(2020-11-09). Headlines for November 9, 2020. democracynow.org Joe Biden Elected 46th U.S. President as Pennsylvania Count Seals Victory, Kamala Harris Becomes First Woman, African American, Asian American Vice President, Trump Pursues Baseless Lawsuits as GOP Splits on Their Response to Election, Senate Control Hangs on Georgia Runoffs, Most World Leaders Congratulate Biden and Harris; Brazil, Russia, Mexico and China Hold Off, Biden Unveils Coronavirus Task Force as U.S. Cases Hit 10 Million, with Over 237,000 Recorded Deaths, WH Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and at Least 5 Others Test Positive for COVID-19, ACLU Files Suit over Gov't Handling of Pandemic in Immigrant Jails…
(2020-11-09). Fur Trades and Pandemics: Coronavirus and Denmark's Great Mink Massacre. counterpunch.org "The worst case scenario is a new pandemic, starting all over again out of Denmark," came the words of a grave Kà•re Mà∏lbak, director of the Danish health authorities, the State Serum Institute. According to the Institute, COVID-19 infections were registered on 216 mink farms on November 6. Not only had such infections been registered;
(2020-11-09). In Blow to Online Privacy EU Seizes on Vienna Attack to Enact Long-Desired Ban on Encryption. thealtworld.com If the EU is successful, users will no longer enjoy protection from the prying eyes of government and criminals on popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. | MPN— The European Union is rushing through new legislation to get rid of end to end digital encryption. This would mean the end of privacy for users of popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. | opean Council
(2020-11-09). Own Nothing and Be Happy: Being Human in 2030. dissidentvoice.org 
The World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting at the end of January in Davos, Switzerland, brings together international business and political leaders, economists and other high-profile individuals to discuss global issues. Driven by the vision of its influential CEO Klaus Schwab, the WEF is the main driving force for the dystopian 'great reset', a tectonic …
(2020-11-09). UAE-Italy foreign ministers confer on Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 09 (MNA) — Italy's foreign minister visited the UAE on Monday for high-level bilateral talks on regional developments, including Iran, Libya, and the eastern Mediterranean.
(2020-11-09). Occupation, separatism, 'red line for Iran': Envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan said that occupation and separatism are red line for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2020-11-09). New corona measures. We need "Sweden light," instead of "lockdown light" indybay.org COVID-19 is currently responsible for 1,2% of deaths in Sweden, but probably gets 99% of the attention. We need to maintain some perspective. Sebastian Rushworth, MD…
(2020-11-09). Romanian Filmfest to host Iranian animation "Crab" en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 09 (MNA) — Iranian animation 'Crab' directed by Shiva Sadegh Amini, will be screened at the 15th International Animated Film Festival in Romania.
(2020-11-09). Big Pharma profits at any price. indybay.org There is no shortage of money: the EU is at the same time providing immense sums of money to prevent further people fleeing from the theaters of war, including European states, from entering the country. The budget for the refugee defense agency Frontex alone has more than tripled between 2015 and 2020 – from 140 million to 460 million euros. Wars since 2001 have produced 37 mill refugees…
(2020-11-09). As COVID-19 surges around the world, governments put profits ahead of lives. wsws.org This weekend, the world hit 50 million reported cases of COVID-19, and deaths surpassed 1.25 million, as the Americas and Europe faced the worst stage of the pandemic to date.
(2020-11-09). Dystopian "Great Reset": "Own Nothing and Be Happy", Being Human in 2030. globalresearch.ca The World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting at the end of January in Davos, Switzerland, brings together international business and political leaders, economists and other high-profile individuals to discuss global issues. Driven by the vision of its influential CEO Klaus …
(2020-11-09). As COVID-19 surges around the world, governments put profits ahead of lives. wsws.org This weekend, the world hit 50 million reported cases of COVID-19 and deaths surpassed 1.25 million, as the Americas and Europe faced the worst stage of the pandemic to date.
(2020-11-09). Irish teachers vote to strike as infection rates spiral. wsws.org Schools in the Republic of Ireland reopened last week after a two-week break, despite secondary teachers voting for strike action against dangerous working conditions if COVID-19 related safety measures were not put in place by October 30.
(2020-11-08). Video: Fate of Armenian-Azerbaijani War Is Being Decided in Battle of Shusha. globalresearch.ca Azerbaijani troops and Turkish-backed Syrian militants continue storming the town of Shusha, located just south of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic capital, Stepanakert. During the past 24 hours, infantry of the Turkish-Azerbaijani bloc under cover of intense artillery and drone strikes captured …
(2020-11-08). Will the Turkish Economy Kill Erdogan's New Ottoman Empire? globalresearch.ca Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey in the past two years has engaged in a remarkable series of active geopolitical foreign interventions from Syria to Libya to Cyprus and most recently on the side of Azerbaijan in the territory conflict with …
(2020-11-08). EXCLUSIVE: Azerbaijan, Armenia 'near ceasefire deal' on Nagorno-Karabakh. middleeasteye.net 
EXCLUSIVE: Azerbaijan, Armenia 'near ceasefire deal' on Nagorno-Karabakh | Draft deal forces Armenia to withdraw from some areas amid the deployment of a Turkish and Russian peacekeeping force, Turkish sources tell MEE | Sun, 11/08/2020 – 10: 12 | An Armenian soldier fires artillery during the ongoing fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces (AFP) | Azerbaijan and Armenia are close to striking a…
(2020-11-08). Liberal Capitalism is Dead. counterpunch.org 
From its beginnings out of the European Enlightenment, liberal capitalism was based on a promise of progress through justice predicated on equality before the law. In light of the fact that the Enlightenment ran alongside the European Witch Hunts, the ideological foundations of liberal capitalism have always been something of a thought experiment, since the
(2020-11-08). Turkey's finance minister resigns after Erdogan replaces central bank governor. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey's finance minister resigns after Erdogan replaces central bank governor | President Erdogan's decision to replace the central bank governor without Berat Albayrak's knowledge 'triggered' his resignation, sources told MEE | Sun, 11/08/2020 – 16: 35 | Albayrak's resignation comes a day after president Erdogan fired Turkey's central bank governor (AFP) | Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has re…
(2020-11-08). UK bans Danish ships, planes & trucks from entry, tightening restrictions over mutated mink coronavirus. rt.com 
The UK, which earlier banned all visitors from Denmark, has now restricted access to planes, ships, and trucks coming from the country, where a new mutated strain of the coronavirus has been discovered. | From Sunday, all planes and ships coming from Denmark are forbidden from landing and docking in the UK. The same goes for trucks whose drivers have visited the Scandinavian country in the past two weeks. British lorry drivers are required to quarantine for 14 days if their route recently passed through Denmark. | "Given the significant unknowns regarding the new mutation of Covid-19 originating in Denmark, we…
(2020-11-08). Berat Albayrak resigns as Turkey's finance minister after central bank appointment. middleeasteye.net Berat Albayrak resigns as Turkey's finance minister after central bank appointment | President Erdogan's decision to replace the central bank governor without his knowledge 'triggered' his resignation, sources told MEE | Sun, 11/08/2020 – 16: 35 | Albayrak's resignation comes a day after president Erdogan fired Turkey's central bank governor (AFP) | Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has resigned fr…
(2020-11-08). UK bans Danish ships, planes & trucks from entry, tightening restrictions over mutated mink coronavirus. rt.com The UK, which earlier banned all visitors from Demark, has now restricted access to planes, ships, and trucks coming from the country, where a new mutated strain of the coronavirus has been discovered. | From Sunday, all planes and ships coming from Denmark are forbidden from landing and docking in the UK. The same goes for trucks whose drivers have visited the Scandinavian country in the past two weeks. British lorry drivers are required to quarantine for 14 days if their route recently passed through Denmark. | "Given the significant unknowns regarding the new mutation of Covid-19 originating in Denmark, we…
(2020-11-08). Georgian Police Use Water Cannon to Disperse Protesters Who Refuse to Leave Tbilisi. sputniknews.com TBILISI (Sputnik) – Georgian police are dispersing an opposition protest in front of the Central Election Commission (CEC) building in the capital city of Tbilisi, but protesters are not planning to leave.
