The United States and Venezuela signed a major deal regarding oil and Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez is thankful to President Donald J. Trump and State Secretary Marco Rubio for it, according to a news report by Newsmax.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of Newsmax’s report. Some parts in boldface…
Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez thanked President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the oil agreement between the two countries.
The deal drew rave reviews from conservatives and criticism from Democrats.
“That is why we chose the path of diplomacy with the United States of America, to transform our differences into cooperation. And that cooperation into investment, production, well-being, and concrete results for Venezuelans,” Rodriguez said in a televised address Saturday.
“I thank President Donald Trump, Secretary Rubio, and his government for the efforts made by both their administration and ours, as well as the entire Venezuelan team that dedicated their time to reaching this agreement,” she said.
Rodriguez said the pact would run 25 years and target production of more than 1.5 million barrels a day.
She said Venezuela would receive about $19 a barrel, which could generate more than $209 billion for the state.
“It’s no use having our oil reserves underground just so they appear in a statistic or an accounting record and we can say we’re the country with the world’s largest reserves when we can’t convert them into development for Venezuela,” she said.
“Our reserves must be transformed into well-being, prosperity, and happiness for this country and enable us to restore our productive capacity so that we can establish ourselves as an energy and manufacturing powerhouse.“
Rodriguez added that the change would strengthen energy security in the Western Hemisphere and promote greater stability and balance in global energy markets.
Trump announced the agreement Friday, calling it “THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!”
It covers 65 billion barrels of proven reserves across 17 fields, with the U.S. receiving 55% of output, including an ownership stake.
The White House has described 100-year development rights, a term Rodriguez did not repeat.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the US-Venezuela oil deal will be beneficial for both nations? Do you think the deal will help America economically in the long run? What is your view of Venezuela since the dictator Nicolas Maduro was removed by America?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
Looking back at the X-Men 2099 series of the 1990s, so much has developed during the first eleven issues released from 1993 to 1994. When I first read issue #1 in 1993, I found the futuristic X-Men really intriguing to follow and there was the expectation that the team led by Xi’an would somehow grow and make breakthroughs happen in 2099’s America. Surprisingly, members of the team got separated from each other – such as losing Metalhead to the Freakshow – and Xi’an himself changed for the worse and eventually left the team. Tim Fitzgerald/Skullfire (the weak and unsure newcomer who joined the futuristic X-Men) himself changed radically becoming unhinged and he has gotten really close with Luna (the one who messed with his mind and triggered his emotions).
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #12, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in the black market mall with Luna struggling to separate Skullfire and Junkpile from each other. Skullfire hates Junkpile whom he holds responsible for killing his friend Serpentina (the one X-Men member who welcomed him at their sanctuary). Junkpile blames Skullfire and his teammates for causing him some serious grief in Las Vegas. Luna tells them both to shut up or she would do something on both of them.
Moments later, the three of them are accused by the mall security for violating the market regulations. An armed mall security officer points his weapon at them accusing them of willful destruction of market property. The looks of Junkpile, Luna and Skullfire, however, scared him and convinced him to move away. Luna then reveals to Skullfire that she encountered Junkpile outside of Las Vegas shortly after the violent encounter with the X-Men. The three of them proceeded to a café to have a civil talk. Skullfire asks Luna about the Theater of Pain…
Quality
Former X-Men member Metalhead with the group of degenerates called the Freakshow. One of their members clearly rejects him given his status as a mutant.
Wow! The Moore-Lim team loaded this comic book with immense details that established the true force of opposition that awaits the X-Men. The story reveals to readers the Theater of Pain, its demonic leader Brimstone Love and what the theater’s purpose truly is. Brimstone Love and the theater were first revealed at the very end of issue #3 and this comic book offers readers a close look at them complete with very intriguing details that turned out to be worth discovering. That said, it was clear that John Francis Moore designed the Theater of Pain to be not just a planned force of evil the X-Men must face but also an actual threat to many living in 2099’s America. The Theater of Pain has a very sinister agenda and its operations involves the accumulating human misery which is a frightening concept on its own.
