(2020-02-18). Russian man diagnosed with coronavirus on board cruise ship in Japan. rt.com 
A second Russian citizen has been hospitalized over coronavirus concerns aboard the 'Diamond Princess' cruise ship. The Japanese government has confirmed that only one Russian national is infected with coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the Russian Embassy in Tokyo said on Tuesday. | "According to the explanations we have been given, the spouse of the Russian woman who was suspected to have COVID-19 as of February 17 has been diagnosed with the virus," the embassy informed. | The man is currently held at a special medical facility in Aichi Prefecture, the embassy added. His wife, who was reported…
(2020-02-18). Russia temporarily bans ALL Chinese visitors amid coronavirus epidemic. rt.com 
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree on Tuesday evening prohibiting Chinese citizens from entering Russia for tourism, work and for private purposes. The new rules are effective from Thursday. | The decision is the strongest measure yet taken to prevent the entry and spread of the new coronavirus in Russia. Previously, Russian Railways suspended all passenger traffic to and from China, and flights have been heavily restricted. In addition, border crossings in the Far East have been closed. | "From 00: 00 local time on February 20, 2020, the passage of citizens of the People's Republic of Chi…
(2020-02-18). US 'shamelessly & impudently' PILLAGES Syrian oilfields but forbids supply of hydrocarbons to Damascus, says Russian defense chief. rt.com 
Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu slammed the US for occupying Syrian oilfields, calling it a major obstacle to the reconstruction of the country after the conflict. | "The oil fields… are controlled by the US. There's shameless, impudent pillage of the wealth that belongs to Syria and the Syrian people taking place," Shoigu said during a visit to the Italian capital Rome. | At the same time, the sanctions imposed by Washington against Damascus ban any oil shipments to Syria, putting the country in a tight spot. | "Most of the people, who are now suffering in Syria, are in need of heat, hot water and e…
(2020-02-18). Visitor numbers to Russia jumped by 20.5% last year — major e-visa liberalization planned for 2021. rt.com 
It may be the world's largest country and bursting with visitor attractions, but Russia has long punched below its weight in the tourism sector. Now, signs suggest this is beginning to change. | In 2019, 5.1 million people came to the country as tourists — a 20.5 percent increase on the previous year, during which the FIFA World Cup was staged in 11 Russian cities. That's according to brand-new figures released by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. | At the top of the leaderboard for visitors is China. In 2019, 1.5 million Chinese crossed the border for the purposes of tourism, a rise of almost…
(2020-02-18). European court reinstates order for Russia to pay $50 billion over Yukos. rt.com 
A Dutch appeals court has reinstated an international arbitration panel's ruling that Russia should pay $50 billion in compensation to ex-shareholders of the defunct Russian oil giant, Yukos, overturning a previous court decision. | The Hague Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that the 2016 ruling cancelling the arbitration decision "was not correct," meaning that "the arbitration order is in force again." | The Russian Justice Ministry said immediately after the ruling that it would appeal the court's decision. The Ministry of Justice said the court had ignored the fact that the former Yukos shareholders were n…
(2020-02-18). But will he pardon Roger Stone? Trump clemency for Blagojevich, Kerik, Milken & DeBartolo fuel speculation. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has surprised everyone with a series of pardons that — so far — do not include any of his aides caught up in 'Russiagate' investigations, although his tweets suggest this too might be coming. | First on the list was former San Francisco 49s NFL franchise owner Edward DeBartolo Jr, who pleaded guilty in 1998 to failing to report a felony, after he did not disclose that the governor of Louisiana extorted him for a bribe in exchange for a riverboat casino license. He was fined $1 million and sentenced to two years' probation. His NFL career effectively over, he transferred th…
(2020-02-18). Chechen exile's Berlin park killer linked to Russia's FSB – Bellingcat, Der Spiegel, The Insider. rt.com 
When a Chechen exile was shot dead in a Berlin park last summer it strained relations between Germany and Russia. A new investigation suggests his alleged killer may have been trained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). | A joint report from Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, the US-government funded Bellingcat website and Russian outlet The Insider claims to have obtained the phone records of "Vadim Krasikov," which they say is the real identity of Vadim Sokolov, the man German police accuse of carrying out the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. | Khangoshvili was regarded as a terrorist by Moscow for his…
(2020-02-18). Bombs away! WATCH close-up footage of Su-35S jet performing airstrike. rt.com 
The Russian Defense Ministry's TV channel, Zvezda, has placed numerous cameras on Su-35S fighter jets, filming a spectacular video from the bomb-dropping drills of the 4++ generation warplanes | The cams were not only in the cockpits, but also on the bodies of the jets, right in front of their bomb hatches, providing some unique footage. | The video was made during the recent exercises in the air above the Voronzeh and Tver Regions in central Russia, which involved Su-35S and MiG-31 jets, as well as around 500 servicemen. | The planes took off from the airfields with a time gap of just one minute and droppe…
(2020-02-18). Young man on trial for clashing with police at Moscow protests gets suspended sentence. rt.com 
Meshchansky District Court in Moscow on Tuesday handed student Andrei Barshai, a participant of the July 27 unauthorized rally, a three-year suspended sentence. Barshai, 21, was convicted of using force against an officer of the Russian National Guard Troops Service. | Barshai was freed at the court room. He had denied any wrongdoing, excluding the fact of 'a physical contact' with the officer. During the unauthorized action, Barshai "pushed him in the back," police said. The student apologized to the law enforcement officer. | More than 3,500 people took to the streets in July last year in support of unregist…
(2020-02-18). Home-made bombs tested on PETS: New Columbine-style school massacre thwarted in Crimea, 2 teen suspects arrested. rt.com 
Two teenage fans of Vladislav Roslyakov, who killed 20 of his classmates in a Columbine-copycat shooting in the Crimean city of Kerch two years ago, were preparing similar school attacks, the Russian security service has revealed. | The suspects, who "were disciples of extremist ideology and followers of Vladislav Roslyakov" wanted to target two schools in Kerch, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement Tuesday. | Police discovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with striking elements at their homes as well as spare parts to make more IEDs, which the teens had purchased on the internet.
(2020-02-18). Putin orders to remove Surkov from Russian presidential aide office. rt.com 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order to release Vladislav Surkov from the position of his aide, the Kremlin's press service said on Tuesday. | "To relieve Vladislav Surkov from the position of the aide to the Russian president," the order reads. The president's order also notes that it is effective on the day of signing. | Earlier reports this year said Surkov, the president's long-time influential aide and former deputy PM and the ex-deputy head of the presidential administration, had
(2020-02-18). Ukraine witch-hunter Mirotvorets blacklists retired NATO generals, Munich Security Conference head as 'PRO-RUSSIA' propagandists. rt.com 
A notorious witch-hunt website says the chairman of one the most reputed pro-NATO gatherings and some top US military retirees are now enemies of Ukraine, as they dared to sign a non-binding roadmap for peace in Donbass. | The controversial 'Mirotvorets' (Peacekeeper) website took aim at German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, blacklisting him for what it said was "attempting to disrupt the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine" and for "taking part in Russia's propaganda events aimed against Ukraine." | | © Screenshot from myrotvorets.center | Ischinger chairs the Munich Security Conference (M…
(2020-02-18). Buying Elections: The Bloomberg Meme Campaign. counterpunch.org Interfering, corrupting and altering the views of electors is apparently frowned upon. But it all depends on who that manipulating source is. The Russians might be condemned for being meddlers of minds in the US electorate, but an American billionaire who hires battalions of influencing agents to get his word across on social media platforms
(2020-02-18). Nord Stream 2: Why Ukraine and Poland Are Against It. globalresearch.ca There is no doubt about the fundamental importance of the gas flow for the European energy balance. There is even less doubt about Russia's role in this process. Western Europe is not self-sufficient in producing gas, depending on its import. …
(2020-02-18). Herakles in the Age of Climate Chaos. counterpunch.org On Monday afternoon of February 10, 2020, I went to the Classics department of Pomona College for a lecture on Herakles. Chiara Sulprizio of Vanderbilt University used cartoons and animation to help us understand the lasting influence and power of classical mythology. She chose the Soviet Union and Russia to illustrate how animated Greek myths may have
(2020-02-18). Speeding Sea Level Rise Threatens Nuclear Plants. globalresearch.ca The latest science shows how the pace of sea level rise is speeding up, fuelling fears that not only millions of homes will be under threat, but that vulnerable installations like docks and power plants will be overwhelmed by the …
(2020-02-18). Provocateur Pavlensky in court over Griveaux scandal. yenisafak.com The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation on Tuesday involving Pyotr Pavlensky, a Russian provocateur and performance artist, and his girlfriend, Alexandra de Taddeo, over the release of a sex video allegedly involving former Paris mayoral candidate Benjamin Griveaux.Pavlensky had already admitted posting the video that prompted Griveaux to drop out of the race last Friday. He had been the front runner of President Emmanuel Macron's party, La Republique En Marche party, and hand-picked by the president to run.Griveaux, 42, and a married father of three, has filed a legal complaint in the Paris court a…
