#NewWorldNextWeek: Episode194 - Belgium Buyer, Royal Nazi, GMO Ban

NewWorldNextWeek.com: Episode194 - Belgium Buyer, Royal Nazi, GMO Ban
Welcome to New World Next Week - the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:

Story #1: Did the Fed Launder $141B Through Belgium to Hide Massive Increase In QE?
Russia Dumps 20% Of Its Treasury Holdings As Mystery "Belgium" Buyer Adds Another Whopping $40 Billion
Euroclear Likely Cause of Belgium's Big Rise in Treasuries
Euroclear's Global "Collateral Highway" To Boost Collateral Flows
Who Is The New Secret Buyer Of U.S. Debt?
George Soros Sells All Shares of Citigroup, Bank of America & JP Morgan
NWNW Flashback: Staking $1 Billion That Herbalife Will Fail, Then Lobbying to Bring It Down
A New Global Financial Order Emerging: Putin and the "De-Dollarization" of Russia-China Trade

#Geopolitiks: Nile Bowie on Flight 370, Crimea, China and more

As Malaysia is reluctantly thrust into the world spotlight, what better time to talk again to our friend Nile Bowie, "a Malaysia-based political analyst and columnist with Russia Today". Is the country being unfairly maligned for their handling of the mystery of the missing Flight 370? Plus, we discuss the latest machinations going on over Russia, Crimea and Ukraine, as well as the disputes between China and Japan.



Download/Subscribe

New World Next Week: Episode183 - New Crimean War, Mt. Gox Crumbles, Twitter Predictor

NewWorldNextWeek.com: Episode183 -
New Crimean War, Mt. Gox Crumbles, Twitter Predictor
Welcome to New World Next Week - the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:

Story #1: Russia Puts Military on High Alert As Crimea Protests Leave One Man Dead
Developing: Armed Men Seize Government HQ, Raise Russian Flag in Ukraine's Crimea
William Engdahl Exposes the Western Agenda in Ukraine
Putin Drills Ground Troops at Ukraine's Doorstep as US Warns Against Intervention
Russia to Expand Its Worldwide Military Presence
Russian Warship Docked in Havana Without Explanation
Euromaidan Coup
Paul Craig Roberts Connects the Dots on the Ukrainian Revolution
NWNW Flashback: Who is Behind the Ukrainian Riots?

Story #2: Bitcoin Under Threat As Mt. Gox Goes Offline
New Exchange Will Put Bitcoin Regulation in the Hands of Wall Street Bankers
As Mt. Gox Collapses, SecondMarket Prepares to Launch a Bitcoin Exchange in New York
Make Or Break Time for Bitcoin
Bitcoin Price Resilient as Antonopoulos, Andreessen Weigh in on Mt. Gox Debacle
How To Prove That Exchanges Really Have Your Money
'Bitcoin' on Media Monarchy
'Bitcoin' on Cyber Space War

Story #3: Can Twitter Predict Major Events? A New Study Says Yes
PDF: Predicting Crowd Behavior with Big Public Data
Chicago PD Believes It Can See The Future, Starts Warning Citizens About Crimes They Might Commit
NWNW Flashback: The Software That Can Predict the Future

Bonus: #SaintHicks: 20 Years After Death of Bill Hicks, Legend Secured
NYC Marks 21st Anniversary of '93 World Trade Center Bombing
Today In History for February 27: Reichstag Fire, Gulf War I
Geopolitiks: Interview w/ Eva Bartlett of InGaza on Human Rights in Palestine

Visit NewWorldNextWeek.com to get previous episodes in various formats to download, burn and share. And as always, stay up-to-date by subscribing to the feeds from Corbett Report here and Media Monarchy here. Thank you.

