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Canada's Foreign Minister wants to reboot relationship with Russia


RT
Thu, 28 Jan 2016 20:14 UTC
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Dion
© Geoff Robins / AFP
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Dion
Russia-Canada relations are about to get a reboot, with the countries' foreign ministers expressing willingness to resume dialogue after a stall caused by events in Ukraine. The new Canadian government believes snubbing Russia was not productive.

Canada's new Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Dion, told journalists on Tuesday that it is not productive not to talk to Russia, signaling a shift in Canada's foreign policy.

"Look, Canada was speaking to the Russians even at the tough times of the Cold War and now we are not speaking - almost not - because of the former policy of the former government. In which way it's helping Ukraine? In which way it's helping our interest in the Arctic? " Dion said.

Dion stressed that Canada and Russia need to focus on common interests and work from there.

"I think we should have a very effective policy to be sure that Russia understands that we stand for Ukraine and that we are there to work with Russia when we have common interest, but that's the policy that we will do step by step in a very cautious way because we have a lot of disagreements with the Government of Russia, but it's certainly not the way to stop to speak with them when the Americans speak with them and all the Europeans, the Japanese, everybody except Canada," he added.
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Che Guevara

Mass unrest in Moldova: Protesters call for early elections, Washington and EU fear Europe's poorest country is aligning with Russia


Sputnik
Mon, 25 Jan 2016 22:28 UTC
Protester on Modovan flag
© Sputnik/ Stringer
As the political crisis in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova escalates, with the country's disgraced pro-EU government lurching from one crisis to the next, Russian analysts are pondering how exactly Moscow should react, especially given the fact that the mass protests threatening the government have been characterized as 'pro-Russian'.

Since last week, Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet republic with a population of 3.5 million situated between Ukraine and Romania, has been rocked by mass protests attended by upwards of 100,000 people.

Organized by the eurosceptic Party of Socialists and the left-populist Our Party of businessman Renato Usatii, as well as the pro-EU Dignity and Truth Platform Party (which demands a complete reset of the country's corruption-mired political system), protesters are calling for the dissolution of parliament and snap elections.

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Yoda

Putin calls out Obama's big lie on missile defense, yet the press is completely silent

Eric Zuesse
Sott.net
Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:52 UTC
putin
In 2009, US President Obama said that the missile defense only serves as protection from Iranian nuclear missiles. But now there is an international treaty with Iran that bans Tehran from developing a potential military nuclear project. The International Atomic Energy Agency is controlling this, the sanctions against Iran are lifted - but still the US are working on their missile defense system. Only recently a treaty with Spain was signed, a deployment in Romania is being prepared, the same will happen in Poland in 2018, and in Turkey, a radar unit is being installed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in an interview (part 1 and part 2) with Germany's Das Bild, published on January 11th, but the press has ignored this very serious charge - an accusation of deception, bad faith, outright lying, on the part of the US President.

Here is the historical record:

On 17 September 2009, the White House issued «Remarks by the President on Strengthening Missile Defense in Europe». He said there: «This new ballistic missile defense program will best address the threat posed by Iran's ongoing ballistic missile defense program... Our clear and consistent focus has been the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile program, and that continues to be our focus and the basis of the program that we're announcing today».

All the rest of Putin's account is likewise entirely accurate.

US President Barack Obama lied, about a very important matter. The people calling him out on it should be more than just the Russian President. This is an issue - World War III - that affects the entire world.

There is no issue that's more serious than this. But, where is the press on it?
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USA

US using military to halt China's influence in Africa


Press TV
Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:52 UTC
Xi and African delegation
© afrideve.com
Handshakes versus bombing raids. Who knew it could be so easy.
The Pentagon's plan to take fresh military action in oil-rich Libya is part of a broad strategy to contain China's rising influence in North Africa, says an American scholar and political analyst. US officials are "looking at military options" and "a range of other options" in Libya to stop the "metastasis" of Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group in the North African country, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said on Wednesday.

Libya has been wrestling with violence and political uncertainty since the country's former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was deposed and later killed in 2011, following a US-led air campaign.

