(2020-05-19). News Stories Avoid Naming Israel. globalresearch.ca There are two stories that seem to have been under-reported in the past couple of weeks. The first involves Michael Flynn's dealings with the Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. And the second describes yet another bit of …
(2020-05-19). The Soviet Victory over Nazism 75 Years Ago and Covid-19. dissidentvoice.org How could the Great Patriotic War in which the Soviet people (including many members of my own family) lost at least 25 million lives, have anything in common with the latest outbreak of the novel coronavirus? You think this is an absolutely insane question? However, before you dismiss it, think twice. There are similarities how …
(2020-05-19). The Soviet Victory Over Nazism 75 Years Ago, China and COVID-19. globalresearch.ca How could the Great Patriotic War in which the Soviet people (including many members of my own family) lost at least 25 million lives, have anything in common with the latest outbreak of the novel coronavirus? | You think this is …
(2020-05-19). The policy of "malign neglect": How the Russian oligarchy sacrifices the health and lives of the people. wsws.org The government's policy of malign neglect has provoked an initial upsurge in opposition from the working class, including Gazprom workers in Yakutia, northern Russia.
(2020-05-19). US nukes in Poland would not be a deterrent, but a MASSIVE provocation for Russia. thealtworld.com The US has promoted the deployment of US nuclear weapons on Polish soil as part of NATO's 'nuclear sharing' arrangement. Such a move would only increase the chances of the very war such a deployment seeks to deter. | For the second time in little more than a year, the US ambassadors to Germany and Poland have commented on matters of NATO security in a manner which undermines the unity of the alliance while threatening European security by seeking to alter the balance of power in a way that is unduly provocative to Russia. | Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and the acting director of national intellig…
(2020-05-18). The Bouficha Appeal: Universal Call for Humanity to End Militarism and Stop War. counterpunch.org On March 15, 1950, the World Peace Council sent out the Stockholm Appeal, a short text that called for a ban on nuclear weapons and that would eventually be signed by almost 2 million people. The appeal was made up of three elegant sentences: + We demand the outlawing of atomic weapons as instruments of
(2020-05-18). The Coming Nuclear Menace: Hypersonic Missiles. counterpunch.org 
The United States is seeking to acquire "volumes of hundreds or even thousands" of nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles that are "stealthy" and can fly undetected at 3,600 miles per hour, five times faster than the speed of sound. Why so many? A Pentagon official is quoted in the current issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology as saying "we have to be careful we're not building boutique weapons. If we build boutique weapons, we won't—we'll be very reluctant to—use them." |
(2020-05-18). The Prospects of Russia and India Jointly Leading a New Non-Aligned Movement. globalresearch.ca The ongoing global systemic transition is transforming international relations from its erstwhile unipolarity to what experts agree is either multipolarity or, less popularly, bipolarity. However one chooses to describe the present world order, it's clear that the US and China …
(2020-05-19). Turn Out the Lights, Russiagate Is Over. strategic-culture.org The possibility that Trump will not chicken out this time, and rather will challenge the Security State looms large since he felt personally under attack. | Ray McGOVERN | Seldom mentioned among the motives behind the persistent drumming on alleged Russian interference was an over-arching need to help the Security State hide their tracks. | The need for a scapegoat to blame for Hillary Clinton's snatching defeat out of the jaws victory also played a role; as did the need for the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex (MICIMATT) to keep front and center in the minds of Ame…
(2020-05-19). Who wants to be a Russian? Citizenships granted to foreign nationals up 154% in 2020. rt.com 
Russia's plan to naturalize more foreign citizens seems to be working. In the first quarter of 2020, over 2.5 times more people received Russian citizenship compared to the same period in 2019. | In the first three months of the year, more than 161,000 people became Russian citizens. The same period in 2019 saw just 63,249. In recent years, an increasing number of people are receiving Russian citizenship, and new laws meant to attract more foreigners appear to be ramping up the growth even faster. | In 2019, almost 498,000 people received Russian citizenship, a sharp rise from 269,400 in the previous year. Spe…
(2020-05-19). 'A bright ball crossed the sky': Falling METEOR spotted in Siberia (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Bewildered residents in Russia have witnessed a spectacular glowing meteor shooting across the night sky. The incident was caught on CCTV cameras and was seen from several locations. | The dazzling object was seen travelling over the city of Kansk in western Siberia and several other areas of the Krasnoyarsk Region at around 22: 40 local time. | Some local media reported that witnesses also heard a "loud bang." However, top local emergency official Eduard Bille told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that everything was quiet. | It literally lasted several seconds; a bright ball crossed the sky and disappeared s…
(2020-05-19). Censorship detected? Russian Embassy says NYT 'refused' to publish comparative Covid-19 death statistics in official's letter. rt.com 
Russia's Embassy in the US has accused the NYT of refusing to publish a comparison of the Covid-19 death rates in Moscow, London, and New York. The paper earlier accused Russia of "underreporting" the death rate from the disease. | On May 11, the New York Times ran a story which claimed to have solved the "mystery" of Russia's relatively lower death rate from Covid-19, which is below the world average. Citing official statistics, the paper noted that Moscow's number of overall deaths in April exceeded its five-year average for the same period by more than 1,700. Together with the city's official death toll fro…
(2020-05-19). Hot ride: WATCH bus ON FIRE driving through St. Petersburg. rt.com 
Public transport can — literally — be quite the hot ride, a freak video from Russia's 'northern capital' proves, as an empty passenger bus was spotted cruising through its streets with the engine engulfed in flames. | The unplanned fire show unfolded in St. Petersburg late on Monday. The flaming bus was caught on CCTV camera making a right turn and driving onto a bridge where it met its fiery demise. | –ê –≤–æ—Ç –∏ —Å–∞–º–æ –≤–∏–¥–µ–æ –&…
(2020-05-19). Top Ukrainian journalist comes out as INTEL AGENT after interviews with 'enemies of the state' kindle protests. rt.com 
A prominent Ukrainian media personality has stirred public anger by interviewing controversial Russian figures regarded as fugitives by Kiev. His explanation? It was all part of an elaborate sting operation. | It wouldn't be unprecedented for a popular reporter or editor to moonlight as an intelligence officer. But Dmitry's Gordon's explanation – that he was carrying out espionage while many of his viewers accused him of treason – would certainly stand out as an unusual example of the genre. | Gordon, an influential Ukrainian journalist and video blogger, first sat down with Russian MP Natalia Poklonskaya, who…
(2020-05-19). Charitable donations increase 89% during quarantine period as Russians seek to help out the vulnerable. rt.com 
Russians have become far more charitable during self-isolation. That's according to data compiled by newspaper Kommersant, which discovered that non-profit organizations recorded a notable increase in donations during quarantine. | Based on data from online transfer services Yandex.Money and QIWI, Russians became much more active in supporting charities that support the "socially vulnerable," such as poor people, homeless people, and orphans. | Also on rt.com | |
(2020-05-18). US may deploy intermediate & shorter-range missiles in Europe — Russian deputy FM. rt.com 
The United States may start deploying land-based intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in Europe after their deployment in the Asia-Pacific region, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Monday. | After the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty ceased to exist, Russia proposed that Moscow and the US, with its allies, exercise restraint to avoid an escalation in tension, he said during an online lecture covering key topics on US foreign policy for students at MGIMO University. | Washington has stated its intention to start deploying land-based intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in th…
(2020-05-18). 'Equipment on its way': US to send 200 ventilators to Russia after Moscow dispatches a planeload of aid to New York. rt.com 
The US has sent 200 ventilators to Russia, where the number of new coronavirus cases continues to ebb. The assistance comes more than a month after Moscow sent medical supplies to America in a similar move. | The California-manufactured equipment was donated on orders from President Donald Trump, who was responding to the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a US administration official told TASS. The life-saving equipment is being delivered free of charge, the official added. | Although Russia has recently seen a decrease in the number of daily infections – that have dropped below 10,000 for two days…
(2020-05-18). Dump the dollar: Russia has now gotten rid of over 96% of its US debt holdings. rt.com 
Moscow has continued to sell off US Treasury securities, cutting its stockpile by US$8.73 billion in March, according to the latest data from the US Department of the Treasury. | Russia's holdings of US state debt amounted to $3.8 billion in March, compared with $12.5 billion a month earlier. Three years ago, the amount stood at $105 billion. Moscow has liquidated over 96 percent of its holdings in that period. The country's long-term US Treasury securities decreased by $928 million, while short-term securities plunged by $7.8 billion to just $473 million. | Japan remains the biggest holder of US state debt si…
(2020-05-18). Russia at its finest? BEAR ATTACKS man & chases cars in city streets (VIDEOS). rt.com 
If you still believe Russian cities are full of bears roaming the streets freely and attacking people, well, you're probably not wrong. At least that's exactly what some rare footage from one of Russia's cities would suggest. | The bizarre incident occurred overnight in the central Russian city of Yaroslavl, located some 260km (162 miles) from Moscow. An adolescent bear took to the streets and had a close encounter with an (un)lucky local, CCTV footage shows. | Spotting the bear, the man whipped out his smartphone, trying to film the animal. The ferocious beast, however, was apparently not in the mood for snap…
(2020-05-19). Iran seeks peaceful coexistence with neighbors: amb. to Moscow. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Iran is interested in maintaining peaceful relations with its neighbors and it does not seek expansionism, said Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali.
(2020-05-19). Prospects of normalization grim in Libya. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Analysts say that Libya is one of the most important crisis to watch for in 2020 because of the involvement of Russia and Turkey. More importantly, the plight of the Libyans after almost 10 years of civil war cannot be ignored.
(2020-05-19). Iran, Russia step up telephone diplomacy amid pandemic: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — The coronavirus spread has not brought about any noticeable changes in bilateral cooperation in the sphere of civil nuclear power engineering, the Russian ambassador to Tehran said.
(2020-05-19). NYT Publishes Reply of Moscow Gov't to Article About Alleged Downplay of COVID-19 Deaths. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Head of Moscow Heathcare Department Alexey Khripun has approached The New York Times to challenge the accuracy of an article published earlier which claimed that the Russian capital had omitted some 1,700 coronavirus-related deaths from the official statistics, and the newspaper published his letter as an opinion on Tuesday.
(2020-05-19). Kiev's Sanctions Against Crimean Cultural Sites Pointless – Russian Envoy to UNESCO. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – Ukraine's recent sanctions against museums, cultural sites and scientific organisations in Crimea have no practical effect, Russian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Alexander Kuznetsov said in a statement.
(2020-05-19). Russian Engineers Create Cloak to Conceal Military Equipment in Snow Cover — Photo. sputniknews.com The technology could prove useful in expanding the capabilities of maskirovka, the highly successful camouflage, concealment and deception doctrine used by the Russian military going back to the Second World War.
(2020-05-19). Moment Meteor Lights Up Sky in Russia's East Caught on Camera. sputniknews.com The celestial phenomenon was spotted on Monday night at approximately 10: 40 pm Krasnoyarsk Standard Time from several locations in the Krasonyarsk Krai in Russia's Siberia.
(2020-05-19). Russian Prime Minister Mishustin Discharged From Hospital After COVID-19 Treatment, Resumes Work. sputniknews.com Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree annulling Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov's appointment as the acting prime minister.
(2020-05-19). Russian prime minister recovers from coronavirus. yenisafak.com Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin returned to work on Tuesday after recovery from coronavirus, according to the government's press service.Mishustin, 54, tested positive for COVID-19 on April 30 and hospitalized afterwards in a condition of moderate severity.Last week, Mishustin started to take part in the government's meetings via videoconferencing.Mishustin became the third member of the Cabinet recovering from the disease as earlier Culture Minister Olga Lybimova and Education Minister Valery Falkov had also announced themselves recovered from a mild form of the virus.Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitr…
(2020-05-19). Russia disputes with Armenia, Belarus on gas prices. yenisafak.com Russia disagreed Tuesday with Armenia and Belarus about gas transportation prices at a videoconference meeting of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) presidents.The meeting was called by Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko to approve a draft strategy of the development of the Eurasian economic integration until 2025 but the document was not adopted, because Armenia and Belarus demanded a unit price for gas transit for all EAEU members.Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the possibility of imposing a unit price because he said it "can only be implemented in a single market with a single budget and a single t…
(2020-05-19). Brazil overtakes UK in virus cases, behind US, Russia. yenisafak.com South America's COVID-19 epicenter Brazil on Tuesday became the country with the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, overtaking former hotspots the UK, Spain, and Italy.According to a running tally by the Johns Hopkins University, the country has registered 255,368 cases and nearly 17,000 deaths.Health experts say the real number of cases could be even higher because of insufficient testing in the country of around 210 million people.Manaus, in the Brazilian Amazon, has recently had to resort to mass graves to accommodate COVID-19 victims, while Sao Paulo's hospitals have reached 90% capacity.
(2020-05-18). Improved Russia-Pakistan Relations. Moscow's "New Bipolarity" globalresearch.ca There's a growing consensus among Russia's leading experts that International Relations are increasingly characterized by what they've termed the "new bipolarity" that's emerging out of World War C, and it's within this global context that the continued improvement of Russian-Pakistani …
(2020-05-18). Corporate Media Setting Stage for "New Cold War" with China. globalresearch.ca Corporate media are laying the ideological groundwork for a new cold war with China, presenting the nation as a hostile power that needs to be kept in check. | The Washington Post (
(2020-05-18). VIDEO: Russian envoy talks of Iran, Russia bilateral relation, regional issues. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) — In an exclusive interview with Mehr News Agency, Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan talked of Tehran-Moscow bilateral relations, as well as the recent developments in Syria and region.
(2020-05-18). Russia terms US struggles to retain JCPOA rights 'groundless'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations says the US efforts to retain rights of partnership in the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, are groundless since Washington has already withdrawn from the pact.
(2020-05-18). Iran, Pakistan, China, Russia emphasize on holding comprehensive inter-Afghan talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) — In a joint statement issued by Iran, Pakistan, China, and Russia, they said that holding comprehensive inter-Afghan talks is the only way to achieve national reconciliation and a speedy end to the country's long-running conflict.
(2020-05-18). US policy on Iran not well-calculated: Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) — In his latest tweet on Monday, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations named US anti-Iranian policies as 'not well-calculated'.
(2020-05-18). Russia sends three batches of fabric for face masks to Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) —Russia has delivered to Iran three batches of fabric for manufacturing face masks, a press attache of the Russian diplomatic mission Andrei Ganenko said.
(2020-05-18). West to pay high price for sanctions during pandemic: Russian FM. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov lashed out at western officials for the sanctions they impose during the coronavirus pandemic noting that they will also pay high price for the sanctions.
(2020-05-18). US Attorney General Barr Accuses Apple of Cooperating With Chinese, Russian Governments. sputniknews.com Earlier, Apple refused to help American law enforcement unlock data on its smartphones, namely the one possessed by a Saudi cadet responsible for a mass shooting at a Pensacola military base in 2019. However, there is no evidence that the tech giant ever provided such services to either Moscow or Beijing.
(2020-05-18). Putin, Erdogan Discuss Coronavirus Response, Situation in Syria and Libya. sputniknews.com ANKARA (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have discussed cooperation on the coronavirus fight and the situation in Syria, both the Kremlin and the office of the Turkish president said Monday.
(2020-05-18). Six of Russian State Duma Members Diagnosed With COVID-19 – Speaker's Aide. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Six of 450 members of the State Duma, the Russian parliament's lower house, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Anastasia Kashevarova, an aide to the State Duma Chairman, said on Monday.
(2020-05-18). Easy as Pie: Russian MoD Releases Video Showing Air-to-Air Refuelling of Sukhoi Fighter Jets. sputniknews.com The process itself was carried out by an Ilyushin-78 four-engine tanker, which is capable of refuelling up to ten jets during a single flight. Additionally, more than 20 Su-24M, Su-34, and Su-30 jets practiced air combat manoeuvring.
(2020-05-17). Putin calls Russia a 'distinct civilization' that needs to be SAVED with homegrown high-tech. rt.com 
President Vladimir Putin has compared his multi-ethnic and multi-faith nation to an entire civilization, saying that if Russia is to maintain its independent status, it has to develop its own cutting-edge technologies. | In an I…
(2020-05-17). Video: Syrian Army Suffers Casualties in Daraa. Militants Attack Russian-Turkish Patrol. globalresearch.ca The security situation has been escalating in southern Syria. Over the past 24 hours, at least 3 pro-government fighters and a civilian have been killed in attacks by gunmen in al-Musayfrah and Saida-al-Taebah. The attacks followed the March 14 and …
(2020-05-17). America's Newest Wedge Issue and the Tale of the Bizarre 2020 Presidential Elections. strategic-culture.org The answer to 1776 is not 1984 and if anything needs to be protested it would be any efforts by the government to make elections "go digital". Ironically such a move would actually be the way that the Chinese and Russians could actually get the guy they want in the Oval Office.
(2020-05-17). Corporate Media Setting Stage for New Cold War With China. commondreams.org Corporate media distortions and bombast are priming the American public to see China as a treacherous villain that has to be forcefully confronted, perhaps with violence. (Photo: Thomas Peter-Pool/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/china_0.png …
(2020-05-17). The Soviet Union Defeated Germany in World War II — Not the Western Forces. strategic-culture.org Eric MARGOLIS | President Donald Trump claimed last week that the US and Britain had won World War II. This was a shameless lie and distortion of the facts. | Many Americans and Canadians like to believe their nations won the war in Europe and give insufficient recognition to the decisive Soviet role. Most Europeans would rather not think about the matter. By contrast, Russians know that it was their soldiers who really won the war. They remain angry that their military achievements are ignored by American triumphalists and myth-makers. | Not only did Stalin's Soviet Union play the key role in crushing Nazi Germa…
(2020-05-15). Russia makes a botch of its Syrian alliance. iranian.com Russia's relationships with its client states have never been easy. Of course, managing client states is always a complicated exercise. The Kremlin's cupboard is full of skeletons — Hungary (1956), Czechoslovakia (1968), Cuba (1962), Afghanistan (1980), Ukraine (2014) and so on. What complicates Russia's relationship with Syria is that two strong-willed, highly self-opinionated leaders are also …
(2020-05-15). A universal appeal for humanity to end militarism and stop war. peoplesdispatch.org On March 15, 1950, the World Peace Council sent out the Stockholm Appeal, a short text that called for a ban on nuclear weapons and that would eventually be signed by almost 2 million people. The appeal was made up of three elegant sentences: | -We demand the outlawing of atomic weapons as instruments of intimidation and mass murder of peoples. We demand strict international control to enforce this measure. | -We believe that any government which first uses atomic weapons against any other country whatsoever will be committing a crime against humanity and should be dealt with as a war criminal. | -We call on a…
(2020-05-15). Millions of migrants across Russia, Central Asia, 'teetering on the brink', as UN launches urgent appeal. news.un.org The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched an urgent $7 million appeal on Thursday, to ease the impact of COVID-19 on migrant communities in five Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation, where the pandemic is pushing a growing number of migrant workers into poverty.