Previous: Revolution Algorithm, Corporate Chemicals, Update Rundown

New World Next Week: Episode166 - 9/11+12, Putin's Op Ed, Kenyan Water

NewWorldNextWeek.com: Episode166 -
9/11+12, Putin's Op Ed, Kenyan Water
Welcome to New World Next Week - the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:

Story #1: New Poll Finds Most Americans Open to Alternative 9/11 Theories
Sept. 11 'Truthers' Mark Anniversary
Nile Bowie on RT: Has Questioning 9/11 Become More Acceptable?
AT&T Makes Controversial Connection To 9/11 Anniversary
Boston Airport Apologizes For Fire Drill With Smoke And Flames On September 11
Never Forget: September 11 Is Assad's Birthday

Story #2: Putin Pens Op Ed - A Plea for Caution From Russia
The Onion Pens Op Ed - So, What’s It Going To Be? By Bashar al-Assad

Story #3: Large Water Reserve In Kenya Discovered
Huge Aquifers Are Discovered in North Kenya

NWNW Update: California City Approves Eminent Domain For Negative Equity Mortgages
Media Monarchy: Interview w/ David Wolman on 'The End Of Money'

Visit NewWorldNextWeek.com to get previous episodes in various formats to download, burn and share. And as always, stay up-to-date by subscribing to the feeds from Corbett Report here and Media Monarchy here. Thank you.

Previous: Global Tax Grid, Hemisphere Project, RFID ID

New World Next Week: Episode165 - Global Tax Grid, Hemisphere Project, RFID ID

NewWorldNextWeek.com: Episode165 -
Global Tax Grid, Hemisphere Project, RFID ID
Welcome to New World Next Week - the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:

Story #1: G20 Nations Chase Tax Evaders With Plan To Swap Data Globally
Putin's Contempt For Obama Will Drive The G20 Summit
Syria, Egypt Strife Sparks Surge In Cyber Attacks

Story #2: AT&T Helps DEA Collect More Phone Calls Than NSA
NWNW Flashback: Trail Of US Criminal Investigations Altered To Cover Up DEA Unit's Role as Data Source

Story #3: California Abruptly Drops Plan to Implant RFID Chips in Driver's Licenses
Kaye Beach on How to Fight the Biometric Control Grid

Visit NewWorldNextWeek.com to get previous episodes in various formats to download, burn and share. And as always, stay up-to-date by subscribing to the feeds from Corbett Report here and Media Monarchy here. Thank you.

Previous: The Syria Crisis

Punk Band, Pussy Riot, Gets 2yr Jail Sentence For Anti-Putin Show

from wikipedia.org: Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk-rock band based in Moscow. Founded in August 2011, the band stages politically provocative performances about Russian political life in unusual locations, such as Lobnoye Mesto on Red Square, on top of a trolleybus or on a scaffold in the Moscow Metro.

On February 21, 2012, five members^[1] of the group staged a performance on the soleas of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, motivated by their opposition to the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the politics of the Russian Orthodox Church.^[2][3] Their actions were stopped by church security officials. On March 3, after a video of the performance appeared online, three of the group members were arrested and charged with hooliganism.^[4]

Their trial began in late July and raised much controversy in Russia and globally. According to a poll by the Levada Center, 44% of Russians supported the trial and believed in its fairness, while 17% did not.^[5] At the same time, the band members gained some noticeable support in Russia and internationally because of allegations of harsh treatment while in custody and the risk of a possible seven-year jail sentence.^[6][7]

On August 17, 2012, the three members were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred (Article 213.2 of the Criminal Code) and each sentenced to two years imprisonment.^[8][9] The Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement appealing to the authorities to show clemency, within the framework of the law.^[10][11] The trial and conviction have attracted international criticism.^[12] The foreign ministries of Germany and Sweden, together with representatives of the European Union and the United States, called the sentence “disproportionate”.^[13]

Camp David, Not Chicagoland, to Host G8

from nytimes.com: President Obama has boasted for months about playing host to the annual summit meeting of the Group of 8 industrialized nations this May in his hometown, Chicago. But on Monday, without explanation, the White House announced a shift to the secluded setting of Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.

