(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). Russia's COVID Game of Elites. globalresearch.ca Implementing President Putin's directives, Russian federal authorities intensified their efforts to contain both the economic and social impact of the nation-wide coronavirus lockdown, and also some local authorities' overzealous efforts. This move was impatiently awaited by the Russian society for …
(2020-05-17). Bloomberg changes headline YET AGAIN amid backlash over article on why Covid-19 'didn't kill more Russians'. rt.com 
Bloomberg has yet again had to correct the title of an article, after rolling out a report about why Covid-19 hasn't "killed more Russians." Moscow has argued that Western media distort Russia's fight against the disease. | US-based Bloomberg News had published the story, originally titled "Experts Want to Know Why Coronavirus Hasn't Killed More Russians," on Wednesday. The news piece was ostensibly about how Russia's relatively low death toll from Covid-19 "puzzles health experts," especially since the nation has the second-highest number of officially-recorded cases of the disease, trailing only behind the…
(2020-05-17). Trump Regime Aims to Block Legal Cooperation Between Iran and Venezuela. globalresearch.ca The US is at war by hot or others means against all nations unwilling to subordinate their sovereign rights to its interests. | Russia and China top its regime change target list, Iran and Venezuela close behind. | The Islamic and Bolivarian …
(2020-05-17). NO PROOF to support 'Russian assassin' story, Czech govt concedes — yet minister claims suspicions are still 'credible'. rt.com 
The Czech interior minister has admitted that Prague has no evidence against a Russian diplomat branded by media as a poison courier in an alleged assassination plot. It didn't stop the minister pushing the theory further, though. | An acting head of the Russian foreign aid agency's office in the Czech Republic, Andrey Konchakov, has recently found himself at the center of a scandal, after local media identified him as a suspected "spy" supposedly involved in a plot to assassinate several local officials. | Now, Czech Minster of the Interior Jan Hamacek is explaining that expelling the man could prove complica…
(2020-05-17). Coronavirus brings diamond sales to an almost complete halt. rt.com 
A leading global diamond producer, Russia's ALROSA, is reporting that its sales were down tenfold in one month alone, as the impact of Covid-19 ripples through the global economy and supply chains. | In April, ALROSA sold a total of just $15.6 million-worth of rough and polished diamonds. This is down from over $152 million a month earlier and from $400 million in sales in the beginning of the year. | "Restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus and a decline in demand for diamond jewelry have minimized the trade in rough and polished diamonds across the world," Evgeny Agureev, Deputy CEO of ALROSA, said in…
(2020-05-17). 'Questioning EU's ability': Eurocrat accuses Russian media of spreading Covid-19 'CONSPIRACIES,' offers no examples. rt.com 
An EU Commission spokesperson alleged, giving no details, that the Russian media and "Kremlin-friendly" sources push conspiracy theories about Covid-19. The news comes on the heels of anti-lockdown protests in Germany and the UK. | Not mincing his words, Peter Stano
(2020-05-17). 'EYE' in the sky: Russia's National Guard launches BLIMP to spot Covid-19 lockdown violators… to mixed reviews (VIDEO). rt.com 
Russia's National Guard has added a steampunk vibe to the coronavirus dystopia as it launched a blimp to monitor how the lockdown is being observed in Moscow Region. Not everyone was impressed, though. | Equipped with the OKO ("eye") surveillance system, the air balloon was deployed to hover several hundred meters above the ground, allowing servicemen to observe an area of around five square kilometers. | The blimp's prime task is to monitor the park and forest areas during the quarantine. Data gathered by the OKO system is transferred to patrols on the ground in real time, who are then dispatched to disperse…
(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). Normalized Relations with Russia Can Improve Baltic Economies During Pandemic. globalresearch.ca In 2020, Lithuania's and Latvia's gross domestic product (GDP) will decrease by seven per cent, according to a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(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). US needs to read text of JCPOA more carefully: Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 17 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov has strongly criticized the United States' new stance on restoring UN sanctions against Iran.
(2020-05-16). Russia's biggest automaker to jump-start production next week. rt.com 
Major Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ has announced that after more than a two-week shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic it will resume production on May 18. | "Due to the virus situation, work will be organized according to a safe schedule to avoid crowds of people in transport and at checkpoints. The start of shifts on the assembly lines and office staff work schedules will be timed," the company said. Starting from June 29, AvtoVAZ will switch over to a four-day work week. | Production of cars at AvtoVAZ was suspended from April 29 due to the spread of coronavirus infection in Russia, which led to a drop…
(2020-05-16). 'We surrender!' Roscosmos chief taunts Trump for bragging about 'super-duper' US missile. rt.com 
The head of Russia's space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, fired off a tongue-in-cheek tweet in response to Donald Trump's brag about the uber-powerful missile that he alleges leaves Russian or Chinese analogues far behind. | While unveiling the flag of the Space Force in the Oval Office on Friday, US President Donald Trump made some headline-grabbing remarks. | "We have no choice. We have to do it, with the adversaries we have out there…I call it the super-duper missile, and I heard the other night [it's] 17 times faster than what they have right now," Trump bragged. | The US president didn't give away a single clu…
(2020-05-16). 'A bad joke': Trio admits to photo-bombing Russian WWII site with Nazi pics after police raid. rt.com 
Three suspects have admitted to uploading photos of Third Reich leaders onto a website honoring Soviet veterans of World War II. They admitted it was a lame joke — after getting arrested and facing criminal charges. | The suspects were detained in a series of raids this week in the cities of Perm, Samara, Ulyanovsk and Volgograd — the latter being the scene of the world's bloodiest WWII Battle of Stalingrad. | | Screenshot from YouTube © Russia's Investigative Committee | Faced with the evidence, three of the four suspects have confessed to putting up the photos of the likes of Adolf Hitler,…
(2020-05-16). 'A bad joke': Trio held after police raid admit to photo-bombing Russian WWII honor-roll site with Nazi pics. rt.com 
Three suspects have admitted to uploading photos of Third Reich leaders to a website honoring Soviet veterans of World War II. They admitted it was a lame joke — after getting arrested and facing criminal charges. | The suspects were detained in a series of raids this week in the cities of Perm, Samara, Ulyanovsk and Volgograd — the latter being the scene of WWII's bloodiest engagement, the Battle of Stalingrad. | | Screenshot from YouTube © Russia's Investigative Committee | Faced with the evidence, three of the four suspects confessed to putting photos of the likes of Adolf Hitler, SS chief…
(2020-05-16). Moscow hits lowest daily Covid-19 cases mark since early May, with 3,505 infections recorded. rt.com 
The Russian capital, which accounts for a half of all Covid-19 cases and deaths in the country, has reported the lowest new daily infections number since early May. | Some 3,505 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Moscow on Saturday. This has become the minimum daily rate in the city since the beginning of May, the capital's operational headquarters for monitoring the pandemic reported. | The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the capital has now reached 138,969. According to the officials, in the third decade of April, an average of 2,700 to 2,800 cases were recorded every day in Moscow. As the t…
(2020-05-16). POLAND would gladly host American nukes if Germany refuses, US envoy claims, fanning 'Cuban missile crisis 2.0'. rt.com 
As the US ambassador to Germany — and acting spy chief — tried persuading Berlin to keep hosting US nuclear weapons, his colleague in Warsaw suggested Poland would be willing to take them instead, an act sure to provoke Moscow. | "If Germany wants to diminish nuclear capability and weaken NATO, perhaps Poland — which pays its fair share, understands the risks, and is on NATO's eastern flank — could house the capabilities here," Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher tweeted on Friday. | If Germany wants to diminish nuclear capability and weaken NATO, perhaps Poland – which pays its fair share, un…
(2020-05-16). Intelsat, launcher of 1st commercial communications satellite, files for bankruptcy… it's a friend we didn't know we had. rt.com 
Born in the Cold War, powered by rivalry and unhindered by free-market restrictions, Intelsat linked the planet with its satellites — but hardly anyone knew about it. Now, it struggles to stay afloat. | Anyone who remembers television in the late 20th century will remember the thrill of watching international broadcasts. The grainy pictures of faraway and foreign places, with their strange road signs, adverts and people. The sound delayed and crackled like a long-distance phone call. | Now we live in an age where a crystal-clear conversation with multiple people on multiple continents using a device ligh…
(2020-05-16). Russian amb. rejects reports on Iran, Turkey, Russia agreement on removal of Assad. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 16 (MNA) — Rejecting some reports on Iran, Russia and Turkey's agreement to remove Syrian President from the power, Russian ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan told Mehr News Agency that the future of President Assad and Syria will be decided by Syrian people through free transparent elections, not by us.
(2020-05-16). Russian amb. talks of Iran, Russia bilateral relation, regional developments. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 16 (MNA) — Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan in an exclusive interview with Mehr News Agency on Wednesday talked of Tehran-Moscow bilateral relations, as well as the recent developments in Syria and region.
(2020-05-16). Nuclear deal opponents helpless, ignorant: Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 16 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov termed the opponents of the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as Iran deal, ignorant and helpless.
(2020-05-15). Nord Stream 2 to challenge German regulator's decision denying waiver of 'discriminatory' EU rules for gas pipeline from Russia. rt.com 
The company building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has vowed to appeal Germany's refusal to remove the multibillion-dollar project from the restrictions laid out in the "discriminatory" EU Gas Directive. | The latest amendment to the EU rules was greenlighted in April last year, long after Nord Stream 2 construction began. The legislature made the rules governing the European gas market apply to all pipelines to and from third countries. The new rule means Russia's Gazprom, which designed the project, will be allowed to use not more than 50 percent of the pipeline capacity while allowing third parties to use…
(2020-05-15). 'We were totally helpless': Russian woman jailed for SLAPPING 'abusive' Californian husband, mother tells RT. rt.com 
What looked like an intercontinental fairytale romance turned into a story of domestic violence, when a Russian woman was arrested for slapping the American husband her mother says abused her. | When she married a Californian man last year, 30-year-old Krasnodar native Alina Alipatova couldn't have imagined that the line between romance and fear could be crossed so fast. She met her future husband while holidaying in Miami and quickly fell in "big love" with him, the woman's mother, Elena Gertsog, told RT this week. | Once engaged, the happy couple spent two months at the Californian's house in San Luis Obispo…
(2020-05-15). "My Job Is to Make Syria a Quagmire for the Russians": CIA Doctrine Made Official Policy. globalresearch.ca Like with the disastrous Iraq quagmire years before the US war machine came to Syria under Obama, Washington's rationale and justification for occupying the Syrian Arab Republic has shifted and changed drastically multiple times over. | When ultimately what started …
(2020-05-15). Give Peace a Chance: Saudi Arabia and the UAE Jostle for Position in War-Ravaged Countries for Contracts. strategic-culture.org Is the coronavirus, which has hit GCC countries quite hard, going to fuel proxy wars further with the economic objective of fortunes to be made, once the fighting stops? Or dig them in deeper? Don't overlook Russia in the scramble for reconstruction contracts. | The bigger they are, the harder they fall. This certainly applies to countries in the GCC which are attempting to pick themselves up again. It's a cruel irony, some might argue, that the UAE's diversification in its economy away from oil dependency, made it more vulnerable than Saudi Arabia's and so was hit harder by the virus. An economy dependent on tou…
(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). "Truth in America R.I.P.": In America there is only Official Truth, and It's a Lie. globalresearch.ca In "freedom and democracy" America there is only official truth, and it is a lie. A person or website that speaks real truth is shunted aside as a "conspiracy theorist," "Russian agent," "racist," "anti-semite," or other such name with the …
(2020-05-15). Declassified Mueller investigation transcripts confirm no evidence WikiLeaks colluded with Russia. wsws.org The "Russian connection" was baldly asserted by the Democratic Party, US intelligence officials and the corporate media…
(2020-05-15). Russia ends federal COVID-19 shutdown measures as it surges to second place in infections worldwide. wsws.org There are now more coronavirus infections in Russia than anywhere else in the world, with the exception of the United States and Spain.
(2020-05-15). Veterans Exposed in Cold War Bioweapons Testing Still Awaiting Answers — and Help. counterpunch.org On May 12, 2000, the CBS Evening News first reported that over 1,000 American sailors were unwittingly exposed to chemical and biological warfare (CBW) agents in the 1960s and early 1970s as part of secret military experiments to study the vulnerability of US Navy ships to germ warfare attacks. The Pentagon responded to the report
(2020-05-14). Western media concerned coronavirus 'hasn't killed more Russians'. rt.com 
US and allied media outlets seem frustrated that the pandemic isn't killing more Russians, so they're claiming the death toll is higher, despite a lack of evidence — while insisting Moscow is the one spreading disinformation. | When the number of confirmed coronavirus cases started accelerating in Russia last month, Western media pounced, presuming the increase would be followed by the kind of spike in casualties seen in the US and many European countries. That hasn't happened, and the same outlets that were licking their lips waiting for the Russian body count to explode now seem to feel cheated. | A ne…
(2020-05-14). US muscle-flexing threatens to open Arctic front in new Cold War with Russia. thealtworld.com 
The US Navy is on the cusp of conducting confrontational freedom of navigation operations in the Arctic that threaten Russian economic and national security interests. | The recent resumption by the US Navy of a Three American destroyers and a British frigate, accompanied by a supply ship, ventured into the Arctic body of water last week. The…
(2020-05-14). Pandemic Spending Will Force US Defense Budget Cuts—Some of Which Should Come From Nuclear Weapons Programs. globalresearch.ca Even supporters of increased US defense budgets expect that, because the US government will likely spend trillions of dollars trying to rescue the economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, military spending in the United States is likely …
(2020-05-14). Banking on the Nuclear Bomb Are Citi, Chase, BofA, Wells and Goldman Sachs. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published in 2018. | Among the top ten investors in nuclear weapons are banks which stand to benefit from the de-regulatory bill
(2020-05-13). Flynn 'unmasking' documents show involvement of senior Obama administration officials, including Joe Biden. rt.com 
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
(2020-05-11). Bombshell: Crowdstrike admits 'no evidence' Russia stole emails from DNC server. thegrayzone.com Crowdstrike, the firm behind the Russian email hacking allegation at the core of Russiagate, makes a bombshell admission: "We did…
(2020-05-09). Eyewitness: Russia's 70th V-Day. liberationnews.org 
In addition to beautiful parades, fireworks and concerts, I was able to witness multitudes of people sharing with each other something wholly priceless: the gratitude of being alive thanks to those who fought fascism.
(2020-05-08). Russian journalists accuse NY Times of stealing stories that earned it Pulitzer Prize — for second time. thegrayzone.com The New York Times has apparently stolen its Pulitzer Prize-winning stories from Russian journalists — the same liberal anti-Putin reporters…
(2020-05-07). How Russia Became the Next COVID-19 Hot Spot: Infection Rate Soars with 10,000 New Cases Each Day. democracynow.org 
We go to Moscow for an update on the pandemic in Russia, where the coronavirus is spreading rapidly, with at least 10,000 new cases a day and the second-highest infection rate in the world, and more than 100 medical workers have died fighting the virus, and many have reported lack of personal protective equipment. Meanwhile, three Russian healthcare workers mysteriously fell from hospital windows over the past two weeks. Two died, and the one who is hospitalized had posted a video online to note the lack of medical equipment and said he had to keep working despite testing positive. We speak with Joshua Yaffa, Mos…