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Reverse-read the Ukraine war without outsmarting yourself - a guide
This is not, repeat not, the tar baby story of the Afro-Americans and American Indians. The US and NATO allies aren't the fox, Russia isn't the rabbit, except that the Ukraine is the tar baby. The reason US commanders were confident Russia would move into the Ukraine when they did was that they made certain the Russian General Staff understood that if they failed to move west, they would be attacked themselves east across the Ukraine front, north against Belgorod and Voronezh, south against Crimea and Rostov; and at the same time the US would launch its blitzkrieg to destroy the Russian economy. The Ukrainian plan of land attack was the feint; the sanctions war was the main thrust at Moscow. In last year's manual of what is called the Russian Strategic Initiative of the US European Command in Stuttgart, the Russian Army's strategy of "active defense" was reported to start with "preventative measures taken before a conflict breaks out, to deter it". Thereafter would follow "a...
https://www.sott.net/article/466293-Reverse-read-the-Ukraine-war-without-outsmarting-yourself-a-guide
Reverse-read the Ukraine war without outsmarting yourself - a guide
This is not, repeat not, the tar baby story of the Afro-Americans and American Indians. The US and NATO allies aren't the fox, Russia isn't the rabbit, except that the Ukraine is the tar baby. The reason US commanders were confident Russia would move into the Ukraine when they did was that they made certain the Russian General Staff understood that if they failed to move west, they would be attacked themselves east across the Ukraine front, north against Belgorod and Voronezh, south against Crimea and Rostov; and at the same time the US would launch its blitzkrieg to destroy the Russian economy. The Ukrainian plan of land attack was the feint; the sanctions war was the main thrust at Moscow. In last year's manual of what is called the Russian Strategic Initiative of the US European Command in Stuttgart, the Russian Army's strategy of "active defense" was reported to start with "preventative measures taken before a conflict breaks out, to deter it". Thereafter would follow "a...
https://www.sott.net/article/466293-Reverse-read-the-Ukraine-war-without-outsmarting-yourself-a-guide
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'Gods of War': How the US weaponized Ukraine against Russia
Since the US-engineered 2013-14 coup in Ukraine, American forces have taught Ukrainians, including neo-Nazi units, how to fight in urban and other civilian areas. Weaponizing Ukraine is part of Washington's quest for what the Pentagon calls "full spectrum dominance." "[I]f you can learn all modalities of war, then you can be the god of war," so said a Ukrainian artillery commander in 2016 while receiving training from the US Army. The unnamed commander was quoted by Lt. Claire Vanderberg, a mortar platoon leader training soldiers as part of the Pentagon's Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. The training has taken place at the absurdly named International Peacekeeping and Security Center, which sits close to the border with Poland near the Ukrainian town of Yavoriv. Western media reported Russia's recent cruise missile attack on the base, but chose not to mention what has taken place inside. The relationship described above is a snapshot of a decades-long US-NATO effort to...
https://www.sott.net/article/466294-Gods-of-War-How-the-US-weaponized-Ukraine-against-Russia
'Gods of War': How the US weaponized Ukraine against Russia
Since the US-engineered 2013-14 coup in Ukraine, American forces have taught Ukrainians, including neo-Nazi units, how to fight in urban and other civilian areas. Weaponizing Ukraine is part of Washington's quest for what the Pentagon calls "full spectrum dominance." "[I]f you can learn all modalities of war, then you can be the god of war," so said a Ukrainian artillery commander in 2016 while receiving training from the US Army. The unnamed commander was quoted by Lt. Claire Vanderberg, a mortar platoon leader training soldiers as part of the Pentagon's Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. The training has taken place at the absurdly named International Peacekeeping and Security Center, which sits close to the border with Poland near the Ukrainian town of Yavoriv. Western media reported Russia's recent cruise missile attack on the base, but chose not to mention what has taken place inside. The relationship described above is a snapshot of a decades-long US-NATO effort to...
https://www.sott.net/article/466294-Gods-of-War-How-the-US-weaponized-Ukraine-against-Russia
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JK Rowling weighs in on transgender sporting debate
The Harry Potter author threw her support behind opposition to trans athletes competing against biological women Harry Potter author JK Rowling says that British former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is an "inspiration" for her continued opposition to trans athletes competing against biologically-born women. Both Rowling and Davies have been prominent critics in the ongoing debate about the fairness and efficacy of having trans athletes competing directly against cis women, citing prominent cases such as those involving American swimmer Lia Thomas and New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard as examples of sporting inequality, after both were successful in competition against women despite being born male.
