(2020-02-09). Unpleasant surprise for Washington? US oil sanctions on Iran force India to look to Russia. rt.com 
Escalating US pressure on Iran, including sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, may have had an unexpected consequence — pushing India to diversify its energy supplies by shifting from Tehran to Moscow as a major oil supplier. | State-owned oil refiner Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has just signed a contract with Russia's Rosneft for the supply of up to 2 million tons of oil by the end of 2020. The meeting took place on the sidelines of India's largest weapons fair, DefExpo, currently going on in Lucknow. | "This is just the beginning," Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters after meetin…
(2020-02-09). Inside Iowa's Irregularities. dissidentvoice.org 
There are few things in life more surreal than being on the ground when election fraud is taking place, feeling that knot in the stomach growing as tales of intrigue trickle in like slow-drip coffee on a particularly rough morning. I was in Georgia in 2018, when the gubernatorial race between Republican Brian Kemp and …
(2020-02-09). US military confirms 2 troops killed & 6 injured in Afghanistan by 'individual in Afghan uniform'. rt.com 
At least two US service members were killed and six others injured after an individual in "Afghan uniform" armed with a machine gun opened fire on a joint patrol in Afghanistan, the US military has confirmed. | The incident took place in Nangarhar province earlier on Saturday as a combined US and Afghan force was returning from a "key-leader engagement," a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan said in a late-night statement. | NEW, statement from US Forces-Afghanistan spox Col. Leggett: | 2 US troops killed and six injured in Afghanistan after "an individual in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined U.
(2020-02-09). Indian pharma threatened by coronavirus outbreak that could lead to shortage of Chinese drug imports. rt.com 
India's pharmaceutical industry has warned that the ongoing coronavirus epidemic could impact the supply of ingredients and drugs imported from China. | The possibility that drug imports could be slashed due to the outbreak is being "closely monitored" and the government is working with pharmaceutical companies "in an integrated way to deal with the situation," Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance Secretary General Sudarshan Jain told local media. | A shortage of Chinese drugs would have an immediate effect on India's pharmaceutical industry, as China accounted for some 68 percent of total imports for bulk drugs and…
(2020-02-09). Major disruption as 'exceptional' Storm Ciara hits UK. thecanary.co 
Storm Ciara is sweeping across the UK, with heavy rain and severe gales disrupting flights, trains and ferries.Met Office weather warnings are in force, with gusts of more than 80 miles per hour battering parts of the country as forecasters warned flying debris could lead to injuries or endanger lives.Met Office meteorologist Helen Roberts said "quite exceptional" gusts of between 60 and 70mph would be seen in inland areas, with the worst of the weather likely to hit before 6pm, although warnings are in place until 9pm."As well as the strength of the wind there is the rain to come today," she said."So far, we hav…
(2020-02-09). 'Warsaw is closer to Moscow than to Washington': Ex-president Walesa vows to break ice in Poland-Russia ties. rt.com 
It is imperative to improve Russia-Poland relations, outlive the troubled past and move forward, ex-president Lech Walesa has said, adding that only a "third party" benefits from the discord. | While the relationship between Poland and Russia wasn't particularly warm throughout recent decades, it can be unfrozen if both sides do their part, Walesa told Russia's
(2020-02-09). Russian banks may grant loans to diamond buyers in India — media. rt.com 
Indian diamond traders purchasing rough precious stones from major Russian miner Alrosa could be eligible for loans from Russian banks, as domestic lenders have reduced financing for the gem and jewelry sectors. | Russian banks have already started granting money to Alrosa's foreign clients, according to the Economic Times. The measure could boost India's diamond industry, which has been lacking a source of financing since notorious jeweler Nirav Modi was accused of being involved in a $2.5+ billion fraud case in India. The billionaire was arrested in London in 2019 after managing to enjoy a lavish lifestyle i…
(2020-02-09). Stones thrown by SECT rioters as police arrest rabbi accused of rape & 'HEALING' for money (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Members of a cult-like sect tried everything to prevent officers from bringing to custody a controversial Israeli rabbi thought to have taken advantage of gravely ill people and convicted of sexual assaults on women. | Israeli police have arrested Rabbi Eliezer Berland early on Sunday morning, along with his wife and other top members of his ultra-Orthodox Shuvu Bonim sect. Shortly afterwards, the sect's followers thronged the nearby street, trying to seal it off and stop the vehicle carrying Berland. | Stunning footage from the arrest shows them hurling stones at officers and banging fists on the passing car.
