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Price of standing with Russia? Pakistani PM loses no-confidence vote

Imran Khan
© Parker Song-Pool / Getty ImagesImran Khan had previously claimed the opposition was acting on orders from abroad
Pakistan's National Assembly has passed a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, with 176 lawmakers out of 342 voting against him. The speaker of the parliament's lower house Asad Qaisar, who is also a member of Khan's party, announced his resignation after adjourning the house three times throughout Saturday.

Khan PTI's party effectively lost its majority in the National Assembly in March when seven MPs from its coalition partner decided to join the opposition's ranks. The rivals accused the cricket star-turned-politician of mismanaging Pakistan's economy, battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as mishandling Islamabad's foreign and internal policy.

Sunday's motion means that Khan's five-year term has ended early, much like that of all previous prime ministers of the country.


Comment: Imran Khan had been very vocal about his support for Russia, visiting Russia just after the Russian operation in Ukraine. He also told the US in no uncertain terms that Pakistan did not like to be treated like slaves:
'Are we your slaves?' Imran Khan slams West's demands to condemn Russia over Ukraine incursion


Comment: The US has been putting immense pressure in recent times on countries across the globe trying to shore up support for sanctions against Russia, yet to little effect as close to 7/8 of the world do not wish to put sanctions on Russia. The price to stand up can be regime change as appears to be the case with Pakistan.

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Propaganda

Here's the truth about Russia's so-called 'Filtration Centers'

CNN header
© CNN/KJN
What CNN is doing amounts to a weaponization of Russia's truly humanitarian policy of providing aid to Ukrainian refugees by misportraying it as something nefarious when it isn't anything of the sort but exactly the complete opposite. Moscow is complying with its international legal responsibilities to such people, which requires money, time, logistics, and personnel. These wouldn't be expended unless Russia truly cared to help those refugees.
CNN published a misleading piece on Friday titled "Russia or die: After weeks under Putin's bombs, these Ukrainians were given only one way out" about what it described as that country's so-called "filtration centers" for Ukrainian refugees. The article quotes several people who claim that they were forced to move to that neighboring country against their will. Throughout the process, they were checked for Nazi tattoos and asked various questions to ensure that they aren't undercover agents or posed any other security threat to Russia. After the authorities determined that they were truly refugees, they were given vouchers for 10,000 rubles, SIM cards, and basic toiletries. Some of these refugees later decided to leave Russia, however, with CNN reporting that they traveled to Estonia.

Dollars

The dollar dethroned: We have reached the end of monetary policy as we all once knew it

burnt dollar
© Getty Images/skodonnellDeath of the Dollar
People who speak out openly with concern about the potential death of the U.S. dollar have been written off as conspiracy theorists for the better part of the last few decades.

But looking back, unfortunately, I'm sure history is going to be kind to these people and their prognostications. They will have been the ones who sounded the alarm in a relatively short amount of time before ultimately being proven right.

I don't say this to brag or boast in advance in any way, I say it because I truly believe we are at the "beginning of the end" of the Keynesian economic experiment.

Less than two weeks ago, I wrote an article proclaiming that Russia would back the ruble with gold as a way to fight back against Western economic sanctions. I also made similar predictions about the new digital Chinese currency last summer when I first started Fringe Finance.

To me, since I began piecing together my understanding of macroeconomics and the global economy about a decade ago, it had become painfully obvious that the fiat system the U.S. plays by, which hinges on the dollar being the global reserve currency, had its days numbered.

Sherlock

EU leader wanted proof Bucha wasn't staged - Zelensky

zelensky
© Ronaldo Schemidt/AFPUkraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that an EU member state's leader called into question Kiev's version of events surrounding the Bucha killings, asking for proof that the atrocities were not staged.

Speaking to German newspaper Bild on Friday, Zelensky described how a leading EU politician asked him for evidence proving that the Bucha massacre had not been staged. The remark came after the Bild journalist asked what the worst thing he had heard in recent days was. When the interviewer probed further, asking whether it was the head of state of an EU nation, Zelensky replied in the affirmative, though he refused to name the official.

Ukraine claims Russian troops committed atrocities against civilians in the town of Bucha northwest of Kiev before retreating last week. Russia has rejected the accusations, and claims Kiev manipulated evidence in what it calls a "provocation." Commenting on Berlin's support for Kiev, the Ukrainian president lamented Germany's apparent lack of enthusiasm for tougher sanctions against Russia.

"Some countries, and Germany is among them, are against an oil and gas embargo," Zelensky said, adding, however, that he was content that the EU's fifth round of sanctions "contains the coal and timber embargo." He also accused Berlin of being overly cautious in its support for Kiev, refusing to provide the country with weapons for some time, and stressing that Ukraine would not become a NATO member state. But, according to Zelensky, "Germany's rhetoric has changed" over time, despite the country being "conservative and cold."

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Nuke

Iran's progress with nuclear technology 'not reversible'

Raisi, others
© Iranian Presidency Office via APPresident Ebrahim Raisi visits an exhibition of Iran’s nuclear achievements in Tehran.
President Ebrahim Raisi has said that Iran will continue nuclear development activities as talks to revive Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers remain stalled, state media reported.

Speaking in a ceremony marking Iran's national day of nuclear technology, the hard-line president said his administration will support an acceleration in research of peaceful nuclear technology.
"Our knowledge and technology in the nuclear field is not reversible. Iran's (continuation of) research in peaceful nuclear fields will not depend on others' demands or viewpoints."
His comments came as talks between Iran and world powers in Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have stalled. There is concern that Iran could be closer to being able to construct an atomic weapon if it chose to pursue one.

Arrow Down

Two EU states may end cooperation over Ukraine

Orban Kaczynski
© Getty Images/Jakub PorzyckiHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polish PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski
Warsaw wants Hungary's Orban to back its anti-Russia position before partnership can continue.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, one of the top politicians of the Eastern European nation, said on Friday that cooperation with Hungary would not be possible unless Prime Minister Viktor Orban aligns himself with Kiev. Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary were staunch allies.

Kaczynski said in a radio interview that he has an "unequivocally negative" opinion of Orban's refusal to take a harder stance on Russia following the latter's military offensive on Ukraine.

"When Orban says that he cannot see what happened in Bucha, he must be advised to see an eye doctor," Kaczynski said, referring to Orban's refusal to blame Russia for the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha. Russia has strongly rejected the allegations, claiming Ukrainian forces staged a "crude and cynical provocation," and has demanded a UN investigation into the incident.

Orban's Fidesz party won a resounding victory in the election last weekend, and Orban declared afterwards that his country's "alliance with Poland must be solidified as we cannot remain standing alone in this storm."

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MIB

The US intel community killed its own credibility by revealing its Ukraine policies

military intelligence
© Getty Images / Milan_Jovic
Using disinformation to thwart an enemy is one thing. Spreading it to your own public and policymakers is another

The US intelligence community has long claimed that integrity in the search for truth was its core value. In March 1992, Robert Gates, who at that time was serving as director of Central Intelligence, addressed the CIA's analytical community on the issue of politicized intelligence.
"Bourne Cockran [note: an Irish-American politician known for his oratory skills who mentored Winston Churchill]," Gates noted, "wrote to Winston Churchill in 1895 that, 'What the people really want to hear is the truth - it is the exciting thing - speak the simple truth. Twenty years later, Churchill himself wrote, 'The truth is incontrovertible; panic may resent it; ignorance may deride it; malice may destroy it, but there it is.' Truth, insofar as we can determine it, is what our [i.e., the CIA's] work is all about."
Moreover, Gates pointed out, "because seeking truth is what we [the CIA] are all about as an institution, as professionals, and as individuals, the possibility - even the perception - that that quest may be tainted deeply troubles us, as it long has and as it should."

Light Saber

US rejects Pakistan PM Imran Khan's allegations of 'conspiracy' to overthrow his govt

Imran Khan
© ANI Photo/PTVPakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses nation in a televised speech on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Friday's rebuttal was the third time the US has publicly commented on Khan's allegations. Previously, it was reported that the state department had dismissed the allegation when it initially broke in late March

The US has bluntly rejected Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan's latest allegations of a "foreign conspiracy" plotted in Washington to overthrow his government with the help of the Opposition parties, saying there is "absolutely no truth" to these claims.

Khan has been claiming that the Opposition's no-confidence motion against him was the result of a foreign conspiracy because of his independent foreign policy and funds were being channelled from abroad to oust him from power. In an address to the nation on Friday, the 69-year-old prime minister reiterated his allegations that a senior US diplomat threatened regime change in Pakistan.

Khan has alleged that Donald Lu, assistant secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the Department of State was involved in the foreign conspiracy' to topple his government.

Comment: And from RT:
Speaking during an address late Friday night, Khan again took aim at his political opponents, suggesting the upcoming vote is part of a conspiracy to remove him from office backed by external powers.

"I will not accept an imported government, and I am determined to vehemently agitate against it," he said, adding that he is "ready for a struggle," while urging supporters to hold protests in his favor over the weekend.

The remarks followed similar charges from the PM in recent weeks, having previously named the United States as the foreign meddler, claiming to have evidence that a senior US official told Islamabad's envoy that relations with Pakistan would improve in Khan's absence.

Pakistan's parliament will hold the no-confidence vote on Saturday, which could end Khan's term early. Though it was set to occur in March, it was postponed by the government, but the country's Supreme Court has since ruled that the PM must face the vote after all.

Khan lamented the decision but noted that he would not challenge it.

"I am disappointed by the Supreme Court verdict... It has saddened me, but we accept it," he said, adding that he had hoped the court would take the meddling claims with more gravity.

"It was a very serious allegation that a foreign country wants to topple the government through a conspiracy," Khan continued.

Should he lose the no-confidence vote, opposition parties will put forward their own candidate for PM, with Shehbaz Sharif - the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who served as prime minister three times prior - recently nominated for the role.
Prime Minister Kahn is not delusional. He has many examples of U.S. meddling in countries' internal politics to draw from. Pakistan's relationship with the U.S. has been fraught for a while, but it seems is principle sin is that he won't turn his back on Russia.


Light Sabers

Journalist Doocy and WH talking-head Psaki spar over VP Harris not wearing mask

doocy psaki
© Screenshots/Rumble/White House press briefingFox News journalist Peter Doocy and White House spokeman Jen Psaki
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy sparred Friday with White House press secretary Jen Psaki over Vice President Kamala Harris not wearing a mask after COVID-19 exposure.

Doocy asked if there was "a carveout" in regulations put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the vice president after Harris hugged newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The CDC recommends that individuals who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and exposed to virus should wear a "well-fitting" mask for 10 days and get tested at least 5 days after exposure.

"You mean when she gave her a hug outside?" Psaki said.

"Yes," Doocy said.

"She was outside — " the press secretary began.

Attention

Ex-Russian president warns sanctions on Russia will 'erode the world order'

Dmitry Medvedev
© SputnikDmitry Medvedev at the Gorki state residence, Russia.
The sanctions imposed on Moscow will lead to the collapse of international institutions, including the UN, Medvedev claims

The unprecedented sanctions that Western nations have imposed on Russia since the start of its military offensive in Ukraine only further erode the existing system of international institutions and the authority of the UN, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned in a Telegram post on Friday.

Initially, the word 'sanctions' only applied to measures imposed by the UN Security Council, he argued, adding that everything Western nations call 'sanctions' today is nothing but unilateral restrictions that are inadmissible under international law.

Comment: