(2020-02-16). Can Moscow finish Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline despite US sanctions? 'Never say never' says Gazprom. rt.com 
Russia's $10 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline – which will pump gas more than 1,200 km to Germany – has been sanctioned by Washington, with US officials claiming Moscow can't finish the project. "Never say never," Gazprom replied. | The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a joint project between Russian energy giant Gazprom and five European firms, was sanctioned by the US Congress in December. The State Department followed this with an ultimatum to the European firms working on the project: "immediately cease construction-related activity." | The warning was enough to scare away Swiss pipelaying firm Allseas Group SA, and…
(2020-02-16). 'Western doctors overprescribe drugs' — Jordan Peterson's daughter Mikhaila tells RT why he went to Russia for treatment. rt.com 
Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson chose Russia for his detox because the country's medical industry is less dependent on big pharma than North America's, his daughter Mikhaila told RT's World Apart program. | Peterson, who rose to fame for his vocal and unapologetic opposition to extreme political correctness, has been struggling with an addiction to the drug clonazepam for over a year now. The benzodiazepine-class tranquilizer was prescribed to the University of Toronto professor and author of bestselling book '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' in 2017, to tackle anxiety caused by his lasting autoi…
(2020-02-16). Trump's 'America First' polices have hurt EU's soft power, bloc should take action & not simply talk — foreign policy chief. rt.com 
Brussels must learn to take action, especially since Donald Trump's 'America First' policies are at odds with the bloc's own interests, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said, noting that divisions will harm the union. | "Europe has to develop an appetite for power," Borrell told the Munich Security Conference. "We should be able to act… not everyday making comments, expressing concern," he told world leaders, lawmakers, and senior officials gathered at the summit. | Borrell lamented that Brussels' "soft power," obtained largely through the bloc's economic strength, has withered — partly as a result…
(2020-02-16). Daredevil routine at 1,300ft almost goes DISASTROUSLY WRONG for Russian paraglider & aerial gymnast (VIDEO). rt.com 
Russian paraglider Alexander Orlov and world champion aerial gymnast Anzhela Kulagila performed a daredevil routine in Vietnam, making jaw-dropping acrobatics moves at 400m (1,300ft) — but which almost went badly wrong. | Driven by Orlov, who controlled the flow of the parachute, the duo presented a heart-stopping routine with Kulagila executing acrobatics tricks on slings with no safety wire. | The…
(2020-02-16). WATCH Portugal's president performing his power greeting again, this time with Indian PM Modi. rt.com 
The Portuguese leader has added to his repertoire of unorthodox handshakes, this time putting to the test the prime minister of India, who greeted him in New Delhi. | A vigorous and sustained (to say the least) handshake from Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stole the spotlight during his meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi this week. The two leaders appeared before the press, but their greeting extended well beyond formal diplomatic protocol. | In videos that surfaced online, de Sousa is seen grabbing Modi's hand, which he resolutely shakes in a series of quick, sharp movements. The Indian prime…
(2020-02-16). Bakery workers target Pancake Tuesday in strike over pay. thecanary.co 
Workers have vowed to halt Pancake Tuesday in Northern Ireland during strike action at one of the UK's largest bakeries.Bakers at Allied Bakeries in east Belfast walked out early on Sunday morning for the first time in decades in a row over a 3% pay claim.The factory makes products such as Kingsmill bread.This is one of the busiest weeks of the year at the site, which is part of Associated British Foods.The multinational company owns a series of brands, including clothes retailer Primark, and posted profits of around £1.4 billion last year.A Kingsmill lorry stopped at the gates where dozens of workers carry…
(2020-02-16). Thought biathlon was boring? Meet Dorothea Wierer — the Italian star sending fans wild at the 2020 World Championships (PHOTOS). rt.com 
Dorothea Wierer is an Italian 'shooting skier' who managed to end the dominance of German and Norwegian athletes in women's biathlon, on Sunday winning the 10k pursuit at the World Championships to bag her second world title. | "I couldn't believe I won the race till the very finish," the newly crowned champion said after the race in Antholz, Italy. | "I was happy to race today because I had be…
(2020-02-16). Devolved finance ministers write to Treasury seeking Budget talks. thecanary.co Finance ministers from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have urged the UK Government to hold pre-Budget talks. | The devolved administrations also sought clarity on plans for a forthcoming comprehensive spending review. | The joint letter said: "It will be important to discuss the challenges for public spending as a result of leaving the European Union and how we can work together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible to a UK funding framework which delivers for all parts of the United Kingdom and respects devolution. | "A key test of this will be to complete our joint work to review and improve the st…
(2020-02-16). Family reunites with 'PKK-kidnapped' daughter in Turkey. yenisafak.com With the efforts of Turkish security forces, another family has reunited with their daughter, who they claim was kidnapped by PKK terrorists, after five years of longing.According to security sources on Sunday, Pelda Ayhan surrendered to Turkish authorities in the Suruc district of Turkey's eastern Sanliurfa province.The mother, Gevriye Ayhan, had attended a sit-in protest against the PKK terror group in the southeastern Diyarbakir province.The protest started on Sept. 3 outside the offices of the Peoples' Democratic Party
(2020-02-16). Turkey says Haftar's aggressions must be stopped. yenisafak.com Turkey's top diplomat said on Sunday that the country underlined the importance of a political solution to the conflict in Libya, as well as stopping Haftar's aggression at the first follow-up meeting to a recent cease-fire in the north African country."As Turkey, we stressed that the only solution is a political one, and to achieve this, Haftar's aggression and violations must be stopped," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters after the ministerial meeting.The next meeting on Libya will take place in Rome, though the date is yet to be decided, he added.Foreign ministers and top diplomats from across t…
(2020-02-16). Turkish police arrest 450 PKK/YPG suspects. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces arrested 450 people for their alleged links to the YPG/PKK terror group, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.The ministry said police detained 450 suspects over the last five days in anti-terror operations across 37 provinces.During the operations, police seized equipment and documents at the suspects' addresses, including a number of long-barreled firearms, a shotgun and a shotgun shell.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK
(2020-02-16). Pakistan says Erdogan visit progresses free trade talks. yenisafak.com Pakistan said it made substantial progress with Turkey on a free trade agreement (FTA) last week during a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the capital Islamabad.According to Secretary of Commerce Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, a delegation from Pakistan's textiles sector will travel to Turkey in March ahead of the resumption of FTA negotiations. Sukhera said on Twitter that both countries were in agreement to "surmount the issue of being competitors" in textiles by finding ways to "collaborate."He added that the delegation would seek "ways of joining each other's value chains."Also, the two countries agre…
(2020-02-16). Turkish, Chinese top diplomats discuss Uyghur Muslims. yenisafak.com The foreign ministers of Turkey and China discussed the situation of the Uyghur Turkic Muslim minority in China during a meeting under the 56th Munich Security Conference.Mevlut Cavusoglu and Wang Yi met on Saturday, according to diplomatic sources.China's Xinjiang region is home to around 10 million Uyghurs. The Turkic Muslim group, which makes up around 45% of Xinjiang's population, has long accused China's authorities of cultural, religious and economic discrimination.Up to a million people, or about 7% of the Muslim population in Xinjiang, have been incarcerated in an expanding network of "political re-educat…
(2020-02-16). Cyprus to Lodge Protest With UN Over Turkish Plans to Reopen Island's Ghost Town – Reports. sputniknews.com ATHENS (Sputnik) – The administration in exile of the Cypriot city of Famagusta intends to lodge a protest with the UN over Ankara's plans to reopen Varosha, a ghost resort town in Famagusta, that has been fenced-off since Turkey's invasion in 1974, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said on Sunday.
(2020-02-16). Gazprom Official Reveals How Russian Energy Giant Will Make Profit in Coming Years. sputniknews.com Earlier this month, the Russian energy giant Gazprom confirmed its readiness to maintain current exports to Europe by renegotiating long-term contracts with major customers.
(2020-02-16). 'Never Say Never': Gazprom Responds to US Claim That Russia 'Can't' Complete $10 Bln Gas Pipeline. sputniknews.com The impending completion of the $10 billion, 1,230 km Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline stretching from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea hit a snag after Washington slapped sanctions on the project, prompting pipelaying contractor Allseas Group S.A. to pull out. Moscow says the project will be finished anyway.
(2020-02-16). 'Dominoes to Start Toppling': Ex-Brexit Party MEP 'Foretells' Next Country to Leave EU. sputniknews.com Following the UK's official exit from the EU on 31 January, all eyes currently are on Britain's efforts to clinch new trade deals with other countries as well as the bloc during an 11-month transition period.
