September 16, 2016 – Astute News

September 16, 2016

Pizza and Vodka Secrets Coming Out

The recent Syria agreement signed in Geneva by Kerry and Lavrov (probably it will be remembered as “Pizza and Vodka deal”, as the journalists have been served these delicacies by the negotiating teams during the time they had to wait for the results) beside the points disclosed by the foreign ministers included five documents. The US insisted on keeping the...

Middle East/Opinion Comments: 0

September 16, 2016

Playing Algorithm’n Blues

We all live in the Age of the Algorithm. So here’s a story that not only encapsulates the age, but dwells on how the algorithm obsession can go horribly wrong. It all started when Facebook censored the iconic photo of «napalm girl» Kim Phuch, which became a symbol of the Vietnam War recognized all over the world. The photo was...

Opinion Comments: 0

September 16, 2016

US ‘War on Terror’ has Cost $5 Trillion and Increased Terrorism by 6,500%

On September 11, 2001, one of the most tragic events in recent American history took place. Close to 3,000 civilians lost their lives in horrific terror attacks that took place on American soil. Fifteen years later, it is time to ask the question: have our counterterror efforts helped to reduce the amount of terrorism in the world? Or at the...

Opinion Comment: 1

September 16, 2016

Beijing may be Waiting for the Perfect Timing to Strike in South China Sea

The People’s Republic of China is headed on a tragic trajectory that should be familiar to anyone with even cursory exposure to history. Due to a complex composition of factors – a century of torment at the hands of western powers and Japan as well as a toxic brew of nationalism – the PRC is not content with its place...

Opinion Comments: 0

September 16, 2016

What is BRICS Member India Really Up To?

You may have never heard of LEMOA. In Global South terms, LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement) is quite a big thing, signed in late August by Indian Defense Minister Mohan Parrikar and Pentagon supremo Ash Carter. As Carter spun it four months before the signing, LEMOA rules that US forces “may” be deployed to India under special circumstances. Essentially, Delhi...

Opinion Comments: 0

September 16, 2016

Syrian War Report – September 16, 2016: US and Russia Exchange Allegations of Ceasefire Violations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWqTULshons The United States and Russia exchanged allegations of ceasefire violations against both of their respective proxies on September 15th. According to Moscow, US-led forces has violated the ceasefire 32 times. Russia shared unprecedented live footage from one of their reconnaissance drones flying over Aleppo to monitor the ceasefire conditions below. The Syrian Arab Army began withdrawing from the Castello...

Middle East Comments: 0

September 16, 2016

Japan to Join US Navy’s ‘Training Cruises’ in South China Sea

Japan has announced plans to increase joint military activities with allies in South East Asia to counter Chinese dominance around disputed reefs in the East China and South China Seas. This includes deeper engagement with the US Navy’s “training cruises.” Tensions in the region have been on the rise after Beijing laid claim to the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands – known...

Military Comments: 0

September 16, 2016

Monsanto and Bayer: Why Food and Agriculture Just Took a Turn for the Worse

News broke this week that Monsanto accepted a $66 billion takeover bid from Bayer. The new company would control more than 25 per cent of the global supply of commercial seeds and pesticides. Bayer’s crop chemicals business is the world’s second largest after Syngenta, and Monsanto is the leading commercial seeds business. Monsanto held a 26 per cent market share of all seeds sold...

Food Comment: 1

Daily Archive: September 16, 2016

Pizza and Vodka Secrets Coming Out

Playing Algorithm’n Blues

US ‘War on Terror’ has Cost $5 Trillion and Increased Terrorism by 6,500%

Beijing may be Waiting for the Perfect Timing to Strike in South China Sea

What is BRICS Member India Really Up To?

Syrian War Report – September 16, 2016: US and Russia Exchange Allegations of Ceasefire Violations

Japan to Join US Navy’s ‘Training Cruises’ in South China Sea

Monsanto and Bayer: Why Food and Agriculture Just Took a Turn for the Worse