At this hour, talks go on with Iran. I don’t know whether all these talks will do any good. Arabs are nice people, but you don’t want to get on their bad side.  

The media is growing more bold in their criticism of Donald Trump. I wouldn’t be too quick to jump. So far, I think he’s ahead of the media. He tells them after the fact. He never gives them a chance to ambush him. Those idiots never give up! They just make up a new story you hadn’t thought of. The media, excepting those that attend press conferences, is against him. They never miss a chance to poke fun. So far, at least, he’s having the last laugh.

Trump signed the agreement to agree. Good luck. I doubt it’s final. Gas prices are supposed to come down, otherwise we’d never know we’d been in a war. I don’t know what kind of leverage we have, we’ve already destroyed everything. We’d hoped another faction would come to power, maybe friendly?  But it doesn’t look like that will happen. I guess we’d better get used to the idea of Iran being an enemy.  

Canada is cratering, and you can read all about it. They’ve never had the strength or resolve of the United States. They’ve let every Tom, Dick and Harry come in and at this point I don’t think we’d want it. How Canadians are putting up with the insults coming from the Oval, I don’t know.  The media is largely against Trump, you don’t need me to tell you that. They are criticizing everything he does and thinks. He doesn’t care.  

They’re chasing us around about AI. They say that pollsters are asking AI instead of the people.  That’s a good way to get steered wrong.  

Markets are about 7 moves ahead of the investor, they claim. Oil is coming down, now that we’ve paid penance. Maybe we won’t feel so guilty every time we fill up the car.  

You hardly hear anything about the Ukraine war. First we were on Zelensky’s side, then Trump kicked him out of the White House. I don’t know what to make of it, but I don’t like Zelensky. He had the misfortune of Donald Trump’s presidency, and doesn’t know how to handle it. Ukraine has hit Russia with missiles and the other shoe has yet to drop.

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – June 19, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a memorandum of understanding, laying out terms for ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump could be seen signing the memorandum late Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in video published by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Asked by a reporter about the signing while leaving Versailles, Trump said, “It’s signed. Signed in Versailles. Just signed it.”

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/strait-hormuz-reopen-us-lift-iran-sanctions-14-point-deal-seeking-end-rcna350513?fbclid=IwY2xjawSniupleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePpQqVo1bghpWQo0CJkzb9dmQb_UnZ5GyN_8LpxrymUsYPluecLlL7P5TqIU_aem_XY9VvSsXyO5up97hD7nm6g

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Pompeo minced no words on China’s threat to the world — its hegemonic designs, The Wuhan Virus and its constant aggressiveness in the South China Sea, and the on India’s northern borders. He stressed on the need for the US and India to work together to counter the threat posed by Beijing to “security and freedom.” He said in his speech in New Delhi – “Our friendship and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific was clearly, clearly highly on display when we were in Tokyo this past week and a half for the Quad meeting that Minister Jaishankar and I had with our Australian and Japanese friends earlier this month.”

Pompeo reiterated that the US will stand with India as it confronts threats to its sovereignty and liberty.

Interestingly, he also talked about how India belonged in the UN Security Council and the US will support India’s bid to be in it.

As in the dialogue last year, the joint statement denounced the terror proxies of Pakistan and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism including naming Al Qaeda, ISIS, LeT, Jem and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Weirdly, The Global Times, a Chinese Communist mouthpiece reported that Chinese experts had said that since most of India’s weapons are from Russia, the US services offered to India may be incompatible. Wishful thinking China.

How can an Eye in the Sky be incompatible? So much for Chinese scientists and their bogus claims.

According to Dawn newspaper which reported on Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) statement, the establishment is clearly worried. It reported- ‘The agreement called Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) was signed at the third edition of India-US 2+2 talks held in Delhi. The accord will enable India to access precision topographical, nautical, and aeronautical data and topographical images from US military satellites on a real-time basis. The data could be used for missiles and armed drones.

It is the eighth agreement signed by the United States and India since they embarked on a strategic partnership in 2005. Pakistani strategists believe that the agreement would increase Pakistan’s strategic dilemma, even though it is being presented as part of efforts to contain China.’

The Foreign Office it seems is very alarmed — “Pakistan has taken note of the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. Pakistan has been consistently highlighting the threats posed to strategic stability in South Asia as a result of provision of advanced military hardware, technologies, and knowledge to India.”

At least Pakistan had the sense not to suggest that US geospatial intelligence was incompatible with India’s defense requirements!

