Re: #25 - Main news thread - conflicts, terrorism, crisis from around the globe

[Zambeezi]

No wind-down for China on stopping its Iran oil buys: Trump officials
https://in.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-sanctions/no-wind-down-for-china-on-stopping-its-iran-oil-buys-trump-officials-idINKCN1S2238

After the Trump administration announced on Monday its intent to sink Iran’s oil exports to zero, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards repeated a threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe and North America.

If China does not cut Iran oil purchases to zero, the Trump administration may have to make a decision on blocking Chinese banks from the U.S. financial system. That could have unintended consequences for finance and business between the world’s two biggest economies, already in negotiations over trade disagreements.

[Böhse Tante]

WATCH: French riot police violently assault a female gilets jaunes protester in Paris

This is France under the leadership of centrist president Emmanuel Macron
And Lib Dem leader Vince Cable says he wants to introduce Macron’s centrist formula to Britain pic.twitter.com/LDHyW4YOF4

— David Powell (@Kropotkin_alias) April 27, 2019

Many years ago I watched a couple walking along the street, she was visible "very" pregnant, must have been around 500 meters away from a protest (against the POTUS visiting Frankfurt). Suddenly a police car arrived, 5 or more Policemen jumped out and beat them like animals. Since then I lost my trust in police, state and everything that has to do with it.

[Böhse Tante]

Opposition pawn Juan Guaidó visited Maracay earlier today, in the Venezuelan state of Aragua. Here's a look at the size of the crowds this pathetic man is mobilizing around the country. via @mangozurdapic.twitter.com/Dvmha7FblW

— Camila (@camilateleSUR) 27. dubna 2019

reminds me of Pence's reception in Poland and Germany. hahaha. pathetic.

Who is Pence? He was in Germany? Didn't recognise.

[KneelB4Zod!]

raedsyrian002
@raedsyrian002
28 sek.
#Coverage_continued
South of Raqqa
The operation of the Syrian army took place yesterday and proceeded with a 3-km-long neck towards the positions of the militia militia of the American occupation forces on the south-western front of Raqqa

[KneelB4Zod!]

zerohedge
@zerohedge
12 hod.
The Essence Of Evil: Sex With Children Has Become Big Business In America

"Children, young girls - some as young as 9 years old - are being bought and sold for sex in America. The average age for a young woman being sold for sex is now 13 years old.

This is America’s dirty little secret."

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-26/essence-evil-sex-children-has-become-big-business-america

[KneelB4Zod!]

Defend Assange Campaign
@DefendAssange
3 hod.
Former Ecuadorian consul Fidel Narvaez: Ecuador has conducted "a smear campaign, a smokescreen to cover up the fact that Ecuador was handing over a political refugee to be persecuted. That is a crime”, says Assange was 'kidnapped' in broad daylight.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/police-arrest-julian-assange-kidnap-070000833.html

[KneelB4Zod!]

SouthFront
@southfronteng
16 min.
Russian Attack Helicopters Strikes Terrorist Positions, Vehicles In Northern Hama (Video) http://dlvr.it/R3d7Yv

[Zambeezi]

#Brazil is run by #US ‘lackeys’ and ‘lunatics’ – ex-president Lula.
The image of the country internationally has been destroyed by Bolsonaro and his gang. #LulaLivrehttps://t.co/4FhlzkkrsK

— Enrico Ivanov (@Russ_Warrior) April 27, 2019

[Zambeezi]

Merger: Eurasian Union + BRI

President Putin proclaimed at #BeltandRoadForum that #Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union are merging with #China's Belt & Road Initiative, this process will have unprecedentedly strategic consequences for Eurasia and 21st-century geopolitics as a whole https://t.co/I7ys5XysZK pic.twitter.com/Hz2sBAgJUr

— Enrico Ivanov (@Russ_Warrior) April 27, 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

Merger: Eurasian Union + BRI

President Putin proclaimed at #BeltandRoadForum that #Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union are merging with #China's Belt & Road Initiative, this process will have unprecedentedly strategic consequences for Eurasia and 21st-century geopolitics as a whole https://t.co/I7ys5XysZK pic.twitter.com/Hz2sBAgJUr

— Enrico Ivanov (@Russ_Warrior) April 27, 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

Yellow vests in Germany:

German members of the worldwide agitating #YellowVests movement, protest today in front of #Merkel's chancellery in #Berlin

Much respect to #Gelbwesten#GiletsJaunes #Acte24 #Resistance #Germany pic.twitter.com/E69GQDHPF7

— Partisan FB (@PartisanDE) 27. dubna 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

Oded Berkowitz
@Oded121351
7 min.
#Libya- another day, another motto #LNA video showing its exceptionally well-equipped unit with EOTechs on railed AKs
This seems to be a specific unit potentially designated as "SOF" (other well-equipped units appeared but not this level), but never specifically named

[KneelB4Zod!]

Oded Berkowitz
@Oded121351
7 min.
#Libya- another day, another motto #LNA video showing its exceptionally well-equipped unit with EOTechs on railed AKs
This seems to be a specific unit potentially designated as "SOF" (other well-equipped units appeared but not this level), but never specifically named

Someone pours money to Haftar...:

Video from few days of some Special Unit graduating in Jordanian Military Academy. pic.twitter.com/uGL3ePWWdY

— Aldin (@aldin_ww) 27. dubna 2019

[Zambeezi]

Outrageous: It appears the #Saudi government has at least 16 times bailed out its students accused of crimes in N America, helped them flee the country, then ignore extradition requests.

Me: Hey, #MbS if we're allies now, it's time for some real changes.https://t.co/pcJRM4c27i

— Daniel Pipes (@DanielPipes) April 27, 2019

[Zambeezi]

Merger: Eurasian Union + BRI

President Putin proclaimed at #BeltandRoadForum that #Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union are merging with #China's Belt & Road Initiative, this process will have unprecedentedly strategic consequences for Eurasia and 21st-century geopolitics as a whole https://t.co/I7ys5XysZK pic.twitter.com/Hz2sBAgJUr

— Enrico Ivanov (@Russ_Warrior) April 27, 2019

Interpreting President Putin’s Speech At The 2019 BRI Forum
https://orientalreview.org/2019/04/27/interpreting-president-putins-speech-at-the-2019-bri-forum/


President Putin left nothing to doubt when he proudly proclaimed that Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union regional integration organization that it leads
are strategically merging with China and its Belt & Road Initiative, with this process having unprecedentedly far-reaching strategic consequences for the supercontinent
and 21st-century geopolitics as a whole.

This year’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) Forum
https://eurasiafuture.com/2018/10/24/constructive-criticisms-of-chinas-silk-road/
is a monumental event bringing together several dozen heads of state and providing a platform for the international community to better understand this world-changing vision. President Putin gave an important speech
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/60378
during this event that can be summarized as his proud proclamation that Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) regional integration organization that it leads are strategically merging with China and its BRI. There’s no doubt that this process will have unprecedentedly far-reaching strategic consequences for the supercontinent and 21st-century geopolitics as a whole, which is why his entire address deserves to be analyzed in full. What therefore follows is the transcript of his speech interspersed with brief interpretations of the text in order to help the reader appreciate just how significant of an event this was and what his words might mean for the future of Russian grand strategy:
https://orientalreview.org/2018/05/07/russias-grand-strategy-in-afro-eurasia-and-what-could-go-wrong/


►Passage:

“President Xi Jinping, Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank my good friend President of China Xi Jinping for inviting me to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. I would like to express my appreciation for the opportunity to be here in such a large representative group and to meet with each other, to discuss current issues of global development and principles of cooperation.

I have listened with great interest – as I am sure many other people in this hall have – about the principles and goals of China’s development, that is, how the People’s Republic of China, the world’s largest economy today in terms of purchasing power parity, is planning to develop and build relationships with its partners. This is of fundamental importance both for Russia and, I am sure, for many of our colleagues who have gathered here in Beijing today.”

Interpretation:

When China talks, the world listens.

►Passage:

“It is obvious that the implementation of this ambitious project, Belt and Road, promoted by our Chinese colleagues, is aimed at strengthening the constructive cooperation of the Eurasian states. Its truly unifying goal is to ensure harmonious and sustainable economic development and economic growth throughout the Eurasian space.

Russia has emphasised on numerous occasions that PRC President’s Belt and Road initiative rimes with Russia’s idea to establish a Greater Eurasian Partnership, a project designed to ‘integrate integration frameworks’, and therefore to promote a closer alignment of various bilateral and multilateral integration processes that are currently underway in Eurasia.”

Interpretation:

China’s Silk Road vision of Eurasian integration is complementary to Russia’s Greater Eurasian Partnership, with the key concept being that both Great Powers are now ready to “integrate (their) integration frameworks”, which confirms what the Russian Ambassador to China said
https://eurasiafuture.com/2019/04/20/russias-ambassador-to-china-strongly-hinted-at-moscows-interest-in-n-cpec/
earlier this month and strongly implies Moscow’s unstated but de-facto
https://eurasiafuture.com/2018/07/31/creative-non-cpec-marketing-strategies-for-pakistan/
participation in BRI’s flagship project of CPEC, too.
https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201704241052940823-cpec-multipolar-world-future/

►Passage:

“Russia is ready to undertake efforts for creating a transparent and enabling environment in order to promote cooperation across Eurasia.

It is important that we come up with effective ways of responding to the risks of a fragmented global political, economic and technological landscape and growing protectionism, with illegitimate unilateral restrictions imposed bypassing the UN Security Council or, even worse, trade wars as its most dangerous expressions.



2019 BRI ForumIt is our firm belief that only by working together can we counter urgent challenges such as decelerating economic growth, the deepening prosperity gap among nations as well as technological backwardness.”

Interpretation:

Only multilateral economic cooperation such as the sort proposed by China’s BRI and Russia’s EAU (to say nothing of these integration projects’ impending merger) can counteract the systemically destabilizing consequences of the US’ “trade war”
https://orientalreview.org/2018/04/07/the-true-origins-of-the-us-chinese-trade-war/
and the “Trumpist” worldview
https://eurasiafuture.com/2018/08/07/top-trends-hybrid-war-balkanization-trumpism-vs-globalism-renaissance-2-0/
that inspired it.

►Passage:

“Let me repeat what I have said on numerous occasions: these negative trends feed terrorism, extremism and illegal migration flows, causing old regional conflicts to resurface and new ones to emerge.”

Interpretation:

Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi, and Prime Minister Khan of the global pivot state of Pakistan
https://eurasiafuture.com/2019/02/14/pakistan-the-global-pivot-state/
are all on the same page regarding the fact that the source of many security threats can be traced back to economic problems, hence the interest that the new Multipolar Trilateral
https://orientalreview.org/2018/03/30/21st-century-paradigm-shift-in-eurasia-towards-a-new-trilateral/
has in pursuing the integration of the EAU, BRI, and CPEC.

►Passage:

“I strongly believe that Eurasia can become a role model in devising a meaningful and positive agenda for overcoming these and other urgent international problems. Peoples of various cultures, religions and traditions have inhabited the vast Eurasian space for millennia.

Of course, there were wars and conflicts throughout the continent’s history, but sooner or later they subsided, while common sense and the natural aspiration of the people to peace and communication always triumphed at the end of the day.”

Interpretation:

Despite its diversity, Eurasia won’t be the scene of a destabilizing so-called “Clash of Civilizations”
https://eurasiafuture.com/2019/04/23/recent-events-show-that-shadowy-forces-want-to-spark-a-clash-of-civilizations/
that shadowy forces are actively trying to spark, but rather the platform for a Convergence of Civilizations
https://www.geopolitica.ru/en/article/cpec-and-21st-century-convergence-civilizations
that will stabilize the supercontinent following the integration of the aforementioned integration frameworks (EAU, BRI, CPEC).

►Passage:

“Russia is interested in the closest cooperation with all Eurasian partners on the basis of unshakable principles of respect for the sovereignty, rights and legitimate interests of each state. It is on these principles that we are building the Eurasian Economic Union, with our partners – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Soon, on May 29, the EAEU will have been in existence for five years. Over this period, a common market has been created, and conditions are being created to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour.

Common markets have been formed, as well as a common digital space.

In his remarks just now, President Xi Jinping spoke about linking his initiatives with similar ones and with other associations that are forming in our vast space. This absolutely fits into our plans. The EAEU states are actively working to strengthen industrial and technological cooperation, to build efficient transport and logistics chains. And we, too, together with our Chinese friends, with all our partners, will talk more during our meetings today and tomorrow, we will continue coordinating this work, work of a global nature.”

Interpretation:

The Russian-led EAU is the core of Moscow’s supercontinental integration strategy, and it perfectly dovetails with China’s BRI.

