southfront--2020-10-02--Azerbaijan Carries Out Intense Strikes On Armenian Hydropower Plant, Nagorno-Karabakh Capital

On October 2nd , Azerbaijani forces allegedly attacked a hydropower in the north of Armenia ’ s Kashatagh region .
This goes in violation of customary international law principles , which are reflected in Articles 48 and 52 of Protocol I additional to the Geneva Conventions .
Another video was released showing Azerbaijani shelling on the city of Stepanakert .
Another video showed Azerbaijani forward position defeated by the Artsakh ( Nagorno-Karabakh ) army .
The air defense of the Artsakh Armed Forces hit the enemy aircraft in the southern direction at 12:15 , and in the northern direction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two drones .
Battles are being fought in different directions of the front , manpower and armored vehicles of the enemy , in particular tanks , have been destroyed , said Ministry of Defense spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan .
An Azerbaijan T-90S battle tank was also captured .
Meanwhile , there appears to be no end in sight , various countries called to a ceasefire and an end to hostilities , but both Armenia and Azerbaijan have refused such a course of action .
Moscow said Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete ” halt to fighting in Karabakh and said they were ready to intensify diplomatic efforts to help solve the conflict .
“ Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron called on the warring sides to halt fire completely and as soon as possible , de-escalate tensions and show maximum restraint , ” the Kremlin said .
In a telephone call , the two leaders expressed “ readiness ” to see a statement made on behalf of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group — Russia , France and the US — that would call for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and start of talks , it added .
In separate phone conversations with his counterparts from both ex-Soviet countries , Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow ’ s “ readiness ” to organise a meeting .
But neither leader showed signs of being ready for talks .
Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev promised his military would keep fighting until Armenian troops withdraw fully from Karabakh .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said it was not “ very appropriate ” to speak of negotiations “ at a time of intensive hostilities ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of men gathered outside a recruitment office to join the fight .
There are worries that the war could escalate to be even more all-encompassing .
Karabakh ’ s declaration of independence from Azerbaijan sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives , but it is still not recognised as independent by any country , including Armenia .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Don ’ t Be Fooled : Armenia And Azerbaijan Are At War ( 18+ ) • S-300 Downs Azerbaijani UAVs Over Yerevan , With Clashes @ @

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On October 2nd, Azerbaijani forces allegedly attacked a hydropower in the north of Armenia’s Kashatagh region.
This goes in violation of customary international law principles, which are reflected in Articles 48 and 52 of Protocol I additional to the Geneva Conventions.
Another video was released showing Azerbaijani shelling on the city of Stepanakert.
Another video showed Azerbaijani forward position defeated by the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) army.
The air defense of the Artsakh Armed Forces hit the enemy aircraft in the southern direction at 12:15, and in the northern direction in the period from 12:07 to 12:10, two drones.
Battles are being fought in different directions of the front, manpower and armored vehicles of the enemy, in particular tanks, have been destroyed, said Ministry of Defense spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan.
An Azerbaijan T-90S battle tank was also captured.
Meanwhile, there appears to be no end in sight, various countries called to a ceasefire and an end to hostilities, but both Armenia and Azerbaijan have refused such a course of action.
Moscow said Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had called for a “complete” halt to fighting in Karabakh and said they were ready to intensify diplomatic efforts to help solve the conflict.
“Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron called on the warring sides to halt fire completely and as soon as possible, de-escalate tensions and show maximum restraint,” the Kremlin said.
In a telephone call, the two leaders expressed “readiness” to see a statement made on behalf of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group — Russia, France and the US — that would call for an “immediate” end to fighting and start of talks, it added.
In separate phone conversations with his counterparts from both ex-Soviet countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s “readiness” to organise a meeting.
But neither leader showed signs of being ready for talks.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev promised his military would keep fighting until Armenian troops withdraw fully from Karabakh.
If “the Armenian government fulfils the demand, fighting and bloodshed will end, and peace will be established in the region,” he said while visiting wounded soldiers.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said it was not “very appropriate” to speak of negotiations “at a time of intensive hostilities”.
In the Armenian capital Yerevan, dozens of men gathered outside a recruitment office to join the fight.
“We must act to defend our homeland against the aggressor,” said Kamo, a 32-year-old factory worker. “This is our land. We will die before we abandon it.”
There are worries that the war could escalate to be even more all-encompassing.
“We are definitely very close to seeing a large-scale war, possibly even on a regional scale,” said Olesya Vartanyan of the International Crisis Group.
Karabakh’s declaration of independence from Azerbaijan sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives, but it is still not recognised as independent by any country, including Armenia.
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southfront--2020-10-02--SDF Uncovered Wreckage Of U.S. Drone In Northeastern Syria (Photos)

On October 1 , the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) uncovered the wreckage of a drone in the governorate of al-Hasakah .
The wreckage was found near the town of Ain al-Abd , 12 km to the east of Tell Tamer in the northern countryside of the governorate .
The circumstances surrounding the drone ’ s crash remain unclear .
The drone was identified as a U.S.-made “ AAI RQ-7 Shadow.
” The U.S.-led coalition is known to be operating this type of tactical drones over northeastern Syria as well as Iraq .
The RQ-7 Shadow was developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and battle damage assessment .
The drone has an operational range of 109 km and an endurance of 6 to 9 hours .
Currently , the primary load of the aircraft is the Israeli Aircraft Industries POP300 optical system , which consists of a forward-looking infrared camera , a daytime TV camera with a near-infrared filter and a laser pointer .
The U.S.-led coalition lost several RQ-7s during its military campaign against ISIS in northeastern Syria and Iraq .
Some were shot down by the terrorist group .
The drone found near Tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Russian Private Military Contractors In Action Against ISIS In Syria ( Video 18+ )

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On October 1, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) uncovered the wreckage of a drone in the governorate of al-Hasakah.
The wreckage was found near the town of Ain al-Abd, 12 km to the east of Tell Tamer in the northern countryside of the governorate. The circumstances surrounding the drone’s crash remain unclear.
The drone was identified as a U.S.-made “AAI RQ-7 Shadow”. The U.S.-led coalition is known to be operating this type of tactical drones over northeastern Syria as well as Iraq.
The RQ-7 Shadow was developed for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and battle damage assessment. The drone has an operational range of 109 km and an endurance of 6 to 9 hours.
Currently, the primary load of the aircraft is the Israeli Aircraft Industries POP300 optical system, which consists of a forward-looking infrared camera, a daytime TV camera with a near-infrared filter and a laser pointer.
The U.S.-led coalition lost several RQ-7s during its military campaign against ISIS in northeastern Syria and Iraq. Some were shot down by the terrorist group. The drone found near Tell Tamer may have crashed a while ago.
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southfront--2020-10-02--Secretary Pompeo Accuses Russia Of Co-Opting Orthodox Church (Video)

The Atlantic establishment has been openly weaponizing religious matters in its push against conservative societies in Europe and around the world .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a number of accusations against Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church in a press conference during his 2-day visit to Crete this week , where he met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis .
The Secretary began his remarks lauding the establishment of the USS Hershel “ Woody ” Wiliiams expeditionary sea base at Crete ’ s Souda Bay , which symbolizes the expanding U.S.-Greece defense partnership .
Our security cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to destabilize the region , especially in Libya , where the U.S. calls for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces , and support for military de-escalation , and for Libyan reconciliation .
The Prime Minister and I also agree to explore closer cooperation to overcome challenges that Russia poses through malignant influence activities , such as the spread of disinformation on the pandemic and trying to co-opt the Orthodox Church .
The U.S. Department of State played an active and decisive role in Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople ’ s creation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in late 2018 , which led to a break in Eucharistic Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople .
To date , the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the primates of the Alexandrian and Greek Churches have recognized the Ukrainian schismatics , while the majority of Local Orthodox Churches take the same theological-canonical stance as the Russian Church against schisms in the Church , and against the violence routinely carried out by Ukrainian schismatics against the canonical Ukrainian faithful .
Sec .
Pompeo also criticized Russia ’ s Gazprom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian Embassy in Athens quickly responded to Secretary Pompeo , stating : “ This is not the first time that American officials have tried in their public statements to draw Greece to the anti-Russian front .
This kind of anti-Russian hysteria can hardly find a response in the friendly Greek people.
” MORE ON THE TOPIC : • OSCE And Kiev Refuse Russian Request To Record Trilateral Contact Group Meetings , Why ?
• Has Pandora ’ s Box Been Opened In Trans-Caucasia ?

