(2021-04-18). How to Make a Gulf Monarchy All-American. tomdispatch.com Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., was on the hot seat. In early March 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world, oil prices collapsed and a price war broke out between Saudi Arabia and Russia, leaving American oil and gas companies feeling the pain. As oil prices plummeted, Republican senators from oil-producing states turned their ire directly on Saudi Arabia. Forget that civil war in Yemen — what about fossil-fuel profits here at home? To address their concerns, Ambassador Bandar Al-Saud agreed to speak with a group of them in a March 18th conference call [mda…
(2021-04-18). The US-Russia Sanctions War: Symbolic, Substantive, or Strategic? globalresearch.ca The recently intensified "sanctions war" between the US and Russia has …
(2021-04-18). Video: Biden's Phone Call To Putin. US Policy Changes Faster than the Weather. globalresearch.ca Hopes and expectations for a partial normalization between Moscow, Washington and …
(2021-04-18). Balance Of Power In The Black Sea: Will The Montreux Convention Prevail? southfront.org 
Illustrative image | Written by Brian Kalman exclusively for SouthFront. | The current deterioration of any hopes of a lasting "ceasefire" in the eastern Ukraine, have brought not only the long smoldering conflict back into the forefront of global media attention, but have also presented an opportunity for several geopolitical rivals to take advantage of the situation for their own perceived benefit. Russia responded rapidly to immediate signals from the Kiev government that it fully intended to explore yet ano…
(2021-04-18). Russian Warplanes Rain Hell On ISIS Terrorists In Central Syria. southfront.org 
FILE PHOTO: Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft before departing for its permanent base in Russia from Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. © Vadim Grishankin / Sputnik | On April 18, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) carried out a series of airstrikes on ISIS cells in the central region of Syria. | According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 70 airstrikes hit the central region. The airstrikes targeted the following areas: | The eastern countryside of Hama; | The outskirts of the town of Re…
(2021-04-18). Syria Kurds hand over 34 orphans of Islamic State families to Russia. middleeasteye.net 
Syria Kurds hand over 34 orphans of Islamic State families to Russia | The children to be repatriated, aged between three and 14, were handed over to a delegation headed by the Russian president's envoy for children's rights | Sun, 04/18/2021 – 17: 31 | A soldier from the Syrian Democratic Forces stands guard at the al-Hol camp, a Kurdish-run displacement camp for relatives of IS jihadists…
(2021-04-18). Earthquake hits Iranian province housing nuclear power plant. middleeasteye.net 
Earthquake hits Iranian province housing nuclear power plant | Five people reported injured in quake centred 100km from the Bushehr nuclear complex located on country's Gulf coast | Sun, 04/18/2021 – 12: 56 | An Iranian government official said there were no reports of damage at the Bushehr nuclear complex (AFP) | A magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Sunday struck Iran's southern province of Bush…
(2021-04-18). The CIA Used To Infiltrate The Media. popularresistance.org Back in the good old days, when things were more innocent and simple, the psychopathic Central Intelligence Agency had to covertly infiltrate the news media to manipulate the information Americans were consuming about their nation and the world. Nowadays, there is no meaningful separation between the news media and the CIA at all. | Journalist Glenn Greenwald just highlighted an interesting point about the reporting by The New York Times on the so-called "Bountygate" story the outlet broke in June of last year about the Russian government trying to pay Taliban-linked fighters to attack US soldiers in Afghanistan.
