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Footprints

Brexit to begin by March 2017, announces Theresa May


RT
Sun, 02 Oct 2016 15:49 UTC
Teresa May
© Matt Cardy / ReutersUK Prime Minister Theresa May
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which governs the British exit from the EU, is set to be triggered by the end of March 2017.

When asked when Britain was to actually begin its formal divorce from the European Union, May told the BBC: "We will trigger before the end of March next year."

PM May is preparing a bill aimed at rolling back 44 years of EU law supremacy. The document would transfer all existing Brussels laws onto the parliament's statute books.

This will effectively repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which has until now governed the implementation of EU laws in the UK. On the one hand, the move is considered the only correct way to achieve a 'full Brexit' - if that is the ultimate desire.
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Eye 2

Spreading death: U.S. military building a $100 million drone base in Niger

Nick Turse
The Intercept
Thu, 29 Sep 2016 15:52 UTC
Aerial view of Agadez, Niger
© Google EarthSatellite images of site of U.S. drone base outside Agadez, Niger in 2016.
From high above, Agadez almost blends into the cocoa-colored wasteland that surrounds it. Only when you descend farther can you make out a city that curves around an airfield before fading into the desert. Once a nexus for camel caravans hauling tea and salt across the Sahara, Agadez is now a West African paradise for people smugglers and a way station for refugees and migrants intent on reaching Europe's shores by any means necessary.

Africans fleeing unrest and poverty are not, however, the only foreigners making their way to this town in the center of Niger. U.S. military documents reveal new information about an American drone base under construction on the outskirts of the city. The long-planned project — considered the most important U.S. military construction effort in Africa, according to formerly secret files obtained by The Intercept through the Freedom of Information Act — is slated to cost $100 million, and is just one of a number of recent American military initiatives in the impoverished nation.

The base is the latest sign, experts say, of an ever-increasing emphasis on counterterror operations in the north and west of the continent. As the only country in the region willing to allow a U.S. base for MQ-9 Reapers — a newer, larger, and potentially more lethal model than the venerable Predator drone — Niger has positioned itself to be the key regional hub for U.S. military operations, with Agadez serving as the premier outpost for launching intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions against a plethora of terror groups.

Comment: More from Activist Post:
DARPA's drone technologies have been expediently advancing, with some that can speed around a warehouse at 45 miles per hour, and others that have nanotechnology implanted within them to create weapons that target everything from submarines, to underground bases, and airborne missiles. Long-distance, and high-altitude drones have also been developed, including some that can stay in the air for weeks at a time.
...
The Agadez base would contribute to the U.S.'s presence the world over, with more than 662 overseas bases in 38 foreign countries, and military personnel in roughly 148 countries.

The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Niger in 1960, following its independence from the United Kingdom. It has since become a hub of U.S. military projects; however, Germany now plans to build their own base in Niger, in order to "fight Islamic militants" in neighboring Mali.

The German army will lead a multinational battalion of troops in the Baltics soon, as part of a NATO effort to put militarized pressure on the alliance's eastern edge near the Russian border. It is highly likely that DARPA's "surveillance" drones are meant for the same region.


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Attention

Asian imports of Iranian oil surge 81 percent yearly in August

Tsvetana Paraskova
Oil Price
Fri, 30 Sep 2016 03:33 UTC
Oil prices
Four major Asian importers of oil - China, India, South Korea, and Japan - saw their imports of Iranian crude surge 81.4 percent on the year in August, the highest level in at least five and a half years, Reuters reported on Friday, citing government and ship-tracking data.

The four Asian buyers imported 1.835 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, with China's imports jumping 48.4 percent to 746,029 bpd, India's buys soaring 189.6 percent at 575,900 bpd, the highest in at least 15 years, South Korea's imports more than doubling, up 112.3 percent to 277,613 bpd, and Japan's imports rising 31.4 percent to 235,612 bpd.

Year to date, the total Iranian oil imports of the four countries jumped 38.9 percent, with rises across the board, and Korea more than doubling imports between January and August.

