February 2017

Top British general given 100k for home upkeep

while soldiers live in squalor
31 Jan, 2017 / RT

One of Britains top generals was given 100,000 ($125,000)

just to cover domestic assistance at his plush London
home last year, despite the daily struggles faced by rank and
file soldiers.

General Nick Houghton, who has since retired, enjoyed one

of the grace and favor homes given to senior military
officers. The bill incurred by the taxpayer for cleaning,
cooking, and admin in 2016 was 104,000. This was on top
of his basic salary of 260,000 per year.

The revelation, which surfaced following a Freedom of

Information (FoI) request by the Daily Mail, will cause anger
in the Armed Forces community. Rank and file troops have
faced job and pension cuts, a wage freeze and appalling
housing standards in recent years.
Houghton has since been replaced as head of the military by
Air Marshall Sir Stuart Peach, whose bill for 2016 was
58,000.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) told the Mail: Official service
residences have now been abolished, and all properties are
now treated as Service Family Accommodation in the same
way.
However, some posts (not people) have a property that is
tied to that post; The Chief of Defense Staff and Vice Chief of
Defense Staff are two such posts. The reason houses are
tied to these posts is due to the nature of those roles.
The news comes just weeks after it emerged that soldiers in
Londons Wellington Barracks had been left with no hot
running water and or heating.
Similarly, a report from March 2016 found that serving
personnel were deeply unhappy with their one percent pay
rise.
Researchers from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body
surveyed soldiers across the army in the wake of the pay
rise.
On our visits, there was more dissatisfaction expressed
over pay levels and the one percent increase than
previously, the report found.
https://www.rt.com/uk/375813-top-general-cleaning-bill/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

GeneticallyModifiedInsectsCouldPut
OrganicFarmersAtRiskAndDisrupt
InternationalFoodTrade
January 31, 2017GMO
Geneticallymodifiedorganismsforpestcontrolcouldendupascontaminantsinagriculturalproducts
throughouttheglobe.
Theresaflyinmysoup.Thisstatementconjuresuptheimageofadeadflyinabowlofsoupratherthan
ageneticallymodifiedinsectbeingservedupwithorganicvegetables.However,thisisnotatotally
unrealisticscenarioasexperimentalreleasesofgeneticallymodifiedinsectshavebeenapprovedbyUS
regulatorsin2014verynearfarmingareas.Thequestioniswhetherfruitandvegetablesexportedfromthe
USAtoEuropeandChinacanbesoldundertheorganiclabelifgeneticallymodifiedinsectshave
developedonthem.
GuyReevesfromtheMaxPlanckInstituteforEvolutionaryBiologyinPln,GermanyandMartin
PhillipsonDeanofLawattheUniversityofSaskatchewan,Canada,aredrawingattentiontothisproblem.
Intheirview,clarifyingstatementsonthepartofUSregulatorsisrequiredtoensurethatproducersof
organiccommoditiesdonothavetofearfortheirreputation.
Allaroundtheworldforthelast50years,malessterilisedbytransientexposuretoradiationhavebeen
usedtosuccessfullycontrolawiderangeofinsectspecies(e.g.screwwormandmedfly).Whilethese
malescanstillmate,theresultingeggsarenotviable.Anewelaborationofthistechniquethatutilises
geneticallymodifiedmalesthatonlyproducesonshasrecentlybeenapprovedforopenfieldtestinginthe
USA.Inbothapproacheswheresufficientmalesarereleasedoverseveralgenerationsthesizeofthewild
femalepopulationswilldeclineandthepestpopulationwillgraduallybereducedorbecomelocally
extinct.
Thefollowingapplicationsformassopenreleaseofgeneticallymodifiedinsectsforagriculturalpest
controlhavebeensubmitted:
UK 2011: withdrawn by the applicant
Spain 2013 and 2015: withdrawn by the applicant
USA 2005-2011: approved, releases took place at
isolated location in Arizona desert
 New York State 2014-2017: approved, then withdrawn
by the applicant in March 2016, in November 2016 all
permit documents were withdrawn by the regulator The
permit allowed for the of release genetically modified
diamondback moths 72 times per year until the end of
March 2017. With releases of up to 100,000 moths per
week on cabbage or broccoli fields totalling 40,500
square metres.
http://products.naturalblaze.com/organics.html Thebigadvantageof
releasingsterileinsectsisthatpestscanbecontrolledwithouttheneedtospraychemicalinsecticidesinto
theenvironment.Thisistrueforboththeconventionalirradiationapproachandthenewgenetically
modifiedapproach.However,iftheuseofgeneticallymodifiedinsectsinagricultureistobecomea
widespreadsolutionforpestcontrol,theimplicationsstemmingfromthefactthatgeneticallymodified
insectsareintendedtoflybetweenfarmsneedstobeadequatelyconsidered.Realisticallythismustbedone
inthecontextoftheregulationsonthepresenceofgeneticallymodifiedcontaminantsinfoodthathave
developedoverthepast30yearsaroundtheworld.
Organic farmers at risk
Thereleaseofgeneticallymodifiedinsectshaspotentialconsequencesfororganicfarmers,whicharea
particularlysensitivegroupinthisrespect.Therearesomerealisticcircumstanceswherethemassrelease
offlyinggeneticallymodifiedinsectscouldharmorganicfarmersanderodeconsumerconfidenceintheir
products.Unfortunately,wecanfindlittleevidenceofeffortstoreducethisriskorevendiscusstheissue,
explainsReevesfromtheMaxPlanckInstituteinPln.
Usinglegalcasestudiesaroundtheworld(Australia,China,Canada,EUandtheUSA)Reevesand
Phillipsonestablishthatanydetectedorconceivablyperceivedcontaminationofcropsimportedinto
countriesthathavenotapproveditspresenceislikelytobemetwithimportbans,disruptinginternational
trade.Thesituationforcropproductsinternationallycertifiedas100percentorganichasadditionallevels
ofcomplexity.Theseincludethecostsofanynegativeperceptionsofinvolvementinthistechnologyby
organicconsumersandthepotentiallossoforganiccertificationbyfarmslocatednearreleases.
Thearticlealsofocusesonthesituationofahypotheticalcertifiedorganicspinachfarmerlocatedneara
widelyreportedapprovedreleaseofgeneticallymodifieddiamondbackmothsinNewYorkState(USA).
Currently,thereisnoobligationtoinformlocalfarmersofmassreleases,whichmakesitdifficultforthem
toplanormitigaterisks.Thisiseventhecasewithinthethreekilometreareaindicatedbyapublished
experimentalstudythatmaybeappropriatefordiamondbackmothcontrolprograms.
More transparency required
http://products.naturalblaze.com/thrivemarket.html Inaddition,a
letterfromtheEuropeanCommissionHealthandConsumersDirectorateGeneralindicatesthatinadvertent
presenceofgeneticallymodifiedinsectsimportedintotheEUwouldbeunapprovedandthatitisthe
responsibilityofMemberStatestopreventthisoccurring.Inorderforgeneticallymodifiedinsectstobe
usedsuccessfully(potentiallyonorganicfarms),itisessentialthatalloftheaffectedgroupsbeinvolvedin
thedevelopmentprocessandhaveaccesstoregularlyupdatedinformation.Whiletheintroductionof
driverlesscarshasthepotentialtobringawiderangeofbenefitsitwouldbemisguidedtointroducethem
withoutmakingitclearthatcyclistswillnotbeknockedoverbythem.Likewisereleasingflying
geneticallymodifiedinsectswithoutconsideringthelikelyimpactonsensitivegroupsoffarmersisunwise
andunnecessary,saysReeves.
ThisarticlewassourcedfromTheMaxPlanckInstitutewherethisarticlefirstappeared.
http://www.naturalblaze.com/2017/01/gm-insects-organic-
farmers-risk-disrupt-food-trade.html
HowGoldmanSachsSackedWashington
Trump attacked Hillary for her finance ties, and then
proceeded to stock his Cabinet with former executives at the
nation's largest banks.
By Nomi Prins / TomDispatch
January 30, 2017

Print
Comments

PhotoCredit:Screenshot/YouTube
IronyisntaconceptwithwhichPresidentDonaldJ.Trumpisfamiliar.InhisInauguralAddress,having
nominatedthewealthiestCabinetinAmericanhistory,heproclaimed,Fortoolong,asmallgroupinour
nation'scapitalhasreapedtherewardsofgovernmentwhilethepeoplehavebornethecost.Washington
flourishedbutthepeopledidnotshareinitswealth.UnderTrump,anevensmallergroupwillflourish
inparticular,acadreofformerGoldmanSachsexecutives.Toputthematterbluntly,twoofthem(along
withtheFederalReserve)arelikelytocontroloureconomyandfinancialsystemintheyearstocome.
InfusingWashingtonwithGoldmanalumsisntexactlyanoriginalidea.Threeofthelastfourpresidents,
includingTheDonald,havehandedthewheeloftheU.S.economytoexGoldmanites.Butintrue
Trumpianstyle,afterattackingHillaryClintonforherGoldmanties,hewasntsatisfiedtodojustthat.He
hadtodoitbiggerandbetter.UnlikeBillClintonandGeorgeW.Bush,justasoleGoldmanfigurelording
itovereconomicpolicywasntenoughforhim.Onlytwowoulddo.
TheGreatVampireSquidRevisited
WhetheryouvotedfororagainstDonaldTrump,whetheryouregearingupfortherevolutionorwaiting
forhisnexttweettodrop,restassuredthat,intheyearstocome,theideologythatmattersmostwontbe
thatoftheforgottenAmericansofhisInauguralAddress.ItwillbethatofGoldmanSachsanditwill
dominatethedomesticeconomyand,byextension,theglobalone.
Atthedawnofthetwentiethcentury,whenPresidentTeddyRooseveltgovernedthecountryonaplatform
oftrustbustingaimedatreducingcorporatepower,evenhecouldnotbringhimselftobustupthebanks.
ThatwasamistakebornofhiscollaborationwiththefinancierJ.P.Morgantomitigatetheeffectsofthe
BankPanicof1907.Rooseveltfearedthatifhedidntenlisttheinfluenceofthecountrysmajorbanker,
thecrisiswouldbeevenlongerandmoredisastrous.Itsanerrorhemightnothavemadehadheforeseen
theeffectthatoneparticularinvestmentbankwouldhaveonAmericaseconomyandpoliticalsystem.
Therehavebeenhundredsofarticleswrittenabouttheworldsmostpowerfulinvestmentbank,oras
journalistMattTaibbifamouslycalleditbackin2010,thegreatvampiresquid.Thatsquidisnowabout
towrapitstentaclesaroundourworldinawaypreviouslynotimaginedbyBillClintonorGeorgeW.
Bush.
NolessthansixTrumpadministrationappointmentsalreadyhailfromthatsinglebankingoutfit.Ofthose,
twowillimpactyourlifestrikingly:formerGoldmanpartnerandsoontobeTreasurySecretarySteven
MnuchinandincomingtopeconomicadviserandNationalEconomicCouncilChairGaryCohn,former
presidentandnumbertwoatGoldman.(TheCouncilhewillheadhasbeenresponsibleforpolicy
makingfordomesticandinternationaleconomicissues.)
Now,letstakeastepintohistorytogetthefullMontyonwhythismattersmorethanyoumightimagine.
InNewYork,circa1932,thenGovernorFranklinDelanoRooseveltannouncedhisbidforthepresidency.
Atthetime,ournationwasinthethroesoftheGreatDepression.GoldmanSachshad,infact,beenoneof
thebanksatthecoreoftheinfamouscrashof1929thatcrippledthefinancialsystemandnearlydestroyed
theeconomy.Itwasthenrunbyadynamicfigure,SidneyWeinberg,dubbedthePoliticianbyRoosevelt
becauseofhissmoothtongueandMr.WallStreetbytheNewYorkTimesbecauseofhisrangeof
connectionsthere.Weinbergquicklygraspedthat,tohaveachanceofredeeminghisfirmsreputationfrom
theashesofpublicopinion,hewouldneedtoaimhighindeed.Sohemadehimselfindispensableto
Rooseveltscampaignforthepresidency,soonembeddinghimselfontheDemocraticNationalCampaign
ExecutiveCommittee.
Aftervictory,hewasnotforgotten.FDRnamedhimtotheBusinessAdvisoryCounciloftheDepartment
ofCommerce,evenashecontinuedtorunGoldmanSachs.Hewould,infact,goontoserveasanadvisor
tofivemorepresidents,whileGoldmanwouldbetransformedfromaboutiquebankingoperationintoa
globalleviathanwithadirectphonelinetowhicheverpresidentheldofficeandapermanentseatatthe
tableinpoliticalandfinancialWashington.
Now,letsjumpforwardtothe1990swhenRobertRubin,cochairmanofGoldmanSachs,tookapage
fromWeinbergsplaybook.Herecognizedthepotentialinayoung,charismaticgovernorfromArkansas
withafavorableattitudetowardbanks.SinceBillClintonwasfarlesswellknownthanFDRhadbeen,
Rubindidntactuallycozyuptohimfromthegetgo.ItwasanotherGoldmanSachsexecutive,KenBrody,
whointroducedthem,butRubinwouldeventuallyhelpClintongainWallStreetcredandthekindof
fundingthatwouldmakehissuccessful1992runforthepresidencypossible.Thosewerefavorsthatthe
newpresidentwouldntforget.Asareward,andbecausehefeltcomfortablewithRubinseconomic
philosophy,Clintoncreatedaspecialpostjustforhim:firstchairofthenewNationalEconomicCouncil.
ItwasthenonlyamatteroftimeuntilhewaselevatedtoTreasurySecretary.Inthatposition,hewould
accomplishsomethingRonaldReaganthefirstpresidenttoappointaTreasurySecretarydirectlyfrom
WallStreet(formerCEOofMerrillLynchDonaldRegan)andGeorgeH.W.Bushfailedtodo.Hewould
gettheGlassSteagallActof1933repealedbyhustlingPresidentClintonintobackingsuchamove.FDR
hadsignedtheactinordertoseparateinvestmentbanksfromcommercialbanks,ensuringthatriskyand
speculativebankingpracticeswouldnotbefundedwiththedepositsofhardworkingAmericans.Theact
didwhatitwasintendedtodo.Itinoculatedthenationagainstthepreviouslyrecklessbehaviorofits
biggestbanks.
Rubin,whohadleftgovernmentservicesixmonthsearlier,wasnteveninWashingtonwhen,on
November12,1999,ClintonsignedtheGrammLeachBlileyActthatrepealedGlassSteagall.Hehad,
however,becomeaboardmemberofCitigroup,oneofthekeybeneficiariesofthatrepeal,abouttwo
weeksearlier.
AsTreasurySecretary,RubinalsohelpedcrafttheNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA).He
subsequentlyconvincedbothPresidentClintonandCongresstoraidU.S.taxpayercofferstohelp
MexicowhenitsbankingsystemandpesocrashedthankstoNAFTA.Inreality,ofcourse,hewaslending
ahandtoAmericanbankswithexposureinMexico.Thesubsequent$25billionbailoutwouldprotect
GoldmanSachs,aswellasotherbigWallStreetbanks,fromlosingboatloadsofmoney.Thinkofitasa
testrunforthegreatbailoutof2008.
AWorldMadebyandforGoldmanSachs
Movingontomorerecenthistory,consideramomentwhenyetanotherGoldmanitewasatthehelmofthe
economy.From1970to1973,Henry(Hank)PaulsonhadworkedinvariouspositionsintheNixon
administration.In1974,hejoinedGoldmanSachs,becomingitschairmanandCEOin1999.Iwasat
Goldmanatthetime.(Ileftin2002.)Iremembertheconstantinternalchatteraboutwhetheraninvestment
banklikeGoldmancouldcontinuetocompeteagainstthesuperbanksthattheGlassSteagallrepealhad
created.ThebuzzwasthatifGoldmanandsimilarinvestmentbankswereallowedtoborrowmoreagainst
theirassets(leveragethemselvesinbankingspeak),theywouldntneedtouseindividualdepositsas
collateralfortheirriskierdeals.
In2004,PaulsonhelpedconvincetheSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC)tochangeitsregulations
sothatinvestmentbankscouldoperateasiftheyhadthekindofcollateralorbackingfortheirtradesthat
goliathslikeCitigroupandJPMorganChasehad.Asaresult,GoldmanSachs,LehmanBrothers,andBear
Stearns,tonamethreethatwouldbecomenotoriousintheeconomicmeltdownonlyfouryearslater(and
allonesforwhichIonceworked)promptlyleveragedthemselvestothehilt.Astheyweredoingso,
GeorgeW.BushmadePaulsonhisthirdandfinalTreasurySecretary.Inthatcapacity,Paulsonmanagedto
completelyignorethecrisisbrewingasadirectresultoftherepealofGlassSteagall,theoneIpredicted
wascominginOtherPeoplesMoney,thebookIwrotewhenIleftGoldman.
In2006,Paulsonwasquestionedonhisobviousconflictsofinterestandresponded,Conflictsareafactof
lifeinmany,ifnotmost,institutions,rangingfromthepoliticalarenaandgovernmenttomediaand
industry.Thekeyishowwemanagethem.Atthetime,Iwrote,Thequestionisnthowitsaconflictof
interestforPaulsontopresideoverourcountryseconomybuthowitsnot?FormenlikePaulson,after
all,suchconflictsdontjustinvolvetheirbusinessholdings.Theyalsoinvolvetheideologyassociatedwith
thoseholdings,whichforhimatthattimecamedowntoadeepbeliefinpursuingthefullscale
deregulationofbanking.
Paulsonwas,ofcourse,TreasurySecretaryfortheperiodinwhichthe2008financialcrisiswasbrewing
andthenerupted.Whenithappened,hewastheonewhogottodecidewhichbankssurvivedandwhich
died.Underhisministrations,LehmanBrothersdied;BearStearnswasgiventoJPMorganChase(along
withplentyofgovernmentfinancialsupport);andyouwontbesurprisedtolearnthatGoldmanSachs
thrived.Whiledesigningthatoutcomeunderthepressureofthemoment,PaulsonpledwithNancyPelosi
topresstheDemocratsintheHouseofRepresentativestosupportastaggering$700billionbailout.All
thosetaxpayerdollarswentwiththe2008EmergencyFinancialStabilityActthatwouldsavethebanking
system(undertheauspicesofsavingtheeconomy)andleaveitresplendentlytriumphant,bonuses
included),evenasforeclosuresroseby21percentthefollowingyear.
Onceagain,itwasaworldmadebyandforGoldmanSachs.
GoldmanBackinthe(White)House
Runningforofficeasanoutsiderisonething.InstantlyinvitingWallStreetintothatofficeonceyouarrive
isanother.Now,itseemsthatDonaldTrumpisbringingusthenewestchapterinthelongrunningWhite
HouseGoldmanSachssaga.AndcountonStevenMnuchinandGaryCohntoofferafewfreshwrinkles
onthatoldalliance.
CohnwasoneofthepartnerswhorantheFixedIncome,CurrencyandCommodity(FICC)divisionof
Goldman.Itwastheonethatbenefitedthemostfromleverage,trading,andthecomplexityofWallStreets
financialconcoctionslikecollateralizeddebtobligations(CDOs)stuffedwithderivativesattachedto
subprimemortgages.Youcouldsay,itwasleveragethathelpedpropelCohnuptheGoldmanfoodchain.
StevenMnuchinhasprovenparticularlyadeptatunderstandingsuchconcoctions.HeleftGoldmanin
2002.In2004,withtwootherexGoldmanpartners,heformedthehedgefundDuneCapitalManagement.
Inthewakeofthe2008financialcrisis,Dunewentshopping,asWallStreetlikestodo,forcheapbuysit
couldconvertintobigprofits.MnuchinandhispalsfoundtheperfectpreyinaPasadenabasedbank,
IndyMac,thathadfailedinJuly2008beforethefinancialcrisiskickedintohighgear,andhadbeenseized
bytheFederalDepositInsuranceCorporation(FDIC).Theywouldpickupitsassetsonthecheap.
Athisconfirmationhearings,Mnuchindownplayedhisroleinthrowinghomeowners(includingmembers
ofthemilitary)outoftheirheavilymortgagedhomesasaresultofthatpurchase.Hecasthimselfinsteadas
agenuinehero,theguywhoconvenedacadreoffinancialsharkstohelp,notharm,thebankscustomers
who,withouttheirbenevolence,wouldhavefaredsomuchworse.Helookeddeeplyearnestashespokeof
hisroleasthesaviorofthecommonorperhapsintheageofTrumpforgottenmanandwoman.
Maybeheevenbelievedit.
Butthephilosophyofswoopingin,attackinganIndyMacliketargetofopportunityandconvertingitintoa
fortuneforhimself(andproblemsforeveryoneelse),hasbeenahallmarkofhiscareer.Totransferthis
versionofoveramped1percentopportunismtothehallsofpoliticalpoweriscertainlyanewdefinitionof,
inTrumpianterms,givingthegovernmentbacktothepeople.Perhapswhatournewpresidentmeant
wasthepeopleatGoldmanSachs.Thinkofit,inanycase,asthesuperchargingofavulturementalityin
adesignersuit,theveryattitudethatoncefueledtherisetopowerofGoldmanSachs.
MnuchinrepeatedlyblamedtheFDICandothergovernmentagenciesfornothelpinghimhelp
homeowners.InthepressithasbeensaidthatIranaforeclosuremachine,hesaid,Onthecontrary,I
wascommittedtoloanmodificationsintendedtostopforeclosures.IranaLoanModificationMachine.
Wheneverwecoulddoloanmodificationswedidthem,butmanytimes,theFDIC,FNMA,FHLMC,and
banktrusteesimposedstrictrulesgoverningtheprocessingoftheseloans.Nothing,thatis,wasoreveris
hisfaultreflectinghisinabilitytotaketheslightestresponsibilityforhisundeniableroleinkicking
peopleoutoftheirhomeswhentheycouldhaveremained.ItsundoubtedlytheperfecttraitforaTreasury
secretaryinagovernmentofthe1percentofthe1percent.
MnuchinalsoblamedtheFederalReserveforsuggestingthattheVolckerRulepartoftheDoddFrank
Actof2010designedtolimitriskytradingactivitieswasharmingbankliquidityandcouldbeaproblem.
Thewayhedidthatwastypicallyslick.HeclaimedtosupporttheVolckerRule,evenasheunderscored
theFedsconcernwithit.Inthisway,hemanagedbothtomakehimselflooksqueakycleanandvery
publiclyopenthedoortoapossibleTrumpianrevisionofthatrulethatwouldbeaimedatweakeningits
intentandonceagainderegulatingbanktradingactivities.
Similarly,atthoseconfirmationhearingshesaid(asTrumphadpreviously)thatweneededtohelp
communitybankscompeteagainstthebiggeronesthroughlessonerousregulations.Eventhoughthismay
indeedbetrue,itisalsoguaranteedtobeanotherbaitandswitchmovelikelytoleadtothederegulationof
thebigbanks,too,ultimatelyrenderingthemevenbiggerandmoredangerousnotjusttothosecommunity
banksbuttoallofus.
Indeed,anypropositiontoreducethesizeofbigbankswassidestepped.AlthoughMnuchindidsaythat
fourmonsterbanksshouldn'trunthecountry,hedidntsaythattheyshouldbebrokenup.Hewont.Nor
willCohn.InresponsetoaquestionfromDemocraticSenatorMariaCantwell,headded,No,Idont
supportgoingbacktoGlassSteagallasis.Whatwevetalkedaboutwiththepresidentelectisthatperhaps
weneedatwentyfirstcenturyGlassSteagall.But,noIdontsupporttakingaveryoldlawandsayingwe
shouldadheretoitasis.
So,althoughthereinstatementofGlassSteagallwaspartofthe2016Republicanelectionplatform,its
likelytoprovejustanotherofTrumpsmanytacticstogainvotesinthiscase,fromBernieSanders
supportersandlibertarianswhoseetoobigtofailinstitutionsandabigbankbailoutpolicyaswrongand
dangerous.Restassured,though,MnuchinandhisGoldmanSachspalswillallowthelargestWallStreet
playerstoremainasvirulentandparasiticastheyarenow,ifnotmoreso.
Goldmanitselfjustannouncedthatitwastheworldstopmergerandacquisitionsadviserforthesixth
consecutiveyear.Inotherwords,therealdealmakerisnttheformerrulerofTheCelebrityApprentice,but
GoldmanSachs.Thegovernmentmightchange,butGoldmanstaysthesame.Andthetrafficpileupof
GoldmanpersonalitiesinTrumpscornermadetheirfortunesdoingdealsandnotthekindthatbenefited
thepubliceither.
AformerGoldmancolleaguerecentlyaskedmewhetheritwasjustpossiblethatMnuchinwasagood
person.Icantanswerthat.Itssomethingonlyheknowsforsure.Butnomatterhowearnestor
sympathetictothelittleguyhetriedtobebeforethatSenateconfirmationcommittee,Idoknowonething:
hesalsoashark.Andsharksdowhattheyrebestatandwhatsbestforthem.Theysmellbloodinthe
waterandgoinforthekill.ThinkofitastheGoldmanSachseffect.InthewatersoftheTrumpGoldman
era,dontdoubtforasecondthatthebloodwillbeourown.

