2020-10-25: News Headlines

MEE and agencies (2020-10-25). Senior Labour frontbencher given 'dressing down' over criticism of Israel. middleeasteye.net Senior Labour frontbencher given 'dressing down' over criticism of Israel | Labour leader Keir Starmer reportedly angry with pro-Palestinian MP Stephen Kinnock for saying UK should ban products from illegal Israeli settlements | Sun, 10/25/2020 – 11: 28 | Keir Starmer has won praise from some UK Jewish groups since he became Labour party leader in April 2020 (AFP) | UK Labour leader Keir S…

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…

F. William Engdahl (2020-10-25). Will the Next Head of the WTO Impose a Gates-Davos "Great Reset" Agenda? globalresearch.ca It is all but certain that the next head of the influential World Trade Organization (WTO) will be an African by birth and a woman. But neither is what makes the all-but certain naming of Nigerian-born Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala cause for …

MEE and agencies (2020-10-25). Israel accepts US sale of F-35 warplanes to Qatar could happen. middleeasteye.net Israel accepts US sale of F-35 warplanes to Qatar could happen | Speculation in Israeli media that Trump administration will hold out sale of stealth fighter as inducement for Qatar to normalise ties with Israel | Sun, 10/25/2020 – 16: 04 | An F-35 fighter jet. 'I have no doubt that if they [Qatar] want it and are willing to pay, sooner or later they will get it,' said Israel's Energy Mini…

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…

Kameron Hurt (2020-10-25). Free Ruchell "Cinque" Magee! liberationnews.org Ruchell Magee is the longest-held political prisoner in the United States and the world.

Anthony Cartalucci (2020-10-25). US-funded Sedition in Hong Kong Officially "Join" Thai Mobs. thealtworld.com Thailand's protest movement is clearly part of the United States' regional anti-China campaign. | Bangkok Post in an article titled, "

Akram Al-Waara (2020-10-25). Family of Palestinian teen accuses Israeli soldiers of beating him to death. middleeasteye.net Family of Palestinian teen accuses Israeli soldiers of beating him to death | Amer Snobar died on Sunday from blunt-force trauma to the neck, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said | Sun, 10/25/2020 – 14: 07 | Amer Snobar, 18, from the Nablus-area village of Yatma, was reported dead early Sunday morning (Supplied) | The death of a Palestinian teenager early on Sunday morning, allegedly at the h…

Eds. (2020-10-25). Poet Suzen Baraka Tells the Truth about Voting. mronline.org Set in our nation's capital, VOTE is a visual call to arms, highlighting the devastating contradictions that so many in America are experiencing right now, and paying homage to the countless individuals that have sacrificed and are sacrificing so that we may have the right to vote, and have our vote count.

John Davis (2020-10-25). Climate Change and Hurricanes. counterpunch.org Do you remember this summer's gang-of-five? Known individually as Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia and Maria, a strangely mellifluous invocation of the deluge (or a diluvian mantra), the climatological spawn of cyclogenesis (the spin cycle in the South Atlantic) they collectively represented the most powerful group of hurricanes in over a hundred years. They were part

MEE and agencies (2020-10-25). Top al-Qaeda militant killed in Afghanistan. middleeasteye.net Top al-Qaeda militant killed in Afghanistan | Egyptian national Abu Muhsin al-Masri targeted by Afghan security forces, as Kabul accuses Taliban of still maintaining close ties with group | Sun, 10/25/2020 – 09: 30 | Afghan soldiers on patrol outside the US military base in Bagram, 50km north of Kabul (AFP) | Afghan forces have killed a top al-Qaeda operative wanted by the United States, a…

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 …

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.

_____ (2020-10-25). Federal Judges Block Efforts To Ease Rules For Mail-In Ballots. popularresistance.org In the final weeks of the 2020 election, Republican-appointed appellate judges have overturned rulings that required states to make mail-in voting easier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of millions of ballots have already been cast, even as federal judges kept changing the rules. | These decisions could be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which will include a 6-3 conservative majority if nominee Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed by the U.S. Senate next week as planned. So far, the court has ruled against voters in nearly every case it has reviewed.

Ann Garrison (2020-10-25). Call for Prosecution of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide Crime in DRC. indybay.org "Congo Week," the annual series of forums, films, and conversation organized by Washington D.C.-based Friends of the Congo was, like so much else, a virtual event this year. It concluded today with the presentation of humanitarian awards to two Congolese groups defending human rights, and to Dr. Denis Mukwege, the world renowned gynecologist and Nobel Prize Winner who founded Panzi Hospital to treat women victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In his acceptance speech, Dr. Mukwege called for prosecution of the 617 war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide crimes documented i…

_____ (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…

The Canary (2020-10-25). Is another U-turn looming? Senior Tory admits government got it wrong on free school meals. thecanary.co Pressure is ramping up on Boris Johnson to do a U-turn on free school meals. Meanwhile, a senior Tory said the government has "misunderstood" the mood of the country. | Revolt: | MPs from within the Conservative Party have added their voices to the increasing calls for a rethink. It comes after a vote last week rejected a Labour bid to extend provision over the school holidays. Footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign on the issue, meanwhile, is continuing to gather pace. | Senior Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: I think we have to admit that we have misunderstoo…

The Canary (2020-10-25). Thai protesters rally in their thousands ahead of parliamentary debate. thecanary.co Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have gathered in Thailand's capital. They're seeking to keep up pressure on the government a day ahead of a special parliament session aimed at easing political tensions.Pressure: The rally took place on 25 October at the busy Rajprasong intersection, in the heart of Bangkok's shopping district. Few protesters turned out in the first hour of the rally but their numbers later swelled to several thousand. They listened to rude denunciations of the government in chants, speeches, and songs.Pro-democracy activists display a placard with Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-och…

RT (2020-10-25). Pence's chief of staff tests positive for Covid-19, VP not infected — spokesman. rt.com Marc Short, known as Mike Pence's closest aide, has been infected with coronavirus, the vice president's spokesman has confirmed, adding that Pence himself tested negative and is not planning to halt his campaign. | "Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence both tested negative for Covid-19 today, and remain in good health," spokesman Devin O'Malley reported on Saturday evening as he confirmed that the VP's right-hand man, Short, had contracted the virus. | Pence is not expected to cancel any of his scheduled events in light of his top aide's illness, O'Malley noted, adding that his boss "will maintain his schedule…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Kabul claims killing key al-Qaeda leader. yenisafak.com Afghanistan on Sunday claimed killing the deputy head of Al-Qaeda for the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) in a security operation. | The 'No. 2 of al-Qaeda' in the Indian Sub-Continent, Abu Mohsin Al-Misri, was killed in the central Ghazni province, some 150km south of the capital Kabul, the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's intelligence service, said in a statement. | Al Masri alias Husam Abd-al-Ra'uf was on the FBI's list of most-wanted terrorists "for committing acts of terrorism…"Afghan president Ashraf Ghani hailed the killing, accusing the Taliban of still maintaining close ties with al-Qaeda.

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…

RT (2020-10-25). Slate calls for Mozart & Beethoven to be referred to by their full names to fight 'sexism and racism,' leaving Twitter baffled. rt.com Calling famous classical music composers just by their last names can be "harmful" nowadays, according to an article published in US liberal magazine Slate. The piece was instantly mocked online. | Writing for Slate, Chris White, an assistant professor of music theory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, took issue with how some composers, like Beethoven or Mozart, are often referred to just by their last names, while others are not. In fact, continuing to use such mononyms today could be seen as "outdated and harmful," he argued. | When we say, 'Tonight, you'll be hearing symphonies by Brahms and Edmon…

RT (2020-10-25). VIDEO of NYPD officers blaring 'Trump 2020' through patrol car loudspeaker SETS OFF liberals. rt.com Critics are taking to social media to express outrage over a video showing three NYPD cops in Brooklyn using their patrol vehicle to say "Trump 2020," behavior that would be prohibited for an officer. | Multiple videos show the incident, which appeared to involve at least three officers, on Saturday night from multiple angles. | An officer can be seen blocking a crosswalk with his vehicle in one video taken from a distance. He says "Trump 2020" through the car's loudspeaker and encourages people to record him and post it to their social media. A man can be heard cursing at the officer, as the cop calls him a "

RT (2020-10-25). 'Rocks' & punches thrown as anti-Trump protesters CLASH with 'Jews for Trump' parade in NYC (VIDEOS). rt.com A massive car parade of Jewish Donald Trump supporters was met with violent resistance in New York City, with counter-protesters throwing projectiles at cars and trading punches with the conservative demonstrators. | The cars, many of which sported American, Israeli, and pro-Trump flags, all crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and, at one point, passed Trump Tower, honking repeatedly as they passed the building. | #JewsForTrump rally @realDonaldTrump #Trump2020

Juan Cole (2020-10-25). Donald Trump, the Mr. Magoo of Geopolitics, Incites Warfare Between Egypt and Ethiopia. commondreams.org President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he prepared to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on January 19, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_ethiopia_egypt.jpg

Bryce Greene (2020-10-25). After Socialist Victory in Bolivia, Media Still Whitewash Coup. commondreams.org Bolivia's leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism party celebrates with running mate David Choquehuanca early on October 19, 2020 in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bolivia_democracy_arce.jpg

Edward Curtin (2020-10-25). Death, Money, and the Dueling Frauds: Trump and Biden. dissidentvoice.org When the New York Times and CNN recently referred to the staged town hall spectacles of Biden and Trump as dueling events, they inadvertently revealed the truth that U.S. presidential elections are America's favorite movie and that the corporate media is in the entertainment business. While it is ludicrous to imagine these tottering actors crossing …

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-10-25). The Battle to Suppress Hydroxychloroquine as a Cheap and Effective Drug for the Treatment of Covid-19. globalresearch.ca The campaign against HCQ is carried out through slanderous political statements, media smears, not to mention an authoritative peer reviewed "evaluation" published on May 22nd by The Lancet, which was based on fake figures and test trials.

Editor (2020-10-25). [rewind] Chomsky Makes Case for Lesser Evil Voting. scheerpost.com [Podcast originally posted on KCRW on Jan. 17, 2020. Transcript below.] After a harrowing discussion about humanity's undeniable march toward a dystopian future, world-renowned thinker Noam Chomsky and Truthdig Editor in Chief Robert Scheer move on to other pressing topics related to current events and end on a positive note. Beginning with the issue that inspired the two-part interview… |

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±, …

Cory Morningstar (2020-10-25). COVID-19 as a Weapon. The Crushing of the Disposable Working Class — by Design. globalresearch.ca This article was originally crossposted in April 2020. | The arrogance and brutality of the ruling class — is nothing less than breathtaking. | Let's begin. |

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-25). 'Democrats and Republicans are two pillars of the Pentagon'. peoplesdispatch.org Gloria La Riva, the presidential candidate from the Party for Socialism and LIberation in the US, spoke to Peoples Dispatch about the upcoming elections. She talked about how these elections are different, what important issues are being ignored by Trump and Biden, and how people are recognising that capitalism is not working.

Carla Stea (2020-10-25). US-China Confrontation: The Hijacking of the United Nations Security Council Continues. globalresearch.ca Former OPCW Director-General Bustani Banned From Speaking At UN Security Council | October 5: Western Delegations Oppose Presentation of Evidence that OPCW Report Of Chemical Weapons Attack on Douma, Syria May Have Been Falsified. | October 21: In New York Post Article, …

Prabhat Patnaik (2020-10-25). The rising wealth of billionaires even amid a pandemic. peoplesdispatch.org It is inevitable under capitalism that every human tragedy which unleashes a crisis in this system becomes an occasion for an increase in wealth concentration, writes Prabhat Patnaik…

Robert Fantina (2020-10-25). The 2020 Election: Nothing Will Change. globalresearch.ca With the first of three scheduled presidential debates (aka brawl) between President Donald Trump and his opponent, former vice-president Joe Biden, now history, the pundits will fall all over themselves to determine what it all means. Who won? Did …

Matthew Ehret-Kump (2020-10-25). Paul Robeson and the Battle for the Soul of America. globalresearch.ca "Every artist, every scientist, every writer must decide now where he stands. The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice" | Paul Robeson, 1937 | America today stands at a …

