(2021-10-08). Were Pandora Papers a Controlled Leak?—Misión Verdad's William Serafino Comments. orinocotribune.com The Pandora Papers are a controlled leak that does not take aim at the system that privileges US and UK interests, explained William Serafino, a researcher at the Samuel Robinson Institute. | For Serafino, a Venezuelan political scientist, this new case of the Pandora Papers, that recently linked world political leaders and celebrities accused of trying to hide their fortunes in infamous tax havens, constitutes a controlled leak in that "it touches intermediate sectors of the transnational elite" but does not point out "the true root of the problem, which is the system of incentives and privileges that the United…
(2021-10-08). Pandora Papers: How London became a financial hub for Gulf rulers and the super-rich. middleeasteye.net 
Pandora Papers: How London became a financial hub for Gulf rulers and the super-rich | Many of the secretive structures used to hide wealth from scrutiny were created during the British Empire and involved the Middle East | Fri, 10/08/2021 – 12: 00 | A statue of a dragon marks the boundary of the City of London, the British capital's financial hub (Reuters) | Since leaving the European Union, the B…
(2021-10-08). Headlines for October 8, 2021. democracynow.org Pfizer-BioNTech Requests Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccine for Children Aged 5-11, COVID Deaths in Russia Top 900/Day; Venezuela Accuses IMF of Withholding Pandemic Funds, Senate Cmte. Says Trump Repeatedly Asked DOJ for Help Overturning Election Loss, Senate Votes to Lift Debt Ceiling Until Early December, Minneapolis Police Joke About "Hunting Activists" During 2020 Racial Justice Uprising, Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, WSJ: U.S. Military Secretly Training Taiwanese Forces for Possible Conflict with China, Gunmen Kill 2 School Teachers in Kashmir Amid Mounting Attac…
(2021-10-08). Why Does Congress Fight Over Childcare But Not F-35s? counterpunch.org President Biden and the Democratic Congress are facing a crisis as the popular domestic agenda they ran on in the 2020 election is held hostage by two corporate Democratic Senators, fossil-fuel consigliere Joe Manchin and payday-lender favorite Kyrsten Sinema. But the very week before the Dems' $350 billion-per-year domestic package hit this wall of corporate
(2021-10-08). Another Missile, Drone Attack Targets Saudi Arabia's Southern Region. southfront.org 
Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing | Late on October 7, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted a ballistic missile and two suicide drones which were launched from Yemen, allegedly by the Houthis (Ansar Allah). | In a statement, the coalition said that the missile and drones were heading towards the city of Khamis Mushait in the southern Saudi province of 'Asir. | "We take operational measures to protect civilians from violations and futile attempts," the statement reads. | Usually, ballistic m…
(2021-10-08). Anti-Iran and Anti-Venezuela Agents Conspire. orinocotribune.com Two prominent individuals working against Iran and Venezuela met this week to continue their conspiracies against the governments of their respective countries. | The Venezuelan coup plotter and fugitive Leopoldo López and the US journalist of Iranian descent Masih Alinejad held a meeting on Tuesday, October 7, within the framework of the so-called Oslo Freedom Forum, held in the US state of Florida. | Alinejad and López, who are known for their illegitimate actions against their governments, advocated strengthening their cooperation in their "struggle for freedom"—a euphemism for defending Washington's int…
(2021-10-08). Unidentified Drone Targeted Iranian-Backed Forces On Syrian-Iraqi Border: Monitoring Group. southfront.org 
Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson. | Late on October 8, an unidentified combat drone targeted several positions of Iranian-backed forces in the eastern Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). | The London-based monitoring group said that the targeted positions are located around Aisha hospital in the town of al-Bukamal right along the border with Iraq. The drone strikes caused several fires. However, no casualties were reported. | Iranian-backe…
(2021-10-08). Cuba — La Ciencia y sus responsabilidades. globalizacion.ca Advertencia: Que nadie se confunda por el título y deje de leer lo que sigue, pensando que es una nota dirigida a los que trabajan profesionalmente en instituciones científicas. El tema es para todos, porque estamos hablando de la ciencia…
(2021-10-08). Revolutionizing the Cities: 10 Years of Housing, Self-Management, and Communes in Venezuela. orinocotribune.com By Alba Movimientos — Oct 5, 2021 | Ten years ago we gathered in the Ezequiel Zamora Park (or El Calvario) of Caracas—as part of a public dialogue alongside Commander Hugo Chávez—and began an ongoing process of urban revolution that has allowed the people of Venezuelan to recover previously abandoned or underutilized lands. Today, millions of houses have been built on these lands, thousands of units have been constructed by people's power, many of which are now self-managed by the community. The right to housing for working families is fully protected, in stark contrast to a past in which people…
(2021-10-08). International Observers Take Part In Venezuelan Electoral Drill. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) President Pedro Calzadilla announced that the Latin American Council of Electoral Experts (CEELA) and the Carter Center will send observers to the electoral drill to be held on Sunday. | RELATED: | Around 3,232 public officials will participate in this drill, which will be held from 7: 00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m. (local time) at 1,336 polling stations located in 333 municipalit…
(2021-10-08). Following xenophobic attacks, hundreds of Venezuelans return from Chile. peoplesdispatch.org A group of 200 Venezuelans voluntarily returned to their country from Chile with the assistance of the socialist government of President Nicolás Maduro, following the xenophobic attacks in Chile's Iquique last month…
(2021-10-07). Stop Calling the Military Budget a 'Defense' Budget. counterpunch.org It's bad enough that mainstream news outlets routinely call the Pentagon budget a "defense" budget. But the fact that progressives in Congress and even many antiwar activists also do the same is an indication of how deeply the mindsets of the nation's warfare state are embedded in the political culture of the United States. The
(2021-10-07). Iranian press review: Tehran fury over Israel-Azerbaijan military pact. middleeasteye.net 
Iranian press review: Tehran fury over Israel-Azerbaijan military pact | Meanwhile, conservative MP claims Iranian property investors have 'saved' Turkey's economy, and corruption heavily linked to suicide cases | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 12: 00 | A handout picture made available by the Iranian army official website on October 1, 2021, shows an Iranian army helicopter during a military exercis…
(2021-10-07). Washington-backed groups plotting overthrow of Cuban government. peoplesworld.org 
Washington-backed anti-government forces are plotting a new series of protests in Cuba over the next two months, according to information posted on a private Facebook group. MintPress News discovered that the organizations behind July's riots in the capital Havana are organizing a general strike for Oct. 11, the day after Cuban Independence Day. This will …
(2021-10-07). Private Facebook Group that Organized the July Protests in Cuba Plans Bigger Ones Soon. orinocotribune.com 
By Alan Macleod — Oct 5, 2021 | The involvement of foreign nationals in the domestic affairs of Cuba is on a level that can scarcely be conceived of in the United States. | HAVANA —After gaining access to their private Facebook group, MintPress can reveal that the people who sparked the July 11 protests in Cuba are planning similar actions for October and November. | The group,
(2021-10-07). Facebook: The New Evil Empire? strategic-culture.org By Tim GRAHAM | In the last few years, Facebook has become Public Enemy No. 1 in the media's imagination, and Mark Zuckerberg is suddenly the creepy James Bond villain. Celebrated PBS filmmaker Ken Burns even ranted on a podcast that Zuckerberg was an "enemy of the state" who should be in jail. | After Facebook went down for six hours on Oct. 4, CBS late-night "comedian" Stephen Colbert joked, "Facebook did not say what might be causing the outage. Now, I'm no computer expert, but my theory is: A just God?" | It does not matter one iota that Facebook employees donated 90% of their political money to the Democrats…
(2021-10-07). Colombia: A Threat to Latin America. orinocotribune.com In Colombia, state terrorism has deepened and is open. Social leaders, indigenous people, peasants, teachers, settlers are assassinated every day. The rich in Colombia hold on to power and maintain their model of accumulation by means of discriminatory violence against activists and their organizations. According to data from Global Witness, a Human Rights NGO based in London, 65 environmentalists have been murdered in 2020 alone. INDEPAZ reports that 126 social leaders have been assassinated in 2021, adding to the list of 1241 social leaders assassinated after the signing of the peace accords. This same year 72…
(2021-10-07). Teamsters for a Democratic Union convention looks forward to defeat of old guard. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) held its annual convention from October 1-3 in Chicago. Rank-and-file union activists from around the country traveled there to plan out the next steps for the upcoming international union election. TDU is supporting the reformer O'Brien-Zuckerman slate against the other slate, which is backed by the Hoffa old guard within the Teamsters union. | The O'Brien-Zuckerman slate, also known as the OZ Teamsters United slate, has gained a lot of momentum since announcing their intent to run. Ballots for the international union election are being mailed out on Oc…
(2021-10-07). Tamil activists speak out for rights here and in Sri Lanka. greenleft.org.au Rachel Evans spoke to Tamil refugees and activists Kalyani Inpakumar and Renuga Inpakumar about the continuing persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka and the campaign for rights here.
(2021-10-07). What is happening with COVID-19 vaccination in Tunisia? peoplesdispatch.org A crisis of political governance has complicated the pandemic response in Tunisia. Health activists are demanding that the country's primary health care network be utilized properly for ensuring greater vaccine coverage…
(2021-10-07). Public housing campaigners pre-selected to contest NSW Senate. greenleft.org.au Long-term community and union activists Andrew Chuter and Rachel Evans will run for the Socialist Alliance in the New South Wales Senate. Jim McIlroy reports.
(2021-10-07). 123 Arrested as Climate Activists Block Central Bridge in Finnish Capital. sputniknews.com The demonstrators urge the Finnish government declare a climate emergency and act more forcefully on the climate change, including binding legislation in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, a decade ahead of the government's current goal of 2035.
(2021-10-07). Why Do so many in Congress resist funding Childcare But swoon over F-35s? juancole.com ( Code Pink) — President Biden and the Democratic Congress are facing a crisis as the popular domestic agenda they ran on in the 2020 election is held hostage by two corporate Democratic Senators, fossil-fuel consigliere Joe Manchin and payday-lender favorite Kyrsten Sinema. But the very week before the Dems' $350 billion-per-year domestic package hit …
(2021-10-07). Foreign ministers to honor Ukrainian troops killed in Donbass, Turkish troops killed in Ukraine. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com The Turkish troops to be honored by the foreign ministers of Turkey and Ukraine are presumably those attached to the 15th Corps deployed to Galicia to fight against the Russian Empire, of which contemporary Ukraine was a part. Foreign Minister of Turkey to visit Ukraine During their stay in Lviv, the ministers will lay flowers …
(2021-10-07). Why Does Congress Fight over Childcare but Not F-35s? Fiscal Insanity and The Military Spending Bill. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-07). Congress fights over money for child care — but never questions billions for war. salon.com Most Americans support cuts in military spending to pay for social programs — but somehow that's never on the table…
(2021-10-07). In Video: Houthis Shot Down US-Made Drone Near Border With Saudi Arabia. southfront.org 
Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing | On October 7, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) announced that they had shot down a US-made AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma drone over the border with Saudi Arabia's Jizan province. | Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the Yemeni group, said that the drone was shot down with a "suitable weapon" without elaborating. |
(2021-10-07). Military Situation In Yemen On October 7, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | The Liaison and Coordination Officers' Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 234 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours | On October 6, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 13 airstrikes on the Jubah district | On October 6, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 3 airstrikes on the Abdiyah district | On October 6, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Sarwah district | On October 6, Saudi-led coalition warplanes con…
(2021-10-07). Saudi-led Coalition Says It Destroyed Houthi Drone Launch Site After Attack On Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport. southfront.org 
Illustrative image. | Late on October 6, a suicide drone launched from Yemen, allegedly by the Houthis (Ansar Allah), attacked Abha International Airport in the southern Saudi province of 'Asir. | In a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that the drone was successfully intercepted. The coalition said that four of the airport's workers were wounded by shrapnel from the interception. | "The Houthi attempt to target civilians at Abha's civilian airport constitutes a war crime," the…
(2021-10-07). Yemen: UN votes to end war crimes investigation. middleeasteye.net 
Yemen: UN votes to end war crimes investigation | Rights groups say the vote is a 'green light' for continued 'death and destruction' in Yemen
| Thu, 10/07/2021 – 18: 00 | Forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government hold a position against Houthi fighters in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib on 16 April 2021 (AFP) | The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted against ren…
