2020-05-13: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

Russia Ready to Assist the US in the Taliban Peace Agreement
telesurenglish.net | 2020-05-13
Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country is ready to help the United States and the Taliban overcome difficulties in implementing the Doha Peace Agreement. | RELATED: | At Least 14 People Killed in Afghanistan Hospital Attack | …
telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Ready-to-Assist-the-US-in-the-Taliban-Peace-Agreement-20200513-0001.html

A Close Look at Efforts of Pro-NATO Propaganda Units Behind the Scenes of South Front Censorship
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-13
Pro-NATO propaganda units have broadcasted a new episode of their censorship excuse series. | On May 5th, the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), published a new piece designed to label SouthFront as official Russian propaganda. ( LINK…
globalresearch.ca/efforts-pro-nato-propaganda-units-south-front-censorship/5712741

Holding Healthcare Hostage: The Making of a Ventilator Crisis
Tony Cartalucci | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-13
When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began dominating headlines, it was accompanied by fears of potential shortages of critical medical equipment including personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. | Nations like Russia had large stockpiles of affordable ventilators on hand

Flynn 'unmasking' documents show involvement of senior Obama administration officials, including Joe Biden
rt.com | 2020-05-13
A newly published list of US officials who were interested in National Security Agency (NSA) records on Trump adviser Michael Flynn includes President Barack Obama's chief of staff, as well as Vice President Joe Biden. | Biden is listed as requesting the unmasking on January 12, 2017, the same day the Washington Post published a story claiming that Flynn had misreported his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, based on leaked NSA information. | Flynn unmasking documents f… by
rt.com/usa/488579-flynn-unmasking-obama-administration/

Only Three Countries Control Over 80% of Global Diamond Reserves
Justinas Baltrusaitis | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-13
Only three countries are in control of more than three quarters of the world's diamond reserves globally. Data gathered and calculated by Learnbonds.com indicates that Russia, Congo, and Botswana combined account for at least 80.6% of the world diamond reserves….
globalresearch.ca/only-three-countries-control-over-80-global-diamond-reserves/5712816

'Example of infodemic': Moscow slams FT & NYT reports that put Russian Covid-19 death toll 70 percent higher than official data
rt.com | 2020-05-13
Russia's Foreign Ministry will send letters to the Financial Times and New York Times demanding they retract reports which claim the actual death toll from Covid-19 in the country is much higher than the official figures. | The editors-in-chief of those outlets will be handed the letters on Thursday through the Russian embassies in the UK and the US, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing. | Moscow will also address the UN, OSCE and UNESCO on the situation, as the reports in the FT and NYT represent "an example of that very 'infodemic' that the UN General Secretary, Antonio Guterres, urged…
rt.com/russia/488577-coronavirus-death-toll-russia-nyt/

Chechen leader Kadyrov BANNED from Instagram AGAIN, loses account with 1.4 MILLION followers
rt.com | 2020-05-13
For many in the 21st century, losing social media access would be a devastating blow. However, for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, it's just another day. For the third time in three years, Kadyrov has been banned from Instagram. | According to Instagram's owners, Facebook, the ban was in relation to US sanctions against the Chechen leader. | Since 2017, Kadyrov has been sanctioned by the United States under the terms of the Magnitsky Act. Signed by President Barack Obama in 2012, and later expanded in 2016, the Magnitsky Act enables the US government to sanction foreign government officials implicated in allege…
rt.com/russia/488533-kadyrov-banned-instagram-again/

Russia may start talks with Iran in future over selling armament to country: Kabulov
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

Iran, Russia stress coop. in fight against coronavirus
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

US anti-ISIS chief says his goal in Syria is to create a 'quagmire' for Russia, not battle terrorism
rt.com | 2020-05-13
James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for Syria and defeating the Islamic State, has made quite a frank confession of how he sees his job and that of US troops there: to create a new Vietnam or Afghanistan for Moscow. | "Our military presence, while small, is important for overall calculations. So we urge the Congress, the American people, the president to keep these forces on, but again this isn't Afghanistan, this isn't Vietnam, this isn't a quagmire," Jeffrey said on Tuesday, during a video event hosted by the Hudson Institute. | My job is to make it a quagmire for the Russians. | Asked why the American publ…
rt.com/news/488491-us-syria-russia-quagmire/

