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Attempted murder: Ex-Russian double agent Skripal & daughter were exposed to nerve agent, police confirm


RT
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:00 UTC
Police
© Reuters/ Toby Melville
Russian ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Russian ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were exposed to a nerve agent, UK police have confirmed. The police are investigating their attempted murder.

Assistant police commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley said "hundreds of detectives" are working on the case, after confirming an unnamed nerve agent has been identified in the case. The pair are currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The pair were found slumped on a bench outside a shopping center in Wiltshire. It is believed they were exposed to a substance, but there are no facts as yet established as to what it was or how the pair came into contact with the substance.

Rowley, who has just weeks left in his role as head of national counter-terrorism policing, said an officer has also been taken seriously ill.

Comment: See also:

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Gear

National Intelligence Chief: US Considering New Attack on Syrian Gov't


Sputnik
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 19:38 UTC
The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter
© AP Photo/ Ford Williams/U.S. Navy
In this image from video provided by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea, Friday, April 7, 2017
A potential decision by Washington to take new military actions against Damascus would mark the second US strike on Syria in less than a year.

The Trump Administration is considering new attacks against the Syrian Government in response to reports of chemical weapons' use, the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) said on Tuesday.

"As you saw the president's response to the attack last year, this is something that is under serious discussion as we speak, but again, something that needs to be discussed in a classified session," Daniel Coats told a Senate committee, referring to the launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles towards a military base in Syria's Shairat.

Last week, President Donald Trump had discussed the possibility of "a new military action" against the Syrian government as a punitive measure, citing Damascus' alleged use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta, the Washington Post quoted anonymous US officials as saying.
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Bullseye

More military spending - Why Putin's latest display of Russian military superiority should concern Americans

Jonathan Marshall
Consortium News
Sat, 03 Mar 2018 18:11 UTC
Sarmat ICBM
© AP
In this video grab provided by RU-RTR Russian television via AP television on Thursday, March 1, 2018, Russia’s new Sarmat intercontinental missile is shown at an undisclosed location in Russia
Be afraid. Be very afraid of Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest boast to his Federal Assembly that Russian scientists have come up with "a breakthrough in developing new models of strategic weapons" aimed at the United States.

Don't be afraid that he has any intention of using them. Don't even be afraid that most of the weapons he demonstrated through animated simulations are operational.

Be afraid, rather, that armchair Cold Warriors in the United States will shamelessly exploit Putin's speech to justify billions-no, trillions-of dollars in needless spending on a pointless nuclear arms race.

Achieving their agenda was made easier by media coverage of the speech, which reported that Putin "threatened the West" (New York Times) and "represented an escalated level of martial rhetoric even by his pugnacious standards" (Washington Post).

Putin in fact explicitly and repeatedly emphasized that his claimed new weapons are not offensive, but rather designed to maintain Russia's nuclear deterrent in the face of growing U.S. anti-missile systems.

Comment: Previously: Putin Delivers Landmark 'State of The Union' Speech: Puts The Smack Down on US, Shows Off Latest Russian Nuclear Weapons

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Caesar

'If somebody decides to destroy Russia, we are justified in such a response': Putin says Moscow won't start nuclear holocaust


RT
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 19:18 UTC
Russian President Vladimir Putin
© Grigoriy Sisoev / Sputnik
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Russia will not strike first with nuclear weapons. Moscow's nuclear arsenal is not meant to be used, because the alternative is a global disaster that would destroy Russia too.

"A decision on the use of nuclear weapons may only be taken if our ballistic missile attack warning system not only detects a launch, but also predicts that the warheads would hit Russian territory. This is called a retaliation strike," he said in an interview. "If somebody decides to destroy Russia, we are justified in such a response."

Comment: See also: Behind the Headlines: Putin The World To Rights: Russia's New Nuclear Weapons And The End of 'Unipolarity'

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Snakes in Suits

Australian diplomat whose tip resulted in FBI's Trump-Russia investigation has ties to Clintons

Tyler Durden
Zerohedge
Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:05 UTC
Alexander Downer, Bill Clinton
The Australian diplomat whose 2016 tip resulted in the FBI's Trump-Russia counterintelligence investigation had previously arranged one of the largest donations to Clinton charities, documents reveal.

Alexander Downer, formerly Australia's Foreign Minister, secured $25 million in aid from Australia for the Clinton Foundation's fight against AIDS - according to decade-old government memos archived on the Australian foreign ministry website, report John Solomon and Alison Spann of The Hill.

A 2006 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both Downer and President Clinton outlines a four year project to provide screening and drug treatment to AIDS patients in Asia.

The funds were originally slated for the Clinton Foundation, but were later routed to the Clinton Health Access Initative (CHAI).

