Daily Archives: October 25, 2020

2020-10-25: News Headlines

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-10-25). Nothing Will Fundamentally Change: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com A propaganda machine that can make people worry about foreign governments while their own government is destroying lives in their own country and all over the world is a propaganda machine that can make people believe anything. | ~ | Americans are hurt by their own government infinitely more than they are hurt by Russia, China and Iran. People around the world are hurt by the US government far more than Americans are hurt by their own government. Stop worrying about foreigners, America. It serves only the powerful. | ~ | Joe Biden: Nothing will fundamentally change. | Liberals: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION…

_____ (2020-10-25). Blaming Moscow for Hunter Biden's Laptop Is Russiagate Disinformation. strategic-culture.org Aaron MATÉ | Former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders, and media outlets dismissing the Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation" are spreading more Russiagate disinformation, ex-CIA officer Ray McGovern says. | Media outlets are amplifying the claims of former intelligence officials, including John Brennan and James Clapper, as well as of top Democrats, including Joe Biden and Adam Schiff, that the Hunter Biden laptop revelations are "Russian disinformation." | They have done so even though no one from the Biden camp has disputed the authenticity of a single leaked email or document, or denied that…

MEE and agencies (2020-10-25). Turkey extends seismic survey work in disputed Eastern Mediterranean waters. middleeasteye.net Turkey extends seismic survey work in disputed Eastern Mediterranean waters | Greece condemns move as 'illegal,' says Turkey stoking regional tensions by behaving like 'a pariah' | Sun, 10/25/2020 – 14: 17 | Turkish survey ship the Oruc Reis. Turkey and Greece are locked in a dispute over conflicting claims to hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean (Reuters) | Turkey announced…

Peter Koenig (2020-10-25). "Democracy" vs. COVID: A No-Go. The Great Reset is the Antidote of Democracy. globalresearch.ca On 21 October 2020, the German Press Agency (dpa) reports that Germany pledges NATO soldiers for possible Covid-19 operations: | "German soldiers could be sent on crisis missions to other NATO and partner countries during the second wave of the Corona …

South Front (2020-10-25). Video: Azerbaijani Forces Rush to Capture Lachin Corridor from Retreating Armenians. globalresearch.ca The Armenian defense in the southern part of the Nagorno-Karabakh region seems to be collapsing as the advancing Azerbaijani forces are about to reach the strategic Lachin corridor. | On October 23, Azerbaijani troops were filmed near the village of Muradxanlƒ±, …

yenisafak (2020-10-25). 'Regional consensus can drive peace in Afghanistan'. yenisafak.com Consensus among regional countries can drive peace in Afghanistan with people of the war-torn country in the driver's seat, speakers said at an international virtual conference said."The Afghan peace process seems long, [and] complex with the bumpy road," said Oguzhan Ertugrul, Turkey's ambassador in Kabul, at the conference hosted by Ankara-based Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) on Friday.In February, the US reached a deal with Taliban to end the war. The US promised to withdraw all troops within 14 months if the Taliban uphold the deal. The deal followed the intra-Afghan dialogue in…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-10-25). Venezuelan Hard Right Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez Flees to Spain. venezuelanalysis.com Lopez had been in the Spanish Ambassador's residence after escaping house arrest.

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2020-10-25). Russia and United States Get Closer on Signing Nuclear Agreement. globalresearch.ca Russia and the United States, after several months of moving forth and back with negotiations, have finally moved closer to agree on extending the controversial nuclear treaty for one year. The one-year short-term agreement was on the initiative, or better …

William Davis (2020-10-25). Freedom of Choice: the European Court of Justice Wants to Keep Cash. globalresearch.ca Whether it be because the EU is staying true to its pledge to protect the freedom and well-being of its citizens, or because it wishes to increase its relevance and importance in the mind of Europeans, the matter is of …

_____ (2020-10-25). Macron's Gamble Will Backfire as Brexit Will Make Both Him and France Big Losers of a No-Deal With Brussels. strategic-culture.org He couldn't save Lebanon, despite all the rhetoric. Libya too was a disaster, as was his more recent battle with the firebrand Turkish president over a row in the Eastern Med about energy exploration. And now, France's cursed President, Emmanuel Macron, is going to lead his nation in a campaign which will take him and the entire French economy over the abyss on Brexit. | Remarkably, as the EU stands and watches, Macron, a man tortured and cursed by defeat wherever he goes around the world, is about to throw the lever on the French economy as he prepares to go into battle against Boris Johnson over UK's rights to…

