Washington unveils new sanctions on Russia

The US and other G7 nations will target defense industry supply chains, the White House says

The US and other G7 nations are about to impose restrictions on “hundreds of individuals and entities” as part of its new round of sanctions on Russia, the White House announced on Monday. The measures will target Russia’s military-industrial complex to deprive it of key technologies, it said.

The leading Western economies – the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan – will “aggressively target” Russia’s major state-owned defense enterprises, defense research institutions, and other “defense-related” entities with “blocking sanctions,” the White House statement said. The goal of the restrictions is to sap the Russian defense industry of “critical components” and limit its ability to replace equipment it loses in the conflict with Kiev, it added.

Western nations will continue to “restrict Russia’s access to key industrial inputs, services, and technologies produced by our economies,” the White House said, adding that the effects of the measures will become more visible “over time.”

Washington has not named any specific entities or individuals that will face restrictions as part of the new sanctions. It only said it plans to put a total of 500 Russian officials on its blacklist for “exercising illegitimate authority” and committing “human rights abuses.”

The G7 nations will also impose restrictions on foreign companies engaged in “backfill activities” and helping Russia evade sanctions.

Additional measures announced by Washington include higher tariffs on “on more than 570 groups of Russian products worth approximately $2.3 billion to Russia.” The measures were “carefully calibrated” to hurt the Russian economy and spare America’s, the statement said. Additional revenues obtained through the new tariffs might be used to support Ukraine, the White House said.

On Sunday, the US, UK, Canada, and Japan announced an embargo on Russian gold. At the G7 level, the initiative faced resistance from Germany, which said decisions such as this should be made by the EU first.

The US and its allies in Europe and elsewhere have already introduced sweeping sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine, including restrictions targeting the banking and finance sectors, and personal restrictions on officials and businessmen considered to be close to the Kremlin. Russian banks have also been disconnected from the SWIFT system.

https://www.rt.com/news/557933-us-sanctions-russia-defense-industry/

https://www.rt.com/news/557933-us-sanctions-russia-defense-industry/

Prosecutors Oppose Ghislaine Maxwell's Last-Minute Bid To Delay Sentencing

The prosecutors in the case against Jeffrey Eppstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell on June 26 dismissed claims raised by the defendant’s attorneys, who told the judge that Maxwell was unable to access her legal documents because she had been placed on suicide watch.

In a June 25 letter to Judge Alison Nathan from Bobbi Sternheim, one of Ghislaine Maxwell’s defense attorneys, Sternheim informed the court that Maxwell was placed on suicide watch on June 24 by the Manhattan Detention Center (MDC), which in turn could cause a delay in Maxwell’s sentencing, scheduled for this Tuesday.

Sternheim went on to write, “She is not permitted to possess and review legal documents and is not permitted paper or pen. This has prevented her from preparing for sentencing.”

She states this was done “without having conducted a psychological evaluation and without justification.”

The attorney goes on to say, “Ms. Maxwell was abruptly removed from general population and returned to solitary confinement, this time without any clothing, toothpaste, soap, legal papers, etc. She was provided a ′suicide smock′ and is given a few sheets of toilet paper on request. This morning a psychologist evaluated Ms. Maxwell and determined she is not suicidal.”

The prosecution investigated the allegations and came to a different conclusion.

In a letter to Nathan dated June 26, the prosecution wrote, “This morning, the Government spoke directly with the Warden and the Chief Psychologists of the MDC. Based on that conversation, the Government understands that the defendant currently has access to all of her legal documents in hard copy and is able to confer with defense counsel. Accordingly, there is no basis to adjourn sentencing in this matter.”

The letter confirms Maxwell was indeed placed on suicide watch, after the Bureau of Prisons Inspector General’s Office (the IG) had received an email from Maxwell claiming to be in fear for her safety, specifically from members of the MDC staff.

However, it goes on to say, “Although the defendant has claimed to psychology staff that she is not suicidal, she has refused to answer psychology staff’s questions regarding the threat she reported to the IG.