Prabir Purkayastha (2020-10-25). Google under fire in US for predatory monopoly practices. peoplesdispatch.org Tech monopolies are increasingly being acknowledged as a danger to people, other companies and even to democracy. The regulatory worm seems to be turning in many countries, even in the US where it had gone into hibernation…

John C. A. Manley (2020-10-25). 605 Years Ago: Medieval Inspiration to Fight The Corona World Order Today. globalresearch.ca "The truth is, the technocrats have no intention of ever letting us go back to normal," writes Dr. Joseph Mercola in

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-25). Calls intensify for resignation of OAS secretary general Luis Almagro. peoplesdispatch.org Progressive movements across Latin America have called for the resignation of OAS secretary general Luis Almagro, pointing to his role in the coup in Bolivia in 2019 and in destabilizing democracy in the country…

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 …

Editor (2020-10-25). America Is Complicit in Yemen's Spiral Toward Mass Starvation. scheerpost.com Embed from Getty Images Mark Lowcock of the United Nations gave an impassioned and apocalyptic speech recently warning that 4 million Yemenis who had been receiving aid no longer are, because of a shortfall in donor contributions, and the country could be on the cusp of mass starvation. There already is widespread malnutrition in Yemen, fueled by the war and more recently by the economic downturn… |

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 …

Christine MacDonald (2020-10-25). Exxon Spends Millions on Facebook To Keep the Fossil Fuel Industry Alive. zcomm.org Aided by a right-wing political consulting firm, the company is rallying supporters to fight for oil and gas interests at every level of government…

Democracia Abierta (2020-10-25). The Chilean referendum: getting rid of the shadow of Pinochet's dictatorship. zcomm.org Twelve months after the violent protests broke out, the Chilean people are preparing for an unprecedented process: voting to decide whether to begin drafting a new Constitution, which should be more socially equitable and economically inclusive…

Sasha Abramsky (2020-10-25). Candidates Focus on the Middle Class, But They Must Also Tackle Deep Poverty. zcomm.org For the kind of unfettered poverty that is being unleashed will, if left unchecked, likely result in massive political turmoil over the coming years and decades…

Sonali Kolhatkar (2020-10-25). How Coronavirus Exposed the Flaws of the Childcare Economy. zcomm.org The pandemic has revealed the barbaric nature of an economy that has largely left the care of children to the whims of market forces. The well-being of children, women, and especially women of color is at stake…

Peter Maass (2020-10-25). When We Talk About Fox News, We Need to Talk About the Murdoch Family Too. zcomm.org Movements of racism and hate are not propelled by visual histrionics alone. They require platforms and they require capital…

Lizzie Widdicombe (2020-10-25). What Can You Do If Trump Stages a Coup? zcomm.org Citizens prepare to take on a would-be regime…

Sara Abbas & Azza Mustafa (2020-10-25). Lessons from Sudan's December revolution. zcomm.org The revolution in Sudan did not end with the ousting of al-Bashir — people in the streets continue to keep the pressure up until all their demands are met…

Larry Parnass (2020-10-25). Union Members in Berkshires Vow to Strike if Trump Interferes with Election Outcome. zcomm.org In a unanimous vote Monday, the Western Massachusetts Labor Federation approved a resolution calling for a general strike, should it be necessary…

_____ (2020-10-25). On Contact: Radical Hamilton. popularresistance.org Alexander Hamilton, popularized by the musical, "Hamilton," was the first treasury secretary of the United States. He has been called 'the founding father of capitalism and imperialism,' but Hamilton was far more complex than a simple advocate for a market-drive economy. Christian Parenti, in his new book, "Radical Hamilton; Economic Lessons From a Misunderstood Founder," argues that his ideas for the US economy were distorted or ignored by the capitalist elites. Parenti goes back to Hamilton's neglected masterpiece, "Report on the Manufacturers" and "The Federalist Papers"…

_____ (2020-10-25). Boat Blockade At Ineos Oil Refinery. popularresistance.org Scotland – Climate activists have blocked the gates of the Ineos refinery at Grangemouth with boats in a protest against pollution. | Extinction Rebellion Scotland claims Ineos is Scotland's biggest climate polluter and is staging the blockade as part of a programme of action. | Small groups of no more than six people have locked themselves together at the gates and aim to remain there all day. | Two boats are being used to block the entrances to the refinery and the headquarters.

