2020-04-13: News Headlines

RT (2020-04-13). Wildfire rips through Chernobyl's exclusion zone, raging just TWO MILES from crippled nuclear plant (PHOTO, VIDEO). rt.com Ukrainian firefighters are struggling to contain a blaze raging near Pripyat, in the contaminated area heavily hit by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, as a wall of fire creeps dangerously close to its abandoned nuclear power plant. | Due to strong winds on Monday, the flames crossed over a firebreak and reached the Yanov railway station near the town of Pripyat, the agency in charge of exclusion zone said in a statement. Maps show that the station is located just three kilometers (1.9 miles) away from the ill-fated power plant. | The member of the public council at that agency, Yaroslav Emelianenko, described t…

RT (2020-04-13). Economic guru Kudrin warns Russia's unemployment could TREBLE, as Kremlin labels talk of return to 1990s chaos 'hysterical'. rt.com Perhaps nobody in Russia is more responsible for the country's fiscal stability than Alexei Kudrin. | As Finance Minister, he paid off most of the national debt and built financial stabilization funds that have twice helped avoid financial ruin. | While Russia is better prepared for the inevitable Covid-19-driven economic recession than most of its G20 peers, Kudrin still believes the level of unemployment in Russia could treble before the end of the year, reaching eight million. While far from the 20 percent JP Morgan predicts for the United States, an 11 percent rate would put considerable pressure on the Ru…

RT (2020-04-13). As restrictions spread across Europe, 69% of Muscovites willing to sacrifice rights to defeat coronavirus — poll. rt.com One of the ironies of the Covid-19 crisis in Russia has been the sight of liberal opposition groups urging the Kremlin to do more to restrict people's movement at the expense of civil liberties. In Moscow, people seem to agree. | Already, people's movement has been drastically restricted in the capital. All non-essential business and activity has been suspended, and hefty fines can be issued for breaking self-quarantine rules. | A survey suggests that most people in the capital are entirely on board with the new restrictions. According to research group Romir, more than two-thirds of Moscow residents (69 perce…

RT (2020-04-13). 'Game-changing machine': Russian military get first batch of modernized T-90M tanks (VIDEO). rt.com With better protected turret, more powerful engine and a sighting system that guarantees high precision in nighttime, the modernized T-90M tank has now made it into the Russian army. | The first batch of the new war machines, called 'Proryv' (breakthrough) has been delivered to the elite Taman Armored Division near Moscow. | The arrival to their place of basing has been filmed by the Defense Ministry's Zvezda channel and featured the sad trend of the current time, as servicemen were seen wearing protective masks over the raging and deadly Covid-19 pandemic. | "Those are game changing machines," Sergey Kisel…

RT (2020-04-13). More than 100 people evacuated from apartment block in Moscow as it is ravaged by blaze (VIDEO). rt.com Dozens of people have been evacuated from a multi-story building in Moscow in the middle of the night after a flat on its upper floor caught fire, prompting fears that the blaze could spread to the rest of the apartment block.

RT (2020-04-13). Russian unemployment may more than TRIPLE due to business shutdown amid coronavirus quarantine. rt.com The economic crisis triggered by Covid-19 can leave up to 8 million Russians out of work and the situation in the labor market may not improve till the end of the year, the head of Russia's Accounts Chamber has warned. | "According to forecasts, during this crisis the number of unemployed people in Russia will rise from 2.5 million to 8 million for some time," Alexei Kudrin, who used serve as Russia's Minister of Finance, told RBC business outlet on Monday. He added that the jobless rate can drop only when the economy rebounds with the rise in demand and consumption and businesses coming back to normal. | Also…

RT (2020-04-13). Lavrov & Zarif discuss coronavirus fight, lifting sanctions involving medicines. rt.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed in a phone call on Monday coordinated action to fight the novel coronavirus and the necessity of lifting sanctions that involve supplying medicines. | They "paid specific attention to the task of multilateral coordinated efforts in battling the coronavirus infection, including a waiver of unlawful individual sanctions and other restrictions linked to the supplies of medicines and essentials," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. | The diplomats also exchanged opinions on the situation in Afghanistan, given the role…

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-04-13). Ukraine Eyes America for Gas but Still Relies on Russia. globalresearch.ca Despite strong attempts by Ukraine not to buy Russian pipeline gas, they will not be able to receive U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) for at least another five years according to Polish experts from the

en.mehrnews (2020-04-13). Tehran, Moscow confer on regional issues, coronavirus pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA) — In a telephone conversation on Monday evening, Iranian and Russian foreign ministers discussed several issues including regional affairs and Covid-19 pandemic.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-13). 'US medical terrorism hampering global efforts to curb COVID-19'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said the United States policies are hampering the world countries' efforts to overcome the new coronavirus crisis.

sputniknews (2020-04-13). Putin Says Russia Has So Far Managed to Handle Coronavirus Proactively. sputniknews.com Around 18,000 COVID-19 cases have been registered in Russia so far with only 148 fatalities – one of the lowest coronavirus mortality rates in the world.

sputniknews (2020-04-13). Russian President Vladimir Putin Takes Part in Meeting on COVID-19 Situation – Video. sputniknews.com On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is missing direct communication with people amid the lockdown regime and the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

yenisafak (2020-04-13). Russia, Iran discuss anti-virus cooperation. yenisafak.com Russian and Iranian foreign ministers discussed cooperation in combatting the coronavirus pandemic in a phone talk on Monday, according to an official statement.Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed that the restrictions on the delivery of drugs and essential goods were unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its official website."The ministers paid special attention to the tasks of multilateral coordination in the fight against coronavirus infection, including the rejection of illegal unilateral sanctions and other restrictions on the supply o…

yenisafak (2020-04-13). Cybersecurity firm: Online crime rises amid quarantine. yenisafak.com Russia-based cybersecurity company Kaspersky on Monday warned that phishing incidents had proliferated worldwide with websites imitating online shopping and streaming platforms as many go into quarantine amid the novel coronavirus pandemic."Comparing the numbers for Q1 2019 and the same period this year, the share of users attacked by fake e-shops doubled, growing from 9 to 18%, of users, while the figure for streaming services tripled up to 4%," the company said in a statement.Online streaming and e-markets are becoming increasingly popular as many people stay home to help stem the spread of the virus

RT (2020-04-12). 'Great day for all' — Trump hails OPEC production cuts, thanks Putin and Saudi king. rt.com President Donald Trump has congratulated his Russian and Saudi counterparts on signing a deal to cut global oil output, saying the move will save "hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States." | Cheering on the "big oil deal" signed on Sunday, Trump sent his thanks and congratulations to "President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. I just spoke to them from the Oval Office. Great deal for all!" | The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States. I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and Kin…

RT (2020-04-12). 'Driven by hatred & envy': Czech president slams tearing down of monument to Soviet marshal who liberated Prague. rt.com The removal of a monument to Marshal Ivan Konev, who headed Soviet troops fighting to free Prague from the Nazis in 1945, was a dumb move by people who have achieved nothing in their lives, Czech President Milos Zeman has said

teleSUR (2020-04-12). OPEC+ Approve Biggest Ever Oil Cut Amid Coronavirus Pandemic. telesurenglish.net The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other oil-producing nations agreed Sunday to cut output by a record amount, representing around 10 percent of global supply, to support oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic. | RELATED: | Two OPEC+ sources told Reuters the deal had been sealed in a video conference on Sunday, and the agreement was confirmed in a statement from Kazakhstan's e…

RT (2020-04-09). US boasts of intercepting 2 Russian military planes on routine training flight far off Alaska. rt.com The US Air Force has reported intercepting two Russian scout planes that entered its "defense identification zone" off Alaska. Moscow says it was a training flight and the planes came nowhere near US airspace. | US F-22 Raptor fighters, supported by an aerial refueling KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and an early warning E-3 AWACS plane, were mustered to intercept Russian military aircraft over the Bering Sea on April 8, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported in a series of tweets on Thursday. | The intercept happened north of the Aleutian Islands, which stretch from the coast of Alaska far…

Stephen F. Cohen (2020-04-09). How the Coronavirus Is Testing Putin's Leadership—and the System He Created. thenation.com How the Coronavirus Is Testing Putin's Leadership—and the System He Created…

Tasnim News (2020-04-09). Iran to Unveil 122 Nuclear Achievements. iranian.com The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) was going to mark the National Nuclear Technology Day on Wednesday by unveiling 122 new achievements of the country's nuclear scientists, but decided to postpone the ceremony due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, a spokesman said. Speaking to IRINN on Wednesday, AEOI spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi said President …

imperial.ac.uk (2020-04-08). New COVID-19 project will use the power of smartphones to search for treatments. imperial.ac.uk Imperial researchers will look for potential new treatments for COVID-19 using the computing power of people's smartphones.

Sarah L Dalglish (2020-03-26). [Correspondence] COVID-19 gives the lie to global health expertise. thelancet.com As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began spreading in Europe and the USA, a chart started circulating online showing ratings from the 2019 Global Health Security Index, an assessment of 195 countries' capacity to face infectious disease outbreaks, compiled by the US-based Nuclear Threat Initiative and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health's Center for Health Security. The USA was ranked first, and the UK second; South Korea was ranked ninth, and China 51st; most African countries were at the bottom of the ranking.

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."

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, …