F-15E Strike Eagles
Buy several for what a single B-21 would cost
Can defend itself quite well
General Research #21401 >>17460449
Millionaire agribusiness leader Tom Strachan among three dead in horror Queensland light plane crash
A leader in Queensland’s agriculture industry and his 20-year-old son are among three people who died in a plane crash on Monday.
Benedict Brook and Alex Blair August 30, 2022
incidents
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A millionaire agribusiness leader and his son were killed along with the pilot in a light plane crash in Queensland on Monday.
The aeroplane crashed in a remote area near Lowood located about an hour west of Brisbane.
Paramedics reportedly struggled to get to the scene and were forced to travel to the accident site on foot.
The Courier Mail reported the Cessna aircraft ran into hazardous weather and dropped from 2000ft to 500ft before crashing near Fernvale at 10am on Monday.
The paper has confirmed that the victims included Tom Strachan, 49, and his 20-year-old son Noah. The experienced pilot Gary Liehm also died.
Mr Strachan was a farmer and leader in the agribusiness industry.
He founded mining, construction and agricultural labour hire firm AWX in 2000. In 2016 he and a group of investors sold the business for a reported $25 million, reported the AFR.
In 2014, he was estimated to have a wealth of $47m.
In 2015, year he bought the renowned Lighthouse cattle station in Roma for $14m which he said was a “lifetime goal”.
“It was about returning to a space, industry, that provides me purpose and belonging at an individual, spiritual and holistic level.”
Mr Strachan was working with Packhorse, an investment firm specialising in agriculture and particularly the beef supply chain.
Mr Strachan is listed as “executive director and chief storyteller” of the firm.
“Tom just took on the world; he was so successful and always made time for everyone,” a friend of Mr Strachan told the Courier Mail on Monday night.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Noah was an analyst at Benstead Holdaway, a Brisbane real estate and investment company. He studied at QUT and attended Brisbane Grammar School.
The pilot Mr Liehm was chief executive of Executive Helicopters and had flown for SeaWorld and the Queensland emergency authorities.
The plane left Mr Strachan’s Roma property in western Queensland on Monday morning at around 7.20am, before stopping in Dalby at approximately 9am.
The plane then took off again fifteen minutes later, losing contact with air traffic support a short time later near Ipswich around 10am.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has said it has commenced an investigation into the tragedy.
https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/three-dead-in-horror-queensland-light-plane-crash/news-story/2ea71de40001976ea83e94be866aa646
Solomon Islands Exempts Australia, NZ From US Navy Ship Ban
September 6, 2022
By Kirsty Needham (Reuters) – Navy vessels from Australia and New Zealand will be exempt from a temporary ban on foreign ships entering the ports of the Solomon Islands, the Pacific island nation’s prime minister told parliament on Monday.
Foreign military vessels responding to a request for assistance from the Solomon Islands government would also be exempt, Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare said.
The Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China in April, which a leaked draft said allows the Chinese navy to replenish in Honiara, prompting concern from the United States, Australia and New Zealand about China’s growing influence.
Also read: Solomon Islands Blocks All US Navy Ships
Last week, Sogavare announced a moratorium on foreign navy vessels entering port following incidents in which a U.S. coast guard vessel and a British navy vessel on patrol for illegal fishing were unable to refuel in Honiara. Read full story
Questioned by opposition members of parliament about the moratorium, Sogavare said military vessels deployed under the auspices of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIIAF), a treaty under which Australia, New Zealand and Fiji work with the Solomon Islands police, would be exempt.
“Military vessels deployed under SIIAF are therefore exempted during the period of the moratorium,” he said.
The United States, which plans to open an embassy in Honiara, said it was informed on Aug. 29 of a moratorium on all foreign navy vessels. Read full story
A month earlier, the United States pledged to boost aid and increase illegal fishing surveillance in the Pacific in an attempt to counter China’s growing presence.
The cabinet had decided to impose the moratorium on military vessels as it reviewed “the benefits and risks to Solomon Islands of any visits by any military vessels,” Sogavare said, though adding the moratorium was not aimed at the United States.
“We are not targeting the United States of America,” he said.
The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Britain had become involved in the illegal fishing patrols and his office needed to know more about the vessels arriving, he said.
The Forum Fisheries Agency, which is based in Honiara and represents Pacific Island nations with rich tuna stocks, would need to notify his office about which naval vessels are taking part in surveillance patrols to gain an exemption, he said.
“We don’t know who the hell is coming,” he added.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeremiah Manele said a report on the matter was expected at the end of next week.
Tensions are high in Solomon Islands as changes to the constitution to delay a general election are expected to pass parliament this week.
Australia advised in a travel warning on Saturday of the risk of civil unrest as the parliament considers “significant legislation.”
https://gcaptain.com/solomon-islands-exempts-australia-nz-from-us-navy-ship-ban/
General Research #21535 >>17565150
Australia's Central Bank Says It Is Bust
The central bank of Australia on Wednesday made the astonishing admission that it is, basically, bust. Its entire equity has been wiped out by pandemic-related bond buying.
Of course, the Reserve Bank of Australia is a central bank, and can print money. So it can work its way out of a situation that would bankrupt a conventional bank or company.
Still, as the U.S. Federal Reserve meets today on interest rates, it's an interesting insight into the challenges other central bankers face as they attempt to reconcile Covid stimulus with post-Covid inflation and economic emergence.