(2021-04-18). Why Xinjiang Is Emerging As The Epicenter Of The US Cold War On China. popularresistance.org On March 22, 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken authorized sanctions against Wang Junzheng, the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau (XPSB). These sanctions, Blinken said, have been put in place against Wang Junzheng and Chen Mingguo because they are accused of being party to "genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang." The US Treasury Department followed suit with its own sanctions. | Both Wang Junzheng and Chen Mingguo responded by condemning these sanctions th…
(2021-04-18). Video: The Terrifying $1.2 Trillion Plan that Could Kill 90% of Humanity. globalresearch.ca The US will soon review its nuclear weapons programme. | Should it …
(2021-04-18). Iran Says It's Identified Suspect Behind 'Explosion' At Natanz Nuclear Site. eurasiareview.com Iran's intelligence service has named a suspect in the 'explosion' that damaged the Natanz power plant last week. It says the culprit, identified as a man from a town near the nuclear facility, has already fled the country. | "Reza Karimi, the perpetrator of this sabotage… has been identified" by the intelligence ministry, Iranian state television announced on Saturday. | Karimi was described in the report as a 43-year-old male who was born in the town of Kashan, not far from the Natanz facility. | Tehran had earlier blamed the incident on its arch-rival Israel and promised to retaliate. The Jewish state, wh…
(2021-04-18). EU To Table 'Climate Taxonomy', Leaving Gas And nuclear For Later. eurasiareview.com By Frédéric Simon | ( The EU executive is due to publish on 21 April the first section of its "sustainable finance taxonomy," a long list of economic activities plus the specific rules they must meet to be labelled as gre…
(2021-04-18). Earthquake causes no damage to Bushehr nuclear power plant. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (MNA) — None of the facilities, equipment, and buildings of Bushehr nuclear power plant have been damaged by the Sunday earthquake that occurred in Ganaveh County of Bushehr province.
(2021-04-18). US not lift sanction unless ensure Iran adheres to commitment. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (MNA) — The US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the White House will not lift sanctions imposed against Iran unless it (US) ensures that Iran has complied with its nuclear obligations.
(2021-04-18). Syria condemns U.S. and NATO military drive to Russia's border as threat to world peace. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Syrian Arab News AgencyApril 18, 2021 Syria condemns Washington and NATO step of dispatching troops towards Russian border as serious threat to international peace and securityEdited by RR Syria demands U.S. compensate it for seven years of war and plundering A decade later: U.S., Turkey renew, intensify war in Syria Damascus — Syria has condemned the U.S.'s …
(2021-04-18). US President Joe Biden's Shameful Push for War with China and Russia. dissidentvoice.org One of the most delightful things about Americans is that they have absolutely no historical memory. — Zhou Enlai In the autumn of 1862, the governments of France and Great Britain proposed to Russia, in a formal but not in an official way, the joint recognition by European powers of the independence of the Confederate …
(2021-04-18). Bolton Says he's 'Proud' to be Barred from Entering Russia. orinocotribune.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Friday said he was "proud" to be barred from entering Russia after Moscow's decision to include him on a list of individuals who will be denied entry to the country. | "I have been named on a list of individuals barred from Russia in retaliation for sanctions," Bolton
(2021-04-18). Confronting Russia in the High North: Pentagon acquires four new air, naval bases in Norway. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Confronting Russia in the High North: Pentagon acquires four new air, naval bases in NorwayRick Rozoff The U.S. and Norway have signed an updated military cooperation agreement that permits the American military to construct new facilities at three Norwegian airfields and a naval base. In the words of the Stars and Stripes report that related …
(2021-04-18). Confronting Russia in the High North: Pentagon Acquires Four New Air, Naval Bases in Norway. news.antiwar.com The U.S. and Norway have signed an updated military cooperation agreement that permits the American military to construct new facilities at three Norwegian airfields and a naval base. In the words of the Stars and Stripes report that related the development, the move "comes amid continuing concerns of Russian military activities along NATO's borders, including …
(2021-04-18). Iran, Russia, Syria set up operational room to help Damascus. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (MNA) — An operation room has been set up between Iran, Russia and Syria to provide lasting security for Iranian and Russian ships in the Mediterranean to deliver oil and food to Syria.
(2021-04-18). Syria condemns US, NATO dispatching troops to Russian border. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (MNA) — Syria condemned the US and NATO step of dispatching more military forces towards Russian borders which would pose a threat to international peace and security.
(2021-04-18). 'JCPOA talks not easy but underway'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna said the JCPAO talks in Vienna are not easy but they are going on.
