(2020-02-10). World War III Could Be Fought in the Arctic. truthdig.com 
In early March, an estimated 7,500 American combat troops will travel to Norway to join thousands of soldiers from other NATO countries in a massive mock battle with imagined invading forces from Russia. In this futuristic simulated engagement — it goes by the name of Exercise Cold Response 2020 — allied forces will "conduct multinational joint exercises with a high-intensity combat scenario in demanding winter conditions," or so
(2020-02-10). Robot-naldo! Italian festival hails Cristiano Ronaldo with giant robotic float at Viareggio Carnival (VIDEO). rt.com 
Cristiano Ronaldo has had his image immotalized on more than one occasion in the past, but most of those pale in comparison to the iron giant representing the Portuguese great which was debuted at the Viareggio Carnival in Italy. | The festival, which is considered among the largest of its kind in Europe, regularly attracts visitors from the world over due to its rich history of incredibly detailed floats which comprize the centerpiece of the celebrations. | Last year's iteration saw US President Donald Trump lampooned with a massive exhibit in which he was dressed in the regalia of a Roman emperor in a subtle…
(2020-02-10). Merkel's would-be successor Kramp-Karrenbauer steps down as CDU head amid coalition mayhem. rt.com 
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Germany's Defense Minister and Angela Merkel's protégé, is resigning as leader of the Chancellor's CDU party and will not seek to compete for the country's top job in the next election. | Kramp-Karrenbauer, or AKK, as she likes to be known, made headlines on Monday by announcing that she will not lead the Christian Democrats (CDU),
(2020-02-10). Support for NATO wanes in France, Germany & even US as alliance struggles to maintain unity. rt.com 
Public support for NATO has seen a notable decline in France, Germany and the US, according to a new poll. The alliance has suffered from months of budgetary in-fighting and mud-slinging among member states. | While the Pew Research study noted that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization still enjoys general support across member states, it pointed out that several countries "have soured on the alliance." | Positive views of the transatlantic alliance fell to 52 percent in the United States last year, from 64 percent in 2018, the survey found. In France, support fell to 49 percent, from 60 percent in 2017 and…
(2020-02-10). BBC journalist sparks anger online after 'populist' jibe in wake of historic success for Sinn Féin in Irish elections. rt.com 
World-renowned BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson has triggered Twitter after claiming voters had "succumbed to populism" in Ireland's general election after left-wing nationalist party Sinn Féin made historic gains. | Simpson — who has spent his working life at the BBC reporting from a host of war zones around the world — took to social media on Monday morning to ostensibly voice his dismay at the election results. | He suggested the emergence of Sinn Féin to break up the duopoly of center-right parties was nothing more than a case of the Irish electorate caving in to "populism." | So Ire…
(2020-02-10). BBC journalist sparks anger online after 'populist' jibe in wake of historic success for Sinn Fein in Irish elections. rt.com World-renowned BBC Foreign correspondent John Simpson has triggered Twitter after claiming voters had "succumbed to populism" in the Irish general election, that saw left-wing nationalist party Sinn Fein make historic gains. | Simpson — who has spent his working life at the BBC reporting from a host of war zones around the world — took to social media on Monday morning to ostensibly voice his dismay at the election results. | He suggested the emergence of Sinn Fein to break up the duopoly of center-right parties in the Republic of Ireland was nothing more than Irish electorate caving in to "populis…
(2020-02-10). Sinn Fein preference is to form Irish left-wing govt — leader. rt.com 
Sinn Fein's first priority is to form a government with fellow left-wing parties, leader Mary Lou McDonald said on Monday. However, the Irish nationalist party will also talk to the country's dominant center-right parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, she told RTE. | "My first job of work… is to establish with other parties whether or not there are the numbers, whether there is the political will, to deliver a new government without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael," McDonald said. But she added that "of course" she would talk to everyone, including Fianna Fail and PM Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael. | Irish nationalists Sinn…
(2020-02-10). Left-wing "Sinn Féin" wins historic victory in Ireland. peoplesworld.org 
Sinn Féin, the left-wing republican party founded in 1905 and famed for its affiliation with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), has seen its popularity steamroll across the island in this weekend's national elections. Once considered a pariah in Irish and British politics, Sinn Féin appears to be poised to take a role in the …
