1. #3976
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    They have far better values?
    Different values.

    It's similar to asking if Pakistan is part of the North Asian value society

  2. #3977
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    ^You should have stayed in the "Service".

  3. #3978
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    "Service"
    You're quoting who? And what "Service"? Dinner "Service"? Full "Service"?

  4. #3979
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    Russia: adapting to sanctions leaves economy in robust health

    Analysts say Moscow now has more to fear from a removal of restrictions than additional ones

    JANUARY 30 2020

    Five years ago, the Russian economy was teetering on the brink. Following Moscow’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in March 2014, western countries imposed powerful economic sanctions on Russia which, coupled with a steep decline in the price of oil, could have brought the Kremlin to its knees.

    Yet by many metrics, Russia’s $1.7tn economy looks to be in better shape today than it has done for some time. Growth is slower but more stable, a $124bn sovereign fund has been created, exporters have found new markets and importers have found domestic alternatives.

    Some economic analysts think Moscow has more to fear from an abrupt removal of the sanctions than additional ones. “The single biggest danger to the Russian economy would be if the US woke up one day and lifted all the sanctions,” says a senior official who advises the Russian central bank. “There would be a massive inflow of capital, the currency would spike, all the government’s policies would be in tatters. It would be a disaster.”

    That Russia should be in this seemingly absurd situation is a result of prudent fiscal policy by the Kremlin, economic adaptation over the years spent under western restrictions — and a fat slice of luck.

    The sanctions, imposed by the US, EU and other countries in various tranches since 2014, include travel bans for prominent individuals, prohibit long-term financing for some major corporates and ban assistance to Russian oil and gas companies for Arctic, shale and offshore projects.

    Few economists argue that the overall economic picture in Russia is better today than it would have been without any sanctions at all.

    Yet Moscow’s resilience has called into question the power of the extraterritorial restrictions imposed by the US and EU, and their worth as a foreign policy tool.

    “Russia’s economy has been far more resilient than many feared back in 2014,” says Sofya Donets, Russia economist at Renaissance Capital.

    While President Vladimir Putin said there was “nothing good about [sanctions]” at his annual press conference last month, he added: “But our economy — I can say this with full responsibility — has been able to adapt to external shocks, while our national currency has actually become much more stable, even with possible energy price fluctuations.”

    Russia’s response to the sanctions focused on three key areas. First, it tightened its belt, cutting public spending and forcing its banks and major corporates to clean up their balance sheets. That was partly due to the slump in foreign credit caused by sanctions and investor sentiment, and partly due to a sense that the economy needed a safety net.

    Second, it spent trillions of roubles on programmes to create domestic substitutes for imported goods, while food imports from the EU were banned in order to stimulate local production.

    Our national currency has actually become much more stable
    Vladimir Putin
    And third, it overhauled how Russia spends the vast proceeds from selling oil and gas. Income from energy exports above a certain level was diverted into a national wealth fund, which ended a pattern of boom-and-bust caused by government spending linked to the oil price. It also, almost overnight, severed the bond that had seen the rouble move in tandem with energy markets.

    The results have been impressive. All three levels of Russia’s government ran a budget surplus in 2018 and 2019, and its total public debt is about 15 per cent of GDP. The EU average is 80 per cent.
    ---
    “We actually support a full normalisation, especially since none of those [sanctions] really work effectively,” Mr Putin said last month. “Indeed, this policy causes us problems, but there are benefits, too, and they are also obvious.”
    Read more
    Russia: adapting to sanctions leaves economy in robust health | Financial Times

  5. #3980
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    (Only No. 2?)

    Russia has become one of the largest oil suppliers in the USA

    Russia became one of the largest suppliers of oil and petroleum products in the United States in October 2019. This is evidenced by reports Energy Information Administration Energy USA in January - November of last year.

    Moscow became the second energy exporter to the United States after Canada. In October, Washington bought 136.5 million barrels of Canadian oil and fuel. Russia delivered 20.9 million barrels to the USA. In third place was Mexico (17 million barrels), in fourth - Saudi Arabia (13.7 million barrels).