The RBA began its bond-purchase program in November 2020 as a second stimulus package in response to the pandemic. The first round of measures saw it slash rates to record lows, and set up a term funding facility offering cheap three-year funding to banks. For the bond buying, the central bank bought Australian government bonds and semi-government securities in the secondary market to lower interest rates on bonds maturing between five and 10 years out.
The program was extended, and extended, and extended yet again. Ultimately, the RBA bought A$281 billion (US$188 billion) in national, state and territory government bonds.
Now the bill has come due.
https://realmoney.thestreet.com/investing/global-equity/australia-s-central-bank-says-it-is-bust-16103021
Svitzer Ordered to Scrap Harbor Tug Worker Lockout in Australia
Mike Schuler November 17, 2022
Australia’s Fair Work Commission has ruled that Svitzer Australia, a subsidiary of Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, must scrap its plans for a lockout of its harbor tug workers that was set to start Friday, threatening to cause widespread disruption at Australian ports.
The indefinite lockout, which was announced by Svitzer Australia earlier this week, would have brought Australian ports to a near standstill. It comes after nearly four years of unsuccessful bargaining for a new enterprise agreement for Svitzer’s unionized tug workers with representatives from three maritime unions; Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) and the Australian Maritime Officers’ Union (AMOU). Pay raises have been frozen during the negotiations.
Svitzer Australia tugs secure the safe departure and arrival of over 75 percent of Australian trade, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), of which the three unions are affiliated.
The lockout would have impacted harbor tug operations in 17 Australian ports.
Svitzer says the lockout comes after increased industrial action organized by the unions that Svitzer says has harmed its ability to serve its shipping customers and is causing serious disruption to Australia’s supply chain.
“We welcome this decision from the industrial court in Australia. But it should not require a judicial slapdown to remind a Maersk subsidiary that they cannot engage in such destructive, winner-takes-all workplace relations,” said Niek Stam, acting co-chair of the Fair Practices Committee Steering Group, the ITF’s highest meeting of maritime unions.
https://gcaptain.com/svitzer-ordered-to-scrap-harbor-tug-worker-lockout-in-australia/
General Research #21837 >>17806637
Unbelievable: Researcher Claims Anti-vaxx Groups’ Fear Mongering and Scare Tactics Cause Vaccine-Related Adverse Events Like Blood Clots and Heart Attacks
You can’t make this up.
Just when you thought the Covid-deranged establishment medical community couldn’t lose any more credibility, Raymond D. Palmer, a self-identified mRNA alchemist from Western Australia, admitted that there are serious risks associated with Covid-19 vaccinations, but he blamed the anti-vaxxers for it.
This was first reported by Rebekah Barnett on her Substack.
According to Palmer’s research, which was published in the NIH National Library of Medicine and the most recent issue of the peer-reviewed journal BioMedicine (Taipei), the adverse reactions to the vaccine are the result of stress brought on by receiving the vaccine.
“Much of this anti-vaccination sentiment could be attributed to the alleged side effects that are perpetuated across social media from anti-vaccination groups,” Palmer stated in his abstract.
“Fear-mongering and misinformation being peddled by people with no scientific training to terrorize people into staying unvaccinated is not just causing people to remain susceptible to viral outbreaks, but could also be causing more side effects seen in the vaccination process,” he continued.
Palmer added that “vasoconstriction and arterial constriction” are both apparent results of the mental stress caused by the fear-mongering and disinformation being pushed by anti-vaxxers.
Vasoconstriction and arterial constriction are what healthcare providers call when the muscles around your blood vessels tighten to make the space inside smaller.
“A mini review of published literature has been conducted and found that mental stress clearly causes vasoconstriction and arterial constriction of the blood vessels. Therefore, if subjects are panicked, concerned, stressed or scared of the vaccination, their arteries will constrict and become smaller in and around the time of receiving the vaccine,” he said.
“This biological mechanism (the constriction of veins, arteries and vessels under mental stress) is the most likely cause for where there has been blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, loss of smell and taste that may have been experienced shortly after vaccine administration,” he added.
“The extreme mental stress of the patient could most likely be attributed to the fear-mongering and scare tactics used by various anti-vaccination groups. This paper does not aim to rule in or out every side effect seen, but it is highly likely that many apparent side effects seen shortly after a subject has received a vaccine could be the result of restricted or congested blood flow from blood vessel or arterial constriction caused by emotional distress or placebo based on fear around vaccines,” Palmer said.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/11/unbelievable-scientist-claims-anti-vaxx-groups-fear-mongering-scare-tactics-cause-vaccine-related-adverse-events-like-blood-clots-heart-attacks/
General Research #22005 >>17951129
Australian Super members locked out of withdrawals, trading
Australian Super customers who hold a Member Direct account have been locked out of their accounts for over three weeks now as the financial giant struggles with technical issues.
Australian Super is Australia’s largest superannuation fund with approximately $245 billion under management from 3 million members. The fund provides an option for its members to choose what is known as a Member Direct option, which is in essence a self-managed superfund operating through Australian Super.
Due to a portal upgrade, Member Direct holders have not been able to make withdrawals from their accounts for some weeks now.
According to Australian Super, “Most members have been able to access and use the new portal and upgraded app but we are aware some members continue are [sic] experiencing issues. We’re working to resolve issues as quickly as possible and have redirected additional staff to assist members. We understand this is frustrating for impacted members and would like to reassure all members that their information and account is secure”.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has confirmed that it has received numerous complaints from members.
It is unclear the extent of the issue however AustralianSuper has revealed that around 22,000 members are in Member Direct out of the almost 3 million AustralianSuper members.
https://michaelwest.com.au/australian-super-memebrs-locked-out-of-making-withdrawl/