(2020-10-22). Indigenous Peoples Day in the time of COVID-19. workers.org 
"We are not your Halloween costumes! We are not your dime store Indians!" a speaker shouted from the bandstand on the Santa Fe Plaza this Indigenous Peoples Day in Santa Fe, N.M., as a colonialist obelisk was taken down by Puebloan activists To see people still celebrating Columbus in the . . . |
(2020-10-22). Israeli delegation travels to Sudan to discuss normalisation: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli delegation travels to Sudan to discuss normalisation: Report | Israel's Kan radio gave no further details about the talks as a minister predicted a possible diplomatic breakthrough | Thu, 10/22/2020 – 08: 27 | Israeli public broadcaster Kan radio said the discussions were held in Khartoum (AFP) | An Israeli delegation made a rare visit to Sudan on Wednesday to discuss normalising t…
(2020-10-22). Indonesia's return to an authoritarian developmental state. mronline.org 
With the passing of the anti-worker Omnibus Law, President Jokowi's administration follows the path of Indonesia's dark past.
(2020-10-22). Lebanon: Hariri again tasked with forming new government. middleeasteye.net 
Lebanon: Hariri again tasked with forming new government | Future Movement leader secures enough nominations to become prime minister-designate but faces tricky task to build coalition | Thu, 10/22/2020 – 12: 01 | Saad Hariri delivers a statement after the president named him to form a new cabinet, at the presidential palace in Baabda (AFP) | One year after being turfed out of office by mass…
(2020-10-22). Iranian press review: Lifting of UN arms embargo celebrated by reformists. middleeasteye.net 
Iranian press review: Lifting of UN arms embargo celebrated by reformists | Meanwhile, hardline lawmakers increase pressure on President Hassan Rouhani, and Iranians shocked by suicide of young student | Thu, 10/22/2020 – 11: 11 | A missile being fired out to sea from a mobile launch vehicle, southern coast of Iran, 18 June 2018 (AFP/HO/Iranian Army Office) | Political factions divi…
(2020-10-22). Israeli NGOs demand government allow UN rights monitors. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli NGOs demand government allow UN rights monitors | Prominent rights groups write to Israel's foreign minister following MEE revelation that OHCHR workers had stopped receiving visas | Thu, 10/22/2020 – 08: 55 | Visitors on a tour held by NGO "Breaking the Silence" walk down Shuhada Street in the West Bank city of Hebron (Reuters) | Major Israeli rights organisations have written to the country's foreign mi…
(2020-10-22). Thailand cancels state of emergency in bid to calm pro-democracy protests. thecanary.co 
Thailand's government has cancelled a state of emergency it declared last week for Bangkok in a gesture offered by the embattled prime minister to cool massive student-led protests seeking democracy reforms.The decree had banned public gatherings of more than four people and allowed censorship of the media, among other provisions. It was challenged in court by an opposition party and a group of university students.The revocation of the emergency decree declared that the situation had been mitigated and could now be dealt with by existing laws.Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has faced calls to step down (Governme…
(2020-10-22). Hunter's business partner CONFIRMS authenticity of laptop email, claims Joe Biden was part of Chinese deals. rt.com 
A former associate of Hunter Biden's has said that an email addressed to him concerning potentially shady deals with a Chinese firm is genuine and that Hunter's father was also involved in the scheme, and got a 10 percent cut. | A tranche of emails, text messages and photos, allegedly taken from a hard drive that belonged to the former vice president's son and published by the New York Post, have been dismissed by many media outlets as "unverified" and potentially even "Russian disinformation." Twitter even blocked the link to the original story. But now a man claiming to be a recipient of one of the leaked em…
