After pleading #guilty to #MoneyLaundering & #obstruction of #justice, Paul #Manafort, the globe-trotting #political consultant & former campaign chairman for #Trump, asked for leniency in his sentencing, telling a federal judge 5 yrs ago that he was nearly 70, struggling w/health concerns & remorseful for his actions.
#Manafort, now 75, also sought to advise #political figures in #Japan & #SouthKorea …. Manafort has roamed widely, traveling to #Guatemala last year on the invitation of a migrant advocacy group called Proyecto Guatemala Migrante. The group’s leader, Verónica Pimentel, said she & a colleague discussed Latin American politics & the #Latino#vote w/ Manafort & introduced him to a Guatemalan presidential candidate, Ricardo Sagastume, who confirmed the meeting.
Members of the group People in Solidarity with Palestinians hold signs during a rally outside the Israeli embassy in Seoul, South Korea [Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA-EFE]
Tourists and expats always complain about how cash-dependent #Japan is, but after visiting #Taiwan and #SouthKorea for the first times in years, noticed that both countries are similar. Stark contrast from #China and #SEAsia where digital payments have taken over the markets.
Is it a cultural thing that differentiates these countries from others?
while #Poland and #Romania have only F16s as main aircraft for defense.
the #USA will not provide aircraft, and the other countries in the world with F16, well, they don't care about #Ukraine (except #SouthKorea but they are on another frontline)