Moscow and Beijing have rejected the imposition of sanctions as political tools and condemned attempts at “encouraging and financing” regime changes in other countries in a joint statement released during President Putin’s official visit to China. Having faced economic sanctions and threats of more of to come from the West, Russia has turned to the East, seeking to boost business ties in a friendlier environment. An impressive package of deals on energy, business and infrastructure has already been signed in Shanghai. More is yet to come, judging by the title of the joint statement by Beijing and Moscow, which promises “a new stage in full-scale partnership and strategic relations.”

China has dismissed all US accusations of industrial cyber-espionage against five of its military officials and published proof that Washington is actually stealing data from China. Beijing also summoned the US ambassador for an explanation. The Chinese Foreign Ministry summoned the American ambassador to China for an explanation, urging him to drop all charges against China’s military officers. The meeting between Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang and US Ambassador Max Baucus took place on Monday night, reported Xinhua.

Documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden reveal the program code-named SOMALGET. The program allows the NSA to record millions of calls and store them for future playback for up to a month. The program is part of the larger MYSTIC program, which also monitors communications in Mexico, the Philippines and Kenya. The documents indicate the Bahamas [allegedly] are monitored in order to help stop drugs.

[Exclusive footage] Rebirth of Fascism. U.S. warmongers along with EU/NATO politicians have installed (through violent, artificial revolution) a pro-fascist government in Ukraine and are now trying to start a civil war within the country. [Google semi-censorship/login: Part 1, Part 2]

Tony Cartalucci: The White House’s Nazis
SCG News: Right Sektor Leader Calls for Guerrilla War and Targeted Assassinations in Eastern Ukraine

Heavily armed militiamen reportedly loyal to a retired general with deep ties to the US Central Intelligence Agency stormed Libya’s parliament building Sunday with armored vehicles and heavy weapons, seizing its speaker and armed forces chief Nouri Abusahmain together with some 20 other officials and setting the building on fire. The assault, which the General National Congress described as a “coup,” came just days after the Pentagon ordered some 200 US Marines deployed to a forward operating base in Sicily for use as a “crisis response” force in Libya. [...] Given Haftar’s historic ties to the CIA, there is every reason to suspect that Washington stands behind the coup. At the same time, however, US policy in the region has been characterized by sharp internal differences over the utilization of the Islamist elements that Haftar is attacking as instruments for pursuing US imperialist interests.

Business Insider: Is General Khalifa Hifter The CIA’s Man In Libya?
Jason Ditz: Is US Behind ‘Rogue’ General’s Libya Coup?

Newly intensified violence in Libya is an example of NATO-exported democracy, activist and journalist Sukant Chandan told RT. On Sunday, gunmen loyal to rogue General Khalifa Haftar attacked the Libyan parliament and announced its suspension.

Russia Today: Why do you think he is targeting radical Islamist groups, as he calls them? Does he believe he has the power to eradicate the so-called militia groups?
Sukant Chandan: There are many complex factors and contradictory factors at play here. First of all, Haftar is an old army man. And what has been happening in Benghazi, which hasn’t been reported in the mainstream at all, since 2011, since this pro-NATO death squad rebellion started, nearly 1,000 members of Libya’s former army, police and judiciary have been systematically assassinated in Benghazi and in the eastern region. Also, Haftar is an old CIA man, so it could be that the West, particularly the US, is using him as a trojan to just sound out what he is capable of because, perhaps your viewers will know, that the politics of Libya have become just ridiculous. But, actually the junta in Tripoli has imposed a no fly zone on Benghazi because Haftar has access to some helicopters and fighter jets, which he has been using in Benghazi. So, the situation could be the West testing out what Haftar is capable of in alliance with other death squads in Libya. And don’t forget when one leading death squad or militia that has popularity in the east stopped oil production, but then tried to sell a tanker, the Navy Seals turned up from the US and got back that ship to ensure that the oil was going in the right direction, i.e. into the coffers of London, Paris, and Washington and their primary allies in the Gulf.

MoA: Libya: CIA's Haftar Giving It Another Try

Did the Fed Take Drastic and Covert Action to Hide a Large Country Dumping U.S. Bonds? That’s what former Assistant Treasury Secretary and Wall Street Journal editor Paul Craig Roberts alleges: From November 2013 through January 2014 Belgium with a GDP of $480 billion purchased $141.2 billion of US Treasury bonds. Somehow Belgium came up with enough money to allocate during a 3-month period 29 percent of its annual GDP to the purchase of US Treasury bonds. Certainly Belgium did not have a budget surplus of $141.2 billion. Was Belgium running a trade surplus during a 3-month period equal to 29 percent of Belgium GDP? No, Belgium’s trade and current accounts are in deficit. Did Belgium’s central bank print $141.2 billion worth of euros in order to make the purchase? No, Belgium is a member of the euro system, and its central bank cannot increase the money supply. So where did the $141.2 billion come from?

● Thailand’s military took control of the country’s main broadcaster at 6 a.m. today and declared martial law throughout the country. It then seized all radio and TV stations. Thousands of troops were mobilised throughout Bangkok, where pro- and anti-government protesters have held mass rallies for the past fortnight. The military declared that its actions were “not a coup” but were taken “to preserve law and order” and called on the public not to panic.
● These statements cannot be taken at face value, however. The army—which has staged 18 coups or attempted coups since the 1930s—intervened without consulting the elected Pheu Thai government. Its actions are yet another step in a six-month campaign to oust Pheu Thai and install a dictatorship. The first order of Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha was to dissolve the government-controlled security agency, the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order. US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki endorsed the declaration of martial Law.

Paul Craig Roberts ■ The government’s fantasy story about 9/11 is now being enshrined in a 9/11 Memorial Museum. The only reason a superpower would want to establish a memorial to its incompetence, defeat, and humiliation by a handful of young men acting independently of any government or intelligence service would be to officially consecrate the official conspiracy theory. Consecration of a myth makes it true for most people. The Museum will serve to inculcate the false story into each future generation. My readers know better than the government’s lies.

■ If you want to support a group fighting for 9/11 truth, support Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth