30 Nov 2016

Barclays Africa, Techstars Accelerator Programme for FinTech Startups 2017

Application Deadline: 5th February, 2017
Eligible Countries: African countries
To be taken at (country): Cape Town, South Africa. The chosen startups will also be able to leverage Barclays Techstars Accelerator programme offices in London, New York and Tel Aviv
About the Award: The Barclays Accelerator Powered by Techstars is a three month intensive startup accelerator focused on innovations in financial services. This partnership between Barclays and Techstars brings two global networks together into one accelerator programme that offers entrepreneurs unprecedented access not only to a world leading bank but also to Techstars’ mentor and investor relationships across 13 locations.
This collaboration between Barclays Africa and Techstars offers a game-changing opportunity to 10 qualifying fintech startups, which will take part in a 13-week programme beginning in May next year, based out of the Rise fintech innovation hub in Woodstock, Cape Town.
The Barclays Accelerator first came to Africa at the beginning of this year and was a significant success, with Barclays Africa signing initial collaboration agreements with 7 of the 10 startups that were part of the programme.
Yasaman Hadjibashi, leading the innovation agenda for the bank says: “Africa has tremendous untapped potential to not only pioneer its own creative solutions for its unique contexts but to also create solutions that the rest of the world can adopt for their own contexts.”
According to the Disrupt Africa African Startups Funding Report 2015, 29% of investment in African tech startups goes to those focused on fintech, suggesting a substantial opportunity for innovative ventures in the sector.
Type: Entrepreneurship
Selection Criteria: The Barclays Accelerator is looking for great founders with ideas that solve real problems or create meaningful innovations. For us, it’s about the team and because of this, we’re less likely to accept single founder companies. The best things you can do to strengthen your application are:
  • Round out your team with business, technical, and other necessary skills.
  • Make progress on your prototype or product and reference it in the application.
  • Show us you’ve really thought about your business and have actually done something about it.
Your team must be capable of designing your solution and be ready to launch by the end of the 13-week programme. We are looking for impressive teams with an ability to execute.
Number of Awardees: 10
Value of Programme: Selected startups will be given the opportunity to enter or expand their presence in the African marketplace via Barclays Africa Group’s customer, product, and technology teams. Leveraging the global footprint of Rise, the selected startups will also have the chance to scale globally through Rise sites in London, New York, Mumbai, Tel Aviv and Vilnius. The Accelerator offers companies an advantage over others by providing a proven curriculum, and lifelong access to the Techstars global network of mentors, investors and venture capitalists.
Duration of Programme: 3 months. The Cape Town 2017 accelerator program will commence at RISE Cape Town on May 9th 2017. The program culminates on Demo Day on August 2nd, 2017.
How to Apply: Fintech companies can apply here: https://www.f6s.com/barclaysaccelerator-africa by February 5th, 2017 for this opportunity to take their venture to new heights. If you’d like to find out more, please visit: http://www.barclaysaccelerator.com/#/cape-town/ or contact emily.skinstad@techstars.com
Award Provider: Barclays Africa, Techstars

Curious about Business & Entrepreneurship? Take Online Course on Becoming an Entrepreneur by MIT

Enrolment: January 9, 2017 – Self-Paced (take course on demand)
Timeline: 1-3 hours per week for 6 weeks
Skill Level: Beginner
Course of Study:  Business & Management| Course Platform: edX.org
Created by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cost: Free
About the Course
Becoming an Entrepreneur is an innovation and business course designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to explore an entrepreneurial path and overcome some of the initial challenges in taking those first steps.
From developing new business ideas and doing market research to entrepreneurial strategy and pitching, this course follows MIT’s successful approach to entrepreneurship. There will be a combination of short videos, thought-provoking case studies, and activities that will challenge you to get you away from your computer screen and into the community to make a real impact.
Eligibility requirement
No previous business or entrepreneurship experience needed. Anyone with interest on entrepreneurship and ready to embark on the entrepreneurial journey is eligible to take this course.
Certificate offered? Yes, for a fee
How to Enrol

Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Programme 2017 for Young African Leaders

Application Deadline: 15th January 2017.
Eligible Countries: African countries
To be taken at (country): South Africa). Other locations will be split between Oxford University and London (UK)
About the Award:  Offered on a part-time basis over six months, the Programme includes two 9-day Group Learning Modules with an impressive array of distinguished leaders and faculty. These are intensive interactive workshops; one at the historic Mont Fleur conference facility (South Africa), and the other split between Oxford University and London (UK).
The video below explains effectively how our program works.
The Programme has been designed specifically for African leaders in consultation with our African faculty and advisors and with Oxford, whose famous tutorial style has been adopted. It provides participants with an intensive learning and broadening experience on the principles and application of leadership, and an opportunity to explore the issues and specific characteristics of leadership in Africa, as well as the global challenges and dimensions of an African leader.
The programme places emphasis on learning and experiencing, not teaching, offering a variety of formal and innovative informal learning opportunities to enhance the leadership capabilities of the candidate. Emphasis is also placed on peer interaction and feedback, and the participants highly value being able to share pan-African perspectives and experiences. Overall it provides a unique environment for mid-career self reflection on one’s leadership journey in transforming Africa, and has been described as life changing by many participants.
Upon completing the Programme, Tutu Fellows return to play active roles in their respective communities, countries and spheres of influence. Great value is placed upon becoming a member of an established exclusive and supportive network of Africa’s future leaders – the Tutu Fellows. As part of this network of global leaders, all Fellows are expected to attend AFLI alumni events, as well as function as ambassadors for the Fellowship across all segments of society.
Type: Fellowship
Selection Criteria: In terms of selection criteria, AFLI emphasizes integrity, strong values and responsibility, courage and a demonstrated ability to lead and inspire. A candidate must demonstrate a commitment to Africa and to serving the greater community. We seek leaders not managers.
Selection Process: Competition is extremely tough for the 20 fellowship places available; each year we receive over 200 top quality nominations from all over Africa, which are put forward by our existing Fellows, Partners and network of influential leaders.
Only once candidates have been nominated, may they submit an application to AFLI.
Number of Awardees: 20
Value of Fellowship: 
  • Entry into awards
  • Thought-leadership and speaking opportunities
  • Advocacy opportunities
  • Networking opportunities and network memberships
  • Access to projects, causes and campaigns
  • Collaborating with like-minded peers on projects
  • Job opportunities
  • Pan-African exposure
  • Attendance of multi-country meetings
  • Leadership of, and participation in, multi-country organisations and projects
  • International exposure
  • Opportunities for ongoing debate and knowledge-exchange
  • Profiling in the media
  • Peer to Peer accountability
  • Selected as board members or trustees to high profile companies/organisations
Duration of Fellowship: The next program is in April 2017 and will hold for a year.
How to Apply: Only once candidates have been nominated, may they submit an application to AFLI.
Award Provider: African Leadership Institute (AFLI)

Online Course: Take IELTS Academic Test Preparation Offered By University of Queensland Australia

Enrolment: ongoing (take on-demand)
Timeline: 5-10 hours per week for 8 weeks
Skill Level: Beginner (introductory)
Course of Study: IELTS (International English language Testing system)| Course Platform:edX.org
Created by: The University of Queensland Australia
Cost: Free
About the Course
IELTS is the world’s most popular English language test for those wanting to study in higher education in an English-speaking country. This IELTS course will prepare you to take the IELTS Academic tests with confidence. You will have immediate access to over 80 hours of interactive practice materials covering each of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
This innovative preparation course has been designed and written by experienced English teaching professionals from The University of Queensland, an IELTS testing centre and one of the world’s leading centres of learning. All of the course writers have extensive experience enabling students to reach their academic IELTS goal of entering a university where English is the primary language.
Eligibility requirement
None. This course is suitable for anyone preparing to take the Academic IELTS test.
Certificate offered? Yes, for a fee.
How to Enrol
Important Notes: As the course is self-paced, you can complete all of the course units in sequence, or only select the areas you want to focus on to prepare for the IELTS Academic tests. Then, when you are ready, you can test yourself with an IELTS-style practice exam for each skill. In completing this course, you will feel fully prepared to complete the IELTS Academic tests.

