Geopolitical mosaic: a portrait of Bandera appeared on the city council building, and Roma are massively deported from France
Snipers are fighting with humanitarian aid. - "We are concerned about delays ..." - About potatoes, vodka and a pink hat with earflaps. - West on a short leash from Iran. - Iran, Russia, C-300. - Tehran and Moscow’s oil friendship does not like the White House. - The Jewish minister has prescribed John Kerry "Nobel Prize" and peace. - Referendum with bombs. - France: mass deportation of Gypsies and the destruction of camps. - Romanian robbery. - Marine Le Pen gave an interview to the Voice of Russia. - Short brunette in a blue tie. - Escape from death. - From BND to Putin: story with the dossier on Khodorkovsky. - American illegal in Russia. - Bandera at the Kyiv City Council. - News blue. - Perverted Tallinn. - Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan: the situation on the border. - About the Chinese and Koreans. - A holy place is never empty. - Modest and patriotic. - Vigilants against the army. - The war with the weak. - Director Snowden. - Hurricane money.
Snipers are fighting with humanitarian aid. "Vesti" with reference to ITAR-TASS reported that the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp in the south of Damascus was left without humanitarian assistance: the way for trucks with food and medicine was blocked by sniper fire.
When the convoy approached its destination, the militants who captured the camp, contrary to the agreements, opened fire, said the Minister of Labor in the Government of the Palestinian National Authority, Ahmed Majdalani, who is in the Syrian capital.
Responsibility for the failure of the humanitarian agreement, he laid on groups that do not care about human lives.
Humanitarian aid was gathered by the UN Middle East Agency. The convoys with food were intended both for those areas that were surrounded by Syrian troops, and for those where opposition groups were entrenched.
"We are concerned about delays ..." On January 13, a meeting of Russian and US foreign ministers was held in Paris, at which diplomats discussed the upcoming conference on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria. The conversation of Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry was held behind closed doors, later they were joined by the special representative of the UN and the Arab League on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, the channel "RT".
According to Comrade Lavrov, the preparation of the conference is proceeding with some difficulties. “We are concerned about delays by the opposition,” the minister noted.
“We are in favor of convening the January 22 conference. Geneva-2 should be dedicated to the Geneva communique. This implies a solution to the question of a cease-fire and the exchange of prisoners, ”Lavrov further noted. “We are working to expand the possibility of humanitarian access to the blocked areas,” he stressed.
According to Lavrov, the ministers discussed the composition of the external participants of the conference. "For us, the necessity of the participation of Iran and Saudi Arabia is obvious," said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In turn, the US Secretary of State stressed that Russia, the United States and the UN intend to seek peace in Syria. “Russia and the United States fully agree on a whole range of issues. The resolution of the conflict should be peaceful, it is necessary to stop the violence in Syria, ”said John Kerry.
Lakhdar Brahimi thanked Russia and the United States for their work in resolving the situation in Syria: “I want to thank you and your states for unilateral actions in the field of humanitarian aid. I hope that the conference will contribute to the creation of a suitable atmosphere for resolving the crisis in the country. ” According to the UN Special Representative, Iran should take part in the conference.
About potatoes, vodka and a pink hat with earflaps. The topic of talks between Russia and the United States on the eve of "Geneva-2" is devoted to a new review of Western newspapers from "Foreign Press".
Russia and the United States join forces to achieve a cease-fire in Syria. Reports about it «Independent». "Russians and Americans held talks on the eve of the peace conference" Geneva-2 ", which will be held on January 22, and their cooperation is a positive sign that the war in Syria can be ended," writes the results of the meeting of the US Secretary of State and the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Paris, columnist Patrick Cockburn.
"However, there are still differences on the question of whether Iran should be present," the author notes. Lavrov said that he should, while Kerry said that this will be possible only if Iran agrees that the purpose of the meeting in Geneva is to prepare for Assad to give up power.
"The main feature of the war in Syria is the confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which support the opposing sides," the newspaper reminds.
According to Kokburn, the newly formed groups like the Islamic Front are sponsored by Saudi Arabia, which took a more independent position from the United States after the failed bombing of Syria in August last year.
John Kerry and Sergey Lavrov exchanged taunts about Iran’s participation in the peace conference on Syria, scheduled for January 22, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The atmosphere heated up when Lavrov took advantage of the joint press conference and publicly called on Kerry and Lakhdar Brahimi to invite Iran to the peace conference.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry explained Washington’s objections with "ideological considerations." He accused the UN of avoiding responsibility and unwillingness to invite Tehran, without the consent of the American administration. “Iran’s participation or non-participation is not a matter of ideology, but of pragmatism and common sense,” Kerry retorted.
Then the conversation turned to ... agricultural topic.
Kerry talked about how he brought two potatoes to the Russian colleague as a gift. The state secretary said that Lavrov promised him not to make vodka out of the resulting potato, but said that he would simply eat it. The joke failed. Potato vodka is made in Poland, the Russian minister responded, and in Russia it is distilled from wheat.
“Potatoes from Idaho” devotes a comment on the blog “Foreign Policy” Hanna Kozlovska. “As a sensitive listener,” the head of the State Department made “another romantic gesture in the emerging affair with Lavrov,” giving the latter an unusual gift. In response, the Russian delegation presented the State Department spokesman Jen Psaki with a pink earflap hat: this headgear would protect her from the cold weather that occurred in the US ...
West on a short leash from Iran. On January 14, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani entered the social network and wrote something there: he said that the temporary nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and the Western countries is the result of the subordination of the world powers to the “will of the Iranian people.”
“Our relationship with the world is based on the interests of the Iranian people. (Adopting) the Geneva Agreement, the world powers obeyed the will of the Iranian people, "quotes Comrade Rouhani MIGnews.com.
Iran, Russia, C-300. Iran plans to send military experts to Russia to select an alternative to the C-300 air defense system, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, Ismail Kosari, said. According to him, he “along with the chairman of the commission on national security and foreign policy of the parliament, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, met with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Russia and discussed the issue of replacing the C-300 air defense system with a more modern one.” Reports about it "Sight" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
“One team of specialists from the Ministry of Defense has already left for Russia. The other will have to go there again to discuss the matter, ”said Kosari.
Tehran and Moscow’s oil friendship doesn’t like the White House. A possible agreement on the purchase of Iranian oil by Russia would contradict the agreements of the permanent five of the UN Security Council and Germany with Tehran. This position of the US government was stated at a regular briefing for journalists by the press secretary of the White House, Jay Carney, reports correspondent ITAR-TASS Dmitry Kirsanov.
The US authorities, he noted, "remain extremely concerned about publications on this topic," believing that such bilateral agreements between Moscow and Tehran "would not correspond to the agreement reached by the Six and Iran." At the talks held on Monday in Paris, the US Secretary of State “directly expressed” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's concern over the appearance of information regarding the preparation of this type of transaction, Mr. Kearney said.
“If such information is true, then this deal would cause serious concern, since it would not meet the terms of the five plus one agreement with Iran,” the spokesman continued. Such an agreement "could potentially impose US sanctions," said the White House spokesman.
As the correspondent reminds. ITAR-TASS, the announcement of the deal was previously distributed by Reuters. The publication stated that Moscow and Tehran are negotiating the acquisition by Russia of Iranian oil in the amount of up to 500 thousand barrels per day as part of barter operations. It is assumed that in exchange for Iran will be delivered goods of Russian origin. The amount of the transaction is 1,5 billion dollars per month. However, as reported by 11 on January, ITAR-TASS in Tehran Vladimir Koklikov, the Iranian Oil Ministry denied the information on the development of the agreement.
Hebrew Minister prescribed John Kerry "Nobel Prize" and peace. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon apologized for the statements attributed to him by the media criticizing the mediation initiatives of the US Secretary of State aimed at resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, reports RIA News".
The apologies were circulated by the Minister’s press service after the US administration called the statements appearing in the press with reference to Ya'alon offensive. “The Minister of Defense didn’t intend to offend the Secretary of State in any way, and he apologizes if the Secretary of State was offended by words attributed to the Minister,” the message says.
