(2020-02-04). China tests Russian anti-viral drug which might treat coronavirus as Moscow warns of possible 'mass outbreak'. rt.com 
While health chiefs prepare for a potential pandemic, China is testing a Russian anti-viral drug in the hope that it might help control the new coronavirus. It comes as prospects of a vaccine look slim for the foreseeable future. | Triazavirin, developed at Yekaterinburg's Ural Federal University, was originally developed to combat 'Bird Flu' (H5N1), and, given that there are some similarities between the two infections, researchers feel it's worth a punt. The medicine is already known to be effective against 15 types of flu. | Russia's Deputy Health Minister Sergei Kraevoi confirmed the news on Tuesday. He al…
(2020-02-04). 'Alienate countries around the world': Washington pushes ahead with plan to punish 'currency manipulation'. rt.com 
The US Department of Commerce has finalized new rules to impose anti-subsidy duties on products from countries that it has determined undervalue their currencies against the dollar. | The rules would target China and allow for new tariffs to be imposed on Beijing, despite the fact that the US Treasury Department last month removed China from its list of currency manipulators as part of the Phase 1 trade deal. | In addition to China, the rules could put goods from other countries at risk of higher duties. Countries which could be affected include Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea,…
(2020-02-04). Trump could 'offer Alaska to the Russians' in exchange for 2020 support — impeachment manager Schiff. rt.com 
California Democrat Adam Schiff painted a doomsday scenario if President Donald Trump is not impeached, including an all-powerful dictator ruling from Mar-a-Lago, letting his son-in-law run America, and trading Alaska to Russia. | Schiff's high fantasy came during the closing arguments of the Senate impeachment trial on Monday, after a series of procedural votes on Friday made it clear that Trump will not actually be convicted on charges brought on by the House of Representatives. | The president's lawyers argued that Trump could not be impeached since he committed no criminal act in his talks with the preside…
(2020-02-04). Russia starts production of S-400 missile defense systems for India, 'all commitments being fulfilled' despite US pressure. rt.com 
Russia has kicked off production for a batch of S-400 missile defense systems with India's name on them, bringing a deal reached in 2018 one step closer to fruition despite fevered protests — as well as threats — from Washington. | "The Almaz-Antey concern has begun manufacturing the S-400 systems for India, and Russia will deliver the S-400s to India within the timeframe stipulated by the contract," said Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, adding that training centers had already been established in India to prepare operators of the missile system. | In general, all commitments und…
(2020-02-04). White Helmets are 'preparing chemical attack false-flag' in Syria's Idlib, Russian military tipped off. rt.com 
Militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and 'White Helmets' are preparing to stage a chemical attack in Idlib province as Syrian army continues to advance, the Russian Reconciliation Center said citing a tip from local residents. | Members of the self-styled civil defense group, which operates solely in territories controlled by anti-government militants, were noticed arriving at the town of Ma'arat al-Artik, about 11 kilometers (7 miles) northwest of Aleppo. According to the call that came in on the reconciliation center's hotline on Monday evening, they were preparing a "provocation with the use of poisonous agen…
(2020-02-04). Radicalizing troops? 19yo rookie soldier named suspect in French police station knife attack, after ISIS threat phone call. rt.com 
A 19-year old serviceman was named a suspect in the attack on a gendarmerie station in France, which took place after police received a threat of a massacre in the name of Islamic State. | The suspect was "a young soldier who was completing his two months of initial training and was on probation," Defense Minister Florence Parly confirmed on Tuesday. She added that the man was not on duty during the attack. | The prosecutor in the northeastern city of Metz Christian Mercuri told reporters that the 19-year-old alleged culprit joined the army in early December. | The knifeman wounded a gendarme in the hand at th…
(2020-02-04). HuffPost UK editor works with gov't censorship program while smearing anti-war scholars as tools of Russia. thegrayzone.com HuffPost UK ran yet another hit piece smearing academic critics of the dirty war on Syria as Russian stooges. The…
(2020-02-04). Europe Leads Way in Nuclear Shutdowns. indybay.org Germany, Sweden and Switzerland are leading the way in creating a nuclear free future.
(2020-02-04). Trump and the Whistle-Blower He Hates. thenation.com Trump and the Whistle-Blower He Hates…
(2020-02-04). Dozens killed in growing border clashes between Turkey and Syria. wsws.org This fighting threatens to escalate into a direct confrontation between Turkey, a NATO member state, and the Syrian regime's nuclear-armed ally, Russia.
(2020-02-04). About the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Jan. 31 statement from the Portuguese Communist Party. | The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union is an event of great importance for the people of the United Kingdom, a fundamental change in the framework of relations between States in the European continent, and the only outcome that guarantees respect for the sovereign will of the British people, expressed in the 2016 referendum. | This important event is inseparable from, and simultaneously an expression of, the contradictions and deep crisis of the European capitalist integration, which…
(2020-02-04). NATO exercise Defender 2020: Germany serves as military base for build-up against Russia. wsws.org For the first time in its history, the alliance is practicing the deployment from the US to eastern Europe of an entire division of 20,000 soldiers.
(2020-02-04). Democrats double down on anti-Russia war-mongering in impeachment arguments. wsws.org The Democrats' final arguments only underscored the reactionary basis of their impeachment drive.
(2020-02-04). The Robin Hoods of France. zcomm.org Electrical Workers Cut Electricity to Sell-Out Union, Reconnect for Country's Poor…
(2020-02-04). Assange's Treatment Threatens the 'Future of Our Democracies', Says UN Torture Expert. sputniknews.com Professor Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, says that the governments of the US, Sweden and the UK have shown "bad faith" in failing to address evidence that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been subjected to torture.
(2020-02-04). US Tried to Contact PNA Before Peace Plan Release, Abbas Refused – Palestinian Ambassador. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The US administration tried to contact the Palestinian National Authority and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, prior to the announcement of US President Donald Trump's plan for the Israeli-Palestinian settlement, but Abbas refused to talk before the plan was unveiled, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal said on Tuesday.
(2020-02-04). Belgium Confirms First Case of Coronavirus – Authorities. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) -‚Äã The patient is one of nine people who returned to Belgium from Wuhan on Sunday. All other evacuees tested negative for the virus.
(2020-02-04). Turkey Will Not Escalate Tensions With Russia Over Syria's Idlib – Erdogan. sputniknews.com Turkey's Foreign Ministry previously said that Ankara was working with Moscow to decrease tensions in Syria's so-called de-escalation zone, where Turkish troops and Syrian government forces recently clashed.
(2020-02-04). German Research Institute Says Coronavirus Cases Could Possibly Increase in Country. sputniknews.com BERLIN (Sputnik) – Individual cases of the new coronavirus could potentially increase in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German government's public health agency, said on Tuesday.
(2020-02-04). Rome Police Arrest Dozens Linked to 'Ndrangheta, Camorra Crime Syndicates — Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Last Thursday, Interpol announced the launch of a global initiative in cooperation with the Italian government to target the 'Ndrangheta syndicate, which it calls "the most extensive and powerful criminal organisation in the world."
(2020-02-04). European Union Slams US Military for Allowing Use of Anti-Personnel Mines Outside Korean Peninsula. sputniknews.com US President Donald Trump has lifted the restrictions imposed by his predecessor Barack Obama, allowing the use of this type of weapon, which is banned by Britain, France, Germany, Canada, and many other countries.
(2020-02-04). Putin Says Work on Amending Russia's Constitution Should Take About Three Months. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the process of amending the constitution would take roughly three months.
(2020-02-04). Russian Embassy Says 132 Nationals Asked to Be Evacuated From Coronavirus-Hit Hubei. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian embassy in China said on Tuesday that the number of the Russian nationals who have asked to be urgently evacuated from the deadly coronavirus epicentre in the central Chinese province of Hubei.
