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Attention

Slovenia's presidency has been a disaster for the EU, shining a light on the 'West v the rest' cultural divide like never before

Paul A. Nuttall
RT
Sat, 16 Oct 2021 10:08 UTC
Jansa
© AFP/Stephanie Lecocq
Slovenia's PM Janez Jansa
Western European countries are counting the days until Janez Janša's reign as Council of EU president comes to an end. His time in the role has perfectly illustrated the massive differences that exist between the member states.

Since June, Slovenia has held the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, which is fitting - or one could say ironic - because it coincides with the 30-year anniversary of the country's independence.

The rotating nature of the presidency is meant to project a sense of unity and altruism; a statement that the European Union is a shared venture between willing and cooperating member states who hold the same values.

However, Slovenia's presidency has done no such thing. Indeed, all it has achieved until now is to shine a light on the differences that exist between Eastern and Western Europe. Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Janša has been a constant thorn in the side of the EU recently, and one suspects that Brussels cannot wait until his six-month term comes to an end on December 31.

The Slovenian presidency was not greeted with much enthusiasm in Brussels in the first place, as Janša was viewed as too authoritarian and populist, which is something the EU despises most of all.
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Bad Guys

Israel & co. ramp up targeted attacks in the Middle East


SouthFront
Sat, 16 Oct 2021 19:26 UTC
syria
© SouthFront
Screenshot from video found below
An escalation is taking place in Syria with the sole aim of impeding the Syrian Arab Army's (SAA) activities.

In the late hours of October 13th, a series of Israeli airstrikes hit the outskirts of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs. A Syrian soldier and three pro-Iranian fighters were reportedly killed.

According to reports, the raid was launched from the southeastern area of al-Tanf, which is occupied by the US-led coalition and its proxies.

This is the second Israeli airstrike in Syria within a week. Previously, on October 9th Syrian air defenses intercepted an Israeli missile attack above the Homs countryside. As a result, six Syrian soldiers were wounded and some material damage was caused.

Comment: See also:

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Bad Guys

New AUKUS anti-China alliance could spark global arms race, Moscow warns, as Beijing sounds alarm over West's 'Cold War' tactics


RT
Fri, 15 Oct 2021 10:33 UTC
British Navy
© AFP / ANDY BUCHANAN
FILE PHOTO. British Navy personnel stand atop the Trident Nuclear Submarine, HMS Victorious, on patrol off the west coast of Scotland.
Moscow has joined Beijing in hitting out at a new military pact between the US, UK and Australia, saying that the move puts the West on a collision course with China and could lead to a sharp escalation in international tensions.

Speaking to RIA Novosti on Friday, Nikolay Nozdrev, the director of the Third Asia Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the new pact between the three nations, known as AUKUS, could spur countries around the world to expand their military stockpiles and exacerbate regional disputes.

"It is already public knowledge that the purchase of American 'Tomahawk' sea-based cruise missiles by the Australians, agreements on the deployment of US Air Force jets, expansion of other forms of bilateral military cooperation, and the possibility of using Australian bases by British nuclear submarines are being discussed," Nozdrev said.

Comment: Australia's government sells out the country in order to facilitate the belligerent agenda of the US & UK: The AUKUS issue is not over

And check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: Why You Should Question Media Reports About China 'Causing Covid' And 'Invading Taiwan'



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Attention

US Treasury deputy sec warns unvaxxed Americans that shortages will continue until EVERYONE is jabbed


RT
Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:27 UTC

Comment: Whoa, is that a threat!?


cargo boat
© Reuters / Alan Devall
The deputy secretary at the US Treasury has put Americans on notice that the only way to end the plague of empty shelves around the country is for every resident to be vaccinated. The frank warning came off as a threat to many.

Wally Adeyemo, the Biden administration's second-highest official in the Treasury Department, appeared to publicly blackmail the still-sizable portion of Americans who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 during a Thursday ABC interview, seemingly blaming them for the ongoing shortages of consumer goods that have led many to mock the president as 'Empty Shelves Joe'.

Despite viral photos depicting thousands of cargo ships lined up at the Port of Los Angeles ready to unload their goods, Adeyemo claimed that the supply chain issues plaguing so many US retailers are an international issue and will only let up when a sufficient percentage of the country has been vaccinated.

Describing the disastrous economic conditions as "an economy that's in transition," Adeyemo acknowledged that "we are seeing high prices for some of the things that people have to buy." While he praised the administration's stimulus payments, he also pinned the blame squarely on the unvaccinated.

Comment: See also: NewsReal: Is The Government Hyping Shortages? And is 'Vaccination Shedding' Really a Thing?

