Daily Archives: February 8, 2021

2021-02-08: News Headlines

John Feffer (2021-02-08). Russia: A New Start? counterpunch.org It's winter in Russia, which is not a season for the faint-hearted. The pandemic is still hitting the country hard, with the number of new COVID cases hovering around 20,000 a day, which has cumulatively put the country in the global top five in terms of infections. Under these inauspicious conditions, if you are brave

Christopher Woody (2021-02-08). The US Is Sending Bomber Crews and Destroyer Captains North to Learn How to Fight in the Arctic. anti-empire.com The US military is getting more active in the Arctic, working with allies amid tensions with Russia. | US Air Force bombers and Navy surface ships have been an increasingly visible presence there. | The region remains one of low tension, but Russia and NATO are both wary of the other's activity. | The US military's renewed focus on the Arctic means more operations in a uniquely challenging environment, and its personnel a…

_____ (2021-02-08). VIDEO: Russian Covid-19 Vaccine Vindicated Despite Western 'Pandemic' of Russophobia. strategic-culture.org One would think that the mainstream media would want to help to save lives by highlighting some of Russia's legitimate successes against the coronavirus. But pushing an endless stream of Russophobia is clearly far more important to them.

_____ (2021-02-08). Dems Deride MTG for Supporting Conspiracies While Claiming Russia Was Behind Capitol Riots. strategic-culture.org By Alan MACLEOD | The House of Representatives has stripped new Georgia official Marjorie Taylor Greene from two committees over her history of promoting conspiracy theories. Congress took the highly unusual step today in voting 230 to 199 in favor of removing her from the education and budget committees, limiting her abilities and powers. In response, the 46-year-old freshman congresswoman Greene was a noted proponent of the QAnon conspiracy…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-08). Western sanctions against Iran unacceptable. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 08 (MNA) — The Chairman of Russia's State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin named the western anti-Iranian sanctions as unacceptable.

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2021-02-08). Iran Foreign Minister Tells Biden US 'Violated' Nuclear Deal, So It Is US 'That Has to Return'. commondreams.org "If the United States and its partners return to the deal," said the nation's top diplomat, "Iran will reverse its actions. All the actions we are taking are reversible." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/javad_zarif_0.jpg

_____ (2021-02-08). Collective Hysteria: Western Leaders Work to Alter the Definition of Reality. strategic-culture.org U.S. leaders seek to suggest that America still has the power to alter 'reality' to fit to its own exceptionalist myth, Alastair Crooke writes. | President Putin in 2007 (at Munich) challenged the West: 'We didn't. You did; You continuously attack Russia; but we shall not bend'. The audience sniggered. Now, speaking at (a virtual) Davos this last month, after an absence of twelve years from that forum, President Putin held up a mirror to the key 'influencers' of the West: 'See what you have become in the interim; Look at yourself, and be worried'. | This was not so much a be-gloved slap, prefacing duel-by-weapons…

_____ (2021-02-08). Time To Negotiate For Peace In Space. popularresistance.org The U.S. mission to dominate and control the military use of space has been, historically and at present, a major obstacle to achieving nuclear disarmament and a peaceful path to preserve all life on earth. | Reagan rejected Gorbachev's offer to give up Star Wars as a condition for both countries to eliminate all their nuclear weapons when the wall came down and Gorbachev released all of Eastern Europe from Soviet occupation, miraculously, without a shot. | Bush and Obama blocked any discussion in 2008 and 2014 on Russian and Chinese proposals for a space weapons ban in the consensus-bound Committee for Disarmame…

oneworld.press (2021-02-08). Balancing Regional Interests In Syria Is The Only Way Reach A Compromise Solution. oneworld.press Politically resolving the Hybrid War of Terror on Syria will involve difficult compromises on all sides, but this is only possible if each party acknowledges their counterparts' regional interests and Russian diplomats are able to successfully devise a creative solution for "balancing" between them as best as possible.

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-08). Will return to obligations under nuclear deal after all Trump-era sanctions are lifted, says Iran. peoplesdispatch.org The Biden administration, however, has refused to lift sanctions first and has put pre-condition of Iran's full compliance to the Iran nuclear deal before it rejoins it…

oneworld.press (2021-02-08). The Climate Dictatorship & The Ecoauthoritarian World. oneworld.press The climate dictatorship or Great Reset is trying to hook the Western world to an imaginary world where everything is 'green', meaning no coal, no fossil fuels, and no nuclear power for energy, food control, which will leave the Western world with no industry, no jobs, and most of all, loss of property and income.

oneworld.press (2021-02-08). Balancing Regional Interests In Syria Is The Only Way Reach A Compromise Solution. oneworld.press Politically resolving the Hybrid War of Terror on Syria will involve difficult compromises on all sides, but this is only possible if each party acknowledges their counterparts' regional interests and Russian diplomats are able to successfully devise a creative solution for "balancing" between them as best as possible.

Dean Baker (2021-02-08). Intellectual Property, Inequality, and the New Cold War with China. cepr.net My diatribe in the Nation — the risk of a new Cold War gives us yet another good reason not to be fans of intellectual property.

oneworld.press (2021-02-08). The Climate Dictatorship & The Ecoauthoritarian World. oneworld.press The climate dictatorship or Great Reset is trying to hook the Western world to an imaginary world where everything is 'green', meaning no coal, no fossil fuels, and no nuclear power for energy, food control, which will leave the Western world with no industry, no jobs, and most of all, loss of property and income.

Thomas Knapp (2021-02-07). Biden's Iran Dilemma: Serve Obama's Third Term — or Trump's Second? anti-empire.com Even before winning the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden began hedging his bets on US policy toward Iran. While correctly blaming Donald Trump for violating the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka the Iran nuclear deal, he tried to fob responsibility for restoring that deal off on the Iranians rather than accepting the job himself. | "If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal," he

Field Empty (2021-02-07). Russia Expels Diplomats From Germany, Sweden and Poland for Attending Protests in Russia. anti-empire.com Moscow has revoked the credentials of three officials from EU nations, over claims they took part in unauthorized rallies in support of jailed opposition figure Alexey Navalny, local media reported on Friday. | In a statement issued on Friday, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had made formal protests to the embassies of Germany, Poland and Sweden. Representatives of these countries are said to have participated in mass-demonstrations that saw thousands take to the streets in cities across Russia over the past two weeks. According to officials, they have now been made "personae non grata" and "ordered…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-07). No return to nuclear deal before Iran sanctions lifted, says Khamenei. middleeasteye.net No return to nuclear deal before Iran sanctions lifted, says Khamenei | Supreme Leader says US needs to 'completely lift sanctions… not just on paper' before any return to 2015 deal | Sun, 02/07/2021 – 10: 08 | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivering a speech in front of air force commanders on 7 February, days ahead of the 42nd anniversary marking the victory of the Isla…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-07). Khamenei: No return to nuclear deal before Iran sanctions lifted. middleeasteye.net Khamenei: No return to nuclear deal before Iran sanctions lifted | Iran's supreme leader says US needs to 'completely lift sanctions… not just on paper' before any return to 2015 deal | Sun, 02/07/2021 – 10: 08 | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivering a speech in front of air force commanders on 7 February, days ahead of the 42nd anniversary marking the victory of the Is…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-07). Joe Biden says no lifting of Iran sanctions before talks. middleeasteye.net Joe Biden says no lifting of Iran sanctions before talks | Tehran has previously called for the lifting of sanctions before it returns to the 2015 nuclear accords | Sun, 02/07/2021 – 15: 52 | US President Joe Biden makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on 5 February 2021 (AFP) | US President Joe Biden said he would not lift sanctions…

RT (2021-02-07). 'Power on another level': Stars tip Alexander Volkov to be UFC king after bloody heavyweight battering of Alistair Overeem (VIDEO). rt.com Russian powerhouse Alexander Volkov hammered Alistair Overeem at UFC Vegas 18 before comforting his fallen foe in the octagon — and rival fighters joined the likes of footballer Artem Dzyuba in hailing his fearsome performance. | "Drago" inflicted a one-sided beating on the outgunned Overeem, punishing the Dutchman with eye-catching jabs that left his opponent's face in a mess as he struggled to defend himself at the end of his second-round defeat. | The comprehensive victory continued Volkov's claims to challenge for the heavyweight crown, having knocked out Walt Harris in the second round of their figh…