Administration officials and associates, speaking only on condition of anonymity, said the president in recent weeks began discussing the idea of a more intimate setting for the world leaders — both to ease their communications and to cut down on the security concerns and traffic tie-ups of a big-city meeting.

Also, several noted, attendees will include Vladimir V. Putin, a harsh critic of the United States, who will return as Russia’s president after his election on Sunday.

“To facilitate a free-flowing discussion with our close G-8 partners, the president is inviting his fellow G-8 leaders to Camp David on May 18-19 for the G-8 Summit, which will address a broad range of economic, political and security issues,” the brief White House statement said. Camp David is about an hour from Washington and open only to the president and people he invites.

Still, the change was unusual given the months-long lead time that such events require.

#MediaMemes: I Have Nothing

What Happened to Whitney Houston?*
'Paint a Vulgar Picture':
Singer Whitney Houston dead at 48*
Sony sorry for price hike 'mistake'*
Whitney Had Premonition of Death*
Video: Celine on Whitney "drugs, bad people or bad influence tookover" #TitanicMemes*
List of 2012 Grammy winners*
Video: Measuring Whitney's wealth*
Forget M.I.A's Bird-Flip, Worry About Pop's Sexual Moral Decline*
In Putin's Russia,
TV Mirrors Longing for Normalcy*
MI5 spied on Charlie Chaplin after FBI asked for help to banish him from US*
Declassified documents show FBI, MI5 spied on Chaplin*
Video: 'This Means War' trailer*

new world next week - oct6

new world next week: episode086 -
eurasian union, revolution prediction, #occupyportland


Welcome back to New World Next Week - the video series from Corbett Report & Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in alternative news & open source intelligence. This week:

Story #1: Putin Wants 'Eurasian Union' to Compete With US & European Union
Related: Leaked Document Reveals Russia Plans to 'Eliminate' Enemies Overseas
Related: US Attack in Yemen Kills Anwar al-Awlaki

Story #2: Supercomputer Predicts Revolution Through 'Culturomics'
Related: The Scope of FBIS and BBC Open Source Media Coverage, 1979–2008 by Kalev Leetaru
Related: The Web Bot Project
Update: Visionary Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Dies at 56
Related: Introducing Siri, DARPA's Ghost in Apple's Machine

Story #3: Occupy Portland to Begin on Thursday
Related: 'Occupy Portland' Facebook Group

New World Next Week on Archive.org

Subscribe to NewWorldNextWeek.com to get hi-quality episodes to download, burn & share. And as always, stay up-to-date by subscribing to the feeds from Corbett Report here & Media Monarchy here. Thank you.

get mp3's of nwnw from archive & radio4all

previous: remote-controlled plane plot, qaeda vs. conspiracists, activist (re)post

putin wants 'eurasian union' to compete with US & european union

from endthelie.com: Vladimir Putin recently detailed his plan to build a Eurasian Union somewhat reminiscent of the USSR in the Izvestia newspaper which he aims to be able to compete with the European Union and the United States. Putin said, “We are talking about a model of a powerful supranational union capable of becoming one of the poles in the modern world.” Putin cites the “great inheritance form the Soviet Union” as a foundation for the construction of a wholly new entity to challenge European and American dominance, although he claims that he is not aiming to create the USSR.

related update: leaked document reveals russia plans to 'eliminate' enemies overseas; 'gave agents licence to kill'*

9/11 survivors lawsuit against united airlines given go-ahead

9/11 mother to make legal history suing over son's 21 minutes of terror before his doomed flight hit world trade center
from allgov: In the 10 years since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, thousands of survivors have settled their lawsuits against the airlines and other parties, and collected awards totaling billions of dollars. But one family has held out so it can have its day in court, and that time is finally approaching.