While Luna’s history and connection with the Theater of Pain is emphasized, Xi’an’s search for the Driver makes a lot more sense here as the former X-Men leader (now sinister and spiritually lost) communicates again with someone from his past. That said, the plot really thickened a lot in this comic book and that alone makes it engaging to follow.
As this issue follows Skullfire, Luna, Junkpile and Xi’an – plus a quick look at former X-Men member Metalhead now spending time with the Freakshow – the tone of the tale turned dark and gritty which I think was intentionally done by the creators as the Theater of Pain was strongly emphasized. That said, this is indeed inspired work.
Conclusion
Skullfire, Junkpile and Luna look so intimidating and creepy, the mall security guy got scared and abandoned his duty.
With a dark tale and an established force of evil rising in the horizon, X-Men 2099 #12 (1994) can be described as an inspired turn of events for the monthly series as a whole. At this stage, the direction of the series really started to take shape. It is also a lively reminder that the mutants struggling in 2099 have the wilderness and its violent elements as the least of their worries. The Theater of Pain itself is a reminder about sinister yet unseen forces that are operating while lots of people remain unaware of them (note: think about the World Economic Forum and what its core organization really do behind closed doors as time passes). Lastly, the twisted developments of Skullfire and Xi’an’s respective personalities will keep you in suspense as to how the futuristic X-Men can survive without them.
The United States officially revoked the US visa of Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi, the Iraqi national who was awarded by the failed Biden Administration in 2022, according to US State Department citing her placement on the Terror Watchlist of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In a New York Post report, Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi’s alleged links to the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran and Iran-backed militias in Iraq drew headlines. She was also the target of two Republicans in the US House of Representatives accused of being the “key enabler of terrorist funding in Iraq.”
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire statement of the US State Department. Some parts in boldface…
The U.S. Department of State has revoked the visa of an Iraqi national who was presented an award by the Biden Administration for her purported role in fighting corruption and her advocacy for “gender equity.”
Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi was given the International Woman of Courage Award in 2022by former Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) and former First Lady Jill Biden.
The award recognized “women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equity and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, in all their diversity.”
This Iraqi national’s visa has now been revoked by the State Department following her placement on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Terror Watchlist. She is no longer present in the United States.
Under President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suspected terrorists will never be allowed to remain in the United States.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you aware that Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi was Iraq’s Finance Minister from 2022 to 2026? Do you suspect Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi may have been involved in financing connected with Islamic terrorists? Should all her communications and interactions with the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran be investigated?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
After the first seven issues of the series, it is clear that the futuristic mutants under Xi’an have tough challenges to not only survive in the dangerous and unpredictable wasteland of 2099’s America but also help their leader fulfill the ultimate goal of protecting mutants from the evil corporations in accordance to the dream of Professor X (Charles Xavier). Unlike the X-Men of the 20th century, the team of 2099 does not have vast resources nor do they have a permanent place for living and development. Xi’an himself is still struggling with the elements from his past as a violent criminal.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #8, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Krystalin examining Archangel with amazement. Moments later, she sees Cyclops, Iceman, Beast and Jean Grey (in her Phoenix form). She wondered how many times did each of Professor X’s first students appear to die only to return again and again. She recalls that the records of their deaths may have been in error or even falsified. She also remembers the succeeding X-Men teams of Del Ruiz and Zhao.
It turns out the original X-Men members she saw were holograms as Victor Ten Eagles (who was a fellow outlaw with Xi’an in the old days) reveals that he opened his studio to few people and never to strangers. He allowed Krystalin in because he owes Xi’an a blood debt from their time together with the Lawless. As they talk, he explains to her his personal interest in the X-Men and the legacy.
Over at Iron Horse in Arizona, Hurricane talks with two trackers who were tied up. Meanstreak uses his super speed to dismantle the trackers’ suits of armor and examine the technologies within. He finds one Tetsuo Mark 6 signal beacon that was used to monitor armor in the field. He tells Hurricane she can use it as an advance warning the next time trackers are sent after her.
Hurricane tells the X-Men that she and the Freakshow never stay too long in one place. Moments later, the infected Metalhead tells Skullfire that he is trapped in his current metal form and could not change back…
Quality
As the Freakshow is about to leave, Metalhead surprises his fellow X-Men.
To make things clear, this X-Men 2099 comic book is very engaging to read as it is filled with a lot of details that further expanded the lore of the 2099 universe concerning mutants and legacy of the X-Men in the 21st century. As such, I really enjoyed learning about the “future history” of the X-Men, how mutants struggled to survive in a corporation-controlled America, and why the wasteland became the 21st century’s very own Old West where danger and uncertainty are constant.
If have an obsession about the 2099 universe, there is a lot to discover and enjoy here. Xi’an’s pursuit for knowledge about the mutant underground and Hurricane’s involvement is compelling to read and what was revealed is worth discovering. Meanwhile, Krystalin and Ten Eagles’ exploration of facilities as they search for answers reminds me a lot about a notable part of the story in Beneath the Planet of the Apes.
Conclusion
The closest thing to a crossover with the original X-Men.
X-Men 2099 #8 (1994) is a compelling read and it is one of the stronger references about the 2099 universe and the legacy of the X-Men from the time of Xavier to that of Zhao. The details revealed here are fine pay-offs to what was built up in the previous issues, and they connect well with the existence of Xi’an’s X-Men. This comic book will really help you understand the place of mutants in the 21st century and in my experience, the learning is enjoyable.
Overall, X-Men 2099 #8 (1994) is highly recommended.
Over a thousand rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) and their supporters were neutralized as of August 13, according to a news article of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) citing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Neutralized refers to the surrender, capture, or killing of enemy troops.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
The government’s campaign against communist insurgents is gaining momentum as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported neutralizing 1,045 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters during operations conducted from Jan. 1 to Aug. 13 this year.
Of the total, 935 surrendered, 38 were arrested, and 72 were killed in various military operations, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a media interview late Tuesday.
“A total of 661 firearms and 255 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered, and 38 encampments were seized (in the same period),” she said.
Neutralized is a military term that refers to the surrender, capture, or killing of enemy troops.
“The numbers give us an indication of the operational situation, but we should look beyond the numbers. The more significant story is that 935 CTG (communist terrorist group) members and supporters chose to surrender,” Padilla pointed out.
In 2025, the military said it neutralized around 2,018 NPA members and their supporters. The bulk of whom were surrenderers, at 1,798, while 93 were arrested and 127 were killed.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you thankful to the AFP for neutralizing over a thousand Communist rebels and supporters as of mid-August? Are you convinced that there are still many millions of young Filipinos who took sides with the Leftist rebels? Do you think Democrats and/or the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) from the United States are secretly supporting Communist rebels here in the Philippines?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
In late-1993, Marvel Comics published the Fall of the Hammer crossover storyline highlighting the major figures of Marvel 2099 and the X-Men members involved were only Skullfire, Krystalin, Bloodhawk and Meanstreak. As told in Ravage 2099 #15, the said X-Men members made it to Valhalla with Ravage. After the events of Fall of the Hammer, the four X-Men members survived and eventually started traveling all the way back West in America to rejoin the rest of the team.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #6, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in Arizona when two fully armed personnel wearing suits of armor search for a monster-like mutant who tries to hide. The mutant is named Dominic and he eventually got corned by the two armored figures. As he is about to get shot, one of the armored guys got pushed by force somehow. The next moment, a gang of mutants called the Freakshow appears.
In the southern part of Nevada, Skullfire, Bloodhawk, Krystalin and Meanstreak travel in an aircraft going back to Xi’an and the rest of their teammates. As Bloodhawk jumps of after saying goodbye, Skullfire jumps off as well in a suicidal manner. He eventually grabs Bloodhawk by the ankle. Back at the aircraft, Krystalin and Meanstreak shared their respective observations about Skullfire’s sudden change of personality since the psychic vampire Luna messed with him…
Quality
As the X-Men search for Hurricane, the Freakshow stands in their way.
The script of this comic book was finely crafted by John Francis Moore and it is amazing how efficient he got the X-Men team back (after Skullfire, Krystalin, Meanstreak returned) on track while ensuring a good amount of depth as reflected in the dynamics between the team members as the story went on. The storytelling felt natural and really believable.
Along the way, this comic book shed light on team leader Xi’an and the threads of the past that came back to haunt to him. This instantly added a new layer of development on Xi’an which established an element of uncertainty on the future of the X-Men under him (and his personal struggles). That said, Xi’an does not have the rock-solid stability of Professor X (Charles Xavier) which will remind readers how different the X-Men of 2099 are from the classic X-Men.
The X-Men are on the search for a mutant called Hurricane who has been active on resisting the corporations’ control on the nation and has long emphasized liberty and self-control on personal living. Historically, Hurricane led a part of the Underground Railroad which carried mutants to safe haven during a time of terror and fear. That said, X-Men’s search has a heavy purpose and the challenges they faced here is gripping and intriguing to follow. I should also state that Ron Lim’s delivery of dynamic action is really good to look at.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed the dynamics of the interactions between the members of the X-Men in this comic book. There is richness in John Francis Moore’s script here.
X-Men 2099 #6 (1994) is both a solid follow-up to the events of the Fall of the Hammer storyline and also a fine portrayal of how the team works under Xi’an’s leadership. More notably, it pushed the narrative of the series forward and gave us readers an in-depth exploration of the isolated places of America’s southwestern region in 2099 which is a sharp contrast to that era’s New York City dominated by Alchemax. More notably, this comic book implemented renewed focus on the state of mutants who have been living in fear, danger and uncertainty in America of 2099 which connects directly with the purpose of the X-Men as a team.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently announced that it will ensure the Philippines will benefit a lot from the ambitious Pax Silica project as they negotiate with the United States on the final framework, according to a GMA News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Wednesday said it will ensure that the Philippine side, negotiating with the US on the final framework agreement to hit the ground running for the Pax Silica project in New Clark City, Tarlac, will push for a deal that would be most beneficial for the country.
At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, BCDA President and CEO Joshua “Jake” Bingcang said that the government is eyeing to sign the comprehensive framework agreement for the Pax Silica initiative with the US by November.
However, Bingcang admitted that “negotiations can always take longer,” noting that the target signing “is not cast in stone as long as the two [parties] will come up with mutually agreed arrangement.”
Nevertheless, the BCDA chief said the Philippines is pushing for terms that would “most beneficial sa’tin (to us)” as negotiations for the framework deal are ongoing.
“It’s a business contract, normally it is favorable to the host country,” he said.
Bingcang said the government has also made clear that the project will operate under the BCDA’s governing legal framework and applicable investment laws.
“It would be covered by two Philippine laws —the BCDA law and CREATE MORE so the incentives provided will be covered by these two laws,” he said.
“Never in that initial arrangement that we are going to adopt anything other than the two laws,” he added.
Pax Silica is the US Department of State’s flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.
The Philippines in April officially joined the Pax Silica initiative, cementing its place among other 23 global signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
As part of the initiative, Manila and Washington are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub that is envisioned as a new model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The BCDA chief earlier clarified that the Pax Silica hub is not envisioned as a cluster of hyperscale data centers but as an industrial hub that would include the manufacturing of semiconductors and microchips used in computers, laptops, electric vehicles, and other technologies.
Bingcang said that through Pax Silica, the Philippines and its partners see an opportunity to process raw materials domestically instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BCDA will be able to secure an agreement with the Americans to ensure the Philippines will benefit from Pax Silica economically? Do you realize Pax Silica’s potential to boost manufacturing jobs and the processing of raw of materials in the Philippines?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
If there is anything notable about the futuristic X-Men, it is the separation of the team members that started really early in the monthly series. Meanstreak left the team to pursue something personal. A few members of the team – including Meanstreak – got involved in the Fall of the Hammer crossover storyline (click here, here and here), Metalhead got infected and decides to leave the team to stay with another group, and their leader Xi’an lost his way.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #11, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Tim Fitzgerald/Skullfire and Luna enjoying their time together outdoors. Tim, whose personality has changed into becoming radical and wild, tells her that he has not forgotten the anguish she put him in through the darkroom which made him relive the death of his beloved Reiko from some time ago.