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The Atlantic establishment has been openly weaponizing religious matters in its push against conservative societies in Europe and around the world.
Orthochristian.com reports (source):
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a number of accusations against Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church in a press conference during his 2-day visit to Crete this week, where he met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Secretary began his remarks lauding the establishment of the USS Hershel “Woody” Wiliiams expeditionary sea base at Crete’s Souda Bay, which symbolizes the expanding U.S.-Greece defense partnership.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a joint news conference with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a joint news conference with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Posted by RT on Tuesday, September 29, 2020
He continued:
Our security cooperation today is especially important, as Russia continues to destabilize the region, especially in Libya, where the U.S. calls for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces, and support for military de-escalation, and for Libyan reconciliation. The Prime Minister and I also agree to explore closer cooperation to overcome challenges that Russia poses through malignant influence activities, such as the spread of disinformation on the pandemic and trying to co-opt the Orthodox Church.
The U.S. Department of State played an active and decisive role in Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople’s creation of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” in late 2018, which led to a break in Eucharistic Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
To date, the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the primates of the Alexandrian and Greek Churches have recognized the Ukrainian schismatics, while the majority of Local Orthodox Churches take the same theological-canonical stance as the Russian Church against schisms in the Church, and against the violence routinely carried out by Ukrainian schismatics against the canonical Ukrainian faithful.
Sec. Pompeo also criticized Russia’s Gazprom for having influence in energy supplies
The Russian Embassy in Athens quickly responded to Secretary Pompeo, stating: “This is not the first time that American officials have tried in their public statements to draw Greece to the anti-Russian front. This kind of anti-Russian hysteria can hardly find a response in the friendly Greek people.”
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southfront--2020-10-02--Russian Private Military Contractors In Action Against ISIS In Syria (Video 18+)

The Reverse Side of Medal , a Russian military blog with links to Russian private military contractors , has released @ @ @ @ @ against ISIS terrorists during the campaign in Syria .
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The Reverse Side of Medal, a Russian military blog with links to Russian private military contractors, has released a video showcasing the fight against ISIS terrorists during the campaign in Syria.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-10-02--U.S. Navy Establishes First MQ-25 Stingray Drone Squadron, Despite Having No Drones

As of October 1st , the US Navy ’ s first ever squadron to operate its future MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based unmanned tankers from Boeing is established .
However , it actually doesn ’ t have any MQ-25 Stingray combat drones .
It doesn ’ t expect to fly any more refined prototypes before the end of 2021 .
This unit will be focused in the meantime on training personnel to be as ready as possible to operate and maintain those drones when they begin arriving in the coming years .
The Navy first began the formal processing of standing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abbreviated VUQ-10 , in August , according to an official internal notice .
That document says the official establishment date is October 1st , 2020 , and that the unit is located at Naval Base Ventura Country in California , which includes Naval Air Station Point Mugu .
A detachment of Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 ( VUP-19 ) , the Navy ’ s first MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drone unit , is stationed there .
The notice also says that VUQ-10 is assigned to the Navy ’ s Airborne Command & Control Logistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversees the service ’ s E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound fleets .
The US Navy has , in the past , said that the first two warships that will receive the MQ-25 Stingray drones are the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers – USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS George H.W .
Bush .
The squadron will also be heavily involved in the development of new tactics , techniques , and procedures around the operation of the drones and their place in the Navy ’ s future carrier air wings .
The Navy has said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stingrays , for a total cost of around $ 13 billion , and that it hopes to reach initial operational capability with the type in 2024 .
As of early October 2020 , Boeing is under contract to build four Engineering Development Model ( EDM ) prototypes , the first of which it hopes to deliver in 2021 .
The primary mission of the Stingrays will be to providing aerial refueling support to carrier air wings , a role presently filled by F/A-18E/F Super Hornets carrying buddy refueling stores .
The MQ-25 will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on other missions and otherwise reducing the strain on those aircraft .
The drones are also expected to significantly increase the overall reach of the carrier ’ s fixed wing strike aircraft .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Boeing Completed First Conversion Of F-16 Fighter Jet Into QF-16 Aerial Target Drone

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As of October 1st, the US Navy’s first ever squadron to operate its future MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based unmanned tankers from Boeing is established.
However, it actually doesn’t have any MQ-25 Stingray combat drones.
It doesn’t expect to fly any more refined prototypes before the end of 2021.
This unit will be focused in the meantime on training personnel to be as ready as possible to operate and maintain those drones when they begin arriving in the coming years.
The Navy first began the formal processing of standing up Unmanned Carrier Launched Multi-Role Squadron 10, abbreviated VUQ-10, in August, according to an official internal notice.
That document says the official establishment date is October 1st, 2020, and that the unit is located at Naval Base Ventura Country in California, which includes Naval Air Station Point Mugu.
A detachment of Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), the Navy’s first MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drone unit, is stationed there.
The notice also says that VUQ-10 is assigned to the Navy’s Airborne Command & Control Logistics Wing (ACCLOGWING), which presently oversees the service’s E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound fleets.
The US Navy has, in the past, said that the first two warships that will receive the MQ-25 Stingray drones are the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers – USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS George H.W. Bush.
The squadron will also be heavily involved in the development of new tactics, techniques, and procedures around the operation of the drones and their place in the Navy’s future carrier air wings.
The Navy has said that it expects to buy at least 72 Stingrays, for a total cost of around $13 billion, and that it hopes to reach initial operational capability with the type in 2024.
As of early October 2020, Boeing is under contract to build four Engineering Development Model (EDM) prototypes, the first of which it hopes to deliver in 2021.
The primary mission of the Stingrays will be to providing aerial refueling support to carrier air wings, a role presently filled by F/A-18E/F Super Hornets carrying buddy refueling stores.
The MQ-25 will allow those manned fighter jets to focus on other missions and otherwise reducing the strain on those aircraft. The drones are also expected to significantly increase the overall reach of the carrier’s fixed wing strike aircraft.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-10-02--Assange’s Eighteenth Day at the Old Bailey: Abuse of Power, Breaching Attorney-Client Privilege and

Assange’s Eighteenth Day at the Old Bailey: Abuse of Power, Breaching Attorney-Client Privilege and Adjournment

