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Chess

China looking to enter into free trade zone agreement with Canada


RT
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 14:46 UTC
china canada
© Thomas Peter / ReutersChinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
A feasibility study into a free trade zone between China and Canada is to be undertaken, according to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang after the meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau is currently on his first official visit to Beijing.

"China and Canada have multi-vector cooperation in trade and the economy. The parties have agreed to prepare a feasibility study for the establishment of a free trade zone between China and Canada as soon as possible," the premier said at a news conference with Trudeau.

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner after the US.

The two countries should send a signal to the global community to defend the liberalization of international trade and promote simpler implementation of investments, according to the Chinese premier.
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Light Sabers

Syria negotiations: Moscow insists on coordination between US and Syria regarding Aleppo airstrikes


Sputnik
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 14:41 UTC
aleppo
© Sputnik/ Michael Alaeddin
Moscow insists on the position that Washington and Damascus should coordinate activities of their air forces in Syrian northern province of Aleppo, Russian media reported Wednesday.

The Izvestia newspaper reported citing a source familiar with the recent consultations on Syrian settlement in the Swiss city of Geneva that the United States had sent Russia a package of proposals aimed at coordination between their air forces.

The newspaper added that Moscow made it clear for Washington that Russian Aerospace Forces were not involved in aerial operation over Aleppo and the United States should be engaged in a dialogue on the issue with Syria itself.

The media outlet added that Russia had no objections to coordination of its efforts with the United States, but only at a distance of several dozens of miles around Aleppo.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

Aleppo has been under siege by militant groups, including Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, classified as terrorist organization in Russia. The city has seen intense fighting over the past few months, with the Syrian army and local militia forces managing to encircle large groups of militants in the eastern districts of the city.
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Dollars

Iran and Pakistan agree to ditch the dollar


PressTV
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 14:38 UTC
open banks accounts
Iran and Pakistan have signed an agreement to re-establish banking relationship and carry out trade transactions in local currencies.

Pakistan's Federal Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan supervised the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Iran's Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost in Islamabad, local media reported on Wednesday.

"The two sides agreed in principle to open banks accounts in their respective central banks for trade transactions in their local currencies," an unnamed official at the Ministry of Commerce was quoted as saying.

They also agreed to take further steps toward promoting trade and investment ties and materialize a free trade agreement which the two countries have been considering for some time.
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Eye 1

Ghost corporation 'Children of Israel' backs Trump at $25,000 per-head California fundraiser


RT
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 12:15 UTC
Donald Trump
© Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump headlined a $25,000-per-ticket fundraiser at the California home of Saul Fox, a private equity CEO and secret donor behind the "Children of Israel."

Forty people attended the Monday fundraiser including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who arrived with Trump. The visit was the billionaire's first visit to San Jose since a clash between his supporters and protesters in the Silicon Valley city.

Fox is one of the many political donors who use so-called 'ghost corporations' to conceal their identity. It was revealed only earlier this month that he was the main donor behind 'Children of Israel,' who have donated $734,000 to the Republican party so far this year, according to The Intercept.

This includes a $400,000 donation to the Super PAC Stand for Truth, which supported Ted Cruz's presidential run, as well as $334,000 to the RNC.

Shaofen Gao, a realtor in Silicon Valley with no history of making political contributions, was listed as the registered agent for Children of Israel in mid-2015, but a later filing revealed that the sole person behind the money was Fox.

Comment: Saul Fox revealed as the secret donor behind "Children of Israel," a ghost corporation funding GOP Super PACs

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Quenelle - Golden

Syrian Army and Hezbollah retake villages in Southern Aleppo


South Front
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:31 UTC
Syrian Army Aleppo map August 2016
The Syrian army and its allies, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, have captured the village of Qarasi, about 60% of Al Amiriya and the strategic hill of Tal Al Sanoubrat, smashing the Jaish al-Fatah defenses along the road between Khan Tuman and the Ramouseh Neighborhood of Aleppo city. Now, the road is under total fire control of the Syrian government forces and it's epxected that it will be phisically cut off in coming days.

Recently, the Syrian army and Hezbollah have destroyed some 20 militant vehicles heading to the Ramouseh Neighborhood with supplies and amunition. According to unconfirmed reports (there are no confirmed reprots, for sure), the recent clashes resulted in deads of about 50 pro-government fighters and up to 100 militants. An imporant role in the militant casualties played the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Separately, in southwestern Aleppo, the Syrian army has liberated Souq al-Jibs. This success allows the pro-government forces to pose an additional threat to militants in the northern part of the 1070 Apartment Project.

Comment: Further reading: The Turkish invasion of Syria as a path to 'regime change'

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Green Light

Darayya comes under government control by Syrian army; militants and civilians evacuate - UPDATE


Press TV
Sat, 27 Aug 2016 05:42 UTC
Evac of Darayya
© AFPSyrian government troops stand guard as a bus carrying evacuees drives by from Darayya, outside Damascus.
Syrian forces have established full control over Darayya, a besieged suburb of the Syrian capital of Damascus, after militants and civilians were evacuated under a deal with the government. "The Syrian army completely controls Darayya. ... There isn't a single armed man there," a military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Saturday.

"The Darayya file is now closed after the evacuation of all the civilians, armed men and their families under the agreement" reached on Thursday between the government and the militants, Syrian state television said. The television broadcast footage of army vehicles combing the streets of the town, which has been under siege since November 2012.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the second and final convoy of militants and civilians left Darayya on Saturday. The total number of evacuees is not yet clear.

Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported on Saturday that 4,000 civilians were to be directed to reception centers and at least 700 rebels escorted to the militant-held city of Idlib in northwest Syria. The arrivals were the first since the evacuation of the town just outside Damascus began on Friday under an agreement between the government and the militants.

Comment: The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a total of 120 militants and 230 family members have voluntarily left Darayya and will begin their relocation in temporary housing in the Keisua settlement in the Damascus province.

According to yesterday's Russian Defense Ministry bulletin: "Within the last 2 days, over 1,800 people have been evacuated from the Darayya inhabited area (Damascus province) - those are civilians, militants who laid down their arms and members of their families."

UPDATE (August 31): A total of 1106 militants who refused to lay down arms were transferred to Idlib and allowed to carry small arms. 298 surrendered their weapons under amnesty and will now be reintegrated into Syria society (many will probably join the pro-government militias fighting Nusra and Daesh).



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Stormtrooper

US Marine commander: US should build good relations with Russia and China


TASS
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:49 UTC
us soldier
© AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
The United States should build good working relations with both Russia and China, Lieutenant General Robert Walsh, commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, has told reporters.

"We have to get our relationships with China right. We can't get our relationships with Russia wrong," he said. Walsh described China as the United States' "competitor in the Pacific." The general explained that he took into account, first and foremost, the way China's economy is growing. "The Russians, on the other hand, smaller economy," he added.

He went on to say that Washington is concerned about Russia's recent actions, above all, those affecting such former Soviet republics as Ukraine and Georgia, as well as European and Baltic countries. "I think all those kind of add up into what are the intentions of the Russians, are they aligned with our intentions?" he said, adding that was the reason why "the Secretary of Defense (Ashton Carter) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Joseph Dunford) have been very clear in their testimony that they saw Russia as the number one threat today."


Comment: Russia's "actions" in Eastern Europe aren't actions at all, but rather reactions to US imperial destabilization efforts near Russia's border. It would be asinine to think Russia would not respond to such provocations. If the top US military brass doesn't like Russia's reactions, maybe they should stop encroaching upon Russia's border and forcing them to respond.

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Snakes in Suits

Arms race: Japan wants British weaponry for South China Sea and N. Korea standoff


RT
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:41 UTC
British AAV7 amphibious assault craft
© baesystems.com
Tensions in the South China Sea have led Japan to splurge on British-made hardware to prepare for a confrontation with China. Recent saber-rattling by North Korea has also given Japan cause to restock its armory.

Antagonism between China and Japan over a contested island archipelago has the Japanese Defense Ministry chasing an injection of cash to buy a range of new kit.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that, among other high-tech equipment, the Japanese are keen to purchase 11 AAV7 amphibious assault craft produced by British arms giant BAE Systems.

Comment: Also read:

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Handcuffs

Armenia detains Russian citizen after U.S. request, considers extradition (UPDATE: Yerevan court refuses U.S. request for detention, man returns to Moscow)


RT
Sun, 28 Aug 2016 19:33 UTC
cuffs
© Rodi Said / Reuters
A Russian computer programmer was detained in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, on Friday for alleged money laundering and illegal transfer of military technology, despite having no Interpol record. Sergey Mironov's arrest was made after a US government request, his lawyer told RT.

Mironov was arrested by Armenian security forces after arriving in Yerevan with his wife, Mironov's lawyer in Russia, Karen Nersesyan, told RT. After the arrest, he was moved to solitary confinement in Yerevan.

"Mironov was vaguely told that he was being arrested per US request, where he is wanted for alleged money laundering crimes worth $50,000," Nersesyan said.

Nersesyan describes the request as "very strange," since Interpol has no record of Mironov in its international database. Moreover, no one at his work in Moscow is aware of any pending charges against him.

Comment: Looks like Armenia has refused to bow down to imperial diktat. Mironov has flown back to Moscow:
A Russian man wanted by the United States for alleged money laundering and illegal arms sales has left Armenia after being briefly detained in Yerevan.

A lawyer for Sergei Mironov said on August 31 that Mirov had departed from Yerevan on a flight to Moscow.


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Megaphone

Russia: Evidence in UN report blaming Damascus for chemical attacks lacks specifics, could have been fabricated by terrorist opposition


RT
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:40 UTC
syria chemical weapons
© Kafrzita / DSK / AFPAn image grab taken from a video released by the Syrian activist group Kafrzita shows a man being treated after purportedly choking from inhaling poison released after a barrel bomb was allegedly dropped from an aircraft, on April 12, 2014, in Karf Zita, in Hama province.
The findings of the latest UN report that blamed Damascus for the use of chlorine in several chemical attacks in 2014 and 2015 lack specifics, while some of the evidence might have be fabricated by opposition and terrorist groups, Russia's envoy told UNSC.

"Already at this stage, we have a number of questions regarding the findings of the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism on some cases. Evidence provided in the report gives rise to serious doubts. It could have been fabricated by the forces opposed to Damascus and terrorist groups, perhaps not without outside help," Moscow's Vitaly Churkin told a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council. His speech was circulated by the Russian permanent mission.

Last week the UN Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) published an inquiry dealing with nine attacks in seven areas of Syria. Eight of the cases involved the use of chlorine. The inquiry was unable to reach a conclusion in six cases but attributed at least two attacks to government forces.

The report claimed that there was sufficient data to conclude that Syrian Arab Air Force helicopters dropped chemical weapons on Talmenes on April 21, 2014, and Sarmin on March 16, 2015.
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