(2021-04-18). Sunday Times: Britain To Deploy Two Warships to the Black Sea in Show of Force to Russia. news.antiwar.com The Sunday Times cites a Royal Navy source stating two British warships will enter the Black Sea next month as the newspaper put it, "tensions continue to rise between Ukrainian and Russian forces." As always with the Western press it is not indicated where and in what manner there have been tensions between Ukrainian and …
(2021-04-18). Escalate to Deescalate… Then Biden Takes Escalator Sideways. strategic-culture.org Washington must surely know that its escalations will be met with equal force from Russia and China, Finian Cunningham writes. | President Joe Biden wasn't expecting Russia's rapid slap back. He assumed, wrongly, that he could hit Moscow with a new round of sanctions (based on slanderous claims) and look as if he were chewing gum and acting the hard man. | Then slap. Russian responded immediately and firmly. Ten U.S. diplomats are to be expelled in a reciprocal response to Biden's executive order last week to expel Russian diplomats. | Laughably, the Biden administration was aghast at the Russian sanctions. A Sta…
(2021-04-17). US escalates in Ukraine battleground. thegrayzone.com With encouragement from his patrons in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is escalating against Russia and provoking a harsh response Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Moscow-based international affairs analyst Mark Sleboda about recent developments in Ukraine. Sleboda provides an in-depth explanation of the history leading to up to the current situation and analyses domestic factors in Ukraine that are pushing the country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to pursue a more bellicose posture towards Russia.
(2021-04-17). Why Xinjiang is emerging as the epicenter of the US Cold War on China. peoplesdispatch.org The US government's information warfare against China has produced the "fact" that there is genocide in Xinjiang. Once this has been established, it helps develop diplomatic and economic warfare…
(2021-04-17). Military Situation In Syria On April 17, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On April 16, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 27 times: 5 — in Idlib province, 11 — in Latakia province, 9 — in Hama province, 2 in Aleppo province | On April 16, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions near Ain Issa | On April 16, Russian warplanes targeted ISIS positions in the Bushri mountain more that 30 times | On April 16, 2 SAA members were killed by an IED blast in Um Batnah are…
(2021-04-17). ISIS Claims Its Cells Foiled Aerial Landing, Killed Two Russian Soldiers In Central Syria. southfront.org 
Illustrative image | On April 17, ISIS claimed that its fighters had killed two Russian special forces operatives during clashes in Syria's central region. | In a statement released by the Amaq news agency, the group claimed that two operatives were killed during a failed air landing in the outskirts of the town of al-Sukhnah in the eastern countryside of Homs. | The operatives' unit landed from a helicopter and engaged in a heated battle with a group of ISIS terrorists who were at…
(2021-04-17). Russian Navy To Guard Iranian Oil Supplies To Syria Under Strategic Agreement — Report. southfront.org 
A Russian Navy assault team from the Russian Federation ship Severromorsk land by helicopter on the deck of the Italian Ship San Marco, the NATO flag ship to Operation Ocean Shield, during a NATO-Russia counter piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden. | Russia, Iran and Syria have established a joint operation room that would work to guarantee the security and stability of oil and wheat supplies to Syrian ports through the Mediterranean Sea, Sputnik reported on April 17. | According to the agency, a series of intensive meetings be…
(2021-04-17). Meet Reza Karimi, Iran Identified The Natanz Bomber. southfront.org 
File image | On April 16, the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran identified the man behind the recent
(2021-04-17). 'Amazing feeling': Russia's Andrey Rublev rolls into maiden Masters 1000 final in Monte Carlo. rt.com 
Andrey Rublev continued his strong start to the season as the rising Russian star swept past Norway's Casper Ruud in straight sets in Monte Carlo to book a first Masters 1000 final against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. | Fresh from his sensational upset victory against 11-time champion Rafael Nadal on Friday, Rublev dug deep to overcome Norwegian surprise package Ruud, 6-3 7-5, at the Monte-Carlo Country Club after recovering from a break down in each set. | For Rublev it was a 24th victory this season, meaning the 23-year-old Russian has racked up a better record than any other player on the ATP tour thus far…
