Politics

Russia and China have prevented the UN Security Council from imposing sanctions on the Syrian government for its alleged use of chemical weapons. On Tuesday they vetoed a UNSC resolution that had been drafted by Britain, France and the United States. The measure won nine votes in favor, while China, Russia and Bolivia opposed it. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the draft resolution as “totally inappropriate” and that it would have undermined efforts to end nearly six-years of conflict in Syria.

One wonders who funded the ‘Leave’ campaign in the UK ‘Brexit’ referendum. A shadowy group with ties to Saudi intelligence donated over US$500,000 to the largest unionist political party in Northern Ireland during United Kingdom’s EU membership referendum. Newly released secret documents reveal that the major donor to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) during the campaign was a shadowy group called the Constitutional Research Council, chaired by the Scottish Conservative Richard Cook. Cook is the founder of a company with close ties to Saudi Arabian elite and intelligence service.

A double-whammy of bullish news hit WTI crude futures shortly after 1300ET today sending prices soaring. First, The White House denied earlier rumors on changes to the ethanol mandate; and then Reuters confirmed OPEC production cut compliance steady at 94%.

One month ago, a media frenzy broke out after the WaPo reported of mass voluntary resignations at the State Department, to protest the arrival of Rex Tillerson. Shortly after, it was revealed that not only was it not a "mass resignation" (there were only four high level resignation) but it was all procedural, meant to streamline the transition from one administration to the next.

Newly-declassified documents show that a senior CIA agent and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Intelligence worked closely with the owners and journalists of many of the largest media outlets:

The United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities found in 1975 that the CIA submitted stories to the American press:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ED63A_hcd0

Wikipedia adds details: