3-D Chess not the 2-D Chess of Ukraine-Russia - What is actually coming during this decade…

[Tom Nolan + 2,443]

It is my contention (the short version)…

In order to install a new “governance”, the old system must be quietly and deceptively destroyed, where the new rulers can “save” society.

EUROPE and its coming destruction.

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)   The insane Energy Policies of Europe have not been ordained by rational thinking, but by deceptive influence from powerful interests.

Anyone can put 2 + 2 together to forecast the coming decade.  What will happen to European currency and the economy when The Federal Reserve raises interest rates?  What will happen to prices when the European energy sector is in shambles?

The famous quote of the 4^th Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum for predictions of the year 2030 is  “You will own nothing and be happy”.

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

The first step of The World Economic Forum is to destroy Europe.  That WILL OCCUR…Europe will be in shambles during the coming years.   The U.N. is a dynamic tool of the World Economic Forum.  This Ukraine-Russia crisis emphasized by the United States is designed to facilitate the destruction of Europe.

In the beginning, the U.S. will appear to benefit especially as its currency remains dominant with no threat as a result of trading partners such as Germany and Russia who might exchange mutual currencies.

The Ukraine-Russia crisis needs to occur now, prior to the destruction of European currencies when The Federal Reserve raises rates.

There is much more to this agenda.  If you read the documents at the World Economic Forum, they tell you the plans.

It is… 3-D Chess not the 2-D Chess of Ukraine-Russia - What is actually coming during this decade…

[frankfurter + 562]

agree. please post links to the docs. thanks.

[Boat + 1,324]

You mean Musk will own Europe? Will he own the only car company? The only solar company? The only battery company? Will he become the famed anti christ you rednecks fret about? You gotta be woke to be saved. Lol your outta luck. However my AC unit will check in with me and inform me of a maintenance event scheduled and the future affect on my credit card. That would be a Musk AC unit. We’re going AI on everything boys. Strap in for the ride.

[notsonice + 1,255]

12 hours ago, Tom Nolan said:

It is my contention (the short version)…

 

 

In order to install a new “governance”, the old system must be quietly and deceptively destroyed, where the new rulers can “save” society.

 

 

EUROPE and its coming destruction.

 

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)   The insane Energy Policies of Europe have not been ordained by rational thinking, but by deceptive influence from powerful interests.

Anyone can put 2 + 2 together to forecast the coming decade.  What will happen to European currency and the economy when The Federal Reserve raises interest rates?  What will happen to prices when the European energy sector is in shambles?

The famous quote of the 4^th Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum for predictions of the year 2030 is  “You will own nothing and be happy”.

 

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

The first step of The World Economic Forum is to destroy Europe.  That WILL OCCUR…Europe will be in shambles during the coming years.   The U.N. is a dynamic tool of the World Economic Forum.  This Ukraine-Russia crisis emphasized by the United States is designed to facilitate the destruction of Europe.

 

In the beginning, the U.S. will appear to benefit especially as its currency remains dominant with no threat as a result of trading partners such as Germany and Russia who might exchange mutual currencies.

 

The Ukraine-Russia crisis needs to occur now, prior to the destruction of European currencies when The Federal Reserve raises rates.

There is mThe global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.uch more to this agenda.  If you read the documents at the World Economic Forum, they tell you the plans.

 

It is… 3-D Chess not the 2-D Chess of Ukraine-Russia - What is actually coming during this decade…

 

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.????? 

More BS garbage out of guy who knows nothing

During October–November, unvaccinated persons had  53.2 times the risks of COVID-19–associated death, respectively, compared with fully vaccinated persons who received booster doses,

 

COVID-19 Incidence and Death Rates Among Unvaccinated and Fully Vaccinated Adults with and Without Booster Doses During Periods of Delta and Omicron Variant Emergence — 25 U.S. Jurisdictions, April 4–December 25, 2021

Weekly / January 28, 2022 / 71(4);132–138

 

On January 21, 2022, this report was posted online as an MMWR Early Release.

Amelia G. Johnson, DrPH^1,*; Avnika B. Amin, PhD^1,*; Akilah R. Ali, MPH¹; Brooke Hoots, PhD¹; Betsy L. Cadwell, PhD¹; Shivani Arora, MPH²; Tigran Avoundjian, PhD³; Abiola O. Awofeso, DVM⁴; Jason Barnes, MBA⁵; Nagla S. Bayoumi, DrPH⁶; Katherine Busen, MPH⁷; Carolyn Chang, MPH⁸; Mike Cima, PhD⁹; Molly Crockett, MPH¹⁰; Alicia Cronquist, MPH¹¹; Sherri Davidson, PhD¹²; Elizabeth Davis, MA¹³; Janelle Delgadillo⁵; Vajeera Dorabawila, PhD¹⁴; Cherie Drenzek, DVM¹⁵; Leah Eisenstein, MPH¹⁶; Hannah E. Fast, MPH¹⁷; Ashley Gent, MPH¹⁶; Julie Hand, MSPH¹⁸; Dina Hoefer, PhD¹⁴; Corinne Holtzman, MPH¹⁹; Amanda Jara, DVM¹⁵; Amanda Jones, MPH²⁰; Ishrat Kamal-Ahmed, PhD²¹; Sarah Kangas, MPH²²; FNU Kanishka, MPH²¹; Ramandeep Kaur, PhD¹²; Saadiah Khan, MPH⁶; Justice King, MSc¹; Samantha Kirkendall, MS²³; Anna Klioueva, MPH²⁴; Anna Kocharian, MS²²; Frances Y. Kwon, MPH²; Jacqueline Logan, MPH²⁵; B. Casey Lyons, MPH²⁶; Shelby Lyons, MPH¹⁸; Andrea May, MPH²⁷; Donald McCormick; MSHI⁹; Erica Mendoza, MAS²⁴; Lauren Milroy, MPH²⁸; Allison O’Donnell, MPH¹⁰; Melissa Pike, MPH¹¹; Sargis Pogosjans, MPH³; Amy Saupe, MPH¹⁹; Jessica Sell, MPH⁸; Elizabeth Smith, MPH¹⁵; Daniel M. Sosin, MD¹³; Emma Stanislawski, MPH¹³; Molly K. Steele, PhD¹; Meagan Stephenson, MPH¹; Allen Stout, MS⁷; Kyle Strand²¹; Buddhi P. Tilakaratne, PhD⁴; Kathryn Turner, PhD²³; Hailey Vest, MPH²⁸; Sydni Warner, MS²²; Caleb Wiedeman, MPH²⁵; Allison Zaldivar, MPH²⁷; Benjamin J. Silk, PhD¹; Heather M. Scobie, PhD¹ (View author affiliations)

View suggested citation

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Although COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreased with emergence of the Delta variant and waning of vaccine-induced immunity, protection against hospitalization and death has remained high.

What is added by this report?

In 25 U.S. jurisdictions, decreases in case incidence rate ratios for unvaccinated versus fully vaccinated persons with and without booster vaccine doses were observed when the Omicron variant emerged in December 2021. Protection against infection and death during the Delta-predominant period and against infection during Omicron emergence were higher among booster vaccine dose recipients, especially among persons aged 50–64 and ≥65 years.

What are the implications for public health practice?

COVID-19 vaccination protected against SARS-CoV-2 infection, even as the Omicron variant became predominant. All eligible persons should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.

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Previous reports of COVID-19 case, hospitalization, and death rates by vaccination status^† indicate that vaccine protection against infection, as well as serious COVID-19 illness for some groups, declined with the emergence of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and waning of vaccine-induced immunity (1–4). During August–November 2021, CDC recommended^§ additional primary COVID-19 vaccine doses among immunocompromised persons and booster doses among persons aged ≥18 years (5). The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant emerged in the United States during December 2021 (6) and by December 25 accounted for 72% of sequenced lineages (7). To assess the impact of full vaccination with additional and booster doses (booster doses),^¶ case and death rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated among unvaccinated and fully vaccinated adults by receipt of booster doses during pre-Delta (April–May 2021), Delta emergence (June 2021), Delta predominance (July–November 2021), and Omicron emergence (December 2021) periods in the United States. During 2021, averaged weekly, age-standardized case IRRs among unvaccinated persons compared with fully vaccinated persons decreased from 13.9 pre-Delta to 8.7 as Delta emerged, and to 5.1 during the period of Delta predominance. During October–November, unvaccinated persons had 13.9 and 53.2 times the risks for infection and COVID-19–associated death, respectively, compared with fully vaccinated persons who received booster doses, and 4.0 and 12.7 times the risks compared with fully vaccinated persons without booster doses. When the Omicron variant emerged during December 2021, case IRRs decreased to 4.9 for fully vaccinated persons with booster doses and 2.8 for those without booster doses, relative to October–November 2021. The highest impact of booster doses against infection and death compared with full vaccination without booster doses was recorded among persons aged 50–64 and ≥65 years. Eligible persons should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.

Weekly COVID-19 cases (April 4–December 25, 2021) and associated deaths (April 4–December 4, 2021) by vaccination status, including additional and booster doses starting October 3, were reported from 25 state and local health departments that routinely link case surveillance to vaccination data from immunization registries; 2- and 5-week reporting lag times for cases and deaths, respectively, allowed for more complete reporting, data linkage, and mortality ascertainment. Standardized definitions were used for COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated or unvaccinated persons, COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated persons with booster doses, and COVID-19–associated deaths,** with specimen collection dates used as time points. Partially vaccinated persons were excluded; reinfections occurring after >90 days were counted as new cases, per current guidance. Analysis periods were determined based on variant proportion estimates in the United States.^†† Age-specific vaccine administration data were used for incidence rate denominators; numbers of unvaccinated persons were estimated by subtracting the numbers of fully and partially vaccinated persons from 2019 U.S. intercensal population estimates.^§§ A continuity correction assumed at ≥5% of each age group and jurisdiction would always be unvaccinated (i.e., fully vaccinated coverage ≤95%). Average weekly incidences were calculated by age group (18–49, 50–64, and ≥65 years), vaccination status, and primary series vaccine product (Ad.26.COV2.S [Janssen {Johnson & Johnson}], BNT162b2 [Pfizer-BioNTech], and mRNA-1273 [Moderna]) during each period; rates overall and by vaccine product were age-standardized using the 2000 U.S. Census standard population.^¶¶ IRRs were calculated by dividing incidence among unvaccinated persons by incidence among fully vaccinated persons (overall and by receipt of booster doses); after detrending the underlying linear changes in incidence, 95% CIs were calculated based on the remaining variation in observed weekly rates (8,9). To interpret IRR changes, age-standardized crude vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated as (1 − [incidence in vaccinated / incidence in unvaccinated]). SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute) and R (version 4.1.0; R Foundation) were used to conduct all analyses. This activity was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.***

During April 4–December 25, 2021, a total of 6,812,040 COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated persons and 2,866,517 cases among fully vaccinated persons were reported among persons aged ≥18 years in 25 U.S. jurisdictions; 94,640 and 22,567 COVID-19–associated deaths among unvaccinated and fully vaccinated persons, respectively, were reported by December 4 (Table 1). Average weekly, age-standardized rates of cases and deaths (events per 100,000 population) were higher during periods of Delta predominance and Omicron emergence than during pre-Delta and Delta emergence periods and were consistently higher in all periods among unvaccinated persons (range = 64.0–725.6 [cases] and 1.5–11.4 [deaths]) than among fully vaccinated persons (range = 7.4–230.9 and 0.1–0.7).

The age-standardized IRR for cases in unvaccinated versus fully vaccinated persons was 13.9 during April–May and progressively declined to 8.7 during June, 5.1 during July–November, and 3.1 during December, coinciding with the periods of Delta emergence, Delta predominance, and Omicron emergence, respectively. This decline suggests a change in crude VE for infection from 93% during April–May, to 89% during June, 80% during July–November, and to 68% during December. Age-standardized IRRs for deaths among unvaccinated versus fully vaccinated persons were relatively stable; crude VE for deaths was 95% during April–May, 94% during June, and 94% during July–November.

Rates of COVID-19 cases were lowest among fully vaccinated persons with a booster dose, compared with fully vaccinated persons without a booster dose, and much lower than rates among unvaccinated persons during October–November (25.0, 87.7, and 347.8 per 100,000 population, respectively) and December 2021 (148.6, 254.8, and 725.6 per 100,000 population, respectively) (Table 2). Similar trends were noted for differences in the mortality rates among these three groups (0.1, 0.6, and 7.8 per 100,000 population, respectively) during October–November. Age-standardized case IRRs among unvaccinated persons compared with fully vaccinated persons with a booster dose declined from 13.9 during October–November to 4.9 during December, representing potential decreases in crude VE for infection from 93% to 80%, respectively. Comparing unvaccinated persons with fully vaccinated persons without a booster dose, age-standardized case IRRs during October–November and December were 4.0 and 2.8 respectively, representing decreases in VE from 75% to 64%. During October–November, age-standardized IRRs for deaths among unvaccinated persons were 53.2 compared with those in fully vaccinated persons with a booster dose and 12.7 compared with persons without a booster dose; these results represented crude VE against death of 98% and 92%, respectively. Protection improved among persons who received a booster dose compared with not receiving a booster, regardless of primary series vaccine product type. Booster doses provided the largest gains in protection among persons aged ≥65 years followed by persons aged 50–64 years when compared with those aged 18–49 years.

Peaks in age-standardized case and death rates occurred during August (>95% of infections attributed to the Delta variant); case rates also peaked during the 2 weeks ending December 18 and 25 (39% and 72% infections attributed to the Omicron variant, respectively) (Figure). IRRs during the pre-Delta period and period of Delta predominance periods were relatively stable, followed by declines corresponding to transitions in variant prevalence (Supplementary Figure, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/113543). Differences in case rates between fully vaccinated persons with and without a booster dose decreased over time; however, more protection was afforded from booster doses, even during Omicron emergence.