_____ (2020-10-25). Protests Against Greed And Inequality Are Spreading Like Wildfire Through Latin America. popularresistance.org With attention fixed on this week's events in Bolivia, you would be excused for not realizing that much of the rest of the region has for weeks also been ablaze in the flames of protest. | In Costa Rica, the neoliberal coalition government of Carlos Alverado attempted to force through a $1.75 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. As has been its modus operandi this year, the organization offered the money attached to a host of free-market changes, including tax changes, cuts to public services, and privatization of state-owned assets, s…

_____ (2020-10-25). The Future Of Pandemic Solidarity. popularresistance.org In their recent book Pandemic Solidarity, Colectiva Sembrar (Sowing Seeds Collective) collected first-hand experiences from around the world of people creating their own narratives of solidarity and mutual aid in our time of global crisis. Red Pepper interviewed members of the collective — carla bergman (she doesn't capitalise her name), Seyma Ozdemir, Nancy Piñeiro, Emre Sahin and Marina Sitrin — to discuss what unites these diverse experiences, what can be learned, and where they might fit into a broader project of systemic change.

_____ (2020-10-25). Mountain Valley Pipeline Project Remains Stalled In Legal Limbo. popularresistance.org It was a shock to the system. | That's how EQT President and CEO Toby Rice described the impact of the July cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Rice made the allusion during EQT's third-quarter earnings call Thursday while reporting talks with four or five other unnamed companies to offload some or all of EQT's Mountain Valley Pipeline capacity. | Environmentalists hope Mountain Valley is headed for the same fate as Atlantic Coast and view the natural gas industry's recent slide as evidence the market might be on their side.

_____ (2020-10-25). How A Police Killing In Nigeria Sparked A Nationwide Movement. popularresistance.org Nigerian security forces opened fire this week on protesters in Lagos, killing at least 12 demonstrators and marking a deadly escalation in the weekslong protests against police brutality. | Since early October, tens of thousands of Nigerians have been marching in cities throughout the country, demanding the disbandment of a notorious police unit known as SARS—the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. An Amnesty International report published in June documented dozens of cases of torture and extrajudicial killing by the unit. But the incident that sparked the movement was a video of what appeared to be an unprovoked…

_____ (2020-10-25). Why Black Families Are Choosing To Keep Their Kids Remote. popularresistance.org Mississippi – Yolanda Logan, the parent engagement coordinator for the Oxford School District, spent two weeks in July making home visits — some announced, some cold-calls — to check in on the students educators had been most worried about when schools shut down in the spring. Some had test scores at the bottom at their class. Some belonged to families who had been struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic struck and devastated the economy. | Logan asked the students, and the adults in their lives, how they were holding up and what support they needed.

_____ (2020-10-25). What We Are Up Against: Fascism In The United States. popularresistance.org Last week, I wrote about what is needed in this moment and urged people to look more deeply, beyond the Biden-Trump spectacle, to understand where we are as a country and what we must do to change course. I cited the work of Gabriel Rockhill. Read his three recent articles in Counterpunch and the fourth in the series here at Black Agenda Report for an enhanced understanding of how we got here and what we are up against. | This week, I delve more deeply into the question of where we are and what Rockhill means when he writes that "…liberalism and fascism…

_____ (2020-10-25). Life Of Palestinian Hunger Striker In Immediate Danger. popularresistance.org Maher al-Akhras, who has been on a hunger strike since his administrative detention on July 27, is waging a battle against the mighty Israeli occupation apparatus. Every day brings him closer to death, as Israel seems to be trying to prove through his case that the life of Palestinians, like their freedom and human rights, are worth nothing. But the formidable insistence of his hunger strike against the principle of administrative detention, and his determination that the strike will end only once he is free or becomes a martyr, is mobilizing more and more people to his support.

