(2021-10-12). Whistleblower testimony launches bipartisan campaign for Facebook censorship. wsws.org The Senate testimony by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen has intensified the bipartisan drive to clamp down on left-wing and socialist political content on social media platforms.
(2021-10-12). Haugen Isn't Really a 'Facebook Whistleblower'. counterpunch.org The enthusiasm with which much of the media and political establishment have characterised Frances Haugen as a "Facebook whistleblower" requires that we pause to consider what exactly we think the term "whistleblower" means. Haugen has brought to the surface a fuzziness in what many of us understand by the idea of whistleblowing.
(2021-10-12). Azerbaijan Induced Its Isolation When It Had Potential To Be Regional Hub. southfront.org 
Illustrative ImageIran and India opt for Armenia instead of Azerbaijan for regional connectivity project. | Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst | Azerbaijan, with the backing of Turkey and Syrian mercenaries, were the undisputed victors of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War after reclaiming most of the territory from Armenian control. It was expected that with most of Nagorno-Karabakh under Baku's control, new trade and transportation corridors would open and ensure that Azerbaijan became an indispensable connectivity hub in the Caucasus. Although there is a possibility for a trade corridor…
(2021-10-12). NATO strengthens partnership with Azerbaijan following last year's war in the Caucasus. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Azerbaijan, NATO discuss issues of partnership First Deputy Minister of Azerbaijan — Chief of General Staff of the Azerbaijani army, Lieutenant General Karim Valiyev met with Chief of the Partnerships Directorate of the NATO Allied Powers Command Operations, Rear Admiral Bulent Turan, on October 12…. Greeting the guest, Valiyev noted that after the victory of …
(2021-10-12). Two poignant quotes from Iranian press on worsening tensions with Azerbaijan. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From the Tehran Times. Key quotes in bold print. In the latest sign of misplaced overconfidence, Azerbaijani officials have launched a barrage of criticism against Iran simply because it quietly and diplomatically protested an Azerbaijani decision to tax Iranian commercial trucks passing through an Azerbaijani road curve. This overconfidence on the part of the Republic …
(2021-10-12). Russia tells Nuland of new red line. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Though the U.S. military was in Kyrgyzstan from 2001 onward, as Washington's NATO ally Germany was in Uzbekistan and France in Tajikistan. Moscow: We will not tolerate U.S. military presence in Central Asia. Poland. Estonia. Latvia. Lithuania. Finland. Sweden. Ukraine. Moldova. Bulgaria. Romania. The Czech Republic. Hungary. Albania. Serbia/Kosovo. Bosnia. Croatia. Montenegro. Macedonia. Georgia. Azerbaijan. …
(2021-10-12). NATO elects Turkish Mideast rapporteur vice head of Parliamentary Assembly committee. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Turkish MP elected vice head of NATO Parliamentary Assembly committee A Turkish lawmaker on Oct. 11 was elected the vice head of a NATO Parliamentary Assembly committee. Ahmet Berat Conkar was elected the vice chairperson of the political committee during the 67th annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal. Conkar is a …
(2021-10-12). "NATO's southern flank at risk": report says Biden backs $6 billion F-16 deal with Turkey. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Biden administration reportedly backs Turkey's $6B F-16 deal request Turkey's request for Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to upgrade its existing warplanes is valued at $6 billion (TL 54.02 billion), according to Turkish sources who spoke to two different media organizations Tuesday. Considering U.S. Congress' opposition to Ankara purchasing arms due to …
(2021-10-12). European Union: Observers Won't Interfere in Venezuelan Electoral Process (Borrell's Statements). orinocotribune.com "The European Union (EU) decided to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela in response to an invitation, and in no way does it intend to interfere in the process," a spokesperson for the institution told AFP on Monday, October 11. "Non-interference in electoral processes is the heart of our missions." | This position, added the spokesperson, is also "embodied" in the agreement signed between the EU and the Venezuelan authorities. The spokesperson made the statements on behalf of Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, who did not respond to requests by Venezuelan authorities to acco…
(2021-10-12). EU foursquare behind Ukraine on war in Donbass, "liberation" of Crimea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Borrell, Kuleba discuss deteriorating situation in eastern Ukraine "This morning in Kyiv before the EU-Ukraine Summit, Josep Borrell discussed with Dmytro Kuleba the deteriorating situation in eastern Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The European Union strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, "the statement reads. *** President of Ukraine Volodymyr …
(2021-10-12). EU's Von der Leyen blasts Russia as aggressor in Donbass, supports Ukraine on "occupied territories" antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Von der Leyen came to her current position from that of Germany's defense minister, in which post she was as fawningly subservient to the Pentagon as Monica Lewinsky was when she was shuffled off to the Defense Department in 1996. Excerpts from her Wikipedia page are at the bottom of the page. ==== Von der …
