tyb
TEAL73 USAF WC-130J Hercules off Western Florida trackin' Eta
Japan seeks 1-year deal on US base funding in high-level talks
Japan and the U.S. have begun formal negotiations on a new cost-sharing agreement for hosting American troops, with Tokyo angling for a one-year interim deal before power changes hands in Washington.
Diplomatic and defense officials from both countries met Monday and Tuesday in Washington to discuss a replacement for the five-year host-nation support agreement expiring at the end of March.
President Donald Trump has pushed Japan and other allies to pay what he calls their "fair share" of security costs, reportedly demanding that Tokyo more than quadruple its contribution from current levels. Some in Tokyo hope the pressure would ease under a President Joe Biden. A one-year deal would allow for a transition to a new administration. If the two sides cannot reach a detailed agreement by year-end, they would have to negotiate again in 2021.
The U.S. made "no extreme demands for higher funding" in this first round of talks, according to a senior official from Japan's Defense Ministry who asked not to be named. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters Wednesday that officials had "reaffirmed the important role that host-nation funding has played in the activities of U.S. forces in Japan."
The Japanese side highlighted its contributions to the alliance, including cooperation based on 2015 national security legislation as well as a planned partnership in space. Tokyo covers most utility expenses and staff salaries under the cost-sharing deal. Japan's fiscal 2020 budget included 199.3 billion yen ($1.89 billion) for host-nation support.
Though a new five-year deal normally would be necessary once the current one expires, precedent exists for a short-term arrangement. Japan and the U.S. agreed to a two-year cost-sharing agreement in 2005 as they were discussing a reshuffle of American forces.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-seeks-1-year-deal-on-US-base-funding-in-high-level-talks
kek
did a good job too.
I'm pretty much done with that unless I get a wild-hair up muh ass-not likely though.
It's been long overdue for others to do it.
Now they have to.
Shanghai overnight interbank rate jumps to 10-month high
The Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate (SHIBOR) for the overnight tenor rose to 2.521% on Thursday, the highest since Jan. 17.
The volume-weighted average of the benchmark repo for the same tenor traded in the interbank market also rose to a near 10-month high of 2.522% as of 0306 GMT.
Rising overnight borrowing rates in China’s interbank market this week reflect tightening cash conditions as the economy rapidly recovers, giving the central bank room for a more flexible approach to monetary policy, traders and analysts said.
https://www.reuters.com/article/china-markets-rates/shanghai-overnight-interbank-rate-jumps-to-10-month-high-idUSB9N2FZ020
Not at all when you factor in costs of new ownership (taxes, insurance, regs etc)
If you saw them both you'd have a hard time guessing what year they were both unless you knew outright.
The Bimmer is moar complex (not the one I'm fixing) and parts are ridiculously priced but they last IF you take care of it.
After about 2010 they became like the Audi's-too complex for own good.
also used to have a beater Celica hatch that I used for same purpose-beat it up and keep the other two nice.
have only had the bimmer for a few years-bought it off a C_A guy too (DEA)
If it got dirty they sent it to the dealer so all the shit that fails on that model run was replaced-even the window regulators..all of them and those are at least $200 a pop
Stol'd it from under nose-but they wanted to get rid of it too.
buy one that is already done so you can enjoy it
Hard to find nowadays though.
I'll be picking up something when this whole thing over cause all those douchebags that drove up the price of old cars will be a little short on cash methinks.
Don't know what yet and not really thought about it either.
One day
I'll come and pick you and wakes up-if it's moar than 2 seats
miss muh bike rides too!
although I got rid of it after i moved here cause I did not want to on the news.
A family fren got killed outside of Sebring almost 20 years ago while riding bike so I sorta soured on it then-got hit by a motorhome mirror from behind and never saw it coming.
and then muh neighbor got taken out shortly after but survived-would have been with them but got a flat so was behind
TEAL73 USAF WC-130j Hercules heading back to Kessler AFB, Biloxi
You guys getting any let up with the rain yet?
Looks like it's just about finished with the really heavy stuff..