Politics

Authored by Mike Shedlock via www.themaven.net/mishtalk,

After rejecting a Grand Coalition, SPD's Sigmar Gabriel seeks to keep the hopes alive despite little party support. Why?

Background

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a record 262 journalists are being held in prisons around the world.

As Statista's Niall McCarthy notes, nearly three-quarters of them are being held on anti-state charges while at least 21 have been charged with "false news".

The worst three jailers are responsible for 51 percent of the total...

You will find more statistics at Statista

Authored by MK Bhadrakumar via The Asia Times,

In the annals of Russian-American relations, it is difficult to recall a precedent for the Kremlin leader calling his White House counterpart to convey his personal gratitude and appreciation for the profound contribution made by the US’ Central Intelligence Agency and its director to Russian national security.

The great irony is that the incumbent Kremlin boss is a former KGB officer. Vladimir Putin never ceases to surprise.

Authored by Paul Craig Roberts,

What do we make of Trump’s national security speech?

First of all, it is the military/security complex’s speech, and it is inconsistent with Trump’s intention of normalizing relations with Russia.

In keeping with China’s strategy of methodically encroaching on its geopolitical rivals via air force and naval drills in the Pacific, both Japan and South Korea scrambled fighter jets earlier this week as China suddenly expanded the scope of naval drills being held in the waters off the Korean peninsula.