(2020-01-31). Italian Council of Ministers declares state of emergency due to coronavirus health risk. rt.com 
Rome has declared a state of emergency for six months in response to Italy's first two coronavirus cases. The decision comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the epidemic a global crisis. | Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Friday that two Chinese tourists staying in Rome had tested positive for the virus. As part of its emergency measures, Italy has suspended all direct flights to China. | The tourists from Wuhan — the Chinese city where the virus originated — made several stops in Italy, including Milan and Parma, before arriving in Rome. Eighteen other Chinese ci…
(2020-01-31). WATCH huge concert hall ceiling collapse in St. Petersburg, one worker has been killed. rt.com 
A construction worker has been found dead after a St. Petersburg concert hall collapsed as it was being demolished. Footage shows tragic moment a worker desperately scrambled to reach a crane as the structure broke apart. | Drone footage shows a huge cloud of dust coming from the St. Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex. The massive stadium suffered a roof collapse as workers attempted to dismantle the structure. | Warning: This video contains disturbing images | –í –ü–∏—Ç–µ—Ä–µ –ø—Ä–∏ —…
(2020-01-31). Churchill sightseeing in Crimea and FDR saluting the flag: Russia declassifies PHOTOS taken ahead of 1945 Yalta conference. rt.com 
As part of a WWII document trove declassified ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Yalta summit, never before seen photographs show US and British leaders and officers arriving in Crimea and touring Sevastopol with Soviet hosts. | British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt traveled to Crimea in February 1945, to meet with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin at the Black Sea town of Yalta. | Official photos from the Yalta conference itself were taken by American photographers at the Livadia Palace, where the US delegation was staying. Prior to the summit, however, Soviet photogr…
(2020-01-31). Crimean official quits, changes her mind, then quits again after bizarre 'bread and fur coats' scandal. rt.com 
"Fur-coat gate" has gripped Crimea after a local official resigned, then re-instated herself, before — somewhat unbelievably — later resigning again. All in the space of a couple of days. | The controversy started when Maya Khuzhina was pictured handing out pieces of bread to elderly veterans of the Second World War Leningrad blockade while wearing an expensive animal skin. The siege of the city — now Saint Petersburg — by Nazi Germany and its Finnish and Italian allies, lasted 872 days and resulted in over a million deaths, a great many of them from starvation. | In her role as chair of…
(2020-01-31). Facebook, Twitter face fines in Russia for violating local data protection law. rt.com 
Facebook and Twitter were required by law to notify the telecom watchdog about storing Russian users' data within Russia by January 31. Neither did, and they now face fines of up to $95k — and up to $280k for repeat violations.
(2020-01-31). First two cases of coronavirus confirmed in Russia, both Chinese citizens. rt.com 
Russia has registered its first patients diagnosed with the new Chinese coronavirus, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova has confirmed. The alarming news comes just a day after Moscow closed its Far Eastern border with China. | Golikova told reporters that the two sufferers are Chinese citizens, one in the Far Eastern Zabaikalsky Region, and the other in the Tyumen Region in western Siberia — which are separated by a distance of about 4,000km. | The patients in question have been subjected to "strict monitoring." They have been put into quarantine and are receiving medical care. The head of Rospotrebna…
(2020-01-31). Russia set to train astronauts for India's 1st manned Gaganyaan mission. rt.com 
India, which is striving to become the fourth space superpower, is sending a group of astronauts to Russia where they will be given rigorous training at the famed Cosmonaut Training Center outside of Moscow. | An Indian crew of four is arriving in February and the program "is intended for one year and a half," the head of Russia's Cosmonaut Training Center, Pavel Vlasov, told TASS. The center will train a spacecraft commander and spacecraft flight engineers, using the time-tested Soyuz. | India, which is seeking to launch its first-ever manned mission — known as Gaganyaan ('sky vehicle' in Sanskrit) –…
(2020-01-31). Anzhelika Timanina: The Russian Olympic champion swimmer chasing Tokyo surfing dream (PHOTOS). rt.com 
