Assange Was Offered U.S. Pardon if He Cleared Russia, His Lawyer Says
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-02-19
Wikileaks founder will claim former Rep. Rohrabacher did so at behest of Trump in 2017 visit; president denies report through spokeswoman.
truthdig.com/articles/assange-was-offered-u-s-pardon-if-he-cleared-russia-his-lawyer-says/

Mysterious 'PUTIN' group unleashes flock of MAGA-hatted pigeons in Las Vegas to protest Dem debate
rt.com | 2020-02-19
A flock of pigeons wearing tiny red baseball caps – and one wearing a Trump wig – have been released by a self-styled "underground radical group" in Las Vegas to protest the Democratic debate and support Trump. | The birds were unleashed on Tuesday evening in downtown Las Vegas to protest "the arrival of the 2020 Democratic debate" the following day, the group, which calls itself Pigeons United to Interfere Now (PUTIN, what else?), said in a statement to local media. The stunt also served "as a gesture of support and loyalty to President Trump," who is holding a rally in Las Vegas on Thursday. The group claims…
rt.com/usa/481240-pigeons-protest-democratic-debate-trump/

Russia Needs to Prioritize Greece as Relations Rift with Turkey
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-19
A revealing poll released earlier last week by the highly-reliable Pew Research Center found that the majority of people in Greece and Turkey viewed NATO unfavourably

The Priorities of General Motors: Ditching Australia's Holden Cars
Dr. Binoy Kampmark | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-19
It seemed to be a case of grand misrepresentation. Holden cars, those great Australian acquisitions, along with home, lawnmower and nuclear family, gave the impression of indigenous pride, the home brand. It was also resoundingly masculine. But behind that image …
globalresearch.ca/priorities-general-motors-ditching-holden/5703960

Arctic kiss: Two Russian nuclear icebreakers rendezvous in spectacular night-time DRONE FOOTAGE
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Two Russian nuclear icebreakers have met up somewhere on the endless white plains of the Arctic Ocean, providing for a sight both spectacular and romantic. | The video, posted by Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom, showed its Taymyr and Vaygach icebreakers almost touching with their bows, before settling in to "cuddle" side by side. | With the after-dark "coupling" filmed from the air and edited to a smooth soundtrack, some internet users found the scene "erotic." | There were other interesting comparisons as well, with one commentator saying that the two massive ships positioned so close to each other resemb…
rt.com/russia/481145-icebreakers-russia-rendezvous-arctic/

Hysteria Isn't Killing Nuclear Power
Linda Pentz Gunter | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-19
Time was, that a woman suffering from menopause, pre-menstrual syndrome, a heightened libido or lack thereof, was labeled "hysterical." Her very real medical or psychological troubles were put down to an "emotional reaction." For a while these symptoms were even attributed to a "wandering womb." What? Yes, really. For years, if you were a woman…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/19/hysteria-isnt-killing-nuclear-power/

The Priorities of General Motors: Ditching Australia's Holden Cars
Dr. Binoy Kampmark | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-19
It seemed to be a case of grand misrepresentation. Holden cars, those great Australian acquisitions, along with home, lawnmower and nuclear family, gave the impression of indigenous pride, the home brand. It was also resoundingly masculine. But behind that image …
globalresearch.ca/priorities-general-motors-ditching-holden/5703960

The Munich Security Conference: No, Pompeo, the West Isn't Winning
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-19
Secretary of State Pompeo boldly declared during his keynote speech at last weekend's Munich Security Conference that "the West is winning", which isn't true at all since it's actually facing unprecedented challenges from Russia and China, though that also shouldn't …
globalresearch.ca/pompeo-west-isnt-winning/5703995

U.N.: Thousands Fleeing Syrian Offensive, Kids Dying in the Cold
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-02-19
UNITED NATIONS

