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Blue Planet

Demented US foreign policy pushes Germany into mutually beneficial deals with China and Russia

Darius Shahtahmasebi
RT
Fri, 25 May 2018 12:21 UTC
China's President Xi Jinping (R) meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 24, 2018.
© Jason Lee / ReutersChina's President Xi Jinping (R) meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 24, 2018.
Germany has had enough of American foreign policy. Angela Merkel's visits to Russia and China are a testament to that.

On May 10, 2018, German Chancellor Angela Merkel openly said that Europe can no longer count on the United States to protect it, hinting that the European continent would begin to "take destiny into its own hands."

The comments were, of course, a direct reference to US President Donald Trump's ludicrous but anticipated decision to completely nuke the Iranian nuclear accord, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"It is no longer such that the United States simply protects us, but Europe must take its destiny in its own hands. That's the task of the future," Merkel reportedly said during a speech honoring French President Emmanuel Macron.

Comment: For more on the seemingly disintegrating Atlantic alliance, check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Atlantic Trade War? How Trump Breaking Iran Deal Could Dismantle US Empire

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Alarm Clock

Vladimir Putin warns of systemic financial crisis the world 'has not yet seen'


RT
Fri, 25 May 2018 15:56 UTC
Chinese container ship
© Beck Diefenbach/ReutersA Chinese container ship docked at the Port of Oakland.
The global economy is facing a threat of a spiraling protectionist measures that can lead to a devastating crisis, Vladimir Putin warned. Nations must find a way to prevent this and establish rules on how the economy should work.

The Russian president spoke out against the growing trend of using unilateral restrictions to achieve economic advantage, as he addressed guests of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.

"The system of multilateral cooperation, which took years to build, is no longer allowed to evolve. It is being broken in a very crude way. Breaking the rules is becoming the new rule," he said.
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Arrow Down

Putin: Trump canceled nuclear summit in spite of Kim 'doing everything he promised'; Russian dignitaries comment


RT
Thu, 24 May 2018 21:20 UTC
Putin
© UnknownRussian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin expressed regret that Donald Trump cancelled his summit with Kim Jong-un despite Pyongyang doing everything it was asked for, and expressing hope that the US-North Korea nuclear talks will take place eventually.

"Here, in Russia, we took this news with regret because we were very much anticipating a significant step to be taken to de-escalate the situation on the Korean Peninsula that would become the beginning of the process of denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula," Putin said after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "has done everything he previously promised; he even blew up the tunnels and mines at the [Punggye-ri nuclear] test site - and after that, we learned of the cancellation of the meeting by the US," he said.

"We hope that dialogue will be resumed... and this meeting will take place," the Russian leader added, saying that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will never be achieved without Trump and Kim sitting together. Putin also promised that Moscow and other international players "will be jointly working to bring the stances of the US and North Korea closer together."

Comment: Opportunity dissed and missed. Trump let the neocons tank the summit, destroy fledgling confidence, rob millions of people of peace and prosperity. And the big, new outcome...may be worse than ever. The Russians make good points...all of them.

See also:

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Target

US aims to bully the world into attacking Iran

Rania Khalek
RT
Wed, 23 May 2018 13:32 UTC
Missile fire Damascus
© Omar Sanadiki / ReutersMissile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018.
America's conduct towards Iran demonstrates just how much of a bully the US government is, that anything short of bending 100 percent to America's agenda will eventually result in punishment and war.

Newly appointed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, known as an anti-Iran hawk, began the week by giving a frightening speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation, threatening Iran with the "strongest sanctions in history"' if it doesn't capitulate to US demands. The 12 "basic requirements" Pompeo laid out, which verge on the absurd, went far beyond requiring Iran to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, which it was already doing. Among the conditions were that Iran withdraws its forces and support from groups across the Middle East that the US doesn't like, including in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.

That is never going to happen. Unlike the US, Iran is a part of the Middle East. It has every right to engage with its neighbors, certainly more of a right than the US, a country that is on the other side of the world yet constantly meddles in Middle Eastern affairs to secure its interests.

Comment: These airstrikes are meant to provoke Iran into retaliating against Israel to justify a war that no one really wants. Someone wants it...Israel.

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Stock Up

Sorry USA, there's no sign of Russia's isolation at SPIEF 2018 event


RT
Fri, 25 May 2018 11:19 UTC
PutinMacronBrigitte
© Mikhael Klimentyev/SputnikRussian President Vladimir Putin, and French President Emmanuel Macron with his wife Brigitte.
The opening day of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2018), Russia's annual marquee business event, has seen global leaders in business and politics join a host of multinationals keen to strike deals.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, as well as US Ambassador Jon Huntsman are among those attending.

SPIEF 2018 has become a key business platform, where Russian corporations and investors across the world can sign new contracts and agree on potential joint projects in Russia and abroad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met President Macron, who led the biggest delegation of French businesses intent on doing business in Russia despite EU and US sanctions against the country.

According to the French embassy in Russia, French businesses will sign up to 20 contracts and cooperation agreements by the end of the forum. This year, President of Movement of Enterprises of France (MEDEF) Pierre Gattaz and Chairman of MEDEF International Frederic Sanchez are reportedly heading the biggest foreign delegation at SPIEF with a total of 170 representatives from 60 companies.

Comment: Russia is 'taking care of business'.

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Attention

Conditions for Europe in order to guarantee Iran remains in the nuclear deal


Middle East Monitor
Thu, 24 May 2018 04:33 UTC
Khamenei
© Famous PeopleIran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, yesterday set out a list of conditions for European powers if they want a guarantee that Iran would remain within the nuclear deal.

Among the list of conditions, Khamenei demanded that European banks "safeguard trade with the Islamic Republic," saying that Tehran does "not want to start a fight with these three countries," making a reference to Britain, France and Germany.

