Current Events and Links

See also:
War of Gog and Magog
The New Cold War

Gazprom bids highest for Leviathan partnership

Oct. 19, ,2012 - Russia's national gas company Gazprom submitted the highest offer in Israel's search for a partner in the development of its Leviathan natural gas field.

Although the Israelis, led by Delek Group's Yitzhak Tshuva, are enthusiastic about Gazprom because of its geopolitical power, Nobel Energy prefers a Western partner, even at terms that are not as good as the terms offered by the Russian giant.

Source: Globes - Israel

Prophetic Significance of Russia

Israel to Press Visiting Putin on Iran

June 22, 2012 - When Vladimir Putin visits Israel next week it is assumed that threats from Iran and Syria will be high on the list of important topics. Russia supports both of these enemies of Israel, but analysts think that Russia is not in favor of a major war in the region in the near future. Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian-born analyst who lives in Israel believes that Putin's visit to Israel sends that message to Iran. He said,

"One of the reasons Putin is coming to Israel is to put pressure on the Iranians, to say, 'If you don't compromise, I will align myself more with the country that you consider to be your enemy.'"

Source: NewsMax

'Iran, Russia, China, Syria plan 'largest' war game'

June 19, 2012 - Iranian and Syrian news outlets are reporting that the largest war games exercise ever conducted in the Middle East will take place soon, and will include their two countries, Russia and China! The operation will employ 90,000 troops from the four countries, plus 400 aircraft, 1,000 tanks and "hundreds of rockets."

The report appears to have originated on Arabic language Syrian media outlet ShamLife, which said the war-games were scheduled in less than a month's time.

The information was re-broadcast by Iran's semi-official Fars News Outlet, also quoting "informed sources" claiming that the exercises will involve ground troops, air forces and naval forces.

Source:Jerusalem Post

Russia returning to its old ways?

June 7, 2012 - The Russian Duma is in the process of rushing through a bill that will impose large fines for a wide range of protests. Activists say the hikes amount to financial intimidation to chill the protest movement.

Source: JWR

Putin opponents march in Moscow - BBC

Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square

May 10, 2012 - Remembering Russia's defeat of Nazi Germany, and the end of World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the United States and NATO about involvement in Syria and Iran even though no specific countries were mentioned.

"President Putin made it quite clear who is nursing aggressive plans in the world today," Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party ... said in an interview after the speech. "It is the United States and NATO without any doubt."

Source: Jewish World Review

Putin sworn in as Russia's president amid protests

May 7, 2012 -

Putin, 59, has ruled Russia since 2000, first as president and then during the past four years as prime minister. The new, now six-year term will keep him in power until 2018, with the option of running for a fourth term.

Source: Fox

Moscow deploys advanced SA-21 Growler missiles in rebuff to Obama

April 26, 2012 - Russia has reacted to plans for NATO’s missile defense system by deploying a third battery of anti-missiles at its Baltic Fleet base in Kaliningrad, near Poland and Lithuania. The other two batteries are in Russia’s Far East.

SA-21 Growler is a highly sophisticated, long- to medium-range surface-to-air missile system capable of intercepting and destroying targets within a range of 250 miles and an altitude of more than 18 miles.

Source: World News Tribune

Russians head to polls in presidential elections expected to return Putin to Kremlin

Mar. 4, 2012 - Vladimir Putin is expected to win today's elections as Russia's Prime Minister. He had held that office from 2000 to 2008, but served as President in the interim. Russians fear widespread election violations, that could lead to a continuation of the unprecedented wave of protests that arose in December.

The independent elections watchdog agency Golos said it was receiving reports of so-called "carousel voting," in which busloads of voters are driven around to cast ballots multiple times.

Source: Fox

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria; US 'disgusted'

Feb. 4, 2012 - After 11 months of protesting in Syria and hundreds of citizens killed by government forces, the United Nations Security Council had the chance to pass a resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. The resolution had enough votes but Russia and China vetoed it.

US Ambassador Susan Rice said her country was "disgusted" by the vote, adding "any further bloodshed that flows will be on their (Russia's and China's) hands."

Source: YNet News

UN resolution could spur Syria civil war, Russia warns

Jan. 31, 2012 - As the insurgency continues in Syria, Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi plans to ask the UN Security Council to back the league's call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign. Russia has already threatened to veto any such resolution. Russia's deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov said that a UN resolution on Syria would be a "path to civil war."

Source: BBC

Russia: Attack on Tehran is Attack on Moscow

Jan. 16, 2012 -

“Iran is our neighbor,” Russia's outgoing ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, told reporters in Brussels. “And if Iran is involved in any military action, it’s a direct threat to our security.”

The writer of the article opines that this threat heightens the prospect of World War III in the event of a military strike on Iran.

Source: Israel National News

See: Former National Security Adviser Hadley: Chance of US-Iran Conflict 'Very High' in Prophecy Central's new Iran section.