(2021-04-17). Things can only get better: F1 boss says Russian rookie Mazepin 'is trying too hard' after latest disasterclass. rt.com 
Russian Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin, 22, must "reduce" his accidents according to the boss of his Haas F1 team, Gunther Steiner, after the novice driver spun out TWICE during Friday's first practice at Imola. | Steiner's comments come after Mazepin spun out early in the FP1 session on Friday and later crashed into a barrier near the pit lane towards the end of the session, placing the young driver very much in the focus once again after he also crashed out early during his debut Formula 1 race in Bahrain in late March. | His erratic early showings led to some fans branding Mazepin as a "danger to himself a…
(2021-04-17). Teen sensation Shcherbakova shines again as Russia wins first figure skating World Team Trophy ahead of USA & Japan (VIDEO). rt.com 
Teenage star Anna Shcherbakova guided her team home by winning the women's free skate as Russia claimed a first-ever figure skating World Team Trophy, comfortably seeing off the USA and hosts Japan. | Heading into the final day of competition in perfect position to take home the title, Russian world champions Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov added to their team's points haul by winning the pair's free skate in Osaka on Saturday. | It was then over to Shcherbakova and fellow star Elizaveta Tuktamysheva to complete the job as they finished first and third respectively in the women's free skate. | That p…
(2021-04-17). Russia's FSB security agency detains Ukrainian consul in St Petersburg, claims he was trying to collect 'secret data' from local. rt.com 
Russia's Federal Security Service has detained an official from the Ukrainian consulate in Saint Petersburg. The high-ranking diplomat was nabbed during a meeting with a Russian citizen who allegedly provided him with secret data. | The diplomat, identified as Alexander Sosonyuk, was arrested in Russia's second city on Friday, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Friday. The diplomat was detained while having "a meeting with a Russian citizen, during which he received secret information from law enforcement and FSB databases," the agency said in a statement. | "Such activity is incompatible with the stat…
(2021-04-17). Czechs announce expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats, as Prague claims 'intel officers' involved in 2014 munitions depot explosion. rt.com 
The Czech Republic says it will expel 18 Russian diplomats, alleging that Russian intelligence officers were involved in a local munitions depot blast in 2014. It comes a day after Moscow said it would expel 10 US diplomats. | The move by Prague came amid a diplomatic standoff between Moscow and Washington that began midweek, after US President Joe Biden ordered 10 Russian diplomats out of the country over the Kremlin's alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election and its claimed involvement in last year's SolarWinds cyber-espionage case. More than 30 Russian individuals and organizations were also s…
(2021-04-17). Iran identifies suspect behind 'EXPLOSION' at Natanz nuclear site, says he's fled the country. rt.com 
Iran's intelligence service has named a suspect in the 'explosion' that damaged the Natanz power plant last week. It says the culprit, identified as a man from a town near the nuclear facility, has already fled the country. | "Reza Karimi, the perpetrator of this sabotage… has been identified" by the intelligence ministry, Iranian state television announced on Saturday. | Karimi was described in the report as a 43-year-old male who was born in the town of Kashan, not far from the Natanz facility. | Tehran had earlier blamed the incident on its arch-rival Israel and promised to retaliate. The Jewish state, wh…
(2021-04-17). In Video: Russian Forces Used Dozens of Lancet Drones Against Militants In Syria. southfront.org 
Lancet-3, screen grab from Russia-24 report. | Russian forces have used dozens of
(2021-04-17). Iran names man accused of Natanz nuclear plant attack. middleeasteye.net 
Iran names man accused of Natanz nuclear plant attack | Intelligence ministry says Reza Karimi fled Iran before the 11 April attack, which it blames on Israel | Sat, 04/17/2021 – 10: 56 | Damage to a warehouse at the Natanz nuclear facility after a previous explosion (AFP) | The man Tehran accuses of being behind the recent explosion at its main Natanz nuclear plant has been named by Irani…
(2021-04-17). U.S. maneuvers threaten war with Russia. workers.org 
On April 9, the Turkish officials announced to Russian counterparts that Washington, as it must by treaty, had informed them that in the following week the U.S. would send two warships to the Black Sea, which also borders Russia and Ukraine. This is part of the extended framework of tension . . . |