“While she claimed to the IG to be in fear for her safety, she refused to tell the psychology staff what that fear is.”

The prosecution claims the warden and the chief psychologist have confirmed that Maxwell “will be able to prepare for sentencing unencumbered.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/prosecutors-oppose-ghislaine-maxwells-last-minute-bid-delay-sentencing

Russia 'Defaults On Foreign Debt' For First Time Since Bolshevik Revolution Amid Western Sanctions

Russia on Sunday defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since 1918 after the grace period on its $100 million payment expired, according to reports.

The $100 million interest payment deadline due to be met by the Kremlin had initially been set to May 27 but a 30-day grace period was triggered after investors failed to receive coupon payments due on both dollar and euro-denominated bonds.

Russia said that it had sent the money to Euroclear Bank SA, a bank that would then distribute the payment to investors.

But that payments allegedly got stuck there amid increased sanctions from the West on Moscow, according to Bloomberg, meaning creditors did not receive it.

Euroclear told the BBC that it adheres to all sanctions.

The last time Russia defaulted on its foreign debt was in 1918 when the new communist leader Vladimir Lenin refused to pay the outstanding debts of the Russian Empire during the Bolshevik Revolution.

President Boris Yeltsin’s government also defaulted on $40 billion of its local debt in 1998, when the country experienced a financial crisis but international aid helped the country to recover.

“It’s a very, very rare thing, where a government that otherwise has the means is forced by an external government into default,” Hassan Malik, senior sovereign analyst at Loomis Sayles told Bloomberg.

“It’s going to be one of the big watershed defaults in history.”

The default appeared to be inevitable after the U.S. treasury department last month decided not to renew a loophole that was set to expire on May 25, effectively stopping Russia from being able to pay its billions in debt back to international investors through American banks.

In response to that decision, Russia said it would pay dollar-denominated debts in rubles and offer “the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency.”

Following the closing of the sanctions loophole, the European Union earlier this month sanctioned the Russian National Settlements Depository (NSD), stating that it “plays an essential role in the functioning of Russia’s financial system” and was ” thus directly and indirectly enabling the Russian Government in its activities, policies, and resources.”

The sanction of NSD effectively blocks Russia’s transfers out of the country.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/russia-defaults-foreign-debt-first-time-bolshevik-revolution-amid-western-sanctions

New York state court strikes down New York City's noncitizen voting law

A New York court struck down New York City's noncitizen voting law Monday, ruling that the law violated the state's constitution and state election laws.

In a 13-page opinion obtained by the Daily Caller's Henry Rodgers, the New York Supreme Court for Richmond County ruled against Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Council, declaring that a law permitting noncitizen lawful permanent residents and green card holders to vote in municipal elections was illegal.

"The New York State Constitution explicitly lays the foundation for ascertaining that only proper citizens retain the right to voter privileges," Judge Ralph J. Rorzio wrote. "It is this Court's belief that by not expressly including non-citizens in the New York State Constitution, it was the intent of the framers for non-citizens to be omitted."

"Based upon the foregoing analysis, the Court finds that the Municipal Voting Law explicitly violates the New York State Constitution, as only 'citizens' may vote in elections," the judge ruled.

Last December, the New York City Council passed a law extending the right to vote in local elections to noncitizen immigrants who live, work, and pay taxes in New York City. Democratic state officials and immigration activists celebrated the law, which was expected to enfranchise more than 800,000 new voters beginning in 2023.

But the Republican National Committee and state GOP officials challenged the law on the grounds that it violated the state's constitution, as well as state election law and New York's Municipal Home Rule Law.

Rorzio's opinion agreed with the RNC's claims and declared the noncitizen voting law null and void.

"The Municipal Voting Law is 'impermissible simply and solely for the reason that the Constitution says that it cannot be done,'" Rorzio wrote.

"The New York State Constitution expressly states that citizens meeting the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections. The New York State Election Law reaffirms that citizens meeting the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections. There is no statutory ability for the City of New York to issue inconsistent laws permitting non-citizens to vote and exceed the authority granted to it by the New York State Constitution."

