Did the FCC Sing Kumbaya After Passing Net Neutrality?

Did you hear FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's weird speech after Net Neutrality passed? Did you see this picture of the commission members holding hands?

The lobbyist and fervid (yes, fervid) Obama supporter running things over there is acting like he just walked on the moon while single-handedly saving everyone from a giant asteroid and cancer on the same day, all because a "majority" of three out of a panel of five unelected bureaucrats have closed the final frontier of the Internet, thus opening it up to more monopolies, price hikes, and worse, government regulation and censorship.

Yay oligarchical collectivism! Read more.

Truthstream Media

Related,
- FCC votes to protect the internet with Title II regulation - Verge
- Net neutrality a reality: FCC votes to bring Internet under utility-style rules - C|NET

- Is FCC Approval of Net Neutrality a Real Win for Consumers? (video) - TRNN
- What the FCC Net neutrality rules will mean for Internet users (video) - C|NET

- Dear FCC: Thanks for Listening to Team Internet! - EFF
- Dear FCC: Rethink The Vague "General Conduct" Rule - EFF

Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov killed in Moscow

Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov is shot dead in central Moscow by an unknown gunman.

The Russian President calls the murder a provocative act and orders an urgent investigation. Live updates.

RT

Related,
- Nemtsov murder: Russian investigators probing provocation, Charlie Hebdo links (video) - RT

- Putin: Nemtsov killers will be found and punished (video) - RT
- Everything will be done to punish those behind ‘vile’ murder of Nemtsov - Putin - RT

- 'Nemtsov murder is act of political terror, provocation' (video) - RT

- Boris Nemtsov, Putin Foe, Is Shot Dead in Shadow of Kremlin - NY Times
- Boris Nemtsov shot dead: Outspoken Putin critic who had expressed fears for his life is killed near the Kremlin - Independent

US-Israeli oil drilling begins in Golan Heights, locals protest

Living in a border area disputed by two nations may be hard enough, but the Druze community in the Golan Heights are now facing another difficulty - that of oil exploration on their doorstep.

An American company has started drilling wells there with Israel's approval, but locals fear they won't reap any benefits, as Paula Slier found out.

RT

Related,
- Experts: Israel violating international law by drilling for oil in Golan Heights - MEM
- Drilling to start at Golan Heights oil exploration site - JPost

- Israel, Obama, and other people's oil - Al Jazeera
- Israel Grants First Golan Heights Oil Drilling License To Dick Cheney-Linked Company - Business Insider

Spanish student on strike over university reforms

Picketers on strike in the Catalonia region and other parts of Spain have barricaded the main gates of universities in the early hours of Thursday, barring students and staff from entering the premises. Most universities remained empty in the second day of strikes which witnessed a hundred demonstrations across the country.

Thousands of students took to the street to voice their opposition to a decree which reduces university degrees to three years from the standard four and increases the master’s courses to two more years from the current one year.

PressTV

Related,
- Spanish students up in arms over university degree reforms - Spanish News Today

French protestors call for HSBC nationalization

Activists in France have staged a protest rally against the British bank, HSBC, for its illegal banking practices, Press TV reports.

On Thursday, members of the French Communist party gathered on the Champs-Elysées avenue in the capital city of Paris to demand the nationalization of the bank. Read more.

PressTV

Irish Style Banking Inquiry into the 2008 Financial Crisis

Former financial regulator Bill Black, just back from a trip to Ireland, discusses his testimony and the challenges Ireland faces acknowledging its financial crisis.

TRNN

Related,
- Banking inquiry told guarantee decision was ‘insane’ - Irish Times
- Banking Inquiry: Outspoken US banker Bill Black addressing hearing, first opening statement rejected - Independent

US, Turkey to begin training Syria militants on Sunday

The United States and Turkey are set to begin a program to train and equip thousands of the so-called moderate Syrian rebels in a bid to continue the fight against the Syrian government, a Turkish official says.

"I can say that the train-and-equip (program) will begin as of March 1," Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç said on Friday. Read more.

PressTV

Related,
- Turkey-US train-equip program for Syrian opposition to kick off March 1 - Hürriyet
- Turkey says training of Syrian rebels to begin on March 1 - Today's Zaman

- US intel chief says fighting ISIL is not a priority for Turkey - Today's Zaman
- Turkish ‘permissiveness’ is aiding IS jihadists, US spy chief says - Times of Israel

Iran nuclear deal, ISIS threat stimulating Sunni powers to unite - even with Israel

Arab leaders and officials have been meeting frequently in past weeks, likely discussing the threat of Islamic State and the Iranian threat.

As the US and Shi’ite Iran inch closer to a nuclear deal that many Sunnis and Israelis don’t trust and as Islamic State’s reach spreads, Arab leaders are frantically consulting on how to deal with.. Read more.

JPost

Related,
- Reports Saudi Arabia to allow Israel use its airspace for Iran strike (video) - RT

Ex-Israeli spy chief slams Netanyahu on Iran handling

Former Mossad boss Meir Dagan says prime minister causing "strategic damage" in dealing with Iranian nuclear threat.

A former chief of Israel's spy agency Mossad has criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Iranian nuclear threat. Read more.

Al Jazeera

Related,
- Ex-Mossad chief: PM taking ‘intolerable’ risks with Israeli security - Times of Israel
- Ex-Mossad chief Meir Dagan to headline anti-Netanyahu rally (paywall) - Haaretz

- Herzog: Nuclear Iran must not be made a partisan issue - Haaretz
- Netanyahu on a Destructive Path (video) - TRNN

Oorlogsmisdaden Israël op een rij

De jongste bloedige aanval op de Palestijnse bevolking van Gaza in de zomer van 2014 heeft geleid tot meer openlijke discussie over Israëlische oorlogsmisdaden – en over medeplichtigheid van de VS. Amerikaans hoogleraar Marjorie Cohn zet de oorlogsmisdaden van Israël op een rij.