(2021-10-07). Iran Closes Its Airspace to Azerbaijani Military, Warns Russia to be Wary of Geopolitical Changes in Caucasus. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-07). Russia and Iran Discuss Afghanistan Reconstruction Support. telesurenglish.net On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian met in Moscow. Both countries are interested in promoting further international cooperation to help in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. | RELATED: | Lavrov announced that his country and Iran are coordinating efforts to implement aid initiatives in Afghanistan, a country whose current situation is the resu…
(2021-10-07). Azerbaijan, Turkey conduct more war games near Iranian, Armenian borders. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Turkish, Azerbaijani militaries hold more drills in Nakhchivan Indestructible Brotherhood-2021 includes live-fire tactical exercises by land and air units from the two countries, according to a statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Tuesday evening. "In order to ensure the interoperability of units, troops are constantly monitored from command posts through control systems as well …
(2021-10-07). Iran will never hesitate to help Lebanon: Amir-Abdollahian. en.mehrnews.com After arriving at Beirut airport, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian congratulated the formation of a new government in the country and said that Tehran would never hesitate to help Beirut if requested.
(2021-10-07). The Iran-Azerbaijan Standoff Is a Contest for the Region's Transportation Corridors. strategic-culture.org 
By Pepe ESCOBAR | The last thing the complex, work-in-progress drive towards Eurasian integration needs at this stage is this messy affair between Iran and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus. | Let's start with the Conquerors of Khaybar — the largest Iranian military exercise in two decades held on its northwestern border with Azerbaijan. Zangezur is one of the strategic areas in the competition for connectivity routes in West Asia and the South Caucasus. | Among the deployed Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units there are some serious players, such as the 21st Tabriz Infant…
(2021-10-07). Report: Azerbaijan mulls buying Israeli Arrow-3 interceptor missiles amid tensions with Iran. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Azerbaijan weighs buying Israeli Arrow-3 missile amid Iran tensions Azerbaijan is considering buying Israel's Arrow-3 missile defense system amid tensions with Iran, according to Israel Hayom newspaper. The move would be a major step in typically quiet Israel-Azerbaijan defense ties. Azerbaijan's government began stopping, fining and in at least two cases detaining Iranian vehicles transiting …
(2021-10-07). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Danish nurses continue one-hour pay strikes in defiance of unions and fines; Sunday stoppages continue at ScotRail over overtime rates as rail workers ballot over pay; Iranian sugar plant workers at the Haft Tappeh plant begin indefinite strike over wage arrears and privatisation; South African gold miners threaten pay strike, joining 155,000 striking metalworkers; Nigerian health union sells out resident doctors' strike…
(2021-10-07). IRGC Speedboats Intercepted US Navy Vessel In Persian Gulf (Video). southfront.org 
Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Persian Gulf. FILE IMAGE: IRNA | Speedboats of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had intercepted a vessel of the US Navy in the Persian Gulf, a number of Iranian news sources reported on October 7. | The Iranian state TV aired footage of the incident. The footage shows several Iranian armed speedboats chasing after a Riverine Command Boat (RCB) of the US Navy. The fast assault boat was apparently escorting a US carrier strike group. |
(2021-10-07). Tensions mount between Iran, Azerbaijan in Caucasus. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Tensions mount between Iran, Azerbaijan in Caucasus region Tensions mount between Iran and Azerbaijan as Tehran heckles Baku over its ties with Israel and Baku criticizes Tehran's "provocative" military actions near its borders. Most recently, Iran said Wednesday that it has "serious concerns" about Israel's presence in the Caucasus. The comments came a day after …
(2021-10-07). Flags and towels: Newcastle fans react to Saudi takeover. middleeasteye.net 
Flags and towels: Newcastle fans react to Saudi takeover | Saudi-led takeover of English football club sparks frenzied reactions outside stadium and on social media | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 19: 30 | Newcastle fans added Saudi flags to their Twitter names and put towels on their heads to celebrate the Saudi takeover of their club (MEE/Social media) | Newcastle United fans have reacted to the Saudi takeover…
(2021-10-07). Newcastle United: Hatice Cengiz urges Premier League to stop Saudi Arabia deal. middleeasteye.net 
