Transcript

7.29.25 · Washington Post

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Speaker 1: Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the reading of the
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Washington Post for this Tuesday, July twenty ninth. As a reminder,
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Radio I is a reading service intended for people who
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are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
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to read printed material. Your reader for today is Rod Brotherton.
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And now let's look at the headlines. Our first story today,
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Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland promoting his own golf club.
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President Trump has transformed the private green at his Turnbury
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golf course into a venue for high stakes diplomacy. British
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Monday morning with the President
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near the Fairway to hash out a trade deal and
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discuss the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. On Sunday, European
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Commission President Erslea Vanderleyan announced the contours of a trade
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deal at the private club. The meetings provide the latest
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example of how Trump uses his presidential power not only
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to govern, but also to help his family businesses. The
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engagements provide publicity for the courses and funnel taxpayer funds
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to the Trump Organization, as the US government pays to
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lodge staff and security details at the properties. If you
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take a look at the windows in the various dining rooms.
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They're magnificent, Trump said during his meeting with Starmer in
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a minute's long aside to discuss his property. It's absolutely magnificent,
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said Starmer, who has gone to great links to win
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the President's favor both inside and out, and looking at
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the courses itself and the building. Traditionally, American presidents are
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invited to other countries by their leaders and hosted at
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diplomatic residences. But Trump is playing host to Starmar in
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the prime minister's own country, continuing his long tradition of
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sidestepping presidential norms to fix and mix his family business
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and his public office. It is an unusual dynamic that
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is more of an issue for the US, said David Hinting,
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director of the UK Trade Policy Project for the European
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Center for International Political Economy. UK prime ministers have always said,
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we will just deal with the US presidents as we
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find them. Ask about the potential conflicts of interest. White
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House officials note that the golf courses are held in
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a trust managed by Trump's children. President Trump is always
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acting in the best interest of the American people, delivering
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good deals that put America first. White House spokeswoman Taylor
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Rogerson in a written statement, Donald J. Trump has built
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the best and most beautiful, world class golf courses anywhere
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in the world, which is why they continue to be
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used for prestigious tournaments and by the most elite players
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in sport. Trump and Starmer told reporters money that they
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plan to discuss tariffs, including those levied on whiskey and
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aid to Gaza and Ukraine Seated. Besides Starmer, Trump said
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he will shorten the fifty day deadline he gave Russian
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President Putin to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine to ten
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or twelve days, reflecting his mounting frustration with Kremlin. We're
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going to do secondary sanctions unless we make a deal,
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Trump said. He also repeated his complaint that no one
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has said thank you for the United States has sent
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Gaza for food for deaths from starvation and malnutrition arising,
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and stressed his continued focus on rescue Israeli hostages. Trump
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said he would set up food US sinners in Gaza,
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but it was unclear whether he was referring to a
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new US presence or continuing the current aid effort that
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the US and Israel have backed. The White House did
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not respond two requests for clarification. Trump spoke for more
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than an hour in a rambling exchange that addressed nuclear power,
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his year's long battle with windmills, and the end of
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his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump revoked
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Epstein's membership from his mar Alago club two decades ago
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because Epstein repeatedly stole people that worked for me. A
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new explanation for the fallout between the two men who
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were once friends. I threw him out for signing on grata,
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Trump told reporters Monday, I'm glad I did, if you
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want to know the truth. Around the same time, Trump
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and Epstein fought over an ocean front Palm Beach property
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that was being sold out of bankruptcy. The Washington Post
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has previously reported Trump's visit, which included the opening of
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a new golf course in Aberdeenshire on Scotland's west coast,
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will cost American taxpayers millions of dollars for travel and security.
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While all other presidents in the era of jet travel
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have regularly used Air Force one for personal travel and
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are protected by the Secret Service as they do the
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government was not paying for hotel fees to businesses they own,
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to house security details or white House staff. The US
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government paid sixty eight thousand, eight hundred dollars and Trump's
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Turnbury resort in twenty eighteen cover the cost of Trump's
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visit to the course on Scotland's west coast during his
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first term, according to her report in The Scotsland's newspaper,
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in between negotiating accords of trade and battling back questions
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about the Epstein files, Trump used his time in Scotland
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over the weekend to promote the course. He posted videos
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of himself golfing and on truth Social, the social network
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he partially owns. He also cited praise from the retired
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professional golfer Gary Player. The great Gary Player Turnberry is,
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without a question, in the top five greatest golf courses
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I've ever played in my seventy three years as a pro.
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Thank you, Gary, he wrote Trump Turnberry was one of
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Trump's most expensive properties and has struggled to turn a
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profit since his company purchased it in twenty fourteen. Trump
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spent sixty seven million dollars to buy the property, and
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an additional one hundred and forty four million to renovate it.
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Course lost one point seven million dollars in the twenty
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twenty two fiscal year, according to a filing from the
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company that operates the course. Trump has some supporters in
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the Turnberry area, where his club is a significant employer,
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but also many detractors. Scotts have hosted demonstrations across the
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country this week in protest of his stay. We're operating
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a non standard territory in terms of seeing him using
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Scotland as just a meeting room and using his properties
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as a venue for trade talks, said Jack Nevin, organized
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protest Saturday in Edinburgh on behalf of Trump on behalf
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of the Stop Trump coalition. It's par for the course
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was his rank, corruption and promoting of his own businesses
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as president. The next story, the US military is investing
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in this Pacific island, so is China. The US military
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will next year upgrade Palao's Maine harbor, usually frequented by
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dive boats full of tourists heading to Emerald the lagoons,
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so that American warships can enter the Pacific island's narrow
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chinels in docked here. The wharf will be expanded and elevated,
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there will be a new logistics hub with a warehouse
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enabling US Navy ships to refuel, reload, and re arm.
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This is all part of a broader effort to boost
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the US military's presence in the Western Pacific, allowing for
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the rapid mobilization of American forces in the event of
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a conflict involving China. Complicating that plan, however, is a
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Chinese owned hotel overlooking Malacca Harbor that US and Palao
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In officials worry could be used for surveillance across Palao.
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Chinese businesses and developers have leased land near a half
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dozen strategic locations where the United States is beefing up
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efforts to detect and deter China's growing reach into the region,
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according to intelligence and security documents and interviews with twenty American,
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Allowan Taiwanese officials. A months long Washington Post investigation found
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that Chinese businesses have leased land or built properties for
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tourism developments near the port, the airport, a coastal US
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surveillance outpost, and a US over the horizon radar system.
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Plaoan law doesn't allow foreigners to buy land, but they
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can lease it for up to ninety nine years. These
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Chinese leases or buildings potentially provide Beijing with not only
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a bird's eye view of the increasing American footprint in Palai,
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but also opportunities to disrupt US military activities here. The
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official said. Some of the projects have connections to groups
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allegedly linked to organized crime, according to records obtained by
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the Post, including a US intelligence assessment and parts of
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a Palao in national security briefing, and officials in both
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countries are concerned these groups could act as proxies for Beijing,
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complementing the expansionary goals of the Chinese Communist Party. The
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Chinese are very sophisticated, Palao's president, Sourrangel Whips Junior said
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in an interview. They play the long game. They know
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exactly what they're doing, so we've got to be smarter. China,
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which has the world's largest navy, has been aggressively increasing
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its influence across the South China Sea and into the
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Western Pacific, seeking to become the predominant maritime power in
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a region the US has long considered its domain. The
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location of Palau, a Micronesian archipelago of more than three
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hundred islands east of the Philippines has long made it
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strategically valuable. Japan occupied it during the first half of
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the twentieth century, then fought bloody battles with the US
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here during World War II. Today, Palau is an important
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link in the Second Island Chain, the string of outposts
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reaching from Japan through Guam and Micronesia to Indonesia that
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the US is fortifying to constrain China's expansion. The first
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chain islands include Taiwan and is closer to China. The
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US military, which has brought access in Palau as part
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of a compact of free association, seized the island nation
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as a small but key piece sim its strategy to
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quickly disperse forces and project power in the region. Chinese
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leader Xi Jinping has vowed to take control of Taiwan
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by force if necessary, potentially involving the US and the
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military conflict. In the meantime, Beijing has convinced several countries
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in the region to sever diplomatic ties with the self
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governing democracy that China claims as a province. Palao is
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one of only three Pacific nations that still recognized Tape
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Taipei over Beijing whipps said that soon after he was
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first elected in twenty twenty, he received a call from
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China's ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, who offered
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a million tourists a year to fill Chinese built hotels
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exchange for Palao's abandoning in Taiwan, China's Foreign ministry did
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not respond to US for common This is a national
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security issue not only for Paulau, but also Taiwan and
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the United States, said Jessica C. Lee, Taiwan's ambassador to Paulau.
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If there is a D day, the Chinese will be
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able to cut cables in Palau, activate devices on rooftops,
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whatever they can to delay a US response to Chinese aggression.
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Beijing has studied US force projection closely and knows that
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facilities in places like Palau are critical to American readiness,
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said Abraham Denmark, who was a defense official in the
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Biden and Obama administrations. It is very clear they want
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to do what they can to disrupt US operations as
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best they can, using whatever means they have available. Officials say,
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this country of just seventeen thousand people have seen a
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surge in violence, drugs, and corruption involving Chinese nationals that
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WHIPS claims is designated to pressure Palau to recognize China,
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something Beijing denies. WHIPS has cracked down on foreign and
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especially Chinese influence in Palau since his re election in November.
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His administration has deported dozens of people, de gnied more
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than one hundred and fifty tourist visas or work permits,
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and added more than one hundred names to its list
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of undesirable aliens. In all three categories, the majority of
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people have been Chinese, including some with land leases near
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a strategic sites, records show. Joel Rondike, the US Ambassador
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of Plou, said the pattern of overpriced land leases is
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strategic but often economically unviable locations, fits with Beijing's modus operandi.
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Leasing land is certainly the right of a landoverer under
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Palow and law, Aaron Drecht said, but you've got to
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wonder when you see where the Chinese are doing it,
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the prices that they're doing it at, and what they
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do with the land after they lease it. It just
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raises a lot of questions, a lot of suspicion. A
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document obtained by the Post shows that the US Embassy
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has asked the Trump administration for more assistants, including a
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senior US law enforcement official with experience in combating Chinese
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organized crime and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent to tackle
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trafficking and corruption, plus a rotation of five US police
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officers and a pair of prosecutors to handle cases involving
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Chinese suspects. The State Department said it couldn't comment on
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embassy requests that transnational organization crime linked to China was
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evolving in the region. We've seen the CCP deep in
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its influence to undermine Pacific regional security, damage economies, and
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endangered citizens, It's said in the statement. Annalysts say it's
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unclear what approach the Trump administration will take to the Pacific.