The fact that Secretary Pompeo is proceeding to Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia after India is significant as the US is clearly working to get allies on board against the Chinese Dragon, especially the countries that have been singed by its fiery breath.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/no-free-lunch/pakistan-china-in-a-funk-by-indias-latest-deals-with-the-us/

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Pakistan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons built by General Dynamics of the U.S. are on course for joint maneuvers with their Chinese counterparts.    © Reuters

KARACHI — China has signed a defense pact with Pakistan, its old ally, in response to a recent information-sharing pact between India and the U.S.

Gen. Wei Fenghe, China’s defense minister and state councilor, visited Islamabad last week for three days and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance defense cooperation between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army.

Unlike the U.S.-India defense arrangement, details of the China-Pakistan pact have not been made public. However, analysts believe it contains new commitments to intelligence-sharing that will help Pakistan track the movements of Indian forces across their tense shared border.

Pakistan made clear the importance of Wei’s visit to mutual defense arrangements by bestowing a prestigious national award on him, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, which is given for outstanding service to the country.

The military diplomacy follows the signing at the end of October of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation by New Delhi and Washington, which gave India’s armed forces access to a wealth of data from U.S. military satellites.

Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, a government ally, said the MOU “will counter the onslaught of India backed by the U.S. and it will give more confidence to Pakistan that in its hour of need Beijing will stand with Pakistan.” He said the understanding draws Pakistan further into China’s orbit as their economies and security interests become more intertwined.

It was also announced that the Pakistani and Chinese air forces will conduct a large joint exercise called Shaheen IX before the end of December. Its predecessor, Shaheen VIII, lasted a fortnight and involved some 50 warplanes, including fighter jets and early warning aircraft, which participated in battle simulations. Shaheen IX is expected to be bigger in all respects.

“The U.S.-India agreement will strengthen New Delhi’s military capacities to monitor Pakistan-based threats,” Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the Wilson Center, told Nikkei Asia. “The China-Pakistan agreement can be viewed as an effort to reduce some of the imbalance in strategic stability in the region prompted by the U.S.-India deal.”

China has recently stepped up defense cooperation arrangements with Pakistan in a robust security alliance that dates from the 1960s.   © Reuters

But that might not be enough to put India and Pakistan on an even footing. “America’s sophisticated, high-quality surveillance and intelligence-related technologies may be of greater quality than China’s,” said Kugelman.

China has backed Pakistan in defense matters since the 1960s, and the latest development is an extension of that alliance. “Without any doubt, China is signaling its support to Pakistan against India,” Jeremy Garlick, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Economics in Prague, told Nikkei. “China has been committed to supporting Pakistan for decades, and it is indicating that its position is unchanged.”

During his visit, Wei expressed satisfaction with security provided to infrastructure projects in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $50 billion component in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Behind the scenes, the Chinese may not be so sanguine, however, since troop increases and other security measures have not prevented occasional raids.

“China will worry about the security issue so long as its projects and the Chinese personnel working on them continue to be attacked,” said Kugelman. “Still, security concerns will not prompt Beijing to scale back its investments in Pakistan.”

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/China-and-Pakistan-ink-military-MOU-to-counter-US-India-pact

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It is important to recognize that the optimal way to prevent airborne transmission is to use a combination of interventions from across the hierarchy of controls, not just PPE alone.

COVID-19 Resources on Face Masks and Surgical Masks

• Face Masks and Surgical Masks for COVID-19: Includes FAQs on manufacturing, purchasing, importing, and donating masks
• FAQs on Shortages of Surgical Masks and Gowns During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Surgical Mask and Gown Conservation Strategies – Letter to Health Care Providers Includes conventional capacity strategies, contingency capacity strategies, and crisis or alternate strategies (if masks are running low and if no masks are available)

On this page:

• N95 Respirators Not for Use by the General Public
• CDC Recommends Cloth Face Coverings for Use by the General Public
• Surgical Masks
• N95 Respirators
• Comparing Surgical Masks and Surgical N95 Respirators
• General N95 Respirator Precautions
• Decontaminating Respirators
• N95 Respirators in Industrial and Health Care Settings

N95 Respirators Not for Use by the General Public

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend that the general public wear N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including coronavirus (COVID-19). Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

CDC Recommends Cloth Face Coverings for Use by the General Public

The CDC recommends that members of the public use simple cloth face coverings when in a public setting to slow the spread of the virus since this will help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. For more information, see the CDC’s Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions, such as hand washing and maintaining at least 6 feet of social distancing, to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases.

Surgical Masks

A surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Surgical masks are regulated under 21 CFR 878.4040. Surgical masks are not to be shared and may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental, or medical procedure masks. They may come with or without a face shield. These are often referred to as face masks, although not all face masks are regulated as surgical masks.

