The Mafia Matrix in Italy, China, and Beyond

https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/fast-fashion-exploitation-how-the-clothes-hanger-wars-escalated-in-italy-a-a9a0d238-03ab-484d-b7a7-b90567646ac7

There are Chinatowns in most large cities. Growing up I visited the famous district in San Francisco which is certainly impressive. But I was really struck by the Chinatown in Lower Manhattan - so proximate to the old Five Points, the various courthouses, and even Ground Zero, and how it all but overlaps with Little Italy. It caused me to reflect on the nature of these ethnic enclaves and the immigrant experience.

Americas Secret Cache of Warsaw Pact Weapons

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/03/22/us-soviet-air-defense-ukraine/

Though largely unknown to most of the American public, the US began to purchase large quantities of Warsaw Pact weaponry in the 1970's and would continue to do so until the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet alliance. It is therefore not too surprising that some of the weapons are now being funneled into Ukraine where they will be able to integrate easily enough with the extant arms in Kyiv's possession.

Ford Motor Company and Argentina's Dirty War

As Christians I don't believe we cannot support labour unions and yet at the same time I understand why people form them and on one level it's hard to not be sympathetic to their concerns.

Elections and Establishment: The 2016 US Presidential Drama and the French Centre-Right Primaries

The numbers aren't fully in yet but it would appear that Francois Fillon has won the first round of the French Centre-Right primary and will face Alain Juppe in the second round. Juppe will likely win the primaries and has a very good chance of being the next president of France. This represents a stunning defeat of former president Nicholas Sarkozy. Sarkozy was the obvious favourite of the US Establishment and his defeat will be disappointing to some within the US power structure. This isn't to say they can't work with Juppe as well, but Sarkozy in particular was beloved in Washington for moving Paris solidly into the US and NATO orbit.