The former captain of Russia's synchronized swimming team, Anzhelika Timanina, has been included in the national surfing squad as the sport plans to make its Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. | The 30-year-old blonde, who called time on her illustrious swimming career in 2016, has been swept away by another sport, finding a new passion and motivation in surfing. | Having swap…
(2020-01-31). Murder charges dropped against 3 Moscow sisters who killed abusive father. rt.com 
In a case which has shocked Russians, three Khachaturian sisters admitted to killing their father after he subjected them to mental, sexual, and physical abuse spanning years. | They faced charges of premeditated murder, but now their lawyer says the Russian Prosecutor General's office has ordered investigators to drop that arraignment, and instead reclassify the killing as lawful self-defense. | Lawyer Aleksey Parshin told TASS news agency that officials have declined to support the Investigative Committee's case against the sisters. Parshin said that the Khachaturians responded to their father's "unlawful at…
(2020-01-31). Serbia will continue developing relations with Russia & China despite EU concerns — Vucic. rt.com 
Belgrade has excellent relations with Russia and China and will continue developing them, following the example of leading European countries, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday. He made the statement at a joint press conference with visiting EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel in Belgrade. | "We are on the European path and do not conceal this before our Russian and Chinese partners," TASS quoted Vucic as saying. "But we have good, excellent cooperation with the Russians and the Chinese and we will continue developing this cooperation." | He expressed hope…
(2020-01-31). Boom! 94yo WWII veteran fires 152mm howitzer in stunning VIDEO. rt.com 
A decorated WWII veteran couldn't resist trying a large-caliber cannon while visiting a Russian military compound in Siberia and didn't miss a single target. The jaw-dropping moment was caught on film. | It's been 75 years since Mikhail Asanov came back from the war, but his shooting skills are still as sharp as ever. This week, he was invited to share his wartime experience with young soldiers near the Siberian town of Kemerovo, but the visit ended up being a spectacular live-fire exercise. | Russia's Defense Ministry released a video showing the 94-year-old veteran being escorted towards a Msta-B 152mm howit…
(2020-01-31). Lavrov, new ambassador Sullivan discuss prospects for Russia-US bilateral ties. rt.com 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and new US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan discussed on Friday the prospects for Russia-US relations, in Lavrov's first meeting with Sullivan since he started in the role. | They discussed the current state of affairs and prospects for the development of Russian-American relations, as well as some pressing international problems, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. | Lavrov expressed hope that the new US ambassador would contribute to "the normalization and strengthening of relations between our countries in various fields." | Sullivan, who arrived in Moscow on January…
(2020-01-31). How government and media are prepping America for a failed 2020 election. mronline.org 
Russia, China and Iran are already being blamed for using tech to undermine the 2020 election. Yet, the very technologies they are allegedly using were created by a web of companies with deep ties to Israeli intelligence. |
(2020-01-31). Climate activists from Africa speak out about the marginalisation of African voices. thecanary.co 
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate and peers from other African nations have made an urgent appeal for the world to pay more attention to the continent that stands to suffer the most from climate breakdown despite contributing to it the least.The Fridays For Future movement and activist Greta Thunberg held a news conference with the activists in Sweden to spotlight the marginalisation of African voices."African activists are doing so much": Nakate — along with Makenna Muigai of Kenya, Ayakha Melithafa of South Africa, and climate scientist Ndoni Mcunu of South Africa — pointed out the challe…
(2020-01-31). Transfer deadline day: Follow all the latest moves as they happen across Europe. rt.com 
From big-money moves to bargain buys, teams across Europe are scrambling to bring in reinforcements and offload unwanted talent before the winter transfer window slams shut on Friday until the end of the season. | Some major moves have already been signed, sealed and delivered, but there remains a significant amount of late business to be done across the continent. | RT Sport brings you all the latest deadline day action, including from our reporters in the thick of it in Milan, London and Moscow. | See the live updates below for developments right up until the deadlines for Europe's biggest leagues.
(2020-01-31). Pakistan suspends direct flights to China as novel coronavirus claims more lives. rt.com 
Pakistan is suspending all direct flights to Chinese cities days after four of its students tested positive for the new coronavirus. Similar measures have been taken in countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. | "We are suspending flights to China until February 2," the additional secretary of aviation, Abdul Sattar Khokhar, told Reuters on Friday, saying Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will review the situation after that date. | Local media shared an official CAA letter sent to local managers of Air China and China Southern Airlines — the two carriers serving direct flights between a n…
(2020-01-31). Turkey 'will not hesitate to use military force' if attacks by Syrian govt forces don't stop in Idlib — Erdogan. rt.com 
Ankara will not sit idly by as the Syrian Army carries out an offensive in northeastern Idlib province, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned, saying all options, including the most extreme ones, are on the table. | "We will not watch the situation in Syria… We will not hesitate to do whatever it takes, including using military force," Erdogan said on Friday in Ankara. He
(2020-01-31). Riot Police beat up striking Firefighters as media looks the other way. mronline.org 
The media, quick to condemn violence against protesters elsewhere in the world, largely ignored the brutal crackdown on firefighters joining months-long nationwide protests in France. |
(2020-01-31). Comic hypocrisy? Macron lampooned for posing with anti-police brutality t-shirt (PHOTO). rt.com 
French President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of blatant hypocrisy, after he was photographed with a t-shirt satirizing his own government's violent crackdown on anti-austerity protests. | Macron paid a visit to the International Comic Book Festival in Angouleme, southwestern France on Thursday — but his appearance likely had the opposite of its intended effect on France's increasingly discontented electorate. | A photograph taken during the festival shows the French leader holding up a t-shirt showing a cartoon cat with a bleeding, patched-up eye. Under the feline reads: LBD 2020, an allusion to the…
(2020-01-31). Headlines for January 31, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Poised to Acquit President Trump in Impeachment Trial, World Health Organization Declares International Public Health Emergency, U.S. Special Envoy Warns of International Crisis in Idlib, Syria, Britain Formally Withdrawing from European Union Tonight, Pentagon Deploys 1st Low-Yield Nuclear Warhead-Armed Submarine, Trump Admin Poised to Loosen Restrictions on Use of Landmines, Human Rights Groups Condemn Mexico for Crackdown on Central American Migrants, Mexican Butterfly Conservationist Found Dead, Bolivia's Movement for Socialism Candidate Luis Arce Returns to Bolivia, U.S. Pushes EU to End Ban on Chemic…
(2020-01-31). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Paper and other forestry workers in Finalnd have launched a series of strikes, while protesting French firefighters faced brutal attacks from police.
(2020-01-31). Erdogan's Outburst Against Russia Reveals Frustration. globalresearch.ca Back in November 2015, a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M near the Syria—Turkey border on the allegations that the Russian warplane had violated Turkish airspace for 17 seconds — an interesting casus belli considering that …
(2020-01-31). Pipeline or a Pipe Dream: Israel, Turkey Hydrocarbon Conflict is Brewing in the Mediterranean. counterpunch.org Massive natural gas discoveries off the coast of Israel and Palestine are slated to make Tel Aviv a regional energy hub. Whether Israel will be able to translate positive indicators of the largely untapped gas reserves into actual economic and strategic wealth is yet to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the Middle
(2020-01-31). Trump and Putin Made this the Best Week Ever for Netanyahu. globalresearch.ca Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is coasting into his country's third elections on March 2 with the success of two tremendous achievements over the past week that was interestingly made possible by both American and Russian Presidents. U.S. President …
(2020-01-31). Ukraine government plagued by political infighting. wsws.org Sharp divisions are coming to the fore as the government is pressing ahead with mass privatizations and attempts to negotiate a settlement with Russia over the ongoing civil war in eastern Ukraine.
(2020-01-31). Elizabeth Warren issues call for internet censorship. wsws.org While nominally directed against Russia and right-wing "trolls," the proposal would open the way to a sweeping attack on the democratic rights of the American people.
(2020-01-31). Britain leaves the European Union: Against nationalism, For the United Socialist States of Europe! wsws.org Workers and young people in the UK must orient themselves not to British nationalism or the EU, but to the growing global upsurge of working-class struggle.
(2020-01-31). Germany: Humboldt University students speak on the falsification of history and lessons from Auschwitz. wsws.org As part of their election campaign for Student Parliament at Humboldt University, members and supporters of the IYSSE spoke with students about the attempts of right-wing ideologists to falsify the history of the Nazi dictatorship.
(2020-01-31). Sanders Beats Trump and Trump Throws Dynamite in the Powder Keg. indybay.org With Sander's election as the Democratic Party candidate, the US would have been the only country to have had a free health insurance policy since Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s… The USA and also Turkey have in fact long since left NATO and are following their own interests without taking their previous "partners" into consideration.
(2020-01-31). 'Safeguarding Historical Truth': Russian MoD Declassifies WWII Yalta Conference Documents. sputniknews.com The Yalta Conference was held in Crimea in February 1945, where the leaders of the Soviet Union, the US and the UK sat down for talks to discuss…
(2020-01-31). Two First Cases of Coronavirus Confirmed in Russia. sputniknews.com On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the new coronavirus a global health emergency.
(2020-01-31). "Every Choice Has a Consequence", Say EU Leaders in Brexit Letter. sputniknews.com The three presidents of the main EU institutions say that five decades worth of interconnected policies between their economic bloc and the UK will have to be dismantled and then reconstructed in order to chart a "new way forward as allies, partners and friends".
(2020-01-31). Russia fully complying with deal on Idlib: Kremlin. yenisafak.com As the international community raises louder objections to civilian deaths in Idlib, northwestern Syria, Moscow on Friday declared it is in full compliance with its obligations under the 2018 Sochi agreements on the embattled province."Russia is fully fulfilling all obligations under the Sochi agreements with regard to the Idlib zone," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, referring to the de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are prohibited.Admitting that "the situation there leaves much to be desired," he added that Russia's "deepest concern" is "the large number of terrorists who constantly carry out…
(2020-01-31). Russian samovars make tea-time distinctive tradition. yenisafak.com Inspired by its refreshing and invigorating taste, nations around the world have created their own traditions around drinking the hot soothing beverage known to all as tea.In Russia, where tea is a part of daily life in all seasons, "tea-drinking," or chayepitiye, refers to more than just simply consuming the brewed delicacy.It is an event in itself — a feast where guests are served cup after cup of piping hot tea along with various sweets and pastries that complement its distinct flavor.One feature of such tea parties is a special accessory known as the "samovar" — also well known in Turkey as semave…
(2020-01-31). Turkey, Lithuania sign economic cooperation protocol. yenisafak.com Turkey and Lithuania on Friday signed a Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) protocol to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.The protocol was signed between Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, which Pekcan is visiting.Pekcan, who is also set to participate in the Turkey-Lithuania Business Forum, said the agreement aims to boost bilateral collaboration in energy, transportation, tourism, and infrastructure."We have cooperation opportunities in the fields of technology, innovation, communication, and IT…
(2020-01-31). Turkey, Lithuania set $1B trade volume target. yenisafak.com Turkey and Lithuania are looking to double the bilateral trade volume from its current level, Turkey's trade minister said Friday."Our trade volume with Lithuania is around $562 million, which is very low. We aim to increase it to $1 billion as a first stage," Ruhsar Pekcan, currently visiting Lithuania, told the Turkey-Lithuania Business Forum in the capital Vilnius.Pointing to Lithuania's success in innovation, technology, FinTech, communications, and information technology, Pekcan said the ministry backs the cooperation of firms from both sides.She also highlighted the potential of health tourism.Lithuanian En…
(2020-01-31). Hotel occupancy rate across Turkey up in 2019. yenisafak.com The hotel occupancy rate across Turkey reached 67.6% in 2019, up 2.4% from the previous year, a hotel association said.The sector's revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rate (ADR) for rooms hit the three-year high in 2019, the Turkish Hotel Association (TUROB) reported.RevPAR increased to ‚Ǩ52.3 ($58), up 13%, while ADR for rooms went up 10.4% to ‚Ǩ77.4 year-on-year in 2019.In Europe on average, the hotel occupancy rate was 72.2% and RevPAR was ‚Ǩ113.3 last year, the report said.Meanwhile, the occupancy rate was 74% in Turkey's world-famous to…
(2020-01-31). Coronavirus: Germany to fly home citizens from Wuhan. yenisafak.com Germany will fly home its citizens who wish to leave the Chinese city of Wuhan amid the coronavirus outbreak, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Maas said a military aircraft with a medical team is departing from Germany on Friday for the evacuation of some 100 German citizens from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province.He thanked Chinese authorities for their cooperation.The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 213, the National Health Commission said Friday. | Some 9,692 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, also know…
(2020-01-31). ANALYSIS: France tries new tactics after losing influence in West Africa. yenisafak.com By Kaan DeveciogluEconomic and social problems in African countries that gained independence right after their colonialist periods provided an opportunity and environment for neocolonialism to advance. Including particularly France and England, colonial powers had most of the valuable resources of the continent such as hydrocarbon reserves, telecoms, port management, administration of railways, retail trade systems and even the contracting companies that carry on the production of the substructure. For this reason, colonial powers that granted independence to the countries at issue easily filled the power gaps th…
(2020-01-31). Coronavirus infects global economy with uncertainty. yenisafak.com As the coronavirus epidemic spreads beyond China to become a global threat, its possible impact on the world economy has become a hot topic.Economists warn that the outbreak will have a negative impact on China's economy, noting the cost of the virus may rise further if the number of people infected or the mortality rate grows.Although the Chinese city of Wuhan is the focal point of the outbreak, the virus has spread throughout China and to at least 16 countries globally, including Thailand, France, the U.S., and Australia.At least 213 people have died in China and at least 9,821 have been infected worldwide.On W…