(2020-02-09). US envoy warns Washington could pull support as Israel unilaterally starts drawing map for West Bank annexations. rt.com 
Unilateral action by Israel to annex land in the West Bank would endanger US support for a proposed blueprint for the region, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has said. | "Israel is subject to the completion [of] a mapping process by a joint Israeli-American committee. Any unilateral action in advance of the completion of the committee process endangers the Plan & American recognition," Friedman said, in a message posted on Twitter. | Israel is subject to the completion a mapping process by a joint Israeli-American committee. Any unilateral action in advance of the completion of the committee process end…
(2020-02-09). Why the Buttigieg Campaign Tried to Have Me Arrested. zcomm.org You'd think that a presidential campaign backed by 40 billionaires and untold numbers of bundled rich people wouldn't worry about just one leaflet on Medicare for All…
(2020-02-09). At least eight shot dead in southern Iraq. indybay.org At least eight anti-government protesters were shot dead and 52 were wounded in clashes with followers of a radical Shiite cleric in southern Iraq on Wednesday, Iraqi medical officials and activists said.
(2020-02-09). Oakland Protesters Insist Senate Trial Was a Cover-Up, Not an Exoneration. indybay.org After the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on both articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, protesters took to the streets in Oakland, CA.
(2020-02-09). Western China Bashing vs. Western Biowarfare? dissidentvoice.org On 29 January WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that there was no reason to declare the outbreak of the coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China a pandemic risk. On 30 January, he declared the virus an international emergency, but made clear that there was no reason for countries to issue travel-advisories against travelling to China. …
(2020-02-09). The 2019 China Wuhan Coronavirus & (BSL-4) Biotech Warfare Labs with Dr. Francis Boyle. indybay.org Dr. Frances Boyle talks about the Wuhan Coronavirus and how in his view it is a genetically engineered bioweapon that was accidentally released from the Wuhan Biosafety (BSL-4) laboratory.
(2020-02-09). Iran Attack on Two US Bases, The "Evil Empire" Strikes Back. The Casualties? globalresearch.ca After their excessive and macabre display of delight and satisfaction, and even celebration, over the killing of Solemani, the White House was tight-lipped about Iran's almost immediate retaliatory missile attack on two US bases in Iraq, with Donald Trump soon …
(2020-02-09). Meditation & Prayer for Climate. indybay.org Intersection of S. Market and W. San Carlos streets, San Jose, California…
(2020-02-09). A Green New Deal Must Offer Farmers a Way to Transition to Regenerative Agriculture. zcomm.org Because we rely on our farmers to be on the forefront of the fight to mitigate climate change, we need to find a way to make this change economically feasible for farmers. That's exactly what a Green New Deal should be all about…
(2020-02-09). Western States Petroleum Association Tops CA Lobbying Expenses with $8.8 Million in 2019. indybay.org The Western States Petroleum Association and Chevron together spent a total of $14.7 million on lobbying in California in 2019.
(2020-02-09). Unilateral Israeli annexations would endanger US support: envoy. yenisafak.com Unilateral Israeli steps to annex West Bank land would endanger U.S. support for such plans, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said on Sunday.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday Israel had begun drawing up maps for annexing land in the West Bank, which Palestinians seek for a state, in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan."President Trump's Vision for Peace is the product of more than three years of close consultations among the President, PM Netanyahu and their respective senior staff," Friedman said on Twitter."Israel is subject to the completion (of) a…
(2020-02-09). One week into virus quarantine, Turkish evacuees bullish. yenisafak.com A week since Turkey flew out dozens of its citizens from Wuhan, China, morale is high, as none of the evacuees has shown any symptoms of the deadly coronavirus.On Feb. 1 Turkey sent a cargo plane to evacuate 42 people, including 32 Turks, six Azerbaijanis, three Georgians, and one Albanian, as the virus spread both in and outside China's borders.Right after the plane landed in the Turkish capital Ankara, the evacuees, along with medical staff, military personnel, and media who accompanied them, were taken to a hospital to be held in a two-week precautionary quarantine in separate rooms to allow healthcare officia…
(2020-02-09). Anti-Huawei UK lawmakers conducting 'witch-hunt': Chinese ambassador. yenisafak.com Senior members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives who have demanded Chinese telecoms giant Huawei must not have a role in Britain's 5G mobile network are conducting "a kind of witch-hunt", China's ambassador to London said on Sunday.Last month the government said "high-risk vendors" such as Huawei would be allowed into the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network, although their involvement will be capped at 35%.Asked about a letter to Conservative lawmakers by several former ministers expressing concern over Huawei, Liu Xiaoming told the BBC: "They are totally wrong, I think what they are doing is a ki…
(2020-02-09). Quit smoking while there's still time: Doctor. yenisafak.com National No Smoking Day in Turkey is celebrated Feb. 9, to draw attention to the dangers of tobacco.Tobacco use is an important risk factor for developing cancer, the disease that kills eight million people worldwide each year.To mark the occasion, Anadolu Agency spoke with doctors about what happens to the body of smokers and how it recovers when one stops the habit."Smoking is the most important cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fourth most common disease of death in the world," said Dr. Ece Yigit of Pendik Medipol University Hospital in Istanbul.COPD is a disease that can be controlle…
(2020-02-09). Turkey ready to act after reinforcing Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com Turkey has sent major reinforcements to Syria's northwestern Idlib region and "all options are on the table", a senior official said on Sunday, as Ankara tries to stem rapid advances by Syrian regime forces.The regime offensive in Idlib, the last major enclave of opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, has driven more than half a million people from their homes towards the closed Turkish border, threatening a new humanitarian crisis in Syria.Turkey, which already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees, says it cannot absorb any more and has demanded Damascus pull back in Idlib by the end of the month or face Turkish…
(2020-02-09). Pope calls for respect of humanitarian law in Syria's Idlib amid escalation. yenisafak.com Pope Francis called on Sunday for respect of humanitarian law in Syria's Idlib province, amid an escalation of a Syrian government offensive that has displaced more than half a million in two months.He told tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's square that the reports from Idlib were "painful … particularly regarding the conditions of women and children, of people forced to flee from a military escalation."Turkey has reinforced its military presence in the area, saying the advances by Russian-backed Syrian troops and their allies threaten a fresh humanitarian disaster.The crisis risks driving another wave…
(2020-02-09). Turkey's nationalist party urges TRNC leader to resign. yenisafak.com Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader on Saturday urged the current president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to resign over his "shameless" remarks in an interview he made with a British daily.Devlet Bahceli's statement came after Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci talked to The Guardian about the long-standing reunification efforts in Cyprus island."If this failed to happen, he [Akinci] said, the north [TRNC] would grow increasingly dependent on Ankara and could end up being swallowed up, as a de facto Turkish province," the daily cited Akinci as saying.Referring to Tayfur Sokmen…
(2020-02-09). Syrian regime forces recapture 600 square km of territory in Idlib campaign. yenisafak.com Syrian regime forces have recaptured more than 600 square kilometres of territory so far in a campaign to seize control of the last opposition strongholds of Idlib and the Aleppo countryside, a statement from Syria's armed forces said on Sunday.Syria's armed forces have taken control of dozens of towns and villages in recent days as part of the campaign, the statement said.
(2020-02-09). Storm Ciara disrupts more than 100 flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol. yenisafak.com Around 120 flights to and from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, one of Europe's largest, were cancelled or delayed on Sunday as a powerful storm blew in off the Atlantic Ocean with gusts of more than 100 kilometres per hour (62 miles per hour).The Netherlands Meteorological Institute issued an amber alert for Sunday afternoon as storm Ciara began to batter the Dutch coast after crossing Britain overnight.All professional Dutch soccer matches were cancelled, along with most outdoor sporting events.Winds of 100 kilometres per hour were registered just after midday in the Netherlands and gusts were expected to pick yup…
(2020-02-09). Indian Kashmir hit by general strike called by separatists. yenisafak.com Indian-held Kashmir was hit by a general strike on Sunday called by the separatist Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to mark the anniversary of the death of a Kashmiri man who was executed for his part in an attack on India's parliament in 2001.The JKLF on Thursday called for strikes on Feb. 9 and Feb. 11 to observe the anniversary of the death of Afzal Guru, and then that of its founder Maqbool Bhat.Shops and businesses were shut on Sunday, while there was little traffic on the roads in Srinagar and other parts of Indian-held Kashmir.Indian troops have erected iron barricades and laid concertina wire in part…
(2020-02-09). African Union Summit Opens in Ethiopia Amid Libyan Conflict – Video. sputniknews.com African Union leaders are set to discuss a broad peace and security agenda, ways to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as African candidacies in international bodies.
(2020-02-09). Taliban Ready to Enter Direct Talks With Kabul Only After Signing Deal With US – Moscow. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Taliban* express readiness to enter direct talks with Kabul only after signing a peace deal with the US, the possibility of a temporary truce for the period of such negotiations is being discussed, the Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan and the head of the Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department said.
(2020-02-09). Mayor Cheat or Master Teaser? Buttigieg Under Fire for Editing Speech Clips With Fake Cheers. sputniknews.com Since former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and contender for the presidential nomination from the Democratic Party Pete Buttigieg emerged as the winner of the Iowa Caucus, he has been under even closer scrutiny by the American public and his Democratic rivals.
(2020-02-09). China's Ambassador to UK Slams Senior Tories' Anti-Huawei Stance as 'Witch-Hunt'. sputniknews.com Earlier, the Financial Times reported that top Conservative lawmakers wrote a letter expressing concern over Huawei's participation in the construction of the UK's 5G network, referring to the company as an "untrusted and high-risk vendor."
(2020-02-09). Pentagon's "Pivot" to Russia, China Faces Trouble as Its Troops 'Stuck in Sand', Need Money. sputniknews.com The two countries were named the biggest potential challenges and possible "near-peer adversaries" in the Trump administration's defence documents in a contrast to years of focusing on countering the terrorist threat by previous administrations.
(2020-02-09). Watch Airbus-320 With 172 Passengers Land at Hmeymim Airbase Trying to Avoid Israeli Strike on Syria. sputniknews.com The Russian Defence Ministry stated on 7 February that a civilian Airbus-320 with 172 passengers on board was nearly destroyed amid Israeli airstrikes near Damascus in the early hours of 6 February.
(2020-02-09). Netizens Enraptured by Saturday Night Live Sketch Mocking Democratic Debate in New Hampshire. sputniknews.com From Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, it seems that Saturday Night Live has never overlooked any president or government official throughout its history. The show's creators frequently take jabs at President Donald Trump, but this time they apparently decided to focus on Democrats…
(2020-02-09). Fellowship of Siberia's Baikal Rings: Cause of Puzzling Ice Circles in World's Biggest Lake Revealed. sputniknews.com There have been diverse theories attempting to crack open the mystery of the so-called "ice rings" in Russia's Lake Baikal, some of which may even reach 7 kilometres in diameter. The most popular concept, focusing on methane outbursts, was eventually disproven due to objective geological reasons.
(2020-02-09). Utair Flight Crash Lands in Usinsk in Northern Russia – Photos. sputniknews.com According to emergency services, the plane en route from Moscow hit the runway with its tail, the 94 people on board were unharmed. In the meantime, the Usinsk Airport is continuing to operate under its regular schedule.
(2020-02-09). Watch Boeing-737 With 94 People on Board Dramatically Crash Land in Russia's Usinsk. sputniknews.com According to preliminary reports, all people on board the Utair Boeing-737 are safe, however, it is not clear how heavily the aircraft has been damaged. Firefighters arrived at the scene as fuel started leaking from the plane.
(2020-02-09). Junior Swimming Champion Belonogoff Switching From British to Russian Sport Nationality. sputniknews.com British swimmer Tatiana Belonogoff, gold medal winner in the women's 50m breaststroke at the 2018 European Junior Championships, has been living and training in Saint Petersburg for some time now and is currently on track to only compete under the Russian flag from now on.
(2020-02-08). Embassy Protectors Will Not Be Able to Tell Jury Guaido Is Not President, or Mention International Law. dissidentvoice.org 
On February 4, Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell issued a ruling on what the jurors will be allowed to be told in the trial of the Embassy Protectors scheduled to begin on February 11. She granted most of the government's requests to prevent the jury from hearing important facts about the case, leaving the protectors …
(2020-02-08). The Iowa Caucuses Are a Mortal Threat to Democracy. truthdig.com 
The The first contest in th…
(2020-02-08). Payback: Trump Ousts Officials Who Testified in Impeachment Inquiry. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — Exacting swift punishment against those who crossed him, an emboldened President Donald Trump on Friday ousted two government officials who had delivered damaging testimony against him during his impeachment hearings. The president took retribution just two days after his acquittal by the Senate. | First came news that Trump had ousted Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, the decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats' impeachment case. He was escorted out of the White House complex Friday, according to his lawyer, who said he was asked to leave in retaliation…
(2020-02-08). 'Friday night massacre': Sondland follows Vindmans as Trump cleans house of 'traitors/heroes' following failed impeachment. rt.com 
The recall of US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland seems to indicate that President Donald Trump is dismissing from service the officials who testified against him in the abortive impeachment proceedings. | "I was advised that the president intends to recall me effective immediately," Sondland said in a statement on Friday evening, adding he was grateful to Trump for the opportunity to head the US mission in Brussels. | Wow — EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland recalled. His attorney sends me this statement on his behalf
(2020-02-08). China coronavirus death toll soars to 813 with 37,000+ cases worldwide. rt.com 
China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of a lethal viral outbreak, reported 81 new deaths and a further 2,147 new cases of infection on Sunday morning, bringing the worldwide disease toll to over 37,000, with at least 813 fatalities. | The virus has spread worldwide to almost 30 countries. Governments have been scrambling to contain the epidemic, with multiple states banning direct flights from China. Strict quarantine regimes were implemented for citizens returning from the country. | As Beijing takes firm quarantine measures across dozens of cities, encompassing tens of millions of citizens, US President Dona…
(2020-02-08). U.S. uneasy as Iraq gets new prime minister. mronline.org 
The protest movement in Iraq, which is now entering its fourth month, has come to be the principal instrument for Washington to surreptitiously advance the broader geopolitical confrontation with Iran that is being played out within the country. |
(2020-02-08). NATO's 'hysteria' over Russia stalking their satellites is only to get more money — MPs. rt.com 
Claims that Russia is using its spacecraft to spy on NATO satellites have no real backing and are used to justify funding requests as the US and its allies are militarizing space, Russian MPs said. | Earlier this week, French General Andre Lanata, who is NATO's supreme allied commander transformation, sounded the alarm over a recently-launched Russian satellite synchronizing its orbit with an American surveillance spacecraft. | "It is a threat to our allies," Lanata told the Washington Examiner. "It's a key question. We need to be sure that we give to our forces this space asset support." | The commander went…
(2020-02-08). 'Unhinged': MSNBC host Chris Matthews goes on bizarre rant about mass executions & 'the Reds' while discussing Bernie Sanders. rt.com 
MSNBC host Chris Matthews is facing backlash on social media after he launched into a heated rant about socialism and appeared to suggest a Bernie Sanders presidency could somehow lead to mass executions in the streets. | During a post-debate special Friday evening, Matthews said his personal views on socialism go back "to the early 1950s" before drawing comparisons between Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and former leader of Cuba Fidel Castro. | "I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War there would have been executions in Central Park and I might have been one of the ones getting…
(2020-02-08). Montreal SEP Canada meeting demands freedom for Assange and Manning. wsws.org Assange and Manning are the targets of a legal vendetta meant to intimidate and silence all those who would seek to expose the crimes of US imperialism and its allies.
(2020-02-08). Three Extraordinary Australian Journalists: Burchett, Pilger, Assange. dissidentvoice.org Australia has produced extraordinary journalists across three generations: Wilfred Burchett (deceased in 1983), John Pilger (80 years old but still active) and Julian Assange (48 years old, currently in London's Belmarsh prison). Each of these journalists made unique contributions to our understanding of the world. Although Australia is part of the western world, each of …
(2020-02-08). Media darling Pete Buttigieg was in unit that worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. thegrayzone.com While Pete Buttigieg's campaign denies online allegations that he was a CIA asset, military records reveal that Buttigieg was in…