(2020-10-17). Why Wasn't There Any Post-Election Turmoil in Tajikistan? globalresearch.ca Unlike fellow former Soviet Republics Belarus and even neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan's latest elections didn't result in any turmoil even though one might have expected it to have due to some similarly discernible risk factors, but that wasn't the case (at …
(2020-10-17). At Townhall, Biden Promises Big Green Infrastructure and Jobs. zcomm.org Spain's Example Suggests he is Right…
(2020-10-17). US condemns Turkey over reported test of Russian S-400 missile system. middleeasteye.net 
US condemns Turkey over reported test of Russian S-400 missile system | Ankara refuses to confirm or deny reports that it has tested the controversial air defence system near the Black Sea | Sat, 10/17/2020 – 10: 32 | Washington fears the S-400 could be used to gain intelligence on US weaponry (Reuters) | The United States condemned Turkey on Friday after reports emerged that Ankara had te…
(2020-10-16). Ahead of North Cyprus presidential election run-off, island's fate hangs in the balance. middleeasteye.net 
Ahead of North Cyprus presidential election run-off, island's fate hangs in the balance | Electorate to choose between the incumbent president and prime minister – and drastically different visions for the future of the divided island | Fri, 10/16/2020 – 17: 43 | A Turkish-Cypriot man casts his ballot at a polling station during the inconc…
(2020-10-16). French police fatally shoot man after school teacher decapitated. middleeasteye.net 
French police fatally shoot man after school teacher decapitated | Authorities describe killing of teacher who showed cartoons of Prophet Muhammad as 'murder linked to a terrorist organisation' | Fri, 10/16/2020 – 20: 05 | Local mayor says attack in Paris suburb was "incredibly violent" (AFP/File photo) | French police shot a man dead after he reportedly decapitated a middle-school teacher…
(2020-10-16). European countries 'deeply concerned' over Israeli settlement construction. middleeasteye.net 
European countries 'deeply concerned' over Israeli settlement construction | Israel approved the construction of more than 2,000 new illegal West Bank settlement homes on Wednesday | Fri, 10/16/2020 – 14: 13 | A Palestinian man confronts a member of the Israeli security forces as Palestinian farmers trying to access their lands to harvest olives in the West Bank village of Burqah were prev…
(2020-10-16). France's Sarkozy charged with criminal conspiracy over Libya money. middleeasteye.net 
France's Sarkozy charged with criminal conspiracy over Libya money | Nicolas Sarkozy faces charges linked to money provided by former Libyan leader Gaddafi for his election campaign | Fri, 10/16/2020 – 13: 56 | Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, poses during a studio photo session in Paris ahead of the 2017 presidential election (AFP) | Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has bee…
(2020-10-16). 'A Perfect Crime,' gripping Netflix documentary on the looting of East Germany. peoplesworld.org 
A Perfect Crime, a new four-part documentary series on Netflix about the 1991 assassination of German politician Detlev Rohwedder, surprisingly offers critical viewpoints about German reunification. October 3 marked the 30th anniversary of the reunification of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). While German reunification is …
(2020-10-16). The Heat: Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict. america.cgtn.com 
Tensions escalate between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as both sides accuse each other of violating a fragile ceasefire.
(2020-10-16). ABC ignores elephant in the room, asks Biden ZERO QUESTIONS about censored NY Post scoops on his son's overseas business dealings. rt.com 
ABC held a 90-minute town hall with Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden without asking a single question about this week's New York Post stories on alleged scandals involving his son's business dealings in Ukraine and China. | Host George Stephanopoulos steered clear of…
(2020-10-16). WATCH scene of France attack where man 'beheaded' teacher who 'showed cartoons of Prophet Mohammed' at school. rt.com 
An anti-terrorism invstigation is underway in a Parisian suburb after a middle school teacher was fatally stabbed by a man who reportedly cried "Allahu Akbar" while assaulting him. | The incident occurred in Conflans Saint-Honorine at around 5pm local time on Friday. The knife-wielding suspected attacker was shot dead by police. | According to local reports, the teacher was recently the subject of complaints from parents after he showed caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to students during class, and investigators are looking into the incident as one potential motive for the attack. | Visiting the scene on…
(2020-10-16). US threatens 'serious consequences' if Turkey puts into operation its Russian S-400 missile systems. rt.com 
The US State Department has warned the Turkish government of "potential serious consequences" to the two nations' security relationship should reports of Ankara testing the Russian S-400 air defense systems prove true. | "If confirmed, we would condemn in the strongest terms the S-400 test missile launch as incompatible with Turkey's responsibilities as a NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Friday. | Ortagus insisted that the air defense system "should not be operationalized," adding, "We have also been clear on the potential serious conseq…
(2020-10-16). 'Putin's proposal a non-starter': White House rejects Russian call to extend nuclear arms control treaty. rt.com 
Washington has refused President Vladimir Putin's offer to extend New START, the last remaining arms control treaty between the US and Russia, for one year without any preconditions. | "President Putin's response today to extend New START… is a non-starter," the US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said in response to Moscow's offer, adding that Washington hopes Russia "will reevaluate its position before a costly arms race ensues." | (2/3) This would have been a win for both sides, and we believed the Russians were willing to accept this proposal when I met with my counterpart in Geneva. President Pu…
(2020-10-16). Russian population to fall by 1.2 million by 2024, wiping around 1% off the country's total, says latest government estimates. rt.com 
The population of Russia is predicted to drop by 352,500 people this year, and could be reduced by a total of 1.2 million come 2024. The latest figures are a major revision of the 2020 dip of only 158,000 projected in August.
(2020-10-16). Terrorism investigation launched after teacher 'decapitated' in Paris suburb attack. rt.com 
A man has been found decapitated in Conflans Saint-Honorine, located some 28 km northwest of Paris, according to media reports citing police sources. The suspect was reportedly shot and killed by law enforcement. | The victim was attacked and "decapitated," BFMTV reported on Friday. Other media reports suggested the individual had been "stabbed" in the throat and succumbed to his wound. | The incident reportedly occurred outside a local school, and a police spokesman has confirmed that the victim was a middle-school teacher. |
(2020-10-16). Zionist War on Palestinian Festival in Rome is Ominous Sign of Things to Come. dissidentvoice.org 
A Zionist-led war on a Palestinian cultural festival in Rome has exposed the fragility of the Italian political system when it comes to the conversation on Palestine and Israel. The sad truth is that, although Italy is not often associated with a 'powerful' pro-Israel lobby as is the case in Washington, the pro-Israel influence in …
(2020-10-16). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to
(2020-10-16). Health workers protest in France amid new COVID-19 spike. peoplesdispatch.org In the wake of a fresh spike in COVID-19 cases, a state of health emergency has been declared in Paris. Health workers have demanded increased workforce and resources to fight the pandemic…
(2020-10-16). Large-scale police deployment evicts alternative housing project in Berlin, Germany. wsws.org The mobilization of thousands of police officers to evict an alternative housing project must be understood as a serious warning. In the face of social tensions and the catastrophic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, the ruling class is preparing to violently suppress any opposition from below.
