A study by the CIA has raised serious concerns over Israel’s survival beyond the next 20 years. The CIA say that an “inexorable movement away from a two-state to a one-state solution, as the most viable model based on democratic principles of full equality that sheds the looming specter of colonial Apartheid while allowing for the return of the 1947/1948 and 1967 refugees.
It appears oil traders are disappointed with Al-Naimi's comments. Suggesting hopefully (for some) that the 'freeze' is the start of a process, al-Naimi then dropped the tape-bomb:
He then added that "not all the countries will freeze; The ones that count will freeze." WTI Crude (April) front-month futures have erasd yesterday's gains.
Live Fed here (click image for link)
The recent carnage in Ankara comes at a good time for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has been demanding that the United States and other NATO allies support him in his war against the Kurds of Syria, who are, incidentally, regarded as allies by Washington in the war against ISIS. The Turks have been bombarding Kurdish positions and staging special ops raids, warning the Kurds against the dangers of becoming too successful in their drive to occupy territory vacated by a retreating ISIS.
Russia have requested permission from the U.S. to fly a surveillance planed equipped with an electro-optical imaging sensor over America. American officials have objected to the request but may have to grant permission nonetheless due to the Open Skies Treaty that both Russia and US signed – an agreement that allows for unarmed observation flights over 34 member nations. Engadget.com reports: The treaty was originally designed to increase the military transparency of member nations.
Transport for London, the body that oversees the London Underground, have banned a series of advertisements that are critical of Israel. Millions of passengers were greeted by a number of ads published by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement accusing Israel of torturing and murdering Palestinians. Transport for London promptly pulled the advertisements saying that “these are not authorized adverts”. Ynetnews.com reports: According to a report in the Jewish Chronicle, the campaign includes four ads purportedly put up in 500 trains.