Monthly Archives: May 2020

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/

2020-05-12: News Headlines

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-12). The 'See-No-Evil' Phase of Russiagate. strategic-culture.org 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…

RT (2020-05-12). Six big lies you have been told about 'Russiagate'. rt.com 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

RT (2020-05-12). Russian border may not open fully UNTIL 2021 — Tourism Union. rt.com With countries around the world beginning to loosen their anti-coronavirus measures, many people are starting to ask one thing: when can I travel again? If you're planning to come to Russia, you might need to wait until next year. | According to a letter written by President of the Russian Tourist Industry Union (PCT) Andrey Ignatiev and President of the Russian Hotel Association (RGA) Gennady Lamshin, it might take until January 1, 2021 for passage through Russia's border to get back to normal. | The letter, which was sent to Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov and the head of Russia's Federal…

RT (2020-05-12). Fire erupts at Saint Petersburg Covid-19 hospital after ventilator malfunctions, 5 dead. rt.com 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 (2020-05-12). PROPAGANDA has diminished the Soviet Union's role in victory over fascism — Russian foreign minister. rt.com The White House shocked the internet on May 8 when it posted a now-infamous tweet declaring the USA and the UK as the victors of World War II, omitting the USSR. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov believes propaganda is to blame. | Speaking at a press conference, Lavrov recalled how, at the Holocaust Forum in January, US Vice President Mike Pence forgot that the Soviets liberated Auschwitz. | "To be frank, it doesn't surprise me to hear such things," he said, following an online meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers. "It's not because we suspect that any particular politician is deliberately obscuring hi…

RT (2020-05-12). Russia becomes world's second hardest-hit country with 230,000+ confirmed Covid-19 cases, surpassing Spain & UK. rt.com 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…

Stephen Lendman (2020-05-12). Strained China-US Relations. Renewed Trade War Ahead? New Cold War? globalresearch.ca 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 …

en.mehrnews (2020-05-12). Arms embargo on Iran to expire on Oct.: Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mikhail Ulyanov said the restrictions on the supply of 7 categories of weapons to Iran will expire on October 18.

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Covid-19: Russia Is Second Most Affected Country in the World. telesurenglish.net 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: | 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…

WSWS (2020-05-12). Russian court keeps historian of Stalinist massacres jailed amid COVID-19 outbreak. wsws.org 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.

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-12). A World Health Crisis? — So Ramp Up Confrontation and Deploy Nuclear Bombers. strategic-culture.org The Pentagon is excelling itself in its enthusiastic march to war. There are countless thousands suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 virus, including hundreds of members of the U.S. armed services, while the world's despots are relishing their freedom to persecute minorities, and the poor and downtrodden are dying in hideous misery because of starvation and lack of medical care. But the propaganda war against China continues, concurrent with ramping up of anti-China confrontation by Washington in its ongoing deployment of nuclear attack warships and bombers to the Western Pacific and the South China Sea.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-12). Envoy urges EU for 'practical support' to JCPOA, multilateralism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to Croatia called on the European countries for a change of approach and adopting practical support to multilateralism and the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

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

Aaron Maté (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…

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-11). New House Documents Sow Further Doubt That Russia Hacked the DNC. strategic-culture.org 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…

Stephen Lendman (2020-05-11). Reinventing History a US Specialty. The Role of the Soviet Union In Defeating Nazi Germany. globalresearch.ca The power of endlessly repeated propaganda gets most people to believe almost anything — especially when pounded into the public consciousness by press agent establishment media. | In the US, they're mouthpieces for monied interests and the imperial state. Following government …

teleSUR (2020-05-11). China: New COVID-19 Outbreak Spreads Concern. telesurenglish.net A new coronavirus outbreak in Shulan, a Chinese city near the Russian border, and a spate of cases in Wuhan has prompted fears of a fresh wave of infections in China. | RELATED: | According to Chinese authorities, Shulan is at high risk. A family cluster was diagnosed with COVID-19, after having contact with a woman with no known history of travel or exposure to the virus. | The news were given a week after China designated a…

Prof Susan Babbitt (2020-05-11). Bees and the "Eternally Not Talked About" globalresearch.ca 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 …

Christopher Black (2020-05-11). May 9th World War II Commemoration: Russian Victory, NATO Defeat. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published on New Eastern Outlook in July 2015. | On February 2nd, 1943, the 6th German Army, under the command of Field Marshall Von Paulus, and elements of the 4th Panzer Army, surrendered to the Red Army …

Finian Cunningham (2020-05-11). From WWII to COVID-19 Denial. thealtworld.com Donald Trump's apparent denial of the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany will perhaps go down as the "finest hour" for this delusional president. But a practical consequence of such denial-mentality is America will lose the "war" against COVID-19. | On the occasion marking the 75th anniversary of victory over the Nazi Third Reich, the Trump White House made no mention of the Soviet Union's indisputable military achievement of vanquishing the German fascist regime, instead implying that the US and Britain were the sole victors. | Trump added for vainglorious good measure: "The American spirit will alway…

Karl Grossman (2020-05-11). COVID-19 and the parallel nuclear war and climate change threats. nationofchange.org We can create a new and better world—but we must fully commit ourselves to it and work for it, "pressing, making changes."

Zero Hedge (2020-05-11). Pompeo Likens Iran To Nazis On 2nd Anniversary Of US Nuclear Deal Exit. iranian.com 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 — and we might note laziest — labels for America's 'enemies'. In official statements Saturday, and on the same day Russia and …

sputniknews (2020-05-12). NATO Chief Urges Berlin to 'Protect Peace and Freedom' by Stationing US Nukes. sputniknews.com 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 (2020-05-12). Ex-Russian Public Health Chief Slams Reports on Russia's Low COVID-19 Death Toll as Hype. sputniknews.com 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 (2020-05-12). Russia to Consider Caracas' Request for Help in Probe of Invasion If Asked – Lavrov. sputniknews.com 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 (2020-05-12). Russian Federal Security Service Detains Man Planning to Set Gov't Buildings on Fire in Tver Region. sputniknews.com The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday announced the prevention of a terrorist attack in the city of Kimry, in Tver Region.

sputniknews (2020-05-12). Russia, Turkey Carry Out 10th Joint Patrolling in Syria's Idlib — MoD. sputniknews.com SARAQIB, Syria (Sputnik) – The Russian and Turkish military on Tuesday conducted the tenth joint patrol along the M4 highway in Syria's northern Idlib de-escalation zone, the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for the reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said in a statement on Tuesday.

sputniknews (2020-05-12). Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov Hospitalised with COVID-19. sputniknews.com 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 (2020-05-12). Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Holds Press Conference After CIS Foreign Ministers' Meeting – Video. sputniknews.com 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.

yenisafak (2020-05-12). Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tests positive for coronavirus. yenisafak.com 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.

John Krzyzaniak (2020-05-11). Nuclear Weapons: The Anatomy of a U.S. STRATCOM "Disinfographic" globalresearch.ca United States Strategic Command, the branch of the US military responsible for the nation's nuclear weapons, recently released an

RT (2020-05-10). Elon Musk resorts to insults in RUSSIAN to defend capitalism. rt.com As Elon Musk sues Californian authorities for stopping a Tesla factory from reopening, he has found a somewhat novel way of dealing with his critics — dismissing them with short Russian insults. | The target of Musk's Cyrillic ire is Robert Reich, an economist and labor secretary under the Clinton administration. A well-known proponent of fairer distribution of wealth, Reich shared a story about the Tesla CEO's plans for legal action in the Golden State with the comment: "Elon Musk threatens to take away people's jobs unless he's allowed to risk their health. Capitalism at its worst." | Elon Musk threate…

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-10). Russian Journalists Accuse NY Times of Stealing Stories That Earned It Pulitzer Prize — for Second Time. strategic-culture.org The New York Times has apparently stolen its Pulitzer Prize-winning stories from Russian journalists — the same liberal anti-Putin reporters its correspondents have lionized | Ben NORTON | The New York Times has been accused for a second time of stealing major scoops from Russian journalists. One of those stories won the Times a Pulitzer Prize this May. | The journalists who have accused the Times of taking their work without credit also happen to be the same liberal media crusaders against Vladimir Putin that Western correspondents at the Times and other mainstream outlets have cast as persecuted heroes.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-10). Victory Day and the continuing battle against Fascism. peoplesdispatch.org Victory Day marks the surrender of Nazi Germany during World War II. However, today, Neo-Nazi movements continue to thrive in Europe even as there are concerted attempts to deny the role of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Germany. The people, however, are in the forefront of the struggle against these groups.

I.V. Sta (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.

Fight Back (2020-05-09). On the passing of Michael Lucas, immigrant organizer and friend of Soviet people. fightbacknews.org Michael Lucas, editor of Northstar Compass and leader of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with the Soviet People, died in Toronto on May 4. He was 94. | Lucas was a fixture of the Canadian left for decades, especially among communities of progressive immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia. He was longtime head of the Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians. A musician, Lucas was deeply committed to preserving and sharing the culture and traditions of his people. Throughout his long life, he was a staunch supporter of socialism and the anti-fascist traditions of the Soviet Union. | "He work…

The Iranian (2020-05-09). Operation Ajax: CIA Oil Coup in Iran. iranian.com Via The Cold War Our series on the history of the Cold War period continues with a documentary on the Iranian Coup of 1953 against the prime minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh and the so-called operation Ajax conducted by the American and British in support of the oil interests and the shah regime. This coup …

Nadezhda Azhgikhina (2020-05-08). Freedom of Speech Is Under the Gun as the Virus Spreads in Russia. thenation.com Freedom of Speech Is Under the Gun as the Virus Spreads in Russia…

Staff (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…

Staff (2020-05-05). Headlines for May 5, 2020. democracynow.org Dire Forecasts Warn U.S. Death Toll Could Surge in Coming Weeks as States Move to Relax Restrictions, China Rebukes Trump Admin Claim That Coronavirus Was Man-Made, Report Says Brooklyn Jail Destroying Medical Records to Hide Toll of COVID-19, J. Crew Files for Bankruptcy, Betsy DeVos Sued for Garnishing Wages of Student Loan Holders During Pandemic, EU, World Leaders Pledge Billions to Fund Coronavirus Vaccine; U.S. Sits Out, Questions Raised After 3 Doctors in Russia Fall from Hospital Windows, U.K. May Have Second-Highest Coronavirus Death Toll; France Identifies COVID-19 Case from December, Venezuela Detains…

Gareth Porter (2020-04-30). With apparently fabricated nuclear documents, Netanyahu pushed the US towards war with Iran. thegrayzone.com An investigation of supposed Iranian nuclear documents presented in a dramatically staged Netanyahu press conference indicates they were an Israeli…

Jon Rainwater (2020-04-23). A Myriad of Ways to Wage Peace During These Times. peaceaction.org As we shelter in our homes to protect ourselves from this global pandemic, we wanted to share some of the many ways you can remain active and impactful in the work for a more peaceful world. Peace Action has long been a leader in organizing international conferences, marches, and rallies around the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty …

Bill Ofenloch (2020-04-17). 'The Only Logic of Trident is Omnicide' Christopher Helali Interviews Peace Activist Martha Hennessy, Left Turn, Winter 2020. kingsbayplowshares7.org Martha Hennessey is a longtime anti-war activist and the granddaughter of Dorothy Day, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. She is 62, a retired occupational therapist, and grandmother of eight. She has been arrested and imprisoned protesting nuclear power, war, the use of drones, the torture of prisoners in Guantanamo and other prisons, and…

Roxanne George (2020-04-04). Call Congress to commemorate the anniversary of the Kings Bay Plowshares Seven's nuclear weapons protest. kingsbayplowshares7.org Tell Congress that now, more than ever, it's time to wash our hands of Trident. On April 4, 2018, seven anti-nuclear activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, entered the Kings Bay Naval Base in Camden County in Georgia to protest the nuclear weapons based there. The Kings Bay Plowshares 7 carried out their…

Paul Dobson (2020-03-30). Rosneft Dodges US Sanctions by Transferring Venezuela Operations to Russian State Firm. venezuelanalysis.com Moscow insists that its support for the Venezuelan government and role in its oil industry will remain unchanged.