RT (2021-02-07). 'We'll see': Russian UFC champ Petr Yan reacts to rival Cory Sandhagen calling him out after stunning flying knee knockout (VIDEO). rt.com UFC contender Cory Sandhagen knocked out veteran Frankie Edgar with a brutal flying knee at UFC Vegas 18, only to have rival Petr Yan remind him of his defeat to his next opponent after saying he wanted to fight the Russian champ.

RT (2021-02-07). American dream: Russian MMA starlet Diana 'Pantera' Avsaragova reveals visa success that could lead to Bellator debut this spring. rt.com Russian combat queen Diana Avsaragova is set to fight for the first time in almost two years after revealing that she has secured a visa, paving the way to a potential place on a Bellator bill in the US later this year.

RT (2021-02-07). Cup heroes: With Medvedev the finals champ and Rublev equaling Djokovic last year, Russia's ATP stars are set for a storming 2021. rt.com Russia's commanding win at the $7.5 million ATP Cup this weekend showed that this could be an even more impressive year for the country's top tennis stars – and they will be rightly confident as the Australian Open gets underway. | The figures from the end of last year's ATP season made it sensible to imagine that Russian tennis might not hit the heights that it managed last year. | Only world number one Novak Djokovic won as many matches as Andrey Rublev – both chalked up 41 victories, although Rublev lifted one more trophy – while Daniil Medvedev, whose fourth-placed ATP ranking puts him four ahead of Rublev…

sputniknews (2021-02-07). Russia's Sputnik V Coronavirus Vaccine Safest in World, Maduro Says. sputniknews.com BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) – The Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is the safest vaccine against COVID-19 in the world, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-07). Iran to receive next shipment of Russian vaccine in mid-Feb. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 07 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Russian Federation said that Tehran will receive the next shipments of Russian COVID-19 vaccine in mid-February, March, and April.

_____ (2021-02-07). Ideological Imperialism Is Leading to a Bad End. strategic-culture.org By Patrick BUCHANAN | When it was learned in 2016 that Russia may have hacked the emails of John Podesta and the DNC, and passed the fruits on to WikiLeaks to aid candidate Donald Trump, mighty was the outrage of the American establishment. | If Russia's security services filched those emails, and a troll farm in Saint Petersburg sent tweets and texts to stir up rancor in our politics, it was said, this was an attack on American democracy and its most sacred of rituals — the elections by which we chose our leaders. | Some called it an "act of war." Others compared it to Pearl Harbor. | Almost all agreed it…

yenisafak (2021-02-07). Russia searches for remains of 2 Israelis in Syria. yenisafak.com The Russian army conducted searches in a cemetery near the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in Syria, in an attempt to find the remains of two Israeli soldiers who went missing 39 years ago during the first Lebanon war, The Times of Israel reported.The Hebrew daily, citing Syrian media reports, named the two soldiers as Tzvi Feldman and Yehuda Katzwent. They went missing during the battle of Sultan Yacoub in 1982, along with Zachary Baumel, whose remains were recovered and returned to Israel in 2019.In 2019, Tel Aviv received the remains of Baumel, who was killed in the same battle with the Syrian army near…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-07). Iranian Parl. speaker arrives in Moscow for bilateral talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 07 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Russian capital Moscow on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties and relevant issues.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-07). Tehran ,Moscow to finalize tie on joint vaccine production. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 07 (MNA) — An Iranian delegation, who just arrived in Moscow, will finalize a joint cooperation agreement for the production of the Sputnik V vaccine between Iran and Russia.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-07). Iran, Russia enjoying excellent, strategic relations. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 07 (MNA) — Saying that Tehran-Moscow relations are excellent and strategic, a senior Iranian Parliamentary advisor noted that Ghalibaf's trip takes place in the light of important regional and international developments.