https://www.sott.net/article/466295-JK-Rowling-weighs-in-on-transgender-sporting-debate
JK Rowling weighs in on transgender sporting debate
The Harry Potter author threw her support behind opposition to trans athletes competing against biological women Harry Potter author JK Rowling says that British former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is an "inspiration" for her continued opposition to trans athletes competing against biologically-born women. Both Rowling and Davies have been prominent critics in the ongoing debate about the fairness and efficacy of having trans athletes competing directly against cis women, citing prominent cases such as those involving American swimmer Lia Thomas and New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard as examples of sporting inequality, after both were successful in competition against women despite being born male.
https://www.sott.net/article/466295-JK-Rowling-weighs-in-on-transgender-sporting-debate
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6.0-magnitude earthquake off Vanuatu: USGS
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted 55 km off Port-Vila, Vanuatu at 16:06:57 GMT on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter, with a depth of 33.13 km, was initially determined to be at 17.475 degrees south latitude and 167.8723 degrees east longitude.
https://www.sott.net/article/466296-6-0-magnitude-earthquake-off-Vanuatu-USGS
6.0-magnitude earthquake off Vanuatu: USGS
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted 55 km off Port-Vila, Vanuatu at 16:06:57 GMT on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter, with a depth of 33.13 km, was initially determined to be at 17.475 degrees south latitude and 167.8723 degrees east longitude.
https://www.sott.net/article/466296-6-0-magnitude-earthquake-off-Vanuatu-USGS
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Elon Musk takes a chunk of Twitter: Now the company's largest shareholder
The billionaire now holds a 9.2% stake in the micro-blogging platform, filings show Twitter's share price jumped 26% in pre-market trading on Monday after a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing revealed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has taken a 9.2% passive stake in the social media company. The stake is worth $2.89 billion, based on Twitter's closing price on Friday. The filing shows that Musk made the purchase on March 14 and he now owns 73,486,938 shares.
https://www.sott.net/article/466297-Elon-Musk-takes-a-chunk-of-Twitter-Now-the-companys-largest-shareholder
Elon Musk takes a chunk of Twitter: Now the company's largest shareholder
The billionaire now holds a 9.2% stake in the micro-blogging platform, filings show Twitter's share price jumped 26% in pre-market trading on Monday after a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing revealed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has taken a 9.2% passive stake in the social media company. The stake is worth $2.89 billion, based on Twitter's closing price on Friday. The filing shows that Musk made the purchase on March 14 and he now owns 73,486,938 shares.
https://www.sott.net/article/466297-Elon-Musk-takes-a-chunk-of-Twitter-Now-the-companys-largest-shareholder
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Winter weather to continue in Switzerland this week after 50cms of spring snowfall
Swiss residents going through the latter stages of March, with its sunny skies and 'Sahara dust' would have been forgiven for thinking the time was right to put the winter jacket away. However, winter-like weather is back in Switzerland, having swept across the country as March turned into April. Around 50cm of snow fell on parts of Switzerland over the past few days, bringing with it unseasonably cold temperatures to wipe out the springlike weather of late March. Swiss meteorological service MeteoNews reported that the snowfall brought welcome relief, particularly in central and lower Valais, in parts of Ticino and in most of Graubünden, cutting the risks of forest fires.
https://www.sott.net/article/466298-Winter-weather-to-continue-in-Switzerland-this-week-after-50cms-of-spring-snowfall
Winter weather to continue in Switzerland this week after 50cms of spring snowfall
Swiss residents going through the latter stages of March, with its sunny skies and 'Sahara dust' would have been forgiven for thinking the time was right to put the winter jacket away. However, winter-like weather is back in Switzerland, having swept across the country as March turned into April. Around 50cm of snow fell on parts of Switzerland over the past few days, bringing with it unseasonably cold temperatures to wipe out the springlike weather of late March. Swiss meteorological service MeteoNews reported that the snowfall brought welcome relief, particularly in central and lower Valais, in parts of Ticino and in most of Graubünden, cutting the risks of forest fires.
https://www.sott.net/article/466298-Winter-weather-to-continue-in-Switzerland-this-week-after-50cms-of-spring-snowfall
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Banksters in trouble? JPMorgan stock slips as CEO Jamie Dimon warns Russia exposure will cost $1B
"We are not worried about our direct exposure to Russia, though we could still lose about $1 billion over time," CEO Jamie Dimon told shareholders Monday. JPMorgan shares moved lower Monday after CEO Jamie Dimon cautioned investors that its exposure to Russia could clip $1 billion from the bank's bottom line. In his annual letter to shareholders, published Monday, Dimon said both Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing dispute between the U.S. and China over trade, highlight what he called the "critical importance of economic relationships" that will affect geopolitics "for decades". Ahead of the bank's first quarter earnings next week, Dimon also provided his most detailed assessment of the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the bank's profits, while also warning that rate hikes from the Federal Reserve "could be significantly higher than the market expects' between now and the end of the year.
https://www.sott.net/article/466299-Banksters-in-trouble-JPMorgan-stock-slips-as-CEO-Jamie-Dimon-warns-Russia-exposure-will-cost-1B
Banksters in trouble? JPMorgan stock slips as CEO Jamie Dimon warns Russia exposure will cost $1B
"We are not worried about our direct exposure to Russia, though we could still lose about $1 billion over time," CEO Jamie Dimon told shareholders Monday. JPMorgan shares moved lower Monday after CEO Jamie Dimon cautioned investors that its exposure to Russia could clip $1 billion from the bank's bottom line. In his annual letter to shareholders, published Monday, Dimon said both Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing dispute between the U.S. and China over trade, highlight what he called the "critical importance of economic relationships" that will affect geopolitics "for decades". Ahead of the bank's first quarter earnings next week, Dimon also provided his most detailed assessment of the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the bank's profits, while also warning that rate hikes from the Federal Reserve "could be significantly higher than the market expects' between now and the end of the year.
https://www.sott.net/article/466299-Banksters-in-trouble-JPMorgan-stock-slips-as-CEO-Jamie-Dimon-warns-Russia-exposure-will-cost-1B
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'Krigsguder': Hvordan USA bevæbnede Ukraine mod Rusland
Siden det amerikanske kup i Ukraine i 2013-14, har amerikanske styrker lært ukrainere, herunder nynazistiske enheder, hvordan man kæmper i byområder og andre civile områder. At bevæbne Ukraine er en del af Washingtons søgen efter, hvad Pentagon kalder 'fuld spektrum dominans.' '[I]hvis du kan lære alle krigsmodaliteter, så kan du være krigens gud,' sagde en ukrainsk artillerichef i 2016, mens han modtog træning fra den amerikanske hær. Den unavngivne kommandant blev citeret af løjtnant Claire Vanderberg, en morterpeltonsleder, der træner soldater som en del af Pentagons Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. Uddannelsen er foregået på det absurd navngivne International Peacekeeping and Security Center, som ligger tæt på grænsen til Polen nær den ukrainske by Yavoriv. Vestlige medier rapporterede om Ruslands seneste krydsermissilangreb på basen, men valgte ikke at nævne, hvad der har fundet sted inde. Forholdet beskrevet ovenfor er et øjebliksbillede af en årtier lang...
https://www.sott.net/article/466294-Krigsguder-Hvordan-USA-bevabnede-Ukraine-mod-Rusland
'Krigsguder': Hvordan USA bevæbnede Ukraine mod Rusland
Siden det amerikanske kup i Ukraine i 2013-14, har amerikanske styrker lært ukrainere, herunder nynazistiske enheder, hvordan man kæmper i byområder og andre civile områder. At bevæbne Ukraine er en del af Washingtons søgen efter, hvad Pentagon kalder 'fuld spektrum dominans.' '[I]hvis du kan lære alle krigsmodaliteter, så kan du være krigens gud,' sagde en ukrainsk artillerichef i 2016, mens han modtog træning fra den amerikanske hær. Den unavngivne kommandant blev citeret af løjtnant Claire Vanderberg, en morterpeltonsleder, der træner soldater som en del af Pentagons Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. Uddannelsen er foregået på det absurd navngivne International Peacekeeping and Security Center, som ligger tæt på grænsen til Polen nær den ukrainske by Yavoriv. Vestlige medier rapporterede om Ruslands seneste krydsermissilangreb på basen, men valgte ikke at nævne, hvad der har fundet sted inde. Forholdet beskrevet ovenfor er et øjebliksbillede af en årtier lang...
https://www.sott.net/article/466294-Krigsguder-Hvordan-USA-bevabnede-Ukraine-mod-Rusland
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Court upholds bakery's $32M victory against Oberlin College over false racism accusations
An Ohio appeals court has upheld a ruling that awarded more than $30 million to a bakery that accused Oberlin College of damaging its business and libeling it with false accusations of racism. A three-judge panel on the Ninth District Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision to uphold a 2019 ruling by Lorain County Judge John Miraldi, who initially awarded the bakery more than $40 million in punitive and compensatory damages, Cleveland.com reported. However, the sum was later reduced to $25 million, though the bakery was awarded more than $6 million for lawyers' fees. Gibson's Bakery sued the college in 2017, accusing the school and one of its administrators of hurting its business and libeling it over an incident in which the son of the bakery owner stopped three black Oberlin College students, one of whom was stealing wine bottles from the store, in November 2016. Students from the school protested the bakery after the arrest, handing out fliers outside the shop telling...
https://www.sott.net/article/466300-Court-upholds-bakerys-32M-victory-against-Oberlin-College-over-false-racism-accusations
Court upholds bakery's $32M victory against Oberlin College over false racism accusations
An Ohio appeals court has upheld a ruling that awarded more than $30 million to a bakery that accused Oberlin College of damaging its business and libeling it with false accusations of racism. A three-judge panel on the Ninth District Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision to uphold a 2019 ruling by Lorain County Judge John Miraldi, who initially awarded the bakery more than $40 million in punitive and compensatory damages, Cleveland.com reported. However, the sum was later reduced to $25 million, though the bakery was awarded more than $6 million for lawyers' fees. Gibson's Bakery sued the college in 2017, accusing the school and one of its administrators of hurting its business and libeling it over an incident in which the son of the bakery owner stopped three black Oberlin College students, one of whom was stealing wine bottles from the store, in November 2016. Students from the school protested the bakery after the arrest, handing out fliers outside the shop telling...
https://www.sott.net/article/466300-Court-upholds-bakerys-32M-victory-against-Oberlin-College-over-false-racism-accusations
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Democrats only have themselves to blame for the rise of Ron DeSantis
The mercurial rise of Ron DeSantis is the Democrats' fault. I say this with gratitude, not regret. Absent some catastrophe, DeSantis is going to win a second term as governor of Florida this coming November and, after that, he has a fair shot of being president. This is partly because he has done an excellent job for his state. It's also because he was unusually lucky in his enemies. Unable to help themselves, the Democrats have aided him at every stage. They still are. 2018 was a good year for the Democratic Party, but not so good a year that the quality of its candidates didn't matter. Had the party nominated a credible centrist in Florida's toss-up gubernatorial race — Gwen Graham, for example — that candidate would not only have won the governor's mansion for the Democrats for the first time in two decades, she'd have ended DeSantis' career. Comment: This, of course, is speculation.
https://www.sott.net/article/466301-Democrats-only-have-themselves-to-blame-for-the-rise-of-Ron-DeSantis
Democrats only have themselves to blame for the rise of Ron DeSantis
The mercurial rise of Ron DeSantis is the Democrats' fault. I say this with gratitude, not regret. Absent some catastrophe, DeSantis is going to win a second term as governor of Florida this coming November and, after that, he has a fair shot of being president. This is partly because he has done an excellent job for his state. It's also because he was unusually lucky in his enemies. Unable to help themselves, the Democrats have aided him at every stage. They still are. 2018 was a good year for the Democratic Party, but not so good a year that the quality of its candidates didn't matter. Had the party nominated a credible centrist in Florida's toss-up gubernatorial race — Gwen Graham, for example — that candidate would not only have won the governor's mansion for the Democrats for the first time in two decades, she'd have ended DeSantis' career. Comment: This, of course, is speculation.
https://www.sott.net/article/466301-Democrats-only-have-themselves-to-blame-for-the-rise-of-Ron-DeSantis
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Russian investigative committee probe Mariupol hospital capture
The Russian Investigative Committee opened Saturday a criminal case against Ukrainian militants and mercenaries over their holding of hostages in a maternity hospital in Mariupol. "A criminal case has been initiated on the grounds of a crime under... part 2 of article 206 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," which is the premeditated capture of two or more hostages committed by a group of people with the use of violence, the committee explained in a statement. According to the committee, Unidentified Ukrainian militants fired Friday at the building of the Mariupol maternity hospital. After opening fire, the militants seized the building, deployed heavy weaponry, and captured at least 100 civilians, including pregnant women and about 40 children. They proceeded to use them as hostages and human shields.
