Puppet MastersS


Dollar

Ultra-rich 'philanthrocapitalist' class subverting global democracy

Sarah Lazare
Common Dreams
Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:21 UTC
Melinda and Bill Gates
© World Economic Forum/flickr/ccMelinda and Bill Gates at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2009.
From Warren Buffett to Bill Gates, it is no secret that the ultra-rich philanthropist class has an over-sized influence in shaping global politics and policies.

And a study (pdf) just out from the Global Policy Forum, an international watchdog group, makes the case that powerful philanthropic foundations—under the control of wealthy individuals—are actively undermining governments and inappropriately setting the agenda for international bodies like the United Nations.

The top 27 largest foundations together possess assets of over $360 billion, notes the study, authored by Jens Martens and Karolin Seitz. Nineteen of those foundations are based in the United States and, across the board, they are expanding their influence over the global south. And in so doing, they are undermining democracy and local sovereignty.
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Treasure Chest

Obama unveils wage insurance plan that somehow will spur job seekers

Ayesha Rascoe
Reuters
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:26 UTC
Obama
U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday laid out a plan to help support the income of workers who lose their jobs and end up in lower paying positions, as part of a push to get unemployed Americans back to work.

The proposal would offer experienced workers who now make less than $50,000 a form of wage insurance, allowing them to replace half of their lost pay. The benefit would cover up to $10,000 over two years.

"It's a way to give families some stability and encourage folks to rejoin the workforce - because we shouldn't just be talking about unemployment; we should be talking about re-employment," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address, broadcast on Saturday.

Comment: Federally-funded from our pockets. So exactly how does wage insurance provide an incentive for people to go back to work?

Since the FED stopped quantitative easing and actually raising interest rates, looks like it is time to give money directly to the people in a mad, desperate hope to fuel the economy.

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Attention

About time: European Union, US lift nuclear program-related sanctions against Iran


Sputnik
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:15 UTC
Iran nuclear talks
© AFP 2016/ JOE KLAMAR
The United States and the European Union are lifting sanctions imposed on Iran due to its nuclear program.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States lifted sanctions against Iran.
"I hereby confirm that the International Atomic Energy Agency has verified that Iran has fully implemented its required commitments... The U.S. sanctions-related commitments described in Sections 17.1-17.5 of Annex V of the JCPOA are now in effect."
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Bad Guys

'Horrific massacre': Daesh murders 280 people in Syrian Deir Ez-Zor


Sputnik
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:01 UTC
ISIS flag
© AFP 2016/ MARWAN IBRAHIM
The Islamic State (ISIL, or Daesh) murdered some 280 people in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor, where Russia had delivered a humanitarian aid earlier, local residents told Sputnik on Saturday.

"The horrific massacre carried out today by ISIL militants in al-Bagilya in Deir ez-Zor. 280 victims, including women, children and old people. Reason — cooperation with the Syrian army," the local source said.

According to the local source, militants of the group outlawed in Russia continue the massacre, "killing whole families."

Earlier it has been reported that the extremists had advanced into the northern tip of Deir ez-Zor.
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Info

North Korea to US: Stop drills, sign peace treaty if you want end to nuclear tests


RT
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:09 UTC
North Korean soldiers
© Damir Sagolj / Reuters
North Korea has set out a series of demands to end nuclear testing. Pyongyang wants a peace treaty to be signed with the US, but also wants Washington to stop conducting military drills with neighbor South Korea.

"Still valid are all proposals for preserving peace and stability on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia including the ones for ceasing our nuclear test and the conclusion of a peace treaty in return for US halt to joint military exercises," North Korea's official KCNA news agency cited a spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry as saying, according to Reuters.
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Vader

Austria suspends schengen, imposes border control amid refugee crisis


Sputnik
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 20:27 UTC
Immigrants
© AP Photo/ Ronald Zak
The Austrian government temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement, imposing full border control measures on everyone entering the country, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann told the newspaper Oesterreich in an interview.

"Everyone who is coming to us would be carefully checked at the border," Fayman told Oesterreich.

Chancellor Faymann said that from now on Austria would "similar to Germany" have a more strict border control and deport people who, lacking the proper refugee identification, out of the country.
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Wall Street

Preparing for crises: IMF to review its assessment of world's largest financial systems


ITAR-TASS
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 18:41 UTC
IMF building
Experts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will in 2016 draft an assessment of the financial systems of Russia and other countries holding important positions in the global economy or in their region, the IMF reported.

"Some of the world's largest and most connected financial systems will undergo their mandatory five-year financial stability review by the International Monetary Fund in 2016," the IMF said in a statement on its website.

"Under the aegis of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), the IMF is assessing big, systemically important countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as medium-sized, and in some cases regionally important financial systems such as Russia and Mexico," it said.
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Chart Pie

European investigation shows Apple, Inc. may owe $8 billion in back taxes

Adam Satariano
Bloomberg
Fri, 15 Jan 2016 19:11 UTC
Apple store
© Apple, Inc.
Apple Inc. may be facing a hefty tax bill in Europe.

The world's largest company could owe more than $8 billion in back taxes as a result of a European Commission investigation into its tax policies, according to an analysis by Matt Larson of Bloomberg Intelligence. Apple, which has said it will appeal an adverse ruling, is being scrutinized by regulators who have accused the iPhone maker of using subsidiaries in Ireland to avoid paying taxes on revenue generated outside the U.S.
Apple shares under $100
© Bloomberg
EU Commission investigation chart
© BloombergApple EU Timeline
The probe dates back to 2014 and a decision could come as soon as March.

Comment: See also:

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SOTT Logo Radio

SOTT Focus: The Truth Perspective: Provocation towards destruction


Sott.net
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 19:00 UTC
Sott Talk Radio logo
Broadcasting from deep in the heart of the American Empire, join your host Elan Martin, and fellow Sott.net editors, as they discuss everything from current events and the latest machinations and manipulations of the global elite to history, science, and religion, and how it all fits together.

The Occupation in Oregon, US military infringement on Iran's waters, media-perception-creation of immigrants in Cologne - what do these and other stories we've been reading all have in common? Again and again, by hook or by crook, we continue to see the forces of governments, media and the Western-influenced militaries seeking to covertly and overtly divide and conquer the cohesion and cooperation of normal human beings. How and why is this being done? And how can we battle such insidious influences that so many are so largely effected by but unaware of?

The Truth Perspective is brought to you by the SOTT Radio Network and SOTT.net, your one-stop source for independent, unbiased, alternative news and commentary on world events.

Live every Saturday from 2-4pm EST / 11am-1pm PST / 8-10pm CET.

Running Time: 02:17:00

Download: MP3

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Magnify

Iran deal down to technical clarifications, unrelated prisoner exchange


Press TV
Sat, 16 Jan 2016 06:15 UTC
final talks
© AFPUS Secretary of State John Kerry (L) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (2R) in Vienna, Austria on January 16, 2016 on the expected "implementation day" of Iran nuclear agreement.
Officials at the US State Department have announced that Iran's nuclear agreement with permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany (P5+1) is on course to be implemented as "no major issue" remains. A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Saturday that "some technical clarifications" were taking place but "there is no major issue being fought over," AP reported.

The comments come as top diplomats from Iran, the United States and the European Union are in Vienna, Austria, ahead of the implementation of the historic nuclear agreement that was reached between Tehran and the P5+1 countries - the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany- last July. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has already held talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini.

The diplomats await a final report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tehran's adherence to commitments undertaken in the nuclear agreement with the P5+1. Zarif says the agreement will come into effect immediately after the IAEA publishes its report on Saturday. The implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran will end international sanctions against the country over restrictions on its nuclear activities.

Comment: The final count down and wrap up to the Iran Deal may be at hand. Israel must be having one heck of a snit fit. Expect some kind of provocation as it doesn't like to share the limelight, nor have its agenda exposed and manipulations thwarted.

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