(2020-10-31). Remembering Stephen F. Cohen: Katrina vanden Heuvel on life and love with eminent Russia scholar. thegrayzone.com Katrina vanden Heuvel on the life and legacy of her late husband Stephen F. Cohen, the eminent historian who shaped the field of Russia studies and bravely challenged the New Cold War. Stephen F. Cohen, the eminent historian who helped shape the field of Russia studies and bravely exposed the fallacies and dangers of Russiagate and the new Cold War, passed away on September 18, 2020 at the age of 81. Cohen's wife, Katrina vanden Heuvel, editorial director and publisher …
(2020-10-31). The Threat of Peace… Why America Needs War With Russia and How To Stop It. strategic-culture.org 
(2020-10-31). Left-wing in Belgrade counters anti-immigrant vigilantism by Serbian far-right. peoplesdispatch.org On Sunday, October 25, the left-wing sections in Belgrade organized "A Tea of Solidarity" in the park near the Faculty of Economics in the city to counter the far-right vigilantism against migrants in the city. The right-wing anti-migrant group Peoples Patrols had organized a clean-up of the park and chanted anti-migrant, hyper-nationalist slogans at the event. A large contingent of security forces were also present in the park to avert clashes between the groups. | Masina reported that the leader of the right-wing group, Damjan Knezevic, who is the former vice-president of the far-right Zavetnici party, was pres…
(2020-10-31). Terrorism and "French Values" globalresearch.ca There have been some horrendous, despicable killings by Muslim extremists in France. Such killings must be condemned. | French president Emmanuel Macron played the victim card, saying that France "will not give into terrorism." Yet when 21st century France engages in …
(2020-10-31). [Correspondence] Host or pathogen-related factors in COVID-19 severity? — Authors' reply. thelancet.com Christian Gortázar and colleagues, in their response to our Correspondence about herd immunity in COVID-19,1 suggest that the mutation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) might provide an alternative explanation for the observed decline in deaths in Europe. As evidence, they highlight the observation that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated,2,3 alongside their own report arguing that the severity of COVID-19 has decreased over time.4 Unfortunately, their own study appears to have ended before many recoveries could have occurred, severely undermining the main conclusion.
(2020-10-31). Campaign for validating same sex marriage in Estonia gains momentum. peoplesdispatch.org Progressive sections in Estonia have launched the petition after the government proposed a national referendum that will define marriage as a union between a man and a woman…
(2020-10-31). Trudeau says Nice attack does not define Islam. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 31 (MNA) — Condemning a deadly attack in the France's Nice, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that these terrorist attacks do not define Islam.
(2020-10-31). [Correspondence] Host or pathogen-related factors in COVID-19 severity? thelancet.com Lucy Okell and colleagues1 observed that the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently in marked decline in many countries. Okell and colleagues suggest two possible explanations for this decline, namely the effect of lockdowns, physical distancing, and other interventions; or, alternatively, herd immunity. After analysing trends in cumulative deaths over time in many European countries that went into lockdown at different stages of their epidemic, and data obtained from serology studies on the proportion of the population that had the infection previously, Okell an…
(2020-10-31). FM spox commiserates with quake-hit people of Turkey. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 31 (MNA) — The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry has expressed commiserations with the Turkish people following a strong and deadly earthquake which hit the country on Friday.
(2020-10-31). [World Report] Slovakia to test all adults for SARS-CoV-2. thelancet.com Slovakia plans to be the first country to test its whole population for SARS-CoV-2, but experts warn of logistical and technical challenges. Ed Holt reports from Bratislava.
(2020-10-31). FROM THE FIELD: Planning a route to green cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. news.un.org Bosnia and Herzegovina is showing how even highly polluted cities can be transformed into well-planned, climate-resilient urban hubs.
(2020-10-31). Bosnia & Herzegovina eyes bolstering economic coop. with Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 31 (MNA) — Speaker of House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that his country keens to strengthen and bolster economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2020-10-31). '180 Degree Rule' wins at Valladolid Intl. FilmFest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 31 (MNA) — Iranian film '180 Degree Rule' by Farnoosh Samadi has won an ward at the 65th Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain.
