(2021-05-08). United States Withdraws From Afghanistan? Not Really. zcomm.org The U.S. will "withdraw," but will also leave behind its assets to checkmate China and Russia. These geopolitical considerations eclipse any concern for the Afghan people…
(2021-05-08). The Xinjiang genocide determination as agenda. mronline.org 
Because of the world's fundamental interconnectedness, the increasingly Cold War-like relations between The West and China have negative consequences for both systems and for the rest of the world. | May 8, 2021…
(2021-05-08). Leading Yasen-M Nuclear Submarine Entered Service With Russian Navy. southfront.org 
Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarine Kazan | On May 7th, the nuclear submarine "Kazan" has been taken into service with Russian Navy, according to the information department of the Russian Defense Ministry. "Today in Severodvinsk at the Sevmash enterprise under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, a solemn ceremony of admission to the Navy of the fourth generation Kazan nuclear submarine (APC) of the Yasen-M project was held," the department reported. | On May 5, the…
(2021-05-08). Massive Fire Broke Out Near Key Iranian Nuclear Reactor, Major Oil Export Port (Video). southfront.org 
Screen grab from one of the fire videos. | Late on May 7, a massive fire broke out in the Iranian city of Bushehr, where a nuclear plant, an oil port and a military naval base are located. | Residents of Bushehr were quick to upload footage of the fire, which spread near the entrance of the city's main port, to social media | According to the Fars News Agency, fifteen firefighters, six trucks and a tanker were mobilized to face the massive fire, which was put down within two hours. No human losses were reported. | T…
(2021-05-08). Leading Yasen-M Nuclear Submarine Entered Service With Russian Navy. southfront.org Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarine Kazan | On May 7th, the nuclear submarine "Kazan" has been taken into service with Russian Navy, according to the information department of the Russian Defense Ministry. "Today in Severodvinsk at the Sevmash enterprise under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, a solemn ceremony of admission to the Navy of the fourth generation Kazan nuclear submarine (APC) of the Yasen-M project was held," the department reported. | On May 5, the success…
(2021-05-08). Military Situation In Syria On May 8, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On May 8, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 52 times: 24 — in Idlib province, 17 — in Latakia province, 9 — in Hama province, 2 — in Aleppo province | On May 7, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in the Ariha area | On May 7, Turkish border guards reportedly killed a fisherman near Darkush town | On May 6, US forces carried out a military patrol near the town of Malekiyah | MORE O…
(2021-05-08). Military Situation In Syria On May 8, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On May 8, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 52 times: 24 — in Idlib province, 17 — in Latakia province, 9 — in Hama province, 2 — in Aleppo province | On May 7, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in the Ariha area | On May 7, Turkish border guards reportedly killed a fisherman near Darkush town | On May 6, US forces carried out a military patrol near the town of Malekiyah…
(2021-05-08). Iran Says US Has Yet To Offer Enough Sanctions Relief. popularresistance.org The fourth round of talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal kicked off in Vienna on Friday. Iran's top negotiator said he believes the US is "serious" about returning to the agreement but that it has not yet offered adequate sanctions relief. | "The information transferred to us from the US side is that they are also serious on returning to the nuclear deal and they have so far declared their readiness to lift a great part of their sanctions," Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi said. | "But this is not adequate from our point of view and therefore the discussions will continue until we get to all our demands,…
(2021-05-08). EU envoy calls for an immediate revival of JCPOA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Deputy of European Union Foreign Policy Chief says he feels a definite urgency to conclude the nuclear talks, and he is happy to see that Iran and the United States feel the same way.
(2021-05-08). 'Onus is on US, not Iran': FM Zarif. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has tweeted on the anniversary of the US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal, reminding the new US administration how the crisis over JCPOA started.
(2021-05-08). Iran may extend cooperation on inspections with IAEA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — The top Iranian negotiator at Vienna talks on reviving the JCPOA says that Tehran may consider extending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency over inspections of its nuclear sites.
(2021-05-08). Re-Engaging Russia — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Russian realignment offers the biggest opportunity to dramatically transform the international situation in the immediate future. A cooperative relationship between Russia and the Industrialized World could be a highly visible example of democratic development, strongly undercutting Chinese promotion of autocracy and minimizing cyber intrusions. It would also significantly reduce requirements for military forces, including a potential for major reductions in nuclear weapons. Diplomatically, collaboration with Russia could help resolve confrontations in Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine, Belarus, Syria and Myanma…
(2021-05-08). Iran Says US Is 'Serious' About Reviving Nuclear Deal But Has Yet to Offer Enough Sanctions Relief. news.antiwar.com The fourth round of talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal kicked off in Vienna on Friday. "The information transferred to us from the US side is that they are also serious on returning to the nuclear deal and they have so far declared their readiness to lift a great part of their sanctions," Iranian negotiato…
(2021-05-08). May 8: Ukrainian officials imply conflict with Russia equivalent to Nazi invasion. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com May 8: Ukrainian officials imply conflict with Russia equivalent to Nazi invasionRick Rozoff On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War Two in Europe (Victory in Europe Day to much of the world), what since the 2014 coup in Ukraine has been celebrated as …
(2021-05-08). From Global Times opinion piece. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Washington's 'small clique' politics exposed as China, Russia battle with US over 'rules', 'multilateralism' at UN Excerpts In its 240-plus years of existence, the US has been at war for all but 16 years. The US military budget for 2019 exceeded $716 billion, which is equal to the military spending of the next nine countries …
(2021-05-08). US Secretary of State Blinken visits Kiev amidst ongoing tensions with Russia. wsws.org Blinken conspicuously failed to publicly condemn a far-right march that had taken place just before his visit in Kiev.
(2021-05-08). 800 American paratroopers land near Russian borders. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — About 800 American paratroopers have landed near the Russian border in Estonia as part of the Swift Response exercise.
(2021-05-08). US withdrawal from JCPOA led to 'Fiasco': Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna in a message on the anniversary of the US withdrawal from the JCPOA said that the move was a "Fiasco".
(2021-05-08). Russia expresses concern over develoments in occupied Quds. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — In response to yesterday's incidents in occupied holy Quds, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern and called for an end to escalating tensions.
(2021-05-08). EU-Russian Trans-Border Cooperation Continues But Increasingly Reflects Civilizational Divide — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Many cooperation programs between the European Union and Russia have been discontinued. Trans-border cooperation, however, continues, although largely by inertia and increasingly reflecting the civilizational divide between the EU with its participatory democracy and Russia with its "unworthy government," Gleb Yarovoy says. | Yarovoy, a former instructor at Petrozavodsk State University and now a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, is the author of Regionalism and Trans-Border Cooperation in Europe (in Russian, St. Petersburg, 2007). He assesses the current situation in an essay for the…
(2021-05-08). A Friend To All Is A Friend To None: Russian Strategy in The Middle East — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Jason Hamilton, Rosemarie Wilde, and Jason Wimberly* | Since the start of the Arab Spring, Russia has sought increased influence in the Middle East, rekindling relationships and building influence in Syria, Turkey, Libya, Israel, and elsewhere. The return of Russian influence puts pressure on U.S. interests in the region. In the increasingly complex security environment of today's world defined by transregional and multi-functional challenges across all domains, the United States is constrained in the Middle East by both available resources and an American public exhausted by military efforts in the region.
(2021-05-08). Russian Space Surveillance Station Records Space Activity Surge in 2021, Defence Ministry Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's Okno-M facility, part of the Centre for Outer Space Monitoring, recorded 30,000 moving objects since the beginning of the year, which marks an increase in space activity compared to 2020, the Russian Defence Ministry stated on Saturday.
(2021-05-08). Victory's Test of Time. sputniknews.com The Russian people have every right to proudly proclaim victory over Nazi Germany and fascism in Europe. Every year, celebrations of Victory Day remain as vibrant as ever. And for good reason.
(2021-05-08). Russia criticizes increased U.S. military activity in Syria. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Russia criticizes increased U.S. military activity in SyriaRick Rozoff The Russian Defense Ministry has expressed concern about deployment of U.S. military convoys and equipment to the al-Jazeera region in eastern Syria. The Russian Coordination Center in Hmeimim said of the increased air and land transport of American military hardware, "such military mobilization, synchronized with the …
(2021-05-08). Russia Criticizes Increased US Military Activity in Syria. news.antiwar.com The Russian Defense Ministry has expressed concern about deployment of U.S. military convoys and equipment to the al-Jazeera region in eastern Syria. The Russian Coordination Center in Hmeimim said of the increased air and land transport of American military hardware, "such military mobilization, synchronized with the economic and social situation resulting from the US blockade …
(2021-05-08). Official: Ukraine certain of receiving lethal weapons from NATO. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Official: Ukraine certain of receiving lethal weapons from NATORick Rozoff Leonid Kravchuk, one of the three signatories to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's first president, told one of his nation's television networks on May 7 that he was sure of the U.S. and other NATO delivering lethal weapons to Ukraine. Weapons required …
(2021-05-08). Iranian Students Association in Moscow observe Quds Day. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Members of the Iranian Students Association in Moscow observed International Quds Day by gathering in a Mosque in Moscow.
(2021-05-08). Ransomware Attack Reportedly Shuts US Pipeline Giant. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A ransomware attack caused the temporary shutdown of one of the United States' largest pipeline operators, media reported Saturday.
(2021-05-08). Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Hits Southern New Zealand, Geological Agency Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A magnitude 3.7 earthquake was registered in southern New Zealand on Saturday morning, local geological agency GeoNet said.
(2021-05-08). Pro-Independence SNP Party Heading for Win in Scottish Parliament Elections. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Scottish National Party is heading for its fourth consecutive victory in the region's legislative elections with 61 seats in the 129-strong parliament, though the counting is still ongoing.
(2021-05-07). United States Withdraws From Afghanistan? Not Really. counterpunch.org 
The United States, it appears, is willing to allow the Taliban to return to power with two caveats: first, that the U.S. presence remains, and second, that the main rivals of the United States—namely China and Russia—have no role in Kabul. In 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in Chennai, India, where she proposed the creation of a New Silk Road Initiative that linked Central Asia through Afghanistan and via the ports of India; the purpose of this initiative was to cut off Russia from its links in Central Asia and to prevent the establishment of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, w…
(2021-05-07). France's Le Pen Wants to Limit Naturalization Via Family Reunification. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Leader of French right-wing party National Rally, Marine Le Pen, announced plans to limit the opportunities for migrants to become citizens of France through the family reunification track for at least a decade if she is elected president.
(2021-05-07). Russia Can Recover Only If Moscow Addresses Problems Of Middle Class And The Poor — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Vladimir Putin and the Russian government have acted as if they can address the impact of the pandemic on the population adequately if they come up with new programs for the poorest strata of Russians. But in fact, the economic crisis is hitting the middle class hard, and the regime must develop programs to help it as well, Yaroslav Kuzminov says. | Up to now, the rector of Moscow's Higher School of Economics says, the government has supported production and given some aid to the very poorest groups, but it has not supported members of the middle class with new programs who in many cases have lost their source…
(2021-05-07). In threat to Russia, EU grants U.S. troops 'unhindered' movement across continent. peoplesworld.org 
LONDON—The European Union authorized the United States, Canada, and Norway to join its Military Mobility project Thursday, allowing those countries' troops "unhindered" movement within the bloc. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the move would "make EU defense more efficient and…strengthen our security" by speeding up the transfer of armies across the continent. The …
(2021-05-07). Selected Articles: As NATO Summit Approaches: Will Biden Keep U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Turkey? globalresearch.ca 
By It has been estimated that the Pentagon maintains 50 B61 tactical nuclear weapons at the ƒ∞ncirlik Air Base in the country …
(2021-05-07). Nuclear Troubleshoot: U.S. Minuteman III ICBM Shuts Itself Off During Final Countdown. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On May 5th, the US Air Force said that it had canceled a launch of an unarmed Minuteman III nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test. | The reason is that the missile simply turned itself off during final countdown before being launched. | The intercontinental ballistic missile that was to be fired from an underground silo at the coastal base, "experienced a ground abort prior to launch," the service said in a release."During terminal countdown, the missile compute…
(2021-05-07). Nuclear Troubleshoot: U.S. Minuteman III ICBM Shuts Itself Off During Final Countdown. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On May 5th, the US Air Force said that it had canceled a launch of an unarmed Minuteman III nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test. | The reason is that the missile simply turned itself off during final countdown before being launched. | The intercontinental ballistic missile that was to be fired from an underground silo at the coastal base, "experienced a ground abort prior to launch," the service said in a release. | "During terminal countdown, the missile comp…
(2021-05-07). Russian State-Funded Donation Platforms Blocked SouthFront's Accounts. southfront.org 
ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE | SouthFront has become a target of another censorship and pressure act. : | This time from Russia.: | In early May, accounts of SouthFront Team registered on Russian state-funded donation platforms were blocked. This hostile act was undertaken by subsidiaries of Mail.ru Group. The major shareholder in Mail.ru Group is Russia's state-owned bank Sberbank (Sberbank of Russia). This banking and financial services company is the largest one in Russia. | It is also should be noted that…
(2021-05-07). US-led Coalition Intensified Military Shipments To Northeastern Syria: Russian Reconciliation Center. southfront.org 
ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE | Russia is concerned about the recent increase in US-led coalition military shipments to Syria's northeastern region, Alexander Karpov, Deputy Chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria said on May 6."The increased intensity of air freight of military cargo and surface relocation of military equipment convoys by the US-led coalition in eastern regions of the Syrian Arab Republic cause concern," the Karpov…
(2021-05-07). The Fascinating Memoir of a "Citizen Pilgrim": Q&A with Richard Falk. counterpunch.org 
Richard Falk, the well-known international relations scholar, taught at Princeton University for four decades. Starting in 2002 he has taught Global and International Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Falk is also a chair for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. This lengthy interview is about his latest book, a memoir, Public Intellectual: The Life of a Citizen Pilgrim, that explores his
(2021-05-07). History Repeats… Why Washington and London Crave a New Cold War. strategic-culture.org American global power is in direct contradiction to the democratic needs of a multipolar planet. | The United States and its "junior partner" Britain this week expressed their desire for a new Cold War with Russia and China — albeit surreptitiously, and dressed up in virtuous language. | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was speaking with his British counterpart Dominic Raab ahead of a G7 summit for foreign ministers held in London this week. The two diplomats called for G7 nations and partners to band together more tightly in order to confront China and Russia. To that end, delegates from Australia, Ind…
(2021-05-07). As NATO Summit Approaches: Will Biden Keep U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Turkey? globalresearch.ca Visit and follow us on Instagram at @crg_globalresearch. A
(2021-05-07). Iran never leaves friends, allies alone: Nasrallah. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 07 (MNA) — The Hezbollah secretary-general said on Friday that Iran is the most powerful nation in the Resistance Front, adding that the US and Israeli have run out of options to make Iran abandon its nuclear program.
(2021-05-07). US Accuses Iran of Making 'Unrealistic Demands' for Sanctions Relief. news.antiwar.com Indirect negotiations between the US and Iran that have been ongoing in Vienna to revive the nuclear deal are dragging out due to the fact that the Biden administration refuses to lift all Trump-era sanctions. On Thursday, The unnamed official told reporters that a deal could be reached quickly if Iran has the political will.
(2021-05-07). Erdogan Says Discussed Large-Scale Procurement of Russia's Sputnik V With Putin. sputniknews.com ANKARA (Sputnik) — Turkey will soon receive a large shipment of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine and launch joint manufacturing in its territory, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, commenting on his phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(2021-05-07). Biden Still Wants Summit With Putin Despite Tensions Over Ukraine. sputniknews.com Last month, the two presidents held a phone conversation during which they agreed to hold a meeting in the near future.
(2021-05-07). 'The word feminism is still a trigger'. zcomm.org Russia's feminists in their own words…
(2021-05-07). US troops increase military activity in eastern Syria: report. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 07 (MNA) — The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria has reported a recent increase in Washington's military movements in eastern Syria.
(2021-05-07). Participants agree to intensify Vienna talks process: Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 07 (MNA) — Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov said after the 4th round of talks between Iran and P4+1 in the Austrian capital of Vienna that the participants agreed to intensify the process of talks.
(2021-05-07). Russian troops still in, around Ukraine: NATO chief. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 07 (MNA) — The Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg has said that tens of thousands of Russian troops remain in and around Ukraine.