Tag Archives: russia

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syria begins troop withdrawls, Russia reprimands the United States

“We have already withdrawn some military forces from several Syrian provinces.”-Walid al-Moualem, Foreign Minister of Syria

The Foreign Minister of Syria made the announcement at the same time U.S. and European media were creating rumors to the contrary.

“The U.S. and other countries which have influence over the Syrian opposition had better stop pointing the finger at China and Russia all the time, but rather use their leverage to convince everyone to stop shooting.”-Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia

Russia says the Syrian government is justified in asking for written guarantees of ceasefire from the U.S./Israeli supported rebels.

The Syrian government has until midnight, April 10/11, to get troops out of cities under the United Nations ceasefire deal.  The UN ceasefire plan actually is scheduled to begin on April 12.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syrian Army rescues hostages held by U.S. supported Rebels, Rebels surrender to Syrian government, Russia sends navy destroyer, Lebanon catches arms smugglers

Russia has sent a destroyer to Syria.  The ship left its Black Sea home of Sevastopol and is expected to be at the Syrian port of Tartus in a few days.

Russian officials say it is a routine visit.

April 2, 2012, in the city of Homs, the Syrian army claims to have rescued 66 hostages held by U.S./Israeli backed rebels.

In the city of Idlib at least eight rebels were killed.

Also on April 2, more than 100 rebels surrendered to Syrian government officials.

In Lebanon, nine men were indicted of trying to smuggle Western supplied weapons and ammo into Syria.  Three of the men are still on the loose, the other six are in Lebanese jail.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

One Year later: Japanese fishing boat found off coast of Canada, first of 3 million tons of debris still heading for North America

“The vessel is considered an obstruction to navigation.”-Transport Canada statement

A 65 meter (210 feet) long fishing boat from Japan was found off Haida Gwaii islands (some reports say Queen Charlotte Islands), about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) north of Vancouver, Canada.

The fishing boat was washed away from Japan by the March 11, 2011 tsunami.  Senator Maria Cantwell, of the U.S. state of Washington, estimates another 50 days before the ship hits land, and warns it is the first of many more to come: “This 150 feet fishing vessel is the first major West Coast tsunami debris confirmed by Japanese officials. And now, we’ve learned that larger debris could reach our coastlines sooner than expected. With some debris already moving towards the West Coast, we need more data and better science to track and respond to tsunami debris….Coastal residents need to know who is in charge of tsunami debris response, and we need clearer answers now.”

Japan’s Coast Guard has identified the boat as coming from Aomori Prefecture.

Also, Russians found a 20 foot Japanese fishing boat near Midway Atoll.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International

Oil & Gas Prices: Russian Gasoline exports making big money, Russia imposes big fuel tax! How would you like to pay as little as $2.00 per gallon?

For the first time Russian export gasoline (petrol) sales are making more money that domestic sales.

Last week Russian export premium gasoline hit $1,050 per ton.  Domestically sold premium gas was at $970 per ton.  Russian fuel exports have also increased in volume.

Most of Russia’s exported refined fuels go to Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) members, but export customers also include Virgin Islands and Netherlands.

Interestingly, the surge in fuel exports comes even after Russia imposed a 90% customs tax!  Analysts say even with such an outrageous tax, Russian fuel exports are still profitable because of how high the price of oil is.

According to Russian media, the price of premium gasoline, in the CIS countries, varies from $4.00 per gallon in some parts of Russia, to as little as $2.00 per gallon in parts of Kazakhstan!  ($1.00 per liter in Russia, 50 cents per liter in Kazakhstan)

International, U.S.

World War 3: Russia supports UN resolution on Syria, but only if….

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said Russia will support a resolution on Syria proposed by Kofi Annan, but only if two conditions are met.

One: The details of the resolution are made public.

Two: That it is not an “Ultimatum”, but an on going process of dialog to “…end to violence on all sides…”

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Despite glut of oil, U.S. demands Saudi Arabia increase oil output, sign of coming World War 3 in July? Iran says U.S. government has no concern for average consumer

“There were talks held between Saudi and the U.S., and the U.S. asked if Saudi could be accommodating once the sanctions take effect in July. And the Saudi response was that it was ready to meet demand in the market if required, but would not like to take part in the politics.”-unnamed Saudi Arabian official

The U.S. demand came at the current IEF meeting in Kuwait. It was at the beginning of that meeting that IEF officials confirmed there was a glut of oil on the markets.  So why would the U.S. demand Saudi Arabia increase oil production?

One clue comes from Edward Markey, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee: “If Iran won’t stop saber rattling, and the Saudis won’t eliminate Iran’s leverage by producing more oil, then it’s time to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to send these countries a message that the U.S. economy won’t be held hostage for months.”

But wait, I though the U.S. oil industry is being flooded with oil from Canada and the U.S. state of North Dakota? And why is there this talk of “months”, and “July”?