Al tientallen jaren richt Israël ongestraft slachtingen aan onder Palestijnen en wordt het steeds beschermd door de Amerikaanse regering en haar veto in de VN-Veiligheidsraad. Lees meer.

De Wereld Morgen

Nog een paar nachtjes slapen en dan is het zover: growshops ook verboten!

Welkom in Vernederland. De mensenplantage waar mensen in coffeeshops wel wiet mogen kopen maar waar het plantje waarvan wiet afkomstig is, absoluut niet verbouwd mag worden. De overheid mag daarbij natuurlijk wel gewoon geld verdienen aan coffeeshophouders (zo’n 400 miljoen per jaar via inkomstenbelasting) want voor consistent of consequent handelen, daarvoor hoeft u niet bij de intens hypocriete loserkliek in Den Haag te zijn. En omdat de verzameling parasitaire randdebielen het in dit land nog niet erg genoeg verpest, vergald en verziekt heeft, gooit onze staatsmaffia er nog een schepje op: per 1 maart zijn growshops ook verboden.

Waardoor u de illusie dat je in Vernederland vijf plantjes zou mogen verbouwen (een illusie die sowieso nooit waar geweest is; zelfs “verdachte” lege bloempotten worden nog afgepakt) nu vast helemaal kunt vergeten. Lees meer.

Anarchiel

Anarchy in Rojava: a Libetarian Revolution in the Middle East

In this sedition, we look at the fierce men and women, who have been fighting the head chopping Islamists of I.S.I.S. to create libertarian commune along the border between Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

On the music break we have Kurdish rapper Rezan with “Em Kurdin.” Our guest this week is Chris Dixon, author of “Another Politics” a book about anti-authoritarian organizing in Turtle Island.

subMedia

Venezuelan Gov. Releases Audio of Coup Plotters

On Thursday, Venezuela officials released recordings of what it said was proof that opposition figures and some military officers were plotting to overthrow the government - Analysis with Miguel Tinker Salas and Paul Jay

TRNN

Related,
- New Evidence Links Ledezma, COPEI to Thwarted Coup - Venezuelanalysis

Why the CIA Won’t Give Up on Venezuela | Interview with Eva Golinger

Abby speaks with author of the Chavez Code, Eva Golinger about the Western backed resistance groups in Venezuela and how there is a coup happening in real time.

RT

Related,
- Venezuelan Gov. Releases Audio of Coup Plotters (video) - TRNN

- US has long history of intervention in Venezuela's affairs (video) - teleSUR
- Obama Incites Bloodshed in Venezuela - SCF

Eight Spaniards arrested after returning from combat in Ukraine

The National Police on Friday detained eight Spaniards suspected of fighting alongside pro-Russian forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The arrests took place in Asturias, Catalonia, Extremadura, Murcia, Navarre and Madrid. Read more.

El País

Related,
- “We fought together, communists and Nazis alike, for the liberation of Russia” - El País

Ukraine Represses Protesters in Central Kiev

Kiev, Feb 27 (Prensa Latina) Several people were injured during the dispersal of a protest of hundreds of people, called the ''financial Maidan'', outside the National Bank, denounced today the deputy and leader of the Radical Party, Oleg Lyashko.

The populist lawmaker of neo-Nazi ideology threatened in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) with.. Read more.

Prensa Latina

Related,
- “Financial Maidan” in Kiev Violently Dispersed by Riot Police - Novorossia Today
- Ukraine: 'Financial Maidan' activists keep up the pressure against NBU  (video) - Zie.nl

Ukraine Frontline Fallback: Heavy weapon withdrawal underway

The self-proclaimed republics in Eastern Ukraine say they've pulled back 90% of their heavy armaments from the frontline as they continue to implement the Minsk agreements.

Accroding to Ukrainian defense ministry Kiev also started withdrawing heavy weaponry from Lugansk & Donetsk regions today.

RT

Related,
- ATO forces begin to withdraw artillery - Ukrinform
- Ukrainian army will continue withdrawal of heavy weapons. There are enough forces along the contact line to repel attacks – Defense Ministry - Censor.net

- Tymchuk: Militants not withdrawing all weapons - UNIAN
- Heavy weapons to return to previous locations if Minsk agreements are breached – Poroshenko - Interfax

- Ukraine receives foreign lethal weapons - NSDC - Ukrinform
- Three Ukrainian soldiers killed, seven wounded in Donbas conflict zone in last day - UNIAN

Ukraine's Army Recruiting Efforts Are Failing: Here Are Some of the Reasons

The Ukrainian military's recruitment efforts are grinding to a halt. Sputnik offers insight into some of the reasons why.

At beginning of the year, Ukrainian authorities announced an ambitious plan to mobilize nearly 104,000 men aged 20-60 to continue Kiev’s so-called "anti-terrorist campaign" in the country’s east. Read more.

Sputnik

Virginia lawmakers OK payout to forced sterilization survivors

(Reuters) - Virginia would pay the handful of survivors of a forced sterilization program $25,000 each in compensation under a measure approved by the U.S. state's legislature on Thursday.

Virginia forcibly sterilized those it viewed as social misfits or mentally deficient, among others from the mid-1920s to the mid-1970s, when the program officially ended. Read more.

Reuters

Related,
- New report in Mexico highlights abuse of mentally ill women (video) - Al Jazeera

Think on: Banksy's tour of a ruined Gaza

The street artist, who previously created works on the wall of the West Bank, has made a series of new paintings across ruins in Palestine

The Bristolian street artist Banksy has returned to Palestine to create another series of works, following his famous 2005 series painted on the West Bank barrier wall. Read more + photos&video.

Guardian

Related,
- Banksy in Gaza: Haunting images among ruins of war (video) - RT
- Graffiti-artiest Banksy slaat toe in Gaza (video) - NOS

German parliament to approve Greek aid

The government camp in the German Bundestag will approve an extension of Greece's bailout with a substantial majority.

Though the conservative bloc is doing it grudgingly, the Social Democrats call it an "opportunity." Read more.

DW

High-level SYRIZA officials critical of loan extension agreement

Many high ranking SYRIZA officials believe that the government made too many concessions in negotiations with its creditors.

Yesterday’s meeting of SYRIZA’s parliamentary group to discuss the deal struck with Greece’s lenders for a four-month extension of its loan agreement took place under a strict ‘no leaks’ policy. Read more.

TOC

Related,
- After facing down SYRIZA MPs, Greek PM mulls bringing deal to Parliament - eKathimerini

- Aid forthcoming despite Greece's 'loutish comments' - FW
- Deposits in Greek banks fell by 12 bln in January - eKathimerini

- Gov’t raises concern over payment to IMF in March - eKathimerini
- Postponing an IMF tranche ‘means default’ - eKathimerini

- Greek debt crisis: Violence in Athens ahead of Germany vote - BBC
- Frustrated Greeks clash with police in Athens - DW

Greek debt crisis: Violence in Athens ahead of Germany vote

Police and protesters have clashed in Athens after the first anti-government demonstration since Greece's far-left Syriza party took power last month.

Dozens of activists hurled petrol bombs and stones at police and set cars alight after the march. Read more + photos.

BBC

Related,
- Frustrated Greeks clash with police in Athens - DW
- Anarchists Stage Violent Protest in Athens – Police - Sputnik

- Athens Rioters Burn Car, Set Trashcans on Fire - Greek Reporter
- Rocks, Molotov cocktails fly in Athens in first anti-govt protest (video) - RT

Het Koophuis Complot

De media staat er bol van. Het gaat weer goed op de huizenmarkt. Een bedwelmende mix van extreem lage rente, economische voorspoed en gratis geld brengt ons in een nieuwe koopextase. VBO Makelaars zegt dat in 2014 de gemiddelde koopsom met 4,2% is gestegen tot €222.200. De Rabobank verwacht in 2015 een verdere stijging van 2% tot 4%.

De opleving in de woningmarkt komt voor velen als een ‘hap naar adem’ in een krimpende markt met ruim één miljoen woningen die minder waard zijn dan de hypotheek. Lees meer.

Biflatie

Alle US volwassenen vanaf 2020 verplichte trits vaccinaties

De U.S. HHS (Health and Human Services) hebben een 46-pagina’s tellend concept "National Adult Immunization Plan", 5 februari 2015, over meer verplichte vaccinaties voor volwassenen opgesteld. 

Vooral zwangere vrouwen, werkenden en geloofsgroeperingen krijgen daarin extra aandacht. Het concept is HIER te downloaden. Tot 9 maart 2015, mag het Amerikaanse publiek commentaar leveren met behulp van een speciale site. Lees meer.

Zaplog

Gerelateerd,
- Forced Adult Vaccinations at Federal Levels Comment Period Now - Activist Post

TV documentary explores racism in Dutch society, football

AMSTERDAM –Dutch TV broadcaster NTR has produced a documentary in which it explores prejudice and discrimination in Dutch sport and society.

The current affairs documentary, presented by Anousha Nzume constitutes of four 25-minute episodes; the first will air on March 1. Nzume questions politicians, employers and insurance companies and also talks to sportsmen, experts and social workers, to better understand the problem and its extent in the country. Read more.

DevSur

Rousseff lashes out at Moody's for downgrading Petrobras debt to junk-bonds

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday said credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded state-controlled oil giant Petrobras' debt to junk-bond territory due to ignorance of the company's situation.

”It's a lack of knowledge about what's happening at Petrobras. Read more.

MercoPress

Uruguay Signs Deal with Bolivia Granting It Access to the Sea

Bolivia’s president received strong backing from his Uruguayan counterpart in the landlocked nation’s bid to recover access to the Pacific.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has won support from outgoing Uruguayan President Jose Mujica in the country’s attempt to gain access to its former coastline, currently controlled by Chile. Read more.

teleSUR

Related,
- Tensions rise between Bolivia and Chile over outlet to sea (video) - teleSUR

Evo Morales Denounces Plot against Venezuela

Montevideo, Feb 26 (Prensa Latina) Bolivian President Evo Morales asserted today that there is a plot carried out from the United States against the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and called for Latin American unity in defense of democracy.

In statements to the Prensa Latina news agency and other media, he said that there was an attempted coup against President Nicolas Maduro, but "we will defend Latin American democracies", he said. Read more.

Prensa Latina

Related,
- Outgoing Caricom Chairman Expresses Solidarity with Venezuela - teleSUR
- Venezuela Denounces Foreign Interference at UN Security Council - Venezuelanalysis

- Venezuela: Evidence released exosing coup plotters (video) - teleSUR
- Venezuelan Gov. Releases Audio of Coup Plotters (video) - TRNN

- Uruguay's Mujica warns of leftist military coup in Venezuela - El Universal

- HRW requires Unasur to condemn abuses in Venezuela - el Universal
- Protests continue throughout Venezuela despite a day of mourning - MercoPress

- OAS calls for dialogue to stop violence in Venezuela - El Universal
- US has long history of intervention in Venezuela's affairs (video) - teleSUR

- Machado asks Pope's mediation in Venezuelan conflict - El Universal

US has long history of intervention in Venezuela's affairs

Based on its regional and worldwide hegemony, the US government has a long history of getting involved in other countries' internal affairs.