(2020-10-31). Spain's Conquistador Hernan Cortes and the Unknown History of the Panama Canal. globalresearch.ca The Panama Canal project is much older than just the US imperialistic endeavor and completion of the 20th century that most people associate it with that led to the birth of a new republic. | *** | Leaving aside all issues …
(2020-10-30). Will Trump Surprise Pollsters and Hostile Media by Defeating Biden? globalresearch.ca The NYT is notably unrelenting in pushing fake news of Russian US election meddling to help Biden defeat Trump. | Despite claiming otherwise, the US intelligence community has no evidence suggesting foreign interference in the US election process this year or …
(2020-10-30). Marxism and Election 2020. sputniknews.com On today's episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events, France being on high alert after two terrorist attacks, Islamabad having an attack, Wal-Mart preparing for civil unrest, Louisville officer Mattingtingly counter-suing Breonna Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker, and Kyle Rittenhouse being extradited to Wisconsin.
(2020-10-30). "The fight for abortion has been the struggle of Polish women for generations" peoplesdispatch.org 
Last week's ruling in the Constitutional Court placing further restrictions on abortion access in Poland sent a shockwave through society and brought tens of thousands on to the streets in protest…
(2020-10-30). As Covid-19 cases continue to sharply rise in Russia, Kremlin admits country has a shortage of doctors & calls for pay rises. rt.com 
Russia hasn't got enough doctors and paying them more should be a priority. That's according to Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, who said medics are working in "extreme conditions" during the Covid-19 pandemic. | When asked about doctors' wages, during a Friday press call, Peskov highlighted that Russia's regions have been given extra money to fight the coronavirus, and that they should use some of that to attract better specialists. According to Moscow-based newspaper Kommersant, a journalist had noted that richer areas of the country are luring higher-qualified doctors away from poorer lo…
(2020-10-30). France: No Change for Thirty Years. counterpunch.org 
France, which is already facing health, environmental, economic and social woes, has also endured a series of blows in the form of terrorist attacks. Thus the calls to mobilise for war. Again. But destroying an enemy that is often very hard to find always requires more powerful weapons than last time. Not artillery and tanks
(2020-10-30). 'Vital we start now': WHO reforms should not be left until after Covid-19 pandemic, says German health minister. rt.com 
The German government has called for immediate reforms to the World Health Organization (WHO), with Health Minister Jens Spahn stressing the importance of starting the process now and not wait until the pandemic has passed. | The UN health agency should be faster in its response to crises, Spahn added, calling for the WHO's members to give it more funding and for them to be better at sharing information. | Read more | | Spahn's call for tran…
(2020-10-30). Instagram 'blocked French account of Iran's Khamenei' after he sent message to youths on Prophet Mohammed cartoons. rt.com 
A French-language Instagram account of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was temporarily blocked after posting a critical message to young people about controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, Iran's FARS news agency reported. | The page became inaccessible on Friday, two days after Khamenei's missive to "young French people" was posted on social media. In his address, the Ayatollah blasted French President Emmanuel Macron as "stupid" for insisting that caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed were in line with that country's values of freedom of speech. He also questioned why it was "OK" in France to insult the Prophe…
(2020-10-30). "Fighting for Democracy": Carol Anderson on Voter Suppression & Why Georgia Could Go Blue. democracynow.org 
As the 2020 campaign enters its final days, we go to Georgia, where two Senate seats are up for grabs and both Republican incumbents face stiff opposition. Joe Biden is also spending significant time in the state, which no Democratic presidential candidate has won since 1992. "Georgia is truly in play," says Emory University professor Carol Anderson. "We have had grassroots organizing and mobilizing, registering folks to vote, working through getting through all of the voter suppression barriers to bring people out to the polls in unprecedented numbers." Anderson is the author of "One Person, No Vote: How Voter S…
(2020-10-30). 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' a provocative mockumentary that lampoons conservative political culture. peoplesworld.org 
Note: This review contains spoilers. Many readers may be familiar with the original Borat (2006) film, starring comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's controversial fictitious character, Borat, a reporter from Kazakhstan who travels to the U.S. to learn about America. Those who have seen Baron Cohen's work know that his Borat character is anti-Semitic, homophobic, and misogynist, …
(2020-10-30). Turkey earthquake leaves several dead and hundreds wounded. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey earthquake leaves several dead and hundreds wounded | The earthquake, of up to 7.0 magnitude, destroyed several buildings and set off tidal waves | Fri, 10/30/2020 – 12: 54 | Locals and officials search for survivors at a collapsed building in Izmir, Turkey, after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on 30 October 2020 (Reuters) | An earthquake of up to 7.0 magnitude hit Izmir province in the…
(2020-10-30). Women's strike paralyzes Poland after right-wing court bans abortion. peoplesworld.org 
Women across Poland continue to strike in protest against the near total banning of abortions by the country's highest court. The country has been paralyzed by more than a week of demonstrations against the decision, which was backed by Poland's right-wing government. The constitutional court's ruling last Thursday triggered daily mass demonstrations, with anger directed …
(2020-10-30). Terrorism and French Values. dissidentvoice.org 
There have been some horrendous, despicable killings by Muslim extremists in France. Such killings must be condemned. French president Emmanuel Macron played the victim card, saying that France "will not give into terrorism." Yet when 21st century France engages in overseas militarism, otherwise known as state terrorism, in places with large Muslim populations — places …
(2020-10-30). Suspect in Nice attack was arrested in Tunisia in 2016 for using knife: Official. middleeasteye.net 
Suspect in Nice attack was arrested in Tunisia in 2016 for using knife: Official | Meanwhile, French interior minister says more attacks likely as 'war on Islamist extremism' underway | Fri, 10/30/2020 – 11: 12 | From left, French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi visit the scene of a knife attack at…
(2020-10-30). Why I'm Voting Green in 2020. globalresearch.ca Author's note: Kevin and I worked on this article together right before his untimely passing on September 6. I met Kevin during Ralph Nader's 2004 presidential campaign. Throughout the years since, I appreciated seeing his anti-imperialist and eco-socialist arguments strengthen …
(2020-10-30). Video: Neo-Ottoman Nights of Armenian-Azerbaijani War. globalresearch.ca Turkish Sultan-in-Chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come up with a justification for the deployment of Syrian militants to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone to support the war against Armenia. According to him, at least 2,000 fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party …
(2020-10-30). 'Real Problem': Remote Learning Amid Pandemic May Allow Tech Giants to Exploit Children's Data. sputniknews.com Julian Vigo, an independent scholar and filmmaker who specializes in anthropology, technology and political philosophy, joined Radio Sputnik's Political Misfits Friday from Italy to warn about the possibility of children's data being exploited by big tech companies as governments cede control of public education to Google during online learning.
(2020-10-30). Deadly earthquake rocks western Turkey, Greece: Report. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 30 (MNA) — A strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on Friday and inflicted damage in both Greece and Turkey, where buildings collapsed killing at least four people with many others trapped in the rubble.
(2020-10-30). The 'Very, Very Bad Look' of Remdesivir, the First FDA-approved COVID-19 Drug. globalresearch.ca October was a good month for Gilead Sciences, the giant manufacturer of antivirals headquartered in Foster City, California. On 8 October, the company inked an agreement to supply the European Union with its drug remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19—a …
(2020-10-30). Three killed in terrorist attack on church in Nice, France. wsws.org A lone attacker entered the building at 8: 30 a.m. armed with a knife and attacked churchgoers who were attending the morning mass.
(2020-10-30). Western Sanctions a Failure of Diplomacy — What Lies Beneath. strategic-culture.org Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) once remarked that "assassination is the extreme form of censorship". The satirist might add that so too are "sanctions" as a form of censorship. | Hardly a week goes by, it seems, when there is not some new round of sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and its allies in the European Union. This debased ritual has been going on for six years since the Western powers backed a violent coup d'état in Ukraine in 2014, and yet they have continued to blame Russia for that conflict. | In addition to ironical allegations about Russia interfering in Ukraine, oth…
(2020-10-30). The Many Abuses at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia. thenation.com The Many Abuses at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia…
(2020-10-30). Labour Suspends Corbyn, Europe Locks Down, US Told Vote or Die. sputniknews.com After four years of pretending to care about non-center voices, US mainstream media is eager for the good old days.
