(2020-03-07). A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria. iranian.com Two peace agreements within a week are a bit too much. Hot on the heels of the US-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha on February 9, Russia and Turkey have signed a peace agreement over the Syrian conflict in Moscow on March 6. On the face of it, the two are unconnected events but they …
(2020-03-06). Erdogan vows to keep migrants flowing as THOUSANDS keep trying to storm Greek border (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Turkey's border will remain open for migrants seeking to reach the EU, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says. Thousands of illegal migrants have amassed at the border with Greece, facing off with police and trying to break through. | Ankara will not try to stop the refugees flowing to Europe, Erdogan told reporters Friday, as he was flying home from Moscow, where he had agreed a ceasefire document on Syria's Idlib with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. | Are the borders open or closed? We don't have time to discuss it anymore. It is done. | The situation at the Greek-Turkish border remains very tense [m…
(2020-03-06). Refugees attacked with water canons and tear gas on the Greek-Turkish border. thecanary.co 
Refugees faced more attacks on the Greek-Turkish border as people attempted to enter Greece, while the European Union's foreign ministers held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation on the border and in Syria, where Turkish troops are fighting.Greek authorities used tear gas and a water cannon to repulse an attempt by refugees to push through the border from Turkey in the morning, while Turkish authorities fired volleys of tear gas onto the Greek side of the frontier.Thousands of refugees have been trying to get into Greece through the country's eastern land and sea borders over the past week, after Turkey…
(2020-03-06). 120 migrants rescued by Turkish coastguard off western coast — report. rt.com 
Turkey's coastguard rescued around 120 migrants trying to reach a Greek island on three dinghies early on Friday after they said their passage was blocked by Greek coastguard vessels, Reuters reported. | Migrants shouted as coastguard vessels approached them off the coast of western Turkey's Izmir province. | The migrants included people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and various African countries. | Last week, Ankara said it would no longer stop hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers on its territory from trying to reach Europe. | Several migrants on two of the rescued dinghies claimed their boats' motors wer…
(2020-03-06). The New Idlib Ceasefire Forces Turkey-Backed Extremists to Fall Back. mintpressnews.com 
Putin and Erdogan met in Moscow in a last-ditch effort to strike a deal over the escalating violence in Idlib, Syria. Steven Sahiounie weighs in on who prevailed and what likely comes next.
(2020-03-06). US 'BLOCKS' UN from supporting Russian-Turkish ceasefire in Syria's Idlib. rt.com 
US opposition reportedly blocked the UN Security Council from backing the agreement between Russia and Turkey for a ceasefire in Syria's Idlib province. US diplomats earlier sought to back Turkey's incursion in the area. | Friday's meeting was requested by Russia, after President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan hammered out a ceasefire after a six-hour meeting in Moscow the day before. | However, "one of the parties" blocked the Security Council statement that would have expressed support for the agreement, Russian envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said. | Also on rt.com | | <...
(2020-03-06). War averted as Russia & Turkey reach deal on Idlib… but is peace on horizon? rt.com 
After a new agreement with Russia dispelled the specter of a major conflict arising from the recent escalation of tensions in Syria's Idlib, RT finds out whether it will be a lasting solution for Ankara and Damascus. | Damascus had launched an offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib against armed groups, which Ankara had supported as well as launching a military operation of its own. However, a heated standoff between the Syrian Army and Turkey seems to have been avoided. This was all thanks to the diplomatic efforts of Moscow and Ankara, which led to a new agreement on the troubled province following…
(2020-03-06). Of course it's coincidence: Kremlin spokesman denies trolling Erdogan with bronzework of Russo-Turkish war. rt.com 
Some believe the Kremlin wanted to rattle Turkey's President by placing him next to a work of art depicting a crushing Ottoman defeat at the hands of the Russians, but Vladimir Putin's spokesman says it was pure coincidence. | Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Moscow on Thursday to discuss with the Russian President ways to
(2020-03-06). Ukrainian Chess grand master and girlfriend FOUND DEAD in Moscow — 'laughing gas' suspected. rt.com 
Stanislav Bogdanovich, a chess grand master from Odessa, Ukraine, has been found dead in Moscow with his girlfriend, Alexandra Vernigora. The two Ukrainians lived together in the Russian capital's Filyovsky Park district. | Moscow media reports say the pair were apparently poisoned by laughing gas, with their bodies found near balloons containing nitrous oxide. A source told Interfax that the heads of both victims were in plastic bags, and next to their bed was a gas canister. | www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1034065026734009&set=pb.100003915636851.-2207520000..&type=3&theater | Bogdanovich recently r…
(2020-03-06). Serbia will continue to source weapons from 'friendly states' despite US sanctions threat — minister. rt.com 
Serbia will continue to source weapons from "friendly states," despite a looming threat of US sanctions in the event of further such deliveries from Russia, Serbian defense minister said on Friday. "Serbia is not a colony" and will decide for itself about "the strengthening and equipping of its armed forces," Aleksandar Vulin said in a statement. | US officials have spoken openly about introducing sanctions against Serbia if Moscow sends more arms to the country. Belgrade has recently received a sophisticated anti-aircraft system from Russia, which has also provided fighter jets, attack helicopters and armored…
(2020-03-06). Turkish forces 'to react' to any attack of Syrian Army in Idlib, Erdogan warns. rt.com 
Turkish Armed Forces in Syria's Idlib would fight back any attack from the Syrian forces, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. | "We would invariably stay vigilant for any attacks and violations," Erdogan said, according to Yeni Safak. | Ankara's main goal is "implementation of UN resolution 2254 and launch of political process and end of civil war in Syria," TASS quoted the Turkish president as saying. He also noted that "the Turkish observation points would retain their status" and that any changes regarding them "are off the table." | On Thursday, Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin agree…
(2020-03-06). Moscow medics responding to possible child coronavirus case BEATEN by father for wearing protective suits. rt.com 
Did you hear the one about the paramedic who went to help a sick child, and ended up being beaten by the kid's father? Well, you have now. | On Thursday, medics in Moscow showed up to examine a youngster suspected of having coronavirus, the Russian police press service reported. Unfortunately, the child's dad is said to have taken exception to the fact that they were wearing protective suits. | According to media reports, the young patient had pneumonia, which presents with symptoms similar to Covid-19. The attendant paramedic and doctor therefore put on special suits to protect themselves from the possibility…
(2020-03-06). Russian billionaire banker Tinkov stranded in London for US extradition probe reveals he has BLOOD CANCER. rt.com 
Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov, whom the US wants to extradite from Britain over alleged tax evasion, has revealed he cannot leave his home in London because he is undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia. | The 52-year-old Russian-born businessman said he chose to make his condition public because of "speculation" since the US Department of Justice indicted him over a failure to pay taxes when he renounced his American citizenship in 2013. Tinkov, according to the US authorities, underreported his income and wealth to dodge liabilities. | "I have been diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia. The diagnosis came…
(2020-03-06). NOPEC! Oil prices plummet after Russia rejects new crude production cuts. rt.com 
Cooperation between Russia and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has got to an abrupt stop after Moscow refused to back new deeper cuts on oil output. The move has sent oil prices into a downward spiral. | The OPEC and non-OPEC countries held the consultations on oil cuts consultations in Vienna on Friday, yet failed to agree on them. | The talks followed the OPEC decision to cut the output by an extra 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of this year — but only if Russia joins in. The new cuts were expected to come on top of the already existing cuts of 2.1 mill…
(2020-03-06). Deadly & beautiful: Find out how Russian female soldiers train for their big day (no, not a wedding day). rt.com 
Trim, fit and synched. That's how these 24 young soldiers have to look when they march through Ekaterinburg in May to open the Victory Day parade. And it takes a lot of training to get every detail right. | The all-female tattoo was gathered from ladies serving in Russian military units in Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region. They are now learning how to work as a well-oiled team and are undergoing physical endurance training to be in peak form by May 9. | | © Russian Defense Ministry | Footage of their regimen was released by the defense ministry ahead of the International Women's Day. | A heads…
(2020-03-06). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org On Tuesday workers held marches to protest attacks on pensions by the Macron government while trade union officials in Zimbabwe are attempting to hold back demands for a general strike against spiralling inflation.
(2020-03-06). Headlines for March 6, 2020. democracynow.org 3,500 Cruise Ship Passengers Quarantined Off California Coast over Coronavirus Fears, Seattle Area Residents Urged to Work from Home as Coronavirus Spreads Across U.S., World Health Organization's Coronavirus Warning: "This Is Not a Drill", Stocks Tumble as Coronavirus Rattles Global Economy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Suspends 2020 Presidential Bid, Bernie Sanders Campaign Rally Disrupted by Protester with Nazi Flag, Russia and Turkey Agree to a Ceasefire in Syria's War-Torn Idlib, Israel Accused of Collective Punishment After Demolishing Palestinian Homes, Israeli Opposition Parties Bidding to Unseat Netanyahu After…
(2020-03-06). OPEC: Negotiations to Reduce Oil Supply Fail, Oil Prices Drop. telesurenglish.net Due to the decline in global oil consumption caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Friday proposed to cut oil supplies by 1.5 million barrels per day until the end of 2020. This proposal, however, was not accepted due to the resistance of Russia and Kazakhstan. | RELATED: | This adjustment, which represents about 1.5 percent of world production, was proposed during the OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. | On…
(2020-03-06). Macron to ram through French pension cuts without vote in parliament. wsws.org At a time when the coronavirus pandemic is ravaging Europe, Macron wants to impose, without parliamentary debate or vote, a reform that will impoverish the population.
