(2020-10-12). Is Syria's Idlib the Next Gaza Strip? counterpunch.org 
"Many relatives of mine were living in camps near the border with Turkey," says Huda Husein, a 25-year-old teacher living in the rebel-held enclave of Idlib in northwest Syria. "But last month they returned home [to the cities and villages] because they prefer dying under an airstrike to dying in the camps." A cousin told her that "we are just fleeing from danger to danger", explaining that the misery of trying to survive in cramped tents was worse than bombardment by Russia and Syrian government forces.
(2020-10-12). The Russia Brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan Ceasefire. globalresearch.ca It was a diplomatic coup for Russia to broker a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan since it restored Moscow's relevance to the conflict, but for as positive of a development as this was, it's uncertain whether it'll last and will …
(2020-10-12). The Nuclearization of American Diplomacy. counterpunch.org 
On August 21st, six nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress bombers, representing approximately one-seventh of the war-ready U.S. B-52H bomber fleet, flew from their home base in North Dakota to Fairford Air Base in England for several weeks of intensive operations over Europe. Although the actual weapons load of those giant bombers was kept secret, each of them is capable of carrying eight AGM-86B nuclear-armed, air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) in its bomb bay.
(2020-10-12). German imperialism & European ambitions beyond NATO. peoplesdispatch.org European imperialism is on the march and preparing for war. Journalist Jà∂rg Kronauer explains the various military initiatives in the European Union and the German interests in such mobilizations…
(2020-10-11). Aaron Maté On Western Countries Attacking OPCW Syria Testimony At The UN. thealtworld.com OPCW whistleblower Ian Henderson and former OPCW director José Bustani, who testified before the UN Security Council, were attacked by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany during two UN Security Council meetings in which they provided testimony. | Bustani was blocked from reading his prepared statement on the OPCW's cover-up of what they uncovered when investigators examined the scene of an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, in April 2018. | Henderson was accused of being part of a "disinformation exercise," even though he was personally involved as an investigator, and physicist Ted Posto…
(2020-10-11). Several Observations About The Russian-Brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani Ceasefire. thealtworld.com It was a diplomatic coup for Russia to broker a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan since it restored Moscow's relevance to the conflict, but for as positive of a development as this was, it's uncertain whether it'll last and will thus serve as a litmus test of exactly how much influence the Eurasian Great Power still holds over its "sphere of influence" in the South Caucasus. | Russia's Diplomatic Coup In The South Caucasus | The world is celebrating the Russian-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire which went into effect at noon on Saturday following over 10 hours of negotiations between Foreign Minister…
(2020-10-11). Labour Peer Apologises for Claiming Migrants Could be 'Concentrated' in Camps. sputniknews.com The United Kingdom has faced rising numbers of refugees crossing the English Channel from France this year. Internal Home Office reports made public last month revealed that the government has considered placing migrants arriving in the UK in offshore detention centers.
(2020-10-11). It's Time Nationalize Social Media And Big Tech. counterpunch.org 
On September 1, 2020, I received a direct message (DM) on Twitter from a reporter working with a mainstream outlet requesting comment. After a brief chat on the phone, I was informed that I was unwittingly caught up in a Russian-backed media operation, for a "publication" that had recently offered a writing opportunity. The "outlet"
(2020-10-11). Heavy shelling and civilian casualties dash hopes for Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire. middleeasteye.net 
Heavy shelling and civilian casualties dash hopes for Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire | Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Sunday of violating a Russian-brokered ceasefire | Sun, 10/11/2020 – 23: 06 | Nagorno-Karaback, an ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan is home to 15,000 people (AFP) | A Russian-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to hold on Sunday, with…
(2020-10-11). As War Danger Mounts in the Arctic, Peace Hinges on a Revival of the Wallace Doctrine. strategic-culture.org 
According to the Department of Defense's dismally short sighted vision for the Arctic, U.S. strategic interests were best maintained not by cooperation with Arctic partners, by rather by belligerent sabre rattling under the guise of "competition" with nations who have continuously professed a desire to work with the west as allies. | In recent weeks, this belligerence has taken the form of a new forward posture of 150 advanced U.S. fighter jets to be housed at the Eielson Airforce Base in Alaska including a mix of F22 Raptors and F35 Lighting II jets only 600 miles away from the Russia border. Each fighter plane…
(2020-10-11). First reactor of Belarus' controversial Astravets nuclear power plant achieves criticality, Baltic states are outraged by project. rt.com 
The first of two Russian-built reactors at the new Belarusian nuclear power plant, at Astravets, is almost ready to go. Located near the border with Lithuania and Latvia, the Baltic states have fiercely opposed the project. | Along with Estonia, the pair have pledged to stop electricity trade with Minsk when the plant is finally operational. The Astravets nuclear power plant (known in Belarus as BelAes) is a joint project with Russia's state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom. On Sunday, the first chain reaction was launched at one of the VVER-1200 type reactors and sustained at the minimum controlled power le…
(2020-10-11). 'Our region is not Switzerland,' Israeli minister says amid concerns Qatar may buy F-35 jets from US. rt.com 
Israel will oppose any deal to sell US-made F-35 fighter jets to Qatar, the country's intelligence minister said. Doha has reportedly already submitted a formal request to Washington to greenlight such a deal. | Speaking to Israeli Army Radio on Sunday, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said Tel Aviv would firmly oppose the sale of the 5th-generation stealth jets to the Gulf state. | "Our security and military superiority in the region are the most significant things for us," Cohen stressed. | Our region has still not turned into Switzerland. | Qatar's formal request for the jets was reported on Wednesday by Reu…
(2020-10-11). Over half of French nurses on brink of professional burn-out amid Covid-19 pandemic — survey. rt.com 
More than the half of French nurses are close to burning out due to the pressure the ongoing pandemic has put on the nation's medical workers, who struggle with increased work and lack of holidays, a new survey indicates. | Some 57 percent of France's nurses have described their condition as "state of professional exhaustion" since the beginning of the pandemic, the national French nursing union has said, publishing results of a
(2020-10-11). Official urges launching Iran-Switzerland financial channel. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 11 (MNA) — Chairman of Iran-Switzerland Joint Chamber of Commerce expressed his hope that financial mechanism between Iran and Switzerland will be launched in the first half of the next fiscal year (starts March 20, 2021).
(2020-10-11). W Azerbaijan province, Iran's chance to enter global market. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 11 (MNA) — Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Erzurum called the West Azerbaijan province as the gateway of Iran to the global market and the only Iranian city which shares a common border with eastern Turkish provinces.
(2020-10-11). Video: Hooded Youths Launch Fireworks at Cars and Residents in Sheffield. sputniknews.com Bonfire Night in the United Kingdom is known for its extravagant fireworks displays and burning effigies. However, in the days running up to the event, when personal fireworks are sold prolifically, they are often used by gangs as weapons, leading to chaos in the streets in recent years.
(2020-10-11). S-300s, S-400s to Be Modified to Use Various Types of Missiles Simultaneously, Report Says. sputniknews.com Russia's air defence troops are equipped with at least 125 battalions of S-300s (about 1,500 launchers total) and 69 battalions of S-400s (552 launchers), with the latter expected to remain the most advanced road-mobile air defence system in Russia's arsenal until the arrival of the S-500 beginning next year.
(2020-10-11). Greek neo-Nazis provoked civil war, seven years later they're finally declared criminals. thecanary.co A Greek court has But there remain unanswered questions about the role of the police. And why earlier warnings that GD hoped to provoke a civil war in Greece as part of a "
(2020-10-10). International Students Quit: 'This Isn't Sweden'. strategic-culture.org International students at the Dalarna University in Borlà§nge do not want to live in the student residence which is offered to them in the immigrant suburb Tjà§rna àÑngar, also known as "Little Mogadishu". That is what a representative for Dalarna's student union wrote in a letter to the university's board.
