reason why Israel may be waiting: the Pentagon confirmed that it has ordered a second carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea after a first carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel last week.

Background:

On Saturday, the Israeli army said it’s making preparations for “significant ground operations” in Gaza, with the Israel Defense Forces saying in a statement that the next phase of the war can include a coordinated land, sea and air assault.

Israel has called up a record 300,000 reservists and has been pounding Gaza after the unprecedented incursion in which more than 1,000 Hamas fighters swept across the border and attacked Israeli military posts, bases and settlements. More than 1,300 Israelis died, mostly civilians, and up to 150 people were abducted and taken into Gaza. More than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombing campaign as fears mount of major casualties once Israel sends troops into the crowded coastal strip, home to 2.3 million people. Israel on Friday gave 24 hours for more than 1 million Palestinians to evacuate their homes in Gaza.

Separately, Israel confirmed for the first time that there were intelligence indications of something happening in Gaza two hours before the attacks last week. The head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, spoke with military personnel about the reports, said Tzachi Hanegbi, head of Israel’s National Security Council. “Both sides assessed that this is something other than it turned out to be,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, said Israeli air strikes killed another nine of its hostages in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 26. Many governments, including the US and European countries, are rushing to evacuate citizens in anticipation of an Israeli incursion into Gaza, though the Rafah border crossing out of Gaza to Egypt was reported to be closed to foreign nationals Saturday.

On the diplomatic front, Joe Biden’s team has voiced anxiety about Israel’s 24-hour evacuation demand, a deadline that the European Union and the United Nations called unrealistic. On Friday, Biden said people shouldn’t “lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas” something Biden tweeted on Sunday morning.

The US Embassy in Israel said it’s “working on potential options for departure from Gaza.” US citizens living in or visiting Gaza may be allowed to leave on Saturday, according to a US official. The embassy said it’s facilitating more chartered evacuation flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and urged US citizens and immediate family members to use them “while they are available.” The US government also said it is assisting US nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document to depart Haifa via sea for Cyprus on Oct. 16, according to a statement on the US Embassy in Israel website.

The State Department in Washington authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy personnel on Friday, citing an “unpredictable security situation.” With commercial flights to Israel disrupted, European countries such as France and Germany also have been providing planes to get their citizens out of the region.

Latest Developments:

Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, warning that the war might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer “a huge earthquake.” Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut that Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group has taken all war scenarios into consideration and Israel should stop its attacks on Gaza as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Axios news site reported that Tehran has sent Jerusalem a message through the UN that it will intervene if the campaign in Gaza continues, and particularly if it launches a ground offensive. The report cited two diplomatic sources with knowledge of the matter. The report said Amirabdollahian made the comments when he met Saturday with UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland in Beirut, a meeting that led to intense criticism from Israel. A short while later, Iran’s mission to the UN warned in a tweet that if Israel’s “war crimes & genocide” are not stopped immediately, this could have “far-reaching consequences” and the situation could “spiral out of control.”

* * *

US Warned Iran in Back-Channel Talks on War: The US has held back-channel talks with Iran in recent days to warn the country against escalating the conflict in Israel, as Israeli forces prepare an expected ground assault in response to last weekend’s surprise attack by Hamas. “We have means of communicating privately with Iran, and we have availed ourselves of those means over the past few days to make clear privately that which we have said publicly,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday on CBS News’s Face the Nation. Sullivan said the US couldn’t rule out that Iran might intervene in the conflict, and was monitoring both the possibility of direct involvement by Tehran and proxy activity by Hezbollah across the border with Lebanon.

* * *

Israeli army awaits “political” green light for Gaza invasion:  The Israeli army is awaiting a “political decision” on the timing of a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, military spokesmen said Sunday as civilians stepped up desperate efforts to flee northern Gaza. Military spokesmen Lt. Col. Richard Hecht and Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told separate briefings on Sunday that “a political decision” will set off any action against Hamas. “We will be holding discussions with our political leadership,” Hecht told one briefing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops near the Gaza border on Saturday that “more is coming.” But he did not say when any ground operation would start. Military spokesmen have told reporters that any invasion would aim to eradicate Hamas’ militant network and leadership so that it cannot stage more attacks. The Israeli military has particularly singled out Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza who they blame for the Oct. 7 attacks. “That man is in our sights,” Hecht said on Saturday. “He is a dead man walking and we will get to that man.”

* * *

Rockets were fired at Tel Aviv and southern Israel overnight, and the Israel Defense Forces attacked targets in and around the northern part of Gaza. It was not immediately clear how much damage, if any, was caused in the rocket attacks. One Israeli died on Sunday in a Hezbollah attack on Israeli army posts near the border with Lebanon. Subsequent reports indicate that more rockets had been fired into northern Israel from Lebanon.

* * *

Moroccans Push to Sever Israel Ties in Mass Protest:  Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Rabat, Morocco’s capital, demanding King Mohammed VI to severe ties with Israel which were restored in 2020. The marchers denounced as “barbaric” ongoing military intervention by Israel in Gaza and demanded the closing of its liaison office in the Moroccan capital. 

* * *

Blinken Meets With Saudi Crown Prince:  Blinken travelled to Riyadh on Sunday for an hour-long talk with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the top US diplomat deemed “very productive.”   MBS highlighted Riyadh’s diplomatic outreach “to calm the situation,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

* * *

Blinken Will Return to Israel on Monday:  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel on Monday for further consultations with senior officials there, his spokesman said. The top US diplomat was previously in Israel on Thursday as part of a frenetic tour of the region that included stops in Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as well as Saudi Arabia, as the Biden administration tries to limit the threat of a spreading conflict in the Middle East.

* * *

Blinken Urges China to Use Its Influence:  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Beijing to use its influence to prevent other state or non-state actors from attacking Israel and widening its war with Hamas, the State Department said. Blinken spoke with Foreign Minister Wang Yi before departing from Riyadh, where the top US diplomat was attempting to shore up support for Israel among Arab nations, said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. He met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the State Department said.

* * *

Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire, heightening fears of a second front opening:  Cross-border fire erupted between Israel and Lebanon early Sunday, killing at least one person on the Israeli side of the border. Both the Israeli military and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah acknowledged the fighting. Hezbollah says it fired guided missiles toward an Israel army post in Shtula from Lebanon, according to the militant group’s Al-Manar TV. The Israeli military said earlier it was targeting southern Lebanon after initial report of a shooting near the Lebanese border.  

The group said in a statement the attack was in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. Israel has responded by targeting the outskirts of the town of Ait el-Shaab, the Israeli military said. The Israel Defense Forces also banned civilians from going within two-and-a-half miles of the Lebanese border. In addition, the Reuters news service reports, Israel disrupted GPS electronic location services in the northern border area and at the Gaza front, according to Reuters. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said a 40-year-old man was killed in the attack from Lebanon, without elaborating or giving his nationality.  As Israel wages its war against Hamas over last week’s unprecedented attack by the Gaza Strip militant group, there’s been concern that Hezbollah could enter the war as well as Israel moves toward launching a ground offensive in Gaza.

* * *

Hezbollah Strikes Israeli Army Posts:  Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked two Israeli army posts near the border with Lebanon in response to what the militant group said was the killing of Lebanese nationals in recent days. One of the Middle East’s most powerful militias, Hezbollah said it fired guided missiles against an Israeli army post in Shtula in Upper Galilee. An hour later, it said its members used “live ammunition” to target an army post in Al-Raheb and destroyed a tank.

* * *

Israeli Shares Down 3% As War Enters Second Week:  Israel’s TA-35 stock index fell sharply on Sunday as Israel continues to strike back against Hamas targets and tensions rise on the northern border with Hezbollah. The index was down 3.3% in early afternoon, having reached the lowest levels since mid-2021. Banking stocks led the decline. The sector was down 12.3% last week “on account of volatility concerns,” the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange said. Other Middle Eastern markets were narrowly mixed.  

* * *

Israel Acknowledges Reports of Gaza Activity: Israel confirmed for the first time that there were intelligence indications of something happening in Gaza two hours before the attacks last week. The head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, spoke with military personnel about the reports, said Tzachi Hanegbi, head of Israel’s National Security Council. “Both sides assessed that this is something other than it turned out to be,” he said.

* * *

Abbas Stresses Need for Humanitarian Corridor in Biden Call:  In a phone call with US President Joe Biden late Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed the urgent need for humanitarian corridors to be opened in the Gaza Strip so that basic materials and medical supplies such as water, electricity and fuel, can be delivered to civilians. Abbas also told Biden he rejected the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and affirmed his rejection of the killing or abusing of civilians on both sides, calling for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees.  

* * *

Pope calls for humanitarian corridors for Gaza residents: Pope Francis called on Sunday for humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of essentials to the Gaza Strip, which is under heavy Israeli bombardment following a bloody attack on Israel by Gaza’s rulers, Hamas. “Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population,” said the Pope after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome’s Saint Peter’s Square.

* * *

U.S. arranges for ship to evacuate Americans from Israel to Cyprus Monday: The United States has organized a ship to take Americans out of Israel to Cyprus on Monday, the U.S. Embassy said. With Israel moving toward an invasion of the Gaza Strip, the ship will leave from the Israeli port of Haifa for Limassol, taking “U.S. nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document,” the U.S. embassy said in a security alert Sunday. Tens of thousands of U.S. passport holders live in Israel and 29 have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7. Another 15 are missing and believed to be among hostages held by Hamas since the attacks. The U.S. embassy didn’t say how many people would fit on the ship but said “boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space limited basis.” Each passenger will have to sign a document promising to repay the cost of the trip and will only be allowed to bring one suitcase. The embassy said some chartered flights would be arranged from Cyprus for onward travel.

* * *

UK Foreign Minister Urges Israel to Show Restraint:  James Cleverly called on Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza and respect international law in any military operations against Hamas, saying his “strong advice” was being offered from a position of friendship.” It’s in Israel’s interest to avoid civilian casualties because Hamas wants to turn the conflict “into a wider Arab-Israeli war, or indeed a war between the Muslim world and and the wider world,” the UK foreign minister said on Sky News. His comments came hours after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK stood unequivocally with Israel, making no mention of the plight facing Palestinian civilians.

* * *

Gaza Death Toll Reaches 2,300: The number of people killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza has reached more than 2,300, local authorities said, with thousands more wounded in the past eight days. This now outnumbers the death toll of the 51-day Israel-Hamas war of 2014, according to Ashraf Al-Qedra, a spokesperson for the Gaza health ministry. The 2014 war killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, according to UN figures. At the time it was the deadliest and most destructive violence since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip.

* * *

Situation in Gaza hospitals getting ever more desperate: Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas’ deadly attack. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire Gaza neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the U.N., which said that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Gaza’s sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 25-mile-long territory following the Hamas attack.

* * *

Israel Says it Killed Hamas Military Leader:  The Israeli military said on Sunday its fighter jets killed the Hamas military leader responsible for the attack on one of Israel’s communities last Saturday, Kibbutz Nirim. In a statement, the military said this occurred Saturday night during operations that also took out Hamas rocket launchers. It said the man was commander of the Nukhba forces in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Nukhba are the elite Hamas military unit that Israel says trained and led the October 7 attack. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.

Developing

end

EGYPT/GAZA//ISRAEL

Egypt Mulls Allowing Refugees Entry As Over 600,000 Gazans Move South; FBI Warns Of Hamas Attacks On US Soil

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023 – 01:10 PM

Summary:

After giving the northern Gaza strip an evacuation ultimatum on Friday, Israel has so far withheld from launching a “significant” ground operation, with some speculating that requests from the US to evacuate all US citizens out of Palestine ahead of the invasion is what is holding Israel back. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday said that if Israeli “war crimes & genocide” are not stopped, the war might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer “a huge earthquake.” Meanwhile, Axios reported that Tehran has sent Jerusalem a message through the UN that it will intervene if the campaign in Gaza continues, and particularly if it launches a ground offensive.

This was followed by news Sunday morning that the US has been backchanneling with Iran in recent days to warn against escalating the conflict in Israel (after all, Biden can’t afford to lose those sanctioned Iranian oil exports whose re-embargo would promptly send the price of oil above $100).

Another reason why Israel may be waiting: the Pentagon confirmed that it has ordered a second carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea after a first carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel last week.

Background:

On Saturday, the Israeli army said it’s making preparations for “significant ground operations” in Gaza, with the Israel Defense Forces saying in a statement that the next phase of the war can include a coordinated land, sea and air assault.

Israel has called up a record 300,000 reservists and has been pounding Gaza after the unprecedented incursion in which more than 1,000 Hamas fighters swept across the border and attacked Israeli military posts, bases and settlements. More than 1,300 Israelis died, mostly civilians, and up to 150 people were abducted and taken into Gaza. More than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombing campaign as fears mount of major casualties once Israel sends troops into the crowded coastal strip, home to 2.3 million people. Israel on Friday gave 24 hours for more than 1 million Palestinians to evacuate their homes in Gaza.

Separately, Israel confirmed for the first time that there were intelligence indications of something happening in Gaza two hours before the attacks last week. The head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, spoke with military personnel about the reports, said Tzachi Hanegbi, head of Israel’s National Security Council. “Both sides assessed that this is something other than it turned out to be,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, said Israeli air strikes killed another nine of its hostages in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 26. Many governments, including the US and European countries, are rushing to evacuate citizens in anticipation of an Israeli incursion into Gaza, though the Rafah border crossing out of Gaza to Egypt was reported to be closed to foreign nationals Saturday.

On the diplomatic front, Joe Biden’s team has voiced anxiety about Israel’s 24-hour evacuation demand, a deadline that the European Union and the United Nations called unrealistic. On Friday, Biden said people shouldn’t “lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas” something Biden tweeted on Sunday morning.

The US Embassy in Israel said it’s “working on potential options for departure from Gaza.” US citizens living in or visiting Gaza may be allowed to leave on Saturday, according to a US official. The embassy said it’s facilitating more chartered evacuation flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and urged US citizens and immediate family members to use them “while they are available.” The US government also said it is assisting US nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document to depart Haifa via sea for Cyprus on Oct. 16, according to a statement on the US Embassy in Israel website.

The State Department in Washington authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy personnel on Friday, citing an “unpredictable security situation.” With commercial flights to Israel disrupted, European countries such as France and Germany also have been providing planes to get their citizens out of the region.

Latest Developments:

Israel Says More Than 600,000 Gazans Have Moved South

More than 600,000 Gazans from Gaza City and its surroundings have relocated southward, following instructions from the Israeli Defense Forces, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari says. 

Bloomberg notes that this is Hagari added this exodus is despite efforts by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, to keep them in the north to serve as human shields.

Hagari urged those remaining in the north to evacuate for their safety.

* * *

Egypt Weighs Letting in Foreigners and Palestinians From Gaza

Egypt is coming under intense pressure to allow refugees to cross the border and escape an Israeli bombing campaign and expected ground invasion.

But, as WSJ reports, for Cairo, opening the border is a tough call.

Egypt plays a unique role with Hamas, mediating its conflicts with Israel while also helping squeeze the U.S.-designated terrorist group with a blockade on goods and travel out of the Gaza Strip. It has been reluctant to allow the tensions and troubles of Gaza to enter its own country in the form of large numbers of refugees.

The US is confident Egypt’s border with Gaza will be opened to allow in crucial humanitarian aid, Blinken told reporters in Cairo. 

“Rafah will be open,” the top US diplomat said after meeting President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

“We’re putting in place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel a mechanism by which to get assistance in.”

A US envoy, David Satterfield, will be in Israel on Monday to work out practical details. 

END

ISRAEL-HAMAS/UKRAINE/MONDAY

Did The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Just Sink Ukraine As A Warhawk Darling?

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 02:45 AM

By most accounts from the front and according to the strategic information currently on hand, the war in Ukraine is all but over and Russia has essentially won.  Russia continues to occupy at least 20% of Ukrainian lands and has solidified its lines.  As expected, Ukraine’s much hyped counteroffensive was hot air and it is clear that their ability to field combat ready soldiers has been greatly diminished.  Without an offensive capable military, Ukraine has nothing left except whatever mid range arms NATO gives them to harass Russian forces to minimal effect.  All Putin has to do is bide his time until the money and weapons run out.  

But even worse still for Zelensky and friends is the fact that the propaganda machine driving western sentiment and monetary support is quickly dying.  Admissions of “war fatigue” among Americans and Europeans are beginning to surface and majority support for further funding has ended.  Without a clear outline of what victory in Ukraine actually looks like, and with many in the west facing stagflationary crisis, enthusiasm has floundered.  It should also be noted that the war in Ukraine never garnered any meaningful American support for the deployment of troops, and for good reason.

No one wants to jump headlong into WWIII.

With Ukraine becoming the ugly girl at the school dance, the attention of establishment warhawks (Neo-cons and Democrats) has swiftly shifted over to Israel, much to the dismay of Zelensky.  The Ukrainian leader warned in an interview with a France 2 broadcaster:

“There is a risk that international attention will turn away from Ukraine, and that will have consequences…”

Zelensky has desperately tried to associate Ukraine with Israel as if the two nations are engaged in the same fight.  He even went as far as to insinuate that Vladimir Putin was the mastermind behind the destabilization of the Middle East and insisted that NATO funding packages for Israel should be tied to funding packages for Ukraine. 

Let’s not forget how disjointed and strange a Ukraine/Israel association would be, given Ukraine’s Nazi leanings.  This is the same government that actually invited a real life Nazi SS officer to be applauded by Canada’s parliament as a war hero just last month.  The disconnect may be the reason why the Israelis rejected military aid to Ukraine for so long.     

The Biden Administration is running with the multi-war package idea, asking Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine, but attaching it to a plan which would include funding for Israel, Taiwan, and US border security.  In other words, if conservatives want the border to be protected, they must agree to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on two ongoing war fronts as well as a third potential front with China.

It is highly unlikely according to officials on both sides of the aisle that this will succeed.  But, when the establishment piles on a host of different projects into a single funding plan, it is usually because this allows them to enter into false negotiations.  That is to say, there are certain projects they actually want and others they don’t care about.  They cut the funding programs they never intended to keep so that congress can feel like they gained something in the bargain.  The question is, which war do they really want to fund, knowing they will not get congressional approval for both?

Israel is better placed to become the new warhawk darling, given the country garners more sentiment from US and European conservatives who are increasingly wary of Ukraine.  The far-left support of Ukraine and their rabid anti-Russia propaganda has left many conservatives suspicious of the entire affair.  Leftists are revealing a similar zealotry in favor of Palestinian intifada, which might convince people on the right to support Israel by default.   

Right or wrong, it’s easier to find Republicans that favor Israel simply on religious grounds than it is to find those that care about Ukraine, and this seems to be the key to the future of the establishment agenda – A conservative majority must be onboard for any new war endeavor to last.  Ukraine’s failures have proven that.

There may be an overestimation, however, in terms of how many conservatives are open to funding yet another foreign quagmire.  Fears of Islamic extremism are justified, but not necessarily enough to compel Americans to ignore their own mounting problems at home.  Selling them on a plan to commit US funds and even military forces to Israel might be more difficult than the establishment thinks.

END

MORE UPDATES//MONDAY/ISRAEL/IRAN/HAMAS

Israel Denies Ceasefire Plans After Iran Said Hamas Willing To Release Hostages If Airstrikes Stop; Putin Gets Involved

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 12:55 PM

Update(1255ET): An active session of Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem has been interrupted by a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, which sent members of parliament into bomb shelters. Sirens blared across Jerusalem, as the Hamas rocket attacks continue. Israel’s all-out offensive was expected Friday or Saturday, but has still been delayed, with rain and bad weather also being among the list of reasons cited as of Monday.

But this gave time for a flurry of international diplomacy as the death toll soars on both sides. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistic has said the death toll among Palestinians and the West bank is now at its highest in two decades for 2023, as deaths from this round of fighting has surpassed 3,000. Deaths in Israel have surpassed 1,400 – with over 4,100 Israelis wounded.

US officials have reportedly been racing to contain the conflict and to find some kind of off-ramp, which would lead to freeing of hostages held in Gaza. All of this has reportedly included back-channel talks with Iran. On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Hamas is prepared to release the hostages if Israel halts its ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip:

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said Hamas officials “stated that they are ready to take necessary measures to release the citizens and civilians held by resistant groups, but their point was that such measures require preparations that are impossible under daily bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza,” The Associated Press reported.

But still the Iranian statement warned that Hamas still has “no problem to continue resisting.” Israel has meanwhile denied that it has plans for any ceasefire.

While Biden is still said to be mulling a visit to Israel, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is now ratcheting up his own diplomatic efforts. “Russian President Vladimir Putin entered the fevered diplomatic fray of the Middle East on Monday, speaking to five of the major players including Iran and leading Arab powers in an attempt to secure a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas,” Reuters reports.

“Russia, which has relationships with Iran, Hamas, major Arab powers as well as with the Palestinians and with Israel, has repeatedly said the United States and the West have ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.”

Putin has condemned the soaring death toll in Gaza, warning against the “catastrophic death toll” in Gaza which he says is looking likely given Israel’s reported invasion plans.

* * *

Summary:

Israeli military spokesperson continued to confirm that forces are preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans which include combined coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land, while their goal is to completely destroy the governing and military capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organisations. Furthermore, the spokesman said the operation will take a long time and that residents of Gaza should leave and not return until told to for their own safety but Hamas has been preventing people from leaving, according to Reuters.

At least 199 people are being held hostage by Hamas, according to Israeli officials who said on Monday that they had intelligence about the whereabouts of hostages taken on Oct. 7. Hamas has said that 22 hostages have died in Israeli retaliatory bombing of Gaza, a claim that couldn’t be verified.

Israeli military spokesperson said Hezbollah is escalating the situation on the Lebanon border to hinder the Gaza counter-offensive and Israel is prepared to fight on two fronts and even more if required, while an Israeli military spokesman said more than 600,000 Gazans have relocated southwards and that more than 200 Hamas members in the West Bank were detained since October 7th.

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s national security adviser said Israel is not trying to be drawn into a two-front war and that Hezbollah’s actions are under the escalation threshold so far, while the adviser added they hope Hezbollah won’t de facto bring about the destruction of Lebanon, according to Reuters.

Additionally, Iran is becoming even more vocal as President Raisi said in a phone call with French President Macron that “the Zionist regime’s actions are a reminder of Nazi actions”, while he also stated that Palestinian resistance groups make their own decisions and urged France to prevent oppression and injustice, according to Reuters.

US President Biden said deploying US troops in the Middle East war is not necessary and Israel has one of the finest fighting forces, while he is confident Israel is going to act under the rules of war and said it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza. Biden stated he believes Hamas must be eliminated entirely but said there must be a path to a Palestinian state and his message to Iran is don’t come across the border and don’t escalate the war, while it was also reported that President Biden is considering visiting Israel in the coming days.

US National Security Adviser Sullivan said the US does not have new intelligence that the threat on the ground is different today and there is a risk of conflict escalation. Sullivan added that they cannot rule out that Iran would choose to get directly engaged in some way and that the US is concerned about proxy forces, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, according to a CBS interview.

US Secretary of State Blinken will head back to Israel on Monday for further consultations with Israeli leaders.

Latest Developments

Iran Says Hamas Is Ready to Release Hostages but Can’t Do So Under Israeli Bombing

And in perhaps the most positive news of the day, The Wall Street Journal reports that Hamas is ready to release hostages held in Gaza but isn’t able to do so under Israeli bombing, an official from Iran, a major Hamas backer, said Monday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that any move to free the civilians would “require preparations that are impossible under daily bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza.”

Not exactly a promise, but perhaps some diplomatic progress.

* * *

Hamas Officials Killed, Israel Military Says

Several Hamas officials, including those in the military and financial sectors, have been killed, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said in a session with journalists on the X social media platform.

Conricus said Hamas is trying to hide behind civilians as Israel hunts its commanders. “We are not trying to kill civilians. We are at war with Hamas,” he said.

One Israeli civilian was killed by anti-tank missiles fired across the border from Lebanon, he said.

* * *

Iranian Threats Escalate

Iranian Foreign Minister said “If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger” and warned heavy losses will be inflicted on the US if the scope of the Gaza war widens. Iran’s Foreign Minister also said that Iran will not remain an observer in this situation and informed Israel via its allies that ‘tomorrow will be too late’ if its crimes in Gaza continue.

Iran has reportedly made no decision about whether to open a new front against Israel, according to an Iranian source close to the government, but added that a meeting was to be held on Sunday night in a Hezbollah command center in Lebanon, NYT reported.

Iran’s mission to the UN said if Israel’s “war crimes, genocide” is not halted immediately, the situation could ricochet far-reaching consequences.

* * *

Biden Is Considering Visit to Israel

Biden is considering a trip to Israel after being invited in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to two people familiar with the internal discussions.

No decision about whether to travel to Israel has yet been made, the people said. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement the White House did not have travel to announce.

Biden stressed his belief that Israel would act by the rules of war and that innocent civilians would have access to medicine, food and water in an interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes.” He said he didn’t believe Israel should control the territory long-term, saying instead the territory should be governed by “a Palestinian authority.”

“I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people.”

* * *

Thirty US Citizens Confirmed Dead

The State Department confirmed the deaths of 30 US citizens since the violence started and another 13 American nationals remain unaccounted for, according to a spokesperson.

The government is working to determine the whereabouts of the missing Americans and is advising the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts.

* * *

Egyptian Border Tensions Grow

Egypt is facing intense pressure to allow refugees in neighboring Gaza to cross the border and escape an expected Israeli ground invasion in the strip. Central to such a move is Rafah, the only civilian land crossing in Gaza that Israel doesn’t control.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, Egypt has appeared willing to let foreign citizens through the crossing but has been reluctant to allow a flood of Palestinian refugees enter, citing security threats.

A deal to open the border crossing has been held up, however, by Egyptian concerns that Israel hadn’t given assurances it would pause airstrikes and by Israeli insistence that trucks entering via Egypt be thoroughly searched, Egyptian officials said.

“Unfortunately, Israel has not yet allowed humanitarian aid to enter Gaza,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told reporters in Cairo. The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment.

“We anticipate that the situation at the Rafah crossing will remain fluid and unpredictable and it is unclear whether, or for how long, travelers will be permitted to transit the crossing,” the U.S. Embassy in Egypt said. “There may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time.

* * *

Developing…

END

Charles Lipson on the sick alliance between leftists and Muslim extremists

(Charles Lipson/ReaLClear Politics)

Lipson: The Sick Alliance Between The Left And Muslim Extremists

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023 – 11:45 PM

Authored by Charles Lipson via RealClearPolitics.com,

The virulent anti-Israel protests across America and Europe throw a glaring light on the bizarre alliance between left-wing activists and militant Muslims. That odd combination has been the bedrock of political activism at universities and in the streets for years. It began in universities, where it now dominates political discourse, threatens Jewish students, and intimidates anyone brave enough to voice their dissent. We can now see how it has spread far beyond the campus.

What makes the alliance so strange are the deep-seated differences between leftists and Muslim fundamentalists over core beliefs.

The left supports women’s rights and full equality in the workplace and public sphere. Militant Muslims oppose them.

The left supports gay rights and gay marriage. Militant Muslims toss gays off buildings. None would dare hold a public march in Pakistan, Iran, or Saudi Arabia.

The left supports abortion rights. Militant Muslims oppose them.

The left supports religious freedom, including the right to reject religion altogether. Militant Muslims believe heretics should be executed.

The left rallies against book banning. Militant Muslims embrace it for any book they believe insults Islam or supports Israel.

The left opposes the death penalty. Militant Muslims endorse it and praise their governments for using it.

These beliefs are not marginal for either group. They are foundational, and they are profoundly opposed to each other. Still, the two groups have formed a long-standing alliance. How do they deal with these profound differences? And why are they allied?

They deal with differences very simply: They never mention them when they act jointly, primarily against Israel and its supporters across the world. They have joined together to form a more powerful coalition against shared enemies. They would destroy that partnership by raising issues where they differ.

Far better to focus on their agreement, which goes beyond hating Israel to claim Western capitalism has oppressed, degraded, and ruined the world. Since the U.S. is now the world’s greatest power, it is tagged as the main source of that malignancy, at home and abroad. As they see it, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are poor because they have been oppressed by capitalist nations and their corporations. If they have terrible governments, they have them only because the West has installed and sustained them.

This critique is based on a shared, but muddled, ideology. The heart of that ideology is its illiberalism. Both groups are fundamentally opposed to the forbearance of individual differences, including very different views and goals, that are essential to Western constitutional democracies. In their place, these opponents rely on a toxic brew of ideas drawn from:

• Karl Marx, of course
• Franz Fanon (“The Wretched of the Earth”)
• Edward Said (“Orientalism”)
• Herbert Marcuse (and the Frankfurt School of “cultural Marxism”)
• And, for the most extreme Muslims, revolutionary theologians like Sayyid Qutb, the intellectual father of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and its subsidiary in Gaza, Hamas

The mixture of these ideas makes a confused jumble. But “incoherent” doesn’t mean “useless.” It serves as a kind of makeshift glue that binds disparate groups in opposition to what they see as the West’s oppressive bourgeois culture, its tolerance for divergent views, and the unequal outcomes produced by market competition (softened by transfer payments). Overturn it all, they say, in the name of “social justice.” They have no idea of what to replace it with. In fact, the coalition would break apart if either side emphasized its proposed alternatives.

This negative, often nihilistic, ideology inverts the old adage, “might makes right.” Their implicit claim is that “weakness and poverty make right.” It doesn’t. What’s right or wrong has nothing to do with who has wealth and power and who does not.

These self-proclaimed champions of the poor add one more sloppy argument to the mix. They claim people are poor and weak only because they have been oppressed and exploited.

One implication is that people in poor countries would be far better off if they had never been touched by the West and its institutions. They would thrive under their own social and political systems (and, in the West, some version of socialism). That, at least, is the unspoken claim underlying the coalition of the left and militant Islam. Some progressives (who aren’t poor) make common cause by self-flagellation. They are “repentant oppressors.” Their remorse has all the religious fervor of medieval monks who wore hairshirts and beat themselves with whips for their sins.

The idea that the West is responsible for the world’s poverty has a core of truthful criticism next to a mountain of lies. One doesn’t have to apologize for colonialism to note that almost everyone on planet Earth lived in grinding poverty until the cumulative effects of industrialization began to take hold after 1800. That process began in northwestern Europe and gradually spread across the world, lifting income, health, diet, and life expectancy. Where it failed was in countries racked by civil unrest or governed by rapacious regimes that didn’t provide public order or secure property rights and stole the revenues needed to provide essential public goods.

As for human liberation, no societies voluntarily ended human bondage until the West did it, mostly in the 18th and 19th centuries. Britain spent enormous sums stationing its navy off the African coast to prevent the transshipment of slaves, which had been captured and sold by local tribes. Britain gained nothing financially from that effort; it did it for moral reasons. In America, “free states” in the North and Midwest abolished slavery well before the Civil War. The war itself ended slavery, though blacks were still oppressed for another century by Jim Crow laws (in the South) and segregation (everywhere). Those practices were always inconsistent with the Western ideal of human equality and were finally outlawed in the mid-1960s by the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

The current fight over millions of illegal immigrants obscures one fact common to all modern states and two crucial features of American history. The common fact is that state sovereignty includes the essential right to control who can enter each country. What makes U.S. history so unusual is that it has welcomed tens of millions of legal immigrants and integrated them, by fits and starts, into a society where common citizenship transcends ethnic and religious heritage. Today, most Americans appreciate the fruits of that integration in art, music, food, and culture, drawn from multiple cultural traditions. The left, with its focus on identity politics, damns much of that sharing as “cultural appropriation.” It is a deliberate attempt to divide the country into separate, opposed camps, based on birth.

The depth of this ideological rot is most visible on college campuses, where some students (and a few faculty) hate America and Israel so much they have actually rallied in support of Hamas and attempted to justify its atrocities as somehow the liberation of the poor and oppressed. It’s a disgusting idea.

It’s high time Americans went beyond revulsion and defended their basic, liberal ideals and the constitutional democracy founded upon them. We don’t have to accept the mantle of “oppressors” because of events that happened long before we were born, for which we are not responsible, and from which we never profited. We don’t have to accept the damning slur that our success is due to “privilege” rather than hard work, time-tested values, and a good education. The greatest “privilege” is not inherited wealth or status. It is being raised in a stable home by loving parents, living in an orderly community, and growing up in a country where each of us is free to pursue our own goals and define ourselves as we choose.

We can and should recognize America’s flaws – and work toward correcting them – without falsely painting our nation’s past as primarily a legacy of slavery and stolen wealth (the “1619” project and its twin, “decolonization” studies).

America is a great nation, for all its flaws.

Its greatness lay in the experiment of 1776 and establishment of a democracy that has endured and slowly incorporated all its people into the body politic.

The values that undergird that democracy are worth remembering, worth cherishing, and worth fighting to keep, even as a vile coalition celebrates those who kidnap and murder in the perverted name of religion. That’s not “social justice.” That’s an age-old crime.

END

MONDAY

Biden Mulls Visit To Israel As 30 Americans Confirmed Killed; Hezbollah Clashes Escalate; Egypt To Open Border

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 08:34 AM

Summary:

Israeli military spokesperson continued to confirm that forces are preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans which include combined coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land, while their goal is to completely destroy the governing and military capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organisations. Furthermore, the spokesman said the operation will take a long time and that residents of Gaza should leave and not return until told to for their own safety but Hamas has been preventing people from leaving, according to Reuters.

At least 199 people are being held hostage by Hamas, according to Israeli officials who said on Monday that they had intelligence about the whereabouts of hostages taken on Oct. 7. Hamas has said that 22 hostages have died in Israeli retaliatory bombing of Gaza, a claim that couldn’t be verified.

Israeli military spokesperson said Hezbollah is escalating the situation on the Lebanon border to hinder the Gaza counter-offensive and Israel is prepared to fight on two fronts and even more if required, while an Israeli military spokesman said more than 600,000 Gazans have relocated southwards and that more than 200 Hamas members in the West Bank were detained since October 7th.

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s national security adviser said Israel is not trying to be drawn into a two-front war and that Hezbollah’s actions are under the escalation threshold so far, while the adviser added they hope Hezbollah won’t de facto bring about the destruction of Lebanon, according to Reuters.

Additionally, Iran is becoming even more vocal as President Raisi said in a phone call with French President Macron that “the Zionist regime’s actions are a reminder of Nazi actions”, while he also stated that Palestinian resistance groups make their own decisions and urged France to prevent oppression and injustice, according to Reuters.

US President Biden said deploying US troops in the Middle East war is not necessary and Israel has one of the finest fighting forces, while he is confident Israel is going to act under the rules of war and said it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza. Biden stated he believes Hamas must be eliminated entirely but said there must be a path to a Palestinian state and his message to Iran is don’t come across the border and don’t escalate the war, while it was also reported that President Biden is considering visiting Israel in the coming days.

US National Security Adviser Sullivan said the US does not have new intelligence that the threat on the ground is different today and there is a risk of conflict escalation. Sullivan added that they cannot rule out that Iran would choose to get directly engaged in some way and that the US is concerned about proxy forces, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, according to a CBS interview.

US Secretary of State Blinken will head back to Israel on Monday for further consultations with Israeli leaders.

Latest Developments

Iran Says Hamas Is Ready to Release Hostages but Can’t Do So Under Israeli Bombing

And in perhaps the most positive news of the day, The Wall Street Journal reports that Hamas is ready to release hostages held in Gaza but isn’t able to do so under Israeli bombing, an official from Iran, a major Hamas backer, said Monday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that any move to free the civilians would “require preparations that are impossible under daily bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza.”

Not exactly a promise, but perhaps some diplomatic progress.

* * *

Hamas Officials Killed, Israel Military Says

Several Hamas officials, including those in the military and financial sectors, have been killed, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said in a session with journalists on the X social media platform.

Conricus said Hamas is trying to hide behind civilians as Israel hunts its commanders. “We are not trying to kill civilians. We are at war with Hamas,” he said.

One Israeli civilian was killed by anti-tank missiles fired across the border from Lebanon, he said.

* * *

Iranian Threats Escalate

Iranian Foreign Minister said “If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger” and warned heavy losses will be inflicted on the US if the scope of the Gaza war widens. Iran’s Foreign Minister also said that Iran will not remain an observer in this situation and informed Israel via its allies that ‘tomorrow will be too late’ if its crimes in Gaza continue.