The Israeli media, reminds RIA "Novosti", quoted Yaalon on the eve, allegedly saying that Kerry's plan "is not worth the paper on which it is written", "without providing neither peace nor security." And more: “We will feel safe only when John Kerry receives the Nobel Prize and leaves us alone.”
Referendum with bombs. Yesterday was the first day of the referendum on the draft constitution of Egypt, transmit correspondent ITAR-TASS Dina Pyanykh and Dmitry Tarasov. This day passed uneasily.
In clashes between security forces and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, who boycotted the referendum, ten people were killed in different parts of the country.
The activist "brothers" was shot dead in the province of Beni-Suyf - at a time when supporters of the Islamists stormed the polling station. Five people died in riots in the suburbs of Cairo. There, supporters of the Brothers tried to disrupt the voting process, but met with resistance from local residents.
During the day, several improvised explosive devices were defused in different provinces. Bombs were found in Beheira, Fayyum and Minufiya. In the morning, before the discovery of the plots, an explosion occurred near the courthouse in Cairo. No injuries.
France: the mass deportation of Roma and the destruction of camps. In 2013, the French authorities deported 19380 Gypsies from their territory. This number was a record for the country, reports "Lenta.ru" with reference to France-Presse.
It was also destroyed 165 tabor, in which the deportees lived, writes "The Local". Most of the deportees were not given any help.
According to human rights activists, the number of Roma deported from France has more than doubled compared to 2012. In the 2012 year, more than 9400 Roma were expelled from the country, and in 2011, more than 8400.
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls insists that the Roma do not want to integrate into society, and therefore they should be sent. According to polls, a large part of the country's population also shares a similar opinion.
By the way, the campaign to evict representatives of this nationality, who arrived in the country from Bulgaria and Romania, was started by the previous president, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Romanian robbery. In Paris, the police arrested eight Romanian citizens: these people, wielding a sledgehammer, opened one of the largest jewelry stores on the Champs Elysees. Write about it "Vesti" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
“The suspects broke the lock on the door, but the store’s guard managed to block the entrance and called the police, who arrested the attackers,” said the head of the Paris police, Bernard Petit.
“Vesti” reminds that one fifth of the 25-million population of Romania is forced to leave their homeland due to unemployment and poverty. Migrants in the EU countries agree to the lowest paid jobs, industrial begging, prostitution, go to the crime. The authorities of the EU countries in response resorted to the expulsion of Romanian citizens.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Italy and other countries should stop discriminating against Romanians. Bucharest demanded an apology from French journalists, who not only called Romanians a nation of dangerous criminals, but also presented a “Romanian national greeting” live on the air - a hand outstretched for alms ...
Marine Le Pen gave an interview to the Voice of Russia. About why the European Union is doomed to disintegration, about the negative consequences of clandestine immigration, about what is connected with the rise of patriotic movements in Europe, about the attitude to E. Snowden in an interview with Yulia Kotlyarenko ("Voice of Russia") told the leader of the "National Front".
Here are four reforms, according to Le Pen, necessary for the EU: returning to each nation sovereignty in lawmaking (national laws are above European directives); return of economic freedom to the people with the possibility of establishing “economic patriotism” and economic protection at the borders; gaining territorial sovereignty (absolute control over national borders); gaining freedom of the monetary system (return to national currencies).
Le Pen is “absolutely sure” that the EU will not agree to such changes. Hence the conclusion of the policy: the EU "is absolutely impossible to reform." What is the way out? Simple: "... leave him alone and watch him collapse." Then the great Europe of nations will be restored.
Marine Le Pen spoke out on the topical issue of migration.
Marine Le Pen said about her attitude to Snowden:
Short brunette in a blue tie. President Hollande visited his mistress, violating all safety rules, writes Anais Ginori in “La Repubblica” (the source of the abbr. Translation - "Inopressa").
"Mafiosa actor Michel Ferracci, sentenced to 18 months of probation in the case of the Cercle Wagram gambling house linked to the Corsican gang Brise de Mer, said:" I have nothing to say, the lease is not made in my name, I ready to sue anyone who wants to embroil me in this story. " As it became known, it was in his name that the postal address and telephone number in the apartment on Rue du Cirquet, which became the alcove, used by Francois Hollande and Julie Gayet, was issued, ”the newspaper writes.
The apartment is also designed for Ferracci's former spouse - Emmanuel Hawke, girlfriend and colleague Gaye. This same Hawk remarried Francois Mazini, a man famous in Corsican criminal circles. He was killed in May last year during a gangster showdown. Not only that, Hawk is a friend of the widow Richard Casanova, the founder of Brise de Mer.
“In the Elysee Palace they swear that we are talking only about coincidences. At a minimum, the president demonstrated naivety by trusting in his new passion. This is just one of the secrets around the house on rue du Circ. This strategic alcove, a hundred meters from the Elysée Palace, according to the Valeurs Actuelles magazine, was formerly used by former President Jacques Chirac, ”says the author of the article.
“Meanwhile, the Internet is discussing how a president on a scooter could leave a nuclear briefcase unattended and why the protection of the head of state is so poorly organized. “I could calmly kill the president,” said Sebastien Vallela, the paparazzi, who provided material to Closer. “There was practically no security,” the photographer said. The bodyguards delivered Hollande to the site, checked the road and the house. Then he remained alone for the whole night in a posh mansion, which, however, could not protect him from risks. Although, according to Interior Minister Manuel Valls, “nothing ever threatened the security of the president.” At the same time, the head of the Security Management Group of the Republic, Sophie Att, was summoned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give explanations about the incident. Perhaps it is she who will be the first to pay for this story, in which there is still much to be clarified, ”the publication suggests.
Escape from death. British authorities have granted asylum to a citizen of Afghanistan, who called himself an atheist. He writes about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to BBC News.
An Afghan came to the UK in 2007, when he was 16 years old. Authorities allowed him to stay in the country until 2013. He grew up in a Muslim family, but during his life in the UK became an atheist. Now he is afraid to return to his homeland: there, for his convictions, he can be executed.
Afghan lawyers say: the case of their client was the first in the history of Great Britain when political asylum was granted for atheism. According to The Guardian, the decision of the Ministry of the Interior could be a precedent.
As "Lenta" reminds, in Afghanistan the rejection of Islam is a crime. In 2006, an Afghan Abdul Rahman was sentenced to death for adopting Christianity. Under the threat of execution, he fled to Europe, where Italy granted him asylum.
From BND to Putin: a story from the dossier on Khodorkovsky. According to "Tagesanzeiger" (the source abbr. Translation - "Inopressa"), in the Swiss banks, part of the state of Mikhail Khodorkovsky could be preserved, which in 2004 year (at the time of freezing of accounts at the request of Moscow) was estimated at 6,2 billion francs. Information on money laundering by Menatep Bank, which later came to the Russian authorities, was obtained by agents of the German special services in Switzerland, the Zurich newspaper writes, referring to the industry publication Intelligence Online.
“At least some of the firms through which Khodorkovsky allegedly turned dubious transactions in 90's still exist,” the author of the publication Simon Schmid states.
“... Apparently, Apatit Fertilizers SA, a branch of Apatit in Freiburg, moved the Yukos case well:“ In 2007, the company merged with Polyfert, which, according to available information, also belonged to the Khodorkovsky group ” Menatep. Today this company is called “EFC Switzerland SA”. It is registered at the same address in Freiburg as in the 1997 year, according to the trade register, it employs five people, and the annual turnover of its "wholesale chemicals trade" is approximately 2,3 million francs. The company is 100% owned by foreign shareholders. Requests for the identity of the owners were unanswered. ”
Tagesanzeiger recalls that in 2003, Russian authorities accused Apatit of selling apatite concentrate to Swiss firms at a price lower than the market, after which these firms sold raw materials for fertilizers at a higher price, and the difference settled on Swiss accounts and was “laundered” ". In Switzerland, Khodorkovsky and his trading partners were not officially accused of anything.
“According to Sonntags Zeitung, Khodorkovsky was at that time mainly engaged in the Swiss firms Behles and Petroval (both were subsidiaries of YUKOS). These firms also survived legal proceedings, but 2013 liquidated them in August. Back in 2010, Petroval reported that she had a staff member on 32, and her share capital was 6 million francs. ”
“Whether Khodorkovsky is related to these (and other) Swiss firms from the Menatep group today is unknown. However, it is obvious that the same people are involved in the work of many of these companies as a decade ago and even earlier ... “Khodorkovsky does not have any property in your country,” said his Russian press secretary, Olga Pispanen, in the Western Swiss newspaper Le Temps. However, this does not exclude that his wife and children living in Montreux have access to the property, ”the article notes.
According to Tagesanzeiger, Khodorkovsky was also interested in German special services.
In 2003, the German prosecutor’s office received a complaint against the Russian oligarch. Geneva banker Andre Strebel and Luxembourgian financier Ernest Bakes accused him of money laundering. And in 2007, the magazine Stern found out that the Economic Research Institute in Saarbrucken, which the plaintiffs were in charge at the time, was “a cover for German foreign intelligence BND”. Strebel and Bakes confirmed this information last week at Tagesanzeiger. They also reported that during their work they “came across documentation on Khodorkovsky’s firms” and “submitted a BND 500-page dossier with charges of money laundering against the Menatep Bank belonging to Khodorkovsky. “And from there, according to the industry website Intelligence Online, shortly before Khodorkovsky’s arrest fell to Putin,” writes Tagesanzeiger.
American illegal in Russia. FMS explained the reasons for the ban on entry to Russia for the American journalist David Satter. The ministry explained that the American had exceeded the legal term of stay in the country. “By court decision, he was fined and subjected to administrative expulsion. The reason for closing the entry is the decision of the court on expulsion, ”explained the FMS.
The decision to expel Satter took Tverskoy court of the capital. There Interfax told that it was still 29 November. According to the agency interlocutor, the journalist lived in Russia with an expired visa.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Satter had committed a "flagrant violation of Russian immigration laws." As stated in the comments of the department, the journalist entered Russia 21 in November and had to immediately contact the Office of the FMS in Moscow for a multiple-entry visa. Satter came to the FMS only on November 26. The American was in an illegal position for several days. For this offense, Setter will not be allowed to come to Russia for five years.
Bandera at the Kyiv City Council. Activists of Euromaidan, namely, figures from the “National Headquarters of the Resistance”, hung a portrait of Stepan Bandera on the city council building, and not just any, but two meters. Talk about it "Vesti".
After the demolition of a monument to Lenin in Kiev in December, this is already the second provocation of the ultra-right supporters of European integration, reports Russia 24.
News blue. In the Ukrainian gay community, they criticized a rally in Kiev, during which people with rainbow flags tried to set up a tent on Independence Square. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to TSN.
The fact is that the participants of the blue event were suspected of provocation. As a result, the alleged provocateurs were threatened with a ban on visiting gay clubs.
As recalled "Lenta", the intention to hold a march in Kiev and set up a tent on the Maidan, previously announced an "initiative group to protect the rights of sexual minorities." “We will set up our tent and join the protests, because we want to live in a tolerant European society, where everyone has the right to express themselves,” an activist named Margot told January 10. The event took place the next day. Participants of the LGBT action, as reported by Ukrinform, first danced in front of the Bessarabian market, and then arrived on the Maidan to set up a tent. However, they were prevented from doing so by the protesters who were there.
The Council of LGBT organizations in Ukraine, according to UNIAN, dissociated itself from the rally. A representative of the LGBT community, the leader of the “Point of Support” organization, Bogdan Globa, said: “We did not plan any actions on LGBT issues within Euromaidan precisely because we understand by whom and for what purpose they will be used. According to the plan of the provocation organizers, the artificial “Action in defense of LGBT” should discredit Euromaidan in the eyes of Ukrainians. ”
As for the 11 action of January, its participants, said the leader of the “Support Point”, “are not worthy of being members of our community.” For misbehavior, according to Mr. Globa, they will not be allowed into Ukrainian gay clubs.
Globa's words were confirmed by Konstantin Gnatenko, art director of the metropolitan gay clubs Pomada and AndyBar. “We unanimously made such a decision and culturally asked provocateurs to leave our clubs,” the LGBT portal of Ukraine quotes him. “Provocateurs, corrupt pseudo-activists should know that it’s just disgusting for people with dignity to be with them.”
In Latvia, as part of an international project to combat HIV, medical offices will be opened for homosexual men. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to Apollo.lv.
In new locations, gay men will be able to "pass tests for specific risk factors and get expert advice." Visitors are guaranteed confidentiality.
The experience of creating points was borrowed from Norway.
In Latvia, according to data from the end of last year, which DELFI reports, thousands of HIV-infected people are registered around 5,8. Over the past year, this figure has increased by about 300 people. Among male homosexuals, according to information for the spring of 2013, the prevalence of HIV reaches 7,8%.
Perverted Tallinn. Funeral SS Harald Nugiseks cause legitimate indignation. Moscow calls on Tallinn to reconsider the course of indulging in neo-Nazi sentiments in Estonia, said Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s authorized representative for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, reports RIA News".
“We confirm the resolute rejection of the course for indulging in Estonia that has taken root in neo-Nazi and revanchist attitudes in society. We urge Tallinn to immediately and unconditionally reconsider such an approach that contradicts Estonia’s international obligations in the field of human rights and undermines its reputation as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, ”the Russian Foreign Ministry website quotes the statement of Comrade Dolgov.
“We regard the ceremonial burial of the Nazi criminal by the Estonian authorities as another manifestation of Tallinn’s perverted perception of the historical realities of World War II and the tragic consequences of the Nazi ideology for the destinies of entire nations. We consider this a deeply immoral mockery of the memory of millions of people of different nationalities who were brutally tortured by the Nazis and their henchmen like Nugisex during the war, ”Dolgov said.
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan: situation on the border. The situation on the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was resolved, according to a statement by the public relations department of the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan, reports "Voice of Russia" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
According to the department, a telephone conversation took place between the heads of the border departments of the two countries.
“The Kyrgyz side raised the issue of the current situation at the state border and stated the need to solve emerging problems only through negotiations. The commander of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan, Rajabali Rahmonali, confirmed his readiness to resolve the situation by diplomatic means and prevent an escalation of the conflict at the state border, ”the statement said.
It is planned that the heads of the border services of the two states will hold a personal meeting with the aim of developing joint measures to stabilize the situation on the state border section of January 15.
“Voice of Russia” reminds that on January 11 near the Ak-Sai settlement of the Batken Oblast of the Republic there was an exchange of fire between Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards. As a result of the conflict, six soldiers of Kyrgyzstan and two of Tajikistan were injured. The cause of the collision was the construction of the Kyrgyz side of the road. In Bishkek, this territory is considered to belong to the republic, and in Tajikistan - disputed.
Now Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have removed armed units from the confrontation zone, and law enforcement officers of the two states are conducting joint patrols of the border zone.
About the Chinese and Koreans. Divisions of the PRC Army conduct large-scale exercises near the border with North Korea. In Seoul, they drew attention to an unusually large number of troops involved and linked this to possible instability in the DPRK. This writes Oleg Kiryanov ("Russian newspaper").
Chinese media reported to 13 in January that the troops of the Shenyang Military District began to conduct large-scale exercises in the area of Mount Pektusan. About 100 thousands of soldiers and officers of motorized rifle and artillery units take part in the maneuvers. During the maneuvers, the movement of large military units is tested, the performance of military equipment and armaments in mountain winter conditions is checked, and the level of interaction increases.
It is precisely the PLA units of the Shenyang Military District that are assigned the task of responding to an emergency situation in the DPRK.
In Kazakhstan, they do not exclude that during maneuvers, including actions in the event of a state of emergency in the Juche Country are practiced. According to southerners, signs of instability are observed in North Korea. It was noted that after the announcement of the execution of Chan Son Taek, the PLA immediately conducted exercises in the area of Mount Pektusan, in which about three thousand servicemen participated.
A holy place is never empty. Kim Jong-un, who in December executed his uncle Chan Son Tak, cleared a place for his sister. Instead of his uncle, his niece Kim Ye Jeong will be in charge of food supplies to the Korean Peoples Army. This writes Alexander Marfin (Utro.ru, referring to RIA “News”.
Kim Ye-jung is the younger sister of the North Korean leader. It is not clear whether Kim Ye-jung is Kim Jong-un's birth sister or half-sister. The sister will be in charge of the 54 department of the DPRK Labor Party, which finances the army and provides it with basic necessities, fuel, electricity and coal.
According to the official version of Pyongyang, Uncle Chang Sung-taek was shot from a machine gun as a “despicable man and scum”. The uncle was accused of treason, attempted coup, corruption, relationships with prostitutes and hobby casinos.
Kim Ye-Jong passed over to the management of organizations whose head was previously Aunt Kim Jong-un and the wife of the executed Chan Song-taka, Kim Gen Hee. We are talking about Teson Bank, Bank of Unification and Development and a number of tourist and railway projects.
Modest and patriotic. The Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, forbade the military to buy foreign-made cars. From now on, the procurement process will be carried out through a centralized system, "RT".
The measure is aimed at reducing car imports, supporting the domestic economy and reducing the cost of maintaining the army and the police, reports The Guardian newspaper.
“RT” recalls that in April 2013 of the year in China introduced a ban on the installation of army license plates for luxury cars, primarily foreign brands.
In December last year, the Chinese authorities banned officials from using charter flights for personal use.
And now Chinese officials have been banned from accepting gifts. "Without exception, any way to exchange gifts and souvenirs is prohibited," - said on the website of the Ministry of Finance of China.
Vigilants against the army. Yesterday, Mexican government forces engaged local militia units, the so-called Vigilantes, who fought against the militants of the “Knights of the Knights of the Templar” drug cartel in the Tierra Caliente region of the Michoacan state near Nueva-Italy, reports "Lenta.ru" with reference to the Associated Press.
Militia spokesman Estanislao Beltran said four people were killed in the shelling of the city of Annutunes, including an 11-year-old girl. 60-80 soldiers arrived at a roadblock organized by the townspeople at the entrance to the settlement, and demanded to hand over weapon. The Vigilants refused and did not miss the soldiers. They opened fire on them. Beltran stressed that most of the people at the checkpoint were ordinary citizens, only one of the dead was part of the self-defense detachment.
The Attorney General and the Mexican Interior Minister, through the media, called on the militia to lay down their arms and hope that the army would protect them from the drug cartel.
In response, Beltran said that no one would surrender their weapons: people do not trust government promises and are afraid of retaliation by the criminal syndicate that had until recently ruled Tierra Caliente. According to him, the locals have been asking the authorities for protection from the cartel for years, but they didn’t wait for help: after all, the government is funded by criminal groups. The residents managed to get rid of the tyranny of the cartel in the following way: by arming themselves and organizing self-defense units, and at the same time getting rid of representatives of the corrupt police in their cities.
Lenta reminds that the inhabitants of the Tierra Caliente region are fighting for several weeks against the Knights of the Knights Templar. During this time, they managed to take control of several localities, including the relatively large city of Nueva-Italy, whose police were disarmed and suspended from work.
And this, let us add, one more example of how inefficient a state is, which doesn’t do anything except to best adapt to reality, that is, to serve the interests of a class that owns capital. In this case - the drug lords.
War with the weak. The article “Why America is abusing its power” (“The American Conservative”, USA; the source of translation is "InoSMI") Daniel Larison quotes the words of Andrew Basevich, who argued about why US military actions in the last twenty years have so often ended with failures.
The author of the note explains this preference for military options. He highlights several reasons.
And here is the first of them: a huge difference in the military power of the United States and those countries with which America faces face to face. Weak states, or those that are significantly weaker than the United States and its allies, are the targets of military intervention in the last twenty years. In addition, the United States and its allies have sufficient economic advantages (the next reason), which allows them to spend money and resources in such quantities as may be exorbitant for most other countries.
Another reason is the assumption that the US will not subject itself to a serious retaliatory strike, launching an attack on another country.
There is also a reason for a cultural characteristic: there is a bias in American political culture, which is manifested in the fact that the United States prefers “action” to “inaction”. Alas, this very “action” is usually understood as a military action.
Director Snowden. The Freedom of the Press Foundation, an NGO, invited Edward Snowden to the board of directors. This is stated on the fund's website, reports RIA News".
The Freedom of the Press Foundation was established in December 2012 to support and protect journalists seeking openness of information that they believe is of public interest. The board of directors includes former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Ellsberg, who in the 1960s organized a leak of Pentagon documents on the Vietnam War, American film actor John Cusack, Glenn Greenwald, who was famous for publishing “Guardian” revelations Snowden, and other people. During its existence, the organization has managed to collect more than 500 thousand dollars to support the activities of WikiLeaks and similar resources.
Co-founder Daniel Ellsberg said: “I proudly and respectfully greet Edward Snowden on the board of directors of the Press Freedom Foundation. He is the quintessence of the American whistleblower and my personal hero. ”
Snowden expressed his willingness to cooperate with "such prominent Americans as Daniel Ellsberg," according to the foundation's website.
Hurricane money. The name of the already disgraced New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is again in the headlines. Now he is accused of misuse of money allocated for the restoration of the state after Hurricane Sandy, which hit the US in the 2012 year, reports "RT".
Testing how 25 was spent million dollars, which were allocated for the restoration of infrastructure in the state of New Jersey, will now deal with the commission. There is a suspicion that Chris Christie spent about 2 million on advertising himself. This was reported by the agency "CNN".
Part of the allocated funds was supposed to go on commercials, which would have shown that New Jersey was restored after the hurricane and was ready to receive tourists.
The tender was won by a company with a declared project budget of about $ 4,7 million. Interestingly, it somehow outperformed the competitor, whose estimates amounted to only $ 2,5 million. The investigation suspects that the winning company won the competition because the state governor and his family were to appear.
Bottom line: Mr. Christie is accused of intending to conduct his advertising campaign at the expense of budget funds. Everybody knows that in 2016, a politician is going to run for the presidency of the United States from the Republican Party.
The investigation began after the demolitions were declared by Democrat Frank Pallone.
It looks like we’ll add, the strong competitors of Hillary Clinton will be removed from the treadmill before the start of the election campaign ...
Snipers are fighting with humanitarian aid. "Vesti" with reference to ITAR-TASS reported that the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp in the south of Damascus was left without humanitarian assistance: the way for trucks with food and medicine was blocked by sniper fire.
When the convoy approached its destination, the militants who captured the camp, contrary to the agreements, opened fire, said the Minister of Labor in the Government of the Palestinian National Authority, Ahmed Majdalani, who is in the Syrian capital.
Responsibility for the failure of the humanitarian agreement, he laid on groups that do not care about human lives.
Humanitarian aid was gathered by the UN Middle East Agency. The convoys with food were intended both for those areas that were surrounded by Syrian troops, and for those where opposition groups were entrenched.
"We are concerned about delays ..." On January 13, a meeting of Russian and US foreign ministers was held in Paris, at which diplomats discussed the upcoming conference on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria. The conversation of Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry was held behind closed doors, later they were joined by the special representative of the UN and the Arab League on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, the channel "RT".
According to Comrade Lavrov, the preparation of the conference is proceeding with some difficulties. “We are concerned about delays by the opposition,” the minister noted.
“We are in favor of convening the January 22 conference. Geneva-2 should be dedicated to the Geneva communique. This implies a solution to the question of a cease-fire and the exchange of prisoners, ”Lavrov further noted. “We are working to expand the possibility of humanitarian access to the blocked areas,” he stressed.
According to Lavrov, the ministers discussed the composition of the external participants of the conference. "For us, the necessity of the participation of Iran and Saudi Arabia is obvious," said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In turn, the US Secretary of State stressed that Russia, the United States and the UN intend to seek peace in Syria. “Russia and the United States fully agree on a whole range of issues. The resolution of the conflict should be peaceful, it is necessary to stop the violence in Syria, ”said John Kerry.
Lakhdar Brahimi thanked Russia and the United States for their work in resolving the situation in Syria: “I want to thank you and your states for unilateral actions in the field of humanitarian aid. I hope that the conference will contribute to the creation of a suitable atmosphere for resolving the crisis in the country. ” According to the UN Special Representative, Iran should take part in the conference.
About potatoes, vodka and a pink hat with earflaps. The topic of talks between Russia and the United States on the eve of "Geneva-2" is devoted to a new review of Western newspapers from "Foreign Press".
Russia and the United States join forces to achieve a cease-fire in Syria. Reports about it «Independent». "Russians and Americans held talks on the eve of the peace conference" Geneva-2 ", which will be held on January 22, and their cooperation is a positive sign that the war in Syria can be ended," writes the results of the meeting of the US Secretary of State and the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Paris, columnist Patrick Cockburn.
"However, there are still differences on the question of whether Iran should be present," the author notes. Lavrov said that he should, while Kerry said that this will be possible only if Iran agrees that the purpose of the meeting in Geneva is to prepare for Assad to give up power.
"The main feature of the war in Syria is the confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which support the opposing sides," the newspaper reminds.
According to Kokburn, the newly formed groups like the Islamic Front are sponsored by Saudi Arabia, which took a more independent position from the United States after the failed bombing of Syria in August last year.
John Kerry and Sergey Lavrov exchanged taunts about Iran’s participation in the peace conference on Syria, scheduled for January 22, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The atmosphere heated up when Lavrov took advantage of the joint press conference and publicly called on Kerry and Lakhdar Brahimi to invite Iran to the peace conference.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry explained Washington’s objections with "ideological considerations." He accused the UN of avoiding responsibility and unwillingness to invite Tehran, without the consent of the American administration. “Iran’s participation or non-participation is not a matter of ideology, but of pragmatism and common sense,” Kerry retorted.
Then the conversation turned to ... agricultural topic.
Kerry talked about how he brought two potatoes to the Russian colleague as a gift. The state secretary said that Lavrov promised him not to make vodka out of the resulting potato, but said that he would simply eat it. The joke failed. Potato vodka is made in Poland, the Russian minister responded, and in Russia it is distilled from wheat.
“Potatoes from Idaho” devotes a comment on the blog “Foreign Policy” Hanna Kozlovska. “As a sensitive listener,” the head of the State Department made “another romantic gesture in the emerging affair with Lavrov,” giving the latter an unusual gift. In response, the Russian delegation presented the State Department spokesman Jen Psaki with a pink earflap hat: this headgear would protect her from the cold weather that occurred in the US ...
West on a short leash from Iran. On January 14, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani entered the social network and wrote something there: he said that the temporary nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and the Western countries is the result of the subordination of the world powers to the “will of the Iranian people.”
“Our relationship with the world is based on the interests of the Iranian people. (Adopting) the Geneva Agreement, the world powers obeyed the will of the Iranian people, "quotes Comrade Rouhani MIGnews.com.
Iran, Russia, C-300. Iran plans to send military experts to Russia to select an alternative to the C-300 air defense system, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, Ismail Kosari, said. According to him, he “along with the chairman of the commission on national security and foreign policy of the parliament, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, met with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Russia and discussed the issue of replacing the C-300 air defense system with a more modern one.” Reports about it "Sight" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
“One team of specialists from the Ministry of Defense has already left for Russia. The other will have to go there again to discuss the matter, ”said Kosari.
Tehran and Moscow’s oil friendship doesn’t like the White House. A possible agreement on the purchase of Iranian oil by Russia would contradict the agreements of the permanent five of the UN Security Council and Germany with Tehran. This position of the US government was stated at a regular briefing for journalists by the press secretary of the White House, Jay Carney, reports correspondent ITAR-TASS Dmitry Kirsanov.
The US authorities, he noted, "remain extremely concerned about publications on this topic," believing that such bilateral agreements between Moscow and Tehran "would not correspond to the agreement reached by the Six and Iran." At the talks held on Monday in Paris, the US Secretary of State “directly expressed” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's concern over the appearance of information regarding the preparation of this type of transaction, Mr. Kearney said.
“If such information is true, then this deal would cause serious concern, since it would not meet the terms of the five plus one agreement with Iran,” the spokesman continued. Such an agreement "could potentially impose US sanctions," said the White House spokesman.
As the correspondent reminds. ITAR-TASS, the announcement of the deal was previously distributed by Reuters. The publication stated that Moscow and Tehran are negotiating the acquisition by Russia of Iranian oil in the amount of up to 500 thousand barrels per day as part of barter operations. It is assumed that in exchange for Iran will be delivered goods of Russian origin. The amount of the transaction is 1,5 billion dollars per month. However, as reported by 11 on January, ITAR-TASS in Tehran Vladimir Koklikov, the Iranian Oil Ministry denied the information on the development of the agreement.
Hebrew Minister prescribed John Kerry "Nobel Prize" and peace. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon apologized for the statements attributed to him by the media criticizing the mediation initiatives of the US Secretary of State aimed at resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, reports RIA News".
The apologies were circulated by the Minister’s press service after the US administration called the statements appearing in the press with reference to Ya'alon offensive. “The Minister of Defense didn’t intend to offend the Secretary of State in any way, and he apologizes if the Secretary of State was offended by words attributed to the Minister,” the message says.
The Israeli media, reminds RIA "Novosti", quoted Yaalon on the eve, allegedly saying that Kerry's plan "is not worth the paper on which it is written", "without providing neither peace nor security." And more: “We will feel safe only when John Kerry receives the Nobel Prize and leaves us alone.”
Referendum with bombs. Yesterday was the first day of the referendum on the draft constitution of Egypt, transmit correspondent ITAR-TASS Dina Pyanykh and Dmitry Tarasov. This day passed uneasily.
In clashes between security forces and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, who boycotted the referendum, ten people were killed in different parts of the country.
“The most violent clashes between the police and the Islamists occurred in Sohag in the south of Egypt. There, a group of armed men opened indiscriminate shooting at residents heading to the polling station. The military guarding the plebiscite exchanged fire with the attackers, then surrounded them and detained the 17 "brothers", from whom three automatic rifles and ammunition were seized. Four dead - passers-by who were shot by the Islamists. Among those killed is a 12-year-old. Among the victims - the deputy head of the local police and a conscript soldier. Currently, servicemen and law enforcement officers have managed to bring the situation under control. ”
The activist "brothers" was shot dead in the province of Beni-Suyf - at a time when supporters of the Islamists stormed the polling station. Five people died in riots in the suburbs of Cairo. There, supporters of the Brothers tried to disrupt the voting process, but met with resistance from local residents.
During the day, several improvised explosive devices were defused in different provinces. Bombs were found in Beheira, Fayyum and Minufiya. In the morning, before the discovery of the plots, an explosion occurred near the courthouse in Cairo. No injuries.
France: the mass deportation of Roma and the destruction of camps. In 2013, the French authorities deported 19380 Gypsies from their territory. This number was a record for the country, reports "Lenta.ru" with reference to France-Presse.
It was also destroyed 165 tabor, in which the deportees lived, writes "The Local". Most of the deportees were not given any help.
According to human rights activists, the number of Roma deported from France has more than doubled compared to 2012. In the 2012 year, more than 9400 Roma were expelled from the country, and in 2011, more than 8400.
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls insists that the Roma do not want to integrate into society, and therefore they should be sent. According to polls, a large part of the country's population also shares a similar opinion.
By the way, the campaign to evict representatives of this nationality, who arrived in the country from Bulgaria and Romania, was started by the previous president, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Romanian robbery. In Paris, the police arrested eight Romanian citizens: these people, wielding a sledgehammer, opened one of the largest jewelry stores on the Champs Elysees. Write about it "Vesti" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
“The suspects broke the lock on the door, but the store’s guard managed to block the entrance and called the police, who arrested the attackers,” said the head of the Paris police, Bernard Petit.
“Vesti” reminds that one fifth of the 25-million population of Romania is forced to leave their homeland due to unemployment and poverty. Migrants in the EU countries agree to the lowest paid jobs, industrial begging, prostitution, go to the crime. The authorities of the EU countries in response resorted to the expulsion of Romanian citizens.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Italy and other countries should stop discriminating against Romanians. Bucharest demanded an apology from French journalists, who not only called Romanians a nation of dangerous criminals, but also presented a “Romanian national greeting” live on the air - a hand outstretched for alms ...
Marine Le Pen gave an interview to the Voice of Russia. About why the European Union is doomed to disintegration, about the negative consequences of clandestine immigration, about what is connected with the rise of patriotic movements in Europe, about the attitude to E. Snowden in an interview with Yulia Kotlyarenko ("Voice of Russia") told the leader of the "National Front".
“I think that the European Union has shown its inconsistency and cannot lead to the flourishing of Europe, to protect the security and identity of the peoples of Europe. I think that the winds of history inflate the sails of patriotic movements that want to preserve the sovereignty of peoples. This sovereignty is completely destroyed today, since the European Union has deprived us of territorial sovereignty, economic sovereignty, budget sovereignty, legislative sovereignty.
I defend freedom and democracy. I think that freedom and democracy are necessarily combined with the sovereignty of the European peoples. I am confident that the European elections will demonstrate a very strong upswing in patriotic movements, as is the case in Austria, Sweden, Belgium, France or Italy. ”
I defend freedom and democracy. I think that freedom and democracy are necessarily combined with the sovereignty of the European peoples. I am confident that the European elections will demonstrate a very strong upswing in patriotic movements, as is the case in Austria, Sweden, Belgium, France or Italy. ”
Here are four reforms, according to Le Pen, necessary for the EU: returning to each nation sovereignty in lawmaking (national laws are above European directives); return of economic freedom to the people with the possibility of establishing “economic patriotism” and economic protection at the borders; gaining territorial sovereignty (absolute control over national borders); gaining freedom of the monetary system (return to national currencies).
Le Pen is “absolutely sure” that the EU will not agree to such changes. Hence the conclusion of the policy: the EU "is absolutely impossible to reform." What is the way out? Simple: "... leave him alone and watch him collapse." Then the great Europe of nations will be restored.
Marine Le Pen spoke out on the topical issue of migration.
“Thousands of problems. They are caused by mass immigration, both legal and underground.
First, we need to talk about economic issues. When you allow thousands of foreigners to enter a country where there are already some unemployed, they either become new unemployed and make the financial system heavier, or they potentially become direct competitors to your own employees. After all, they often agree to work for less money than they cause unfair competition.
Secondly, naturally, they affect the share of social support. Since there is a family reunion program for newcomers, they come with their wives and children, and then enjoy the state’s generosity in social support. In France, this applies, for example, to a free school, free health care ... For them free, not for the French!
The next problem is the problem of culture. When immigrants come in large quantities, they arrive with their codes of conduct, with their morals, with their own culture, different from ours. In many neighborhoods, this represents a real revolution, followed by demands, the purpose of which is to change in our country, change our laws, our habits. That is, the purpose of these requirements is the ability to directly influence national identity. ”
First, we need to talk about economic issues. When you allow thousands of foreigners to enter a country where there are already some unemployed, they either become new unemployed and make the financial system heavier, or they potentially become direct competitors to your own employees. After all, they often agree to work for less money than they cause unfair competition.
Secondly, naturally, they affect the share of social support. Since there is a family reunion program for newcomers, they come with their wives and children, and then enjoy the state’s generosity in social support. In France, this applies, for example, to a free school, free health care ... For them free, not for the French!
The next problem is the problem of culture. When immigrants come in large quantities, they arrive with their codes of conduct, with their morals, with their own culture, different from ours. In many neighborhoods, this represents a real revolution, followed by demands, the purpose of which is to change in our country, change our laws, our habits. That is, the purpose of these requirements is the ability to directly influence national identity. ”
Marine Le Pen said about her attitude to Snowden:
“I was the first person to suggest that France grant political asylum to Mr. Snowden. Everything is clear here. You are right when you say that the position of France in this area should be criticized. France spoke with extreme caution in the face of the United States.
The problem is that France, like the European Union, is dependent on the United States. That it follows America in all circumstances, including internationally, has been around for decades. She plays along with all her geostrategic decisions. It is time for France to become free, sovereign, to find its own special path. And stop obeying the requirements of the States.
That is why I irreconcilably objected to the free exchange agreement between the European Union and the United States of America. I believe that it not only does not meet our economic interests, but can forever tie us to America in terms of the economy, the monetary system and politics. ”
The problem is that France, like the European Union, is dependent on the United States. That it follows America in all circumstances, including internationally, has been around for decades. She plays along with all her geostrategic decisions. It is time for France to become free, sovereign, to find its own special path. And stop obeying the requirements of the States.
That is why I irreconcilably objected to the free exchange agreement between the European Union and the United States of America. I believe that it not only does not meet our economic interests, but can forever tie us to America in terms of the economy, the monetary system and politics. ”
Short brunette in a blue tie. President Hollande visited his mistress, violating all safety rules, writes Anais Ginori in “La Repubblica” (the source of the abbr. Translation - "Inopressa").
"Mafiosa actor Michel Ferracci, sentenced to 18 months of probation in the case of the Cercle Wagram gambling house linked to the Corsican gang Brise de Mer, said:" I have nothing to say, the lease is not made in my name, I ready to sue anyone who wants to embroil me in this story. " As it became known, it was in his name that the postal address and telephone number in the apartment on Rue du Cirquet, which became the alcove, used by Francois Hollande and Julie Gayet, was issued, ”the newspaper writes.
The apartment is also designed for Ferracci's former spouse - Emmanuel Hawke, girlfriend and colleague Gaye. This same Hawk remarried Francois Mazini, a man famous in Corsican criminal circles. He was killed in May last year during a gangster showdown. Not only that, Hawk is a friend of the widow Richard Casanova, the founder of Brise de Mer.
“In the Elysee Palace they swear that we are talking only about coincidences. At a minimum, the president demonstrated naivety by trusting in his new passion. This is just one of the secrets around the house on rue du Circ. This strategic alcove, a hundred meters from the Elysée Palace, according to the Valeurs Actuelles magazine, was formerly used by former President Jacques Chirac, ”says the author of the article.
“Meanwhile, the Internet is discussing how a president on a scooter could leave a nuclear briefcase unattended and why the protection of the head of state is so poorly organized. “I could calmly kill the president,” said Sebastien Vallela, the paparazzi, who provided material to Closer. “There was practically no security,” the photographer said. The bodyguards delivered Hollande to the site, checked the road and the house. Then he remained alone for the whole night in a posh mansion, which, however, could not protect him from risks. Although, according to Interior Minister Manuel Valls, “nothing ever threatened the security of the president.” At the same time, the head of the Security Management Group of the Republic, Sophie Att, was summoned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give explanations about the incident. Perhaps it is she who will be the first to pay for this story, in which there is still much to be clarified, ”the publication suggests.
Escape from death. British authorities have granted asylum to a citizen of Afghanistan, who called himself an atheist. He writes about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to BBC News.
An Afghan came to the UK in 2007, when he was 16 years old. Authorities allowed him to stay in the country until 2013. He grew up in a Muslim family, but during his life in the UK became an atheist. Now he is afraid to return to his homeland: there, for his convictions, he can be executed.
Afghan lawyers say: the case of their client was the first in the history of Great Britain when political asylum was granted for atheism. According to The Guardian, the decision of the Ministry of the Interior could be a precedent.
As "Lenta" reminds, in Afghanistan the rejection of Islam is a crime. In 2006, an Afghan Abdul Rahman was sentenced to death for adopting Christianity. Under the threat of execution, he fled to Europe, where Italy granted him asylum.
From BND to Putin: a story from the dossier on Khodorkovsky. According to "Tagesanzeiger" (the source abbr. Translation - "Inopressa"), in the Swiss banks, part of the state of Mikhail Khodorkovsky could be preserved, which in 2004 year (at the time of freezing of accounts at the request of Moscow) was estimated at 6,2 billion francs. Information on money laundering by Menatep Bank, which later came to the Russian authorities, was obtained by agents of the German special services in Switzerland, the Zurich newspaper writes, referring to the industry publication Intelligence Online.
“At least some of the firms through which Khodorkovsky allegedly turned dubious transactions in 90's still exist,” the author of the publication Simon Schmid states.