The decision was welcomed by Republican Party of New York chairman Nick Langworthy.

"This is another victory for citizen rights, election integrity, and the rule of law. The judge affirmed that this brazen attempt to give voting rights to non-citizens is in direct violation of the law and a common-sense reading of the Constitution," Langworthy said in a statement.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/court-strikes-down-new-york-city-s-illegal-noncitizen-voting-law

Border Patrol: Big Tech Platforms Being Used To Recruit Child Smugglers.

A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol report has revealed that criminal organizations smuggling illegal aliens into America have been relying on social media platforms to recruit minors to carry out their operations.

The report from Texas’ Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol notes a “trend of Transnational Criminal Organization’s (TCO) using social media to recruit minors for their smuggling operations.”

The agency links the reliance on social media to the record-breaking numbers of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. illegally under President Joe Biden. “RGV agents have encountered more than 137K migrants between Oct. 1, to Dec. 31, 2021, which is a 163 percent increase over the same reporting period of the previous year,” revealed the agency.

“With an increase in illicit activity, TCOs require more manpower to carry out their operations. Social media has become an avenue for human smugglers to target juvenile drivers. TCOs are luring minors to smuggle migrants across border towns in the Rio Grande Valley and into the U.S. interior with the promise of fast cash,” explained Customs and Border Patrol.

“TCOs convince juvenile drivers that they will not face the same consequences as adults if apprehended or that law enforcement will disengage a pursuit if dangerous conditions are present,” adds the report.

Authorities have arrested drivers working on behalf of TCOs as young as 13-years-old.

RGV Chief Patrol Agent Brian S. Hastings stated: “This is an alarming trend, because many of these teenagers underestimate the severity of the crime. Not only can they be prosecuted and sent to jail, but they also endanger lives through their actions. I encourage parents to talk to their children and educate them on the potential consequences and dangers of this trend.”

The intersection between social media and illegal border crossing follows reports that platforms such as China’s TikTok and Facebook were allowing content from human traffickers on their platforms.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2022/06/27/border-patrol-big-tech-platforms-being-used-to-recruit-child-smugglers/

False Flag? Russian missile strike hits shopping mall with more than 1,000 people inside, Ukraine says

Ukraine said it feared scores of civilians might be dead or injured after a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping mall in the center of the country Monday.

More than 1,000 people were inside at the time of the rocket attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

“The number of victims is impossible to imagine,” he added in a post on the Telegram messaging app, sharing video that showed plumes of gray smoke rising above a building that was consumed in flames as people and first responders ran in front of it.

The apparent attack hit a shopping center in Kremenchuk, a city in the Poltava region on the banks of Ukraine’s Dnieper River. Dmytro Lunin, head of the Poltava region, said at least 10 people were killed and more than 40 others were injured.

The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that the missiles were fired from long-range bombers that took off from a Russian airbase north of Ukraine.

NBC News has not verified that claim or the number of any deaths.

Zelenskyy said the site did not present any danger or strategic value for the Kremlin. “Russia continues to take out its powerlessness on ordinary citizens. It is useless to hope for adequacy and humanity on its part,” he added.

The Ukrainian president addressed leaders at the Group of Seven summit on Monday, pleading for more military support such as “additional air defense capabilities that could shoot down missiles out of the sky,” according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

The U.S. is preparing to send a medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile system, Sullivan said in a briefing with reporters.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russian-missiles-hit-kremenchuk-shopping-center-1000-civilians-ukraine-rcna35482

'I think you're clear': VOICEMAIL from Joe Biden to Hunter about NY Times report on his Chinese business dealings proves he DID speak to his son about his relationship with criminal dubbed the 'spy chief of China'

Joe Biden called Hunter in December 2018 saying he wanted to talk to him after reading a New York Times story about Hunter's dealings with the Chinese oil giant CEFC

Files on Hunter's abandoned laptop previously disclosed by DailyMail.com show that he struck a deal with the Chinese company worth millions of dollars

The Times' 2018 story pointed out CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming had been arrested in China and his lieutenant Patrick Ho had been convicted of bribery

Hunter accidentally recorded himself referring to Ho as the 'spy chief of China'

After seeing the story online, Joe called Hunter and left a voicemail

'I thought the article released online, it's going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you're clear,' Joe said in the voicemail

The message flies in the face of the president's repeated denials that he ever discussed Hunter's overseas business dealings with his son

President Joe Biden spoke with Hunter about his business dealings with a Chinese criminal his son dubbed the 'spy chief of China,' a voicemail to his son reveals.

