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Russia becomes China's biggest oil provider, overtaking Saudi Arabia


RT
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:52 UTC
Image
© Reuters / David McNew
In May China imported a record 3.92 million metric tons of crude oil from Russia, which is equivalent to 927,000 barrels per day. Russia has become Beijing's top crude supplier for the first time since October 2005.

"Russia is using its good relationship with China to increase supplies and has now taken the top spot," Gao Jian, an analyst at Shandong-based energy consultant SCI International told Bloomberg in a phone interview.

Last month Saudi Arabia delivered only 3.05 million tons to China overtaken also by Angola, which sold 3.26 million tons in May reports Bloomberg, citing data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs published Tuesday.

Comment: Slowly but surely, the alliance between Russia and China is increasing in strength.

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Eye 1

Two men arrested in Ukraine for the murder of journalist Oles Buzina

Roger Annis
CounterPunch
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:09 UTC
Oles Buzina murderers
© Unknown
Since bailed out by an oligarch
Two people were arrested in Ukraine on June 18 for the murder of journalist Oles Buzina on April 16, 2015. The two are said to be members of neo-Nazi paramilitary forces. Andriy Medevko and Denys Polischuk appeared in court separately on June 19. They were denied bail and will appear again in court in August.

Polischuk was released on bail on June 23. He was greeted upon release by a crowd of Right Sector members. Bail of five 5 million hryvnia (US$230,000) was paid by Oleksiy Tamrazov, owner of the media conglomerate Media Group and one of the wealthiest oil/gas businessmen in Ukraine. (UNIAN News, June 23, 2015)

Both men are in their mid-20s. Korrespondent reported that a third suspect had been arrested. He was later released without charge.

Comment: Also see: Hacked emails show Ukrainian Security Service involved in murder of opposition journalists

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Cell Phone

Marine Le Pen stating the obvious: US neither ally nor friend of France


ITAR-TASS
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:59 UTC
Marine Le Pen
© AP Photo/Michel Spingler
The United States is "neither an ally nor a friend of France," member of the European Parliament, leader of France's National Front political party Marine Le Pen said, commenting on reports on eavesdropping on mobile phones of the last three French presidents.

"The revelations made by the WikiLeaks website seem to be very serious," she said. "This eavesdropping poses a direct threat to our national independence, sovereignty and security."

Comment: Le Pen is stating the obvious and shouldn't be surprised at the WikiLeaks revelations.

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Apple Green

Russian counter-sanctions should take into account Hungary, Greece, Cyprus stances


ITAR-TASS
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:51 UTC
Valentina Matviyenko
© Ilya Pitalev/TASS
Speaker of the russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko.
Working out retaliatory sanctions against the European Union, Russia should take into account the stances of the countries with which it has good economic and political relations, such as Hungary, Greece and Cyprus, speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday, answering a TASS question.

She said with regret that the EU has extended sanctions against Russia, adding that "Russia will introduce its retaliatory, adequate and measured counter-sanctions" and the Russian government is currently working on this.

Comment: Looks like cooler heads prevail in Russia to counter US/NATO/EU aggression.

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Bacon n Eggs

Russia extends counter-sanctions for another year


RT
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:35 UTC
Russian President Vladimir Putin
© RIA Novosti / Michael Klimentyev
President Vladimir Putin has signed the order to extend Russian counter-measures in response to Western sanctions. The restrictions will be prolonged for a year starting from June 24, 2015.

"The government has addressed a letter to me asking to extend the measures that we had taken in response to the actions of our partners from several countries," Putin said. "Today, in accordance with this letter, I have signed a decree on extending certain special economic measures in order to ensure the safety of the Russian Federation," he said asking the government to prepare and publish a corresponding decree as soon as possible.

Comment: These counter-sanctions are going to hurt Europe. Maybe Putin should have a look at this article about the UN Charter enemy state status.