Iran has reportedly made no decision about whether to open a new front against Israel, according to an Iranian source close to the government, but added that a meeting was to be held on Sunday night in a Hezbollah command center in Lebanon, NYT reported.

Iran’s mission to the UN said if Israel’s “war crimes, genocide” is not halted immediately, the situation could ricochet far-reaching consequences.

* * *

Biden Is Considering Visit to Israel

Biden is considering a trip to Israel after being invited in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to two people familiar with the internal discussions.

No decision about whether to travel to Israel has yet been made, the people said. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement the White House did not have travel to announce.

Biden stressed his belief that Israel would act by the rules of war and that innocent civilians would have access to medicine, food and water in an interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes.” He said he didn’t believe Israel should control the territory long-term, saying instead the territory should be governed by “a Palestinian authority.”

“I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people.”

* * *

Thirty US Citizens Confirmed Dead

The State Department confirmed the deaths of 30 US citizens since the violence started and another 13 American nationals remain unaccounted for, according to a spokesperson.

The government is working to determine the whereabouts of the missing Americans and is advising the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts.

* * *

Egyptian Border Tensions Grow

Egypt is facing intense pressure to allow refugees in neighboring Gaza to cross the border and escape an expected Israeli ground invasion in the strip. Central to such a move is Rafah, the only civilian land crossing in Gaza that Israel doesn’t control.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, Egypt has appeared willing to let foreign citizens through the crossing but has been reluctant to allow a flood of Palestinian refugees enter, citing security threats.

A deal to open the border crossing has been held up, however, by Egyptian concerns that Israel hadn’t given assurances it would pause airstrikes and by Israeli insistence that trucks entering via Egypt be thoroughly searched, Egyptian officials said.

“Unfortunately, Israel has not yet allowed humanitarian aid to enter Gaza,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told reporters in Cairo. The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment.

“We anticipate that the situation at the Rafah crossing will remain fluid and unpredictable and it is unclear whether, or for how long, travelers will be permitted to transit the crossing,” the U.S. Embassy in Egypt said. “There may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time.

Developing…

END

IDF Notifies Families Of 199 Hostages Held In Gaza, Vows To Avoid Airstrikes On Their Locations

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 10:25 AM

Israel’s military announced Monday that it has now notified all the families of the 199 people that have been confirmed thus far to have been kidnapped by Hamas amid the terror raids into southern Israel on October 7.

The announcement also serves to confirm that the number of Israeli and foreign captives is higher than the initial estimate of 150 which had initially circulated days after. Americans and some other nationalities are believed to be among them.

Further, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari indicted the military does have some information on where they are being held in the Gaza Strip. However, reports from days ago suggest some may have already been killed. 

Hamas had earlier claimed that 13 of the hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes, but the IDF rejected this, saying “we have our own information and do not believe the lies of Hamas.”

On Monday the IDF’s Hagari sought to assure familes that “We are making valiant efforts to try to understand where the hostages are in Gaza, and we have such information.” And he also qualified, “We will not carry out an attack that would endanger our people.”

Families of the hostages have produced a statement. A representative told Israeli media, “Netanyahu told the families that one of the goals of the war is the return of the captive and missing.”

According to the Times of Israel: 

Israelis and foreign nationals — infants, children with special needs, octogenarians with chronic health issues — were dragged by terrorists into Gaza, with their whereabouts largely unknown since.

While the majority are being held by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad claims to be holding 30 hostages of its own, further complicating efforts to bring about their release.

Amid the constant war headlines of the last week, one underreported aspect to the crisis is that families of the missing have been furious over the Netanyahu government’s handling of the hostage situation. First, they say the government was too slow to notify or communicate with relatives of captives. 

CNN has noted after interviewing some of the families, “While the families are mostly focused on spreading information about their loved ones, many others are getting increasingly angry about the government’s response to the crisis.”

Monday evening:

Israel Media Says Gaza Operation Delayed On Fears Of Hezbollah Full Assault In North, Hamas Issues Hostage Video

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 05:20 PM

(Update1720ET): Hamas has released a hostage ‘proof of life’ video which is now being widely shared online and reported on, per Israeli media: 

The short video shows a young woman, 21-year-old Mia Schem, being treated after she was wounded in her arm, and later speaking to the camera.

Schem was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 while taking part in the desert rave in Kibbutz Re’im, where the gunmen also massacred over 260 festival-goers.

She tells the camera she was operated on for three hours and that “I’m being cared for, I’m getting medications. I’m only asking for me to be returned home as soon as possible, to my family, to my parents, to my siblings. Please get me out of here as soon as possible.” Schem’s family reacts to the clip, saying: “We’re happy.”

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The IDF has reacted to the video, saying Hamas “tries to present itself as a humanitarian organization while in fact it is a murderous terror group, responsible for the murders and kidnappings of babies, women, children and the elderly.”

There’s growing speculation that the IDF hasn’t launched a ground invasion yet due to threats being made by Iran and its ally Lebanese Hezbollah. And it’s not just enemies of Israel that are saying this, but The Jerusalem Post reports Monday that a prime reason for the offensive being stalled is the fear Hezbollah will get involved.

However, the IDF Northern Command has been tasked with ensuring complete readiness of defenses on the Lebanese border in case Hezbollah does get involved. The JPost writes:

A number of factors seem to have caused a delay, but sources have told The Jerusalem Post that one factor has been a growing concern that Hezbollah is waiting for the moment that most IDF ground forces are committed to Gaza to open a full front with the IDF in the north.

Iran is meanwhile ratcheting threats, perhaps as part of a strategy to bolster those voices inside Israel who are urging caution and restraint. Iran’s foreign minister has issued an ‘all options on the table’ kind of statement:

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Israeli officials have continues to escalate their rhetoric concerning what Israel plans to do with Gaza:

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PM Netanyahu has told Russia’s Putin in a Monday phone call that he plans to proceed with the Gaza offensive, after the latter warned of a catastrophic death toll…

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* * *

Update(1255ET): An active session of Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem has been interrupted by a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, which sent members of parliament into bomb shelters. Sirens blared across Jerusalem, as the Hamas rocket attacks continue. Israel’s all-out offensive was expected Friday or Saturday, but has still been delayed, with rain and bad weather also being among the list of reasons cited as of Monday.

But this gave time for a flurry of international diplomacy as the death toll soars on both sides. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistic has said the death toll among Palestinians and the West bank is now at its highest in two decades for 2023, as deaths from this round of fighting has surpassed 3,000. Deaths in Israel have surpassed 1,400 – with over 4,100 Israelis wounded.

US officials have reportedly been racing to contain the conflict and to find some kind of off-ramp, which would lead to freeing of hostages held in Gaza. All of this has reportedly included back-channel talks with Iran. On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Hamas is prepared to release the hostages if Israel halts its ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip:

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said Hamas officials “stated that they are ready to take necessary measures to release the citizens and civilians held by resistant groups, but their point was that such measures require preparations that are impossible under daily bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza,” The Associated Press reported.

But still the Iranian statement warned that Hamas still has “no problem to continue resisting.” Israel has meanwhile denied that it has plans for any ceasefire.

While Biden is still said to be mulling a visit to Israel, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is now ratcheting up his own diplomatic efforts. “Russian President Vladimir Putin entered the fevered diplomatic fray of the Middle East on Monday, speaking to five of the major players including Iran and leading Arab powers in an attempt to secure a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas,” Reuters reports.

“Russia, which has relationships with Iran, Hamas, major Arab powers as well as with the Palestinians and with Israel, has repeatedly said the United States and the West have ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.”

Putin has condemned the soaring death toll in Gaza, warning against the “catastrophic death toll” in Gaza which he says is looking likely given Israel’s reported invasion plans.

* * *

6.GLOBAL ISSUES AND VACCINE/COVID ISSUES

GLOBAL ISSUES

GLOBAL VACCINE/COVID ISSUES

Pfizer Crashes After Slashing Profit Guidance By More Than Half On Collapsing Demand For Covid Meds

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023 – 05:01 PM

Pfizer just lobbed a legendary Friday evening bomb when it slashed its revenue and earnings forecasts for the year as it agreed to take returns from the US of its Covid antiviral Paxlovid amid collapsing demand.

Waiting patiently until after the market closed on Friday, the company said it now sees 2023 revenue of only $58 billion to $61 billion, down $9 billion from its previous estimate of $67 billion to $70 billion.

The drugmaker said adjusted EPS are now expected to be between $1.45 a share and $1.65 a share, down by more than half from its previous earnings forecast of $3.25 a share to $3.45 a share.

Some more details from the press release:

• Sees $5.5B Non-Cash Charge in 3Q From Covid Inventory
  • Cuts 2023 Outlook for Paxlovid Revenue by About $7B
  • Cuts outlook for Comirnaty revenue by about $2.0 billion
• At the end of 2023, Pfizer will accept a non-cash return of any remaining Emergency Use Authorized-labeled U.S. government inventory, estimated to be 7.9 million treatment courses, and in the fourth quarter, will reverse the associated revenues currently estimated to be approximately $4.2 billion
• Any remaining EUA-labeled treatment courses previously purchased by the U.S. government will be converted to a volume-based credit
• Beginning in 2024, Pfizer will sell Paxlovid to privately insured patients (commercial) with prices to be negotiated with payers

In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2023, Pfizer announced that the company has launched a multi-year, enterprise-wide “cost realignment program” that will realign its costs with its longer-term revenue expectations. The program is expected to deliver targeted savings of at least $3.5 billion, of which $1.0 billion is expected to be realized in 2023 and an additional $2.5 billion is expected to be realized in 2024.

Translation: thousands are about to lose their jobs.

The one-time costs to achieve the savings associated with the new cost realignment program are expected to be approximately $3.0 billion, of which the majority is expected to be cash. These costs will primarily include severance and implementation costs. Pfizer will continue to refine the estimated targeted savings and their associated costs over the remainder of the year and will incorporate them into its full-year guidance for 2024.

The stock tumbled as much as 10%, briefly sliding below $30 after closing just over $32, down more than 50% from its all time high over $60 hit in late 2021, and tumbling to the lowest level since Dec 2014.

Needless to say, Pfizer mcPfizerface has been indefinitely mothballed.

The company better get Fauci and EcoHealth alliance to commission a new Wuhan-special wonderbrew soon, or else this one-hit wonder is set to plumb decade lows.

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COVID VACCINES MAY TRIGGER RHEUMATIC IMMUNE MEDIATED INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

(epochtimes)

A new review suggests that COVID vaccines “may trigger” rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, vasculitis, lupus, and adult-onset Still’s disease.

On average, patients developed rheumatic diseases 11 days after vaccine administration, according to the study. Seventy-five (over 27 percent) of these patients experienced total disease remission, and about 50 percent improved following treatment. Eight were admitted to intensive care, and two died from their symptoms.

“The short time span between COVID-19 vaccine administration and the onset of R-IMIDs suggests the potential possibility of a cause-and-effect relationship,” the authors wrote.

The study, led by researchers from the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, examined 271 participants from 190 case studies published worldwide.
Over 80 percent of the patients developed symptoms after their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and most were treated and improved with corticosteroids.

Almost 57 percent of the injured patients received the Pfizer vaccine, nearly a quarter received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 12 percent of the rheumatic diseases manifested after the administration of the Moderna vaccine.

Reported Diseases

Rheumatic diseases may be less common than myocarditis, a known adverse event of COVID vaccination. A search on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) found that over 3,000 cases of myocarditis have been reported after the COVID-19 vaccine, with over 2,300 cases of arthritis, over 370 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common type of lupus, and 280 cases of vasculitis. The following are rheumatic diseases that were included in this first-ever systematic review of new-onset R-MIDs after COVID vaccination.

Inflammation of Blood Vessels

Vasculitis was the most common rheumatic disease in the review, with 86 adverse events recorded. The more common vasculitis diseases affect the smaller blood vessels, causing red spots and lumps on the skin and possible organ damage. Medium and larger blood vessels can also be affected, causing tissue, muscle, and kidney damage.

One patient with inflammation in the larger blood vessels presented with fluid buildup in her lungs. Another developed inflammation in the arteries in his head and lost vision in his left eye due to reduced blood flow to his optical nerves.

Connective Tissue Diseases

Sixty-six cases of diseases affected the connective tissues. Diseases that fall under this category include lupus, an autoimmune disease affecting the skin, joints, and internal organs, and myositis and dermatomyositis, which manifest as muscle and tissue inflammation.

Two patients died of their conditions. One was a 44-year-old man who developed myositis, or muscle inflammation, and compartment syndrome in his limbs. Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially fatal condition where pressure in muscles builds up. Another 62-year-old female died after developing diabetes and dermatomyositis, inflammation of both the skin and muscles, after getting the Pfizer vaccine.

Arthritis

Fifty-five patients developed arthritis after taking the vaccine, primarily manifesting in the knees, elbows, and ankles.

After treatment with steroids, most experienced some improvement in their symptoms, 12 went into remission, and two had persistent symptoms.

Adult-Onset Still’s Disease

Twenty-two cases of adult-onset Still’s disease were documented in the report. Symptoms of this rare disease include daily fever, arthritis in more than five joints, and salmon-pink rashes on the body. Six of these patients also developed cardiac problems, two of whom developed myocarditis and heart failure.

Five of the patients went into remission, while most experienced improvement in their conditions after being treated with steroids.

Other Diseases

Less common diseases include polymyalgia rheumatica, reported in 21 people. Symptoms of this disease include stiffness and inflammation in the shoulders, neck, and hips, and sarcoidosis, which occurs when inflamed tissues start to grow inside organs, causing tissue malfunction.

Molecular Mimicry Is the Leading Explanation

The authors noted the very short duration between vaccination and symptom onset, with 11 days being the average duration. This duration is similar to those found in other studies investigating myocarditis side effects after COVID-19 vaccines.
The authors reasoned that the vaccine may have been a “trigger” for the rheumatoid diseases.
However, some of the patients might have been predisposed to rheumatic diseases, the authors reasoned. Additionally, some might have been predisposed to having a highly inflammatory response to mRNA vaccinations, leading to rheumatic symptoms like joint stiffness and inflammation.

Molecular mimicry, which occurs when the body mistakes foreign substances for its own and mounts an immune response, is the leading explanation for the development of these autoimmune diseases. The authors reasoned that vaccine adjuvants like aluminum may be structurally similar to human proteins.

Therefore, the body might have mistaken self-tissue while attacking these adjuvants, perceived as foreign invaders.

However, many studies have shown that the spike proteins on the surface of the COVID-19 virus share structural similarities to human proteins. One study found that antibodies that reacted to spike protein could also react to nearly 30 different human tissues. If the spike proteins induced by the COVID-19 vaccines are similar to the original viral spike proteins, then the vaccine spike proteins may also trigger autoimmunity.

Another possibility is that mRNA vaccines may trigger the formation of inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are clusters of proteins that signal inflammation and viral elimination. This can also cause immune cells to become hyperactive and damage self-tissues in an attempt to clear the vaccine.

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Only 2% Of Americans Have Received New COVID Vaccine: CDC

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 12:20 PM

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

About 2 percent of all Americans have received the updated COVID-19 booster shot after it was authorized and recommended by federal health officials several weeks ago, according to updated data provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

More than 7 million Americans have taken the updated shot, which is authorized for people aged 6 months and older, said an HHS spokesman. That’s approximately 2 percent of all Americans.

“COVID-19 vaccine distribution, which has shifted to the private market, is a lot different than it was last year when the government was distributing them,” said a spokesperson for HHS about the vaccination data. It added that the agency is “directly with manufacturers and distributors to ensure that the vaccines are getting to” various locations.

The statement added that 91 percent of Americans aged 12 years and older “can access the vaccine within 5 miles of where they live,” adding that 14 million updated boosters for COVID-19 have been shipped to pharmacies and other locations. The vaccine was approved about a month ago by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it was recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortly thereafter.

It came as some people reported that it’s difficult to find doses of the new vaccines at local pharmacies and doctors. Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said on X in September that her vaccine appointment was canceled due to a lack of supply.

The 7 million figure is up since Oct. 6 when Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, told reporters that 4 million had received the new vaccines.

The HHS said Thursday that the latest updated vaccinate rate is about the same as the initial bivalent booster shot when it was rolled out in 2022. However, demand for the 2022 booster vaccine was similarly low, according to CDC data.

Data has shown that about 17 percent of the U.S. population got that previous updated shot, or around 56.5 million people.

The updated vaccines were meant to target the COVID-19 XBB.1.5 variant, which was spreading across the United States when companies like Moderna and Pfizer came up with the new version.

Observational data for the bivalent vaccines, or the previous versions, found weak initial effectiveness that quickly waned.

CDC officials made unsupported claims during the briefing, part of a trend for the agency. “These vaccines will prevent severe disease for COVID-19,” Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, told reporters. There’s no evidence that’s true.

The only clinical study data for the new shots is from a study Moderna ran that included injecting 50 humans with the company’s updated formation. The result was a higher level of neutralizing antibodies. Officials believe antibodies protect against COVID-19.

Moderna did not provide any clinical efficacy estimates for infection, severe disease, or death. Pfizer said it was running a trial but has not reported any results.

Novavax’s vaccine was authorized later without any new trial data, as CDC officials have said they recommend that shot. Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, Novavax doesn’t use mRNA technology and is protein-based.

Hospitalizations Down

Despite the recent push for the latest vaccines, data provided by the CDC shows that hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been down for about three consecutive weeks.

For the ending Sept. 30, the hospitalization rate is down by 6 percent, while emergency department visits are down by 14.5 percent and COVID-19 cases are down 1.2 percent, the figures show. Deaths are up 3.8 percent, although health officials have previously said that deaths generally lag behind hospitalizations and case numbers.

In July, COVID-19 hospitalizations had been increasing for several consecutive weeks. CDC historical data suggest that deaths have been relatively low compared with previous years.

But with the release of the Sept. 30 data, hospitalizations have dropped for multiple consecutive weeks.

Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine, told ABC News that that the recent “upswing is not a surge; it’s not even a wave.”

The doctor added: “What we’re seeing is a very gradual and small upward trajectory of cases and hospitalizations, without deaths really going along, which is great news.”

The CDC on Oct. 6 released a report that attempted to push older Americans to get the newest vaccines by saying that COVID-19 is still a “public health threat,” namely for people aged 65 and older. The majority of hospitalizations, it said, is occurring among that older demographic, according to the paper.