The Canary (2020-10-25). Over 2,000 paediatricians write to Boris Johnson asking he extend free school meals for the holidays. thecanary.co More than 2,000 paediatricians have signed a letter urging Boris Johnson to extend free school meals to vulnerable children during the holidays. | The open letter from the RCPCH members says: Childhood hunger is an issue that should transcend politics. | Few would disagree that one of our most basic human responsibilities is to ensure children have enough to eat. | It adds: We call on the UK Government to match the pledges of the Welsh and Scottish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive, to continue to provide children from low-income backgrounds with free meals over the coming weeks and to then extend this…

The Canary (2020-10-25). Pressure mounts on government to sack NHS Test and Trace chief. thecanary.co The government is resisting pressure to sack the head of NHS Test and Trace. It comes amid deepening concern from ministers and MPs that the system is failing to stem the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). | "Untenable": | Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis insisted that baroness Dido Harding was doing "a very good job". This is after one Conservative MP called for her to be replaced by a senior military commander. | However, Labour warned that Harding's position was "untenable", after it emerged that ministers were considering cutting the time people have to self-isolate if they've been in contact w…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Tens of people detained, tear gas deployed at protest in west Belarus. yenisafak.com Tens of people were detained by police in the town of Lida in western Belarus on Sunday during a protest, Russia's RIA news agency cited the regional branch of the Belarus interior ministry as saying.Police fired tear gas at protesters, RIA said.Protesters have been gathering ahead of the expiry at midnight on Sunday of an ultimatum for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to resign, the latest in 11 weeks of demonstrations following a disputed election result.

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Spain's government to decree COVID-19 state of emergency, tighten controls. yenisafak.com Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will announce a new state of emergency on Sunday in an effort to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus, local media reported.The state of emergency will give regions, which decide on their own health matters, the backing to impose stricter measures, including curfews.

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Italy PM says new measures should curb COVID rise in coming weeks. yenisafak.com Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said tighter restrictions announced on Sunday, including early closing for restaurants and bars, should allow the rapidly rising curve of the coronavirus epidemic to be brought under control in the coming weeks."We think that we will suffer a bit this month but by gritting our teeth a bit with these restrictions, we'll be able to breathe again in December," he told a news conference, adding that the government aimed to protect both public health and the economy.Sectors hit by the measures would be helped out by support measures being worked out by the government, he said.

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Coronavirus cases in the Netherlands hit new record, up by more than 10,000. yenisafak.com The number of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands jumped by more than 10,000 in 24 hours, hitting a new record, data released by the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) on Sunday showed.The RIVM reported 10,203 confirmed cases of COVID-19.The Dutch government imposed partial lockdown measures to contain the spread of the virus on Oct. 14, including the closure of all bars and restaurants in the country.

WSWS (2020-10-24). Spain's "left populist" Podemos separates migrant children from their parents. wsws.org A dozen children in the Canary Islands had been separated from their mothers or relatives for months, while DNA testing was carried out to verify they were related.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-24). Hopes rise of extension of New START arms control treaty as Russia offers to freeze arsenal. mronline.org Russia on Tuesday offered to freeze its current arsenal, and proposed an extension of the treaty by one year. The treaty signed in 2010 capped the number of nuclear warheads by the two countries and its deployment.

MEE and agencies (2020-10-24). France recalls ambassador from Turkey after Erdogan jibe at Macron. middleeasteye.net France recalls ambassador from Turkey after Erdogan jibe at Macron | Turkey's leader said French president 'needs mental treatment' after comments on Islam | Sat, 10/24/2020 – 21: 24 | The two Nato allies find themselves at loggerheads over a range of issues, including Syria and Libya (AFP)
| France on Saturday said it was recalling its ambassador to Turkey for consultations after comm…

RT (2020-10-24). Erdogan says Macron needs 'mental health treatment' and doesn't understand freedom of religion. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of "mistreating" millions of Muslims after officials announced a crackdown on radical mosques and Islamic extremism across France. | "What is Macron's problem with Islam and Muslims? He needs mental health treatment," Erdogan said at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party on Saturday, Turkish media reported. | What else can be said to a head of state that does not understand the freedom of belief and treats the millions of members of a religious minority in his country this way? First of all, he needs menta…

RT (2020-10-24). Major fire breaks out in France's Le Havre port, smoke visible kilometres away (VIDEOS). rt.com A huge blaze has erupted in an abandoned building in France's northern port city of Le Havre, triggering the evacuation of nearby houses. Footage from the scene shows a large column of fire and thick clouds of smoke in the air.