(2020-02-04). Libya commission meets in Geneva for day two of talks. yenisafak.com A joint military commission representing Libya's UN-recognized government and eastern Libyan forces will meet in Geneva for a second day to help turn the current truce into a "full-fledged ceasefire," said the UN's Libya envoy Tuesday.At a press conference in Geneva before the 5 5 commission's talks were to resume, Ghassan Salame praised Turkey and Russia's "achievement" in reaching a truce meant to grow into a cease-fire and lasting peace.On Jan. 12, Libya's conflicting parties announced a truce in response to a joint call by the Turkish and Russian leaders. However, talks for a permanent cease-fire ended withou…
(2020-02-04). YPG/PKK terrorists kill four Syrian National Army soldiers. yenisafak.com At least four Syrian National Army (SNA) soldiers were martyred in a YPG/PKK terror group attack in northern Syria, Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground reported on Tuesday.The terrorists attacked the SNA soldiers in rural areas around the village of Ayn Isa in the northern Raqqah province, falling inside the area of Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's anti-terror offensive launched last October.The Turkish Armed Forces responded to the attack on its local allies with artillery fire.The YPG/PKK terror group is targeting settlement areas under control of the SNA, formerly known as the Free Syrian Army, which f…
(2020-02-04). EU welcomes appointment of Kosovo's new prime minister. yenisafak.com The European Union on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Albin Kurti as Kosovo's new prime minister."I look forward to intensifying our discussions and cooperation on European Union-Kosovo relations, on reforms and on the EU-facilitated Dialogue," Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief said in a statement.On Monday, Kosovo's parliament approved Kurti as prime minister after parties reached an agreement as a result of four months of coalition negotiations.The previous Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had stepped down due to war crime allegations.Acknowledging that Kosovo was facing "significant" challenges, Bo…
(2020-02-04). Family reunites with their 'PKK-kidnapped' boy in SE Turkey. yenisafak.com With efforts of Turkish security forces, another family has reunited with their child, who they claim was kidnapped by PKK terrorists, after four years of longing.According to security forces, H. Acan surrendered Monday to Turkish authorities at Sirnak's Habur border gate in southeastern Turkey.H. Acan's parents
(2020-02-04). UN sends 33 truckloads of aid for displaced Syrians. yenisafak.com The United Nations sent on Tuesday humanitarian aid for civilians in Idlib, a war-torn city in northwestern Syria.The international organization sent 33 truckloads of supplies, which will be distributed among families in the city, as well as rural areas nearby.The trucks entered Syria through the Cilvegozu border gate in Hatay, a southern Turkish province bordering Syria.The Bashar al-Assad regime continues intensified air and land attacks on civilian settlements in Idlib de-escalated zone despite cease-fire.In September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggre…
(2020-02-04). Turkey neutralizes almost 90 terrorists in January. yenisafak.com In January, nationwide operations neutralized 88 terrorists in Turkey, a government official said on Tuesday.Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli told a monthly press briefing that Turkish forces carried out some 8,000 counter-terrorism operations in cities and rural areas last month.Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Out of total, 40 terrorists were captured, while 48 surrendered and they were the members of the PKK and Daesh/ISIS terror groups, Catakli elaborated.The security forces destroyed almost 100 caves, shelte…
(2020-02-04). Turkey says Russia must restrain Syrian forces in Idlib. yenisafak.com "I told my counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the regime was carrying out provocative attacks on our observations posts around Idlib, that we will retaliate if they continue this, and that they need to stop the regime as soon as possible," Cavusoglu told reporters."We also don't accept the excuse of 'we cannot fully control the regime' here," he said, adding that agreements with Russia regarding Idlib must be revived.