Columbia University ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) Fellowship for Developing Countries 2017

Application Deadline: 11:59 GMT, 31st January, 2017.
Eligible Countries: Low and Middle Income countries
To be taken at (country): Columbia University, USA
About the Award: The program leverages the resources of Columbia University and international organizations such as Human Rights Watch and WITNESS to provide proven grassroots leaders with skill-building and networking opportunities.
Through workshops, seminars, Columbia University classes and meetings with policy makers and potential funders, participants will share their experiences, reflect critically on their strategies, and plan future campaigns.
The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, social workers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBT rights, labor rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, and corporate social accountability.
Type: Fellowship
Selection Criteria: Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time students or government officials will not be considered. Applicants holding full or part-time jobs pursuing their advocacy efforts are preferred.
Advocates must work at the grassroots level. Applicants from high-income countries will not be considered except for those representing marginalized communities.
Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement in English from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program.
Only one application per organization should be submitted. More than one application means all applications from that organization will be disqualified. It is up to the applicant to make sure no one else from the organization has applied.
Value of Program: ISHR makes every effort to provide full funding to cover participants’ program costs as well as travel and housing. A stipend is also provided for basic costs.
Duration of Program: The program typically starts in late August/early September and ends before the middle of December. Exact dates vary year to year and will be listed on the application.
How to Apply: It is required to go through the application requirements and FAQ of the Program before applying
Award Provider: The Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR), Columbia University

University of Copenhagen PhD Scholarships for International Students 2017/2018

Application Deadline: 22nd January, 2017
Eligible Countries: International
To be taken at (country): Denmark
Eligible Fields of Study: The PhD projects must be related to a research area in one of the following departments:
1. SAXO Institute
2. Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies
3. Department of Arts and Cultural Studies
4. Royal School of Library and Information Science (RSLIS)
Applications which do not fall within the research areas of the above mentioned departments will not be taken into consideration for a PhD scholarship.

Type: PhD
Eligibility: 
  • Applicants need to hold a two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or the equivalent.
  • Applicants shall have submitted their thesis at the time of application, to the extent the thesis forms part of their Master program.
  • In case you have not obtained your diploma by the application deadline, you must include a statement (pre-approval) from your university that declares that you have been awarded the master degree.
Selection: The applicant’s qualifications for the scholarship are evaluated by taking into account the applicants’ general educational and academic background such as the applicants’ grade average, thesis grade, language competencies, publications and other academic activities given by the curriculum vitae as well as the duration of study especially during the applicants’ MA programme.
In addition, the proposed PhD project and study plan will be evaluated by taking the following into consideration; originality, choice of theory and method, disciplinary relevance, and prospects for completion within the required timeframe of 36 months.
Furthermore, applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their projects are related to the research activities and the academic profile of the department in which they wish to be affiliated with.
Number of Awardees: 16
Duration of Scholarship:  three years.
How to Apply: The following enclosures to the application must be submitted:
  • A copy of the applicant’s Master’s degree diploma and transcript of records
  • Bachelor degree diploma and transcript of records
  • If the MA diploma and/or examination records are in another language than English, German, French, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, please include a translation into either of these languages in your application.
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Project proposal (must not exceed 12,000 characters. For further information see below)
Do not upload ZIP files and do not submit any publications, recommendations or your Master thesis.
The Faculty will dismiss applications, which do not adhere to the formal requirements.
An electronic application form will be available at this webpage by mid-December 2016.
Award Provider: University of Copenhagen

France: International Fashion Academy (IFA) Fully-funded Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships 2017