RT (2020-10-24). 'Cold as ice': Birthday boy Alexander Volkov celebrates in style with second-round finish of Walt Harris at UFC 254. rt.com Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov celebrated his 32nd birthday in style with a TKO finish of Walt Harris on the main card of UFC 254 on "Fight Island." | Volkov's last fight, a loss against Curtis Blaydes back in June, was a frustrating one for the Moscow native as he spent much of the contest fighting off takedown attempts from the American wrestler. | Saturday's comeback fight against Harris saw Volkov in far more familiar territory as he dominated every aspect of the striking en route to a win which once again places his name among the heavyweight division's list of contenders. | Also on rt.com | |

RT (2020-10-24). Vostochny spaceport scandals continue: CEO of company operating new Far Eastern Russian cosmodrome arrested on corruption charges. rt.com A high-ranking official at the helm of the new state-of-the-art Vostochny spaceport, in Russia's Far East, has been arrested on charges of fraud in a high-profile scandal. The scheme reportedly cost the state over $6.5 million. | Roman Bobkov, the head of the state entity operating the cosmodrome, has been placed in pre-trial detention for two months by a local

RT (2020-10-24). 'Many are inappropriate': UFC starlet Liana Jojua says she receives CRAZY messages from fans as she prepares for battle at UFC 254. rt.com When Liana Jojua steps into the octagon on UFC Fight Island, she'll have an army of fans cheering her on, but the Georgian starlet admits that some of her supporters take things a little too far on social media. | The 25-year-old flyweight will take on newcomer Miranda Maverick in the second fight of the event at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi, and she is hopeful of claiming her second victory in the UFC. | Jojua lost her octagon debut to Sarah Moras at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi last year, but bounced back in her most recent fight in the UFC, defeating Diana Belbita via first-round armbar on Fight Island in July. | Now the f…

RT (2020-10-24). CEO of new Russian cosmodrome's operator arrested on charges of abuse of office & forgery. rt.com A high-ranking official at the helm of the new state-of-the-art Vostochny spaceport has been arrested on charges of fraud in a high-profile scandal. The scheme reportedly cost the state over $6.5 million. | Roman Bobkov, the head of the space center, a state entity operating the cosmodrome, has been placed in pre-trial detention for two months by a local

RT (2020-10-24). 'I beat a Brazilian cowboy, maybe an American cowboy is next': Shavkat Rakhmonov hints at Donald Cerrone fight after UFC 254 win. rt.com Kazakhstan's undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov claimed a notable scalp at UFC 254 as he defeated Alex "Cowboy" Oliveira, then set his sights on another fighter with that famous nickname, Donald Cerrone. | Rakhmonov finished Oliveira in the first round via guillotine choke submission to pick up a notable win on his UFC debut, then told reporters, including RT Sport, that he would be interested in facing Cerrone next. | Just like I said before the fight, if he's going to make a mistake, I'm going to capitalize on it," he said after his win. | "I felt the move was there, I didn't think much, I just went for it and got…

RT (2020-10-24). 'NO, NO, NO!' Liana Jojua DISTRAUGHT after HUGE cut on her nose causes TKO defeat at UFC 254 (VIDEO). rt.com Georgian flyweight Liana Jojua's hopes of picking up her second UFC win on "Fight Island" at UFC 254 were left in blood and tears after she was stopped at the end of the first round due to a nasty cut on her nose.

WSWS (2020-10-24). Catastrophic increase of coronavirus infections in Germany. wsws.org Since January, over 380,000 people in Germany have been infected with COVID-19, more than one in ten within the last seven days.

WSWS (2020-10-24). As US election approaches, New York Times intensifies its anti-Russia disinformation campaign. wsws.org The propaganda campaign by the Times and US intelligence agencies is aimed at fighting out conflicts within the ruling class over foreign policy while distracting attention from Trump's ongoing conspiracies.

