Puppet Masters

Russian lawmaker proposes bill criminalizing foreign sponsorship for politicians

RT
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:26 UTC

A lawmaker representing the parliamentary majority party United Russia is preparing a bill that, if passed, would ban members of political parties from receiving money from foreign sponsors, under the threat of lengthy prison sentences.

Yevgeniy Fyodorov has told Izvestia daily that he plans to draft the bill in the current spring session of the State Duma. The document will contain amendments to the Criminal Code that introduce criminal responsibility for members of registered political parties who receive money from foreign citizens or organizations. The punishment suggested by Fyodorov for violating the rule is between three and six years in prison.

The MP said he was aware that Russian law already contains measures aimed at countering foreign influence on national politics - namely barring the guilty parties from elections and imposing fines on their members - but that personally he considers the law insufficient.

Lavrov: Key condition of Syrian ceasefire is ending smuggling of arms across Turkish-Syrian border

RT
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:16 UTC

Ending smuggling across the Turkish-Syrian border is a key condition to make the ceasefire work in the Syrian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, stressing that he sees no reason to stop the Russian counter-terrorist operation in Syria.

"The key component for the ceasefire to be operational is the burning issue of arms smuggling across the Turkish-Syrian border, supplying the militants [in Syria]," Lavrov said.

Without the smuggling being disrupted, "it is hard to expect the ceasefire to take place - ever," he said, adding that the issue has been discussed with the American co-chairs of the Syrian Support Group.

Lavrov expressed hope that more detailed dialogue will continue after the Syrian Support Group meets in Munich on February 11, where Moscow will present its own suggestions regarding the ceasefire in Syria.

Russia stealing Saudi Arabia's crown as China's top oil supplier

RT
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:03 UTC

Moscow is gaining momentum as the biggest seller of crude oil to China, with Russian crude supplies overtaking those from Saudi Arabia.

According to data from RBC Capital Markets, the Saudi share of Chinese crude imports at the beginning of the decade was about 20 percent, while Russia's was below 7 percent. The situation has changed.

"Russia is the biggest rival to the Saudis in the single-largest oil demand growth country in the world," Michael Tran, RBC Capital Markets' commodity strategist told Business Insider.

"The rising tide of Chinese growth has meant that notional volumes for both countries have increased in the years since, but Russia's gains have been outsized," he added.

Comment: China and Russia working together will only strengthen the position of each country in their struggle to provide an alternative to the US empire. For the Saudis, the loss of their crown to Russia couldn't happen to a nicer bunch!

Bye Bye Petrodollar: Russia accepts yuan for oil, is now China's top oil partner

Rudy Panko
Russia Insider
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:57 UTC

Russia is now the top crude exporter to China, the largest (or second largest, depending on whom you ask) oil demand growth country in the world.

At the start of the decade, Saudi Arabia enjoyed a 20% share of Chinese crude imports, while Russia was lagging far behind with 7%. Now the Saudis find themselves neck and neck with Moscow for the lead in Chinese market share, with both performing in the 13-16% range. But Russia's share continues to rise, as The Kingdom struggles to maintain a foothold.

Why? Analysts attribute Russia's huge market share growth to its willingness to accept yuan, while Saudi Arabia is still clinging to blood-soaked dollars. As Business Insider notes:

Interestingly, part of Russia's success in China has been attributed to its willingness to accept Chinese yuan denominated currency for its oil.

Japan will shoot down N. Korean rocket if deemed threat, Kim Jong-un to launch satellite

Julian Robinson
Daily Mail
Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:53 UTC

© Reuters
Japan has vowed to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it is deemed a threat after Kim Jong-un (pictured centre) announced plans to launch a 'satellite.'

Japan has vowed to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it is deemed a threat after Kim Jong-un announced plans to launch a 'satellite'. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned what he called a 'serious provocation' and Japan issued an order to 'destroy' the missile with surface-to-air weapons if it threatened to fall on its territory. The order was given amid fears over the 'possibility that North Korea will launch a missile it calls a "satellite" within coming days,' the statement said.

'Today the defence minister issued an order' to destroy such a missile if it 'is confirmed that it will fall on Japanese territory,' the defence ministry said in a statement. The order will be carried out by Japan's ballistic missile defence system, which includes PAC-3 surface-to-air anti-ballistic missiles, and similar SM-3 systems aboard warships, the ministry said. The order will be effective until February 25, it added, the end of the launch window announced by Pyongyang that begins on February 8.

Pyongyang announced plans last week for a launch aimed at putting an Earth observation satellite into orbit - just weeks after conducting its fourth nuclear test. Japan's response came as China expressed 'serious concerns' over North Korea's actions. 'We express serious concerns about that,' foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing. 'We believe that the DPRK has the right to the peaceful use of space but at the moment its relevant right should be subject to the restrictions of the UN Security Council resolutions,' he added, using the North's official name.

Comment: See also:

Western death merchants: Endless wars have fueled 'explosion' in number of mercenary armies

Sputnik
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:42 UTC

Since the 'war on terror' began 15 years ago, the number of mercenaries hired by private military and security companies and operating on the front lines in the Middle East and Africa has exploded tremendously, a new report by War on Want reveals.

The report, 'Mercenaries Unleashed: The brave new world of private military and security companies', examines the extensive and far-reaching billion dollar private industry, which the UK-based movement War on Want says is dominated by British companies.

"Private military contractors ran amok in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving a trail of human rights abuses in their wake. Now we are seeing the alarming rise of mercenaries fighting on the front line in conflict zones across the world: it is the return of the 'Dogs of War,' " John Hilary, Executive Director at War on Want told Sputnik.