(2020-11-08). German Doctors Letter to Chancellor Merkel, Put an End to the Covid "Fear Machine" globalresearch.ca Dear Chancellor Dr. Merkel, | We, the signatories, are doctors from all areas of healthcare, who have been serving people in practices and clinics for decades. During this time, we have witnessed more than one seasonal infection in Germany, most of …
(2020-11-08). Iranian cartoonist wins award at Red Bull Media House. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 08 (MNA) — Iranian cartoonist Rasoul Hajizadeh has won the special award at the Red Bull Media House in Austria.
(2020-11-08). U.S. Foreign Policy Is a Failure, Whoever's President. strategic-culture.org Eve OTTENBERG | The world recognizes what U.S. elites don't: the utter, total American failure to contain Covid-19 has damaged U.S. standing and will do so until the virus is controlled. Meanwhile, regional powers, China and Russia, cooperate and share resources, particularly vaccines. Cuba provides treatments, but the U.S. turns up its nose at Cuban medicine, even if it means more American covid patients die — this, though Cuba's pharmacopeia for this plague appears superior. China sends doctors and medicines across the globe. Russia opts for sane herd immunity — through vaccination. These countries…
(2020-11-07). Kosovo's President Thaàßi charged with war crimes. wsws.org Thaàßi and other KLA leaders face prosecution on hundreds of counts of murder, as well as persecution and torture carried out during the war with Serbia between 1998 and 1999.
(2020-11-07). Kiev calls for new sanctions against Russia as Kremlin recognizes passports of residents of breakaway East Ukrainian republics. rt.com 
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has lodged a diplomatic complaint with Moscow over President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the documents of residents if the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. | In a statement on Friday, Kiev's top diplomats called on its Western supporters to "condemn the actions of the Russian Federation and take the necessary measures to apply pressure, including sanctions." | The new rule change means that residents of the two de facto autonomous regions, which Ukraine claims as part of its own territory, will have documents, such as passports and vehicle registrations, a…
(2020-11-07). France 'fighting relentlessly' against radical Islam 'enemy', says PM Castex. rt.com 
France sees radical Islam as its "enemy" and will fight "relentlessly" against it, Prime Minister Jean Castex said as he paid tribute to the victims of the Nice church attack — the latest in a series of gruesome incidents. | Castex presided over the ceremony commemorating the victims of the Nice attack on Saturday. | We know the enemy. Not only has it been identified, but it has a name, it is radical Islam, a political ideology that disfigures the Muslim religion. | "[It is] an enemy that the government is fighting relentlessly by providing the necessary resources and mobilizing all of its forces every d…
(2020-11-07). Portuguese Marxists view U.S. elections. workers.org 
From Jornal Mudar de Vida The following note on the jornalmudardevida.net site introduced a Portuguese translation of a WW editorial about the U.S. national election. It gives some insight into how European revolutionaries saw the U.S. election on the eve of Election Day. Translation: John Catalinotto. The upcoming elections in . . . |
(2020-11-07). Official: Biden Wins, Gone, America's most anti-gun president (good read). thealtworld.com 
How sweet the irony that Trump gets to eat the bitter fruit in that he won an upset victory by taking some of the final states with narrow margins, and then got to watch the Biden campaign inflict a win against him by clinching majorities in Georgia and Nevada. | The White House campaign strategy went full bore Covid denial. It stopped its Covid meetings. I can't remember a single announcement from the White House on what it was doing to dampen the current Covid surge. If effectively abandoned its responsibility. | Why? I was betting that there were more voters that preferred more dead and crippled Americans than…
(2020-11-07). Erdogan fires head of Turkish central bank after lira plunge. middleeasteye.net 
Erdogan fires head of Turkish central bank after lira plunge | Appointment of Naci Agbal set to fuel longstanding criticism about political interference in monetary policy | Sat, 11/07/2020 – 12: 13 | Naci Agbal will be the country's fourth central bank governor in five years (Reuters) | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday fired central bank governor Murat Uysal and replaced…