The plaintiff is the mother of Mark Bavis, one of the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to strike the World Trade Center. She is suing United and Huntleigh USA, the security company that screened passengers at Logan International in Boston, where the flight originated.

Bavis’ family contends that he and the other passengers would not have died had United and Huntleigh done their jobs and thus thwarted the hijackers who flew the airliner into the South Tower.

They blame United for ignoring government warnings about terrorist threats and Huntleigh for inadequate screening of passengers.

Her attorneys intend to portray the last minutes of the flight as sheer terror, based on phone calls made by other passengers. In a pretrial motion United’s legal team tried to keep Bavis from pursuing pain-and-suffering damages for the last moments of her son’s life. But a federal judge, Alvin Hellerstein, ruled this week that he is inclined to allow the trial’s jury to formulate an amount for such damages.

The wrongful-death case is expected to go to trial in November.

related 9/11 updates:
video: bushobama plan visit to new york on 9/11*
9/11 ceremony won't include presidential speeches*
robert de niro to host cbs 9/11 update*
calls to drop name 'ground zero' ahead of tenth anniversary of 9/11 attacks*
cancer-stricken ground zero worker edgar galvis gets settlement check for zero dollars*
mystery surrounds loss of records, art on 9/11*
flight 93 pennsylvania crash site marked by huge boulder*
9/11 inside job 'impossible to conceal,' says putin*
more insight into artist rick veitch and 'the big lie' comic book*
video: huckabee releases cartoon video on 9/11*

fake report of russian tanks sparks panic in country of georgia

georgia: simulating war or provoking it?
from reuters: Panic gripped Georgia on Saturday when a pro-government television station broadcast a fake report that Russian tanks had entered the capital and President Mikheil Saakashvili had been killed.

Imedi TV introduced the report as an "imitation of possible events," but the warning was lost on many viewers as mobile phone networks crashed and residents of Tbilisi rushed into the streets.

The report thrust the ex-Soviet neighbors back to August 2008, when Russia crushed an assault by U.S. ally Georgia on the rebel region of South Ossetia in a five-day war and sent tanks to within 45 km (28 miles) of Tbilisi.

geopolitikal updates: pretending, posturing & provocations

putin pretends to be tourist during reagan '88 visit to moscow*
russian planes again fly over US navy*
china to launch joint antiterror drill w/ russia*
making a killing: china tops execution list*
100 american soldiers arriving in philippines for wargames*
milosevic death squad leader 'was top cia agent'*
peres contradicts obama, urges iranians to ‘topple’ their govt*
france to compensate nuclear test victims*
bangladesh orphanage run by uk charity trained jihadis*
north korea readies missile, makes new threat*
japan has decided to shoot down north korea missile*
north korea warns against un action on rocket*
US deploys warships as north korea prepares to launch missile*

econocrash: davos, panic, pyramid schemes & market magic

do we need a north american currency?
from marketwatch: Thomas Jefferson once said: "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." As the global financial system pushes on a string, investors are desperately trying to hold tight. The New World Order is upon us, full of hope, promise and a fair amount of fear. In our recent discussion regarding the direction of our country, we noted the risks of catering to conventional wisdom and the implications for the U.S. dollar. See MarketWatch column on New World Order. Years ago, the Federal Reserve wrote a "solution paper" regarding the need to combat zero-bound interest rates. The concern was the flight of capital from the U.S. and an option discussed was a two-tiered currency, one for U.S citizens and one for foreigners. Canadian economist Herbert Grubel first introduced a potential manifestation of this concept in 1999. The North American Currency - called the "Amero" in select circles - would effectively comingle the Canadian dollar, U.S. dollar and Mexican peso. On its face, while difficult to imagine, it makes intuitive sense. The ability to combine Canadian natural resources, American ingenuity and cheap Mexican labor would allow North America to compete better on a global stage. Experience has taught us, however, that perceived solutions introduced by policy makers and politicians don't always have the desired effect.