    At the same time, in November Mexico overtook Russia, supplying 21.2 million barrels of oil to the United States. Washington bought 19.2 million barrels from Russia.

    According to Caracas Capital analysts, in October 2019, energy exports to the United States became a record for Moscow in the past eight years, writes RBC's Grigory Berezkin . It is noted that the Russian side managed to increase supplies to the United States mainly due to oil products. Experts explained that in October 2019 they grew 2.5 times (compared to the beginning of the year), up to 16 million barrels.

    In January, it was reported that U.S. sanctions helped Russian oil exporters earn in 2019. Opposition to Iran and Venezuela increased global demand for supplies from Russia, and Turkey and the United States made the largest contribution to procurement. In total, crude oil exports brought Russia, according to the Central Bank , $ 121.6 billion, which is 5.9 percent less than in 2018. If it were not for US sanctions against other exporters, the decline would have been more significant.

    Россия стала одним из крупнейших поставщиков нефти в США: Госэкономика: Экономика: Lenta.ru

  6. #3981
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    Putin with Lukashenko in one team
    How dangerous is Vladimir Putin?-putin_luka-jpg


    Pompeo who just has offered to Belarus a cheaper (?) oil (1st class - import from Russia) did not wait on the referee whistle blow...

  7. #3982
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Looks like the murderous old bastard has had another opponent murdered.

    Report: 'Political motive' for murder of anti-Putin blogger

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    Putin runs a tight (dictator) ship.

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    Also many Russian artists cannot easily perform their priceless artwork, so they had to emigrate to other countries where they are embraced.

    As e.g.
    Pyotr Pavlensky, who published the sex video, is best known for works of performance art including nailing his scrotum to the ground in Moscow’s Red Square, and setting fire to a door at the headquarters of Russia’s state security agency.
    Now, however, he is no longer embraced in Paris where he

    published screenshots of an online chat which he said was between Griveaux and a woman who is not his wife and exposed his “hypocrisy”.
    Macron's candidate for Paris mayor quits over sexting row

    PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron suffered a setback on Friday when one of his closest lieutenants, Benjamin Griveaux, pulled out of the race to become mayor of Paris after it was alleged he sent sexual images to a woman who is not his wife.

    Griveaux, 42, is one of the “Macron boys” - the group that helped propel the former investment banker into power in 2017.

    “I have decided to withdraw my candidacy from the municipal election,” Griveaux said in a video statement.

    He said he and his family had been subjected to months of anonymous statements defaming him, and threats to disclose private conversations stolen from him.

    A new level had been reached on Thursday with “websites and social networks carrying ignoble attacks about my private life,” he said.

    A Russian dissident artist, Pyotr Pavlensky, published screenshots of an online chat which he said was between Griveaux and a woman who is not his wife and exposed his “hypocrisy”.

    Macron's candidate for Paris mayor quits over sexting row - Reuters

  10. #3985
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    No need to send Novichok to Paris...

    Russian artist who published Paris mayor candidate kompromat arrested

    PARIS (Reuters) - A Russian dissident artist who published screenshots of sexual images that forced President Emmanuel Macron’s candidate for Paris City Hall to pull out of the race was arrested in the French capital on Saturday, the prosecutor’s office said.

    Russian artist who published Paris mayor candidate kompromat arrested - Reuters

  11. #3986
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    Aramco Slashes Crude Pricing, Starting Oil War as OPEC Flops



    "(Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia kick started an all-out oil war on Saturday, slashing official pricing for its crude and making the deepest cuts in at least 20 years on its main grades, in an effort to push as many barrels into the market as possible.

    The cuts in monthly pricing by state producer Saudi Aramco are the first indication of how the Saudis will respond to the break up of the alliance between OPEC and partners like Russia. Talks in Vienna ended in dramatic failure on Friday as Saudi Arabia’s gamble to get Russia to agree to a prolonged and deeper cut failed to pay off.
    In the first major marketing decision since the meeting, the state producer lowered April pricing for crude sales to Asia by $4-$6 a barrel and to the U.S. by $7 a barrel, according to a copy of the announcement seen by Bloomberg.