Online News Editor (2021-02-07). Flames of protests against Kremlin burn behind bars. laprensalatina.com Zakharova, Russia, Feb 7 (efe-epa).- Bags of cigarettes, sachets of tea and boxes of cookies are piled up in the snow in front of the detention center. They are for demonstrators who were detained in the mass protests in favor of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The demonstrations have stopped, but the discontent of these young …

Katya Kazbek (2021-02-07). Who The Hell Is Alexei Navalny? zcomm.org Nothing fundamentally new is happening right now. A part of Russian society is unhappy with Putin and his government, but that's been a constant throughout his 20-plus year term…

sputniknews (2021-02-07). Borrell Says Asked Lavrov to Reverse EU Diplomats Expulsion, But 'to No Avail'. sputniknews.com BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday that he knew about Moscow's decision to expel three EU diplomats through social media adding that he personally asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to reverse this decision, but "to no avail."

sputniknews (2021-02-07). Moscow Surprised by Borrell's Comments on Visit, Says They Contradict His Earlier Statements. sputniknews.com Borrell stated on Sunday that the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was a "very complicated" visit for him, claiming that Russia was "progressively disconnecting itself from Europe".

Gordon Duff (2021-02-07). Intel Drop: The Truth Behind Red Don and his Duck Dynasty Warlords. thealtworld.com VT, the Senior Editor in consultation with intelligence operatives | Let me tell you a story: | What if Russia was helping Israel fight that war against Iran, but fight it inside Syria? | What if Russia were feeding attack information, tactical intelligence on Iran and Syria and even Hezbollah to Israel and even the US? | What if Russia, now that Biden is in, stands to make billions arming Iran with planes and other military technology, to stand against an Israel fully supported by Russia…against Iran? | With up to 200,000 Duck Dynasty warriors armed to the teeth in America, many active duty military and servin…

oneworld.press (2021-02-07). Syria Should Talk With The US Since Its Iranian & Russian Allies Are Already Doing So. oneworld.press Syria must become diplomatically proactive in order to adapt to the changing regional geopolitical situation of the early Biden era during a time when both its Iranian & Russian allies are already talking with the US otherwise it'll be left out of the negotiation process and ultimately told what to do without any reliable alternative if certain issues of relevant importance are decided without its input.

Armen Khachatryan (2021-02-07). The Russia-Africa Partnership. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | In this interview with Armen Khachatryan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer …

oneworld.press (2021-02-07). Syria Should Talk With The US Since Its Iranian & Russian Allies Are Already Doing So. oneworld.press Syria must become diplomatically proactive in order to adapt to the changing regional geopolitical situation of the early Biden era during a time when both its Iranian & Russian allies are already talking with the US otherwise it'll be left out of the negotiation process and ultimately told what to do without any reliable alternative if certain issues of relevant importance are decided without its input.

Eds. (2021-02-06). How the Gulf War sparked China's military revolution. mronline.org With the technology and firepower on show during the conflict — precision bombing, satellite guidance, missile interception, air-to-surface strike to eliminate tanks, electronic warfare, one-way transparency on the battlefield, stealth bombers — the Gulf War was a "psychological nuclear attack" on China, observers say.

Levada (2021-02-06). Just 15 Percent of Russians Believe Navalny's Account of 'Poisoning'. anti-empire.com Machine translated from Russian. | The majority of Russians (78%) are aware of the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, although they closely follow the development of events for less than a fifth of the population. The respondents name three main versions of what happened: 30% consider the incident to be a staging of the politician himself, 19% see this as a provocation of the Western special services, 15% speak of an attempt by the authorities to eliminate a political opponent. | Most Russians are aware of Navalny's poisoning today: 17% are watching closely, 61% have at least heard something about it. At the same time,…

RT (2021-02-06). 'Genie's out of the bottle': German FM pledges ‚Ǩ21 million to help Belarusian opposition in fight to remove embattled Lukashenko. rt.com Germany has set aside ‚Ǩ21 million ($25.3 million) as part of its new "action plan" aimed at supporting opponents of the Belarusian government, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has told an improvised pro-opposition online conference. | Seemingly in an effort to cement an image of Berlin as the leader among European nations sponsoring anti-government movements in…