(2020-01-31). 'Like storming the beaches all over again': Brexit Party evokes WWII rhetoric as MEPs leave Brussels to sound of bagpipes (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Brexit Party MEPs have left the European Parliament in Brussels for the final time, accompanied by a cacophony of noise from a marching bagpiper and holding a huge Union Jack as they celebrated the UK's imminent exit from the EU. | The group of jubilant Brexiteers — led by former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe — marched across the Place du Luxembourg in the Belgian capital on Friday morning, accompanied by a bagpiper playing the military tune 'Cock o' the North' to add to the triumphalist atmosphere. | They momentarily stopped to pose for the TV cameras and photographers, putting up their Brexit Party umbrel…
(2020-01-31). Remainers' last stand: British pro-EU cheerleaders mourn Brexit day with black armbands. rt.com 
British citizens mourning the imminent departure of the UK from the European Union have expressed their sadness by making Brexit day black armband day, in a final gesture of pro-EU unity. | While some Brexiteers prepare to pop the champagne bottles at 11pm GMT on Friday to celebrate the UK's exit from the bloc, pro-EU advocates have been treating the historic occasion as if someone significant has died. | Arch Remainers were seen out in force on social media, posting pictures of themselves wearing black armbands to commemorate the UK's official final day as a member of the EU, before it embarks on trying to fo…
(2020-01-31). EU will see 'no fewer opportunities' after Brexit, Commission chief says. rt.com 
The EU will start a new chapter as a united force on global issues after Britain leaves, with no fewer opportunities, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. | "Our experience has taught us that strength does not lie in splendid isolation but in our unique union," the head of the EU's executive told reporters ahead of Britain's formal exit from the bloc at 23: 00 GMT. | "Nowhere else in the world can you find 27 nations of 440 million people speaking 24 different languages, relying on each other," Reuters quoted her as saying. "Let there be no doubt — the challenges that Europe f…
(2020-01-31). British Medical Association says issues around medicine supplies after Brexit still unresolved. thecanary.co 
More work is needed to ensure the supply of vital medicines is not disrupted after Brexit, leading doctors have said.Practical questions surrounding the transport of prescription drugs across the Irish border still need to be resolved, according to the BMA in the north of Ireland.Chair Dr Tom Black expressed concern: With just 11 months to finish negotiations on our future relationship with the EU, there are still issues to be resolved: current cross-border health services must be able to continue and indeed expand; the practicalities around the transport of medicines over the border still needs to be resolved and…
(2020-01-31). England Came and Went, Leaving Europe in a Mess. UK Leaves EU. globalresearch.ca Whew. Finally, at last, the UK is formally leaving the European Union on January 31. Here in Paris, the champions of French withdrawal from the EU are celebrating. They see Brexit as the harbinger of a future "Frexit", a French departure from undemocratic governance, and the end of a failed project to unify Europe around the demands of neoliberal capitalism.
(2020-01-31). Brexit Day Has Come: The United Kingdom Quits European Union. telesurenglish.net At 23: 00 on Friday, Jan. 31, RELATED: | For proponents, Brexit is a dream "independence d…
(2020-01-31). On Holocaust Memorial Day US Embassy Falsely Claims America Liberated Auschwitz. mintpressnews.com 
The statement was immediately met with scorn from those who felt it was another example of Soviet erasure and an insult to the enormous sacrifice the Soviet Union made to defeat fascism in Europe.
(2020-01-30). Hillary Clinton dodges attempt to serve her with Tulsi Gabbard's defamation lawsuit…twice. rt.com 
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has twice rebuffed efforts to serve her with Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard's "Russian asset" defamation lawsuit, even using the Secret Service to fend off the paperwork. | Secret Service agents first barred the process server from Clinton's Chappaqua, New York home on Tuesday, directing them to her lawyer, David Kendall, in Washington, DC, Gabbard's own attorney Brian Dunne told the New York Post on Wednesday. When they attempted to serve the lawsuit the following day at Kendall's firm, Williams & Connolly, however, the lawyer insisted he was unable…
(2020-01-30). Fix is in, Trump team makes radical shift in his defense. peoplesworld.org 
Ditching months of claims by President Trump that his dealings with Ukraine were "perfect," Trump's TV lawyers and GOP lawmakers are now asserting that a quid-pro-quo of aid for political favors — even if proven beyond a shadow of a doubt — is not grounds for impeachment. They have taken the logic offered them Monday …
(2020-01-30). Ex-Solicitor General: Alan Dershowitz Is Wrong. Trump Is Not Above the Law & Should Be Impeached. democracynow.org 
President Trump's legal team offered an extraordinary new defense during Trump's impeachment trial on Wednesday. Attorney Alan Dershowitz said that a sitting president could take any action to boost his re-election chances if he felt his re-election was in the public interest. "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment," Dershowitz said. Trump was impeached by the House last month for freezing military aid to Ukraine in an effort to pressure Ukraine to open an investigation of Trump's politi…