Daily Archives: December 14, 2019

2019-12-14: News Headlines

WSWS (2019-12-14). US tests INF-banned missile after Democrats rubber-stamp Trump's nuclear build-up. wsws.org The test comes just days after congressional Democrats voted for a massive military spending bill that stripped out language limiting the development of dangerous new nuclear weapons.

Caitlin Johnstone (2019-12-14). Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn't Russia. globalresearch.ca Ladies and gentlemen I have here at my fingertips indisputable proof that egregious election meddling took place in the United Kingdom on Thursday. | Before you get all excited, no, it wasn't the Russians. It wasn't the Chinese, the Iranians, Cobra …

Eurasia Diary (2019-12-14). Arms Control. UN General Assembly Adopts Five Russian Resolutions. globalresearch.ca The United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of five draft resolutions addressing arms control, disarmament and international security earlier submitted by Russia at the UN's First Committee, Eurasia Diary reports citing Sputnik. | Three of the documents adopted late Thursday …

teleSUR (2019-12-14). Venezuela: Maduro Attends Anti-Neoliberal ALBA Summit in Cuba. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends the 17th summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of America (ALBA-TCP), which is taking place in Havana, Cuba, on Saturday. | RELATED: | Venezuelan Oil Production Sets Historical Record in November | "At such a complex time for Latin America and the Caribbean, this ALBA summit brings a message of ho…

RT (2019-12-14). Christmas gift they promised? N. Korea carries out 'crucial test' to bolster 'NUCLEAR deterrent' as deadline for US talks looms. rt.com Pyongyang's military carried out a test at a satellite launch site in order to boost "the reliable nuclear deterrent," just days ahead of a year-end deadline set by North Korea to revive denuclearization talks with the US. | A "crucial test" was carried out on Friday at the Sohae satellite launch site located in the western part of North Korea, state-run KCNA news agency reported Saturday. Pyongyang usually isn't too shy to brag about their launches, but this report was light on detail. | It only said that the test was a success, and the outcome of it will be used for "further bolstering… the reliable nuclea…

RT (2019-12-14). 'We must show US that the jokes are over': Top German MP says Berlin shouldn't sit idle as Washington hampers its energy projects. rt.com As the US braces to slap sanctions on European firms building the last leg of the Russia-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a senior MP in Berlin argues that formal protests don't work anymore — but a strong response could. | Germany may follow America's lead in foreign policy and defense expenditures, but it is less submissive when it comes to energy security, which is sacrosanct for Europe's economic powerhouse. This week, US lawmakers introduced a bill tightening the chokehold on Germany's flagship energy project it jointly runs with Russia, targeting European companies laying underwater tubes for the mu…

RT (2019-12-14). Widow of tragic boxer Maxim Dadashev sues Maryland State Athletic Commission seeking compensation. rt.com Elizaveta Apushkina, widow of Maxim Dadashev, the Russian boxer who tragically died of injuries following a fight in July, has filed a lawsuit against Maryland State Athletic Commission, which organized the bout. | The woman opened legal proceedings against the commission seeking compensation for alleged violations that might have led to the boxer's death. | READ MORE: Tragic Patrick Day's death demonstrates the deadly lure of boxing cannot be curtailed | Dadashev, known as 'Mad Max', died on July 23 after…

RT (2019-12-14). Pity that reference to human rights sometimes serves as basis to interfere in other states' domestic issues — Hungarian FM to RT. rt.com The EU's policy regarding sanctions and restrictive measures is sometimes marked with double standards, Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto told RT, stressing that even an issue of human rights can be seen differently inside the bloc. | Budapest is committed to upholding human rights, the Hungarian foreign minister said, adding that unfortunately, sometimes a reference to this matter serves as a basis to persecute some political interest. | Sometimes the reference to human rights serves as a basis to interfere into domestic issues of other countries on an ideological basis, on a political basis, without any good reas…

Paul Antonopoulos (2019-12-13). Washington's Proposed New Sanctions Against Turkey also Aimed Against Russia. globalresearch.ca With the world fixated on Turkish actions against Syria, Greece and Libya at the moment, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate of the United States Congress approved a bill, "Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of …

Caitlin Johnstone (2019-12-13). Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn't Russia. theantimedia.com Hardly anyone will care because this election interference has been happening right out in the open, and was perfectly legal.

Eurasia Diary (2019-12-13). Arms Race in Outer Space, Preserving Arms Control Treaties: UN General Assembly Adopts Five Resolutions Sponsored by Russia. globalresearch.ca The United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of five draft resolutions addressing arms control, disarmament and international security earlier submitted by Russia at the UN's First Committee, Eurasia Diary reports citing Sputnik. | Three of the documents adopted late Thursday …

WSWS (2019-12-13). US to impose sanctions on companies involved in European Nord Stream 2 pipeline. wsws.org The sanctions against the joint Russian-Western Europe energy project underscores just how conflict-riven the relations between the members of the world's largest military alliance are.

John Atcheson (2019-12-13). The Influence of Liars and the Failure of Corporate Media. commondreams.org Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday delivered a fiery attack on the FBI during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into report produced by the DOJ Inspector General over the probe into 2016 election interference by the Russian government. (Photo: Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/graham_horowitz.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2019-12-13). Arms Expert Warns of 'Reckless and Unnecessary Escalation' After Pentagon Tests Missile Banned by INF Treaty That Trump Ditched. commondreams.org Arms experts warned of negative global implications after the Pentagon on Thursday test-launched a second missile that would have been banned under a Cold War-era treaty that U.S. President Donald Trump ditched in early August. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/missile_test_0.jpg

RT (2019-12-13). Neigh-neigh: Man tortures neighbors with horse sounds at night for almost 2 years & now faces prison. rt.com A whole residential building was turned into a living hell by one vengeful resident, who played horse neighing through a loudspeaker almost every night. The man thought he'd get away with it, but he was wrong. | A 46-year-old resident of Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga River was arrested earlier this week and charged with the "tormenting of two or more people." The offense may carry a prison term from three to seven years. | Guards at the Guantanamo detention camp used heavy metal tunes to deprive inmates of sleep, but Yury Kondratyev went even further as he tortured his neighbors with non-stop horse neighing.

RT (2019-12-13). 'I want my desire to compete back': Champion skater Zagitova 'suspends' career. rt.com World champion figure skater Alina Zagitova has decided to put her career on ice, foregoing appearances at the upcoming Russian, European and World championships. | The 17-year-old 2018 Russian, European and Olympic champion and 2019 World champion said she will not seek to participate in the upcoming Russian national championships, or other major competitions. | "I'm not going anywhere," Zagitova told reporters on Friday. "I'm staying on the ice, I will continue to train." She clarified that she wants to learn new things, because she already "has everything." The only thing missing seems to be her desire to c…

Melvin Goodman (2019-12-13). The FBI: Another Worry in the National Security State. counterpunch.org The Department of Justice's Inspector General report of the FBI's Russian investigation has fully exposed one more dangerous aspect of the steady abuses of national-security surveillance against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013 of the national security abuses of the National Security Agency exposed the massive surveillance of U.S. citizens in the expanded campaign against terrorism. Michael Horowitz, the inspector general of the DoJ, has highlighted the abuses of the FBI and the misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court over an extended period. It will require a compreh…

Stephen Lendman (2019-12-13). The Russian Terrorism (SMART) Act: Who are the State Sponsors of Terrorism? globalresearch.ca According to proposed Senate legislation, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism USA wants leading advocate of global peace and stability Russia labeled with this designation. | The measure also calls for Donbass freedom fighters in Donetsk and Lugansk, unwilling to …

Melvin Goodman (2019-12-13). The FBI: Another Worry in the National Security State. counterpunch.org The Department of Justice's Inspector General report of the FBI's Russian investigation has fully exposed one more dangerous aspect of the steady abuses of national-security surveillance against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013 of the national security abuses of the National Security Agency exposed the massive surveillance of U.S. citizens in the expanded campaign against terrorism. Michael Horowitz, the inspector general of the DoJ, has highlighted the abuses of the FBI and the misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court over an extended period. It will require a compreh…

teleSUR (2019-12-12). Russia Shows Concern for Julian Assange's Health. telesurenglish.net The health situation of Julian Assange, who is being held in London, worsens while he is awaiting extradition to the United States, warned Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zajárova. | RELATED: | Sweden Drops Decade-Long Case Against Julian Assange | Assange is seriously ill because he has no medical assistance or good nutrition, in addition to alleged psychological torture, the Russian official reported. | "The situation created around him testifies to the violation by the We…

RT (2019-12-12). US tests ground-launched ballistic missile that would've been banned by INF treaty (VIDEO). rt.com The Pentagon has conducted a second test of a missile that would have been banned under the INF treaty with Russia, which the US abandoned earlier this year. A ground-based ballistic missile flew for over 500 kilometers. | The conventionally configured test missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday, the US Department of Defense confirmed in a statement, giving no further details. | "Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities," the statement said. | Thursday's test follows…

Eric Lichtblau (2019-12-11). How the FBI Botched Its Russia Inquiry, One of the Most Closely Watched Cases in Its History. theintercept.com The investigation was slowed by communication failures, concerns about political optics, and an overall lack of urgency, along with plenty of mistakes.

Aaron Maté (2019-12-11). Jeremy Corbyn faces Russiagate smear campaign before UK vote. thegrayzone.com Jeremy Corbyn, a real progressive, could win UK's elections. Max Blumenthal joins Pushback to discuss how powerful forces are trying…

news.un (2019-12-11). North Korea missile tests 'deeply troubling': senior UN official. news.un.org Recent developments concerning North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes are "deeply troubling", the UN's Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific said on Wednesday, briefed the Security Council.

RT (2019-12-11). 'It's either sanctions or impeachment': Lavrov in trolling mode when asked about timing of his visit to US. rt.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied there was anything odd about the 'timing' of his trip to Washington on a day that impeachment articles against Donald Trump were announced and the Senate debated new Russia sanctions. | Asked about the "timing" by a suspicious reporter following his Oval Office meeting with Trump on Tuesday, Lavrov joked that it was almost impossible to arrive in Washington at a non-controversial time, since something dramatic is always happening. | "It seems to me that, regardless of the day you choose to visit Washington, it will surely coincide with either sanctions or impeachme…

RT (2019-12-11). If you seek truth about 2016 'Russian election meddling,' check secret Obama cables, which US REFUSED to release — Lavrov. rt.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he did not discuss 'election meddling' with his US hosts, but that Moscow is willing to publish communications with the Obama administration showing that nothing happened in 2016. | After meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, Lavrov also sat down with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The White House readout of their meeting said that Trump had "warned against any Russian attempts to interfere in United States elections." | "We did not discuss the election," Lavrov told reporters later on Tuesday, adding that the talks fo…

RT (2019-12-11). Justice Department chief Horowitz slams FBI for 'serious errors' in Russiagate investigation. rt.com Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz blasted the FBI for "basic, fundamental, and serious errors" made in their initial Trump-Russia probe which he said amounted to a "failure" by the "entire chain of command." | Horowitz appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to testify on the results of his 476-page report into the origins of the original FBI 'Crossfire Hurricane' investigation into the Trump campaign. In particular, the IG criticized the FBI for serious irregularities, inaccuracies and omissions in their FISA applications to obtain a warrant to monitor former campaign advi…

RT (2019-12-11). US Senate advances bill giving State Department right to call Russia 'sponsor of terrorism'. rt.com The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a bill asking the State Department to determine whether Russia falls under criteria of a state sponsor of terrorism, potentially opening a way stricter sanctions. | The pretentiously titled 'Stopping Malign Activities from Russian Terrorism (SMART) Act' could potentially bring the already strained relations between Moscow and Washington to a new low. | Introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) in…

Staff (2019-12-11). Headlines for December 11, 2019. democracynow.org Democrats Charge Trump with Two Articles of Impeachment, Trump Meets with Russian Foreign Minister, Who Denies Russia Meddled in 2016 Election, Democrats Agree with Trump on New NAFTA, Federal Judge Blocks Trump from Diverting Funds to Border Wall, Mass Protests Continue in France Against Macron's Pensions Plan, British Voters Head to the Polls Thursday, Protesters at COP25 Continue Demands for Urgent Action: "You Can't Drink Oil, Keep It in the Soil!", Thousands Protest Australian Government's Inaction as Smoke from Wildfires Blankets Sydney, At Least 6 Dead, 3 Missing, After Volcano Erupts in New Zealand, Ethio…

Staff (2019-12-10). Headlines for December 10, 2019. democracynow.org House Democrats to Unveil Articles of Impeachment Today, WaPo: Secret Afghanistan Papers Reveal How U.S. Officials Lied About War, Sanders & Khanna Urge Lawmakers to Vote Against National Defense Authorization Act, Russia and Ukraine Agree to Ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, India's Lower House Passes "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Bill, Protests Continue in Madrid, Spain, Amid COP25, Denmark Passes Climate Act to Reduce Emissions by 70% by 2030, More Than 100 Blazes Rage Across Australia Amid Worst Fire Season in History, Iraq: One Journalist Killed and a Second Disappeared After Covering Protests, Aung San Suu Kyi Arri…

Martin Fleck (2019-12-09). On Human Rights Day, Let's Abolish Nuclear Weapons. progressive.org A nuclear war would create one of the worst humanitarian crises imaginable, one for which no nation would have an adequate emergency or health response.

Ben Norton (2019-12-08). Russiagate media smears against Corbyn brought to you by US and UK military-intelligence apparatus. thegrayzone.com Days before Britain's historic election, the UK's military-intelligence apparatus is turning to the corporate media and US government-funded NATO cut-outs…

Tyler Durden (2019-12-06). Hillary Casually Drops 'Russian Asset' Smear on Bernie Sanders in New Interview. theantimedia.com Are we just going to ignore that Hillary Clinton, today, just implied that Bernie Sanders is also a Russian asset?>

Activist Post (2019-11-12). Pompeo's Iran Nuclear Lies Exposed Using Clear Evidence & The JCPOA Document Itself. thelastamericanvagabond.com Mike Pompeo continues to lead the propaganda push to get the public panicking about an Iran "nuclear breakout" even when all evidence shows that Iran is nowhere near capable of being a nuclear threat. Of course many other countries have far more robust nuclear programs, but because it's Iran we have to come together as …

Ryan Cristián (2019-11-09). Possible False Flag In Iraq, US Votes Against Anti-Nazi Res. & Pompeo's Iran Nuclear Lies Debunked. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (11/6/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

2019-12-14: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

US tests INF-banned missile after Democrats rubber-stamp Trump's nuclear build-up
wsws.org | 2019-12-14
The test comes just days after congressional Democrats voted for a massive military spending bill that stripped out language limiting the development of dangerous new nuclear weapons.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/14/nucl-d14.html

Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn't Russia
Caitlin Johnstone | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-14
Ladies and gentlemen I have here at my fingertips indisputable proof that egregious election meddling took place in the United Kingdom on Thursday. | Before you get all excited, no, it wasn't the Russians. It wasn't the Chinese, the Iranians, Cobra …
globalresearch.ca/someone-interfered-uk-election-it-wasnt-russia/5697667

Arms Control. UN General Assembly Adopts Five Russian Resolutions
Eurasia Diary | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-14
The United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of five draft resolutions addressing arms control, disarmament and international security earlier submitted by Russia at the UN's First Committee, Eurasia Diary reports citing Sputnik. | Three of the documents adopted late Thursday | …
globalresearch.ca/arms-control-un-general-assembly-adopts-five-russian-resolutionsarms-control-un-general-assembly-adopts-five-russian-resolutions/5697657

'We must show US that the jokes are over': Top German MP says Berlin shouldn't sit idle as Washington hampers its energy projects
rt.com | 2019-12-14
As the US braces to slap sanctions on European firms building the last leg of the Russia-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a senior MP in Berlin argues that formal protests don't work anymore — but a strong response could. | Germany may follow America's lead in foreign policy and defense expenditures, but it is less submissive when it comes to energy security, which is sacrosanct for Europe's economic powerhouse. This week, US lawmakers introduced a bill tightening the chokehold on Germany's flagship energy project it jointly runs with Russia, targeting European companies laying underwater tubes for the mu…
rt.com/news/475895-nord-stream-germany-backfire/

Christmas gift they promised? N. Korea carries out 'crucial test' to bolster 'NUCLEAR deterrent' as deadline for US talks looms
rt.com | 2019-12-14
Pyongyang's military carried out a test at a satellite launch site in order to boost "the reliable nuclear deterrent," just days ahead of a year-end deadline set by North Korea to revive denuclearization talks with the US. | A "crucial test" was carried out on Friday at the Sohae satellite launch site located in the western part of North Korea, state-run KCNA news agency reported Saturday. Pyongyang usually isn't too shy to brag about their launches, but this report was light on detail. | It only said that the test was a success, and the outcome of it will be used for "further bolstering… the reliable nuclea…
rt.com/news/475878-north-korea-satellite-test/

Widow of tragic boxer Maxim Dadashev sues Maryland State Athletic Commission seeking compensation
rt.com | 2019-12-14
Elizaveta Apushkina, widow of Maxim Dadashev, the Russian boxer who tragically died of injuries following a fight in July, has filed a lawsuit against Maryland State Athletic Commission, which organized the bout. | The woman opened legal proceedings against the commission seeking compensation for alleged violations that might have led to the boxer's death. | READ MORE: Tragic Patrick Day's death demonstrates the deadly lure of boxing cannot be curtailed | Dadashev, known as 'Mad Max', died on July 23 after…
rt.com/sport/475911-maxim-dadshev-widow-lawsuit/

Pity that reference to human rights sometimes serves as basis to interfere in other states' domestic issues — Hungarian FM to RT
rt.com | 2019-12-14
The EU's policy regarding sanctions and restrictive measures is sometimes marked with double standards, Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto told RT, stressing that even an issue of human rights can be seen differently inside the bloc. | Budapest is committed to upholding human rights, the Hungarian foreign minister said, adding that unfortunately, sometimes a reference to this matter serves as a basis to persecute some political interest. | Sometimes the reference to human rights serves as a basis to interfere into domestic issues of other countries on an ideological basis, on a political basis, without any good reas…
rt.com/news/475885-peter-szijjarto-hungary-sanctions-russia/

Washington's Proposed New Sanctions Against Turkey also Aimed Against Russia
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-13
With the world fixated on Turkish actions against Syria, Greece and Libya at the moment, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate of the United States Congress approved a bill, "Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of …
globalresearch.ca/washingtons-proposed-new-sanctions-against-turkey-also-aimed-against-russia/5697624

Arms Race in Outer Space, Preserving Arms Control Treaties: UN General Assembly Adopts Five Resolutions Sponsored by Russia
Eurasia Diary | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-13
The United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of five draft resolutions addressing arms control, disarmament and international security earlier submitted by Russia at the UN's First Committee, Eurasia Diary reports citing Sputnik. | Three of the documents adopted late Thursday | …
globalresearch.ca/arms-race-in-outer-space-preserving-arms-control-treaties-un-general-assembly-adopts-five-resolutions-sponsored-by-russia/5697635

US to impose sanctions on companies involved in European Nord Stream 2 pipeline
wsws.org | 2019-12-13
The sanctions against the joint Russian-Western Europe energy project underscores just how conflict-riven the relations between the members of the world's largest military alliance are.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/13/nord-d13.html

Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn't Russia
Caitlin Johnstone | theantimedia.com | 2019-12-13
Hardly anyone will care because this election interference has been happening right out in the open, and was perfectly legal.

Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn’t Russia

Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn't Russia
Caitlin Johnstone | theantimedia.com | 2019-12-13
Hardly anyone will care because this election interference has been happening right out in the open, and was perfectly legal.

Someone Interfered in the UK Election, and It Wasn’t Russia

The Influence of Liars and the Failure of Corporate Media
John Atcheson | commondreams.org | 2019-12-13
Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday delivered a fiery attack on the FBI during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into report produced by the DOJ Inspector General over the probe into 2016 election interference by the Russian government. (Photo: Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/graham_horowitz.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2019/12/13/influence-liars-and-failure-corporate-media?cd-origin=rss

Arms Expert Warns of 'Reckless and Unnecessary Escalation' After Pentagon Tests Missile Banned by INF Treaty That Trump Ditched
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-12-13
Arms experts warned of negative global implications after the Pentagon on Thursday test-launched a second missile that would have been banned under a Cold War-era treaty that U.S. President Donald Trump ditched in early August. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/missile_test_0.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/12/13/arms-expert-warns-reckless-and-unnecessary-escalation-after-pentagon-tests-missile?cd-origin=rss

Neigh-neigh: Man tortures neighbors with horse sounds at night for almost 2 years & now faces prison
rt.com | 2019-12-13
A whole residential building was turned into a living hell by one vengeful resident, who played horse neighing through a loudspeaker almost every night. The man thought he'd get away with it, but he was wrong. | A 46-year-old resident of Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga River was arrested earlier this week and charged with the "tormenting of two or more people." The offense may carry a prison term from three to seven years. | Guards at the Guantanamo detention camp used heavy metal tunes to deprive inmates of sleep, but Yury Kondratyev went even further as he tortured his neighbors with non-stop horse neighing.
rt.com/russia/475855-horse-neigh-sleep-russia/

'I want my desire to compete back': Champion skater Zagitova 'suspends' career
rt.com | 2019-12-13
World champion figure skater Alina Zagitova has decided to put her career on ice, foregoing appearances at the upcoming Russian, European and World championships. | The 17-year-old 2018 Russian, European and Olympic champion and 2019 World champion said she will not seek to participate in the upcoming Russian national championships, or other major competitions. | "I'm not going anywhere," Zagitova told reporters on Friday. "I'm staying on the ice, I will continue to train." She clarified that she wants to learn new things, because she already "has everything." The only thing missing seems to be her desire to c…
rt.com/sport/475864-zagitova-suspends-figure-skating-career/

The Russian Terrorism (SMART) Act: Who are the State Sponsors of Terrorism?
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-13
According to proposed Senate legislation, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism USA wants leading advocate of global peace and stability Russia labeled with this designation. | The measure also calls for Donbass freedom fighters in Donetsk and Lugansk, unwilling to …
globalresearch.ca/stopping-nonexistent-malign-activities-russian-terrorism-smart-act/5697566

The FBI: Another Worry in the National Security State
Melvin Goodman | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-13
The Department of Justice's Inspector General report of the FBI's Russian investigation has fully exposed one more dangerous aspect of the steady abuses of national-security surveillance against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013 of the national security abuses of the National Security Agency exposed the massive surveillance of U.S. citizens in the expanded campaign against terrorism. Michael Horowitz, the inspector general of the DoJ, has highlighted the abuses of the FBI and the misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court over an extended period. It will require a compreh…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/13/the-fbi-another-worry-in-the-national-security-state/

Russia Shows Concern for Julian Assange's Health
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-12
The health situation of Julian Assange, who is being held in London, worsens while he is awaiting extradition to the United States, warned Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zajárova. | RELATED: | Sweden Drops Decade-Long Case Against Julian Assange | Assange is seriously ill because he has no medical assistance or good nutrition, in addition to alleged psychological torture, the Russian official reported. | "The situation created around him testifies to the violation by the We…
telesurenglish.net/news/russia-shows-concern-for-julian-assange-health-20191212-0013.html

US tests ground-launched ballistic missile that would've been banned by INF treaty (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2019-12-12
The Pentagon has conducted a second test of a missile that would have been banned under the INF treaty with Russia, which the US abandoned earlier this year. A ground-based ballistic missile flew for over 500 kilometers. | The conventionally configured test missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday, the US Department of Defense confirmed in a statement, giving no further details. | "Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities," the statement said. | Thursday's test follows…
rt.com/usa/475724-inf-treaty-banned-missile-test/

Jeremy Corbyn faces Russiagate smear campaign before UK vote
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-11
Jeremy Corbyn, a real progressive, could win UK's elections. Max Blumenthal joins Pushback to discuss how powerful forces are trying…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/11/jeremy-corbyn-faces-russiagate-smear-campaign-before-uk-vote/

North Korea missile tests 'deeply troubling': senior UN official
news.un.org | 2019-12-11
Recent developments concerning North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes are "deeply troubling", the UN's Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific said on Wednesday, briefed the Security Council.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053281

How the FBI Botched Its Russia Inquiry, One of the Most Closely Watched Cases in Its History
Eric Lichtblau | theintercept.com | 2019-12-11
The investigation was slowed by communication failures, concerns about political optics, and an overall lack of urgency, along with plenty of mistakes.
theintercept.com/2019/12/11/fbi-trump-russia-investigation-report/

Justice Department chief Horowitz slams FBI for 'serious errors' in Russiagate investigation
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz blasted the FBI for "basic, fundamental, and serious errors" made in their initial Trump-Russia probe which he said amounted to a "failure" by the "entire chain of command." | Horowitz appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to testify on the results of his 476-page report into the origins of the original FBI 'Crossfire Hurricane' investigation into the Trump campaign. In particular, the IG criticized the FBI for serious irregularities, inaccuracies and omissions in their FISA applications to obtain a warrant to monitor former campaign advi…
rt.com/usa/475630-horowitz-russia-trump-errors/

'It's either sanctions or impeachment': Lavrov in trolling mode when asked about timing of his visit to US
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied there was anything odd about the 'timing' of his trip to Washington on a day that impeachment articles against Donald Trump were announced and the Senate debated new Russia sanctions. | Asked about the "timing" by a suspicious reporter following his Oval Office meeting with Trump on Tuesday, Lavrov joked that it was almost impossible to arrive in Washington at a non-controversial time, since something dramatic is always happening. | "It seems to me that, regardless of the day you choose to visit Washington, it will surely coincide with either sanctions or impeachme…
rt.com/usa/475605-lavrov-washington-visit-impeachment/

If you seek truth about 2016 'Russian election meddling,' check secret Obama cables, which US REFUSED to release — Lavrov
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he did not discuss 'election meddling' with his US hosts, but that Moscow is willing to publish communications with the Obama administration showing that nothing happened in 2016. | After meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, Lavrov also sat down with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The White House readout of their meeting said that Trump had "warned against any Russian attempts to interfere in United States elections." | "We did not discuss the election," Lavrov told reporters later on Tuesday, adding that the talks fo…
rt.com/usa/475539-lavrov-trump-elections-meddling/

US Senate advances bill giving State Department right to call Russia 'sponsor of terrorism'
rt.com | 2019-12-11
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a bill asking the State Department to determine whether Russia falls under criteria of a state sponsor of terrorism, potentially opening a way stricter sanctions. | The pretentiously titled 'Stopping Malign Activities from Russian Terrorism (SMART) Act' could potentially bring the already strained relations between Moscow and Washington to a new low. | Introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) in…
rt.com/usa/475637-us-senate-russia-sponsor-terrorism/

On Human Rights Day, Let's Abolish Nuclear Weapons
Martin Fleck | progressive.org | 2019-12-09
A nuclear war would create one of the worst humanitarian crises imaginable, one for which no nation would have an adequate emergency or health response.
progressive.org/op-eds/human-rights-day-nuclear-weapons-fleck-191209/

Russiagate media smears against Corbyn brought to you by US and UK military-intelligence apparatus
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-08
Days before Britain's historic election, the UK's military-intelligence apparatus is turning to the corporate media and US government-funded NATO cut-outs…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/08/us-uk-military-intelligence-apparatus-destroy-jeremy-corbyn/

Hillary Casually Drops 'Russian Asset' Smear on Bernie Sanders in New Interview
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-12-06
Are we just going to ignore that Hillary Clinton, today, just implied that Bernie Sanders is also a Russian asset?>…
theantimedia.com/hillary-russian-asset-smear-bernie-sanders/

Hillary Casually Drops 'Russian Asset' Smear on Bernie Sanders in New Interview
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-12-06
Are we just going to ignore that Hillary Clinton, today, just implied that Bernie Sanders is also a Russian asset?>…
theantimedia.com/hillary-russian-asset-smear-bernie-sanders/