/qrb/ - QResearch Bunker

>>131551

nah dat fugger is dem fuggers

will tell you at the victory parade

>>131541

ty B

>>131469 pb

'Not AF1 Joe left Rzesow earlier along with 09-0016 C-32A and went to Warsaw

NATO01 E-3 Sentry AWACS on the eastern border

Current look with 82-8000 spoofed to the south

82-8000 09-0016 and PLF101 Polish President Duda on the ground at Warsaw Int'l

O.C.C Quarterly Derivatives Report Q4 2021-March25th, 2022

Notional Amounts of Derivative Contracts by Contract Type and Maturity (Precious Metals)

These are almost 100% Ag-they do not break it down by type and also remember this is NOT COMEX Ag but OTC so even though we've seen $4.5B in cash for contracts on the COMEX (and that # is still increasing) these #'s have nothing to do with the COMEX contracts.

Latest report shows that Bank of America has increased it's amount of shorts in the Ag position

This is listed in the far right column under Prec Metals All Maturitiesbut the bulk of all of this is in the Prec Metals Maturity < 1 yr column-fuscia circles

These are the short term positions that has been allowed by the CFTC-you'll have to ask them why they continue to produce this report yet do nuffin about it-afterall they are the "regulators"......

Bank of America

Q3, 2021:$18,266,000,000cap #2

Q4, 2021:$27,320,000,000cap #3

You can also see that it is now roughly equal to JP Morgan's positon which is the "long"

Q3, 2021:$27,612,000,000cap #2

Q4, 2021:$28,182,000,000cap #3

Also the other two misfits: Goldman and Shitibank have participation here as well with Goldman a particular "standout" as they have the least amount of "assets" backing any derivative positions and a huge increase (relative to Q3 position) while Chitibank has actually decreased it's position. See Lime Green circle on both cap #2 and 3

Goldman Sachs

Q3, 2021:$932,000,000

Q4, 2021:$4,810,000,000

Shitibank had a decrease in amount of derivative positions

Q3, 2021:$9,708,000,000

Q4, 2021:$6,979,000,000

The Goldman and Shitibank positions are playing roughly the same game just on a much smaller level

The total amount of derivatives has fallen from Q3 to Q4 but the news here is that Bank of America has increased it's position to be about equal to JP Morgan-so Ag prcing via the COMEX isn't going anywhere up or down for any length of ttime. They will each skim the profits of the moves they have been making but if the price dumps then you have a loser -JP Morgan and if it goes parabolic the loser is Bank of America. The historical pressure is on Bank of America as the price has been supressed for almost 200 years so the sacrifice will be B of A but only if they allow a consequence and judging by experience and the length of time this has been going on don't look for that to habben any time soon.

The interdasting "wrench" in this is the Private Advisors Group which is what really casued the spike in Ag last year-sorry reddittors that wasn't caused by retail and it will never be the cause of price action up or down. What it does do is increase the visibility of what they are doping above-and that has never been higher. If they keep adding to the position in SLV or will they liquidate like they did last year driving the price down from the just under $30 range. Don't automatically think they are on the good side and this could just be yet another mechanism to increase the movements so both sides (JP Morgan and BofA) profit-cause they could have held on and continued to amass position-so they either were told to stop or are part of the scam

>>128880 Private Advisors Group-amassed a huge position in SLV (Blackrock Ag ETF) last year and then sold it off.....they are back nao...KEK!

>According to 2021 Q4 13f filing they began to repurchase SLV increasing it's position 1014%

When that is updated it will provide a clearer picture

Not posting all the EFP stuffs EFP=An exchange for physical trade (EFP) is a privately negotiated and simultaneous exchange of a futures position for a cash position as we've shown that they did $4.5B in 10 trading days already.

https://www.occ.gov/publications-and-resources/publications/quarterly-report-on-bank-trading-and-derivatives-activities/files/pub-derivatives-quarterly-qtr4-2021.pdf

#'s taken from page 26 of above link

all pb on Ag

from Dec 11th,2021

>>120121 Ted Butler: Bank of America's silver short position is even larger than he thought