(2020-11-07). Almost half of Russians in US have experienced discrimination alongside 'unfair' portrayal of country in media — survey. rt.com 
A study of Russian-Americans has made clear the shocking extent of Russophobia in the US, today. The news comes after the Kremlin warned that attacks on the country were defining this week's American presidential election. | The report, published by the political lobby group Ru-PAC, found that more than 44 per cent of US-based Russians surveyed had faced discrimination on the basis of their nationality. | Around one in four reported having felt they had to hide their background. The way Russia is portrayed in the media appeared to be a cause of this, with almost 64 per cent of those responding saying coverage…
(2020-11-07). In face of rising coronavirus infections, teachers, students, and parents express support for European-wide school strike. wsws.org From a scientific standpoint, it has long been shown that schools and kindergartens are breeding grounds for the coronavirus.
(2020-11-07). [Correspondence] SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Spain. thelancet.com We read with great interest the Article by Marina Pollán and colleagues.1 It is remarkable that in the Spanish popu ≠la ≠tion, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence as of May, 2020, appeared to be the same in men (immunoassay positive 4 ∑6%, 95% CI 4 ∑2—5 ∑0) and women (4 ∑6%, 4 ∑2—5 ∑0). Of note, neither Pollán and colleagues nor Eckerle and Meyer's linked Comment2 mention the sex distri ≠bution throughout different age strata. This is a missed opportunity because Spain, among other countries, showed marked age-specific sex di…
(2020-11-07). [Correspondence] SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Spain — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Christian Hoffmann and Eva Wolf for pointing out the contradiction of similar severe acute respiratory syndrome corona ≠virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence figures between men and women in our nationwide study,1 compared with the distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the most severely affected countries. Following their suggestion, we provide seroprevalence data stratified by age and sex (appendix) to show that infection rates were similar in men and women during the first epidemic wave in Spain.
(2020-11-07). Skocic invites 23 players for Bosnia friendly. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 07 (MNA) — Team Melli head coach Dragan Skocic has invited 23 players for a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Nov. 12.
(2020-11-07). Azerbaijani MP reprimanded over anti-Iran remarks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 07 (MNA) — Azerbaijan's National Assembly has blasted remarks of MP Bahruz Maharramov about Iran, noting that the position of the MP does not reflect that of the parliament.
(2020-11-07). [World Report] Turkish Medical Association clashes with politicians. thelancet.com Political leaders in Turkey have clashed with the biggest professional body for doctors in the country. Kaya Genàß reports from Istanbul.
(2020-11-07). "Angels Do Not Die" wins at Bulgarian Film Festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 07 (MNA) — The short film "Angels Do Not Die" directed by Alireza Biglari won the Best Short Film Award at the Bulgarian Film Festival.
(2020-11-07). Iran, Germany concern about growing insecurity in Afghanistan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 07 (MNA) — Islamic Republic of Iran and Germany expressed their deep concern about the growth of insecurities in Afghanistan.
(2020-11-06). How the Republicans are stealing Georgia. zcomm.org Hundreds of thousands of people of color have had their names erased from the voter list in this vital state…
(2020-11-06). Trump's Bid to Stop the Count Risks Turning America Into an 'Illiberal Democracy' like Turkey. strategic-culture.org Patrick COCKBURN | By claiming victory in the presidential election while it is still in the balance, President This approach is a rerun of the strategy employed by several populist national leaders across the world in recent years to stay in power by prematurely claiming a win at the polls, and then manipulating the final result in their favour through their control of state institutions, such as election supervisory boards and th…
(2020-11-06). Did Media Spiking the Ukraine-Burisma Story Win Joe Biden the Election? mintpressnews.com 
Whatever one thinks about Biden or Trump, or the veracity of the Burisma story, the way in which corporate media and social media giants unilaterally decided that Americans would not be able to decide for themselves raises profound questions about the nature of power and freedom of speech in society.
(2020-11-06). Macron's Incitement: 'Crisis in Islam' or French Politics? counterpunch.org 
There is no moral or ethical justification for the killing of innocent people, anywhere. Therefore, the murder of three people in the French city of Nice on October 29 must be wholly and unconditionally rejected as a hate crime, especially as it was carried out in a holy place, the Notre Dame Basilica. However, we
(2020-11-06). Putting the Pieces Together, an Intel Drop. thealtworld.com 
I began today setting up my JBL Boombox (Amazon/refurb) playing my running playlist. Normally, I would be roadtripping, visiting friends in the UK or family in Germany, family I miss. | The music is all I have that ties me to myself, Nina, Django, Ella and Vietnam era stuff. So many of us remain in Vietnam. I close my eyes and I am there, beautiful days looking across rice paddies, on landing ships, or sitting up on watch during ambushes. | It is frightening to think a year or so of one's life is defining. I found myself tested there in every way, loyalty to friends, compassion and conquering fear, 'the mind kill…
(2020-11-06). Facebook's Censorship Spree Is VK's Time To Finally Shine As A Free Speech Alternative. thealtworld.com 
The censorship spree that Facebook's been on since the US' contentious elections is the golden opportunity that its Russian competitor VK has been waiting for in order to finally present itself as a credible and easy-to-use free speech alternative, but it can only do so if the awareness and will exist at its leadership level to seize the moment through a clever marketing strategy aimed at Facebook's politically minded audience. | Facebook isn't even hiding the fact that it's censoring its users in the aftermath of the US' contentious elections. It used to just shadow block them, but now it adds a so-called "fact-…
(2020-11-06). Prison, the Plague, Writing and Exile: an Interview With Aslı Erdogan. counterpunch.org 
This interview with the Turkish author Aslı Erdogan was conducted by mail in recent weeks. She is a renowned author in Turkey, and well known in Europe where works have been translated into English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and possibly some other languages. Her works have won numerous international literary prizes. She is also
(2020-11-06). A Troubling Discovery in the Arctic. counterpunch.org 
A notable satellite-telephonic call to colleagues in late October from Swedish scientist àñrjan Gustafsson of Stockholm University briefly described a haunting discovery. On board the research ship R/V Akademik Keldysh, a 6,240-ton Russian scientific research vessel equipped with 17 on-board laboratories and a library, far off the coast of Russia, Dr. Gustafsson reported: "This East
(2020-11-06). Budapest & Brussels on potential collision course as Hungary says it will import Russian Covid-19 vaccine despite EU objections. rt.com 
Hungary announced it will purchase Russia's Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine for research and licensing purposes, in a move that risks creating tensions with EU authorities who insist only formulas made in the bloc should be used. | Foreign Minister Peter Sijarto said on Thursday that Budapest will place an order for the vaccine. "Russia will start supplying small batches in December to complete clinical trials and research here," he told journalists. | Russia became the first country in the world to approve a jab for Covid-19 in September. It drew criticism from some international commentators for the speed of t…
(2020-11-06). Vienna's anti-terrorism chief suspended after deadly attack in Austrian capital. rt.com 
The head of the agency in charge of anti-terrorism operations in Vienna has been suspended pending an investigation into a deadly Islamist attack which took place in Austria's capital earlier this week. | "The head of the regional Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Anti-Terrorism (BVT) asked me to suspend his functions because he doesn't want to stand in the way of an orderly inquiry," Gerhard Puerstl, the head of the city's police, said during a press conference on Friday. | On Monday, a 20-year-old man, who had previously served time in prison for trying to join Islamic State (IS, formerly ISI…