USA - Presidential Elections

AMERICA HILLARY 2016 HELL NO Robby Mook heading Hillary Clinton presidential campaign 35-yo exp. political campaigner *muzzling Bill Clinton will be a priority* Surprise, Surprise: exploiting gay rights as centerpiece campaign /point of difference, for gay vote http://www.ibtimes.com/hillary-clinton-gay-vote-lgbt-activists-embrace-historic-2016-presidential-campaign-1879647 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ America’s libertarian freakshow: Inside the free-market fetish of Rand Paul & Ted Cruz Next year's GOP primary is shaping up to be a great one for small-government zealots. Here's what's at stake Conor Lynch [...] So how has our economy become this monstrous fusion of government and business? Paul and Cruz go after the usual enemy — the state. Libertarians believe that it is the government — which just can’t mind its own business — that caused crony-capitalism. If only the government got its hands out of the private industries, then a purer form of capitalist harmony would emerge. The idea of lemonade-stand capitalism suits their ideology perfectly — but it is a myth. In reality, the more “free” a market becomes, the more the competition gets rigged. In a capitalist system, the main goal is to grow and accumulate indefinitely. Competition is an effective way to drive innovation and efficiency in theory. But as businesses grow into large corporations and gain larger shares of the market, smaller producers can no longer compete, and must either work for the competition or exit the industry. We see this dynamic at work in the dominance of companies like Walmart and Amazon, who have managed to stack the deck overwhelmingly in their own favor and drive innumerable smaller competitors out of business. One thing about capitalism that free-market libertarians do not seem to understand is that it represents a constantly evolving social system. This also means that theories must also keep up with reality, and not reside in past centuries. In today’s world, corporations rule, and in America, as regulations have become laxer over the past few decades, they have grown even larger, especially in the finance industry, where the biggest corporations began merging after the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act into the too-big-to-fail behemoth’s that persist even today. The problems become even more pronounced when you consider the power available to the world’s largest companies. After the Citizens United ruling, which both Ted Cruz and Rand Paul have defended, corporations can contribute unlimited funds to political action committees. Enter the Koch brothers, who are planning to spend about $900 million on the 2016 election. The game is rigged, there is no doubt about it, and crony-capitalism exists — but it is not a perversion of “pure capitalism,” it is simply a natural evolution of it. Capitalists do not care about theory, as libertarians do; they care about getting ahead and increasing profit. Tilting the scales in one’s favor is simply an expedient way to achieve said profits. Competition on a level playing field isn’t a feature in such a system, but a bug, and one that’s increasingly been pushed to the margins. So the solution provided by libertarian leaning individuals like Paul and Cruz is based on this false notion of what capitalism actually is. They say that government is always the problem, and that it is the states fault for the crony-capitalism of today. But it is not the state who has corrupted the corporations, but the corporations who have corrupted the state. Getting rid of regulations and privatizing everything, as libertarians propose, would not create a pure form of capitalism where everyone has a fair shot — it would create a dystopia of abusive and uncaring corporations without any accountability to the public. The true answer to fighting the crony capitalism of today is to attack the nexus of corporations and their government sponsors. And Citizens United, contrary to what Cruz and Paul seem to believe, is one of the clearest examples. When politicians depend on millions upon millions of corporate campaign dollars, one cannot honestly expect them to be on the side of the common people. The game is rigged. If a politician attempts to do their job and refuses to court the wealthy and corporations, they will most likely cease to be a politician in the next election. This is especially true for presidential politics, where campaign spending has skyrocketed. During the 2008 election, eight donors gave more than $1 million to outside groups, like Super PACs. Fours short years later, and two years after the court decision, this number shot up to 126 for the 2012 election. The only way to truly fight crony capitalism is to stop the madness, and limit campaign spending, or more preferably make campaigns publicly financed. Get private money out of politics, and create a level playing field, where politicians can honestly say what they believe without having to worry about campaign donations. [...]    *EXTRACS ONLY* - FULL @ SOURCE http://www.salon.com/2015/04/14/americas_libertarian_freakshow_inside_the_free_market_fetish_of_rand_paul_ted_cruz/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ COMMENT Watching the US election campaign could be very interesting.  Not sure I have it in me.  It's a massive amount of information. Enjoyed this guy's Salon article.  Don't know that reining in campaign contributions by the wealthy is the solution to America's problems.  But it would be a help, I guess.  The real solution would be a socialist system.  No chance in the home of the greedy few, exploiting the many. Not much interesting going on in the news, or maybe I'm having a news OD and just not that interested?

LIB-LABOR Stasi State: Mandatory Mass Surveillance of Australians & TPP

Mandatory data retention passes Australian parliament Summary: The government and Labor have jointly ensured that the telecommunications data of all Australians will be retained for two years for warrantless access by law-enforcement agencies. By Josh Taylor | March 26, 2015 -- 07:40 GMT (18:40 AEDT) Follow @joshgnosis The Australian government has relied on the votes of the Labor opposition to pass legislation on Thursday that will force telecommunications companies to retain customer data for two years for warrantless access by law enforcement. The legislation -- which will see call records, assigned IP addresses, location information, billing information, and other customer data stored for two years -- passed the Senate on Thursday with the support of Labor senators. The government and Labor shot down over a dozen amendments from the Greens, and several amendments from crossbench senators including those from David Leyonhjelm, Dio Wang, and Nick Xenophon. The amendments would have forced the data to be held in Australia, would have required warrants for all accessing of the data, and would have limited the storage to three months -- bringing Australia closer into line with international standards. Instead, the government agreed to a number of amendments from Labor, including requiring a warrant for accessing the data of a journalist for the purpose of identifying a source. The government will appoint a "public interest advocate" to argue on behalf of journalists -- who won't be aware that their data has been sought by law enforcement. There was also intended to be an amendment limiting access to the data for the purposes of civil litigation, but Attorney-General George Brandis on Thursday admitted that through third-party access orders and subpoenas, data could be made available through the court for cases such as copyright infringement. In the end, the Bill was condemned by Leyonhjelm, and Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, but ultimately passed 43 to 16. The Bill will need to be returned to the House to agree to the amendments, but with a government majority this is a mere formality. The legislation passed without the Australian public knowing the cost of the scheme to telcos to build systems to store the data, nor how much the government intends to contribute to the set-up. Earlier in the week, Brandis revealed that the cost per customer per year for the operation of the scheme will be $4, but the cost of building the systems, contained in a confidential PricewaterhouseCoopers report, remains unknown. Brandis said the government's contribution will be detailed in the Budget in May. Telecommunications companies will be given 18 months after the legislation is passed into law to get systems in place in order to comply with the legislation. Armed with a degree in Computer Science and a Masters in Journalism, Josh keeps a close eye on the telecommunications industry, the National Broadband Network, and all the goings on in government IT. Follow @joshgnosis http://www.zdnet.com/article/mandatory-data-retention-passes-australian-parliament/ COMMENT This isn't what a democratic government is for; this is a totalitarian state in action. Note: (1) MASS surveillance; and (2) WARRANTLESS access to data.  The Liberals and the Labor party have sold out every single Australian with this data retention legislation. Data retention is not only a totalitarian violation of civil liberties; it also exposes all Australians to third-party legal action (based on evidence obtained from data retained by internet service provider Stasi deputies). Personal data of Australians will not even be retained on Australian soil and there is no provision for regulating the destruction of that data: WHAT HAPPENS TO DATA THAT IS STORED AFTER THE MANDATORY RETENTION PERIOD? The new laws do not prescribe any rules for the de-identification or destruction of the retained data after the expiry of the two-year retention period. [Lexology] Furthermore, Australian taxpayers will foot the bill twice over for the 'privilege' of having their civil liberties pissed trampled on by bent, corporate serving politicians, aiming to maintain an iron grip on the freedom of all Australians, as taxpayers shall pay for:  (a) the undisclosed federal government contribution to this totalitarian surveillance scheme; and (b) the service provider costs that shall pass onto consumers. The driving force imposing this totalitarian state in Australia, is the practical alliance between the Liberals and their Labor Party sidekicks. Imagine what politicians are hiding from the public when they're targeting journalists with surveillance and secret probes into forcibly collected data. This isn't about national security; this is about control:  control of the press and control of the people, by politicians who serve American and corporate interests, without regard for public welfare or standards of acceptable conduct - which is why whistleblowers, and whistleblower publishers such as WikiLeaks, are important.  Just look at the Trans-Pacific Partnership 'free trade' agreement ('TPP') that government has hidden from public view during several years of negotiations.  What a rort.  They're negotiating away Australia's rights and democracy, and on a course to assign national sovereignty to the very corporations that politicians serve. It's thanks to WikiLeaks - and NOT these corrupt government actors, who dodge transparency and accountability - that the public has even come to know the contents of the SECRET TPP document.  So what does that tell us about the political order in Western democracies, and what does that say about government witch-hunts, criticism and propaganda unleashed at the independent publisher, WikiLeaks, and Julian Assange? The Lib-Labor Stasi, corporate-serving practical political alliance, is about to sell out Australia by signing up ALL Australian as subjects of the TPP (unregulated trade) agreement, which is a vehicle for corporate management of federal, state and local policies.   Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) Investment Chapter WikiLeaks Link - here ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ TPP a corporate-managed FTA Signs away democracy & sovereign rights [12:26]  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qaY46i0ECw8  VOTE THE BASTARDS OUT NEXT ELECTION )))   BILL SHORTEN   (((  2009 audition to US Consul General * Criticises Union Movement * #WikiLeaks - here. VOTE THE BASTARDS OUT NEXT ELECTION Hmmmm ... think I might get a bit melodramatic when I come across news that particularly annoys me. I've come back to edit 'pissed on' to 'trampled on'.  LOL