    “Saudi Arabia is now really going into a full price war,” said Iman Nasseri, managing director for the Middle East at oil consultant FGE.
    The collapse of the meeting between the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its erstwhile partners effectively ends the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia that has underpinned oil prices since 2016. Unshackled from the cartel’s restrictions and with budget holes to fill, there is every chance producers will ramp up output. A reduction in the official selling prices, or OSPs, suggests the Saudis are looking to do just that.

    The company’s pricing decision affects about 14 million barrels a day of oil exports, as other producers in the Persian Gulf region follow its lead in setting prices for their own shipments. Every month, the Persian Gulf’s biggest producers announce the official selling price for their crude grades as a differential -- a premium or discount -- against regional benchmarks. The changes are usually measured in cents and, at most, a couple of dollars.

    Aramco didn’t immediately comment on the price changes.
    As the coronavirus erodes demand, pushing Brent crude down about 20% so far this year heading into the meeting, the Saudis had hoped to shore up prices. After Russia balked at OPEC, Brent fell further, closing the week down more than 30% for the year.
    Last month, Saudi Arabia pumped 9.7 million barrels a day, but with the agreement on cuts expiring at the end of the month, the kingdom will be free to produce as much as it wants. Saudi Arabia claims it’s able to produce as much as 12.5 million barrels a day.

    Aramco cut its official selling price for flagship Arab Light crude to buyers in Asia by $6 a barrel, to a discount of $3.10 below the Middle East benchmark. The cuts eclipsed the $1.90 reduction expected by traders and refiners.
    Pricing to Northwest Europe and to the Mediterranean region will be cut by between $6-$8 a barrel. Aramco made the biggest cut for crude delivered to northwest Europe, where the $8 a barrel reduction in most grades to the region amounts to a direct challenge to Russia, which sells a large chunk of its flagship crude Urals in the same region.

    With Aramco selling Arab Light at an unprecedented $10.25 a barrel discount to Brent in Europe, the kingdom is mounting a direct challenge to Urals.

    The world’s biggest oil exporter had expected to announce the pricing on Thursday but delayed its decision until after a meeting on Friday between the OPEC and allies including Russia. The postponement marked the first time in at least a decade that Aramco missed its pricing schedule. It typically announces pricing for its crude on the fifth day of each month."

    Aramco Slashes Crude Pricing, Starting Oil War as OPEC Flops
    Last edited by OhOh; 08-03-2020 at 10:04 AM.
    A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.

  12. #3987
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Cunning plan. Eating into Vlad's savings plan might make him think again.

  13. #3988
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    ^ More like helping the frackers into bankruptcy faster and popping somebodies claim of "Energy Independence".

    That event will make oil and gas prices rise quicker and force the companies/local authorities to clean up the ecological disaster trail they are currently ignoring.

    One wonders why "Greta"

    How dangerous is Vladimir Putin?-greta-thunberg-documentary-hulu-jpg


    has not become somebody who delivers?

    Last edited by OhOh; 08-03-2020 at 01:10 PM.

  14. #3989
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    ^ More like helping the frackers into bankruptcy faster and popping somebodies claim of "Energy Independence".
    Quite right. An added bonus.

  15. #3990
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Eating into Vlad's savings plan might make him think again.
    Somebody should tell Vlad, ask 'arry, he always has got a clue... (what is OPEC, anyway?)

    OPEC's pact with Russia falls apart, sending oil into tailspin

    VIENNA (Reuters) - A three-year pact between OPEC and Russia ended in acrimony on Friday after Moscow refused to support deeper oil cuts to cope with the outbreak of coronavirus and OPEC responded by removing all limits on its own production.

    Oil prices plunged 10% as the development revived fears of a 2014 price crash, when Saudi Arabia and Russia fought for market share with U.S. shale oil producers, which have never participated in output limiting pacts.