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No Entry

US warship intercepted by Russian Navy while trying to sail into country's territorial waters, Moscow says amid drills with China


RT
Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:42 UTC
russia navy
© U.S. Navy photo
SEA OF JAPAN (Oct. 15, 2021) A Russian Udaloy-class destroyer interacts with USS Chafee (DDG 90), while Chafee conducts routine operations in international waters in the Sea of Japan.
Russian sailors were scrambled to head off the American missile destroyer USS Chafee as it set course to violate their country's maritime borders in waters closed off for military exercises, Moscow's Ministry of Defense has said.

On Friday, defense chiefs stated that the Chafee, an Arleigh-Burke class warship operated by the US Pacific Fleet, attempted to make its way into territory in the Russian Far East, before its course was diverted by one of the country's anti-submarine ships, the Admiral Tributs.

According to the reports, the vessel had been operating in the Sea of Japan for several days before trying to cross the border near the Peter the Great Gulf.

Comment: Sputnik reports that the US, unsurprisingly, claims the allegations, that are supported with evidence, are 'false':
"The statement from the Russian Defense Ministry about the interaction between our two Navy ships is false," the US military said in a statement on Friday.

"While USS Chafee (DDG 90) was conducting routine operations in international water in the Sea of Japan on Oct. 15, 2021, a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer came within approximately 65 yards of USS Chafee (DDG 90) while the ship was preparing for flight operations. The interaction was safe and professional. Although Russia issued a Notice to Airman and Mariners (NOTAM/NOTMAR) in this area for later in the day, the NOTAM/NOTMAR was not in effect at the time of the interaction. At all times, USS Chafee conducted operations in accordance with international law and custom. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate where international law allows," the statement continues.

russia us navy
© U.S. Navy
Courtesy Photo Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet -
SEA OF JAPAN (Oct. 15, 2021) A Russian Udaloy-class destroyer interacts with USS Chafee (DDG 90), while Chafee conducts routine operations in international waters in the Sea of Japan.
Video footage published by Moscow filmed by crew on board the intercepting warship, the Udaloy-class large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs, shows the Chafee's Seahawk helicopter powering up its engines as the warship plows ahead, the Tributs pacing it just 60 meters off its starboard side.

The US Pacific Fleet also published three photos of the incident from the Chafee, showing the frigate-sized Admiral Tributs steaming nearby and several members of its crew watching the Chafee intently.
For more examples of the US violating international norms and law on land, sea, and in the air, and from just this year, see:

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Windsock

Russia to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 at the latest — Putin


TASS
Wed, 13 Oct 2021 16:04 UTC
Putin in conference
© AP
FILE PHOTO: Russia will practically seek after carbon neutrality of its economy," the Russian leader noted
Russia will seek to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 at the latest, President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week forum.

"Russia will practically seek after carbon neutrality of its economy. We set a specific orienting point here - not later than 2060," the President said.

One of the Russian regions, the Sakhalin Region, has already launched an experiment to achieve carbon neutrality. Activities are underway there to develop a hydrogen cluster, produce 'green' coal and 'green' liquefied natural gas, build wind farms and geothermal power plants.

Comment: Not that achieving carbon neutrality would have any significant impact on the climate, but, if Russia wanted to, it's likely that with its advances in technology, it could achieve it. However, If the world continues its descent into madness, it's likely that in the very near future, carbon emissions won't figure on any sane persons list of priorities, and the world could be a very different place come 2060:

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Bullseye

Mali Massacre: Police marksmen had British backing via EU scheme despite Brexit

Phil Miller
Declassified UK
Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:00 UTC
Mali guys
© Habibou Kouyate/AFP/Getty Images
Mali’s anti-terrorist "Forsat" unit received UK-funded training
Britain supported a €30 million European Union aid package for an armed police unit in Mali that has since killed 14 protesters, Declassified has found.

Foreign Office staff "overrode parliamentary scrutiny" to approve an aid deal that would benefit the unit in December 2017 - 18 months after the Brexit vote. Alan Duncan, who was a foreign minister at the time, had to apologise to parliament's European Scrutiny Committee - admitting the deal was "not handled in the correct manner" and that there were "regrettable errors."

Duncan's staff had agreed Britain would extend its support for an EU capacity building project known as EUCAP Sahel Mali, which trains security forces in west Africa. Britain contributed approximately 15% of its €30 million annual budget until around January 2019. According to an EU document, the project specifically "supported the creation and operationalisation" of Mali's Force Spéciale Antiterroriste (a Special Anti-Terrorist Force known as Forsat).

Comment: See also:

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Windsock

Biden's DOJ reverses Andrew McCabe's firing, restores full pension and benefits

Paul Bois
Breitbart
Thu, 14 Oct 2021 00:00 UTC
McCabe
© Alex Brandon/AP
Former FBI Director Andrew McCabe
The Justice Department has reversed former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's firing, charging that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated him on the eve of his retirement for political purposes.