Socialist Perspective - Assange Hunted by Imperialist Powers to Disrupt WikiLeaks

ARTICLE Wikileaks, Sex & Imperialist Law http://www.bolshevik.org/1917/no35/ibt_1917_35_12_wikileaks-hands_off_assange.html COMMENTS Note the following re above article: a) Reference to 'charges' in two instances should read 'allegations' in lieu of 'charges', as there are no 'charges' to date (2015). b) Link to quoted material referred to in article (in text format) returns a 404 error. Valid link for Stratfor analyst remark:  here. c) Additional link to material quoted in article - Red Notice issue re sexual assault allegation anomaly & trying to disrupt WikiLeaks - here. Really good article by International Bolshevik Tendency (IBT) based on inspiring address by  Roxanne Baker, in support of Julian Assange.  So, there I was writing off the lefties (in general) as pseudo-lefties and corporate stooges, but that's not necessarily the case for all lefties. Wow, I think I really like the Bolshevik perspective. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ What I got out of this: Largely hoovering references in the article - Persecution of Julian Assange is an attack on democratic rights, particularly press freedom Any differences on left, a matter of > subservience to ruling-class > acting as imperialist propaganda conduit Assange & WikiLeaks: challenged the powerful by exposing monstrous crimes committed in Iraq & Afghanistan Savage persecution of Chelsea (Bradley) Manning shows ‘enemies of the state’ USA ill treatment & erosion of democratic rights SW:  TERMINATED interview & REFUSED to READ or SIGN transcript on learning intent of Sweden police Sweden Police uploaded SW transcript to police data system & AMENDED transcript subsequently UNUSUAL intervention of Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny is possibly indicative of 'political string-pulling from high up'. AA = link w. US govt funded Ladies in White LIW is supported by CIA asset Luis Posada Carriles Carriles = terrorist & former CIA agent. Born in Havana. SEE also Carriles & CIA Cuba link: http://palgrave.typepad.com/yaffe/2011/03/cia-spies-and-videotapes-cuba-exposes-us-programme-of-subversion-.html Other interesting info - See also:  2009-10 Cuba - CIA USAID op undermines Cuba's hip-hop protest scene http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7c275c134f1b4a0ca3428929fcece82d/us-co-opted-cubas-hip-hop-scene-spark-change --- AA = brother in Sweden intelligence a liaison in WA to US intelligence services as referred to in above article: http://www.bolshevik.org/1917/no35/ibt_1917_35_12_wikileaks-hands_off_assange.html and as referred to in Counterpunch article, 2010: http://www.counterpunch.org/2010/12/07/information-terrorists/ -- Socialist Workers Party Alliance for Workers’ Liberty Naivety - given evidence that Sweden obliges CIA NO chance ‘fair trial’ prejudicial press / implacable hostility of ruling elites re WikiLeaks revelations On USA going after ASSANGE - Stratfor intelligence analyst: this is about trying to DISRUPT WikiLeaks Much discussion neglects to examine POLITICALLY motivated character of Sweden law enforcement allegations Assange - No chance fair trial high risk of extradition or rendition SOCIALISTS must oppose extradition Assange is being hunted by America for daring to shine a light on the crimes of IMPERIALISM USA conducting a witch-hunt against whistleblower publisher WikiLeaks, which remains active as at 2015. Julian Assange is an advocate of freedom of press & information, whose revelations have exposed lawlessness. Defending individual rights & liberties, such as those of Julian Assange (rights & liberties which ruling political elites seek to erase, in this instance and generally speaking) provides a BASIS for: 1) challenging a system of global oppression 2) challenging imperialist rule - the cause of such oppression 3) challenging an imperialist, oppressive rule that aims to SILENCE truth tellers Defending Julian Assange is defending civil liberties & challenging ruling elites - in what is a class struggle ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Note also: 1) Unsigned, unread statement - SW refused to sign or read, on learning of Sweden Police intent regarding Assange. 2) Transcript uploaded onto police database & SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED. 3) AA could be described as highly instrumental - see source article. 4) The key police witness is compromised by her personal relationship with AA.  Furthermore, the telephone 'statement' taken by that police officer (and friend) of AA, was taken over the telephone, which I understand is a breach of police procedures. 5) Matter was dismissed by a senior prosecutor for lack of evidence, but was UNUSUALLY revived again - almost 500km away in Stockholm. 6) Interpol Red Notice issue is also unusual (as pointed out by the US private intelligence service, Stratfor - which is also known as a 'shadow CIA'). ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Anyway, they're just some things to think about. I'm off to find a home for my file-away marked up version of the article ... after I've checked all these links.  Excuse any typos - I'm in a mad rush.  Happy reading, Comrades.  ;) -------------------------------------------------------------------- QUICK LINKS: 1. WikiLeaks, Sex & Imperialist Law - here. 2. Ladies in White / Carilles - here. 3. AA - bother intelligence officer [Counterpunch] - here. 4. Example of USG / CIA subversive activity, Cuba - here. 5. Stratfor:  how to go after WikiLeaks - here. 6. Stratfor: Charges of sexual assault rarely Interpol Red Notice - Disruption of WikiLeaks quote - here. 7.  Women Against Rape For decades we have campaigned to get rapists caught, charged and convicted. But the pursuit of Assange is political"  - The Guardian - 23/08/2012  - here.