    Brent has lost about a third of its value this year, tumbling towards $45 a barrel, its lowest since 2017, putting oil-dependent nations and many oil firms under heavy strain as the global economy reels due to the virus outbreak, which has dampened business activity and stopped people traveling.


    Russia quits OPEC+ deal but will monitor situation, says Novak
    “From April 1 neither OPEC nor non-OPEC have restrictions,” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters after marathon talks at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna on Friday.

    Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told reporters when asked whether the kingdom had plans to increase production: “I will keep you wondering”.

    The failure of talks may have more far reaching implications as OPEC’s de facto leader Saudi Arabia and Russia have used oil talks to build a broader political partnership in the last few years after effectively supporting opposite sides in the Syrian war.

    “Russia’s refusal to support emergency supply cuts would effectively and fatally undermine OPEC+’s ability to play the role of oil price stabilizing swing producer,” said Bob McNally, founder of Rapidan Energy Group.

    “It will gravely rupture the budding Russian-Saudi financial and political rapprochement. The result will be higher oil price volatility and geopolitical volatility,” he said.

    SHALE SLOWDOWN
    Beyond Moscow and Riyadh’s ties, plunging oil prices will put pressure on U.S. shale producers, whose output costs are much higher than those of Russian and Saudi production, even though many shale producers are well hedged against price falls.

    “This crisis has revealed that Saudi is not willing to keep a floor under shale and other producers. They are expediting the slowdown on shale,” said Christyan Malek, head of JP Morgan oil and gas research for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

    The OPEC+ talks collapsed after OPEC effectively presented Russia with an ultimatum on Thursday, offering it a choice of accepting a deal with much bigger than expected cuts or no deal at all.

    Forecasts for 2020 demand growth have been slashed but Moscow has long argued it was too early to assess the impact. Sources said Novak delivered the same message on Friday.

    OPEC ministers said on Thursday they backed an additional 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil cuts until the end of 2020, in addition to rolling over existing cuts of 2.1 million bpd. That would have meant removing a total of about 3.6 million bpd from the market, or 3.6% of global supply.

    OPEC's pact with Russia falls apart, sending oil into tailspin - Reuters

  16. #3991
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    How dangerous is Vlad? Very dangerous, if you don't listen to him. He's the smartest guy in the room, by far. Runs rings around our motley bunch of so called leaders. I admire the guy.

  17. #3992
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    How dangerous is Vlad? Very dangerous, if you don't listen to him. He's the smartest guy in the room, by far. Runs rings around our motley bunch of so called leaders. I admire the guy.
    He executes critics, locks up opposition and denies the Russian people things we take for granted, like uncensored internet and large chunks of their nations wealth.

    And you admire the guy.

    Yeah, of course you do.



  18. #3993
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    He executes critics, locks up opposition and denies the Russian people things we take for granted, like uncensored internet and large chunks of their nations wealth.
    The only person in the world, to do such things, allegedly.

  19. #3994
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    The only person in the world, to do such things, allegedly.
    Does it make any difference to whether you admire the piece of shit? Really?

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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    He executes critics, locks up opposition and denies the Russian people things we take for granted, like uncensored internet and large chunks of their nations wealth.
    Obsession...

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    Vlad, the last of the great western macho men in a metrosexual world. I gotta kinda gay thing going on.

  22. #3997
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    The only person in the world, to do such things, allegedly.
    So, you can't criticise him because others in the world do the same? Seriously? That's some weird logic there . . . plus others don't have such an arsenal at their disposal and the willingness to use it

  23. #3998
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    So, you can't criticise him because others in the world do the same? Seriously? That's some weird logic there . . . plus others don't have such an arsenal at their disposal and the willingness to use it
    A lot of the Asian dictators follow his model. He just has vastly superior national wealth to steal.

  24. #3999
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    He executes critics, locks up opposition
    He has yet to learn a lot how to shoot presidents, family, many other inconvenient big people during a live show, mysterious suicides, robbery murders when nothing robbed, heart attacks a day before appearing at court, and many other convenient accidents while keeping the zillions of investigation reports locked over 50 years and counting...

  25. #4000
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    ^ Why do you deflect?

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