Stop Wrecking Pacifica For Take-over (2020-10-25). Pacifica National Board Censures KPFK Jan Goodman For Illegal Deal Making. indybay.org KPFK LSB Board member Jan Goodman in cahoots with The KPFA management cabal and their supporters that want to corporatize Pacifica and shutdown WBAI went into private negotiations with the lender of Pacifica's loan to supposedly work out a special deal. | This effort to subvert the PNB officers and board is illegal under California Corporation laws. You cannot negotiate for a Foundation you do not represent. She was censured by the PNB…

Center for Biological Diversity (2020-10-25). Thursday 10/29: Saving Life On Earth: Defending 'Scary' Creatures from Frightening Attacks Halloween Talk. indybay.org Online via Zoom…

Grant Smith (2020-10-25). Thursday 10/29: Censorship, Entanglement & Corruption: The Israel Lobby 2021 Agenda. indybay.org Webinar with participation through Zoom and YouTube. 9AM California time, Noon EDT.

Leon Kunstenaar (2020-10-25). Sit-in on SF Market Street by March For Democracy. indybay.org Rally at Mission High School steps, | followed by a march to San Francisco City Hall…

Downtown Commons Advocates (2020-10-25). Tuesday 10/27: Stop the Lot 4 Mixed-Use Project. indybay.org Call into the Santa Cruz City Council meeting discussion of item #30 at 6pm…

Al Carroll (2020-10-25). Trump's Body Count: Could Be Over a Million. indybay.org The combined death toll from all of Trump's many crimes is not "just" the over 222,000 COVID deaths. It includes at least 40,000 Venezuelans, Syrian Christian and Yazidi refugees, Karen Christians, Rohingya, refugees from Latin America, Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis, Yemenis, and tens of thousands of Americans who died by Trump sabotaging their healthcare.

Akio Tanaka (2020-10-25). Why Pacifica Needs New Bylaws — Part 2. indybay.org We have a window of opportunity to come together to finally fix our governance.

_____ (2020-10-25). The Government's Case Against Michael Flynn Is Falling Apart. strategic-culture.org On October 17th, a document in the case of USA v. Michael T. Flynn was docketed (placed onto the court's calendar for consideration), which could free Mr. Flynn, and which might even lead to a transformation of the American criminal-justice system. | The legal case against Flynn cannot be truthfully understood unless and until the political battle that motivated it is adequately described: | Flynn had been the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) under U.S. President Barack Obama until 2014, when Obama acrimoniously forced him out. Flynn then served for only the first 22 days of Donald Trump's Presidency…

_____ (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). The price of groceries could soar in the event of a no-deal Brexit. thecanary.co Import costs for everyday items could rise by around a third in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This would make the household shopping basket "much more expensive", a major UK business group has warned. | Red tape: | The cost of moving goods could also rise due to import taxes. And restrictions to the number of UK lorries that can enter the EU could put businesses across the country at risk, Logistics UK said. | Logistics UK chief executive David Wells urged the government to keep working towards a deal. He said a no-deal scenario could drive inflation up as a result of the rise in prices for imported good…

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…

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). Majority of doctors believe the tier system will have little to no impact on coronavirus spread. thecanary.co More than a third of doctors in England feel the government's tier system will have no impact on efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), while almost half (46%) said they thought the system would only work to a slight extent. This is according to a wide-ranging survey from the British Medical Association (BMA). | The research also raises concerns about the confidence of healthcare staff for the autumn/winter period. More than half said they're "quite anxious" about it. | "Enormous scale" of challenges: | The findings show the "enormous scale of the challenges" facing the NHS into winter,…

Staff (2020-10-25). Fracking Isn't Just Bad for the Climate. It's Bad for Mental Health Too. truthout.org Hydraulic fracturing has boomed in the U.S. over the past decade, but unless you live near it, you may not realize just how close fracking wells can be to homes and schools. In Colorado, the wellbore — the hole drilled to extract oil or gas — can be 500 feet from someone's house under current state rules. In some states, like For people living in these areas, that me…

Staff (2020-10-25). To Defeat Fascism, We Must Recognize It's a Failed Response to Capitalist Crisis. truthout.org Few would disagree in light of recent events that the Trump regime, its most diehard extreme-right, white supremacist supporters, and elements of the Republican Party are bidding for a fascist putsch. Whether this putsch remains insurgent or is beaten back will depend on how events unfold in the November 3 election and its aftermath, and especially on the ability of left and progressive forces to mobilize to defend democracy and to push forward a social justice agenda as a counterweight to…

Staff (2020-10-25). You Cannot Decarcerate by Using the Tools of Incarceration, Says Mumia Abu-Jamal. truthout.org The somber baritone of Mumia Abu-Jamal is unmistakable. Before we can exchange greetings, one of several automated announcements interrupts the call, reminding us that our conversation will be subject to recording and monitoring. Abu-Jamal is phoning from State Correctional Institution Mahanoy, a medium-security prison in Pennsylvania. Convicted in 1982 for the alleged killing of white Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in a racially charged trial that, according to Amnesty Intern…

Staff (2020-10-25). Pence Was Exposed to COVID From Top Aide. He Plans to Keep Campaigning Anyway. truthout.org Despite being considered a close contact with a top aide who The White House announc…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Pence aide tests positive for coronavirus, spokesman says. yenisafak.com Marc Short, the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence, has tested positive for the new coronavirus, a spokesman for the vice president said on Saturday."Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence both tested negative for COVID-19 today, and remain in good health," said Devin O'Malley, adding that Pence would maintain his scheduled "in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel."

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Bombing kills 3 in southwest Pakistan. yenisafak.com At least three people were killed and several others injured in an explosion in southwest Pakistan on Sunday, local media reported.The blast — latest in a string of improvised explosive device explosions — occurred in a Shia-dominated locality in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.The bomb was planted in a motorcycle, it added.The incident coincided with an 11-party opposition alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement — rally in Quetta, which was part of the opposition's ongoing anti-government campaign.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for t…

Robert Freeman (2020-10-25). How Did We Get Here? And How Do We Get Out? commondreams.org President Donald Trump holds a press conference announcing Vice President Mike Pence will lead the effort combating the spread of the coronavirus in Washington, D.C. on February 26, 2020. (Photo: Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/donald_trump_coronavirus_3.jpg

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Guinean president Conde wins presidential elections after first round. yenisafak.com Guinean President Alpha Conde was re-elected for a third term after winning the country's presidential elections held on Oct. 18 with 59,49% of the vote.The results were announced after the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) concluded the vote-counting process.International observers that monitored the elections said it was carried out properly, giving it a positive grade.Cellou Dalein Diallo, the main rival and leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), got 33.5% of votes, the election commission said.None of the other 10 candidates exceeded the 5% threshold.Third term as…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Palestinian beaten to death by Israeli settlers. yenisafak.com A Palestinian teen was beaten to death early Sunday by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to eyewitnesses and a medical source.Amer Snobar, 18, from the town of Yatma, south of Nablus city, was attacked by settlers guarding a Jewish settlement and died of his wounds, witnesses said.A medical source said the teen was admitted to hospital with signs of assault on his body.An Israeli military statement said a Palestinian fell while escaping and hit his head while being chased by army forces.According to the army, the chase came after settlers said that their cars were attacked by stone-throwing P…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi drone from Yemen. yenisafak.com The Saudi-led coalition on Sunday intercepted an explosive-laden drone fired by Houthi rebels from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia.Coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said the rebel drone was fired towards civilian areas in southern Saudi Arabia, according to the official Saudi news agency SPA.There was no comment from the Houthi group on the report.On Saturday, the Houthi group said it had fired three drones towards the Jizan and Abha airports and the Khamis Mushait base.The Houthi group regularly announces rocket and drone attacks on Saudi territories, saying they are a reaction to the Saudi-led coalition's atta…

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). Israeli cabinet approves Bahrain normalisation deal, minister says. yenisafak.com Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved Israel's normalisation deal with Bahrain, on…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Czech Republic reports 12,472 new coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com The Czech Republic reported 12,472 new cases of coronavirus for Oct. 24, its highest daily tally for a weekend day, when there are usually fewer tests, Health Ministry data showed on Sunday.The total number of cases rose to 250,797 in the country of 10.7 million, with 106 new deaths taking that total to 2,077.