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The US Doge Service canceled the final months of contract
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for some US security assistance in Palau. Whipps Hope's President
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Trump will restore and bolster ties. Don't cut off your partners,
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The Palouan president said. We're on the front line roughly
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forty miles south of Lakau Harbor sets the island of Anguar.
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It too, is in the middle of an American military upgrade.
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It too, has been the focus of Chinese interest the
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US military has spent the last two years and one
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hundred million dollars clearing one hundred acres here for a
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receiver for its tactical multi mission over the Horizon Radar
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or tack more. The system, which requires transmitter and receiver
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stations at least fifty miles apart, will enable the US
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to detect Chinese hypersonic missiles or airplanes that not target
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U S forces on the Second Island chain to prevent
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them from aiding Taiwan. In twenty ten, Palao's government publicly
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urged the US, which was relocating marines from the southern
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Japanese island of Okinawa, to move them to Angoar. Soon after,
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Chinese investors started expressing interest in the remote island. Land.
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Records showed that in twenty fourteen, Chian Hag, a long
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time Chinese resident in Palau there known as the Hunter Tian,
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signed contracts with four family groups to lease about two
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hundred and fifty acres of land, including near Anguar's airstrip
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and port for white he said would be a resort. Tian,
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who declined interview request, is the president of the Palau
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Overseas China Federation, which functions as part of the Chinese
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Communist parties United Frontwork Department promoting State Objectives, whose members
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have given illegal campaign contributions to pro Chinese politicians in Palao,
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according to the US Intelligence Assessment, parts of which were
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first reported by Reuters. Nothing has been charged. The US
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and Palau announced the plan for the tac More system
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in mid twenty seventeen. A few months later, Tian took
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prominent palaal in to China meet with officials, according to
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the US Intelligence Assessment, and former President Johnson torre Biong
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went on the trip. Tian also launched a China Palau
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Trade Organization and an ill fated media organization in Palau
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with ties to Chinese security services, according to the Organized
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Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. In twenty eighteen, Tian's deputy
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in the Federation introduced Palao's then president Tommy remen Segu
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junior to Juan kuok Koi, Macau mob boss known as
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Broken Tooth, who served fourteen years in prison in Macau
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for illegal gambling, loan sharking and attempted murder. Ramenziao told
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the Post he wasn't aware of Juan's background, but it
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became clear in twenty nineteen, when Juan boasted in Hong
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Kong media of his plan for a Palau casino resort
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located in Anguar. It was later revealed where he would
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control customs port and an airport. Geremngasao responded by banning
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foreigners with criminal histories from coming to Palau. The UST
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Treasury later imposed sanctions on Juan. Previously unreported, however, is
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the fact that Juan was also interested in leasing land
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next to a second tack More site, a transmitter sixty
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miles north of Anguar in Palau's Nagard State. Alan Side,
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a prominent Palau businessman, told the Post that he signed
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a memorandum of understanding to lease to one a plot
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of land across the road from the Nasgard transmitter site.
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Juan promised to pay as much as fifteen million dollars,
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but never delivered, according to Side, who declined to a
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copy of the MoU and said he too was unaware
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of Juan's background, and of course Juan could not be
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reached a comment. Whipp said it was suspect that one
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who had been honored by Beijing for his patriotism had
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explored leasing land near both tacked More locations. When you
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begin to see the connections, then you begin to wonder,
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how can the Chinese government say they're not working with
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organized crime, the president said. Experts say Beijing selectively used
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as organized crimes groups to further its objectives overseas, something
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the Chinese government has denied. It worked for Beijing in
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two ways, city Juan Graham, a senior analyst at the
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Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Canberra based think tank. They can
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export their criminal problem, but then they all so turned
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that criminal problem into their frontline of influence, basically just
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to sew corruption and to a road governance in these
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small island states. Kian zanguar leases have expired. Yuan's plan
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for both tak More sites ended when he had to
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leave the country, but the transmitter site is Nagard State,
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where work weights and environmental permit and soon could be
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overlooked by a two hundred and seventy room Chinese resort.
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Kian Shushan, no relation to Hunter. Tian released sixty acres
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here in twenty fifteen, two years before the Takmar announcement,
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but it wasn't until late twenty twenty three, shortly after
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the US military held its first public meeting on the
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radar that he registered plans to build the Palaou International
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Grand Hotel. According to local tax records, his company Great
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Wall Garments of women's clothing manufacturer in Tinjian, near Beijing,
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has branched out to high end hotel resorts in China, Vietnam, Who's, Bekistan,
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and Palao. According to its website, Kian declined interview request.
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Has been a member of the Chinese Communist Party for
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forty six years. Has been awarded several honors, including Outstanding
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Communist Party Member of Tianjin. According to the Tianjin Small
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and Medium Enterprise Association, but Chian serves as a deputy director.
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The association has close ties with the Chinese People's Political
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Consultative Conference, a key part of Chinese United Front work.
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John joined the People's Liberation Army at nineteen. When his
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company hosted an event for PLA veterans in twenty twenty
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two to promote patriotism and loyalty to the CCP, he
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told the gathering that he still practices many PLA has,
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including hard work ethic. According to a local government press release,
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US and Palau officials also worry about Tian's local ties.
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In January, Palauan authorities busted what was said was a
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Chinese language online gambling in scam operation in a hotel
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owned by the family of Vance Polycarp, the local agent
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for Tian's hotel project. A dozen people, including eight of
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Polycarp's employees, were detained, according to court records. Polycarp, who
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was charged with four misdemeanor labor violations, told the Post
24:37
that he'd done nothing wrong and that the government was overreaching.
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In October six, USC seventeen, transport pains swept down on
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Palao's Roman to Minichula International Airport, part of an exercise
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simulating scenarios the US could face in Palau a conflict
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with China. Hundreds of army rangers rapidly securing the airfield
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before an artillery brigade launched six missiles from high Mobility
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Artillery rocket Systems or he mars all while an electromagnetic
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warfare squadron provided secure communications. A mile from the western
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end of the runway, a sign in Chinese and warns
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English warns the public to stay out. Atop of hill,
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workers were finishing the foundations of a fifty room hotel
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called the Ritzi. According to an analysis by Pacific Economics,
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a Hawaii based consultancy, the company building the Ritzy Horizon
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Holdings Group has ties to the Chinese Cambodian conglomerate Prints
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Holding Group, the Chinese officials have linked to transnational crime.
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In a risk assessment prepared for billowing authorities, Pacific Economies
25:54
analyzed records from two commercial databases and found ties including
25:59
shared direct actors across two subsidiaries, suggesting that the two
26:04
companies are associated. Lee Han Kun Horizons Holdings chairman told
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the Post that the links stem from the partner selling
26:13
a company to the Prince Group in twenty seventeen. However,
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commercial data reviewed by the Post shows that Lee's partner,
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Jo Bo continued to serve as a director for the
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company for at least two years after the sale, alongside
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Prince Group chairman Chen Ze. Zoe also served alongside Chen
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for several years as a director of the Prince Bank Plc,
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a Prince Group subsidiary. Chinese prosecutors have accused Prince Group
26:43
subsidiaries of alluring people to Cambodia to work in online casinos.
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According to public court records, the CCP's central political and
26:52
Legal Affairs Commission has called the phenom Pen based conglomerate
26:56
a massive cross border online gambling corporation with official estimated
27:02
illicit revenue of seven hundred million dollars between twenty sixteen
27:07
and twenty twenty four. In response to the Post's questions,
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Prince Group spokes from Gabriel Tan acknowledged the past links
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between Ju and Chin, but said Ju's involved with the
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Prince Group ended in twenty nineteen. Record show that is
27:24
when Horizon Holdings was incorporated also in Cambodia. Ton said
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the Prince Group has no ties to the Ritzy or
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Horizon Holdings and no operations, investments, development activities, subsidiaries or
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partnerships in Palau. He said that any court cases mentioning
27:43
the company were cases of impersonation, and that no executive
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or employee has been prosecuted, convicted, or formally investigated in
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China or any other jurisdiction. The conglomerate has maintained its
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businesses in China, including several real estate officers that work
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with Chinese state owned companies, and is involved in projects
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in the Belt and Road Initiative, China's global infrastructure investment program.
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According to local government press releases citing Pacific economies. Pllow's
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National Security Coordination Office warned in a report that Ritzy's
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alleged ties to the Prince Group threatened to introduce illegal
28:24
gambling and other illicit activities. Whipp's government put three people
28:29
associated with the Ritzy on the Undesirable Alien list in April.
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The only employee still in Palau, a Chinese project manager
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named Mu Hong Yu, insisted the project wasn't linked to
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the Prince Group and didn't pose any threat. It's ridiculous,
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he said in late April, as he gave Post reporters
28:47
a tour of the construction site, including what would eventually
28:50
be a bad minton court. How can we use this
28:53
place to attack your aircraft? But Brian Clark, a former
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US Navy officer and expert an electronic warfare at the
29:01
Hudson Institute of conservative Washington think tank, said a mile
29:05
would be close enough to launch an unjammable fiber optic
29:09
drone or intercept radio communications. You just need to find
29:13
one or two pilots or navigators who are on the
29:16
ball and forgot to do the right equipment set up,
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and boom, You've got an intelligence coup for your country.
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The Ritzi isn't the only Chinese development ledged links to
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the Prince Group. Project is set to begin in Pillows North,
29:31
near a US coastal surveillance system a radar of seventy
29:36
five mile radios. In late twenty nineteen, not long after
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he was in discussions with Wand over the land near
29:43
the Packmor site and not Guard Said was approached about
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an uninhabited islet he co owned Zook a group of
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Chinese businessmen led by a mister Chin, who insisted that
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he wasn't to be photographed. Seed said to bellas where
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the barbecued freshly speared fish for them. He eventually leased
30:05
them the island for up to ninety nine years for
30:08
seven million dollars. Record show. The Grand Legend International Asset
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Management Group is now poised to build a luxury resort
30:18
on the Gerblas for our corporate record show. Its largest
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joint shareholder is Chin Z, Chinese born naturalized Cambodian citizen,
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who leads the Prince Group. A document for the resort
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filed with the Palau And Government obtained by the Post
30:38
says that Grand Legend is a subsidiary of Prince Real
30:41
Estate Group website for another Prince Group subsidiary featured map
30:47
now Move showing a project in gerbelas Hahn. The Prince
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Group spokesman confirmed Chen's involvement, but said that it was
30:58
only a personal capacity, that he had not been to
31:01
Palao and said the Grand Legend was not a subsidiary,
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that the resort was unrelated to the Prince Group, and
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that the Prince Group had never positioned developments near US
31:14
strategic sites. WOW the US and Palao in official sphere
31:20
could house electronic surveillance devices aimed at visiting US warships.