According to the New York Times, the 53-year-old McCabe will be granted full retirement, allowing him to receive his pension and other benefits as well as $200,000 in missed pension payments. The Times noted:
"In addition, the department agreed to expunge any mention of his firing from F.B.I. personnel records. The agreement even made clear that he would receive the cuff links given to senior executives and a plaque with his mounted F.B.I. credentials and badge."
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired Andrew McCabe in 2018 for allegedly lying to investigators about releasing unauthorized information to the Wall Street Journal regarding Hillary Clinton's use of a private email servers. The firing occurred just one day prior to McCabe's retirement, a firing his lawyers argued was politically motivated due to his role in the Russian collusion investigation.

Comment: Biden is reassembling The Team.

See also:

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Pirates

Ahead of talks, Putin claims IS has 2K fighters in Afghanistan


RFE/RL
Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:36 UTC
Putin in conference
© AP
FILE PHOTO: Russia will practically seek after carbon neutrality of its economy," the Russian leader noted
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Islamic State (IS) militant group has thousands of fighters in northern Afghanistan, as Moscow prepares to host international talks next week on the situation in the country.

"According to our intelligence, the number of (IS) members alone in northern Afghanistan is about 2,000 people," Putin said on October 15 during a video address to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit of ex-Soviet states.

The Russian leader claimed the alleged IS fighters planned to move between ex-Soviet Central Asian countries disguised as refugees, in order to stir up religious and ethnic discord. He did not give details. Earlier this week, Putin warned of the threat of veteran fighters from Iraq and Syria with IS links crossing into Afghanistan, while the Russian Foreign Ministry urged the Taliban rulers to deal with the threat.

Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said on October 15 that next week's talks would focus on trying "to work out a common position on the changing situation in Afghanistan."

The United States, China, and Pakistan will join talks scheduled for October 19, Kabulov said, adding that the Taliban and other regional actors will join the meeting a day later.
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Wolf

Hunter Biden illustrates how to become a leading artist in America

Eric Zuesse
The Duran
Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:14 UTC
hunter biden art
© The Sun
Hunter shows off his art
U.S. President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, is one of America's top artists. That means he has become able to sell his paintings to the largest number of America's richest people at the highest prices: his artistic patrons are millionaires, centi-millionaires, and billionaires, who know that the Biden Family operation splits its money among all of its members, including the "Big Guy", U.S. President Joe Biden, who could benefit when such a buyer pays money to Hunter for a painting. They operate as a family business (or, actually, businesses), and everybody (including "the 'Big Guy'," and including "H" or Hunter, and also James Biden, Joe's brother) gets a cut in it.

This fact was reported by the Wall Street Journal, on 23 October 2020, whose sources were the corporation's CEO (Bobulinski), who owned half, and "corporate documents reviewed by the Journal." However, the American "true"/"false" news-rating firm PolitiFact dismissed that report, by alleging "there is no smoking gun" because
"Credible news organizations have found no evidence to corroborate Bobulinski's claims about a role in the proposed venture for Joe Biden. Joe Biden's financial documents show no indication of any income related to the venture."

Comment: Human Events reports that the White House itself is running interference for this latest influence-peddling scheme:
Joe Biden's son Hunter has suddenly found himself in the art world after selling at least five paintings for a whopping $75,000 each.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the prints were sold at a "pop-up" presentation in Los Angeles on October 1.

As reported on CharlieKirk.com, this week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about one of the attendees at last week's opening, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

"Should we expect to see more people who seek jobs in this administration attending events like this in the future?," CBS News Radio reporter Steven Portnoy asked.

To no surprise, Psaki deflected: "Again, the gallerist has spoken to - we've spoken to the specifics of what the gallerist has agreed to and what recommendations were made. I've done that several times. I don't have additional details for it from here. I'd point you to them."

Hunter is also having an upcoming gallery show in New York. Per the New York Post, "a leading ethics expert told The Post that Biden's recent schmoozing with attendees at this debut exhibition showed that a White House attempt to prevent influence-peddling by keeping buyers anonymous won't work and should be scrapped in favor of a 'Plan B.'"

It's allegedly a process to get into the Biden show. You have to call the gallery and be vetted through a team of lawyers.

Richard Painter, President George W. Bush's chief ethics lawyer, said the Los Angeles opening, where Hunter schmoozed with 200 guests, "illustrates how this veil-of-secrecy idea is not happening."

He added there should be full transparency of the buyers' identities and Biden, along with his appointees, should sign "recusal pledges" to ensure they "can't get access to the White House."


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