(2021-10-12). Germany: U.S. nuclear-capable bomber refueled for action in the Baltic Sea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Spangdahlem refuels BTF bombers with VIPER kit for first time Two B-1B Lancers from Dyess Air Force Base's 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, currently operating from Royal Air Force Fairford, England, conducted hot-pit refueling using the innovative Versatile Integrated Partner Equipment Refueling (VIPER) kit, at Spangdahlem AB Oct. 11. **** Spangdahlem AB employed the VIPER kit …
(2021-10-12). Who Won Germany's Election in 2021? counterpunch.org rmany's recent election had a few surprises and will lead to a new government. Overall, Germany's recent election, held on 26th September 2021 had a participation rate of 76,6% compared to 76.2% in 2017. In other words, æ of Germans voted. All in all, 25.7% voted for the center-mildly-progressive social-democratic party SPD. With that, the SPD overtook Germany's conservatives and strong-state favoring CDU — Angela Merkel's political party — sitting at 24.1%.
(2021-10-12). NATO Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russia's "occupation" of Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ==== NATO Parliamentary Assembly honors Nancy Pelosi with first-ever "Women for Peace" award ==== NATO Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russia's ongoing violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia The NATO Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russia's violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, according to a resolution drawn up by the NATO General Assembly. "We …
(2021-10-12). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: The case for continuing COVID-19 precautions. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. are reportedly dropping. While the news headlines are encouraging, the country is in its fourth surge heading into flu season and winter holidays. That is why medical experts are keeping their predictions and recommendations fluid. How the virus spreads depends on human behavior. "What happens is that people read the news and say: 'We're done. We're free. It's over,'" says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's…
(2021-10-12). Drug to calm cytokine storm: Life-saving Russian discovery could be key to stopping body's 'suicide attack' in severe Covid cases. rt.com 
A group of Russian scientists have created a drug that may potentially revolutionize the treatment of Covid-19 by defusing the most catastrophic reaction the disease causes in patients, while not destroying their immune response. | The drug, called Leitragin, was developed by the Biomedical Technology Research Center of the Russian Federal Medical and Biology Agency (FMBA), and is currently undergoing clinical trials in Russia. Although its base substance was previously known and used in ulcer treatment medicine by Soviet and Russian doctors, it was the FMBA team that discovered how to apply it for the treatme…
(2021-10-12). Another concession/capitulation: coup de maàÆtre's maàÆtresse de coup Nuland welcomed in Moscow. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ==== As Ukraine simmers, Victoria Nuland is now highest-ranking member of U.S. Foreign Service ==== Izvestia: Why Nuland was allowed to enter Russia and what to expect from talksUS Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was removed from the Russian sanctions lists because of her official post in the Biden administration, a high-ranking source told …
(2021-10-12). The Taliban has many suitors lining up to help. asiatimes.com 
The Taliban have been getting many suitors lately. They are far from the "pariah" that the Biden administration thought they were destined to be. During the past month alone, the Taliban received six suitors from the region and beyond offering courtship — the foreign minister of Qatar; the special envoys of Russia, China and Pakistan; …
(2021-10-12). Military Situation In Syria On October 12, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 11, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 13 times: 3 — in Idlib province, 2 — in Latakia province, 1 — in Hama province, 2 — in Aleppo province | On October 11, unknown aircraft reportedly attacked areas near Bukamal city | On October 11, six civilians were killed and 17 others were injured by a car bomb explosion in the city of Afrin | On October 12, a car bomb explosion was reported in t…
(2021-10-11). Indigenous Rights Lawyer Killed During March In Chile. telesurenglish.net Human rights activist Denisse Cortez was seriously injured during an Indigenous People Mapuche's march that took place in Italy Square in Santiago City on Sunday morning. | RELATED: | A few hours later, this 43-year-old woman, who was studying law and was a member of the Popular Defender's Office, died during an operation carried out at the Santiago Emergency Hospital. | The Military Police (Carabineros) say that C…
(2021-10-11). 'Battle For Your Brain' Waged By Western Militaries. popularresistance.org Western Governments In The NATO Military Alliance Are Developing Tactics Of "Cognitive Warfare," Using The Supposed Threats Of China And Russia To Justify Waging A "Battle For Your Brain" In The "Human Domain," To "Make Everyone A Weapon."
(2021-10-11). Austria Plunged Into New Political Crisis But Its Foreign Policy Unlikely To Change. southfront.org 
Illustrative ImageAs the crisis is unfolding, it is too difficult at this moment to see how Austria will emerge from this predicament. | Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst | Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz submitted his resignation after being accused of participating in a corruption scandal that threatens to bring serious political turbulence to his country. Kurz's decision to resign was made after the Austrian Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into his involvement in a corruption scandal where he allegedly spent state money for the purpose of promoting his party. | In…
(2021-10-11). Facebook 'fixing' Instagram after Haugen leak: Nudging teens away from bad content & making Section 230 conditional on censorship. rt.com 
Facing accusations of failing to protect children, Facebook wants to introduce more restrictions and coercion on the platform. It also wants reform of Section 230 so its protections apply only to well-moderated platforms. | Facebook has been subjected to an onslaught of criticism after its former employee Frances Haugen leaked internal company documents to the press, and accused the tech giant of putting profits before the wellbeing of its users. One of the specific charges was that using Facebook-owned Instagram could be harmful to some vulnerable teenagers, affecting their self-esteem or even causing suicida…
(2021-10-11). Non-Aligned Countries Call for Equity in COVID-19 Vaccination. telesurenglish.net On Monday, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) President Ilham Aliyev criticized developed countries whose nationalism prevents a more equal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the world. | RELATED: | "Vaccine disparity is very large," Azerbaijan President Aliyev said during the opening of the commemorative meeting of the 60th Anniversary of the NAM first conference in Belgrade, Serbia. | Besides asking countries to a…
(2021-10-11). Azerbaijan cut through Gordian knot of international law with war — Aliyev. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Azerbaijan, by itself, ensured implementation of UN Security Council resolutions — President Aliyev Azerbaijan, by itself, ensured the implementation of the abovementioned UN Security Council resolutions; resolved the 30-year-long conflict and restored its territorial integrity and historical justice by military-political means. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is left in the past, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan …
(2021-10-11). Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry escalates threats against Iran. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Iranian MFA continues smear campaign against Azerbaijan, says official The Iranian Foreign Ministry does not stop conducting a slanderous campaign against Azerbaijan, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Leyla Abdullayeva said…. She was commenting on the interview of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on the Lebanese Al-Manar TV channel. *** Azerbaijan liberated …
(2021-10-11). US Documents Link the Colombian State With Paramilitaries. telesurenglish.net Spain's outlet El Pais published an article claiming that declassified documents from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the U.S. Department of State (DoE) show the Colombian State and the paramilitary groups maintained a "symbiotic relationship." | Related | This information was revealed in the trial against Carlos Mario Jimenez, a Colombian paramilitary leader, in a Miami federal court on Sept 27, 2021. This…
(2021-10-11). Turkey Tries To Impede The Offensive On Greater Idlib, But Can It? southfront.org 
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(2021-10-11). Turkish government normalizes mass deaths as COVID-19 pandemic rages. wsws.org As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to intensify in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government is normalizing mass infections and deaths.
(2021-10-11). 22 Years after Warning Was Sounded, Greater Albania Threat Emerges. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-11). Over 70,000 March In Brussels To Demand Green New Deal. popularresistance.org With U.N. climate conference (COP26) set for next month in Glasgow, the estimated 70,000 or more people who took part in the march offered a dramatic show of force for the nation's climate movement. | Zanna Vanrenterghem of Greenpeace Belgium told The Brussels Times on Sunday that her government's climate pledges so far "are not ambitious enough," but that words are no longer enough. "It is one thing to talk about climate," she said, "and another to take concrete action." | Ahead of the march, Vanrenterghem said the message from the Klimaatcoalitie (Climate Coalition), which she co-chairs and that organized the m…
(2021-10-11). CNE Asks Josep Borrell to Publicly Apologize for Interventionist Statements. orinocotribune.com 
On Sunday, October 10, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Pedro Calzadilla, on behalf of the people of Venezuela, requested that the high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs publicly apologize for his interventionist statements regarding the European Election Observation Mission, which will participate as international observers in the regional and municipal elections scheduled for November 21. | After the mock election on Sunday, October 10, Calzadilla informed that the European Union has not given any explanation about Borrell's interventionist action, which affects…
(2021-10-11). No, Renewables didn't cause the Global Energy Crisis; Strangling Iranian Gas and failing to put in Enough Wind and Solar Did. juancole.com 
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — As the world starts back up after the pandemic, the price of energy is spiking, as Pippa Stevens at CNBC explains. The flacks for dirty energy are trying to blame renewables for the jump in energy costs this fall in Europe and China, but frankly that is ridiculous. Demand for …
(2021-10-11). Women hold up half the sky: how China eradicated extreme poverty. peoplesdispatch.org 
Grandmother He was born three years after the Chinese Revolution, into a poor village in the southwestern province of Guizhou. At the time, China was the world's 11th poorest country — that is, only eight African and two Asian countries were poorer than China in terms of per capita GDP. A "century of humiliation" at the hands of European and Japanese imperialism and a bloody civil war turned the world's largest economy in the early 19thcentury to one of the poorest by the time the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. This history left devastating imprints on the life of the people, particularly p…
(2021-10-11). Opel-Stellantis: Short-time working heralds closure of auto plant in eastern Germany. wsws.org The workforce in Eisenach fears that the current production stoppage heralds the complete closure of the plant.
(2021-10-11). Works council ready to hand over huge concessions to "save" Ford plant in Saarlouis, Germany. wsws.org The works council and IG Metall trade union are opposed to any real struggle to defend the jobs and living standards of workers.
(2021-10-11). Hungarian-Style Soft Fascism is the GOP's Ruthless New Brand. zcomm.org Hungarian-style soft fascism is now the GOP's brand and they're doubling down on it, believing to their core that by the end of 2024 they can do to America what Orbán did to Hungary — and therefore never face consequences or serious political opposition ever again…
(2021-10-11). The true cost of Ireland's data centre boom. mronline.org 
As People Before Profit prepare to introduce a Bill to Dáil Éireann which would ban new data centres in Ireland, Alexandra Day looks at the disasterous impact of these centres for the environment and communities.
(2021-10-11). Italy To Take Measures Against Anti-Vax, Fascist Demonstrations. telesurenglish.net Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi will take measures to prevent further violent demonstrations led by Anti-Vax movements and neo-fascist groups. | RELATED: | On Saturday, citizens took to the streets to protest against the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, which will be mandatory to work from Oct. 15. In Rome, for example, some 10,000 people were in protests in which far-right and neo -fascist leaders made their pr…
(2021-10-11). Inside The Twitter Newsletter Subscription Platform Revue: Is It A Serious Substack Killer? moguldom.com Twitter quietly got into the newsletter subscription business in January, acquiring Dutch startup Revue for an undisclosed amount. An editorial newsletter platform, Revue allows users to publish and monetize email newsletters. Founded about six years ago in Utrecht, Netherlands, Revue has media customers including Vox Media, Chicago Sun-Times and the Markup, and competes with services …
(2021-10-11). 'Badly Made Fake News': Venezuelan Minister for Defense on Semana Magazine's 'Maduro's Missiles' Piece. orinocotribune.com Venezuelan Minister for Defense Vladimir Padrino López described an article about alleged Venezuelan arms purchases from Iran and Russia, published by Colombia's Semana magazine, as "a mess" and "badly assembled fake news." | On Sunday, October 10, the journalist Madelein García shared a video on Twitter about the statements offered by the senior military commander. She indicated that the "investigation" published on Saturday, October 9, by the Colombian media outlet was full of "lies," and was "a badly made montage." However, she added, "that is not surprising" because "it is a news outlet that belongs to the Co…
(2021-10-11). Number of foreigners obtaining Russian citizenship in 2021 exceeds 656,000 — Ministry. tass.com According to Russian Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Gorovoy, such results have been reached thanks to legal regulation introduced within migrant policy…
(2021-10-11). Plane Carrying Parachute Jumpers Crashed In Russia, Leaving 16 Dead. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Early on October 10th, a plane carrying a group of parachute jumpers crashed after takeoff in the Russian region of Tatarstan. | The incident left 16 dead and 6 injured. | At a height of 70 meters, the pilots reported that their left engine had failed and attempted an emergency landing near the city of Menzelinsk, trying to turn the plane leftward to avoid an inhabited area, the regional governor said. | The aircraft's wing hit a Gazelle vehicle as the plane landed and it overturned, Tatarstan'
(2021-10-11). Military Situation In Syria On October 11, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 11, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 13 times: 3 — in Idlib province, 2 — in Latakia province, 1 — in Hama province, 2 — in Aleppo province | On October 11, an explosion was reported in the city of Afrin. One person was killed and five others were wounded | On October 11, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SAA positions in Kafr Halab | On October 10, artillery of Turkish-backed…
(2021-10-11). Katrina vanden Heuvel on Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dmitry Muratov's Fight for Press Freedom in Russia. democracynow.org 
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Russian independent journalist Dmitry Muratov and Filipina journalist Maria Ressa for "their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression." Muratov runs the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which has lost more journalists to murder than any other Russian news outlet. Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor-in-chief of The Nation and reporter on Russia for the last 30 years, recounts the trajectory of Muratov's career, noting his newspaper's humble beginnings and his unexpected rise to becoming an advocate for freedom of the press. "Investigative journalism in Russia today is very dang…
(2021-10-11). High mortality, new waves of pandemic in Russia caused by low inoculation rates — Kremlin. tass.com "The pandemic is not going away, it is returning in new waves, as new more aggressive strains that are more virulent, this represents a great danger," Dmitry Peskov stressed…
(2021-10-11). Russia STOLE formula for Sputnik V Covid-19 jab, UK's conspiracy-loving spies allege. Moscow says if you believe them, seek help. rt.com 
We're a year and a half in and public interest is waning in the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, you can probably forgive Britain's best-selling newspaper, The Sun, for trying to inject a little bit of excitement back into the narrative. | Russia, of course, is always around to play the villain. In a bombshell set of re-hashed revelations published on Monday, the tabloid alleges that Moscow's flagship Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, wasn't made in a lab by a team of world-leading scientists, but was actually inspired by secret documents nicked from a British research institute. | According to veteran snooper and Westmins…
(2021-10-11). Venezuela Condemns Imperialism At Non-Aligned Countries Summit. telesurenglish.net On Monday, Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Felix Plasencia condemned imperialism and colonialism during the opening session of the ministerial summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which is taking place in Belgrade, Serbia. | RELATED: | He recalled that Venezuela has always embraced the policy of non-alignment and rejected the logic of imperialism and colonialism. Referring to the creation of the NAM in…
(2021-10-11). The Weekly Round-Up: Assisted dying, the Human Rights Act 'overhaul', and the limits of Scottish legislation. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the news: The Sunday Times, now committed to its campaign to change the law on assisted dying, has shared the story of Len and Karen Williamson, who spent £45,000 travelling to Switzerland with the assistance of private ambulances and a private flight, in order for Karen to elect the timing of her own death. …
(2021-10-11). Ukraine: U.S. steps up delivery of military equipment for war in Donbass. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com US military aid shipment delivered to UkraineCargoes will arrive in Ukraine in several consignments, one of which has arrived today Ukraine received a part of military aid from the United States of America. The cargo will be delivered to Ukraine in several consignments. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense. …