2020-02-11: News Headlines

RT (2020-02-11). Russian journalists' union backs Kamchatka TV host who burst into laughter after disability payment fail. rt.com Her reaction went viral, outraging many viewers, but the Russian Union of Journalists says people are being too hard on a local TV anchor in Kamchatka who lost her composure in the studio. | Aleksandra Novikova burst into laughter when she misread news about increases in social welfare payments — believing recipients were to get an extra 500 rubles ($8) for "international travel." The report was about a three percent increase in allowances for the disabled and for military veterans, among others. | The presenter was explaining rises totaling over 1,500 rubles ($24) when she dropped the clanger. Novikova w…

RT (2020-02-11). Surkov & Bogdan out: Russia & Ukraine announce new negotiators as relations slowly thaw. rt.com For two decades he has been a big beast on the Moscow political stage, but the Kremlin has finally confirmed that Vladislav Surkov is no longer Russia's point man in Ukraine. | The news came over two weeks after it was first speculated in Russian media. He will be replaced by President Vladimir Putin's new Deputy Chief of Staff, Dmitry Kozak. Meanwhile, Kiev made a change of its own today, with Andriy Yermak coming in for Andrei Bogdan as President Volodymyr Zelensky's own Chief of Staff. | Some, including Echo of Moscow editor-in-chief Alexei Venediktov, believe the two moves are related, and a signal both go…

RT (2020-02-11). Vostok Oil project will boost Russia's GDP & strengthen country's position in the Arctic — Putin. rt.com Russia's massive Vostok Oil project could bolster Russia's presence in the remote Arctic region and boost the country's economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. | The Russian leader discussed the multibillion-dollar project aimed at developing oil and gas fields and energy infrastructure in the remote northern regions during his meeting with Igor Sechin, CEO of the country's biggest oil company Rosneft, which is responsible for the implementation of the initiative. | Also on rt.com | | "The pro…

RT (2020-02-11). Out to the sea: Russia's cutting-edge stealthy next-gen frigate SPECTACULARLY tested in cold waters (VIDEO). rt.com Russia's military has released footage of the frigate Admiral Kasatonov during trials in the Barents Sea. The stealthy ship, packed with new radar and hydro acoustic systems, is expected to join the Northern Fleet soon. | Footage of the trials shows the vessel firing its secondary weapons, as well as testing other crucial systems. For instance, Admiral Kasatonov is seen firing its decoy launchers which create sparks in the air. Such passive decoys and heat traps are designed to protect the vessel from anti-ship missiles and other high-precision weaponry. | The new frigate, belonging to the cutting-edge Proj…

RT (2020-02-11). Cat-astrophe! Over 100 in-bred cats found inside Moscow apartment, all spawned from a single pregnant stray. rt.com It's not quite the plot of the movie "Gremlins," where poor Gizmo spawned loads of destructive little monsters, but when one well-meaning Moscow woman took in a pregnant stray cat, things got out of hand. | In just four years, she had a whole apartment full of them, for that one moggie brought forth over 100 more. | –ö–æ—à–∞—á—å–µ –ø–æ–≥–æ–ª–æ–≤—å–µ —Ä–æ—Å–ª–æ –&p…

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2020-02-11). Keep War, Environmental Degradation And Profit Out Of Space. dissidentvoice.org The 21st Century nuclear arms and developing outer space arms races, which began under Obama and are increasing under Trump, are going to be something the world has never seen before. They are a bonanza for weapons makers, the Pentagon budget and capitalists in space. They will create a less secure world, a greater wealth divide, …

RT (2020-02-11). US promises 'enormous pressure' on Tehran over… failed satellite launch? Pompeo says missile development behind Iran space program. rt.com Iran's latest attempt to launch a scientific satellite has apparently unnerved Washington, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashing out at Tehran and vowing that the US would not let it continue the launches. | Washington used the occasion to once again slam Iran and the 2015 deal on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, from which the US itself unilaterally withdrew back in 2018. | Also on rt.com | | Since then, America has been hell-bent on s…

