Scenes from a world that is leaving post-America behind:
President Sheinbaum of Mexico and Prime Minister Takaichi of Japan strenghtened their countries' trade and investment ties when the two leaders met on April 20. One concrete step was Japan's agreement to import 1 billion barrels of Mexican oil, a resource which, as we know, is at a premium these days, what with the Iran war.
Iran is making some cheddar with its control of the Strait of Hormuz:
Hamidreza Hajibabaei, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament, claimed that Iran, not the United States, was now making demands after the first revenues for newly implemented tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were deposited into the state's central bank.
"We have control over this Strait," Hajibabaei said during a public gathering in the western city of Kuhdasht via ABC News.
"If the United States continues on its current course, no vessels will pass through the Strait of Hormuz," he added. "We are not engaged in negotiations -- rather, we are making demands."
The Very Stable Genius's attempt tp get back in Georgia Meloni's good graces after their falling out over the Pope is falling flat:
The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year’s World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from Azzurri fans on Thursday, with Italian media reminding readers that the idea has a very familiar feel.
President Donald Trump’s U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the U.S. president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” said Zampolli, an Italian-American who is Trump’s envoy for “Global Partnership” but has no official connection with the World Cup or Italian football.
. . . Italy’s main sports news websites have given the story only a passing reference.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency La Press: “Firstly it is not possible, secondly it is not appropriate ... You qualify on the pitch.”
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went futher, saying the idea was “shameful.”
Leading Italian coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters it was an unlikely proposal with any theoretical Iranian absence logically filled by the team behind them in their qualification group.
“Furthermore, I believe Italy doesn’t need Trump’s support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own,” he said.
The Navy Secretary is out, in the middle of the biggest US naval blockade since World War II.
If the post-American government is going to go full-tilt socialist, why is it sinking its (our) dollars into Spirit Airline (to the tune of a 90 precent ownership stake), which has been a losing proposition for many years now?
Mark Carney isn't playing the VSG's games. And what the hell is an "entry fee?"
Canada is not just sitting back "taking notes" or instructions from the Americans on trade talks after White House officials complained publicly about irritants in the Canada-U.S. relationship, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday.
The prime minister said he's focused on eliminating U.S. tariffs that are hurting key sectors such as steel and aluminum.
"You know what's an irritant? Fifty per cent tariff on steel, 50 per cent on aluminum, 25 per cent on automobiles, all the tariffs on forest products," Carney said during an exchange with reporters in Ottawa on Thursday.
"Those are more than irritants. Those are violations of our trade deal."
Carney also said he had never heard of an "entry fee" Canada would have to pay to start talks with the White House on renewing the continental free trade pact.
“I don’t know where the talk of an ‘entry fee’ is from," he said. "It's certainly not coming from me. It’s not language I’ve ever used, and it's not language I've never heard from the president of the United States."
The claim of a rigged election was the page open in the VSG's playbook in late 2020 into 21, is again with regard to Virginia's redistricting vote (which is irony-rich since he was the one who stoked the whole redistrict-in-mid-decade push) and will surely be how he reacts to a lot of midterm races this November.
Exit question: When all this is considered in sum, is American leadership something that could ever be restored?
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