“... Apparently, Apatit Fertilizers SA, a branch of Apatit in Freiburg, moved the Yukos case well:“ In 2007, the company merged with Polyfert, which, according to available information, also belonged to the Khodorkovsky group ” Menatep. Today this company is called “EFC Switzerland SA”. It is registered at the same address in Freiburg as in the 1997 year, according to the trade register, it employs five people, and the annual turnover of its "wholesale chemicals trade" is approximately 2,3 million francs. The company is 100% owned by foreign shareholders. Requests for the identity of the owners were unanswered. ”
Tagesanzeiger recalls that in 2003, Russian authorities accused Apatit of selling apatite concentrate to Swiss firms at a price lower than the market, after which these firms sold raw materials for fertilizers at a higher price, and the difference settled on Swiss accounts and was “laundered” ". In Switzerland, Khodorkovsky and his trading partners were not officially accused of anything.
“According to Sonntags Zeitung, Khodorkovsky was at that time mainly engaged in the Swiss firms Behles and Petroval (both were subsidiaries of YUKOS). These firms also survived legal proceedings, but 2013 liquidated them in August. Back in 2010, Petroval reported that she had a staff member on 32, and her share capital was 6 million francs. ”
“Whether Khodorkovsky is related to these (and other) Swiss firms from the Menatep group today is unknown. However, it is obvious that the same people are involved in the work of many of these companies as a decade ago and even earlier ... “Khodorkovsky does not have any property in your country,” said his Russian press secretary, Olga Pispanen, in the Western Swiss newspaper Le Temps. However, this does not exclude that his wife and children living in Montreux have access to the property, ”the article notes.
According to Tagesanzeiger, Khodorkovsky was also interested in German special services.
In 2003, the German prosecutor’s office received a complaint against the Russian oligarch. Geneva banker Andre Strebel and Luxembourgian financier Ernest Bakes accused him of money laundering. And in 2007, the magazine Stern found out that the Economic Research Institute in Saarbrucken, which the plaintiffs were in charge at the time, was “a cover for German foreign intelligence BND”. Strebel and Bakes confirmed this information last week at Tagesanzeiger. They also reported that during their work they “came across documentation on Khodorkovsky’s firms” and “submitted a BND 500-page dossier with charges of money laundering against the Menatep Bank belonging to Khodorkovsky. “And from there, according to the industry website Intelligence Online, shortly before Khodorkovsky’s arrest fell to Putin,” writes Tagesanzeiger.
American illegal in Russia. FMS explained the reasons for the ban on entry to Russia for the American journalist David Satter. The ministry explained that the American had exceeded the legal term of stay in the country. “By court decision, he was fined and subjected to administrative expulsion. The reason for closing the entry is the decision of the court on expulsion, ”explained the FMS.
The decision to expel Satter took Tverskoy court of the capital. There Interfax told that it was still 29 November. According to the agency interlocutor, the journalist lived in Russia with an expired visa.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Satter had committed a "flagrant violation of Russian immigration laws." As stated in the comments of the department, the journalist entered Russia 21 in November and had to immediately contact the Office of the FMS in Moscow for a multiple-entry visa. Satter came to the FMS only on November 26. The American was in an illegal position for several days. For this offense, Setter will not be allowed to come to Russia for five years.
Bandera at the Kyiv City Council. Activists of Euromaidan, namely, figures from the “National Headquarters of the Resistance”, hung a portrait of Stepan Bandera on the city council building, and not just any, but two meters. Talk about it "Vesti".
After the demolition of a monument to Lenin in Kiev in December, this is already the second provocation of the ultra-right supporters of European integration, reports Russia 24.
News blue. In the Ukrainian gay community, they criticized a rally in Kiev, during which people with rainbow flags tried to set up a tent on Independence Square. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to TSN.
The fact is that the participants of the blue event were suspected of provocation. As a result, the alleged provocateurs were threatened with a ban on visiting gay clubs.
As recalled "Lenta", the intention to hold a march in Kiev and set up a tent on the Maidan, previously announced an "initiative group to protect the rights of sexual minorities." “We will set up our tent and join the protests, because we want to live in a tolerant European society, where everyone has the right to express themselves,” an activist named Margot told January 10. The event took place the next day. Participants of the LGBT action, as reported by Ukrinform, first danced in front of the Bessarabian market, and then arrived on the Maidan to set up a tent. However, they were prevented from doing so by the protesters who were there.
The Council of LGBT organizations in Ukraine, according to UNIAN, dissociated itself from the rally. A representative of the LGBT community, the leader of the “Point of Support” organization, Bogdan Globa, said: “We did not plan any actions on LGBT issues within Euromaidan precisely because we understand by whom and for what purpose they will be used. According to the plan of the provocation organizers, the artificial “Action in defense of LGBT” should discredit Euromaidan in the eyes of Ukrainians. ”
As for the 11 action of January, its participants, said the leader of the “Support Point”, “are not worthy of being members of our community.” For misbehavior, according to Mr. Globa, they will not be allowed into Ukrainian gay clubs.
Globa's words were confirmed by Konstantin Gnatenko, art director of the metropolitan gay clubs Pomada and AndyBar. “We unanimously made such a decision and culturally asked provocateurs to leave our clubs,” the LGBT portal of Ukraine quotes him. “Provocateurs, corrupt pseudo-activists should know that it’s just disgusting for people with dignity to be with them.”
In Latvia, as part of an international project to combat HIV, medical offices will be opened for homosexual men. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to Apollo.lv.
In new locations, gay men will be able to "pass tests for specific risk factors and get expert advice." Visitors are guaranteed confidentiality.
The experience of creating points was borrowed from Norway.
In Latvia, according to data from the end of last year, which DELFI reports, thousands of HIV-infected people are registered around 5,8. Over the past year, this figure has increased by about 300 people. Among male homosexuals, according to information for the spring of 2013, the prevalence of HIV reaches 7,8%.
Perverted Tallinn. Funeral SS Harald Nugiseks cause legitimate indignation. Moscow calls on Tallinn to reconsider the course of indulging in neo-Nazi sentiments in Estonia, said Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s authorized representative for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, reports RIA News".
“We confirm the resolute rejection of the course for indulging in Estonia that has taken root in neo-Nazi and revanchist attitudes in society. We urge Tallinn to immediately and unconditionally reconsider such an approach that contradicts Estonia’s international obligations in the field of human rights and undermines its reputation as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, ”the Russian Foreign Ministry website quotes the statement of Comrade Dolgov.
“We regard the ceremonial burial of the Nazi criminal by the Estonian authorities as another manifestation of Tallinn’s perverted perception of the historical realities of World War II and the tragic consequences of the Nazi ideology for the destinies of entire nations. We consider this a deeply immoral mockery of the memory of millions of people of different nationalities who were brutally tortured by the Nazis and their henchmen like Nugisex during the war, ”Dolgov said.
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan: situation on the border. The situation on the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was resolved, according to a statement by the public relations department of the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan, reports "Voice of Russia" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
According to the department, a telephone conversation took place between the heads of the border departments of the two countries.
“The Kyrgyz side raised the issue of the current situation at the state border and stated the need to solve emerging problems only through negotiations. The commander of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan, Rajabali Rahmonali, confirmed his readiness to resolve the situation by diplomatic means and prevent an escalation of the conflict at the state border, ”the statement said.
It is planned that the heads of the border services of the two states will hold a personal meeting with the aim of developing joint measures to stabilize the situation on the state border section of January 15.
“Voice of Russia” reminds that on January 11 near the Ak-Sai settlement of the Batken Oblast of the Republic there was an exchange of fire between Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards. As a result of the conflict, six soldiers of Kyrgyzstan and two of Tajikistan were injured. The cause of the collision was the construction of the Kyrgyz side of the road. In Bishkek, this territory is considered to belong to the republic, and in Tajikistan - disputed.
Now Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have removed armed units from the confrontation zone, and law enforcement officers of the two states are conducting joint patrols of the border zone.
About the Chinese and Koreans. Divisions of the PRC Army conduct large-scale exercises near the border with North Korea. In Seoul, they drew attention to an unusually large number of troops involved and linked this to possible instability in the DPRK. This writes Oleg Kiryanov ("Russian newspaper").
