Over $100K Of China-Made Counterfeit Currency Seized In Chicago

Customs and Border Protection officials seized over $100,000 in Chinese-made counterfeit currency destined for the U.S.

On January 28th, officers at Chicago’s International Mail Facility (IMF) uncovered various shipments of counterfeit bills.”

“The first shipment contained 957 counterfeit $100 dollar bills and 44 counterfeit $50 dollar bills totaling $97,900. In the second shipment were 384 counterfeit $100 dollar bills,” the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notes.

In total, “$136,300 of counterfeit currency was seized under Counterfeit U.S. Currency, Coins or Government Securities.”

The shipments were destined for Auburn Hills, Michigan and Independence, Missouri.

https://thenationalpulse.com/breaking/counterfeit-chinese-currency-seized/

Lawsuit Challenging FDA Approval of Novel Genetically Engineered Color Additive That Makes Impossible Burger “Bleed” Moves Forward

FDA Fails to Demand Needed Tests, Its Approval Not Based on “Convincing Evidence” as Required by Law

(Washington, D.C.) — Yesterday, Center for Food Safety (CFS) filed a legal brief in its challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2019 approval of soy leghemoglobin (“heme”), a color additive used to make Impossible Foods’ eponymous plant-based burger, the Impossible Burger, appear to “bleed” like real meat.

The novel heme colorant is produced in genetically engineered (GE) yeast, and is modeled on a protein found in the roots of soybean. The GE heme is actually a color additive preparation that also contains over a dozen yeast proteins. Because GE heme is new to the human diet, and substantial quantities are added to the Impossible Burger, FDA should have required extensive safety testing before approving its use as a color additive, as required by law.

“FDA approved soy leghemoglobin even though it conducted none of the long-term animal studies that are needed to determine whether or not it harms human health,” said Bill Freese, science policy analyst at Center for Food Safety. “This includes studies for cancer, reproductive impairment, and other adverse effects called for by FDA’s Redbook, the Bible of food and color additive testing,” he added. “We find this to be all the more troubling because a number of potential adverse effects were detected in a short-term rat trial: disruption of reproductive cycles and reduced uterine weights in females, and biomarkers of anemia, reduced clotting ability, and kidney problems.”

The law on color additives is clear: Because they offer no substantive benefits, and add only aesthetic appeal, Congress and FDA established an extremely high bar for approval. The agency’s “convincing evidence” standard means that a color additive cannot be approved without the strongest possible evidence of safety, a higher bar than for other food additives. Despite the lack of needed safety tests, Impossible Foods’ products containing GE heme are now widely available in supermarkets across the country due to FDA’s unlawful approval of GE heme as a color additive.

“FDA’s failure to require Impossible Foods to conduct long-term tests called for in the agency’s own authoritative guidelines means it does not have ‘convincing evidence’ that this color additive, consumed by millions, is safe,” said Ryan Talbott, staff attorney at Center for Food Safety. “The approval of soy leghemoglobin must be revoked, unless and until truly convincing evidence proves it to be safe.”

While CFS like many others avidly supports plant-based eating, enthusiasm for meatless products cannot be used as an excuse to skirt food safety laws. FDA’s dereliction of duty has resulted in the premature introduction of Impossible Foods’ products containing GE heme to restaurants and supermarkets throughout the country, and highlights a troubling deregulatory trend which prioritizes corporate profit over public health and safety.

https://www.naturalblaze.com/2021/02/lawsuit-challenging-fda-approval-of-novel-genetically-engineered-color-additive-that-makes-impossible-burger-bleed-moves-forward.html

McConnell Calls QAnon-Supporting Congresswoman "Cancer" On GOP, Says Cheney An "Important Leader"

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) drew a line in the sand on Monday between the GOP establishment (the big club you ain't in), and the populist QAnon movement - whose theories on elite pedophiles and a shadow government were deemed plausible by at least one-third of Americans in an October poll reported by Axios.

McConnell, who voted to go to war in Iraq based in part on a conspiracy theory and fabricated evidence misinformation from some guy, said on Monday - without actually saying her name - that freshman Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's embrace of "loony lies and conspiracy theories" is a "cancer for the Republican party."

"Somebody who’s suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr.’s airplane is not living in reality," McConnell said in the "three-sentence statement" reported by The Hill.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/mcconnell-calls-qanon-supporting-congresswoman-cancer-gop-says-cheney-important-leader

The Open Door

House Democrats Seek to Include Amnesty for Illegal Aliens in Coronavirus Relief Package

About 100 House Democrats are urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to include an amnesty for certain subgroups of illegal aliens in a relief package for Americans impacted by the Chinese coronavirus crisis.