Surgical masks are made in different thicknesses and with different ability to protect you from contact with liquids. These properties may also affect how easily you can breathe through the face mask and how well the surgical mask protects you.

If worn properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. Surgical masks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.

While a surgical mask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, a face mask, by design, does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes, or certain medical procedures. Surgical masks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because of the loose fit between the surface of the mask and your face.

Surgical masks are not intended to be used more than once. If your mask is damaged or soiled, or if breathing through the mask becomes difficult, you should remove the face mask, discard it safely, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your mask, place it in a plastic bag, and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used mask.

N95 Respirators

An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. Note that the edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Surgical N95 Respirators are commonly used in healthcare settings and are a subset of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs), often referred to as N95s.

The similarities among surgical masks and surgical N95s are:

• They are tested for fluid resistance, filtration efficiency (particulate filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency), flammability, and biocompatibility.
• They should not be shared or reused.

Comparing Surgical Masks and Surgical N95 Respirators

The FDA regulates surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators differently based on their intended use.

A surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. These are often referred to as face masks, although not all face masks are regulated as surgical masks. Note that the edges of the mask are not designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth.

An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. Note that the edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Surgical N95 Respirators are commonly used in healthcare settings and are a subset of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs), often referred to as N95s.

The similarities among surgical masks and surgical N95s are:

• They are tested for fluid resistance, filtration efficiency (particulate filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency), flammability, and biocompatibility.
• They should not be shared or reused.

General N95 Respirator Precautions

• People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their health care provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe.
• Some models have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce heat build-up. Note that N95 respirators with exhalation valves should not be used when sterile conditions are needed.
• All FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as “single-use,” disposable devices. If your respirator is damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator, discard it properly, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag, and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.
• N95 respirators are not designed for children or people with facial hair. Because a proper fit cannot be achieved on children and people with facial hair, the N95 respirator may not provide full protection.

Decontaminating Respirators

The FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for the emergency use of decontamination systems for use in decontaminating certain respirators used by health care personnel when there are insufficient supplies of new respirators resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. New FDA-cleared N95 respirators or NIOSH-approved N95 respirators or other FDA authorized respirators are always the first choice before a decontaminated respirator.

• If a used respirator that is FDA-cleared or NIOSH-approved is available and a new respirator covered under one of the FDA Emergency Use Authorizations for respirators is not available, you may consider decontaminating and reusing the used respirator with a decontamination system that has an FDA Emergency Use Authorization, if the used respirator is compatible with the decontamination system.
• If your facility is using respirators that have been subsequently removed from Appendix A, these respirators are no longer authorized by FDA for single use or for reuse by an FDA authorized decontamination system.
• Additionally, as of June 6, 2020, any respirator authorized by the Non-NIOSH-Approved Disposable Filtering Facepiece Respirators Manufactured in China, or any respirators with exhalation valves are not authorized to be decontaminated by any of the authorized decontamination systems.
• If you have concerns about respirators or questions about the packaging, labeling, or quality of the respirators, consider replacing, discarding, or returning the respirators to the distributor.

Respirators that are NIOSH-approved before decontamination only retain their NIOSH approval status post-decontamination if the respirator manufacturer permits the use of the decontamination method with the specific system and cycle parameters. To determine the NIOSH approval status of a specific decontaminated NIOSH-approved respirator, please check with the respirator manufacturer.

N95 Respirators in Industrial and Health Care Settings

Most N95 respirators are manufactured for use in construction and other industrial-type jobs that expose workers to dust and small particles. They are regulated by the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, some N95 respirators are intended for use in a health care setting. Specifically, single-use, disposable respiratory protective devices used and worn by health care personnel during procedures to protect both the patient and health care personnel from the transfer of microorganisms, body fluids, and particulate material. These surgical N95 respirators are class II devices regulated by the FDA, under 21 CFR 878.4040, and CDC NIOSH under 42 CFR Part 84.

N95s respirators regulated under product code MSH are class II medical devices exempt from 510(k) premarket notification, unless:

• The respirator is intended to prevent specific diseases or infections, or
• The respirator is labeled or otherwise represented as filtering surgical smoke or plumes, filtering specific amounts of viruses or bacteria, reducing the amount of and/or killing viruses, bacteria, or fungi, or affecting allergenicity, or
• The respirator contains coating technologies unrelated to filtration (e.g., to reduce and or kill microorganisms).

The FDA has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CDC NIOSH which outlines the framework for coordination and collaboration between the FDA and NIOSH for the regulation of this subset of N95 respirators.

For additional differences between surgical masks and N95 respirators, please see CDC’s infographic.

Source: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-surgical-masks-and-face-masks

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