NomiPrins,aTomDispatch
regular,istheauthorofsixbooks,aspeaker,andadistinguishedsenior
fellowatthenonpartisanpublicpolicyinstituteDemos.HermostrecentbookisAllthePresidents'
Bankers:TheHiddenAlliancesThatDriveAmericanPower(NationBooks).SheisaformerWallStreet
executive.
http://www.alternet.org/right-wing/goldman-sachs-effect

Trump'sRightHandManSteveBannon
CalledforChristianHolyWar:NowHe's
ontheNationalSecurityCouncil
"We're at the very beginning stages of a very brutal and
bloody conflict," President Trump's chief strategist told a
Christian conference in 2014.
By Ben Norton / AlterNet / January 29, 2017
SteveBannon,PresidentDonaldTrump'srighthandman,madewhatwasessentiallyacallforaChristian
holywarinaspeechinainternationalconferenceonlyafewyearsago.
Bannon,chiefstrategistandseniorcounselortoTrump,isnotoriousforhisextremerightwingviews.He
previouslyservedastheCEOforthefarrightpresident'scampaign,andnowsitsontheNationalSecurity
Council.
Inremarkstoa2014conferenceattheVatican,BannonwarnedhisChristianaudience,"We'reatthevery
beginningstagesofaverybrutalandbloodyconflict."
"Weareinanoutrightwaragainstjihadists,Islam,Islamicfascism,"Bannoncontinued.Helikewise
condemned"theimmensesecularizationoftheWest"andtheincreasingsecularismamongmillennials.
Bannonstressedthat"thepeopleinthisroom,andthepeopleintheChurch"must"bindtogetherandreally
formwhatIfeelisanaspectoftheChurchmilitant,toreallybeabletonotjuststandwithourbeliefsbutto
fightforourbeliefsagainstthisnewbarbaritythat'sstartingthatwillliterallyeradicateeverythingthat
we'vebeenbequeathedoverthelast2,000and2,500years."
Inhisspeech,Bannonarticulatedaviewoftheworldasaconstantconflictbetweenthecapitalist"Judeo
ChristianWest,"whichisabenevolentforceof"enlightenment,"andthemalevolentforcesofsocialism,
atheism,andIslam.
Trump'schiefstrategist,whowillnowplayacrucialroleincraftingU.S.foreignpolicyandsitinon
meetingsoftheNationalSecurityCouncilPrincipalsCommittee,hasbeendescribedevenbyhardline
conservativesasanextremist.
UltrarightwingpunditGlennBeckcomparedBannontotheNazipropagandistJosephGoebbels,aclose
allyofAdolfHitler,andsaidtheTrumpcampaignwasgroomingBrownshirts,inreferencetoNazi
paramilitaries.AccordingtoBeck,BannonisquitepossiblythemostdangerousguyinallofAmerican
politics.
RepublicanstrategistJohnWeaver,whoworkedonRepublicanJohnKasich's2016presidentialcampaign,
likewisewarnedthat,withBannonasTrump'schiefstrategist,"Theracist,fascistextremerightis
representedfootstepsfromtheOvalOffice."(TheKuKluxKlanandAmericanNaziPartypraisedTrump
forappointingBannontohistoppositions.)
BannonmadetheseholywarremarksinaspeechwhichhaspreviouslybeenreportedonbyBuzzFeed
atthe2014InternationalConferenceonHumanDignity,thethirdannualmeetingorganizedbytheRome
basedChristianorganizationDignitatisHumanaeInstitute.
TheDignitatisHumanaeInstituteisareligiousgroupthatadvocatesfor"theactiveparticipationofthe
Christianfaithinthepublicsquare."Itpromoteswhatitcalls"authentichumandignity"by,initswords,
"supportingChristiansinpubliclife,assistingtheminpresentingeffectiveandcoherentresponsesto
increasingeffortstosilencetheChristianvoiceinthepublicsquare."
AglowingendorsementfromBannonisconspicuouslyfeaturedatthetopoftheDignitatisHumanae
Institute'swebsite,inwhichPresidentTrump'srighthandmancallsthegroup'sfounderBenjamin
Harnwell"thesmartestguyinRome"and"averytoughguy."
ThereligiousorganizationuploadedfootageofBannon'sspeechatits2014conferencetoYouTube.The
videohadonlyafewthousandviewsatthetimeofthepublicationofthisarticle.
Whenhemadehisremarks,BannonservedaschairmanofthefarrightmediacompanyBreitbart,whichis
infamousforpublishingracistandsexistmaterial.BannonhasidentifiedBreitbartas"theplatformforthe
altright,"apopulareuphemismforthegrowingwhitesupremacist,neofascistmovementintheU.S.and
Europe.
InaguideBreitbartpublishedonthealtright,itnotedthatthemovementwasfoundedbyneofascist
leaderRichardSpencer,whodeclared"HailTrump!Hailourpeople!Hailvictory!"atawhitesupremacist
conferenceinNovember,referencingtheNazislogan"Siegheil."
Bannonkickedoffhis2014speechwarningthat"theworld,andparticularlytheJudeoChristianWest,isin
acrisis."
"ItisreallytheorganizingprincipleofhowwebuiltBreitbartNewstoreallybeaplatformtobringnews
andinformationtopeoplethroughouttheworldprincipallyintheWest,butwe'reexpanding
internationallytoletpeopleunderstandthedepthsofthiscrisis,"heexplained.
Bannonnotedthat,exactly100yearsbeforehisspeech,ArchdukeFranzFerdinandwasassassinatedin
Sarajevo,inashotheardroundtheworldthatprefacedWorldWarI.Thiswarheraldedinthebloodiest
centuryofhumanhistory.
The20thcentury,Bannonargued,constitutedakindofsecondDarkAge.Hedescribeditsconflictas"the
JudeoChristianWestversusatheism."
"Butthethingthatgotusoutofthat...wasjustnottheheroismofourpeople,"Bannoncontinued."The
underlyingprinciplewasanenlightenedformofcapitalism,"heexplained."Thatcapitalismreally
generatedtremendouswealth."
Bannonstressedthattheabsolutebasisofthiscivilizationiscapitalism."I'maverypractical,pragmatic
capitalist.IwastrainedatGoldmanSachs;IwenttoHarvardBusinessSchool.I'mashardnoseda
capitalistasyoucanget,"heexplained.
YetBannoncriticizedthelibertarianismoffigureslikeAynRand,however,for"takingawayfromthe
underlyingspiritual,moralfoundationsofChristianityandreallyJudeoChristianbelief."Headded,"That
formofcapitalismisquitedifferent,whenyoureallylookatit,towhatIcalltheenlightenedcapitalismof
theJudeoChristianWest."
Intheearlyyearsofthe21stcentury,nevertheless,Bannonargued,"Ibelievethatwe'vecomehorriblyoff
track."Hewenton,claimingthetimemarked"theverybeginningstagesofaverybrutalandbloody
conflict."
BannonspokeoftheincreasingsecularismamongyoungpeopleintheWestasadangerousproblem."The
overwhelmingdriveofpopularcultureistoabsolutelysecularizethisrisinggeneration,"helamented.
TheBreitbartheadalsoalarmedhisChristianaudienceaboutthewaveofextremistIslamism."We'renowI
believeatthebeginningstagesofaglobalwaragainstIslamicfascism,"hesaid."AndthiswarisIthink
metastasizingfarquickerthangovernmentscanhandleit."
BannondiscussedtheheinousatrocitiescommittedbytheviolentextremistgroupISIS,whichhasreceived
supportfromcloseWesternalliesSaudiArabiaandQatar.
"Weareattheverybeginningstagesofaglobalconflict,"hecontinued."Ifwedonotbindtogetheras
partners,withothersinothercountries,"Bannonadded,then"thisconflictisonlygoingtometastasize."
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/steve-bannon-
christian-holy-war-islam-donald-trump-capitalism-secularism-
atheism

USAustraliarefugeedeal:Trumpin
'worstcall'withTurnbull
40 minutes ago

From the section Australia
20 comments
Share
Image copyright AP/EPA Image caption Mr Trump has
temporarily banned the entry of all refugees into the US
AphonecallbetweenUSPresidentDonaldTrumpandAustralianPMMalcolmTurnbullhascalledinto
questionarefugeeresettlementdeal.
TheWashingtonPostreportedMrTrumpcalledtheconversation"theworstbyfar"ofhiscallswithworld
leadersthatday,andcutitshort.
MrTrumplatertweetedthathewould"studythisdumbdeal".
StruckwiththeObamaadministration,itwouldseeupto1,250asylumseekerstoAustraliaresettledinthe
US.
Australiahascontroversiallyrefusedtoacceptthemandinsteadholdstheminoffshoredetentioncentreson
thePacificnationsofNauruandPapuaNewGuinea.
PMTurnbullhadbeenseekingclarificationonthefutureofthedealafterMrTrumplastFridaysignedan
executiveordertemporarilybarringtheentryintotheUSofrefugeesandpeoplefromsevenMuslim
majoritycountries.
What do we know about the phone call?
ThephonecallbetweenMrTrumpandMrTurnbulltookplaceonSaturday,andwasoneoffourtheUS
presidenthadwithworldleaders,includingRussia'sVladimirPutin.
TheWashingtonPostquotesseniorUSofficials,briefedonthecall,assayingthattheconversationshould
havelastedanhourbutwasabruptlyendedafter25minutesbyMrTrump.
Trump stands firm over travel ban
Australia asylum: Why is it controversial?
MrTurnbullwasseekingassurancesfromMrTrumpthatthedealwouldbehonoured.
TheUSpresidentreportedlysaidacceptingtherefugeeswouldbeliketheUSaccepting"thenextBoston
bombers",whowerefromtheCaucasusregionofRussia.
Image copyright AP Image caption These asylum seekers to
Australia had their application processed in Papua New
Guinea
TheofficialversionofthecallfromtheUSwasbrief,butsaidbothleadershad"emphasisedtheenduring
strengthandclosenessoftheUSAustraliarelationship".
OnMondayMrTurnbullconfirmedhehadspokentoMrTrumpandthankedhimforagreeingtouphold
thedeal.
USpresidentialspokesmanSeanSpicerhassincealsosaidMrTrumpintendstoupholdthedeal.
ButMrTrump'stweetonWednesdaycomingaftertheWashingtonPoststoryhasthrownfreshdoubton
thearrangement.
Image copyright @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
MrTurnbulllatersaidhewasdisappointedthatdetailsofthecallwhichhedescribedas"veryfrankand
forthright"hadbeenmadepublic.
HetoldaSydneyradiostationthat"thereportthatthepresidenthungupisnotcorrect".
What is the deal about?
AustraliaannouncedinNovember2016thattheUShadagreedtoaoneoffdealtoresettlerefugees
currentlybeingheldonNauruandManusIsland,inPapuaNewGuinea(PNG).
TheUNrefugeeagency,UNHCR,wouldoverseethedealandthe"mostvulnerable"wouldbeprioritised,
MrTurnbullsaid.
NonumbersweregivenandAustralianImmigrationDepartmentSecretaryMikePezzullolatertolda
Senateinquirythat,whilethosewhowereeligiblecouldexpressaninterest,itwasuptotheUStodecide
howmanypeopleitwantedtotake.
Atotalof1,254peoplewerebeingheldinthetwocamps,871onManusIslandand383inNauru,asof30
November2016,accordingtoAustraliangovernmentstatistics.
MrTrump'stweetincorrectlylabelledrefugeesasillegal,andrecastthenumberwhomightberesettledas
"thousands".
Australiarefusestoacceptrefugeeswhoarrivebyboat,underatoughdeterrentpolicy.Ithasalreadystruck
resettlementdealswithCambodiaandPNG,butonlyahandfulofrefugeeshavebeenresettled.Criticssay
thetwonationsarecompletelyillequippedtoresettlerefugees.
SotheUSdealwasaboontotheAustraliangovernmentfromaclosepoliticalandmilitaryally.
Australiahasfacedfierceinternationalcriticismforitsoffshoredetentionpolicyandwantstoclosethe
ManusIslandcamp.Conditionsintheoffshorecampshavebeenroundlycondemnedbyrightsgroups,who
saythepolicyispunitiveandinflictsharmonrefugees.
Who are the refugees?
Officialfiguresshowthatabout80%ofthoseheldonManusIslandandNauruhavebeenfoundtobe
genuinerefugees(thosefoundnottobearenoteligiblefortheUSdeal).
AlloftheoccupantsofManusIslandaremale.ByfarthelargestnumberarefromIran,followedby
AfghanistanandIraq.TherearealsosizeablecontingentsfromBangladesh,PakistanandMyanmar.
TheNaurucampholdsmen,womenandchildren.AgainthelargestnumbercomefromIran,followedby
SriLankaandthosewhoarestateless.
Someofthosebeingheldhavespentseveralyearsinthecampsawaitingadecisionontheirfate.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-38837263

Thenewpropertytrapaffecting
thousands
By James Longman and Emma Ailes BBC Victoria Derbyshire
programme
2 February 2017
From the section Business
Share
Image caption Katie Kendrick says she was originally told her
home's freehold would cost between 2,000 and 4,000
Whenputtingpentopapertobuyanewhome,mostpeopleexpecttoknowhowmuchtheywillneedto
paytoownitoutright.ButthousandsoffamiliesinEnglandandWalesarediscoveringthehousesthey
boughtarenotalltheyseemed.
KatieKendrickboughtherhomefromBellwayinEllesmerePort,Cheshire,threeyearsagofor214,000.
"Itwassupposedtobeourforeverhome,"shetellstheBBC'sVictoriaDerbyshireprogramme,sittingin
thelivingroomofherfourbedroomhouse."Butit'sthebiggestmistakeI'veevermade."
Katieknewthehousewasleaseholdmeaningsheownedthepropertyforthelengthofherlease
agreementbutclaimsshewastoldbythesalesrepresentativethatbecauseofthelongleaseitwas"as
goodasfreehold";apropertyownedoutright.
Shethoughtnothingofit,andsaysshewastoldshewouldbeabletobuyherfreeholdaftertwoyears,
believingitwouldcostbetween2,000and4,000.
Butayearandahalflater,shereceivedaletterfromBellwaysayingherfreeholdhadbeensoldtoan
investmentcompany,whichwasnowquoting13,300forhertobuyit.
"AtthemomentIfeelcompletelyblindandinacorneranddon'tknowwhichwaytoturn.There'slegal
actionbutthatisverycostly,"shesays.

Leaseholds and freeholds

Image copyright Getty Images
A freeholder of a property owns it outright, including
the land it is built on.
Most houses are freehold but some might be leasehold -
usually through shared-ownership schemes.
 With a leasehold, the person owns the property for the
length of their lease agreement with the freeholder.
Leaseholders have to pay their freeholders ground rent
and other fees in order to make changes to their
homes.
When the lease ends, ownership returns to the
freeholder unless the person can extend the lease.
Some wish to buy their freeholds to save themselves
these costs.
Source:TheMoneyAdviceService

WhatBellwayhasdonesellinganewhomeasleasehold,andthensellingthefreeholdseparatelytoan
investmentcompanywithoutinformingthefamilylivingthereisnotillegal.
InEnglandandWales,the"rightoffirstrefusal"appliestoflats,butnothouses.Soitwasnotlegally
obligedtotellKatieitwoulddothis.
Foraninvestmentcompany,buyinggroupsoffreeholdsisasafelongterminvestment.Receivingregular
paymentsforgroundrentsoverleasesthatnumberwellover100yearsmeanssafe,steadyincomes,to
fundthingslikepensions.
ButnowhereonBellway'swebsiteisthissystemmadecleartopotentialbuyersandKatiefeelsthesefacts
werenotmadecleartoher.ShealsosaysthesolicitorrecommendedtoherbyBellwaymadenomention
ofthispossibilityeither.
Katiesaysbecausesheboughtthehousethroughthegovernment'sHelpToBuyscheme,shefeltshecould
trusttheprocess.
Bellwayhasnotrespondedtorequestsforcomment.
HomegroundthecompanythatnowmanagesKatie'sfreeholdonbehalfoftheinvestmentcompanysaid
inastatementit"canusuallyinformallynegotiateapricewhichcanoftensavebothtimeandsomeofthe
professionalfees".
"Intherareeventwecannotagree,theleaseholderstillretainstherighttoturntothestatutoryprocess,
whichwillestablishthepriceaswellasthelegalfeestheyhavetopay."
'It's immoral'
It'slikelythousandsofhomeownerscouldbeinasimilarpositiontoKatie.Lindsay,wholivesonthesame
estate,boughtahousefromdevelopersTaylorWimpey.
ThecompanydidaskLindsayifshewantedtobuyherfreeholdfor2,600.Shedeclinedbecauseshewas
onmaternityleaveandfeltfinanciallyitwasnotpossible.
Twoyearslatersheaskedaboutbuyingitbutfounditwasnow32,000.
"Irangthemandsaid,'I'dliketobuyitnow.'Andtheysaid,'It'snotforsalethere'saprivateinvestorwho
ownsit.They'vegotalongterminterestinyourproperty,'"Lindsayexplains.
"Iturnedaroundandsaid,'I'vegotalongterminterestinmyproperty.It'smyfamilyhome,it'smyson's
inheritance,andit'snotyourstojustlineyourpocketswith.'
"IfeellikeI'veleteverybodydownbecauseitwasn'trighttobuyitwhenitcame.Butnobodysaidthiswas
aonetimeoffer.
"Itmightbelegal,butit'snotevenquestionablethatit'simmoral,"sheadds.