The group of House Democrats, led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, want to include an amnesty for at least five million illegal aliens who consider themselves “essential workers” and who are recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. The letter states:

As you continue to work on assembling a COVID-19 reconciliation package and begin work on an economic recovery and jobs package, we urge you to include a pathway to citizenship for essential immigrant workers, Dreamers, and TPS holders, as well as their families, in order to ensure a robust recovery that is inclusive and equitable for all Americans regardless of their immigration status.

The amnesty would pack the United States labor market with millions of newly legalized illegal aliens who would be allowed to legally compete for jobs against 18 million unemployed Americans and another 6.2 million Americans who are underemployed.

Eventually, those legalized by the amnesty would be put on a path to obtaining American citizenship. The House Democrats claim the amnesty would boost U.S. wages, though a tightened labor market with reduced foreign competition against Americans has proven to spike salaries.

“A pathway to citizenship for undocumented essential workers would raise the wage floor and in turn benefit all workers, beyond direct beneficiaries,” the House Democrats write.

The proposal comes as President Joe Biden’s administration has put forth an amnesty plan that would allow nearly the entire illegal alien population — between 11 and 22 million foreign nationals — to eventually obtain American citizenship.

Thus far, 28 of the most vulnerable House Democrats have stayed silent on whether they would support such a proposal at a time of mass unemployment.

Every year more than 1.2 million legal immigrants are awarded green cards, another 1.4 million foreign nationals are given visas, and hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens are added to the U.S. population. Wall Street, the big business lobby, and Big Tech have lobbied for years for an amnesty and an increase in legal immigration levels to boost their profit margins by cutting labor costs through U.S. job outsourcing.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/02/01/house-democrats-seek-to-include-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens-in-coronavirus-relief-package/

Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Yarmuth

https://www.scribd.com/document/492984906/Letter-to-Speaker-Pelosi-and-Chairman-Yarmuth#from_embed

‘Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)’ Rapper Arrested For Murder

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Rapper Silento, famous for his 2015 hit song ‘Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae),’ has been charged in the shooting death of his own cousin, Dekalb County police say.

On Monday, 23-year-old Silento, whose real name is Ricky Hawk, was arrested for the Murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34.

On January 21, police began investigating the shooting after Rooks was found in the roadway on Deep Shoals Circle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Rooks died from his injuries.

Police later identified Hawk as the suspect after multiple RING doorbell cameras captured suspect vehicles fleeing the scene.

Investigators are still working to uncover the motive for the shooting. Hawk is in the DeKalb County Jail charged with Murder.

https://breaking911.com/breaking-watch-me-whip-nae-nae-rapper-arrested-for-murder/

Joe diverts Farm Aid to Climate BS, scraps peace deal in Afghanistan, fails on COVID… Biden family already cashing in on Joe’s presidency

Joe to divert Farm Aid too Climate BS

The Trump administration used it to bail out farmers suffering from its trade wars. Now the Biden administration wants to deploy a $30 billion pot of money in the Agriculture Department to tackle climate change, support restaurants and kickstart other programs without waiting for Congress.

Biden scraps peace deal in Afghanistan. American troops will remain until the Taliban kill them all

In mid-January, the Pentagon confirmed that it had met Trump’s order to shave US troop numbers in Afghanistan down to 2,500 troops total. The draw-down came despite efforts by Congress to freeze the withdrawal until a report ‘assessing the impact’ of such a pullout was completed. Trump fired Defence Secretary Mark Esper several days after the November election, replacing him with Christopher Miller over disagreements on plans to withdraw US forces from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Conditions have not been met,” Reuters’ source said. “And with the new US administration, there will be tweaks in the policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and we could see a much more calculated exit strategy.”

https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/joe-diverts-farm-aid-to-climate-bs-scraps-peace-deal-in-afghanistan-fails-on-covid-cashes-in-on-presidency/

#SILVERSQUEEZE explained. JP Morgan is manipulating the price of silver.

J.P. Morgan increased its COMEX silver short position by 6,000 contracts to 25,000 contracts (125 million ounces) during the last Commitment of Traders reporting week. Over the last three months, prior to this report, the bank had decreased its short position by 11,000 contracts to 19,000 contracts. It now appears that JPM is back to digging in its heels with regard to its grotesque and manipulative silver short position. This could lead to some fireworks in the coming weeks.

Butler describes the new information, which was gleaned from the Commitment of Traders report and the Bank Participation Report, as being “almost beyond comprehension.” J.P. Morgan is now short 25% of world silver production. He states that “so egregious was this latest increase in JPMorgan’s short position that I am inclined to think that it may have been done on an unauthorized or rogue trader basis.

https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/silversqueeze-explained-jp-morgan-is-manipulating-the-price-of-silver/

Report: Investigators recommend Capitol Police officer face no criminal charges for lethally shooting Ashli Babbitt

The officer was suspended pending the investigation of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol

The Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt will not face criminal charges, according to a report of the recommendation made by investigators.

The recommendation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the investigation.

Babbitt was among those killed during an hourslong siege on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters who were seeking to stop Congress from confirming the official election results proclaiming then-candidate Joe Biden the victor.

The incident was captured on video and has become a source of heated debate over those who accused the police officer of an improper use of force and those who emphasize the violent nature of the assault on Congress.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from California, was shot in the neck just outside of the Senate chambers as rioters began to break through the doors. A graphic video appears to show Babbitt trying to climb into the chambers before a shot rings out and she falls to the ground. She was declared deceased at a hospital later.

The woman's husband told KUSI-TV that she was a "strong supporter" of former President Donald Trump.

A day after the Capitol riot, the officer who shot Babbitt was placed on administrative leave and suspended from their official duties while the matter was investigated.

At least eight people who were at the Capitol rioting have died, including one officer who was lethally injured during the attack and three other demonstrators who experienced medical emergencies.

Babbitt worked at a pool service company that her family had purchased in San Diego three years ago. She also appeared to believe in the QAnon conspiracy theory that posits that Democrats are involved in a Satanic global child murder and sex trafficking cult.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/no-charges-capitol-officer-babbitt

>>12795538

kek

Chinese Firm Shandong Xinchao Expands Its Foothold in Texas' Oil-Rich Permian Basin

On Sunday, China’s Shandong Xinchao announced its decision to shell out $420 million to purchase oil-producing acreage from Grenadier Energy in the Texas Permian Basin.

Or rather, Surge Energy of Houston made the announcement via PR Newswire.

HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Surge Energy US Holdings Company (“Surge Energy” or the “Company”) announced in the US that it, through its subsidiary, has signed a purchase and sale agreement to acquire leasehold interest and producing wells from Grenadier Energy Partners II LLC (“GEP II”) in Howard County, TX (the “Transaction”). The aggregate purchase price of the Transaction is expected to be approximately $420 million USD.

Highlights of the acquired assets include:

Average production of approximately 9,000 Boepd (approximately 75% oil)

Approximately 18,010 net leasehold acres

Operated inventory of approximately 120 high-quality, economic future drilling locations

The Transaction is expected to close in late first quarter.

Read the entire release and you’ll not see the words “Shandong Xinchao” in it. But Surge is that company’s creation and wholly owned subsidiary. That’s disclosed on Surge’s corporate website.

Surge Energy America was formed in early 2015 as a U.S. subsidiary of Chinese based Shandong Xinchao Energy Corporation Limited, a publicly traded company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, with a strategy to make a significant acquisition in the U.S. oil shale play and pursue a long term sustainable U.S. oil & gas company. Upon entering into an agreement to purchase its first asset, Hoople Field, in early 2015, the Surge Energy organization began in May 2015 to enable taking over operatorship. Hoople Field is a 5,000 acre established water flood asset in Crosby County, TX.

Bloomberg published a brief piece about the deal but left Surge’s name out of it.

Since its creation in 2015, Surge Energy has continued to grow its in the Permian Basin. Before the COVID pandemic destroyed demand, ravaged the oil industry, and sent several producers into bankruptcy — and before this deal with Grenadier — Surge was already one of the top oil producers in Texas. After the Grenadier deal Surge Energy, aka Shandong Xinchao, will control about 111,000 acres of oil-producing land in Texas.

As of December 2020, Surge Energy was producing about 63,386 barrels per day according to data from the Texas Railroad Commission, ranking it 18th in production overall. The added production from the Grenadier purchase may push its ranking to as high as 15th.

China was the world’s largest oil importer pre-pandemic, producing about 5 million barrels per day while importing 8 million to match its consumption of about 13 million barrels per day. The United States at that time was the world’s largest oil producer, pumping between 11 and 12 million barrels per day. About 41% of U.S. oil is produced in Texas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. Joe Biden promised not to ban fracking when he was running for president, but after inauguration he issued an executive order that effectively bans fracking on federal lands by halting leasing and permitting. His order will have little impact on Texas lands such as that purchased by Shandong Xinchao’s subsidiary, but will heavily impact states with large amounts of oil-producing federal lands such as New Mexico.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/bryan-preston/2021/02/01/chinese-firm-shandong-xinchao-expands-its-foothold-in-texas-oil-rich-permian-basin-n1422253