Daily Archives: February 25, 2020

2020-02-25: News Headlines

RT (2020-02-25). Residents clash with police as Greek govt proceeds with construction of new migrant center in Lesbos (PHOTOS/VIDEOS). rt.com Greek police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of angry residents who attempted to halt the construction of a migrant detention center on the island of Lesbos. The clashes came amid growing anger over Athens' immigration policy. | Around 500 people attempted to block the unloading of heavy machinery and police reinforcements on the island, which will house a new migrant camp. Locals set fires and brawled with riot cops as police attempted to restore order, according to local media. | | Riot police reinforcements arrive on a ferry at Lesbos, Greece, February 25, 2020. | © REUTERS/Elias Marcou | Photogra…

RT (2020-02-25). 'Go back to school and look at the map!' Twitterati hammer CNN as it draws non-existent SHARED border between Germany & Italy. rt.com CNN has failed a basic geography test, putting Germany much closer to Italy than it actually is, during a report on how the EU is combatting the novel coronavirus. Netizens showed no mercy to the network's online team. | News that Germany isn't raising the alarm due to the 2019-nCoV outbreak in Italy prompted many established media to report on it, with CNN being no exception. The broadcaster's actual report cited a German foreign ministry spokeswoman who said Berlin wasn't issuing a travel warning for Italy at the moment, but their Twitter publication wasn't as accurate. | Now, you have to read carefully to s…

RT (2020-02-25). Merkel rival Merz joins CDU party leadership race. rt.com German conservative Friedrich Merz, an erstwhile rival of Chancellor Angela Merkel, confirmed on Tuesday that he will run for the leadership of her Christian Democrats (CDU) at a party congress on April 25. "I have decided to run again for…

Aaron Maté (2020-02-25). The Russiagate Racket targets the Bernie Sanders surge. thegrayzone.com With a familiar playbook of evidence-free, anonymously sourced red-baiting, the forces behind Russiagate try to stop Bernie Sanders' primary success….

Stephen Lendman (2020-02-25). No Russian 2020 Election Meddling Says US Intelligence Community Official. globalresearch.ca In January 2017, days before Trump's inauguration, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) concluded with "high confidence (that) Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election (sic)." | Weeks before the US 2016 …

WSWS (2020-02-25). Russia seeks to ease tensions with Belarus over energy dispute. wsws.org Russia will compensate Belarus $300 million to offset energy price hikes, as Moscow works to preserve its alliance with Minsk.

WSWS (2020-02-25). German right-wing and far-right parties suffer defeat in Hamburg state election. wsws.org Four days after the right-wing terrorist attack in Hanau, the Christian Democrats and Free Democrats, the parties that formed an alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany to elect the minister president in Thuringia, lost large numbers of votes in Hamburg.

WSWS (2020-02-25). Germany: Tens of thousands take to the streets against right-wing terror. wsws.org Many demonstrators pointed to the complicity of the security agencies and the right-wing policies of all the establishment parties, which paved the way for the neo-Nazi terror.

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Virus 'literally knocking at the door', WHO warns countries. yenisafak.com The World Health Organization (WHO) called on countries on Tuesday to boost their readiness against coronavirus, saying the virus is "literally knocking at the door".WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier, speaking at a news briefing in Geneva, said that WHO officials were meeting in Rome to discuss measures taken in Italy, which he said were "pretty strong". A mission to Iran, which had been announced for Tuesday, has been delayed and he had no date for its departure.Many countries have "pandemic plans" ready and some may act upon them depending on their situation, but at the moment the WHO itself does not plan anoth…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). French hospital releases last quarantined patient. yenisafak.com The man, a British national who contracted the virus while vacationing last month in the French Alps, is deemed no longer infectious, Oliver Vera told reporters late Monday."There are no identified patients" or circulation of the virus in France, he added.After the initial 12 diagnosed cases in January and February in France, each patient has healed except for one man who died on Feb. 14, an 80-year-old tourist of Chinese origin.Regardless, France remains on alert as the disease has spread close to home: seven people have died in Italy over the past few days in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. Some 28…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Libyan gov't has right to defend itself: Al-Sarraj. yenisafak.com Head of Libya's internationally recognized government, Fayez al-Sarraj, said the presence of Turkish forces in the country comes within the legitimate right of self-defense against aggression of East Libya-based forces. | "The current situation in Libya and the resistance against the aggression on the capital [Tripoli] and cities in western Libya is the framework that we work on it with Turkey," al-Sarraj told Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. | "This is a legitimate right for the GNA [Government of National Accord] and a duty towards our people…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Pakistan eyeing greater teamwork, says Turkish defense firm. yenisafak.com Pakistan wants to enhance its defense cooperation with Turkey, said the general manager of STM, a leading Turkish defense firm.The firm has developed several projects for Pakistan in the last decade with a special focus on its navy, said Murat Ikinci.It has pioneered many projects for Turkey and its projects in Pakistan have created export opportunities for many companies.The firm received rave reviews for a replenishment vessel it produced for Pakistan.He said: "Our second-largest project includes the modernization of Agosta 90B submarines."This project is progressing very successfully despite the sanctions and…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Turkey quarantines its citizens returning from Iran. yenisafak.com Turkey will quarantine for 14 days its citizens returning from Iran amid coronavirus fears, the Turkish health minister said on Tuesday.Fahrettin Koca said a total of 132 Turkish citizens, who landed in the capital Ankara from Iran on Tuesday, have been quarantined and they will remain in a hospital for 14 days.He said all Turkish citizens, who want to return from Iran, will be subject to 14-day quarantine."No coronavirus cases were found in Turkey," the minister said, adding maximum efforts are being made to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the country.Iran has so far reported 14 deaths from the coronavirus,…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Police detain 13 suspects over Daesh/ISIS ties in Istanbul. yenisafak.com Turkish police have detained 13 suspects, including 10 foreign nationals, allegedly linked to the Daesh/ISIS terror group in Istanbul, security sources said on Tuesday.Police raided seven different locations and detained 13 suspects, including nine Syrians and an Iraqi national, said the sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.The ongoing operation was part of a probe into Daesh members who provide financial support for the terror group's remanded members.Digital materials and organizational documents were seized during the search.Turkey was one of the first countries to rec…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Turkey: Istanbul-bound Iranian flight lands in Ankara over coronavirus alert. yenisafak.com A plane from Iran has diverted from Istanbul, its destination, to land in Ankara, Turkey's capital, due to the presence of 17 people possibly infected with coronavirus on board.The Turkish Airlines flight from Tehran, with 132 passengers on board, landed at Ankara's Esenboga Airport Tuesday at 10.29 a.m. (0729GMT), said correspondents on the ground.Passengers from the flight have been taken in for preliminary health exams by the Ankara Health Directorate and Health Ministry officials.The 17 passengers are being treated as possible cases as they have higher-than-normal temperatures.Turkey to date has no reported c…

yenisafak (2020-02-25). Germany: Number injured by car ramming reaches 52. yenisafak.com The number of people injured one day after a car rammed into a group of people during a carnival parade in the central state of Hesse is over 50, authorities said on Tuesday.The police said in a statement that 52 people, among them 17 children, were injured in the incident in the small town of Volkmarsen.The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen, was suspected of intentionally ramming the car into the carnival parade.Frankfurt attorney's general office said the driver had not been under the influence of alcohol, but they have not yet determined whether he had taken drugs.On Monday night the police arrested a secon…

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Assange Hearing: Trump Was "Aware" and "Approved" of Pardon Offer, Defence Team Says. sputniknews.com In 2017 Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher reached out to Julian Assange to offer a pardon to the WikiLeaks publisher, if he could prove Russia wasn't involved in the DNC Leaks. Rohrabacher and US President Donald Trump have both since stated that the offer wasn't on Trump's behalf.

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Austria, Croatia Confirm First Cases of Coronavirus. sputniknews.com As of Tuesday, the COVID-19 outbreak has already left over 80,000 people infected worldwide, with the death toll of 2,699. Recovery rates are also on the rise, with 27,671 patients now having been discharged from hospitals around the globe.

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Boris Johnson is Bombastic About Future of UK Fishing Industry but It Was Never 'Glorious' – Author. sputniknews.com Britain's trawlermen have been limited by the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy since 1973 but Brexit means they will no longer be bound by it. Sputnik spoke to author Nick Triplow about whether UK fishing industry can ever regain its past status.

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Just 'Humour': Belgian Regional Authorities Defend Festival Depicting Jews as Insects. sputniknews.com Last year, Belgium's Aalst carnival landed in the public spotlight after featuring figures of caricature Jews standing over bags of money. The scandal even prompted UNESCO to remove the festival from its list of heritage events, but this did not stop the carnival's organisers from taking things even further this year.

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Sides in US Politics Resort to 'Russian Factor' Every Time They Lack Arguments – Russian Deputy FM. sputniknews.com Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump stated during his visit to India that American intelligence agencies have not briefed him on any information regarding alleged meddling attempts by Russia in the 2020 presidential election.

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Trump: Intelligence Never Told Me About 'Russian Interference' in 2020 Elections. sputniknews.com Earlier, US media reported that the country's intelligence community had informed some American lawmakers about alleged attempts by Russia to meddle in the 2020 presidential election, despite Moscow on numerous occasions denying such interference in US domestic affairs.

sputniknews (2020-02-25). Why Merkel & Macron Likely to Support Moscow, Not Ankara at Proposed March Talks. sputniknews.com The Turkish president signalled Tuesday that the 5 March talks with his Russian, German, and French counterparts on the Idlib crisis are still under consideration. Middle East experts Ghassan Kadi and Chris Assad have explained why there are only a few options on the table for Ankara at the potential talks.

The Canary (2020-02-25). UK warned it faces 'tough road ahead' as red lines drawn ahead of trade talks. thecanary.co Britain has been warned it faces a "tough road ahead" in post-Brexit trade talks as European ministers gather in Brussels to prepare to sign off on their red lines. | The EU General Affairs Council is meeting to approve the bloc's mandate for negotiations with the UK — which are set to start next week. | Meanwhile, in Westminster, Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee ahead of the publication of the UK's negotiating position on Thursday. | Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok, arriving at the meeting in Brussels, warned of the "immense" time pressure facing both sides as…

Agha Hussain (2020-02-24). How a Subtle Turkey-Iran Entente is Helping Iran Secure a Firm Presence in Syria. mintpressnews.com In the last of a three-part series, Agha Hussein investigates how cooperation with Turkey is helping Iran resist pressure to leave Syria.

RT (2020-02-24). At least they'll have an off switch: Pentagon adopts 'AI Ethical Principles' for its killer robots. rt.com As the United States looks to develop artificial intelligence weapons to keep up with Russia and China, the Pentagon has adopted a set of guidelines that it says will keep its killer androids under human control. | The Department of Defense adopted a set of "Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence" on Monday, following the recommendations by the Defense Innovation Board last October. | "AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America's steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. | Also on…

Staff (2020-02-24). Headlines for February 24, 2020. democracynow.org Bernie Sanders Wins Nevada Caucuses by a Landslide, Calls for MSNBC's Chris Matthews to Resign After He Likens Sanders's NV Win to Nazi Takeover of France, Global Coronavirus Cases Surge, Trump Touts Defense Deal, Praises Modi at Massive Indian Rally, In Afghanistan, U.S. and Taliban Start Partial Truce, Iran: Conservatives Pick Up Bulk of Parliament Seats After 1,000s of Candidates Barred from Running, Outrage After Video Shows Israeli Bulldozer Removing Body of Killed Palestinian, Teck Resources Withdraws Application for Contested Alberta Oil Sands After Sustained Protests, Reports: Trump Admin Out to Purge Dis…

Stephen Lendman (2020-02-24). Russia Accused of Campaign Blaming US for Coronavirus Outbreak. globalresearch.ca Russia has been a prime US target since its 1917 revolution, relations between both countries uneasy at best from that time to now. | Propaganda by US officials and establishment media demonizes the country and its leadership, ongoing for over a …

WSWS (2020-02-24). Cities quarantined in Italy, Iran, South Korea as coronavirus spreads globally. wsws.org Medical staff are racing to avert a deadly global pandemic, underscoring the need for a coordinated, international medical campaign to halt the spread of the disease.

WSWS (2020-02-24). US defense secretary launches simulated nuclear attack against Russia in Pentagon war game. wsws.org The war game took place as more than 20,000 troops and 20,000 military vehicles began to arrive in Europe for the massive "Defender 2020" exercise targeting Russia.

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-02-24). How India's Modi is Playing on Trump's Ego to His Advantage. counterpunch.org One thing about U.S. President Donald Trump is that he can be brutally frank. Trump recently picked up the phone and called British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to convey his displeasure over the latter's decision to allow Huawei to operate in the United Kingdom despite Washington's repeated urgings not to do business with the Chinese tech company.

teleSUR (2020-02-24). Russia to Complete Observation Flight Over Turkey. telesurenglish.net Russia will carry out an observation flight over Turkey between Tuesday and Friday under the multilateral Treaty on Open Skies, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday. | RELATED: | Russia's Tu-154M LK-1 observation plane will take off from northwest Turkey's Eskisehir airfield and cover up to 1,900 kilometers over the member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the ministry said. | The Tr…

WSWS (2020-02-24). Iran elections show growing alienation from bourgeois-clerical regime. wsws.org The 'principalist' faction more aligned with Russia and China won amid a collapse in voter turnout, falling from 62 percent in 2016 to just 42.6 percent.

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-24). Venezuela's Next Economic Shock Might Come from India's Compliance with US Sanctions. globalresearch.ca India is Venezuela's largest oil customer but the two companies that import its oil just declared that they'll comply with the US' latest sanctions against the Bolivarian Republic's Russian intermediary, which could lead to the South American state experiencing an …

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-02-24). Health Experts Warn World Is Approaching 'Tipping Point' in Spread of Coronavirus as Outbreaks Erupt in Italy and Iran. commondreams.org Even as world health officials were encouraged Monday by reports out of China that the spread of coronavirus first detected in Wuhan is slowing, two months after outbreaks first began, authorities warned that the virus is now spreading rapidly in other countries and that the world is fast approaching a "tipping point" with the virus. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1202993197.png

RT (2020-02-23). Blitzkrieg Bernie? Sanders' victory in Nevada like NAZI invasion of France — MSNBC's Chris Matthews. rt.com MSNBC's Chris Matthews has compared Bernie Sanders' win in the Nevada caucuses to Adolf Hitler's WWII takeover of France. As Sanders pulls ahead of the pack, the media has labeled him a nazi, a communist, and a Russian stooge. | Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders declared a resounding victory in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, the third major showdown of the primary season. With some results still outstanding on Sunday morning, Sanders has won just over 46 percent of the vote, more than doubling the score of former Vice President Joe Biden, currently in second place with 19 percent. | After a strong showing in Iowa an…

Aaron Maté (2020-02-23). Russiagate 2.0 drowns out Trump's reckless escalation of US-Russia nuclear arms race. thegrayzone.com Amid new fear-mongering about "Russian interference," former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter on Trump's overlooked, reckless escalation of the US-Russia…

RT (2020-02-22). Dangerous games: US NUKES Russia in 'mini exercise' attended by Pentagon chief. rt.com US Defense Secretary Mark Esper played himself in a drill at the US Strategic Command HQ in Nebraska, which featured a bizarre scenario of America nuking Russia in response to its own nuclear strike against a 'NATO ally'. | US military exercises simulating various crises are not that uncommon, yet, out of all plausible scenarios, this particular drill apparently simulated a highly unrealistic one. The classified exercise conducted at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha on Thursday focused on an imaginary nuclear conflict between the US and Russia in Europe. | According to the drill scenario, Moscow somehow dec…

RT (2020-02-22). Trump mocks 'fake news' for running 'Russian Sympathizer Bernie' smear, but doesn't miss a chance to score points. rt.com It seems Donald Trump is yet to decide whether he would rather lampoon left-wing media for adding Democrat frontrunner Bernie Sanders to Team Russia or take the opportunity to mock his potential rival in the November poll. | Just a day apart, two steaming-hot scoops landed in the US media cycle. First, the New York Times said Russia was helping Donald Trump to get reelected. Then the Washington Post claimed Russia was helping Bernie Sanders's campaign. All based on anonymous sources, innuendos, and other traits with which even casual followers of the 'Russiagate' saga are all too familiar. | One of the princip…

RT (2020-02-22). Russia isn't only behind election hacking! They're also trying to smear US over coronavirus … according to State Department. rt.com Not satisfied with just blaming Russia for election meddling, US officials are now claiming Moscow is trying to "sow discord" by spreading disinformation about the coronavirus and the US' role in its creation and global response. | US State Department officials are claiming Moscow is behind an internet campaign to blame the coronavirus on the US government. | Without citing specific examples, officials told

Eric Zuesse (2020-02-22). How Bernie Sanders Will Destroy the Deep State if He Becomes President. dissidentvoice.org Joe Lauria at Consortium News headlined on February 21st, "Apparent US Intel Meddling in US Election With 'Report' Russia is Aiding Sanders", and he noted that, If the story is true and if intelligence agencies are truly committed to protecting U.S. citizens, the Sanders campaign would have been quietly informed and shown evidence to back …

RT (2020-02-22). 'Totally sane': Dems can't make up their minds about who is a supposed 'Russian agent'. Trump? Bernie? Or… both? rt.com Former presidential candidate Eric Swalwell performed mental gymnastics on CNN to defend Bernie Sanders over alleged help from Russia, claiming Moscow does it in order to help its 'agent' Donald Trump. | The Democrats' overuse of Russian collusion conspiracy theories appears to be collapsing in on itself. First Trump supposedly worked with the country to meddle in the 2016 presidential election — something there is still no actual proof of, despite the extensive Mueller investigation — and now even Dems like Sanders are facing accusations of getting help from Moscow. | Thanks to a Washington Post <...

Fight Back (2020-02-22). Germany: Lenin comes to Gelsenkirchen! fightbacknews.org On March 14, the Russian revolutionary, Marxist working-class theorist and leader of the October Revolution of 1917 will come to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. 150 years after his birthday he will move permanently into Gelsenkirchen-Horst – in the form of an over two meter tall, artfully shaped cast-iron statue in front of the Horster Mitte, the federal headquarters of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD). | "This will also be the start of a nationwide movement 'Don't give anti-communism a chance,'" says Gabi Fechtner, the chairwoman of the MLPD. "In times where monuments of the great communist th…

RT (2020-02-21). 'Russians helping Sanders!' MSM takes abrupt break from anti-Trump frenzy for a 'never Bernie' moment on the eve of Nevada caucus. rt.com As Bernie Sanders surges to the front of the pack for the Democratic nomination, the Washington Post has dropped an anonymous "bombshell" claiming that Moscow seeks to help him as well as its "puppet," US President Donald Trump. | On the word of "people familiar with the matter,"

Staff (2020-02-21). Headlines for February 21, 2020. democracynow.org Roger Stone Sentenced to 40-Month Prison Term, Trump Lashed at Intel Chief over Warning of Russian Meddling in 2020 Election, Germany Mourns Victims of Right-Wing Terror Attacks, Suspect Arrested in Stabbing at London Mosque, U.K. to Close Borders to "Unskilled" and Non-English-Speaking Immigrants, Protests Erupt as Acting ICE Director Challenges New York Pro-Immigrant Laws, Mexican Radio Journalist Murdered in Ciudad Juárez, February Flowers Bloom in Moscow Amid Record-High Winter Temperatures, 28 Arrested in Seattle Protesting Chase Bank Fossil Fuel Ties, Rail Blockades Continue as Protests Grow Against Coastal…

Aaron Maté (2020-02-21). Turkey, US protect Al Qaeda in Idlib and worsen Syria's suffering. thegrayzone.com Why is Turkey, with US backing, protecting Al-Qaeda's largest affiliate in Idlib, Syria? Idlib is facing a humanitarian disaster as…

Jonathan Cook (2020-02-21). Labour's Next Leader has Already betrayed the Left. dissidentvoice.org In recent years the British Labour party has grown rapidly to become one of the largest political movement in Europe, numbering more than half a million members, many of them young people who had previously turned their backs on national politics. The reason was simple: a new leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had shown that it was …

Jordan Stancil (2020-02-21). Germany Struggles to Respond to Racist Mass Murder. thenation.com Germany Struggles to Respond to Racist Mass Murder…

Stephen F. Cohen (2020-02-21). The Kremlin Plans to Modernize Russia, Again. thenation.com The Kremlin Plans to Modernize Russia, Again…

news.un (2020-02-20). More than $1 billion pledged for post-earthquake recovery in Albania. news.un.org The international community has pledged $1.25 billion to help Albania recover from a devastating earthquake during a European Union-led donors' conference in Brussels.

2020-02-25: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

The Russiagate Racket targets the Bernie Sanders surge
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-25
With a familiar playbook of evidence-free, anonymously sourced red-baiting, the forces behind Russiagate try to stop Bernie Sanders' primary success….
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/24/the-russiagate-racket-targets-the-bernie-sanders-surge/

Residents clash with police as Greek govt proceeds with construction of new migrant center in Lesbos (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
rt.com | 2020-02-25
Greek police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of angry residents who attempted to halt the construction of a migrant detention center on the island of Lesbos. The clashes came amid growing anger over Athens' immigration policy. | Around 500 people attempted to block the unloading of heavy machinery and police reinforcements on the island, which will house a new migrant camp. Locals set fires and brawled with riot cops as police attempted to restore order, according to local media. | | Riot police reinforcements arrive on a ferry at Lesbos, Greece, February 25, 2020. | © REUTERS/Elias Marcou | Photogra…
rt.com/news/481606-lesbos-greece-police-clash-migrants/

No Russian 2020 Election Meddling Says US Intelligence Community Official
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-25
In January 2017, days before Trump's inauguration, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) concluded with "high confidence (that) Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election (sic)." | Weeks before the US 2016 …
globalresearch.ca/no-russian-2020-election-meddling-says-us-intelligence-community-official/5704617

'Go back to school and look at the map!' Twitterati hammer CNN as it draws non-existent SHARED border between Germany & Italy
rt.com | 2020-02-25
CNN has failed a basic geography test, putting Germany much closer to Italy than it actually is, during a report on how the EU is combatting the novel coronavirus. Netizens showed no mercy to the network's online team. | News that Germany isn't raising the alarm due to the 2019-nCoV outbreak in Italy prompted many established media to report on it, with CNN being no exception. The broadcaster's actual report cited a German foreign ministry spokeswoman who said Berlin wasn't issuing a travel warning for Italy at the moment, but their Twitter publication wasn't as accurate. | Now, you have to read carefully to s…
rt.com/news/481613-cnn-germany-italy-border/

Russia seeks to ease tensions with Belarus over energy dispute
wsws.org | 2020-02-25
Russia will compensate Belarus $300 million to offset energy price hikes, as Moscow works to preserve its alliance with Minsk.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/25/bela-f25.html

German right-wing and far-right parties suffer defeat in Hamburg state election
wsws.org | 2020-02-25
Four days after the right-wing terrorist attack in Hanau, the Christian Democrats and Free Democrats, the parties that formed an alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany to elect the minister president in Thuringia, lost large numbers of votes in Hamburg.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/25/hamb-f25.html

Germany: Tens of thousands take to the streets against right-wing terror
wsws.org | 2020-02-25
Many demonstrators pointed to the complicity of the security agencies and the right-wing policies of all the establishment parties, which paved the way for the neo-Nazi terror.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/25/hana-f25.html

Merkel rival Merz joins CDU party leadership race
rt.com | 2020-02-25
German conservative Friedrich Merz, an erstwhile rival of Chancellor Angela Merkel, confirmed on Tuesday that he will run for the leadership of her Christian Democrats (CDU) at a party congress on April 25. "I have decided to run again for…
rt.com/newsline/481630-germany-party-merkel-merz/

Virus 'literally knocking at the door', WHO warns countries
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
The World Health Organization (WHO) called on countries on Tuesday to boost their readiness against coronavirus, saying the virus is "literally knocking at the door".WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier, speaking at a news briefing in Geneva, said that WHO officials were meeting in Rome to discuss measures taken in Italy, which he said were "pretty strong". A mission to Iran, which had been announced for Tuesday, has been delayed and he had no date for its departure.Many countries have "pandemic plans" ready and some may act upon them depending on their situation, but at the moment the WHO itself does not plan anoth…
yenisafak.com/en/life/virus-literally-knocking-at-the-door-who-warns-countries-3512763

French hospital releases last quarantined patient
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
The man, a British national who contracted the virus while vacationing last month in the French Alps, is deemed no longer infectious, Oliver Vera told reporters late Monday."There are no identified patients" or circulation of the virus in France, he added.After the initial 12 diagnosed cases in January and February in France, each patient has healed except for one man who died on Feb. 14, an 80-year-old tourist of Chinese origin.Regardless, France remains on alert as the disease has spread close to home: seven people have died in Italy over the past few days in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. Some 28…
yenisafak.com/en/world/french-hospital-releases-last-quarantined-patient-3512773

Turkey: Istanbul-bound Iranian flight lands in Ankara over coronavirus alert
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
A plane from Iran has diverted from Istanbul, its destination, to land in Ankara, Turkey's capital, due to the presence of 17 people possibly infected with coronavirus on board.The Turkish Airlines flight from Tehran, with 132 passengers on board, landed at Ankara's Esenboga Airport Tuesday at 10.29 a.m. (0729GMT), said correspondents on the ground.Passengers from the flight have been taken in for preliminary health exams by the Ankara Health Directorate and Health Ministry officials.The 17 passengers are being treated as possible cases as they have higher-than-normal temperatures.Turkey to date has no reported c…
yenisafak.com/en/life/turkey-istanbul-bound-iranian-flight-lands-in-ankara-over-coronavirus-alert-3512766

Police detain 13 suspects over Daesh/ISIS ties in Istanbul
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
Turkish police have detained 13 suspects, including 10 foreign nationals, allegedly linked to the Daesh/ISIS terror group in Istanbul, security sources said on Tuesday.Police raided seven different locations and detained 13 suspects, including nine Syrians and an Iraqi national, said the sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.The ongoing operation was part of a probe into Daesh members who provide financial support for the terror group's remanded members.Digital materials and organizational documents were seized during the search.Turkey was one of the first countries to rec…
yenisafak.com/en/news/police-detain-13-suspects-over-daesh-isis-ties-in-istanbul-3512759