Since Commander Hugo Chavez launched the Bolivarian Revolution, Washington has maintained a hostile policy towards Venezuela.

teleSUR

Related,
- Obama Incites Bloodshed in Venezuela - SCF

The Caracazo

This uprising in Venezuela Feb. 27, 1989, has come to be considered the first rebellion against neolibralism in Latin America.

teleSUR

Dutch Minister Of Defense Continues Cooperation With Venezuela

THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – The cooperation between the Netherlands and Venezuela in the fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean continues unabated. Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert indicated this in a letter to the Dutch Parliament.

The claimed expansion of the Venezuelan defense area is not on the agenda. Read more.

Curaçao Chronicle

Wiels: “2012 Coup Plotters Killed Helmin Wiels”

WILLEMSTAD – The 2012 coup plotters are the killers of Helmin Wiels. This is according to Wiels’ brother Aubert Wiels of One Tim Magno.

The party wants to continue the political legacy of the murdered politician. Read more.

Curaçao Chronicle

New round of Cuba-US talks slated for Friday

The second round of negotiations to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba is slated for Friday in Washington. The focus of the talks will be on restoring diplomatic relations, concretely opening up embassies in their respective capitals.

Havana is demanding that the State Department remove Cuba from its list of countries that support terrorism, but US officials say the issue is not linked to the establishment of diplomatic relations. Alexandra Hall reports from Washington.

teleSUR

US judge orders two banks to hand over documents on alleged planned dollar debt issuance

US judge Thomas Griesa has ordered Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Chase and Co to hand over documents relevant to Argentina's allegedly planned new issuance of dollar-denominated debt.

According to court documents dated February 25, NML Capital, one of a small group of US hedge funds suing Argentina over unpaid debt stemming from its 2002 default,.. Read more.

Buenos Aires Herald

Judge Rafecas dismisses AMIA cover-up charge against President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas has dismissed the accusation made by a state prosecutor that claimed President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and top government officials conspired to cover up Iran's alleged role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center.

Federal Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita is expected to appeal the decision to discontinue the investigation. Read more.

Buenos Aires Herald

Related,
- Judge Rafecas Rejects AMIA Cover up Case Against President - Argentina Independent

- Argentine judge rejects cover-up charges in AMIA case - PressTV
- Argentine judge dismisses case against president accused of covering up Iran role in bombing - JPost

- Diplomatic relations between Argentina, Israel hit minimum low (video) - PressTV

Reports Saudi Arabia to allow Israel use its airspace for Iran strike

Saudi Arabia is apparently prepared to allow Israeli jets into its airspace to conduct attacks on Iran

That's according to a report by the Israeli Channel 2 TV station, citing an unnamed senior European source.

RT

Related,
- Saudi Arabia fully cooperating with Israel over Iran: Report - PressTV
- Saudis ‘would let Israeli jets use their air space to attack Iran’ - Times of Israel

- Iranian military chief threatens to 'wipe Tel Aviv off the map' - JPost
- Netanyahu on a Destructive Path (video) - TRNN

'Rebuilding Gaza Strip could take a century if Israel keeps blockade'

Gaza needs more than 800,000 truckloads of building materials to repair infrastructure damaged in the 2014 war with Israel, Oxfam says.

LONDON - The rebuilding of homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza could take more than a century to complete unless.. Read more.

JPost

Fukushima fishermen blast TEPCO over failure to disclose radioactive water flow

Fukushima fishermen appear to have finally run out of patience with Tokyo Electric Power Co.

They lambasted TEPCO at a meeting on Feb. 25 over the utility’s failure for half a year to disclose the flow into the ocean of water contaminated with radioactive materials from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Read more.

Asahi Shimbun

Related,
- Trio of approvals in Fukushima seals deal for radioactive soil dump - Asahi Shimbun
- Fisheries ‘shocked’ at silence over water leak at wrecked Fukushima No. 1 plant - Japan Times

Banks Face U.S. Manipulation Probe Over Metals Pricing

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether the world’s biggest banks manipulated prices of precious metals such as silver and gold as it pushes to wrap up probes into currency-rate rigging, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

At least 10 banks, including Barclays Plc, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Deutsche Bank AG, are being probed by the Justice Department’s antitrust division,.. Read more.

Bloomberg

Related,
- Swiss watchdog says looking at possible gold market manipulation - Reuters
- US Justice Dept. Investigates Gold Manipulation |Stock Market Collapse |Inflation & Deflation|Craig Hemke (audio) - InvestmentWatch

- A Brief Recent History Of Precious Metals Manipulation Investigations - Max Keiser
- Willem Middelkoop over goudfraude-zaak: 'Dit is vergelijkbaar met het Libor-schandaal' - Quote

New report in Mexico highlights abuse of mentally ill women

The first report to focus on sexual and reproductive rights of women with psychosocial disabilities in Mexico has potentially explosive results; more than 40% of the women interviewed had been sterilised and more than 40% of them also said they’d suffered abuse.

Al Jazeera's John Holman reports from Mexico city.

Al Jazeera

Spy Cables: Israel’s Africa policies ‘an exercise in cynicism’

South African intelligence accuse Israel of "fuelling insurrection," selling arms and "appropriating" African resources.