>>128008, >>128012 Mkt fag: Silver Action lately from a technical/historical standpoint

>>128059, >>128060, >>128061 Mkt Fag: Derivatives and Silver price containment/JP Morgan and Hussein Admin used UBLs 'death' to manipulate

>>128098 Mkt Fag submits proof of rigging: $25.25B in Silver "traded" on the COMEX on February 24th

>>128457, >>128460 anon submits a theory and some additional information on Silver COMEX trade-Exchange of Futures positions for cash

>>128698, >>128700 a theory and some additional information on Silver COMEX trade-Exchange of Futures positions for cash

>>130241, >>130242

>>130598, >>130599 The Hunt Brothers and Silver Thursday

2nd season

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan

The Russian military said Friday it has started a military exercise involving more than 3,000 troops on a chain of islands including those disputed with Japan, Russian news agency Interfax reported. It is the first drill on the disputed islands off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido since Russia's Foreign Ministry announced earlier this week it will suspend territorial talks with Japan. Russia is withdrawing from the talks over Tokyo's sanctions against Moscow in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Some hundreds of military vehicles are participating in the drill under a scenario of launching a counterattack against enemy forces attempting to land.

Russia is seen as building up its forces on the islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia. The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from concluding a postwar peace treaty.

Japan claims the Soviet Union illegally seized the four islands Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets soon after Japan's surrender in World War II in August 1945, while Moscow argues the move was legitimate.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Russia-starts-military-drill-on-disputed-islands-off-Japan

Japan supporting all this 'invasion' and sanctions bullshit made sure that the shred of a chance this was going to be solved in it's favor vanished.

Mapped: Gas Prices Across America Reach All-Time Highs

In recent days, gas prices have skyrocketed to all-time highs.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price of regular unleaded gas has reached $4.25 per gallon as of March 21st, 2022. This is the first time since 2008 that gas prices had exceeded the $4 per gallon mark.

The price of gas was already rising two weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, owing to the increased demand due to the lifting of COVID restrictions. But, as Visual Capitalist's Raul Amoros details below, when the war broke out, the price of regular gas jumped 41¢ during the first week. This surge in prices could add up to $2,000 in annual cost to the average American household. While the price at the pump sits at $4.25 per gallon on average, it’s worth mentioning that prices range quite substantially depending on the state. California has the highest average price at $5.86 per gallon. On the other extreme, Kansas has an average price of $3.77 per gallon.

There are eight states where gas prices are above $4.50 per gallon, and three states where the price is above $5: California, Hawaii, and Nevada. There are a few reasons why gas prices can vary from state to state. State taxes play a big role in the final price at the pump, and they can range from 57.6¢ per gallon in Pennsylvania to 8¢ per gallon in Alaska.

Proximity to refineries is another contributing factor for cheaper gas. States like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama often have lower prices than other regions. Gas prices were on the rise due to an oil supply shortage. When war broke out, there was an additional price surge due to sanctions or bans on Russian oil exports by the West.

It’s also worth noting that even as the price of oil begins to fall once again, there is typically a lag before prices at the pump begin to ease for consumers.

The Energy Information Administration projects that average spot price of Brent crude oil will be $105.22 per barrel this year, a $22 difference compared to its original February forecast. As a result, many experts are expecting that gas prices could stay near or above $4 per gallon for the rest of the year.

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/mapped-gas-prices-across-america-reach-all-time-highs

night b

Maxey dropped some Hunter docs.

https://gettr.com/post/p11yjm9e22d

https://drive.infomaniak.com/app/share/475026/4aef7d10-2b2a-49cf-96ef-9dc58795dc59/files/1794

SAM674 USAF C-32A departed Warsaw Int'l after arriving on 0325 from Brussels Int'l-arrival at Brussels on 0323 from JBA depart

Much quieter over Yerp than the previous 3 weeks-almost as if the production company packed up and left.....

Not AF1 Joe will be returning in the ded of night-early Sunday morning local DC time but will stop at RAF Mildenhall for 90 minutes (scheduled) after departing Warsaw-this is where the Nightwatch has been located since it arrived on 0323 as GRIMM99 >>131337 pb and then switched on with a different call sign on Friday >>131478 pb.

