As China Rises, US Deploys Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier to Boost Japan

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The US Navy deployed one of its most advanced aircraft carriers to Japan to strengthen ties between Washington and Tokyo.

The USS Ronald Reagan, carrying a crew of 5,000 sailors and around 80 aircraft, docked at Yokosuka naval base on Thursday.

The nuclear-powered Reagan, which is equipped with the latest targeting and defense radars, integrated weapons systems and command and communications technology, marks an upgrade from the ship it is replacing, the USS George Washington.

How US plans to Put 'Tremendous Handicaps' on Chinese Companies

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The key to TTIP is the so-called Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism that essentially gives corporations free reign to sue governments using a “failure to implement” provision, if state policies or legislation interfere with profits. But is this all about trade?

There was a direct, crucial "secret" agenda linking the G7 meeting in Germany and the Bilderberg meeting in Austria last week; the advancement of the virtually secret negotiations towards the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the massive free trade agreement between the US and the EU.
Even though the corporate powers behind TTIP are itching for a deal to be reached before the end of 2015, serious (negotiation) trouble remains.  

And then there was last Friday's vote in the US Congress. What happened were in fact two votes; one on giving the US government the "fast track" authority to conclude trade deals, mostly, in this case, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); and another one on help for US workers struggling to compete with imports as a result of trade deals.  "Fast track" passed, but not the adjustment assistance. So the US Senate will need to review "fast track". The corporate powers behind TPP — and TTIP for that matter — were not amused.
Yet the whole thing goes way beyond total presidential authority to negotiate shady deals such as the TTIP, the TPP and the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA).
The Obama administration is obsessed with plugging a torrent of benefits for US workers once a Pacific deal is clinched. That's eminently debatable. From the point of view of other nations, TPP is hardly a panacea. Washington offers no new, improved market access. TPP shuts out China completely — which is ridiculous; Beijing is the top trading partner of most of these nations. And the key to TPP is corporations laying down the law on intellectual property rights — which opens the door to all sorts of social Darwinist abuses.

On TTIP, Brussels is saturated with spin swearing trade deal negotiations are not that "secret". The European Commission (EC) brags they post negotiation texts on its website, unlike Washington. Some they do. But not all, including the most sensitive. The key to TTIP is the so-called Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS); that essentially gives corporations free reign to sue governments, any government, using a "failure to implement" provision, if state policies or legislation interfere with profits. In sum: corporate ethos wins; workers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and democracy, lose badly.
One can already foresee the proliferation of kangaroo courts labeled "arbitration tribunals" stuffed with pricey corporate lawyers. So much for social "justice".
But is this all about trade? Of course not.
Welcome to NATO on trade
The giveaway is how the Obama administration is desperate to wrestle down Japanese resistance — going on two solid years now — against many of TPP's provisions. The proverbial "US officials" have been frantically spinning that TPP is crucial for the US "pivot to Asia".
Even Pentagon supremo Ash Carter went overboard two months ago, saying that TPP was "as important to me as another aircraft carrier."

And all this has happened as Washington was trying to force its allies — with no success — to shun the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Can't blame the Obama administration for not being on message; China can't lead a development bank, and China can't have a say writing global rules and standards for trade and investment. The heart of the matter is these three mega-deals — TTP, TTIP and TiSA — are the ultimate template of a Bilderberg group wet dream:  global corporate "governance".
And the Pentagon's own giveaway that TPP is the "strategic" economic arm of the "pivot to Asia" reveals how politicized "trade" has become. Under TPP, Chinese companies will have tremendous handicaps competing with US companies in both US and Asian markets. Call it yet another facet of "containment".
TTIP, TTP and TiSA are in fact a Hydra-like head; they follow the same geostrategic logic of NATO on trade — transatlantic and trans-Pacific; the "West against the Rest". Not accidentally, the BRICS are excluded. And no wonder the negotiations are secret; global corporate "governance" is not exactly a pop hit in any latitude.
Plastic ham, anybody?
Make no mistake; there's plenty of opposition to TTIP in Europe, at least among the few concerned — and horrified — EU citizens who took the trouble of trying to cut through the secrecy.  
In Germany, there have been serious demonstrations. The SPD — part of the coalition government under chancellor Merkel — is definitely against it. Italians learned TTIP would cost the country no less than 1.3 million jobs. It's useful to compare TTIP with NAFTA; in 12 years, the US actually lost 1 million jobs, as corporations and companies preferred to delocalize to Mexico, where costs are much lower.
Even Brussels was forced to admit TTIP will actually mean unemployment; a lot of jobs will definitely move Stateside, where labor standards and trade union rights are much lower.
TTIP will concern 850 million people between North America and Europe; that's roughly 45% of global GDP. Trade in question amounts as it stands to 500 billion euros a year. That could be arguably configured as "advanced globalization" — with not so much interference from emerging markets.
Enter the European idea that as a consequence of this leading role, the EU has the most advanced rules on health, consumer protection and quality of public services (it varies a lot from country to country; can't compare France with Romania, for instance).
Thus no wonder high-quality agricultural producers in the Club Med countries  are terrified that TTIP will mean a de facto barbarian invasion. Italians are terrified about the onset of a monster, false made in Italy market, with US corporations calling any mongrel GMO concoction a "Parma" ham or a "gorgonzola" cheese. 
A good test is to hit your average US supermarket. Talk about a horror show; at least 70 per cent of all processed foods are GMO-infested. The EU allows virtually no GM foods. Not to mention the toxic front; in the EU a company must prove a substance is safe before it's commercialized. In the US, anything goes.
Under TTIP, public health, education and water services in the EU will be devastated, and taken over by US corporations. Food safety laws, key legislation over the environment, and banking regulations will be turned upside down.
The spin from TTIP peddlers is that Globalization 2.0 will lead to a "surge" of 0.5% of the EU's collective GDP. That's not exactly a Chinese rate. But when you're austerity-ravaged, you drink any Kool aid you can get. And eat it with plastic Parma ham.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Omo Oodua.