WSWS (2020-10-24). Russian court extends prison sentence for historian of Stalinist terror to 13 years. wsws.org The brutal vendetta against Dmitriev speaks to the enormous fear of the Russian oligarchy about the growing interest in the historical truth about the October revolution and the Stalinist terror in broad sections of the population.

_____ (2020-10-24). COVID-19: The World Is At A Critical Juncture. popularresistance.org The fall and winter surge of COVID-19 cases, as predicted, has begun. The number of cases across North America and Europe is rising exponentially in some regions. | There have been more than 42.4 million cases of COVID-19 globally, with 1.14 million deaths thus far. On Friday, the number of daily new cases reached an unprecedented 500,000-plus new infections. Global deaths have consistently tracked above 6,000 four days running. | At the World Health Organization Friday press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus ominously warned…

_____ (2020-10-24). Biden And Liberal Censorship. popularresistance.org We can thank liberals for turning social media platforms into the biggest champions of censorship in the country. Frustrated in the wake of the 2016 election debacle, they rushed to cover up for their own failures and used Russia as their scapegoat. Russiagate began even while the campaign was still in progress, as Hillary Clinton tried unsuccessfully to label Donald Trump a "Putin puppet" and worked with surveillance state insiders to make their tall tale appear real. | The country has never recovered from this scheme. The Democrats repeated incessantly that foreign interference lost them the election.

_____ (2020-10-24). The More the EU Tightens Its Grip, the More Countries Slip Through Its Fingers. strategic-culture.org It finally looks like the four-and-a-half-year saga of Brexit is coming to an ignominious end. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the final bluff of the incompetent bureaucrats in Brussels, walking away from trade talks while leaving the door open. | But that door is only open if the EU is willing to crawl in on its knees and give the UK what it wants, a minimal free trade deal, Canada-style, which was offered by then President of the European Council Donald Tusk. | The EU played hardball giving zero ground for four years while undermining the UK from within its own political and bureaucratic structures.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-24). Any change in border geopolitics, 'Iran's red line': Cmdr. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 24 (MNA) — The commander of IRGC Ground Force said that any change in border geopolitics of the country is Iran's red line, referring to the recent dispute erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

sputniknews (2020-10-24). Two Blasts Occur on Russian Tanker in Azov Sea As Vessel Catches Fire – Emergency Services. sputniknews.com According to the emergency services' updated statement, ten crew members have been rescued after their vessel caught fire in the Sea of Azov.

sputniknews (2020-10-24). France Recalls Its Ambassador to Turkey as Erdogan Claims Macron Needs 'Mental Checks'. sputniknews.com The development follows Turkish President Erdogan's harsh reaction towards new measures that his French counterpart announced in response to the beheading of a school teacher by a Muslim refugee for showing Prophet Muhammad cartoons to pupils in a Paris suburb.

sputniknews (2020-10-24). New Book Tells Story of Berlin Brothel Madam Who Let Nazis Spy on Guests. sputniknews.com Katharina Zammit, better known Kitty Schmidt, ran the famous Salon Kitty brothel in Berlin during the Nazi era. Senior officers in Hitler's counter-intelligence service blackmailed her into letting them spy on clients by using hidden microphones placed in the bedrooms.

sputniknews (2020-10-24). 'A King, Now and Always': Khabib Nurmagomedov Says It Was His Last Fight After Winning Over Gaethje. sputniknews.com On Saturday, Russian Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Khabib 'The Eagle' Nurmagomedov defeated his American opponent, Justin Gaethje, with a triangle choke submission technique in the 2nd round, scoring his 29th win.

yenisafak (2020-10-24). Arab trade groups boycott French products over insults. yenisafak.com Several Arab trade groups have announced their boycott of French products in response to incitements against the Islamic religion and insulting statements against Prophet Muhammad.Arab activists also launched several social media campaigns for the boycott of all French products, using several hashtags as (#boycottfrance #boycott_French_products #ProphetMuhammad).In Kuwait, the Alnaeem Cooperative Society, a large series of supermarkets in the Gulf state, said it will remove all French products from the shelves in protest of the French insulting statements against Islam and the prophet.A similar move was taken by…