US ruined richest African nation

Dennis Etler, professor of anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, argues that the new war plan is an ironic development since "the US orchestrated the destruction of Libya in 2011," which led to "a catastrophic civil war, the spread of Daesh terrorism into a vital North African nation and the conversion of what was once the richest and most advanced African country into a failed state."

"Libya, which prior to the US-backed NATO intervention, was one of Africa's greatest proponents of development and unity has now become a purveyor of terrorism and regional instability in the Sahel, namely Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso, as well as giving a big boost to the Boko Haram terrorist organization in bordering Nigeria," Etler said in an interview with Press TV on Thursday.

Comment: "The only thing the US has to offer is military intervention, perpetual war and the devastation of one nation after another." Bingo. So, how much does China really invest in Africa that has the US up in snits? Less than 1% of its total foreign direct investments.

See also: Western media AWOL as 'Islamic State' regroups in Libya: Interview with James & Joanne Moriarty

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Vader

Pentagon ordered by US court to release photos of tortured Afghan, Iraqi prisoners


RT
Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:03 UTC
Abu Ghraib prison, west of Baghdad, Iraq
© Stringer / Reuters
Abu Ghraib prison, west of Baghdad, Iraq.
The Pentagon will publish 198 photos of tortured detainees in the US prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan on Friday, a top American civil rights group has said. The release comes after a decade-long lawsuit ended in the group's favor in March.

Jameel Jaffer, director of the ACLU's Center for Democracy, announced on Wednesday that the US Department of Defense (DoD) would provide public access to previously disclosed images of prisoners being tortured in US detention centers after more than 10 years of staunch resistance to do so.

Comment: 198 out of 2,000 photos... what are they still hiding?

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Light Saber

No compromise: Lavrov says Russia won't discuss 'return' of Crimea with anyone


TASS - Russian news agency
Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:50 UTC
Lavrov
© www.cbc.ca
The West and Ukraine better just get over it already that Crimea was, is, and will be Russian

Russia is in talks with no one on Crimea's returning back to Ukraine as Crimea is a Russian territory, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"There is nothing to return, we are in talks with no one on Crimea's return. Crimea is Russian territory in full conformity with the expression of will of Crimea's peoples," he said at a news conference dedicated to the results of 2015. "[It was the expression of will of] all of them, including those who had had no rights under the Ukrainian authorities and who had been granted their rights, including the state language, when Crimea reunified with Russia after a referendum, the results of which are well-known."

"Of course, you can follow the logic of our Ukrainian colleagues who keep on saying they will recapture Donbas this year and get back Crimea next year but, as a matter of fact, it would be better to speak about the implementation of the Minsk agreements," Lavrov went on to say.

He drew attention to the fact that the Minsk agreements "envisage Donbas staying a part of Ukraine but with obligatory elements of decentralization." "And the Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian parliament] is failing to do what was agreed by the president of Ukraine," he noted.

"And as for Crimea, probably it will be better not to judge the situation based on hearsay but to go there to see," the Russian foreign minister said, adding that many journalists and a number of European politician had already visited Crimea. "It's better to see everything with your own eyes."
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Megaphone

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gives blistering critique of Israel over 'stifling' occupation


Yahoo News
Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:00 UTC
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday renewed his criticism of Israel's "stifling" occupation of Palestinian territories, a day after similar hard-hitting remarks by the UN Secretary-General angered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The UN chief made clear that he would not retreat from the broadside he directed at Israel over its expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

UN diplomats said privately that Ban had upped the pressure on Netanyahu in a final bid to revive hopes for peace before he steps down as secretary-general at the end of the year.

Comment: Well it sure took long enough! One supposes we should be happy that someone in his position finally came out and said some of the things he did. Perhaps someone should forward the following for moon to read from the next time he's ready to give it to the Israeli government:

10 Facts about Israel that everyone should know

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Snakes in Suits

Former House Majority leader Tom DeLay claims FBI is 'ready to indict' Hillary Clinton

Rachel Blevins
Truth In Media
Wed, 27 Jan 2016 02:43 UTC
Hillary Clinton
© Reuters
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has been under investigation by the FBI for several months, and former U.S. House Majority leader Tom DeLay said Monday that the FBI is "ready to indict" her for using a private email server to conduct government business.

During an interview on "The Steve Malzberg Show," DeLay, a Republican from Texas, said he has friends in the FBI who tell him "they're ready to indict" the former Secretary of State.
"They're ready to recommend an indictment and they also say that if the attorney general does not indict, they're going public."

Comment: Well, Obama could pardon her and end it all.

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Nuke

US, China agree on UN resolution against N. Korea nuclear testing, and that's about all


Press TV
Wed, 27 Jan 2016 02:17 UTC
Kerry, Wang
© theiranproject.com
"How to deter NK...Europe, Middle East...need I say more Mr. Wang?"
The United States and China agreed on Wednesday to move ahead with a UN resolution against North Korea following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test earlier this month. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, said a nuclear-armed North Korea poses a "threat to the world."

Speaking to reporters after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kerry said that both sides agreed on the need for a "strong resolution" against North Korea. The top US diplomat said that limiting the trade of goods and services across China's border with North Korea was one potential measure. However, Wang said that while China supported the need for a new resolution, it "should not provoke new tension in the situation, still less destabilize the Korean peninsula."

Wang also said his country will not back new sanctions against Pyongyang. Experts say China is concerned about destabilizing North Korea, fearing that millions of North Korean refugees could flow into China if the regime collapsed.


Comment: A strong resolution, sanctions, regime collapse, a dangerous neighbor, a threat to the world...what does this sound like? Is Washington aiming for a replay of the Middle East and the European refugee dilemma distraction for its Pacific "friends" as well?


Before Wednesday's meeting, the official Xinhua news agency issued a commentary blaming the US's "uncompromising hostility" and "Cold War mentality" for the situation on the Korean peninsula.

Wang and Kerry's meeting, which lasted for nearly five hours, also addressed the strategically vital South China Sea amid rising tensions in the disputed waters.

Comment: Should a real or manufactured escalation of tensions goad N. Korea to go off the deep end, you can bet the US fleet will magically appear in China's territorial waters. Messing with China...perhaps you should think this one out again, Mr. Kerry!

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Red Flag

France's justice minister resigns over controversial terrorism bill


Press TV
Wed, 27 Jan 2016 04:54 UTC
Taubira
© www.presstv.ir
France’s outgoing Justice Minister Christiane Taubira
The French justice minister has stepped down in protest at the government's controversial plan to strip convicted French-born terrorists of their citizenship if they have a second nationality. Christiane Taubira announced her resignation in a tweet on Wednesday, saying, "Sometimes to resist means staying, sometimes resisting means leaving." The minister from French Guiana became France's most senior black politician when she was named to the portfolio in 2012.

Taubira's resignation came just hours before a parliament commission debate on the contentious proposal, including a range of measures for convicted terrorists that would go from depriving them of the right to vote and the right to become a civil servant, to revoking their citizenship.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls reassured that France would respect its obligations under international law preventing people from becoming stateless. Taubira had criticized the plan, calling it discriminatory and useless in preventing the radicalization of French citizens. Jean-Jacques Urvoas, the president of parliamentary committee in charge of reviewing the legislation, was named as the new justice minister.

Following the Paris attacks, France has been under a state of emergency, giving authorities extra powers to keep people in their homes without trial and search houses without judicial approval.

Comment: This "symbolic" constitutional measure is known as the "loss of nationality" plan. The critics believe it sends a message that French citizens could be divided into those who were "pure" French and worth more than those with mixed backgrounds. Unfortunately, Taubira's resignation removed one more obstacle to government changes and special security measures that make up the extended state of emergency, i.e.: expanded powers to government, security and police to dissolve groups or associations, act without judicial oversight, house arrest without linking to criminal offense, searches without warrants, block websites...you get how this goes. Extending and boosting emergency powers was voted in by 551 to 6. With fundamental liberties and rights voted out of the picture, the French shouldn't expect a repeal any time soon.

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