Daily Archives: March 8, 2020

2020-03-08: News Headlines

Stephen Lendman (2020-03-08). Trump Regime Blocks UN Security Council Support for Syria Ceasefire Already Breached. globalresearch.ca The US under both right wings of its war party wants endless conflict, instability, and chaos continuing in all its war theaters — peace considered detrimental to its imperial ambitions. | On Friday, the Trump regime blocked a Security Council statement, …

South Front (2020-03-08). Video: Syrian Army Win Battle Against Erdogan Forces in Idlib, but War Is Far from Over. globalresearch.ca The first days of March broke the dreams of the Turkish political and military leadership of a swift victory over the Syrian Armed Forces. Operation Spring Shield failed to achieve the goal officially declared by top Turkish officials — to …

Prof. Tim Anderson (2020-03-08). International Women's Day: Syria says YES to Women, and NO to Wahhabis. globalresearch.ca Image. Prof. Tim Anderson | First published by GR on March 8, 2016 | On International Women's Day — The Syrian Arab Republic — the only genuinely pluralist nation in the region — was the first country in the Middle East and …

sputniknews (2020-03-08). Syrians Pelt Stones at US Convoy to Stop It From Entering Village in Country's Northeast – Report. sputniknews.com Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reached an agreement that envisages a ceasefire in Syria's Idlib province starting 6 March.

yenisafak (2020-03-08). Two YPG/PKK terrorists surrender to Turkish forces. yenisafak.com Two YPG/PKK terrorists surrendered to security forces in southeastern Turkey, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday. Terrorists deserting the terror group in northern Syria turned themselves in at border posts in Suruc of the Sanliurfa province, the ministry said on Twitter.As of Feb. 27, a total of 48 terrorists have surrendered this year after being persuaded by Turkish security forces, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.Turkish officials have cited rising numbers of desertions and dwindling recruitment as signs of the terrorist group's disintegration.In its more than 30-year terror campaign a…

Emily Apple (2020-03-08). One tweet shows exactly why Dominic Raab shouldn't be foreign secretary. thecanary.co One country is showing its intent to create chaos in the Middle East. From sparking conflict in the one area in Syria where there was previously peace, to creating a humanitarian crisis in an attempt to bribe Europe to support its war in the region, Turkey is engaged in a dangerous power game that is killing people and putting lives at risk. | But Turkey is a NATO ally. And the UK is desperate for post-Brexit trade partners. So it's perhaps no surprise that foreign secretary Dominic Raab is sucking up to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And in one tweet, Raab showed dangerous contempt for the thousands of…

RT (2020-03-07). Lebanon defaults on its $1.2bn Eurobond debt, PM says corruption 'has eaten the state'. rt.com Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab has announced his country is unable to pay the $1.2 billion Eurobond due on March 9 and will default for the first time. This comes amid a government crisis and currency plummeting by 40 percent. | The move to not pay the outstanding debt and to launch upcoming negotiations with creditors was made unanimously at a cabinet meeting before Diab made the announcement on Saturday. |

Eds. (2020-03-07). Lebanon state prosecutor blocks order to freeze assets of 20 banks. mronline.org Lebanon's state prosecutor suspended an order on Thursday to freeze the assets of 20 local banks, warning it would plunge the country and its financial sector into chaos, according to a copy of the decision seen by Reuters. |

South Front (2020-03-07). Video: Turkish Drones Falling in Idlib. 'Moderate Rebels' Gas Themselves by Mistake. globalresearch.ca Early on March 5, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on targets in the Syrian provinces of Homs and Quneitra. According to the Syrian military, the attack was conducted from Lebanese airspace at 00: 30 local time. …

Julie Lévesque (2020-03-07). From Afghanistan to Syria: Women's Rights, War Propaganda and the CIA. globalresearch.ca Western heads of state, UN officials, military spokespersons will invariably praise the humanitarian dimension of the October 2001 US-NATO led invasion of Afghanistan, which allegedly was to fight religious fundamentalists, help little girls go to school, liberate women subjected to the yoke of the Taliban.

M. K. Bhadrakumar (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 …

The Canary (2020-03-06). Refugees attacked with water cannons 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…

Steven Sahiounie (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.

Jude Kadri (2020-03-06). Lebanon is a severe case of subordinate financialization that must avoid the IMF. mronline.org To me, the Lebanese crisis looks like, in the first instance, as a foreign exchange and international transactions crisis, a classic developing country crisis in the era of financialisation. As such it is closely connected to the country's policy on the exchange rate. The fixed peg policy chosen by the Lebanese ruling class and operated […] |

Stephen Lendman (2020-03-06). Another Farcical Ceasefire in Syria. globalresearch.ca Time and again, ceasefires agreed to on Syria were breached straightaway by US/NATO/Turkish supported terrorists. | Is this time different? Will belligerent Trump and Erdogan regimes turn a page for restoration of peace and stability in Syria? | Will they renounce years …

Staff (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…

teleSUR (2020-03-06). Syria: Sporadic Attacks Continue After the Ceasefire Agreement. telesurenglish.net Just a few hours after the announcement of the ceasefire between Russia and Turkey, the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib was the scene of new conflicts. | RELATED: | On Thursday, Turkey's Defense Ministry reported the death of two Turkish soldiers who were injured after the Syrian government opened fire in Idlib. | "After this attack, the Turkish army killed 21 Syrian soldiers and destroyed two pieces of artillery, along with two…

James Bovard (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

Global Research (2020-03-06). "Voices from Syria" and "The Dirty War on Syria": Mark Taliano and Tim Anderson Analyze the War on Syria. globalresearch.ca Voices from Syria by Mark Taliano and The Dirty War on Syria by Tim Anderson: *SPECIAL OFFER: …

WSWS (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.

Anya Parampil (2020-03-05). Syria war update: Turkey's Erdogan invades Idlib, invokes re-establishment of Ottoman Empire. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran. He discusses his recent…

Aaron Maté (2020-03-05). Exclusive: OPCW whistleblowers confront leadership's attacks, cover-up of Douma deception. thegrayzone.com OPCW leadership tried to discredit two veteran officials who challenged a cover-up of its chemical weapons investigation in Douma, Syria. They…

Staff (2020-03-05). Headlines for March 5, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Cases Near 100,000 Worldwide as U.S. Death Toll Reaches 11, President Trump Contradicts WHO's Warning over Coronavirus Death Rate, Billionaire Mike Bloomberg Ends Presidential Bid, Endorses Joe Biden, Bernie Bashes Biden's Billionaire Backers as Healthcare Stocks Surge Post-Super Tuesday, International Criminal Court to Investigate Taliban, Afghan and U.S. Troops for War Crimes, 15 Civilians Killed in Latest Syrian Airstrikes in Idlib, Turkey Accuses Greece of Killing Migrant as Greek Riot Police Fire Tear Gas at Border, EU Ministers Support Greek Crackdown on Asylum Seekers Despite Protests, Federal…

news.un (2020-03-05). Guterres calls for 'immediate and lasting' end to Syria fighting as Turkey and Russia agree ceasefire. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General said on Thursday that he hoped the latest ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey to end fighting across Syria's stricken Idlib region, would finally lead to "an immediate and lasting cessation", that would protect civilian lives.

Peter Boyle (2020-03-05). Escalating war in Idlib creates new refugee crisis. greenleft.org.au

Staff (2020-03-04). Headlines for March 4, 2020. democracynow.org Bernie Sanders Wins California as Joe Biden Sweeps the South on Super Tuesday, GOP's Jeff Sessions Faces Runoff in Bid to Reclaim Alabama Senate Seat, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar Narrowly Beats Progressive Challenger Jessica Cisneros, San Diego Progressive Georgette Gómez to Face Billionaire Heiress Sara Jacobs for CA House Seat, Health Officials Warn Coronavirus Is Far Deadlier Than the Flu, Syrian Forces Recapture Strategic City as Turkey Shoots Down Syrian Warplane, Iranian Security Forces Killed 23 Children During November Protests, At Least 24 Killed as Tornadoes Lash Central Tennessee, Wells Fargo Says It Won'

news.un (2020-03-04). Syria: UN food relief agency 'doing everything we can' to reach Idlib civilians. news.un.org Difficult winter weather conditions, road congestion and military manoeuvres are restricting humanitarian aid delivery to desperate civilians in the Syrian province of Idlib, where a Government operation to weed out extremists has uprooted nearly one million people since December.

Al-Manar (2020-03-02). Iran and Hezbollah warn Turkey: all your forces are in our line of fire. iranian.com The Iranian Advisory Center in Syria, which takes part in the fighting in northern Syria, issued a press release through the news agency U-News in reaction to the recent confrontation between the Syrian army and the Turkish army. It should be noted that the Iranian Advisory Center is made up of the group of Iranian …

Staff (2020-02-28). Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib as Syrian Troops Advance & Children Freeze to Death. democracynow.org In Syria, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Russia-backed Syrian forces in rebel-held Idlib in a major escalation on Thursday. Turkey has vowed to respond in kind, as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying "the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour." Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly spoke by phone on Friday to discuss the crisis, as NATO urged rapid deescalation. The all-out offensive by the Syrian government is the single largest displacement in a nine-year war that has forced 13 million t…

Staff (2020-02-28). Doctors Without Borders: Cheap Coronavirus Diagnostic Kits Needed in War-Torn Areas & Refugee Camps. democracynow.org Across the U.S., officials report a severe shortage of test kits for coronavirus. New York officials say they're preparing their own kits, after kits distributed by the Centers for Disease Control failed validation tests. Meanwhile, new cases of coronavirus continue to spring up worldwide, with Nigeria reporting its first case and one of Iran's vice presidents testing positive. We discuss how MSF USA, or Doctors Without Borders USA, is responding to coronavirus, with the organization's executive director, Avril BenoàÆt.

Staff (2020-02-28). Headlines for February 28, 2020. democracynow.org California Monitoring 8,400 People for Coronavirus as Fears of Pandemic Grow, Syrian Airstrike Kills 33 Turkish Soldiers in Idlib, Escalating Tensions, New Justice Department Task Force Seeks to Strip Naturalized Immigrants of Citizenship, Joe Biden's Campaign Walks Back False Claims of Arrest in 1970s South Africa, Democratic Superdelegates Overwhelmingly Oppose Bernie Sanders Campaign, Mike Bloomberg Refuses to Apologize for Spying on Muslims, As NYC Mayor, Mike Bloomberg Called for Cuts to Social Security "Ponzi Scheme", ProPublica: Mike Bloomberg Advised Billionaire Sackler Family on Opioid Crisis, Emails Sho…

Anya Parampil (2020-02-27). Syrian journalist corrects the record on mainstream media's absurd Idlib coverage. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Syrian journalist Bashar Bazari, who works as a correspondent for HispanTV in Damascus….

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

Middle East Eye (2020-02-07). Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes. theantimedia.com Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Middle East Eye (2020-02-06). Turkey Gives Assad Deadline to Pull Back or Face Military Action. theantimedia.com Turkey has given the Syrian government until the end of this month to withdraw from recently seized territory in Idlib province.

2020-03-08: Social Media Postees

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

Trump Regime Blocks UN Security Council Support for Syria Ceasefire Already Breached
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-08
The US under both right wings of its war party wants endless conflict, instability, and chaos continuing in all its war theaters

Video: Syrian Army Win Battle Against Erdogan Forces in Idlib, but War Is Far from Over
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-08
The first days of March broke the dreams of the Turkish political and military leadership of a swift victory over the Syrian Armed Forces. Operation Spring Shield failed to achieve the goal officially declared by top Turkish officials

International Women's Day: Syria says YES to Women, and NO to Wahhabis
Prof. Tim Anderson | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-08
Image. Prof. Tim Anderson | First published by GR on March 8, 2016 | On International Women's Day

International Women's Day: Syria says YES to Women, and NO to Wahhabis
Prof. Tim Anderson | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-08
Image. Prof. Tim Anderson | First published by GR on March 8, 2016 | On International Women's Day

One tweet shows exactly why Dominic Raab shouldn't be foreign secretary
Emily Apple | thecanary.co | 2020-03-08
One country is showing its intent to create chaos in the Middle East. From sparking conflict in the one area in Syria where there was previously peace, to creating a humanitarian crisis in an attempt to bribe Europe to support its war in the region, Turkey is engaged in a dangerous power game that is killing people and putting lives at risk. | But Turkey is a NATO ally. And the UK is desperate for post-Brexit trade partners. So it's perhaps no surprise that foreign secretary Dominic Raab is sucking up to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And in one tweet, Raab showed dangerous contempt for the thousands of…
thecanary.co/opinion/2020/03/08/one-tweet-shows-exactly-why-dominic-raab-shouldnt-be-foreign-secretary/

Two YPG/PKK terrorists surrender to Turkish forces
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-08
Two YPG/PKK terrorists surrendered to security forces in southeastern Turkey, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday. Terrorists deserting the terror group in northern Syria turned themselves in at border posts in Suruc of the Sanliurfa province, the ministry said on Twitter.As of Feb. 27, a total of 48 terrorists have surrendered this year after being persuaded by Turkish security forces, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.Turkish officials have cited rising numbers of desertions and dwindling recruitment as signs of the terrorist group's disintegration.In its more than 30-year terror campaign a…
yenisafak.com/en/news/two-ypg-pkk-terrorists-surrender-to-turkish-forces-3513549

Syrians Pelt Stones at US Convoy to Stop It From Entering Village in Country's Northeast – Report
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-08
Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reached an agreement that envisages a ceasefire in Syria's Idlib province starting 6 March.
sputniknews.com/middleeast/202003081078511448-syrians-pelt-stones-at-us-convoy-to-stop-it-from-entering-village-in-countrys-northeast—report/

Video: Turkish Drones Falling in Idlib. 'Moderate Rebels' Gas Themselves by Mistake
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-07
Early on March 5, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on targets in the Syrian provinces of Homs and Quneitra. According to the Syrian military, the attack was conducted from Lebanese airspace at 00: 30 local time. …
globalresearch.ca/video-turkish-drones-falling-idlib-moderate-rebels-gas-themselves-mistake/5705709

From Afghanistan to Syria: Women's Rights, War Propaganda and the CIA
Julie Lévesque | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-07
Western heads of state, UN officials, military spokespersons will invariably praise the humanitarian dimension of the October 2001 US-NATO led invasion of Afghanistan, which allegedly was to fight religious fundamentalists, help little girls go to school, liberate women subjected to the yoke of the Taliban.
globalresearch.ca/from-afghanistan-to-syria-womens-rights-war-propaganda-and-the-cia/5329665

Lebanon state prosecutor blocks order to freeze assets of 20 banks
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-03-07
Lebanon's state prosecutor suspended an order on Thursday to freeze the assets of 20 local banks, warning it would plunge the country and its financial sector into chaos, according to a copy of the decision seen by Reuters. | Source…
mronline.org/2020/03/07/lebanon-state-prosecutor-blocks-order-to-freeze-assets-of-20-banks/

Lebanon defaults on its $1.2bn Eurobond debt, PM says corruption 'has eaten the state'
rt.com | 2020-03-07
Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab has announced his country is unable to pay the $1.2 billion Eurobond due on March 9 and will default for the first time. This comes amid a government crisis and currency plummeting by 40 percent. | The move to not pay the outstanding debt and to launch upcoming negotiations with creditors was made unanimously at a cabinet meeting before Diab made the announcement on Saturday. | #Breaking Premier says #Lebanon will suspend paymen…
rt.com/business/482578-lebanon-defaults-eurobond-debt-corruption/

A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria
M. K. Bhadrakumar | iranian.com | 2020-03-07
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 …
iranian.com/2020/03/06/a-win-win-over-afghanistan-and-syria/

Another Farcical Ceasefire in Syria
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-06
Time and again, ceasefires agreed to on Syria were breached straightaway by US/NATO/Turkish supported terrorists. | Is this time different? Will belligerent Trump and Erdogan regimes turn a page for restoration of peace and stability in Syria? | Will they renounce years …
globalresearch.ca/another-farcical-ceasefire-in-syria/5705729

Syria: Sporadic Attacks Continue After the Ceasefire Agreement
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-06
Just a few hours after the announcement of the ceasefire between Russia and Turkey, the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib was the scene of new conflicts. | RELATED: | Russia, Turkey Agree Ceasefire Deal for Syria's Idlib | On Thursday, Turkey's Defense Ministry reported the death of two Turkish soldiers who were injured after the Syrian government opened fire in Idlib. | "After this attack, the Turkish army killed 21 Syrian soldiers and destroyed two pieces of artillery, along with two…
telesurenglish.net/news/idlib-sporadic-attacks-continue-after-ceasefire-agreement-20200306-0009.html

Syria Debacles Epitomize Perpetual Perfidy of U.S. Foreign Policy
James Bovard | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-06
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…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/syria-debacles-epitomize-perpetual-perfidy-of-u-s-foreign-policy/

"Voices from Syria" and "The Dirty War on Syria": Mark Taliano and Tim Anderson Analyze the War on Syria
Global Research | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-06
Voices from Syria by Mark Taliano and The Dirty War on Syria by Tim Anderson: two essential books on Syria for . | *SPECIAL OFFER: Voices from Syria + The Dirty War on Syria: | …
globalresearch.ca/voices-from-syria-and-the-dirty-war-on-syria-mark-taliano-and-tim-anderson-analyze-the-war-on-syria/5620373

"Voices from Syria" and "The Dirty War on Syria": Mark Taliano and Tim Anderson Analyze the War on Syria
Global Research | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-06
Voices from Syria by Mark Taliano and The Dirty War on Syria by Tim Anderson: two essential books on Syria for . | *SPECIAL OFFER: Voices from Syria + The Dirty War on Syria: | …
globalresearch.ca/voices-from-syria-and-the-dirty-war-on-syria-mark-taliano-and-tim-anderson-analyze-the-war-on-syria/5620373

Refugees attacked with water cannons and tear gas on the Greek-Turkish border
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-03-06
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…
thecanary.co/uk/2020/03/06/refugees-attacked-with-water-canons-and-tear-gas-on-the-greek-turkish-border/

The New Idlib Ceasefire Forces Turkey-Backed Extremists to Fall Back
Steven Sahiounie | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-06
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.
mintpressnews.com/russia-turkey-ceasefire-moscow-idlib/265541/

Syria: Sporadic Attacks Continue After the Ceasefire Agreement
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-06
Just a few hours after the announcement of the ceasefire between Russia and Turkey, the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib was the scene of new conflicts. | RELATED: | Russia, Turkey Agree Ceasefire Deal for Syria's Idlib | On Thursday, Turkey's Defense Ministry reported the death of two Turkish soldiers who were injured after the Syrian government opened fire in Idlib. | "After this attack, the Turkish army killed 21 Syrian soldiers and destroyed two pieces of artillery, along with two…
telesurenglish.net/news/idlib-sporadic-attacks-continue-after-ceasefire-agreement-20200306-0009.html

Lebanon is a severe case of subordinate financialization that must avoid the IMF
Jude Kadri | mronline.org | 2020-03-06
To me, the Lebanese crisis looks like, in the first instance, as a foreign exchange and international transactions crisis, a classic developing country crisis in the era of financialisation. As such it is closely connected to the country's policy on the exchange rate. The fixed peg policy chosen by the Lebanese ruling class and operated […] | Source…
mronline.org/2020/03/06/lebanon-is-a-severe-case-of-subordinate-financialization-that-must-avoid-the-imf/

Putin and Erdogan agree to new Idlib ceasefire at Moscow summit on Syria
wsws.org | 2020-03-06
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.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/06/idli-m06.html

Exclusive: OPCW whistleblowers confront leadership's attacks, cover-up of Douma deception
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-05
OPCW leadership tried to discredit two veteran officials who challenged a cover-up of its chemical weapons investigation in Douma, Syria. They…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/05/opcw-whistleblowers-attacks-cover-up-douma-deception/

Syria war update: Turkey's Erdogan invades Idlib, invokes re-establishment of Ottoman Empire
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-05
Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran. He discusses his recent…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/05/syria-war-updateturkeys-erdogan-seeks-to-reestablish-ottoman-empire/

Guterres calls for 'immediate and lasting' end to Syria fighting as Turkey and Russia agree ceasefire
news.un.org | 2020-03-05
The UN Secretary-General said on Thursday that he hoped the latest ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey to end fighting across Syria's stricken Idlib region, would finally lead to "an immediate and lasting cessation", that would protect civilian lives.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1058781

Escalating war in Idlib creates new refugee crisis
Peter Boyle | greenleft.org.au | 2020-03-05
Middle East Refugees & migrants Chris SleeIssue 1256 Syria Northern SyriaMarch 5, 2020A February 27 Russian and Syrian airstrike on a Turkish military convoy in Idlib province

Syria: UN food relief agency 'doing everything we can' to reach Idlib civilians
news.un.org | 2020-03-04
Difficult winter weather conditions, road congestion and military manoeuvres are restricting humanitarian aid delivery to desperate civilians in the Syrian province of Idlib, where a Government operation to weed out extremists has uprooted nearly one million people since December.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1058651

Iran and Hezbollah warn Turkey: all your forces are in our line of fire
Al-Manar | iranian.com | 2020-03-02
The Iranian Advisory Center in Syria, which takes part in the fighting in northern Syria, issued a press release through the news agency U-News in reaction to the recent confrontation between the Syrian army and the Turkish army. It should be noted that the Iranian Advisory Center is made up of the group of Iranian …
iranian.com/2020/03/01/iran-and-hezbollah-warn-turkey-all-your-forces-are-in-our-line-of-fire/

Headlines for February 28, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-02-28
California Monitoring 8,400 People for Coronavirus as Fears of Pandemic Grow, Syrian Airstrike Kills 33 Turkish Soldiers in Idlib, Escalating Tensions, New Justice Department Task Force Seeks to Strip Naturalized Immigrants of Citizenship, Joe Biden's Campaign Walks Back False Claims of Arrest in 1970s South Africa, Democratic Superdelegates Overwhelmingly Oppose Bernie Sanders Campaign, Mike Bloomberg Refuses to Apologize for Spying on Muslims, As NYC Mayor, Mike Bloomberg Called for Cuts to Social Security "Ponzi Scheme", ProPublica: Mike Bloomberg Advised Billionaire Sackler Family on Opioid Crisis, Emails Sho…
www.democracynow.org/2020/2/28/headlines

Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib as Syrian Troops Advance & Children Freeze to Death
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-02-28
In Syria, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Russia-backed Syrian forces in rebel-held Idlib in a major escalation on Thursday. Turkey has vowed to respond in kind, as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying "the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour." Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly spoke by phone on Friday to discuss the crisis, as NATO urged rapid deescalation. The all-out offensive by the Syrian government is the single largest displacement in a nine-year war that has forced 13 million t…
www.democracynow.org/2020/2/28/idlib_syria_assad_turkey_russia

Syrian journalist corrects the record on mainstream media's absurd Idlib coverage
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-27
Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Syrian journalist Bashar Bazari, who works as a correspondent for HispanTV in Damascus….
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/27/syrian-journalist-corrects-the-record-on-mainstream-medias-absurd-idlib-coverage/

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

Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes
Middle East Eye | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-07
Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes

Turkey Gives Assad Deadline to Pull Back or Face Military Action
Middle East Eye | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-06
Turkey has given the Syrian government until the end of this month to withdraw from recently seized territory in Idlib province.

Turkey Gives Assad Deadline to Pull Back or Face Military Action