BRICS/Meanwhile, BRICS is Alive and Well

19.11.2019, NEO New Eastern Outlook (Russia) https://journal-neo.org/2019/11/19/meanwhile-brics-is-alive-and-well/ 

Vladimir Platov*

There’s been no shortage of interest towards the recently concluded ninth BRICS summit in Brazil. This association brings together a total of five countries, with its name being an acronym coined to represent the combined economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This block represents 23% of the world’s economic output and some 18% of world trade, with a combined GDP of a mind-boggling 15.435 trillion dollars. However, what is even more important, some may argue, is that it represents 42% of the world’s population.

This year’s summit was held under the motto “Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future.” This motto pretty much pre-determined heated discussions on the most urgent challenges the international community faces – instability, regional insecurity, the state of the world economy, the state of affairs in trade and finance.

In addition to opening speeches by the leaders of each member state, there was

BRICS/Russian Warship To Conduct Naval Exercises With China And South Africa

Last updated Nov 25, 2019, Fort Russ News (Russia) https://www.fort-russ.com/2019/11/russian-warship-to-conduct-naval-exercises-with-china-and-south-africa/?utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=wp&utm_campaign=push&utm_content=new-article

By Paul Antonopoulos 

Cape Town – The Russian missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov arrived in Cape Town to participate in joint naval maneuvers with China and South Africa, said the spokesman of the North Fleet of Russia, Captain Vadim Serga.

Last week, the press service of the Northern Fleet reported

DPR/Kiev’s document on Donbass deportation plan is authentic – lawyer

november 25, 2019 13:07, DAN Donetsk News Agency (DPR) https://dan-news.info/en/politics-en/kievs-document-on-donbass-deportation-plan-is-authentic-lawyer.html

Donetsk, Nov 25 – DAN. Ukrainian Council of national security and defense has come up with an ill-founded denials of the Donbass deportation plans, said DPR parliament committee for criminal and administrative law chairwoman, lawyer Elena Shishkina.

Earlier some media leaked a letter by the security council secretary Alexey Danilov to head of the presidential administration, state security head and prime minister suggesting to open administrative and criminal cases against Donbass residents who are not “pro-Ukrainian” and to relocate them either to Russia or

DPR/Pushilin says Kiev’s policy is destructive, Donetsk aims at integration with Russia

november 18, 2019 12:12, DAN Donetsk News Agency (DPR) https://dan-news.info/en/politics-en/pushilin-says-kievs-policy-is-destructive-donetsk-aims-at-integration-with-russia.html

Donetsk, Nov 18 – DAN. The plan of Donbass reintegration developed at the office of Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky and widely publicized, did not take DPR authorities by surprise, said DPR Head Denis Pushilin.

Earlier some media leaked a letter by the security council secretary Alexey Danilov to head of the presidential administration, state security head and prime minister suggesting to open administrative and criminal cases against Donbass residents who are not “pro-Ukrainian” and to relocate them either to Russia or to central and western Ukraine for a “rehabilitation”.

“We have not learnt anything completely new from the document. Kiev authorities are dreaming to ret rid of us. The war unleashed by Kiev, aimed at elimination of Donbass population, destruction of vital infrastructure confirms it. The economic blockade imposed on our civilians does not

DPR celebrates State Flag Day in Republic’s capital

Опубликовано 25.10.2019, People`s Council of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) https://dnrsovet.su/dpr-celebrates-state-flag-day-in-republic-s-capital/

On October 25, the central square of the capital of the Donetsk People’s Republic hosted a festive occasion dedicated to State Flag Day, in which the DPR

Head, Denis Pushilin, the People’s Council Chairman, Vladimir Bidyovka, People’s Council deputies, representatives of ministries and departments took part. Head of the Republic Denis Pushilin addressed the audience with

BRICS/Russia-Africa ‘Shared Vision 2030’: Alternative To Neo-Colonial Pillage

Last updated Oct 29, 2019, Fort Russ News (Russia) https://www.fort-russ.com/2019/10/russia-africa-shared-vision-2030-alternative-to-neo-colonial-pillage/

By Matthew Ehret 

A long night of suffering has kept one of the richest continents on the globe in a state of virtual dark age for over a century. Although the age of science has given humanity the means to access the highest standards of living in world history, 2019 has seen 15 000 children die of preventable deaths every day (illness, starvation and murder) with half occurring in Sub Saharan Africa. In a world of advanced energy technology, only five of 54 African countries have access to 100% electrification and all are North African.

Africa’s dark situation was never due to simplistic terms like “corruption” or “incompetence”, nor was Africa ever “culturally incompatible” with western technology as some racists have taught in social science classes. The truth is that Africa was never given true independence as is popularly believed. Sure there was nominal independence, but the economic independence needed to become sovereign nations on the continent was never granted by the empire.

This is why the growing presence of nations such as China and Russia on the continent are increasingly seen as beacons of hope for

BRICS, Russia/The Russian Masterpiece in Syria: Everyone Wins

October 16, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/10/16/the-russian-masterpiece-in-syria-everyone-wins/

Federico PIERACCINI*

“Moscow and Damascus have always maintained they are against any form of partition or illegal foreign presence in Syria.”

Moscow has managed to maintain contacts with all parties in the conflict, even in spite of its stance against partition and illegal foreign presence. Trilateral talks between Iran, Turkey and Russia occurred in Astana at Moscow’s urging. Putin managed to bring together in Sochi the Syrian government and opposition groups to discuss the future of Syria. In Geneva, Moscow mediated between Damascus and the international community, shielding Syria from the diplomatic skulduggery of the US and other enemies of Syria.

Turkey, solely as a result of its defeat in Syria, now finds itself in active dialogue with Moscow and Tehran. As Ankara experiences worsening relations with Washington and other European capitals, Moscow saw a great opportunity to bring Turkey closer to Damascus.

Russia’s operation was complicated and required a lot of patience; but thanks to negotiations supervised by Russia, together with the bravery and courage of Syrian soldiers, almost all

DPR, LPR to seek new disengagement date at Minsk talks – Nikonorova

October 11, 2019 14:19, DAN Donetsk News Agency (DPR) https://dan-news.info/en/politics-en/dpr-lpr-to-seek-new-disengagement-date-at-minsk-talks-nikonorova.html

Donetsk, Oct 11 – DAN. Ukrainian unilateral actions in disengagement areas shall be considered provocations to derail negotiations efforts, said DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova.

“We are going to raise the issue of coordinating a new date for disengagement at the Minsk talks. The key factor is synchronicity and harmonization of the disengagement. Any actions must begin and end synchronically within the agreed time limits.”

She said that Ukraine has also blocked a possible

BRICS, Russia/Western Zero-Sum Geopolitics is a Dead-End

October 4, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/10/04/western-zero-sum-geopolitics-is-a-dead-end/

The US and its Western allies are creating more international tensions and instability in a futile bid to carve the globe into “spheres of interest” and “exclusivity”. That’s the way Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov views it, and few objective observers of international relations could disagree with his admonishment.

Russia’s top diplomat says the only way forward is for multilateralism to prevail and for all states to abide by the principles of the United Nations’ Charter, to which they are signatories.

A prime example of the destructive US-led Western policy is seen in the Persian Gulf where tensions have reached an explosive pitch which could trigger an all-out war across the Middle East, possibly embroiling the entire world.

There can be little doubt that the precarious situation in the Gulf is extant because of Washington’s irresponsible provocations towards Iran. The unilateral abrogation of the landmark 2015 nuclear accord by the Trump administration and the militarization of an already dominant US presence in the Gulf over recent months is

Ukraine/ Russiagate to Ukrainegate

September 26, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/09/26/from-russiagate-to-ukrainegate/

Finian Cunningham*

With the “Russiagate” hoax proving to be the “most fraudulent political scandal in American history,” as Princeton Professor Stephen Cohen puts it, now we have emerging an alternative – “Ukrainegate”.

President Donald Trump is being accused of abusing his White House office to put pressure on Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to dig into alleged corrupt dealings by Joe Biden, the top Democratic candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections in 2020.

To make matters worse for Trump, he is also accused of threatening to withhold $250 million of military aid as a way to pressure

BRICS, China/Hong Kong Protests: “Return” to the British Empire and the 1842 Treaty of Nanjing… ?

September 25, 2019, Global Research (Canada) https://www.globalresearch.ca/hong-kong-protests-return-to-the-british-empire-and-the-1842-treaty-of-nanjing/5690148

By Manlio Dinucci

Hundreds of young Chinese, in front of the British Consulate in Hong Kong, sing the God Save the Queen and shout “Great Britain Saves Hong Kong”, a rally call in London by 130 parliamentarians who ask that British citizenship be given to residents of the former colony. In this way, Britain is emerging in world public opinion, particularly among young people, as a guarantor of legality and human rights. To do this, History is erased.

It is therefore necessary, before any other consideration, to know the historical episodes which, in the first half of the 19th century, brought the Chinese territory of Hong Kong under British rule.

