RT News - November 23rd 2022

Africa: Mali bans French-sponsored NGOs from operating in the West African nation. It's in yet another wedge in those countries' failing relations, following many years of a controversial French military presence in the region. France's attempts to stay in Africa are not limited to Mali.

From Burkina-Faso to Chad, the Sahel region faces a spiraling insurgent threat, with more and more volunteers coming forward to defend their loved ones.

Kenya steps in on ongoing peace negotiations between the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and the violent insurgent M23 militia near the Rwanda border. Thousands of people have been displaced. Kenya has already sent in troops to help DRC try and achieve peace

Australia's claims of having the world's cleanest coal are debunked, as a whistleblower says the fossil fuel's green credentials have been faked for years.

In Virginia, USA, there has been a shooting at a WALMART store, multiple people have been killed and injured, including the shooter.

Ukraine's President Zelensky has signed a new law that activists say effectively paves the way for financial crimes among government officials. President Zelensky says there is no corruption in Ukraine.

More on the Hunter Biden laptop and how facts were withheld deliberately prior to the 2020 elections, aided by western social media.

Palestine: Munib Al-Musri, Palestine's wealthiest businessman, is suing Britain for war crimes. He is seeking to expose the war crimes committed by the British, without the knowledge of British citizens.

World Cup: Qatar provides Gaza with big screen TV's to allow them join in celebrating the beatiful game for free.

**stop press** Two explosions have been reported in Jerusalem at a bus stop during rush hour commute.

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via RT website 23 Nov, 2022 02:36

---- US clarifies Russian oil price cap plan ----

The Treasury Department has released new guidelines for service providers involved in the Russian oil trade

he US government has issued new rules for companies involved in the Russian oil trade, shipping and insurance, insisting they will face penalties unless they comply with an upcoming Western price ceiling intended to slash Moscow’s energy revenues.

Published on Tuesday, the Treasury Department policy guidance said American service providers will be permitted to continue dealing in Russian oil only if it is “purchased at or below the price cap” the exact level of which is yet to be decided. The department claimed the cap, set to take effect on December 5, aims to “maintain a reliable supply of oil to the global market” while penalizing Russia for the conflict in Ukraine.

The new guidelines apply to companies across several related industries, including shipping, commodities trading, finance, insurance, flagging and customs brokering. Those found violating the price ceiling scheme could face penalties from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The guidance clarifies that service providers will not be penalized if the oil is shipped prior to the deadline and reaches its destination by January 19.

American providers will also be banned outright from importing Russian oil into the United States – a decision made earlier this year, prior to discussions of a price ceiling. An EU ban on seaborne Russian oil imports is also scheduled for December 5.

A senior Treasury official told reporters that Washington expects other countries in the so-called ‘Price Cap Coalition’, formed by the United States, G7 nations, the European Union and Australia, to issue similar rules in the coming days, joining the US and the United Kingdom, which already published its own guidance on Monday.

Moscow has repeatedly warned it will simply stop doing business with those complying with the scheme, insisting prices cannot be set by Western dictates.

“The price should be formed by the market based on the balance of supply and demand… This is a bad precedent that could at any moment be extended to other suppliers, to all global trade,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak warned last month.

Some major buyers of Russian oil, such as India and China, have refused to abide by the scheme, and have recently boosted energy imports despite pressure from the US to sever economic ties with Moscow. The overall effect of the upcoming price ceiling remains to be seen, as new alternative customers and foreign insurers, as well as Russia’s own large fleet of tankers, could help it to sidestep the cap and ultimately reduce reliance on Western buyers.
https://www.rt.com/business/567012-treasury-guidelines-russian-oil/
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via RT website 22 Nov, 2022 21:27

Another EU country rejects training Ukrainian troops

Involving Croatia in EUMAM is not constitutional, president Milanovic has announced

Croatia can’t train Ukrainian troops on its territory as part of the EU aid program as that would be unconstitutional, President Zoran Milanovic said on Tuesday, responding to a request from the defense ministry in Zagreb.

“Given the justifiably great interest of the Croatian public in the announced participation of [Croatian military] members in the EU military assistance mission to Ukraine, and the unclear and unexplained circumstances that participation would entail, the Office of the President has to inform the public that the minister’s proposal is unfit to be considered,” Milanovic said, before explaining his reasoning.

Defense Minister Mario Banozic had sent Milanovic a draft proposal for Croatian participation in the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM), which reportedly involves training around 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers on the bloc's territory.

The Croatian constitution does not give Banozic grounds to make such a proposal, the president noted. Nor does it allow Ukrainian troops to set foot on Croatian soil, he argued, as Kiev is “not a member of any alliance” Zagreb belongs to and there are no international treaties otherwise regulating their status.

Milanovic’s public rejection of the EUMAM brief is the latest episode in the ongoing power struggle in Croatia. The social-democrat president, who has been in office since February 2020, has often been at odds with the legislature and the cabinet. The nationalist HDZ, which controls both, has been eager for Croatia to train Ukrainian troops. They also overruled Milanovic this spring, when he threatened to veto Sweden and Finland’s application to NATO in order to leverage concessions from the EU and the US.

The Croatian president’s criticism of EU sanctions against Russia – for being ineffective and backfiring on the bloc – has drawn the ire of Ukraine as well, which put him on its notorious “Peacemaker” blacklist, where those listed are regarded as 'enemies of Ukraine' and often subjected to threats and intimidation.

EUMAM was established on October 17 on the initiative of Czechia, currently presiding over the bloc. Nearby EU members Austria and Hungary have already said they will not participate in the mission either.
https://www.rt.com/news/567009-croatia-ukraine-president-troops/
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via RT website 22 Nov, 2022 12:15

---- Argentina stunned as Saudi Arabia claim World Cup win ----

Lionel Messi’s side suffered one of the great tournament shocks on Tuesday

Lionel Messi’s hopes of winning what is likely to be the final FIFA World Cup of his career suffered a significant blow in Argentina’s opening Group C fixture on Tuesday as the South Americans were stunned by Saudi Arabia in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s long history.

The early signs had suggested that the game would follow the anticipated script of a comprehensive Argentina win when Messi opened his account in Qatar by slotting home a 10th minute penalty – and the floodgates looked certain to open as the Copa America champions had a remarkable three goals disallowed in the opening 45 minutes.

The momentum quickly turned in the second half with two goals in the space of five minutes from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari, which put Saudi Arabia into an unlikely lead.

Despite Argentina pouring forward during more than 13 minutes of injury time, the Green Falcons hung on to claim one of the most remarkable victories ever seen on football’s biggest stage.

Saudi Arabia’s relentlessly energetic performance was made even more remarkable given that the win ended the second-longest unbeaten streak ever seen in international football. Argentina had not tasted defeat since July 2019 – a span of 36 matches which included last year’s Copa America.

But for all of their endeavor up front, the Saudi performance was just as notable for the ruggedness displayed in restricting Argentina’s star-studded attack.

Lionel Messi came close to an equalizer late on but his header was repelled by the outstanding Mohammed Al-Owais, who was a constant thorn in Argentina’s side throughout.

However, even a player of Messi’s undoubted talents appeared powerless to overcome a heroic Saudi defensive performance as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.

Despite the addition of 13 minutes of injury time, an increasingly listless Argentina could not penetrate the impressive Saudi backline in what was a disastrous result for Lionel Scaloni’s men, and likely the biggest upset seen in a World Cup since Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in 1990 or Northern Ireland’s unlikely win against Spain in 1982.

After arriving in Qatar among the favorites to lift the trophy, Argentina now face a battle just to emerge from their group – and will now focus their attention on what has become a must-win game against Mexico on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, can secure qualification from Group C with a win against Poland on the same day.
https://www.rt.com/sport/566978-football-world-cup-argentina-saudi/
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via RT website 23 Nov, 2022 07:10

---- Germany wanted Ukraine to ‘fold’ to Russia – Johnson ----

Prior to the conflict, Berlin believed a long conflict would be a disaster, the former UK prime minister says

Germany was initially in favor of Ukraine being quickly overrun by Russia rather than putting up a long fight, due to economic concerns, former British prime minister Boris Johnson claimed on Monday.

Speaking to CNN Portugal, Johnson noted that before Moscow launched its military operation in late February, several Western nations had “very different perspectives” on the brewing conflict.

According to the former prime minister, “the German view was at one stage that if it were going to happen, which would be a disaster, then it would be better for the whole thing to be over quickly, and for Ukraine to fold.” He added that this attitude was supported by “all sorts of sound economic reasons”.

Johnson went on to say that the French leadership was “in denial right up until the last moment” on Russia’s plans to send troops into Ukraine, while the Italian authorities were “simply saying that they would be unable to support” the position embraced other Western countries, given their “massive” dependence on Russian energy.

However, Johnson said Western countries were quick to rally round Kiev after large-scale hostilities broke out. “After all my anxieties… I pay tribute to the way the EU has acted. They have been united. The sanctions were tough,” he said.

Following the start of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, Western countries have significantly ramped up sanctions against Moscow, freezing around half of Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves, a move that Russia has described as ‘theft.’ The West has also provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in security assistance. Moscow maintains that these arms shipments only prolong the conflict.