(2020-02-18). Turkey informs Russia of its 'clear' policy in NW Syria. yenisafak.com Turkey has made the necessary military preparations in northwestern Syria and told Russian counterparts it was determined to push Bashar al-Assad regime to previous boundaries, spokesman of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party said on Tuesday.Omer Celik said Turkey completed necessary military preparations in Syria and it would take necessary steps if the Syrian regime did not withdraw to the previous borderline set by de-escalation deal.Celik underlined that Russia, an ally of the Syrian regime, was "clearly" informed about Turkey's stance in the region.With 148,000 people displaced in Idlib city in the pas…
(2020-02-18). Pakistan conducts 'successful' cruise missile test. yenisafak.com Pakistan on Tuesday carried out a "successful" test of a cruise missile, the country's army said.The flight test of the air-launched missile, Ra'ad-II, was Pakistan's second of the year and comes amid persisting tensions with nuclear rival India."Pakistan conducted successful flight test of Air Launched Cruise Missile "Ra'ad-II" with a range of 600 km [370 miles], which significantly enhances air delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea," said a statement from Pakistan's military."The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems, ensuring engagement of targ…
(2020-02-18). Dutch Journalist's MH17 Investigation Backs Russia's Position – Kremlin. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The investigation by Dutch journalist Max van der Werff into the 2014 crash of the MH17 Boeing is substantiating Russia's stance on the issue, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.
(2020-02-18). Russian FM Lavrov, Defence Minister Shoigu Hold Joint Presser With Italian Counterparts – Video. sputniknews.com Speaking to the Italian newspaper La Stampa on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that he regarded the upcoming meeting in the 2+2 format as a good opportunity to assess the issues of arms control and strategic stability as well as the situation in Libya and Syria in order to take coordinated measures.
(2020-02-18). Mysterious Gas Leak That Killed 14 Close to Pakistani Nuclear Power Plant Sparks 'Chernobyl' Fears. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The deaths and continued increase in the number of people affected by a gas leak of unknown origin has raised concerns among residents in the Pakistani coastal area of Keamari as the city's authorities have failed to identify the source of the gas leak and the type of gas involved.
(2020-02-18). Selected Articles: Trump's War Budget. globalresearch.ca 
A future without independent media leaves us with an upside down reality where according to the corporate media "NATO deserves a Nobel Peace Prize", and where "nuclear weapons and wars make us safer" | | | If, like us, this is a …
(2020-02-17). DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director's Role in Russiagate. theantimedia.com The Justice Department is investigating the role of John Brennan in the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
(2020-02-17). NEPA is Our National Defense System‚Ä®. counterpunch.org Our nation is under attack. If the attack were coming from the sky, NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) would detect the threat. That is NORAD's mission, to anticipate threats to our homeland. The current attack on our land didn't originate in Russia or China; it began in Washington D.C., in January, when President Trump proposed dismantling NEPA — the law that protects our communities, land and water every bit as much as NORAD protects our skies.
(2020-02-14). Barr assigns outside prosecutor to review Russiagate's Michael Flynn's case — report. rt.com 
General Michael Flynn seems to be getting a lifeline from the attorney general following his claim that prosecutors in the Mueller investigation "concocted the alleged false statements" he was accused of making. | Attorney General William Barr has assigned an outside prosecutor to examine the criminal case against US President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, according to a report from the New York Times. | St. Louis prosecutor Jeff Jenson is heading the team reexamining the Justice Department's case against Flynn. The second look at Flynn's case is part of a larger probe by Barr to go over pol…
(2020-02-13). State-backed Alliance for Securing Democracy disinfo shop falsely smears The Grayzone as 'state-backed'. thegrayzone.com In painting critical reporting on the Iowa caucuses debacle as a Russian plot, a Western government-backed information warfare shop smeared…
(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…
(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.
(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.
(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…
(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."
(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
(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, …
(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 …
(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 …