Lai Ching-te, the ruling DPP candidate of the Taiwan authority, has won the “presidential election” by about seven percentage points over KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih. US and western mainstream media is celebrating this as a victory against China 🇨🇳.

US president Joe Biden had already announced plans to send a bipartisan delegation to the island following the election in the day leading up to votes being cast. This was a stark message that the US already knew that a DPP victory was likely. This is likely to inflame tensions with Beijing.

China won’t take the bait, but another term of separatist rule in Taiwan does open doors for the US to escalate with China political and militarily. The U.S. is a major backer of the DPP, infusing it billions in arms sales. This is a reminder that China remains a top priority of the U.S. war machine, even as it is bogged down elsewhere.

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❗️🇪🇨 Emergency in Ecuador
What is known as of 16:00, January 13.

Over the past 24 hours, local media have repeatedly published information about the discovery of explosives, as well as threatening calls for terrorist attacks, especially in the capital region. However, these attacks were prevented.

▪️ Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, in a surprising move, submitted a bill urgently to the Ecuadorian parliament to increase the value added tax from 12% to 15%. If adopted, these changes will affect all individuals and legal entities engaged in economic activities in Ecuador.

▪️ According to the president, this measure is urgently needed due to the socio-economic crisis caused by the war against terrorists. The security apparatus urgently needs funding in order to ensure the safety of the local population. Of course, it is impossible to delay and subject the project to lengthy checks and endless discussions.

▪️ The discussion of raising taxes immediately caused indignation among Noboa’s political opponents. It would not be surprising if, in the near future, as soon as it is possible to talk about a temporary victory over the gangs, the president will face claims of human rights violations, both from the population and from those who are now declared terrorists. Considering that Noboa’s team is also purging officials, they may well use this as a kind of “self-defense.”

▪️ Additionally, it has been revealed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will allocate additional funds to the Ecuadorian authorities to ensure security. Whether these funds will be provided as cash tranches or specific logistical supplies for the needs of the army or police is not yet clear.

▪️ The military leadership of Colombia has stated that they have received a message that the leader of Los Choneros, Alfredo Macias - known as Fito, who escaped from the Litoral prison, may have fled to Colombian territory. Since it turns out that this individual has connections with some FARC groups, the Colombians have sent reinforcements (about two hundred people) to the border with Ecuador and are also patrolling certain border trails that are actively used by smugglers in normal times. It is known that the Peruvian military is currently operating in a similar manner.

❗️ It would not be surprising if the situation with the mass escape of gangs is now being exploited by the security forces of both Ecuador and neighboring countries in order to take control of certain drug trails that are currently unclaimed. Additionally, such events indicate that the “duties” for transporting contraband in these sections of the border will clearly increase significantly, both due to the difficulties of delivery in these conditions and the opportunity to earn money, which no one will refuse.

High resolution map
English version

#digest #map #Ecuador #SouthAmerica
@rybar together with @sex_drugs_kahlo

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🇷🇺🇺🇦 In our reports from the Kherson direction, we often mentioned the AFU's bridgehead in the village of Krynki. This bridgehead has now become a "corral" for Ukrainian formations and is being heavily targeted by artillery fire and air strikes.

But, as the saying goes, seeing is believing. A video from the enemy's side clearly shows the devastated landscape in this long-suffering populated area. The trees have been completely destroyed, only fragments of walls remain from the houses, and the ground is filled with craters from aerial bombs and shells.

By the way, the recent weather has added to the problems faced by the AFU. The channels on the approaches to Krynki have partially frozen. This has made it impossible for boats to pass, and even on foot, it is difficult to navigate the area. The ice is not strong enough everywhere to support a fighter with their equipment and ammunition.

All of these factors will undoubtedly have an impact on the enemy's losses and supplies in this small area on the left bank of the Dnieper.
#Russia #Ukraine #Kherson
@rybar

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