Turkish military op in Idlib only 'matter of time', Erdogan warns Damascus
rt.com | 2020-02-19
A new Turkish military incursion into Syria's Idlib governorate has been planned and may start at any moment, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned, ramping up a tense standoff with Damascus. | "As with all [previous] operations, we say 'we could suddenly come one night.' In other words, an Idlib operation is a matter of time," Erdogan said, referring to incursions into Syria conducted in 2016, 2018 and last year. | Ankara will not "leave Idlib to the Assad regime and its backers," Erdogan vowed, referring to the Syrian government and, apparently, to Russia and Iran. Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, he…
rt.com/news/481179-erdogan-idlib-operation-imminent/

Russian state frame-up results in draconian prison sentences for left-wing youth
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
Under conditions of staggering social inequality and rising class tensions, the harsh punishment is aimed at intimidating all opposition to the Russian state from the left.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/russ-f19.html

Russia may grant ex-presidents immunity from prosecution & ban ministers from holding foreign bank accounts
rt.com | 2020-02-19
When Vladimir Putin announced his intention to amend Russia's Constitution, it drove the pundits and pontificators into a frenzy of speculation. Since then there's been a raft of proposals but two in particular stand out. | According to Pavel Krasheninnikov, co-chair of the working group set up to propose changes to the code, the idea of making former presidents exempt from subsequent criminal charges has been floated; along with a restriction on cabinet members from keeping money in financial institutions abroad. | Reports about Russian officials taking money out of the country have long aroused anger. Back i…
rt.com/russia/481192-russia-constitution-amendments-presidents-immunity/

'Worst case scenario': Kremlin slams Turkey's threat of military operation against Syrian government in Idlib
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Turkey sending troops to Syria to fight against the government would be the 'worst case scenario', Kremlin spokesman said after Ankara threatened that such an operation was imminent. | Turkey's President Erdogan said on Wednesday Ankara was prepared to launch a military incursion into Idlib to force the Syrian army out. Russia's reaction to such a development would depend on what goals the Turkish troops decide to pursue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. | "If it will be an operation against terrorist forces in Idlib, that would certainly be within the spirit" of Russia's agreements with Turkey, he said.
rt.com/news/481183-russia-turkey-idlib-operation-worst-case/

Russia's tourism sector could lose $455 million if Chinese coronavirus crisis continues until summer – tour operators
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Health concerns over the new COVID-19 coronavirus have led to strong measures in Russia. The Far Eastern border with China has been closed, and most Chinese visitors face restrictions. Now financial losses are being assessed. | Experts forecast that the country's tourism industry may lose almost 3 billion rubles ($47 million), in just the next two months. That's according to ATOR, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. China is typically the largest single source of tourists to Russia: providing 1.5 million visitors in 2019. | While the situation is bad, it could get much worse. If Chinese holidaymakers…
rt.com/russia/481201-coronavirus-russias-tourism-lose/

Clicks-hungry media warns Ireland of 'Russian ghost ship with CANNIBAL RATS,' but Twitter's not amused
rt.com | 2020-02-19
An Irish news outlet has posted an alarming tweet warning that a cannibal rat-laden Russian 'ghost ship' is "heading for Ireland." Rather than spark concern, the clickbait tweet has merely generated eye-rolls from Twitter users. | Wednesday's tweet from the Irish Times shared a link to a feature about a couple of ghost ships currently at large somewhere on the high seas that could

Russian cops bust banned radical Islamist group Tablighi Jamaat's 'training camp,' detain leaders & participants
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Seven members of a hardline Islamic organization were arrested in Moscow on Wednesday, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB). They are charged with disseminating extremist propaganda and trying to recruit new supporters. | Tablighi Jamaat, which means the Outreach Society or the Society for Spreading Faith, is banned in Russia. Its philosophy is based around the idea that Muslims should revert to practicing their faith as it was done in the 7th century, when the Prophet Mohammed himself lived. It particularly focuses on styles of dress, personal behavior, and forms of ritual. | | Religious literatu…
rt.com/russia/481226-russian-cops-detained-radical-islamist/

Russian Minister Accuses U.S. of Openly Plundering Syrian Oil
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-19
The United States openly controls and plunders the oil fields belonging to Syria and its people, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. | RELATED: | Russian Ministers Meet With Italian Counterparts in Rome | "The Syrian oil fields, the territories where the precious substance is produced, are controlled by the United States. There is shameless plundering of the riches that belong to Syria and the Syrian people," denounced Russia's defense minister in Rome, Italy.
telesurenglish.net/news/russian-minister-accuses-the-us-of-openly-plundering-syrian-oil-20200219-0005.html

Venezuela slams US sanctions on Russia's Rosneft as an attempt at grabbing control of global oil market
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Russian oil giant Rosneft's investments and commercial activities in Venezuela are legal, says state energy firm PDVSA, pledging to provide the necessary support for the producer's "operational and commercial continuity." | The PDVSA statement follows Washington's blacklisting of a Rosneft subsidiary on Tuesday over its trade ties with Venezuela. The US accused the oil brokerage subsidiary of handling over 70 percent of Venezuela's exports, in circumvention of US sanctions. It has also given the companies doing business with Rosneft Trading 90 days to disentangle those arrangements. | COMUNICADO OFICIAL&#63743…
rt.com/business/481181-rosneft-us-sanctions-venezuela/

Russia Is A Progressive Democracy, America Is A Fascist Plutocracy
BLUES | indybay.org | 2020-02-19
Too bad I have to live in this hell with all the money going for defective military junk, Billionaires running for Dictator, poop and needles are all over the sidewalks, empty store shelves are coming due to covid-19 in the country that makes all our necessities, etc, and so on.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/02/18/18830805.php

Russian state frame-up results in draconian prison sentences for left-wing youth
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
Under conditions of staggering social inequality and rising class tensions, the harsh punishment is aimed at intimidating all opposition to the Russian state from the left.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/russ-f19.html

Washington backs Turkey as border clashes mount with Syria and Russia
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
Washington is encouraging Turkish army operations inside Syria, risking a direct clash between the NATO alliance and the Syrian government's main allies, Russia and Iran.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/turk-f19.html

Washington backs Turkey as border clashes mount with Syria and Russia
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
Washington is encouraging Turkish army operations inside Syria, risking a direct clash between the NATO alliance and the Syrian government's main allies, Russia and Iran.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/turk-f19.html

Russian Defense Minister Shoigu discusses Libya with east forces' commander Haftar
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with the commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Libya. | They discussed matters and "stressed the importance of talks held on January 13 in Moscow for establishing ceasefire and launching the process of normalizing the situation in the country," the Russian Defense Ministry said. | Shoigu and Haftar confirmed the need to fulfill the decisions made at the Berlin conference on Libya. | They also noted that there is no alternative to settling the domestic Libyan crisis by political means and confirmed commitment to L…
rt.com/newsline/481191-russia-shoigu-libya-haftar/

Seven Members of Extremist Group Tablighi Jamaat Detained in Moscow – Russia's Security Service
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-19
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Seven members of the international extremist organisation Tablighi Jamaat, banned in Russia, have been detained in Moscow and the Moscow Region, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday.
sputniknews.com/russia/202002191078351361-seven-members-of-extremist-group-tablighi-jamaat-detained-in-moscow—russias-security-service/

Pakistan eyes removal from int'l money crime gray list
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-19
Riding on crucial support from Turkey, China, and Malaysia, Pakistan's anxious eye is on an ongoing meeting of the Financial Action Task Force

Russia 'in contact' with Turkey over Idlib: Kremlin
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-19
Russia said on Wednesday that it would stay in contact with Turkey to avoid further escalation in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged compliance with a 2018 Russia-Turkey memorandum on Idlib negotiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi."We were satisfied with the agreements more than a year ago in Sochi