Top

Discussion

COVID-19 vaccines reduced risks for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19–associated death during periods of Delta variant predominance and infection risk during Omicron variant emergence. Because of reporting lags, the influence of the Omicron variant on COVID-19–associated deaths by vaccination status in December could not be evaluated. Substantial case rate increases were recorded among unvaccinated and vaccinated persons when Omicron became the predominant variant in December, resulting in decreased IRRs and declining crude VE estimates (7). IRRs and VE were higher among persons who were fully vaccinated and had received a booster dose than among fully vaccinated persons who had not received a booster dose for cases and deaths during the period of Delta predominance and for cases during the period of Omicron emergence in December. The added benefits of booster doses were especially prominent among persons aged 50–64 and ≥65 years.

The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, booster doses could not be distinguished from additional primary doses administered to immunocompromised persons, which could result in reduced IRRs because of lower VE in this population. Second, this ecological study lacked multivariable adjustments, and causality could not be determined. Possible differences in testing, infection-derived immunity, waning of vaccine-derived immunity, or prevention behaviors by age and vaccination status might partly explain differences in rates between groups; trends are likely affected by temporal changes in testing or reporting. Third, national variant prevalence estimates were used, but prevalence differed by jurisdiction over time. Fourth, variable data linkage completeness might have resulted in misclassifications (e.g., booster doses not being linked to primary series) that could influence IRR estimates (5). Finally, these data represent 62% of the overall U.S. population, and therefore might not be generalizable.

Early analysis of surveillance data provided crude signals of VE that were consistent with other studies reporting decreased VE against Omicron infection compared with Delta and increased protection from booster doses compared with a primary series of COVID-19 vaccination alone^††† (10). Ongoing analyses will help monitor the impact of the Omicron variant and other emerging variants on VE against COVID-19 cases and associated deaths; rates by vaccination status will be updated monthly on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker website (3). All eligible persons should stay up to date with primary series, additional, and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

 

[notsonice + 1,255]

46 minutes ago, Boat said:

You mean Musk will own Europe? Will he own the only car company? The only solar company? The only battery company? Will he become the famed anti christ you rednecks fret about? You gotta be woke to be saved. Lol your outta luck. However my AC unit will check in with me and inform me of a maintenance event scheduled and the future affect on my credit card. That would be a Musk AC unit. We’re going AI on everything boys. Strap in for the ride.

the redneck boys are still living in mud huts,  they really do not know what AI is about. 

[Boat + 1,324]

The expansion of space is expanding faster than the speed of light and ability to see so our boundary is the quality of our telescope? How big a head start does the expansion have? Science can observe movement faster than the speed of light but we’re gonna need robots to figure out how to harness faster movement than we can discover today. 
We may need extra planets for the Russians, Chinese, Trumpsters, Iranian Muslims, N Koreans etc. Should be no problem now that we can observe billions more space objects. Each group can do some heavy duty extra important ruling. Don’t forget the biblical spreading of the seed. Plenty of time for sex in your cubical. Skin die will be mandatory per level of loyalty achieved and demonstrated. 

[Meredith Poor + 895]

Somehow there is some relationship between what the Federal Reserve does (raising rates), something going on between Ukraine and Russia, and the destruction of 'Europe'. Anyone that's been driving around the abandoned towns and villages of southern Italy, the mountainous regions of Spain, and the rural parts of Portugal would wonder what anyone means by 'will'. It's already happened. Entire (abandoned) villages are for sale in Spain for $90,000.

There are 300 million conspiracies to take over the world, and that's just in the United States.

Over a period of time, say one generation, simple things get replaced by more complicated things. Piston powered airliners of the early 1950's were replaced by widebody jets in the late 1960's. The widebody jets needed bigger runways, bigger hangars for maintenance, had far more complicated avionics, and needed sophisticated passenger handling terminals to load and unload. Therefore, a large number of simple airplanes, and a large number of small airports, were replaced with a small number of complex airplanes, and a small number of high-traffic airports.

Someone who could live and work in a smaller town fixing airplanes in the 1950's had to move to the 'big city' (or their children did) to work on the airliners. Progressively more work requires concentrated workers with a variety of skills, either for medical services, equipment maintenance, education, or government services. Even in the rural areas, population is concentrated along transportation corridors - freeways, railroads, pipelines, etc.

In the US, this means migration across state lines, from Mississippi to Michigan or New York to Florida. In Europe this means migration between sovereign states - Romania to the UK or Italy to Germany. Vast areas of Eastern Europe are being vacated along with the southern flank.

The regions being abandoned are of little economic relevance to the rest of the world. While workers migrate to Russia from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan to work in factories or build roads, university educated Russians end up in Germany, the US, or the UK writing software or running businesses (or simply basking in their wealth).

Russia keeps trying, with increasingly desperate measures, to be a 'global player' that can face off against the US, China, 'NATO', or other global scale interests. The reaction in the West is simply 'what have you done for us lately' - meaning do you have rare earths, state-of-the-art chip production, EV battery 'megafactories', lithium, etc.? If not, why do you matter? Russia has to throw a tantrum to get any attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er_n9XSD1Bg

Russia has, based in current demographics, 142 million people.

The sum of the Ukraine (41 million), Poland (38 million), Romania (19 million), Hungary (10 million), Czechia (10 million), Bulgaria (6 million), Finland (6 million), Slovakia (5 million), Georgia (4 million), Lithuania (3 million), Armenia (3 million), Moldova (3 million), Latvia (2 million), Estonia (1 million) is a few million (151 million) more than Russia's 142 million. The significance of these countries is that they were A) either within the Soviet Union or within the Eastern bloc during the cold war, B) are either overtly hostile to Russia (Poland and Georgia) or at least not interested in becoming part of Russia's 'sphere of influence'. For the most part these countries see themselves as 'Western' or 'European'.

Countries with 'expansionary' mindsets continue to expand until they hit some kind of barrier. The Ukraine (with Western support) is that barrier, at least at the moment. In a slow motion war full of posturing and propaganda, Western interests are likely to knock the economic supports out from under the Russian economy bit by bit until Russia backs off, or until it is physically no longer capable of threatening its neighbors.

However, not all of the Russian shrinkage is due to Western initiatives. Russia is perfectly capable of squandering opportunities without outside help. When governments try to 'control the narrative' by silencing critics, they also silence other people that just trying solve day to day problems like pollution, infrastructure, and so forth. This leads to avoidable health problems and various kinds of unsolved logistical bottlenecks. When efforts to get these problems solved are frustrated, citizens come to the conclusion they need a (genuinely) different government.

[Tom Nolan + 2,443]

23 hours ago, Tom Nolan said:

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)  

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)  

This is a very clear point of fact.  Look up the structure of how the European Union Parliament is designed.  And everyone knows about the negative interest rates in Europe.  However, many people do not know that European Pension Funds are required to own a percentage of bonds which get tied to the EURO.   

It doesn't take a genius to recognize that investment monies will flock to the American dollar when The Fed will raise interest rates.  This results in the EURO being a less valued currency.  and there goes the dominos falling..

So, this is one aspect.

[Tom Nolan + 2,443]

23 hours ago, Tom Nolan said:

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

Vaccine Mandates and the Vaccine Passports ( exxample: "Green Pass") are two examples of population control and monitoring the ID profile.

Edited February 23, 2022 by Tom Nolan

[notsonice + 1,255]

55 minutes ago, Tom Nolan said:

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

Vaccine Mandates and the Vaccine Passports ( exxample: "Green Pass") are two examples of population control and monitoring the ID profile.

Not getting the Vaccine has really controlled the population of Idiots. US is closing in on 1,000,000 COVID related deaths with over 90 percent of the deaths among those unvaccinated.

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

5 hours ago, Meredith Poor said:

Somehow there is some relationship between what the Federal Reserve does (raising rates), something going on between Ukraine and Russia, and the destruction of 'Europe'. Anyone that's been driving around the abandoned towns and villages of southern Italy, the mountainous regions of Spain, and the rural parts of Portugal would wonder what anyone means by 'will'. It's already happened. Entire (abandoned) villages are for sale in Spain for $90,000.

There are 300 million conspiracies to take over the world, and that's just in the United States.

Over a period of time, say one generation, simple things get replaced by more complicated things. Piston powered airliners of the early 1950's were replaced by widebody jets in the late 1960's. The widebody jets needed bigger runways, bigger hangars for maintenance, had far more complicated avionics, and needed sophisticated passenger handling terminals to load and unload. Therefore, a large number of simple airplanes, and a large number of small airports, were replaced with a small number of complex airplanes, and a small number of high-traffic airports.

Someone who could live and work in a smaller town fixing airplanes in the 1950's had to move to the 'big city' (or their children did) to work on the airliners. Progressively more work requires concentrated workers with a variety of skills, either for medical services, equipment maintenance, education, or government services. Even in the rural areas, population is concentrated along transportation corridors - freeways, railroads, pipelines, etc.

In the US, this means migration across state lines, from Mississippi to Michigan or New York to Florida. In Europe this means migration between sovereign states - Romania to the UK or Italy to Germany. Vast areas of Eastern Europe are being vacated along with the southern flank.

The regions being abandoned are of little economic relevance to the rest of the world. While workers migrate to Russia from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan to work in factories or build roads, university educated Russians end up in Germany, the US, or the UK writing software or running businesses (or simply basking in their wealth).

Russia keeps trying, with increasingly desperate measures, to be a 'global player' that can face off against the US, China, 'NATO', or other global scale interests. The reaction in the West is simply 'what have you done for us lately' - meaning do you have rare earths, state-of-the-art chip production, EV battery 'megafactories', lithium, etc.? If not, why do you matter? Russia has to throw a tantrum to get any attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er_n9XSD1Bg

Russia has, based in current demographics, 142 million people.

The sum of the Ukraine (41 million), Poland (38 million), Romania (19 million), Hungary (10 million), Czechia (10 million), Bulgaria (6 million), Finland (6 million), Slovakia (5 million), Georgia (4 million), Lithuania (3 million), Armenia (3 million), Moldova (3 million), Latvia (2 million), Estonia (1 million) is a few million (151 million) more than Russia's 142 million. The significance of these countries is that they were A) either within the Soviet Union or within the Eastern bloc during the cold war, B) are either overtly hostile to Russia (Poland and Georgia) or at least not interested in becoming part of Russia's 'sphere of influence'. For the most part these countries see themselves as 'Western' or 'European'.

Countries with 'expansionary' mindsets continue to expand until they hit some kind of barrier. The Ukraine (with Western support) is that barrier, at least at the moment. In a slow motion war full of posturing and propaganda, Western interests are likely to knock the economic supports out from under the Russian economy bit by bit until Russia backs off, or until it is physically no longer capable of threatening its neighbors.

However, not all of the Russian shrinkage is due to Western initiatives. Russia is perfectly capable of squandering opportunities without outside help. When governments try to 'control the narrative' by silencing critics, they also silence other people that just trying solve day to day problems like pollution, infrastructure, and so forth. This leads to avoidable health problems and various kinds of unsolved logistical bottlenecks. When efforts to get these problems solved are frustrated, citizens come to the conclusion they need a (genuinely) different government.

Russia does not silence critics / does it to lesser extent than the USA.

[TailingsPond + 1,008]

16 hours ago, Boat said:

You mean Musk will own Europe? Will he own the only car company? The only solar company? The only battery company? Will he become the famed anti christ you rednecks fret about? You gotta be woke to be saved. Lol your outta luck. However my AC unit will check in with me and inform me of a maintenance event scheduled and the future affect on my credit card. That would be a Musk AC unit. We’re going AI on everything boys. Strap in for the ride.

My washer and dryer have wifi and can alert me of maintenance too. Internet of things has arrived.

Edited February 23, 2022 by TailingsPond

[Meredith Poor + 895]

2 hours ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

Russia does not silence critics

It prefers for them to just 'disappear', or at least 'accidently' fall out of their high rise balconies or off bridges.

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

37 minutes ago, Meredith Poor said:

It prefers for them to just 'disappear', or at least 'accidently' fall out of their high rise balconies or off bridges.

Inventions of your propaganda. Tons of critics out there, perfectly alive

[frankfurter + 562]

7 hours ago, Tom Nolan said:

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)  

This is a very clear point of fact.  Look up the structure of how the European Union Parliament is designed.  And everyone knows about the negative interest rates in Europe.  However, many people do not know that European Pension Funds are required to own a percentage of bonds which get tied to the EURO.   

It doesn't take a genius to recognize that investment monies will flock to the American dollar when The Fed will raise interest rates.  This results in the EURO being a less valued currency.  and there goes the dominos falling..

So, this is one aspect.

Precisely. And what better way to accelerate the shift than by creating a crisis in the minds of people?

[Tom Nolan + 2,443]

21 hours ago, notsonice said:

22 hours ago, Tom Nolan said:

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

Vaccine Mandates and the Vaccine Passports ( exxample: "Green Pass") are two examples of population control and monitoring the ID profile.

Not getting the Vaccine has really controlled the population of Idiots. US is closing in on 1,000,000 COVID related deaths with over 90 percent of the deaths among those unvaccinated.

NotSoNice, You are so extremely uninformed on the "Official Covid Death Counts".  You don't mention the PCR tests nor the other "accounting methods" that have been used.  Even the CDC talks about the "official" count being a mess.  You don't mention how Remdesivir combined with intubation literally killed most of the U.S. Covid cases, becasue you don't know squat about Remdesivir. 

I don't think there is hope for you on becoming more aware...you will probably remain in ignorance until you die, because you refuse to LOOK into alternative sourced news, but you prefer instead to feed on propaganda.  You have doomed yourself to a life of delusion.

[Strangelovesurfing + 737]

23 hours ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

Russia does not silence critics / does it to lesser extent than the USA.

Yeah right, Russia, the only nation on Earth where doctors need instructions on how to safely operate windows.

"Doctor... DOCTOR! that's not a door that's a window! Good thing I was here to keep you from walking through that window. You better re-take your window safety class doctor" 

https://www.vox.com/2020/5/6/21248553/coronavirus-russia-doctors-windows-death

Yes Andrei, I'm sure Russian windows are super tricky to operate property. After all, first you need KGB guys to inspect every one before use to remove all those CIA listening devices, they're all around you all the time, everywhere you look...

Did you know starting in the 1960's the US government used DDT to kill all the birds on earth and replace them with drones. That's why CIA bird drones land on power lines, to recharge. No photos of birds landing on power lines exist before 1760.

Haven't you realized yet all the wars the US has fought since WW2 have been about the remaining bird nesting grounds they had to destroy? Agent Orange was a defoliant??? It was a bird killer!!!!!

#BirdsArentReal

Edited February 24, 2022 by Strangelovesurfing

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

5 hours ago, Strangelovesurfing said:

Yeah right, Russia, the only nation on Earth where doctors need instructions on how to safely operate windows.

"Doctor... DOCTOR! that's not a door that's a window! Good thing I was here to keep you from walking through that window. You better re-take your window safety class doctor" 

https://www.vox.com/2020/5/6/21248553/coronavirus-russia-doctors-windows-death

Yes Andrei, I'm sure Russian windows are super tricky to operate property. After all, first you need KGB guys to inspect every one before use to remove all those CIA listening devices, they're all around you all the time, everywhere you look...

Did you know starting in the 1960's the US government used DDT to kill all the birds on earth and replace them with drones. That's why CIA bird drones land on power lines, to recharge. No photos of birds landing on power lines exist before 1760.

Haven't you realized yet all the wars the US has fought since WW2 have been about the remaining bird nesting grounds they had to destroy? Agent Orange was a defoliant??? It was a bird killer!!!!!

#BirdsArentReal

One of the doctors, who fell from the 2nd floor, is alive. Let's wait for him to come to his senses.

[notsonice + 1,255]

9 hours ago, Tom Nolan said:

NotSoNice, You are so extremely uninformed on the "Official Covid Death Counts".  You don't mention the PCR tests nor the other "accounting methods" that have been used.  Even the CDC talks about the "official" count being a mess.  You don't mention how Remdesivir combined with intubation literally killed most of the U.S. Covid cases, becasue you don't know squat about Remdesivir. 

I don't think there is hope for you on becoming more aware...you will probably remain in ignorance until you die, because you refuse to LOOK into alternative sourced news, but you prefer instead to feed on propaganda.  You have doomed yourself to a life of delusion.

keep living in denial ....those who catch covid and do not get vaccinated die at a rate over 50 times the ones who do get vaccinated. Great way to rid the earth of the real idiots. How many years with COVID in circulation do you think it will take to wipe out all the idiots???

[notsonice + 1,255]

On 2/23/2022 at 3:24 PM, TailingsPond said:

My washer and dryer have wifi and can alert me of maintenance too. Internet of things has arrived.

My better half alerts me when the Washer is on the Fritz....... You need to be  told when your washer is not working right by WIFI???? 

[notsonice + 1,255]

Please note to those who hold shares in Gazprom....Good luck collecting your dividends...HA HA HA one of the banks sanctioned today is.....

• Gazprombank Joint Stock Company is Russia’s third-largest financial institution and is closely affiliated with the energy sector.

 

U.S. Treasury Announces Unprecedented & Expansive Sanctions Against Russia, Imposing Swift and Severe Economic Costs

526

February 24, 2022

United States Acts in Tandem with Partners and Allies to Maximize Consequences for Russia, and in Show of Unity Against Invasion of a Sovereign State

Top Ten Russian Financial Institutions Now Under U.S Restrictions; U.S. Ready to Impose Additional Major Costs

WASHINGTON – The United States took significant and unprecedented action to respond to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine by imposing severe economic costs that will have both immediate and long-term effects on the Russian economy and financial system. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today imposed expansive economic measures, in partnership with allies and partners, that target the core infrastructure of the Russian financial system — including all of Russia’s largest financial institutions and the ability of state-owned and private entities to raise capital — and further bars Russia from the global financial system. The actions also target nearly 80 percent of all banking assets in Russia and will have a deep and long-lasting effect on the Russian economy and financial system.

Building off of President Biden’s initial sanctions announcement this week, today Treasury is taking action against Russia’s top financial institutions, including sanctioning by far Russia’s two largest banks and almost 90 financial institution subsidiaries around the world. Treasury is also sanctioning additional Russian elites and their family members and imposing additional new prohibitions related to new debt and equity of major Russian state-owned enterprises and large privately owned financial institutions. This will fundamentally imperil Russia’s ability to raise capital key to its acts of aggression. These actions are specifically designed to impose immediate costs and disrupt and degrade future economic activity, isolate Russia from international finance and commerce, and degrade the Kremlin’s future ability to project power.

“Treasury is taking serious and unprecedented action to deliver swift and severe consequences to the Kremlin and significantly impair their ability to use the Russian economy and financial system to further their malign activity,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Our actions, taken in coordination with partners and allies, will degrade Russia’s ability to project power and threaten the peace and stability of Europe. We are united in our efforts to hold Russia accountable for its further invasion of Ukraine while mitigating impacts to Americans and our partners. If necessary, we are prepared to impose further costs on Russia in response to its egregious actions.”

Russia’s large financial services sector is heavily dominated by state-owned actors that rely on the U.S. financial system to conduct their business activities both within Russia and internationally. The sanctions the United States is imposing today cut off major parts of the Russian financial system and economy from access to this important financial infrastructure and the U.S. dollar more broadly.

The United States consulted closely with partners to tailor the economic costs of these actions to weigh most heavily on the Government of the Russian Federation (GoR) and its economy while mitigating impacts to America and its allies. Treasury’s sustained financial diplomacy over several months, on a near daily basis with partners and allies and at every level, has strengthened a unity of purpose, resolve, and technical coordination to deliver a broad array of impactful measures that will be felt deeply in Russia.

Today’s actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, which authorizes sanctions against Russia for its harmful foreign activities, including violating core principles of international law such as respect for the territorial integrity of sovereign states.

MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIONS

Targeting Russia’s Two Largest Financial Institutions

Treasury is taking unprecedented action against Russia’s two largest financial institutions, Public Joint Stock Company Sberbank of Russia (Sberbank)and VTB Bank Public Joint Stock Company (VTB Bank), drastically altering their fundamental ability to operate. On a daily basis, Russian financial institutions conduct about $46 billion worth of foreign exchange transactions globally, 80 percent of which are in U.S. dollars. The vast majority of those transactions will now be disrupted. By cutting off Russia’s two largest banks — which combined make up more than half of the total banking system in Russia by asset value — from processing payments through the U.S. financial system. The Russian financial institutions subject to today’s action can no longer benefit from the remarkable reach, efficiency, and security of the U.S. financial system.