The Old Bailey has been the venue for a trial that should never have taken place .
But during the course of these extradition proceedings against Julian Assange , the WikiLeaks founder accused by the US Department of Justice for violating the US Espionage Act ( 17 charges ) and one under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act , an impressive battalion of defence witnesses has been called upon .
They have assisted Assange ’ s legal team to build a picture of obscene politicisation , imperial overreach and wanton callousness .
A picture of the detention facilities awaiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alienating brutality of solitary confinement ; likely special administrative measures restraining the detainee ’ s access to legal representation and family ; inadequate health facilities both physical and mental for those at risk of self-harm .
Then came the chilling realisation , made clear on the seventeenth day : that the US intelligence services , through the Spanish security firm UC Global SL , had conducted surveillance of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London , and proposed kidnapping or poisoning a political asylee .
In the court on Thursday , attention turned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peirce , Assange ’ s solicitor , who described brazen breaches of attorney-client privilege .
Trial observers noted how “ extraordinarily difficult ” it had been to follow Peirce ’ s statements , largely because of Judge Vanessa Baraitser ’ s penchant for preventing a full reading in the court .
Despite such stints of constipation , the point of Peirce ’ s submissions was clear enough .
Legally privileged documents were seized from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London .
The Ecuadorean intelligence service was complicit .
Two diplomatic pouches with USB sticks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to Ecuador , then onwards to the United States .
Peirce claimed that , between 2017 and 2018 , three legally privileged meetings were subjected to surveillance without her knowledge .
Assange ’ s Spanish lawyer Aitor Martínez was also the subject of such intrusion , his legal file photographed when absent in a meeting with his client .
The legal team representing Assange had a nagging sense that their gatherings might be monitored .
While not knowing the full extent of such intrusions , “ an exceptionally high level of anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martínez also furnished the court with an update on the criminal investigation against UC Global SL director David Morales , being conducted by Spain ’ s High Court , the Audiencia Nacional .
Morales ’ s part in this sordid matter was much in evidence the day before , when his role in facilitating surveillance of Assange and his embassy meetings , at the behest of his “ American friends ” , was given a generous airing by former employees of his company .
The outcome of that case may well shed light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global with the Central Intelligence Agency and Las Vegas Sands , owned by Trump supporter and Republican donor , Sheldon Adelson .
Testimony from Professor Michael Tigar of Duke Law School was read , drawing parallels between the abuses of power perpetrated by the Nixon administration in 1971 and those of the Trump administration vis-à-vis Assange .
The first case centred on the outcome of President Richard Nixon ’ s attempts to prosecute the Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg .
After the publication of the papers , Nixon ’ s staffers formed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Plumbers , ” a blunt outfit that proceeded to commit crimes with abandon for the unforgettable Committee for the Re-Election of the President ( CREEP ) .
Ellsberg ’ s psychiatrist ’ s office was burgled by the Plumbers in an effort to pilfer his medical files ; Nixon ordered the illegal wiretapping of Ellsberg ; the government then claimed to have mislaid those wiretaps when asked to produce them at trial .
And just to spice things further , US District Court Judge William M. Byrne , Jr. , presiding over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approached by Nixon and his assistant for domestic affairs , John D. Ehrlichman , about the possibility of becoming the FBI ’ s next director .
Judge Byrne could only conclude that the government ’ s actions had “ offended a sense of justice , ” leading him to declare “ a mistrial and grant the motion for dismissal.
” The US intelligence effort against Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London , perpetrated through UC Global ’ s installation of surveillance facilities , threw up richly disturbing similarities .
Confidential files had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been recorded ; over eager proposals for kidnapping or poisoning Assange expressed .
For Ellsberg , this was certainly damning .
“ That ’ s essentially the same information that ended my case and confronted Nixon with impeachment , leading to his resignation.
” Patience on the bench , and among the prosecution team , began to wear thin .
The prosecution , led by James Lewis QC , argued that the defence had run out of time .
Objections mounted , temperatures rose .
Material was excluded .
Judge Baraitser decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness statements addressing the new allegations made in the second superseding indictment served in July .
The statement , argued the defence , was only appropriate to address “ fresh and different ” allegations the prosecution only saw fit to include at a later date .
She also batted away the defence ’ s effort to submit a statement made by US Attorney General William Barr on September 15 , outlining his belief that the executive branch had “ virtually unchecked discretion ” in deciding whether or not to initiate prosecutions .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law is an executive function altogether , ” Barr stated .
“ That means discretion is invested in the executive to determine when to exercise prosecutorial power.
” The ground , then , is being readied for closing arguments by the defence .
Three areas promise to feature .
The first is the heavy air of political motivation in the prosecution of Assange .
Outlets that had published the unredacted cables prior to WikiLeaks doing so on September 2 , 2011 , and left unmolested by the DOJ and law enforcement , suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added the manoeuvrings in the Trump administration , noted in the testimony of Cassandra Fairbanks , about the decision to arrest Assange .
A clear change of heart had manifested in the matter , given the loss of interest shown by the Obama administration in pursuing the publisher .
Coupled with the theory of executive power endorsed by the Attorney General Barr – that such an officer should defer to the views of the presidential office in determining prosecutions – add to claims that this is a politically driven endeavour .
The second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply drawn in the testimony of two anonymous former employees of UC Global .
The third : that Assange , should he be extradited , will face cruel and inhumane treatment .
Frail health and appalling prison conditions at both the pre-trial Alexandria Detention Center , and the post-trial ADX Florence supermax in Colorado , promise to be a debilitating , even lethal mix .
With the evidence now in her possession , Baraitser will have much to get through .
Unfortunately , we are none the wiser about what items of evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The jaw dropping accounts of embassy espionage , suggested poisoning and proposed kidnapping of Assange may be deemed , as the prosecutors insist , irrelevant to the charges at hand .
A date for judgment was also set .
“ Unless any further application for bail is made , and between now and the 4th of January , you will remain in custody for the same reasons as you have been before , ” Baraister explained to Assange .
After the adjournment , Assange ’ s fiancée Stella Moris spoke of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not merely a fight for life but press freedom and truth .
“ This case is already chilling press freedom .
It is a frontal assault on journalism , on the public ’ s right to know and our ability to hold governments , domestic and foreign , to account.
” Moris noted , with pertinence , the prosecution ’ s admission , under oath “ that it has no evidence that a single person has ever come to any physical harm because of these publications .
Let me repeat that : there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has ever come to any physical harm because of these publications.
” Assange was in prison for informing “ you of actual crimes and atrocities being committed by a foreign power .
That foreign power has ripped away his freedom and torn our family apart.
” It was a power determined “ to put him in incommunicado detention in the deepest darkest hole of its prison system for the rest of his life.
” Assange will continue spending time at Belmarsh Prison , one of Britain ’ s most notorious facilities reserved for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He will put in court appearances every 28 days via videolink .
The defence will submit closing arguments on November 16 ; the prosecution will then make its final pitch to convince the court two weeks later .
The legions of press members , writers and scribblers should now ruminate , along with Judge Baraitser , about the consequences of this entire process .
Moris is clear about one of them .
“ The US administration won ’ t stop with him .
The US says that it can put any journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial in the US if it doesn ’ t like what they are publishing.
” Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Assange ’ s Seventeenth Day at the Old Bailey : Embassy Espionage , Contemplated Poisoning and Proposed Kidnapping • Assange ’ s Sixteenth Day at the Old Bailey : Special Administrative Measures , Unreliable Assurances and Espionage • Assange ’ s Fifteenth Day at the Old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Care • Assange ’ s Fourteenth Day at the Old Bailey : Elections , Cracking Passwords and Failures of Proof • Assange ’ s Thirteenth Day at the Old Bailey : Mental Health , Managed Risk and Publication Chronologies • Assange ’ s Twelfth Day at the Old Bailey : Autism , Suicide and Prisons • Assange ’ s Eleventh Day at the Old Bailey : Suicide , Hallucinations and Psychological Torture • Assange ’ s Tenth Day at the Old Bailey : Bolting Horses , Death Penalties and Plots of Eviction • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Old Bailey : Torture Testimonies , Offers of Pardon and Truth Telling • Assange ’ s Eighth Day at the Old Bailey : Software Redactions , the Iraq Logs and the Extradition Act • Assange ’ s Seventh Day at the Old Bailey : Diligent Redactions and Avoiding Harm • Assange ’ s Sixth Day at the Old Bailey : US Prison Conditions and Politicised Prosecutions • Assange ’ s Fourth Day at the Old Bailey : COVID in the Courtroom • Assange ’ s Third Day at the Old Bailey : Bias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assange ’ s Second Day at the Old Bailey : Torture , Drone Strikes and Journalism

