alanjjohnstone
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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pushing for a cap to make it harder for Moscow to fund its war in Ukraine. Officials say the goal is to set the price at a level that covers the marginal cost of production so Moscow is incentivised to continue exporting oil.
Russia will not export oil to the world market if the price is capped below the cost of production, Interfax news agency has quoted Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak as telling Russian television.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2022/7/20/russia-ukraine-live-news
No profit, no production – the first rule of capitalism
The Director of the CIA estimate that Russian casualties in Ukraine so far have reached around 15,000 killed and perhaps 45,000 wounded.
“And, the Ukrainians have suffered as well — probably a little less than that. But, you know, significant casualties.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2022/7/20/russia-ukraine-live-news
Russia and China have been accused of interference in American elections but there is little criticism of Israel’s proxy AIPAC when it comes to political lobbying
US pro-Israel groups have claimed victory in another win in Democratic congressional primaries, defeating a veteran former lawmaker critical of Israel
Again, using the trade war as cover and ignoring its own exploitation of migrant workers, both official and unofficial, the USA accuses both China and Russia of facilitating human trafficking.
In regards of the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of infrastructure projects around the world
“PRC [People’s Republic of China] and host country nationals employed in some BRI construction projects, mining operations, and factories in African, European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific, Latin American, and Caribbean countries experience deceptive recruitment into debt bondage, arbitrary wage garnishing or withholding, contract irregularities, confiscation of travel and identity documentation, forced overtime, and resignation penalties,” the report said.
Workers also faced “intimidation and threats, physical violence, denial of access to urgent medical care, poor working and living conditions, restricted freedom of movement and communication, and retaliation for reported abuses”, it added.
The annual report also accuses Beijing of “government policy or pattern of widespread forced labor, including through the continued mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and members of other Turkic and/or Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang”.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said, “If the US wants to call out countries that engage in human trafficking, it should firstly point fingers at itself,”
XR vandalise Murdoch media building
Caspar Hughes, one of the Extinction Rebellion protesters, blamed the power of a small group of rightwing newspaper owners over British climate policy: “The biggest issue stopping government, business and civil society from responding sensibly to the climate and ecological crises is the billionaire owned media. If Murdoch, Rothermere and Dacre supported net zero Policy the rest of us would follow suit.
“Currently they are key destroyers of what little hope we have left to secure a safe, secure future for ourselves and our children. It is long past time for them to bring their power to bear as we try to stop our civilisation from collapsing in the coming decades.”
So the Forde Report is out and both right and left claim it is a vindication of their position.
What it shows is that the Labour Party model of an inclusive ‘broad church’ failing, with Labour Party ‘principles’ being a pix and mix of whatever is the dish of the day
Postal workers vote for strikes
Some 97.6% of members from a 77% turnout voted in favour of striking. The union has demanded Royal Mail group enters into negotiations to secure a “straight, no-strings pay increase for workers”.
As much as I believe the British government.
As for the BBC, as much as I believe RT.
Being a cliche does not make the saying, the first casualty of war is truth, any less accurate.
I find it unusual that in the USA the most sceptical of the pro-Ukraine position is Tucker Carlson and his fellow right-wing isolationists joined by the leftists of Grayzone. Strange bed-fellows, indeed.
This thread is 136 pages and over 2000 posts long and still, we pose questions and look for answers. From the start of it, we have not taken anything for granted.
The Trade War
https://countercurrents.org/2022/07/weaponising-trade-and-its-new-enemy/
“…In recent times and with the rise of China as a dominant economic power, “weaponizing trade” has gained new impetus and focus, especially in the context of the US/China relations…”
Commentator Chris Hedges speculates
“The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia are plotting a war with Iran. The 2015 Iranian nuclear arms accord, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Donald Trump sabotaged, does not look like it will be revived. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is reviewing options to attack if Teheran looks poised to obtain a nuclear weapon and Israel, which opposes U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, carries out military strikes.”
Latest from Sanders. Accuses Manchin of sabotage. Accuses Biden of being too friendly with Saudi Arabia
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/17/sanders-manchin-sabotages-biden-agenda
Dump Biden for 2424
https://www.ipsnews.net/2022/07/grassroots-organizing-dump-biden-clear-path-better-nominee-2024/
“We object to Biden running in 2024 because of his job performance as president. He has proven incapable of effectively leading for policies so badly needed by working people and the planet, including policies he promised as a candidate.”
“Young people are abandoning him in droves because he won’t fight for their rights and freedom.”
We told you so
