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Indian papers reported on Friday that US lawmakers' recent approval of a defense bill will put the country at par with NATO allies. This would mean that Washington could in future treat New Delhi as a closer partner and might sell it more defense equipment and technology.US analysts believe that Obama will try to use Modi's visit to lift the restrictions on the activities of the American companies in India (including tax reviews and customs regulations), push for the improvement of intellectual property laws in this country, and force India into countering China's growing influence in Asia-Pacific through a number of defense deals. In this context, Washington hopes that this would allow the US to further strengthen its position as a major global arms supplier.
Last night at an event in Rio de Janeiro, I was asked — as I always am at such events — about possible U.S. involvement in the change of government. Here are four minutes of my answer:
When you visit the websites for leading pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Novartis, you'll find mission statements that will feed you with inspiring goals such as "improve health and well-being," "provide access to safe, effective and affordable medicines," and "to prevent and cure diseases, to ease suffering and to enhance the quality of life."
Who still believes this? Let's keep it straight: major pharmaceutical companies are in the business of dealing drugs and making money.
More than 1,000 militants have begun an offensive against Syrian army positions southwest of Aleppo, the Russian ceasefire monitoring center in Syria said in a statement on Saturday.The exact same scheme happened in March and April when a move towards eastern Syria by the Syrian army had to be stopped to prevent further losses against al-Qaeda south of Aleppo. It seems obvious that these moves by U.S.-supported forces are planned to prevent any gains of the Syrian government in the east.
The center also reported civilians in Aleppo as saying armed groups partly made up of Turkish soldiers had appeared north of the city.
Comment: Hillary Clinton: a candidate that death-lovers and torture fanatics from either side of the fence can rally behind as their murderer in chief.