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
October 1, 2020. Central Criminal Court, London.
The Old Bailey has been the venue for a trial that should never have taken place. But during the course of these extradition proceedings against Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder accused by the US Department of Justice for violating the US Espionage Act (17 charges) and one under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, an impressive battalion of defence witnesses has been called upon. They have assisted Assange’s legal team to build a picture of obscene politicisation, imperial overreach and wanton callousness.
A picture of the detention facilities awaiting the publisher was painted with fine strokes: the alienating brutality of solitary confinement; likely special administrative measures restraining the detainee’s access to legal representation and family; inadequate health facilities both physical and mental for those at risk of self-harm. Then came the chilling realisation, made clear on the seventeenth day: that the US intelligence services, through the Spanish security firm UC Global SL, had conducted surveillance of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, and proposed kidnapping or poisoning a political asylee.
Peirce and violations of attorney-client privilege
In the court on Thursday, attention turned to written submissions from human rights activist Gareth Peirce, Assange’s solicitor, who described brazen breaches of attorney-client privilege. Trial observers noted how “extraordinarily difficult” it had been to follow Peirce’s statements, largely because of Judge Vanessa Baraitser’s penchant for preventing a full reading in the court.
Despite such stints of constipation, the point of Peirce’s submissions was clear enough. Legally privileged documents were seized from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. The Ecuadorean intelligence service was complicit. Two diplomatic pouches with USB sticks were placed in a diplomatic bag, sent to Ecuador, then onwards to the United States.
Peirce claimed that, between 2017 and 2018, three legally privileged meetings were subjected to surveillance without her knowledge. Assange’s Spanish lawyer Aitor Martínez was also the subject of such intrusion, his legal file photographed when absent in a meeting with his client. The legal team representing Assange had a nagging sense that their gatherings might be monitored. While not knowing the full extent of such intrusions, “an exceptionally high level of anxiety” was present during those meetings.
Martínez also furnished the court with an update on the criminal investigation against UC Global SL director David Morales, being conducted by Spain’s High Court, the Audiencia Nacional. Morales’s part in this sordid matter was much in evidence the day before, when his role in facilitating surveillance of Assange and his embassy meetings, at the behest of his “American friends”, was given a generous airing by former employees of his company. The outcome of that case may well shed light upon an already troubling bridge linking UC Global with the Central Intelligence Agency and Las Vegas Sands, owned by Trump supporter and Republican donor, Sheldon Adelson.
Tigar’s testimony and abuse of power
Testimony from Professor Michael Tigar of Duke Law School was read, drawing parallels between the abuses of power perpetrated by the Nixon administration in 1971 and those of the Trump administration vis-à-vis Assange.
The first case centred on the outcome of President Richard Nixon’s attempts to prosecute the Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. After the publication of the papers, Nixon’s staffers formed a covert unit known as the “White House Plumbers,” a blunt outfit that proceeded to commit crimes with abandon for the unforgettable Committee for the Re-Election of the President (CREEP). Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office was burgled by the Plumbers in an effort to pilfer his medical files; Nixon ordered the illegal wiretapping of Ellsberg; the government then claimed to have mislaid those wiretaps when asked to produce them at trial. And just to spice things further, US District Court Judge William M. Byrne, Jr., presiding over Ellsberg’s trial, was also approached by Nixon and his assistant for domestic affairs, John D. Ehrlichman, about the possibility of becoming the FBI’s next director. Judge Byrne could only conclude that the government’s actions had “offended a sense of justice,” leading him to declare “a mistrial and grant the motion for dismissal.”
The US intelligence effort against Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, perpetrated through UC Global’s installation of surveillance facilities, threw up richly disturbing similarities. Confidential files had been accessed; privileged conversations with lawyers had been recorded; over eager proposals for kidnapping or poisoning Assange expressed. For Ellsberg, this was certainly damning. “That’s essentially the same information that ended my case and confronted Nixon with impeachment, leading to his resignation.”
Baraitser’s exclusions
Patience on the bench, and among the prosecution team, began to wear thin. The prosecution, led by James Lewis QC, argued that the defence had run out of time. Objections mounted, temperatures rose. Material was excluded. Judge Baraitser decided to exclude one of Peirce’s witness statements addressing the new allegations made in the second superseding indictment served in July. The statement, argued the defence, was only appropriate to address “fresh and different” allegations the prosecution only saw fit to include at a later date.
She also batted away the defence’s effort to submit a statement made by US Attorney General William Barr on September 15, outlining his belief that the executive branch had “virtually unchecked discretion” in deciding whether or not to initiate prosecutions. “The power to execute and enforce the law is an executive function altogether,” Barr stated. “That means discretion is invested in the executive to determine when to exercise prosecutorial power.”
Readying the ground
The ground, then, is being readied for closing arguments by the defence. Three areas promise to feature. The first is the heavy air of political motivation in the prosecution of Assange. Outlets that had published the unredacted cables prior to WikiLeaks doing so on September 2, 2011, and left unmolested by the DOJ and law enforcement, suggest distinct targeting. To this can be added the manoeuvrings in the Trump administration, noted in the testimony of Cassandra Fairbanks, about the decision to arrest Assange. A clear change of heart had manifested in the matter, given the loss of interest shown by the Obama administration in pursuing the publisher. Coupled with the theory of executive power endorsed by the Attorney General Barr – that such an officer should defer to the views of the presidential office in determining prosecutions – add to claims that this is a politically driven endeavour.
The second focuses on an abuse of power, sharply drawn in the testimony of two anonymous former employees of UC Global. The third: that Assange, should he be extradited, will face cruel and inhumane treatment. Frail health and appalling prison conditions at both the pre-trial Alexandria Detention Center, and the post-trial ADX Florence supermax in Colorado, promise to be a debilitating, even lethal mix.
With the evidence now in her possession, Baraitser will have much to get through. Unfortunately, we are none the wiser about what items of evidence her judicial mind will accept or reject. The jaw dropping accounts of embassy espionage, suggested poisoning and proposed kidnapping of Assange may be deemed, as the prosecutors insist, irrelevant to the charges at hand.
A date for judgment was also set. “Unless any further application for bail is made, and between now and the 4th of January, you will remain in custody for the same reasons as you have been before,” Baraister explained to Assange.
After the adjournment, Assange’s fiancée Stella Moris spoke of the highest of stakes, of this being not merely a fight for life but press freedom and truth. “This case is already chilling press freedom. It is a frontal assault on journalism, on the public’s right to know and our ability to hold governments, domestic and foreign, to account.”
Moris noted, with pertinence, the prosecution’s admission, under oath “that it has no evidence that a single person has ever come to any physical harm because of these publications. Let me repeat that: there is no evidence that a single person has ever come to any physical harm because of these publications.” Assange was in prison for informing “you of actual crimes and atrocities being committed by a foreign power. That foreign power has ripped away his freedom and torn our family apart.” It was a power determined “to put him in incommunicado detention in the deepest darkest hole of its prison system for the rest of his life.”
Assange will continue spending time at Belmarsh Prison, one of Britain’s most notorious facilities reserved for only the most hardened species of criminal. He will put in court appearances every 28 days via videolink. The defence will submit closing arguments on November 16; the prosecution will then make its final pitch to convince the court two weeks later. The legions of press members, writers and scribblers should now ruminate, along with Judge Baraitser, about the consequences of this entire process. Moris is clear about one of them. “The US administration won’t stop with him. The US says that it can put any journalist, anywhere in the world, on trial in the US if it doesn’t like what they are publishing.”
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-10-02--Don’t Be Fooled: Armenia And Azerbaijan Are At War (18+)

On October 1st , Azerbaijan released a hype video for the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh .
There is really no way around it , it is war between Armenia and Azerbaijan .
The video to even the not-so-keen-eyed observer strongly resembles the videos of groups such as ISIS who claimed to conquer ever increasing pieces of land for their Caliphate , as a plain example .
This is an example of very common war propaganda .
Below is also a pro-Azerbaijani map of control , showing some generous progress .
It also shows how big of a portion of Nagorno-Karabakh and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are skeptical of the situation and call it simply hostilities , below are some videos to provide a clearer view of what war is : The first one provides an idea of the situation on the battlefield on September 30th : The following videos show various airstrikes and drone strikes by the Azerbaijan side , strongly resembling actions by various sides in the Syrian war and others .
And if there are those still skeptical , here are the more sensitive videos and photographs .
Since this is not only equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these are soldiers being killed and wounded in the thousands .
A group of Azerbaijani servicemen were killed at the front in Karabakh .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • S-300 Downs Azerbaijani UAVs Over Yerevan , With Clashes Ramping Up

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On October 1st, Azerbaijan released a hype video for the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.
There is really no way around it, it is war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The video to even the not-so-keen-eyed observer strongly resembles the videos of groups such as ISIS who claimed to conquer ever increasing pieces of land for their Caliphate, as a plain example.
This is an example of very common war propaganda.
Below is also a pro-Azerbaijani map of control, showing some generous progress.
It also shows how big of a portion of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia should be captured.
And for those who are skeptical of the situation and call it simply hostilities, below are some videos to provide a clearer view of what war is:
The first one provides an idea of the situation on the battlefield on September 30th:
The following videos show various airstrikes and drone strikes by the Azerbaijan side, strongly resembling actions by various sides in the Syrian war and others.
Captured Azerbaijan equipment:
And if there are those still skeptical, here are the more sensitive videos and photographs. Since this is not only equipment being destroyed, and UAVs being downed, these are soldiers being killed and wounded in the thousands.
A group of Azerbaijani servicemen were killed at the front in Karabakh.
An Armenian military column, reportedly eliminated on September 27th:
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southfront--2020-10-02--Kremlin Alleges Navalny Is “Working With CIA” After Bombshell Charge: ‘Putin Poisoned Me!’

The controversy and mystery surrounding the alleged poisoning of Russian activist and opposition figure Alexey Navalny just escalated dramatically upon the first published full media interview with Navalny , who after recovering in a German hospital was recently released .
The bombshell interview with German newsmagazine Der Spiegel hit the web Thursday .
Navalny alleged directly that Putin was behind the poisoning , saying he had “ no other explanation for what happened.
” “ Putin is behind the crime , ” Navalny said in the newly published interview .
“ I have no other versions of the crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself , but on the basis of facts.
” And for the first time he described harrowing details aboard the Russian flight where he fell unconscious : Navalny has only recently fully recovered and left the hospital .
Much of the interview was focused on Germany ’ s intervention in the saga , which began with an emergency medical transport flight across Russian borders and all the way to Berlin , where he was later even visited by Chancellor Angela Merkel .
“ They were waiting for me to die , ” Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poisoned him .
“ The Russian leadership has developed such an inclination to poison that it will not stop so soon , ” he said .
“ My medical history will yet become instructive.
” This after German officials last month alleged the poison was from the ‘ Novichok ’ family — a Cold War era military grade nerve-agent which was developed only by the Soviet Union , which critics of the story say is bizarre given how “ obvious ” Russian fingerprints behind such an “ assassination attempt ” would be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assert that Putin was behind the crime.
” And there ’ s also the fact that prior to the alleged poisoning of a ‘ popular opposition leader ’ the reality is that a huge chunk of the Russian population may have never heard of him : Der Spiegel acknowledges at one point in the interview that prior to the poisoning incident , he was largely unknown to Europe or the rest of the world : The Kremlin has an explanation , apparently .
Within hours after Navalny pointing the finger directly at President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this was all “ probably ” a CIA operation .
The official Russian response is now being widely reported via state media sources : Western intelligence agencies – in particular , agents from the American CIA – are working with Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny , Vladimir Putin ’ s spokesman alleged on Thursday .
“ Probably , it is not the patient [ Navalny ] who works for the Western special services , but that the Western intelligence services who work with him – this would be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dmitry Peskov explained .
“ I can even be specific : these days , specialists from the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) of the United States of America are working with him.
” “ This isn ’ t the first time he ’ s been given different instructions , ” the spokesman continued .
“ The instructions given to the patient are obvious .
We have seen such patterns of behavior on more than one occasion.
” This bombshell accusation against Navalny also comes after Russia has been persistent in demanding further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It appears the statement also referenced the “ pattern ” of accusations which surrounded the Skripal case in the UK .
Also on the question of Navalny being an “ exile ” from Russia , Peskov emphasized he can return to his homeland at any time .
“ Any citizen of Russia can return to his homeland at any time , ” the Kremlin spokesman said .
“ Treatment can take place in our country , in fact , almost all people avail of this .
Lives are saved in our country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also saved in Russia .
”