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-10-23). No Matter Who Wins, The War Machine Wins. thealtworld.com The US government is pushing This is exhausting. Do I really need to type this bullshit out? | Fine. Okay. Here we go again: | At a press conference with Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray it was announced that Iran and Russia have separately obtained some voter registration information, and that Iran has been using its information to send bizarr…

teleSUR (2020-10-23). Maduro Asks National Assembly to Consider Same-Sex Marriage. telesurenglish.net Regarding the support given by Pope Francis to civil unions between same-sex couples in the documentary "Francesco," released this Wednesday at the Rome Film Festival, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, entrusted the next National Assembly (NA), which will be elected on December 6, with the discussion of the issue of equal marriage. | RELATED: | The Head of State said during a meeting…

Staff (2020-10-23). Headlines for October 23, 2020. democracynow.org Donald Trump and Joe Biden Meet for Final Debate of 2020 Campaign, U.S. Confirms Over 71,000 Daily Coronavirus Cases as Some Hospitals Near Capacity, FDA Approves Remdesivir for COVID-19 Despite WHO Study Showing No Benefit, France Extends Curfew and Czech Republic Locks Down as COVID-19 Surges Across Europe, India's BJP Party Promises Free COVID-19 Vaccines But Only If It Wins Regional Election, Senate Democrats Boycott as Judiciary Committee Advances Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation, Rocky Mountain National Park Closes as Colorado Experiences Two Largest Wildfires on Record, Asylum Seekers Say ICE Agents Tortur…

Adam Khalil (2020-10-23). Egypt vents anger as Turkey takes centre stage in reconciliation of Palestinian factions. middleeasteye.net Egypt vents anger as Turkey takes centre stage in reconciliation of Palestinian factions | Cairo considers the success of talks held in Istanbul as a violation of its historical role in the Palestinian cause | Fri, 10/23/2020 – 12: 10 | Following the talks in Istanbul, Fatah and Hamas agreed to present a joint vision on legislative and presidential elections to be held in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusale…

teleSUR (2020-10-23). Sea-Watch Takes Action Against Blockade of Its Rescue Ship. telesurenglish.net The German NGO Sea-Watch on Friday filed an appeal at the Palermo Administrative Court against the blockade of the Sea-Watch 4, a humanitarian vessel which has been detained in port since September. | On August 15, this humanitarian rescue ship, which is owned by Sea-Watch and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), set sail from Spain to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean. | Eleven days after carrying out its f…

Eds. (2020-10-23). Karl Marx's debt to people of African descent. mronline.org You do not need to be a Marxist to agree that the methodology of historical materialism is relevant to struggles on the ground in Africa and globally, not only to the European working-class.

Judy Greenspan (2020-10-23). Film review — "Belly of the Beast": Sterilizations inside the world's largest women's prison. workers.org With the world spotlight currently on the forced sterilizations of migrant women inside the ICE detention center in Georgia, the release of the documentary "Belly of the Beast" is timely. The film, by Erica Cohn, exposes the inhumane and illegal practice of sterilizations inside the Central California Women's Facility, the . . . |

MEE and agencies (2020-10-23). Turkey and Greece agree to call off war games: Nato chief. middleeasteye.net Turkey and Greece agree to call off war games: Nato chief | Standoff over gas exploration in contested waters had seen Nato neighbours plan rival war games and ramp up rhetoric | Fri, 10/23/2020 – 22: 02 | Tensions flared in August when Ankara sent Oruc Reis research vessel into waters also claimed by Greece and Cyprus (AFP/File photo) | Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Frid…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-10-23). European Hypocrisy: Empty Words for Palestine, Deadly Weapons for Israel. counterpunch.org In theory, Europe and the United States stand on completely opposite sides when it comes to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. While the US government has fully embraced the tragic status quo created by 53 years of Israeli military occupation, the EU continues to advocate a negotiated settlement that is predicated on respect for international

Marilyn Bechtel (2020-10-23). Is U.S.-Russia New START treaty back on the negotiating table? peoplesworld.org &nbsp…

MEE and agencies (2020-10-23). US suspends embassy activity in Turkey after threat against its citizens. middleeasteye.net US suspends embassy activity in Turkey after threat against its citizens | Washington has temporarily shut down its embassy in Ankara and consulates across Turkey following threat of attack against US nationals | Fri, 10/23/2020 – 14: 55 | A general view of the US Embassy, in Ankara (AFP) | The US State Department has temporarily closed its embassy and consulates in Turkey after it receive…