white house will 'create crisis' & 'panic' to push stimulus
from business & media: Is the new Obama administration taking cues from the Bush administration to get Congress to act? It certainly seemed that way to, South Carolina’s junior Republican senator, Jim DeMint. DeMint, speaking Jan. 27 at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., explained the Obama administration will “create crisis and widespread panic” just like its predecessor in order to get Congress to act expeditiously. “I’ve been around long enough to know whenever someone tells me I have to make a decision right now, my response is no,” DeMint said. “That clears it up right away and I think more and more the Bush administration and now this administration knows that they’re not going to get a quick reaction out of Congress unless they create crisis and widespread panic. And that’s going to be their M.O. to get Congress to act.” Another senator, James Inhofe, R-Okla., explained the Bush administration used a similar tactic, under the direction of former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, to get the $700-billion TARP bailout bill passed by Congress back on Oct. 4, 2008.

bipartisanship? demint predicts zero senate gop votes for obama stimulus

ny ceo arrested over pyramid scheme
from afp: A New York CEO was to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of fleecing investors through a pyramid, or Ponzi scheme, authorities said. A spokeswoman for the FBI said that Nicholas Cosmo, chief executive of Agape World Inc, was due in court following his arrest late Monday. Cosmo "planned and carried out a fraudulent scheme" targeting some 1,500 investors and a total of 370 million dollars, the US prosecutor's office in New York said.

baboon’s blood offers davos leaders shakespearian market magic
from bloomberg: That old black magic has even the World Economic Forum in its spell. “Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble,” says WEF delegate Richard Olivier, one of the 2,500 global business and political leaders starring at the forum’s 39th annual meeting this week in Davos, Switzerland. The son of Shakespearian actor Laurence Olivier isn’t conjuring up Wall Street’s Triple Witching Hour before its next scheduled appearance in March. He’s hosting a seminar titled “Leadership Lessons From Macbeth” for WEF delegates who include Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, News Corp. Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. “Cool it with a baboon’s blood,” the 47-year-old Olivier advises, reciting the witches’ recommendation to the troubled Thane of Cawdor in Shakespeare’s play. The WEF’s theme this season is “Shaping the Post-Crisis World.” Yet Olivier reckons the kettle of fiscal crises currently heating up WEF delegates from JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO James Dimon to American International Group Inc. Vice Chairman Jacob Frenkel makes the Davosian stage an ideal venue for the princes of Wall Street to delve into the magic of “Macbeth” and discuss how they persuaded people, including themselves, to believe in things that were not real.

un crime chief says drug money keeps banks afloat
from iht: The United Nations' crime and drug watchdog has indications that money made in illicit drug trade has been used to keep banks afloat in the global financial crisis, its head was quoted as saying on Sunday. Vienna-based UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said in an interview released by Austrian weekly Profil that drug money often became the only available capital when the crisis spiralled out of control last year. "In many instances, drug money is currently the only liquid investment capital," Costa was quoted as saying by Profil. "In the second half of 2008, liquidity was the banking system's main problem and hence liquid capital became an important factor." The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had found evidence that "interbank loans were funded by money that originated from drug trade and other illegal activities," Costa was quoted as saying. There were "signs that some banks were rescued in that way." Profil said Costa declined to identify countries or banks which may have received drug money and gave no indication how much cash might be involved. He only said Austria was not on top of his list, Profil said.

stimulus bill sends thrill through region

banks & standing armies: ron paul on glenn beck
from infowars: Glenn Beck actually quotes Thomas Jefferson on the fact that “banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.”

ron paul: strengthening or weakening the economy?