(2020-10-10). Ceasefire shaken as Armenia, Azerbaijan trade accusations of attacks. middleeasteye.net 
Ceasefire shaken as Armenia, Azerbaijan trade accusations of attacks | The recent flare-up in Nagorno Karabakh has been the worst the contested region has seen since the 90s | Sat, 10/10/2020 – 10: 15 | The recent flare-up is the worst in Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1991-4 war (AFP) | Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of violating a ceasefire only minutes after it came into eff…
(2020-10-10). Pelosi & husband invest up to $1 million in CrowdStrike, tech firm that launched Russiagate — report. rt.com 
Newly-filed financial disclosures show House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband have invested up to $1 million in CrowdStrike, American cybersecurity technology company and the originator of 'Russian hacking' claims. | Financial disclosures New from me: Financial disclosure forms show that Nancy and P…
(2020-10-10). Explosions reported in Nagorno-Karabakh, Baku accuses Armenia of shelling Azerbaijani town just hours into ceasefire. rt.com 
Azerbaijan and Armenia have accused each other of violating the ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh region late on Saturday. The capital of the self-proclaimed republic, Stepankert, has reportedly come under heavy shelling. | Azerbaijan, for its part, accused Armenia of striking the town of Terter with artillery fire. | RT correspondent Igor Zhdanov said alert sirens were heard in Stepankert, the capital of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, late on Saturday. Several explosions — both in the air and on the ground — were observed in the city, he added. | ‚ö°Ô∏è&sbquo…
(2020-10-10). Belarus' Lukashenko meets JAILED opposition activists, talks constitutional reform. rt.com 
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has paid an unexpected visit to a detention center in Minsk, meeting incarcerated members of the so-called 'Coordination council of the opposition'. | The unusual move was reported by local media on Saturday, with a short video from the meeting emerging on social media later in the day. | Members of the opposition 'council' were detained over calls to overthrow the government amid the unrest that followed the contested August 9 presidential election. The activists are currently being held at the pre-trial detention center of the Belarus State Security Committee (KGB) i…
(2020-10-10). No end in sight? Armenia & Azerbaijan accuse each other of violations, minutes after Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire supposed to begin. rt.com 
A Russia-brokered ceasefire was supposed to end the fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region at noon local time on Saturday, but Armenia and Azerbaijan both quickly reported continued attacks on each other's positions. | Yerevan's Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said that Baku launched an offensive into Nagorno-Karabakh five minutes after the ceasefire had supposedly commenced. She later added that Azerbaijani forces were shelling the town of Hadrut. | Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, in the meantime, reported that "despite the ceasefire agreement" Armenia had launched attacks against sev…
(2020-10-10). Belarus govt SAVED runaway candidate Tikhanovskaya by giving her $15,000 before she fled the country, Lukashenko claims. rt.com 
Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was provided with $15,000 by the Belarusian authorities right before she left the country for Lithuania after the August 9 election, President Alexander Lukashenko said. | Speaking at a government meeting on Friday, Lukashenko revealed that shortly after the election the opposition candidate requested a meeting with the country's Interior Minister Yuri Karayev, asking him to allow her to leave Belarus. | The president had said before that he tasked the country's special services with safeguarding Tikhanovskaya, as she perfectly fit the role of a potential "sacrific…
(2020-10-10). Eyebrows raised as Lukashenko claims he 'saved' opposition candidate Tikhanovskaya, giving her $15,000 before she left Belarus. rt.com Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dropped a bombshell by claiming that former Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was provided with $15,000, by the state, right before she left for exile in Lithuania. | Speaking at a government meeting on Friday, Lukashenko explained that shortly after the election the leading opposition figure requested a meeting with the country's Interior Minister Yuri Karayev, asking him to allow her to leave Belarus. | The President's version of events is different from that put forward by Tikhanovskaya, and her supporters. After the disputed August 9 election, she q…
(2020-10-10). 'Western brand': more than 20 nations possess over 140 'Novichok'-type substances, Russian Foreign Ministry says. rt.com 
The notorious 'Novichok' nerve agent described as Russia's lethal weapon has been first presented to the world by Americans and has since been replicated by 20 of their allies, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. | The structure of a substance that has since been known to the world as 'Novichok' has been first unveiled by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology back in 1998 on the basis of the data provided by the Pentagon, the Russian Ministry said on Saturday, replying to yet another damning statement by the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. | Over the years, the formula was used by Americans…
(2020-10-10). Trudeau admits US heading for post-election "disturbances," but won't condemn Trump. wsws.org The Canadian government, reports Reuters, is in consultations with the principal European imperialist powers about how they will respond to Trump's coup, which has already been set in motion.