(2020-02-04). Russia preparing against mass spread of coronavirus. yenisafak.com Russia has been busy preparing against the mass spread of coronavirus in the country, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.Some preventive measures have been taken, despite a lack of information that would allow forecasts on the disease's spread, Deputy Health Minister Sergey Krayevoy told reporters in Moscow."We cannot yet predict how this infection may spread in our country, because we do not have enough data to put into our mathematical model. But this in no way forces us to feel reassured, we are preparing against a possible large-scale spread of infection," he said.Krayevoy added that three locations have been d…
(2020-02-04). Russian | father puts 5-year-old daughter up for sale for 5.000 rubles on | internet. yenisafak.com A Russian man living in the city of Chelyabinsk posted a picture of his daughter online, putting her up for sale for 5.000 rubles ($80).Mr. Vyacheslav depicted his 5-year-old daughter as "Masha," inspired by the Russian cartoon "Masha and the Bear," which was furthermore approved and published by an editor. Vyacheslav stated that he would meet up with anyone who wanted to purchase his daughter at the city center and deliver her after receiving the money.Russian cyber police who caught wind of the ad immediately launched an investigation and the father was taken into custody after an arrest warrant was issued.The…
(2020-02-04). Skating scandal: French authorities open investigation into underage sex abuse claims in figure skating. rt.com 
Prosecutors in France are investigationg allegations into underage sex abuse within the sport of figure skating, per reports from the Agence France Presse. | The investigation follows claims from French pairs skater Sarah Abitbol, who claimed that she was raped by her former coach Gilles Beyer when she was underage. | Abitbol claimed in an interview with L'Obs newspaper, that Beyer had systematically sexually assaulted her and raped her between 1990 and 1992, when she was between the ages of 15 and 17. | "He started doing horrible things… sexual abuse and I was raped when I was 15. It was the first time that…
(2020-02-03). Putin & Saudi king Salman agree to 'coordinate efforts' to stabilize oil markets as Brent hits new low. rt.com 
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed their readiness to coordinate efforts within OPEC+ format to stabilize the situation on the international oil markets, which saw crude prices plummeting amid a deadly coronavirus outbreak in China. | The two leaders "extensively discussed" the present situation and agreed to "maintain contacts" on various levels, Kremlin said in a statement. OPEC+ is a format that involves the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major oil producers, including Russia, which earlier already coordinated reduced oi…
(2020-02-03). Teacher's photos document virus-hit Chinese city. thecanary.co 
A teacher who was starting a new life with his wife in the Chinese industrial centre of Wuhan when a viral outbreak spread across the city has documented the coronavirus fallout in a series of photos.Poland native Arek Rataj had recently taken a position teaching visual communication at Jianghan University, but almost immediately the metropolis of 11 million people, which had been teeming with Lunar New Year holiday revelry, turned quiet.A girl wears a face mask as she plays on a swing near the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan (Arek Rataj/AP)Arek and his wife Jenina bought face masks for protection and ke…
(2020-02-03). Greece Says It's Accelerating Asylum Applications, Deportations. telesurenglish.net Greece said it started to apply accelerated procedures for new asylum seekers and to increase RELATED: | "The rules have changed. We're no longer open to people who don't have a refugee profile," the Minister for Immigration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis…
(2020-02-03). Xenophobia and Racism Spreads As Coronavirus Outbreak Continues. telesurenglish.net As the novel virus grabs headlines and countries set up preventive measures, Chinese migrants and of Asian descent have denounced a rapid increase in racist and xenophobic attacks against them across Europe, America and even certain countries in Asia. | RELATED: | "I had a group of mindless teenagers shout 'coronavirus' at me on the bus. If you don't think that's racist, you are part of the problem," Michele Li, a young Asian social medi…
(2020-02-03). Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly calls for Assange's release, condemns threatened extradition. wsws.org Members of the assembly undoubtedly recognised that their report on media freedom would have no credibility if it remained silent on Europe's most famous imprisoned journalist and publisher.
(2020-02-03). France: Police Beat up Striking Firefighters as Media Looks Other Way. zcomm.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…
(2020-02-03). General strike for jobs and pensions erupts in Spain's Basque Country. wsws.org The central issue is to take the struggle out of the hands of the unions and appeal for broad support in the Spanish working class against the Podemos-PSOE government.
