Climate Activists Sound Alarm on Mediterranean Natural Gas Pipelines
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-21
Activists say the environmental risks of natural gas drilling are being ignored in the rush to challenge Russia's control of the European energy market.
therealnews.com/stories/climate-environment-mediterranean-natural-gas-pipelines

The US and Iran's Perpetual Almost-War is Unsustainable
Patrick Cockburn | zcomm.org | 2020-01-21
The US maximalist demands on Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missiles and regional influence effectively mean that it wants regime change or capitulation…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/the-us-and-irans-perpetual-almost-war-is-unsustainable/

Iran Will be Changed Forever by Admitting Its Great Mistake, Unlike the West Which Ignores Its Own Misdeeds
Robert Fisk | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-21
"In wartime," Churchill famously told Stalin, "truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." He said this on 30 November 1943

A Challenger Appears? Angelina Jolie's Lookalike From Russia Steals the Spotlight Online
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-21
While some social media users praise the Russian beauty's stunning good looks and marvel at her resemblance to the Hollywood celebrity Angelina Jolie, there are also those who claim that her appearance is merely a product of plastic surgery.
sputniknews.com/society/202001211078093841-a-challenger-appears-angelina-jolies-lookalike-from-russia-steals-the-spotlight-online/

#VictoryPages: Young Russian designers create 'Endless Letter' using Instagram Stories
rt.com | 2020-01-21
RT's historical tribute to the 75-year anniversary of victory over fascism, #VictoryPages, launches 'Endless Letter' on Instagram. Starting this January the project will run until May. | The Instagram account @Pobeda.Page will post several stories daily that will eventually add up to hours of art, quotes and music combined. | "Today we live, but tomorrow or in an hour, a minute you are gone," "Mom! Don't make a mistake, don't join the army, stay at home," "The city is destroyed… Sorry for Rostov"

BRICS open to new member states joining the club, says Russia's deputy FM
rt.com | 2020-01-21
The BRICS group of emerging economies, which is comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is open to welcoming new member countries, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. | Russia is focused on activities on the BRICS+ platform, which "makes it possible for interested countries to find ways to cooperate with the group's members," said Ryabkov, adding: "This is why it is possible to talk about the expansion of BRICS as a goal for the future." | According to Ryabkov, the Russian Sherpa in the five-nation trade bloc, "BRICS' existence is important in terms of creating new…
rt.com/business/478771-brics-new-member-states/

Russian Scientists Propose Manned Base on Martian Moon to Control Robots Remotely on Red Planet
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-21
Academics believe a Martian moon base would be considerably cheaper to build than a base on the planet itself, while providing for the real-time control of robots stationed on Mars' surface.
sputniknews.com/science/202001211078094327-russian-scientists-propose-manned-base-on-martian-moon-to-control-robots-remotely-on-red-planet/

Dmitry Samarov Returns With His New Book Soviet Stamps
The Green Arcade | indybay.org | 2020-01-21
The Green Arcade | 1680 Market Street | San Francisco, CA 94102…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/20/18829934.php

Iran threatens to leave nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-21
The announcement comes after the UK, France and Germany proposed the invocation of the dispute settlement mechanism in the UNSC – a move that Iran alleges is based on US diktats…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/21/iran-threatens-to-leave-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty/

Russia lauds 'constructive' Putin, Johnson meeting
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-21
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the Berlin Conference on Libya was "brief but constructive", a Russian official said on Tuesday.The character of the contacts was different from what the U.K. premier office announced following the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in the capital Moscow."In general, the contact was brief, but at the same time, let's say, quite constructive, with elements of a conciliatory attitude. Apparently, the spirit of the contact is clearly different from the crux of the Downing Street message…
yenisafak.com/en/news/russia-lauds-constructive-putin-johnson-meeting-3510131

50 civilians killed in Syria's Idlib since Jan. 12
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-21
Dozens of civilians have lost their lives in Syria's Idlib and tens of thousands of others have been displaced since Jan. 12, as the regime forces and its allies continued to violate cease-fire.According to data obtained from the country's Response Coordination Group, the Assad regime has conducted 89 airstrikes while Russian jets hit the city for 232 times during this period.The airstrikes have claimed lives of 50 civilians, including 13 children, three women and a civil defense employee.Notably, Syrians weary of airstrikes were forced to flee their homes; some 31,500 people have migrated to zones cleared of ter…
yenisafak.com/en/world/50-civilians-killed-in-syrias-idlib-since-jan-12-3510126

Syrian Regime uses evacuation as means of seizing Idlib
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-21
The head of Syria's White Helmets (Civil Defense) Tuesday said the Syrian regime sought to capture opposition-controlled northwestern Idlib city of Syria through forced evacuations.In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Raed al-Saleh commented on the Bashar al-Assad regime and its allies' aggression on the city and violation of cease-fire agreements."The cease-fire in Idlib seems to be collapsed, it was relatively better. Those who migrated would return home, but the regime and Russia did not abide by the cease-fire same as before," Saleh said."The regime attempts to seize Idlib through evacuation," he sa…
yenisafak.com/en/world/syrian-regime-uses-evacuation-as-means-of-seizing-idlib-3510135

Russian Duma approves new prime minister
wsws.org | 2020-01-20
Putin and sections of the Russian oligarchy regard Mishustin as better equipped than former Prime Minister Medvedev to carry out major attacks on the working class and to facilitate a closing of ranks in the ruling class.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/20/russ-j20.html

MSNBC's Joy Ann Reid Invites Quack Body Language Expert on to Trash Sanders
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-20
MSNBC's Joy Ann Reid has a history of strongly racist and homophobic remarks. She was one of the chief proponents of the RussiaGate narrative and history of anti-Muslim and homophobic comments.
mintpressnews.com/msnbc-joy-ann-reid-invites-jeanine-driver-trash-bernie-sanders/264219/

Moscow Hopes Iran Won't Quit Global Nuclear Pact
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-20
Moscow hopes that Iran will not withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying Monday. | "We warn the Iranian side against reckless steps in terms of maintaining the obligations of the Islamic Republic under the NPT," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. | RELATED: | Venezuelan FM Makes Official Visit to Iran to Boost Relations | "We talk about this openly and consider t…
telesurenglish.net/news/Moscow-Hopes-Iran-Wont-Quit-Global-Nuclear-Pact-20200120-0005.html

Iran Warns of Quitting Global Nuclear Treaty If Case Goes to UN
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-20
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Monday that Iran could leave the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if Britain, France, and Germany pursue their "unjustifiable behavior" and send the country's nuclear case to the United Nations Security Council. | RELATED: | Moscow Hopes Iran Won't Quit Global Nuclear Pact | "If the Europeans continue their improper behavior or send Iran's file to the Security Council, we will withdraw from the NPT," Iranian news agencies quoted Zarif sa…
telesurenglish.net/news/Iran-Warns-of-Quitting-Global-Nuclear-Treaty-If-Case-Goes-to-UN-20200120-0007.html

Best Enemies Forever: The Iran-U.S. Kabuki Show
REZA FIYOUZAT | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-20
The recent conflict between the U.S. and Iranian regimes brings to mind that hilariously famous scene from Stanley Kubrick's classic, Dr. Strangelove, with the U.S. president calling the Soviet leader to warn him about a foolish mistake that had led to a hydrogen bomb heading their way from an American base. The President is amiable,…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/20/best-enemies-forever-the-iran-u-s-kabuki-show/

What's happening in Russia: Putin's proposed constitutional changes explained
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-19
Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Moscow-based international affairs analyst Mark Sleboda about Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent decision…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/19/whats-happening-in-russia-putins-proposed-constitutional-changes-explained/

SpaceX simulated failure test: Elon Musk checks if Crew Dragon astronauts are as safe as Soyuz crews (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-19
SpaceX has simulated a rocket failure to find out if its abort system designed to save astronauts' lives in case of an accident could match that of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft's

UK, France Reiterate Commitment to Maintain Iran Nuclear Deal
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-19
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed Sunday their commitment to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and conceded a long-term framework was needed, Johnson's office said. | RELATED: | Iran Welcomes "Constructive" Measures to Save Nuclear Deal | "On Iran, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and also acknowledged the need to define a long-term framework to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapo…
telesurenglish.net/news/UK-France-Reiterate-Commitment-to-Maintaining-Iran-Nuclear-Deal–20200119-0007.html

Defender and spearheads
Victor Grossman | mronline.org | 2020-01-17
Troop movements today promise anything but peace. Every two years military maneuvers encircle Russian borders; every nine months a new brigade of 4500 U.S. soldiers was flown over to "gain experience". This year it will be a division of 20,000, joined by soldiers from 18 countries, 37,000 in all. | Source…
mronline.org/2020/01/17/defender-and-spearheads/

The Rumbling ESAS Methane Enigma
Robert Hunziker | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-01-17
The northern continental shelves of Russia, inclusive of the Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea (ESAS) are some of the least researched yet most controversial subjects in climate science today. It's the one region that has the biggest potential to trigger runaway global warming because of sizeable subsea methane deposits, thereby …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/01/the-rumbling-esas-methane-enigma/

Turkey Cuts Deal with Russia, Intensifying the War for Gas in Libya
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-17
Turkey sent Syrian fighters to Libya to back the government and keep its control of offshore natural gas reserves. Egypt, Russia, ExxonMobil, Israel, and Greece are expanding Libya's civil war in a fight over control of the natural gas that Europe needs.
therealnews.com/stories/turkey-cuts-deal-with-russia-intensifying-the-war-for-gas-in-libya

Prospects for Peace in the Ukraine Conflict
Brendan Oswald | progressive.org | 2020-01-16
The war started as a land grab, with Russia taking advantage of disarray in the Ukrainian state and armed forces in the weeks following the Euromaidan revolution.
progressive.org/dispatches/prospects-for-peace-in-the-ukraine-conflict-oswald-200116/

Putin Proposes Sweeping Changes to Russian Constitution, Possibly Prolonging His Grip on Power
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-16
In Russia, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned Wednesday along with his entire Cabinet in a move that surprised many in Moscow and abroad. The move came as Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes to expand the power of the parliament and the State Council while weakening the presidency. Critics of Putin say the proposals could help him keep power after his final presidential term ends in 2024. The Russian parliament is expected to vote today to confirm Putin's pick for new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, a bureaucrat who runs Russia's tax service. The Russian newspaper Kom…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/16/russia_putin_medvedev_tony_wood

Russia: A Groundbreaking Powershift?
Peter Koenig | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-01-16
In groundbreaking news President Putin announced today, 15 January, in his annual address to the Nation, major changes in his government. First, he announced that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his entire cabinet resigned and will eventually be replaced by a new PM and a new cabinet. A timeline was not given. In the meantime, …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/01/russia-a-groundbreaking-powershift/

Iran's Rouhani Demands US, EU Troops Leave the Middle East or Face "Danger"
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2020-01-15
(ZH)

Americans Are Ready for a Different Approach to Nuclear Weapons
Lawrence Wittner | zcomm.org | 2019-12-22
Although today's public protests against nuclear weapons can't compare to the major antinuclear upheavals of past decades, there are clear indications that most Americans reject the Trump administration's nuclear weapons policies. Since entering office in 2017, the Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear agreement with Iran, scrapped the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/americans-are-ready-for-a-different-approach-to-nuclear-weapons/