Correspondent and Payable-Through Account Sanctions on Sberbank

Today Treasury is imposing correspondent and payable-through account sanctions on Sberbank. Sberbank is uniquely important to the Russian economy, holding about a third of all bank assets in Russia. Sberbank is the largest financial institution in Russia and is majority-owned by the GoR. It holds the largest market share of savings deposits in the country, is the main creditor of the Russian economy, and is deemed by the GoR to be a systemically important financial institution. Within 30 days, OFAC is requiring all U.S. financial institutions to close any Sberbank correspondent or payable-through accounts and to reject any future transactions involving Sberbank or its foreign financial institution subsidiaries. Payments that Sberbank attempts to process in U.S. dollars for its clients — with examples ranging from to technology to transportation — will be disrupted and rejected once the payment hits a U.S. financial institution.

To implement sanctions on Sberbank, OFAC issued Directive 2 under E.O. 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (the “Russia-related CAPTA Directive”). This directive prohibits U.S. financial institutions from: (i) the opening or maintaining of a correspondent account or payable-through account for or on behalf of any entity determined to be subject to the prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, or their property or interests in property; and (ii) the processing of transactions involving any such entities determined to be subject to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, or their property or interests in property. Accordingly, U.S. financial institutions must reject such transactions unless exempt or authorized by OFAC.

Pursuant to Directive 2 under E.O. 14024, Sberbank and 25 Sberbank foreign financial institution subsidiaries that are 50 percent or more owned, directly or indirectly, by Sberbank were identified in Annex 1 to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive. These subsidiaries include banks, trusts, insurance companies, and other financial companies located in Russia and six other countries.

Sberbank and other affiliated entities determined to be subject to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive have been added to OFAC’s List of Foreign Financial Institutions Subject to Correspondent Account or Payable-Through Account Sanctions (CAPTA List), a reference tool that provides actual notice of OFAC actions with respect to foreign financial institutions for which the opening or maintaining of a correspondent account or a payable-through account in the United States is prohibited or subject to one or more strict conditions. All foreign financial institutions owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Sberbank are covered by the prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, even if not identified on OFAC’s CAPTA List.

The prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive take effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 26, 2022. Accordingly, by 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 26, 2022, U.S. financial institutions must have closed any correspondent or payable-through account maintained for Sberbank all other entities listed in Annex 1 to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, and all foreign financial institutions owned 50 percent or more by the foregoing. In addition, after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 26, 2022, U.S. financial institutions may not process transactions involving those institutions and must reject such transactions, unless exempt or authorized by OFAC.

Full Blocking Sanctions on VTB

OFAC has imposed full blocking sanctions on VTB Bank, Russia’s second-largest financial institution, which holds nearly 20 percent of banking assets in Russia. VTB Bank is majority-owned by the GoR, which deems it to be a systemically important financial institution. This will sever a critical artery of Russia’s financial system. By imposing these sanctions, assets held in U.S. financial institutions will be instantly frozen and inaccessible to the Kremlin. This is one of the largest financial institutions Treasury has ever blocked and sends an unmistakable signal that the United States is following through on its promise of delivering severe economic costs.

VTB Bank was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the GoR, and for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. In addition, 20 VTB Bank subsidiaries were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, VTB Bank. These subsidiaries include banks, holding companies, and other financial companies located in Russia and eight other countries. All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by VTB Bank are subject to blocking, even if not identified by OFAC.

BLOCKING OTHER MAJOR RUSSIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

OFAC has also imposed blocking sanctions on three additional major Russian financial institutions: Otkritie, Novikom, and Sovcom. These three financial institutions play significant roles in the Russian economy, holding combined assets worth $80 billion. These designations further restrict the Russian financial services sector and greatly diminish the ability of other critical Russian economic sectors from accessing global markets, attracting investment, and utilizing the U.S. dollar.

Public Joint Stock Company Bank Financial Corporation Otkritie (Otkritie) is deemed by the GoR to be a systemically important Russian state-owned credit institution and is Russia’s seventh largest financial institution. Otkritie was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the GoR, and for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

In addition, 12 Otkritie subsidiaries were designated today pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Otkritie. The 12 Otkritie subsidiaries designated today include an insurance company, a bank, and other financial services companies in Russia and Cyprus. All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Otkritie are subject to blocking under E.O. 14024, even if not identified by OFAC.

Open Joint Stock Company Sovcombank (Sovcombank) is the third largest privately owned financial institution in Russia by total assets, and Russia’s ninth largest bank overall. The GoR identifies it as a systemically important Russian financial institution. Sovcombank was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

In addition, 22 Sovcombank subsidiaries were designated today pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Sovcombank. The 22 Sovcombank subsidiaries designated today include a variety of financial services companies in Russia and Cyprus. All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Sovcombank are subject to blocking under E.O. 14024, even if not identified by OFAC.

Joint Stock Commercial Bank Novikombank (Novikombank) is state-owned and among the 50 largest financial institutions in Russia. Novikombank primarily operates in the Russian defense sector and serves as the core financial institution for Russian defense company Rostec, which fully owns the bank. Novikombank was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. Prior to today’s action, Novikombank was subject to certain debt-related restrictions pursuant to Directive 3 under E.O. 13662 but is now blocked. Novikombank’s parent company, Rostec, remains subject to certain debt-related restrictions pursuant to Directive 3 under E.O. 13662.

DEBT AND EQUITY PROHIBITIONS AGAINST MAJOR STATE-OWNED AND PRIVATE ENTITIES

In a move to limit Russia’s ability to finance its invasion against Ukraine or other priorities of President Putin, OFAC expanded Russia-related debt and equity restrictions to additional key aspects of Russia’s economy. To implement this action, OFAC issued Directive 3 under E.O. 14024, “Prohibitions Related to New Debt and Equity of Certain Russia-related Entities” (the “Russia-related Entities Directive”) to prohibit transactions and dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States in new debt of longer than 14 days maturity and new equity of Russian state-owned enterprises, entities that operate in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy, and other entities determined to be subject to the prohibitions in this directive.

These 13 major firms, which are listed in Annex 1 to the Russia-related Entities Directive, include companies critical to the Russian economy and six of Russia’s largest financial institutions. They are now heavily restricted from raising money through the U.S. market — a key source of capital and revenue generation, which limits the Kremlin’s ability to raise money for its malign activity — including to support the further invasion of Ukraine.

Today’s action pursuant to the Russia-related Entities Directive further expands the number of Russian entities subject to prohibitions related to new debt and equity. This includes 13 entities with outstanding debt issuances, six of which are also subject to certain debt or additional restrictions pursuant to directives under E.O. 13662.

