RT (2020-05-14). RT'S 2020 KHALED ALKHATEB AWARDS FOR WAR JOURNALISM OPEN FOR ENTRIES. rt.com MOSCOW, MAY 14 — RT is now accepting entries for the 2020 Khaled Alkhateb Memorial Awards, an annual international competition that recognizes the best journalism from conflict zones. The competition, now in its third year, was established in honor of RT Arabic freelancer, Khaled Alkhateb, who died in 2017 while reporting from the frontlines in Syria. |

Ramzy Baroud (2020-05-13). From Lebanon to Syria, the Arab World is Failing Palestinian Refugees. mintpressnews.com Heinous racism. That is how the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor described a recent decision by Lebanese authorities to bar Palestinian refugee expats from returning to Lebanon. | Lebanon's restrictions on its Many were ta…

RT (2020-05-13). US anti-ISIS chief says his goal in Syria is to create a 'quagmire' for Russia, not battle terrorism. rt.com James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for Syria and defeating the Islamic State, has made quite a frank confession of how he sees his job and that of US troops there: to create a new Vietnam or Afghanistan for Moscow. | "Our military presence, while small, is important for overall calculations. So we urge the Congress, the American people, the president to keep these forces on, but again this isn't Afghanistan, this isn't Vietnam, this isn't a quagmire," Jeffrey said on Tuesday, during a video event hosted by the Hudson Institute. | My job is to make it a quagmire for the Russians. | Asked why the American publ…

RT (2020-05-13). US 'knocks on closed door' seeking to extend arms embargo against Iran — Russia's UN envoy. rt.com The US cannot demand the extension of an arms embargo against Tehran since it is no longer a party to the Iran nuclear deal, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters via a video link-up. | "I do not see any reasons why [an] arms embargo should be imposed on Iran. It expires on 18 October. It was temporary," TASS quoted Nebenzia as saying. "It was not in fact even an embargo. It is the provision where Iran is allowed to export/import armaments on the consent of the [UN] Security Council," he noted. | Two years ago, the US "proudly announced" that it withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Act…

RT (2020-05-13). Flynn 'unmasking' documents show involvement of senior Obama administration officials, including Joe Biden. rt.com A newly published list of US officials who were interested in National Security Agency (NSA) records on Trump adviser Michael Flynn includes President Barack Obama's chief of staff, as well as Vice President Joe Biden. | Biden is listed as requesting the unmasking on January 12, 2017, the same day the Washington Post published a story claiming that Flynn had misreported his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, based on leaked NSA information. | Flynn unmasking documents f… by

Joshua Hanks (2020-05-13). China reacts with zero tolerance for racist incidents. workers.org Reports surfaced in April of cases of discrimination against African workers in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong as pictures appeared on the internet of a sign refusing service to Africans at a McDonald's restaurant and allegations that Africans were being evicted from hotels. Ambassador Liu Yuxi, head of Mission . . . |

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-13). Palestinian youth for a new solidarity pact against Israeli occupation. peoplesdispatch.org Organizations from Palestine, Lebanon and the United States, announced the formation of a new united front to resist the Israeli occupation through a more unified, productive and determined global struggle, and has rejected the current Palestinian leadership…

Denijal Jegiƒá (2020-05-13). In banning Hezbollah, Germany responds to far-right, U.S. and Israeli pressure — not any security threat. thegrayzone.com Hezbollah has never been charged with any crimes in Germany nor does it have an official presence in the country….

en.mehrnews (2020-05-13). Conflict between Russia, Iran over Syria psychological war: Nasrallah. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — Secretary General of Lebanese Resistance Movement Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah told reports on the conflict between Russia and Iran over Syria is part of the psychological warfare against Syria and its allies.

Marwa Osman (2020-05-13). Iraq's New Government—MES EP.53. thealtworld.com Iraq's parliament has approved a new government, after six months without one, as parties bickered until the last minute over cabinet seats in backroom deals. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq's intelligence chief and a former journalist, will head the government but will begin his term without a full cohort of ministers after several candidates were rejected. To discuss this issue with us from Beirut is Mohamad Obeid, political commentator. | In the meantime, The Syrian Arab Army and their allies from the National Defense Forces squared off with ISIS terrorists in the Al-Mayadeen District of Deir Ezzor, re…

en.mehrnews (2020-05-13). Al-Kazemi calls for Iran's help to overcome Iraq' economic challenges: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi said on Wednesday that the New Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi has asked Iran to help Iraq overcome its economic challenges.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-13). Iran to give harsh response to any military escapade by US: Envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — Iran will give a harsh response to any military escapade that US President Donald Trump may resort to, Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali has said in an interview, commenting on Trump's veto of a congressional resolution limiting his ability to conduct military operations against Iran without congressional approval.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-13). Iran, Georgia seek improvement of customs coop. amid coronavirus pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — In a trilateral video call among Iran's Ambassador to Georgia Javad Ghavam Shahid, Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mehdi Mirashrafi and an official from Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia the two countries conferred on improving customs cooperation under the coronavirus pandemic.

