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Here's why Ukraine is suing Russia in the International Court of Justice

International Court of Justice building
Ukraine's case in the ICJ looks like a device to avoid paying the likely High Court Judgment for payment of the $3 billion debt Ukraine owes Russia.

The case Ukraine is bringing in the International Court of Justice is attracting scant international attention and has been almost entirely ignored by Western governments and by the Western media. Having said this it is an interesting case which begs a number of obvious questions.

Ukraine's claim is set out in an indictment which apparently runs to 45 pages. The summary of its claim, which is dated 17th January 2017, can be found here.

Essentially Ukraine is demanding compensation from Russia for the damage it says Russia has done to Ukraine through its aggression in eastern Ukraine and because of the harm Ukraine alleges Russia is doing to the Ukrainian and Tatar minorities in Crimea.

Eye 1

French far-right leader Le Pen biggest risk to European financial stability sez big banque - Credit Suisse

Marine Le Pen
© Stephane Mahe / ReutersMarine Le Pen
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is the biggest risk to European financial stability, according to a Credit Suisse guide aimed at helping investors understand the upcoming political uncertainties facing the continent.

In the guide, the Swiss bank analyzed possible outcomes in the upcoming Dutch, French and German elections, as well as the UK's triggering of Article 50 to kick-start Brexit, and Greece's debt negotiations.

Switzerland's second-biggest bank went on to offer three scenarios for Europe's near future.

The third and final scenario, dubbed the "Inferno" option, foresees National Front leader Le Pen being elected president of France. However, the bank's strategists do not consider this a likely outcome.

"Credit Suisse strategists take the view that the French presidential election... poses the most important risk for Europe this year," the bank said in a statement, referring to the upcoming polls.

The bank added that while Le Pen faces great challenges to win the second round of the presidential election, "any narrowing of the polls in Le Pen's favor will create a high degree of volatility in the markets."

Comment: See also: Hollande claims his 'ultimate duty' is to ensure France won't choose Le Pen


Info

Second Scottish independence vote 'looking inevitable'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (left) and Prime Minister Theresa May
© AFPScotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (left) and Prime Minister Theresa May attend service honouring soldiers and civilians in conflicts in the Gulf and Afghanistan.
A second Scottish independence referendum is now almost inevitable, with ministers concluding it is a question of when — not if — a vote is called.

People close to Theresa May's office said they expected Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, to seek a referendum next autumn, but that the government would fight to delay the vote until after Britain leaves the EU.

Although the British government could withhold the legal authority for a vote, it now appears focused on determining the date instead. "It's looking inevitable, I don't think we're in any position to stop it happening," said one minister close to the discussions. Another person briefed on Downing Street's thinking said: " The debate is only going to be about the date."

Arrow Up

'Hypocritical democracy': China says 2016 US election was full of 'lies & farces'

Pumpkin Trump Hillary
© Jim Young / Reuters
The 2016 US presidential election was full of "lies and farces" and was driven by "power-for-money deals," which in itself was sign of "hypocritical nature of US democracy," a Chinese government agency stated in a report on America's human rights record.

"In 2016, money politics and power-for-money deals controlled the presidential election, which was full of lies and farces," read an annual report released by the China's State Council Information Office, as cited by Xinhua news agency.

Propaganda

BUSTED! NYT caught changing article title after Trump tweets the word "wiretap"

Newy york times wire tapping
© New York Times
The New York Times comes to Obama's aid, yet again.

Hollywood conservative and Love Connection host, Chuck Woolery, tweeted this revelation about fake news New York Times..."

The entertainer was correct in his assertion, and sure enough other twitter users quickly confirmed that The New York Times did indeed remove the word "wiretapped" from the headline of a Donald Trump pre-inauguration post, detailing how data was being used by the federal government to investigate Trump advisors and campaign surrogates.

Comment: The Ministry of Truth's memory hole is running full tilt.


Dollar

British aid money used to 'indefinitely detain' migrants in Libya

Libya migrants
© Hani Amara / Reuters
Britain's multimillion-pound aid program in Libya is being used to indefinitely detain and mistreat migrants in the conflict-ridden country, the government's official aid watchdog has warned.

In a report published Friday, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICIA) says Britain's aid to Libya risks causing "unintended harm" to migrants and could prevent them from reaching a place of safety.

The UK devotes £5 million (US$6.08 million) to Libya as part of a program to tackle the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, with that money intended for improving the capabilities of the coastguard.

Telephone

In light of CIA cyber arsenal, Trump's wiretap claims are totally plausible

Computer screen
© Silas Stein / DPA / Global Look Press
President Trump's claim his phone was tapped during the election campaign by the Obama administration has been ridiculed as "outrageous." Now, with the latest WikiLeaks disclosure of the large CIA hacking capacity, Trump's claims aren't crazy at all.

Indeed one might say allegations of illegal surveillance by US intelligence agencies is consistent with the concept of a 'deep state' operating as a shadow government.

The WikiLeaks' bombshell release this week, the so-called Vault 7, of over 8,000 documents purporting to show a global arsenal of CIA hacking methods appears to be authentic. That is, the illegal surveillance of computers, smartphones and even household televisions by the American intelligence agency is happening on a massive scale.

Nuke

Chinese state media says must strengthen nuclear arsenal in response to THAAD deployment

Nuclear-capable missiles, Beijing
© Nir Elias / Reuters
An editorial in China's state-run Global Times newspaper says Washington should "pay the price" for the deployment of missile defense system THAAD to South Korea. China should build up its nuclear arsenal and closer ally with Russia in response, it says.

The article in the paper, often viewed as Beijing's mouthpiece, refers to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) battery that began to arrive to Osan Air Base in South Korea this week.

It says that China has "maintained a low profile" when it comes to nuclear armaments, and that its number of nuclear warheads is small - but that could now change.

"The United States has deployed a missile defense system right in front of China's door, and they must pay for that decision," the editorial says. "China must make sure THAAD deployment is being made in vain, by strengthening its own nuclear deterrent."

Radar

China will intercept 'intruding' aircraft, follow military vessels amid efforts to strengthen navy

Chinese navy
© AFP
China is building a "first-class navy" which will intercept "intruding aircraft" and follow any military vessels traveling within its controlled areas, an official has stated, adding that sailors should "stay vigilant."

"We will intercept any intruding aircraft and follow every military vessel in areas under our responsibility," Wang Weiming, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

"Our sailors should stay vigilant and be able to deal with emergencies at all times," he added.

Wang's statements come as China looks to strengthen its navy, expanding its fleet of naval destroyers and frigates and stepping up air and sea patrols.

Chess

Prelude to swamp draining? Jeff Sessions says he's open to investigating Obama's DOJ

Jeff Sessions
© Yuri Gripas / ReutersU.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not ruling out an independent investigation of the Department of Justice under the Obama administration.

Sessions expressed an openness to a third-party investigation of the DOJ under Attorney General Eric Holder and his successor Loretta Lynch in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday.

Sessions vowed to "do everything I possibly can to restore the independence and professionalism of the Department of Justice."

Hewitt asked Sessions whether he would allow an investigation by a counsel that has "authority to bring charges if underlying crimes were uncovered."

Hewitt claimed that some scandals were under-investigated, such as alleged discriminatory behavior by the IRS against Tea Party and conservative organizations, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) decision to sell weapons illegally in order to trace them to Mexican drug cartels.

While Sessions did not shoot the idea down, he did not commit to it either.