Libyan gov't has right to defend itself: Al-Sarraj
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
Head of Libya's internationally recognized government, Fayez al-Sarraj, said the presence of Turkish forces in the country comes within the legitimate right of self-defense against aggression of East Libya-based forces. | "The current situation in Libya and the resistance against the aggression on the capital [Tripoli] and cities in western Libya is the framework that we work on it with Turkey," al-Sarraj told Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. | "This is a legitimate right for the GNA [Government of National Accord] and a duty towards our people…
yenisafak.com/en/world/libyan-govt-has-right-to-defend-itself-al-sarraj-3512760

Pakistan eyeing greater teamwork, says Turkish defense firm
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
Pakistan wants to enhance its defense cooperation with Turkey, said the general manager of STM, a leading Turkish defense firm.The firm has developed several projects for Pakistan in the last decade with a special focus on its navy, said Murat Ikinci.It has pioneered many projects for Turkey and its projects in Pakistan have created export opportunities for many companies.The firm received rave reviews for a replenishment vessel it produced for Pakistan.He said: "Our second-largest project includes the modernization of Agosta 90B submarines."This project is progressing very successfully despite the sanctions and…
yenisafak.com/en/news/pakistan-eyeing-greater-teamwork-says-turkish-defense-firm-3512769

Turkey quarantines its citizens returning from Iran
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
Turkey will quarantine for 14 days its citizens returning from Iran amid coronavirus fears, the Turkish health minister said on Tuesday.Fahrettin Koca said a total of 132 Turkish citizens, who landed in the capital Ankara from Iran on Tuesday, have been quarantined and they will remain in a hospital for 14 days.He said all Turkish citizens, who want to return from Iran, will be subject to 14-day quarantine."No coronavirus cases were found in Turkey," the minister said, adding maximum efforts are being made to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the country.Iran has so far reported 14 deaths from the coronavirus,…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-quarantines-its-citizens-returning-from-iran-3512770

Germany: Number injured by car ramming reaches 52
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-25
The number of people injured one day after a car rammed into a group of people during a carnival parade in the central state of Hesse is over 50, authorities said on Tuesday.The police said in a statement that 52 people, among them 17 children, were injured in the incident in the small town of Volkmarsen.The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen, was suspected of intentionally ramming the car into the carnival parade.Frankfurt attorney's general office said the driver had not been under the influence of alcohol, but they have not yet determined whether he had taken drugs.On Monday night the police arrested a secon…
yenisafak.com/en/world/germany-number-injured-by-car-ramming-reaches-52-3512767

Assange Hearing: Trump Was "Aware" and "Approved" of Pardon Offer, Defence Team Says
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
In 2017 Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher reached out to Julian Assange to offer a pardon to the WikiLeaks publisher, if he could prove Russia wasn't involved in the DNC Leaks. Rohrabacher and US President Donald Trump have both since stated that the offer wasn't on Trump's behalf.
sputniknews.com/uk/202002251078395679-assange-hearing-trump-was-aware-and-approved-of-pardon-offer/

Austria, Croatia Confirm First Cases of Coronavirus
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
As of Tuesday, the COVID-19 outbreak has already left over 80,000 people infected worldwide, with the death toll of 2,699. Recovery rates are also on the rise, with 27,671 patients now having been discharged from hospitals around the globe.
sputniknews.com/europe/202002251078400561-first-case-of-coronavirus-confirmed-in-croatia/

Boris Johnson is Bombastic About Future of UK Fishing Industry but It Was Never 'Glorious' – Author
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
Britain's trawlermen have been limited by the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy since 1973 but Brexit means they will no longer be bound by it. Sputnik spoke to author Nick Triplow about whether UK fishing industry can ever regain its past status.
sputniknews.com/uk/202002251078395391-boris-johnson-is-bombastic-about-future-of-uk-fishing-industry-but-it-was-never-glorious—author/

Just 'Humour': Belgian Regional Authorities Defend Festival Depicting Jews as Insects
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
Last year, Belgium's Aalst carnival landed in the public spotlight after featuring figures of caricature Jews standing over bags of money. The scandal even prompted UNESCO to remove the festival from its list of heritage events, but this did not stop the carnival's organisers from taking things even further this year.
sputniknews.com/europe/202002251078401118-just-humour-belgian-regional-authorities-defend-festival-depicting-jews-as-insects-/

Sides in US Politics Resort to 'Russian Factor' Every Time They Lack Arguments – Russian Deputy FM
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump stated during his visit to India that American intelligence agencies have not briefed him on any information regarding alleged meddling attempts by Russia in the 2020 presidential election.
sputniknews.com/world/202002251078401770-sides-in-us-politics-resort-to-russian-factor-every-time-they-lack-arguments—russian-deputy-fm/

Why Merkel & Macron Likely to Support Moscow, Not Ankara at Proposed March Talks
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
The Turkish president signalled Tuesday that the 5 March talks with his Russian, German, and French counterparts on the Idlib crisis are still under consideration. Middle East experts Ghassan Kadi and Chris Assad have explained why there are only a few options on the table for Ankara at the potential talks.
sputniknews.com/analysis/202002251078401241-why-merkel–macron-likely-to-support-moscow-not-ankara-at-proposed-march-talks/

Trump: Intelligence Never Told Me About 'Russian Interference' in 2020 Elections
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-25
Earlier, US media reported that the country's intelligence community had informed some American lawmakers about alleged attempts by Russia to meddle in the 2020 presidential election, despite Moscow on numerous occasions denying such interference in US domestic affairs.
sputniknews.com/us/202002251078400805-trump-intelligence-never-told-me-about-russian-interference-in-2020-elections/

UK warned it faces 'tough road ahead' as red lines drawn ahead of trade talks
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-02-25
Britain has been warned it faces a "tough road ahead" in post-Brexit trade talks as European ministers gather in Brussels to prepare to sign off on their red lines. | The EU General Affairs Council is meeting to approve the bloc's mandate for negotiations with the UK

Russia Accused of Campaign Blaming US for Coronavirus Outbreak
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-24
Russia has been a prime US target since its 1917 revolution, relations between both countries uneasy at best from that time to now. | Propaganda by US officials and establishment media demonizes the country and its leadership, ongoing for over a …
globalresearch.ca/russia-behind-campaign-blame-us-coronavirus-outbreak/5704471

Cities quarantined in Italy, Iran, South Korea as coronavirus spreads globally
wsws.org | 2020-02-24
Medical staff are racing to avert a deadly global pandemic, underscoring the need for a coordinated, international medical campaign to halt the spread of the disease.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/24/coro-f24.html

US defense secretary launches simulated nuclear attack against Russia in Pentagon war game
wsws.org | 2020-02-24
The war game took place as more than 20,000 troops and 20,000 military vehicles began to arrive in Europe for the massive "Defender 2020" exercise targeting Russia.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/24/nuke-f24.html

How India's Modi is Playing on Trump's Ego to His Advantage
M. K. Bhadrakumar | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-24
One thing about U.S. President Donald Trump is that he can be brutally frank. Trump recently picked up the phone and called British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to convey his displeasure over the latter's decision to allow Huawei to operate in the United Kingdom despite Washington's repeated urgings not to do business with the Chinese tech company.
counterpunch.org/2020/02/24/how-indias-modi-is-playing-on-trumps-ego-to-his-advantage/

Russia to Complete Observation Flight Over Turkey
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-24
Russia will carry out an observation flight over Turkey between Tuesday and Friday under the multilateral Treaty on Open Skies, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday. | RELATED: | US Sanctions On Rosneft Won't Affect Relations With Venezuela: Kremlin | Russia's Tu-154M LK-1 observation plane will take off from northwest Turkey's Eskisehir airfield and cover up to 1,900 kilometers over the member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the ministry said. | The Tr…
telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-to-Complete-Observation-Flight-Over-Turkey-20200224-0006.html

How a Subtle Turkey-Iran Entente is Helping Iran Secure a Firm Presence in Syria
Agha Hussain | mintpressnews.com | 2020-02-24
In the last of a three-part series, Agha Hussein investigates how cooperation with Turkey is helping Iran resist pressure to leave Syria.
mintpressnews.com/subtle-turkey-iran-entente-secure-presence-syria/265138/

Venezuela's Next Economic Shock Might Come from India's Compliance with US Sanctions
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-24
India is Venezuela's largest oil customer but the two companies that import its oil just declared that they'll comply with the US' latest sanctions against the Bolivarian Republic's Russian intermediary, which could lead to the South American state experiencing an …
globalresearch.ca/venezuela-next-economic-shock-might-come-india-compliance-us-sanctions/5704536

2021 Pentagon Budget Request Hints at Russia and China as the New Focus of US Empire
Darius Shahtahmasebi | mintpressnews.com | 2020-02-24
As the disastrous US wars in the Middle East begin to wind down, the Pentagon is shifting its strategy, budget and arsenal to focus on a confrontation with Russia and China, writes Darius Shahtahmasebi.
mintpressnews.com/2021-pentagon-budget-request-russia-china/265124/

At least they'll have an off switch: Pentagon adopts 'AI Ethical Principles' for its killer robots
rt.com | 2020-02-24
As the United States looks to develop artificial intelligence weapons to keep up with Russia and China, the Pentagon has adopted a set of guidelines that it says will keep its killer androids under human control. | The Department of Defense adopted a set of "Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence" on Monday, following the recommendations by the Defense Innovation Board last October. | "AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America's steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. | Also on…
rt.com/usa/481586-pentagon-ai-robots-ethics/

Iran elections show growing alienation from bourgeois-clerical regime
wsws.org | 2020-02-24
The 'principalist' faction more aligned with Russia and China won amid a collapse in voter turnout, falling from 62 percent in 2016 to just 42.6 percent.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/24/iran-f24.html

Health Experts Warn World Is Approaching 'Tipping Point' in Spread of Coronavirus as Outbreaks Erupt in Italy and Iran
Julia Conley, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-02-24
Even as world health officials were encouraged Monday by reports out of China that the spread of coronavirus first detected in Wuhan is slowing, two months after outbreaks first began, authorities warned that the virus is now spreading rapidly in other countries and that the world is fast approaching a "tipping point" with the virus. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1202993197.png
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/24/health-experts-warn-world-approaching-tipping-point-spread-coronavirus-outbreaks?cd-origin=rss

Russiagate 2.0 drowns out Trump's reckless escalation of US-Russia nuclear arms race
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-23
Amid new fear-mongering about "Russian interference," former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter on Trump's overlooked, reckless escalation of the US-Russia…
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/23/russiagate-2-0-drowns-out-trumps-reckless-escalation-of-us-russia-nuclear-arms-race/

Dangerous games: US NUKES Russia in 'mini exercise' attended by Pentagon chief
rt.com | 2020-02-22
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper played himself in a drill at the US Strategic Command HQ in Nebraska, which featured a bizarre scenario of America nuking Russia in response to its own nuclear strike against a 'NATO ally'. | US military exercises simulating various crises are not that uncommon, yet, out of all plausible scenarios, this particular drill apparently simulated a highly unrealistic one. The classified exercise conducted at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha on Thursday focused on an imaginary nuclear conflict between the US and Russia in Europe. | According to the drill scenario, Moscow somehow dec…
rt.com/usa/481482-us-nukes-russia-pentagon-games/

Germany: Lenin comes to Gelsenkirchen!
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-02-22
On March 14, the Russian revolutionary, Marxist working-class theorist and leader of the October Revolution of 1917 will come to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. 150 years after his birthday he will move permanently into Gelsenkirchen-Horst – in the form of an over two meter tall, artfully shaped cast-iron statue in front of the Horster Mitte, the federal headquarters of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD). | "This will also be the start of a nationwide movement 'Don't give anti-communism a chance,'" says Gabi Fechtner, the chairwoman of the MLPD. "In times where monuments of the great communist th…
fightbacknews.org/2020/2/22/germany-lenin-comes-gelsenkirchen

Russia isn't only behind election hacking! They're also trying to smear US over coronavirus … according to State Department
rt.com | 2020-02-22
Not satisfied with just blaming Russia for election meddling, US officials are now claiming Moscow is trying to "sow discord" by spreading disinformation about the coronavirus and the US' role in its creation and global response. | US State Department officials are claiming Moscow is behind an internet campaign to blame the coronavirus on the US government. | Without citing specific examples, officials told AFP that the foreign nation is using "false personas" to spre…
rt.com/usa/481485-coronavirus-russia-state-department/

'Totally sane': Dems can't make up their minds about who is a supposed 'Russian agent'. Trump? Bernie? Or… both?
rt.com | 2020-02-22
Former presidential candidate Eric Swalwell performed mental gymnastics on CNN to defend Bernie Sanders over alleged help from Russia, claiming Moscow does it in order to help its 'agent' Donald Trump. | The Democrats' overuse of Russian collusion conspiracy theories appears to be collapsing in on itself. First Trump supposedly worked with the country to meddle in the 2016 presidential election

How Bernie Sanders Will Destroy the Deep State if He Becomes President
Eric Zuesse | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-22
Joe Lauria at Consortium News headlined on February 21st, "Apparent US Intel Meddling in US Election With 'Report' Russia is Aiding Sanders", and he noted that, If the story is true and if intelligence agencies are truly committed to protecting U.S. citizens, the Sanders campaign would have been quietly informed and shown evidence to back …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/how-bernie-sanders-will-destroy-the-deep-state-if-he-becomes-president/

Trump mocks 'fake news' for running 'Russian Sympathizer Bernie' smear, but doesn't miss a chance to score points
rt.com | 2020-02-22
It seems Donald Trump is yet to decide whether he would rather lampoon left-wing media for adding Democrat frontrunner Bernie Sanders to Team Russia or take the opportunity to mock his potential rival in the November poll. | Just a day apart, two steaming-hot scoops landed in the US media cycle. First, the New York Times said Russia was helping Donald Trump to get reelected. Then the Washington Post claimed Russia was helping Bernie Sanders's campaign. All based on anonymous sources, innuendos, and other traits with which even casual followers of the 'Russiagate' saga are all too familiar. | One of the princip…
rt.com/usa/481452-trump-mocks-russia-sanders/

Turkey, US protect Al Qaeda in Idlib and worsen Syria's suffering
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-21
Why is Turkey, with US backing, protecting Al-Qaeda's largest affiliate in Idlib, Syria? Idlib is facing a humanitarian disaster as…
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/21/turkey-us-protect-al-qaeda-in-idlib-and-worsen-syrias-suffering/

Labour's Next Leader has Already betrayed the Left
Jonathan Cook | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-21
In recent years the British Labour party has grown rapidly to become one of the largest political movement in Europe, numbering more than half a million members, many of them young people who had previously turned their backs on national politics. The reason was simple: a new leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had shown that it was …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/labours-next-leader-has-already-betrayed-the-left/

Germany Struggles to Respond to Racist Mass Murder
Jordan Stancil | thenation.com | 2020-02-21
Germany Struggles to Respond to Racist Mass Murder…
thenation.com/article/world/germany-shootings-racism-fascism/

'Russians helping Sanders!' MSM takes abrupt break from anti-Trump frenzy for a 'never Bernie' moment on the eve of Nevada caucus
rt.com | 2020-02-21
As Bernie Sanders surges to the front of the pack for the Democratic nomination, the Washington Post has dropped an anonymous "bombshell" claiming that Moscow seeks to help him as well as its "puppet," US President Donald Trump. | On the word of "people familiar with the matter,"
rt.com/usa/481439-bernie-sanders-russia-democratic/

The Kremlin Plans to Modernize Russia, Again
Stephen F. Cohen | thenation.com | 2020-02-21
The Kremlin Plans to Modernize Russia, Again…
thenation.com/article/world/the-kremlin-plans-to-modernize-russia-again/

More than $1 billion pledged for post-earthquake recovery in Albania
news.un.org | 2020-02-20
The international community has pledged $1.25 billion to help Albania recover from a devastating earthquake during a European Union-led donors' conference in Brussels.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1057801

Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-20
Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive

SPLC Statement on the Far-Right Shooting in Hanau, Germany
splcenter.org | 2020-02-20
splcenter.org/news/2020/02/20/splc-statement-far-right-shooting-hanau-germany