In the meantime, a handful of hospitals in California, New York state, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have re-implemented mandatory masking—at least for staff.

Several Northern California counties issued a mask mandate for all health care staff starting next month and ending in late April 2024. They include Contra Costa, Sonoma, Alameda, and San Mateo counties. Officials in the Southern California county of San Luis Obispo also issued a vaccine-or-mask mandate earlier this month.

END

DR PAUL ALEXANDER

As Narratives & DEATHVAX™ Uptake Collapse “Experts” Are Rolled Out To Salvage Followup “Pandemics”‘; they want to scare you again to take fraud failed mRNA technology Bourla, Bancel, Weissman shot

2ND SMARTEST GUY IN THE WORLD, excellent substack AGAIN! ‘The majority of Americans are starting to finally stir awake when it comes to the slow kill bioweapon injections.’ they DON’T want it!!!!!!!!!

DR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 13

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2nd Smartest Guy in the World

As Narratives & DEATHVAX™ Uptake Collapse “Experts” Are Rolled Out To Salvage Followup “Pandemics”

With the majority of Americans finally questioning all things PSYOP-19 and the associated slow kill bioweapon injections… …the captured “experts” shills have been reactivated to promote all kinds of absurd excuses and inane rationalizations. According to an utterly ridiculous recent NY POST article entitled…

Read more

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CANADIAN CHIEF FIREFIGHTER – 37 year old Madeleine “Maddie” Crevier developed extremely rare Turbo Cancer Lymphoma during COVID Vaccine Mandates; can we make link? I think we could; Makis makes case

‘I do believe Maddie Crevier would be alive today if she didn’t take any COVID-19 Vaccines, which gave her no protection from a COVID-19 virus that posed zero risk to her.’

DR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 16

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‘Aug.9, 2023 – Brampton, ON – 37 year old Madelaine “Maddie” Crevier, Assistant Division Chief with the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, died after a 2 year battle with Turbo Cancer Lymphoma, a disease with 90% 5-year survival

HER EMPLOYER, City of Brampton, Ontario, COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE issued Sep.23, 2021:

TURBO CANCER DIAGNOSIS

• 36 year old Assistant Fire Chief Maddie Crevier was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) in September of 2021.
• She endured chemo, radiation in an effort to treat her and then more masses were found in the PET scan in April of 2022 (1st Treatment Failure)
• She subsequently went through the second strongest form of chemo in order to then receive a stem cell transplant in September of 2022.
• December 27th, 2022, ultrasound imaging revealed more masses in her abdomen. (2nd Treatment Failure)

FINAL TREATMENT OPTION

• She now only had one treatment option left and that option was not readily available for all cancer patients. It’s called Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy.
• The process to produce and deliver CAR T-cell therapy is complex. While Ontario is building capacity for CAR T-cell therapy, the province can now treat a limited number of patients from Ontario, and other provinces and territories.
• On December 29, 2022, CT scan results showed several masses in Maddie’s abdomen and that the cancer has spread to fatty tissue and ascites in her peritoneal cavity.
• She spoke with her Oncologist on January 3rd, 2023. She was prescribed prednisone for her discomfort and was informed that it could take up to 6 weeks before her first treatment.
• “If she is approved for CAR T cell therapy, it will be 2 to 3 weeks before the T cell retrieval and then another 2 to 3 weeks for the processing to be completed (shipment to the USA, programming of the cells and return to Canada for use in her treatment).”

My Take…

• I don’t know if Maddie got her CAR T-Cell Therapy, but if she did, it would have been in March or April 2023 and the treatment would have failed as she died only a few months later on August 9, 2023.
• The fundraising for her CAR T-Cell Therapy closed on April 9, 2023.
• PMBCL is a rare subtype of aggressive lymphoma, accounts for 2% of NHL.
• How rare? 0.4 per million.
• Characterized by large, bulky tumor masses.
• The prognosis of PMBCL is described by Chen et al (2021) like this:
  • “The prognosis of most patients with PMBCL is very impressive as most patients respond to treatment”
• Was this Turbo Cancer Lymphoma? Almost certainly.
  • Maddie Crevier is presumed to have had two COVID-19 vaccines before her diagnosis and probably 2-3 more boosters since her cancer diagnosis.
  • She did not express any opposition to COVID-19 Vaccines at any time, nor did she ever indicate any suspicion that her lymphoma may have been caused by COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines.
  • She was left leaning on her social media and her employer had an extremely aggressive COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
  • She would have taken her two COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021, and it may have taken about 6 months for her lymphoma to develop (I have seen this time frame in several Turbo Cancer cases)
• Her 5-year survival should have been 90%, 10-year survival 85%, according to Casadei et al (2021)

Dr. Peter McCullough unpacks Jacobs et al. paper on why Americans are REFUSING the COVID mRNA booster vaccines with this succinct substack (read & support); mRNA Booster Acceptance down to 1.3%

Americans are saying ENOUGH, ENOUGH, and want the Pandemic Closed, NO MORE of the fraud non-pandemic, they want an End to Menacing COVID-19 mRNA (& DNA vector) Vaccines, all of it DONE!!!!

DR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 13

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see my prior substack on this Jacobs et al. paper:

mRNA technology COVID boosters (Pfizer, Moderna) & why the uptake is so low: Jacobs et al. highlights reasons for low uptake as i)prior infection (natural immunity) ii)concern about vaccine side

DR. PAUL ALEXANDER·12:04 AM

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X23010460?via%3Dihub ‘A total of 2196 adult participants from the Arizona CoVHORT, a population-based cohort in the United States established in May 2020, who had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, responded to surveys administered between February 13 and March 29, 2023 queryi…

Read full storyend Who damaged the Gas Pipeline Between Finland and Estonia? one Year After the Nord Stream Explosions? Who? Why? SABOTAGE: Leak in the Submarine Gas Pipeline Between Finland and Estonia Was ‘DeliberateDR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 13 READ IN APP https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/10/sabotage-leak-submarine-gas-pipeline-between-finland-estonia/‘As Winter approaches, and a little over a year after the Nord Stream pipeline was sabotaged (by the US, according to Pulitzer-winner Seymour Hersh), a new disruption in European energy pipelines is reaching the headlines.endWhat? REUTERS is reporting that only 4 million Americans (1.3%) got the updated COVID booster (XBB.1.5) vaccines in September 2023? What? Then if as reported, this is a catastrophic FAILURE for Pfizerfor Moderna, for Bourla, Bancel, Sahin, Kariko, Jha, the COVID mandarins, the PANDEMICISTS, the COVID Taliban, the Branch COVIDIANS; this is a BUST! Americans know it is deadly, so want NONE now!DR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 14 READ IN APP I say we go back and jail all in government and pharma and Pfizer etc. who forced and mandated a non-sterilizing (could not stop transmission) vaccine, jail Bourla and Weissman (many of the 33 Horsemen of the COVID Apocalypse) et al., jail CDC and FDA officials and Health Canada officials for the lies to the public, jail them and ask courts for more punishment beyond jail time…https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/about-4-mln-americans-got-their-updated-covid-vaccines-sept-2023-10-04endUK Government: Office for National Statistics recently published an update on deaths by vaccination status in England and it has shockingly revealed that the vaccinated population accounted for 95% ofCOVID deaths in the 12 months between 1st June 2022 and 31st May 2023, and 94% of those deaths were among either the triple or quadruple vaccinated population. But media refuses to cover this data!DR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 15 READ IN APP The unvaccinated population barely broke into 4 figures throughout the entire year, hitting a total of 1,161 Covid-19 deaths, whereas the vaccinated population hit five figures with 20,336 Covid-19 deaths; 19,143 of which were among the triple and quadruple vaccinated.This means, as is shown in the following chart, that the vaccinated population in England accounted for 95% of COVID-19 deaths between 1st June 2022 and 31st May 2023. Whereas the unvaccinated population accounted for just 5%.end30 dead Americans, 130 or so still being held hostage by HAMAS; what are you going to do Mr. President? President Biden, over to you, your move! I notice you still can’t say Iran did this; I will sayit for you then…”Iran did this, Iran is behind this 100%’…there, see how easy that was! I know you and Obaba did all you could to arm Iran, get it to a nuclear bomb, give it US military secretsDR. PAUL ALEXANDEROCT 16 READ IN APP You 2 gave Iran the drone and the naval gun boats…deliberately…end

SLAY NEWS

The latest reports from Slay News1400 Athletes Died Suddenly Since End of 2020Since late 2020, a staggering 1,400 athletes have died after suffering sudden serious health issues.READ MOREHydroxychloroquine Reduces Deaths in Covid Patients, Study ShowsA new peer-reviewed study has found that using hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid patients significantly reduced the risk of death.READ MOREMajor U.S Cities Ramp Up Counterterrorism Measures amid ‘Day of Jihad’ ThreatMajor cities across America have ramped up security and counterterrorism measures amid anti-Isreal calls for a “Day of Jihad” today.READ MOREJosh Hawley Calls for Investigation into Funding of Anti-Israel College ProtestsRepublican Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has called for a federal investigation into the funding behind anti-Israel protests that have sprung up in support of Hamas terrorists on college campuses across America.READ MORETwo Male Cyclists Win Gold and Silver in Chicago Women’s RacesTwo male cyclists cleaned up at a women’s cycling event in Chicago, storming to “victory” to take gold and silver medals.READ MOREDemocrat Election Clerk Admits to Ignoring Mail-In Ballot Law during Bombshell TestimonyDuring a bombshell testimony in a Connecticut court, a Democrat election clerk has admitted under oath that she has been ignoring the law regarding the handling of mail-in ballots.READ MORERepublican ‘Make Putin Pay’ Bill Uses Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Ukraine AidRepublican Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) has introduced a new bill that seeks to use frozen Russian assets to reimburse American taxpayers for the billions of dollars in aid being sent to Ukraine.READ MOREMinnesota Hit with Major Bird Flu Outbreak as Thanksgiving ApproachesMinnesota has been hit with a devastating bird flu outbreak as the state prepares to provide much of the nation with turkeys for Thanksgiving.READ MOREJudge Throws Book at First Criminal Convicted of Fentanyl MurderA California judge has thrown the book at a drug dealer convicted of fentanyl murder over the death of a teenager.READ MOREOver 100 Lawmakers Back GOP Bill to Refreeze Biden’s $6 Billion ‘Ransom’ for IranOver one hundred lawmakers have backed a Republican bill that seeks to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian funds that Democrat President Joe Biden released as a “ransom” payment for Iran.READ MOREDemocrat Sen Bob Menendez Charged with Acting as Foreign AgentEmbattled Democrat Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has been charged with acting as a foreign agent, a federal indictment has revealed.READ MORE

EVOL NEWS…

8-Year-Old Covid Vaccine ‘Poster Boy’ Dies Suddenly after Cardiac ArrestREAD MORE…

LATEST NEWS:

Detective Arrested for Investigating Link Between Infant Deaths and mRNA ShotsRead more…POLL: Support For Border Wall Surges To All-Time HighsRead more…Here’s why any Israeli attempt to rescue hostages in Gaza will be ‘brutal’Read more…DeSantis Approves Rescue Mission for Thousands of Americans Stuck in IsraelRead more…PBS Edits Out Famed Liberal Journalist Condemning Hamas for ‘War Crimes’ in IsraelRead more…Twin Miracle Babies Found by Israeli Forces After Hamas Massacred ParentsRead more…Senior Hamas Official Admits on Air Israel Invasion Had Been Planned for YearsRead more…Robert De Niro Strikes Again, Now Attacking Trump Supporters: ‘They Have Already Turned Their Backs on Democracy’Read more…

NEWS ADDICTS

Detective Arrested for Investigating Link Between Infant Deaths and mRNA ShotsA Canadian police detective has been arrested by the government for investigating the link between soaring numbers of infant deaths and the mRNA Covid shots.READ THE FULL REPORT

8-Year-Old Covid Vaccine ‘Poster Boy’ Dies Suddenly after Cardiac ArrestThe “poster boy” of Israel’s national Covid vaccine rollout has died suddenly at just 8 years old.READ THE FULL REPORT

Senior Hamas Official Admits on Air Israel Invasion Had Been Planned for YearsA senior Hamas official stated that the Israeli attacks had been plotted for years under the guise of administering Gaza. Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka made the admission during an interview on Russian state television. “In the past couple of years, Hamas has adopted a ‘rational’ approach. It did not go into any war and did not join the Islamic …READ THE FULL REPORT

Twin Miracle Babies Found by Israeli Forces After Hamas Massacred ParentsHamas terrorists on Saturday attacked an Israeli kibbutz located just miles from the Gaza Strip, resulting in a horrific massacre. Amid what officials termed a “haunting” scene, they also discovered that twin infants less than a year old had remarkably survived because their young parents hid them just prior to the couple being murdered by the terrorists. The mass murder …READ THE FULL REPORT

PBS Edits Out Famed Liberal Journalist Condemning Hamas for ‘War Crimes’ in IsraelChristiane Amanpour, a leftist journalist whose reporting betrays no sympathy for Israel’s precarious position in the Middle East, led the latest Amanpour & Co. broadcast with interviews of survivors and family members of kidnapped Israelis on Monday’s edition of her show, which airs on CNN International and tax-funded PBS. But why did PBS delete Amanpour indicating that Hamas was responsible …READ THE FULL REPORT

MICHAEL EVERY/PHIL MAREY/OR OTHER EXECS //RABOBANK

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“We Could Be Looking At A War Economy That Nobody Today Has Ever Experienced Before”

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 10:00 AM

By Benjamin Picton, Senior Macro Strategist at Rabobank

It Never Rains, But It Pours

Brent crude futures closed up more than 5% on Friday, peeking back above U$90/bbl for the first time in almost a fortnight. US 10y yields were down more than 8bps at 4.61% and the long bond was down more than 10bps to 4.75%. That equates to a loss of 19bp for the 10y, and 21bps for 30y treasuries in just one week. Even equities appear to have gotten the risk-off message late in the week. The S&P500 closed down 22 points with losses being led by the high beta information technology sector and consumer discretionary, while defensives and energy performed well.

Who can blame markets for being jittery. The events of the last week are shocking, if not entirely surprising. The world now holds its breath as Israel prepares for a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza, with only unseasonal torrential rain delaying the seemingly inevitable.

As the title of today’s Daily suggest, it never rains, but it pours. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken now finds himself the busiest man in the Biden administration as he jets around to be chastised like a naughty boy by world leaders in the global south. The war in Gaza is poised to spread and open new fronts. Iran has warned Israel that this may occur if Israel invades Gaza (as appears likely), while the US has in-turn told Iran to stay out if it knows what’s good for it. There have already been exchanges of fire between Israel and Iranian proxy Hezbollah over Israel’s Northern border with Lebanon, and recently there has been news of rocket attacks from Syria hitting Israeli positions in the Golan Heights.

Blinken has warned in recent days that Azerbaijan could soon invade Armenia, and some analysts have pointed out that the United States’ military preoccupations, along with the absence of monsoonal rains in October, presents China with a window of opportunity to attack Taiwan. Meanwhile, the second US carrier group deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean has been temporarily delayed to ensure that the flagship USS Eisenhower is in “peak readiness”. Two carrier strike groups armed to the teeth is an act of gunboat diplomacy with a clear message for Iran: “don’t try it”.

We have been suggesting for some time that the world security order is collapsing. Practitioners of idealist foreign policy will have to update their favourite bromides of the “rules based order”, because such a system no longer exists (if it ever did). Recent events suggest that we are back to the Hobbesian order that prevailed before the long peace, and potentially on a path to something worse than Great Power tension and regional proxy wars.

As popular historian Niall Ferguson alarmingly describes in The Times over the weekend, “a cascade of conflict… has the potential to escalate to a Third World War.” That is a worst case scenario, and one that we can still avoid, but it is a risk. With events moving as fast as they are, nobody can anticipate what might light the fuse on the geopolitical powder-keg. The Kaiser certainly never anticipated the actions of Gavrilo Princip in 1914.

Indeed, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan’s now infamous statement just two weeks ago that “the Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades…” is starting to look a bit like Neville Chamberlain walking off a plane declaring “peace in our time!”

What are the implications for financial markets of this worst case scenario? Well, that’s not really the right question, but if we have to answer it it’s probably a combination of inflation, financial repression, scarcity and a long-overdue reversal of multiple expansion. We would be looking at a war economy that nobody in the markets today has ever experienced before.

Unthinkable as that prospect is, it’s not hyperbole. The tails are getting fatter by the day and this week at least, a clearing of the clouds will herald the beginning of the storm, rather than the end.

7//OIL ISSUES//NATURAL GAS ISSUES/USA AND GLOBE

Offshore wind projects costs escalate imploding the cheap green myth. New York refuses to give more money to the project

(I. Slav/OilPrice.com)

New York Refuses To Give More Money For Offshore Wind Projects As Cheap “Green” Myth Implodes

SATURDAY, OCT 14, 2023 – 10:30 AM

By Irina Slav of OilPrice.com,

The New York state authorities have rejected a request by Orsted, BP, and Equinor for raising the price of electricity in future power purchase contracts featuring offshore wind energy.

Offshore wind developers have been pressured by rising raw material and component costs, and higher borrowing costs, which has cast doubt over the viability of many projects. Indeed, Reuters reported that some projects planned for the waters off the coast of New York may need to be reconsidered in light of the authorities’ decision.

“Sunrise Wind’s viability and therefore ability to be constructed are extremely challenged without this adjustment,” Orsted told Reuters.

Sunrise Wind is an offshore project with a planned capacity of 924 MW that could supply electricity to 600,000 households. According to Orsted, it would also involve several hundred million dollars in investments in the state and 800 jobs.

“These projects must be financially sustainable to proceed,” the president of Equinor Renewables Americas told Reuters, referring to the offshore wind projects the Norwegian energy major is leading in the U.S.

Per Reuters, Equinor is involved in three projects with BP—the 816 MW Empire Wind 1 and the 1.26 GW Empire Wind 2, as well as the Beacon Wind farm, with a projected capacity of 1.23 GW.

Indeed, rising costs have compromised the financial sustainability of many wind power projects and earlier this year led to the cancellation of a large-scale one off the coast of the UK.

Swedish Vattenfall, which led the Norfolk Boreas project, said it would quit it after it saw costs rise by 40%, which made the project unviable.