Application Deadline: 31st May, 2017
Eligible Countries: International
To be taken at (country): France
About the Award: Applicants can only apply for one of the three scholarship types offered by IFA Paris above for any Bachelor or Master/MBA course. If the applicant is not awarded the scholarship, he/she cannot apply for another scholarship and has to go through the regular paying admission process if he/she still wants to join IFA Paris, so choose the scholarship type wisely! Please see the below tabs for details:
Type: Bachelor or Master/MBA course
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate
  • All applicants at the Undergraduate Bachelor level need to be high school graduates or equivalent.
  • At least 18 years of age. (you can apply before you are 18, but should be at least 18 when you start at IFA Paris)
  • Non-native English speakers need to provide an IELTS score of 5.5 or above, or a TOEFL score of 65 or above. Alternatively, provide an English training certificate.
  • Strong motivation in fashion design or fashion business area.
  • Fill in the online application form and upload: latest high school transcript, copy of high school diploma or equivalence, Motivation letter, Resume/CV, passport photo and copy of passport.
  • If you are applying for the Bachelor in Fashion Design & Technology, you can attach your portfolio (not required).
  • €150 Application fee.
  • Interview (on campus or Skype).
Postgraduate
  • All applicants at the Postgraduate Master/MBA level need to be Bachelor graduates.
  • Ideally have a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Media & Communication and Fashion Design related fields.
  • Non-native English speakers need to provide an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or a TOEFL score of 79 or above. Alternatively, provide an English training certificate
  • Significant professional experience in related fields preferred, but not required (internships are taken into account).
  • Fill in the online application form and upload: latest transcript, copy of Bachelor diploma or equivalence, Motivation letter, Resume/CV, passport photo and copy of passport.
  • If you are applying for the Master of Arts in Contemporary Fashion Design, we require a portfolio.
  • €150 Application fee.
  • Interview (on campus or Skype).
  • Online entrance exam.
Selection Criteria:
  • Excellent GPA
  • Impressive extracurricular activities or professional experience
All other scholarship requirements such as English level are the same as for regular admission. Candidates are expected to check the Admission tab of their desired program page or head to the Admissions Requirements page (see in link below) .
Number of Awardees: Not specified
Value of Scholarship: IFA Paris awards three types of scholarships for its undergraduate and postgraduate programs to support outstanding candidates according to their profile and financial situation.
  • Full Scholarship (100% free tuition)
  • Excellence Scholarship (40% tuition fee reduction)
  • Distinction Scholarship (20% tuition fee reduction)
How to Apply: In addition to the files required for the normal application, scholarship applicants have to provide the below documents:
  • Motivation letter (Why you’re applying for a scholarship? Why should IFA Paris award you a scholarship? Why did you choose this program and how it will help you achieve your goals?) This replaces the required motivation letter in the normal application process.
  • For the creative programs Bachelor in Fashion Design & Technology and Master of Arts in Contemporary Fashion Design, scholarship applicants must provide a portfolio.
  • For MBA programs only, please provide 3 reference letters.
Please create your IFA Paris Online Application Account. You will fill out all the infos and choose the program you are applying for. In the Upload documents section, you will upload this Scholarship Application Form. Scholarship applicants will be notified if the scholarship has been awarded once all the documents are provided and the application fee has been paid, so the sooner you provide everything, the sooner you will find out.
Award Provider: IFA Paris Fashion School

A.S Hornby Educational Trust Scholarships 2017. Fully-funded for Masters at the University of Warwick, UK

Application Deadline: 12.00 midday UK time Monday 16th January 2017.
Offered annually? Yes
Eligible Countries: International students
To be taken at (country): University or Warwick, UK
Eligible Field of Study: English language
About Scholarship: The A.S.Hornby Educational Trust scholarships are awarded every year to English language teachers from outside the UK to study for Masters in ELT at the University of Warwick. The Trust was set up by A.S.Hornby in 1961 to support English language teaching worldwide.
english language scholarship
A.S.Hornby had a distinguished career in English language teaching and developed the Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary, which is still published in its 8th edition by Oxford University Press. The Trust is a registered charity in the UK. The scholarships fund study on the one-year Masters in ELT at the University of Warwick
Offered Since: 1961
Type: Masters degree
Eligibility
  • Eligible applicants for the scholarship award must have at least two years’ full-time ELT experience and a full university degree, and must be a citizen of the country from which they apply.
  • Warwick University also requires a currently valid IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any of the categories.
  • The Hornby Scholarships are intended to support experienced English language teachers who have the potential to make a significant future contribution to English language teaching and teachers in their countries.
Number of Scholarships: not specified
Value of Scholarship: The scholarships cover all the costs in the UK including a monthly stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses, tuition fees, and return air tickets, tuition fees,  visa and IELTS test costs.
Duration of Scholarship: The scholarships fund study on the one-year Masters in ELT at the University of Warwick
How to Apply: Applicants are selected by a four-stage process.
  1. Online application form – applicants submit the online application form for initial assessment
  2. Interview – applicants who are successful at stage 1 are invited for interview at the British Council office in their country of origin
  3. Application to university –applicants selected from the interview are invited to apply to the university for consideration
  4. University acceptance – the scholarship award is confirmed with the applicant and arrangements are made to arrive in the UK to begin study by 1st October 2017
Visit the Scholarship Webpage for information about the scholarship and accessing the online application form.
Sponsors: Hornby Trust

Swedish Institute Study Scholarships

Swedish InstituteMasters Degree
Deadline: 16 Jan/10 Feb 2017
Study in: Sweden
Course starts August 2017



Scholarship description:
The Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (SISS) are awarded to students from selected countries for full-time master’s level studies in Sweden starting in the Autumn semester 2017.
Host Universities/Institutions:
Swedish Higher Education Institutions and Swedish Universities
Level/Field(s) of study:
Number of Scholarships:
An estimated 335 scholarships will be available.
Target group:
Students from SISS-eligible countries:
Category 1: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina-Faso, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Category 2: Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran and Vietnam.
Category 3: Candidates with citizenships from countries on the DAC list of ODA recipients other than the above mentioned and those countries included in other SI scholarship programmes
Special Initiative: South Africa and Syria
Scholarship value/inclusions/duration:
The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses of SEK 9,000 per month, insurance, and a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 (only for scholarship holders from countries on the DAC list of ODA recipients). There are no additional grants for family members.
The scholarship covers the whole duration of the master’s programme (one or two academic years).
Eligibility:
Applicants must be from an eligible country and have at least 3,000 hours of experience from full-time/part-time employment, voluntary work, paid/unpaid internship, and/or position of trust. Applicants must display academic qualifications and leadership experience. In addition, applicants should show an ambition to make a difference by working with issues which contribute to a just and sustainable development in their country, in a long term perspective.
Read more about the eligibility criteria at the official website.
Application instructions:
The first step of the application process will open on 1 December 2016.
To be considered for a scholarship you must complete your separate application to the master’s programme(s) before 16 January 2017 by using the national online application service universityadmissions.se. To be considered for a scholarship in the second step of the scholarship application, you must also pay your university admissions application fee before the deadline for receipt of the fee by 1 February 2017.
The application process consists of two steps. The first step will take place 1 December 2016 – 16 January 2017 through an online application form. Successful candidates will be notified by the end of January 2017 (preliminary date: 25 January 2017) and asked to submit a detailed application for the second step from 1 – 10 February 2017.
It is important to read the application procedure and visit the official website for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.
Website:

The State of the World Now: a Macro View

Johan Galtung

“View” meaning not only a glimpse from above, but a position taken on the world on which the US electorate is now dumping Donald Trump.
That world is today basically multi-polar, maybe with 8 poles: 1) Anglo-America, 2) Latin America-Caribbean, 3) African Unity, 4) Islam-OIC from Casablanca to Mindanao, 5) European Union, 6) Russia more region than state, 7) SAARC from Nepal to Sri Lanka, 8. ASEAN, Australia-New Zealand. [See list of abbreviations with links to the mentioned organisations under the article]
And thre is the multi-regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, with China and Russia, Islamic countries, India and Pakistan.
There is a waning state reality, smaller states being increasingly absorbed into regions.
There is a waxing region reality with the above eight; adding West Asian, Central Asian and Northeast Asian regions, maybe eleven.
There is a global reality based on IGOs, inter-governmental organizations, with the United Nations on top; TNCs, the transnational corporations, with the US-based on top so far; and INGOs, international non-governmental organizations, with religions on top.
Now, insert into all of that something concrete from William Blum’s Anti-Empire Report #146 and his Rogue State.
From WWII, the USA has:
+ Attempted to overthrow more than 50 foreign governments, most of which were democratically elected;
+ Dropped bombs on the people of more than 30 countries;
+ Attempted to assassinate more than 50 foreign leaders;
+ Attempted to suppress populist or nationalist movements in 20 countries;
+ More involved in the practice of torture than any other country, performing, teaching, providing manuals and furnishing equipment.
Then, insert President Xi’s proposal November 17-23 2016 for Latin American countries and 21 APEC countries meeting in Lima, Peru:
FTAAP: Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific; inclusive, for all;
RCEP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, also inclusive as opposed to TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership, excluding China.
TPP to FTAAP moves the power center from Washington to Beijing.
Into this reality dump Trump who has pledged to ditch TPP.
That does not mean buying FTAAP-RAW; maybe more a set of Chinese divide and rule bilateral deals than a real multilateral IGO.
However, negotiating deals with China should appeal to Trump the businessman.
Now, given the 5 Blum points from US history, will a move of one important power center from Washington to Beijing be permitted by the US military-economic forces, Pentagon-Wall Street, in conjunction?
Will they prevail upon Trump to change his mind and ditch the pledge to drop TPP, or simply move ahead along the lines of points 1-5?
The answer depends on Congress overriding Trump Executive directives and Trump vetoing that, and so on. That in turn depends on to what extent Congress is now GOP Republican or Trump Republican. Nobody knows.
There is more going on in the world than USA-China relations.
China-India trade is overtaking China-USA trade before China overtakes USA economically. Both are Asian countries, both are SCO. A concrete implication is that a decreasing percentage of world trade deals is and will be made in US dollars; they recognize each other’s currencies.
At the same time the top country in the EU, Germany, is in great difficulty because a leading corporation, Volkswagen has problems with its emission swindle, paying hefty fines, now sacking 30,000 workers.
Now is the time, if ever, for France-Italy-Spain-Sweden-Czech to produce jointly an alternative car.
At the same time the bottom country in the EU, Greece, is doing well, playing the Chinese card. China is buying Piraeus, making Greece *) the entry point for Chinese business in Europe with products, goods and services at highly acceptable quality over price ratios.
At the same time US economy is running out of options, losing its hold on EU with Brexit.
The Bratislava Summit of 27 EU members 16 Sep 2016 refused to fight US wars. That may tempt USA even more to wage their own with mini-nukes and/or conventional weapons. But Trump foreign policies with Russia, China and in East Asia may deprive them of arguments for doing so.
However, what does Trump have to build upon to make America great again economically?
With an American economy servicing huge debts, with freshly printed dollars far beyond the value of the economy (but still no inflation), with a risky finance economy in command, and little of quality to export but arms and some cars? Jobs to build infrastructure have to be financed and he has promised lower taxes. Although reforming tax codes may stop some loopholes.
Possible answer: increased foreign trade, based on better foreign relations, seeing others as business partners, not as threats.
Just wait, one day USA may trade with North Korea, competing with China. That is, if Trump can lay his hands on money flowing in from abroad, and make trading companies invest in the much lagging US infrastructure.
Yet, the counter-forces are strong. William Blum #146:
+ Obama in the UN 2013, declared USA exceptional and Russia one of the three threats to USA along with IS and the ebola virus. Putin-bashing.
+ A million refugees from Washington/European warfare currently overrun Europe; from Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Pakistan.
+ US fight Assad to use Syria for a pipeline to bring gas from Qatar to Europe to undercut GazProm, Russia’s largest corporation.
+ Washington abandoned the ABM treaty and changed its war doctrine to permit US nuclear first strike.
+ An independent EU would forbid member states from stockpiling US nuclear weapons, having a US ABM site, or a base close to Russia.
+ Since 1980 the US intervened in Iran-Libya-Lebanon-Kuwait-Iraq-Somalia-Bosnia-Arabia-Afghanistan-Sudan-Kosova/Serbia-Yemen-Pakistan-Syria: 14 Muslim countries.
+ USA surrounds China with aircraft, fleets, military bases in Japan-South Korea-Philippines-the Pacific-Australia, patrolling the waters.
+ Crimea never voluntarily left Russia. A dictator made them do so.
+ Everything is “rigged” for a Clinton tenure of belligerence.
And then instead they got Trump foreign policy. Against very heavy odds.