Puppet MastersS


Light Sabers

Russia stealing Saudi Arabia's crown as China's top oil supplier


RT
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:03 UTC
putin saudi prince
© Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Moscow is gaining momentum as the biggest seller of crude oil to China, with Russian crude supplies overtaking those from Saudi Arabia.

According to data from RBC Capital Markets, the Saudi share of Chinese crude imports at the beginning of the decade was about 20 percent, while Russia's was below 7 percent. The situation has changed.

"Russia is the biggest rival to the Saudis in the single-largest oil demand growth country in the world," Michael Tran, RBC Capital Markets' commodity strategist told Business Insider.

"The rising tide of Chinese growth has meant that notional volumes for both countries have increased in the years since, but Russia's gains have been outsized," he added.

Comment: China and Russia working together will only strengthen the position of each country in their struggle to provide an alternative to the US empire. For the Saudis, the loss of their crown to Russia couldn't happen to a nicer bunch!

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Yoda

Bye Bye Petrodollar: Russia accepts yuan for oil, is now China's top oil partner

Rudy Panko
Russia Insider
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:57 UTC
xi putin handshake
Russia is now the top crude exporter to China, the largest (or second largest, depending on whom you ask) oil demand growth country in the world.

At the start of the decade, Saudi Arabia enjoyed a 20% share of Chinese crude imports, while Russia was lagging far behind with 7%. Now the Saudis find themselves neck and neck with Moscow for the lead in Chinese market share, with both performing in the 13-16% range. But Russia's share continues to rise, as The Kingdom struggles to maintain a foothold.

Why? Analysts attribute Russia's huge market share growth to its willingness to accept yuan, while Saudi Arabia is still clinging to blood-soaked dollars. As Business Insider notes:
Interestingly, part of Russia's success in China has been attributed to its willingness to accept Chinese yuan denominated currency for its oil.
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Target

Japan will shoot down N. Korean rocket if deemed threat, Kim Jong-un to launch satellite

Julian Robinson
Daily Mail
Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:53 UTC
Kim Jong-un
© ReutersJapan has vowed to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it is deemed a threat after Kim Jong-un (pictured centre) announced plans to launch a 'satellite.'

Japan has vowed to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it is deemed a threat after Kim Jong-un announced plans to launch a 'satellite'. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned what he called a 'serious provocation' and Japan issued an order to 'destroy' the missile with surface-to-air weapons if it threatened to fall on its territory. The order was given amid fears over the 'possibility that North Korea will launch a missile it calls a "satellite" within coming days,' the statement said.

'Today the defence minister issued an order' to destroy such a missile if it 'is confirmed that it will fall on Japanese territory,' the defence ministry said in a statement. The order will be carried out by Japan's ballistic missile defence system, which includes PAC-3 surface-to-air anti-ballistic missiles, and similar SM-3 systems aboard warships, the ministry said. The order will be effective until February 25, it added, the end of the launch window announced by Pyongyang that begins on February 8.

Pyongyang announced plans last week for a launch aimed at putting an Earth observation satellite into orbit - just weeks after conducting its fourth nuclear test. Japan's response came as China expressed 'serious concerns' over North Korea's actions. 'We express serious concerns about that,' foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing. 'We believe that the DPRK has the right to the peaceful use of space but at the moment its relevant right should be subject to the restrictions of the UN Security Council resolutions,' he added, using the North's official name.

Comment: See also:

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Bad Guys

Western death merchants: Endless wars have fueled 'explosion' in number of mercenary armies


Sputnik
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:42 UTC
Jemen Blackwater
Since the 'war on terror' began 15 years ago, the number of mercenaries hired by private military and security companies and operating on the front lines in the Middle East and Africa has exploded tremendously, a new report by War on Want reveals.

The report, 'Mercenaries Unleashed: The brave new world of private military and security companies', examines the extensive and far-reaching billion dollar private industry, which the UK-based movement War on Want says is dominated by British companies.

"Private military contractors ran amok in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving a trail of human rights abuses in their wake. Now we are seeing the alarming rise of mercenaries fighting on the front line in conflict zones across the world: it is the return of the 'Dogs of War,' " John Hilary, Executive Director at War on Want told Sputnik.

Comment: For more on this subterranean world of hired guns, check out:

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Eye 2

Fun and games: Is Saudi oil price manipulation a blackmail attempt on Putin to soften Syria stance?

Mike Whitney
Counterpunch
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:01 UTC
Saudi oil Aramco
© John Moore/Associated Press
Here's what you need to know about the Syria peace talks: Four of the most powerful militias currently operating in Syria have been excluded from the negotiations. The Islamic State (ISIS), Jabhat al Nusra, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have all been banned from the talks. What this means is that even if all the delegates agree to a ceasefire, it's not going to matter. The fighting is going to continue. Everyone in the Obama administration already knows this, which is why we think the peace talks are a fraud designed to conceal Washington's real objectives. (More on this later.)

The meetings that were supposed to begin on Friday, did not actually start until Monday following a series of diplomatic miscues over the weekend. As it happens, the main Syrian opposition groups, most of who operate under the aegis of the High Negotiations Committee, refused to come to Geneva until Russia met their demands concerning humanitarian relief, prisoner release and stopping the bombing of enemy positions. Not surprisingly, the matter wasn't settled by Moscow caving in to the HNC's demands, but by Kerry bending-over-backwards to placate the group by making a number of commitments that he'll never be able to keep. What commitments? According to Reuters:
"In separate comments before heading to Geneva, Assad al-Zoubi, (chief negotiator for the HNC) said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave assurances by phone to the HNC's leadership, saying Washington supported a U.N.-backed political transition period without Assad, a bone of contention among warring parties." (Reuters)

Comment: Given Russia's track record so far, it's unlikely that she will fall for this ploy; perhaps she will even turn it to her advantage. Russia's people have had decades of hardship which has enured them to economic discomfort. Their newly-found pride in their country and drive for economic independence from the West will keep Russia on track in the long run.

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Snakes in Suits

McCain says US to decide when European countries can lift Russian sanctions


RT
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:25 UTC
U.S. Senator John McCain
© Larry Downing / ReutersU.S. Senator John McCain
Senator John McCain says the US will decide when EU sanctions on Russia can be lifted. The issue of sanctions is expected to be discussed next week in Munich, with many EU countries unhappy that the restrictions are adversely affecting their economies.

"I think there is clearly a lot of conversation amongst the Europeans about lifting the sanctions...There are many countries that are looking for the exit sign," McCain said, speaking to Sputnik. "I have been hearing it for months, that there is enormous pressure in a lot of countries, particularly Germany, to lift the sanctions."

Comment: Wow. McCain makes it VERY clear that the EU has no autonomy or authority - it is subject to the rule of the US. Russia has been trying to get EU member states to see this reality and for them to make up their own minds about the sanctions.

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Bad Guys

Blackmail? EU members to divide the cost of paying Turkey for the refugee crisis


Sputnik
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:30 UTC
Refugee Migrant
© AP Photo/ Halit Onur Sandal
The countries of the European Union have agreed to provide two-thirds of the money which has been offered to tackle the migration crisis in Turkey, media reports said.

The member states of the EU will inject two-thirds of the aid package the union has promised to help resolve the migration gridlock in Turkey. The countries' contributions will be proportionate to their national GDPs, RIA Novosti quoted Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders as saying.

Koenders, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, made the remarks during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

Comment: Further reading:

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Dollar

Oil prices could increase to $40 if Russia makes a deal with OPEC

Alexey Lossan
Russia Beyond the Headlines
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:02 UTC
Saudi Arabia Oil
© AP Photo/ John Moore
Oil prices could increase if Russia is able to arrive at a deal with OPEC on reducing oil production by a limit of 5 percent, or by around two million barrels a day, according to analyst at MFX Broker Anton Krasko.

According to Krasko, considering that the current oil glut on the world market comprises just 1.5 million barrels a day, this will be enough to stabilize the market and return prices to at least the $40-a-barrel level.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on January 28 that Russia had accepted an invitation to take part in the extraordinary OPEC summit in February. Novak said Saudi Arabia and OPEC are preparing to discuss the possibility of reducing oil production by 5%.

Comment: Further reading: Russian economy contracted 3.7% in 2015 due to collapse in oil prices

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Bad Guys

Russia Insider: 'Hillary stole Iowa using voter fraud and missing precincts'

Rudy Panko
Russia Insider
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:52 UTC
Hillary Clinton
© Unknown
The media is reporting a virtual tie between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in the Iowa Caucus. (The latest numbers give Clinton a miniscule edge, 49.8% Clinton, 49.6% Sanders).

But don't be fooled: Clinton stole Iowa, and there's even video proof of her dirty tricks:

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Eye 2

Scottish journalist: 'CIA rendition plane was sent to abduct whistle-blower Snowden in June 2013'

Michael Gray
The National
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 02:44 UTC
Snowden
A US plane was despatched to try and capture whistle-blower Snowden
The UK government is facing demands to reveal the details of a secret flight through Scottish airspace which was at the centre of a plot to capture whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The plane, which passed above the Outer Hebrides, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, was dispatched from the American east coast on June 24 2013, the day after Snowden left Hong Kong for Moscow. The craft was used in controversial US 'rendition' missions.

Reports by Scottish journalist Duncan Campbell claim the flight, travelling well above the standard aviation height at 45,000 feet and without a filed flight plan, was part of a mission to capture Snowden following his release of documents revealing mass surveillance by US and UK secret services.

That the flight passed over Scotland, airspace regulated by the UK, has raised questions over UK complicity in a covert mission to arrest Snowden and whether any police, aviation or political authorities in Scotland were made aware of the flight path.

Comment: Alas, Russia intervened, and the United States of Awesome was forced to abort the mission!

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