update: navy's idea of 'stimulus': torpedoes, missiles & jets
from danger room: The Navy is hoping the stimulus bill will pay for more missiles, and fighter jets, and torpedoes. The gazillion dollar economic aid package, making its way through Congress, puts a premium on projects that can generate jobs, ASAP. So the Pentagon has given "some suggestions in terms of military hospitals, clinics, barracks, some child-care centers and things like that, where we think the work could begin right away or is already under way and could be accelerated," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told senators the other day. But an internal Navy memo, obtained by InsideDefense.com ace Chris Castelli, goes farther than these mom-and-apple-pie construction projects. Instead, the Navy suggests, what about some: "Tomahawk cruise missiles, MK-48 torpedoes or SM-2 air defense missiles; warfighting equipment such as small boats, riverine and coastal warfare craft"... Which sounds a lot more like the Navy's typical shopping list, than an attempt to get Americans working in a hurry. Not surprising. But lame. Meanwhile, Taxpayers for Common Sense finds an extra billion in the stimulus bill for nuclear stockpile watchers at the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Plus, there's another $200 million for the oft-troubled effort to build a high-tech fence along the Mexican border. "DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano at her nomination hearing this month criticized the fence, which has already doubled in cost since construction began," the good-government group notes. "Considering the controversy around increased spending on the weapons complex and border fence, these passages of the legislation should raise some flags over its shovel-readiness." Here's my question to y'all: Should defense projects even be considered part of the stimulus package? Obviously, some of them do generate jobs. But with the Pentagon already gobbling up more than $600 billion a year, hasn't the military-industrial complex had more than its fill? Talk it over, in the comments.

more americans joining military as jobs dwindle
from iht: As the number of jobs across the nation dwindles, more Americans are joining the military, lured by a steady paycheck, benefits and training. The last fiscal year was a banner one for the military, with all active-duty and reserve forces meeting or exceeding their recruitment goals for the first time since 2004, the year that violence in Iraq intensified drastically, Pentagon officials said. And the trend seems to be accelerating. The army exceeded its targets each month for October, November and December — the first quarter of the new fiscal year — bringing in 21,443 new soldiers on active duty and in the reserves. December figures were released last week... "When the economy slackens and unemployment rises and jobs become more scarce in civilian society, recruiting is less challenging," said Curtis Gilroy, the director of accession policy for the Department of Defense. Still, the economy alone does not account for the military's success in attracting more recruits. The recent decline in violence in Iraq has "also had a positive effect," Gilroy said.

from soviet agent to london newspaper proprietor
from time: What can you get for a single unit of Britain's poor, battered currency? Not much - apart from power, influence and an entrée into the highest echelons of the British establishment. These are the potential byproducts of an agreement reached on Jan. 21 by Russian oligarch and politician Alexander Lebedev to buy London's largest newspaper, the Evening Standard, from its current owners Associated Newspapers for the nominal fee of one pound sterling. The bargain-basement price is arguably the least startling aspect of a transaction that if confirmed next month following a staff consultation process - and barring any intervention by the British government - will open a new and bizarre chapter in Anglo-Russian relations. Lebedev, after all, is a former KGB operative, who spied on Britain under diplomatic cover during the Cold War, by his own account scouring news sources such as the Standard for tidbits to feed to his handlers back home. His exotic pedigree has caused a few splutters. Richard Ottway, a Conservative MP, said he felt that "the fact that [Lebedev] has been a member of a foreign security service" meant there should be an inquiry into the sale. "I think it's one more example that we are no more a serious nation that we allow a serious paper to be taken over in our capital by a Russian oligarch," harrumphed Sir Peregrine Worsthorne, an octogenarian former newspaper editor.

irish millionaire found dead of suspected suicide
from wikinews: Irish property businessman Patrick Rocca has been found dead in his home. Police reports indicate that suicide is the probable cause. He was 42. Rocca was discovered dead yesterday morning, with one shot to the head. The Irish Times has confirmed that there appears to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding this shot, and that the firearm involved has been confiscated. Rocca was believed to have assets worth €500 million. He had worked in business for around 25 years, since he joined his family business, Rocca Tiles. His first property deal involved the purchase of two Gatwick office blocks in 2005.

over 8 in 10 corporations have tax havens
from ap: Eighty-three of the nation's 100 largest corporations, including Citigroup, Bank of America and News Corp. (NWSA), had subsidiaries in offshore tax havens in 2007, and some of the companies received federal bailout funding, a government watchdog said Friday. The Government Accountability Office released a report that said Bank of America Inc., Citigroup Inc. (C) and Morgan Stanley (MS) all had more than 100 units in countries that maintain low or no taxes. The three financial institutions were included in the $700 billion financial bailout approved by Congress.

update: putin calls for end of dollar stranglehold
from telegraph: Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has called for concerted action to break the stranglehold of the US dollar and create a new global structure of regional powers. "The one reserve currency has become a danger to the world economy: that is now obvious to everybody," he said in a speech at the World Economic Forum. It is the first time that a Russian leader has set foot in the sanctum sanctorum of global capitalism at Davos. Mr Putin said the leading powers should ensure an "irreversible" move towards a system of multiple reserve currencies, questioning the "reliability" of the US dollar as a safe store of value. "The pride of Wall Street investment banks don't exist any more," he said.

update: diplomat says 'jewish money' controls US
from afp: South Africa’s deputy foreign minister has been taken before the national human rights body for allegedly saying that "Jewish money" controls the United States, officials said Thursday. Fatima Hajaig allegedly told a political rally two weeks ago in Johannesburg that Jews "control America, no matter which government comes into power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barack Obama or George Bush... Their control of America, just like the control of most western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money," she allegedly said. Outraged by the remarks, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies — a civil rights group — said it filed a complaint Wednesday against Hajaig at the human rights commission.

putin: america, you're provoking wars for political gain

from times online: Vladimir Putin accused President Bush tonight of orchestrating the war in Georgia in a plot to get John McCain elected to the White House.

russian & US warships engaged in black sea standoff

from irish times: Russian and US warships were engaged in a Black Sea stand-off last night, amid western warnings that the conflict in Georgia could destabilise other parts of Moscow's old empire. A US coast guard cutter carrying aid docked at the Georgian port of Batumi after bypassing the Russian-controlled port of Poti. Two other US navy vessels were offshore in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, 250km (155 miles) north, Russian warships landed in the separatist region of Abkhazia.

alex jones on 'russia today'


tension rises as putin talks of black sea confrontation
from times online: A new Cold War between Russia and the West grew steadily closer yesterday after the Kremlin gave a warning about “direct confrontation” between American and Russian warships in the Black Sea. Dmitri Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, declared that Russia was taking “measures of precaution” against American and Nato naval ships. “Let’s hope we do not see any direct confrontation in that,” he said. Any attempt by countries in the West to isolate Russia would “definitely harm the economic interests of those states”, he said.




update: russia may cut oil flow to the west
from telegraph: Fears are mounting that Russia may restrict oil deliveries to Western Europe over coming days, in response to the threat of EU sanctions and Nato naval actions in the Black Sea. Any such move would be a dramatic escalation of the Georgia crisis and play havoc with the oil markets.

putin hands presidency & nuke suitcase to medvedev

medvedev inaugurated as russian president
from washington times: Dmitry Medvedev yesterday was inaugurated as Russia's president, pledging to bolster the country's economic development and civil rights in what might signal a departure from his predecessor's heavy-handed tactics. Mr. Medvedev took the oath of office in the Kremlin's golden-hued Andreyevsky Hall, bringing to an end Vladimir Putin's eight years as president. But Mr. Putin is sure to continue to wield huge influence in the country. Little more than two hours after becoming president, Mr. Medvedev nominated Mr. Putin as prime minister.

medvedev takes control of russian nuclear arsenal
from spacewar: Newly inaugurated President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday formally assumed control of Russia's nuclear arsenal at a Kremlin meeting in which a military officer brought him a black nuclear briefcase. Medvedev, who was sworn in to succeed Vladimir Putin earlier, took command in the presence of Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov at a sombre meeting that contrasted with his glittering inauguration ceremony.