(2020-02-16). Polish Factory Producing Britain's Blue Passports Faces Investigation — Reports. sputniknews.com The UK officially left the bloc on 31 January prior to a transition period envisioning negotiations on post-Brexit trade cooperation.
(2020-02-16). 5.8-Magnitude Quake Hits Iran's Qeshm Island in the Gulf – EMSC. sputniknews.com According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake occurred at a depth of 47 kilometres.
(2020-02-16). Greece — The Clearance Sale of Greek Military Bases to the United States. globalresearch.ca On 5 October 2019, in Athens, Greek Minister for Defence Nikólaos Panayotópoulos, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed a "Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement". | The Greek Parliament ratified the Agreement, which grants the United States the use of …
(2020-02-16). Record-breaking floods across England as Storm Dennis lashes UK (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Storm Dennis has sparked a record number of flood warnings across England after barreling through the UK and releasing more than a month's worth of rainfall in just 48 hours. | The storm blasted parts of northern Europe with fierce winds and torrential downpours over the weekend. With the worst of the storm finally having passed, authorities and residents across Britain have been left to pick up the pieces, as some parts of the country have been left submerged in floodwater. | The situation in South Wales was said to be "life-threatening", prompting the UK Met Office to issue a red warning due to heavy rain…
(2020-02-15). 'Change course before it's too late': Lavrov calls on Europe to reject false notion of 'Russian threat' in Munich speech. rt.com 
NATO's eastward expansion and large-scale drills near Russian borders may lead to unpredictable consequences and it's time for Europe to change course, Russia's FM Sergey Lavrov told the Munich Security Conference. | Europe is where the "crisis of confidence" in international relations is felt the most, Foreign Minister Lavrov said as he took to the stage, explaining that "the structure of the Cold War rivalry is being recreated" on the continent. | "Escalating tensions, NATO's military infrastructure advancing to the East, exercises of unprecedented scope near the Russian borders, the pumping of defense budge…
(2020-02-15). 2 in a row! Kulizhnikov & Voronina smash records to clinch 1000m and 5000m gold at speed skating worlds. rt.com 
Team Russia continues to take the ISU Speed Skating World Championship in Salt Lake City by storm, with Natalia Voronina setting a world record in the women's 5,000m, and Pavel Kulizhnikov following suit in the men's 1,000m. | Russian speed skating ace Kulizhnikov clocked a time of 1: 05.69 to set a new mark in the 1,000m on Saturday, his second triumph in as many days after he claimed gold in the shortest speed skating distance (500m) on Friday. | üí•ü홂ôÇÔ∏è And another one! üá∑ü&aacut…
(2020-02-15). Breaking 12-year curse: Alexander Loginov wins first gold for Russia at 2020 IBU World Championships. rt.com 
Russian biathlete Alexander Loginov has taken the first gold for his team at the 2020 IBU World Championships in Italy, finishing first in the men's sprint on Saturday. | The 28-year-old displayed flawless shooting and completed the 10km race in 22 minutes 48.1 seconds to claim his maiden world title. France's Quentin Fillon Maillet and Martin Fourcade earned silver and bronze respectively. | "Clean sh…
(2020-02-15). Who forgot the mic? Ukraine's Zelensky left without microphone at Munich Security Conference (VIDEO). rt.com 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech at the Munich Security Conference started off with a slip-up as the organizers somehow forgot to provide him with a microphone. | Zelensky's speech took place in a small room outside the main conference hall. When the Ukrainian president approached the podium, he was surprised to find that there was no microphone. "Can I have microphone?" he asked in English. "I can without," he said, causing the audience to laugh. | It turned out that there was no microphone, not because the organizers weren't interested in what Zelensky had to say, or thought he wouldn't nee…
(2020-02-15). Climate Change Driving "Rapid and Widespread" Decline of Bumblebees. truthout.org Shifts in temperature and rainfall are pushing bumblebees to their ecological limits across both continents, according to the analysis published in The impact of climate change on bumblebees is greatest in warmer parts of the northern hemisphere, including Mexico and Spain, the research finds. | Bumblebees have also expande…
(2020-02-15). Germany Sees Political Fallout From Chancellor Merkel's Alliance With Far Right. truthout.org Party politics is high on the agenda in Germany. A one-day alliance between Germany's