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Zong scoff with the idea. I am a simple businessman,
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a thirty five year old said in a phone interview.
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I have zero interest in politics, not in China, not
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in Palaa. Zang said he grew up in China's Fujan
31:43
Providence and went into construction after dropping out of school
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at age fourteen. He said he went to Palau on
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vacation in twenty nineteen liked so much that he decided
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to stay and invest. He bought the partially built Belmond
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for three minute during the COVID nineteen pandemic, using the
32:03
proceeds from his construction businesses, he said. According to the
32:08
Palau National Security Brief, however, Jiang has ties to Pujenies mafia,
32:14
known for its global reach, and his money comes from
32:18
running online scam operations in Southeast Asia. Jang denied any
32:24
involvement in the mafia or scam operations. In December, however,
32:29
police rated a suspected illegal online gambling and scamming operation
32:35
one of his four Palau properties. The arrested one person,
32:40
several others fled. Zang said he was merely the landlord.
32:46
Zang shied he learned of the Belmont from Sigdri Nakamura,
32:51
local lawyer whose family own the hotel. Nakamura was elected
32:56
to allows Senate in November. Kimura as one of at
33:00
least three Palawan politicians who allegedly received illegal campaign donations
33:05
from Xang. According to the US Intelligence Success, foreigners are
33:11
not allowed to make campaign con donations to Palao. Zang
33:16
said he gave Nakimura ten thousand dollars in cash, that
33:20
it was for legal services. Nakamura also denied the accusations,
33:25
which he called unfounded, defamatory, and false. It's unclear whether
33:30
authorities investigated either. Nakamura nor Jiang was charged. Zang's alleged
33:36
to legal activity, plus the hotel's proximity report gives US
33:41
Plowen and Taiwanese officials cause for concern. Analysts say the
33:47
biggest risk is electronic surveillance that could be monitoring US
33:52
communications or taking acoustic signatures from US ships that can
33:58
be used for torpedoes, he said Clark of the Hudson Institute.
34:03
If satellites were to save something, many military analysts they
34:08
would be likely of a conflict between the US and China.
34:12
The hotel could be used to target report. What China
34:16
does is what we do, said Clark, and just try
34:19
to create a bunch of options for later. Plao was
34:23
trying to chip away at China's options. April, Jiang Flu
34:28
from Hong Kong to Korole was sent back after finding
34:32
out he'd been added to pllow's rapidly growing list of
34:35
undesirable aliens. Jog, speaking he said from Thailand, insisted he
34:42
had zero ties to Beijing, and she said wouldn't need
34:46
him anywhere in a small country like Palao. If China
34:51
wants to do surveillance, they can do it from anywhere easily,
34:57
he said. They don't need a hotel, was a good
35:00
location and now in the next story, in the trade
35:04
talks to avoid worst of Trump tariffs, EU accepted a
35:10
lopsided deal. The tariff in Spending accord ann out Sunday
35:15
by the United States and the European Union stands to
35:19
avert a damaging trade war between the two of the
35:22
world's largest economies, but it is lopsided favor of President
35:28
Trump's protections policies. Brussels swallowing bitter concessions in hopes of
35:35
stabilizing a relationship. It's vitle, not just economically, but also
35:41
for security interests. The rough agreement, which allows Washington to
35:46
raise tariffs on EU goods while the Europeans promised to
35:50
buy more US products, quickly came under sharp criticism in Europe.
35:56
Despite feisty rhetoric avows to stand up Trump, EU leaders
36:02
largely largely acquiesced to the US leaders ever changing demands.
36:07
EU negotiators insisted the deal was the best way to
36:11
avoid a highly damaging tat trade war that would benefit
36:15
rivals such as China and Russia, but European officials and
36:20
annas said the tentative agreement was not in the uncertainty
36:25
because so many details must still be worked out. To
36:29
the harshest critics, including some in France, who spoke of
36:33
capitulation humiliation, the agreement is proof of a deeply unbalanced alliance,
36:41
the latest example of European appeasment Trump. NATO allies similarly
36:48
strained to pledge the huge increases in military spending demanded
36:52
by Trump. European Commissioned President Ursula vonder Land announced the
36:58
deal with Trump while sitting next to him at one
37:00
of his golf resorts in Scottland on Sunday Saturday. Huge deal,
37:05
clearly playing Trump's love of largeness, But at her news
37:10
conference soon after, Wonderland appeared far more so, clearing the
37:15
fifteen percent tariffs she had accepted on European automobiles to
37:19
be the best we could get. The EU and in
37:22
particular Germany, it's automaking power house, had hoped to eliminate
37:27
the twenty five percent US car tariffs entirely. We should
37:32
not forget where we came from, wonder Lakes. Fifteen percent
37:37
is certainly a challenge for some. We should not forget.