The president has repeatedly denied personally and through his press secretary that he ever talked about Hunter's foreign business with his Hunter – despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Now, in a voicemail left on Hunter's iPhone, the evidence has come from POTUS' own mouth.

Joe called Hunter on December 12, 2018 saying that he wanted to talk to him after reading a New York Times story about Hunter's dealings with the Chinese oil giant CEFC.

Files on Hunter's abandoned laptop previously disclosed by DailyMail.com show that he struck a deal with the Chinese company worth millions of dollars after touting his family connections.

The Times' 2018 story pointed out CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming had been arrested in China and his top lieutenant Patrick Ho had been convicted in the US for bribing African officials to help Iran evade oil sanctions.

It revealed that Ye had met with Hunter at a Miami hotel in 2017 to discuss 'a partnership to invest in American infrastructure and energy deals.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10938637/Voicemail-Joe-Biden-Hunter-proves-president-DID-speak-Chinese-business-dealings.html

Clarence Thomas signals interest in revisiting media libel standard

Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday indicated that he believes the Supreme Court should reconsider a ruling that makes it more difficult to sue media organizations, saying he disagreed with the court's decision to turn away an appeal in a defamation case.

Why it matters: The case in question, Coral Ridge v. SPLC, was designed to overturn the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan case, which established the precedent that a public figure must prove a defendant acted with "actual malice," or intentionality, in defaming a person.

In recent months, district courts have reinforced this precedent, most notably during Sarah Palin's defamation suit against the New York Times. The district judge and the jury determined that the plaintiff, Palin, failed to prove actual malice.

With its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last week, the Supreme Court has proved that it is willing to overturn longstanding precedents.

What they're saying: "I would grant certiorari in this case to revisit the 'actual malice' standard," Thomas wrote in his dissent.

"This case is one of many showing how (NYT v. Sullivan) and its progeny have allowed media organizations and interest groups 'to cast false aspersions on public figures with near impunity,'" he added.

The big picture: It's the latest in a string of first amendment arguments and cases sweeping the country as it wrestled with free speech issues.

The Palin trial, coupled with the recent Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, exposed millions of Americans to the tricky legal guardrails surrounding the first interpretation of the First Amendment historically throughout years of various court cases.

https://www.axios.com/2022/06/27/clarence-thomas-media-libel-standard

Biden commits $200B to global infrastructure plan

President Joe Biden urged G7 leaders to “stay together” against Russia’s war on Ukraine. While kicking off the summit in the Bavarian Alps on Sunday, leaders agreed to strengthen sanctions by banning imports of Russian gold. The move came shortly after Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv earlier that morning and is additional effort to weaken Russia’s economy.

President Biden also announced the launch of the partnership for global infrastructure movement to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative project.

“And I’m proud to announce the United States will mobilize $200 billion in public and private capital over the next five years for that partnership,” announced the President. “We’re here today because we’re making this commitment together as a G7 in coordination with one another and to maximize the impact of our work. Collectively, we aim to mobilize nearly $600 billion from the G7 by 2027.”

The initiative is a new version of Biden’s “Build Back Better World,” which he revealed at last year’s summit. Additionally, Biden claimed the effort is critical to America’s economic and national security.