(2021-04-17). Journalists Learn They Spread A CIA Fraud About Russia. popularresistance.org That Russia placed "bounties" on the heads of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan was one of the most-discussed and consequential news stories of 2020. It was also, as it turns out, one of the most baseless — as the intelligence agencies who spread it through their media spokespeople now admit, largely because the tale has fulfilled and outlived its purpose. | The saga began on June 26, 2020, when The New York Times announced that unnamed "American intelligence officials" have concluded that "a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in…
(2021-04-17). The Hawks Who Want War with Iran Are Working Overtime. globalresearch.ca Last week's cyberattack on an Iranian nuclear facility, reportedly by Israeli …
(2021-04-17). NATO nations train, arm Ukrainian military for war with Russia. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com NATO nations train, arm Ukrainian military for war with RussiaRick Rozoff As the Ukrainian government and pro-government press is busily and dutifully terrorizing the domestic populace, and equally attempting to stampede the Western public into a "humanitarian intervention" moral panic, with headlines like Over 103,000 Russian troops currently stationed near border with Ukraine and Russia …
(2021-04-17). NATO Nations Train, Arm Ukrainian Military for War With Russia. news.antiwar.com As the Ukrainian government and pro-government press is busily and dutifully terrorizing the domestic populace, and equally attempting to stampede the Western public into a "humanitarian intervention" moral panic, with headlines like Over 103,000 Russian troops currently stationed near border with Ukraine and Russia deploys attack aircraft in occupied Crimea, it is also reporting on …
(2021-04-17). Taxes and Renewal: Biden's First 100 Days. commondreams.org We continue to fund nuclear weapons programs at Cold War levels, blind to the fact that none of them can ever be used and that their very existence threatens our existence. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/nuclearweapons_0_0.jpg …
(2021-04-17). Iran Identifies Suspect Behind Natanz Nuclear Site Sabotage. telesurenglish.net A recent explosion and power outage at Iran's main Natanz nuclear plant has added a new element of tension, as talks are underway in Vienna to try to save Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with five other world powers. | RELATED: | Iran annouced Saturday that a worker at the facility has been identified as the perpetrator, and added that efforts are underway for his aprehension. | State TV, referring to the Intelligence m…
(2021-04-17). Iran Begins 60% Uranium Enrichment in Response to Natanz Sabotage. news.antiwar.com Iran said on Friday that it has begun "Sixty-percent enrichment is currently underway at the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan nuclear facility" at Natanz, said Ali Akbar Salehi, The move is the latest step Iran has take…
(2021-04-17). The Future Of Particle Accelerators Is Here. eurasiareview.com When the Electron Ion Collider received the go-ahead in January 2020, it became the only new major accelerator in the works anywhere in the world. | "All the stars aligned," said Elke-Caroline Aschenauer, Brookhaven National Laboratory Staff Scientist and a leader in developing the EIC plans. "We have the technology to build this unique particle accelerator and detector to do the measurements that, together with the underlying theory, can for the first time provide answers to longstanding fundamental questions in nuclear physics." | The EIC isn't the only Brookhaven project poised to reshape nuclear and partic…
(2021-04-17). US senator says Washington should take first JCPOA step. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 17 (MNA) — The US Connecticut democratic senator said that the first return of the United States to Iran's nuclear deal, JCPOA, would be a strategic decision.
(2021-04-17). Indefatigable efforts continue to maintain JCPOA: Austrian FM. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 17 (MNA) — Austrian Foreign Ministry revealed the continuation of intensive talks in Austrian capital Vienna to keep Iran's nuclear deal, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), alive.
(2021-04-17). China reacts after U.S. and Japan challenge it in five regions and Washington pledges to defend Japan with nuclear weapons. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com China reacts after U.S. and Japan challenge it in five regions and Washington pledges to defend Japan with nuclear weaponsRick Rozoff Yesterday U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met at the White House to hold a joint press conference reaffirming and expanding bilateral relations between the two nations. A statement was …