(2020-02-03). Erdogan Says Turkey Bombed Syrian Troops in Idlib. telesurenglish.net Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey has been retaliating against the Syrian forces' attack on its soldiers in the northern Syrian region of Idlib. | RELATED: | "Our artillery and F-16 (warplanes) are all operating in the field," Erdogan said in a televised speech. | "We have soldiers martyred, and it is not possible for us to remain silent," he added. | Turkish forces have identified about 4…
(2020-02-03). Video: Turkey's Madman Erdogan Sends NATO Troops to Defend al-Qaeda Terrorists in Idlib. globalresearch.ca Erdogan lost his mind and sends NATO troops into the Syrian province of Idlib to establish military checkpoints in front of the advancing Syrian Arab Army from the south to protect his defeated and collapsing al-Qaeda terrorists. | Even someone like …
(2020-02-03). Top banker suspended for allegedly stealing food from staff canteen. thecanary.co A high-flying Citigroup trader has been suspended from the bank following accusations he stole from the staff canteen. | Paras Shah, 31, had allegedly taken food from the company's European headquarters in London's Canary Wharf, according to the Financial Times. | The bank suspended him following the allegations, sources told the newspaper. | Mr Shah was earlier reported to have left the bank this month. Reuters said that he had left after a tough year. | It comes just over two years since he joined the bank from HSBC. He was promoted to head of Europe, Middle East and Africa high yield credit trading after only…
(2020-02-03). BRICS and the Digital Money Project: Alternative to US$, New Wave in International Payment System? globalresearch.ca In 2019 Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa were planning to issue their own digital money in order to reduce the share of payments in the US currency. BRICS countries are reducing the share of settlements in dollars. In …
(2020-02-03). Michel Barnier lays out EU terms for fishing deal with UK. thecanary.co 
The European Union will link any access to its market for British products directly to the access that EU boats will be given to UK waters, the bloc's chief negotiator has said.EU negotiator Michel Barnier underscored the difficulties of the trade negotiations with Britain ahead for the rest of the year when he highlighted the small but emblematic fisheries industry, which was a key issue in the protracted Brexit process in the United Kingdom too.Barnier told France Inter radio that "there will be no trade deal with the British if there is no reciprocal access deal for our fishermen".Barnier said "we will negotia…
(2020-02-03). Boris Johnson and Brussels set out competing visions for post-Brexit trade. thecanary.co 
The UK and European Union are on collision course for a Brexit trade battle as Boris Johnson and Michel Barnier set out competing visions of the future relationship.Major stumbling blocks are already obvious, just days after the UK left the European Union, with battles over fishing and the application of a "level playing field" on issues including state subsidies, environmental standards and workers' rights.The prime minister insisted there was "no need" to abide by EU rules and said that British fishing grounds are "first and foremost" for UK boats.Boris Johnson speaks in the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval…
(2020-02-03). Johnson's real Brexit agenda is trade war, militarism and class war. wsws.org UK prime minister Johnson is on a collision course with Europe that threatens to end in outright trade war and economic dislocation.
(2020-02-02). Left-Wing Sinn Fein Surges in Poll Ahead of Irish Election. telesurenglish.net The latest election ‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äãpoll in Ireland showed Sunday a surge in support for left-wing party Sinn Fein, placing it for the first time in the country's history, neck and neck with the main opposition party. | RELATED: | According to the Business Post/Red C poll, Sinn Fein holds 24 percent of the electo…
(2020-02-02). U.S. and European stocks fall again to end the week. fightbacknews.org San Jose, CA – U.S. and European stocks fell again on Friday, January 31. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) down more than 600 points, or 2%, U.S. stock markets ended up with a small loss for the whole of January. While losses in European stock markets were not as bad on Friday, they were over 3% for the month. Japanese stocks were also down in January, marking a worldwide stock market decline for the first month of the year. | While the still-spreading coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was again cited as the main reason for stocks dropping, in other days U.S. stocks rose despite the continuing spread of the vir…
(2020-02-02). France to Send 600 Additional Troops to African Sahel Region. telesurenglish.net French forces deployed to the Barkhane Operation in the West African Sahel region will be increased from 4,500 to 5,100 soldiers, by the end of February, the French government said Sunday. | RELATED: | "This is a major effort for the French Armed Forces: most of the reinforcements will be deployed in the so-called "three borders" zone between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger," Defence Minister Florence Parly said in a statement. | Rebel groups have been inc…