Comment: For more on this subterranean world of hired guns, check out:

Fun and games: Is Saudi oil price manipulation a blackmail attempt on Putin to soften Syria stance?

Mike Whitney
Counterpunch
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:01 UTC

Here's what you need to know about the Syria peace talks: Four of the most powerful militias currently operating in Syria have been excluded from the negotiations. The Islamic State (ISIS), Jabhat al Nusra, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have all been banned from the talks. What this means is that even if all the delegates agree to a ceasefire, it's not going to matter. The fighting is going to continue. Everyone in the Obama administration already knows this, which is why we think the peace talks are a fraud designed to conceal Washington's real objectives. (More on this later.)

The meetings that were supposed to begin on Friday, did not actually start until Monday following a series of diplomatic miscues over the weekend. As it happens, the main Syrian opposition groups, most of who operate under the aegis of the High Negotiations Committee, refused to come to Geneva until Russia met their demands concerning humanitarian relief, prisoner release and stopping the bombing of enemy positions. Not surprisingly, the matter wasn't settled by Moscow caving in to the HNC's demands, but by Kerry bending-over-backwards to placate the group by making a number of commitments that he'll never be able to keep. What commitments? According to Reuters:

"In separate comments before heading to Geneva, Assad al-Zoubi, (chief negotiator for the HNC) said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave assurances by phone to the HNC's leadership, saying Washington supported a U.N.-backed political transition period without Assad, a bone of contention among warring parties." (Reuters)

Comment: Given Russia's track record so far, it's unlikely that she will fall for this ploy; perhaps she will even turn it to her advantage. Russia's people have had decades of hardship which has enured them to economic discomfort. Their newly-found pride in their country and drive for economic independence from the West will keep Russia on track in the long run.

McCain says US to decide when European countries can lift Russian sanctions

RT
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:25 UTC

Senator John McCain says the US will decide when EU sanctions on Russia can be lifted. The issue of sanctions is expected to be discussed next week in Munich, with many EU countries unhappy that the restrictions are adversely affecting their economies.

"I think there is clearly a lot of conversation amongst the Europeans about lifting the sanctions...There are many countries that are looking for the exit sign," McCain said, speaking to Sputnik. "I have been hearing it for months, that there is enormous pressure in a lot of countries, particularly Germany, to lift the sanctions."

Comment: Wow. McCain makes it VERY clear that the EU has no autonomy or authority - it is subject to the rule of the US. Russia has been trying to get EU member states to see this reality and for them to make up their own minds about the sanctions.

Blackmail? EU members to divide the cost of paying Turkey for the refugee crisis

Sputnik
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:30 UTC

The countries of the European Union have agreed to provide two-thirds of the money which has been offered to tackle the migration crisis in Turkey, media reports said.

The member states of the EU will inject two-thirds of the aid package the union has promised to help resolve the migration gridlock in Turkey. The countries' contributions will be proportionate to their national GDPs, RIA Novosti quoted Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders as saying.

Koenders, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, made the remarks during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

Comment: Further reading:

Oil prices could increase to $40 if Russia makes a deal with OPEC

Alexey Lossan
Russia Beyond the Headlines
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:02 UTC

Oil prices could increase if Russia is able to arrive at a deal with OPEC on reducing oil production by a limit of 5 percent, or by around two million barrels a day, according to analyst at MFX Broker Anton Krasko.

According to Krasko, considering that the current oil glut on the world market comprises just 1.5 million barrels a day, this will be enough to stabilize the market and return prices to at least the $40-a-barrel level.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on January 28 that Russia had accepted an invitation to take part in the extraordinary OPEC summit in February. Novak said Saudi Arabia and OPEC are preparing to discuss the possibility of reducing oil production by 5%.

Comment: Further reading: Russian economy contracted 3.7% in 2015 due to collapse in oil prices

'Redemption' is available at all times and can occur in an instant when the heart-seat of the soul comes into resonance with the Source....

Solare

Biden's gas-guzzling motorcades (Rome) - [Link]

HashAttack2

Like they didn't plan this, the Rockefellers and Kissinger. Like the Pentagon is surprised. Nah Pentagon, just teach your soldiers to wear high...

bbrebozo

What is lost in this discussion is the spiritual element. The Bible and the teachings of Christ have inspired the greatest art, poetry, music the...

Dwoods44

Much of the bible is couched in allegory, ostensibly to survive the inevitability of censorship by those (interdimensional parasites-Satan/Saturn)...

Solare

Puppet Masters

Russian lawmaker proposes bill criminalizing foreign sponsorship for politicians

Lavrov: Key condition of Syrian ceasefire is ending smuggling of arms across Turkish-Syrian border

Russia stealing Saudi Arabia's crown as China's top oil supplier

Bye Bye Petrodollar: Russia accepts yuan for oil, is now China's top oil partner

Japan will shoot down N. Korean rocket if deemed threat, Kim Jong-un to launch satellite

Western death merchants: Endless wars have fueled 'explosion' in number of mercenary armies

Fun and games: Is Saudi oil price manipulation a blackmail attempt on Putin to soften Syria stance?

McCain says US to decide when European countries can lift Russian sanctions

Blackmail? EU members to divide the cost of paying Turkey for the refugee crisis

Oil prices could increase to $40 if Russia makes a deal with OPEC

Latest News

Picture of the Day

Quote of the Day

Recent Comments

Quantum Quirk

Contact Us