Thread image created by yours truly, depicting Iran and Pakistan very impolitely not asking whether America, on the other side of the planet, is okay with them transporting gas around.
The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has long been obstructed by American involvement in the region. Iran completed its section of the pipeline quite quickly, but Pakistan has been unable to finish its construction for a decade due to the fear of falling afoul of American sanctions on Iran. The United States has repeatedly tried to pressure Pakistan to give up the project and obtain gas from other countries instead. Recent articles on the state of the pipeline are contradictory, with some stating that Iran or Pakistan have given up on the pipeline while American sanctions persist. Pakistani officials reject this framing, saying that they are still working with Iran to try and get the project completed somehow. Nonetheless, Iran is becoming increasingly frustrated and is threatening a legal battle and a demand for reparations.
Meanwhile, back in Niger, the $13 billion under-construction pipeline connecting Nigeria and other West African countries to Spain and Italy will likely face delays due to the sanctions applied by the West and ECOWAS on Niger. Those following the European gas fiasco will be aware that while Spain and Italy have been impacted by the energy crisis, they have been very busy making deals with African countries to replace their Russian gas, and thus stand a better chance than Germany of making it through the crisis with their industries somewhat intact. The coup has thrown a wrench into their plans, though they can still obtain some gas from northern African countries.
And, last but not least, America tried for years to stop the construction of the Nord Stream pipelines between Germany and Russia, which culminated in them deciding to blow them up late last year.
All in all - the United States really does not like it when countries build up energy infrastructure and gain some independence from them.
Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.
This week's first update is here in the comments.
This week's second update is here in the comments.
This week's third update is here in the comments.
Links and Stuff
The bulletins site is down.
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Add to the above list if you can.
Resources For Understanding The War
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Telegram Channels
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
Pro-Russian
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Last week's discussion post.
Update for August 18th
Perhaps a few too many articles.
expand
Global
AUKUS, QUAD transforming alliance-like^Bhadrakumar^
Modi is doing Modi things, basically. A little disappointing but most saw this coming.
The BRICS have changed the balance of forces, but they will not by themselves change the World: The Thirty Third Newsletter (2023)^MR^
Europe
Sarkozy on Russia: 'We need them and they need us'^AM^
Sweden raises its terror threat to four out of five after Quran burnings^EN^
Right-wing danger grows as crisis in German left continues^PW^ Germany’s skilled labor shortage worsens^RT^
Netherlands dips into recession after strong COVID rebound^DW^ Netherlands hit with 'mild recession': CBS^AM^
"Mild recession" vs China's "troubled economy" while still growing.
Spain's Socialists candidate speaker wins key vote backed by Catalans^AM^
Spain battles 'out of control' wildfire on Tenerife^AM^
30 years after Yugoslavian socialism, Slovenian unions fight for the workers capitalism has forgotten^RNN^
Romania is EU's largest wheat exporter in July^BNE^
Poland’s GDP falls 1.3% y/y in Q2, flash estimate shows^BNE^
Turkish Cypriot forces assault UN peacekeepers^Euractiv^
Western Asia
1,000 Palestinian prisoners go on hunger strike in IOF prisons^AM^
Reviving hegemony: Israel's land-and-rail proposal to the Persian Gulf^TC^
Washington approves largest-ever Israeli arms deal^TC^
Presidents of Russia and Iran Discuss BRICS Membership^TS^
Russia hosts first-ever meeting of Iran, Saudi defense officials^TC^
Saudi Arabia welcomes ‘new phase’ in ties with Iran^TC^
Iranian FM says ties with Saudi Arabia "moving in right direction"^PD^
Saudi Arabia’s oil exports fall to 21-month low^RT^
Saudi Arabia and UAE race to buy computer chips^FT^
Saudi Arabia inks $1.33bn worth of housing, infrastructure deals with China^TC^
US occupation loots tons of Syrian oil, smuggles them into Iraq^AM^
Central Asia
Russia’s war economy^MichaelRoberts^
Putin hints at plans for high-speed rail to Donbass^RT^
Former Mercedes plant near Moscow to resume production – deputy PM ^RT^
Belarusian president says to work with China in promoting world peace^CGTN^
China’s defence chief Li Shangfu mounts Belarus military ties mission on trip to Russian ally^SCMP^
Kyrgyzstan: President pushes back on US accusations of sanctions-busting behavior^EN^
...
Eastern Asia and Oceania
Xi Jinping urges speed in China’s rush to recover from devastating floods^SCMP^
China's outbound direct investment grows steadily in first seven months of 2023^CGTN^
China: Evergrande files for bankruptcy protection in US^DW^
China’s biggest banks offloading dollars – Reuters^RT^
Nooooo! That's cheating! That's not very Wholesome 100 free market of you!!!
China demands US lift tariffs on steel, aluminum after WTO ruling^AM^
Taiwan may be in breach of WTO rules: Beijing^ANN^
Nepal says it never allows anti-China activities on its territory^CGTN^
China to help Sri Lanka address challenges of financial debt: Wang Yi^CGTN^
Sri Lankan president emphasizes importance of learning Chinese^PD^ Over 50,000 families affected by dry weather in Sri Lanka^PD^
Hopes up for positive real growth in Japan in fiscal 2023^ANN^
sweden raises terror alert to 4/5 quran burnings allowed this very hour. 'a new age of hate-tourism has begun and stockholm shall be its cornerstone', says swedish economy minister.
...please tell me they're framing that as a bad thing, right?