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Boat

Russian military sends two frigates to Med amid warnings of false-flag chemical attack planned for Idlib, Syria


Sputnik
Sun, 26 Aug 2018 15:41 UTC
grigorovich
© Yantar Baltic Shipbuilding plant press service
Russian Defense Ministry warned that militants in Idlib may be preparing to stage a chemical weapons attack against the local civilian population and thus create a pretext for a US strike.

Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen, two frigates of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, are heading to the Mediterranean Sea in order to bolster Russia's military presence in the region, according to a statement issued by Russian Defense Ministry's press service.

While en route to their final destination, the two vessels reportedly conducted a series of naval exercises, including the detection and tracking of a simulated enemy submersible target.

This development occurred as Russian Defense Ministry accused the United States, the United Kingdom and France of preparing to carry out new strikes against Syria under the pretext of chemical weapons use by Syrian government forces.

As the ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov explained, militants in Idlib province are preparing to stage a chemical weapon attack against civilians in order to blame Damascus, while the United States stands ready to launch a punitive strike against Syria as soon as the necessary pretext becomes available.

"This provocation with the active participation of the British special services will serve as another pretext for the US, UK and France to conduct a missile strike on the Syrian government and economic facilities," Konashenkov claimed.

Comment: The last remaining White Helmets remain in Idlib. While the jihadists don't stand a chance once the offensive to liberate the province begins, that doesn't mean they won't stick to their past tactics: calling in American air support by faking a chemical attack and blaming the 'Assad regime'.

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Red Flag

Russian MoD warns 'foreign specialists' may stage chemical attack in Syria in 2 days to frame Assad


RT
Sun, 26 Aug 2018 15:34 UTC
White Helmets in Syria
© Omar Haj Kadour / AFPWhite Helmets in Syria/
"Foreign specialists" have arrived in Syria and may stage a chemical attack using chlorine in "the next two days," the Russian Defense Ministry said. This will be filmed for international media to frame Damascus forces.

Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the operation is planned to unfold in the village of Kafr Zita in Syria's northwestern Hama Province in "the next two days."

Konashenkov said that "English-speaking specialists" are already in place to use "poisonous agents." While a group of residents from the north has been transported to Kafr Zita and is currently being prepared "to take part in the staging of the attack" and be filmed suffering from supposed "'chemical munitions' and 'barrel bombs' launched by the Syrian government forces."

Comment: For more on this story: Bolton Calls on Al-Qaeda to Stage More Chemical Attacks in Syria

It also looks like Russia is prepared for the US response of the false flag: Russia sends largest naval armada of Syrian War in response to reports of imminent US attack:
Russia has built up its forces around the Mediterranean Sea in response to reports of the U.S., France, and Great Britain preparing to attack Syria.

According to Yoruk Isik of the Bosphorus Observer, the Russian Navy has sent another armada of ships towards Syria's territorial waters in order to increase the strength of their forces around the country.

Isik said that the powerful Russian warships, Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen class frigate, were spotted transiting the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Port of Tartous.

This latest move by the Russian Navy comes just 24 hours after they sent three ships en route to the Port of Tartous in western Syria.

With the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) preparing to launch a large-scale offensive in northwest Syria, Russia fears that the jihadist rebels may fake a chemical weapons attack in order to get the U.S. and its allies to attack the government.


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Handcuffs

'Most corrupt' Mexican governor charged with money laundering


teleSUR
Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:38 UTC
Duarte
© EFEFormer Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte in the process of being extradited from Guatemala City to Mexico, July 4, 2017.
If convicted, Javier Duarte faces up to 40 years in prison for money laundering, plus up to 10 years for illicit association.

Mexico's ex-governor of Veracruz, Javier Duarte, has been charged with money laundering and illicit association, and faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted.

Mexico's Public Prosecuting Office (PGR) presented the new charges against Duarte on Wednesday following a year-long investigation, explaining that the evidence was "not enough to prove the organized crime charges that had been initially presented."

Media, both local and international, were quick to point out that the reclassification of the charges could mean Duarte will be freed from pre-trial detention until the trial commences.

Allegations against Duarte have mounted since he voluntarily left office in October 2016. Prosecutors presented enough evidence to link him to a money laundering network that funneled about US$20 million into his pocket. He was later expelled from the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) and fled to Guatemala.
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Info

Australian PM Turnbull forced out, replaced by Scott Morrison

Ben Doherty
The Guardian
Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:30 UTC
Scott Morrison
Australia has a new prime minister in Scott Morrison - the socially conservative architect of Australia's hardline anti-asylum seeker policies - after he mounted a late challenge during a drawn-out struggle for power in the governing Liberal party.

On Friday, incumbent Malcolm Turnbull failed in his attempt to stare down a challenge from hard right MP Peter Dutton, with insurgents in his party gathering enough signatures to call for a "spill" - or leadership contest.

That led to a three-way challenge that included Morrison, Turnbull's treasurer, Dutton, the former home affairs minister, and Julie Bishop, the foreign minister. Turnbull himself stood aside from the contest.

Bishop was eliminated in the first round, and Morrison beat Dutton in a subsequent run-off, 45 votes to 40, suggesting the party is still deeply divided.

There appears no end in sight to the civil war consuming the ruling Liberal-led coalition government. The country may be headed to an election, with Turnbull saying he will not stay in parliament. His resignation in between general elections would erase the government's single-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

Comment:



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SOTT Logo

Irish PM declares, in front of grovelling Pope, 'Time to build a new relationship between church and state'

Harriett Sherwood
The Guardian
Sun, 26 Aug 2018 15:11 UTC
Irish PM Varadkar and Pope Francis
The Irish prime minister has called for a new relationship between church and state in which religion is no longer at the centre of society, as the pope made his first visit to Ireland this weekend.

In a blistering speech focusing on the failings of the church, delivered in the presence of Pope Francis, Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach, said a new covenant for the 21st century was needed that reflected the modern country Ireland had become and learned from "our shared mistakes".

Pope Francis, who is on a two-day visit to Ireland, repeated earlier acknowledgements of the "grave scandal" of child sexual abuse and the church's failures to confront it, but he failed to address survivors' growing demands for action.

Francis said: "I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education.
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Info

Trump teases about 'big trade agreement' with Mexico, says relations 'getting closer by the hour'


RT
Sat, 25 Aug 2018 15:21 UTC
US and Mexico flags on Wall Street
© Lucas Jackson / Reuters
Donald Trump has tweeted that a "big trade agreement" with Mexico could be coming soon and America's relationship with its neighbor is "getting closer by the hour" - despite two years of tensions over his much-touted border wall.

"Our relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together... a big trade agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!" Trump tweeted on Saturday morning.

While the tweet might come as a surprise, it is possible that brighter days are on the horizon for US-Mexico relations.
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Stock Down

'Inefficiency has nothing to do with sanctions': Iranian Economy Minister impeached in vote of no confidence


Sputnik
Sun, 26 Aug 2018 11:44 UTC
iran parliament
© AP Photo / Vahid SalemiIranian Economy Minister Impeached
Abbas Payizadeh, conservative MP in a speech ahead of the impeached vote, said that "inefficiency and lack of planning have nothing to do with sanctions."

Iran's parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian as the country tries to confront an economic crisis.

Masoud Karbasian lost the vote of confidence by 137 votes to 121. He became the second minister to have to step down this month.

"Wrong decisions have harmed the people and led to individuals looting public assets," Abbas Payizadeh said.

Earlier, the Iranian parliament prepared a list of questions concerning the cabinet's policy on coping with economic challenges facing the country and has given President Rouhani one month to present his answers to lawmakers, the ISNA news agency reported.

Comment: Iran has been hit by waves of unrest since the end of last year over the country's struggling economy, and the Iranian FM has accused the US of hijacking these protest in its typical attempts at subversion, but it seems that while these and US sanctions aren't helping, they aren't entirely responsible for this ministers departure:

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Map

America's Pakistan policy shows White House ignorant of major geostrategic shifts

F. Michael Maloof
RT
Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:47 UTC
A supporter of Imran Khan, Karachi, Pakistan, July 22, 2018
© Akhtar Soomro / ReutersA supporter of Imran Khan, Karachi, Pakistan, July 22, 2018.
While observers point to similarities in the rise of Donald Trump and Pakistan's new prime minister, Imran Khan, that's where they end as relations between the US and Pakistan enter into a serious period of political uncertainty.

The Trump administration recently froze some $255 million in aid to Pakistan for continuing to harbor "terrorists" - in this case, Afghan Taliban, which was created years ago by Pakistan's military intelligence, Inter-Service Intelligence, (ISI). In this year's Pakistani election, ISI apparently supported the former cricket player and playboy, Khan - who is known for his anti-American rhetoric.

In the past, Khan has been very vocal in his opposition to US efforts to strike terrorist operations by drones inside Pakistan. His criticism has extended to any US efforts to link foreign aid to Pakistani cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. The cut-off of aid suggested that the Trump administration was holding Khan to the same criteria for continued assistance as previous US administrations have required of previous Pakistani governments.
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Info

Kremlin states Putin in constant contact with PM Medvedev amid reports of injury


RT
Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:42 UTC
President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
© Ekaterina Shtukina / Sputnik
The Russian president and prime minister remain in close contact during the latter's absence from public events, a Kremlin spokesperson said after the government press service revealed Dmitry Medvedev had suffered a sports injury.

"The president is traditionally in constant working contact with the chairman of the government," Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. The spokesman added that the work of the two top Russian officials provided for such constant contact regardless of their actual location.

However, Peskov declined to comment regarding Medvedev's state of health, and suggested that reporters address questions on this matter to the government press service.
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Propaganda

NYT claims sources gone quiet as it runs out of excuses for its lack of 'Russia collusion' evidence

Nebojsa Malic
RT
Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:00 UTC
nyt new york times
US intelligence is 'in the dark' about Russian intentions towards the November midterm elections, the New York Times reports, offering some explanations as to why this might be the case, while ignoring the most obvious one.

According to the Times report, written by Julian E. Barnes and Matthew Rosenberg and published Friday, US intelligence agencies got a "detailed assessment" of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, thanks "in large part to informants close to President Vladimir V. Putin and in the Kremlin who provided crucial details."

Today, however, "the vital Kremlin informants have largely gone silent," leaving the CIA and other US spy agencies "in the dark" about Putin's intentions. Russia could be trying to "tilt" the midterms, "simply sow chaos," or "generally undermine trust in the democratic process," the spies tell the NY Times.

Not for a moment do the authors, or their anonymous sources from inside the US spy community, contemplate the possibility that Russia might not be doing anything at all. That, however, would upset the apple cart of "Russian meddling" carefully built from smoke and mirrors since mid-2016, and that just wouldn't do.

Comment: See also:

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