It is still at Mildenhall as YOUNG59 indicated by the linky.

S.O.P. to be located here-despite what you keep seeing in the MSM and continuing to be 'noted' in general about the "doomsday" plane being taken along.

Pretty laughable-don't forget the MSM also took a random Nightwatch flight over CONUS and tried the same fear pron about 10 days ago-these are up all the time and nothing unique about seeing one over CONUS. They even had a "planefag" on Tucker's show trying to 'splain how "odd" it was.

Pretty odd 'dat-stopping at Mildenhall- since it has moar than enough range so there is something else going on here.

One final note on this: the first time,since Weds, a schedule has been released in advance of the day's activity.

https://factba.se/biden/calendar

morn’n fam

hope yer relaxed, mending, g herding.

habby saturday. heading out to brunch den island liv'n, but dropping keks beforehand. wuz on both boards dis morn’n b4 muh ride.

keks ensue

SAM565 USAF C-32A departed Warsaw Int'l south-after arriving yesterday from JBA

Moscow Exchange to Expand Limited Trading to All Stocks Monday

Russia will expand limited trading to all shares listed on the Moscow Exchange in another shortened session on Monday. The Moscow Exchange will trade Russian shares, in addition to corporate and municipal bonds, in a shortened four-hour session, according to the Russian central bank’s website statement. The ban on short selling these securities will apply, it said.

Russia resumed trading in 33 local stocks, including Gazprom PJSC and Sberbank PJSC, on Thursday and took measures, including preventing foreigners from exiting local equities and banning short selling, to avoid a repeat of the 33% slump seen on the first day of the Ukraine invasion last month. The MOEX Index rose 4.4% on Thursday, but reversed most gains on Friday. Russian equities are this year’s worst performers globally.

The bourse will also resume trading in foreign shares on Monday, which will be traded in a so-called negotiated regime, the Bank of Russia said.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/moscow-exchange-to-expand-limited-trading-to-all-stocks-monday-1.1743266

>>131586

glad you owned you scoundrel

kek

frbs accuse G

an you can bet yo ass I got it both ways

pickin out grass today are ya?

>>131587

because of the drive, gas prices and muh take on price of rice in China on Wed but only cause IT.BORES.ME.TO. DEATH

feelz better now

SAM610 USAF G5 arrival at JBA after a departure from Ramstein AFB

Recent history

Departed JBA on 0320 for a ground stop at Shannon, Ireland refuel then arrival at Tel Aviv on 0321 >>131097 pb and heading for Tel Aviv on 0320 late

Next seen over SA heading west on 0323 and then at Abu Dhabi on 0324

So it 'disappeared' for most of 0323

Departure from Dhabi to Tel Aviv (for a 2 hour ground stop) on 0325 then to Ramstein

Becoming harder and harder to reference who is on deez flights for the last month or so-because of the sitch in Ukraine..

Used to be able to find at least one reference to one of the stops (or moar) and then figure out who

That has changed since 0224 by quite a bit.

>>131590

good

you got that off yer chest.

kek

SPAR95 USAF G5 inbound to JBA from Brussels Int'l depart-some NATO weenie-Stoltenberg usually uses SPAR80 (and different tail #) as call but since the identification opps. of who is on what AC has changed in the last 30 days it could be them but definitely a NATO weenie

Australian AF ASY512 C-17 Globemaster on descent for Dover from Ramstein depart earlier

>>131593

>>131594

lasted longer than I thought it would

over an hour now.

>>131593

BOXER45 USAF C-40C departed JBA west

Nancy perhaps

Nancy Pelosi's husband recently bought $2.2 million in Tesla stock

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, recently purchased $2.2 million in Tesla stock, a congressional financial disclosure form shows. According to the form, Paul Pelosi, who owns and runs a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, purchased 2,500 shares of the electric car company's stock by exercising 25 call options at a strike price of $500 per share on March 17. The options were set to expire the next day.

no one does that-that close to expiry-unless they know what gonna habben....and since everything got bloated last week they will get away with it

Shouldn't be anywhere near any of it....