Pursuant to E.O. 14024, OFAC identified the following 11 Russian entities as being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purposed to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the GoR:

• Sberbank is Russia’s largest financial institution. Today, Sberbank was also identified as subject to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive.
• Gazprombank Joint Stock Company is Russia’s third-largest financial institution and is closely affiliated with the energy sector.
• Joint Stock Company Russian Agricultural Bank is Russia’s fifth-largest financial institution and closely affiliated with the agricultural sector.
• Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the world’s largest natural gas company.
• Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom Neft is one of Russia’s largest oil producers and refiners.
• Public Joint Stock Company Transneft (Transneft) manages Russia’s network of petroleum-related pipelines.
• Public Joint Stock Company Rostelecom is Russia’s largest telecommunications company.
• Public Joint Stock Company RusHydro is a hydroelectricity company and one of Russia’s largest power companies.
• Public Joint Stock Company Alrosa is the world’s largest diamond mining company, responsible for 90 percent of Russia’s diamond mining capacity, which accounts for 28 percent globally.
• Joint Stock Company Sovcomflot is Russia’s largest maritime and freight shipping company.
• Open Joint Stock Company Russian Railways is one of the world’s largest railroad companies.

Pursuant to E.O. 14024, OFAC identified the following three Russian entities for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy:

• Joint Stock Company Alfa-Bank is Russia’s largest privately owned financial institution, and Russia’s fourth-largest financial institution overall.
• Credit Bank of Moscow Public Joint Stock Company is Russia’s largest non-state public bank and Russia’s sixth-largest financial institution.
• Sberbank, which is described above.

GENERAL LICENSES

To ensure that these sanctions and prohibitions have an impact on the intended targets and to minimize unintended consequences on third parties, OFAC has also issued several general licenses in connection with these actions. In particular, payments for energy are from production to consumption. The sanctions and license package has been constructed to account for the challenges high energy prices pose to average citizens and doesn’t prevent banks from processing payments for them.

Specifically, OFAC issued eight general licenses authorizing certain transactions related to:

• international organizations and entities;
• agricultural and medical commodities and the COVID-19 pandemic;
• overflight and emergency landings;
• energy;
• dealings in certain debt or equity;
• derivative contracts;
• the wind down of transactions involving certain blocked persons; and
• the rejection of transactions involving certain blocked persons.

To provide further guidance on these authorizations and today’s action, OFAC also issued extensive public guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

NEW ACTIONS TARGETING RUSSIAN ELITES

Families Close to Putin

Elites close to Putin continue to leverage their proximity to the Russian President to pillage the Russian state, enrich themselves, and elevate their family members into some of the highest positions of power in the country at the expense of the Russian people. Sanctioned oligarchs and powerful Russian elites have used family members to move assets and to conceal their immense wealth. The following designations target influential Russians in Putin’s inner circle and in elite positions of power within the Russian state. Many of these individuals are believed to participate in, or benefit from, the Russian regime’s kleptocracy, along with their family members. Many serve in leadership roles of companies designated or identified today.

Sergei Sergeevich Ivanov, son of Sergei Borisovich Ivanov

Sergei Borisovich Ivanov (Sergei B. Ivanov) is the Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transport. Sergei B. Ivanov is reportedly one of Putin’s closest allies and previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Deputy Prime Minister, and Defense Minister of Russia. He is also a permanent member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Sergei B. Ivanov was previously designated in March 2014 for being an official of the GoR. Sergei Ivanov’s son, Sergei Sergeevich Ivanov (Sergei S. Ivanov), is the current CEO of Russian state-owned diamond mining company Alrosa and a board member of Gazprombank.

OFAC redesignated Sergei B. Ivanov and designated his son Sergei S. Ivanov pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the GoR. Sergei S. Ivanov was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Sergei B. Ivanov, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR.

Andrey Patrushev, son of Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev

Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev (Nikolai Patrushev) is the Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council and is reported to be a longtime close associate of Putin. Nikolai Patrushev was previously designated in April 2018 for being an official of the GoR. Patrushev’s son, Andrey Patrushev, served in leadership roles at Gazprom Neft and is employed in Russia’s energy sector.

OFAC redesignated Nikolai Patrushev and designated his son Andrey Patrushev pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the GoR. Andrey Patrushev was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Nikolai Patrushev, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR.

Ivan Igorevich Sechin, son of Igor Ivanovich Sechin

Igor Ivanovich Sechin (Igor Sechin) is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chairman of the Management Board, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rosneft, one of the world’s largest publicly traded oil companies. Igor Sechin was formerly the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation from 2008 until 2012 and is reportedly a close ally of Putin. Igor Sechin was previously designated in April 2014 pursuant to E.O. 13661 for being an official of the GoR. Igor Sechin’s son, Ivan Igorevich Sechin (Ivan Sechin), is reportedly a deputy head of a department at Rosneft.

OFAC redesignated Igor Sechin pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR. Ivan Sechin was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Igor Sechin, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR.

Financial Sector Elites

Senior executives at state-owned banks, like Kremlin-linked elites, take advantage of their closeness to the Russian power vertical to advance the interests of the Russian state while maintaining an extravagant standard of living.

Alexander Aleksandrovich Vedyakhin (Vedyakhin) is First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank. OFAC designated Vedyakhin pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR.

Andrey Sergeyevich Puchkov (Puchkov) and Yuriy Alekseyevich Soloviev (Soloviev) are two high-ranking VTB Bank executives who work closely with VTB Bank chief executive Andrei Kostin, whom OFAC designated in April 2018 pursuant to E.O. 13661. Puchkov also has other business interests beyond VTB, including Moscow-based real estate companies Limited Liability Company Atlant S and Limited Liability Company Inspira Invest A.

Soloviev’s wife, Galina Olegovna Ulyutina (Ulyutina), was previously implicated in a golden passport scheme.

OFAC designated Puchkov and Soloviev pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the GoR.

Limited Liability Company Atlant S and Limited Liability Company Inspira Invest A were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Puchkov.

Ulyutina was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Soloviev, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

For identifying information on the individuals and entities sanctioned today, click here.

For Treasury’s concurrent designation of critical Belarusian state-owned banks, defense firms, and regime-connected individuals, click here.

For the White House fact sheet about the Biden Administration’s actions today, click here.

###

 

Subsidiaries of Russian Financial Institutions Sanctioned on February 24, 2022Pursuant to E.O. 14024

The following Sberbank subsidiaries are subject to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive:

1. Subsidiary Bank Sberbank of Russia Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Kazakhstan.
2. Joint Stock Company Sberbank is a bank located in Ukraine.
3. Open Joint Stock Company BPS-Sberbank is a bank located Belarus.
4. IKS Joint Stock Company is a real estate, security brokering, fund management, depository credit intermediation, as well as other activities auxiliary to financial intermediation, company located in Russia.
5. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Leasing is a bank located in Russia.
6. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Capital is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Russia.
7. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Automated Trade System is a vendor of financial securities on electronic trading platforms located in Russia.
8. Limited Liability Company Promising Investments is a financial company located in Russia.
9. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Financial Company is a financial company located in Russia.
10. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Investments is a financial company located in Russia.
11. Sberbank Europe AG is a bank located in Austria.
12. Insurance Company Sberbank Life Insurance Limited Liability Company is an insurance company located in Russia.
13. SB Securities SA is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Luxembourg.
14. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Private Pension Fund is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Russia.
15. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Insurance Broker is a financial and insurance company located in Russia.
16. Insurance Company Sberbank Insurance Limited Liability Company is an insurance company located in Russia.
17. Limited Liability Company Sberbank CIB Holding is a financial company located in Russia.
18. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Factoring is a financial company located in Russia
19. Joint Stock Company Raschetniye Resheniya is a bank located in Russia.
20. Vydayushchiesya Kredity Microcredit Company Limited Liability Company is a financial and insurance company in Russia.
21. Tekhnologii Kreditovaniya Limited Liability Company is an Internet-based financial activities company located in Russia.
22. Arimero Holding Limited is a financial, insurance, and holding company located in Cyprus.
23. Setelem Bank Limited Liability Company is a bank located in Russia.
24. Limited Liability Company Yoomoney is a bank located in Russia.
25. Limited Liability Company Market Fund Administration is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Russia.

