Where Central Banks Have Issued Digital Currencies

Central bank digital currencies are controlled by governments like traditional currencies are and therefore represent the polar opposite of the idea of decentralized, self-sovereign bitcoins.

As Statista's Katharina Buchholz reports, several small nations and - since October 2021, Nigeria - have launched central bank digital currencies, and several more populous countries are getting ready to jump aboard a different crypto hype train.

The European Union today is proposing a legal framework for its planned launch of the digital euro. According to the Central Bank Digital Currency Tracker by Atlantic Council, concrete plans to launch a CBDC were also recorded in Canada, Brazil and the United States, among others.

Countries which are already in a CBDC pilot phase include Russia, Thailand, India, South Korea, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, according to the source. It is unclear, however, which of these programs could see a proper launch next.

CBDCs were introduced even earlier than in Nigeria in Caribbean countries, for example in the Bahamas and nations and territories that share the currency of the Eastern Caribbean dollar. The Sand Dollar of the Bahamas was the first central bank digital currency of the world upon its launch in 2019 and cleared the way for a rapid adoption around the region’s small nations.

The Chinese digital Yuan pilot made headlines in April 2019, but the project has not moved on since. Like Nigeria, China has a solid digital and mobile payment infrastructure. Large parts of the two countries' populations leapfrogged card payments and went straight from cash to digital payment options, which became hugely popular - may they be app or text-based. In developing countries, central banks also consider the potential of digital currencies reaching the unbanked.

Another reason for some governments to champion official digital currencies is the collection of data.

Ubiquitous digital payments and tight government surveillance have led to a plethora of payment data already available to Chinese administrators. This knowledge on how people spend money will only grow with the implementation of the digital Yuan, even though the country’s central bank has said it will limit traceability and create what it calls “controllable anonymity.”

These aspects of digital currencies are viewed negatively by Europeans, who according to a survey by the European Central Bank are concerned about payment privacy in regards to the digital euro.

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/where-central-banks-have-issued-digital-currencies-0

Ukrainian generals killed in Russian strike – MOD

Moscow had earlier reported hitting a temporary brigade base in the Donbass city of Kramatorsk

Two Ukrainian generals were killed in a Russian high-precision strike on the Donbass city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Thursday, citing “updated data.”

The ministry had earlier claimed that the strike targeted the temporary base of the Ukrainian Armed Forces 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade. Since then, the ministry has added that the base was hosting a “staff meeting” involving dozens of Ukrainian officers and foreign advisers.

The attack resulted in the deaths of “two generals, up to 50 officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as up to 20 foreign mercenaries and military advisers,” according to the Russian Defense Ministry's daily briefing.

The news came as Russian forces continue to repel Ukrainian attacks on their defensive positions in Zaporozhye Region as well as in Donbass. Ukraine has lost almost 800 servicemen in attempted assaults on various fronts over the past 24 hours, the Russian ministry claimed. It added that Russian forces had destroyed dozens of pieces of Ukrainian heavy equipment, including howitzers, armored vehicles and a tank.

Earlier this week, Kiev accused Moscow of striking a restaurant full of civilians in Kramatorsk, killing 11 people, including at least two children and injuring more than 60 others.

Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, said it had arrested a local resident suspected of leaking intelligence to Russia before the alleged strike. The agency also claimed that the goal of the strike had been to kill civilians.

Russia has denied the accusations, insisting that it only hits military targets.

The developments came as several Western media outlets reported that Ukraine has suffered heavy losses in its much-touted counteroffensive, which some allies are said to have assessed as unsuccessful thus far. On Thursday, Forbes described Ukraine’s losses as “disastrous” as it claimed Kiev had lost over 25 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in just one attempt to cross a minefield.

The Financial Times reported on the same day that Kiev’s Western backers have warned that further funding and support will depend on the results of the ongoing offensive. General Christopher Cavoli, NATO’s top commander in Europe, reportedly said last week that Russia was still enjoying “the advantage of mass.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/578927-ukrainian-generals-killed-russian-strike/

Marine Corps Lance Corporal Sentenced To More Than 15 Years In Federal Prison For Attempting To Entice A 13-Year-Old Child To Produce And Send Him Sexually Explicit Photos Of Herself

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/marine-corps-lance-corporal-sentenced-more-15-years-federal-prison-attempting-entice

Political Consultant Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Role in Murder for Hire Scheme

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/political-consultant-sentenced-24-years-prison-role-murder-hire-scheme

University of Oklahoma Professor and Wife Sentenced to Prison for Federal Grant Fraud

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/university-oklahoma-professor-and-wife-sentenced-prison-federal-grant-fraud

Former Ohio House Speaker sentenced to 20 years in prison for leading racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million in bribes

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/former-ohio-house-speaker-sentenced-20-years-prison-leading-racketeering-conspiracy

U.S. Attorney Announces Charges In Four Separate Insider Trading Cases Against 10 Individuals, Including Drug Company Employees, Investment Firm Executive Director, And SPAC Investors

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-charges-four-separate-insider-trading-cases-against-10

U.S. Attorney Announces 17 Indictments in Fayetteville Area as Part of Ongoing Federal Violent Crime and Drug Strategy Significant Amounts of Drugs and Guns Seized

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/us-attorney-announces-17-indictments-fayetteville-area-part-ongoing-federal-violent

Sheriff and Three Men Charged in Bribery Scheme Involving Purchase of Law-Enforcement Badges and Credentials

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/sheriff-and-three-men-charged-bribery-scheme-involving-purchase-law-enforcement-badges-and

Biden: Race Preference Ruling Violates What ‘Constitution Says’ that All ‘Created Equal’ — Dobbs Gave States Power ‘We Fought a War over’

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2023/06/29/biden-race-preference-ruling-violates-what-constitution-says-that-all-created-equal-dobbs-gave-states-power-we-fought-a-war-over/

Daniel Andrews' surprise six day trip to China will cost taxpayers more than $80,000 government documents have revealed

Government documents have revealed the staggering cost of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' surprise six-day trip to China, which was done without the presence of any Australian journalists.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/daniel-andrews-surprise-six-day-trip-to-china-will-cost-taxpayers-more-than-80000-government-documents-have-revealed/news-story/5d0c1d19f3efaa2b6f07a156ff65bda5

Suspected Chinese spy balloon did not collect intelligence over United States, Pentagon says

The suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by a US fighter jet over the Atlantic in February did not collect intelligence as it flew across the United States, the Pentagon has said.

Key points:

The balloon flew over the United States for a week before the US military shot it down

China has previously claimed the balloon was a weather research "airship" that had blown off course

The incident sparked a diplomatic rift between Beijing and Washington

"It's been our assessment now that it did not collect while it was transiting the United States or overflying the United States," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

The balloon spent a week flying over the United States and Canada before the US military shot it down on President Joe Biden's orders.

Mr Ryder said the US "took steps to mitigate" intelligence collection by the balloon.

"Certainly the efforts we made contributed" to that, Mr Ryder said, without further explanation.

China has denied the balloon was used for spying, and has previously claimed it was a weather research "airship" that was blown off course.

The appearance of the high-altitude balloon hovering over sensitive sites led to a diplomatic rift between the two superpowers, and resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponing a long-planned February trip to China.

At the time, Mr Blinken had described the balloon's presence as a "clear violation" of US sovereignty, and US authorities at the time claimed it was being used for "surveillance".

The huge balloon with a large payload of electronics flew over the US from Alaska in the north-west to South Carolina in the east from late January to early February this year, crossing above sensitive military installations and prompting concerns Beijing was scooping up vital intelligence.

It was shot down on February 4 just off the South Carolina coast, and was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by the US military, which has been studying its contents since.

At the time a US official said the balloon had multiple antennas including an array likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications.

"It was equipped with solar panels large enough to produce the requisite power to operate multiple active intelligence collection sensors," the official said.

Mr Blinken made the trip to China earlier this month, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and agreeing to "stabilise" the relationship.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-30/chinese-spy-balloon-did-not-collect-information-on-us-pentagon/102545066

LOCK THEM UP: FBI “Verified Authenticity of Hunter Biden Laptop in November 2019! – Then 51 Top Intel Agents Lied to American Public and Said it Was Russian Propaganda Before 2020 Election

The House Ways and Means Committee recently released their interview with Gary Shapley, Jr. from May 26, 2023.

In the report the committee included this nugget:

In October 2019, the FBI became aware that a repair shop had a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden and that the laptop might contain evidence of a crime. The FBI verified its authenticity in November of 2019 by matching the device number against Hunter Biden’s Apple iCloud ID.

Here is the screen grab from page 12 of the report.

Then during the second presidential debate in 2020, Joe Biden and hack reporter Kristen Welker teamed up against President Donald Trump.

At one point, Joe Biden interrupted Welker for his planned response to the Hunter Biden Laptop from Hell scandal. Joe Biden told the audience 50 intelligence leaders signed a letter saying the laptop was “Russian propaganda.”

The intel leaders all lied. They knew it was a lie. Joe Biden knew it was a lie. The media knew this was a lie.

The Biden Campaign and current Secretary of State Tony Blinken organized this massive lie.

The laptop was real and EVERY SINGLE INTEL ‘EXPERT’ who signed that letter knew it was real!

There were 60 dishonest intel officers (9 who refused to publicly post their name) who lied to the American public about the Hunter Biden laptop being a Russian disinformation operation.