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Pelosi-husband-buys-Tesla-stock-17028778.php

>>131601

way desperate nao.

guess his pleas to the Japanese Parliament on weds din't werk as he expected either

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel joins Japan’s prime minister in Hiroshima amid Russia nuke fears

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida escorted the U.S. ambassador to his hometown Hiroshima on Saturday to pay respects to atomic bombing victims and warned that the world is again facing threats of nuclear attacks stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “As we face a possibility of Russia’s use of nuclear weapons as a realistic concern, I felt strongly (as leader of ) the world’s only country to have suffered atomic attacks that we should never allow threats or use of nuclear weapons,” Kishida told reporters after a tour of the peace park and the museum with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel.

“The tragedy should never be repeated,” Kishida said.

Leaders from the Group of Seven countries on Thursday urged Russia not to use biological, chemical or nuclear weapons in its war on Ukraine. That prospects was raised when Russian President Vladimir Putin in February ordered his nation’s nuclear forces put on high alert over tensions with the West.

Kishida, however, has been pushing to bolster Japan’s military budget and capability amid growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia. He says his realistic approach is to protect lives while seeking to achieve the ideal for the future.

About 3,000 Russian troops were conducting drills on the disputed Kuril islands, according to media reports, first since Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it was suspending peace treaty talks with Japan, citing Tokyo’s sanctions against Moscow.

Russia has also increased naval activity around Japan, which Japanese officials say is meant to project Moscow’s military strength.

Kishida and Emanuel visited the Peace Memorial Museum and laid flowers to the victims at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

In 2016, Kishida accompanied then-President Barack Obama on his visit to Hiroshima, where he made a pledge to seek a world without nuclear weapons and met with several atomic bombing survivors.

A visit to Hiroshima by Emanuel, known for his close ties to President Joe Biden, is raising hopes for a similar presidential visit.

Emanuel said that he cannot speak for Biden but there is a possibility.

“I think as a friend I can say if he makes it here to Japan I know he’ll want to visit one of the two cities, but not both,” he said.

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have requested that Biden make a similar trip to their cities during his visit to Japan to attend a summit of Quad nations, which also includes Australia and India, expected in late April. Quad, or the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue,” is an Indo-Pacific alliance established in 2007.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/midwest/ct-aud-japan-us-hiroshima-20220326-ptwaprnf6fazpcg5toedktp73m-story.html

as mentioned previously dis is where Not AF1 Joe will go next as part of the Quad meetings.

>>131588

wut a surprise /s

SAM565 USAF C-32A on descent for Tel Aviv from Warsaw Int'l depart

moar 'instructions'

>>131584

Not AF1 Joe in 82-8000 747 on descent for RAF Mildenhall from Warsaw Int'l with 09-0016 USAF C-32A following

See linky for the 90 minute ground stop (scheduled) and then continue to JBA

Polish AF PLF101 Polish President Duda departed Warsaw heading to Krakow

>>131600

BOXER45 USAF C-40C on ground at San Francisco Int'l from JBA depart

SAM179 USAF G5 inbound from a stop at the "Cold Response" exercises-heading to MacDill AFB CENTCOM

Departed Amman, Jordan yesterday with a stop in Northern Norway-signals not great up dhere and shows it departing west several hundred 'clicks' west of Norway at 40k ft earlier today

SAM697 USAF C-40B departed Nashville, Int'l after a ground stop of about 2 hours-prior stop at Huntsville Int'l Airport for about 90 minutes

Looks like it is going to Cape Canaveral or Patrick Space Force base

>>131553

45in N103WG G650 departed Palm Beach Int'l Airport to Commerce, GA

Prior usage on 022821 for rally at Conroe, TX

Cap#4 is departing Conroe after rally

Arrived from Opa Locka Airport where it is based

>>131617

SAM697 USAF C-40B on ground at Daytona Int'l Airport

not a usual destination for this

tail #01-0015 has been used by WH NSO in the past

High-Grade Bond Sales to Surpass $200 Billion Mark in March

Companies are expected to keep borrowing in the U.S. corporate investment-grade bond market next week even as funding costs march higher on rising interest rates and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wall Street syndicate desks are projecting as much as $25 billion of fresh high-grade supply, a drop from over $37 billion raised this week. Sales for March are poised to surpass the $200 billion mark, breaking it into the top four months on record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The investment-grade market is also anticipating a potential mega-bond deal from Oracle Corp. to help fund its pending $28.3 billion acquisition of medical records provider Cerner Corp., though the timing is uncertain.

