i'm looking thru the 2019 archive. great awakening. maxwell came up on qmap linked to july 19 q drop, will poke around and copypasta
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/pentagon-concerned-about-chinese-military-drills-near-paracels-4124811.html
U.S. Defense Department has criticized China's military exercises in the South China Sea, calling it a violation to China's commitments in maintaining stability in the region.
"Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to efforts at easing tensions and maintaining stability," the department said Thursday.
China’s actions "will further destabilize the situation in the South China Sea," it said, adding that the exercises violate China's commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.
The Pentagon said the military exercises are the latest in a long string of China's actions "to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea."
It urged China to reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors in the waters.
The Maritime Safety Administration of China's Hainan Province had announced plans to hold military exercises near Vietnam's Paracel Islands from July 1-5.
Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Thursday the country has sent a diplomatic note to protest the illegal exercises, urging non-repetition of the incident.
Hang said the exercises violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, complicating negotiations for a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC) between China and ASEAN, and affecting peace.
https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2020/07/israeli-mining-magnate-dodged-us-sanctions-in-drc-deals-report/
mining magnate Dan Gertler used a global money laundering network to get around US sanctions and extract further mineral wealth from DR Congo, an investigation by two rights organisations found Thursday.
The United States in 2017 froze all the assets and accounts of Gertler, a close ally of former DRC president Joseph Kabila, accusing the billionaire of profiting from massive resource corruption in Africa.
But an investigation released Thursday by Global Witness and the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) alleged that Gertler dodged the sanctions to rake in millions over the last several years.
“Gertler appears to have used a money laundering network stretching from Democratic Republic of Congo to Europe and Israel to evade US sanctions against him, funnel millions of dollars abroad, and acquire new mining assets in DRC,” their report said.
Its said its findings were “based on documents provided by whistleblowers despite great risks to their personal safety”.
The investigation found that Gertler and a network of proxies set up accounts with branches of the Cameroon-based Afriland First Bank, and at least $100 million flowed through associated accounts between June 2018 and May last year.
Just one day before the report was released, Afriland First Bank lodged a complaint against it with the public prosecutor’s office in Paris.
The complaint was over the “theft of documents, violation of banking secrets and defamation,” lawyer Eric Moutet told AFP.
he US Treasury Department said that between 2010 and 2012 alone, the DR Congo lost more than $1.36 billion in state revenues from underpriced mining assets sold to offshore companies tied to Gertler.
The report released Thursday said that among the transactions it probed, “at least $21 million was sent to unknown accounts held outside DRC and $25 million was sent to DRC’s controversial state-owned mining company Gecamines”.
https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29401957/twitch-streamer-former-world-warcraft-pro-reckful-dies-31
"We're devastated to hear of Byron's passing," Twitch said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to his family, friends and community. He was a streaming pioneer and helped propel the whole industry forward. The communities he cultivated in the games he played were forever changed by his relentless pursuit of excellence.
"Byron was someone who talked about his struggles to help make room for others to do the same. As we process this loss, we have to recognize that the stigma around mental health and treatment often prevents people from seeking and getting the help they need. If you're struggling or know someone who is, there are many organizations and people who want to help."
Outside of his lucrative streaming career, Bernstein also led a team to create "Everland," a new 8-bit-style social online multiplayer game set to release later in 2020.
https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29401903/evo-2020-canceled-sexual-misconduct-allegations-co-founder
"Over the past 24 hours, in response to serious allegations made public on Twitter, we have made the first of a series of important decisions regarding the future of our company," Evo said in a statement. "Effective immediately, Joey Cuellar will no longer be involved with Evo in any capacity. We are currently working towards his complete separation from the company and have relieved him of all of his responsibilities."
Tony Cannon, a fellow co-founder of Evo, will take over the role of CEO from Cuellar, the organization announced.
Evo, the largest fighting game event in the world, was to be held online this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Play was slated to begin Saturday and continue every weekend up until Aug. 2. However, on Thursday, Cuellar was placed on administrative leave by the tournament due to alleged sexual misconduct toward a community member.
https://www.wionews.com/world/now-russia-faces-chinas-ire-over-vladivostok-founding-day-celebrations-310368
Russia and China got into a diplomatic spat after the Russian embassy officials posted a video on China's Weibo of a party to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the founding of Vladivostok.
Chinese officials including Internet users leapt on the video and slammed Russia asserting that Vladivostok used to be part of China which was apparently Qing’s Manchurian homeland but was annexed during the Tsar era in 1860 after China's defeat in the second opium war.