World News Thread & Breaking News!!

[no_name]

Should be more worried about this:

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[ManilaBoy45]

Philippine Leader Likens China's Rulers to Hitler

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Manila (AFP) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino has compared China's efforts to claim disputed territories with those of Nazi Germany's, while urging world leaders not to make the same mistake of appeasement, according to the New York Times.The Philippines has accused China of becoming increasingly aggressive in recent years in staking its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea, and Aquino reportedly said his nation could not stand up to its mightier neighbour alone."At what point do you say: 'Enough is enough'? Well, the world has to say it -— remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent World War II," the New York Times quoted Aquino as saying in a lengthy interview in Manila on Tuesday.Aquino was reportedly referring to the failure by Western nations to back Czechoslovakia when Adolf Hitler-led Nazi Germany occupied western parts of the European nation in 1938 ahead of World War II.

 

[Miragedriver]

Which countries are now spending most on defence?

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[solarz]

It's no coincidence that the loudest noisemakers also are the ones that threw all in betting on China to lose. Now that it doesn't look like that will happen there's panic in the air because China doesn't need military action to punish. China can just freeze them out of everything.

Yup, and I think both Philippines and Japan are starting to realize that. We are now seeing nothing but theatrics from those countries in response to concrete moves from China.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

1 United States is spending £351 billion in 2014 - 1.3 per cent less than in 2013

as usual

2 China is spending £90 billion in 2014 - 6.3 per cent more than in 2013

there she is.

3 Russian Federation £48 billion in 2014 - 13.5 per cent more than in 2013

the twentieth centuries #2 now #3 I expect putin to keep that growing

4 United Kingdom is spending £35 billion in 2014 - 3.6 per cent less than in 2013

with reduced missions abroad.

5 Japan is spending £33 billion in 2014 - 3.9 per cent less than in 2013

I am sorry I though Abe was supposed to be a militant nationalist?

6 France is spending £32 billion in 2014 -0.8 per cent less than in 2013

So far the least decrease in spending

7 India is spending £27 billion -2.9 per cent less in 2014 than 2013

this one surprised me.

8 Saudi Arabia is spending £27 billion in 2014 - 3 per cent more than in 2013

Given the troubles in the region.

9 Germany is spending £27 billion in 2014 - 2. 1 per cent less than in 2013

sounds about right

10 South Korea is spending £20 billion in 2014 - 3.6 per cent more than in 2013

Given the issues with the North.

 

[Equation]

Should be more worried about this:

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So when are we expecting suicide bombers as well if Japan thinks they can push their Kamikaze pilot registration in UNESCO?

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Equation, I wouldn't be surprised if they already have suicide bombers letters on the list. UNESCO is that screwed up.

 

[no_name]

So when are we expecting suicide bombers as well if Japan thinks they can push their Kamikaze pilot registration in UNESCO?

The thing is Kamikaze actions are taken mostly all against US forces during WWII. I don't think this will be taken well by the States. Very inflexible move, as expected.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

The thing is Kamikaze actions are taken mostly all against US forces during WWII. I don't think this will be taken well by the States. Very inflexible move, as expected.

UNESCO and the US are already unhappy with each other. this is a report from November.

U.S. Loses Voting Rights at Unesco
By ALISSA J. RUBIN
PARIS — The United States lost its vote at Unesco on Friday, two years after cutting off its financial contribution to the organization over the admission of Palestinians as full members. The move undermined America’s ability to exercise its influence in countries around the globe through the United Nations agency’s educational and aid programs, according to Western diplomats and international relations experts.

Under Unesco’s constitution, any country that fails to pay dues for two years loses its vote in the Unesco general assembly. The United States ceased all support for the agency in 2011, in response to a vote at Unesco giving Palestinians full membership. Congress enacted laws in the 1990s decreeing that the United States stop providing money to any United Nations agency that accepts Palestinians as full members.

It was the first time that the United States had voluntarily given up its vote in an organization it belongs to, diplomats here said.

“I deeply regret this,” Irina Bokova, Unesco’s director general, said in an interview Friday at the agency’s headquarters here. “This is not some kind of punishment on behalf of Unesco for nonpayment. It’s just our rules.

“We’ve lost our biggest contributor; this has a bearing on all our programs,” she said, adding that it was not just a matter of financing. She said the agency would miss the voice of the United States on issues like freedom of expression and girls’ education.

Ms. Bokova, who has led the organization since 2009, traveled to Washington in 2011 to try to persuade American lawmakers to change the legislative language after the initial funding cutoff. The Obama administration tried to push through such a change last year, but failed.

The American ambassador to Unesco, David T. Killion, speaking at the Unesco general conference, now underway in Paris, noted that the United States had been involved in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization since its beginnings in 1945 and promised that it would remain involved.

He praised Unesco for its role in consensus and peace building, saying the agency was important for American work abroad.

“Unesco is a critical partner in creating a better future,” said Mr. Killion, adding that the Obama administration was committed to getting funding restored so that the United States could pay its dues and regain its position as a voting member.

Before withdrawing its financial support, the United States provided about $70 million, or 22 percent, of the agency’s annual budget, and the suspension was felt almost immediately. Some Unesco staff members were laid off and programs and projects delayed, including some that potentially could have benefited the United States.

To make up the shortfall, Ms. Bokova created an emergency fund and got contributions from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Norway and other countries. But she said she did not think that it would be possible to raise that money again this year.

Diplomats predicted subtle effects of the loss of America’s vote, as well as some obvious ones.

For instance, it is less likely that two American sites on the list to become World Heritage sites certified by Unesco will win approval. One is an ancient civilization site known as Poverty Point, in northeastern Louisiana, and the other is a group of Spanish missions dating from the 18th century in San Antonio. The Texas project was expected to create at least a thousand jobs, and both sites were expected to benefit from increased tourism.

More far-reaching is the loss in the United States’ ability to exercise soft-power influence throughout the world, said Esther Brimmer, a former assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs, who now teaches at George Washington University.

“Twenty years ago the U.S. was the only one; now there are other countries playing the soft-power game,” said Ms. Brimmer, noting that the Chinese deputy education minister had been elected head of Unesco’s general conference.

Ms. Bokova emphasized that the agency has given the United States a platform to promote democracy, education and human rights in places that are often hostile to or suspicious of direct American involvement. With the United States in a weakened position and Unesco with less money, she said, some of that influence will diminish.

the just of it The US told them not to let the Palestinians in as full members, UNESCO did it. The US stopped writing Checks UNESCO Told the US to fly a kite

 

[joshuatree]

I am sorry I though Abe was supposed to be a militant nationalist?

Well just looking at pure spending numbers doesn't tell the whole story. When trying to whitewash history, revoke the rights of ordinary Japanese citizens, undo the Pacifist constitution, and change the military from one of purely defensive to one that is offensive; 3.9% less than 2013 no where remotely tells the entire picture.