Ukraine SITREP June 11th, 2015 by Scott

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Vox of Populi: If Putin ran for President of the USA in 2016, on a platform of banishing all incumbent members of the house and senate to re-education camps in Outer Mongolia, he’d win by a landslide..

I would add that if Putin ran for President of Russia today on a platform of banishing all incumbent members of the Russian parliament and government and the Russia’s Central bank to re-education camps in Outer Mongolia, he’d would also win by a landslide..

Russia, China Not to Accept America’s Vassalage Status Despite US Pressure

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The US is playing with fire by instigating a military standoff off Russian and Chinese borders, while neither the South China Sea nor Ukraine can be considered America’s backyards; Washington needs to understand that neither Russia nor China will accept its vassalage status, according to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

The bipolar world ended with the end of the Cold War, the US attempt of a unipolar world has ended up in fiasco, but what is now being suggested as true pluralism and consensus in international relations, is seen by the US as "uncertainty" and "danger", which must be ended by force, the newspaper correspondent Rafael Poch wrote in his blog.

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2014 "End of Year" report and a look into what 2015 (WW3?) might bring - by Saker

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Introduction: 
By any measure 2014 has been a truly historic year which saw huge, I would say, even tectonic developments. This year ends in very high instability, and the future looks hard to guess. I don't think that anybody can confidently predict what might happen next year. So what I propose to do today is something far more modest. I want to look into some of the key events of 2014 and think of them as vectors with a specific direction and magnitude. I want to look in which direction a number of key actors (countries) "moved" this year and with what degree of intensity. Then I want to see whether it is likely that they will change course or determination. Then adding up all the "vectors" of these key actors (countries) I want to make a calculation and see what resulting vector we will obtain for the next year. Considering the large number of "unknown unknowns" (to quote Rumsfeld) this exercise will not result in any kind of real prediction, but my hope is that it will prove a useful analytical reference.

26.12.2014 Ukrainian crisis news. Latest news of Ukraine, Minsk, Russia, China

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China openly & officially backs Russia

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Well, now we have it from the most official source possible: Foreign Minister Wang Yi who declared on Monday. “If the Russian side needs it, we will provide necessary assistance within our capacity".  Considering the US rhetoric and imperial mindset which proclaims that "you are either with us or against us" it is pretty clear what such a declaration really means: China is putting the US on notice that in the current economic war Russia will have the full backing of China.

Beijing Suspects US Stirring up Color Revolution in Hong Kong: Expert on China

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Chinese authorities are convinced that the US “is trying to stir up … a color revolution in Hong Kong,” said Dr. Willy Lam, adjunct professor of history and political economy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and professor of China and global studies at Akita International University, Japan.

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China to Replace Google, Microsoft With Homegrown OS

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China has announced it would present its own new operating system in October, 2014, Reuters reports.
"After concerns about US surveillance and a monopoly probe of Microsoft, there is some good news for China's homegrown operating system (OS): a desktop version may be ready in October," wrote Xinhua on August, 24.
As tensions between the US and China grows over cyber security issues, Beijing is seeking a way to become independent of imported systems like Microsoft's Windows and Google's Android. The new operating system is expected to first appear on desktops and later to be adapted for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
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[VIDEO] China Approves Its 1st Ebola Drug

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Experts in the General Department of Logistics of Chinese People’s Liberation Army have agreed on the manufacturing approval of the first Ebola drug. The drug named "JK-05?, and has been developed by the Institute of Microbiology Epidemiology under Academy of Military Medical Sciences. It is the country’s first drug for the treatment of the deadly Ebola virus. (QNA)
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Russia & China see no sense in creating military alliance – Kremlin

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Russia and China see no sense in creating a military alliance; relations between Moscow and Beijing are not directed against anyone, head of the presidential administration of Russia Sergey Ivanov told journalists. He noted that cooperation between Russia and China was fruitful.

"But at the same time, I find no sense, and the Chinese side, I must admit, also finds no sense in creating a new military alliance or union, or something like that. Our relations, including in the sphere of defense, are not directed against anyone," said Ivanov.

India wants to receive Russian gas through China - media

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India intends to hold negotiations, concerning the extension of a gas pipeline from Russia through China to the Indian border, Indian newspaper Financial Express says, citing the source. The issue may be discussed during BRICS summit in July.

The negotiations may be continued during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in India, in the end of the year. India's Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has already discussed the issue with his Russian colleague Aleksandr Novak during the most recent World Petroleum Congress in Moscow, Financial Express says. Russia hasn't commented on the issue yet.

Russia, China, non-aligned countries should call to abolish NATO - expert

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On 30 May 1982 Spain joined NATO and became its sixteenth member. Since NATO's formation in 1949 the organization accepted new members six times and as of 2014 NATO unifies 28 states in Europe and North America. Rick Rozoff, the owner and manager of the Stop NATO website and international mailing list, shared his views about the possibility of further NATO enlargement and on how should the international community and Russia react to it during his interview with VR.

What are your forecasts for the further NATO enlargement? Would the organization manage to move eastward in Europe?

Why US bullies Nigeria, but not China and Saudi Arabia - Must Read

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The Igbo have a saying – popularised by the acclaimed novelist, Chinua Achebe – that he who brings home ant-infested faggots should not complain if he is visited by lizards. That proverb is apt in describing the type of treatment Nigeria receives from the Western world, led by the United States of America.

Last year, President Barack Obama made his second “ward round” to Africa. Again, he excluded Nigeria from his “patients’ list.” The official excuse was that Nigeria’s democracy was not commendable. Also, since President Goodluck Jonathan signed the anti-gay bill into law early this year, the Western world, led by the US, has not allowed us to drink water and drop the cup, as the saying goes. Presidential visits have been allegedly cancelled; threats of cancellation of aids have been issued; patronising and condescending comments have been directed at us.

UN nuclear watchdog team arrives in Tehran: Iran monitoring to cost $6 million

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A team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Tehran on Saturday, another step towards implementing a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers which was finalized last week, according to the semi-official Fars News agency.

The team, led by nuclear engineer Massimo Aparo, will begin reporting to the IAEA on Monday, marking the official start of the deal, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Under the terms of the agreement with the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, Iran will stop work on some portions of its nuclear program in exchange for relief from some international sanctions which have damaged the country's economy.

China confirmed incident between a Chinese naval vessel and a U.S. warship in the South China Sea

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BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday confirmed an incident between a Chinese naval vessel and a U.S. warship in the South China Sea, after Washington said a U.S. guided missile cruiser had avoided a collision with a Chinese warship maneuvering nearby.

Experts have said the near-miss between the USS Cowpens and a Chinese warship operating near China’s only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was the most significant U.S.-China maritime incident in the disputed South China Sea since 2009.

China’s Defense Ministry said the Chinese naval vessel was conducting “normal patrols” when the two vessels “met”.

Ukraine-China: 'third alternative'

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The Europe-Ukraine-Russia triangle may turn into a quadruple if China enters the game. Faced with a contracting labor market and limited credit resources, East and Central European countries approach Ukraine’s associated membership in the European Union with caution, fearing that it all may end up in Kiev claiming its fair share of the pie.

EU strategists are racking their brains over how to lure Kiev, while keeping East European member states less concerned about it.  Ukraine’s hopes to negotiate more favorable terms failed. When President Viktor Yanukovych requested 150 billion euros in aid to speed up the economy’s transition to the European technical standards, even “senior” EU members got scared. Europe just can’t afford it.

U.S., Chinese warships narrowly prevent collision in South China Sea

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. guided missile cruiser operating in international waters in the South China Sea was forced to take evasive action last week to avoid a collision with a Chinese navy ship maneuvering nearby, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a statement on Friday.

The incident on December 5 involving the USS Cowpens came at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China following Beijing’s declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea.

Check out China's first lunar rover, lands on moon. (Video)

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A space module carrying China's first lunar rover landed on the moon Saturday, state television showed, a major step for the emerging superpower's ambitious space programme. (PHOTO, VIDEO)

The first-ever Chinese spacecraft landed on the moon on Saturday, state television reported.

The successful landing of the Chang'e-3 spacecraft, at 1311 GMT, makes China only the third nation to land a spacecraft on the moon, after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

Video: China's first lunar rover lands on moon

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Video