Newcastle United: Hatice Cengiz urges Premier League to stop Saudi Arabia deal | Widow of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi says she is horrified Saudi-led consortium is close to buying club | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 12: 46 | Cengiz and her legal team are continuing to pursue a lawsuit against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (AFP) | Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashog…
(2021-10-07). Newcastle United: Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of football club confirmed. middleeasteye.net 
Newcastle United: Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of football club confirmed | Deal approved by Premier League despite rights advocates warning kingdom is attempting to 'sportswash' abuses | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 13: 46 | Newcastle United's Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron (C) vies with Sheffield United's English defender Jayden Bogle (R) during the English Premier League football match at St…
(2021-10-07). Newcastle takeover: How close is the Saudi state to the Public Investment Fund? middleeasteye.net 
Newcastle takeover: How close is the Saudi state to the Public Investment Fund? | The English Premier League said it received assurances that the PIF was separate from the Saudi state. But how true are those claims? | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 12: 02 | Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is close to sealing a £300m takeover of Newcastle Football Club, in a deal criticised by rights groups (Reuters) | New…
(2021-10-07). Newcastle takeover: Khashoggi finacee urges Premier League to stop Saudi Arabia deal. middleeasteye.net Newcastle takeover: Khashoggi finacee urges Premier League to stop Saudi Arabia deal | Hatice Cengiz, widow of murdered journalist, says she is horrified Saudi-led consortium is close to buying club | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 12: 46 | Cengiz and her legal team are continuing to pursue a lawsuit against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (AFP) | Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashog…
(2021-10-07). Newcastle United takeover: Saudi Arabia-backed deal close to completion. middleeasteye.net 
Newcastle United takeover: Saudi Arabia-backed deal close to completion | Deal edges nearer after consortium proves to Premier League that Saudi state will not have control of English football club | Thu, 10/07/2021 – 08: 18 | The PIF group, which also includes English financier Amanda Staveley and British billionaires Simon and David Reuben, abandoned a proposed $407m takeover of Newcastl…
(2021-10-07). Cuban Researcher Gets Unesco-L'Oréal Prize For Women in Science. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the cosmetics company L'Oréal awarded the "Young Talent Prize for Women in Science" to Cuba's Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kouri (IPK) researcher Gladys Gutierrez for her investigation on the transmission and evolution of the Zika virus. | RELATED: | "We learned of this award with immense pleasure. Many congratulat…
(2021-10-07). PAHO Helps Cuba to get Green Light from WHO for its Vaccines. orinocotribune.com The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the western hemisphere, is assisting Cuba in the process of obtaining WHO approval for Cuba's COVID vaccines. This step would boost their distribution, said PAHO Deputy Director Jarbas Barbosa. | "We already had a meeting with the WHO team and the vaccine producers," said Barbosa. "And we are going to have other meetings, because our interest is that all [COVID-19] vaccines can participate in the WHO process to receive authorization for emergency use." | Barbosa explained that only vaccines with WHO endorse…
(2021-10-07). Cuba reporta la cifra más baja de contagios en tres meses. telesurtv.net El 56,7 por ciento de la población cubana, cumplen con el esquema completo de vacunación.
(2021-10-07). Venezuela Increases Its Production Amid The US Blockade. telesurenglish.net On Wednesday, President Nicolas Maduro highlighted the increase in national production despite the U.S. arbitrary sanctions against the Venezuelan people. | RELATED: | He announced that the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP) were able to increase their economic efficiency to expand their service to the population. | "They increased their coverage from 6 million to 7 million families," the Bolivarian leader said, expl…
(2021-10-07). Venezuelan Authorities Reopen Colombia Border After More Than Two Years. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro government is hoping to improve trade and investment in the region.