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FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

-- #Libya Diplomatic row arrest & detention of Sudan’s Consul-General in Libya / unauthorised visits to military prison #Libya Relations with #Sudan have been strained since Libya Dawn forced the Thinni givt to quit Tripoli #Libya Sudan publicly supports Thinni govt (Tobruk) BUT may quietly support Libya Dawn (Tripoli) accused of: arms + supplies provision Ban on Sudanese visiting #Libya lifted 6 wks ago {ban b/c fear visiting 'terrorists'} 2wks ago:  attaché at Sudanese embassy in Tripoli briefly kidnapped. Reason unknown. http://www.libyaherald.com/2015/04/09/diplomatic-row-over-detention-of-sudanese-consul/ -- #Libya rival forces warn Thinni govt against independent oil sales / will seize oil ports + facilities by force any attempt by Thinni to sell oil bypassing central bank + National Oil Corporation (NOC) will trigger military action. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/08/uk-libya-security-idUKKBN0MZ0EX20150408 -- #Libya Mar 15 al-Thinni accused #Turkey of sending weapons to Islamist rivals / terrorist militias in #Tripoli http://nationalinterest.org/feature/turkeys-secret-proxy-war-libya-12430 #Libya Mar 2015 proxy war > Egypt & UAE reportedly backing  al-Thinni (Tobruk, West recog.) >#Qatar + #Turkey back opposition NOTE Thinni govt = Tobruk (the West-backed interim govt - lost control) http://nationalinterest.org/feature/turkeys-secret-proxy-war-libya-12430 VIDEO Putin: Who gave NATO right to kill Gaddafi? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw5Ij_RFJ1Q ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ VIDEO Gaddafi: From Popular Hero to Isolated Dictator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4JbOlakWZo -- Qatar Bangladesh ambassador to Qatar / recalled http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/apr/11/ambassador-qatar-pays-conflicts-among-ruling-party-leaders -- Qatar Capital: Doha Pop: 2.169 million 2013 GDP per capita: 93,714.06 USD 2013 accepted 90,000 #Bangladesh workers in 2014 [dhakatribune] Qatar 2013 - foreign workers total:  1,449,234 Labour market info:  http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/32431/GLMM_ExpNote_08-2014.pdf?sequence=1 #Qatar - oil / gas+ low pop. = high GDP. One of world's biggest LNG exporters in past decade Diversification *INFRASTRUCTURE*  Qatar Qatar's non-hydrocarbon sector fuels 2015 economy http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-31809-qatars-non-hydrocarbon-sector-fuels-2015-economy/ COMMENT Still have trouble remembering the two governments, so there's more than my standard look ups.  But I'm not keeping a close watch on Libya and just take an interest as random articles come up, so it's easy to forget where things fit. Massive number of foreign workers in Qatar.  Massive GDP.  Small population.  Economy has broadened its base, which is a bonus now that oil prices have plunged ... but it's not like Qatar would go broke.  From prior checks, their economy is in substantial surplus.  Loads of expenditure on infrastructure, which means foreign companies are probably making big money there. I like looking at Putin and I find Gaddafi fascinating, so I've thrown in a couple of the videos I've viewed.  Had no idea Gaddafi's family were Bedouin.  Knew that there was some kind of IRA link and I was surprised by that because Ireland's such a long way from his desert oasis.  Don't know a whole lot about that.  Arms supply, I think it was.  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ PS  .... that video didn't show enough of Putin.  And, as usual, we can't hear him properly!  I don't care if I can't understand; I want to hear him speaking without the volume turned down and commentary laid over the top.  Can't be that hard to do a few basic written translations at the bottom of the screen.

Latin America - Bolivia, Evo Morales | Venezuela

Fight Imperialism with Unity, Says Morales Evo Morales speaks at the University of Panama as part of the People's Summit, an alternative summit running in parallel to the OAS' Summit of the Americas, April 4, 2015. EFE Published 10 April 2015 (10 hours 37 minutes ago) U.S. imperialism is being challenged by regional organizations like CELAC, according to Bolivia’s president. Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the United States Friday of conspiring to undermine democracy in Latin America, including in his home country. During a keynote address to the People's Summit in Panama, Morales said the United States has been one of the most serious threats to Bolovia's national security, and his own presidency. “Where there is a U.S. embassy, there are coups,” Morales said. The president alleged the U.S. government has been plotting to overthrow him for years. “The (Bolivian) right-wing, the opposition and the U.S. ambassador have always conspired … against the (revolutionary) process,” he said. However, he said regional initiatives aimed at promoting Latin American solidarity are the region's best defenses against U.S. imperialism. “I think actually the member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), are a threat to the neoliberal, transnational (corporations) … but will never be a threat to U.S. security,” he said. The People's Summit   Morales is the only world leader to deliver a speech to this year's People's Summit, though Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has also stated he will attend the meeting. The summit brought together close to 2,000 representatives from social movements across the Americas to discuss issues ranging from U.S. sanctions on Venezuela to Puerto Rican independence. Organizers say the summit is a grassroots alternative to the Summit of the Americas, which is also taking place in Panama this week. In a statement, organizers said the summit is a forum for “the voice of our peoples, to highlight problems the other meeting (the Summit of the Americas) doesn't address.” On Thursday, the People's Summit led a rally through the streets of Panama City to condemn U.S. imperialism and express solidarity with Venezuela. http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Fight-Imperialism-with-Unity-Says-Morales-20150410-0011.html COMMENT US efforts to subvert governments in Latin American countries is nothing new, so it's probably safe to take Bolivia President Evo Morales at his word.  :) Nothing else to add.  Brain's fried.  Think it's sleep deprivation.  If I'm woken, I cannot go back to sleep ... and then I can't switch off to sleep at the other end of the day.  Switch is temporarily out of order.  :)

Foreign Service Updates

--   INDIA - GEN. (RETD) VK SINGH - 'PRESSTITUTES' #India Min State - Gen (retd) VK Singh referred to media as 'presstitutes' / upset press - calling for removal of Singh Broadcast Editors' Association /BEA condemned Min State - Gen (retd) VK Singh controversial comments re media http://www.firstpost.com/politics/presstitute-comment-vk-singh-can-hate-media-but-govt-should-intervene-on-foul-language-2189647.html Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA) the apex body of editors of news TV channels 15-member executive committee -- PANAMA - LatAm 7th Summit of the Americas - 35  Cuba delegation stormed out of event { think this was because of presence of Cuban dissenters  } Bill Clinton speaking @ civil society forum Nicaraguan delegation protested proposed inter-oceanic canal #Venezuela protesters in unions w #Cuba counterparts shout protest at  US sanctions on Venezuela Cuba dissidents, incl.  Leticia Herreria, Ladies in White, Orlando Gutierrez, Cuban Democracy & Resistance Directorate /  assaulted laying  flowers bust of Cuban indy hero Jose Marti http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2015/04/08/4230835/cuba-venezuela-tensions-rise-in.html  -- North Korea NorK says:  #Mexico has "forcibly detained" SHIP mths after ship ran aground off Mexico's Gulf coast 2014 blames US preventing rel. UN panel says: ship, Mu Du Bong, is owned by a NorK company under UN sanctions & should be "frozen" alleged ship owner - Ocean Maritime Management Co - sanctioned {claim that x2 Cuban fighter jets, missiles & live munitions in cargo of sugar found} OMM responded by simply renaming 13 of its 14 vessels to avoid detection NorthKorea - DENIES Mu Du Bong strictly a commercial ship not carrying anything prohibited by UN sanctions No relation to OMM http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/world/article_f192aa05-49ad-52f3-a4a8-a192b4bdad5b.html -- CANADA KILLS TWITTER GUY Newfoundland man shot dead after perceived threat tweeted at premier http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/05/man-shot-killed-by-officer-investigating-threat-against-nl-premier-report -- TURKEY - ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS Diyarbakır in Turkey  Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink for propaganda re Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) charge of “membership of a terrorist organization” widely used in an arbitrary manner against journalists critical of authorities. source: http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=47770 TURKEY - 40 journalists are currently being prosecuted   source: http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=47770 Leading TV presenter Sedef Kabaş to stand trial for criticizing a prosecutor on Twitter.  Charged w exposing a official as TO target.  Maybe #Turkey needs to attend to terrorist problems & not persecute the press?  http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=47770 #Turkey #Germany Photographer Andy Spyra, flew to Istanbul to cover anniversary of Armenia  massacre, DENIED ENTRY https://cpj.org/2015/04/in-turkey-photographer-denied-entry-and-freelance-.php WARNING #Turkey:  increasingly hostile to international journalist -- LIBYA authorities take #Sudan general consul in Benghazi Abdel-Halim Omer into custody - unspecified location #Sudan demands swift & unconditional release of consul, describing actions as violation of  international customs. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article54557 -- May Michael Bloomberg - Honorary Knighthood Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg named an honorary knight of British Empire.  (British Embassy) http://7online.com/politics/fmr-mayor-bloomberg-named-honorary-knight-of-british-empire/642943/ -- NORTH KOREA - DEPORTATION #NorthKorea deports American for 'plot-breeding and propaganda'   / secret videos made during humanitarian trips http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1188516 -- ROMAN SELEZNEV - KIDNAPPED BY US SECRET SERVICE US Secret Service overstepped authority / arrest of Roman Seleznev in Maldives Violated USA, Maldives & interl law illegal “abduction”  - Seleznev lawyers seek dismissal  USA Secret Service knew Seleznev in Russia in 2013 DID NOT use Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty b/w USA + Russia ABDUCTED Seleznev US has no extradition treaty with Maldives / no court order Seleznev’s abduction sets a terrible precedent Will put US citizens travelling or residing in other countries at greater risk USA Secret Service disregarded Maldives’ sovereign rights concocted scheme to kidnap Seleznev outside legal system  http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/national/2015/04/08/Russian-man-s-lawyers-hacking-charges-should-be-dismissed.html -- SCAM - LEBANON Internet scammers pretend to be US ambassador to #Lebanon Tried to con Lebanese ppl out of money using social media http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Apr-09/293814-online-scammers-impersonate-us-ambassador-to-lebanon.ashx ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ OTHER NEWS -- COPYRIGHT Singapore: Singtel provides subscriber details after court order #iiDallas http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singtel-turn-over-details-over-100-subscribers-over-illegal-dallas-buyers-club-downloads SEE 2014 - Torrent Freak Copyright infringement defence IP address does not necessarily identify a PERSON http://tinyurl.com/lj8eofl

Royal Dutch Shell & BG Group $70 Billiion Purchase Deal - LNG

BLOOMBERG ARTICLE http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-08/shell-will-buy-bg-group-for-70-billion-in-cash-and-shares Royal Dutch Shell Plc Europe’s largest oil co to buy BG Group Plc for abt $70-b making it foremost player in global natural gas Shell deal pushing further into producing, shipping & selling gas view to #China & emerging economies switch from coal + oil {Ben van Beurden = CEO Shell} Shell to increase oil + natural gas reserves by 28% Pioneer of LNG for shipment aboard tankers Shell & rivals anticipate LNG to play increasing role in emerging economies / alternative to dirtier energy sources, eg. coal deal: = share in Brazil’s largest deepwater fields = consolidation Australia gas =  +participation in US emergence LNG exp. Shell / BG deal = new co will be world’s biggest internationl LNG co = TWICE as big as its closest rival Exxon Shell / BG deal requires antitrust {competition law} approvals from regulatory agencies in #Australia, #China, #Brazil + #EU Helge Lund, BG fmr Norway state oil / Statoil ASA = highest paid oil executive in #EU if deal goes down: gets $43-m for 1yr Lund = business management at Norwegian School of Economics = MBA from the INSEAD bus. school France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helge_Lund As BG Group CEO = basic salary £1.5 million = + bonuses TOTAL est.  £14 million salary per annum http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-08/shell-will-buy-bg-group-for-70-billion-in-cash-and-shares COMMENT I've no idea how big Exxon is, but this deal will make Shell a monster at TWICE the size of Exxon (which is probably a huge monster itself). Check out that guy's salary, if the deal goes ahead.  That's unbelievable.  LOL