►Passage:

“We also continue pursuing the policy of harmonizing our monetary and fiscal policies. At the same time, the Eurasian Economic Union strives for the widest possible cooperation with all interested countries and associations. I am primarily referring to the People’s Republic of China, the country we consider to be our key supporter, our natural partner in the integrated development of the continent.

The five EAEU member states have unanimously supported the idea of pairing the EAEU development and the Chinese Silk Road Economic Belt project. The agreements reached in this regard are being successfully implemented. In the coming months, the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the EAEU and China will enter into force.”

Interpretation:

The EAU will continue harmonizing its economic strategy with China, Russia’s key supporter and natural partner in jointly integrating Eurasia, with more cooperation agreements to be forthcoming.

►Passage:

“The Eurasian Union is committed to liberalising economic ties with its other partners as well, and has already signed a free trade agreement with Vietnam and a provisional agreement with Iran paving the way to the creation of a free trade area. The preparation of similar instruments with Singapore and Serbia is nearing completion, and talks are underway with Israel, Egypt and India.

We cooperate actively with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.



We undoubtedly stand for expanding business ties with the European Union, our long-standing and traditional partner, in a constructive and equitable manner. Even if there are currently some differences between us, they cannot and should not cast a shadow on our shared responsibility for the future of Europe and all of Eurasia.”

Interpretation:

Russia’s Greater Eurasian Partnership vision is truly all-encompassing and seeks to spread multipolarity into every corner of the supercontinent, even doing what most observers had hitherto thought to be politically impossible by connecting Iran and its hated “Israeli” foe
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/writing-israel-quotation-marks-peaceful-form-pro-semitic-protest/
together through the same multilateral trade framework of the EAU.
https://eurasiafuture.com/2018/04/25/the-resumption-of-russian-israeli-free-trade-talks-proves-ties-are-fantastic/

►Passage:

“Let me emphasize that the Great Eurasian Partnership and Belt and Road concepts are both rooted in the principles and values that everyone understands: the natural aspiration of nations to live in peace and harmony, benefit from free access to the latest scientific achievements and innovative development, while preserving their culture and unique spiritual identity. In other words, we are united by our strategic, long-term interests.

I strongly believe that the comprehensive approach that underpins both concepts will help us further enhance economic cooperation within the continent, develop shared transport and energy infrastructure and promote digital technology. This way, integration will serve the interests of our peoples and all Eurasian nations to the fullest extent.”

Interpretation:

“Win-win” isn’t high-sounding rhetoric exclusive to the Chinese, but is a credible Eurasian-wide vision that can ultimately improve the living standards of the supercontinent’s many people if it’s successfully pursued by all nations in full coordination with one another.

►Passage:

“Once again, I would like to thank our partners, our Chinese friends for this initiative. Thank you for your attention.”

Interpretation:

No one should ever forget that while the vision of “win-win” is completely inclusive, it wouldn’t be possible to seriously implement in practice had it not been for China’s BRI, therefore making the People’s Republic the core of this paradigm-changing 21st-century process that’s poised to irreversibly revolutionize global geopolitics.










DISCLAIMER: The author writes for this publication in a private capacity which is unrepresentative of anyone or any organization except for his own personal views. Nothing written by the author should ever be conflated with the editorial views or official positions of any other media outlet or institution

[KneelB4Zod!]

Joe Cirincione
@Cirincione
24. 4.
Trump, Bolton and Pompeo have crafted the dumbest foreign policy in US history. “The administration’s sanctions unilateralists are making a fundamental mistake about the nature of U.S. financial power.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/24/by-punishing-iran-trump-is-weakening-america/

[KneelB4Zod!]

Amichai Stein
@AmichaiStein1
50 min.
#BREAKING: At least four people shot during a Passover holiday celebration at Chabad Poway synagogue in San Diego

[Zambeezi]

Joe Cirincione
@Cirincione
24. 4.
Trump, Bolton and Pompeo have crafted the dumbest foreign policy in US history. “The administration’s sanctions unilateralists are making a fundamental mistake about the nature of U.S. financial power.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/24/by-punishing-iran-trump-is-weakening-america/

[KneelB4Zod!]

Joe Cirincione
@Cirincione
24. 4.
Trump, Bolton and Pompeo have crafted the dumbest foreign policy in US history. “The administration’s sanctions unilateralists are making a fundamental mistake about the nature of U.S. financial power.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/24/by-punishing-iran-trump-is-weakening-america/

Which part do you mean? The one about the dumbest foreign policy or about the nature of US financial power?