(2020-10-30). The Triumph Of The Commons In The UK. popularresistance.org United Kingdom – There are thousands of community-powered initiatives in action across the UK. Projects to bring broadband to a rural place that wasn't expecting it to arrive for years, generate renewable energy, or make the most of treasured local spaces or assets. Schemes to deliver addiction services, protect neighborhoods from natural disasters, or manage social housing in an equitable way. In none of these have the communities in question needed supervision from the state or transactions with big businesses.
(2020-10-30). Casualties mount in Armenian-Azeri war as US-brokered ceasefire collapses. wsws.org The danger is growing that the war between the two former Soviet republics in the Caucasus could escalate into a war involving Russia, Iran, and the NATO powers.
(2020-10-30). West paying price of supporting terrorist groups: Nasrallah. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 30 (MNA) — Denouncing 'Nice' attack in France, Secretary-General of Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement Nasrallah said that West is paying the price of supporting the terrorist groups.
(2020-10-30). FM Zarif sympathizes with Turkish counterpart on deadly quake. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 30 (MNA) —Iranian Foreign Minister in a message to his Turkish counterpart sympathized with him over the occurrence of devastating earthquake in Turkey's Izmir city on Friday.
(2020-10-30). FBI raids neo-Nazi camp in Michigan as national connections of Whitmer plotters emerge. wsws.org The FBI conducted further raids in Michigan Thursday as more details emerge of a national conspiracy involving fascists and police in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Texas and Minnesota.
(2020-10-30). Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS), New Momentum in the Development of Trade and Investment. globalresearch.ca On October 28, the BRICS Business Council (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) during the forum reviewed its joint work for the previous years, discussed at length current business issues and, in particular tried to choose a path for …
(2020-10-30). DIY Chains And Garden Centres 'Adding To Climate Crisis' By Selling Peat. popularresistance.org United Kingdom – Garden centres and DIY stores are way off track on meeting a government target to end peat use by amateur gardeners, figures show. | Green experts said the rate at which peat is still being dug up means the UK's gardens are helping to accelerate the climate crisis. | Stores including B&Q and Wickes, as well as numerous websites, all sell peat products. | Between 2015 and 2019, the amount of peat contained in composts sold to shoppers showed only a small drop, from almost 53 per cent to 41.5 per cent. | Friends of the Earth called on ministers to act, after the government announced a decade a…
(2020-10-30). World court continues adjudicating throughout COVID health crisis. news.un.org Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the United Nations world court said on Friday that its judiciary work in The Hague, Netherlands, continued unabated.
(2020-10-30). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Zimbabwean nurses face government threats to contract as strike continues for PPE and living wage; teachers' strike in Zimbabwe threatened as unions write begging letter to government; national auto strike brings production in quarter of industry to halt.
(2020-10-30). Germany: Public service workers up in arms against Verdi contract. wsws.org While politicians from all main political parties and union officials spread the fairy tale that the contract deal reached last weekend represents a victory for public service workers, those affected, however, are outraged.
(2020-10-30). Iran's special envoy Araghchi meets with Armenian PM. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 30 (MNA) — Iranian President's Special Envoy met and held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashniyan in Yerevan on Fri.
(2020-10-29). Intel Drop with The Greenwald issue. thealtworld.com A few things to add… | The Greenwald issue, he has taken to twitter to establish himself as 'wronged' but those of us who carry the water for the journalistic world, those who point at Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Kosher Nostra (Trump's gang) as 9/11 perpetrators…who publish the hard evidence of nuclear attacks…don't appreciate those like Greenwald very much. | You can't say "Israeli did it" without crediting Giuliani. You can't say "Rudy" without saying "Donald." | Trump's silence on 9/11 has been deafening. | Is the great reset coming? You will know when Trump flees to Ukraine. | As for Greenwald, we woul…
(2020-10-29). The Scourge of Islamophobia in France. globalresearch.ca US-led Western states promote Islamophobia. | It's part of seeking dominance over other nations — notably by endless preemptive wars and related hostile actions against nonbelligerent states threatening no one. | It's the wrong time to be Muslim in the West, notably …
(2020-10-29). Poland Wants New "Marshall Plan" to "Save" Belarus. globalresearch.ca Poland is currently experiencing one of the most difficult periods in its recent history. The effects of the new coronavirus pandemic have been devastating in the country, considering that it has effectively reduced Polish industrial production — which decreased by …