yenisafak (2020-10-25). India's central bank chief tests positive for coronavirus. yenisafak.com "I have tested Covid-19 positive. Asymptomatic. Feeling very much alright," Das said in a tweet."Will continue to work from isolation. Work in the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) will go on normally," he said.Many top Indian politicians including Home Minister Amit Shah and actors such as Amitabh Bachchan have tested positive for the virus, and since recovered.Over 7.8 million Indians have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. The pandemic has claimed 118,534 lives in the world's second most populous country.

yenisafak (2020-10-25). French president encouraged Islamophobia: Pakistan PM. yenisafak.com The Pakistani prime minster has added his voice to the growing criticism of the French president for "encouraging Islamophobia" following the killing of a teacher who showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his pupils. | "Hallmark of a leader is he unites human beings… rather than dividing them. This is a time when President [Emmanuel] Macron could have put healing touch, and denied space to extremists rather than creating further polarisation and marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalization," Imran Khan said in a series of tweets on Sunday. | "It is unfortunate that he has chosen to encourage Isl…

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.

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.

Newsclick (2020-10-25). Will the US be allowed to colonize space? peoplesdispatch.org The USA has floated the Artemis Accords to explore the Moon for commercial purposes. Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha sheds light on the USA's weapons proliferation to control ground, sea, air and space…

Susan Price (2020-10-25). In a first, British trade unions commit to challenging Israeli apartheid. greenleft.org.au Bernard Regan reports that Britain's peak union body, representing 6 million workers, adopted a motion last month at its annual conference, reaffirming its solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination.

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2020-10-25). 'Victory for Humanity': Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons to Take Effect as Honduras Becomes 50th Nation to Ratify. commondreams.org The United States has not ratified the treaty and the Trump administration is actively urging nations to withdraw from it. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/ican_nuclear_weapons.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2020-10-25). 70+ Climate Journalists Pen Open Letter Condemning Barrett for Enabling the 'Ecological Crisis of Our Times'. commondreams.org "At the moment when the facts of the case were presented to her, this arbiter of justice freely chose to side with mistruths. Judge Coney Barrett's responses are factually inaccurate, scientifically unsound, and dangerous." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/amy_coney_barrett_climate.jpg

Steven Hill (2020-10-25). Why Uber's Desperate Prop 22 Is Bad for Drivers and Society. commondreams.org A rideshare driver holds up a sign supporting a 'No' vote on Prop 22 in Oakland, California on October 9, 2020. (Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/prop22.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2020-10-25). Pence Denounced for 'Grossly Negligent' Decision to Keep Campaigning Despite Exposure to Top Aide With Covid-19. commondreams.org "It's just an insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mike_pence_4.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2020-10-25). 'Such an Insult': Doctors Furious as Trump Peddles Baseless Claim That They Are Inflating Covid Death Count for Profit. commondreams.org "We report deaths how they occur. If you did your damn job we wouldn't be reporting so many." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump_coronavirus_doctors.jpg

Cynthia Kaufman (2020-10-25). Preparing to Protect the Election Results. commondreams.org Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Manhattan. (Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/protect_the_results.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2020-10-25). "We're Not Going to Control the Pandemic," Trump Chief of Staff Says on Live TV as Covid Cases Surge. commondreams.org "'It is what it is' wasn't a randomly tossed off phrase: it's the official policy." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mark_meadows.jpg

Sam Pizzigati (2020-10-25). Out of the UK, a Bold Pay Prescription for a Post-Trump America. commondreams.org A demonstrator holds a "Tax the Rich" sign during a protest in New York on June 27, 2020. (Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/tax_the_rich_2.png

Pip Hinman (2020-10-25). Gundungurra Traditional Owners: 'Dam project must be stopped'. greenleft.org.au Traditional Owners and former Burragorang Valley residents are fighting to save Gundungurra heritage against the New South Wales government's plans to wipe out their culture. Tracey Carpenter spoke to Gundungurra woman Kazan Brown.