To tackle the rising cost problem, wind developers have turned to governments, asking for additional tax incentives and higher electricity prices, busting the myth of cheap wind power.

The New York Public Service Commission said that if they had agreed to do what the wind developers wanted, that would have added 6.7% to New Yorkers’ electricity bills, which are already among the highest in the State.

end 

Oil Slides On Biden-Maduro Deal For “Freer” Venezuela Elections, Easing Export Sanctions

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 11:09 AM

The Biden White House is set to significantly ease US sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry as part of a deal for “freer” elections. 

Oil prices reacted immediately, diving sharply, on The Washington Post report, stating, “The Biden administration and the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have agreed to a deal in which the U.S. would ease sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry and the authoritarian state would allow a competitive, internationally monitored presidential election next year, according to two people familiar with the breakthrough talks.”

WTI crude futures fell to $86 and Brent below $90 a barrel. 

For some context on the potential for Venezuela’s increase in production – given infrastructure incapable of a major increase – here is where the nation currently stands…

Going back to the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, the Biden administration has scrambled to tap more oil and energy sources. Having had the Saudi door slammed shut after failed pressure to get Riyadh and OPEC to produce more, the White House has sought to bring Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro “in from the cold” – despite it being that only a few short years ago Washington was pursuing regime change in Caracas. 

The prior Trump administration had even mulled a full US naval blockade of Venezuelan ports in the Caribbean. It was only within the past year that the US gave up on the whole ‘Interim President’ Juan Guaidó and his government in exile charade.

A series of secretive meetings between Biden and Maduro top officials have been taking place in Caracas, a negotiation process which began shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

But Maduro’s slow “rehabilitation” by the Biden administration is sure to get a fierce reaction among Republican congressional leaders, especially the hawks represented with senators like Marco Rubio. 

Meanwhile…

One question that remains when it comes to “free” and “monitored” elections in Venezuela… is Maduro really going to allow himself to be canceled by US-monitored elections? 

The Wall Street Journal on Monday has issued a detailed profile of a main opposition hopeful: 

Venezuelan opposition politician Maria Corina Machado wants to challenge the country’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, at the ballot box. The effort may be hopeless.

His regime has barred the conservative, pro-business politician from holding office. Pro-government motorcycle gangs mount roadblocks against her caravan when she campaigns, social-media videos show. State TV plays surreptitious recordings of her private phone calls in an apparent effort to embarrass her. Fearing arrest, close aides have fled Venezuela. 

Adding to her challenges, the U.S. and other governments said Maduro rigged the last vote, in 2018.

But Machado, a 56-year-old engineer from a prominent industrial family, said she is undeterred. Polls show she comfortably leads other politicians ahead of the Oct. 22 primary the opposition will hold. The winner would be expected to square off against Maduro in elections that could be held next year—but only if the leftist leader permits a vote. 

According to the impending Biden deal with Caracas, Maduro is expected to “permit” the vote, presumably to include Machado on the ballot. 

Machado said, “This is a government in its worst moment, they’ve lost their social base” in a recent interview. “All of us Venezuelans and the international community must force them to go ahead with clean, fair and free elections.”

END

8. EMERGING MARKETS//AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND ISSUES//

NEW ZEALAND

This is good: New Zealand ousts leftist lockdown goons after a big conservative victory in elections

(zerohedge)

New Zealand Ousts Leftist Lockdown Loons After Conservative Wins Election

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023 – 02:00 PM

Voters in New Zealand on Saturday ousted the party once led by Jacinda Ardern, and have instead elected the country’s most conservative government in decades.

Turns out forcing your citizens to take vaccines, decreeing state news the only ‘truth,’ and locking up peaceful protesters opposed pandemic authoritarianism did not go over well.

On Saturday, conservative Christopher Luxon was elected New Zealand’s next prime minister. While the exact makeup of Luxon’s government has yet to be determined, his center-right National party looks set to form a coalition government with one or two minor parties.

The National Party will likely combine its indicated 50 seats with the ACT party (11 seats), to give them 61 seats, providing a slim majority in the 121-seat New Zealand parliament. As Goldman notes, the results are largely in line with pre-election polling, with the incumbent Labour party on track to lose their outright majority in parliament for the first time since 2017.

“You have reached for hope and you have voted for change,” Luxon told supporters to rapturous applause at an event in Auckland, alongside his wife Amanda and their children.

Outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who’s held the job for nine months following the abrupt resignation of Jacinda Ardern, told supporters late Saturday that he’d called Luxon to concede.

Hipkins said that while the result wasn’t his desired outcome, “I want you to be proud of what we achieved over the last six years,” he told supporters in Wellington.

On the economic front, Goldman notes that Luxon’s party has vowed to reduce effective tax rates on incomes and investment parties. And while National has pledged to offset the fiscal impact of tax cuts with savings elsewhere, Goldman sees the risks as “skewed to more stimulatory fiscal policy in 2024” vs New Zealand’s current fiscal projections.

The proposed tax cuts and new spending amounts to around 0.8% of annual GDP, which would boost household disposable income by around 1.5% and also provide a tailwind to house prices in 2024. While National has pledged to offset the new spending and lower taxes with a reduction in spending and new taxes, overall we view the risks as skewed to more fiscal stimulus (compared to the current fiscal projections) and additional rate hikes from the RBNZ (GSe: base case on hold at 5.5%).

Luxon has also addressed crime in New Zealand, telling supporters that it’s “out of control,” adding “And we are going to restore law and order, and we are going to restore personal responsibility.”

He’s also vowed to fix the capital’s traffic woes with a new tunnel project.

end

YOUR EARLY CURRENCY/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN CLOSING MARKETS AND EUROPEAN BOURSE OPENING AND CLOSING/ INTEREST RATE SETTINGS MONDAY MORNING 7;30AM//OPENING AND CLOSINGS 

EURO VS USA DOLLAR:  1.0531 UP  0.0030

USA/ YEN 149.55 UP .097  NOW TARGETS INTEREST RATE AT 1.00% AS IT WILL BUY UNLIMITED BONDS TO GETS TO THAT LEVEL…//YEN  STILL FALLS//

GBP/USA 1.2168 UP    0.0047

USA/CAN DOLLAR:  1.3622 DOWN .0003 (CDN DOLLAR UP 3 BASIS PTS)

 Last night Shanghai COMPOSITE CLOSED  DOWN 14.29 PTS OR .46%

 Hang Seng CLOSED DOWN 173.09 PTS OR 0.97% 

AUSTRALIA CLOSED DOWN 0.40%  // EUROPEAN BOURSE:  ALL  GREEN 

Trading from Europe and ASIA

I) EUROPEAN BOURSES:  ALL  GREEN  

2/ CHINESE BOURSES / :Hang SENG DOWN 173.09 PTS OR 0.97%  

/SHANGHAI CLOSED  DOWN 14.29 PTS OR .46%

AUSTRALIA BOURSE CLOSED DOWN 0.40% 

(Nikkei (Japan) CLOSED DOWN 656,96 PTS OR 2.03% 

INDIA’S SENSEX  IN THE RED

Gold very early morning trading: 1915.30

silver:$22.57

USA dollar index early MONDAY  morning: 106.23 DOWN 20 BASIS POINTS FROM FRIDAY’s CLOSE.

MONDAY  MORNING NUMBERS ENDS

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And now your closing MONDAY NUMBERS 11: 30 AM

Portuguese 10 year bond yield: 3.496%  UP 4  in basis point(s) yield

JAPANESE BOND YIELD: +0.758% UP 0 AND  1//100   BASIS POINTS /JAPAN losing control of its yield curve/

SPANISH 10 YR BOND YIELD: 3.903 UP 4  in basis points yield 

ITALIAN 10 YR BOND YIELD 4.763 UP 1  points in basis points yield ./ THE ECB IS QE’ ING ITALIAN BONDS (BUYING ITALIAN BONDS/SELLING GERMAN BUNDS)

GERMAN 10 YR BOND YIELD: 2.786 UP  6  BASIS PTS 

END

IMPORTANT CURRENCY CLOSES FOR MONDAY  

Closing currency crosses for day /USA DOLLAR INDEX/USA 10 YR BOND YIELD/1:00 PM

Euro/USA 1.0548 UP  0.0046 or 46  basis points 

USA/Japan: 149.57 UP 0.125 OR YEN DOWN 13 basis points/

Great Britain/USA 1.2195  UP   0.0075 OR 75  BASIS POINTS //

Canadian dollar UP  .0011 OR 11 BASIS pts  to 1.3623

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The USA/Yuan,  CNY: closed    ON SHORE  CLOSED    (UP) …7.3010

THE USA/YUAN OFFSHORE:    (YUAN CLOSED (UP)…. (7.3036)

TURKISH LIRA:  27.88 EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LEVEL/DEATH WATCH/HYPERINFLATION TO BEGIN.//ON DEATH WATCH

the 10 yr Japanese bond yield  at +0.758…VERY DANGEROUS

Your closing 10 yr US bond yield UP 8 in basis points from FRIDAY at  4.607% //trading well ABOVE the resistance level of 2.27-2.32%) very problematic

 USA 30 yr bond yield  4.863 UP 9  in basis points   ON THE DAY/12.00 PM

USA 2 YR BOND YIELD: 5.086 UP 4 BASIS PTS.

Your  12:00 AM bourses for Europe and the Dow along with the USA dollar index closing and interest rates:  MONDAY: CLOSING TIME 12:00 PM

London: CLOSED UP 35.78  POINTS or 0.47%

German Dax :  CLOSED UP 41,21 PTS OR 0.27%

Paris CAC CLOSED UP 19.85 PTS OR 0.28%

Spain IBEX UP 52.20 PTS OR 0.57%

Italian MIB: CLOSED UP 143,57 PTS OR 0.51%

WTI Oil price  87.10  12: EST

Brent Oil:  90.26   12:00 EST

USA /RUSSIAN ROUBLE ///   AT:  97.39;   ROUBLE DOWN 0 AND  15//100       

GERMAN 10 YR BOND YIELD; +2.786 UP 15 BASIS PTS

UK 10 YR YIELD: 4.532  UP 14  BASIS PTS

CLOSING NUMBERS: 4 PM 

Euro vs USA: 1.0557  UP   0.0056   OR 56 BASIS POINTS

British Pound: 1.2213  UP   .0092 or 92 basis pts 

BRITISH 10 YR GILT BOND YIELD:  4.529%  UP 10 BASIS PTS//

JAPAN 10 YR YIELD: .754%

USA dollar vs Japanese Yen: 149.55 UP   0.097 //YEN  UP 10  BASIS PTS//

USA dollar vs Canadian dollar: 1.3612 DOWN .0023 CDN dollar UP 23  basis pts)

West Texas intermediate oil: 86.94

Brent OIL:  90.08

USA 10 yr bond yield UP 7 BASIS pts to 4.721%  

USA 30 yr bond yield UP 7   BASIS PTS to 4.847% 

USA 2 YR BOND: UP 5 PTS AT 5.101 % 

USA dollar index: 105.99 DOWN 44  BASIS POINTS 

USA DOLLAR VS TURKISH LIRA: 27.85 (GETTING QUITE CLOSE TO BLOWING UP/

USA DOLLAR VS RUSSIA//// ROUBLE:  97.39  DOWN 0   AND  24/100 roubles

GOLD  1920.00

SILVER: 22.60

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE:  UP 314.24 PTS OR 0.93% 

NASDAQ UP 177.62 PTS OR 1.18%

VOLATILITY INDEX: 17.21 DOWN 2.11 PTS (10.92)%

GLD: $177.96 DOWN 0.87 OR 0.49%

SLV/ $20.68 DOWN 0.10 OR 0.48%

end

USA AFFAIRS

USA TRADING IN GRAPH FORM

Yields, Stocks, & Crypto Jump; VIX, Gold, & Crude Dump

BY TYLER DURDEN

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 04:00 PM

It seems that because World War III did, literally, not break out this weekend, it is BTFD time… and there was much rejoicing that “stocks managed to rally in the face of rising rates” with no thought of why.

Source: Bloomberg

Now, where have we seen that before?

Source: Bloomberg

Anyway, Small Caps and Nasdaq were the day’s big winners with The Dow lagging but all comfortably green…

AAPL opened ugly – on China demand fears – rallied to green and failed… rallied to green again… and failed again…

Today saw the first short-squeeze day in the last four days and for context, it was not very impressive…

Source: Bloomberg

VIX was clubbed like a baby seal back to a 17 handle, finding support at pre-Israel Attack levels…

But we note that 0-DTE traders fought the uptrend most of the day…

Source: SpotGamma

The S&P continues to hover at the low-end of the September gap-down. Will Retail Sales or Powell fill the gap?

Interestingly, AI names underperformed AI-at-risk names (though both were up significantly on the day) after the Biden admin cracking down on chips to China headlines…

Source: Bloomberg

Additionally, for a change, the GLP-1 Obesity names underperformed the at-risk names (though again both were higher)…

Source: Bloomberg

Treasury yields were higher across the entire curve with the long-end underperforming…

Source: Bloomberg

Notably, the 2Y yield broke above Thursday’s post-CPI spike high yield but the 10Y could not…

Source: Bloomberg

The dollar rolled over today, with selling accelerating as the day wore on…

Source: Bloomberg

Israel’s Shekel slumped to its weakest since 2015, back above 4/USD…

Source: Bloomberg

Bitcoin had a brief shining moment in the sun after a tweet said that a Spot ETF had been approved… which was then denied… sending the crypto all the way back down to $28k from its spike to $30k.BUT then BTC caught a bid and lifted again along with stocks, back up near $29,000…

Source: Bloomberg

Oil slipped lower today on headlines that the Biden admin will allow another ‘dictator’ to sell more oil (Venezuela)…

Gold stalled at 9/25 ledge levels after ripping higher post-Israel (and payrolls) and slipped lower…

Finally, it appears the market is ready for some volatility in the next couple of days from Retail Sales and Fed Chair Powell’s address…

Source: Bloomberg

But, after that, vol collapses.

EARLY MORNING TRADING/

TUCKER CARLSON..

end

II USA DATA

Big bank loan volumes continue to decline with continuing deposit outflows

(zerohedge)

Big Bank Loan Volumes Continue To Decline As Deposit Outflows Return

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023 – 04:40 PM

Retail money-market funds inflows continued this week, and more troubling (ahead of the coming regional bank earnings), usage of The Fed’s emergency funding facility jumped to a new record high over $109BN. Big banks had a good day today on earnings.

That’s the not-so-rosy picture ahead of tonight’s bank deposit data debacle from The Fed.

On a seasonally-adjusted basis, total deposits declines by $12.4BN (after two big weekly deposit inflows)…

Source: Bloomberg

However, on an unadjusted basis, total deposits rose $41.5BN…

Source: Bloomberg

And so, removing foreign bank flows, we see domestic banks diverging on an SA vs NSA basis once again ($41.6BN inflows NSA, $17.5BN outflows SA)…

Source: Bloomberg

On the bright side, the gap between SA and NSA deposits outflows since the SVB crisis is narrowing (only $57BN now)…

Source: Bloomberg

On the other side of the ledger, loan volumes shrank again by over $10BN with large bank loan volumes declining for the 3rd straight week…

Source: Bloomberg

The key warning sign continues to trend lower (Small Banks’ reserve constraint), supported above the critical level by The Fed’s emergency funds (for now)…

Source: Bloomberg

…we sure hope these banks are making plans to fill the $109BN hole in their balance sheets they are filling with expensive Fed loans.

III) USA ECONOMIC STORIES

Bidenomics Simplified

SATURDAY, OCT 14, 2023 – 08:45 AM

Deficits matter after all…

Is soaring sovereign risk a ‘Bug’ or a ‘Feature’ of Bidenomics?

END

Ford

Ford in a surprise move is laying off another 550 workers after the uAW’s surprise strike move at its major Kentucky truck plant

(zerohedge)

Ford To Lay Off Another 550 Workers After UAW’s ‘Surprise Move’ Hits Kentucky Truck Plant

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 05:45 AM

Starting Monday, Ford Motor Co. will lay off another 550 workers at several plants across the Midwest after United Auto Workers hit the automaker’s largest factory with ‘surprise strikes’ last week.

Detroit Free Press reports, “The latest round of layoffs tied to the 2023 UAW strike, bringing Ford’s total to approximately 2,480 strike-related layoffs.” 

UAW boss Shawn Fain made a surprise announcement on Thursday, indicating 8,700 UAW members walked off the job at the highly profitable SUV and truck plant in Louisville, Kentucky. He said expanding strikes were due to Ford’s refusal “to make further movement in bargaining.” 

According to Ford spokesman Dan Barbossa, the automaker’s “production system is highly interconnected, which means the UAW’s targeted strike strategy has knock-on effects for facilities that are not directly targeted for a work stoppage.

Barbossa explained, “In this case, the strike at the Kentucky Truck Plant and Chicago Assembly Plant has directly impacted operations at several other facilities.”

Ford provided the parts plants where the layoffs will occur tomorrow: 

• 306 employees at Sharonville Transmission Plant in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• 100 employees at Dearborn Stamping Plant in Michigan.
• 65 employees at Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing Plant in Michigan.
• 45 employees at Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti.
• 29 employees at Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights.
• 12 employees at Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Barbossa added: “These are not lockouts … these layoffs are a consequence of the strike, because these six facilities must reduce the production of parts that would normally be shipped to Kentucky Truck Plant and / or Chicago Assembly Plant.”

We have noted how UAW strikes are turning to “permanent strikes” for thousands of workers across Detroit’s Big Three automakers. 

Last month, Ford’s chief supply chain officer, Liz Door, estimated that prolonged strikes could be disastrous for the supplier ecosystem, estimating “between 325,000 to 500,000 people that could be laid off.”

END

This is a good read..

Kunstler…

Kunstler: All This & World War, Too…

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023 – 04:20 PM

Authored by James Howard Kunstler via Kunstler.com,

“To all scholars who teach jihad… to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application of theories.”

– Khaled Meshaal, former Hamas leader

It’s less than a week since the skies over the Negev Desert filled with something eerily like the flying monkeys of Oz upgraded to Hamas Road Warriors in motorized paragliders, kicking off that third world war we’ve been hearing about all our lives, and not at all the way we expected either, which was more Dr. Strangelove style, with the mushroom clouds billowing everywhere — though, who knows, it might come to that, too, before long.