(2020-10-22). EXCLUSIVE: Iran's Khamenei ordered end to Iraqi attacks on US interests. middleeasteye.net 
EXCLUSIVE: Iran's Khamenei ordered end to Iraqi attacks on US interests | Fearful of a ferocious response from Trump, the Iranian leader listened to British advice and told Iraq's paramilitaries to stand down | Thu, 10/22/2020 – 08: 15 | Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told his Iraqi allies to halt their attacks in person (AFP) | The order for Iraqi armed factions to halt their attacks on…
(2020-10-22). Conservatives accuse Twitter of selectively ignoring own policies on REVENGE PORN, misleading content in Borat prank on Giuliani. rt.com 
Conservatives blasted Twitter for ignoring and even promoting what they called a misleading revenge-porn attack on Rudy Giuliani after censoring reporting on alleged influence-peddling by Joe Biden's family. | At issue was a picture posted on Twitter on Wednesday showing Giuliani laying back on a bed with his hand reaching inside his pants while a woman stands nearby. The image was taken from the new 'Borat' sequel, in which Giuliani, a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, believed himself to be doing an interview on the Covid-19 pandemic with a female Russian reporter. After the interview, Giuliani and…
(2020-10-22). US federal judge says Trump's tweet calling to release Russiagate docs with 'no redactions' was NOT official order amid FOIA suits. rt.com 
A US judge has ruled that a tweet sent by President Donald Trump earlier this month did not constitute an order to declassify material linked to the Russiagate probe, as CNN and Buzzfeed press for the docs in ongoing lawsuits. | US District Judge Reggie Walton said on Wednesday that, while the tweet appeared to order the release of new material free of any redactions, a clarification from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows qualified as a reversal of the move. The judge was also critical of the administration for a lack of clarity on the question. | "It is unfortunate that we are in this situation because,…
(2020-10-22). Will Azerbaijani Gas Compete with Russia in Southern Europe? globalresearch.ca The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will become operational in November and will deliver Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian fields to countries in southern Europe. This gives Russia a new competitor in the European energy market. This would have raised questions in …
(2020-10-22). Sri Lankan SEP to hold online meeting on a socialist program to fight COVID-19. wsws.org The event will discuss the policies necessary for workers, the rural poor and youth to combat the coronavirus disaster and the Rajapakse administration's austerity and anti-democratic measures.
(2020-10-22). Trump Regime Maximum Pressure on Iran a Crime Against Humanity. globalresearch.ca On Sunday, the UN arms embargo on Iran its ruling authorities voluntarily accepted ended. | Iran is now once again free to buy and sell conventional arms — what many other countries do unrestrained. | Key to understand is that the Islamic …
(2020-10-22). Russia and the EU: "Business as Usual" Is Over. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published on Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, is the world's foremost diplomat. The son of an Armenian father and a Russian mother, he's just on another level altogether. Here, once again, we …
(2020-10-22). Yemen: Prisoner Swap and What May be Behind It. dissidentvoice.org Transcript of an Interview with Press TV Background The fourth batch of Yemeni detainees has arrived in Sana'a as part of the largest prisoner swap between the country's warring sides. The residents in the capital received 112 prisoners after their plane landed in the Sana'a international airport. 1,081 men will be released in two days. …
(2020-10-22). Sunday 10/25: The Value of a Black Woman's Vote Rountable w/ NAACP. indybay.org Online roundtable…
(2020-10-22). At Women's March in Petaluma, GOP Called Out for Assault on Women. indybay.org "This Presidency is the Worst Period Woman's Ever Had" and other messages from the North Bay.