 

The property and interests in property of the following VTB Bank subsidiaries are blocked:

1. BM Bank Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Russia.
2. VTB Capital Holding Closed Joint Stock Company is a holding company located in Russia.
3. NPF VTB Pension Fund Joint Stock Company is a non-state pension fund company located in Russia.
4. VTB Factoring Limited is a finance and factoring company located in Russia.
5. Bank VTB Kazakhstan Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Kazakhstan.
6. VTB Bank Armenia Closed Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Armenia.
7. VTB Bank Azerbaijan Open Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Azerbaijan.
8. VTB Bank Belarus Closed Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Belarus.
9. VTB Bank Georgia Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Georgia.
10. Banco VTB Africa SA is a bank located in Angola.
11. VTB Specialized Depository Closed Joint Stock Company is an intermediation and financial company located in Russia.
12. VTB Pension Administrator Limited is a holding company located in Russia.
13. Limited Liability Company VTB DC is a financial and management consulting company located in Russia.
14. VTB Registrar Closed Joint Stock Company is a financial company located in Russia.
15. Business Finance Limited Liability Company is a security brokerage and financial leasing company located in Russia.
16. West Siberian Commercial Bank Public Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Russia.
17. Joint-Stock Company Sarovbusinessbank is a bank located in Russia.
18. Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Bank is a bank located in Vietnam.
19. VTB Bank Europe SE is a bank located in Germany.
20. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu VTB Foreks is a financial company located in Russia.

 

 

The property and interests in property of the following Otkritie subsidiaries are blocked:

1. Public Joint Stock Company Insurance Company Rosgosstrakh is an insurance company located in Russia.
2. Otkritie Ltd Group is a financial company located in Cyprus.
3. OOO Navigator Asset Management is a financial company located in Russia.
4. OOO Otkritie Asset Management is a financial company located in Russia.
5. Otkritie Broker Group is a financial company located in Russia.
6. OOO Tamozhennaya Karta is a financial company located in Russia.
7. OOO Otkritie Factoring is a financial company located in Russia.
8. OOO RGS Holding is a financial company located in Russia.
9. OOO Otkritie Capital is a financial company located in Russia.
10. Otkritie Capital Cyprus Limited is a financial company located in Cyprus.
11. NPF Otkritie Group is a non-state pension fund located in Russia.
12. PAO Rosgosstrakh Bank is a bank located in Russia.

 

The property and interests in property of the following Sovcombank subsidiaries are blocked:

1. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Fintender is a financial technology company located in Russia.
2. Bank National Factoring Company Joint Stock Company is a financial institution located in Russia.
3. Sovcombank Factoring Limited Liability Company is a financial company located in Russia.
4. BEST2PAY Limited is a financial company located in Russia.
5. GMCS Management Limited Liability Company is a financial management company located in Russia.
6. Septem Capital Limited Liability Company is an investment company located in Russia.
7. Joint Stock Company Sovcombank Life is an insurance company located in Russia.
8. Limited Liability Company Ozon Bank is a financial institution located in Russia.
9. Mobilnye Platezhi Limited Liability Company is a financial technology company located in Russia.
10. Ruskonsalt is a company located in Russia.
11. Sollers-Finance Limited Liability Company is a financial company located in Russia.
12. Sovcombank Asset Management Limited Liability Company is a financial management company located in Russia.
13. Sovcombank Securities Limited is a financial company located in Cyprus.
14. Sovcombank Technologies Limited Liability Company is a financial technology company located in Russia.
15. Sovkom Faktoring is a company located in Russia.
16. Sovkom Lizing is a leasing company located in Russia.
17. Sovcomcard Limited Liability Company is a financial company located in Russia.
18. Tsifrovye Tekhnologii Budushchego Limited Liability Company is a financial technology company located in Russia.
19. USM Limited Liability Company is a financial company located in Russia.
20. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Sovkombank Strakhovanie is a financial company located in Russia.
21. Public Joint Stock Company KB Vostochny is a financial company located in Russia.
22. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Rts-Kholding is a financial management company located in Russia.

Edited February 25, 2022 by notsonice

[TailingsPond + 1,008]

15 minutes ago, notsonice said:

My better half alerts me when the Washer is on the Fritz....... You need to be  told when your washer is not working right by WIFI???? 

I didn't install the LG app on my phone.  I really don't want spam messages from my washing machine.

"Time to run the cleaning cycle."

Edited February 25, 2022 by TailingsPond

[notsonice + 1,255]

5 minutes ago, TailingsPond said:

I didn't install the LG app on my phone.  I really don't want spam messages from my washing machine.

"Time to run the cleaning cycle."

Big E why the name change??? PS I do not want spam messages from my better half...

Edited February 25, 2022 by notsonice

[TailingsPond + 1,008]

12 minutes ago, notsonice said:

Please note to those who hold shares in Gazprom....Good luck collecting your dividends...HA HA HA one of the banks sanctioned today is.....

That's one example of how the sanctions hurt your own people.   That loss of divided is less money coming in to US.

In general trade, is good for both sides so don't go "Muhahaha" when you see something hurt Russia - it is hurting you too.  

The only way it really works well is when many countries do it simultaneously (like now) unlike when trump attempt his failed trade war with China. Russia has to lose all its trading partners (unlikely).

[notsonice + 1,255]

1 minute ago, TailingsPond said:

That's one example of how the sanctions hurt your own people.   That loss of divided is less money coming in to US.

In general trade, is good for both sides so don't go "Muhahaha" when you see something hurt Russia - it is hurting you too.  

The only way it really works well is when many countries do it simultaneously (like now) unlike when trump attempt his failed trade war with China. Russia has to lose all its trading partners (unlikely).

That's one example of how the sanctions hurt your own people?   That loss of divided is less money coming in to US???? Principles over Money any day of the week even if it costs me money. You can not hold your head high when you are talking blood money from the likes of Putin or selling yourself out for money at the cost of real lives.

We should support Ukraine as long as it takes and with whatever resources they need even if it means that we have to turn down the thermostat, drive less or have to live on less.

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by notsonice