2020-03-09: News Headlines

RT (2020-03-09). Reasons behind market panic investigated: Has Saudi Arabia learned from its past oil gambling mistakes? rt.com The country that pulled the final trigger to send oil prices into a freefall, Saudi Arabia, may suffer most from the oil market turmoil, analyst Kamel Wazne says, noting that Riyadh has already made such an error before. | Global markets were already on edge due to slowing economic growth and the coronavirus epidemic, when OPEC and allied oil-producing states failed to come to an agreement last week. As Russia turned its back to deeper output cuts fearing that the US would just take its market share, Saudi Arabia decided to restrain itself from cutting production and offer a discount for its crude exporters.

RT (2020-03-09). Daily Beast's Russian TV watcher says RT spreads 'conspiracy theories' about Biden, fails to mention any. rt.com The Atlantic Council's Julia Davis has accused RT of promoting conspiracy theories about Democrat frontrunner Joe Biden. If only she could mention at least one… | Davis, a "Russian media monitor" for the Atlantic Council, has been giving Daily Beast readers weekly updates about what Russians think about the American election. (In short, Russians like Trump, and like Bernie because Bernie can't beat Trump, and hate Biden because Trump can't possibly beat Biden.) | Her pieces are mostly about what Russian TV tells Russians, but the latest installment had a few words reserved for RT, which, "actively promotes c…

RT (2020-03-09). Trump says crashing markets good for consumers, blames Russia, Saudi Arabia and Fake News. rt.com US President Donald Trump can't seem to decide whether a sudden, massive drop in oil prices is good or bad for the country, so he's hedged his bets on Twitter, suggesting it's "Good for the consumer" but bad for markets. | Blaming the "market drop" on "Saudi Arabia and Russia…arguing over the price and flow of oil" in a Monday morning tweet, the president whipsawed around and – within the same minute! – bragged that the resulting chaos was "good for the consumer," because gas prices would go down. | Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for…

RT (2020-03-09). The winners & losers of the Saudi-Russia oil price war. rt.com While neither Moscow nor Riyadh want to see oil trading at record lows, their failure to agree on how to boost the market has led to an all-out price war. The only question is who will benefit most from the situation.

RT (2020-03-09). Russia swiftly reacts to bloodbath in markets, says it's ready for $25 oil. rt.com Russia's sovereign wealth fund has enough reserves to cover budget deficit for years, even if oil prices stay between $25 and $30 per barrel, the Finance Ministry announced amid a dramatic oil market crash. | Despite Monday being a public holiday in Russia, both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank were quick to react to the overnight drop in oil prices of nearly 30 percent. The former said that the Russian National Wealth Fund has $150 billion (more than 10 trillion rubles) worth of liquid assets from additional oil and gas revenues, which is enough to offset a possible shortfall from falling crude pr…

Stephen Lendman (2020-03-09). Ceasefire in Syria: Dead on Arrival? globalresearch.ca Ceasefire in Syria's Idlib province is more illusion than reality. | At best, principles Putin and Erdogan agreed on last Thursday abated fighting short-term without halting it or preventing a flareup like all previous times when ceasefires were declared throughout years …

Scott Ritter (2020-03-09). New Putin-Erdogan Deal Is Sugar-coating the Turks' Surrender. globalresearch.ca This week's meeting between Presidents Putin and Erdogan in Moscow was cast as preventing a war between Russia and Turkey in Syria. War, however, was never on the horizon. Putin called Erdogan's bluff, and the Turk folded. | Russian President Vladimir …

Arabi Souri (2020-03-09). Cease Fire Rejected. Turkey Doesn't Consider Al Qaeda as a Terrorist Group. Erdogan Sends More Troops into Idlib. globalresearch.ca The latest agreement of ceasefire between the Russian President and the Turkish madman Erdogan explicitly excludes combating terrorists. Erdogan doesn't consider al-Qaeda as a terrorist group, he invested heavily in this organization especially in Syria and

Ellen Taylor (2020-03-09). Defender of Europe 2020: a Dangerous Provocation on Russia's Border. counterpunch.org At this very moment thousands of US soldiers are disembarking from troop transports in six European countries and rushing toward prepositioned munitions around Europe, to deploy weapons as swiftly as possible. This excitement marks the beginning of "Defender Europe 2020", the largest military exercises to be staged in Europe in over 25 years. Strategists will

WSWS (2020-03-09). Canada "at war" with Russia, high-level Ottawa conference told. wsws.org Canada's Deputy Defence Minister told the conference that the Liberals' 2017 National Defence Policy has been superseded by the surge in great-power strategic competition.

Organizing Committee of March 11 Anti-Nuclear (2020-03-09). Japanese PM Abe & Capitalist Governments Helped Escalate Coronavirus Epidemic. indybay.org The Organizing Committee of March 11 Anti-Nuclear Power Plant Fukushima Action has warned that the Coronavirus outbreak is a man made disaster which is being used by the reactionary Abe government to prevent mass testing of the population. It has also stopped testing the people of Fukushima.

No Nukes Action (2020-03-09). On 9th Anniversary of The Nuclear Explosions At Fukushima Speak Out At Japanese Consulate. indybay.org Japanese Consulate | 275 Battery/California | San Francisco…

Robert Bohm (2020-03-09). Fire and Brimstone at the O.K. Corral, known today as the Democratic Party. dissidentvoice.org Yes, Putin's hackers would love to see Trump reelected. And it's also true that unknown to us there may be a new Giuliani-led team of huckster guerrillas sealing dirty deals behind the scenes in order to bring the Democratic Party (DP) down. But no matter how true these things are, responsibility for the party's current …

yenisafak (2020-03-09). UAE reports 14 new coronavirus cases, tally reaches 59. yenisafak.com The United Arab Emirates announced 14 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total number of people diagnosed to 59, state news agency WAM reported.Of the new cases, there were four Emiratis, three Italians, two each from Bangladesh and Nepal, and a Russian, Syrian and Indian diagnosed with the virus, WAM reported, citing the country's Health Ministry.

yenisafak (2020-03-09). Goldman cuts Brent forecasts to $30 on price war, virus impact. yenisafak.com Goldman Sachs cut its second- and third-quarter Brent price forecasts to $30 per barrel, citing the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia and a signiÔ¨Åcant collapse in oil demand due to the coronavirus that has killed more than 3,500 globally.Oil fell by the most since 1991 on Monday after Saudi Arabia started a price war with Russia by slashing its selling prices and pledging to unleash its pent-up supply onto a market reeling from falling demand because of the virus outbreak."The aggressive cut to Saudi's Official Selling Prices and Russia's reluctance to be pushed into a deal on Friday…

sputniknews (2020-03-09). Russia's Pacific Fleet Forms Two New Anti-Submarine Strike Groups. sputniknews.com Consisting of five destroyers, two corvettes and a Slava-class cruiser, the Pacific Fleet is also home to eight ballistic and cruise missile submarines, nearly a dozen attack subs, and dozens of smaller ships, as well as aircraft and Naval Infantry units.

sputniknews (2020-03-09). Russia Retains Number Two Spot Among Global Arms Exporters — Think Tank. sputniknews.com The traditional design philosophy behind Russian weapons, including simplicity, reliability and ruggedness, has recently been complemented by new principles as the country strives for breakthroughs in fields such as hypersonic missiles.

sputniknews (2020-03-09). Russian Citizen Diagnosed With COVID-19 in United Arab Emirates – Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Russian national in the United Arab Emirates has been found to be infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Emirates News Agency reported on Monday, citing the country's Health Ministry.

RT (2020-03-08). Oil CRASHES 30% over Saudi Arabia-Russia crude price war & coronavirus fears. rt.com Oil plunged nearly 30% in a chaotic market opening, with main crude benchmarks Brent and WTI both trading below $35 a barrel amid fears of an all-out price war following the collapse of an output cut deal between Russian and OPEC.

Pepe Escobar (2020-03-08). Putin Saves Erdogan from Himself. globalresearch.ca At the start of their discussion marathon in Moscow on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with arguably the most extraordinary diplomatic gambit of the young 21st century. | Putin said: | "At the beginning of …

WSWS (2020-03-07). Another corporate media smear against Bernie Sanders. wsws.org A New York Times article claims that Soviet officials saw cultivating ties with Sanders in the 1980s as a political "opportunity."

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-03-07). A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria. iranian.com Two peace agreements within a week are a bit too much. Hot on the heels of the US-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha on February 9, Russia and Turkey have signed a peace agreement over the Syrian conflict in Moscow on March 6. On the face of it, the two are unconnected events but they …

Reza Marashi (2020-03-07). Nuclear Programs, Negotiations, and Naivety — Podcast Episode 12. iranian.com Episode Description: This week, Reza breaks down why advocates of abandoning the Iran nuclear deal now own the consequences, how America can help shape a peace deal in Afghanistan while still withdrawing its troops, and why Trump's effort to push China out of regional integration in Asia won't work. Siamak Naficy, Senior Lecturer at the Naval …

Steven Sahiounie (2020-03-06). The New Idlib Ceasefire Forces Turkey-Backed Extremists to Fall Back. mintpressnews.com Putin and Erdogan met in Moscow in a last-ditch effort to strike a deal over the escalating violence in Idlib, Syria. Steven Sahiounie weighs in on who prevailed and what likely comes next.

Staff (2020-03-06). Headlines for March 6, 2020. democracynow.org 3,500 Cruise Ship Passengers Quarantined Off California Coast over Coronavirus Fears, Seattle Area Residents Urged to Work from Home as Coronavirus Spreads Across U.S., World Health Organization's Coronavirus Warning: "This Is Not a Drill", Stocks Tumble as Coronavirus Rattles Global Economy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Suspends 2020 Presidential Bid, Bernie Sanders Campaign Rally Disrupted by Protester with Nazi Flag, Russia and Turkey Agree to a Ceasefire in Syria's War-Torn Idlib, Israel Accused of Collective Punishment After Demolishing Palestinian Homes, Israeli Opposition Parties Bidding to Unseat Netanyahu After…

Paul Street (2020-03-06). They Rule: No Easter Bernie. counterpunch.org Former MSNBC (MSDNC) talk show host Chris Matthews' execution by the Bernie Sanders campaign today was quick and painless. A guillotine was set up near Central Park's Pond & Gapstow Bridge. A crowd of 15,000 applauded politely after Matthews' head was held up and placed inside a model Cold War era television. Ticket fees (ranging from $27 to $200) were dedicated to the Sanders campaign. Sanders addressed the crowd, calmly explaining why Matthews had been condemned. Sanders asked attendees to go to berniesanders.com to contribute further to his campaign and to nominate other broadcast journalists for executio…

Chris Busby (2020-03-06). Cancer in US Navy Nuclear Powered Ships. counterpunch.org In 2011, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was about 100km off the coast of Japan at the time of the Tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima reactor explosions. It was directed by the US government to ride to the rescue in what was later called Operation Tomodachi (friendship)–to provide assistance to the victims of the floods. What no-one on board was told was that the reactors had exploded and a plume of highly radioactive material was blowing east from the site into the path of the vessel. Of course, when this arrived, all the radiation monitors on the boat started screaming, and the planes…

news.un (2020-03-05). Nuclear non-proliferation treaty an essential pillar for peace and security. news.un.org Countries meeting in New York next month to review progress on nuclear non-proliferation are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to use the opportunity to strengthen global peace and security.

news.un (2020-03-05). Guterres calls for 'immediate and lasting' end to Syria fighting as Turkey and Russia agree ceasefire. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General said on Thursday that he hoped the latest ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey to end fighting across Syria's stricken Idlib region, would finally lead to "an immediate and lasting cessation", that would protect civilian lives.

Alan MacLeod (2020-02-29). Media Stoop to 'Russian Assistance' to Explain Sanders' Rise. fair.org For over three years, Russia has been an issue of great concern, if not panic, in our media. Back in 2018, FAIR (

Staff (2020-02-28). Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib as Syrian Troops Advance & Children Freeze to Death. democracynow.org In Syria, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Russia-backed Syrian forces in rebel-held Idlib in a major escalation on Thursday. Turkey has vowed to respond in kind, as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying "the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour." Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly spoke by phone on Friday to discuss the crisis, as NATO urged rapid deescalation. The all-out offensive by the Syrian government is the single largest displacement in a nine-year war that has forced 13 million t…

Jason Ditz (2020-02-20). Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive. theantimedia.com Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Jason Ditz (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.

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.

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."

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 …