Find out more

WatchtheVictoriaDerbyshireprogrammeonweekdaysbetween09:00and11:00onBBCTwoandthe
BBCNewschannel.
TaylorWimpeysaidasitnolongerownedthefreeholdtoLindsay'shouse,itdidnotsetthepriceofthe
freeholdorbenefitfromthegroundrent.
Itaddedthat,sincethestartofthisyear,housesonitsnewdevelopmentswouldbesoldasfreeholdonly,
exceptinasmallnumberofcaseswhereitdidnotownthefreeholdtotheland.
Butotherdevelopersarestillsellingnewbuildhousesasleasehold.
KatieandLindsaysaytheydonotwanttostartnegotiatingwiththecompanieswhoowntheirfreeholds,
andfeeltheoriginalpricesshouldstillstand.
Thelawdoesallowaleaseholdertoforcetheirfreeholdertosellbuttheleaseholderisalsoliableforthe
legalfeesofbothparties,meaningfurtherexpensetopeoplelikeKatieandLindsay.
'Unsellable'
AspokesmanfortheDepartmentofCommunitiesandLocalGovernmenthastoldtheBBC"itis
unacceptableifhomebuyersarebeingexploitedwithunfairchargesandunfavourablegroundrent
agreementspriortopurchase.
"Weareawareofthisissueandwillannounceradicalproposalstoresetthehousingmarketinour
forthcomingWhitePaper."
BethRudolf,fromtheConveyancingAssociation,saysthatifthedeveloperswerenotclearaboutthe
leaseholds,itmaybeacaseofmisrepresentation.
"Anyonemarketingapropertyiscoveredbyconsumerunfairtradingregulations,whichmeansthatifthere
isanythingthatwouldaffecttheirdecisionmakingprocess,thentheyshouldbeadvisedofthatbefore
viewingtheproperty,"shesays.
Image caption Beth Rudolf believes developers should be
clear about the leaseholds from the start
"It'stoolatewhentheymoveintothehousetofindthatout,it'stoolatewhentheybecomelegallyliableto
purchaseit.
"It'stoolatereallyatthepointwhenthey'veviewedit,becausethey'vealreadyfalleninlovewithit."
ThefightgoesonforKatieandLindsay,whoworrytheirhomesarenowunsellablewhilethisshadow
hangsoverthem.
"Hindsight'sawonderfulthing,"saysLindsay."Iwouldn'thavedoneitifIhadknown."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38827661

https://www.rt.com/news/
RedCrescentstaffinjuredinhideous
UScoalitionstrikeonIdlibHQTurkish
IFCRchief
2 Feb, 2017

The US coalition has struck the headquarters of the Syrian

Red Crescent and injured its staff in Syrias Idlib, President of
Turkish Red Crescent Kerem Kinik said, calling the alleged
drone strike a hideous war crime.
ThestrikehappenedintheearlyhoursofWednesdayataround3:00am(01:00GMT)anddestroyedthe
buildingsupperfloorsandinjuredpeopleonthegroundlevel.Thevictimshavereportedlybeen
transportedtomakeshifthospitalsinIdlib.
AtleastfourstaffmembersoftheSyrianRedCrescent(SARC)wereinjuredintheairstrikes,oneofthem
isincriticalcondition,mediaactivistAbdulqadirOthmantoldARANewsinIdlib.
Thebombardmentalsocausedamassivedestructionoftheorganizationsoffices,Othmanadded.The
firethatbrokeoutafterthestrikereportedlyfurthercontributedtothedestructionofvitalmedical
equipment.
WhiletheattackhasnotbeenyetbeenconfirmedbyanyoftheforcesoperatinginSyria,Kinikpinnedthe
blameontheUSledcoalition,callingthebombardmentawarcrime.
WestronglycondemnhideousairattackledbyUScoalitionon#Idlib#RedCrescentHQ.It'sclear
#warcrimeand#IHLviolation,Kiniktweeted.
Asinglestrikefromwhatisthoughttobeacoalitiondroneslammedintothebuilding,IdlibCivil
DefensespokesmanHamidKutinitoldSyriaDirect.Theofficialaddedthatheidentifiedthedronebythe
soundemittedbytheaircraftonitsapproachtothetargetarea.

TheSARCcenterwasbasedintheoldbuildingofCarltonHotelincentralIdlibcity.Itprovidedmedical
services,foodandreliefaidtociviliansoftheterroristheldprovincialcapital.TheSyrianRedCrescenthas
notyetcommented.
ApartfromtheUScoalition,boththeRussianandSyrianairforcecontinuetoconductaerialoperations
againstterroristsinIdlibprovince,includingthealQaedasplintergroupofFatehalSham.
https://www.rt.com/news/376004-idlib-red-crescent-coalition-
strike/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

Trump threatened to send US troops to Mexico, report

says
Thu Feb 2, 2017 / Press TV

USPresidentDonaldTrumpthreatenedtosendtroopstoMexicoduringaphoneconversationwith
PresidentEnriquePenaNietolastweek,saysareport.
AccordingtoanexcerptoftranscriptoftheFridayconversationseenbytheAssociatedPress,Trumptold
Nietothetroopswouldbesenttostopthe"badhombresdownthere"unlessMexicodealswiththemitself.
Youaren'tdoingenoughtostopthem.Ithinkyourmilitaryisscared.Ourmilitaryisn't,soIjustmight
sendthemdowntotakecareofit,"TrumpwasquotedassayingbytheWednesdayAPreport.
AsimilarreportwaspublishedbyaMexicanwebsite,AristeguiNoticias,onTuesday.
InaWednesdaystatement,Mexico'sSecretariatofForeignAffairsrejectedthereportsasbeing"basedon
absolutefalsehoods"andstressedthattheconversationwasconstructive.

"Theassertionsthatyoumakeaboutsaidconversationdonotcorrespondtotherealityofit,"readthe
statement."Thetonewasconstructiveanditwasagreedbythepresidentstocontinueworkingandthatthe
teamswillcontinuetomeetfrequentlytoconstructanagreementthatispositiveforMexicoandforthe
UnitedStates,"itadded.
TheWhiteHouserefrainedfromcommentingonthereport.
AccordingtoofficialstatementsissuedbyMexicoandtheUS,NietoandTrumpagreedtomeetinthe
futureduringthephonecallthatcameafterthecancellationofapreviouslyscheduledmeetingover
Trump'sproposedwallontheborderwithMexico.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/02/508757/mexico-us-
trump-troops
Trumps adviser puts Iran on notice over missile tests
Wed Feb 1, 2017 / Press TV

AtopadvisertoUSPresidentDonaldTrumpsaysthecountryhasputTehranonnoticeover
Iransmissileprogram.
"WeareofficiallyputtingIranonnotice,saidWhiteHousenationalsecurityadviserMichaelFlynnina
statementonWednesday.
FlynnrepeatedtheUSclaimsthatballisticmissiletestsviolateaUNSecurityCouncilresolutionthat
endorsedIransnucleardealwiththeworldpowers,includingWashington.
UNSecurityCouncilResolution2231callsonIran"nottoundertakeanyactivityrelatedtoballistic
missilesdesignedtobecapableofdeliveringnuclearweapons,includinglaunchesusingsuchballistic
missiletechnology."
IransdefensiveballisticmissileprogramhasbeenaboneofcontentionwiththeWest.Tehransaysits
missiletestsdonotbreachUNresolutionsbecausetheyaresolelyfordefensepurposesandnotdesignedto
carrynuclearwarheads.
ArmscontrolexpertshavealsosaidthatIransmissiletestsarenotbannedunderthenuclearagreementand
theUNSCresolution,becauseIran'smissilesarenotmeanttodelivernuclearwarheads.
InatypicallyTrumpishtone,Flynnstatedthat"InsteadofbeingthankfultotheUnitedStatesforthese
agreements,Iranisnowfeelingemboldened.

Resolution2231wasadoptedinJuly2015toendorseanuclearagreement,knownastheJoint
ComprehensivePlanofAction(JCPOA),betweenIranandtheP5+1groupofcountries,alsoincludingthe
UK,Russia,Germany,ChinaandFrance.
InastatementissuedonWednesday,atotalof220Iranianlawmakershighlightedthedeterrencestrategy
inIransmissileprogram.

DefenseMinisterBrigadierGeneralHosseinDehqanalsosaidthattherecenttestwas"innowayin
contraventionofResolution2231.
"Wedonotletanyforeignerinterveneinourdefenseaffairs,Dehqanasserted.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/01/508745/Flynn-puts-
Iran-on-notice-over-missile-tests

Geneticallymodified'superwheat'will
begrownintheUKaftertrialisgiventhe
goaheaddespitefearsofcontamination
The wheat has been modified to enhance its
ability to use the sun's energy
Gold particles are used to transport the genes
into the wheat
In experiments, the wheat produced yields 40%
higher than normal wheat
Defra has granted permission to researchers to
begin the trial this year
BySeanPoulterConsumerAffairsEditorForTheDailyMail
1February2017

Openfieldtrialsofageneticallymodifiedsuperwheathavebeenapprovedbyministers,despitefearsit
willcontaminateothercrops.
TheplantinginHertfordshire,whichwillbesurroundedbyasteelfencetokeepoutprotesters,willstartin
spring.
Scientistsclaimthewheatisabletodramaticallyincreasetheyieldofgrains.

Butthetechnologyiscontroversial.AmericanfarmershaveturnedtheirbacksonplantingGMwheatfor
fearitwillberejectedbyshoppers.
CriticsfearBritishwheatsalesandexportswillsufferifcropsherearecontaminatedwithgenesfromthe
GMplants.
HOW IS IT MODIFIED?
Twoversionsofthewheatwillbeplanted,bothwithextracopiesofagenethatmakes
theenzymeSBPase,whichplaysanimportantroleinphotosynthesis.
Onewillhavetwoextracopiesofthegeneandtheothersix.
Thegenetictweakingwillallowtheplantstoabsorbmorecarbondioxidefromthe
atmosphere.
Carbonisoneoftherawingredientsplantsusetomakesugarthroughphotosynthesis,a
complexchemicalprocesspoweredbyenergyfromsunlight.
Thewheathasbeengeneticallyengineeredsothat,intheory,itcanusesunlightmoreefficiently.Genes
fromawildplantcalledstiffbromehavebeeninserted.
Theprocessalsoaddedanantibioticmarkergeneandgenesgivingresistancetosomeweedkillers.
TestsingreenhousesatRothamstedResearchhaveboostedyieldsbyupto40percent.Thefieldtrialswill
determinewhetherthiscanbereplicatedinopenair.
ItisnotthefirstGMwheattobetestedatthesite.Britishresearcherstookfiveyearstodevelopacropthat
gaveoffchemicalssupposedtodeterinsectpests,buttheprocessdidnotworkinfieldtrials.
Morethan3millionofpublicmoneywasspentonthetrialsandassociatedsecuritymeasures.
TrialsonGMwheatvarietiesintheUShaveledtosomesocalledescapes,creatingtheriskof
contaminatingwildplantsandcommercialcrops.
GMFreeze,representing30organisations,hadcalledonministerstorefusepermissionforthewheattrial.

However,theGovernmenthasmadeclearitiskeentopromoteGMfarming.
LizONeillofGMFreezesaid:Weraisedanumberoftechnicalconcernsabouttheapplicationitselfand
highlightedthepotentialforGMwheattoescapeintothewild,ashashappenedrepeatedlywithGMwheat
trialsintheUS.
Wheatvarietieswhichweremodifiedtomakethemresistanttoweedkillershavebeendiscoveredgrowing
outsidefieldtrialsintheUSonthreeseparateoccasionsinrecentyears.

PeterMelchettoftheSoilAssociation,whichsupportsorganicfarming,said:Wedonotbelievethatthis
trialshouldgoahead.
GM FOOD CONTROVERSY
SomepeoplehaveconcernsoverGMfoods.
Themaintopicsofdebateinclude:
AllergenicityIt'spossibletotransferagenefromanallergenicplanttoanonallergenic
plant.
Buttodate,noallergiceffectshavebeenfoundinGMfoodscurrentlyonthemarket.
GenetransferTheriskthatgenesfromaGMfoodwillbetransferredtothecellsofthe
bodyorbacteriainthegastrointestinaltractisconsideredlow.
However,there'sconcernaboutthetransferofantibioticresistancegenesandeffectson
humanhealth.
OutcrossingWhengenesfromGMplantsspreadtoconventionalplants,it'scalled
outcrossing.Theeffectsofintroducingengineeredgenesintowildpopulationsare
concerning,asarethepossibleeffectsonfoodsafetyandsecurity.
Forthisreason,severalcountrieshaveadoptedstrategiestokeepGMcropsseparatefrom
conventionalcrops.
Source:MayoClinic
Itisvitalthatthetrialcropdoesnotescapefromthetrialsitegiventheinclusionofantibioticresistance
andherbicidetolerancegenes,butthatisexactlywhathashappenedonmultipleoccasionswithGMwheat
trialselsewhere.
IfthathappenshereitwillthreatenthegrowinguseofUKwheatinBritishbread.
Theclaimedpotentialgainsfromthistrialareachievablethroughothermeansandthereissimplyno
marketforthetrialseventualendproduct.
Thetrials,whicharejointlyfundedbytheBritishandUSgovernments,havebeenapprovedbythefood
andfarmingdepartment,Defra.
TheRothamstedteam,withresearchersfromLancasterandEssexuniversities,saysmodifiedwheatcarries
outphotosynthesistheuseofsunlighttoconvertwaterandcarbondioxideintoglucoseandoxygen
moreefficiently,resultinginmoregrain.
RothamstedsDrMalcolmHawkesfordsaidthetrialwouldassesstheplantsabilitytoproducemore
usingthesameresourcesandlandareaastheirnonGMcounterparts.
Headded:Thesefieldtrialsaretheonlywaytoassesstheviabilityofasolutionthatcanbringeconomic
benefitstofarmers,returnstotheUKtaxpayerfromthelongterminvestmentinthisresearch,benefitsto
theUKeconomyandtheenvironmentingeneral.
EssexUniversitysProfessorChristineRainessaid:Todatephotosynthesishasnotbeenusedtoselectfor
highyieldingcropsandrepresentsanunexploitedopportunity.

HowthemutantstrainescapedacrosstheUS
ByTomLeonardinNewYorkfortheDailyMail
GeneticallymodifiedwheattrialshavelongbeenasourceofcontroversyintheUS.
WhilesupportersinsistGMfoodissafe,AmericahasfailedrepeatedlytostopitfromcontaminatingGM
freewheat.
In2013,astrainofGMwheatwasfoundsproutingonafarmineasternOregonwhereithadneverbeen
grown.
Thefarmermadethediscoveryaftersprayingapatchofwheatwithherbicideandfindingitdidnotdie.
GM CROPS IN THE UK
SomeofthefirstopenairtrialsofGMcropsinthelate1990sweredisruptedbyprotesterswhotrampled
ontheplants.
Asaresult,thegovernmentputahaltonalloutdoortrialsofthetechnologybetween2003and2010.
Butin2014,RothamstedResearchwasgrantedpermissiontoperformfieldtrialsofGMrapeseed,
containingomega3fattyacids.
Theresultsareyettobepublished.
Andin2012,thefirmwasgrantedpermissiontodoafieldtrialofGMwheatthathadbeenmodifiedto
repelaphids.
UnfortunatelythetrialwasunsuccessfulandtheGMwheatwasnotshowntorepelinsectsinpractice.
Testingconfirmedthatthestrain,whichwasresistanttotheweedkillerglysophate,hadbeendevelopedby
biotechnologygiantMonsantoacrosstheUSbetween1998and2005,andtestedinopenfields.
However,itwasneverapprovedormarketed.
Scientistswerepuzzledabouthowthecrophadappearedwhennoseedsshouldhavebeenavailablefor
eightyears.
Thediscoveryrockedinternationalwheatmarkets.Japan,SouthKoreaandTaiwansuspendedimportsof
USsoftwhitewheatformonths,whileaKansasfarmersuedMonsanto,sayingithadcausedthepriceof
Americanwheattoplunge.
TheUSgovernmentinsistedtheoutbreakwasconfinedtoasinglefield.Butitwasneverabletoexplain
whathadhappened.
AMonsantobossblamedantiGMsaboteurs.Othertheoriesincludedabagofwheatbeingmislabelledat
Monsantoorevenpassinggeeseinfectingthefieldastheyflewover.
MoreMonsantomadeGMwheatwasfoundin2014inaresearchfieldatMontanaStateUniversity.
Therewerefieldtrialsofthewheatattheresearchstation11yearsearlierbutitshouldhavebeenremoved
ordestroyed.
RoughlyhalfofAmericashugewheatcropisexported.In1999,Thaiscientistsclaimedtheyhadfound
GMwheatinagrainshipmentfromthePacificNorthwestoftheUS.
ThenewscausedshockinAmericaasGMwheathadnotbeenapprovedforcommercialsaleandwas
grownonlyonsupposedlysecuretestplots.
Officialswereunabletodiscoverhowtheshipment,sentfromPortland,Oregon,hadbecomeinfectedbut
admittedthatasmallnumberofacresofGMgrainhadbeenplantedinthestatesofWashington,Idahoand
Oregonthatyear.
CriticssaysuchcasesofGMwheatcontaminationareevidencethatfieldtrialsmustbemonitoredfarmore
carefully.
CarolMallorySmith,aweedscienceexpertatOregonStateUniversity,saidtheoutbreaksshowedthat
plantgenesarelikelytopersistintheenvironmentoncetheyareplantedinopenfields.
Theresreallynowayofretractingthatgeneorbringingitbackandsaying,Wevechangedourmind,
sheadded.
THE CLAIMS...AND THE PROBLEMS
GM crops were promoted on the basis they would boost
yields and cut pesticide use, but academics have shown
GM farming in the US has not accelerated yields or led
to an overall reduction in pesticides.
Advocates insist GM crops are beneficial to insects but
UK trials in 2004 found the numbers of butterflies, bees
and beetles in fields of GM oilseed rape and beet were
significantly lower than with conventional farming.
Thiswasassociatedwithindustrialfarmingpracticesandheavyuseofweedkillers.
GM supporters insist the crops are safe for humans as
they have been eaten in the US for nearly 20 years.
ButinJanuaryexpertsatKingsCollegeLondonlinkedglyphosate,usedtokillwildplantsinGMfields,
toliverdisease.
In2013,academicsreportedthatpigsfedaGMdietsufferedinflamedstomachsandheavieruteruses,
whichcouldbeasignofdisease.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-
4179870/Genetically-modified-wheat-grown-UK.html
IranPreparestoDitchDollarin
InternationalTrade
1 February 2017 / Sputnik News
After US President Donald Trump included Iran on a list of
Muslim-majority countries facing a temporary immigration
ban, Tehran responded by threatening to stop using the
American dollar.
Iranwouldeitherintroduceanewcommoncurrency,inplaceoftheUSdollar,oruseaportfolioofvarious
currenciesinforeignexchangeandfinancialreports,accordingtoValiollahSeif,governoroftheCentral
BankofIran.

IranianmediaquotedSeifsayingthattheinitiativewouldbegininMarch2017,atthestartofthefiscal
year.
TrumpsignedanexecutiveorderonimmigrationlastFriday,ostensiblytoprotectAmericansfromterror
attacks.Undertheorder,immigrantsfromIran,Iraq,Syria,Somalia,Libya,SudanandYemenwillnotbe
allowedtoentertheUSfor90days.Additionally,theUSrefugeeprogramissuspendedfor120days,and
theacceptanceofrefugeesfromSyriaissuspendedindefinitely.
Trumptoldreporters,"It'sworkingoutverynicelyYouseeitattheairports.Youseeitallover.It's
workingoutverynicelyandwe'regoingtohaveavery,verystrictban,andwe'regoingtohaveextreme
vetting,whichweshouldhavehadinthiscountryformanyyears."