https://www.sott.net/article/466302-Russian-investigative-committee-probe-Mariupol-hospital-capture
Russian investigative committee probe Mariupol hospital capture
The Russian Investigative Committee opened Saturday a criminal case against Ukrainian militants and mercenaries over their holding of hostages in a maternity hospital in Mariupol. "A criminal case has been initiated on the grounds of a crime under... part 2 of article 206 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," which is the premeditated capture of two or more hostages committed by a group of people with the use of violence, the committee explained in a statement. According to the committee, Unidentified Ukrainian militants fired Friday at the building of the Mariupol maternity hospital. After opening fire, the militants seized the building, deployed heavy weaponry, and captured at least 100 civilians, including pregnant women and about 40 children. They proceeded to use them as hostages and human shields.
https://www.sott.net/article/466302-Russian-investigative-committee-probe-Mariupol-hospital-capture
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Orban declares victory in Hungarian election
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared himself the winner of Sunday's elections in Hungary as his conservative Fidesz-KDNP party holds on to a comfortable lead amid the vote-counting. As of 9pm local time, the party is ahead with 59.99% of the votes, with 23.03% of party-list ballots counted. Despite the six leading opposition parties uniting to try to knock out Orban's government under its banner, United for Hungary has only 28.89% of the vote thus far, with right-wing nationalist party Our Home (Mi Hazánk) trailing in third at 6.58%. Pollsters Medián had forecast a 49% win for Fidesz to 41% for United for Hungary, with Our Home expected to tie with joke party Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party (MKKP) for third place, with 4.5% of the vote. Budapest Business Journal has explained Fidesz's lead may shrink as many urban districts around the capital have not yet reported their results, while all votes from the rural areas, home to Orban's most enthusiastic supporters, are...
https://www.sott.net/article/466303-Orban-declares-victory-in-Hungarian-election
Orban declares victory in Hungarian election
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared himself the winner of Sunday's elections in Hungary as his conservative Fidesz-KDNP party holds on to a comfortable lead amid the vote-counting. As of 9pm local time, the party is ahead with 59.99% of the votes, with 23.03% of party-list ballots counted. Despite the six leading opposition parties uniting to try to knock out Orban's government under its banner, United for Hungary has only 28.89% of the vote thus far, with right-wing nationalist party Our Home (Mi Hazánk) trailing in third at 6.58%. Pollsters Medián had forecast a 49% win for Fidesz to 41% for United for Hungary, with Our Home expected to tie with joke party Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party (MKKP) for third place, with 4.5% of the vote. Budapest Business Journal has explained Fidesz's lead may shrink as many urban districts around the capital have not yet reported their results, while all votes from the rural areas, home to Orban's most enthusiastic supporters, are...
https://www.sott.net/article/466303-Orban-declares-victory-in-Hungarian-election
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Goldman Sachs warns the dollar is at risk of losing its dominance, and could end up a lesser player like the UK pound
Goldman Sachs has warned the US dollar faces risks that could erode its global dominance, saying it's dealing with some of the same challenges that the British pound faced in the early 1900s. The move by the US and its allies to freeze Russia's central bank out of much of its foreign currency reserves has raised concerns that countries could start moving away from using the dollar, due to worries about the power the currency grants the US. Goldman's research note, released Thursday, is a sign major investors are taking the risks to the dollar seriously. The bank's analysts, including economist Cristina Tessari, said the dollar faces a number of challenges similar to those faced by the British pound before it declined. The pound was once the world's reserve currency, but was supplanted by the dollar in the middle of the 20th century.
https://www.sott.net/article/466304-Goldman-Sachs-warns-the-dollar-is-at-risk-of-losing-its-dominance-and-could-end-up-a-lesser-player-like-the-UK-pound
Goldman Sachs warns the dollar is at risk of losing its dominance, and could end up a lesser player like the UK pound
Goldman Sachs has warned the US dollar faces risks that could erode its global dominance, saying it's dealing with some of the same challenges that the British pound faced in the early 1900s. The move by the US and its allies to freeze Russia's central bank out of much of its foreign currency reserves has raised concerns that countries could start moving away from using the dollar, due to worries about the power the currency grants the US. Goldman's research note, released Thursday, is a sign major investors are taking the risks to the dollar seriously. The bank's analysts, including economist Cristina Tessari, said the dollar faces a number of challenges similar to those faced by the British pound before it declined. The pound was once the world's reserve currency, but was supplanted by the dollar in the middle of the 20th century.
https://www.sott.net/article/466304-Goldman-Sachs-warns-the-dollar-is-at-risk-of-losing-its-dominance-and-could-end-up-a-lesser-player-like-the-UK-pound
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WHO demands abortion at any time for any reason throughout the world
It's often said that no right is absolute. But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), that maxim doesn't apply to abortion. Its newly published "Abortion Care Guideline" is the most radically pro-abortion official document ever published (pdf). Indeed, in recommending abortion public policies for all the world's nations to adopt, the WHO not only assumes that abortion is a fundamental human right but also demands that access to terminations be guaranteed universally without any restrictions whatsoever. Reflecting the WHO's culturally imperialistic intent, the guideline oozes with the lexicon of Western political progressivism. It begins by stating: "In this guideline ... we also recognize that cisgender women, transgender men, nonbinary, gender-fluid and intersex individuals with a female reproductive system and capable of becoming pregnant may require abortion care." To say the least, most people in the world don't talk like that. Moreover, embracing the ideology of the...
https://www.sott.net/article/466305-WHO-demands-abortion-at-any-time-for-any-reason-throughout-the-world
WHO demands abortion at any time for any reason throughout the world
It's often said that no right is absolute. But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), that maxim doesn't apply to abortion. Its newly published "Abortion Care Guideline" is the most radically pro-abortion official document ever published (pdf). Indeed, in recommending abortion public policies for all the world's nations to adopt, the WHO not only assumes that abortion is a fundamental human right but also demands that access to terminations be guaranteed universally without any restrictions whatsoever. Reflecting the WHO's culturally imperialistic intent, the guideline oozes with the lexicon of Western political progressivism. It begins by stating: "In this guideline ... we also recognize that cisgender women, transgender men, nonbinary, gender-fluid and intersex individuals with a female reproductive system and capable of becoming pregnant may require abortion care." To say the least, most people in the world don't talk like that. Moreover, embracing the ideology of the...
https://www.sott.net/article/466305-WHO-demands-abortion-at-any-time-for-any-reason-throughout-the-world
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Pointless protraction, wanton wrongdoing
Preamble. With Russia now moving towards the second phase of its Special Operation, questions are being asked by both Moscow and knowing military minds as to why Kiev is acting as it is. Recent discoveries however will be pressing far harder for answers, both from the Ukrainian leadership (apparently still in Kiev) as well as the western nations that are backing it to the hilt. This article will examine why the situation developed as it did and why the Ukrainians, both government and troops are acting as they are. Bleak Prospects. In all truth, the Ukraine had slowly slid down a very slippery slope since it gained independence in 1991, yet it was only after 2014 that the country, (obviously minus the Donbass and Crimea) went into true freefall. A blend of both corruption and a war governed from afar ensured very bleak prospects for a land that was still led in a most corrupt fashion. Fast forward to this year, and with great discontent amongst the majority of the population that...
https://www.sott.net/article/466306-Pointless-protraction-wanton-wrongdoing
Pointless protraction, wanton wrongdoing
Preamble. With Russia now moving towards the second phase of its Special Operation, questions are being asked by both Moscow and knowing military minds as to why Kiev is acting as it is. Recent discoveries however will be pressing far harder for answers, both from the Ukrainian leadership (apparently still in Kiev) as well as the western nations that are backing it to the hilt. This article will examine why the situation developed as it did and why the Ukrainians, both government and troops are acting as they are. Bleak Prospects. In all truth, the Ukraine had slowly slid down a very slippery slope since it gained independence in 1991, yet it was only after 2014 that the country, (obviously minus the Donbass and Crimea) went into true freefall. A blend of both corruption and a war governed from afar ensured very bleak prospects for a land that was still led in a most corrupt fashion. Fast forward to this year, and with great discontent amongst the majority of the population that...
https://www.sott.net/article/466306-Pointless-protraction-wanton-wrongdoing
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The Ukraine: A decisive transfer of the balance of power from west to east
The 2022 Russo-Ukraine is also a proxy war between Russia and the Western world. We should be prepared for a decisive transfer of the balance of power from West to East...The bulk of the fighting is in the Donbas where there are few or no Western journalists. Most of the debate and coverage of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war in Australia and the Western world is decidedly banal. It is characterised by the simplification of an extremely complex situation to generate a narrative that can be summarised as Putin and Russia are evil and Ukraine is good. This gross simplification is not helpful in either understanding the causes of the war, the nature of the war, its broader implications and most importantly of all, how it can be ended with the least number of additional deaths and injuries and damage to Ukraine's infrastructure.