This new catastrophe, quickly globalizing, makes the War in Ukraine seem as comfortable as an old sweater. For now, the question of intel failures must be put aside. There will be no official inquiries while US carrier fleets sail into position, and Hezbollah does a war dance on the northern frontier with Syria, and the Israelis struggle to strategize an extremely sticky hostage predicament, even as their air force blows up whole blocks of Gaza City.

Meanwhile, former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has called for a worldwide jihad this very day, Friday the 13th, as it happens, by which he means disruption within the entity known as Western Civ, where Jihad’s most dogged enemies dwell. For years, footloose emigres have been flooding into Europe and across America’s border with Mexico, mostly young men, hardly vetted, the sort of humans most likely to act-out warrior scripts in a zeitgeist gone sour, and I guess we’ll find out pretty soon whether some of them were sent to be activated against us.

The world is periodically subject to a mighty release of tensions. That’s why there are great wars. We’ve been well aware of these tensions building into the new millennium and now here it is. The elaborate systems we’ve allowed to evolve — our gigantic manufacturing and resource supply lines, the financial scaffold that has turned capital formation into a freak show of scams and wishes, the grotesque behemoth governments of a zillion regulatory impulses turning more tyrannically against their own citizens every day — all add up to a general condition of fantastic fragility. So, you see, a global release of tensions is liable to bust up a lot of those arrangements.

Western Civ has been expecting this for a while.

All the years of clever work-arounds and kicking cans down the road tells you that. The big question is: can we carry on as before? And anyone with half a brain can see the answer is: probably not. That is, not enjoying the many comforts, conveniences, and luxuries we’ve grown used to, all of which hinge on our energy supplies, enough of which is centered in the Ummah of Islam so that when it is interrupted or cut-off, there goes the cushy life for us. (And let’s note that for many in Western Civ life has already and stealthily turned into a serious struggle lately).

So, whichever way these new events may go, things have changed. There will be more intense conflict over the remaining oil in the Middle East. Europe may finally discover that it does not relish being turned into one big mosque. And the USA is so lost in self mind-fuckery that we can’t even get our House of Representatives in order. The American students (and faculty!) cheerleading for Gaza’s Road Warrior executioners might represent the last stand of Woke derangement. This degenerate nonsense has run its course. It may dawn in our centers-of-learning — and every other collaborating institution — that we have more important things to think about than the etiquette around men who dress-up as women.

One naturally wonders what role the shadowy Globalists have played in the build-up to all this, and how things will go with them. I can imagine Europe plunged into political chaos that would lead to scenes like a mob riding Klaus Schwab out of his Swiss redoubt on a rail, and the German government falling, and Paris on fire, and street-fighting in Stockholm. Chaos is as chaos want to do. One thing seems certain: it’ll be a cold winter there for most everybody.

It’s probably safe to say that Mr. Zelensky will not be getting additional bowls of gruel out of Uncle Sam. No one is paying attention to Ukraine now, and that sudden neglect by the once-solicitous NATO alliance could go on indefinitely with wider conflict breaking out elsewhere — meaning that Russia will be left to methodically restore the status quo ante that allowed Ukraine to be a quiet backwater in Russia’s sphere of influence since the end of the previous world war, until our wicked and reckless neocons moved to wreck the joint.

China is the joker in the deck now. There’s plenty of chatter that China’s banking system is toast, with its new and large middle class left holding a giant bag of worthless securities and unsellable real estate, and that when they are sufficiently pissed-off that will be the last round-up for Uncle Xi and his CCP. But then, you can also easily imagine that gang thinking now is the optimum moment to try and grab Taiwan and its riches, with Western Civ all tied up elsewhere. I remind you of China’s “Four Wars” doctrine for bringing us down. There’s Ukraine, now Israel, there’s the internal war of Left versus Right throughout the West, and there’s the massive invasion of Europe and the USA of uninvited mutts. Four wars. The breaking point.

Yet to play out is America’s crisis of leadership. As supply lines break, and the flash mobs loot the luxury shops, and the illegal aliens stream in, and the price of everything goes up-up-up, and the truth about the Covid vaccines is finally grokked, even the dazed-and-confused American public might notice that the White House has become a zombie palace. Politics hates a vacuum and “Joe Biden” begins to look like a black hole that will suck the execrable deep state blob that surrounds him across the event horizon that opens to oblivion. I’d go so far to predict that well before the 2024 election, America will have a new chief executive and that it won’t be Kamala Harris. It could be someone in a uniform, though. Just sayin’. Everything is in flux.

*  *  *

Support his blog by visiting Jim’s Patreon Page

END

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON…

Victor Davis Hanson’s Annotated Guide To American Middle East Madness

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023 – 07:50 PM

Authored by Victor Davis Hanson via X (@VDHanson),

Take note that a trapped Hamas in extremis will go to desperate lengths to survive, from trying to prompt lone-wolf killings in Western cities to drawing in Arab nations to share in their jihad to enlisting Western elites and expatriate Muslims both to deny Hamas is a murderous organization and simultaneously to cheer on its macabre killing.

In this regard, the anti-Jewish nature of Iran and Hamas (read its 1988 Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement) should have been obvious, but Westerners suffered from a pathological desire to be deluded.

But to aid Israel in overcoming the current genocidal agendas of its enemies, we should remember first how we in the past have unfortunately contributed to this nightmare.

What follows are some brief annotated quotes of American Middle East insanity [with my annotations in brackets].

Consider our late point man in Iran, and supposed Obama-era expert on Hamas and ISIS, Robert Malley (2008):

It is “a mistake to only think of them [Hamas] in terms of their terrorist violence dimension.”

[Was it a mistake to envision the Third Reich also in terms only of its “terrorist violence,” given that it also promoted a green agenda?]

Malley also included Hamas in his groups of terrorist organizations that “are social and political movements, probably the most rooted movements in their respective societies.” …

[I agree that Hamas is certainly the “most rooted” of the movements in Gaza and perhaps the West Bank as well. And I concur that it is not a mere aberration in Palestinian society but reflects its collective “rooted” values.]

“There is so much misinformation about them …

[Please elaborate: does your “so much information” include things like our ignorance of the fact that Hamas likes to rape Jewish women and desecrate the dead bodies of Jews?]

“I speak to them and my colleagues speak to them [Hamas], and now we may disagree with them, but they have their own rationality … none of them are crazies,”

[Can you please provide transcripts of those occasions when you and your colleagues (also then in the Obama administration?) spoke to Hamas? That was also quite big of you, Mr. Malley, to note that you “may” disagree with Hamas. Was it over which of their killing methods is the most effective? I also agree that Hamas certainly has its own “rationality”. Its recent murder of 1200 Jews—the vast majority civilians—during a religious holiday, which followed a year-long carefully-planned blueprint for mass death and counted on the near-criminal naivete of Western diplomats, might rival the “rational” genocidal agendas of, say, the SS. As for “crazies”—do you mean that Hamas does not crazily fantasize about extermination, but carefully and rationally carries it out? If so, I concur.]

“It has a charity organization, a social branch; it’s not something you can defeat militarily either, and people need to understand that.”

[Everything you have stated could have equally applied to the murderous Nazi party: it too was a “political movement” (which did not preclude its use of systematic murder). It too had its own “rationality” (kill Jews and destroy elected governments). It too had “a social branch” and “even charities” (all the better to disguise its murderous agendas). And, yes, one can defeat Hamas “militarily,” as the Allies did Nazi ideology. And yes, “people need to understand that” it is quite possible to ensure that Hamas murders no more.]

John Kerry at Davos in 2016:

“I think that some of it [the millions released to Iran by the Obama administration] will end up in the hands of the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—the terrorism specialists of the Iranian armed forces] or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists.”

[As for “Are labeled terrorists?”—Mr. Kerry, does your use of “labeled” mean that Iranian terrorists are terrorists in name only?]

“You know, to some degree, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that can be prevented.”

[“To some degree” ? If American money cannot be prevented from being used by Iranians for terrorism, then does “some degree” mean only 50,000 missiles sent to Hezbollah and Hamas rather than 100,000? Or does “some degree’ perhaps mean,someday, 1200 Jews murdered—rather than, say, 120?]

“There is no way they [the Iranian theocracy] can succeed in what they want to do if they are very busy funding a lot of terrorism.”

[But, Mr. Kerry, what do you think Iran really “want[s] to do”? Isn’t Iran “busy” building nuclear bombs, not subways and hospitals? And their nuke program is complementary to, rather in place of, Tehran’s vast terrorism budget. Or do you mean that if Iran spends the money on terrorism, they won’t have enough funds to complete building their nuclear-tipped missiles?]

Antony Blinken in 2023:

“We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship.”

[At what upcoming date do you think you will need to amend this ridiculous declaration—in the same fashion you just deleted your recent tweet calling for a ceasefire the moment Israel was posed to strike back?]

State Department spokesman Ned Price (2023):

“Since April of 2021, we have demonstrated in very real and significant terms our commitment to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. We’ve provided over $890 million for Palestinians, including over $680 in humanitarian assistance for refugees in the region through UNRWA … When Secretary Blinken was in Ramallah, he announced another $50 million in funding for UNRWA.”

[You certainly did show your commitment to the “needs” of the Palestinian people, which in the case of Gaza resulted in the most sophisticated, reinforced-concrete labyrinth of military tunnels in history, given the plethora of imported building materials purchased with fungible Western dollars to prepare for the mass murder that we just saw in Southern Israel.]

Ambassador Nicholas Burns:

“The Trump Administration’s decision to end U.S. assistance to Palestinian refugees is wrong on every level… heartless and unwise.”

[What was wrong on every level and certainly heartless and unwise was the Biden State Department’s nihilist decision in the very moments of taking power to resume hundreds of millions of fungible dollars to the Palestinians, much of which no doubt ended up in increased spending for  rockets and tunnels. Note that in 2021 the Biden Administration was warned of just that danger by its own state department—and was ignored by diplomats such as yourself: “We assess there is a high risk Hamas could potentially derive indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza.”]

end 

USA// COVID//VACCINE/

end

SWAMP STORIES

Turley: New Evidence May Destroy Biden’s Defense In His Classified Documents Case

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023 – 10:00 PM

Authored by Jonathan Turley, op-ed via The Hill,

This month, the sudden appearance of Special Counsel Robert Hur caused as much of a stir as Bigfoot suddenly appearing on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Unlike his counterpart, Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has been aggressively prosecuting former president Donald Trump, Hur has virtually disappeared since his appointment to investigate President Joe Biden. Hur surfaced to interview Biden over his possession of classified documents, including some that go back to his time as a U.S. senator.

I have referred to Hur as a “neutron prosecutor” — a special counsel with no possible charge, under Justice Department policy barring the indictment of a sitting president. If that was not enough of a problem, Hur may have growing evidence that accounts offered by the White House over the discovery of the documents are false.

The new evidence could prove transformative, not only for the criminal but the impeachment investigation of the president.

This week, the House Oversight Committee released a new timeline on the discovery of classified documents in various locations associated with Biden. From the outset, many of us flagged problems with the account that had been given by Biden, who insisted that he had no knowledge or involvement in the removal or use of the documents.

The most glaring problem is that, after they were removed at the end of his term as vice president, the documents were repeatedly moved and divided up. Some were found in the Penn Center office used by Biden in Washington, D.C. Others were found in his garage and reportedly in his library. 

Biden made clear from the beginning that he expected the investigation to be perfunctory and brief. He publicly declared that he has “no regrets” over his own conduct and told the public that the documents investigation would soon peter out when it determined that “there is no ‘there’ there.”

Now, however, it appears that a critical claim by the White House in the scandal may not only be false, but was knowingly false at the time it was made. The White House and Biden’s counsel have long maintained that, as soon as documents were discovered in the D.C. office, they notified the national archives. Many asked why they did not call the FBI, but the White House has at least maintained that, unlike Trump, they took immediate action to notify authorities.

However, it now appears that this was not true.

One of the closest aides to Biden and a close friend to Hunter Biden is Annie Tomasini. She referred to Hunter as her “brother” and signed off messages with “LY” or “love you.”

Tomasini was once a senior aide to Joe Biden and, according to the Oversight Committee, inspected the classified material on March 18, 2021, two months after Biden took office — nearly 20 months before they were said to be found by the Biden team.

The committee now alleges that the White House “omitted months of communications, planning, and coordinating among multiple White House officials, [Kathy] Chung, Penn Biden Center employees, and President Biden’s personal attorneys to retrieve the boxes containing classified materials. The timeline also omitted multiple visits from at least five White House employees, including Dana Remus, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, Annie Tomasini, and an unknown staffer.”

If true, the evidence demolishes the timeline long maintained by the Biden team. That could have an immediate impact on both the criminal and impeachment investigations.

The timeline has been a critical distinction drawn by the White House in distinguishing this matter from the Trump indictment, in which Smith charged the former president with 37 counts, including retaining classified information, obstructing justice and making false statements, and other charges.

Biden insisted that he was entirely “surprised” by the discovery of the documents in Nov. 2021.

He echoed the narrative of both his lawyers and the media at large:

“And they did what they should have done,” he said.

“They immediately called the Archives — immediately called the Archives, turned them over to the Archives, and I was briefed about this discovery.”

In reality, Biden’s counsel and associates conducted repeated searches and declared repeatedly that no further classified documents were found. That was repeatedly found to be untrue.

Moreover, the concern is that Biden’s lawyers, in the course of these private searches, may have consolidated material and contaminated the scene by the time FBI agents conducted their searches. This includes changing how documents were originally stored and whether classified markings were visible to anyone working around the Biden home or garage.

Now it appears that the discovery had actually been made months earlier.

The timeline would now more closely mirror Trump’s timeline in the knowing retention of classified material, the failure to turn over all of the classified material despite assurances from counsel, and alleged false accounts about the document’s discovery.

It is not clear what Hur can do if he finds either from witnesses or forensic testing (including perhaps fingerprints on the documents) that President Biden lied.

I have long disagreed with the policy that the Justice Department has long held, that prosecutors should not indict a sitting president. Were he to seek an indictment, Hur would have to ask for reconsideration of the policy based on a decades-old memo issued by the Office of Legal Counsel under President Bill Clinton, who at the time faced calls for an indictment for perjury.

The DOJ policy will also put pressure on the House in its ongoing impeachment inquiry. In my recent testimony at the first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing, I mapped out four possible articles of impeachment. They included obstruction and abuse of power.

If this new timeline is accurate, the question is whether Biden knew that the account being put forward by his staff and counsel was false. It also raises the question of whether the president knowingly possessed classified documents and lied about their removal, use, and discovery. Finally, if Biden repeated his public denials to Hur, there could be added allegations of false statements to federal investigators, another commonly-charged federal crime.

We still have to see if there is evidence to support such crimes, but what is clear is that the past narrative may no longer suffice.

In his press conference announcing the criminal charges against Trump, Smith declared, “We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone….Nothing more, nothing less.”

The question for Hur is whether they can also apply to a sitting president. Likewise, if these allegations are true and Biden knowingly committed these crimes, the question for Congress could be whether he should remain as president. 

END

It’s Jim Jordan Vs. Holdouts As Speaker Battle Heads For Tuesday Vote

MONDAY, OCT 16, 2023 – 11:05 AM

As the dysfunctional House eyeballs a Tuesday vote for Speaker, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) faces at least 10-20 Republican holdouts who oppose his nomination, one of said holdouts told CBS News (so it could be like 5). CNN has also spoken with one senior Republican, who told the network that he’s spoken with 20 members willing to block Jordan’s path.

Jordan, who needs 217 votes to become Speaker, can only afford to lose four Republicans if every member votes, because a speaker requires a full House vote to be elected.

Last week, 55 Republicans voted against committing to supporting Jordan in a floor vote.

That said, on Monday, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) announced that he had held “thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days” with Jordan, and has decided to throw his support towards the Ohio lawmaker.

Jordan and his allies, meanwhile, have engaged in a “right-wing pressure campaign against Republicans opposed to electing him speaker,” according to the NY Times, which would of course frame it as such.

In efforts to close the gap, lawmakers and activists close to him have taken to social media and the airwaves to blast the Republicans they believe are blocking his path to victory and encourage voters to browbeat them into supporting Mr. Jordan.

It is an extraordinary instance of Republican-on-Republican fighting that underscores the divisions that have wrought chaos inside the party, paralyzing the House of Representatives in the process. Several of Mr. Jordan’s supporters have posted the phone numbers of mainstream G.O.P. lawmakers they count as holdouts, encouraging followers to flood the Capitol switchboard with calls demanding they back Mr. Jordan — or face the wrath of conservative voters as they gear up for primary season.

“You want to explain to your voters why you blocked Jordan?” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) wrote on “X”.

Political activist Amy Kremer on Friday posted a list of 12 holdout Republicans blocking Jordan’s path – which Mike Rogers was on before supporting Jordan on Monday.

While Jordan has been branded a “legislative terrorist” with close ties to former President Donald Trump, the Ohio lawmaker has actually been aligning himself with moderate conservatives on several recent issues.

He backed the debt limit that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy struck with President Biden, and did not join the Freedom Caucus in opposition. He’s also said he intends to have the House vote on a stopgap spending measure to keep the government operating past mid-November.

That said, some mainstream Republicans are opposing him on principle, differing with Jordan on things such as continuing to fund the war in Ukraine, and rewarding what they see as ‘bad behavior,’ which led to McCarthy’s ouster.

“I’m a no on allowing Matt Gaetz and the other seven to win by putting their individual in as speaker,” said Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL), one of the holdouts on the above list.

Should Jordan fizzle out, Punchbowl News notes that there are several names bouncing around right now.

Mike Johnson (R-La.), the vice chair of the conference. The 51-year-old Johnson is a serious lawmaker who is well-liked in the conference.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is also mentioned repeatedly. Emmer, 62, has been in leadership for nearly five years, mostly as NRCC chair. Emmer has some allies on the right, but many in former President Donald Trump’s orbit who do not trust the Minnesota Republican.

Could McCarthy come back? We’re pretty bearish on this, but we wouldn’t be surprised if he starts thinking about this in the next few days. Some of the eight hardliners who voted against McCarthy may flip after another few days of chaos. But the question is whether other GOP lawmakers have taken up the anti-McCarthy mantle in the meantime.

Market impact?