Issuance has been accelerating despite the fact that the pandemic-era days of dirt-cheap credit are over and borrowers are having to entice investors with elevated new issue concessions. The outsized outperformance of newly-minted high-grade bonds relative to the secondary market has also faded, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. In the U.S. high-yield market, Apollo Global Management Inc. is preparing to launch a $2 billion offering of secured and unsecured bonds backing its buyout of Novolex Holdings LLC, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The debt financing also includes a $2.6 billion sustainability-linked leveraged loan, which would be the largest ever in the U.S., Bloomberg-compiled data show. The junk primary market is having the slowest month in two years, driven by rising inflation concerns, a hawkish Federal Reserve and the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, funds that buy the bonds have now seen cash exits for 11 straight weeks after $2.7 billion was pulled for the period ended March 23, Refinitiv Lipper data show.

Only one U.S. leveraged-loan issuer is holding a lender call next week. Specialty chemical company Solenis will conduct outreach on Monday for a $300 million sale marked for debt repayment and general corporate purposes. Commitments on four deals are due, including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.’s $1.5 billion offering that supports Veritas Capital’s buyout of the company.

In the distressed debt market, Hersha Hospitality Trust has covenant waivers on a credit facility set to expire on March 31. Finally, U.S. holders of Russia’s sovereign and corporate bonds will be keenly following delayed coupon payments and those due next week. An increasing number of payments are getting stuck in a web of financial intermediaries that are struggling to comply with international sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/high-grade-bond-sales-to-surpass-200-billion-mark-in-march-1.1743302

Trading Halts Loom With Hong Kong Firms Set to Delay Earnings

Hong Kong stock investors are bracing for a key earnings deadline on Thursday, with dozens of firms unable to file annual results facing a possible trading halt.

At least 73 listed firms said they will postpone their annual earnings filings past the March 31 deadline due to the Covid outbreak or auditor changes, according to exchange statements as of 6 p.m. local time Saturday. That includes distressed builders China Evergrande Group and Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. ahead of what’s expected to be one of the worst earnings seasons in over a decade for developers. The list also includes a large amount of energy and materials firms.

Under the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s listing rules, a company’s shares will be halted if it doesn’t release audited earnings three months after the fiscal year ends. However, due to Covid-related delays, firms are allowed to submit unaudited figures by March 31 and file the audited version by April 30 to avoid a suspension.

An exchange spokesman said that the bourse has been “actively communicating” with various stakeholders and continues to monitor latest developments. He added they expect the “vast majority” of firms will be able to report their audited results by the end of March.

Events last year may provide a clue of what lies ahead. A wave of earnings postponements led to more than 50 trading halts on April 1. Among them, bad debt manager China Huarong Asset Management Co. was halted for nine months and sank 50% when trading resumed in early January.

While a delay in reporting may simply mean auditors need more time to complete their review of financial statements, the situation with Chinese property firms is particularly worrying. A least nine of the country’s biggest builders by contracted sales last year are expected to miss this month’s deadline.

The announcements have already started to weigh on affected stocks. Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Ltd. fell 7.8% on Friday after announcing a delay to its 2021 audited results late Thursday, compared with a 0.7% slide in a Bloomberg Intelligence gauge of China developers. Kaisa Group Holdings shares have dropped 4% since announcing a delay late Tuesday.

