Monthly Archives: September 2014

Ukraine ratifies E.U. pact but backs expanded autonomy in rebel areas

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“Ukraine’s parliament ratified an agreement Tuesday to deepen economic and political ties with the European Union, moving ahead with a plan that sparked an uprising by pro-Russian rebels and led to Moscow’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula.  But in a move seeking to ease tensions, Ukrainian lawmakers also passed legislation to grant greater autonomy to eastern Ukraine. It’s part of a wider peace deal seeking to end a conflict that has claimed more than 2,600 lives and sharply escalated tensions between Russia and the West.  The E.U. must now take steps to formalize the association with Ukraine, which would deepen economic and political ties with the 27-nation bloc.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/09/16/ukraine-ratifies-e-u-pact-but-backs-expanded-autonomy-in-rebel-areas/

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Austria Says Banks at Risk From Sanctions on Russia

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“Austrian banks are most at risk from potential sanctions by Russia against Vienna in a tit-for-tat escalation with the West over the political crisis in Ukraine, Austrian Finance Minister Hans Joerg Schelling told a newspaper.  But Austria sees the situation as ‘manageable,’ he added.  ‘What I hear from the Russian side is that asymmetric sanctions are planned, so one picks out countries in a targeted way. Car imports affect one country, other imports the next. The biggest risk for Austria is the banks,’ he said.  He did not name any lenders, but profits at Raiffeisen Bank International and UniCredit’s Central and Eastern European arm Bank Austria rely heavily on Russia.”

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/austria-says-banks-at-risk-from-sanctions-on-russia/507367.html

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Russia Urges Companies to Delist Abroad Amid Sanctions

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“Russia urged companies to delist their shares from overseas stock exchanges and trade in Moscow in an effort to safeguard them as international sanctions mount against the country after its takeover of Crimea.  ‘This is a question of economic security,’ First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told reporters after a government meeting. Speaking later, he said the move isn’t mandatory and that companies should make independent decisions.  The Russian government is creating ‘attractive’ conditions for companies that decide to re-register on OAO Moscow Exchange, Shuvalov said. The country will push on with plans to sell state-owned assets on the stock exchange, he said.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-08/russia-asks-companies-to-delist-from-bourses-abroad-for-security.html

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France: The new sick man of Europe?

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“President Francois Hollande is politically weakened with his approval rating at an all-time low of 17 percent, and France could be falling into another recession. The French economy could be on the brink of becoming the latest sick man of Europe.  Unemployment is higher than at any time since the late 1990s and has not fallen below 7 percent in nearly 30 years – creating chronic joblessness in the crime-riddden banlieues of France’s big urban areas.  France has not balanced its books since 1974 and public debt stands at over 90 percent of GDP and is rising. Statistics released this week revealed French manufacturing confidence fell to the lowest in 13 months in August.”

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/countingthecost/2014/08/france-new-sick-man-europe-201483081355153632.html

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France bombs Isis depot in Iraq

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“French planes have carried out air strikes on Islamic State (Isis) targets in Iraq.  Less than 24 hours after President François Hollande announced he had approved a request from the government in Baghdad for air support, at least two French Rafale planes attacked the insurgents’ positions.  Hollande’s office said similar operations would continue in the coming days.  The US is marshalling a coalition of almost 30 countries – western allies as well as countries in the Middle East – to confront the militant group.  The US president, Barack Obama, previously praised Hollande’s decision to join the campaign against Isis, also called Isil.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/19/france-bombs-isis-depot-iraq-islamic-state

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Obomber: US may be forced to “wipe out” Syrian air defenses

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“Still looking to prove himself worthy of the Nobel peace prize which he so greatly treasures, Obomber is reported to have implicitly threatened the Syrian government. Via the NY Times:  ‘He made clear the intricacy of the situation, though, as he contemplated the possibility that Mr. Assad might order his forces to fire at American planes entering Syrian airspace. If he dared to do that, Mr. Obama said he would order American forces to wipe out Syria’s air defense system, which he noted would be easier than striking ISIS because its locations are better known. He went on to say that such an action by Mr. Assad would lead to his overthrow, according to one account.'”

http://my.firedoglake.com/metamars/2014/09/16/obomber-via-ny-times-us-may-be-forced-to-wipe-out-syrian-air-defenses/

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U.S. to Commit $500 Million, Deploy 3,000 Troops in Ebola Fight

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“The unprecedented response will include the deployment of 3,000 U.S. military forces and more than $500 million in defense spending drawn from funding normally used for efforts like the war in Afghanistan, senior administration officials outlined Monday. Obama has called America’s response to the disease a ‘national-security priority,’ with top foreign policy and defense officials leading the government’s efforts.  The officials said Obama believes that in order to best contain the disease, the U.S. must ‘lead’ the global response effort. In the CDC’s largest deployment in response to an epidemic, more than 100 officials from the agency are currently on the ground and $175 million has been allocated.”

http://time.com/3380545/u-s-to-commit-500-million-deploy-3000-troops-in-ebola-fight/

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Senate approves Obama request to arm, train Syrian rebels

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“The Senate on Thursday easily approved a $1 trillion government-funding bill that gives President Obama new authority to battle the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). While the stopgap bill will prevent a government shutdown on Oct. 1, the vote will be remembered for a controversial provision that allows Obama to start a new training program for rebel fighters in Syria.  Anti-war liberals and some conservatives balked at that request, with some fearing the vote represented a dangerous march to war. Lawmakers skeptical of helping the rebels are fearful that it could be difficult, if not impossible, to ensure the weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.”

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/218248-senate-approves-obama-request-to-arm-train-syrian-rebels

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US Pursues 134 Wars Around the World

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“This many wars – 134 – is an insupportable number. Legally it is possible; militarily it is feasible; politically it is doable – but not in the long term. Natural law itself militates against the kind of structure that has evolved in the US since 2001. Perhaps the financing will be the first to go. The vast amounts of money needed to support the military paradigm must be milked from the securities sector, itself fattened by monopoly monetary stimulation. Eventually, as we have long pointed out, this sort of effort is insupportable. The Wall Street Party is ongoing and may last several more years (with various interruptions) but the corporate warfare state as a matter of systemic practice cannot last.”

http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/35654/US-Pursues-134-Wars-Around-the-World/

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TeraExchange Receives US Approval to Launch First Bitcoin Derivative

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“The first financial instrument tied to bitcoin has launched following approval from the US government.  TeraExchange, a swap execution facility based in Summit, New Jersey, is marketing the bitcoin derivative to large institutions looking for a way to reduce the volatility and risk associated with traditional types of bitcoin exposure.  TeraExchange began working on the product earlier this year, and only just received approval from the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the government agency that regulates futures and options markets.  The bitcoin swap enables parties to hedge against fluctuations in the digital currency’s value.”

http://www.coindesk.com/teraexchange-bitcoin-derivative-cftc/

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