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Chess

Russia isn't a pawn on the US chessboard

John Wright
RT
Sun, 21 Jun 2015 13:11 UTC
global chess
© ajedrez.chess.com
Your move...
In his speech at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin identified the root cause of the rising tensions that have come to characterize relations between Russia and the West, responsible for hurtling the world toward another Cold War.

The hegemony long enjoyed by Washington, with the support of its allies, is now being challenged by a multipolar consensus around the world. In this multipolar world, every state enjoys parity, equal respect, and security under international law; and national sovereignty is returned to the status of an inalienable right, as enshrined in the UN Charter, rather than being a gift in the hands of the United States, the EU and NATO.

In response to a question on the deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said: "We do not act aggressively. We have started to defend our interests more persistently and consistently."

Comment: It is always when you think you own the game board, the checkmate is right around the corner.

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Monkey Wrench

G-4 obstacle to Asian and European peace? UN Charter still designates Italy, Germany and Japan as enemy states

Dr. Christof Lehmann
NSNBC International
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 12:33 UTC
Image
The UN Charter still designates Italy, Germany and Japan as enemy states to the United Nations. In legal terms this means that any U.N. Member State can launch a "preemptive" military aggression against these nations without a declaration of war. Seldom discussed, this enemy State status is today, arguably, one of the greatest obstacles for a lasting peace in Asia and in Europe.

Since the end of WW II none of the G-4, that is China, UK, USA, and the USSR / Russia have taken steps to abolish the Enemy State Clause from the Charter of the United Nations. The UN Charter still designates Italy, Japan and Germany as enemy States to the United Nations. This fact is generally omitted from the public political discourse; that is, both in the G-4 nations as well as in Italy, Japan and Germany.

The implications and the lack of the sovereignty (e.g. the jus ad bellum) are, arguably, one of the greatest obstacles with regard to achieving a lasting Asian and European peace. A few examples should amply demonstrate why.

Comment: This UN Charter clause sure sheds some light on the geopolitical maneuverings we are witnessing.

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Arrow Down

Pentagon rewrites 'Law of War' declaring 'belligerent' journalists as legitimate targets


RT
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 02:32 UTC
The Pentagon
© Agence France-Presse
The Pentagon.
The Pentagon has released a book of instructions on the "law of war," detailing acceptable ways of killing the enemy. The manual also states that journalists can be labeled "unprivileged belligerents," an obscure term that replaced "enemy combatant."

The 1,176-page "Department of Defense Law of War Manual" explains that shooting, exploding, bombing, stabbing, or cutting the enemy are acceptable ways of getting the job done, but the use of poison or asphyxiating gases is not allowed.

Surprise attacks and killing retreating troops have also been given the green light.

But the lengthy manual doesn't only talk about protocol for those on the frontline. It also has an extensive section on journalists - including the fact that they can be labeled terrorists.

"In general, journalists are civilians. However, journalists may be members of the armed forces, persons authorized to accompany the armed forces, or unprivileged belligerents," the manual states.

The term "unprivileged belligerents" replaces the Bush-era term "unlawful enemy combatant."
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Rocket

Timing is everything: Sirens in S. Israel as IDF reports rocket launch from Gaza Strip


RT
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:03 UTC
Image
© Reuters / Amir Cohen
A rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip to southern Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces said on Tuesday. Sirens were heard in the kibbutzes of Zikim, Yad Mordechai and Karmia as well as the settlement of Netiv Haasara.

The Israeli Radio reported that the rocket landed in an open area between two towns.


Comment: Yup, just when the UN published a report, this happens. Coincidence?

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Gear

Engines of domination: What governments have done

Lifting Veils
Youtube
Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:51 UTC
Image
A clip from the documentary Engines of Domination by Mark Corske and Lifting the Veil.

Political power - armed central authority, with states and war - is it really necessary for human society? Or is it a tool that ruling elites use to live at the expense of society? Engines of Domination offers a theory of political power as a tool for making tools of human beings.

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