“I want to be clear, this isn’t aid or charity,” he stated. “It’s an investment that will deliver returns for everyone, including the American people and the people of all our nations. It will boost all of our economies and it’s a chance for us to share our positive vision for the future, and let communities around the world see themselves and see for themselves the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies.”

https://www.oann.com/biden-commits-200b-to-global-infrastructure-plan/

https://www.oann.com/biden-commits-200b-to-global-infrastructure-plan/

CDC Confirmed Post-Vaxx Death From Blood-Clotting Two Weeks Before Alerting Public: Emails

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed in late 2021 that a person died from blood clotting after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine that had been linked with an increased risk of blood clotting, but did not alert the public for two weeks, newly obtained emails show.

Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC official, told colleagues at the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Dec. 2, 2021, “We have confirmed a 9th TTS death following Janssen vaccination,” according to emails obtained by The Epoch Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.

TTS refers to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, a condition that features low platelet levels combined with blood clots.

Officials had recommended a nationwide pause on the administration of the vaccine, produced by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary Janssen, in April 2021 after six women experienced TTS after J&J vaccination and three died. But they lifted the pause after determining the vaccine remained safe and effective.

The condition was not discussed much in the ensuing months, despite the CDC later reporting that five additional deaths occurred before Aug. 31, 2021. Shimabukuro gave a single update, in mid-October 2021, saying five total deaths had been reported.

That was until December 2021. Twelve days after Shimabukuro alerted colleagues of the ninth death, the FDA urged healthcare workers not to administer the vaccine to people with certain conditions because of the TTS risk. Two days after that, Dr. Isaac See, another CDC official, informed the public during a meeting that nine deaths had occurred post-vaccination.

It’s unclear when the CDC learned of the sixth, seventh, and eighth deaths.

The CDC takes reports made to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and attempts to confirm the reports, including post-vaccination deaths. A higher number of post-vaccination TTS deaths have been reported to the system than the number the CDC has verified.

One day after Shimabukuro confirmed the ninth death, his message was forwarded by Dr. Amanda Cohn, another CDC official, to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

“See below, information on a 9th completely tragic death from TTS,” Cohn wrote.

“Many thanks for letting us know … any tragic case,” Walensky responded.

The emails were partially redacted; one was fully redacted.

https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/cdc-confirmed-post-vaccination-death-blood-clotting-two-weeks-alerting-public-emails

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22067416-22-00690-for-close-1

Major Corporations Fight Proposed Law Protecting American Manufacturing

A bipartisan bill introduced on June 13 designed to protect American manufacturing in industries vital to national security is being opposed by major corporations and trade groups with interests in China.

The Bipartisan Innovation Act (BIA) would require companies based in the U.S. to disclose their plans to develop products inside China or other “foreign adversaries” that implicate national security. Covered products would include drones, other military products, and pharmaceuticals.

A federal agency would be empowered to vet and block foreign investments that would be deemed harmful to American security.

The U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) is a trade organization with over 250 corporate members and opposes the BIA. Senior Director Douglas K. Barry told the Daily Caller that the legislation will “lead to regulatory uncertainty which will paralyze companies.” He also said the BIA will harm weakened U.S. supply chains.

Barry said his group understands the need to protect the U.S. from overseas investments that damage national security. However, he said the proposed bill “would be far too broad in covering many sectors” that are not critical to security.

USCBC membership includes major U.S. companies that officially sponsored the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, including Coca-Cola, Intel, Visa, and Procter & Gamble. Even though those companies are willing to overlook China’s ongoing genocide of Uyghur ethnic minorities, they have halted operations in Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

USCBC has successfully lobbied to defeat previous bills that would require federal government reviews of American investments inside China.

Human rights group ChinaAid president Pastor Bob Fu said USCBC has a long history of lobbying on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership. He said that the trade organization is partially responsible for making America dependent on Chinese manufacturing. The result has been massive compromises in U.S. national security and the continuing supply chain crisis.

Fu added that USCBC has downplayed Chinese human rights violations as part of its work to promote China’s access to the American import market.

The USCBC also opposed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) which recently went into effect. That law requires U.S. companies to ensure they do not trade in products manufactured using Uyghur slave labor. Barry said that the UFLPA will make U.S. inflation worse and will “create significant uncertainty.”

https://thecongressionalinsider.com/major-corporations-fight-proposed-law-protecting-american-manufacturing/

New Data Shows Massive Drop in Birth Rates After Covid 19 Vax Campaign

For the years 2011-2021 the average number of births is 63,911 for the Jan-Mar quarter, with a standard deviation of 1015

The drop to 54871 for 2022 is approx. 9 SD (standard deviations).

9 Sigma.

Unicorn events.

The money people understand this.

And if you doubt it has anything to do with the vax, just look at South Africa for example.

Not a single difference in fertility ratings.

Be prepared to see the West have a cut of maybe a third of total population in 10 years.

https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/new-data-shows-massive-drop-in-birth-rates-after-covid-19-vax-campaign/

Turkey drops charges against 26 Saudis for Khashoggi murder amid MbS-Erdogan meeting

Turkey closed the trial of 26 Saudis accused of murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi just days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, local media reported on Friday.

A Turkish court dropped charges against 26 Saudis who had been implicated in the gruesome killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish media reported on Friday.

The Istanbul 11th Heavy Penal Court's decision came days before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Turkey, who, according to US intelligence, was responsible for ordering Khashoggi’s murder.

The judgement was only announced publicly two days after Muhammad bin Salman's visit, according to Duvar English.

https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/turkey-drops-charges-against-26-saudis-khashoggi-murder

NATO to massively increase high-readiness forces to 300,000 - Stoltenberg

NATO will increase the number of its forces at high readiness massively to over 300,000, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.

"We will transform the NATO response force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000," he told reporters ahead of a NATO summit in Madrid later this week in Madrid.

NATO's quick reaction force, the NATO response force, so far has some 40,000 troops.

At the Madrid summit, NATO will also change its language on Russia that in the alliance's last strategy from 2010 was still described as a strategic partner.

"That will not be the case in the strategic concept that we will agree in Madrid," Stoltenberg said.

"I expect that allies will state clearly that Russia poses a direct threat to our security, to our values, to the rules-based international order."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/nato-to-massively-increase-high-readiness-forces-to-300000-stoltenberg/ar-AAYUFqv

Army cuts high school diploma requirement to boost recruiting

New recruits are no longer required to have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate to join the U.S. Army if they’re willing to enlist before the end of the 2022 fiscal year, the service announced Thursday.

Military.com first reported the Army announcement on Friday, which said individuals can enlist in the service without the previously required proof of high-school level education if they’re willing to ship to basic training before the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. Prospective recruits must still be at least 18 years, qualify for a job in the active-duty Army and score at least 50 points on the 100-point Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

A score of 50 on the ASVAB is relatively low, though a score of 31 is the bare minimum to qualify for Army service in general.

The Army has allowed people to enlist at the age of 17 without having finished high school through the Future Soldiers Program, but they would have to finish their high school education or equivalent program before they could ship to basic training.

This change in requirements to enlist in the Army comes as the service has struggled in recent months to meet its recruiting goals. The Army and other military branches have been offering new incentives amid struggles in recruiting across the board.

In January, the Army was offering up to $50,000 in bonuses for new recruits to take on specialties that are in high demand, like missile defense crews, special forces, signals intelligence and fire control specialists.

On June 17, the service announced a new bonus incentive, offering a $35,000 bonus to ship within 45 days on a typical four-year contract in all career fields. The Army also announced a $10,000 bonus for recruits to sign on to a special contract that entails two years of service in the active-duty Army, followed by two more years in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve.

“Future Soldiers who have enlisted and are shipping in July, August or September are authorized to renegotiate their contract to ship earlier but they are limited to the training seats available,” Patricia Crowe, the Enlistment Eligibility Processing Division Chief with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) said.

Last week, the Army made yet another change to increase the pool of potential recruits and incentivize the retention of current soldiers by easing its restrictions on the types of tattoos a potential recruit may have upon joining.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2022/06/army-cuts-high-school-diploma-requirement-to-boost-recruiting/

Israel eases access to abortion, canceling key decades-old mandatory formalities

New rules allow drug-induced early-term abortions at clinics, remove need for approval of intrusive committees; health minister hails reform as opposite to US Supreme Court ruling

The Knesset Labor Welfare and Health Committee on Monday approved new regulations aimed at making it easier for women to get an abortion by removing some of the procedures required, opening up broader and simplified options for those seeking to end a pregnancy.

A key change to the decades-old regulations will see drug-induced early-term abortions made available at HMO clinics rather than only at hospitals, the Health Ministry said in a statement announcing the development.

Women seeking an abortion will no longer have to physically face a review committee that approves abortions. Nixing the committee altogether requires legislation, which is unlikely to pass, but the new regulations mean there will now be no need for applicants to appear in person before the panels.

The application process will be digitized, enabling committee members to have access to all necessary information and at the same time obviating the need for a woman to drop off the paperwork in person. The request form, which in the past has faced criticism for being too invasive and humiliating, will also be updated, with the questionnaire reduced to a minimum and “degrading questions” removed, the statement said.

The form, which dates back to 1977, will no longer include questions that probed whether women or their partners used contraceptives. However, women will still be asked if they had had any previous abortions because the question is deemed to be medically relevant.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-eases-access-to-abortion-canceling-key-decades-old-mandatory-formalities/

Pfizer CEO to Israeli TV: Omicron shots ready for use as soon as FDA approves

Albert Bourla insists his company’s original vaccine is safe for children as young as 6 months, says he’s aiming to create vaccine that offers yearlong protection

Revamped vaccines that protect against COVID-19 variants are ready to be shipped as soon as they are approved by US health authorities, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Israeli television on Sunday, as he visited Israel to receive the prestigious Genesis Prize.

The company’s original vaccine, the first shot to be made available against COVID-19, has been updated to fight the now-dominant Omicron variant and is set to be discussed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

“We have already started manufacturing, and doses have already been produced,” Bourla told Channel 12 news, adding that the vaccines would be ready for shipment and use upon approval.

Bourla won the Genesis Prize for his success leading Pfizer in producing the vaccine. The prize honors individuals who serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through their outstanding professional achievement and commitment to Jewish values and the Jewish people.

Bourla expressed pride in his Jewish heritage. Landing in the country for the first time in 40 years, he told Channel 12, “I had tears in my eyes.”

Almost two weeks ago, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, alongside the Moderna vaccine, was approved by the FDA for use in children as young as six months old, in a decision not immediately followed by Israel, which has generally remained ahead of the curve in approving shots and boosters.

Israel was among the first countries to begin use of Pfizer’s original vaccine in December 2020 and has repeatedly approved booster shots ahead of other countries.

Bourla backed the FDA’s decision, telling Channel 12 that he “would give [the vaccine] now” to his young child if he were a parent.

Bourla’s visit came on the heels of Pfizer’s announcement Saturday that its latest COVID-19 vaccine to better target the Omicron variant is safe and effective — just days before US regulators were set to debate whether to offer Americans updated booster shots this fall.

Preliminary lab results also show the vaccine was effective against the distinct BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, although antibody levels weren’t nearly as high.

The subvariants are responsible for the sixth wave of infections in Israel, which has seen daily cases rise to 10,000 a day last week and more than 250 serious cases. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 10,940 people have died in Israel from the virus.

The revised vaccine took seven months to develop, but Bourla told Channel 12 that he believed updating shots for new variants could take three months, or even less, now that the company had the expertise.

The speed at which a vaccine can be rolled out is key, as well as the longevity of its effectiveness, due to the threat of the virus mutating every few months, leading to new infection waves.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pfizer-ceo-to-israeli-tv-omicron-shots-ready-for-use-as-soon-as-fda-approves/

New York City prosecutors resign by the hundred as soft-on-crime policies are pushed by DAs

Manhattan and Brooklyn have each lost about one-eight of their staff in the last year.

New York City is losing hundreds of prosecutors, quitting amid reforms taking place at the district attorneys' offices.

Alvin Bragg, the district attorney of Manhattan, has seen his office lose 65 assistant district attorneys – about one-eight of his staff – this year.