(2020-10-22). Top Belgian diplomat in intensive care with COVID-19. yenisafak.com Belgium's foreign minister has been hospitalized in intensive care for treatment of the coronavirus.A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Thursday confirmed Sophie Wilmes had been in hospital since last night.Wilmes announced Saturday on Twitter that she had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, adding: "An infection that probably occurred in the family circle, given the precautions I have taken outdoors." She was in self-quarantine since Friday.In the past few days, Belgium has recorded a steep rise in the infections. With the country's health minister warning of a "tsunami" of infections, the government has or…
(2020-10-22). Thailand lifts state of emergency in capital. yenisafak.com Thailand on Thursday ended the state of emergency in the capital Bangkok.The week-long measure was imposed amid ongoing anti-government protests and barred large gatherings.The state of emergency was officially lifted at 12 p.m. local time (0500GMT)."The move follows a de-escalation in the situation that allows authorities to use existing laws to manage protests," read a notification in the Royal Gazette signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.Demonstrations have continued in some parts of the country demanding the premier's resignation, dissolution of the parliament, reforms to the monarchy, and freedom to cr…
(2020-10-22). Turkey neutralizes 3 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com "Three PKK/YPG terrorists, who tried to infiltrate the [Operation] Peace Spring area to disrupt the peace and security environment, were neutralized by our heroic commandos," the ministry said on Twitter.Turkish officials often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).In its more th…
(2020-10-22). Indonesia: New rebels, new movement, new hope. greenleft.org.au Since Indonesia's parliament secretly signed the Omnibus Job Creation bill into law, more than 100,000 people have protested across the country, writes Wagimanto. This movement is involving scores of civil society, labour, student and political groups and masses of young people fed up with President Joko Widodo's betrayal of hope.
(2020-10-22). Sri Lankan workers must rally the rural poor against Rajapakse's "herd immunity" policies. wsws.org The true situation was hidden from the outset because the government refused to implement rigorous anti-COVID-19 measures when the virus first impacted on the country in late January.
(2020-10-22). Statements from Canada, India and Sri Lanka in support of Dr. Scalice. wsws.org "Dr. Scalice has thoroughly exposed the politically criminal role played by the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in paving the way for the anti-working class dictatorial regimes of Marcos and Duterte."
(2020-10-21). Defense Sectary Visits Hawkish Atlantic Council to Announce US Troop Buildup on Russia Border. mintpressnews.com US Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited the notorious Atlantic Council, funded by a who's who of weapons makers and despotic regimes, to announce that the US would not, indeed, be withdrawing troops from Germany but sending them to Russia's border instead.
(2020-10-21). More capsule reviews from 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. peoplesworld.org 
The first installment of reviews from this year's 36th annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival can be found here. Further shorts, documentaries, animation, and features by and about the Pacific Islands' Indigenous peoples are available online through Oct. 31. 'Liliu': Samoa's decolonization struggle When I lived in Tafitoala, Upolu, the village's high chief, Ale …
(2020-10-21). Is it an accident that Iran and the US, two Theocracies, are Coronavirus Basket Cases? zcomm.org One clue to why the two countries are doing so badly with regard to basic public health strategy may lie in the importance of religion to both of these societies…
(2020-10-21). Brazil Chooses US as Its Partner in 5G Technology, Refusing China. globalresearch.ca After months of controversy and discussions, Brazil has chosen to prioritize the US as a partner in 5G technology. The decision contradicts the opinion of the greatest experts on the subject, who see the choice as Brazil's alignment to Washington …
(2020-10-21). How Biden Flubbed Town Hall Foreign Policy Question. counterpunch.org 
Toward the end of Joe Biden's October 15 town hall session, a Trump supporter asked Biden the only foreign policy question of the night. "So peace is breaking out all over the world," the questioner claimed. "Our troops are coming home. Serbia is talking to Kosovo. And the Arabs and Israelis are talking peace, which
(2020-10-21). Kuwait deports Lebanese TV presenter over 'immoral' social media content. middleeasteye.net 
Kuwait deports Lebanese TV presenter over 'immoral' social media content | The decision to deport Sazdell has sparked a wider conversation online on what public morals are | Wed, 10/21/2020 – 12: 59 | Sazdell said she was not told of specific rules she had violated (Screengrab/Instagram) | Kuwait's Ministry of Interior has deported Sazdell El Kak, a Lebanese presenter and public figure, for "violating pu…
(2020-10-21). 'Paradise lost': How Israel turned the West Bank into a sewage dump for its settlements. middleeasteye.net 
'Paradise lost': How Israel turned the West Bank into a sewage dump for its settlements | Untreated wastewater has destroyed the soil of Palestinian villages, causing often ancient olive trees to die and livelihoods to be lost | Wed, 10/21/2020 – 09: 14 | Residents and farmers say increasing quantities of sewage are being pumped onto their lands from the illegal settlements (MEE/Supplied) | Abdulla…
(2020-10-21). U.S. AFRICOM: Africa and the world in the crosshairs. peoplesworld.org 
U.S. AFRICOM, acronym for the United States Africa Command, was founded in 2007 in response to what the U.S. Defense Department viewed as a growing threat from the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. One might have believed that with the end of the Cold War the U. S. government would cease its …
(2020-10-21). European Hypocrisy: Empty Words for Palestine, Deadly Weapons for Israel. dissidentvoice.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 …
(2020-10-21). Israeli policeman who killed autistic Palestinian charged with reckless homicide. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli policeman who killed autistic Palestinian charged with reckless homicide | Rights group says higher charges should have been levied; defence lawyers say killing was 'tragedy, but not a criminal offense' | Wed, 10/21/2020 – 18: 07 | Demonstrators raise portrait of Iyad al-Halak in protest against Israeli government near prime minister's residence in Jerusalem in July (AFP/File photo) | An Israeli police…
(2020-10-21). Syria still not sharing information on missing US journalist Austin Tice, Pompeo says. middleeasteye.net 
Syria still not sharing information on missing US journalist Austin Tice, Pompeo says | Secretary of State says Washington will not change policy towards Syria to obtain release of detained Americans | Wed, 10/21/2020 – 19: 24 | Austin Tice was detained checkpoint near Damascus in August 2012 while covering Syrian conflict (AFP/File photo) | The Syrian government has not shared any information on the whereabou…
(2020-10-21). US court grants pro-Palestinian group legal victory in terrorism case. middleeasteye.net 
US court grants pro-Palestinian group legal victory in terrorism case | Court rules American Muslims for Palestine not tied to groups found responsible for killing of US citizen in Jerusalem in 1996 | Wed, 10/21/2020 – 17: 38 | Demonstrators call for independent Palestinian state during protest outside White House in 2018 (AFP/File photo) | A US court ruled in favour of pro-Palestinian groups in a…
(2020-10-21). Israel operated secret embassy in Bahrain for more than a decade: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Israel operated secret embassy in Bahrain for more than a decade: Report | Mission conducted diplomacy with Bahrain via front company listed as commercial consulting firm, Axios reports | Wed, 10/21/2020 – 21: 20 | Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, right, and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat bump elbows after signing ceremony in Manama on 18 October (AFP/File photo)…
(2020-10-21). Thailand's PM vows to lift state of emergency, but protesters insist he must quit in 3 days. rt.com 
Embattled Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has promised to lift the state of emergency in Bangkok to defuse tensions with protesters, but it wasn't enough to make demonstrators retract their demand for his swift resignation. | Prayuth appeared on TV on Wednesday, insisting that he was ready to "make the first move to de-escalate this situation" in the capital, which has seen mass protests for three months. He said that he will lift "the state of severe emergency" introduced in Bangkok last week if no violent incidents occur during the ongoing gatherings. | The protests in Thailand have been mostly peacefu…
(2020-10-21). Greece, Egypt and Cyprus jointly condemn Turkey's 'aggression' in Eastern Mediterranean. rt.com 
Turkey's natural gas exploration and military activities in the disputed waters of the Eastern Mediterranean have been roundly condemned by its neighbors, who also criticized the recent reopening of a beach area in North Cyprus. | In a joint statement issued on Wednesday at a one-day summit, the leaders of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece rebuked what they termed Ankara's "illegal drilling" and "aggression" in the region. The trio called on Ankara to cease its activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Cyprus, the outer border of which runs close to Turkey. | It is the latest exchange in a terse war of words…
(2020-10-21). Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko investigated for plotting coup. rt.com 
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has launched a criminal case into an alleged coup plot by former President Petro Poroshenko and his associates, an opposition MP has announced, publishing scans of the relevant documents. | "I publish documents … about launching an investigation into the facts of illegal seizure of state power, large-scale embezzlement and legalizing 'dirty' money by an organized criminal group" which Poroshenko was allegedly part of, Renat Kuzmin, an MP for the 'Opposition Platform — For Life' political party, wrote on Facebook. | The deputy listed Ukraine's former Acting Presi…
(2020-10-21). State Department gives green light for $1.8bn arms deal to Taiwan after Beijing threatens countermeasures. rt.com 
The US State Department has approved a sale of advanced weaponry worth over $1.8 billion to Taiwan, the Pentagon said, leaving Congress to give final authorization as Beijing slams the deal as provocative and warns of retaliation. | The proposed arms transfer was certified by the State Department on Wednesday,
(2020-10-21). UK being challenged by competitors 'in the grey zone between war and peace,' defence secretary claims. rt.com 
The British defence secretary has stressed the importance of stepping up the UK's protective capabilities amidst constantly evolving rivalries, adding that China is intent on building the world's largest naval fleet. | Addressing the Atlantic Future Forum onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace spoke of the constant competition the UK was facing in the "grey zone between war and peace," while specifically singling out China as an ever-evolving rival. | China is growing the largest maritime surface and subsurface fleet in the world. | Referencing London's decision to delay it…
(2020-10-21). WATCH: Justin Gaethje ditches interim lightweight belt at face-off with Khabib ahead of UFC 254. rt.com 
Justin Gaethje ditched his interim lightweight belt during his face-off with Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of their clash at UFC 254 at Fight Island on Saturday. | Gaethje will be hoping to take the Russian's championship title when they meet in the Octagon, and he made his feelings about his own belt clear in Wednesday's face-off. | The pair were handed their belts as they posed for photos after a respectful staredown, but after several seconds – who looked almost embarrassed to hold it – quickly gave it back. | The American has form in this area. | Gaethje won the interim belt in May with a fifth-round knocko…
(2020-10-21). Is the European Union Qualified to Broker Peace Between Israel and Palestine? mintpressnews.com 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 In practice, however, despite the seeming rift between Washington and Brussels, the outcome is, essentially, the same. The US and Europe are Israel's largest trade pa…
(2020-10-21). US Failed to Turn the Philippines Against China Despite Maritime Demarcation Issues. globalresearch.ca Cooperation between China and the Philippines could easily be hindered by U.S. interference in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Washington wants to exploit Chinese-Filipino contentions in their demarcation claims over the South China Sea in an attempt to …
(2020-10-21). A step forward over war crimes in Afghanistan. greenleft.org.au Serious criminal charges against ABC journalist Dan Oakes for reporting leaked material on Australian elite troops committing atrocities in Afghanistan have been dropped, on public interest grounds. Pip Hinman argues this is an important win.
(2020-10-21). Nagorno-Karabakh: UEFA suspends matches in Azerbaijan – Armenia. telesurenglish.net UEFA, governing body of the European football, decided to suspend all club and national team competition matches in Armenia and Azerbaijan given the tense security situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the organization's Executive Committee said on Tuesday. | RELATED: | "After having carefully monitored the evolution of the situation which broke out late September, which has already led to the relocation of a…
(2020-10-21). Hopes rise of extension of New START arms control treaty as Russia offers to freeze arsenal. peoplesdispatch.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…
(2020-10-21). Air Pollution Killed 6.7 Million People in 2019. telesurenglish.net The organization State of Global Air revealed on Wednesday that air pollution is the 4th leading risk factor for early death worldwide and the most significant risk factor for death in India. | RELATED: | The report shows that worldwide air pollution killed 6.7 million people in 2019 alone, surpassed only by high systolic blood pressure, tobacco, and dietary risks. Also, ozone pollution accounted for nearly 365.000 deaths worldw…
(2020-10-21). Iran Now Free to Buy and Sell Weapons Legally. globalresearch.ca The UN Security Council