37:40
It keeps US in access to the American markets. Trump
37:45
indeed had threatened far worse, so we got thirty percent
37:49
across the board, triff that up ended months painstaking negotiations.
37:55
Under the new deal, the United States, whill imposed a
37:58
fifteen percent duty on most imports from the EU. The
38:02
blanket rate foistered on the EU mirrors a US deal
38:07
announced this month for Japan, another group of seven allies,
38:11
but it is higher than the ten percent that Britain
38:14
secured earlier this year that EU officials had grudgingly accepted
38:19
injuries costs. Since World War II, trade agreements have largely
38:26
sought to reduce the cost of buying and selling goods
38:28
across borders. Twenty seventeen deal the EU struck Canada eliminated
38:35
tariffs on most goods traded between them. Agreement signed with
38:39
Vietnam in twenty nineteen aims to phase out nearly all
38:44
customs duties. Trump's accord with the EU goes in the
38:49
opposite direction by raising tariffs with some exceptions. Economists say
38:55
the tariffs will increase costs for imports must pay the
38:59
duties and put upward pressure on inflation. Consumers and businesses
39:05
will probably bear some of the extra costs, say in France,
39:11
where President Emanuel mccrawl had urged the EU to take
39:15
a harder line. The deal drew sharp backline while mccrawl
39:21
was quiet. Monday, Prime Minister of Francoise Barrul said it
39:25
was a dark day when an alliance of three people
39:29
brought together to assert their values and defend their interests
39:33
resigns itself to submission. Wonderland's European Commission, they use executive
39:40
body that negotiates trade policy for its twenty seven member nations,
39:45
had faced calls from Germany and Italy, through countries that
39:49
do outsize business with the United States, for an account
39:54
that would limit damage to their export dependent companies. But
39:58
even capitals that had urged the conciliatory approach were not
40:02
exactly celebrating on Monday, the trade agreement successfully averted a
40:07
trade conflict it would have hit the export oriented German economy.
40:12
Hard German Chancellor of Friedrich Beers said. Still, members of
40:17
the European Parliament from Germany blasted the deal, even as
40:22
it reduced Trump's tariffs on cars or Germany's central demands.
40:28
My first assessment not satisfactory. This is a lopsided deal,
40:34
said Bernd Lng, who chairs the European Parliament's Committee on
40:38
International Trade in the postal x concessions have clearly been
40:44
made that are difficult to accept deal with significant imbattants. Furthermore,
40:49
a lot of questions still open. Dutch Prime Minister Dick
40:54
Schuff acknowledged that no tariffs would have been better, called
40:59
the deal vital for an open economy like ours. Belgian
41:03
Prime Minister Bart de Vere said, one thing is clear.
41:08
This is a moment of relief, not a celebration. The
41:13
talks laid bearer that you used Queasians in using its
41:16
economic muscle with its few areas of leverage against Washington,
41:21
the time when allies have to calibrate repeatedly keep Trump
41:26
on board as Russia wages war in Ukraine. Ultimately, after
41:30
months of mixed signals and threats from Trump, EU leaders
41:34
said they accepted a deal to give their industries a
41:37
reprieve from the uncertainty that threatened to cripple businesses. Officials
41:43
suggested they had relented out of concern the Trump was
41:47
prepared to raise terror to a level that would effectively
41:50
halt trade between Europe and the United States. Let's pause
41:55
for a moment and consider the alternative. A trade war
42:00
may seem appealing to some, it comes with serious consequences,
42:06
said the EU Trade Commissioner Marcos Sivulkic. Shruggled between Washington
42:11
in recent months for difficult talks with Fishers. Our businesses
42:17
send us a unanimous message avoid escalation and work for
42:22
a solution that brings immediate terror relief, said Covid told
42:27
reporters Money. He said that he and his team had
42:30
traveled to Washington ten times for THEO and that the
42:34
EU's calculations reached beyond trade. It's about security, it's about Ukraine,
42:42
It's about current geo political volatility, s if Covid said.
42:47
He said he couldn't go into detail on what was
42:49
discussed in the room from Sunday, but I can assure
42:53
it was not just about trade. Now nearly seventy percent
42:58
of European goods will face the blanket tariff, big increase
43:03
in charges, According to a senior U EU official who
43:07
spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly about
43:10
details of the deal, which is still under negotiation. The
43:15
EU had sought carve outs from the US terraff regime
43:19
for two sectors, including wine and spirits and aircraft parts.
43:24
The announced agreement eliminates tariffs on airplane parts, but the
43:28
decision on wine and spirits was postponed. EU officials said
43:33
talks will continue in the coming weeks. Two sides appeared
43:38
to diverge on other details. The White House indicated that
43:42
a fifty percent there upon steel would remain in place,
43:47
while EU officials said there would be further negotiations on
43:50
lowerings to tariffs. Many officials and experts said it was
43:56
crucial to sort out the details. We need to understand
44:01
what is included, said Brondo Benifi, an Italian member of
44:05
the European Parliament and head of its delegation for Relations
44:09
with States. Some questioned if ongoing US trade in is
44:14
by the Trump administration might still result in extra terriffs,
44:19
such as on European made proceuticles, though the EU said
44:23
those should remain cape fifty percent of the agreement. First
44:28
glance that if he said the deal seems very nice,
44:32
symmetry the result is due, in my view, we push
44:36
by some governments to have a deal at any cause,
44:40
which as weakened our stands said, because the US knew
44:44
some governments wanted to deal, whatever the cause, Others noted
44:48
that Trump's threats managed to shift to the view on
44:52
what constituted relief. Just a few weeks of the EU
44:57
and US negotiators appeared an agreement that involved a blanket
45:01
tariff of ten percent, before a truth social post by
45:05
Trump derailed on Monday. Some investors saw benefits for Europe's
45:12
key auto industry, for instance, which would see US car
45:16
tariffs produced to fifteen percent from twenty fives. The tariffs, however,
45:22
were at two and a half percent before Trump's global
45:25
trade winds. Some industry groups noted their dismay. The US
45:31
teriff rate of fifteen percent, which also applies to automotive products,
45:36
will cost German automotive companies business annually and burdens them,
45:42
said Hildegarde Mule, president of Germany's main auto industry group
45:47
of d d A. Some issues the Europeans stood their
45:52
ground on. Trump officials had present the EU for concessions
45:57
on tech industry regulations and on food standards, which the
46:01
block insisted were non negotiable. As part of the deal,
46:07
Trump said Europe had committed to buy more US energy
46:10
and weapons and boosting investment in the United States, but
46:14
those provisions are mostly aspiration prompts without guarantees. European nations
46:21
were already poised to buy more US weapons under an
46:24
arrangement with Trump to continue arming Ukraine, and the Block
46:29
was already seeking alternative energy sources, including liquefied natural gas,
46:33
from the United States as part of its push to
46:37
face out Russian energy imports. More energy purchases European investments
46:43
would come from member states and companies that Brussels does
46:47
not control. Italian Prime Minister GRG Malone, seen as a
46:53
close Trump ally on the EU, heralded the deal, saying
46:58
details still need to be worked out. I obviously welcome
47:02
in the fact that an agreement has been reached two reporters. Still,
47:08
she added, we needed to verify the possible exemptions, particularly
47:14
for certain agricultural products. So there are a number of
47:18
elements that are missing and the next door whistle blower
47:24
evidence suggests Trump judicial nominee Emal bow This led the Senate.
47:32
A new whistleblower has come forward to challenge the federal
47:36
judicial nomination of Emil Bob, sharing evidence with lawmakers suggesting
47:43
the controversial former attorney for Donald Trump and current top
47:47
Justice Department official misled lawmakers during his confirmation hearing last month.
47:53
The whistleblower, whose existence was not previously reported, wasn't a
47:59
documentation that contradicts claims Bode made before the Senate Judiciary
48:03
Committee about a Justice Department prosecution. The Washington Post reviewed
48:09
the evidence and agreed to withhold detail to protect the
48:12
identity of the whistle blower, whose lawyers spoke on the
48:16
condition of anonymity because of the whistleblower's fear of retribution.
48:21
Trump formally nominated Vogue for a seat on the US
48:25
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in June. The
48:29
full Senate mode is expected this week, faster timeline than
48:33
most other judicial nominations. The information followed the revelations from
48:38
two other Justice Department whistleblowers, who who have said that
48:43
Boge told subordinates in a meeting in March that they
48:47
may need to ignore court orders for the camphor Trump's
48:50
campaign to the court millions of undocumented immigrants. The whistleblowers
48:56
ousted Justice Department attorney Erez for Avini since gone public
49:01
with his account. Who whistleblower has offered information about Bo's
49:07
behavior regarding a different Justice Department matter, Emil Bobe is
49:12
a highly qualified judicial m he who has done incredible
49:16
work with the Department of Justice to help the texts
49:19
of the rights this mathill foreign terrorist organizations and make
49:24
America safe again, said Justice Department spokesman Gate Spaghetti state
49:31
he will make an excellent judge. Apartment's loss will be
49:34
the Third Circuits game. Trump has nominated Vogue, President's former defensivetorney,
49:41
who represented him in three over the four criminal cases
49:44
against it, for a lifetime appointment to the Third Circuit,
49:49
which takes cases from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the
49:54
Virgin Islands. Bobe serves as a senior official at the
49:58
Department of Justice, where he has been at the center
50:01
of efforts to fire career prosecutors, craft legal strategy on immigration,
50:06
and dropped federal corruption charges against New York The Adams.
50:13
Senate Democrats have spent weeks trying to persuade Republicans the
50:17
Saint Bowe's nomination, arguing that he would prioritize the president's
50:23
agenda over properly enforcing the law. They also have complained
50:28
that Republicans have rushed his nomination. So far, Republicans have
50:33
largely dismissed allegations against Bogue, including the claims by Ruveni,
50:38
was fired at people after he admitted at a court
50:41
hearing that the administration mistakenly deported Kilmarbrego Garcia, undocumented man
50:49
living in Maryland. Gbrego was phone to a prison in
50:52
Al Salvador despite a court or uponding the move. Officials
50:57
charged him with two crimes related to human smuggling. He
51:02
is in federal custody in the United States. In his
51:06
whistleblower company, Ravigni said Vogue stressed to all in attendance
51:12
at the March meeting that the planes needed to take
51:15
off no matter what, and that the Justice Department attorneys
51:19
may have to tell the judges f you and ignore
51:23
court orders to achieve Trump's immigration goals. The Justice Department
51:28
in Vogue have denied that account. The White House has
51:32
remained steadfast behind his nomination. Democrats argue that an attorney
51:38
who advocates to buying court orders is unfit to serve
51:41
on the the bench. What Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck
51:46
Grassley with the Republic of Iowa has said that even
51:50
if Ruveni's account is mostly true, it does not disqualify Vogue.