RT (2021-02-06). $60 billion court battle: Russian deputy Justice Minister says Yukos oligarchs seeking 'legal protection for illegal behavior'. rt.com A long-running legal battle over the legacy of defunct energy giant Yukos, has resumed in the Netherlands, this week. RT spoke to Russia's Deputy Justice Minister about the landmark case and why it also matters for other nations. | Speaking exclusively to RT, Mikhail Galperin outlined how the Russian defense team has several arguments, but the one with particular precedent-setting ramifications concerns its contention that international law should not be abused to protect criminals. | On Friday, the Supreme Court in The Hague started hearings over a complaint brought against Russia in 2005 by former shareholde…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-06). Iran again warns US of dangers in delaying return to nuclear deal. middleeasteye.net Iran again warns US of dangers in delaying return to nuclear deal | Foreign minister says December legislation passed in parliament, dominated by hardliners, set a two-month deadline for the easing of sanctions | Sat, 02/06/2021 – 20: 17 | "We don't need to return to the negotiating table. It's America that has to find the ticket to come to the table,' said Mohammad Javad Zarif (AFP) | Ira…

yenisafak (2021-02-06). Fenerbahce Beko beat Zenit for 9th straight win. yenisafak.com Turkish basketball team Fenerbahce Beko beat Zenit St Petersburg from Russia 92-84 in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game Friday for their ninth consecutive win.French playmaker Nando De Colo led the team from Istanbul to victory at home in the Round 24 game, scoring 24 points with seven assists at Ulker Sports and Event Hall.Serbian guard Marko Guduric had 19 and Czech center Jan Vesely added 16 for the Turkish club.US forward Will Thomas led Zenit with 21 points.KC Rivers scored 14. American guard Billy Baron added 13.Fenerbahce Beko have 14 wins in the 2020-21 EuroLeague regular season.This season Zenit has los…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-06). Ghalibaf to convey Leader's message to Russian officials. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 06 (MNA) — An advisor to the Iranian Parliament Speaker said that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will convey the message of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to the Russian government in his upcoming visit to Moscow.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-06). Small-sized industries can help promote Iran-Russia trade tie. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 07 (MNA) — The Director General of Tehran Province Industrial Townships Company said that expansion of trade exchanges between Iran and Russia using the capacities of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is of paramount importance.

_____ (2021-02-06). The Q-Word: Weapon of Choice for Smearing Opponents. strategic-culture.org By Trevor Scott FITZGIBBON | –ûne of the most effective information-operation weapons during the 2016 presidential election was to smear political targets as "Russian bots" working on behalf of the Kremlin. Journalists were de-platformed, presidential candidates were The art of attacking political targets by using open-sourced guilt-by-association is not new — nor is using Russians as foils: Joseph McCarthy and his ilk did it in the…

WSWS (2021-02-06). Behind Biden's invocations of "democracy," US military prepares for nuclear war. wsws.org As Biden devoted his first foreign policy speech to invocations of "democracy" and "human rights," the head of US nuclear forces declared nuclear war "a very real possibility."

Alan Macleod (2021-02-05). Head of Strategic Command: US Must Prepare for "Very Real Possibility" of Nuclear War With China. mintpressnews.com In an era when international cooperation in the face of pandemics and climate change is essential, the world appears to be racing towards a new Cold War, and unfortunately, few except the military top brass are talking about it.

Alan Macleod (2021-02-05). Dems Deride MTG for Supporting Conspiracies While Claiming Russia Was Behind Capitol Riots. mintpressnews.com The House of Representatives has stripped new Georgia official Marjorie Taylor Greene from two committees over her history of promoting conspiracy theories. Congress took the highly unusual step today in voting 230 to 199 in favor of removing her from the education and budget committees, limiting her abilities and powers. In response, the 46-year-old freshman congresswoman Greene was a noted proponent of the QAnon conspiracy theory; a belief that Donald Tru…