Aidan O'Brien (2020-05-13). German Foreign Policy Is a CIA Front. globalresearch.ca On March 30 Germany declared the important Lebanese political group, Hezbollah, to be a "terrorist" organization and banned it from German soil. By doing so it gratuitously increased the tension in the eastern Mediterranean and exposed Berlin's lack of credibility …

teleSUR (2020-05-13). Lebanon Shuts Down Activities Due to New Coronavirus Outbreak. telesurenglish.net Lebanon will begin an almost total shutdown on Wednesday afternoon in the face of growing contagion from COVID-19, which raises fears of a second wave of the pathogen. | RELATED: | The country recorded 11 new infections according to figures released on Tuesday, bringing the number of people infected to 870 with 26 deaths. | Meanwhile, the number of people on the streets wearing transparent masks to prevent infection is growing. | T…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-13). Lebanon reimposes lockdown after spike in COVID-19 cases. peoplesdispatch.org The country recorded over hundred fresh cases within three days this week. It had recorded zero new cases last week, which had led the government to relax lockdown norms imposed since March 15…

The Alternative World (2020-05-12). British propaganda efforts in Syria may have broken UK law. thealtworld.com Ian Cobain, Alice Ross- Internal assessment concluded UK government's covert support of 'moderate opposition' was shallow, lacked coherence and cost lives | MEE- The UK's covert propaganda programmes in war-torn Syria were poorly planned, probably illegal and cost lives, according to a scathing internal review of the initiative that has been seen by Middle East Eye. | Using news agencies, social media, poster campaigns and even children's comics, communications companies working under contract to the British government attempted to undermine both the Assad government and the Islamic State group and bolster elemen…

Caitlin A. Johnstone (2020-05-12). Syria spinmeisters fumble attempts to narrative manage OPCW leaks. mronline.org It's been over 72 hours since The Grayzone published new leaks further exposing how the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been lying about its investigation into an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria two years ago.

RT (2020-05-12). Lebanon to be 'fully shut down' from Wednesday evening to Sunday — govt. rt.com The government in Beirut on Tuesday decided to fully shut down the country from Wednesday evening until Monday morning at the recommendation of the health minister. The move comes in the wake of the biggest spike in weeks in the numbers of coronavirus cases. | "The general lockdown measures will include exceptions as in the first phase," Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi told reporters after a Cabinet session at the presidential palace in Baabda. "We will carry out a reevaluation on Sunday and the expat repatriation process will continue." | Information Minister Manal Abdul Samad said "the full lockdown will be…

Betsey Piette (2020-05-12). Sanctions = Health terrorism. workers.org A timely international webinar, sponsored by SanctionsKill.org on May 9, featured representatives from Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria and Venezuela, plus a statement from Zimbabwe addressing the deadly impact of U.S. sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1,000 people from nearly every continent, including multiple U.S. cities, viewed the event. The . . . |

South Front (2020-05-12). Video: Al-Qaeda Launches Large-scale Attack in Northwestern Hama Under Cover of Ceasefire Deal. globalresearch.ca The southern part of the Idlib zone has once again turned into a hot point with the Syrian Army and al-Qaeda militants openly clashing with each other. | On May 10, fierce clashes erupted between the Syrian Army and forces of …

Vanessa Beeley (2020-05-12). SND Live with Vanessa Beeley. thealtworld.com Independent journalist and complete badass, Vanessa Beeley, joins us from Damascus to discuss her recent work shedding light on how the West's response to Covid is providing cover for further atrocities in Syria. We also discussed the continuing genocide in Yemen and the UN's role in facilitating it, what hybrid warfare is, and who is determining the roll out of the UK's "new normal".

Ian Cobain (2020-05-12). "Operation Volute": Covert UK Propaganda Efforts in Syria May Have Broken UK Law. globalresearch.ca The UK's covert propaganda programmes in war-torn Syria were poorly planned, probably illegal and cost lives, according to a scathing internal review of the initiative that has been seen by Middle East Eye. | Using news agencies, social media, poster campaigns …

en.mehrnews (2020-05-12). Envoy urges EU for 'practical support' to JCPOA, multilateralism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to Croatia called on the European countries for a change of approach and adopting practical support to multilateralism and the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-12). Serbian president calls for expanding economic relations with Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — Serbian President received the credential of Iran's new ambassador to Belgrade Rashid Hassanpour on Tuesday and emphasized on promoting cooperation with the Islamic Republic in various fields, especially economy and trade.

Fight Back (2020-05-12). National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression opposes repression of unions in Philippines. fightbacknews.org In response to the wave of repression unleashed by the U.S.-backed regime of Philippines President Duterte against the militant trade union grouping the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)/May First Movement, progressive forces in the U.S. are speaking out. | "We, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, have already called the Philippine Ambassador to express our outrage about the attacks of the police and military on KMU labor leaders and organizers in Southern Tagalog," states Frank Chapman, the executive director of the National Alliance. | "We demand, as citizens and residents of the United States,…

en.mehrnews (2020-05-12). EU must take decisive action to maintain JCPOA balance: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Brussels Ghoamhossein Dehghani said on Tue. that the European Union [EU], as one of parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA] that benefits from all its aspects, must take decisive action to maintain balance of JCPOA.

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Lebanon to Enter 4-Day Lockdown After Jump in COVID-19 Cases. telesurenglish.net Lebanon will reimpose a four-day nationwide stay at home order, the government announced Tuesday, after a jump in coronavirus cases over the past week. | RELATED: | The lockdown will go into force Wednesday and end Monday authorities said, while the country's information minister Manal Abdel-Samad said that all businesses will be closed, with the exception of those in the medical, industrial, and agricultural sectors.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-12). Lebanon buys copyright of Iranian book 'Boxer'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — The copyright of the picture book, "Boxer" was sold to Dar Al-Hadaeq, the Lebanon-based Publications.

sputniknews (2020-05-12). Russia, Turkey Carry Out 10th Joint Patrolling in Syria's Idlib — MoD. sputniknews.com SARAQIB, Syria (Sputnik) – The Russian and Turkish military on Tuesday conducted the tenth joint patrol along the M4 highway in Syria's northern Idlib de-escalation zone, the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for the reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said in a statement on Tuesday.