Massiveprotestscroppedupatairportsalloverthecountryasaresult,withdemonstratorsvoicingtheir
supportforimmigrantsandrefugees,aswellasmanyprofessionals,includingimmigrationlawyers,
offeringfreeconsultationstothosetrappedinlimbo.
SeifnotedthattheUSdollarsshareinIransforeignexchangeisinsignificant,andthatitsreplacement
shouldbesuitablefortradewithimportantpartnersliketheUnitedArabEmirates,Russia,Chinaandthe
EuropeanUnion.

AgreementstostopusingthedollarhavebeensignedwithIran,Turkey,Iraq,AzerbaijanandRussia,
althoughSeifpointedoutthattheagreementswerenotyeteffective,astradewiththosecountriesdoesnot
warranttheswitch.
SomeanalystshavesuggestedthatTehranstandstomake$41billioninoilprofitsthisfiscalyearalone,
andthatswitchingfromthedollarcouldposeaconsiderablefinancialrisk.Iranianeconomicpublication
DonyayeEqtesadobserved,however,thatthedollarhasalreadybeenlargelyreplacedbyothercurrencies
inoiltransactions,andthatTehranhasbeenchieflyusingitinofficialreporting.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201702011050220348-
iran-threatens-to-ditch-dollar/

Existence of 'Lost Continent' Under Indian Ocean

Confirmed --"Remnant of the Primeval SuperContinent
Gondwana"
January 31, 2017 / Daily Galaxy

Scientistshaveconfirmedtheexistenceofa"lostcontinent"undertheIndianOceanislandofMauritius
(above)thatwasleftoverbythebreakupofthesupercontinent,Gondwana,whichstartedabout200
millionyearsago.Thepieceofcrust,whichwassubsequentlycoveredbyyounglavaduringvolcanic
eruptionsontheisland,seemstobeatinypieceofancientcontinent,whichbrokeofffromtheislandof
Madagascar,whenAfrica,India,AustraliaandAntarcticasplitupandformedtheIndianOcean.
"Wearestudyingthebreakupprocessofthecontinents,inordertounderstandthegeologicalhistoryofthe
planet,"saysWitsgeologist,ProfessorLewisAshwal,leadauthoronthepaper"Archaeanzirconsin
MioceneoceanichotspotrocksestablishancientcontinentalcrustbeneathMauritius",publishedinthe
prestigiousjournalNatureCommunications.

Bystudyingthemineral,zircon,foundinrocksspewedupbylavaduringvolcaniceruptions,Ashwaland
hiscolleaguesMichaelWiedenbeckfromtheGermanResearchCentreforGeosciences(GFZ)andTrond
TorsvikfromtheUniversityofOslo,guestscientistatGFZ,havefoundthatremnantsofthismineralwere
fartoooldtobelongontheislandofMauritius.
"Earthismadeupoftwopartscontinents,whichareold,andoceans,whichare"young".Onthe
continentsyoufindrocksthatareoverfourbillionyearsold,butyoufindnothinglikethatintheoceans,as
thisiswherenewrocksareformed,"explainsAshwal."Mauritiusisanisland,andthereisnorockolder
than9millionyearsoldontheisland.However,bystudyingtherocksontheisland,wehavefoundzircons
thatareasoldas3billionyears."

Zirconsaremineralsthatoccurmainlyingranitesfromthecontinents.Theycontaintraceamountsof
uranium,thoriumandlead,andduetothefactthattheysurvivegeologicalprocessverywell,theycontaina
richrecordofgeologicalprocessesandcanbedatedextremelyaccurately.
IndianOceantopographyshowingthelocationofMauritiusaspartofachainofprogressivelyolder
volcanoesextendingfromthepresentlyactivehotspotofRuniontowardthe65millionyearoldDeccan
trapsofnorthwestIndia.
"Thefactthatwehavefoundzirconsofthisageprovesthattherearemucholdercrustalmaterialsunder
Mauritiusthatcouldonlyhaveoriginatedfromacontinent,"saysAshwal.
Thisisnotthefirsttimethatzirconsthatarebillionsofyearsoldhavebeenfoundontheisland.Astudy
donein2013hasfoundtracesofthemineralinbeachsand.However,thisstudyreceivedsomecriticism,
includingthatthemineralcouldhavebeeneitherblowninbythewind,orcarriedinonvehicletyresor
scientists'shoes.
"Thefactthatwefoundtheancientzirconsinrock(6millionyearoldtrachyte),corroboratestheprevious
studyandrefutesanysuggestionofwindblown,wavetransportedorpumiceraftedzirconsforexplaining
theearlierresults,"saysAshwal.
Variablysizedcrystalsofalkalifeldsparlikethelargewhiteoneatlowerleftarealignedbymagmatic
flow.Alargezirconcrystalappearsasthebrightlycolouredgrainjustrightofcentre.Credit:Wits
University
Ashwalsuggeststhattherearemanypiecesofvarioussizesof"undiscoveredcontinent",collectivelycalled
"Mauritia",spreadovertheIndianOcean,leftoverbythebreakupofGondwanaland.
"Accordingtothenewresults,thisbreakupdidnotinvolveasimplesplittingoftheancientsuper
continentofGondwana,butrather,acomplexsplinteringtookplacewithfragmentsofcontinentalcrustof
variablesizesleftadriftwithintheevolvingIndianOceanbasin."
Gondwanalandisasupercontinentthatexistedmorethan200millionyearsagoandcontainedrocksasold
as3.6billionyearsold,beforeitsplitupintowhatarenowthecontinentsofAfrica,SouthAmerica,
Antarctica,IndiaandAustralia.Thesplitupoccurredbecauseofthegeologicalprocessofplatetectonics.
Thisistheprocesswheretheoceanbasinisincontinuousmotion,andmovesbetween2cmand11cmper
year.Continentsrideontheplatesthatmakeuptheoceanfloor,whichcausesthemovementofthe
continents.
TheDailyGalaxyviaWitsUniversity
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2017/01/existence-
of-lost-continent-under-indian-ocean-confirmed-a-remnant-
of-the-primeval-supercontinent-go.html

https://www.rt.com/uk/
620,000Britsatriskofsuddendeath
becauseoffaultygene
1 Feb, 2017 / RT

More than half a million Brits are believed to have a faulty

gene that means they are at a greater risk of developing
heart disease or succumbing to sudden death, a charity has
warned.
TheBritishHeartFoundation(BHF)saidanestimated620,000peoplehavethegeneandmostare
unaware.
Thisfigureis100,000timeshigherthanwaspreviouslythoughtandthetruenumberislikelytobeeven
higherduetounderdiagnosisandundiscoveredfaultygenes,thecharitysaid.
Inapressstatement,theBHFsaidtheconditioncanaffectpeopleofanyageandthatachildofsomeone
withaninheritedheartconditionhasa50percentchanceofalsoinheritingit.
Manyfamiliesareunawarethereisaproblemuntilsomeonediessuddenlyfromacardiacarrestorheart
attackwithnoobviouscauseorexplanation,thecharityadded.
Around12seeminglyhealthypeopleundertheageof35dieeachweekinBritainduetoundiagnosedheart
conditions.
TheBHFsaysmoreresearchisurgentlyneededtounderstandtheseheartconditions.
BHFmedicaldirectorProfSirNileshSamanisaid:Therealityisthattherearehundredsofthousandsof
peopleacrosstheUKwhoareunawarethattheycouldbeatriskofsuddendeath.
"Ifundetectedanduntreated,inheritedheartconditionscanbedeadlyandtheycontinuetodevastate
families,oftenbytakingawaylovedoneswithoutwarning.
"Weurgentlyneedtofundmoreresearchtobetterunderstandtheseheartconditions,makemore
discoveries,developnewtreatmentsandsavemorelives."
ResearchpublishedbytheBHFin2015alsofoundtheworkplacehasaconsiderableimpactonhealthy
hearts,asitcanpushworkersintounhealthylifestyles.
Millionsofpeoplesaytheyaresmokingmore,exercisinglessandputtingonweightbecausetheyrenot
consideringtheimpacttheirjobishavingontheirhealthandwellbeing,BHFprojectmanagerLisa
Youngsaid.
https://www.rt.com/uk/375949-heart-faulty-gene-death/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

Russian cybersecurity experts arrested in US-linked

treason case
Wed Feb 1, 2017
TwoseniorRussiancybersecurityofficialsalongwithatopantihackingexperthavebeenarrested
inaUSlinkedtreasoncase.
AlawyerrepresentingoneofthesuspectssaidonWednesdaythatSergeiMikhailov,thedeputyheadofthe
FSB'sCentreforInformationSecurity,andhisdeputyDmitryDokuchayevalongwithRuslanStoyanov,
theheadoftheinvestigationunitatMoscowbasedcybersecuritygiantKaspersky,hadbeendetainedby
authoritiesinMoscow.
IvanPavlovsaidthethreeweresuspectedofcommittingtreason.Headdedthatthecasewaslinkedtothe
UnitedStatesbutsaidtheCIAspyagencywasnotspecifiedinthedocumentsrelatedtothecase.
ThisisbelievedtobeoneofthehighestprofiletreasoncasestohittheRussianintelligencecommunityin
years.
AuthoritieshaveyettoofficiallyconfirmthearrestsbutsourcesintheKremlinsaidPresidentVladimir
PutinhadbeeninformedaboutthecasewhenRussianmediawereearliercoveringit.

KremlinspokesmanDemitryPeskov,however,deniedtherewasanylinkbetweenthecaseandrecent
allegationsintheUnitedStatesthatRussiacarriedoutcyberattacksonAmericanorganizationswiththe
intentionofpavingthewayfortheelectionofDonaldTrumpaspresident.

PeskovsaidtherecouldbenoconnectionasRussiacategoricallydeniesanyclaimsonthepossible
Russianinvolvementinanyhacking.
Pavlovsaidmoresuspectswereinvolvedinthecasebuthewouldnotelaborate.Ifconfirmed,thecase
couldbeoneofthemostsensitiveaffectingRussiasdomesticintelligenceagencyFSB.
SourcesintheCIAalsosaidthattheyhadnocommentontheissue.
Kasperskyhadconfirmedthearrestofitsformerofficiallastweekalthoughitsaidchargesbroughtagainst
Stoyanovwererelatedtothetimehewasnotanemployeeofthecompany.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/01/508736/Russia-
cybersecurity-experts-treason

Massive protests held across Romania over decree

decriminalizing official misconduct
Thu Feb 2, 2017 / Press TV
HundredsofthousandsofpeoplehavetakentothestreetsacrossRomaniainprotesttoa
governmentdecreedecriminalizingsomeoffenses,includingofficialmisconduct.
Around250,000peoplegatheredoutsidethecabinetbuildinginthecapitalcityBucharestonWednesday,
whilearound100,000moretookpartinsimilarprotestsacrossthecountry.
Thedemonstratorschantedsloganssuchas,"Repealit,thenleave,"and,"Thieves,thieves."
Theprotestwasgenerallypeacefuluntilmidnightlocaltimewhenagroupoffootballfansarrivedand
startedtohurlstonesandfireworksatthepolice.

ThedemonstrationsbeganonTuesdayafterthecabinetapprovedthedecreethatdecriminalizesarangeof
graftandotheroffensesinwhichtheamountsinvolvedarelowerthan$48,000.
Thedecree,settobeenforcedwithinthenext10days,willbenefitdozensofpoliticalfiguresfromall
parties,andhasbeendescribedasthebiggestrollbackonreformssinceRomaniabecamepartoftheEUin
2007.
Meanwhile,thecountrystopjudicialwatchdog,theSuperiorMagistrates'Council,hasissueda
constitutionalcourtchallengetothedecree,whichwasintroducedbytheSocialDemocratgovernmentof
PrimeMinisterSorinGrindeanu.

TheEuropeanUnionhasalsowarnedRomaniaoverbacktrackingonreformswithEuropeanCommission
PresidentJeanClaudeJunckerissuingaanofficialstatement.
Thefightagainstcorruptionneedstobeadvanced,notundone.Wearefollowingthelatestdevelopments
inRomaniawithgreatconcern,readthestatement.
Thestatementacknowledgedtheprogressofprosecutorsandjudgesinthecountry,butwarnedover"steps
whichunderminethisprocess"orhavetheeffectofweakeningorshrinkingthescopeofcorruptionasan
offense.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/02/508748/romania-
protest-decree-misconduct

RussianhackingaimstodestabiliseWest,
SirMichaelFallonsays
3February17/BBCOnline
Russiaiscarryingoutasustainedcampaignofcyberattackstargetingdemocracyandcriticalinfrastructure
intheWest,UKDefenceSecretarySirMichaelFallonhaswarned.
Moscowwas"weaponisingmisinformation"inabidtoexpanditsinfluenceanddestabiliseWestern
governmentsandweakenNato,hesaid.
VladimirPutinhadchosentobecomea"strategiccompetitor"oftheWest.
SirMichaelsaiditwasvitalalliancemembersstrengthenedcyberdefences.
Hisspeech,attheUniversityofStAndrews,camehoursbeforeTheresaMaywasduetouseaninformal
summitinMaltatopressEUNatomemberstoboostdefencespending.

MaytopressEUleadersoverdefencespending
Meanwhile,inareport,MPshavewarnedthataskillsshortageand"chaotic"handlingofpersonaldata
breachesareunderminingconfidenceintheUKgovernment'sabilitytoprotectitsowninfrastructureand
economyfromcyberattacks.

MPsquestionUK'scyberattackdefences
SirMichaelsaidNatoneededtodomoretotacklethe"falsereality"beingpropagatedbytheKremlin.
"Natomustdefenditselfaseffectivelyinthecybersphereasitdoesintheair,onland,andatsea,so
adversariesknowthereisapricetopayiftheyusecyberweapons,"headded.
Thedefencesecretarypointedtoa"persistentpatternofbehaviour"byMoscow,highlightingaseriesof
cyberattacksthathadbeenlinkedtoRussia.

SuspectedRussianattacksincludedFrance'sTV5MondebroadcasterbeingtakenoffairinApril2015
originallyclaimedbyhackerslinkedtotheselfstyledIslamicStateandthetargetingofGermany'slower
houseofparliament,hesaid.
Anothercyberattack,onBulgariainOctober2016,wasdescribedbythecountry'spresidentasthe
"heaviest"andmost"intense"tobeconductedinsoutheasternEurope.
SirMichaelalsospokeofthesuspectedRussianhackingofthetwomainpoliticalpartiesintheUS
presidentialelections.
Russiahasdeniedanyinvolvementinthehacking,andWikiLeaksfounderJulianAssangesaysMoscow
wasnotthesourceforthesite'smassleakofemailsfromtheDemocraticParty.

Testing Nato
SirMichaelsaid:"Today,weseeacountrythatinweaponisingmisinformationhascreatedwhatwemight
nowseeastheposttruthage.
"RussiaisclearlytestingNatoandtheWest.Itisseekingtoexpanditssphereofinfluence,destabilise
countriesandweakenthealliance.
"Itisunderminingnationalsecurityformanyalliesandtheinternationalrulesbasedsystem.
"ThereforeitisinourinterestandEurope'stokeepNatostrongandtodeteranddissuadeRussiafromthis
course."
SirMichaelbackedUSpresidentDonaldTrump'scallforallNatomemberstatestohonourthe
commitmenttospendaminimumof2%ofGDPondefence.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38850907

TrumpwarnsIranthatnothingisoffthe
tablefollowingitsmissiletest
Published time: 2 Feb, 2017 / RT

Jason Reed / Reuters

The US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran that a
military option is not off the table as a response to the
latest alleged missile test by Iran.
WhenaskedwhethertheUSwouldconsiderusingforcetorespondtoTehran,Trumptoldreporterson
Thursdaythat"nothingisoffthetable."
OnJanuary30,FoxNewsreported,citingUSofficials,thatIranhadconductedtestsofitsmediumrange
ballisticmissiles.OnThursday,threedayslater,CNN,NBCNewsandReutersallcitedunnamedsources
reportingthatfreshsanctionsagainstIranwerelikelytocomeasearlyasFriday.

TheHouseseemsopentotheidea.
"I'dliketoputasmuchtoothpastebackinthetubeaspossible.Ithinkthelastadministrationappeased
Iranfartoomuch,"HouseSpeakerPaulRyan(RWisconsin)saidatanewsconferenceonThursday,
accordingtoNPR.
Washingtoncondemnedthemove,sayingthetestunderminedsecurity,prosperityandstability
throughoutandbeyondtheMiddleEastessentiallyputtinglivesatrisk.
WeareofficiallyputtingIranonnotice,TrumpsNationalSecurityAdvisorMichaelFlynnwarned.
TheUSclaimedthetestviolatedUNSecurityCouncilResolution2231whichcalledonIrannotto
undertakeanyactivityrelatedtoballisticmissiles.
OnWednesday,DefenseMinisterBrigadierGeneralHosseinDehqanconfirmedthatIrandidindeedtest
themissile.
"Therecenttestwasinlinewithourplansandwewillnotallowforeignerstointerfereinourdefense
affairs,"DefenceMinisterHosseinDehghantoldTasnimnewsagency."Thetestdidnotviolatethe
nucleardealor(UN)Resolution2231."
Trumpsaidthatinsteadofconductingtests,IranshouldhavebeenthankfulfortheP5+1dealbrokered
bykeyworldpowersincludingtheUS,whichthenewUSPresidentrepeatedlycalledadisaster.
TehranemphaticallydismissedTrumpsthreatssaying,TheAmericangovernmentwillunderstandthat
threateningIranisuseless,AliAkbarVelayati,foreignpolicyadvisortotheIransSupremeleader
AyatollahAliKhamenei,toldreporters.
LastmonthTehranalsowarnedWashingtonagainstdishonoringthesocalledP5+1dealwhichresolveda
yearslongdeadlockontheIraniannuclearprogram.IransaidifTrumpdisrespecttheagreements,itwould
considerresumingthenuclearprogramatahigherlevel.
https://www.rt.com/usa/376110-trump-warns-iran-missile/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome
USArmedForcesOrder$1BillionWorth
ofFuelFrom14Companies
AFP 2016/ ERIC PIERMONT
3 February 2017 / Sputnik News
The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) ordered more than
$1 billion worth of fuel from Shell Oil, Exxon Mobil and 12
other companies for different military services and
functions, the Department of Defense said in a press
release.

Trump: There Would Be No Daesh Terrorism if US Took

Control of Oil
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The contracts include one for
$449.4 million with Equilon Enterprises, doing business
as Shell Oil Products and another for almost $218.4 million
with Exxon Mobil Fuels Lubricants and Specialties Marketing
Company, the Defense Department said.
Theyareoneyearcontractswitha30daycarryover.LocationsofperformanceareTexas,Virginia,
Louisiana,Ohio,Indiana,Alabama,Wyoming,Oregon,Illinois,NewYork,Minnesota,Oklahoma,Kansas,
andArkansas,thereleasestatedonWednesday.
Otherfueldealsincludedintheannouncementwerefor$112.3millionwiththePhillips66Company,
$109.1millionwiththePetromaxRefiningCompany,$63.5millionwiththePlacidRefiningCompanyand
$55.1millionwithLazarusEnergyHoldings,theannouncementadded.
https://sputniknews.com/us/201702021050261499-us-
armed-forces-fuel/

Trump:ThereWouldBeNoDaesh
TerrorismifUSTookControlofOil
AP Photo/ Hasan Jamali, File
World
06:37 26.01.2017(updated 06:50 26.01.2017) Get short URL
71335416
US President Donald Trump claims that Daesh terrorist
group would have disintegrated if the United States were
to take control of the oil.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Islamic State (ISIL, also known
as Daesh or ISIL) terrorist group would have disintegrated if
the United States were to take control of the oil, US President
Donald Trump said in an interview with ABC News.
"YouwouldnthaveISISifwetooktheoil,"Trumpstressed,explainingthatthemainreasonwhyDaesh
wasabletogainstrengthwasbecauseofoiltrade.
SpeakingonSyria,whereaUSledinternationalcoalitionhasbeenlaunchingairstrikesagainstDaes,
Trumpreiteratedthatheplanstocreatesafezonesforcivilians.
Duringhiselectioncampaign,TrumpspokeseveraltimesofcreatingsafeareasforSyrianrefugees
inSyria.Whenarguingfortheproposal,TrumphadstatedthiswouldstemthetideofSyrianrefugees
goingabroadandlowertheburdenonneighboringcountriesandEurope.
https://sputniknews.com/world/201701261050016917-
trump-daesh-control-oil/