https://www.sott.net/article/466307-The-Ukraine-A-decisive-transfer-of-the-balance-of-power-from-west-to-east
The Ukraine: A decisive transfer of the balance of power from west to east
The 2022 Russo-Ukraine is also a proxy war between Russia and the Western world. We should be prepared for a decisive transfer of the balance of power from West to East...The bulk of the fighting is in the Donbas where there are few or no Western journalists. Most of the debate and coverage of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war in Australia and the Western world is decidedly banal. It is characterised by the simplification of an extremely complex situation to generate a narrative that can be summarised as Putin and Russia are evil and Ukraine is good. This gross simplification is not helpful in either understanding the causes of the war, the nature of the war, its broader implications and most importantly of all, how it can be ended with the least number of additional deaths and injuries and damage to Ukraine's infrastructure.
https://www.sott.net/article/466307-The-Ukraine-A-decisive-transfer-of-the-balance-of-power-from-west-to-east
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'Gods of War': How the US weaponized Ukraine against Russia
Since the US-engineered 2013-14 coup in Ukraine, American forces have taught Ukrainians, including neo-Nazi units, how to fight in urban and other civilian areas. Weaponizing Ukraine is part of Washington's quest for what the Pentagon calls "full spectrum dominance." "[I]f you can learn all modalities of war, then you can be the god of war," so said a Ukrainian artillery commander in 2016 while receiving training from the US Army. The unnamed commander was quoted by Lt. Claire Vanderberg, a mortar platoon leader training soldiers as part of the Pentagon's Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. The training has taken place at the absurdly named International Peacekeeping and Security Center, which sits close to the border with Poland near the Ukrainian town of Yavoriv. Western media reported Russia's recent cruise missile attack on the base, but chose not to mention what has taken place inside. The relationship described above is a snapshot of a decades-long US-NATO effort to...
https://www.sott.net/article/466294-Gods-of-War-How-the-US-weaponized-Ukraine-against-Russia
'Gods of War': How the US weaponized Ukraine against Russia
Since the US-engineered 2013-14 coup in Ukraine, American forces have taught Ukrainians, including neo-Nazi units, how to fight in urban and other civilian areas. Weaponizing Ukraine is part of Washington's quest for what the Pentagon calls "full spectrum dominance." "[I]f you can learn all modalities of war, then you can be the god of war," so said a Ukrainian artillery commander in 2016 while receiving training from the US Army. The unnamed commander was quoted by Lt. Claire Vanderberg, a mortar platoon leader training soldiers as part of the Pentagon's Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. The training has taken place at the absurdly named International Peacekeeping and Security Center, which sits close to the border with Poland near the Ukrainian town of Yavoriv. Western media reported Russia's recent cruise missile attack on the base, but chose not to mention what has taken place inside. The relationship described above is a snapshot of a decades-long US-NATO effort to...
https://www.sott.net/article/466294-Gods-of-War-How-the-US-weaponized-Ukraine-against-Russia
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Report says Secret Service renting $30K Malibu pad to protect Hunter Biden
Taxpayers are shelling out more than $30,000 a month so the Secret Service can rent an estate in the upscale celebrity enclave of Malibu to protect Hunter Biden, who is living nearby in a "resort-style" home with "enchanting" panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, according to a new report on Monday. A former Secret Service agent told ABC News the setup is the "cost of doing business" for the agency, since Hunter — like other presidential family members — is entitled to round-the-clock security. "Typically, wherever a protectee sets up their residence, the Secret Service is forced to find someplace to rent nearby at market value," retired agent Don Mihalek told the network, adding that the agency also rents properties at Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, as part of its duty to protect President Biden on his frequent weekend trips home.
https://www.sott.net/article/466308-Report-says-Secret-Service-renting-30K-Malibu-pad-to-protect-Hunter-Biden
Report says Secret Service renting $30K Malibu pad to protect Hunter Biden
Taxpayers are shelling out more than $30,000 a month so the Secret Service can rent an estate in the upscale celebrity enclave of Malibu to protect Hunter Biden, who is living nearby in a "resort-style" home with "enchanting" panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, according to a new report on Monday. A former Secret Service agent told ABC News the setup is the "cost of doing business" for the agency, since Hunter — like other presidential family members — is entitled to round-the-clock security. "Typically, wherever a protectee sets up their residence, the Secret Service is forced to find someplace to rent nearby at market value," retired agent Don Mihalek told the network, adding that the agency also rents properties at Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, as part of its duty to protect President Biden on his frequent weekend trips home.