Secret documents obtained by Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit expose a deep disdain by South Africa's spies for their Israeli counterparts, with intelligence assessments accusing Israel of conducting "cynical" polices in Africa that include "fuelling insurrection," "appropriating diamonds" and even sabotaging Egypt's water supply. Read more.

Al Jazeera

Related,
- Spy Cables reveal South Africa at odds with allies on al-Qaeda (video) - Al Jazeera
- Israel's Africa policies 'an exercise in cynicism' (video) - Al Jazeera

- Spy cables: Plot to kill Dlamini-Zuma, Mossad threatens SA - Mail&Guardian
- South Africa spied on own government to get facts on joint project with Russia - Guardian

- Spy Cables raise South Africa privacy concerns - Al Jazeera
- Spy Cables show America's hypocrisy on Hamas - Middle East Monitor

Spy Cables reveal South Africa at odds with allies on al-Qaeda

Flood of missives from foreign agencies warn of al-Qaeda peril to South Africa, but its own spies see little direct threat. Read more.

Al Jazeera's Phil Rees reports.

Al Jazeera

Related,
- Israel's Africa policies 'an exercise in cynicism' (video) - Al Jazeera
- Spy Cables: South Africa spied on Russia for satellite project details (video) - Al Jazeera

S Africa spied on Russia for satellite project details

Leaked secret spy cables reveal South Africa is relying on a spy in Russia to provide information on its own joint satellite programme. Read more.

Al Jazeera's Clayton Swisher reports.

Al Jazeera

Related,
- Israel's Africa policies 'an exercise in cynicism' (video) - Al Jazeera
- Spy Cables reveal South Africa at odds with allies on al-Qaeda (video) - Al Jazeera

Three Al-Jazeera journalists arrested over Paris drone

Television journalists from the Qatar-based network have been taken into police custody. They were allegedly flying a drone illegally while filming a story about the city's recent streak of mysterious drone sightings.

Three journalists for Al-Jazeera television were arrested in Paris on Wednesday for flying a drone in the wake of a spate of mysterious drone sightings around the city. Read more.

DW

Related,
- Unidentified drones seen flying over Paris landmarks - Al Jazeera
- Mystery drones flown over Paris for second night - Guardian

- Weer drones waargenomen boven Parijs - Volkskrant

Financial war: USA tries to trigger wave of bankruptcies of Russian companies

The US government is trying all possible means of putting the pressure of sanctions on Russia. The US authorities do not stop at workaround ways to weaken the Russian currency and economy.

To achieve this goal and take advantage of the plunged ruble, the US government intends to resort to a technical trick to shorten the duration of existing loans and credits, which Russian banks, energy companies and arms companies have in European and American banks. Read more + video.

Pravda

Related,
- Russia and China rid of US securities (video) - Pravda

Russia and China rid of US securities

Russia is selling short-term government bonds USA. Last December, Moscow got rid of a fifth of its US treasury bonds worth about $ 22 billion. Why Russia decided to get rid of US securities?

Pravda

Related,
- Financial war: USA tries to trigger wave of bankruptcies of Russian companies (video) - Pravda

'Shadow CIA' Stratfor Claims EU, Russia Will Fall Apart

Austin-based think tank Stratfor has released its Decade Forecast 2015-2025, predicting the imminent collapse of Russia and the EU and the decline of China, while the US and its allies flourish.

US-based global intelligence company Stratfor has recently produced its fifth quinquennial 'Decade Forecast: 2015-2025' report, in which it makes a number of shocking predictions about changes meant to take place over the next ten years,.. Read more.

Sputnik

Related,
- 'Decade Forecast: 2015-2025' - Stratfor

Putin slams Kiev for cutting off gas supplies to E. Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed Kiev for cutting off gas supplies to eastern Ukraine, saying that leaving four million people without energy supplies during the winter amounts to a crime. 

RT’s Matt Trezza reports.

RT

Related,
- Moscow, Kiev trade accusations in gas row (video) - DW
- EU seeks early Ukraine-Russia meeting to resolve latest gas dispute (video) - Ukraine Today

- Naftogaz Ukrainy accuses Gazprom of slashing gas deliveries to Ukraine - TASS
- Peskov: Russia expects West to accept its position on Ukraine - TASS

- More Russia sanctions 'teed up' if necessary, Kerry says - Censor.net
- EU President Tusk: more sanctions against Russia over Ukraine "remain on the table" - Unian

- European Commission awaits results of investigation against Gazprom - Ukrinform

A Wanted Man at Home, Saakashvili Lobbies Washington for Arms for Ukraine

Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is on a mission. He’s come to Washington to persuade national legislators and government officials that they should arm the Ukrainian government.

While US President Barack Obama’s administration declared publicly that it hasn't made a decision about sending lethal military aid to Ukraine, and European powers as well as Russia have warned Washington against doing so,.. Read more.

Sputnik

Related,
- Ukraine is today’s West Berlin: Mikheil Saakashvili - Washington Post

'True story!' MSM spins theory that Putin hijacked MH370 and landed it in Kazakhstan

Anti-Russia propaganda over Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was bad enough. Now one CNN aviation analyst is blaming Russia for the missing MH370 plane as well – and the Western press is eating it up.

Malaysia Airlines MH370 vanished in March last year, shortly after departing from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing. Read more.

RT

Related,
- MH370 Was Hijacked On Vladimir Putin's Orders And Flown To Kazakhstan Says Aviation Expert Jeff Wise - Huff Post
- Vladimir Putin ordered Russian special forces to steal MH370 and secretly landed it at huge space port in Kazakhstan, claims expert - Daily Mail

- Deskundige CNN: “Vlucht MH370 gekaapt en in het geheim geland op ruimtevaartbasis in Kazachstan” - NineforNews

Kerry says US falling behind in media strategy, asks for more money to counter RT

Citing RT’s influence, Secretary of State John Kerry asked US lawmakers for more money for propaganda and “democracy promotion” programs around the world. Read more.

RT

Catalan independence vote was unconstitutional, rules top court

Spain’s Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled that legislation passed by the Catalan regional government to give legal backing to a vote on independence for the region was unconstitutional.

The November 9 vote went ahead anyway, despite its suspension pending a ruling by the tribunal,.. Read more.

El País

Related,
- Spain court rules Catalonia independence votes illegal - DW

Germany: Greece won't receive any funds unless bailout pledges are met

The German finance minister says Greece will not be receiving any funds until it meets the pledges of its current bailout program. Wolfgang Schaeuble has warned Athens that it will not be receiving a single euro if it fails to meet its commitments with the troika of international lenders.

This comes as the eurogroup has agreed to extend Athens’ bailout for another four months after the current bailout deal expires on February 28. Read more.

PressTV

Related,
- German parliament readies for Greek debate - DW
- Varoufakis: Greece faces immediate problem repaying IMF, ECB - TOC

- Tsipras in marathon talks with SYRIZA MPs - eKathimerini
- Left wing nagging on Greek deal, Tsipras walks tightrope - TOC

- Varoufakis: the government did not make a u-turn - TOC
- Varoufakis to Charlie Hebdo: destroying SYRIZA would favour far-right - TOC

- Ireland open to idea of growth-linked bonds for Greece - TOC
- France given more time to fix budget deficit - DW

Varoufakis says funding problem lies ahead

SYRIZA MPs spent more than 10 hours behind closed doors Wednesday discussing the government’s agreement with its creditors after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras assured them that it was the best deal Greece could get at the moment.

Tsipras briefed the party’s parliamentary group on the course of negotiations over the last few weeks as well as the implications of the agreement,.. Read more.

eKathimerini

Related,
- Varoufakis: Greece faces immediate problem repaying IMF, ECB - TOC

Ireland open to idea of growth-linked bonds for Greece

Ireland has no problem with the idea of swapping Greece's debt for growth-linked bonds depending on the details of any proposal, according to Fin Min Michael Noonan.

One long-term option Athens has suggested in its eurozone negotiations is swapping debt held by its eurozone creditors for bonds with payments linked to economic growth, a plan that got a cool reception in European capitals earlier this month. Read more.

TOC

France given more time to fix budget deficit

The EU executive has granted France two more years to bring its budget deficit below the bloc's limit of 3 percent of GDP. While avoiding a fine for now, Paris must now present new reform proposals.

Following a regular review of some national budgets, the European Commission said.. Read more.

DW

Related,
- EU gives France until 2017 to fix budget deficit - Framce24

Varoufakis to Charlie Hebdo: destroying SYRIZA would favour far-right

In an interview with the French satirical newspaper the Greek Finance Minister warned that it was not in Europe’s interest to ‘shoot down’ SYRIZA.

(Reuters) - Racists and nationalists will be the only ones to benefit if European leaders "shoot down" Greece's new anti-austerity government, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has told France's Charlie Hebdo newspaper. Read more.

TOC

De gen-tech lobby

ZEMBLA INTERNATIONAAL zendt een reportage uit van veelvuldig onderscheiden Franse journalist Paul Moreira. De Franse onderzoeksjournalist volgt het spoor van de bedrijven die handelen in genetisch gemanipuleerde gewassen en de bijbehorende bestrijdingsmiddelen.

Ziek van landbouwgif 
Moreira begint in Argentinië. Argentinië is de afgelopen 15 jaar een van de grootste exportlanden geworden van genetisch gemanipuleerde soja. Lees meer.

Zembla

Gerelateerd,
- De Monsanto methode - Zembla

Controversial US company under pressure in South America

Monsanto, the US corporation which is deemed to be the world's most influential global agricultural conglomerate has come under heavy fire in Latin America for what experts have called the "Devastating Impacts" for the use of their poisonous agrochemicals and genetically modified seeds which are causing havoc in the lives of millions of farmers and spreading serious diseases across entire communities.

PressTV

Related,
- Argentine ecologists block construction of Monsanto plant (video) - 11Alive
- Monsanto Brings High Yields—And More Cancer—to Argentina - Web Content

- De gen-tech lobby (video) - Zembla

Netanyahu trying to thwart any deal between Iran and P5+1: US foreign policy analyst

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants neither a “good deal” nor a “bad deal” between Iran and six world powers, rather he wants a “no deal” at all, an American foreign policy analyst says.

“For Netanyahu, and the Likud government, and his colleagues in Israel, there are no good deals with Iran,” said Ian Williams, a senior analyst at Foreign Policy in Focus, a policy think tank based in Washington, DC. Read more + video.

PressTV

Related,
- Kerry questions Netanyahu's judgement over Iran deal - JPost
- Netanyahu: World has ‘given up’ in Iran nuke talks - Times of Israel

- Public spat between US and Netanyahu intensifies - DW
- Mossad contradicted Netanyahu on Iran nuclear programme (video) - Al Jazeera

Israel cuts power to West Bank cities for second time

Electricity to Jenin, Nablus suspended by power company again over NIS 2 billion owed by Palestinian utility companies

For the second time this week, the Israel Electric Corporation briefly cut power to the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin Wednesday over an unpaid debt of NIS 1.9 billion ($482 million). Read more.

JPost

Related,
- Israel reportedly planning 48,000 new homes in West Bank - Times of Israel
- New West Bank settlement homes rise by 40% in 2014 - TheNational

US justices show support for Muslim woman denied job due to head scarf

Muslim woman filed lawsuit after she was denied a job at an Abercrombie & Fitch clothing store in 2008 in Oklahoma because she wore a hijab.

WASHINGTON - A majority of US Supreme Court justices on Wednesday signaled support for a Muslim woman who filed a lawsuit after she was denied a job at an Abercrombie & Fitch Co clothing store in Oklahoma because she wore a head scarf for religious reasons. Read more.

JPost

Related,
- US Supreme Court to hear case of Muslim woman denied job due to hijab - PressTV

Amnesty says world response to ISIL has been 'shameful'

Rights group says world leaders proved "shameful and ineffective" in failing to protect people from such groups in 2014.

World leaders have proved "shameful and ineffective" in failing to protect civilians from groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), said Amnesty International, calling 2014 a "catastrophic" year. Read more.

Al Jazeera

Related,
- Syrian-Kurdish assault cuts ISIL supply line from Iraq - Al Jazeera
- Iraqi army make further gains against ISIL militants (video) - PressTV

- Obama’s “Fake War” against the Islamic State (ISIS). The Islamic State is Protected by the US and its Allies - Global Research

Obama’s “Fake War” against the Islamic State (ISIS). The Islamic State is Protected by the US and its Allies

Since August 2014, the US Air Force with the support of a coalition of 19 countries has relentlessly waged an intensified air campaign against Syria and Iraq allegedly targeting the Islamic State brigades.

According to Defense News, over 16,000 airstrikes were carried out from August 2014 to mid January 2015. Sixty percent of the air strikes were conducted by the US Air Force using advanced jet fighter and bombing capabilities (Aaron Mehta, “A-10 Performing 11 Percent of Anti-ISIS Sorties”. Defense News, January 19, 2015.) Read more.

Global Research

Related,
- Amnesty says world response to ISIL has been 'shameful' - Al Jazeera
- Syrian-Kurdish assault cuts ISIL supply line from Iraq - Al Jazeera

- Obama Is Implementing Plans For War Throughout the Middle East Created 10 Years Ago by the Neocons - Washingtons Blog

Seven countries in five years

Seven countries in five years and the US dollar is raising from the dead. Ukraine fulfilled its purpose, ISIL conquering Iraq and Syria, just conquering strategic Koban. Turkey does possum, Kurdistan rejoices. Asad has yet to fall, then comes the Iran and the “New Middle East” will be finished and dollar saved. Or – weaned Russia, China and dependent dollar still petrodollar. So simple!

But first about how the stones fit into a mosaic
The December’s 2014 hit of all pro-Western news media was a celebration of the weak ruble. Low oil prices with the US sanctions enjoying a robust support of Europe took a penalty and Russia is getting where they want her to be – on her knees. Lees meer.

The Saker

ISIS is geen organisatie maar een merknaam

Er komen steeds meer berichten dat ISIS of ISIL daadwerkelijk gesteund wordt door het Westerse blok en Israel, van trainingen in de Sinai tot aan overduidelijke waarschuwingen aan ISIS voor wat betreft aanvalsplannen in Irak.

Britse en Amerikaanse helikopters en vliegtuigen landen in door ISIS bezet gebied in diverse provincies in Irak om goederen af te leveren of droppen voorraden en wapens vanuit de lucht, als we de bronnen mogen geloven - die overigens van verschillende kanten komen. Lees meer.

Zaplog

Digitale informatie vogelvrij verklaard. Tijd om je data te beschermen

Deze week werd bekend dat Britse en Amerikaanse inlichtingendiensten zouden hebben ingebroken bij de grootste leverancier van SIM-kaarten in de wereld, Gemalto. De inbraak maakt eens te meer duidelijk dat als je controle wilt hebben over je digitale communicatie, je jezelf zult moeten beveiligen.

Het Nederlandse Gemalto levert SIM-kaarten aan telecombedrijven als T-Mobile, Vodafone en KPN. Lees meer.

Bits of Freedom

Gerelateerd,
- Kamerleden kunnen Gemalto-simkaart ruilen - NOS

Peak-everything in Nederland: consumptie huishoudens daalt verder

Afgelopen week publiceerde het CBS de gegevens over de binnenlandse Nederlandse consumptie.

In de grafiek hieronder is het volume, de fysieke hoeveelheid gekochte spullen, weergegeven. Het CBS heeft in haar tabellen de consumptie van het jaar 2000 op 100 gezet. De bestedingen in de andere jaren zijn op die waarde geïndexeerd. Lees meer.

Cassandraclub

25 Facts About the Pharmaceutical Industry, Vaccines and “Anti-Vaxers”

During the recent measles outbreak, the mainstream media blamed the epidemic solely on non vaccinated children, even though people who were vaccinated caught the disease and some vaccines have proven to be inefficient in the past. Without the slightest nuance, the mainstream media constantly portrays people reluctant to accept just any vaccine as “anti-vaxers”, irresponsible and misinformed people, relying on irrational fears and the one and only “fraudulent” Andrew Wakefield study linking autism to vaccines. (Watch Lina B. Moreco’s documentary Shots in the Dark, which features Dr. Wakefield and thankful parents of his young patients with autism.)

In reality, many so-called “anti-vaxers” are not ALL totally against vaccines. Read more.

Global Research

Related,
- Shots In The Dark: Silence on Vaccine (video) - Documentary

The disappeared: Chicago police detain Americans at abuse-laden 'black site'

Secret interrogation facility reveals aspects of war on terror in

US The Chicago police department operates an off-the-books interrogation compound, rendering Americans unable to be found by family or attorneys while locked inside what lawyers say is the domestic equivalent of a CIA black site. Read more.

Guardian

Related,
- Chicago Police deny report of secret interrogation compound at Homan Square site - Chicago Sun Times
- How Chicago police condemned the innocent: a trail of coerced confessions  (video) - Guardian

- Guantánamo torturer led brutal Chicago regime of shackling and confession - Guardian
- Bad lieutenant: American police brutality, exported from Chicago to Guantánamo - Guardian

- ‘Politie Chicago schendt grondrechten in geheime gevangenis’ - NRC

'Tough guy' Cameron seeks to train Kiev forces amid ceasefire

Britain is offering military help to Ukraine - and will send personnel to help train its army. Prime Minister David Cameron revealed the plan while being quizzed by senior MPs.

RT

Related,
- Ukraine army to be trained by UK troops - Cameron (video) - BBC
- British forces head for Ukraine as David Cameron issues warning to Vladimir Putin (video) - Telegraph

- UK stuns Europe by sending troops to Ukraine - Kyiv Post

Russia is lying when it denies its troops are in Ukraine - Kerry

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday Russia was lying when it said there are no Russian troops or equipment in Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government troops.

Fighting has abated in eastern Ukraine in recent days,.. Read more.

Reuters

High caliber deal: How will Ukraine use weapons supplied by other countries?

Ukraine claims it has signed an arms deal with the United Arab Emirates. Security analyst and former UK intelligence officer Charles Shoebridge says that Kiev could use weapons provided by other nations in both offensive and defensive ways.

RT

Related,
- Ukraine president reaches deal to buy arms from UAE - PressTV

One in three Germans say capitalism to blame for poverty, hunger

(Reuters) - Nearly a third of Germans believe that capitalism is the cause of poverty and hunger and a majority think true democracy is not possible under that economic system, according to a survey published on Tuesday by the Emnid polling institute for Berlin's Free University.

The poll of 1,400 people found that 59 percent of Germans.. Read more.

Reuters

Related,
- Poverty in Germany at its highest since reunification - DW
- Germany’s economy is the envy of Europe. So why are record numbers of people living in poverty? - Washington Post

- Minimum wage unlikely to remedy rising poverty in Germany - EurActive
- 20% of Germans advocate revolution - 'globalisation is fueling dissent' (video) - RT

After heavy weapons withdrawal Kiev to have no more excuses — Lavrov

The foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine held a meeting in a Normandy format in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the Ukrainian settlement

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Russia hopes that after the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the east of Ukraine Kiev will have no more excuses.. Read more.

TASS

Related,
- Ukraine will withdraw military equipment if terrorists comply with cease-fire for at least two days - ATO speaker - Censor.net
- E. Ukraine artillery withdrawal focus of FMs meeting – as Poroshenko buys UAE weapons - RT

- UN discusses possibility of peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine - Interfax

Poroshenko Gets His Guns in UAE: Unlike Europe, Arabs Aren't Afraid of WW3

During his visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that he had signed a weapons deal with the Persian Gulf nation, without providing any more details.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced the signing of a deal on military and technical cooperation.. Read more.

Sputnik

Related,
- Poroshenko agrees on supply of UAE weapons to Ukraine - Unian
- Ukraine concludes 20 contracts on arms supply at IDEX-2015 show — Poroshenko - TASS

Gazprom: gas supplies to Ukraine can stop in two days

Cessation of natural gas deliveries to Ukraine will jeopardize supplies to Europe

MOSCOW, February 24. There's 219 million cubic meters of Russian gas left that Ukraine has prepaid for, no new prepayments have been submitted yet,.. Read more.

TASS

Related,
- Russia warns of gas risks to Europe after Ukraine fails to pay - Reuters
- Naftogaz: No gas prepayments without Brussels protocol compliance guarantees - Unian

- European Commission launches own probe in gas supplies to Donbas - TASS

Eurogroup approves Greek reforms, loan extension

Greece secured a four-month extension of its financial rescue on Tuesday when its euro zone partners approved a reform plan that backed down on key leftist measures and promised that spending to alleviate social distress would not derail its budget.

Finance ministers sealed the decision in a one-hour telephone conference convened by.. Read more.

eKathimerini

Related,
- ECB also expresses doubt about Greek plan - TOC
- Christine Lagarde expresses reservations on Greek plan - TOC

- The Greek Government’s Full List of Reforms Sent to EC, ECB and IMF - Greek Reporter
- EU approves Greek reform plan for bailout extension, Grexit ‘simply not on the table’ (video) - RT

Marijuana is much safer than alcohol or tobacco, according to a new study

Marijuana is roughly 114 times less deadly than alcohol, according to recent findings published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Of the seven drugs included in the study, alcohol was the deadliest at an individual level, followed by heroin, cocaine, tobacco, ecstasy, methamphetamines, and marijuana. Read more.

The Verge

Related,
- Comparative risk assessment of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illicit drugs using the margin of exposure approach - NCBI

Rouhani wants NAM to break Western monopoly of science

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Monday opened the first summit of the science ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement states in Tehran.

Over 60 science ministers have taken part in the summit which will run through to Tuesday. Read more.

Tehran Times

Related,
- President urges scientific and technological cooperation within the NAM - President.ir
- NAM to boost scientific cooperation - Iran Daily

- Iran biggest victim of discrimination in science: Minister - IRNA