Russia, S Arabia agree to stabilize oil market
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

Lavrov slams US' baseless accusations against Russia, China amid coronavirus pandemic
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

Russian Arctic sea route shipping exceeds 10 million tons in Q1
rt.com | 2020-05-13
Freight transportation via Russia's Northern Sea Route (NSR) grew 4.5 percent year-on-year from January to April, exceeding 10 million tons, the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transportation, Rosmorrechflot, said. | The agency's representative, Nikolai Monko, earlier told TASS that the growth of freight transportation would be moderate in 2020. | According to Rosmorrechflot, 31.5 million tons were transported in 2019, up from 21.1 million tons in the previous year. Transit carriages rose by almost 41.9 percent last year to 697,200 tons. Cargo handling was mainly conducted at the ports of Sabetta (20.5 m…
rt.com/business/488519-northern-sea-route-freight/

Ulyanov reacts to US allegations of Moscow's support for JCPOA
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

Russia BANS usage of ventilators suspected of causing deadly fires killing six Covid-19 patients
rt.com | 2020-05-13
Russia has indefinitely suspended the usage of Aventa-M artificial lung ventilation machines. The recently produced ventilators are suspected of causing two deadly fires in the past week, killing six people. | The ventilators, made in Ural's Instrument Making Plant, have been manufactured since April 1, 2020, in response to Russia's ever-growing number of Covid-19 patients. | According to Russia's health watchdog Roszdravnadzor, the ventilators were used to provide medical care to patients at the S. I. Spasokukotsky City Clinical Hospital in Moscow and St. George's Hospital in St. Petersburg, where fires occur…
rt.com/russia/488552-russia-ban-ventilator-fire/

Break or retirement? Russia's 'Angelina Jolie' of curling Anastasia Bryzgalova puts competitive career on hold
rt.com | 2020-05-13
Russian curling stunner Anastasia Bryzgalova who became a viral hit during the 2018 PyeongChang Games, drawing comparisons with Angelina Jolie, has put her competitive career on ice. | The 27-year-old curling star who is taking a break from competitions will focus on training mixed-double duets serving as a second team coach in the Russian national team. | READ MORE: Bryzgalova or Jolie? Hottest Russian curler takes up role of Tomb Raider (PHOTOS) | "I wanted to take a break right after the Winter O…
rt.com/sport/488576-curling-anastasia-bryzgalova-career-break/

Merkel cites 'hard evidence' she was victim of 'Russian hackers', says it doesn't help mend ties with Moscow
rt.com | 2020-05-13
Germany's chancellor has lamented what she claimed was irrefutable proof of a Russian "hacking attack" on her Bundestag office but said she is working day and night to fix relations with Moscow despite the "painful" incident. | Chancellor Angela Merkel accused Russia of carrying out an online intrusion into her Bundestag constituency office back in 2015, as she spoke to MPs on Wednesday. | "I can honestly say that it hurts me," she said of the alleged hack attack, claiming…
rt.com/news/488541-merkel-russia-hacking-evidence/

Conflict between Russia, Iran over Syria psychological war: Nasrallah
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

'What are those white crosses?': Badges to 'scare off' coronavirus cause dress-code debate in Russian parliament
rt.com | 2020-05-13
With the Russian State Duma in session despite the Covid-19 pandemic, some MPs went beyond the obligatory face masks and rubber gloves, leaving their colleagues and citizens baffled by unusual means to fend off the virus. | "For several sessions in row, I've seen MPs wearing white crosses on their chests," Igor Molyakov of the Fair Russia party said on Wednesday, asking his colleagues to clarify the unusual accessory. State Duma deputies usually wear an official badge, which is shaped as a Russian tricolor. | Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stepped up to educate his colleague and dispel the "white cross" mystery fo…
rt.com/russia/488587-covid-badge-state-duma/

Iran to give harsh response to any military escapade by US: Envoy
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-13
TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA)

NASA quietly buys additional Soyuz seat as SpaceX prepares for historic manned space flight
rt.com | 2020-05-13
NASA has inked a deal with Russia's space agency Roscosmos to allow a US astronaut to travel into space aboard a Soyuz rocket in the fall, even as SpaceX gears up for its first manned launch later this month. | "A contract was signed today on providing a seat for a US astronaut onboard a Soyuz MS manned spaceship to be launched to the ISS in the autumn of 2020," Roscosmos told Tass on Tuesday. | Though the agency refused to disclose the sum Washington paid for the seat, calling it "a commercial secret," NASA spokespeople told reporters the deal was valued at $90.25 million, which includes the cost of the fligh…
rt.com/news/488494-nasa-roscosmos-deal-soyuz/

Patriotic Vaccines: The Divided Coronavirus Cause
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2020-05-13
When it comes to the politics of medicine and disease, the United States has always attempted to steal the limelight, while adding the now faded colouring of universal human welfare. In 1965, Washington pledged financial and technical support to the international effort to eradicate smallpox, though the initiative had initially been spurred by the Soviet…
counterpunch.org/2020/05/13/patriotic-vaccines-the-divided-coronavirus-cause/

Pity they don't work against Covid-19: US drives RECORD global spending on atomic weapons, report shows
rt.com | 2020-05-13
The world's nuclear powers are increasingly pouring money into their atomic arsenals, a new report shows, with Washington leading the way. The US has also exited a major arms control treaty and deployed a new tactical weapon. | Nine nuclear-armed nations spent an estimated $72.9 billion on their 13,000-plus atomic weapons in 2019, according to a new paper by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear We…
rt.com/news/488581-nuclear-weapons-spending-spree/

Nuclear Weapons: Stopping the War That No One Wants (livestream)
The Commonwealth Club | indybay.org | 2020-05-13
Online via livestream…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/05/11/18832982.php

Strained China-US Relations. Renewed Trade War Ahead? New Cold War?
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-12
Sino/US relations are more dismal than at any time since Nixon's 1972 meeting with Mao during his weeklong visit to China. | Are bilateral differences irreconcilable? Is the breach between both countries too great to restore more cooperative relations? | Is a …
globalresearch.ca/sino-us-relations-renewed-trade-war-ahead-new-cold-war/5712600

The US military is hell-bent on trying to overpower China
Vijay Prashad | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-05-12
On April 1, Admiral Philip Davidson–the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command–told the US Congress that he would like $20 billion to create a robust military cordon that runs from California to Japan and down the Pacific Rim of Asia. His proposal–titled "Regain the Advantage"–pointed to the "renewed threat we face from Great Power Competition. … Without a valid and convincing conventional deterrent, China and Russia will be emboldened to take ac…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/05/12/the-us-military-is-hell-bent-on-trying-to-overpower-china/

Russia becomes world's second hardest-hit country with 230,000+ confirmed Covid-19 cases, surpassing Spain & UK
rt.com | 2020-05-12
With 10,899 more coronavirus infections reported across the country on Tuesday morning, Russia now trails only the United States in terms of people known to have contracted Covid-19. | Nationwide, 232,243 confirmed cases have been discovered since the start of the outbreak, national disease response officials said. This figure is higher than those recorded by Spanish (227,436), British (224,332) and Italian (219,814) authorities. | However, it's worth noting that Russia has over twice the population of those countries and has carried out far more tests. | At the same time, Russia has had considerably fewer dea…
rt.com/russia/488419-russia-second-world-cases-coronavirus/

Six big lies you have been told about 'Russiagate'
rt.com | 2020-05-12
Russian 'meddling' in the 2016 US presidential election has become an article of faith, not just among Democrats but many Republicans as well, thanks to the endless repetition of vague talking points, none of which hold water. | It all began with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) claiming in June 2016 that Russia hacked their computers, after documents were published revealing the party's rigging of the primaries. This was followed by Hillary Clinton accusing her rival for the presidency Donald Trump that he…
rt.com/usa/488488-biggest-lies-of-russiagate/

The 'See-No-Evil' Phase of Russiagate
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-05-12
The media spinfest following the collapse of this conspiracy theory suggests our troubled republic simply cannot accept its errors, leaving us unable to learn from them. | Patrick LAWRENCE | The long, destructive conspiracy theory known as Russiagate, the mother of them all, at last evaporates into thin air. No shred of it remains as of back-to-back disclosures over the past couple of weeks. Where does this leave us? What is to come of this momentous turn of events? | Among those not inclined toward hysteria or copious quaffs of Democratic Party Kool–Aid, it has long been a question how those who concocted…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/05/12/the-see-no-evil-phase-of-russiagate/

NATO Chief Urges Berlin to 'Protect Peace and Freedom' by Stationing US Nukes
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-12
The appeal comes as leaders from the SPD, Germany's second-largest party and member of Chancellor Merkel's governing coalition, demand the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from the country's airbases.
sputniknews.com/military/202005121079280137-nato-chief-urges-berlin-to-protect-peace-and-freedom-by-stationing-us-nukes/

Arms embargo on Iran to expire on Oct.: Ulyanov
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-12
TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA)

Obama's halo is slipping, and that's a good thing
Peter Bolton | thecanary.co | 2020-05-12
One of the major chapters in the so-called 'Russiagate' saga recently came to an end, sparking the beginning of what has become known by some as 'Obamagate'. US president Donald Trump has been reacting in his usual manner. But on this occasion, as with many others, Bar…
thecanary.co/us/us-analysis/2020/05/12/obamas-halo-is-slipping-and-thats-a-good-thing/

Six big lies you have been told about Russiagate
rt.com | 2020-05-12
'Russian meddling' in the 2016 US presidential election has become an article of faith, not just among Democrats but many Republicans as well, thanks to the endless repetition of vague talking points, none of which hold water. | It all began with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) claiming in June 2016 that Russia hacked their computers, after documents were published revealing the party's rigging of the primaries. This was followed by Hillary Clinton accusing her rival for the presidency, Donald Trump, of "co…
rt.com/usa/488488-biggest-lies-of-russiagate/

Covid-19: Russia Is Second Most Affected Country in the World
telesurenglish.net | 2020-05-12
The COVID-19 pandemic recorded more than 10,000 cases in Russia in the last 24 hours, for a total of 232,000 people who tested positive for the illness, making Russia the second most affected country in the world in terms of the number of infections. | RELATED: | Russia: Putin Calls for Unity in Tribute to WWII Heroes | The number of infections in Russia is only exceeded by the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins University balance sheet, updated on Tuesday. | "In the last…
telesurenglish.net/news/covid19-russia-is-second-most-affected-country-in-the-world–20200512-0003.html

Russian court keeps historian of Stalinist massacres jailed amid COVID-19 outbreak
wsws.org | 2020-05-12
The vendetta against Dmitriev is part of the campaign by Russia's state and ruling oligarchy to suppress all efforts to uncover the truth about the crimes of Stalinism.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/12/russ-m12.html

Fire erupts at Saint Petersburg Covid-19 hospital after ventilator malfunctions, 5 dead
rt.com | 2020-05-12
Five patients have perished in a major fire at a Saint Petersburg hospital on Tuesday morning with 150 people evacuated to safety. The facility has been designated to treat patients with coronavirus. | Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at the Saint George Hospital in Russia's second city at around 6: 30am local time. Plumes of smokes were observed coming from the building's sixth floor. | Officials told local media that there were five fatalities. Citing sources, local reporters said the victims were receiving artificial lung ventilation. | The institution was repurposed to care for coronavirus su…
rt.com/russia/488411-st-petersburg-coronavirus-hospital-fire/

Nuclear Weapons: Stopping the War That No One Wants (livestream)
The Commonwealth Club | indybay.org | 2020-05-12
Online via livestream…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/05/11/18832982.php

In a world gone mad, China must build MORE NUKES to make disarmament possible
Scott Ritter | thealtworld.com | 2020-05-12
As the US threatens to withdraw from the New START treaty over Chinese non-participation, domestic pressure from inside China builds for a larger strategic nuclear arsenal. Could this be a good thing? | In an op-ed published in Chinese newspaper Global Times, its editor-in-chief Hu Xijin, argued that China should seek to upgrade its strategic nuclear arsenal from its current level of about 200 antiquated weapons to a modernized force comprising more than 1,000 nuclear weapons, including more than 100 modern mobile DF-41 inter…
thealtworld.com/scott_ritter/in-a-world-gone-mad-china-must-build-more-nukes-to-make-disarmament-possible