Speeding Sea Level Rise Threatens Nuclear Plants
Paul Brown | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-18
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 …
globalresearch.ca/speeding-sea-level-rise-threatens-nuclear-plants/5704001

The Priorities of General Motors: Ditching Holden
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-18
It seemed to be a case of grand misrepresentation. Holden cars, those great Australian acquisitions, along with home, lawnmower and nuclear family, gave the impression of indigenous pride, the home brand. It was also resoundingly masculine. But behind that image was a mighty American thrust, with General Motors holding the reins on investment as benevolent …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/the-priorities-of-general-motors-ditching-holden/

Turkey Will Deploy More Troops to Syria Amid Talks With Russia
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-18
Turkey is planning to deploy more troops to Syria's Idlib province in retaliation to attacks carried out by the Syrian government forces, Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Tuesday. | RELATED: | Aleppo Victories to 'Prelude' Defeat of Rebels in Syria: Assad | A Turkish delegation met Russian counterparts for a second day of talks in Moscow on Tuesday, with no apparent agreement on Idlib, where a push in recent weeks by Russian-backed Syrian government forces has…
telesurenglish.net/news/Turkey-Will-Deploy-More-Troops-to-Syria-Amid-Talks-With-Russia–20200218-0009.html

Russia Suspends Entry of Chinese Citizens Amid Virus Threat
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-18
Russia will suspend entry of Chinese citizens to its territory starting from Feb. 20 in response to the growing threat of the new coronavirus (Covid-19), Russia's Prime Minister Mijail Mishustin decreed Tuesday. | RELATED: | Caricom Laboratories Ready to Analyze Coronavirus | The Vice-Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova, head of the crisis cabinet to prevent the coronavirus infection, announced the measure. This policy includes those who traveled under private, educative, labor and tourist…
telesurenglish.net/news/russia-suspends-entry-of-chinese-citizens-from-20-february-20200218-0015.html

But will he pardon Roger Stone? Trump clemency for Blagojevich, Kerik, Milken & DeBartolo fuel speculation
rt.com | 2020-02-18
US President Donald Trump has surprised everyone with a series of pardons that

Russia Rejects US Sanctions Against Rosneft Trading S.A
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-18
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Treasury Department announced Tuesday sanctions against Russian oil company Rosneft Trading S.A., for trading and transporting Venezuelan oil and against its president of the Board of Drectors Didier Casimiro. | RELATED: | US Sanctions Policy On Iran Has Failed: President Rouhani | "Our position on sanctions is well known, Russia categorically rejects unilateral restrictions. With them, the United States seeks to a…
telesurenglish.net/news/russia-rejects-us-sanctions-against-rosneft-trading-sa-20200218-0028.html

Selected Articles: Trump's War Budget
Global Research News | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-18
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 …
globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-trump-budget-more-warfare-slightly-less-welfare/5704009

DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director's Role in Russiagate
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-17
The Justice Department is investigating the role of John Brennan in the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director’s Role in Russiagate

State-backed Alliance for Securing Democracy disinfo shop falsely smears The Grayzone as 'state-backed'
Alexander Rubinstein | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-13
In painting critical reporting on the Iowa caucuses debacle as a Russian plot, a Western government-backed information warfare shop smeared…
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/13/state-backed-alliance-securing-democracy-smears-grayzone/

State-backed Alliance for Securing Democracy disinfo shop falsely smears The Grayzone as 'state-backed'
Alexander Rubinstein | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-13
In painting critical reporting on the Iowa caucuses debacle as a Russian plot, a Western government-backed information warfare shop smeared…
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/13/state-backed-alliance-securing-democracy-smears-grayzone/

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

US Deploys ‘Mini-Nukes’ in Deplorable Threat to World Peace

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

US Deploys ‘Mini-Nukes’ in Deplorable Threat to World Peace

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

Iraq and Russia Prepare to Boost Military Ties as US Threatens Sanctions

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

Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes