Conflict

Ukraine turmoil | LIVE UPDATES
The coup-imposed government in Kiev is seeking foreign aid from the US, the EU and the IMF to address its budget shortage. The east remains defiant of the new authorities, while Russia reserves the right to deploy troops in order to prevent bloodshed. Nearly 15,000 people in the Russian city of Perm in the Urals have gathered for a demonstration to support Russian speakers in the autonomous republ [...]
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Russia hits back at US “€˜barefaced cynicism and double standards”€™ over Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused the US State Department of double standards and low-level propaganda after it published a list of President Vladimir Putin'€™s "€œfalse claims" about the events in Ukraine. [...]
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Questions on Ukraine the West chooses not to answer
Ukrainian and Western refusal to answer Moscow'€™s hard questions explains Russia'€™s tough stance on the crisis in Kiev. Ignoring Russian concerns is a western habit adopted after the Soviet Union’s collapse; when NATO bombed Yugoslavia; during the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state, and the US push to install an anti-missile shield over Europe that can target Russia. [...]
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Democratic presidential candidate accuses US of provoking Ukrainian crisis
Diverting from the typical Western line against "Russia's invasion of Crimea," former Ohio congressman and Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said it was driven by covert action by the United States. [...]
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Russia’€™s 25,000-troop allowance & other facts you may not know about Crimea
Ukraine'€™s statement at the UN that "€˜16,000 Russian soldiers had been deployed"€™ across Crimea sparked a MSM feeding frenzy that steadfastly ignored any hard facts that got in their way. Especially unwelcome is the fact that the so-called ‘invasion force’ has been there for 15 years already. [...]
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Yanukovich sent letter to Putin asking for Russian military presence in Ukraine – Russia’s UN envoy
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin says ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has sent a letter to Putin asking him to use military force in Ukraine to restore law and order. [...]
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675,000 Ukrainians pour into Russia as “humanitarian crisis”€™ looms
An estimated 675,000 Ukrainians left for Russia in January and February, fearing the "revolutionary chaos"€ brewing in Ukraine, Russia's Federal Border Guard Service said. Officials fear a growing humanitarian crisis. On Sunday, the border guard service said Russian authorities have identified definite signs that a “humanitarian catastrophe” is brewing in Ukraine. [...]
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Seriously, what?! Kerry tells Russia “you don’t invade a country on completely phony pretexts”
The US Secretary of State spoke today of the unacceptability of invading a sovereign country on phony pretexts in order to assert one’s own interests in the 21st century. But no, he was not speaking about the United States, as one might have thought. [...]
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“World’€™s first”€™ farmer trial over GM crop contamination begins in Australia
A landmark legal battle between two farmers over alleged GM contamination has started in the Western Australian Supreme Court. The case is expected to determine GM farmers’ liability if their crops affect neighboring territories. [...]
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“Our views are far apart”€™: German chancellor slams US, UK over spying
Countries spying on their allies sow distrust that could result in less, rather than more security, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned. She particularly referred to the surveillance and spying activities by the US and the UK. [...]
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Ex-cop acquitted of beating homeless man to death now wants his job back
One of the former California police officers acquitted this week of beating to death a mentally ill homeless man wants to get his job back on the force. He and his partner were fired amid the investigation back in 2012. [...]
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Confirmed: 2013 deadliest for Iraq since 2008, UN estimates
"A total of 8,868 people, including 7,818 civilians, have been killed in violent attacks across Iraq in 2013, the United Nations reports "€“ the highest annual death toll in the war-torn country in five years. In December alone, at least 759 Iraqis were killed and another 1,345 wounded in terrorist attacks and violence, reports the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNIRAQ), which monitors the impa [...]
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US the biggest threat to world peace in 2013 €“ poll
The US has been voted as the most significant threat to world peace in a survey across 68 different countries. Anti-American sentiment was not only recorded in antagonistic countries, but also in many allied NATO partners like Turkey and Greece. [...]
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Israeli PM slams US spying activities as “€˜unacceptable”€™, demands investigation
Israel'€™s Prime Minister has condemned the US spying on Israeli leaders, saying such things are "€œunacceptable"€ and "€œmust not be done"€ between close allies. Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded investigation into the matter. [...]
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“Historic mistake”€™: Netanyahu says world is “more dangerous place” after Iran deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed the international deal over Iran's nuclear program, branding it a "€œhistoric mistake."€ He accused the P5+1 of allowing Tehran a step further "towards obtaining the world's most dangerous weapon." Netanyahu condemned the deal at a cabinet meeting on Sunday and said the world has become a more dangerous place. [...]
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Obama denies he made a promise that was videotaped two dozen times
Despite more than two-dozen video recordings showing otherwise, President Obama said that he never promised Americans they'€™d be able to keep their health care plans under the Affordable Care Act. Speaking to supporters in Washington on Monday, Obama claimed that in the past, he said, “You could keep [your plan] if it hasn’t changed since the law was passed.” [...]
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“Damage Accumulating”€™ after US Loses Trust Over Spying Activities
The White House is at a loss as it not only depended on espionage in formulating its policies, but also nobody can trust its word anymore, former US Senate foreign policy analyst James Petras told RT. The latest news on monitoring of phone calls in France, and probably German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s own cellphone, brought anger from the French and German governments this week. [...]
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Germany warns of “€˜diplomatic damage”€™ if Israel ignores UN rights panel – report
Germany told Israel to expect "€œsevere diplomatic damage"€ should it fail to attend a periodic human rights review Tuesday, Haaretz reports. Israel severed ties with the UNHRC in March 2012 after it expressed concern over Israeli settlements. “On Friday, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle sent a personal letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that Israel's failure t [...]
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Snowden fallout: India’€™s meow, Brazil’€™s roar
Contrasting reactions in India and Brazil to revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about the US government'€™s intrusive surveillance of communications in the two countries are a study in varying diplomatic style, substance and context. Recent confirmation from journalists working with Snowden that India was a prime victim caught in the crosshairs of the NSA’s megalithic data-swe [...]
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