51:56
According to Senator Cory Booker's office, the latest wistle blowers
52:00
shared evidence first with Booker, Judiciary Committee member who represents
52:05
New Jersey, Booker and other Democrats, and reviewed the evidence,
52:10
multiple Senate staffers told the Post, which Booker has publicly
52:15
described as significant. We have substantial information or element to
52:21
the truthfulents of the nominee. Booker said in a speech
52:25
on the Senate floor ahead of a preliminary vote on
52:29
both nations. At the time, he invited his Republican your
52:33
colleagues to review the planes. None immediately took him up
52:37
on his offer, since the said Grassley staff met money
52:42
with the whistle blowers lawyers after days of back and
52:46
forth and reviewed the summary of the whistle blowers allegation,
52:50
according to Gresley's office, but Grassley staff was not allowed
52:54
to review the underlying evidence, said Grassley spokesman in care Slatter.
53:00
Booker also never approached Grassly directly about the whistleblower's evidence.
53:05
Slattery sick. The whistleblower's attorneys said they had offered to
53:09
allow Grassly to review the full evidence, though not his
53:13
staffers alone. These eleventh our allegations, which were shared in
53:19
advance with Democrats as the media, but not with the
53:22
chairman or his staff. Greek of the bad faith attempt
53:27
to seek nominee who's already received committee approval, Slatterly said
53:31
in a statement. Booker and whistleblower advents said the government
53:36
whistleblowers have been hesitant to come forward with allegations of wrongdoing,
53:41
fearful that they could lose their jobs. We see threats
53:45
and that the complaints may not be taken seriously. Aw
53:49
the whistleblower has come forward with evidence that raise the
53:52
serious concerns with email Bow's misconduct. This is another damning
53:57
indict a man who never should be a federal judge.
54:01
Senate Republicans will bear full right responsibility for the consequences
54:06
a rubber stamp mister Boge's nomination, said Josh Shorby, spokesman
54:11
for Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, the top Democrat
54:16
on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Last week, two Republicans, Senator
54:21
is Lisa Murkowski of Alaska sus In Collins of Maine,
54:26
voted against taking up Bogue's nomination and have indicated that
54:30
they will oppose his confirmation. But Democrats need two more
54:35
additional Republicans to block vote. All Senators are voting Republicans
54:40
hold of fifty three to forty seven Senate majority. Tim
54:44
mccrats had hope to sway Senator Tom Phillis, the Republican
54:49
of North Carolina who is not running for re election.
54:53
Phillis opposed Trump's nomination the Martin to be the DCUs
54:58
attorney because of Martin support from pro Trump rioters who
55:02
attacked the US Capitol on January sixth, between twenty one
55:06
for some of the White House to pull his nomination.
55:11
But Tilis told reporters this month he does not have
55:15
the same problem with Vogue, saying he didn't trip the
55:19
switch on January sixth. So far, this has not responded
55:25
to requests to review the evidence from the third whistle blower.
55:29
Whistleblower's attorney said spokesperson for Tillis did not respond to
55:35
a request for a commons And finally, an American mega
55:40
influencer flew to Lithuania, and then the chaos began when
55:47
the YouTube mega streamer I show speed walked shirts recently
55:51
off of private jit to be with the Indian capital Vilnius.
55:56
Nation's economy minister was waiting for him on the tarmac
55:59
was shot sub Varachi the cold pink beat root soup.
56:05
A mob of Channing fans was waiting too, so the streamer,
56:08
the twenty year old from Cincinnati named Daron Watkins Junior,
56:13
who has one hundred and twenty million followers across TikTok,
56:16
Instagram and YouTube, piled with his security detail into a
56:20
mini bus to drive to the city's historic palace of
56:24
the Grand Dukes, where the pre served him cheese and honey,
56:28
and a troop of young Lithuanian women brought him a
56:31
traditional folk dance. These lyrics are about stabbing someone in
56:36
my heart, he said, with speed, as his fans called him.
56:41
Became famous from the Pandemic for his hyperactive hours of
56:45
the broadcast read rage about video games, leap over Lamborghinis
56:50
to form uncomforted back flips. Lately, real star power has
56:56
come from his international tours, during which he blew glitz
57:00
is into foreign countries to see the sites while surrounded
57:03
by screaming teenagers, all of it live stream. Beyond branding,
57:09
some of the Baltics argued that the money was an
57:11
investment in national security, given their borders with Russia. Belarus,
57:16
diet aminished Racultist, co founder of the consulting firm, and Billius,
57:20
total Lithuian public broadcaster and Marti that raising national awareness
57:26
was critically giving the country's image as a frontline state
57:29
to the war in the Ukraine. I show speed was minor,
57:33
chaos and Vilnius the Post said ten ten worth it.
57:38
And this concludes the reading of the Washington Post for today, Tuesday,
57:43
July twenty nine. Your reader for today has been Rod Brotherton.
57:47
If you have any questions or comments, leave contacts and
57:51
thank you for listening. How place to stay tuned for
57:54
continued programming right here on Radio Law