(2020-03-06). Europe's largest regional airline, Flybe, collapses citing coronavirus impact as final straw. wsws.org The company's final flights were either grounded minutes before take-off or diverted to the nearest airport in mid-air so that planes could be impounded.
(2020-03-06). The working class and the rich: Class distinctions exposed by response to Covid-19 pandemic. wsws.org With the coronavirus accelerating in Europe and United States, the contrast in the response between workers and the rich exposes the class nature of society.
(2020-03-06). Fridays For Future Occupies Brussels to Demand Climate Actions. telesurenglish.net Over 3,400 Europeans marched to support the "Friday for Future" (FFF) movement and demand concrete climate policies and actions in Brussels, Belgium. | RELATED: | The demonstration ran through the streets of the Belgian capital until it ended in the Parc du Cinquantenaire, near the European Parliament building. | "Welcome to climate change" and "Green Europe today" were some of the slogans used by the crowd which, a…
(2020-03-06). Syria Debacles Epitomize Perpetual Perfidy of U.S. Foreign Policy. counterpunch.org Turkey is ratcheting up its invasion of Syria and trying to drag NATO into Erdogan's personal rehabilitation scheme. Threats and counter-threats are flying as thickly as the bombs and bullets. It remains to be seen whether U.S. policymakers will blunder deeper into this quagmire. Last October, the Washington establishment was aghast when President Trump appeared
(2020-03-06). The all-party conspiracy behind the return of the Left Party to government in Thuringia. wsws.org One month after Free Democratic Party (FDP) politician Thomas Kemmerich was elected Thuringia state premier with the votes of the extreme right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), his predecessor, Left Party leader Bodo Ramelow, is back in office.
(2020-03-06). Some Emerging Truths About Ukraine and the Crash of Malaysian Airlines MH17. globalresearch.ca On 17 July 2014 a Malaysian Airlines flight was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over Ukrainian territory with the loss of all passengers and crew. The majority of the passengers were Dutch citizens, …
(2020-03-06). Putin and Erdogan agree to new Idlib ceasefire at Moscow summit on Syria. wsws.org Despite both sides' efforts to smooth over the conflicts, the ceasefire does not resolve the broader NATO-Russia conflicts behind recent Turkish-Russian clashes in Syria.
(2020-03-06). Fox News Is Spreading Trump's Coronavirus Lies Faster Than the Disease Itself. truthout.org President Trump said that Russian interference in the 2016 election was a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats to destroy his presidency. He claimed his impeachment was a Democratic hoax too and last week he said the coronavirus — or at least media coverage of the coronavirus — was one as well. | None of those were hoaxes. But that doesn't mean hoaxes don't exist. In fact, when it comes to the coronavirus crisis, disinformation, propaganda and hoaxes abound. Ironically, one of the so…
(2020-03-06). Greeks | attack descendants of Syrians who protected their ancestors during | WWII. yenisafak.com As the Syrian civil war continues to rage, it has become quite clear that Europe, where refugee hostility has been on the rise, has quickly forgotten its not-so-distant past.During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Europeans who fled Nazi occupation and Soviet oppression, have sought protection in Middle Eastern countries.There's an abundance of records about migrant ancestors of Greeks who were hosted by Syria during WWII.However, the whole world today is bearing witness to Greece's barbaric attacks against asylum seekers on its borders.Over 12,000 Greek migrants were hosted in camps located in the city of…
(2020-03-06). Over 142,000 asylum seekers leave Turkey for Europe. yenisafak.com More than 142,000 asylum seekers have left Turkey for Greece, the country's interior minister said Friday."As of 12.10 p.m. local time, 142,175 migrants have left the territory of Turkey from Edirne and Evros to Greece," said Suleyman Soylu in a tweet.Last week, Turkish officials announced they would no longer try to stop asylum seekers from reaching Europe.Since then, thousands of asylum seekers have flocked to Edirne, along the borders with Greece and Bulgaria, to make their way into Europe.The decision was made after 34 Turkish soldiers were martyred by Assad regime forces in Idlib, northwestern Syria last wee…
(2020-03-06). Turkey condemns 'heinous attack' in Afghanistan. yenisafak.com "We are deeply saddened to receive the news that many people have lost their lives and have been injured as a result of an armed attack that took place in Kabul today [March 6] at a commemoration ceremony, which was attended by many leading Afghan politicians," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement."We strongly condemn this heinous attack, which came about at a critical time when peace and reconciliation efforts gained momentum in Afghanistan," the ministry added.The attack came just days after the U.S. and Taliban reached a landmark peace deal aimed at ending violence in the war-torn country."We reite…
(2020-03-06). Greece's suspending asylum bids lacks legal basis: UN. yenisafak.com The UN human rights office said Friday that Greece's suspending new asylum applications has no legal basis under the international refugee law.Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the rights office follows the position of the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, on the Greek decision."There is no legal basis for the suspension of refugee procedures under the international refugee law," she said during a UN press briefing at Geneva.On Sunday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Twitter that Greece will not accept any new asylum applications f…
(2020-03-06). Authenticity key for yearlong tourism in ski centers. yenisafak.com Winter resorts should focus on their strengths instead of being "everybody's darling" to become yearlong tourism destinations, an Austria-based tourism company head said Friday.Tourists are always on the lookout for a unique destination, said Johannes Triebnik, head of Input.He was speaking at the Infrastructure Sector of Winter and Mountain Tourism summit organized by Austria's commercial office, Advantage Austria.Turkey's hospitable tradition and culture were an added incentive for tourists, he said, at the event held in Uludag, a famous Turkish ski resort center.He said activities such as biking could attract…
(2020-03-06). Coronavirus cases almost reach 100,000 globally. yenisafak.com The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, infected more than 97,000 people across the world, according to a data collecting website "worldometer".The death toll has risen to 3,390 worldwide, including 3,042 in China, where the virus outbreak first emerged from the city of Wuhan in last December.Outside of China, there have been many deaths seen due to the coronavirus, including 148 in Italy, 107 in Iran, 43 in South Korea, 12 in Japan, 11 in the United States, 7 in France, 3 in Iraq, 3 in Spain, 2 in Australia, and recently one person in the United Kingdom.Meanwhile, more than 55,000 people have been d…
(2020-03-06). US, Europe unsafe if Syrian regime not stopped: Expert. yenisafak.com American and European interests will soon be threatened if the atrocities by Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria are not stopped, said an American expert on Friday."A new wave of refugees will destabilize European democracies. The United States has interests all over the region that will be threatened by the rising chaos," said political analyst Josh Robin, at his column for the Washington Post."The strategic argument is clear-cut. What happens in Syria doesn't stay in Syria."Idlib, just across Turkey's southern border with Syria, falls within a de-escalation zone laid out in a deal between Turkey and Russia in late…
(2020-03-06). Turkey deports Croatian national over terror links. yenisafak.com Turkey on Friday deported a terrorist from Croatia back to his country of origin, the Interior Ministry said.In a statement, the ministry said the fighter was sent back as part of Ankara's ramped-up efforts to expel foreign terrorists.Turkey continues to send back foreign terrorist fighters, it added.The issue of the handling of Daesh/ISIS members and their families detained in Syria
(2020-03-06). Turkey seeks end to civil war in Syria: Erdogan. yenisafak.com Turkey's president on Friday said the country's goals in Syria were to facilitate a political process in line with UN Security Council resolutions and put an end to ongoing civil war.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would remain vigilant in the northwestern region of Idlib in case forces loyal to the Bashar al-Assad regime target the city or violate the latest cease-fire.
(2020-03-06). Turkey's automotive exports hit $2.5B in February. yenisafak.com Turkey's automotive industry exports amounted to $2.5 billion in February, an exporters association reported Friday.The Uludag Automotive Industry Exporters' Association (OIB) said despite a 0.9% fall year-on-year, Turkey's automotive exports held top spot among other sectors.The sector's share in Turkey's total exports stood at 17.2%, the statement said.Passenger car exports registered a double-digit increase while other main product groups decreased in the same period.Automobile exports surged 14% on an annual basis to $1.8 billion in February, followed by supply industry which saw a fall of 5%, reaching $847 m…
(2020-03-06). French lawmaker hospitalized due to coronavirus. yenisafak.com A conservative member of France's National Assembly was hospitalized on Friday after contracting the novel coronavirus, with the outbreak escalating in the country. Jean-Luc Reitzer is currently in intensive care in a hospital in Mulhouse, a city near the Swiss and German border which has seen a cluster of cases of COVID-19. His office confirmed Friday that he is now in "stable condition," according to the Politico EU news portal.The official number of cases in France has risen to 423, with 23 in serious condition. The death toll stands at seven, with one death
(2020-03-06). Erdogan hopes cease-fire continues in Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish president on Friday said Ankara reached a cease-fire deal with Russia regarding northwestern Idlib city of Syria, which would hopefully bring an end to a war between Muslim parties.Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks came after Friday prayers in Istanbul, where he commented on operations of Turkish Armed Forces in Syria and deadly coronavirus outbreak around the world."We have had martyrs. We finally sat at the table yesterday and agreed on a cease-fire as of [Thursday] midnight. We hope that it [cease-fire] continues," Erdogan said.Erdogan noted that he hoped this move would bring an end to a war between Musl…
(2020-03-06). Russia condemns Israel's plan for West Bank settlements. yenisafak.com Russia on Friday strongly condemned Israel's plans to build new settlements in the occupied West Bank. | At a news conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Israel's plans for new settlements "clearly" violate international law. | "The plans [for new settlements in the occupied West Bank] … clearly contradict the international legal basis for the Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Their implementation will make impossible the territorial continuity of this zone, which is an essential condition for the viability of a future Palestinian state," she said. | Zakharova called the c…
(2020-03-06). Greece Prevented More Than 2,800 Illegal Border Crossings Over Past 24 Hours – Source. sputniknews.com ATHENS (Sputnik) – Greek police and military have prevented almost 3,000 migrants from illegally crossing the border from Turkey, a source in the government told reporters on Friday, adding that eight illegal migrants had been arrested.
(2020-03-06). Serbian Armed Forces Ready to Close Border to Migrants – Defence Minister. sputniknews.com BELGRADE (Sputnik) – The Serbian military is ready to defend the country's border from the influx of migrants if the leadership issues such an order, Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin said on Friday in the wake of Turkey's move to open its frontier with the European Union to migrants amid a fresh escalation in Syria's Idlib province.
(2020-03-06). Erdogan to Visit Brussels on 9 March Amid Migration Crisis With EU. sputniknews.com ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a visit to Brussels, which houses the European Unions' headquarters, on 9 March, his administration said soon after Ankara decided to open its borders with the EU for migrants.
(2020-03-06). Netherlands-Led JIT Biased Towards Russia, Ignored Massive Data on MH17 Crash Handed Over by Moscow. sputniknews.com Moscow has expressed readiness to provide all the relevant data on the MH17 crash since the day of the catastrophe, including radar data and information about weapons allegedly used to down the plane, but the investigative team repeatedly ignored these offers or disregarded the data obtained in its conclusions.
(2020-03-06). Brexit Preparations Have Cost UK 'Minimum' of £4.4 Billion — Report. sputniknews.com While United Kingdom's divorce saga with the European Union has preoccupied the minds of British officials since June 2016, recently published figures have shown that the government has spent a lot of money to get ready for both "deal" and "no deal" withdrawal scenarios.
(2020-03-06). Newly Unveiled Docs Allege Swiss Bank Holds Nazi Victims' Money. sputniknews.com The files handed over by an investigator from Argentina establish a link between the Credit Suisse predecessor that harboured the valuables looted from victims of the Third Reich and the Nazi-friendly leaders that were in office in Buenos Aires at the time.
(2020-03-06). Circular IT Economy, Carbon-Neutrality 'Vitally Important' for Truly Sustainable Future – Advocate. sputniknews.com As European legislators pass new laws aiming to tackle climate change and environmental damage, tech startups have begun revising their business models, namely by adopting circular economies to cut back on waste in the manufacturing process and promote environmentally-friendly supply chains.
(2020-03-06). Russian S-400 Air Defence Systems Will Enter Service in Turkey in April – Erdogan. sputniknews.com ANKARA (Sputnik) – Russian-made S-400 air defence missile systems will enter service in Turkey in April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.
(2020-03-06). Turkish Delight: Playboy Model Reportedly Facing Jail for Stripping Off in Istanbul Mosque. sputniknews.com The contentious internet diva has long been in the viral news headlines for repeatedly baring it all in very different corners of the world. She started off her sassy antics in Luxor, Egypt, and has since been travelling the world flashing her private parts in Turkey, Israel, the US, and even Iceland.
(2020-03-06). Russia's Aeroflot Reduces Number of Flights to China, South Korea, Vietnam, Italy. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's Aeroflot airline announced on Friday it was reducing the number of flights to destinations in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Italy due to falling demand amid the coronavirus disease outbreak there.