The resignations of several auditors have raised a red flag on the companies’ “weak corporate governance, financial management and planning, as well as transparency and information disclosure,” according to Moody’s Investors Service analysts including Kaven Tsang.

cause when auditors resign that is ALWAYS a good sign /s

All this is adding to the drag on Hong Kong equities after a roller-coaster ride earlier this month. The swings mirror the volatility in broader markets, which have been buffeted by concerns of accelerating inflation and slowing growth.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trading-halts-loom-with-hong-kong-firms-set-to-delay-earnings-1.1743305

>>131619

45in N103WG G650 on descent for Athens, GA from Palm Beach Int'l

#888-update 1

>>131556, >>131583, >>131588, >>131591, >>131595, >>131600, >>131612, >>131615, >>131616, >>131617, >>131620 pf report(s) Friday to Saturday Not AF1 Joe from Rzesow to Warsaw to Mildenhall/SAM activity over CONUS and Middle east/Nancy to SF

>>131558 O.C.C Quarterly Derivatives Report Q4 2021-March25th, 2022-Silver derivatives increase BofA/JPM abut equal on opposite sides of the trade

>>131563, >>131569, >>131570, >>131571 Moscow dismisses talk of gold reserves trapped abroad-rt

>>131567, >>131568, >>131571, >>131613 Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan-nikkei

>>131573 Coatue’s Hedge Fund Investors Try to Redeem $250 Million, But Can’t Cash Out in Full-BBerg

>>131574 Mapped: Gas Prices Across America Reach All-Time Highs-zh

>>131581 Maxey dropped some Hunter docs.-soc. media

>>131584 Not AF1 Joe returns very early Sunday morning after a peculiar ground stop at RAF Mildenhall

>>131589 Moscow Exchange to Expand Limited Trading to All Stocks Monday-bnnBBerg

>>131593, >>131594, >>131599, >>131602, >>131604, >>131605, >>131606, >>131607 rt posts pepe "RESPECT CONTRACTS and some discussion

>>131600 Nancy Pelosi's husband recently bought $2.2 million in Tesla stock-calls a day prior to expiration...:I sfgate

>>131601 Zelensky attempts to pander to Hollywood

>>131611 Muh Russia Nuke Fear Pron-Ambassador Rahm Emanuel joins Japan’s prime minister in Hiroshima amid Russia nuke fears-chicagotribune

>>131619 45 in N103WG G650 departed Palm Beach Int'l Airport to Commerce, GA

>>131623 in can't shove it out fast enough news-High-Grade Bond Sales to Surpass $200 Billion Mark in March bnnBBerg

>>131624 Trading Halts Loom With Hong Kong Firms Set to Delay Earnings-bnnBBerg

>>131625 45 in N103WG G650 on descent for Athens, GA from Palm Beach Int'l

>>131615

Not AF1 Joe in 82-8000 747 and 09-0016 USAF C-32A departed Mildenhall after a ground stop and heading to JBA

A little less than the scheduled 90 minutes

GRIMM99 USAF E04B Nightwatch also departed Mildenhall back to JBA

>>131617

SAM179 USAF G5 confirmed in at MacDill AFB

ROFLMAO

da troof

>>131617, >>131630

SPAR542 USAF Learjet 35 departed MacDill after about 90 minutes on the ground-heading back to Scott AFB

Had the high level G5 in earlier at MacDill CENTCOM-linkys and in from the "Cold Response" exercises in northern Norway

Former Goldman Banker Charged In Bitcoin Laundering Scheme Linked To Online Drug Market

A former Goldman Sachs banker has been charged with a sweeping scheme to launder millions of dollars in bitcoin, offering a glimpse at the new prosecutorial paradigm being employed by American prosecutors to punish bitcoin tax cheats and individuals seen as critical intermediaries between the crypto market and organized crime. According to the NYT, Thomas Spieker, a former party producer and ex-Goldman equities banker, was charged this week in federal court in Manhattan with laundering more than $2.3 million in Bitcoin for criminals around the world from 2018 to 2021. Prosecutors described Mr. Spieker, 42, as a virtual Bitcoin A.T.M., exchanging cash for cryptocurrency. In addition to the $2.3 million in Bitcoin he was charged with laundering, he was accused of converting more than $380,000 in cryptocurrency into cash.