(2020-02-10). China warns France not to discriminate against Huawei on 5G contracts. rt.com 
The Chinese embassy in Paris has called on the French government to treat telecom giant Huawei as an equal to other tech companies when it comes to participant selection in the rollout of superfast 5G networks there. | France is currently picking suppliers for its next-generation networks and Huawei could be one of the top contenders, despite the US trying to convince its allies around the globe to ban the Chinese tech major. | Also on rt.com | | As France is expected to auction o…
(2020-02-10). Cyprus won't stop gas drilling for Turkey dispute — president. rt.com 
Cyprus won't put its exploratory gas drilling plans on hold despite Ankara's attempt to force the east Mediterranean island nation to halt its activities by conducting its own gas search in Cypriot waters, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said. | Pausing drilling in the face of Turkish pressure would be tantamount to Cyprus abrogating its sovereign rights, Anastasiades added on Sunday. | However, Anastasiades is ready to engage with Turkey on charting a course to a deal that would reunify Cyprus, which has been divided into ethnically Greek and Turkish areas since the 1970s, AP reported. That won't happ…
(2020-02-10). Russian 'anarchists' jailed for planning FIFA World Cup and presidential election terrorist attacks. rt.com 
A court in the central Russian city of Penza has handed down prison sentences of between six and 18 years to seven anarchists convicted on terrorism charges. | The men, all members of the group 'Network ('Set,' in Russian), were accused of possession of weapons and drugs, and of planning attacks during the FIFA World Cup and presidential election in 2018. They were arrested in 2017, in Penza and St. Petersburg. The Federal Security Service (FSB) claims that 'Network' also operated 'cells' in Moscow, Omsk and the capital of Belarus, Minsk. | Investigators asserted that Dmitry Pchelintsev and Ilya Shakursky were…
(2020-02-10). Spanish govt to ban glorification of Franco dictatorship — Socialist Party. rt.com 
The Spanish government plans to make it illegal to glorify the regime of former dictator General Francisco Franco as part of a reform of the criminal code, the Socialist Party said on Monday. | Franco, who ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975, ordered the execution or imprisonment of tens of thousands of his enemies, while as many as 500,000 people died in the preceding civil war, Reuters said. His legacy still divides Spain and looms large over its political system. | "In a democracy you don't pay tribute to dictators or tyrants," parliamentary spokeswoman Adriana Lastra said. She did not spell out w…
(2020-02-10). Greece to speed up creation of migrant holding centers after protests. rt.com 
The Greek government plans to accelerate the creation of detention centers on its outlying islands in the Aegean Sea after a backlash against overcrowded camps by some migrants and nearby residents. | Authorities in Athens said on Monday they would proceed with the purchase of land on the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos, and press ahead with plans to create holding facilities on state-owned land on Kos and Leros. | "The government has decided to close today's anarchic facilities and create controlled, closed facilities," spokesman Stelios Petsas said. The conservative New Democracy cabinet, elected last Jul…
(2020-02-10). Turkey strikes Syrian Army positions after '5 troops killed in shelling'. rt.com 
Five Turkish troops were killed in the shelling of an observation post in Syria's Idlib province, Ankara has said, blaming Damascus for the attack. Turkish forces then fired on Syrian Army positions. | "Five of our troops were killed and five others were injured in the shelling by the Syrian regime," the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Monday, adding that "return fire was opened." | It's not the first shelling incident between Turkish and Syrian forces in Idlib. A week ago, six Turkish troops were killed by Syrian artillery fire in an incident that Russia said was a result of miscommunication. | The casualtie…
(2020-02-10). Russian court extends house arrest of US investor Calvey until May 13. rt.com 
A Moscow court ruled on Monday to extend until May 13 the house arrest of US investor Michael Calvey, an executive at private equity group Baring Vostok, TASS reported. The court also ruled to extend the house arrest of Calvey's French colleague Phillipe Delpal until the same date. | The executives, who were detained in February 2019, deny any wrongdoing. | They had asked the court to mitigate the preventive measure, to be allowed to take walks or to release them on bail, but th…
(2020-02-10). Russia starts training crew for India's 1st manned space mission. rt.com 
Four Indian astronauts that will take part in their country's first manned space mission have begun tuition at Russia's famed Cosmonaut Training Center (CTC) after coming through a rigorous selection process at home. | The quartet, sent by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), commenced training on Monday, the center "All candidates served as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. After serious tests,…
(2020-02-10). Sick joke: Blogger arrested after brutal coronavirus prank on Moscow subway (VIDEO). rt.com 
A prankster is facing up to five years in prison for causing panic on the Moscow underground. That's the high price he may yet paying for an ill-conceived attempt to turn Chinese coronavirus hysteria into online likes. | A young man in a black tracksuit and a face mask was walking along the subway car on one of the busiest lines before suddenly collapsing on the floor and starting to convulse in agony. Several guys rushed to help the poor soul, but then quickly fled, shouting "Coronavirus! Coronavirus!" | The event had a strong effect on other passengers, who started rushing out of the car as soon as the train…
(2020-02-10). Coronavirus likely to have minimal effect on Russia's economic growth — Alexei Kudrin. rt.com 
Russian economy could feel the impact of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, but it is likely to be less damaging than expected, according to the head of Russia's Accounts Chamber, Alexei Kudrin. | "It [the coronavirus outbreak] will have an impact on the economic growth rate, but it will be minor," the former finance minister told reporters on Monday. "It might be within 0.1 – 0.2 [percent of GDP]." | The virus has severely affected the demand for oil, as China is one of the major global importers. This has been driving oil prices down since the beginning of the year and the demand is unlikely to fully rebound,…
(2020-02-10). The Truth About Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca A made-up rape allegation and fabricated evidence in Sweden, pressure from the UK not to drop the case, a biased judge, detention in a maximum security prison, psychological torture — and soon extradition to the U.S., where he could face …
(2020-02-10). Journalist Abby Martin Sues State of Georgia Over Law Requiring Pledge of Allegiance to Israel. mintpressnews.com "This censorship of my talk based on forced compliance to anti-BDS laws in Georgia is just one level of a nationwide campaign to protect Israel from grassroots pressure."
(2020-02-10). World War III's Newest Battlefield: U.S. Troops Head for the Far North. globalresearch.ca In early March, an estimated 7,500 American combat troops will travel to Norway to join thousands of soldiers from other NATO countries in a massive mock battle with imagined invading forces from Russia. In this futuristic simulated engagement — it …
(2020-02-10). Chinese Slams "Racist" Reports by German Media over Coronavirus. globalresearch.ca "Epidemic outbreaks must not be used as an excuse for discrimination and xenophobia, and press freedom must not become a reason for creating a racist opinion in German society," said the Chinese embassy in Germany in a statement. | *** | The …
(2020-02-10). Warm Response to Refuse Fascism Actions in LA This Weekend. indybay.org The weekend Feb 7-9 marked the opening of the LA Philharmonic's festival "The Weimar Republic: Germany 1918-1933," and RefuseFascism.org was in the house on Friday to unfurl a 40 foot banner "TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW, REFUSEFASCISM.ORG" to exuberant applause.
(2020-02-10). Social Inequality and Universal Basic Income. indybay.org The welfare state in Germany is not as efficient as in the Nordic countries. In Gerrmany, more than twice as many people are at risk of income poverty-especially children and single parents (mostly mothers). We have to make a decision: entrepreneurial paradise or a little less faith in the market and high life satisfaction for the broad masses.
(2020-02-10). Germany: Trial in Hamburg for former SS security guard at Stutthof concentration camp. wsws.org In the lawsuit against Bruno D, several of the co-plaintiffs have stressed the significance of the trial, given the current resurgence of far-right extremism and fascism in Germany, Europe and worldwide.
(2020-02-10). German Ruling Class Commemorates Liberation of Auschwitz by Planning New Wars and New Crimes. globalresearch.ca On Wednesday, a neo-fascist party helped form a regional government in Germany for the first time since the end of Nazi rule. | Despite the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) receiving just five percent of the vote in the regional election …
(2020-02-10). Sinn Féin general election win reflects leftward shift in Ireland. wsws.org Sinn Féin are the undeserving beneficiaries of a sharp shift to the left among broad sections of working people and youth.
(2020-02-10). Irish Left Set to Win General Election, But Still Shut Out of Governing? zcomm.org For the first time in 100 years neither of Ireland's two historically dominant parties will win a plurality of the vote, providing an opening to Sinn Fein and other left parties. What made this possible?
(2020-02-10). From Pétain to Macron, from the Resistance to the Yellow Vests…: 1944-1945, France's Fake Purge of "The Collaborators" globalresearch.ca In her most recent book, La Non-épuration en France de 1943 aux années 1950 ("France's Non-Purge from 1943 to the 1950s"), historian Annie Lacroix-Riz challenges a view of the Liberation of the country in 1944-1945 — and its aftermath — …
(2020-02-10). U.S. Deploys 20,000 Soldiers to Europe for Military Exercise. telesurenglish.net While the President of the United States, Donald Trump, is running his million-dollar reelection campaign, in which he is using more forcefully the slogan, "Make America Great Again", the U.S. Army is preparing to carry out its largest military drills in Europe in the past 25 years. | RELATED: | With the danger of a potential war between the U.S. and Iran, the U.S. insists on strengthening its military potentia…
(2020-02-10). Gas Wars in the Mediterranean. globalresearch.ca The unexpected alliance between Turkey and Libya is a geopolitical earthquake that changes the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean and across the Middle East. Turkey's audacious move has enraged its rivals in the region and cleared the way …
(2020-02-10). Why is Turkey Looking for Quagmires? zcomm.org Once again Turkey is picking sides in a civil war, and this one more than 1,000 miles from the Turkish border…
(2020-02-10). Syrian Military Kills 5 Turkish Soldiers in Idlib: Turkey. telesurenglish.net The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced Monday that five of their military personnel were killed in a new attack launched by the Syrian armed forces in the northwestern province of Idlib. | RELATED: | In their statement, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said their soldiers came under attack at their observation post near the Taftanaz Base northeast of Idlib city. | Turkish military helicopters were seen arriving at the obs…
(2020-02-10). NATO "Preparations" for Attack on Russia. Operation Barbarossa II: Setting the Stage for War. globalresearch.ca I have written several times about the continuing NATO preparations for an attack on Russia, a second Operation Barbarossa, the code name for the Nazi invasion of the USSR in 1941. Circumstances prompt me to write about it again, for …
(2020-02-10). It's No Big Deal that There Are Some Limits to Russia-Israel "Cooperation" in Syria. globalresearch.ca Russia's condemnation of the "Israeli Air Force's" recklessness in once again hiding behind a civilian aircraft to deter anti-air fire by the Syrian Arab Army during their latest bombing operation against Damascus isn't contradictory to the principles of the unofficial …
(2020-02-10). China, Russia to Defy US Sanctions Over Support to Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The Russian government rejected on Monday the U.S. threats to impose new sanctions against several Russian companies for their cooperation with Venezuela in the oil sector. | RELATED: | Last week, the United States special representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, warned Russia that its support for Venezuela will cost them econmically as Washington is looking to sanction them.
(2020-02-10). Step to Nuclear Doomsday: US Puts Low-yield Nukes on Submarines to Counter Made-up Russian 'Strategy'. globalresearch.ca The US has deployed "low-yield" nuclear missiles on submarines, saying it's to discourage nuclear conflict with Russia. The move is based on a "Russian strategy" made up in Washington and will only bring mass annihilation closer. | In a statement released …
(2020-02-10). Turkey nabbed nearly 1,600 irregular migrants last week. yenisafak.com At least 1,594 irregular migrants were held across Turkey over the past week, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from security sources.As many as 913 migrants were held in multiple operations carried out by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag provinces, bordering Greece and Bulgaria.According to local security forces in Edirne, Greece has recently stepped up efforts to send irregular migrants to Turkey in violation of the Geneva Conventions, European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention Against Torture.In the coastal western cities of Canakkale, Balikesir,…
(2020-02-10). UN dispatches humanitarian aid to war-stricken Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Monday dispatched 43 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Idlib, a northwestern Syrian province torn by the years-long civil war.The trucks, with supplies to be distributed among residents in urban areas of Idlib, as well as the surrounding countryside, passed through the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's southern Hatay province.Syria has been mired in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN figures.Idlib falls within a d…
(2020-02-10). Ciara presses east as storm ravages coast overnight. yenisafak.com In what hurricane-level conditions have been, Storm Ciara has walloped the northwestern part of Europe.Winds recorded as high as 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour), driving rain, and even sleet hit the region overnight causing outages, downing power lines, and causing flooding from Ireland to Belgium, France, and the U.K.As of 9.00 a.m. (0800GMT), 26 departments in northern France, including the Seine-Maritime and Ile-de-France (Paris region), remained on orange alert by national weather agency Meteo-France. The towns Le Havre and Calais, which provide maritime transport to Dove on the coast of England,…
(2020-02-10). NATO's image worsens sharply in France, United States, study shows. yenisafak.com NATO's public image in the United States and France worsened sharply last year, according to a Pew Research Center study, after U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron questioned the value of the Western alliance.Positive views of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which relies on the commitment of its allies to collective defence, fell to 52% in the United States last year, from 64% in 2018, the study released on Monday said.In France, where Macron said last year the alliance was experiencing "brain death" because of a perceived failure to help resolve world conflicts, support fell…
(2020-02-10). 'No consensus with Russian delegation on Idlib yet'. yenisafak.com Turkey's foreign minister said Monday that there had been no consensus with the visiting Russian delegation so far regarding the escalating situation in Idlib, Syria.Mevlut Cavusoglu's remarks came during a joint news conference with visiting Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miro Cerar in the capital Ankara.He said that since the talks had failed in the first meeting on Saturday, a second session was in progress.Cavusoglu said recommendations were presented from both sides."There was an exchange of views and suggestions [on Saturday] and thus [the delegations] agreed to meet again. The Russian…
(2020-02-10). Russia ready to exchange ambassadors with Ukraine: FM. yenisafak.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that his country was ready to exchange ambassadors with Ukraine."The Ukrainian side recalled the ambassador, threatened to break off diplomatic relations. Now, someone mentioned the possibility of [Ukranian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's decision to return the ambassadors. We will be fine with it," the minister told Russian daily Rossiyskya Gazeta in an interview.Despite tensions, he said, the two countries were strongly tied together."Our countries, even in the current conditions are strongly interconnected in the economy, transport, humanitarian affairs, fa…
(2020-02-10). Car bomb kills 4 civilians in Syria's Afrin. yenisafak.com At least four people were killed in a car bomb attack in Afrin city of northwestern Syria on Monday, said security sources.An explosive-laden vehicle detonated in the center of the city, killing four civilians and injuring 15 others, some of whom are in critical condition, said the sources who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.Turkey in January 2018 launched a major military offensive
(2020-02-10). Following in UAE, Saudi | footsteps, Egypt issues fatwa banning Turkish | TV series. yenisafak.com The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt alliance have taken a new scandalous step targeting popular Turkish dramas aired in the Middle East.In Egypt, the official and biggest fatwa organ of the country, the "High Fatwa Council" (Dâru'l-ƒ∞ftâ),published a statement that accuses Turkey of trying to create an "area of influence" for itself in the Middle East via its soft power. Citing globally-popular dramas such as "Resurrection: Ertuƒürul" and "Valley of the Wolves, " it goes on to say that Turkish series should not be watched in any way whatsoever. Erdogan targetedThe statement also targeted Turkish…
(2020-02-10). Trump; US Election; China; Elections in Ireland. sputniknews.com Join George Galloway on the new home for the Mother of All Talk Shows – this week we discuss Trump, US election, coronavirus in China, and Irish election.
(2020-02-10). Fast and Furious: British Airways Flight Breaks Speed of Sound as It Flies Over North Atlantic. sputniknews.com As Storm Ciara has brought hurricane-force winds and rains to the United Kingdom, disrupting flights and trains, the cyclone that gave birth to the storm has helped a British Airways plane set a record.
(2020-02-10). 25 More European Parliamentarians Expected to Visit Kashmir on 12 February, Sources Say. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): This will be the third time that a foreign delegation visits Kashmir and the second by EU MPs to assess the situation on the ground in the region after the Indian government revoked its decades-old quasi-autonomous status last year, bifurcating it into two federally-administered units — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
(2020-02-10). UK Suffers Heavy Flooding After Hurricane-Force Winds Batter Northern Europe. sputniknews.com 244 flood alerts and 118 flood warnings remain in effect in England, Scotland and Wales, as the UK struggles to recover from Storm Ciara.
(2020-02-10). Turkish MoD Claims Its Observation Post in Idlib Attacked by Syrian Gov't Forces. sputniknews.com On 7 February, the Anadolu news agency reported that Turkey was moving its special forces to observation posts in the Idlib de-escalation zone. A day later, media reported that Turkish forces had built a base in the region supported by an army convoy that had arrived at the installation.