Chinese media reported to 13 in January that the troops of the Shenyang Military District began to conduct large-scale exercises in the area of Mount Pektusan. About 100 thousands of soldiers and officers of motorized rifle and artillery units take part in the maneuvers. During the maneuvers, the movement of large military units is tested, the performance of military equipment and armaments in mountain winter conditions is checked, and the level of interaction increases.
It is precisely the PLA units of the Shenyang Military District that are assigned the task of responding to an emergency situation in the DPRK.
In Kazakhstan, they do not exclude that during maneuvers, including actions in the event of a state of emergency in the Juche Country are practiced. According to southerners, signs of instability are observed in North Korea. It was noted that after the announcement of the execution of Chan Son Taek, the PLA immediately conducted exercises in the area of Mount Pektusan, in which about three thousand servicemen participated.
A holy place is never empty. Kim Jong-un, who in December executed his uncle Chan Son Tak, cleared a place for his sister. Instead of his uncle, his niece Kim Ye Jeong will be in charge of food supplies to the Korean Peoples Army. This writes Alexander Marfin (Utro.ru, referring to RIA “News”.
Kim Ye-jung is the younger sister of the North Korean leader. It is not clear whether Kim Ye-jung is Kim Jong-un's birth sister or half-sister. The sister will be in charge of the 54 department of the DPRK Labor Party, which finances the army and provides it with basic necessities, fuel, electricity and coal.
According to the official version of Pyongyang, Uncle Chang Sung-taek was shot from a machine gun as a “despicable man and scum”. The uncle was accused of treason, attempted coup, corruption, relationships with prostitutes and hobby casinos.
Kim Ye-Jong passed over to the management of organizations whose head was previously Aunt Kim Jong-un and the wife of the executed Chan Song-taka, Kim Gen Hee. We are talking about Teson Bank, Bank of Unification and Development and a number of tourist and railway projects.
Modest and patriotic. The Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, forbade the military to buy foreign-made cars. From now on, the procurement process will be carried out through a centralized system, "RT".
The measure is aimed at reducing car imports, supporting the domestic economy and reducing the cost of maintaining the army and the police, reports The Guardian newspaper.
“RT” recalls that in April 2013 of the year in China introduced a ban on the installation of army license plates for luxury cars, primarily foreign brands.
In December last year, the Chinese authorities banned officials from using charter flights for personal use.
And now Chinese officials have been banned from accepting gifts. "Without exception, any way to exchange gifts and souvenirs is prohibited," - said on the website of the Ministry of Finance of China.
Vigilants against the army. Yesterday, Mexican government forces engaged local militia units, the so-called Vigilantes, who fought against the militants of the “Knights of the Knights of the Templar” drug cartel in the Tierra Caliente region of the Michoacan state near Nueva-Italy, reports "Lenta.ru" with reference to the Associated Press.
Militia spokesman Estanislao Beltran said four people were killed in the shelling of the city of Annutunes, including an 11-year-old girl. 60-80 soldiers arrived at a roadblock organized by the townspeople at the entrance to the settlement, and demanded to hand over weapon. The Vigilants refused and did not miss the soldiers. They opened fire on them. Beltran stressed that most of the people at the checkpoint were ordinary citizens, only one of the dead was part of the self-defense detachment.
The Attorney General and the Mexican Interior Minister, through the media, called on the militia to lay down their arms and hope that the army would protect them from the drug cartel.
In response, Beltran said that no one would surrender their weapons: people do not trust government promises and are afraid of retaliation by the criminal syndicate that had until recently ruled Tierra Caliente. According to him, the locals have been asking the authorities for protection from the cartel for years, but they didn’t wait for help: after all, the government is funded by criminal groups. The residents managed to get rid of the tyranny of the cartel in the following way: by arming themselves and organizing self-defense units, and at the same time getting rid of representatives of the corrupt police in their cities.
Lenta reminds that the inhabitants of the Tierra Caliente region are fighting for several weeks against the Knights of the Knights Templar. During this time, they managed to take control of several localities, including the relatively large city of Nueva-Italy, whose police were disarmed and suspended from work.
And this, let us add, one more example of how inefficient a state is, which doesn’t do anything except to best adapt to reality, that is, to serve the interests of a class that owns capital. In this case - the drug lords.
War with the weak. The article “Why America is abusing its power” (“The American Conservative”, USA; the source of translation is "InoSMI") Daniel Larison quotes the words of Andrew Basevich, who argued about why US military actions in the last twenty years have so often ended with failures.
“How can this gaping gap between intention and outcome be explained?”
Basically, a passionate and blind fascination with military power leads to the fact that high-ranking civilian officials, regardless of party affiliation, as well as high military leaders, regardless of the type of armed forces and type of troops, misunderstand and incorrectly use this military tool. Strength is good for some things, and above all, to protect what belongs to us. But the United States in recent decades has not been content with defense, but is seeking to use force to expand its own influence and power, as well as to spread its values. ”
Basically, a passionate and blind fascination with military power leads to the fact that high-ranking civilian officials, regardless of party affiliation, as well as high military leaders, regardless of the type of armed forces and type of troops, misunderstand and incorrectly use this military tool. Strength is good for some things, and above all, to protect what belongs to us. But the United States in recent decades has not been content with defense, but is seeking to use force to expand its own influence and power, as well as to spread its values. ”
The author of the note explains this preference for military options. He highlights several reasons.
And here is the first of them: a huge difference in the military power of the United States and those countries with which America faces face to face. Weak states, or those that are significantly weaker than the United States and its allies, are the targets of military intervention in the last twenty years. In addition, the United States and its allies have sufficient economic advantages (the next reason), which allows them to spend money and resources in such quantities as may be exorbitant for most other countries.
Another reason is the assumption that the US will not subject itself to a serious retaliatory strike, launching an attack on another country.
There is also a reason for a cultural characteristic: there is a bias in American political culture, which is manifested in the fact that the United States prefers “action” to “inaction”. Alas, this very “action” is usually understood as a military action.
Director Snowden. The Freedom of the Press Foundation, an NGO, invited Edward Snowden to the board of directors. This is stated on the fund's website, reports RIA News".
The Freedom of the Press Foundation was established in December 2012 to support and protect journalists seeking openness of information that they believe is of public interest. The board of directors includes former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Ellsberg, who in the 1960s organized a leak of Pentagon documents on the Vietnam War, American film actor John Cusack, Glenn Greenwald, who was famous for publishing “Guardian” revelations Snowden, and other people. During its existence, the organization has managed to collect more than 500 thousand dollars to support the activities of WikiLeaks and similar resources.
Co-founder Daniel Ellsberg said: “I proudly and respectfully greet Edward Snowden on the board of directors of the Press Freedom Foundation. He is the quintessence of the American whistleblower and my personal hero. ”
Snowden expressed his willingness to cooperate with "such prominent Americans as Daniel Ellsberg," according to the foundation's website.
Hurricane money. The name of the already disgraced New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is again in the headlines. Now he is accused of misuse of money allocated for the restoration of the state after Hurricane Sandy, which hit the US in the 2012 year, reports "RT".
Testing how 25 was spent million dollars, which were allocated for the restoration of infrastructure in the state of New Jersey, will now deal with the commission. There is a suspicion that Chris Christie spent about 2 million on advertising himself. This was reported by the agency "CNN".
Part of the allocated funds was supposed to go on commercials, which would have shown that New Jersey was restored after the hurricane and was ready to receive tourists.
The tender was won by a company with a declared project budget of about $ 4,7 million. Interestingly, it somehow outperformed the competitor, whose estimates amounted to only $ 2,5 million. The investigation suspects that the winning company won the competition because the state governor and his family were to appear.
Bottom line: Mr. Christie is accused of intending to conduct his advertising campaign at the expense of budget funds. Everybody knows that in 2016, a politician is going to run for the presidency of the United States from the Republican Party.
The investigation began after the demolitions were declared by Democrat Frank Pallone.
It looks like we’ll add, the strong competitors of Hillary Clinton will be removed from the treadmill before the start of the election campaign ...
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
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