[Zambeezi]

jus playin w/ ya.

[Zambeezi]

Looks like Haftar's mercs are getting outfitted w/ Trump toys?

#Libya- another day, another motto #LNA video showing its exceptionally well-equipped unit with EOTechs on railed AKs
This seems to be a specific unit potentially designated as "SOF" (other well-equipped units appeared but not this level), but never specifically named pic.twitter.com/EpNX1nzyJE

— Oded Berkowitz (@Oded121351) April 27, 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

Guy Elster
@guyelster
10 hod.
#SriLanka police chief refusing to quit despite president's request. The attacks renewed the political crisis and it is for sure would not be helpful for restoring stability and peace

This was the goal. Destabilization in the country where government is willing to jointly work with China on the BRI project...


And, just fresh, this comes in:

Guy Elster
@guyelster
3 min.
#BREAKING #ISIS claims another in Sri Lanka, in the east coast city of Kalmunai. It says that 17 policemen were killed or injured

[KneelB4Zod!]

jus playin w/ ya.

[KneelB4Zod!]

An unmanned aerial vehicle bombed the al-Falah area of the Libyan capital of Tripoli and is believed to have targeted the Qaqaa camp. https://t.co/998zN2Tqiq via @AmrFatihalla #Libya pic.twitter.com/4V3oqfX9SU

— Liveuamap MiddleEast (@lummideast) 27. dubna 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

Airstrikes in Tripoli earlier tonight#Libya pic.twitter.com/DsOEE9C6y4

— CNW (@ConflictsW) 27. dubna 2019

[Anon]

Guy Elster
@guyelster
10 hod.
#SriLanka police chief refusing to quit despite president's request. The attacks renewed the political crisis and it is for sure would not be helpful for restoring stability and peace

This was the goal. Destabilization in the country where government is willing to jointly work with China on the BRI project...

Maybe so, but like I said before this government is as pro-China as you might be led to believe so I wouldn't jump to conclusions.

Bear in mind that if the police chief doesn't resign because he doesn't want to be the fall guy (and Sirisena doesn't sack him directly either) then the matter could lead to a Parliamentary hearing which then would lead to an investigation, and that could go some way to seeing what the highest level of government really knew about this whole episode.

[Anon]

*correction  

but like I said before this government isn't as pro-China as you might be led to believe

[KneelB4Zod!]

Understood. But the part regarding renewed political crisis is important. Such attacks, moreover if meant as long term operation, are obvious tool to destabilize the country. Just in case you missed my reply:

In Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena beat Mahinda Rajapaksa in a presidential election in 2015 and launched a series of reviews of Beijing-led infrastructure projects on the island nation, as well as negotiating revised financial terms with Chinese state-owned enterprises, including CCCC.

This is what I looked for but quoted wrong part of the article. So it was quite confusing I guess. Even for me today.



Earlier this month HindustanTimes wrote:

Under Belt and Road Initiative, China builds rail line in Sri Lanka, a first since 1948

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/under-belt-and-road-initiative-china-builds-first-rail-line-in-sri-lanka/story-pO2qHyvJLSyGNq07lHFieP.html

Also this article is quite interesting:

China, Sri Lanka jointly build green Belt and Road projects

https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/qwyw/rdxw/82666.htm

[Böhse Tante]

zerohedge
@zerohedge
12 hod.
The Essence Of Evil: Sex With Children Has Become Big Business In America

"Children, young girls - some as young as 9 years old - are being bought and sold for sex in America. The average age for a young woman being sold for sex is now 13 years old.

This is America’s dirty little secret."

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-26/essence-evil-sex-children-has-become-big-business-america

If you think 9 is true you're very naive. 9 is old! Believe me. Since war in Yugoslavia it had started here and THESE pigs from Kosovo are trafficking even very little children with their mothers. When they are done with them the harvesting starts. When I think of this I would want to kill someone.

[Böhse Tante]

Yellow vests in Germany:

German members of the worldwide agitating #YellowVests movement, protest today in front of #Merkel's chancellery in #Berlin

Much respect to #Gelbwesten#GiletsJaunes #Acte24 #Resistance #Germany pic.twitter.com/E69GQDHPF7

— Partisan FB (@PartisanDE) 27. dubna 2019

Finally!

I hope that grows.