The Speaker’s race isn’t just a game of musical chairs. It threatens to send global financial markets into a tailspin, warns Nigel Green, CEO of the financial juggernaut deVere Group.

The impending drama doesn’t just end with a potential government hiatus. Green forecasts a domino effect of economic tremors, rattling the already fragile skeletons in Uncle Sam’s closet. The new Speaker, less a deal-maker and more a political gladiator, might just thrust the government into a prolonged shutdown, seeking political gains while global markets gasp for air. The uncertainty looming over fiscal policies, budget allocations, and federal operations is a perfect recipe for market volatility, with investors scrambling for cover. And as if that’s not enough, Green anticipates a vicious cycle of eroding investor confidence, dwindling asset prices, and the specter of capital flight, as the world loses its appetite for American economic stewardship.

According to Green, a government shutdown could be the final nail in the coffin for America’s AAA credit rating. Moody’s might just follow in Fitch’s footsteps, which, citing America’s fiscal circus and debt-ceiling highwire acts, had already demoted its credit score.

“We expect that should a shutdown happen, it will prompt Moody’s to cut the US credit rating below AAA,” he said, adding “Over the summer, global rating agency Fitch downgraded the US government’s top credit rating to AA+ from AAA. Fitch cited fiscal deterioration over the next three years and repeated down-the-wire debt ceiling negotiations that puts at risk the government’s ability to pay its bills.”

“This was the second major rating agency (after Standard & Poor’s) to strip the US of its triple-A rating.”

A double whammy, considering it was the second humiliating downgrade by a major rating agency. And the dollar? Expect a bruising, warns Green. The currency’s tumble would resonate through exchange rates, international trade, and investment, not to mention throwing commodity markets for a loop, stirring up storms for oil and agricultural prices. The message is clear: the Speaker’s gavel might just set off a financial earthquake, and investors worldwide would feel the tremors. It’s time, Green advises, to keep a weather eye on the horizon, as the U.S. political saga continues to play Russian roulette with global financial stability.

“Investors need to closely monitor developments in the US government, as its stability and decisions have a profound influence on the global financial markets.”

END

THE KING REPORT

The King Report October 16, 2023 Issue 5785

Independent View of the News

Israel tells UN to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip within 24 hours (Late Thursday night) The message could be a signal that the Israeli military is preparing for an imminent ground operation… The IDF urged residents to distance themselves from Hamas, which it said was using them as human shields…It said Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels “underneath homes and buildings and populated with innocent Gazan civilians.”…   (Reportedly, inclement weather delayed the operation.) \https://www.axios.com/2023/10/13/israel-gaza-hamas-evacuate-un-ground-operation?s=02   GOP Sen. Blackburn @VoteMarsha: Hamas terrorists are not letting residents evacuate northern Gaza. They want to keep civilians there so they can use them as human shields. Barbaric.   @sentdefender: The Israeli Mission to the United Nations has stated that the Organization’s Response to the IDF Evacuation Order is a “Disgrace” and that it will not be Cancelled or Rescinded; they further claim that the UN has been “Turning a Blind Eye” to the Crimes committed by Hamas for Years and now instead of Standing with Israel they are Preaching for Israel to Stop trying to Defend itself.   Hezbollah Chief Announces: ‘We are Ready’ to Join the War in Israel Sheikh Naim Qassem addressed a throng of jubilant supporters waving Hezbollah and Palestinian flags and holding images of Israeli flags on fire… “Hezbollah knows its duties perfectly well,” he continued. “We are prepared and ready, fully ready, and we are following developments moment by moment.”… https://thepoliticsbrief.com/hezbollah-chief-announces-we-are-ready-to-join-the-war-in-israel/   Prof. @michaeltanchum: Hezbollah is prepping their supporters to evacuate locations in southern Lebanon, Baalbek, and elsewhere. Hezbollah has been planning for this war longer than Hamas.    Israel Defense Forces @IDF 12:45 ET on Friday: An IDF UAV is currently striking terrorist targets belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon.  @IsraelRadar_com: IDF spokesman: Israel amassed massive military forces on Lebanon front; whoever approaches the border will die.   @HananyaNaftali: Hamas publishes footage of its fighters keeping Israeli children as human shields in Gaza.  https://twitter.com/HananyaNaftali/status/1712885538682765547   US bonds, gasoline, and oil surged on news of the imminent Israeli ground operation in Gaza.  December Gold soared as much as $61.30.  US stocks rallied early on great US big-bank Q3 results due to the much higher interest rates it charged customers.   Big Banks Lift Stocks as Treasuries Climb with Oil – BBG 10:01 ET JP Morgan jumped 5% on another quarter of record net interest income and a bullish forecast.  Wells Fargo & Co. advanced 4% as it beat analyst’s expectations for net interest income and raised its guidance.  Citigroup climber 3.5% as its rates and currencies traders posted their best third quarter in at least eight years…   Jamie Dimon warns it’s ‘most dangerous time’ in ‘decades’ – In addition to geopolitical concerns, Dimon said the country’s mounting $33.5 trillion debt — “the largest peacetime fiscal deficit ever” — is cause for concern… https://nypost.com/2023/10/13/jamie-dimon-warns-its-most-dangerous-time-in-decades/   Fed’s Harker (Phil Fed Pres) Reiterates Call for Holding Interest Rates Steady – BBG 9:00 ET   Fed’s Harker says rate hikes are likely over amid ongoing disinflation: Reuters “Disinflation is under way… Labor markets are coming into better balance.   “He said he sees a “steady disinflation” that will take price pressures below 3% this year and to the Fed’s 2% target after that… (Despite 3 straight PPI increases, oil and CPI rebounds!  What fools these Fed officials be!) https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/feds-harker-amid-ongoing-disinflation-rate-hikes-likely-over-2023-10-13/   Medicare Part B Premium to Increase (5.9%) in 2024 The annual deductibles for both Part A and Part B are also going up next year The annual Part B deductible will also rise, to $240 in 2024 from $226 this year… For 2024, the Part A deductible will be $1,632 per stay, an increase of $32 from this year… https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2023/medicare-premiums-will-increase-next-year.html   BLS will largely ignore the inflation jump from Medicare.  This is how Phil Harker gets deflation.   @elonmusk: Stopping inflation requires government to stop increasing the quantity of money at a rate faster than the output of goods & services.   NY Times columnist Paul Krugman mocked for saying ‘inflation is over’ if you exclude food, gas , and rent https://trib.al/OqsQ6lj   As we have recounted in recent months, Team Obama-Biden is loading up the Fed with leftists.  Other Fed officials have read the writing on the wall.  So, some moderate Fed officials have become political to curry favor with Team Obama-Biden.  They want to help Biden for 2024.  It’s the 70s all over again!   JPMorgan Reports Blowout Earnings, Record Net Interest Income Thanks To First Republic Collapse, Boosts Outlook – There were $1.5 billion of net charge-offs, and a surprise net reserve release of $113 million… The purchase of First Republic added another $1.1 billion to JPMorgan’s net income.    Q3 Adjusted Revenue $40.686 billion, beating exp. $39.92 billion and vs $33.491 billion a year ago…    Q3 Net Income $13.2 billion and EPS $4.33, beating exp. $3.94, and vs $3.12 Y/Y… https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/jpmorgan-reports-blowout-earnings-record-net-interest-income-thanks-first-republic-collapse   University of Michigan Preliminary Sentiment of October fell to 63 from 68.1; 67 was expected.  Current Conditions sank to 66.7 from 71.4; 70.3 was consensus.  Expectations dropped to 60.7 from 66; 65.7 was expected.  The big news was that 1-year Inflation expectations jumped to 3.8% from 3.2%.  Is Harker really that oblivious, or is he pandering, ahead of the 2024 Elections, to Team Biden?  5-yr Inflation expectations increased to 3.0% from 2.8%.  The Street expected both 1-yr & 5-yr to be flat.   Fangs got hammered on Friday.  The NY Fang+ Index was -2.2% near 13:30 ET.  Traders got beaucoup long these favored vehicles for earnings season.   ESZs traded a tad lower when the Nikkei opened by turned a tad positive near 18:30 ET.  ESZs then flatlined until a modest rally developed after the 3 ET European opening.  The rally ended at 4:05 ET.  ESZs then declined from 4391.75 to 4365.75 at 6:43 ET.  Traders then got long for the Pump & Dump operation for the NYSE opening and big bank Q3 results.  ESZs hit a daily high of 4407.75 at 9:38 ET.  The dump then began; ESZs intractably sank to 4352.75 at 11:54 ET.   A Friday Noon Balloon took ESZs to 4375.00 at 12:33 ET.  ESZs then sank to a new daily low of 4340.75 at 13:36 ET.  Traders got long for the Friday afternoon rally. ESZs labored to 4367.25 at 15:08 ET.  ESZs then retreated.  Who would want to be long over the weekend with the Israel-Hamas ground war commencement?  ESZs hit 4367.25 at 15:10 ET and then sank to 4345.75 at 15:42 ET.  The late upward manipulation forced ESZs to 4357.00 at 15:52 ET.  ESZ and stocks then dipped into the close.   After surging in early trading, bank stocks sank after the first 30 minutes of NYSE trading.  Citi turned negative at 14:37 ET.  JPM peaked at 153.11 (9:53 ET) on lemming buying; it hit 147.88 at 13:35 ET.   Positive aspects of previous session. Stock rallied early on big bank results and the expected Friday rally Currencies were mostly flat; limited war effect so far   Negative aspects of previous session Fangs got hammered because too many traders got long for the usual earning results rally Bonds, oil, and gold soared; Brent Crude settled at $90.89, +$4.89, +5.69%; Gasoline +10.44 at peak ESZs and stocks tumbled after the early US rally.  The DJTA sank as much as 2.03%.   Ambiguous aspects of previous session Why didn’t oil and gold soar earlier this week?  Is someone managing markets?   First Hour/Last Hour Action [S&P 500 Index]: 1st Hour from NYSE Open: Down; Last Hour: Up   Pivot Point for S&P 500 Index [above/below indicates daily trend to traders]: 4338.95 Previous session S&P 500 Index High/Low: 4377.10; 4311.97   The US is sending the Eisenhower carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean.  It looks like the US believes, or has intel, that Israel faces an existential threat.   @sentdefender: U.S. Defense Officials have told the Israelis that U.S. Naval Ships in the Eastern Mediterranean will be used to Shoot Down Missiles that are launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon and that U.S. Forces across the Middle East will Target a number of Pro-Iranian Groups in Syria and Iraq if this Escalates into a Regional Conflict. U.S. Surveillance Platforms are Airborne over the Eastern Mediterranean keeping a Close-Eye on Israel, Lebanon, and the other Countries/Groups in the Region.   Fox’s @TreyYingst: There’s an understanding on the ground that Israel/Gaza could just be the beginning. Look at the amount of American military assets headed this direction. The evacuation of U.S. citizens by sea. Iranian FM meeting with the leader of Hamas. Attacks from Hezbollah. Uncertain days.   @breeadail: Israel is reportedly deploying “Iron Beam” RAPHAEL laser Air Defense System, capable of intercepting missiles, UAVs, etc. from almost immediate launch, now FULLY OPERATIONAL. This is the NEW “Iron Dome”—but where interceptions cost $50k per launch, this will be .5¢ Game changer…   @ELINTNews: Aleppo International Airport now reportedly out of service again following the suspected Israeli airstrikes in northern Syria.   @joel_rayburn: Repeated Israeli strikes to disable Damascus and Aleppo airports are, to my mind, a strong indication that 1) the Iranian regime is trying to move strategic weapons to or via Syria to open a northern front and 2) the Israelis are determined to preempt that.   Bloomberg Middle East @middleeast: The US urged Beijing to use its influence in the Middle East to prevent others from attacking Israel and widening its war with Hamas. (This is humiliating!)   NY Times: Hamas Attack on Israel Brings New Scrutiny of Group’s Ties to Iran Officials from Iran and Hezbollah helped plan the attack, people familiar with the operation said, but the U.S. and its allies have not found evidence directly linking Tehran. (Iran Deal lobby alert!)     Gen. Esmail Ghaani, who is in charge of supervising Iran’s network of proxy militias as head of the country’s paramilitary Quds Force, repeatedly traveled to Lebanon for covert sessions with leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, a Shiite Lebanese militia that Iran also supports….    Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, held an hours long online meeting in March with an elite group of strategists from all the Iran-backed militias and told them to get ready for a war with Israel with a scope and reach — including a ground invasion…         Some people familiar with the operation said that a tight circle of leaders from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas helped plan the attack starting over a year ago, trained militants and had advanced knowledge of it. That account is based on interviews with three Iranians affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, one Iranian connected to senior leadership and a Syrian affiliated with Hezbollah… https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/world/middleeast/hamas-iran-israel-attack.html   @_StephanieMyers: Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani says the $6 billion of Iranian funds in Qatar will be used in accordance with the agreement struck with U.S. and Iran. (So, once again, Team Obama-Biden lied to Americans regarding their dealings with Iran!)   @WalidPhares: If confirmed it means that by refusing to refreeze the 6 B$, the Qatar Gov will transfer the sums to the Iran Regime.  Is Doha rebelling against the US admin? Or is this in coordination with the Biden team?  Bottom line: The Iran Deal Lobby is winning all the way in the West.     Hezbollah’s hesitations to enter the war fully are partially caused by calls inside Lebanon by CedarsRevolution supporters to deny the militia access to large swaths of Lebanese territory. Mainly Mount Lebanon & the North. This could impede war efforts. But Tehran orders would supersede all assessments.  Releases from opposition groups are opposing a “war with Israel waged by Hezbollah,” calling on the Lebanese Army to create “safe zones” to reduce the Iranian militia to narrow zones in the south & the Bekaa, that would be militarily unsustainable. Hezb will refuse such plans.   Blinken Overrides GOP Block on Palestinian Food Aid at Last Minute Amid Looming Crisis U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s under-the-radar approval of $75 million in food assistance comes after months of pressure from Democrats and the UNRWA   October 4, 2023 https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2023-10-04/ty-article/.premium/blinken-overrides-gop-block-on-palestinian-food-aid-at-last-minute-amid-looming-crisis/0000018a-f9d8-d85f-afcf-fbddfaf20000   Ex-Iran envoy Rob Malley ‘compromised classified information,’ Rep. Michael McCaul says “We found out that he was suspended without pay because he had problems with his security clearance. He compromised classified information, we think with Iran, and now there’s a wider investigation into this,” McCaul said… could be the worst State Department scandal since Alger Hiss,” Issa said… https://nypost.com/2023/10/12/ex-iran-envoy-rob-malley-compromised-classified-information-rep-michael-mccaul-says/   @WalidPhares: One major reason why the US intelligence community missed the conclusion that Hamas was preparing a large operation was the limit established by the policy levels of the administration who apparently was so sure that Tehran won’t wage a War because the regime was being fed with money. Their naive conclusion was to neglect the Intel community various reports.   Airlift Ordered By DeSantis Evacuates 300 Americans From Israel Governor also offers to evacuate citizens dumped in Europe by Biden https://www.dailywire.com/news/airlift-ordered-by-desantis-evacuates-300-americans-from-israel   Biden admin sent tens of millions in COVID relief funds to group accused of harboring Hamas terrorists  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-sent-tens-millions-covid-relief-funds-group-accused-harboring-hamas-terrorists   Money Laundering Claim that Hamas and Russia Use Crypto to Avoid Sanctions https://mishtalk.com/economics/money-laundering-claim-that-hamas-and-russia-use-crypto-to-avoid-sanctions/   We have noted that the US Constitution clearly states that only Congress can mint and coin money.  Over many decades, courts have ruled against anyone that tried to create currency.  Ergo, crypto currencies are patently illegal.  We opined that the only reason that the US has NOT shutdown crypto currencies is that they are used for illicit purposes and the great US spy machine is monitoring them.   @AliBradleyTV on Friday: 14 people from Syria have been apprehended in the Rio Grande Valley over the last 3 day according to sources… 2 men from Lebanon were apprehended in Eagle Pass yesterday.   California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill allowing some Mexican residents near border to get in-state tuition (Pandering with taxpayer funds for expected future votes!) https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-governor-gavin-newsom-signs-bill-allowing-some-mexican-residents-near-border-to-get-in-state-tuition   Republicans chose Rep. Jim Jordan as their nominee for Speaker on Friday afternoon.   Mike Rogers will not back Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House, would work with Democrats U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) said, “There was nothing that Jordan could do to get his support as Speaker of the House,”… Rogers (Armed Services Chair!) left a closed-door caucus session Friday and said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-NY) should state concessions needed to help the GOP. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mike-rogers-will-not-back-jim-jordan-for-speaker-of-the-house-would-work-with-democrats/ar-AA1id0su     @seanmdav: If deadbeat drunk @RepMikeRogersAL (and his Lego hair toupee) wants to help Democrats run the House, then he needs to resign his seat now and run for office as a Democrat. (GOP Rep. Rogers is Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee!)   Republicans flip Democrat-held Louisiana governor seat in first major contest ahead of 2024 elections https://t.co/bzXGJr7kOw   After the close, Pfizer cut its 2023 revenue forecast to $58B to $61B from $67B to $70B and its EPS to 1.45 to 1.65 from 3.25 to 3.45 due to reduced demand for Covid medications/vaxxes.   Pfizer hit a low of 29.33 (-8.66%) in after-hour trading, its lowest price since March 2020.   Just 2% of Americans have received the updated 2023 version of the COVID-19 vaccine… This amounts to 7 million Americans. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/here-s-how-many-americans-received-new-covid-shot/ar-AA1id56x   @DonMiami3: Nasdaq breadth dropped further today – at the lowest levels on record. https://twitter.com/DonMiami3/status/1712938991459156260   Threats in U.S. rising after Hamas attack on Israel, says FBI Director Christopher Wray https://www.cbsnews.com/news/threats-in-u-s-rising-after-hamas-attack-on-israel-says-fbi-director-christopher-wray/   @sentdefender on Sunday night: Israeli Armor and Mechanized-Infantry has reportedly moved directly up to the Border with Northern Gaza in some Locations along the Fence tonight.   ABC: Israel Defense Forces attacked “military infrastructure” that belongs to “the terrorist organization Hezbollah” in Lebanon, the IDF said in a social media post early Monday morning local time.   Team Biden said Netanyahu invited Joey Baby to visit Israel.  The last thing Israel needs is that old fool distracting & burdening the war effort.  Israeli polls show overwhelming anger with Bibi over the massacre.  The Big Guy went on 60 Minutes.  He must be getting killed in the polls for policies that aided & abetted Iran and Hamas.  Of course, the regime media wants to help Joey Baby.   Today –Despite the horrid global geopolitical situation and an imminent ground war in Gaza, ESZs hit +13.50 at 20:35 ET on inculcated Sunday night buying for the expected Monday.  Don’t be careless!   Expected economic data: Oct Empire Mfg. -5.0; Sept Budget -$146.0B; Phil Fed Pres Harker 10:30 ET   S&P 500 Index 50-day MA: 4404; 100-day MA: 4402; 150-day MA: 4295; 200-day MA: 4221 DJIA 50-day MA: 34,341; 100-day MA: 34,284; 150-day MA: 33,929; 200-day MA: 33,817 (Green is positive slope; Red is negative slope)   S&P 500 Index – Trender trading model and MACD for key time frames Monthly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 3828.58 triggers a sell signal Weekly: Trender and MACD are negative – a close above 4473.50 triggers a buy signal Daily: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 4263.72 triggers a sell signal Hourly: Trender and MACD are negative – a close above 4362.86 triggers a sell signal   @RNCResearch: Biden almost wipes out as he takes the stage in Philadelphia https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1712914382714265794     ANOTHER ANGLE: Biden shows off his vigor by half-jogging a couple steps, then nearly wiping out on the short stairs   https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1712940686616465716   Biden trips in Philadelphia before saying Hamas makes ‘Al Qaeda look pure’ https://trib.al/6wzM3lG   @greg_price11: Biden: “You have an advantage in Philly. One: I married a Philly girl. Two: You’re between Scranton and Wilmington. You know? (pause) You guys have so sense of humor, man.” https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1712914770708373991   @nicksortor: The fact the President of the United States’ wife needs to be SENT ONTO THE STAGE to ensure he doesn’t get lost is PATHETIC. https://t.co/gIlcLFyUdw   @RNCResearch: “What’s the reason for the president’s trip to Delaware this afternoon?”  Biden spokesperson Olivia Dalton: “The president is making a brief stop at home“ (Got to be a treatment)   @JonathanTurley: The Boston Globe just ran an article entitled “Attacking Biden, GOP tries to have it both ways; He’s old and feeble — and a master criminal?” However, you do not have to be a genius to engage in influence peddling. You just need to be corrupt…   New evidence may destroy Biden’s defense in his classified documents case – Turley The committee now alleges that the White House “omitted months of communications, planning, and coordinating among multiple White House officials, [Kathy] Chung, Penn Biden Center employees, and President Biden’s personal attorneys to retrieve the boxes containing classified materials. The timeline also omitted multiple visits from at least five White House employees, including Dana Remus, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, Annie Tomasini, and an unknown staffer.”     The evidence demolishes the timeline long maintained by the Biden team… Biden insisted that he was entirely “surprised” by the discovery of the documents in Nov. 2021. He echoed the narrative of both his lawyers and the media at large: “And they did what they should have done,” he said. “They immediately called the Archives — immediately called the Archives, turned them over to the Archives, and I was briefed about this discovery.”  In reality, Biden’s counsel and associates conducted repeated searches and declared repeatedly that no further classified documents were found. That was repeatedly found to be untrue… https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/4254963-new-evidence-may-destroy-bidens-defense-in-his-classified-documents-case/   White House knew Biden had his own document problem before siccing FBI on Trump, new timeline shows – Biden’s White House knew that he left boxes of documents at the Penn Biden Center a year before he directed NARA to facilitate FBI’s raid on Trump home over documents. https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/white-house-knew-biden-had-classified-docs-it-asked-nara-help-fbi   Lawmakers to probe if U.S. weapons sent to Ukraine, abandoned in Afghanistan are in Hamas’ hands  https://justthenews.com/government/security/satlawmakers-seek-probe-whether-us-weapons-sent-ukraine-afghanistan-hamas-hands   @yaelbt: “They shoot at Bedouins, they aimed rockets to Arab villages…they don’t care. They came on a suicide mission”. This is Dr. Tarek Abu Arar, an Israeli physician & Muslim Bedouin. He was shot by terrorists who pretended to need medical help. He showed the reporter photos of Israeli Muslim women in traditional garb who were killed by Hamas.  40+ Bedouins dead so far. Where is the Muslim world? Where are those afraid to criticize Hamas because of Islamophobia? https://twitter.com/yaelbt/status/1712572220260671910?s=02   @TheChiefNerd: Journalist Who Spent Time Undercover w/ Hamas Explains How They Play the Propaganda War – “I actually spent two weeks undercover with Hamas. I got to know them and their mentality very well. They are extremely smart people and they were telling me that we have to portray ourselves every possible way as victims because the West understands victimhood…If we can sell ourselves as victims we will win the propaganda war. And they’re 100% right.” https://twitter.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1712948771514900626   @YosephHaddad: Hamas… released a video showing a dead Palestinian baby… but wait for the catch. It’s not a real baby; it’s a doll; yes, you read that right, a baby doll!  They realized their mistake and already deleted the video.  https://twitter.com/YosephHaddad/status/1712920308267491393   @Israel: We have proof that Hamas is putting up roadblocks to prevent Palestinian civilians from evacuating from northern to southern Gaza. Hamas prides itself on putting civilians in harm’s way and is responsible for every civilian casualty. https://t.co/2F4mJSvG6S   Hamas’s al-Qassam: Nine more captives killed in Israeli air strikes (26 total captives killed) Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades said nine more captives were killed in indiscriminate Israeli shelling in the last 24 hours, including a number of foreigners.  Qassam has previously announced the death of 17 captives in Israeli air strikes in Gaza over the past week. Middle East Eye could not independently verify the authenticity of the claim  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-gaza-war-live   @AmyMek: Muslims show France who is in Control!  Despite the government banning pro-terror demonstrations, Hamas supporters humiliated the French by gathering at the Place de la République in a massive show of force. The French have imported so many terrorists they now can go above the law and spit in the faces of authority without consequence. (Islam is the most practiced “religion” in France) The seeds of a civil war are just waiting to explode…. https://twitter.com/AmyMek/status/1712554506557546897   Knife-wielding attacker shouts ‘Allahu akbar’ and kills teacher in French school amid Hamas-Israel war: report – 20-year-old Chechen man on France’s terror watchlist arrested https://www.foxnews.com/world/knife-wielding-attacker-shouts-allahu-akbar-kills-teacher-french-school-amid-hamas-israel-war-report   @sentdefender on Saturday: The Palace of Versailles, Louvre Museum, as well as several other Tourist Locations in Paris, France are currently being evacuated following a reported Bomb Threat. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1713195643273945267   @visegrad24 on Saturday: The Palace of Versailles near Paris is now being evacuated due to a terrorist threat. https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1713200227417567607     The Gare de Lyon train station in Paris is being evacuated right now due to a terrorist threat. This is no way to live…  https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1713199216405680189   @CollinRugg: Thousands of pro-Palestine / anti-Israel protesters gather in London just one week after Hamas butchered innocent men, women and children. Police are threatening to arrest anyone who shows support for Hamas. Protests are beginning to turn violent in London as the police report the lighting of flares and people screaming pro-Hamas slogans. “Action will be taken when we identify those in possession of/throwing [the flares].” Lax border policy has consequences. https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1713202204692357201   @MrAndyNgo: Socialist, communist & far-left activists joined in large numbers at the London Palestine rally a week after the Hamas atrocities on civilians in southern Israel. The far-left had recruiting booths and signups.  https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1713177633058435130   @TPointUK: The @metpoliceuk have detained a man for waving the Union flag near Hamas/Pro-Palestine supporters. The police refuse to arrest the people out supporting a proscribed organisation, because they’re scared of being called ‘racist’. The Met are an embarrassment to Britain. https://twitter.com/TPointUK/status/1713205707904897038   @visegrad24: More and more reports of an ongoing intimidation campaign in Berlin targeting Jews. People are marking houses were Jews live and Jewish-owned stores with a Star of David. https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1713182090068726246   @Heroiam_Slava: Rome, Palestinians attacked police officers, a fight broke out. https://twitter.com/Heroiam_Slava/status/1713196857000599677   @MrAndyNgo: Far-left protesters occupied and vandalized the Boston offices of Elbit Systems, a defense and weapons technology company that sells to Israel.  One of the people who locked himself outside the Boston office of @ElbitSystemsLtd, a defense company that sells to Israel, is James Chambers. Chambers is a trust fund baby from one of the wealthiest Georgia families. He’s an heir to the Cox Media empire and is a communist activist.  https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1712881681672122507   Progressives call for US to take in some of the expected 1 million Gaza refugees https://trib.al/y3QivOO (Arab nations will not accept Palestinians refugees because – you can look up the history.)   @RonDeSantis: We should not import people from Gaza to our country.  Neighboring Arab nations should open their borders and absorb them.   @kylenabecker: The American Left on the Russia-Ukraine War: ‘If you want peace, you’re a Putin stooge!’ The American Left on the Hamas-Israel War: ‘We must have a ceasefire for the sake of humanity! And take Palestinian refugees too!’   Stanford teacher suspended for allegedly separating out Jewish students in class as ‘colonizers’ A Stanford University lecturer has been suspended for allegedly making Jewish students stand in a corner while branding them “colonizers” — while also downplaying the Holocaust and defending murderous Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters.”… “He asked how many Jews died in the Holocaust,” said Cohen. When someone said six million, “he said, ‘Yes. Only six million.’”…     “He said, ‘Hamas is a legitimate representation of the Palestinian people,’” Greenberg said. “‘They are not a terrorist group. They are freedom fighters. Their actions are legitimate.’” https://t.co/Z8EcWl8sKw   Pro-Hamas Stanford lecturer who allegedly rounded up Jews in class radicalized Colin Kaepernick San Francisco Magazine wrote that Kaepernick was Hasan Loggin’s ‘star pupil.’ Ameer Hasan Loggins appears to be the lecturer that Stanford University removed from a Civil, Liberal, and Global Education class for rounding up Jews in his class in response to Saturday’s Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel… https://www.campusreform.org/article?id=24168   GOP Sen. @marcorubio: For decades cowardly college administrators have enabled our universities to become nests of Anti-American/Anti-Western activism.  This week student groups at our most “elite” universities signed their names to proclamations siding with savages who murdered & mutilated babies and raped & desecrated the bodies of dead women.  And across America college students on federal taxpayer subsidized student aid marched to chants of “intifada” & celebrated the murder of Jews.   Niall Ferguson @nfergus: The problem has been that any academic who did challenge the anti-colonial ideology did not get hired or tenured. You had to be inside a university to see how quickly overt political discrimination became normal.   Harvard President Claudine Gay rejects punishing students behind anti-Israel letter https://trib.al/hM9a8T6   @SchmittNYC: People start screaming “kill the Jews” and suddenly the American left fiercely defends free speech.   @ChayaRaichik10: The same people who tried to destroy a high school kid’s life for wearing a MAGA hat, are now really mad that CEOs want to know the names of grown college students who signed letters supporting a terrorist organization.  (Cancel culture blowback on leftists)   Where is the CEO outrage during the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine? Corporate America, if you haven’t noticed, has been oddly understated in its public expressions of condemnation… wokeness has so thoroughly infected much of the business community that the nation’s executive class is afraid to speak up.  Recall, in 2020 during our summer of racial unrest, CEOs like JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, Brian Moynihan of Bank of America and many others blanketed the airwaves, social media, you name it, with condemnations following the death of George Floyd. Moynihan told Barron’s: “The protests are about not having the equivalent opportunity, criminal justice treatment by authorities.”…     Dimon was photographed taking a knee, seemingly in solidarity with the social justice warriors during that horrible spring and summer of “love.” All sickening because they suggested the isolated instances of police brutality were proof America was a systematically racist land devoid of opportunity for its diverse citizenry… Average Americans, if these CEOs haven’t noticed, are fighting back against the leftist propaganda being circulated by corporate America… https://t.co/xAzEWryFI6   Are Hamas Murder Raids the Wake-Up Call for Biden’s Woke America? It has taken decades for the American Bolsheviks to drive out and cripple the old America that won the last World War… They have won the universities and other institutions and have accomplished their goal. They have weakened America, perhaps irreparably as our enemies think of slitting American throats…Will America ever wake up from that Obama inspired dream of the nuclear Iran?…     Democrat socialists and their unctuous apologists in media have long sought to blame Israel, because the Marxist left hates Jews and always blames Israel…     “Fox News Channel’s Special Report on Thursday covered a shocking story that Robert Malley the architect behind the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal was himself under investigation for alleged ties to the Iranian regime. During their Thursday evening newscasts, all three of the nightly news broadcasts avoided covering this revelation…     We have over-indulged our young, in a single-minded effort to raise them soft, to raise them as weaklings, with the idea that we’ll protect them from consequences of their decisions, that everyone gets a trophy just for participating…We’ve slept as old-fashioned notions of meritocracy were abandoned in favor of the new social contract, strict adherence to racial/gender preferences. We know using race this way is racist, but we’ve made ourselves afraid to speak out, lest we be shamed by those who control social media… When will America wake up? https://johnkassnews.com/hamas-murder-raids-are-wake-up-call-for-bidens-woke-america/   Documents exclusively obtained by NBC News show that Hamas created detailed plans to target elementary schools and a youth center in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Sa’ad, to “kill as many people as possible,” seize hostages and quickly move them into the Gaza Strip.””… https://t.co/rU3oHZ9Bqu   New York mayor rips universities that once produced academic achievement and ‘geniuses’ to now churning out hate speech and antisemitism. https://t.co/0awMw821oZ   @FLVoiceNews: @YouTube has deleted a video off our channel of Sen. @MarcoRubio denouncing Hamas terrorists as “savages” for wanting to kill Jews    GOP Sen. @marcorubio: Apparently @YouTube @Google has decided that calling Hamas terrorists who burned babies & raped girls “savages” is dehumanizing “hate speech”   @MrAndyNgo: An Asheville, N.C. trantifa activist gave a speech at a Palestine celebration event saying it is a lie that LGBTQ are mistreated by Palestinians. (Hamas governs under Islamic law. It is a criminal offense to engage in male same-sex activity in Gaza.)  https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1712950339354120541   Cultist group think has so perverted and distorted members’ reasoning that they see people who want them dead or severely punished as their compadres.   Throughout history, factions have employed hate and resentment to attract followers.  In recent decades, Leftists’ have been fomenting and indoctrinating hate and resentment.  This attracts disgruntled and disaffected people.  By then utilizing ‘messianic politics,’ they offer themselves and their movement as the savior/remedy to people’s disaffections.  The disaffected groups tend to unite in their hatred against the perceived oppressors and enemies.    @nytimes: Judge Scolds Prosecution at Hearing on Conflicts in Trump Documents Case    Judge Aileen Cannon postponed a hearing on a government request involving a lawyer for one of the former president’s co-defendants. She said prosecutors were wasting her time.     The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s coming trial on charges of mishandling classified documents scolded prosecutors on Thursday as she postponed a hearing on whether one of Trump’s co-defendants understood that his lawyer might have conflicts of interest… https://t.co/C7a62eM2w4   IRS consultant pleads guilty for leaking tax returns of Trump and nation’s ‘wealthiest individuals’ to media – Charles Littlejohn also allegedly stole tax information associated with some of the nation’s wealthiest people, the DOJ said… He will be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2024, and could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison…  https://t.co/pyzqjucqa1   Late, great comedian @normmacdonald on Dec 15, 2016: What terrifies me is if ISIS were to detonate a nuclear device and kill 50 million Americans. Imagine the backlash against peaceful Muslims?

GREG HUNTER  INTERVIEWING STEVE QUAYLE

Is a Biblical Nuke War Coming? – Steve Quayle

Is a Biblical Nuke War Coming? – Steve Quayle

By Greg Hunter On October 14, 2023 In Political Analysis52 Comments

By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com (Saturday Night Post)

Renowned radio host, filmmaker, book author and archeological dig expert Steve Quayle says what is happening with the Hamas/Israel war is going to have Biblical consequences.  Quayle says, “This time you will not just be a spectator.  You will be a participant or a target.  . . . Peace has been taken from the earth.”

It seems every hour there is a new report of the war spinning out of control, with one Muslim nation after another announcing they will attack Israel because of Israeli military action in Gaza in response to the bloody Hamas attack last week.  With all the nations surrounding Israel attacking at the same time, is a Biblical nuke war coming?  Quayle says, “I would say yes.  These people have the capacity and capability, and we are not talking about a conventional war.  Israeli infantry has gone into Gaza.  (Iran now says it will “intervene” if the Israeli/Gaza operation does not stop now.)  They cannot fight off all the Muslim forces around them outside of going nuclear.  They just can’t.  The catch 22 is now Russia says if the United States comes in and helps, they will consider it an attack on them and will use all their weapons.  Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says, ‘Look, this is Biblical.  If you think you can just get rid of Russia, you’ve got another thing coming.’”

Quayle also points out some terrorists have probably come across the U.S. Sothern border.  Quayle predicts, “It’s going to be the jihad call that has already gone out.  The call has gone out to take jihad to the west.  Europe is going to have real problems. . . . The U.S. is absolutely naked.  Russia has been building for this time. . . . In the United States, we are in dire straights as far as being able to produce war materials on an accelerated wartime basis. . . .We have no civil defense.  We are sitting ducks, and sitting ducks become dead ducks. . . . We are at the worst position in history from defending the continental United States.  It is going to go fast and furious.  Ask yourself what vetting, what checking has gone on to check the immigrants coming across the border?  Nothing. . . . These immigrants have all been given a cell phone. . . .We have seen flash mobs doing all these awful things.  Imagine flash mobs committing terrorism.  I am just making this up, but they could say go to a Podunk American town, blow it up and kill all who get in their way.”

There is much more in the 1-hour and 10-minute interview sponsored in part by The Satellite Phone Store with new deals and huge savings which can be found on Sat123.com & BeReady123.com.

Join Greg Hunter as he talks to radio host, filmmaker and top selling author Steve Quayle as he warns of chaos and turmoil of Biblical proportions coming soon because of the Hamas/ Israel war boiling over now for 10.14.23.

Is a Biblical Nuke War Coming? – Steve Quayle

see you on TUESDAY