After a recent summit, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin issued a brief statement: “There can be no winners in a nuclear war, and it should never be fought.” This message, though universally accepted, seems hypocritical given their past threats of nuclear aggression against neighbouring countries.

The timing and brevity of this statement are notable, as global tensions are at a peak with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Putin feels he is winning in Ukraine, while Xi believes China’s military dominance in the South China Sea makes a Taiwan takeover feasible. Both fear U.S. and NATO intervention, which could lead to nuclear threats.

Their warnings echo in a world where North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan frequently make threats. Iran recently attacked Israel with a massive missile strike and claims to be near developing nuclear weapons, regularly threatening to destroy Israel.

Many dismiss these threats as mere bluster. However, the horrific violence seen on October 7 against Israeli civilians reminds us of humanity’s capacity for brutality. Modern weapons of mass destruction—nuclear, chemical, biological, and AI-driven—make these threats more dangerous.

Despite these risks, global reactions remain indifferent, assuming these leaders wouldn’t initiate catastrophic conflicts. Yet, there are as many autocratic nuclear powers as democratic ones. Only Israel has an effective missile defence system. As Western conventional power declines, reliance on nuclear deterrence grows, despite inadequate homeland defences.

We need to remain aware that the unthinkable can happen. We must take threats seriously and focus on strengthening defences, securing borders, ensuring military competence, controlling spending, and rebuilding our forces. Otherwise, we risk being unprepared for the catastrophic, believing we are immune until it’s too late.

A leader with guts, something we don’t have today!

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Please find 14 minutes out of your day to watch this.

Below is a YouTube link to an Audio-Visual presentation which portrays the historical significance of Australia’s involvement during the Vietnam War. The orchestral recording, titled “Echoes of Conflict”, was composed by Vietnam Veteran Lachlan Wilson and is a musical reflection of the dramatic events surrounding many young Australians during the tumultuous years of the Vietnam War.

The LARGEST Ship in The Navy Has A GIANT Problem. Today’s video will analyze the different technologies that make the Ford-class aircraft carrier so great. But in order to understand that, we will look at why the Navy needed to replace tried-and-true technology in the first place. Despite the great strides made in creating this technology, we will also examine why Ford continues to suffer issues with several of its flagship systems.

Managing negative emotions, particularly anger, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer. Anger often manifests physically with a red face, sweating, weakness, and stomach upset. These symptoms can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

A study published on May 1 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that anger impairs blood vessel function, lasting 40 minutes. The study, involving 280 adults assigned to tasks inducing anger, anxiety, or sadness, showed no significant vascular changes for anxiety or sadness. Dr. Daichi Shimbo from Columbia University noted that anger-induced blood vessel dysfunction is linked to heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Glenn Levine of Baylor College of Medicine emphasized the impact of mental well-being on cardiovascular health.

Harvard’s systematic review revealed a 4.74 times higher risk of heart attack and a 3.62 times higher risk of stroke within two hours of an anger outburst. The intensity of anger correlates with increased risks of ventricular arrhythmia and other heart issues.

Frequent anger episodes also raise the risk of heart disease and cancer mortality. A European Heart Journal study showed that middle-aged and elderly individuals with frequent intense anger had a higher risk of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiovascular disease mortality. Men showed a 30% increase in heart failure risk, while those with diabetes showed a 39% increase.

Depression and anxiety also elevate heart attack and stroke risks by about 35%, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in 2023. These conditions accelerate the development of risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Interventions to promote psychological health can benefit cardiovascular health. Dr. Jingduan Yang of the Yang Institute of Integrative Medicine suggests managing anger through mindfulness, healthy relationships, compassion, and practical techniques like deep breathing. Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been shown to be as effective as medication for anxiety disorders. Social connections also significantly impact physical health, with social isolation linked to a 30% higher risk of heart attack or stroke. Practicing forgiveness can reduce anxiety and depression, enhancing mental well-being.

THERE are people with an enduring fascination for old military equipment.

There is an interesting side to what for some is an obsession, the worse condition an item is in the more desirous it becomes, often as a restoration challenge.

What may appear to casual observers a pile of rusted junk is easily reimagined by the serious collector as a flying aircraft or working vehicle.

Even venerable Land-Rovers which have frustrated military mechanics for over 70 years can be patiently dissembled part by part, cleaned, refurbished and reassembled until that magic moment the engine hiccoughs into life, while a small pool of oil collects under the block, indicating a resurrection miracle has occurred.

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Cairns place to breathe new life into old subs | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

The Albanese government is stealthily locking up our coastal waters for massive offshore wind farms. They’re setting aside six huge ocean reserves around the country to host thousands of sky-scraper sized wind turbines. You’ll be able to see them from the beach, and if you own a house with an ocean view, they’ll be right outside your window.

But here’s the kicker: these turbines aren’t being installed near our cities, where most of the electricity is consumed. Nope, they’re in regional Australia. Just like the Chinese-built monstrosities ruining farms and bushland nationwide. If you’re one of the inner-city elites or activists advocating for this, you won’t be affected. Like most of their climate nonsense, it’s a problem for others to deal with. The elites and activists don’t bear the brunt; that’s left to Aussie families and farmers. You won’t see any of these enormous wind turbines from Anthony Albanese, Chris Bowen or Adam Bandt’s inner-city residences, that’s for sure.

They plan to lock up more than 37,000 square kilometres of ocean for this madness—an area larger than greater Sydney and Brisbane combined. From Gippsland in Victoria to the Hunter and Illawarra in NSW, and one of the largest areas in WA, where Albanese plans to shut off a vast stretch of ocean from Mandurah to Cape Naturaliste. Who asked for this? Not us. This is not what Australians voted for.

We have ample coal and gas to power our nation well into the next century. We have enough uranium to sustain nuclear power for millennia – proven and reliable technology. We don’t need unreliable foreign renewables.

But this isn’t the only blow Labor and the Greens have dealt working Australians this week. They recently pushed their ute tax through parliament, meaning the Australian automotive industry – and Aussies – will be paying more for utes from July 1 next year. It’s just a carbon tax disguised under another name. And guess what? No one voted for that either.

Do they care? Not at all. The activists and elites are primarily driven by their own agendas and interests. They will push through anything to gain their own way, often disregarding the broader public opinion or the potential consequences of their actions. These groups are typically focused on achieving their specific goals, whether they be political, social, or economic, and are willing to use their influence and resources to ensure their objectives are met. Their commitment to their cause can make them relentless, sometimes leading to actions that overlook or even dismiss the needs and concerns of the general populace.