The European Union’s oil sanctions go into effect in July.  But that shouldn’t be too big of a deal, considering Iran has already stopped oil shipments to at least two European countries, and threatens to cut off more oil shipments.

Now, just one day after the U.S. made its demands on Saudi Arabia, the Saudis say they will comply: “…Saudi Arabia and others remain poised to make good any shortfalls, perceived or real, in crude oil supply.”-Ali al-Naimi, Oil Minister of Saudi Arabia

Notice he added “perceived or real”.  This means if the U.S. tells them there’s a shortage, even if there isn’t they’ll increase production. This is significant because just days before Saudi officials told Reuters’ reporters that they would increase oil production only if there was an true oil shortage!

Reuters reported that the West vs Iran tensions are getting little attention at the IEF meeting.  However, the Iranian representative indicated that the U.S. was using oil simply as a weapon, with no concern about how it affects the average person: “Unfortunately some big countries who are among the major energy consumers, view oil as one of the basic constituents in their military, security and political strategies and use it as a political tool against oil producing countries. Exerting unilateral economic constraints of political instigations is a threat, which jeopardizes free trade and continuity of oil supply in the world.”-Rostam Ghasemi, Oil Minister of Iran

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Japan to dump U.S. bonds for Chinese bonds, getting ready for March 29 debut of anti-U.S. BRICS Bank

On March 13, 2012, the Chinese government approved a request from Japan, to buy U.S.$10 billion worth of bonds.

Japanese officials admitted the move was to help them “diversify” away from U.S. bonds.  The move signals the growing influence of the Chinese yuan, as a international currency.

It also comes as BRICS countries prepare to sign an agreement on March 29 that would create a new international banking system that refuses to use the U.S. dollar.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

FBI takes Murdoch investigation to Russia, Murdoch price fixing e-books, BSkyB could lose license, Fair & Balanced?

March 10, 2012, Canadian media reporting that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is expanding their investigation of Rupert Murdoch into Russia!

Murdoch’s News Corp controls several Russian media organizations, including News Outdoor Russia (NOR). NOR says they “…continues to operate in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions relevant to its operation, including those applicable to Russian operating companies and subsidiaries of U.S. listed publicly traded companies.”

This follows news that the U.S. Justice Department intends to sue several e-book publishers for price fixing, one of those include HarperCollins Publishers, a unit of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp (by the way, it also includes Apple).

Reuters also reporting that James Murdoch might be forced to resign from the satellite TV provider BSkyB.  The “independent” U.K. broadcast regulator Ofcom is investigating connections between James Murdoch, News Corp and BSkyB.

That investigation could revoke BSkyB’s license to operate.

I bet the Murdoch family is hoping that the investigations into their empire are, just as Fox News arrogantly claims for itself, “Fair and Balanced”.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Financial Incompetence: After ratings agencies declare Greece in default, IMF offers yet another billion dollar loan!

March 10, 2012, just hours after Moody’s declared Greece in full default the U.S. based International Monetary Fund offers Greece another multi-billion Euro loan.

Moody’s declared Greece in full default after Greece agreed to a new sovereign debt (government bonds) swap deal, which will see 53% of Greece’s debt erased.  Many holders of Greek bonds will be forced to take losses.

Now Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, is offering Greece a U.S. $36.7 billion loan.  That’s on top of the other loans Greece is still waiting for.

So credit ratings companies are saying Greece is not in a position to pay back more debt, yet the U.S. led world finance institutions are offering Greece more debt?  By the way, the  IMF had to borrow that money from BRICS!   In 2011, for the first time in the IMF’s history they were broke, and went ‘cap in hand’ to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to beg for money, so they could in turn lend it to Western countries.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: China to start using Yuan for International Loans, BRICS will dump the U.S. dollar, Hillary Clinton demands China prove its intentions! The end of U.S. dollar dominance begins March 29!

“We will discuss the creation of structures and mechanisms for lending in local currencies in order to maximize economic and financial transactions between the countries that are members of the accord.”-statement from Brazil’s development bank BNDES

The BRICS are about to lead a new Revolution; no more U.S. dollar!  It’s being spearheaded by the Chinese Development Bank.

BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are about to institute a new World Lending system that will not require the use of the U.S. dollar!

Reports say the new system will be signed into operation by BRICS members on March 29, 2012.  It will deal in not only the Chinese Yuan, but in local money as well.  Currently most international lending systems require loans to be made in U.S. dollars.  That’s because the major lenders, the IMF and World Bank, are actually run by the United States.

In response (yet not really explained by the main stream U.S. media why Clinton is making such a statement) U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is demanding China explain itself: “Given the historic challenges to security and stability posed by rising powers, they do have a special obligation to demonstrate in concrete ways that they are going to pursue a constructive path.”

Clinton’s statement shows just how paranoid the U.S. government is of China.  But, oh well, surveys show many of the citizens of the U.S. are also paranoid of China!  This new international lending agreement with the BRICS will only prove to the paranoids that they are justified in their fear.