(2020-10-10). Russia Will Take Its COVID-19 Vaccine to Another LATAM Country. telesurenglish.net As a measure to counteract Bolivia's sanitary crisis, Sigma laboratory Friday sealed an alliance with Russia to produce and export to other Latin American countries a medicine for patients with COVID-19 and to distribute the new Russian vaccine 'Sputnik V'. | RELATED: | The Bolivian company Sigma Corp. will import the new Russian COVID-19 vaccine, which was announced to the world in August by President Vladimir Putin. | Sigma will also begin to produce in Bolivia the anti…
(2020-10-10). State of emergency declared in Madrid as COVID-19 resurgence sweeps Europe. wsws.org New daily infections in Europe Friday surpassed the 100,000 mark for the second day running.
(2020-10-10). Thirty years of German unity: Berlin increases military spending, incites nationalism and war. wsws.org The defence minister made no secret of the fact that Germany is arming itself with the deadliest weapons in order to wage war around the world in defence of its economic and geostrategic interest—increasingly against its erstwhile allies.
(2020-10-10). Dutch government's malign neglect accelerates resurgence of COVID-19. wsws.org The Netherlands has become a major hot-spot in western Europe for COVID-19 infections, with record numbers of confirmed infections each day.
(2020-10-10). UN chief welcomes Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire. news.un.org UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed agreement on a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone following talks held in Russia on Friday.
(2020-10-10). When Confronted By Hungry Bellies, Us Imperialists Reach For Their Guns. popularresistance.org In 1965, Ghana's Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah published a bold book, Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism. In this book, Nkrumah documented in great detail the way in which European and North American multinational firms — in close collaboration with their governments — continued to smother the aspirations of the new nations of Africa. As an example, Nkrumah took up his own country, Ghana, which had been known by the colonial name 'the Gold Coast' until 1957. | One of the old colonial companies, Ashanti Goldfields (a British company) continued to make fabulous profits from the hard labour of…
(2020-10-10). Rouhani, Putin discuss Nagorno-Karabakh over phone. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Saturday discussing the latest developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
(2020-10-10). US sanctions not to affect Iran-Swiss financial channel. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) — Chaiman of Iran-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce noted, "New sanctions of the US on 18 Iranian banks will not affect the Iran-Switzerland financial channel in terms of importing of cereals and pharmaceuticals."
(2020-10-10). Iranian Diplomat Held for Trial in Belgium Over Alleged Bomb Plot Reportedly Warned of 'Retaliation'. sputniknews.com In July 2018, Assadollah Assadi, a Vienna-based Iranian diplomat, was arrested in Germany on a European warrant over charges of allegedly plotting to bomb an Iranian opposition rally in Paris. He was later extradited to Belgium, where two alleged co-conspirators had been arrested with explosives in their possession.
(2020-10-10). Germany, France to sanction Russia over Navalny's alleged poisoning. wsws.org Nothing published by the OPCW and the imperialist powers on the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny can be taken at face value.
(2020-10-09). Armenia and Russia Are Sending Each Other Strong Signals Through the CSTO. globalresearch.ca OneWorld is publishing the original English-language version of Andrew Korybko's analysis on the titular topic that was first released in Russian at the Moscow-Baku information portal. | *** | Armenia's decision to skip next week's CSTO drills in Belarus and the bloc's …
(2020-10-09). Turkey's Mount Ida: The frontline between mining giants and local people. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey's Mount Ida: The frontline between mining giants and local people | Activists and local residents are mobilising against mining ventures they say will threaten the region's outstanding biodiversity | Fri, 10/09/2020 – 11: 44 | Local activists hold up a banner reading 'Mount Ida is more valuable than gold' as they protest Cengiz Holding (Kazdagi Association) | Turkey is a land of outstandi…
(2020-10-09). Do the Russians love their kitties too? Tourist buys entire train compartment to take pets cats on holiday to the Black Sea coast. rt.com 
Going on holiday, but have no one to take with you? For one indulgent Russian animal lover, that wasn't a problem, as they brought a bunch of furry friends along for the ride, at a cost of at least 12,000 rubles ($155) one-way.
(2020-10-09). Danish politicians spoke for FORTY MINUTES with fake 'Svetlana Tikhanovskaya' via video link – 'animal brothels' were discussed. rt.com 
The Danish Parliament has revealed that a supposed online meeting featuring leading Belarusian opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya actually involved an unknown prankster, who spoke to them about "animal brothels." | In an embarrassing turn of events for Copenhagen, on Tuesday, a group of the country's MPs were taken for a ride for an entire 40 minutes before they realized something was wrong. And that was despite the obvious giveaway that the fake Tikhanovskaya could not appear on camera, citing technical difficulties. | According to local media, reality dawned after over half an hour of questioning, when…
(2020-10-09). 'Imagine': Ex-CIA director Brennan dreams of Navalny becoming president of Russia AND befriending Democrat challenger Joe Biden. rt.com 
Apparently ditching all tradecraft, former CIA chief and godfather of Russiagate John Brennan has "imagined" Joe Biden in the White House and Alexey Navalny in the Kremlin as part of a (partisan) birthday tribute to John Lennon. | "Imagine prospects for world peace, prosperity, and security if Joe Biden were president of the United States and Alexei Navalny the president of Russia," Brennan "We'll soo…
(2020-10-09). 'Imagine': Ex-CIA director Brennan dreams of Navalny becoming president of Russia AND befriending Joe Biden. rt.com 
Apparently ditching all tradecraft, former CIA chief and godfather of Russiagate John Brennan "imagined" Joe Biden in the White House and Alexey Navalny in the Kremlin as part of a (partisan) birthday tribute to John Lennon. | "Imagine prospects for world peace, prosperity, and security if Joe Biden were president of the United States and Alexei Navalny the president of Russia," Brennan "We'll soon be half…
(2020-10-09). Removing Trump from Office Attempt 2.0? globalresearch.ca In December 2019, Pelosi-led House Dems showed contempt for the rule of law. | Two articles of impeachment to oust Trump from office were spurious. | Accusing him of abuse of power, they falsely claimed he sought foreign interference from Ukraine in …
(2020-10-09). Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan Agree To a Ceasefire. telesurenglish.net On Friday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a temporary ceasefire in the conflict of the bordering Nagorno-Karabakh region. | RELATED: | The ceasefire "will allow the exchange of prisoners of war, other people, and the bodies of the dead according to the criteria of the Committee of the International Red Cross (ICRC)," the official explained. | From Saturday, the hostilities…
(2020-10-09). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Thousands of South African workers held a nationwide strike Wednesday, while the PCS union ended the stoppage at the Tate art galley's commercial arm after 42 days of strike action, with a deal that includes job losses.
(2020-10-09). "Reimagine and Reset Our World": "COVID-19, The Great Reset" by Klaus Schwab and Thierry Malleret. globalresearch.ca "In Russia we only had two TV channels. Channel One was propaganda. Channel Two consisted of a KGB officer telling you: Turn back at once to Channel One." ~ Yakov Smirnoff | Professor Klaus Schwab founded and runs the World Economic …
(2020-10-09). Europe Drives Destruction of US Forests in the Name of Fighting Climate Change. zcomm.org The Southern U.S. is now the world's largest producer and exporter of wood pellets. Under the guise of "renewable energy," the voracious European demand for wood pellets has put forests and communities in this region at increased risk.
(2020-10-09). Google Contractor Moving Work From Pittsburgh To Poland To Bust Union. popularresistance.org Pittsburgh, PA -Today the NLRB charged Google Contractor HCL with moving work from Pittsburgh to Poland, citing that the move was a way to bust the newly formed Pittsburgh Association of Tech Professionals. | The NLRB Region 6, based in Pittsburgh, charged HCL with breaking labor law and refusing to negotiate a bargain in good faith with the Pittsburgh Association of Tech Professionals. Most egregiously, the NLRB charged HCL with moving work to lower-paid tech workers in Krakow, Poland.