https://www.sott.net/article/466308-Report-says-Secret-Service-renting-30K-Malibu-pad-to-protect-Hunter-Biden
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Russia may collect $321 billion windfall if oil and gas keep flowing
Goldman, IIF expect record current-account surplus for Russia Russia's economy has staggered through the first full month of the war with Ukraine but it may yet emerge with a sparkling balance sheet if some of its biggest trade partners don't turn off the tap on its exports of energy. For all the hardships visited on consumers at home and the financial chokehold put on the government from abroad, Bloomberg Economics expects Russia will earn nearly $321 billion from energy exports this year, an increase of more than a third from 2021. It's also on track for a record current-account surplus that the Institute of International Finance says may reach as high as $240 billion.
https://www.sott.net/article/466309-Russia-may-collect-321-billion-windfall-if-oil-and-gas-keep-flowing
Russia may collect $321 billion windfall if oil and gas keep flowing
Goldman, IIF expect record current-account surplus for Russia Russia's economy has staggered through the first full month of the war with Ukraine but it may yet emerge with a sparkling balance sheet if some of its biggest trade partners don't turn off the tap on its exports of energy. For all the hardships visited on consumers at home and the financial chokehold put on the government from abroad, Bloomberg Economics expects Russia will earn nearly $321 billion from energy exports this year, an increase of more than a third from 2021. It's also on track for a record current-account surplus that the Institute of International Finance says may reach as high as $240 billion.
https://www.sott.net/article/466309-Russia-may-collect-321-billion-windfall-if-oil-and-gas-keep-flowing
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Latvia may agree to pay for Russian gas in rubles
Latvia's main gas operator says it won't rule out paying for Russian natural gas in rubles, revealing that the new settlement method announced by Moscow is being evaluated from a legal and business perspective. "According to the first impression, the settlement procedure in Russian rubles does not formally violate the sanctions regime and is possible," Latvijas Gaze said in a statement. Earlier, Aigars Kalvitis, the board chairman of Latvijas Gaze, which is partially owned by Russia's Gazprom, said the company couldn't pay for natural gas supplies from Russia in rubles, since the current contract stipulates that all transactions must be made in euro.
https://www.sott.net/article/466310-Latvia-may-agree-to-pay-for-Russian-gas-in-rubles
Latvia may agree to pay for Russian gas in rubles
Latvia's main gas operator says it won't rule out paying for Russian natural gas in rubles, revealing that the new settlement method announced by Moscow is being evaluated from a legal and business perspective. "According to the first impression, the settlement procedure in Russian rubles does not formally violate the sanctions regime and is possible," Latvijas Gaze said in a statement. Earlier, Aigars Kalvitis, the board chairman of Latvijas Gaze, which is partially owned by Russia's Gazprom, said the company couldn't pay for natural gas supplies from Russia in rubles, since the current contract stipulates that all transactions must be made in euro.
https://www.sott.net/article/466310-Latvia-may-agree-to-pay-for-Russian-gas-in-rubles
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US says that Ukraine can offer Russia 'sanctions deal' if it agrees to end special operation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has received a green light from Washington to offer Russia relief from international sanctions in exchange for ending its military offensive against the former Soviet republic. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened the door to such an offer on Sunday, confirming in an NBC News interview that Zelensky has the ability to negotiate sanctions relief for peace. He said President Joe Biden's administration will support whatever the Ukrainian people want to do to bring the war to an end. "We'll be looking to see what Ukraine is doing and what it wants to do," Blinken said. "And if it concludes that it can bring this war to an end, stop the death and destruction and continue to assert its independence and its sovereignty - and ultimately that requires the lifting of sanctions - of course, we will allow that." Comment: That's nice of the US to them to do that; what was that they were saying about sovereignty?
https://www.sott.net/article/466311-US-says-that-Ukraine-can-offer-Russia-sanctions-deal-if-it-agrees-to-end-special-operation
US says that Ukraine can offer Russia 'sanctions deal' if it agrees to end special operation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has received a green light from Washington to offer Russia relief from international sanctions in exchange for ending its military offensive against the former Soviet republic. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened the door to such an offer on Sunday, confirming in an NBC News interview that Zelensky has the ability to negotiate sanctions relief for peace. He said President Joe Biden's administration will support whatever the Ukrainian people want to do to bring the war to an end. "We'll be looking to see what Ukraine is doing and what it wants to do," Blinken said. "And if it concludes that it can bring this war to an end, stop the death and destruction and continue to assert its independence and its sovereignty - and ultimately that requires the lifting of sanctions - of course, we will allow that." Comment: That's nice of the US to them to do that; what was that they were saying about sovereignty?
https://www.sott.net/article/466311-US-says-that-Ukraine-can-offer-Russia-sanctions-deal-if-it-agrees-to-end-special-operation