Comment: See also: Market manipulation: Oil prices to remain low in Q1 2016, stabilize by end of year

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Attention

Russia warns against US attack on Syrian forces

Bassem Mroue
AP The Big Story
Sat, 01 Oct 2016 15:31 UTC
putin
Russia warned the United States Saturday against carrying out any attacks on Syrian government forces, saying it would have repercussions across the Middle East as government forces captured a hill on the edge of the northern city of Aleppo under the cover of airstrikes.

Meanwhile, airstrikes on Aleppo struck a hospital in the eastern rebel-held neighborhood of Sakhour on Saturday, putting it out of service, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees. They said at least one person was killed in the airstrike.

Russian news agencies quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that a U.S. intervention against the Syrian army "will lead to terrible, tectonic consequences not only on the territory of this country but also in the region on the whole."

Comment: Is it the Syrian-led coalition planes doing the indiscriminate bombing OR the US led ISIS terrorist groups? For more information read:

No 'Hot War', only dirty tricks as U.S. Imperialists go to the wire against Russia over Syria

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Rocket

SpaceX rocket explosion investigation: Rival firm ULA's building inspected


RT
Sun, 02 Oct 2016 15:33 UTC
spacex explosion
© ScreenshotSpaceX explosion
A SpaceX employee, investigating the September 1 rocket explosion, asked for access to a roof of the building operated by the company's long-time rival, the Washington Post reported. Still images from the video of the blast were the reason for the request.

The images show a shadow, then a white spot on the roof of a nearby building belonging to United Launch Alliance (ULA), the newspaper said citing three industry sources familiar with the investigation.

The building is used for refurbishing rocket motors and is located about a mile from the Cape Canaveral Launchpad, where the SpaceX rocket exploded. Its roof has the launchpad in a clear line of sight.

Comment: Could this be the third party involved in the explosion? UFO caught on camera during Falcon9 Space X rocket explosion

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Pistol

'Shoot them dead!' Frustrated Chechen leader Kadyrov tells security services how to deal with drug abusers


RT
Sun, 02 Oct 2016 15:17 UTC
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov
© Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
The head of Russia's Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has likened the threat from drug addicts on the roads to that of terrorists, telling ministers that security forces must not hesitate to use lethal force to ensure public safety.

"To hell with those who violate order in the Chechen Republic, they should be shot dead. It doesn't matter if it's against the law... shoot them dead! Got it?.. that's the law!" Kadyrov said at a meeting with ministers and religious leaders, according to a recording that quickly spread across the internet.

The Chechen leader apparently lost his temper after learning new information about the rate of traffic-related deaths caused by drug intoxication that has recently risen sharply. All efforts made by authorities to reduce the number of car accidents have been in vain so far.

Comment: Chechnya isn't the only country loudly proclaiming a tough stance on the drug war; the Philippines are also using the death threat: Duterte tells critics he'd be 'happy to slaughter' drug addicts like Hitler massacred Jews

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Wall Street

Global monetary makeover: The SDR World Order

James Corbett
The Corbett Report
Sat, 01 Oct 2016 14:15 UTC
SDR graphic

I'm not sure how to break this to you, but it appears the world is ending this weekend. Or at least that's what you'd believe if you were reading certain corners of the internet.

As you may have already heard, the UN is "taking over the internet" this weekend. But as you've also heard if you follow The Corbett Report, that is a complete misrepresentation of what is really happening. Worse, hyperbole about a "UN takeover" of the internet obscures the real solution to ICANN and the centralized DNS system.

But there's another "end-of-the-world" event taking place this weekend that you might not have picked up on: the SDR.

That's right, the IMF is formally adding the Chinese renminbi (aka the yuan) to their "Special Drawing Rights" basket on Saturday, October 1st. The move boosts the yuan to the status of global reserve currency alongside its basketmates, the pound, the euro, the yen and the dollar. At 10.92% it will be the third highest-weighted currency in the basket, behind the euro at 30.93% and the dollar at 41.73%.

Comment: Here is Jim Rogers take on the new SDR basket:
RT: Why do you think the Yuan is joining the reserve currency basket and what does it mean for the global economy?

Jim Rogers: It is joining because the renminbi is now one of the most important currencies in the world. It is the fifth most commonly used. Remember, 15 years ago nobody knew there was a Chinese currency. It has skyrocketed and it is going to be even more important in the future.

RT: How will this affect the four major world currencies already in the IMF's reserve basket: dollars, euros, sterling and yen? Might this pose a challenge to the dollar's international dominance?

JR: The fact that it is in the IMF basket now is really just a publicity thing, it is not very important. It is significant that it is there. But that's about all. Trade flows are what will change that. The fact that the British pound is there doesn't help it, or the Swiss franc or anything else. Just because you are in the IMF basket means very little. What does mean something is trade flows, and as I've said, the renminbi 15 years ago was nothing. Now it's already one of the most dominant currencies in the world.

RT: China has been the world's largest exporter since 2009, overtaking the US. What does the yuan having reserve currency status mean to traders?

JR: Eventually, we will all be using the renminbi. The renminbi is the only thing I see on the horizon which can challenge the US dollar to become the world's reserve currency. It is not there yet, but it is moving and moving fast. The US dollar is a very flawed currency; the renminbi has its problems, the main one right now is you cannot buy and sell it. It is a blocked currency. But eventually that will change and it will probably challenge the US dollar.... In Hong Kong, you can use the renminbi in any shop you want. It is happening in Macau, and in Singapore there are people who will take the currency.

It's not big yet but it is on the way.


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Newspaper

New York Times publishes illegally obtained copies of Trump's tax returns

Alex Pappas
Daily Caller
Sun, 02 Oct 2016 14:51 UTC
trump tax records
Donald Trump's presidential campaign is accusing the New York Times of participating in illegal behavior after the newspaper published some of his tax records on Saturday night.

"The only news here is that the more than 20-year-old alleged tax document was illegally obtained, a further demonstration that the New York Times, like establishment media in general, is an extension of the Clinton campaign, the Democratic Party and their global special interests," the campaign said in a statement.

On Saturday evening, the New York Times — which recently endorsed Hillary Clinton for president — published three pages of Trump's 1995 income tax documents.

"The pages were mailed last month to Susanne Craig, a reporter at The Times who has written about Mr. Trump's finances," the paper explained in the story. "The documents were the first page of a New York State resident income tax return, the first page of a New Jersey nonresident tax return and the first page of a Connecticut nonresident tax return."
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Red Flag

Color revolution? Civil unrest in the Congo sees US order families of government personnel to leave


Deutsche Welle
Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:41 UTC
Congo
The US has ordered families of government personnel stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to leave the country. Recent clashes have left at least 32 people dead, including four policemen.

The State Department is also halting most official US government travel to the DRC, it announced on Thursday.

"The potential for civil unrest is high in parts of Kinshasa and other major cities," the State Department said, referring to the country's capital, in a statement.

"As a result of the deteriorating security situation, family members of US government personnel have been ordered to leave the country beginning September 29. Most official US government travel to the DRC has been halted," the statement read. Americans have been warned about traveling in the African nation for several weeks.
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Jet1

US-backed coalition has dropped 54,611 bombs so far in 15,362 airstrikes in the (ineffectual) "war on ISIS"


Mint Press News
Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:13 UTC
airstrike syria US coalition

Thick smoke and flames erupt from an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition in Kobani, Syria, as seen from a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border.
'We have to knock the hell out of ISIS, and we have to do it fast,' Donald Trump urged in the first presidential debate, but after almost 55,000 bombs it might be time for a new strategy.

Despite dropping 54,611 bombs and missiles in 15,362 airstrikes across the Middle East, the U.S.-backed coalition seems no closer to stamping out terrorism than when it began.

That figure comes from Airwars, a nonprofit that keeps track of the aerial campaign against Daesh (an Arabic acronym for the terrorist group commonly known in the West as ISIS or ISIL) and other groups in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

Since the air war on Daesh began on Aug. 8, 2014, the U.S.-backed coalition has carried out 9,996 airstrikes in Iraq and 5,366 airstrikes in Syria.

Airwars also attempts to track all civilian casualties caused by the U.S.-backed coalition and Russian bombs. These figures are unreliable, as official government sources routinely underestimate the number of civilians killed while generously inflating the numbers of combatants killed. To combat this bias, the NGO uses eyewitness accounts and local media to more accurately report on the civilian death toll.
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