Mr. Spieker was charged with several counts of money laundering and unlicensed money transmission. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. His lawyer, Richard Verchick, declined to comment.

Spieker was charged alongside a colorful cast of alleged criminals, including a ring of drug dealers charged with operating a Silk Road-style drug website (text courtesy of the NYT):

Zashan Khan, 30, and Cosmas Siekierski, 25, of Manhattan, who prosecutors said sold illegal drugs over the dark web, a part of the internet where illegal activity thrives and which is accessible also only though special software. An online storefront the two operated, OVO sweatshop, took its name from the rapper Drake’s record label, October’s Very Own.

Anderson LaRoc, 33, of Brooklyn, who prosecutors said targeted 30 victims in an identity-theft scheme.

Dustin Sites, 33, of Brooklyn, who prosecutors said helped Mr. Spieker by opening bank and cryptocurrency accounts to help launder money.

John Humphrey and Fidello Palermo of Rochester, N.Y., both 51, who prosecutors said took over the OVO sweatshop operation, and who were stopped on a trip to Brooklyn and found with 1.7 kilograms of powder and crystalline ketamine and 140 clear vials of liquid ketamine.

All six have pleaded not guilty and have been released on their own recognizance. Spieker has reportedly been a "bitcoin aficionado" since the early days of the cryptocurrency.

We'd be curious to hear what Lloyd Blankfein, the former Goldman CEO who has been particularly vocal on Twitter in recent days, has to say about this.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/former-goldman-banker-charged-bitcoin-laundering-scheme-linked-online-drug-market

winter hair

Japan, U.S., U.K. lenders loan Kuwait $1bn to boost oil output

Japan's three biggest banks are teaming up with major U.S. and European lenders to loan $1 billion to help Kuwait increase oil output, seeking to calm energy markets roiled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and MUFG Bank are making the loan to Kuwait Petroleum Corp., along with HSBC and JPMorgan Chase. Mizuho is expected to be the lead underwriter. Japanese Trade Minister Koichi Hagiuda will meet with Kuwaiti Oil Minister Mohammed al-Fares as early as the coming week to sign off on the deal. Disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia have dominated oil markets for the past few weeks, sending prices up and setting off a frantic scramble by governments to look for energy supplies from other regions. The loan comes after Kuwait asked Japan for support in lifting its oil production capacity. Japan's government is backing up the deal with trade insurance. By insulating private companies from investment risks, the government seeks to help shore up oil supplies from the Middle East.

The ban on Russian oil imports by the U.S. and Europe have accelerated energy price increases. West Texas Intermediate futures have risen to above $110 per barrel from $90 on the New York Mercantile Exchange since the invasion of Ukraine. Japan has joined the U.S. and Europe in urging oil-producing nations, particularly those in the Middle East, to step up production. But only a handful, including Kuwait, have room for capacity expansion. The latest deal could spur similar efforts to encourage production increases with direct financial assistance. Kuwait accounted for 8.4% of Japan's energy imports in 2021, according to the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, making the country a key oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Japan had been trying to expand procurement from Russia to reduce its reliance on the Middle East. But the war in Ukraine has upended that plan, with the Group of Seven leading industrial nations pledging to reduce energy dependence on Moscow in a statement released on March 11. Finding alternative crude sources has become imperative for Japan and other countries.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Commodities/Japan-U.S.-U.K.-lenders-loan-Kuwait-1bn-to-boost-oil-output

Guees those 'negotiations' with Maduro did not go the way they all wanted them to.

They need to sort this rather quickly

>>131619

45departs in N103WG G650 from Athens-Ben Epps Airport, GA back to Palm Beach Int'l

tyvm

muh collectah

o7

Not AF1 Joe in 82-8000 747 and 09-0016 USAF C-32A reappear after departing RAF Mildenhall after a ground stop and heading to JBA

GRIMM99 USAF E04B Nightwatch also departed Mildenhall and back to JBA

>>131657

yw

din't see it till late

out

ttyitm

>>131655

45in N103WG G650 on descent for Palm Beach Int'l