Cooperation between Russia, Iran and China might signal a formation of a new world paradigm, able to re-define the global situation in the world both politically and strategically; the recent developments in the relations between the three might be more significant than many realize, according to an American investigative journalist.
The recent developments between Russia, Iran and China, right after the easing of the anti-Iranian sanctions, might be more important and significant than people actually realize, American investigative journalist Carol Gould, currently based in the UK, said during a live broadcast on Iranian news channel Press TV.
The journalist was referring to the recent two-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tehran and the outcome of his trip.
Xi Jinping was the first international leader to head to Iran after the trade restrictions were removed and capped his visit with 17 agreements for cooperation in areas including energy, trade, and industry.
The two countries also agreed to increase bilateral trade more than 10-fold to $600 billion in the next decade.
In addition, Xi Jinping signed a joint statement with President Hassan Rouhani in support of Iran's application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), advocated by both Russia and China.
Russia is also boosting ties with Iran after an international nuclear accord was reached. The two countries have signed an agreement on the easing of travel procedures between the two starting from February.
Carol Gould noted that this strategic alignment is based on trade, not on military might, and it definitely signals a way forward to a new alliance.
Also, she stressed, it might be very beneficial to China.
There has been talk of doing away with paper currency for several decades, but up until now that has mostly been idle conjecture and mostly bluster. Gradually, however, the building blocks of such a system have indeed been developed. These enabling technologies include:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Postal meters
- Credit and debit card enabled pay phones
- Credit and debit card enabled vending machines
- Credit and debit card enabled “pay before you exit” parking garage kiosks
- Grocery and warehouse store “member” cards
- Automated bank account and wage garnishment by the IRS
- Automated child support and alimony payments
- Transnational debit cards with a Maestro logo (such as EC and Switch cards)
- EBT cards
- Widespread use of cellular smartphones
- Widespread use of tablet and laptop computers
- Direct deposit of payroll checks and Social Security payments
- “E-Stamp” electronic postage stamp equivalents
- Electronic banking
- “Self checkout” terminals at stores
- Point of purchase (POP) credit/debit card terminals
- Credit/debit card enabled gas pumps
- The new chip-equipped “smart” credit cards
- The “Square” and PayPal “Here” credit/debit card readers
Perhaps the most crucial, yet underappreciated, one of these technologies was the advent of the very compact Square card reader in 2010. The Square magnetic strip card reader is a tiny attachment weighing less than two ounces that plugs into a cell phone. When used with its SquareUp cross-platform app, this device allows anyone with a functioning cell phone signal the ability to process credit card and debit card transactions. The Square reader is now a mature technology that is being mass produced and sold for less than $9.
The other key enabler was the advent of the EBT card, which replaced U.S. food stamps. The EBT card put the Federal government in the debit card-issuing business. Thus, all of the infrastructure is already in place to have a government-issued “Cash Card”. (It would be very quick and easy to start issuing a combination cash and EBT card, which might be marked “Federal Reserve Cash Card” or something similar.
A cashless society is a Collectivist/Statist Tyrant’s dream come true. It seems like something inspired by George Orwell’s novel 1984.
Think of it: Fully documented accounting and taxation on every transaction, large or small, leaving little or no opportunity to conduct free, private enterprise on the gray market or so-called black market. There would be Total Information Awareness of every citizen’s spending habits and Total Information Awareness of every citizen’s travel and business relationships! What better tool for imposing a statist tyranny than having the ability to instantly target individuals, groups of individuals, or even entire demographic groups?
Picture this: If you step out of line, then your account gets frozen, levied, or even zeroed in the blink of any eye. (If you think that the FAA’s horribly flawed “No Fly” list is bad, then just imagine a “No Buy” list for everything–even gasoline or groceries!) Have you ever seen the Aaron Eckhart movie titled Erased? Or the Will Smith movie Enemy Of The State? Those movies provide apropos analogies. The bottom line: Any dissent could be crushed, overnight.
Going “cashless” could give bankers, the police, debt collection companies, and/or tax agencies the ability to not only monitor but control and seize the liquid net worth of every private citizen, with no notice whatsoever. The incremental “fees” and taxes could be conducted at many levels simultaneously: local and state sales taxes, a future national sales tax, a future Value Added Tax (VAT), various “sin” taxes on alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and firearms, et cetera. With a cashless currency, the revenue gathering possibilities are endless.
As we’ve documented on a number of occasions over the past three or so months, Germans have a newfound love for pepper spray.
In November, we noted that frightened Germans fearing a “foreign invasion” from the Mid-East, were rushing to stock up on what amounts to migrant-be-gone aerosol just in case a refugee should get any designs on trying to get too close.
"There is fear" explains Kai Prase, managing director of DEF-TEC Defense Technology GmbH in Frankfurt, one of the major producers of repellents. "For the past six to seven weeks we have been practically sold out."
Yes, “there is fear”, and that fear only grew after New Year’s Eve when dozens of women reported being sexually assaulted by “gangs” of drunken "Arabs" in Cologne, among other cities.
The New Year’s incidents triggered even more interest in deterrent technology and before you knew it, Germans were Googling “pepper spray” like there was no tomorrow:
"There has been an increase of at least 1,000 percent or more in Google search queries for gun permits since January," Felix Beilharz, a social media expert from Cologne told DW.
And that's not all.
Germans are also getting more interested in self defense courses. "Currently, those offering self-defense courses are also profiting from the concerns and fears of many German citizens. Many such courses are booked out for the next several weeks - that was not the case a year ago," DW says.
"Several social media entries tagged with #Koelnbhf (Cologne train station) were advertising “efficient martial arts training," RT adds.
A shocking video shows migrants attacking residents in Calais, France on their own private property as left-wingers encourage the violence.
The footage, shot this past weekend, shows a horde of migrants aggressively marching towards a residential street as two men stand outside the gate of their home.
Some journalists and pro-migrant protesters attempt to stop the assault, but it soon escalates as the “refugees” begin throwing tires, pieces of wood and other objects at the two men.
The two men retreat into the front yard of their property as more objects are thrown. One of the men is clearly enraged by the assault and gestures aggressively towards the migrants.
The other man then displays an airsoft rifle in defense of his property while more objects continue to be hurled.
As North Korea reportedly prepares to conduct another long-range missile test, a US senator tells Sputnik the test may be meant to show the United States that Pyongyang is capable of striking the American mainland.
On Wednesday, an unnamed Japanese government official told reporters that satellite imagery showed North Korea days away from testing a long-range ballistic missile. Japanese reconnaissance reportedly revealed preparations at a test site known as Tongchang-ri, in the country’s northwest.
If true, this would be North Korea’s first such test since 2012, and could result in fresh UN sanctions.
But financial deterrence will likely do little to prevent Pyongyang from pursuing ballistic missile technology, according to the politician. Speaking to Sputnik, US Senator Cory Gardner said the tests are an attempt to show that North Korea has the ability to launch a missile across the Pacific.
Washington is also concerned with future space launches. North Korea’s 2012 launch was used to place an object into Earth orbit, and the US is worried that similar projects could be carried out in the coming weeks.
"Our concern though is that they do a space-launch but really it’s the same technology to develop ICBMs [intercontinental ballistic missiles]," said a US official speaking on condition of anonymity.
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