Comment: See also:

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Handcuffs

Fmr Guatemalan Pres. Otto Perez Molina denied house arrest related to corruption conviction


teleSUR
Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:03 UTC
Former Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina
© EFE FILE
Former Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina
On Monday, former Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina was remanded following an appearance in court on charges related to corruption.

Perez has been in custody since September 3, 2015. The ex-leader was denied a move to house arrest after unsuccessfully arguing that he suffers from a heart condition. The ex-president alleged that he is at risk of suffering a "sudden death" and requested the transfer on humanitarian grounds.

"The condition that I have remains and that condition can generate a malignant ventricular fibrillation at any time," Perez said. According to a doctor who testified for the defence, Perez suffers from ventricular tachycardia.

"The device has been renewed five times and has completed seven events. He has managed to restore the normal movement of the heart," Perez told reporters.
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Smiley

Putin has a laugh over question about recruiting the United States First Lady during G20 summit


RT
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:00 UTC
Putin Melania Trump
© Tobias Schwarz / AFP
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, US First Lady Melania Trump
Bears, tigers and maternity benefits - that was the subject of Vladimir Putin's short talk with the US First Lady at the G20 summit in Hamburg, he said in a new documentary. And no, he definitely did not try to recruit her.

The two met briefly at a G20 summit dinner last year, and photos of Donald Trump's wife laughing at Putin's jokes stirred much speculation in the US media. In an interview published as part of a new documentary, Putin said he entertained Melania Trump and Emanuela Mauro, wife of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who was sitting on his opposite site, with a description of Russia's maternity benefits during the dinner.

"They were very interested in this. They were surprised how large our maternity benefits are," Putin claimed.

Comment: We can expect the US media to portray Putin's statement as an admission that he did in fact recruit Melania Trump, and he did it with stories of fish, tigers and bears, oh my!

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Pills

Belgium issues free iodine pills to all citizens, claims 'no specific risk with nuclear plants for now'


RT
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 17:43 UTC
Doel nuclear plant
© Francois Lenoir / Reuters
Doel nuclear plant of Electrabel
Belgium has started distributing iodine pills free for all citizens, claiming the measure was not prompted by any "specific risk." Pharmacies have begun receiving some of the 4.5 million boxes of iodine pills, which have been available for citizens for free since Tuesday, it was revealed during the presentation of a new plan in case on nuclear emergency. The distribution of the medicine, which is considered beneficial for radiation-affected citizens, came as an updated emergency plan came into effect.

In 2017, the government launched a website, explaining to its 11 million citizens step-by-step what to do in case of a nuclear accident. The alert states that in emergency situations citizens should always follow recommendations of the authorities, which include seeking shelter, following evacuation orders and taking iodine pills.

Comment: It's pretty rare to see governments act proactively to address potential problems, and at this point it would only be speculation to suggest Belgium is on the verge of some nuclear disaster. That said, arming yourself with knowledge about the incredible benefits of iodine can be life changing and possible life saving. For more information see this Sott Focus on iodine: Iodine - Suppressed knowledge that can change your life

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Dominoes

Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who allegedly paid off adult film actress Stormy Daniels, demanded refund from Trump for payoff

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:39 UTC
Trump lawyer Michael Cohen'

Trump lawyer Michael Cohen
Contrary to Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's claim (made under oath) that he paid former adult-film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 out of his own pocket in a gesture of good will, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that First Republic Bank flagged Cohen's transaction - made during the final days of the campaign - as suspicious.

As we previously pointed out, Cohen transferred the money to a lawyer for the former adult film actress, who dished on her relationship with Trump during interviews with Inside Edition and In Touch Magazine (the latter interview was recorded in 2011, but the magazine sat on it until this year)...

Back in 2016, Cohen reportedly missed two deadlines to pay off Daniels because he couldn't get in touch with Trump during the hectic final stretch of the campaign, when the president was contending with the fallout from the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape.

Before receiving the payment, Daniels signed an NDA barring her from discussing her sexual encounters with the president.
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Pirates

Venezuelan opposition work to undermine new Petro cyptocurrency by declaring it illegal


RT
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 17:33 UTC
cryptocurrency
© Marco Bello / Reuters
One of two opposition lawmaking groups in Venezuela has ruled that the country's domestic laws do not allow President Nicolas Maduro to issue a national virtual currency.

The petro cryptocurrency, backed by the nation's energy resources, has reportedly raised $735 million since it debuted last month, and marks the first time that a country has launched a blockchain-run form of payment.

Venezuela's Asamblea Nacional declared the petro (PTR) unconstitutional, with the opposition claiming that the national crypto project was a fraud that might turn into a threat for potential investors.
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