During his first week in office, Bragg released a memo that ordered prosecutors not to seek prison sentences for an increased number of crimes and to lessen charges against some offenses, including robberies ad commercial burglaries, crimes that have skyrocketed since the summer of 2020.

In Brooklyn, 67 prosecutors – about 13% of the office – have resigned from District Attorney Eric Gonzalez's office. In 2020, 84 resigned, and 94 left in 2021. In the Bronx, 59 prosecutors have quit during the first half of the year.

Former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, also the trial division chief who prosecuted Harvey Weinstein, and others told the New York Post that some of the intense regulations that New York adopted in 2019 are "crippling our lawyers."

Some of the recently adopted requirements order lawyers to turn over significant amounts of material to the defense in a short period of time.

"You become a file clerk rather than a trial lawyer," lluzzi-Orbon said. "Most of it is completely irrelevant and not germane in any way to the issues of the case."

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/new-york-city-prosecutors-resign-hundred-soft-crime-policies-are-pushed-das

Michigan Governor Won’t Stop Lying to Voters About Job Gains

Gretchen Whitmer says the state has added 25,000 auto jobs since she took office. It has actually lost thousands.

Michigan Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer says she's added 25,000 "good-paying auto jobs" during her tenure. The state has actually lost thousands of auto jobs on her watch, labor statistics show.

In a June 2 press release, Whitmer said she was "proud" to announce Michigan has "added nearly 25,000 auto jobs since I took office." The Democrat roughly three weeks later repeated the claim, writing in a "mobility and electrification" fact sheet that she "is ensuring Michigan lives up to its legacy as the place that put the world on wheels by creating nearly 25,000 good-paying auto jobs."

Bureau of Labor Statistics data, however, contradict that claim. Whitmer inherited 169,500 auto jobs when she became governor in January 2019, according to the agency. As of May 2022, that number is 166,700—a decrease of nearly 3,000 jobs.

Whitmer's deceptive declaration shows how the Democrat is attempting to rebound on economic issues following her stringent stay-at-home orders, which shuttered local stores but deemed marijuana dispensaries, lottery ticket vendors, and big-box retailers "essential." While Whitmer has touted leading the "best economic recovery in Michigan history," a June WalletHub report ranked Michigan 46th in unemployment claim recovery.

Michigan Rising Action communications director Mary Drabik said Whitmer's "gaslighting" on auto jobs is "not surprising."

"When Gov. Whitmer's claims are this far detached from reality, it becomes difficult to believe anything she says," Drabik told the Washington Free Beacon. "But coming from the governor who claims her nursing-home policies saved lives and vacationed in Florida while telling Michiganders to avoid flying south, the gaslighting is not surprising."

Whitmer's office acknowledged that the governor's claim stems from "the number of jobs announced since January 2019," some of which are not yet actualized. Still, Whitmer communications director Bobby Leddy said the governor "is proud of her record of job creation, particularly in the auto industry, as we move to cement Michigan's legacy of manufacturing." Leddy did not address why Whitmer's statistic does not account for jobs that have left the state since 2019.

This is far from the first time Whitmer has faced criticism for failing to deliver on a claim. In April 2020, the Democrat pledged to give back a portion of her salary for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. But Whitmer ended the pledge just five months later in September, even as her indoor gathering restrictions and public face mask requirements lasted for 15 months.

Whitmer, who implemented a policy that required nursing homes to accept positive coronavirus patients who were discharged from hospitals, is up for reelection in November after a roller coaster of a first term. Whitmer's national profile exploded during the beginning of the pandemic thanks to her harsh restrictions and public feud with then-president Donald Trump. Whitmer went on to ramp up those restrictions, which sparked large protests, particularly as the Democrat defied her own rules.

Whitmer's potential Republican opponents include political commentator Tudor Dixon, chiropractor Garrett Soldano, and businessman Kevin Rinke. Republican voters will choose their nominee during Michigan's August 2 primary.

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/michigan-governor-wont-stop-lying-to-voters-about-job-gains/