Staff (2020-02-11). Trump's New Budget Funds Endless War & Nuclear Weapons While Slashing Aid to Poor & Hungry Americans. democracynow.org President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget request Monday, proposing massive cuts to Medicaid and food stamps while increasing spending on the military and his border wall. The $4.8 trillion budget would slash Environmental Protection Agency spending by more than a quarter while allocating $18 billion for Trump's newly established Space Force. Trump is also requesting billions more for nuclear weapons, including a new submarine-launched nuclear warhead. Experts and Democratic lawmakers warn that increasing the nuclear stockpile will increase the likelihood of nuclear war and defy international agreements. Democrats…

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-11). The Mideast's Place in Russia's Greater Eurasian Partnership. globalresearch.ca Russia's Greater Eurasian Partnership envisages the supercontinent peacefully coming together in the shared interests of peace, stability, and development, brought about by Moscow's "balancing" strategy in recent years which was first practiced in the Mideast region, one of the most …

Rep. Ron Paul (2020-02-11). Democrats Ignore Trump's Real Violations. globalresearch.ca This week the latest Democratic Party attempt to remove President Trump from office — impeachment over Trump allegedly holding up an arms deal to Ukraine — flopped. Just like "Russiagate" and the Mueller investigation, and a number of other attempts …

WSWS (2020-02-11). Russian-Belarusian energy talks fail as Minsk moves closer to the US, NATO. wsws.org The recent flaring up of tensions is taking place as the US is aggressively escalating its push toward drawing Minsk into its orbit.

teleSUR (2020-02-11). Syrian Military in Full Control of Northwestern Syria Highway. telesurenglish.net The Syrian government forces established full control over a highway in northwest Syria for the first time since 2012 on Tuesday, as talks ended between Turkey and Russia on stopping clashes that killed 13 Turkish soldiers in a week. | RELATED: | The Syrian military established full control over the main highway linking Damascus and Aleppo, also known as the M-5, after launching a large-scale offensive in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib at th…

Telesur (2020-02-11). China, Russia to Defy US Sanctions Over Support to Venezuela. globalresearch.ca The Russian government rejected on Monday the U.S. threats to impose new sanctions against several Russian companies for their cooperation with Venezuela in the oil sector. | Last week, the United States special representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, warned Russia …

Eric Zuesse (2020-02-11). A Turquia ameaàßa retaliaàßà£o contra a Rússia e contra a Síria se atacarem a Al Qaeda na província de Idlib, na Síria. globalresearch.ca O Presidente turco, Tayyip Erdogan, disse num discurso, em 5 de Fevereiro, ao Partido Islâmico do AKP que, se as tropas sírias ou os aviàµes russos atacarem a Al Qaeda, na província de Idlib, na Síria, a Turquia estará em …

teleSUR (2020-02-11). Trump Wants US To Be World's Most Powerful Nuclear Force. telesurenglish.net U.S. President Donald Trump stated at a White House Business Session with governors on Monday that he is seeking to make the U.S. the world's most powerful nuclear force. Trump's comments come just a few months after he abandoned the arms control treaties with Russia and China, something that was widely criticized across the world. | RELATED: | "Now, at the same time, Russia and China both want to negotiate with…

Michael T. Klare (2020-02-11). A New World War Could Break Out in the Arctic. thenation.com A New World War Could Break Out in the Arctic…

No Nukes Action (2020-02-11). Rally At Japanese Consulate To Stop Nuclear Olympics In Japan, End Nuclear Power. indybay.org San Francisco Japanese Consulate | 275 Battery St/near California | San Francisco…

Allen Hester (2020-02-11). The Doomsday Clock Is the Call to Action We Need Right Now. commondreams.org The United States can and must once again show leadership in multilateral efforts to de-escalate tensions and pull us back from the brink of nuclear conflict. (Photo: Lamerie/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/un-adopt-nuclear-ban-treaty.jpeg

Patrick Martin (2020-02-11). Trump Budget Gives Top Priority to New Generation of Nuclear Weapons. globalresearch.ca The most ominous feature of the new budget document issued Monday by the Trump administration is the prominent place given to the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons, including so-called low-yield weapons, smaller than the bombs that destroyed …

yenisafak (2020-02-11). Peace pacts in Idlib, Syria a top priority: Russia. yenisafak.com Moscow considers the implementation of Russia and Turkey's agreements on Syria a top priority, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.It is always important to suppress any "terrorist attacks" against the Syrian and Russian military in Idlib, northwestern Syria, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow."At the moment, we consider top priorities the implementation of the Sochi agreement and the suppression of any terrorist activity against Syrian forces and Russian military facilities," he said."We consider such attacks from Idlib unacceptable, and this situation worries the Kremlin."The comments come agai…

yenisafak (2020-02-11). Putin to discuss Syria with Turkey's Erdogan amid rising tensions. yenisafak.com Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the situation in Syria with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan by phone later on Tuesday amid rising tensions over the Syrian province of Idlib, the TASS news agency cited the Kremlin as saying.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the Syrian regime will pay a "very heavy price" for attacking Turkish troops in northwest Syria's Idlib region, where 13 soldiers have been killed in just over a week, prompting a retaliation.The Turkish troops are in Idlib

yenisafak (2020-02-11). Syrian, Russian airstrikes kill 13 civilians in Idlib. yenisafak.com Russian and Syrian regime forces carried out airstrikes in northwestern Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone, killing at least 13 civilians, a Syrian civil defense group announced Tuesday.The White Helmets said 12 people were killed in the attacks targeted areas near Idlib's city center and another was killed in the Idlib's village of Kafr Taal.The Bashar al-Assad regime and its allies have continued intensified air and land attacks on civilian settlements in the de-escalation zone.In September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

yenisafak (2020-02-11). Russia, Iran must halt Assad regime's aggression: FM. yenisafak.com Assad regime supporters Russia and Iran must halt the regime's aggression, especially in the embattled cease-fire zone of Idlib, said Turkey's foreign minister on Tuesday."Despite declaring a cease-fire, the regime again stepped up its aggression on January 12, especially with the air support provided by those who support the regime," said Mevlut Cavusoglu, referring to a further cease-fire declared in Idlib, northwestern Syria, last month.His remarks, in a joint press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Srdjan Darmanovic in the capital Podgorica, came one day after five Turkish troops were martyred and f…

sputniknews (2020-02-11). UN Security Council Votes to Extend Libya Oil Sanctions, Russia Abstains. sputniknews.com UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted on Tuesday evening resolution that extended sanctions on Libya until 30 April 2021 related to the illicit export of crude oil.

sputniknews (2020-02-11). Russia Sends 2Mln Face Masks as Humanitarian Aid to Coronavirus-Hit China. sputniknews.com BARNAUL Russia (Sputnik) – Russia has sent two million disposable masks in humanitarian aid to China struggling with a coronavirus-caused outbreak of pneumonia and other severe respiratory diseases, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said on Tuesday.

Global Research News (2020-02-11). Selected Articles: Trump's New Generation of Nuclear Weapons. globalresearch.ca Online independent analysis of US-led wars, rampant corruption, corporate greed, civil rights and fraudulent monetary transactions is invariably relegated to the bottom rung of search engine results. | As a result we presently do not cover our monthly running costs which …

RT (2020-02-10). Amazon wants to 'depose' Trump over losing $10 billion Pentagon contract. rt.com Still fuming over the loss of the Pentagon cloud computing deal to Microsoft, Amazon is arguing that President Donald Trump's personal bias improperly influenced the decision, even invoking his impeachment to make their case. | Court

Staff (2020-02-10). Headlines for February 10, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Deaths Soar as First U.S. Citizen Succumbs to Disease, Iowa Dem. Party Officially Gives Buttigieg the Lead as Candidates Prepare for New Hampshire Vote, Trump Budget Seeks Boost to Military and Nuclear Spending, Cuts to Social Programs and EPA, Two U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan, Trump Fires Key Impeachment Figures Following Acquittal, Thai Soldier Kills 29 People in Shooting Rampage, Brazilian Police Kill Hitman Suspected of Involvement in Marielle Franco's Assassination, Temperature Reaches Record-Breaking 65 Degrees in Antarctica, Extinction Rebellion Activists Demand New York Divest from Foss…

Conn Hallinan (2020-02-10). Turkey's Latest Quagmire: Intervention in Libya. counterpunch.org By openly declaring for one side in Libya, Turkey has damaged its ability to influence events. The Russians and French are also deeply involved in Libya, backing the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) in Tobruk. Italy backs the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli.

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-10). It's No Big Deal that There Are Some Limits to Russia-Israel "Cooperation" in Syria. globalresearch.ca Russia's condemnation of the "Israeli Air Force's" recklessness in once again hiding behind a civilian aircraft to deter anti-air fire by the Syrian Arab Army during their latest bombing operation against Damascus isn't contradictory to the principles of the unofficial …

news.un (2020-02-10). Radioactive material 'a magnet for groups with malicious intent', warns UN nuclear watchdog chief. news.un.org Government ministers and other high-level representatives from more than 140 countries, on Monday adopted a new declaration to enhance global nuclear security and counter the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Jonathan Cook (2020-02-09). Israel's "Peace Camp" Flirts with Oblivion. dissidentvoice.org For Israel's so-called peace camp, the past 12 months of general elections — a third ballot is due on 2 March — have felt more like a prolonged game of Russian roulette, with ever-diminishing odds of survival. Each time the electoral gun barrel has been spun, the two parliamentary parties associated with liberal Zionism, Labor …

RT (2020-02-08). 'Unhinged': MSNBC host Chris Matthews goes on bizarre rant about mass executions & 'the Reds' while discussing Bernie Sanders. rt.com MSNBC host Chris Matthews is facing backlash on social media after he launched into a heated rant about socialism and appeared to suggest a Bernie Sanders presidency could somehow lead to mass executions in the streets. | During a post-debate special Friday evening, Matthews said his personal views on socialism go back "to the early 1950s" before drawing comparisons between Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and former leader of Cuba Fidel Castro. | "I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War there would have been executions in Central Park and I might have been one of the ones getting…

Strategic Culture (2020-02-08). US Deploys 'Mini-Nukes' in Deplorable Threat to World Peace. theantimedia.com These so-called "mini-nukes" represent—despite the diminutive-sounding name—an increased risk of nuclear war.

Tyler Durden (2020-02-08). Iraq and Russia Prepare to Boost Military Ties as US Threatens Sanctions. theantimedia.com Iraq and Russia are preparing for deepening military coordination.

Staff (2020-02-07). Risk of Nuclear War Rises as U.S. Deploys a New Nuclear Weapon for the First Time Since the Cold War. democracynow.org The Federation of American Scientists revealed in late January that the U.S. Navy had deployed for the first time a submarine armed with a low-yield Trident nuclear warhead. The USS Tennessee deployed from Kings Bay Submarine Base in Georgia in late 2019. The W76-2 warhead, which is facing criticism at home and abroad, is estimated to have about a third of the explosive power of the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) called the news "an alarming development that heightens the risk of nuclear war." We're joined by William Arkin, longtime reporter…

Agha Hussain (2020-02-07). Russia and Iran's Clashing Visions for Syria's Future. mintpressnews.com Rivals of the West in their own right, Iran and Russia today are major power players in the Syrian imbroglio. Their convergence of interests in helping eradicate extremist terrorist proxies utilized by an array of rival states against their mutual Syrian ally has allowed them both a significant degree of say in Syrian affairs and how that country's future will pan out | However, their cooperation against the terrorist threat has often been the pivot of inaccurate portrayals of Russia-Iran ties and the extent of their shared interests versus their many highly divergent objectives in Syria, many of which are rooted…

Aaron Maté (2020-02-07). Iowa debacle fueled by anti-Bernie billionaires, Russiagate hucksters, failed DNC elites. thegrayzone.com Max Blumenthal breaks down the shadowy network of billionaires, Democratic elites, and Russiagate profiteers behind the Shadow app that ruined…

Middle East Eye (2020-02-07). Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes. theantimedia.com Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Ben Norton (2020-02-04). HuffPost UK editor works with gov't censorship program while smearing anti-war scholars as tools of Russia. thegrayzone.com HuffPost UK ran yet another hit piece smearing academic critics of the dirty war on Syria as Russian stooges. The…

Lawrence Wittner (2019-12-22). Americans Are Ready for a Different Approach to Nuclear Weapons. zcomm.org 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

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 …