As the tension between Tim and Luna intensifies, Xi’an tells him that they have to go to El Paso in Texas. It was Luna’s first time to meet Xi’an. The former leader of the X-Men states that they are closing in on the Driver…
Quality
Skullfire blasts Junkpile, the one responsible for the death of Sepertina (see X-Men 2099 #3).
Given the way the members of the X-Men got separated, the Moore-Lim duo succeeded in telling an intriguing story without even having a clear enemy for them to encounter. This is a tale about a drastically changed Xi’an (now arrogant and with an agenda of his own) develops into someone becoming more undesirable and dangerous with the passage of time. Similarly, Tim here is turning more unhinged and dangerous as he gradually turns into Skullfire (personally and visually) and Luna here is ironically the one keeping him stable.
On the other side, the remaining X-Men are still together but with a huge cloud of doubt over them. At this stage, Shakti/Cerebra – who was the faithful second-in-command when Xi’an still led the team – is taking more responsibilities as she gradually becomes the team leader. The writing done by John Francis Moore is rich when Shakti sticks strongly to principles during her interaction with Meanstreak who himself has turned uncertain about their status as a team. That said, there are certain traits of Xi’an visible in Shakti. Along the way, a few friends of the X-Men went away which added to the uncertainty that hounded them.
With regards to the reveal of the Driver on the cover of this comic book, the tale indeed reveals him and a new story thread about him was gradually built up. The Driver is Xi’an’s target and his act of helping one of the X-Men’s friends added to the suspense over what could happen next.
Conclusion
As the new leader of the X-Men, Shakti remains very principled. Her talk with Meanstreak in this scene is meaningful.
X-Men 2099 #11 (1994) is a very character-driven story from start to finish and the good news is that it is engaging and entertaining to read. The lack of a good-versus-evil conflict never hurt the story at all as Moore and Lim went deep to develop Tim, Xi’an and others while building up the pending encounter with the Driver. Not only that, having Tim and Xi’an more radicalized reflect the atmosphere of uncertainty and danger in the region (with lots of wilderness throughout and far away from the metropolis dominated by Alchemax) within America of 2099. It is a good read and I enjoyed the character development done by the creative duo.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire statement of the US State Department by Secretary Marco Rubio. Some parts in boldface…
The Trump Administration has been clear: the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate. We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty.
In furtherance of the diplomatic campaign we launched last month to address the ICC’s abuses of power, I am designating two ICC officials – President of the ICC, Tomoko Akane of Japan, and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal – pursuant to Executive Order 14203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court.” These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
The ICC has repeatedly attempted to assert authority over nationals of the United States and other countries that have not consented to its jurisdiction or ratified the Rome Statute. This sets a dangerous precedent for all nations.
Our whole of government campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to national sovereignty will be sweeping and we expect more countries to join our campaign by ending their funding and participation in this politicized and unaccountable court. The ICC’s ability to target American nationals and those of other non-States Parties must end. The Trump Administration stands ready to take additional measures, if necessary, to systematically dismantle the ICC until it is incapable of threatening American sovereignty.
Japan’s reaction – Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae described the sanctions against ICC president Akane as “very unfortunate.” She told reporters that her government will deal with the situation by “continuing communication with relevant nations including the United States.” Japan is known to have supported the ICC for many years already.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support the US sanctions against the two ICC officials? Do you think other nations that are in conflict with the ICC’s encroachment and abuse of power will support rally behind the United States and support sanctioning of officials? If you live in a nation which has a working justice system, are convinced that the ICC is unnecessary?
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.
Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb – When it comes to movies about the Cold War and the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb stood out with its very unique presentation backed with memorable performances by Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. The film was a satire about the Cold War tensions between America and Russia, and it gave moviegoers a unique look as to what could have happened behind the secured government offices and how each nation communicated with each other over the hotline. Kubrick’s film is so significant, it got featured in many movie reaction videos on YouTube and I had fun watching Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video. Go watch it now!
#2 Behind the Scenes Making of Resident Evil (1996) – It has been over thirty years since Resident Evil was first released and today it has grown into a multimedia entertainment franchise still driven by video game productions. Although many video game publications published a lot of articles about the original game from 1996, none of them captured the behind-the-scenes making at Capcom which the YouTube video below features. Even if you are not a Resident Evil fan, I still encourage you to watch it as you can learn a lot about the process, the hard work done by the Japanese and insight shared by Shinji Mikami.
#3 The Multi-million Dollar Theft With Fake Coupons – Over a decade ago, someone in the state of Arizona started an illegal operation using fake coupons which grew so dramatically, it became a shadow enterprise and two more people got involved. The operation of multiple fake shopping coupons robbed corporations several millions of Dollars and the one who started it got so rich she even bought herself many luxury vehicles. To find out the details about this true crime story, watch the video below and pay close attention.
#4 Austria Fought Back Against Islam – Massive immigration that includes Islamists who are obsessed with conquering new nations is very clearly dangerous and even toxic. With so many illegal aliens/immigrants and Muslims in Europe, it is clear that the future of the Europeans is looking more uncertain as time passes. Among them is Austria which boldly made changes to prioritize its own people and preserve its rich culture by pushing back hard against Islamists. Already there were Islamic scandals that were uncovered there in Austria. Watch and learn from the Fall of Nations video below.
#5 The Fall of BuzzFeed – Remember how popular BuzzFeed was? Even though a lot of people got lured by them, I never trusted BuzzFeed and I was never interested with their videos and other online gimmicks. BuzzFeed was also a very questionable participant in journalism no matter what they did to gain credibility. Fortunately for the world, BuzzFeed collapsed and deservedly so. To find out why, watch MAGAmark’s video below.
#6 Record-breaking Rainfall Hits Chiba Prefecture in Japan – Apart from being vulnerable to earthquakes which is connected with being located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan also has its share of struggles with immense rainfall and flooding. Recently, record-breaking rainfall hit Chiba Prefecture causing a lot of flood and hardship for the Japanese. If you were a constant visitor to Japan, was there ever a time when you got caught in heavy rain and flooding there? Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
#7 Role-playing Games About 1990s Anime – Believe it or not, there are indeed role-playing games (RPGs) based on anime properties that were popular in the 1990s. Of course, a lot of those anime-based RPGs were released only in Japan and some of them became playable with English translations through digital patches, emulation and fan-made translations. If you are into retro gaming, anime, RPGs and the 1990s, watch the Gaming Broductions video below.
#8 Assorted Pacific Rim Reaction Videos – When Pacific Rim was released in cinemas worldwide in 2013, I never bothered to watch it in the local cinema. Here in the Philippines, there was a lot of pre-release buzz that Manila would appear in the movie and so many local film buffs got excited. The movie eventually grossed over $400 million worldwide through theaters and a lot of people enjoyed its high-quality visuals, intense battles and the special attention to detail invested on the size and scale of the locations. The movie has been featured in several reaction videos and posted below are the entertaining ones to watch.
#9 Ranting for Vengeance Slams Video Essay Slop on YouTube – It is not a secret that YouTube is filled not only with artificial intelligence (AI) slop but also video essays made by individuals who arrogantly think of themselves as experts and wise creators. In his recent video, Ranting for Vengeance slammed the video essay slop on YouTube and explained in detail what kind of people created those videos, what their agenda and why people should not allow themselves to be influenced by them. I encourage you to watch the video below now.
#10 Shallow Focus is a Disease in Movies – There is a new trend that has influence the production of movies in Hollywood (AKA Commiewood) for many years now and it has literally become a disease which made the viewing of movies undesirable. The disease is shallow focus which occurs when the area of sharpness in front of a camera lens is very narrow which results in blurry backgrounds. Shallow focus is being abused in modern-day filmmaking and it is only getting worse. That said, I encourage you all to watch Rowan J Coleman’s video below and share it to as many film buffs as possible.