The guarantee to increase the purchase of Iranian oil was also demanded, as "in case Americans can damage our oil sales...Europeans should make up for that and buy Iranian oil."

Khamenei also alleged that the European powers had remained silent as the US "repeatedly violated" the nuclear deal, and demanded that the way for Europe to "make up for that silence" would be to "stand up against the US sanctions".

Another demand is that European powers must promise that they would not attempt to seek new negotiations on Iran's ballistic missile programme and other regional activities within the Middle East.

Comment: Europe has moved from US cohorts to Khamenei's hostages. Look how Iran has turned the table, courtesy the US exit. Is it stronger today?

See also: Iranian leader's demand for Europe to keep nuclear deal: 'Europe must buy our oil'

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Stock Up

St. Petersburg: France signs contracts for €1bn direct investment to Russia


RT
Thu, 24 May 2018 18:36 UTC
PutinMacron
© Kirill Kudryavtsev / ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin • French President Emmanuel Macron
Russia and France have signed six contracts for direct investment into Russia worth about €1 billion as part of the ongoing business forum in St Petersburg and the coinciding visit of the French president.

The billion-euro ($1.17 billion) sum of the deal was reported on Tuesday by Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The six contracts were signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is being held in the former Russian capital on Tuesday and Friday.

For comparison, the entire foreign direct investment into Russia in 2017 amounted to $27.9 billion.

French Total acquires 10 percent of Russian Arctic gas project for $2.55bn

French oil and gas giant Total has signed a $25.5 billion agreement with Russia's Novatek on joining the Arctic Liquefied Natural Gas-2 project. Total will acquire a 10 percent stake in the enterprise, with the possibility of increasing it to 15 percent, Leonid Mikhelson, the CEO of Novatek, said, as cited by RIA-Novosti.

Comment: And that's how la vie moves on.

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Rocket

Israel will attack Syria again, and Syria will respond, again: How Israel created its own nightmare in Syria, and there's nothing they can do about it

Elijah J. Magnier
ejmagnier.com
Wed, 23 May 2018 15:36 UTC
syria air defense
Syrian forces are preparing to liberate areas in southern Syria after having completely liberated the capital Damascus from al-Qaeda and from ISIS in Yarmouk, Hajar al-Aswad and its surroundings, as the countryside of Homs and Hama has become totally free. The Syrian army and its allies are also preparing to eliminate ISIS south of Deir al-Zour as the last pocket of this organization in the areas under Syrian control. However, the Syrian southern city Daraa is assessing its position regarding Israel, whose greatest fear is the liberation of the south and a later demand by the central government of Syria for the return of the Israeli occupied Golan heights. The seven years of war imposed on Syria helped to form local groups of trained and experienced fighters who are now part of the "axis of the Resistance", the most highly feared by Israel.

This will prompt Tel Aviv officials - not willing to give back the occupied territory to Syria - to embark on a new military adventure to "feel the pulse" and test the reaction of the "axis of resistance". This is inevitable - especially after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah himself announced new rules of engagement (ROE) laid down after the recent Israeli attack on Syrian army positions.

Sayyed Nasrallah's personal announcement of the new ROE is worth consideration: it is he who has stated the number, type and quantity (55) of rockets and missiles launched on the occupied Golan heights and the Israeli targets launched against them. This has meaningful connotations because it uses a language understood by Israel, which has experienced Hezbollah for 36 years of conflict on different fronts and styles of response. As usual, Sayyed Nasrallah does not take shortcuts and does not push Israel out of control in his first response steps: he warns first, means what he says, and hits after warning.
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Bell

Republicans challenge Twitter, Facebook on anti-conservative bias


RT
Fri, 25 May 2018 07:44 UTC
Twitter button
© Thomas White/Reuters
The GOP and Trump 2020 campaign have called on social media giants to prove that their platforms are not biased against conservatives. Facebook and Twitter have been accused of suppressing right-wing users.

"We are alarmed by numerous allegations that Facebook has blocked content from conservative journalists and groups, and Twitter has hidden such content from conservative users' followers," says the letter sent Thursday by the Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale, addressed personally to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
We won't tolerate bias toward conservatives or @realDonaldTrump supporters. We're standing up for you and demanding answers. @GOPChairwoman and I have sent the following letter to @facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and @Twitter's @jack Dorsey. #StopTheBiaspic.twitter.com/Poz0Dne9i7

- Brad Parscale (@parscale) May 24, 2018
Both social media platforms have announced a crackdown on "fake news" and "Russian bots" in recent months, under mounting pressure from Congress and the media seeking an explanation for Hillary Clinton's defeat in the 2016 presidential election.
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Rocket

Russian S-500: World leader in air defense

Paul Antonopoulos
Fort Russ News
Fri, 25 May 2018 15:05 UTC
S-500 Promotey system
© Sputnik/ Valeriy Melnikov
According to expert Viktor Baranets for Military Watch Magazine, the start of production of Russia's S-500 air defense systems will mark a significant milestone for Russia and its partners.

In Baranets' words, the goal behind developing and producing the S-500 is to meet new threats which require modernizing Russia's anti-missile defense arsenal. Taking into account that Western countries are betting on the development of intercontinental and hypersonic ballistic missiles, finalizing the development of the S-500 is a strategic task.

According to Baranets, even the US still cannot create anti-aircraft systems capable of matching Russia's.

"Regarding the development of the anti-aircraft system, Russia is firmly the global leader. Whatever efforts the Americans make to create something similar to our S-300 system, [...] they have achieved nothing. The Patriot systems, because of their tactical and technical characteristics, are far behind in comparison to the S-300s, nor do they compare to the S-400s, much less the the S-500s," the analyst said.
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