The John Batchelor Show

GGOOD EVENING: The show begins in Gaza, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of diplomacy in the region. We then move to campuses across the United States, wishing the Class of 2024 well after a challenging year marked by the pandemic, disorder, and issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), as well as the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Next, we visit Shanghai to discuss the sharp decline in business activity. From there, we turn our attention to the US Navy and its data management practices. The focus then shifts to Brussels, Beijing, Shanghai, the Scarborough Shoal, Boca Chica, and Cape Canaveral. We also visit Albi in the South of France and Damascus, Syria, among other topics to be covered . 1942 USS Maryland

#Comet 67/P C-G and the biomarker that isn't. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-molecule-found-by-rosetta-on-comet-67p-c-g-proves-discovering-life-on-exoplanets-will-not-be-easy/ 1957

#SPACEX: The complicated schedule for the lunar landing 2026. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/the-plan-for-spacexs-first-demo-in-orbit-refueling-mission-of-starship/ 1886 Robur the Conqueror

#FRANCE: The imminent high price of coffee. Simon Constable, Occitanie. https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonconstable/2024/04/27/cost-of-coffee-set-to-skyrocket/?sh=589796516810 1919 Normndie

#FRANCE: Raining in buckets as Scotland SNP washes away. Simon Constable, Occitanie. https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/storm-and-hail-warnings-as-rain-sweeps-through-france/655699 1920 France all electric

#Venezuela: Will the Maduro Regime permit a free and fair election? Allison Fedirka ,@GPFutures https://geopoliticalfutures.com/dont-expect-too-much-from-venezuelas-elections/ 1948 Caracas

#SYRIA: The Biden Administration and the Assad Regime, thirteen years later. Josh Rogin, Washington Post.com https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/30/biden-assad-syria-sanctions/ 1912 Damascus

#PHILIPPINES: Water cannon and ramming. Rebecca Grant, vice president of the Lexington Institute,@GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/30/asia/china-water-cannon-damages-philippines-ship-intl-hnk-ml/index.html 1922 Manila

#PRC: Job openings listed without any real jobs. Anne Stevenson-Yang, author of the upcoming Wild Ride: China's Short-Lived Experiment in Capitalism, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-communist-party-will-hold-key-third-plenum-july-2024-04-30/ 1900

#RUSSIA: Africa (WAGNER GROUP) Corps paid in Blood Gold & What is to be done? Michael Bernstam, Hoover Institution. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/04/27/raab-investigate-blood-gold-trade-bankrolling-russia/ 1900 Central African Republic

#INDIA: Modi and the old "washing machine" Sadanand Dhume, AEI, WSJ https://www.wsj.com/articles/indian-corruption-forgotten-but-not-gone-modi-bjp-election-dd43f65d1873 Bombay

#PRC: IS THERE Tesla Leverage on Musk's SpaceX?. . Rick Fisher, senior fellow of the International Assessment and Strategy Center. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tesla-stock-rises-after-ceo-musk-scores-big-in-china-during-short-visit/ar-AA1nSrNz 1941 Detroit

#EU: Brussels, nest of spies. Theresa Fallon, director of the Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.ft.com/content/6c115d61-7948-457e-ace9-f65c3cbb6ee9 1911 Brussels

#USN: Data management goes to the sea in ships. Francis Rose, FedGovToday.com https://fedgovtoday.com/tv-show/strategic-military-investments-supply-chain-management-naval-operations-enhancement 1943 USS New Mexico

#PRC: State Manufacturing subsidies no longer. Chris Riegel, CEO #SCALA˽REPORT: Chris Riegel CEO Scala.com @Stratacache.. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/chinas-factory-services-activity-growth-slows-in-april/ar-AA1nTJAV 1931 Chinese Soviet

#StateThinking: Farewell to the burdened Class of 2024 @MaryKissel Former Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State. Executive VP Stephens Inc. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/01/nyregion/columbia-university-protests 1912 Stanford crew

#StateThinking: Gaza diplomacy doubts. @MaryKissel Former Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State. Executive VP Stephens Inc. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/parties-see-hope-for-a-gaza-cease-fire-maybe-this-time-it-will-work/ar-AA1nRXem 1921 Road to Ramallah

PREVIEW: #SYRIA: Conversation with colleague Josh Rogin of the Washington Post regarding the apparent intention of the Biden Administration to abandon the Syrian battlefield to the Assad regime -- leaving our allies, the Kurds and the Syrian opposition in the diaspora, without support. More details to follow later. 1860 Damascus

PREVIEW: #INDIA: Conversation with colleague Sadanand Dhume of AEI and WSJ regarding the ongoing seven-week Indian election -- and exploring the reasons behind the absence of corruption stories in a country where jokes about corrupt politicians needing a washing machine to become acceptable again are commonplace. More details to follow tonight. 1862 India

PREVIEW: #EU: #ESPIONAGE: Conversation with colleague Theresa Fallon in Brussels regarding the sudden revelation of PRC spies throughout the EU and UK, especially focusing on one PRC agent, a dual German/Chinese passport holder, who has been an aide to the leading AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) candidate for the EU Parliament, Maximilian Krah. More details to follow tonight. 1884 Brussels