Envoy urges EU for 'practical support' to JCPOA, multilateralism
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-12
TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA)

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Holds Press Conference After CIS Foreign Ministers' Meeting – Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-12
The regular meeting of foreign ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) took place on Tuesday via teleconference amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
sputniknews.com/world/202005121079278083-russian-foreign-minister-lavrov-holds-press-conference-after-cis-foreign-ministers-meeting—video/

Ex-Russian Public Health Chief Slams Reports on Russia's Low COVID-19 Death Toll as Hype
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-12
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Allegations that the death toll from the coronavirus in Russia may be significantly lower than official statistics are motivated by malevolence and unprofessional hype, former Russian Chief Sanitary Doctor Gennadii Onish–Åhenko, who is now a lawmaker of parliament's lower house, said on Tuesday.
sputniknews.com/russia/202005121079280882-ex-russian-public-health-chief-slams-reports-on-russias-low-covid-19-death-toll-as-hype/

Russia to Consider Caracas' Request for Help in Probe of Invasion If Asked – Lavrov
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-12
MOSCOW(Sputnik) – Russia will consider Venezuela's request for help in investigation of a naval incursion if it receives such request, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday .
sputniknews.com/world/202005121079281335-russia-to-consider-caracas-request-for-help-in-probe-of-invasion-if-asked—lavrov/

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov Hospitalised with COVID-19
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-12
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that he has contracted the coronavirus. He has become the latest top Russian figure to come down with COVID-19. Last week, Russia's Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova tested positive for the virus, but said she was manifesting mild symptoms.
sputniknews.com/russia/202005121079281083-kremlin-spokesperson-dmitry-peskov-hospitalised-with-covid-19/

Russian Federal Security Service Detains Man Planning to Set Gov't Buildings on Fire in Tver Region
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-12
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday announced the prevention of a terrorist attack in the city of Kimry, in Tver Region.
sputniknews.com/russia/202005121079280180-russian-federal-security-service-detains-man-planning-to-set-govt-buildings-on-fire-in-tver-region/

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tests positive for coronavirus
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-12
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was receiving treatment at hospital, the Interfax news agency reported."Yes, I am sick. I am receiving treatment," Peskov was quoted as saying.
yenisafak.com/en/world/kremlin-spokesman-dmitry-peskov-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-3519297

Pompeo Likens Iran To Nazis On 2nd Anniversary Of US Nuclear Deal Exit
Zero Hedge | iranian.com | 2020-05-11
Perhaps attempting to ensure the anti-Iran 'maximum pressure' campaign remains front and center, even in the midst of a pandemic and historic unemployment, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has resorted to the one of the most common

Reinventing History a US Specialty. The Role of the Soviet Union In Defeating Nazi Germany
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-11
The power of endlessly repeated propaganda gets most people to believe almost anything

Bombshell: Crowdstrike admits 'no evidence' Russia stole emails from DNC server
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-05-11
Crowdstrike, the firm behind the Russian email hacking allegation at the core of Russiagate, makes a bombshell admission: "We did…
thegrayzone.com/2020/05/11/bombshell-crowdstrike-admits-no-evidence-russia-stole-emails-from-dnc-server/

Bees and the "Eternally Not Talked About"
Prof Susan Babbitt | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-11
Dostoevsky said former seminarians (which included many Russian radicals then) were "too complete, too hostile, too sharp and therefore too limited." That is, they were limited precisely by being too complete, by fitting all the pieces together, in a tight-fitting …
globalresearch.ca/bees-eternally-not-talked-about/5712422

New House Documents Sow Further Doubt That Russia Hacked the DNC
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-05-11
For two and a half years the House Intelligence Committee knew CrowdStrike didn't have the goods on Russia. Now the public knows too. | Ray McGOVERN | House Intelligence Committee documents released Thursday reveal that the committee was told two and half years ago that the FBI had no concrete evidence that Russia hacked Democratic National Committee computers to filch the DNC emails published by WikiLeaks in July 2016. | The until-now-buried, closed-door testimony came on Dec. 5, 2017 from Shawn Henry, a protege of former FBI Director Robert Mueller (from 2001 to 2012), for whom Henry served as head of the Burea…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/05/11/new-house-documents-sow-further-doubt-that-russia-hacked-dnc/