(2020-02-15). Post-Brexit Rules to 'Turn off Tap' of Low-Skilled Foreign Labor. telesurenglish.net Britain will "turn off the tap" of foreign, low-skilled labor and require all skilled workers wishing to come to the country to have a job offer and meet salary and language requirements as it sets post-Brexit rules from next year. | RELATED: | Britain formally left the European Union at the end of January but a transition period is in effect until Dec. 31, during which time little changes. | At the moment, European Union citizen…
(2020-02-15). Russian shock artist arrested in France days after leaking sex tapes of Macron party ex-candidate for Paris mayor. rt.com 
Self-exiled Russian shock artist, Pyotr Pavlensky, has been detained in France over a knife attack. The arrest came shortly after sex tapes he released forced a Paris mayor candidate to withdraw from the race. | Pavlensky was arrested by police after he left his hotel in Paris on Saturday, Le Parisien reported. BFM TV said that the artist had been wanted over "banditry with the use of dangerous means" since an incident at a party on January 1. | At the time, the Russian reportedly had a heated argument with a group of people and grabbed a knife to add weight to his stance. He ended up injuring two partygoers,…
(2020-02-14). Barr assigns outside prosecutor to review Russiagate's Michael Flynn's case — report. rt.com 
General Michael Flynn seems to be getting a lifeline from the attorney general following his claim that prosecutors in the Mueller investigation "concocted the alleged false statements" he was accused of making. | Attorney General William Barr has assigned an outside prosecutor to examine the criminal case against US President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, according to a report from the New York Times. | St. Louis prosecutor Jeff Jenson is heading the team reexamining the Justice Department's case against Flynn. The second look at Flynn's case is part of a larger probe by Barr to go over pol…
(2020-02-14). Hundreds more homes face flooding as 'perfect storm' Dennis approaches. thecanary.co 
A "perfect storm" of heavy rain, strong winds and melting snow could leave hundreds of homes across the UK flooded this weekend, experts have warned.Storm Dennis is forecast to batter large swathes of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with 70mph winds and up to 140mm (5.5inches) of rain in some areas.The Environment Agency (EA) said the flood impact from the weather system is likely to be worse than last weekend's Storm Ciara due to rain falling on already saturated ground. | Are you prepared for Find ou…
(2020-02-14). Irish unification back on agenda after election, but it won't be simple. peoplesworld.org 
The victory by Ireland's left-wing Sinn Fein Party in the Republic's recent election has not only overturned some 90 years of domination by the island's two center-right parties, it suddenly puts the issue of Irish reunification on the agenda. While the campaign was fought over bread and butter issues like housing, the collapsing health care …
(2020-02-14). One Billion Rising: Eve Ensler & Taína Asili Mark V-Day and Campaign to End Sexual Violence. democracynow.org 
This Valentine's Day, people around the world are taking to the streets to protest violence against women and girls. From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia, thousands of women in more than 100 countries will reclaim public space through dance and performance as part of a global movement called One Billion Rising. The movement takes its name from the shocking statistic that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. One Billion Rising started on Valentine's Day 2012 and has continued to grow every year since. Participants say they won't stop dancing until violence…
(2020-02-14). Anti-BDS laws are meant to censor & control speech, journalist Abby Martin tells RT after suing Georgia govt over cancelled talk. rt.com 
Barred from speaking at a public university over her refusal to sign a pledge of allegiance to Israel, journalist Abby Martin is now suing the state of Georgia, arguing its anti-BDS legislation sets fire to the First Amendment. | Slated to give a keynote talk at a media literacy conference at Georgia Southern University later this month, Martin was asked to sign what amounts to a loyalty oath to the State of Israel, mandated under a 2016 Georgia law barring the government from hiring contractors who boycott Israeli products or associate with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Martin t…
(2020-02-14). North Macedonia Is Being Used by NATO to Target Serbia and Russia. globalresearch.ca The North Macedonian House of Representatives unanimously approved on Monday for their country to accept the NATO Accession Protocol, taking the former Yugoslav Republic a step closer towards accession into NATO which is expected to be completed and finalized in …
(2020-02-14). Growth of fascistic attacks on refugees in Greece. wsws.org A thousand threads tie the fascistic thugs on the streets hunting down refugees to the ruling Greek capitalist party, New Democracy.
(2020-02-14). Osman Kavala and Two Others Face Aggravated Life Sentences in Turkey as Landmark Verdict Expected in Gezi Trial. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-02-14). Unified rejection of Johnson's 'vanity project' bridge as a total waste of money. thecanary.co Boris Johnson's "vanity project" bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland would be a waste of money, ministers on both sides of the Irish Sea have said. | Johnson has said work is underway to establish the feasibility of a road crossing between Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway and Larne in Co Antrim. | The devolved administrations said the estimated £20bn cost should fund vital projects in both countries instead and expressed anger that they had not been consulted. | Scottish transport secretary Michael Matheson said: "I strongly believe that if £20bn is available for investment in infrastruct…
(2020-02-14). UK Government Approves Net Censorship — British Free Speech Dies. globalresearch.ca The United Kingdom has become the first Western nation to move ahead with large-scale
(2020-02-14). Far-Right Group Arrested for Xenophobic Plans in Germany. telesurenglish.net German authorities detained a group of 12 men for allegedly setting up a far-right organization with the goal of carrying out attacks against politicians, asylum seekers and Muslims, the Federal Prosecutor's Office (GBA) informed. | RELATED: | Prosecutors confirmed that four of the suspects took part in a plan to organize a "terrorist organization" in September last year and regularly met and contacted each other by phone, on o…
(2020-02-14). World Leaders Meet in Munich to Discuss Global Security. telesurenglish.net Germany's President Frank Walter Steinmeier Friday opened the 2020 Munich Security Conference (MSC), a high-level event bringing together decision-makers mostly from developed countries. | RELATED: | Until Saturday, politicians, and academics will discuss issues related to "threats" to Western economic, cultural and religious institutions. | For this reason, there will be topics such as the situation of the Middle East conflict, the ongoing…
(2020-02-14). Selected Articles: Real and "Fake" Elections: US, Bolivia, Ireland. globalresearch.ca 
By The next Bolivian presidential elections were scheduled for May 3. The scenario in the country remains troubled, marked by the unrest …
(2020-02-14). Fueled by US Under Trump, Global Military Spending in 2019 Had Biggest Increase in a Decade. commondreams.org The amount the United States increased in defense spending between 2018 and 2019 was nearly the same as the United Kingdom's entire defense budget. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/global-military-spending-2019.jpg …
(2020-02-13). State-backed Alliance for Securing Democracy disinfo shop falsely smears The Grayzone as 'state-backed'. thegrayzone.com In painting critical reporting on the Iowa caucuses debacle as a Russian plot, a Western government-backed information warfare shop smeared…
(2020-02-13). Ireland: Political earthquake as Sinn Féin wins election. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-02-13). European left and green MPs support Kurdish struggle. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-02-13). France: Struggle to defend pensions enters new phase. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-02-12). Former Goldman Sachs CEO says Sanders presidency would 'ruin our economy,' gets blasted on Twitter. rt.com 
An ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs who helped cause the 2008 financial crisis has claimed Bernie Sanders would ruin the economy and "screw up the US" if elected president, prompting Twitter to remind him of the Great Recession. | Billionaire Lloyd Blankfein tweeted on Wednesday that Sanders is "just as polarizing as Trump AND he'll ruin [the American] economy and doesn't care about [the American] military," before adding: "If I'm Russian, I go with Sanders this time around." | If Dems go on to nominate Sanders, the Russians will have to reconsider who to work for to best screw up the US. Sanders is just as polarizing…
(2020-02-12). Foreign fighters: 'One of the most serious dimensions' in global counter-terrorism struggle. news.un.org Over the past few years, ISIL and Al-Qaida terrorist fighters have posed an "unprecedented threat to international peace and security", the UN counter-terrorism chief said on Wednesday in Vienna, at the close of a joint UN- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) regional conference on addressing challenges posed by terrorists who have gone to fight overseas.
(2020-02-11). Headlines for February 11, 2020. democracynow.org New Hampshire Voters Head to Polls for First Primary of 2020, Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 1,000, with Over 42,000 Confirmed Cases, Chuck Schumer Calls for Investigation into Trump's Retaliation-Motivated Firings, DOJ Reviewing Ukraine Info from Giuliani, DOJ Charges 4 Chinese Military Hackers in 2017 Equifax Breach, El Salvador President Bukele and Armed Officers Confront Lawmakers over Military Funding, Fears Mount for 5 Activists Detained in Philippines, Sinn Féin Scores Major Victory in Ireland, Syrian and Turkish Forces Step Up Attacks as 100,000s Face Humanitarian Disaster, Massive Locust Swarms Threaten Cro…