To penetrate China, then ruled by the Qing dynasty, Britain resorted to the distribution of opium, which it shipped by sea from India where it held the monopoly. The drug market spread rapidly in

BRICS, Russia/Military-Industrial Commission meeting

September 19, 2019 21:40 Izhevsk President of Russia http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/61578

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation at the Kalashnikov Academy Youth Technology Park.

After the meeting, in the presence of the President, the Defence Ministry signed a long-term contract with the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol for the delivery of Tor-M2 and Tor-M2DT air defence missiles for the Russian Army; the Government of Udmurtuia signed a cooperation agreement with Roscosmos State Corporation on establishing the Kosmoquantum Laboratory at the Kalashnikov Academy Youth Technology Park.

Beginning of the Military-Industrial Commission meeting

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

At this regular Military-Industrial Commission meeting in Izhevsk, one of Russia’s arms capitals, we will discuss key issues of developing the industry’s facilities and enhancing their economic stability and competitiveness.

First, I suggest we focus on implementing the import substitution programme in the

Brics Was Created as a Tool of Attack: Lula

August 31, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/08/31/brics-was-created-as-a-tool-of-attack-lula/

Former Brazilian leader Lula speaks from a room in a prison in southern Brazil. Photo: Editora Brasil 247

Pepe ESCOBAR

Former Brazilian leader wishes emerging economies were closer, recalls Obama ‘crashing’ Copenhagen climate meet

In a wide-ranging, two-hour-plus, exclusive interview from a prison room in Curitiba in southern Brazil, former Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva re-emerged for the first time, after more than 500 days in jail, and sent a clear message to the world.

Amid the 24/7 media frenzy of scripted sound bites and “fake news”, it’s virtually impossible to find a present or former head of state anywhere, in a conversation with journalists, willing to speak deep from his soul, to comment on all current political developments and relish telling stories about the corridors of power. And all that while still in prison.

The first part of this mini-series focused on the Amazon. Here, we will focus on Brazil’s relationship with BRICS and Beijing. BRICS is the grouping of major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India and China – that formed

DPR/Foreign delegations expected in Donetsk for Zakharchenko’s memorial events

August 26, 2019 17:49, DAN Donetsk News Agency (DPR)  https://dan-news.info/en/society/foreign-delegations-expected-in-donetsk-for-zakharchenkos-memorial-events.html

Donetsk, Aug 26 – DAN. Foreign delegations are expected to arrive in the DPR for memorial events to commemorate the late DPR Head Alexander Zakharchenko.

“The delegations from Russia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the LPR are to arrive for memorial events to commemorate the late DPR Head Alexander Zakharchenko,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier the DPR incumbent Head Denis Pushilin said that the square in central Donetsk adjacent to the House of Government (former Regional state administration) shall be named after Alexander Zakharchenko.

He reminded that in 2014 thousands of people gathered at this square for a rally against the coup-d’etat in Kiev, and this place had since become a symbol

The Anglo-American Origins of Color Revolutions & NED

August 17, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/08/17/the-anglo-american-origins-of-color-revolutions-ned/

Matthew Ehret*

A few years ago, very few people understood the concept behind color revolutions.

Had Russia and China’s leadership not decided to unite in solidarity in 2012 when they began vetoing the overthrow of Bashar al Assad in Syria- followed by their alliance around the Belt and Road Initiative, then it is doubtful that the color revolution concept would be as well-known as it has become today.

At that time, Russia and China realized that they had no choice but to go on the counter offensive, since the regime change operations and colour revolutions orchestrated by such organizations as the CIA-affiliated National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Soros Open Society Foundations were ultimately designed to target them as those rose, orange, green or yellow revolution efforts in Georgia, Ukraine, Iran or Hong Kong were always recognized as weak points on the periphery of the threatened formation of a great power alliance of sovereign Eurasian nations that would have the collective power to challenge the power of the Anglo-American elite based in London and Wall Street.

Russia’s 2015 expulsion of 12 major conduits of color revolution included Soros’ Open Society Foundation as well as the NED was

BRICS, Russia/Cold War 2.0 and the Buzz Around Russia’s New Ultra-Heavy Drone

August 10, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/08/10/cold-war-2-and-buzz-around-russia-new-ultra-heavy-drone/

Tim Kirby*

The Cold War perception of space travel as being very human-oriented with man conquering Mars to build the Capitalist or Communist cities of tomorrow has been completely replaced by the reality that drones are much better suited for space exploration than humans. When it comes to military aviation the situation is similar. The strongest and weakest point of any pilot is his brain, which cannot stand the massive gravitational forces that ultra-modern fighter jets are capable of creating. So it is no surprise that at some point the US, Russia and China will unveil a drone big enough and capable enough to replace any current generation bombers and fighters removing the limitations of the human body’s weakness to big gravity from military aviation. And, as of a few days ago the Russians did just that.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation just released video to the public of a test of their new massive pilotless aircraft called “The Hunter”. This demonstration was

UK: Boris Johnson – A Dangerous Yes Man to Washington

July 26, 2019, EDITORIAL Strategic Culture Foundation http://www.strategic-culture.org (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/07/26/boris-johnson-dangerous-yes-man-to-washington/

The clownish figure of Boris Johnson comes with a trunk load of anti-Russia baggage as he arrived in Downing Street this week as new British prime minister.

The dour, hapless Theresa May has been replaced by a guy who seems to think that geopolitics is a circus conducted with custard pies to the face.

His past deplorable comments about the Skripal affair blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering an assassination plot in England last year, plus his outrageous denigration of Russia’s World Cup as comparable to Nazi Germany holding the Olympic Games in 1936, demonstrate that this politician is unfit for office. He can only make relations with Russia even worse.

Moreover, Johnson’s cringing sycophancy to US President Donald Trump adds a whole new disturbing risk of war with Iran.

Everything about this 55-year-old polemist, who made his journalistic career on the back of concocting sensationalist rubbish, speaks of someone who is unscrupulous and a self-serving egomaniac. Added to those “qualities” are his dense stupidity and

BRICS/Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the newspaper Argumenty i Fakty

published on July 17, 2019, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation http://www.mid.ru/en http://www.mid.ru/en_GB/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/3728033?p_p_id=101_INSTANCE_cKNonkJE02Bw&_101_INSTANCE_cKNonkJE02Bw_languageId=en_GB

Question: Can an improvement in the relations with the United States be expected in the near future?

Sergey Lavrov: An improvement will hardly materialise any time soon, since it is anything but easy to sort out the mess that our relations are in, which is not our fault. After all, bilateral relations require reciprocal efforts. We have to meet each other half way.

Russia is ready to move in this direction, as we have said on a number of occasions. We proceed from the premise that Russia and the United States bear special responsibility. We are the two largest nuclear powers, the founding members of the United Nations and permanent members of its Security Council. Cooperation between our two countries is key to ensuring stability and predictability in international affairs. However, not everything depends on us. It takes two to tango, as the saying goes.

The situation is quite complicated on the American side. On the one hand, President Donald Trump talks about seeking to be on good terms with Russia, but this attitude is far from prevalent in Washington. We see this in unfriendly steps, such as various groundless accusations Russia faces, imposing financial and economic sanctions, seizing diplomatic property, kidnapping Russian nationals in third countries, opposing Russia’s foreign policy interests, as well as attempts to

No Alineados/Venezuela consolida cooperación bilateral con países del Mnoal

Publicado 20 julio 2019, TeleSur.net https://www.telesurtv.net (Venezuela) https://www.telesurtv.net/news/venezuela-cooperacion-bilateral-paises-mnoal-20190720-0024.html

En el marco de la diplomacia bolivariana de paz, este sábado autoridades venezolanas sostuvieron sendos encuentros bilaterales con las delegaciones de Rusia, Turquía, Irán y Palestina.

En el marco de las actividades diplomáticas paralelas al desarrollo de la Reunión Ministerial del Buró de Coordinación del Movimiento de Países No Alineados (Mnoal) que se celebra este fin de semana en Venezuela, altos funcionarios del Gobierno Bolivariano sostienen sendos encuentros bilaterales con las delegaciones extranjeras para consolidar vínculos de cooperación y solidaridad.

Este sábado, la vicepresidenta ejecutiva Delcy Rodríguez mantuvo reuniones de trabajo con representantes de las cancillerías de Rusia, Turquía, Irán y

BRICS/Thinking Fast and Slow: Why the West Cannot See the Rise of Russia and China

July 17, 2019, Strategic Culture Foundation http://www.strategic-culture.org (Russia) https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/07/17/thinking-fast-and-slow-why-west-cannot-see-rise-russia-china/

Martin Sieff*

Why do Western leaders, pundits and academics all continue to despise the remarkable progress in economic and strategic cooperation being made between Russia and China and with their neighbors?

In the past six years, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China met each other for sustained conferences on no less than 30 occasions.

President Xi paid a state visit to Russia from June 5 to June 7 where he and President Putin held bilateral talks which resulted in the two leaders signing an agreement to step up global strategic stability in the modern-era. Then from June 8 to June 10, both leaders also attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

There was nothing sinister or secret about these meetings. On the contrary, they were extensively covered in the Russian and Chinese media. And they celebrated major advances in