(2021-05-08). Re-Engaging Russia — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Russian realignment offers the biggest opportunity to dramatically transform the international situation in the immediate future. A cooperative relationship between Russia and the Industrialized World could be a highly visible example of democratic development, strongly undercutting Chinese promotion of autocracy and minimizing cyber intrusions. It would also significantly reduce requirements for military forces, including a potential for major reductions in nuclear weapons. Diplomatically, collaboration with Russia could help resolve confrontations in Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine, Belarus, Syria and Myanma…
(2021-05-08). White Helmets corruption scandal deepens: Dutch gov't investigated parent org for fraud, but covered it up. thegrayzone.com The Netherlands investigated fraud by the Mayday Rescue Foundation, which funded the Syrian White Helmets with over $120 million in Western government contracts. But top Dutch officials covered up the corruption. The decade-long dirty war on Syria proved to be a cash cow for some of the most prominent US and UK regime-change operatives. Western government contractors got hundreds of millions of dollars to run schemes to destabilize Damascus —— and some of them took a cut for themselves, profiting …
(2021-05-08). Thousands of Refugee Deaths Linked to EU's Illegal Expulsion: Report. orinocotribune.com Several European states used illegal operations to push back at least 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Europe's borders during the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in the death of over 2,000 people, a report has revealed. | The Guardian's probe, which is based on reports released by UN agencies, combined with a database of incidents collected by non-governmental organizations, describes the push-backs as "one of the biggest mass expulsions in decades." | "European countries, supported by EU's border agency Frontex, systematically pushed back refugees, including children fleeing from wars, in their thousands…
(2021-05-08). United States Withdraws From Afghanistan? Not Really. zcomm.org The U.S. will "withdraw," but will also leave behind its assets to checkmate China and Russia. These geopolitical considerations eclipse any concern for the Afghan people…
(2021-05-08). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Ramping up COVID-19 vaccination rate in race against virus. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org COVID-19 cases are falling in the U.S. because 245 million doses of one of the available COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, according to Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "But at the same time, there are still people who need more information about the safety and the value …
(2021-05-08). Leading Yasen-M Nuclear Submarine Entered Service With Russian Navy. southfront.org 
Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarine Kazan | On May 7th, the nuclear submarine "Kazan" has been taken into service with Russian Navy, according to the information department of the Russian Defense Ministry. "Today in Severodvinsk at the Sevmash enterprise under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, a solemn ceremony of admission to the Navy of the fourth generation Kazan nuclear submarine (APC) of the Yasen-M project was held," the department reported. | On May 5, the…
(2021-05-08). Military Situation In Syria On May 8, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On May 8, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 52 times: 24 — in Idlib province, 17 — in Latakia province, 9 — in Hama province, 2 — in Aleppo province | On May 7, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in the Ariha area | On May 7, Turkish border guards reportedly killed a fisherman near Darkush town | On May 6, US forces carried out a military patrol near the town of Malekiyah | MORE O…
(2021-05-08). War In Ukraine Is Not Over: Losses Reported By Both Sides (Map Update). southfront.org 
ILLUSRATIVE IMAGE: Forces of the Donetsk People's Republic | On May 8th, the official sources of National Militia of Donetsk People's Republic reported deaths of three of its soldiers. They were reportedly killed as a result of a mortar fire near the village of Styla, south of Donetsk."Militants of the 1st battalion of the 93rd brigade fired 82-mm mortars at the area of the locality of Styla. To preserve the life and health of the residents of the Republic, the People's Militia units were forced to return fire from weapons not prohibited by…
(2021-05-08). Brussels Short Film Festival to host 3 Iranian titles. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Three Iranian titles, namely 'The Driver', 'Asho' and 'Exam' will go on screen at the 24th edition of the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) in Belgium.
(2021-05-08). NATO Allies Take Over Black Sea for Military Exercise. news.antiwar.com The title is courtesy of the Transylvania Now new site. The Pentagon's Special Operations Command Europe kicked off the Trojan Footprint 21 exercise on May 3; what is identified as its premier special operations forces drills. The war games will be held until May 14 in five Black Sea and Balkans nations: Bulgaria, Georgia, Montenegro, …
(2021-05-08). 800 American paratroopers land near Russian borders. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — About 800 American paratroopers have landed near the Russian border in Estonia as part of the Swift Response exercise.
(2021-05-08). May 8: Ukrainian officials imply conflict with Russia equivalent to Nazi invasion. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com May 8: Ukrainian officials imply conflict with Russia equivalent to Nazi invasionRick Rozoff On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War Two in Europe (Victory in Europe Day to much of the world), what since the 2014 coup in Ukraine has been celebrated as …
(2021-05-08). How Viruses And Bacteria Can Reach Drinking Water Wells. eurasiareview.com Induced bank filtration is a key and well-established approach to provide drinking water supply to populated areas located along rivers or lakes and with limited access to groundwater resources. It is employed in several countries worldwide, with notable examples in Europe, the United States, and parts of Africa. Contamination of surface waters poses a serious threat to attaining drinking water standards. | In this context, human pathogenic microorganisms such as some viruses and bacteria, originating from the discharge of wastewater treatment plants, form a major contaminant group. A detailed study at an indu…
(2021-05-08). EU-Russian Trans-Border Cooperation Continues But Increasingly Reflects Civilizational Divide — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Many cooperation programs between the European Union and Russia have been discontinued. Trans-border cooperation, however, continues, although largely by inertia and increasingly reflecting the civilizational divide between the EU with its participatory democracy and Russia with its "unworthy government," Gleb Yarovoy says. | Yarovoy, a former instructor at Petrozavodsk State University and now a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, is the author of Regionalism and Trans-Border Cooperation in Europe (in Russian, St. Petersburg, 2007). He assesses the current situation in an essay for the…
(2021-05-08). Trawler Wars: Europe's Fights Over Fish. eurasiareview.com By Gerardo Fortuna | ( Fish stocks have all they need to be considered as a resource over which nations can wage wars, as they are scarce and most often involve attempts to cross (maritime) borders. | Joint and multilateral management of these resources — like the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) — has a…
(2021-05-08). Why China Will Not Rebuild Syria — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Samy Akil* | A The European Union, the United States and other Western powers have ruled out investing in Syria while the Assad regime remains in power. The Biden admi…
(2021-05-08). EU envoy calls for an immediate revival of JCPOA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Deputy of European Union Foreign Policy Chief says he feels a definite urgency to conclude the nuclear talks, and he is happy to see that Iran and the United States feel the same way.
(2021-05-08). US, Europe must be held responsible for the Zionists' crimes. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — An official with Iran's Judiciary Branch says the United States and European countries should be held responsible for crimes that Zionists are committing in the Palestinian occupied territories.
(2021-05-08). Seven People Reportedly Killed in Avalanches in Southeastern France. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – Seven people are dead after two avalanches came down in the French Alps in the Savoie department on Saturday, national media reported.
(2021-05-08). Scandal in French Air Force as Pilots Tie Pilot to Pole at Firing Range and Drop Bombs Around Him. sputniknews.com The French Penal Code punishes acts of hazing ('bizutage') with up to six months in prison and a 7,500 euro fine. Until recently, hazing had been seen as a 'rite of passage' symbolising a person's integration into their peer group, with soldiers, students and workers in some professions subjected to the humiliating and potentially deadly practice.
(2021-05-08). Hundreds of Bottles of 'Chernobyl Booze' Seized in Ukraine, Media Says. sputniknews.com The company that manufactures the spirit is run by scientists working in the Chernobyl exclusion zone who seek to determine whether safe-for-consumption products can be made from things grown in the area.
(2021-05-08). Declaring that France must "live with the virus," Macron ends limited lockdown. wsws.org There is an attempt to desensitize the population to mass death, which is presented as inevitable, and not the result of well-defined policies that can be opposed and rejected.
(2021-05-08). Non-scheduled flights to bring back Iranians from India. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization says that there will be two flights to India and France this week to return the Iranian nationals from those Coronavirus-hit countries.
(2021-05-08). Smell of Death: Napoleon 'Overdosed' Himself With Cologne, Leading to Fatal Cancer, Scientist Claims. sputniknews.com The final days of France's former emperor Napoleon Bonaparte might not have been as glorious as his military campaigns — the key man of the French Revolution reportedly suffered from a number of health issues at the time of his death on Saint Helena island in May 1821.
(2021-05-08). German Catholic Diocese Hosts Event Declaring Same-Sex Blessings A Case Of 'Not If, But How'. eurasiareview.com A German Catholic diocese has hosted an online event declaring that same-sex blessings are a matter of "not if, but how." | The Diocese of Essen, in Germany's industrial Ruhr area, held the conference, entitled "Blessings for all. Blessing celebrations for same-sex couples," ahead of a nationwide event on May 10 in defiance of the Vatican's "no" to same-sex blessings. | The diocese said in a May 3
(2021-05-08). From Global Times opinion piece. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Washington's 'small clique' politics exposed as China, Russia battle with US over 'rules', 'multilateralism' at UN Excerpts In its 240-plus years of existence, the US has been at war for all but 16 years. The US military budget for 2019 exceeded $716 billion, which is equal to the military spending of the next nine countries …
(2021-05-08). US Secretary of State Blinken visits Kiev amidst ongoing tensions with Russia. wsws.org Blinken conspicuously failed to publicly condemn a far-right march that had taken place just before his visit in Kiev.
(2021-05-08). A Friend To All Is A Friend To None: Russian Strategy in The Middle East — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Jason Hamilton, Rosemarie Wilde, and Jason Wimberly* | Since the start of the Arab Spring, Russia has sought increased influence in the Middle East, rekindling relationships and building influence in Syria, Turkey, Libya, Israel, and elsewhere. The return of Russian influence puts pressure on U.S. interests in the region. In the increasingly complex security environment of today's world defined by transregional and multi-functional challenges across all domains, the United States is constrained in the Middle East by both available resources and an American public exhausted by military efforts in the region.
(2021-05-08). US withdrawal from JCPOA led to 'Fiasco': Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna in a message on the anniversary of the US withdrawal from the JCPOA said that the move was a "Fiasco".
(2021-05-08). Russia expresses concern over develoments in occupied Quds. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — In response to yesterday's incidents in occupied holy Quds, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern and called for an end to escalating tensions.
(2021-05-08). Russian Space Surveillance Station Records Space Activity Surge in 2021, Defence Ministry Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's Okno-M facility, part of the Centre for Outer Space Monitoring, recorded 30,000 moving objects since the beginning of the year, which marks an increase in space activity compared to 2020, the Russian Defence Ministry stated on Saturday.
(2021-05-08). Russia criticizes increased U.S. military activity in Syria. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Russia criticizes increased U.S. military activity in SyriaRick Rozoff The Russian Defense Ministry has expressed concern about deployment of U.S. military convoys and equipment to the al-Jazeera region in eastern Syria. The Russian Coordination Center in Hmeimim said of the increased air and land transport of American military hardware, "such military mobilization, synchronized with the …
(2021-05-08). Russia Criticizes Increased US Military Activity in Syria. news.antiwar.com The Russian Defense Ministry has expressed concern about deployment of U.S. military convoys and equipment to the al-Jazeera region in eastern Syria. The Russian Coordination Center in Hmeimim said of the increased air and land transport of American military hardware, "such military mobilization, synchronized with the economic and social situation resulting from the US blockade …
(2021-05-08). Official: Ukraine certain of receiving lethal weapons from NATO. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Official: Ukraine certain of receiving lethal weapons from NATORick Rozoff Leonid Kravchuk, one of the three signatories to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's first president, told one of his nation's television networks on May 7 that he was sure of the U.S. and other NATO delivering lethal weapons to Ukraine. Weapons required …
(2021-05-08). Why is cryptocurrency popular in war zone areas, with an example of Ukraine and Syria? nationofchange.org Until the circumstance changes, Idlib's trades and exchanging work areas will probably stay connected up to the digital currency economy, even as close to every day airstrikes focus on the towns and field encompassing them.
(2021-05-07). Belarus ready to hold early presidential election same day U.S. does. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Belarusian Telegraph AgencyMay 7, 2021 Lukashenko names conditions for early presidential election in Belarus ==== Belarus thanks U.S. for telling it how to run elections, country — with assistance of Sixth Fleet Top Belarus commander warns of NATO build-up near Belarusian, Russian borders Last bastion: Belarus warns of repetition of 1921, 1941 tragedies Belarus: Wars have taken on …
(2021-05-07). Russia Can Recover Only If Moscow Addresses Problems Of Middle Class And The Poor — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Vladimir Putin and the Russian government have acted as if they can address the impact of the pandemic on the population adequately if they come up with new programs for the poorest strata of Russians. But in fact, the economic crisis is hitting the middle class hard, and the regime must develop programs to help it as well, Yaroslav Kuzminov says. | Up to now, the rector of Moscow's Higher School of Economics says, the government has supported production and given some aid to the very poorest groups, but it has not supported members of the middle class with new programs who in many cases have lost their source…
(2021-05-07). Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in urban and rural Ethiopia: Randomized household serosurveys reveal level of spread during the first wave of the pandemic. thelancet.com More than four months after the first cases were detected in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa displayed a prevalence under 5% and likely as low as 2%, while rural Jimma displayed a prevalence of 0.2%. A 2% seroprevalence figure for the capital translated to a number of cases at least five times larger than those reported for the country as a whole. At the same time, it contrasts with significantly higher seroprevalence figures in large cities in Europe and America only two to three months after the first cases.
(2021-05-07). Join the Twitter Storm to #SaveSheikhJarrah and End Canadian Complicity — Saturday May 8. samidoun.net 
#SaveSheikhJarrah Demand Action and Accountability from the Canadian Government Twitter Storm and Social Media Campaign Saturday, 8 May 10 am Pacific — 1 pm Eastern — 7 pm central Europe — 8 pm Palestine Sample Tweets and Images: bit.ly/sheikhjarrahtweets In occupied Jerusalem, Palestinians from the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan are threatened with imminent expulsion and violent forced eviction from their homes by the Israeli occupation regime. This is part of the ongoing Nakba in Palestine — the ongoing Israeli plan to dispossess Palestinians from their homes and land and perpet…
(2021-05-07). United States Withdraws From Afghanistan? Not Really. counterpunch.org 
The United States, it appears, is willing to allow the Taliban to return to power with two caveats: first, that the U.S. presence remains, and second, that the main rivals of the United States—namely China and Russia—have no role in Kabul. In 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in Chennai, India, where she proposed the creation of a New Silk Road Initiative that linked Central Asia through Afghanistan and via the ports of India; the purpose of this initiative was to cut off Russia from its links in Central Asia and to prevent the establishment of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, w…
(2021-05-07). France's Le Pen Wants to Limit Naturalization Via Family Reunification. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Leader of French right-wing party National Rally, Marine Le Pen, announced plans to limit the opportunities for migrants to become citizens of France through the family reunification track for at least a decade if she is elected president.
(2021-05-07). Cyprus: Toward A Non-Territorial Con-Federation? — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Rene Wadlow* | Cyprus has been divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots since 1974, Turkish Cypriots in the north, Greek Cypriots in the south with a U.N. monitored buffer zone separating the two. There are still some 40,000 Turkish troops in the Turkish Cypriot area. The U.N. peacekeeping mission (UNFICYP) has been in Cyprus since 1964 when bad rioting among the Greek and Turkish populations was an indicator that things could get worse and lead to hostilities between Greece and Turkey themselves. | The complex political situation has three States as "guarantor powers" — the United Kingdom which was…
(2021-05-07). Germany Rejects Proposal to Waive COVID-19 Vaccine Patents. telesurenglish.net Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn on Friday said his country rejects the U.S. proposal to waive patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines. | RELATED: | To justify his country's stance, this senior official recalled that Germany seeks to establish itself as an "innovation hub" that is interested in protecting intellectual property rights. | "The main issue is not the question of patents. The main issue is production capacities," the Hea…
(2021-05-07). Macron Urges US and UK Not to 'Block' COVID-19 Vaccine or Its Ingredients Exports. sputniknews.com Macron also said that Europe is fighting for the vaccine to be a global public good.
(2021-05-07). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Greek workers in one-day general strike against law curbing right to strike; midwives walk out and protest across France against lack of COVID safety; Vehicle and driver registration staff at UK headquarters Swansea begin further strikes over lack of COVID safety, demand remote working…
(2021-05-07). In threat to Russia, EU grants U.S. troops 'unhindered' movement across continent. peoplesworld.org 
LONDON—The European Union authorized the United States, Canada, and Norway to join its Military Mobility project Thursday, allowing those countries' troops "unhindered" movement within the bloc. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the move would "make EU defense more efficient and…strengthen our security" by speeding up the transfer of armies across the continent. The …
(2021-05-07). Selected Articles: As NATO Summit Approaches: Will Biden Keep U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Turkey? globalresearch.ca 
By It has been estimated that the Pentagon maintains 50 B61 tactical nuclear weapons at the ƒ∞ncirlik Air Base in the country …
(2021-05-07). Defend the freedom of the press! Break the silence about Iraq! workers.org 
By Swedish Iraq Solidarity Association The following is an appeal by the Swedish Iraq Solidarity Association on occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, May 3. Eighteen years have passed since Iraq was invaded and occupied in 2003 by the United States, supported mainly by Britain. The coverage by Western . . . |
(2021-05-07). France And UK Send Patrol Warships To English Channel Over Fishing Spat. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | The United Kingdom sent patrol warships to the Jersey Island in the English Channel due to a fishing spat with NATO ally and former-EU compatriot France. | In return, France dispatched two maritime patrol boats to the waters off Jersey Island itself. | An official from the French presidential administration said the deployment of the French boats "speaks to our concern, and frustration, and is an appeal, which we will also express, for the correct applic…
(2021-05-07). Russian State-Funded Donation Platforms Blocked SouthFront's Accounts. southfront.org 
ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE | SouthFront has become a target of another censorship and pressure act. : | This time from Russia.: | In early May, accounts of SouthFront Team registered on Russian state-funded donation platforms were blocked. This hostile act was undertaken by subsidiaries of Mail.ru Group. The major shareholder in Mail.ru Group is Russia's state-owned bank Sberbank (Sberbank of Russia). This banking and financial services company is the largest one in Russia. | It is also should be noted that…