(2020-10-16). WHO Europe Director Says Governments Should Stop Enforcing Lockdowns. globalresearch.ca The World Health Organization's Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge says governments should stop enforcing lockdowns, unless as a "last resort," because the impact on other areas of health and mental well-being is more damaging. | In an interview with Euro …
(2020-10-16). Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed Hadi government begin prisoner swap deal in Yemen. peoplesdispatch.org The two sides had agreed to a prisoner swap deal in Switzerland last month, involving 1,081 prisoners, including 15 Saudi nationals. The deal is being implemented over Thursday and Friday…
(2020-10-16). Profits àºber Alles — MBAs in Germany. counterpunch.org Currently, German universities offer about 300 MBA or Master of Business Administration degrees. Although invented in the USA, MBA and adjacent business degrees are the new vogue in Germany. Germans use the unpronounceable term Betriebswirtschaftslehre or BWL when talking about business studies and MBAs. According to two German BWL professors — Christian Kreiàü and Heinz
(2020-10-16). Why You Won't Find Us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. strategic-culture.org Dear readers of the Strategic Culture Foundation website, | In September 2020, the Strategic Culture Foundation was banned from Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube following unsubstantiated claims that it was connected with Russian intelligence services and interfered in the US presidential elections on their orders. It means that you can't find us on these platforms and, moreover, if you try to post any links leading to SCF on your personal page, you will most likely not be allowed to do that. This case provides a glimpse into the dystopian future of suppressing dissident voices by governments previously known as dem…
(2020-10-16). Before the Bidens 'Did' Ukraine, There Was Iraq — and Serbia. strategic-culture.org The United States approaches the November 2020 election with growing apprehension, even dread. | Among the possibilities: | Protracted uncertainty about the presidential contest. Think Florida 2000 but with several states' results unresolved for weeks or even months ("Experts held 'war games' on the Trump vs. Biden election. Their finding? Brace for a mess"); | A disputed outcome, perhaps with Donald Trump and Joe Biden both claiming victory, compounded by a "
(2020-10-16). Iran, Sweden emphasize strengthening bilateral economic coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) — Islamic Republic of Iran and Sweden stressed the need to enhance and broaden bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
(2020-10-16). Baku in talk with Tehran, Ankara, London over Karabakh row. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) — Media outlets in Azerbaijan Republic on Fri. revealed that Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has held telephone talk with his Iranian, Turkish, Czech and British counterparts over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
(2020-10-16). Five EU states urge a halt to settlements in occupied lands. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) — After the United Nations and European Union, France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain are deeply concerned about the Israeli regime's plans to build new settler homes in the occupied West Bank.
(2020-10-16). Roman Catholic Priest to Be Released Following 2018 Activist Break-in at Nuclear-Capable US Base. sputniknews.com A 71-year-old Roman Catholic priest will spend virtually no additional time become bars after he was granted time served during sentencing for his April 2018 break-in at a nuclear-capable US Navy submarine base in Georgia.
(2020-10-16). UK Supports Efforts to Extend New START Between US, Russia, Foreign Office Says. sputniknews.com LONDON (Sputnik) – The United Kingdom supports the efforts to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between Russia and the United States, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said on Saturday.
(2020-10-16). Four People Detained as Part of Investigation Into Teacher's Killing Near Paris – Report. sputniknews.com Earlier in the day, media reported that an unknown criminal beheaded a middle school history teacher near an educational institution in the commune of Conflans-Saint-Honorine. He was later shot dead by police officers.
(2020-10-16). Johnson's 'oven ready' Brexit deal off the menu as PM calls halt to trade talks. thecanary.co Boris Johnson has called a halt to talks with Brussels on a post-Brexit free trade agreement, warning Britain to prepare for a final no-deal break with the European Union. | Brace for Brexit: | In a statement to broadcasters, Johnson accused EU leaders of seeking to impose a series of "unacceptable" demands and called for a "fundamental change of approach" if there was to be any agreement. The immediate response from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was to say that the EU would carry on negotiating, with talks next week in London going ahead as planned. | However, at a briefing for journ…
(2020-10-16). Kings Bay Plowshares 7 Activists Sentenced for 2018 Anti-Nuclear Protest at Georgia Naval Base. commondreams.org Father Stephen Kelly and Patrick O'Neill were sentenced to nearly three years and 14 months in prison, respectively. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/kings-bay-plowshares-955px.jpg …
(2020-10-16). From the EU Covid Recovery Fund Thirty Billion Goes to the War Industry. globalresearch.ca While the "Coronavirus crisis" continues to cause devastating socio-economic consequences also in Italy, a large part of the "Recovery Fund" is destined not to the most affected economic and social sectors, but to the most advanced sectors of the war …
(2020-10-16). These Are the States to Focus on to Flip the Senate. thenation.com These Are the States to Focus on to Flip the Senate…
(2020-10-15). Scenario Forecasting: What Could a Russian Intervention in Nagorno-Karabakh Look Like? globalresearch.ca Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's suggestion to deploy Russian peacekeepers and military observers into the universally recognized Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding districts under Armenian occupation pending both sides' agreement raises the prospect of Moscow's military intervention in …
(2020-10-15). Venezuela Starts Clinical Trials of Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro informed his nation that 2,000 volunteers are already participating in the clinical trials of Sputnik, the Russian COVID-19 vaccine. | RELATED: | "The Russian vaccine is here and the tests have already begun… In addition, thousands of Chinese vaccines will come to the country," Maduro said during a program broadcast by Venezolana de Television on Wednesday. | In the first half of 2…
(2020-10-15). Syrian and Russian officials should face sanctions over Idlib strikes, states HRW. middleeasteye.net 
Syrian and Russian officials should face sanctions over Idlib strikes, states HRW | Rights group says analysis of attacks between April 2019 and March 2020 revealed a 'callous disregard for civilian life' | Thu, 10/15/2020 – 12: 21 | HRW based its report on interviews with more than 100 victims and witnesses, analysis of hundreds of photographs and videos taken on the site of attacks and o…
(2020-10-15). EU sanctions senior Putin aides over Libya, Navalny poisoning. middleeasteye.net 
EU sanctions senior Putin aides over Libya, Navalny poisoning | Yevgeny Prigozhin, nicknamed 'Putin's chef', sanctioned for supporting Wagner Group in Libya | Thu, 10/15/2020 – 18: 37 | Members of Khalifa Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army gather in Benghazi on way to Sirte (AFP/File photo) | Members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle were hit with sanctions by t…
(2020-10-15). Yemen's warring parties start massive prisoner swap. middleeasteye.net 
Yemen's warring parties start massive prisoner swap | Saudi-led coalition and Yemen's Houthi rebels agreed to exchange 1,081 prisoners in Switzerland last month | Thu, 10/15/2020 – 14: 55 | Freed Yemeni Houthi prisoners line up on a red carpet upon their arrival at Sanaa airport on 15 October 2020 (AFP) | Hundreds of fighters in Yemen have begun heading home after a massive prisoner swap b…
(2020-10-15). 'International solidarity': German technicians refuse to work on Belarusian President Lukashenko's plane at Hamburg airport. rt.com 
Technical workers, attached to Lufthansa, at Germany's Hamburg Airport have declined to service the state plane of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, accusing him of "giving the order to shoot at demonstrators in Belarus." | In a Facebook post on the page of the Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft workers union, a statement explained that technicians for Lufthansa Technik would not service the presidential Boeing 737 as an act of "international solidarity" and "standing side-by-side with Belarusian workers." In addition, the union demanded Lukashenko's resignation, and called for democratic elections…
(2020-10-15). Twitter CENSORS THE GOVERNMENT, briefly blocking link to GOP page on CONGRESS website with copy of NYPost's Hunter Biden story. rt.com 
After downplaying the censorship of links to a New York Post exposé on the Biden family's alleged murky business dealings, Twitter is still blocking links to the "unsafe" story, even ones posted by US lawmakers. | When the New York Post published a tranche of emails on Wednesday claiming to reveal Hunter and Joe Biden's alleged backroom dealings in Ukraine, the story spread like wildfire. That is, until Twitter and Facebook began preventing users from sharing links to the incriminating article. As Republicans and conservatives decried the apparent "censorship," Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stepped in to clear the a…
(2020-10-15). UK supports new EU sanctions against Moscow that will 'significantly punish' Russian officials over alleged poisoning of Navalny. rt.com 
Britain will support a fresh round of EU sanctions against Russia. The targets are six high-level officials and a state research institute London believes is responsible for managing stocks of the nerve agent Novichok. | The UK Foreign Office declared on Thursday that the new sanctions, effective from October 15, will "send a strong message" and "significantly punish Russia's reckless and malign behaviour". The London government has announced that it will impose travel bans and asset freezes on the six individuals listed by the EU. | "The UK and its partners have agreed that there is no plausible explanation f…
(2020-10-15). 'This war must end': Foreign doctors express 'shock' over severity of war wounds in Nagorno-Karabakh in interviews with RT. rt.com 
Medics from as far away as France who came to help as fighting between Armenians and Azerbaijanis erupted in Nagorno-Karabakh, have told RT they weren't fully prepared for the atrocities and have called for the fighting to stop. | Intense clashes between ethnic Armenian and Azeri forces over Nagorno-Karabakh have been raging since late September. The mainly Armenian-populated region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, declared independence from Baku in 1991 and has since been backed by Armenia, which has stopped short of officially recognizing it. Azeri authorities consider Nagorno-Kara…
(2020-10-15). France & Italy set daily records for new coronavirus cases as Covid surge rolls on. rt.com 
The Covid-19 outbreak in Europe is deteriorating further. France has seen a record 30,621 new cases in the last 24 hours. Italy has also set its all-time daily high of 8,804 infections, with the Campania region shutting schools. | On Thursday, the number of new cases across France jumped by more than 8,000 compared to the previous day, with hospitalizations and fatalities also on the rise. | The country has recorded 809,684 positive cases and 33,125 deaths since the start of the pandemic. President Emmanuel Macron announced a nightly curfew in Paris and other major French coronavirus-hit cities on Wednesday, a…
(2020-10-15). All night party, interrupted: Moscow announces new Covid-19 regulations for nightclubs, forcing patrons to register via QR code. rt.com 
Clubbing in party hotspot Moscow will be slightly disrupted for the coming weeks after the capital's mayor decreed that visitors to nightclubs will have to register upon entry using a QR code or by SMS starting from Monday. | Sergey Sobyanin said that the new restrictions are designed to counter the spread of Covid-19 and are being trialled in the hope of avoiding the sort of severe lockdowns currently being imposed in similar large European cities. | By scanning the code or sending an SMS to a designated number, guests will be making themselves available for a track-and-trace contact, should one of them devel…
(2020-10-15). 'This war must end': Doctors express 'shock' over severity of war wounds in Nagorno-Karabakh in interviews with RT. rt.com Medics from as far away as France who travelled to help as fighting between Armenians and Azerbaijanis erupted in Nagorno-Karabakh, have told RT they weren't fully prepared for the atrocities and called for the fighting to stop. | Intense clashes between ethnic Armenian and Azeri forces over Nagorno-Karabakh have been raging since late September. The mainly Armenian-populated region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, declared independence from Baku in 1991 and has since been backed by Armenia, which has stopped short of officially recognizing it. Azeri authorities consider Nagorno-Kara…
(2020-10-15). France stays firm on access to UK fisheries while Germany & Italy hold out for fair Brexit deal as Johnson's deadline arrives. rt.com 
With Boris Johnson's October 15 deadline now upon us, European leaders have shown no signs of backing down on their demands, as heads of state met in Brussels for an EU summit and more post-Brexit trade discussions. | On arriving in Brussels on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wanted a fair deal with London, but that it should reflect the demands of all parties. "We want a deal, but obviously not at any price. It has to be a fair agreement that serves the interests of both sides. This is worth every effort," she noted. | Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte echoed the words of his German cou…
(2020-10-15). Scientists in Crimea present potential Covid-19 vaccine inhaled through the nose, hoping to offer alternative to injected formulas. rt.com 
Virologists from Russia's Crimean Federal University claim to have developed an alternative Covid-19 vaccine, using DNA, which can be inhaled through the nose. They are now want to launch trials, if they can secure funding. | Vladimir Oberemok, the head of the university's DNA drugs lab, explained to Moscow news agency Interfax that the vaccine consists of a single fragment of genetic code, which carries an activator of immunity to Covid-19, as well as a small portion of the virus' genome. When inside the patient, the vaccine is identified by the human body, and it begins to produce antibodies. | The vaccine h…
(2020-10-15). Three stranded Beluga whales saved in remote Russian Far East after dramatic solo rescue operation by hero local inspector. rt.com 
An inspector from Russia's Emergencies Ministry has been hailed as a hero, after he saved a family of three Beluga whales — two adults and a young calf — left stranded on a Far Eastern beach on Thursday when the tide went out.
(2020-10-15). EU Commission chief von der Leyen leaves Brussels summit for 2nd Covid quarantine in a month. rt.com 
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, left the EU summit in Brussels suddenly on Thursday, after it transpired a member of her office had tested positive for the virus. | The Commission chief left the summit less than an hour after it began, saying she was going into quarantine, in line with coronavirus health rules. | "I have just been informed that a member of my front office has tested positive to Covid-19 this morning. I, myself, have tested negative," she tweeted. "However, as a precaution, I am immediately leaving the European Council to go into self-isolation." | This is the se…