These 60 should be outed, subpoenaed, and jailed for pushing such a brazen political lie to swing a presidential election.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/06/lock-them-up-fbi-verified-authenticity-hunter-biden/

Hunter Biden’s Former Associate-Turned-Whistleblower Tony Bobulinski Wanted to Testify to Delaware Grand Jury – But He Never Got the Chance

Hunter Biden’s associate-turned-whistleblower Tony Bobulinski was never asked to testify to the Delaware grand jury investigating Hunter.

Tony Bobulinski knows where the Biden Crime Family bodies are buried and he was never called in to testify even though his attorney reached out to US Attorney David Weiss’s office!

Tony Bobulinski, a retired lieutenant in the US Navy, was the CEO of Sinohawk Holdings which was a partnership between the Chinese operating through CEFC/Chairman Ye and the Biden family.

Bobulinski has repeatedly stated that he met with Joe Biden numerous times to discuss Hunter Biden’s business deals.

“There are hundreds of data points that Joe Biden was acting in – in a capitalistic term, I would say the chairman,” Bobulinski told Tucker Carlson in an interview last year.

Bobulinski also accused Hunter Biden of committing fraud against his business partners by secretly funneling over $5 million into his own investment firm.

As previously reported, a top Chinese official emailed Tony Bobulinski on July 26, 2017 proposing a $5 million “interest-free” loan and possible subsequent loan(s).

The Chinese official asked Tony Bobulinski, “How will the 5 million be used….This 5 million loan is interest-free. But if the 5 million is used up, should CEFC keep lending more to the family?”

Less than two weeks later, on August 8, 2017, $5 million was wired from a CEFC-affiliated investment vehicle to the bank account for Hudson West III, which spent the next year transferring $4,790,375 million directly to Hunter Biden’s firm, Owasco, according to Senate documents.

Senate investigators described how the Chinese state-owned energy company wired the $5 million “loan” to Hunter’s firm through an investment vehicle — to the bank account for Hudson West III –which then dispersed the money to Hunter’s firm (money laundering).

An IRS whistleblower just revealed new information about the $5 million wire sent to Hunter Biden.

We now know that just FOUR DAYS after Bobulinski received an email proposing a $5 million “interest-free loan,” Hunter Biden threatened a Chinese business associate to pay up or else.

“I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight. And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my directions. I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father.”

Bobulinski decided to call Jim Biden about his $5 million side deal with CEFC and Jim Biden said, “go f*ck yourself” and hung up the phone.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/06/hunter-bidens-former-associate-turned-whistleblower-tony-bobulinski/

Unlocked: More than 40% of Americans Experience Illnesses Similar to Poisoning after Receiving COVID-19 Injections

CDC Data: After receiving COVID-19 injections, more than 40% of Americans experienced illnesses similar to toxic poisoning and were unable to go to work or school. Some were admitted to the hospital.

https://karenkingston.substack.com/p/unlocked-more-than-40-of-americans

Mossad abducted terror leader inside Iran to thwart Cyprus attack

Israel's intel agency kidnapped an Iranian terror mastermind from inside the Islamic Republic's territory, it confirmed in a stunning revelation.

The Mossad announced on Thursday its method for recently thwarting a Cyprus terror attack: It kidnapped the mastermind from within Iranian territory.

The stunning revelation, including the identity of the mastermind, Yusef Shahabazi Abbasalilu, was the latest in the saga which itself first broke on Sunday.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-748227

Former Director of CIA's Russia analysis says Ukraine counteroffensive is underperforming

Beebe said it was a very real possibility that the US would be sending missiles to Ukraine to help them in their war effort.

The Ukrainian counter offensive, which has been underway for more than three weeks, does not seem to be going well at all," Beebe told the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this month that the Ukrainian military was ready to launch a counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory.

He told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that he was confident they would succeed.

Beebe added that a major factor to take into consideration that the counteroffensive wasn't going so well was that the U.S. seems to be in a hurry to get more weapons to Ukraine.

"I think one of the indications of how poorly it's going is the United States is attempting to rush more weapons to Ukraine, including more capable weapons," he stated.

He added that missiles were not out of the question to send over, which would be a new development.

"One of the things that Biden has refused to do for many, many months is to provide ATACMS-longer range missile systems that the Ukrainians could use to strike deep behind Russian lines," he said. "The Biden administration was really concerned that that would be an escalatory step. And now, rumor has it, according to the Wall Street Journal, that Biden is now very close to approving those sorts of missiles."

https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/former-director-cias-russia-analysis-says-ukraine

Pride Month Marked by 'Unprecedented' Backlash

https://www.newsweek.com/pride-month-marked-unprecedented-backlash-1809380

MSM