"Comrade commander-in-chief! Allow me to give you control of the strategic forces of the country," said the officer carrying the nuclear briefcase, in images shown on state television. The nuclear briefcase, a symbol of political power in Russia since the Cold War, is shrouded in secrecy but believed to contain a small computer with activation codes for nuclear missiles.

russia 'expels US embassy staff'
from bbc: Russia has ordered the expulsion of two military attaches from the American embassy in Moscow, US officials say. The US state department said it would comply with the order although it objected to it.

global tensions: bombers, beijing, suez & subs

russian bombers fly close to US border
from afp: Russian bombers accompanied by Nato fighter jets have completed a patrol off the north west coast of the United States, the Russian air force said on Wednesday, Interfax reported. "NATO fighter jets accompanied the planes of long range aviation in the area of Alaska during the air patrol," Alexander Drobyshevsky, assistant to the head of the Russian air force, was quoted as saying... Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in August 2007 that Moscow was resuming with immediate effect the Cold War practice of sending strategic bombers on long-range flights well beyond its borders.

taiwan plans drills simulating china invasion
from afp: Taiwan's defence ministry Tuesday unveiled plans to hold annual war games simulating a Chinese invasion of the island, despite president-elect Ma Ying-jeou's pledge to ease tensions with Beijing. According to draft plans, this year's war games will begin with a computerised drill in April and peak in September with a large-scale live-fire military exercise, the ministry said. "The exercises are aimed to counter the growing Chinese communist threat," defence ministry spokeswoman Chi Yu-lan said, without providing further details.

US cargo ship fires in suez canal
from ap: An American cargo ship under contract to the U.S. Navy opened fire on a small Egyptian boat while moving through the Suez Canal, the U.S. military said Tuesday in a statement. Egyptian authorities said at least one man was killed, but the U.S. said it had no reports of casualties. The Global Patriot, which was under short term charter to the navy's Military Sealift Command, entered the canal from the Red Sea at Suez after dark Monday when it was approached by several small boats, according to both U.S. and Egyptian officials.

US 'deploys nuclear sub to persian gulf'
from press tv: An American nuclear submarine has crossed the Suez Canal to join the US fleet stationed in the Persian Gulf, Egyptian sources say... The deployment comes as recent reports allege that US Vice President Dick Cheney is seeking to rally the support of Middle Eastern states for launching an attack on Iran. This is while US officials deny that Cheney's Mideast tour is linked to a possible military attack on Iran.

israeli strikes, russian elections & german rfid

death toll rises as israel strikes gaza targets
from reuters: Israeli aircraft struck new targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing two militants, after the government vowed to press home an offensive despite appeals from Washington and elsewhere for an end to violence... A total of 107 people have been killed since Wednesday. Among these have been up to 60 civilians, including women and children, provoking an outcry from Palestinians and fellow Arabs and condemnation at the United Nations and elsewhere.

putin's chosen successor elected in russia
from washington post: After 24 hours of voting across 11 time zones, Russians handed Dmitry Medvedev an overwhelming victory in the presidential election Sunday despite a lackluster campaign that was more coronation than contest from the moment President Vladimir Putin endorsed him in December.

rfid in german garments worry privacy experts
from iht: Thousands of garments in the sprawling men's department at the Galeria Kaufhof are equipped with tiny wireless chips that can forestall fashion disaster by relaying information from the garment to a dressing-room screen... This pioneering pilot project of the Metro Group, a retail chain in Germany, heralds a shopping experience of the future in which dress shirts can wirelessly offer accessorizing tips to shoppers. But the rapid development of RFID technology is also being regarded cautiously by the authorities in the European Union, who are moving quickly to establish privacy guidelines because the chips - and the information being collected - are not always visible.