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
The controversy and mystery surrounding the alleged poisoning of Russian activist and opposition figure Alexey Navalny just escalated dramatically upon the first published full media interview with Navalny, who after recovering in a German hospital was recently released. The bombshell interview with German newsmagazine Der Spiegel hit the web Thursday. Navalny alleged directly that Putin was behind the poisoning, saying he had “no other explanation for what happened.”
“Putin is behind the crime,” Navalny said in the newly published interview. “I have no other versions of the crime. I am not saying this to flatter myself, but on the basis of facts.” And for the first time he described harrowing details aboard the Russian flight where he fell unconscious:
“I leave the toilet, turn to the steward – and instead of asking for help, I say, to my own surprise: ‘I’ve been poisoned. I’m dying.’ And then I lay down on the ground in front of him to die.”
Navalny has only recently fully recovered and left the hospital. Much of the interview was focused on Germany’s intervention in the saga, which began with an emergency medical transport flight across Russian borders and all the way to Berlin, where he was later even visited by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“They were waiting for me to die,” Navalny said of the Russians who he says poisoned him. “The Russian leadership has developed such an inclination to poison that it will not stop so soon,” he said. “My medical history will yet become instructive.”
This after German officials last month alleged the poison was from the ‘Novichok’ family — a Cold War era military grade nerve-agent which was developed only by the Soviet Union, which critics of the story say is bizarre given how “obvious” Russian fingerprints behind such an “assassination attempt” would be.
Navalny tells Der Spiegel: “I assert that Putin was behind the crime.”
Now in English: Alexei Navalny on His Poisoning: "I Assert that Putin Was Behind the Crime" @derspiegel https://t.co/JBIgDo5LiE — Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) October 1, 2020
And there’s also the fact that prior to the alleged poisoning of a ‘popular opposition leader’ the reality is that a huge chunk of the Russian population may have never heard of him:
The ‘western’ media jumped onto the ‘Navalny was poisoned’ claim to heap the usual trash on Russia. They also claimed that Navalny is the ‘opposition leader’ in Russia even as he polls at 2% which is lower than the leader of the communist party and several other real opposition politicians.
Der Spiegel acknowledges at one point in the interview that prior to the poisoning incident, he was largely unknown to Europe or the rest of the world:
One of the startling things in the Navalny interview is how conscious he is of the geopolitical significance of his rescue by Germanyhttps://t.co/0QOyfDUTT2 pic.twitter.com/Xe6j9pmsxt — Doug Saunders (@DougSaunders) October 1, 2020
The Kremlin has an explanation, apparently. Within hours after Navalny pointing the finger directly at President Putin, the Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this was all “probably” a CIA operation.
The official Russian response is now being widely reported via state media sources:
Western intelligence agencies – in particular, agents from the American CIA – are working with Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman alleged on Thursday. “Probably, it is not the patient [Navalny] who works for the Western special services, but that the Western intelligence services who work with him – this would be more correct [to say],” Dmitry Peskov explained. “I can even be specific: these days, specialists from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States of America are working with him.” “This isn’t the first time he’s been given different instructions,” the spokesman continued. “The instructions given to the patient are obvious. We have seen such patterns of behavior on more than one occasion.”
This bombshell accusation against Navalny also comes after Russia has been persistent in demanding further, independently obtained evidence from Germany. It appears the statement also referenced the “pattern” of accusations which surrounded the Skripal case in the UK.
Also on the question of Navalny being an “exile” from Russia, Peskov emphasized he can return to his homeland at any time.
“Any citizen of Russia can return to his homeland at any time,” the Kremlin spokesman said. “Treatment can take place in our country, in fact, almost all people avail of this. Lives are saved in our country, and the life of this patient was also saved in Russia.”
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southfront--2020-10-02--Trump Tests Positive For COVID-19, Hours After He Says End Of Pandemic “Round The Corner”

On October 1st , it all began with Hope Hicks , US President Donald Trump ’ s top aid tested positive for COVID-19 .
Immediately , Trump who has repeatedly downplayed COVID-19 said he would self-quarantine .
Well , just hours later , Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump both have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The diagnosis amounts to the most serious known health threat to a sitting American president in decades .
Later , the first lady wrote on Twitter that she and her husband were “ feeling good.
” Trump was last seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , returning to the White House after a fundraising trip to New Jersey .
He did not appear ill , though he did not speak to reporters as he walked into his residence .
In a memo issued to reporters after midnight , the President ’ s physician , Navy Cmdr .
Dr. Sean Conley , wrote that he received confirmation of the positive tests .
“ The President and First Lady are both well at this time , and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch , and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country ’ s greatest medical professionals and institutions , ” Conley wrote , without elaborating what assistance was being provided to the White House .
“ Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering , and I will keep you updated on any further developments , ” he wrote .
Trump , notably , said that the end of the pandemic was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After announcing the President ’ s diagnosis , the White House issued a new schedule to reflect several canceled events , including a fundraiser in Washington and a campaign rally in Florida .
The scrubbed plans were the most immediate effects of the President ’ s diagnosis on the presidential campaign , which has centered largely on the pandemic and the President ’ s response to it .
Trump has frequently sought to paint a rosy picture of the current situation , including just hours before he announced his diagnosis .
Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounding the corner ” on the disease and claimed the virus would “ disappear , ” though even health experts within his own administration said those claims did not reflect reality .
Rather ironic , one could say .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Trump Denounces China ’ s COVID-19 ‘ Lies ’ In Fiery UN Address After Xi Swiped At US “ Bully Of The World ”

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On October 1st, it all began with Hope Hicks, US President Donald Trump’s top aid tested positive for COVID-19.
Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Immediately, Trump who has repeatedly downplayed COVID-19 said he would self-quarantine.
Well, just hours later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump both have tested positive for COVID-19.
The diagnosis amounts to the most serious known health threat to a sitting American president in decades.
“At 74 years old and obese, Trump falls into the highest risk category for serious complications from the disease, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans and more than 1 million people worldwide,” CNN reported.
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Later, the first lady wrote on Twitter that she and her husband were “feeling good.”
Trump was last seen in public on the afternoon of October 2nd, returning to the White House after a fundraising trip to New Jersey. He did not appear ill, though he did not speak to reporters as he walked into his residence.
In a memo issued to reporters after midnight, the President’s physician, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley, wrote that he received confirmation of the positive tests.
“The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,” Conley wrote. “The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions,” Conley wrote, without elaborating what assistance was being provided to the White House. “Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any further developments,” he wrote.
Trump, notably, said that the end of the pandemic was in sight just hours after testing positive.
“The end of the pandemic is in sight,” he said during prerecorded remarks at the annual Al Smith dinner, held virtually because of the health crisis.
After announcing the President’s diagnosis, the White House issued a new schedule to reflect several canceled events, including a fundraiser in Washington and a campaign rally in Florida.
The scrubbed plans were the most immediate effects of the President’s diagnosis on the presidential campaign, which has centered largely on the pandemic and the President’s response to it. Trump has frequently sought to paint a rosy picture of the current situation, including just hours before he announced his diagnosis.
Trump has also repeatedly insisted the country is “rounding the corner” on the disease and claimed the virus would “disappear,” though even health experts within his own administration said those claims did not reflect reality.
Rather ironic, one could say.
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southfront--2020-10-02--Biden vs Trump: Stoppable Force Meets Movable Object

President Trump is entering the election with some pretty stupendous headwinds impeding his path to re-election .
Or , specifically , one really strong headwind in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis that is actually giving the otherwise quite unelectable Joe Biden a real shot at the big prize .
To be sure , the pandemic ’ s heavy damage to the United States has been due to dissipation of authority among three branches of government and the fifty states , all of which are fighting to preserve own turn , prerogatives , and political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own inexperience as an administrator and executive , combined with his Vice President Mike Pence ’ s ideological aversion to anything resembling a big federal government program , made the problem considerably worse .
Trump ’ s unparalleled ability as a self-promoter , as a cheerleader and booster for own successes , real or imagined , was poorly suited to putting a positive spin on a undeniably bad situation .
The 200,000 hundred of deaths , the major recession , the sharp increase in the US national debt and individual states facing bankruptcy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major disadvantage that a solid Democratic Party challenger could have turned into a landslide victory .
Well , luckily for Trump , the Democrats stubbornly refused to nominate such a candidate , opting instead for someone who has a credible shot at the Presidency only because of Trump ’ s obvious above-mentioned failings .
If it weren ’ t for the COVID-19 pandemic , Trump would be in all likelihood cruising to an easy re-election victory over Joe Biden .
The pandemic gave Biden a shot at the presidency he would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than that .
Former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s biggest obstacles on the path to Presidency are the perception that he might be in the early stages of dementia or some other degenerative disease gradually depriving him of his once quite sharp mental qualities , and his ( and his party ’ s ) deliberate move to the Right by courting conservatives and actual Republicans , rather than the Left wing of the Democratic Party .
Indeed , Trump campaign propaganda notwithstanding , it does seem the 2020 Biden is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thinking-on-his-feet campaigner that the 2008 and even 2016 Biden was .
In contrast with Trump ’ s aggressive campaigning style which includes lengthy press conferences , Biden has avoided public rallies and even anything resembling major unscripted interviews .
Such Biden appearances as did take place were in carefully controlled settings , with Biden apparently providing scripted answers off teleprompters to questions posed by reporters with well known preference for Biden .
The relative vitality of the two candidates was plainly visible in the first debate , where Trump ’ s forceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rather quieter , more feeble voice .
Trump ’ s well-practiced “ alpha male ” personality also allowed him to appear as the more dominant personality of the two .
But possibly more worrisome for the Democrats is the “ enthusiasm gap ” in Trump ’ s favor that has been documented by a number of surveys and which undermines Biden ’ s 5-10 percentage point lead in most polls .
To the extent that voters prefer Biden , it ’ s because they are utterly opposed to a second Trump term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the Biden-Harris presidency is likely to deliver .
With a career in public life , most of it in the US Senate and the Vice Presidency , nearly five decades long , there is no aura of mystery and hope that surrounds Biden of the sort that surrounded the young newcomer Obama .
Being an elderly White Anglo-Saxon male , Biden can not claim to be a pioneering candidate in any way , which actually puts him at a disadvantage in comparison even with Hillary Clinton whose political fortunes benefited tremendously from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female President of the United States .
Biden could have overcome these deficits in the same way that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders did , namely by adopting a campaign platform that was enormously appealing to the party ’ s Left .
However , Biden has refused to do anything of the kind .
If anything , he has moved rightward , soliciting and obtaining endorsements of a variety of prominent Republicans .
Even when it comes to actual campaigning , the most punchy and effective campaign commercials on behalf of Biden have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is run by career Republican operatives .
The “ Black Lives Matter ” protests which are roiling the United States and which frequently escalate to rioting and looting have also placed Biden on the horns of a difficult dilemma to resolve .
Embracing the BLM movement would expose him to attacks he is a member of the “ radical Left ” , to use Trump ’ s own phrase , but would at least energize the very same disenchanted leftist voters who stayed at home in 2016 and did not vote for Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not think that she was committed to issues near and dear to their hearts .
Coming out in favor of “ law and order ” , much as Trump did , threatens to alienate these very same voters .
It is no accident that Trump ’ s support among African-American voters is higher than it was in 2016 , when he was running against Hillary .
Biden ’ s history of writing “ crime bills ” that had the effect of disproportionally imprisoning African-Americans , combined with his selection of the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to win even in California during the 2020 primaries precisely because of her harsh law enforcement track record , could come back to haunt him in November by demoralizing his voting base that he so badly needs .
Similarly , Biden has not moved to embrace the key issues of importance to the Left wing of the Democrats , such as Medicare for All , Green New Deal , and Defund the Police .
Instead , Biden has emphatically and explicitly rejected all of them , including during the first debate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joe Biden was and is the “ pro-war ” candidate .
An unapologetic supporter of the invasion of Iraq and an ardent “ Russia-gater ” , Biden ’ s approach to foreign policy is the same promotion of “ American Leadership ” interventionism that already cost Hillary Clinton first her 2008 nomination battle and then in 2016 the presidency , the first to Barack Obama and the second to Donald Trump .
Meet the New Boss , Same as the Old Boss ?
The incredible weakness of the party duopoly candidates means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose if faced by a young , competent candidate actually addressing popular concerns , in actuality the race remains closely tied .
Given the problems with polling , with Trump supporters reticent to express their honest views to “ fake news ” pollsters and the enthusiasm gap detailed earlier , Biden ’ s lead in the polls could translate into a statistical draw during the actual election .
Moreover , the election night could end with a Trump lead that would be gradually eroded later as absentee ballots were counted .
This situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges by both sides .
And no matter who the winner is , he will preside over a deeply divided country beset by enormous internal problems , with a substantial portion of the electorate denying his victory ’ s legitimacy .
In policy terms , the Biden-Harris administration will herald a shift toward fiscal austerity combined with more law and order policies .
Internationally , its foreign policy team might be less chaotic than Trump ’ s , and possibly also more able to pursue compromise with Russia and/or China .
Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he could “ pull a Nixon ” and go to Moscow to address some of the thornier issues between the two countries , possibly including the extension of the New START nuclear arms control treaty which could herald turning a new leaf in US-Russia relations .
However , Biden ’ s age and progressing incapacity will probably mean his will be a “ caretaker ” administration giving the failing “ Reganomics ” approach another lease on life and postponing the decision on America ’ s future course for another four years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

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Written by J.Hawk exclusively for SouthFront
Donald Trumped?
President Trump is entering the election with some pretty stupendous headwinds impeding his path to re-election. Or, specifically, one really strong headwind in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis that is actually giving the otherwise quite unelectable Joe Biden a real shot at the big prize. To be sure, the pandemic’s heavy damage to the United States has been due to dissipation of authority among three branches of government and the fifty states, all of which are fighting to preserve own turn, prerogatives, and political agendas. However, Trump’s own inexperience as an administrator and executive, combined with his Vice President Mike Pence’s ideological aversion to anything resembling a big federal government program, made the problem considerably worse. Trump’s unparalleled ability as a self-promoter, as a cheerleader and booster for own successes, real or imagined, was poorly suited to putting a positive spin on a undeniably bad situation. The 200,000 hundred of deaths, the major recession, the sharp increase in the US national debt and individual states facing bankruptcy, all of that placed Trump as a major disadvantage that a solid Democratic Party challenger could have turned into a landslide victory. Well, luckily for Trump, the Democrats stubbornly refused to nominate such a candidate, opting instead for someone who has a credible shot at the Presidency only because of Trump’s obvious above-mentioned failings.
Biden His Time
If it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump would be in all likelihood cruising to an easy re-election victory over Joe Biden. The pandemic gave Biden a shot at the presidency he would not otherwise have had, but not much more than that.
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s biggest obstacles on the path to Presidency are the perception that he might be in the early stages of dementia or some other degenerative disease gradually depriving him of his once quite sharp mental qualities, and his (and his party’s) deliberate move to the Right by courting conservatives and actual Republicans, rather than the Left wing of the Democratic Party. Indeed, Trump campaign propaganda notwithstanding, it does seem the 2020 Biden is not the same relatively lucid, energetic, and thinking-on-his-feet campaigner that the 2008 and even 2016 Biden was. In contrast with Trump’s aggressive campaigning style which includes lengthy press conferences, Biden has avoided public rallies and even anything resembling major unscripted interviews. Such Biden appearances as did take place were in carefully controlled settings, with Biden apparently providing scripted answers off teleprompters to questions posed by reporters with well known preference for Biden. The relative vitality of the two candidates was plainly visible in the first debate, where Trump’s forceful, clear delivery contrasted with Biden’s rather quieter, more feeble voice. Trump’s well-practiced “alpha male” personality also allowed him to appear as the more dominant personality of the two.
But possibly more worrisome for the Democrats is the “enthusiasm gap” in Trump’s favor that has been documented by a number of surveys and which undermines Biden’s 5-10 percentage point lead in most polls. To the extent that voters prefer Biden, it’s because they are utterly opposed to a second Trump term, not because they are rapturous about what the Biden-Harris presidency is likely to deliver. With a career in public life, most of it in the US Senate and the Vice Presidency, nearly five decades long, there is no aura of mystery and hope that surrounds Biden of the sort that surrounded the young newcomer Obama. Being an elderly White Anglo-Saxon male, Biden cannot claim to be a pioneering candidate in any way, which actually puts him at a disadvantage in comparison even with Hillary Clinton whose political fortunes benefited tremendously from the prospect of her becoming the first female President of the United States. Biden could have overcome these deficits in the same way that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders did, namely by adopting a campaign platform that was enormously appealing to the party’s Left. However, Biden has refused to do anything of the kind. If anything, he has moved rightward, soliciting and obtaining endorsements of a variety of prominent Republicans. Even when it comes to actual campaigning, the most punchy and effective campaign commercials on behalf of Biden have been delivered by the Lincoln Project, which is run by career Republican operatives.
The “Black Lives Matter” protests which are roiling the United States and which frequently escalate to rioting and looting have also placed Biden on the horns of a difficult dilemma to resolve. Embracing the BLM movement would expose him to attacks he is a member of the “radical Left”, to use Trump’s own phrase, but would at least energize the very same disenchanted leftist voters who stayed at home in 2016 and did not vote for Hillary Clinton because they, quite correctly, did not think that she was committed to issues near and dear to their hearts. Coming out in favor of “law and order”, much as Trump did, threatens to alienate these very same voters. It is no accident that Trump’s support among African-American voters is higher than it was in 2016, when he was running against Hillary. Biden’s history of writing “crime bills” that had the effect of disproportionally imprisoning African-Americans, combined with his selection of the former California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who failed to win even in California during the 2020 primaries precisely because of her harsh law enforcement track record, could come back to haunt him in November by demoralizing his voting base that he so badly needs. Similarly, Biden has not moved to embrace the key issues of importance to the Left wing of the Democrats, such as Medicare for All, Green New Deal, and Defund the Police. Instead, Biden has emphatically and explicitly rejected all of them, including during the first debate with Donald Trump.
Last but not least, Joe Biden was and is the “pro-war” candidate. An unapologetic supporter of the invasion of Iraq and an ardent “Russia-gater”, Biden’s approach to foreign policy is the same promotion of “American Leadership” interventionism that already cost Hillary Clinton first her 2008 nomination battle and then in 2016 the presidency, the first to Barack Obama and the second to Donald Trump.
Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss?
The incredible weakness of the party duopoly candidates means that, while either of them would lose if faced by a young, competent candidate actually addressing popular concerns, in actuality the race remains closely tied. Given the problems with polling, with Trump supporters reticent to express their honest views to “fake news” pollsters and the enthusiasm gap detailed earlier, Biden’s lead in the polls could translate into a statistical draw during the actual election. Moreover, the election night could end with a Trump lead that would be gradually eroded later as absentee ballots were counted. This situation is liable to lead to major legal challenges by both sides. And no matter who the winner is, he will preside over a deeply divided country beset by enormous internal problems, with a substantial portion of the electorate denying his victory’s legitimacy.
In policy terms, the Biden-Harris administration will herald a shift toward fiscal austerity combined with more law and order policies. Internationally, its foreign policy team might be less chaotic than Trump’s, and possibly also more able to pursue compromise with Russia and/or China. Biden’s “Russiagate” credentials are such that he could “pull a Nixon” and go to Moscow to address some of the thornier issues between the two countries, possibly including the extension of the New START nuclear arms control treaty which could herald turning a new leaf in US-Russia relations. However, Biden’s age and progressing incapacity will probably mean his will be a “caretaker” administration giving the failing “Reganomics” approach another lease on life and postponing the decision on America’s future course for another four years, at least.
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southfront--2020-10-02--First US Presidential Debate Degenerates Into Unruly Slanging Match

The first of three debates between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden was held on Tuesday night .
The debate , held in Cleveland Ohio , was moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News .
The topics covered included Trump ’ s and Biden ’ s political records , the Supreme Court , COVID-19 , the economy , race and violence in US cities , and the integrity of the electoral process itself .
In addition to two more scheduled debates between Trump and Biden , vice presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris will also meet for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate between US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden was tense from the outset , and quickly degenerated into an unruly exchange of criticisms and insults , though most analysts agreed that Trump was more disruptive .
Moderator Chris Wallace never managed to establish control over the debate , with Trump repeatedly ignoring his calls to let Biden speak .
The two White House contenders talked over each other and repeatedly exchanged insults and derogatory comments , undermining efforts to focus on fundamental political and economic records and objectives .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Democrats were trying to steal the November presidential election , and declined to criticize white supremacist groups when asked to do so .
The two candidates traded accusations about the adequacy of the US response to the coronavirus pandemic , health care policies , the pending appointment of a Supreme Court magistrate , and the economy , interspersed with criticisms of each others ’ political records , achievements and gaffes .
Trump was asked whether he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups and instead of directly answering the question , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in US cities almost exclusively on ‘ left-wing groups ’ .
“ Are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence or the number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha , and as we ’ ve seen in Portland ?
” moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump .
“ I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing , not from the right , ” Trump responded .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see peace.
” “ Then do it sir , ” Wallace urged Trump before his Democratic challenger , Joe Biden , chimed in .
“ Do it , do it .
Say it , ” said Biden .
Trump shot back , “ You want to call them .
What do you want to call them ?
Give me a name.
” Biden said , “ Proud Boys , ” referring to a right-wing group .
Wallace asked both candidates if they would urge their supporters to remain calm and not take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close .
Trump said he was urging his supporters to be vigilant about the actual voting on election day .
“ I am urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully , ” Trump said .
Biden said Trump “ has no idea what he ’ s talking about ” .
“ Once the winner is declared after all the ballots are counted , that will be the end of it , ” Biden said .
Trump and Biden , prompted by a question on election integrity from Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be counted properly .
Trump continued to cast doubt on the accuracy of mail ballots .
Biden was sharply critical of Trump ’ s record on the coronavirus pandemic which has killed more than 200,000 Americans , accusing him of failing to protect Americans because he was more concerned about the economy .
“ He panicked or he looked at the stock market , ” Biden said of Trump , who has pushed for states to reopen their economies and played down the threat of the pandemic .
“ A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to die unless he gets a lot smarter , a lot quicker , ” Biden said .
Trump objected to Biden using the word “ smart ” and defended his approach on the pandemic , claiming he did “ a great job ” and that “ millions ” would have died had his challenger been in office .
Trump defended his effort to rapidly appoint a new member to the US Supreme Court seat , saying that he had the right to appoint a new judge despite Democratic objections .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , elections have consequences .
We have the Senate and we have the White House and we have a phenomenal nominee respected by all , ” Trump said in defence of his nominee , conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
Biden said the seat of the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be filled after the election , when it was clear who the president would be .
“ We should wait , we should wait and see what the outcome of this election is , ” Biden said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would endanger the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare .
Trump is moving quickly to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court , hoping to secure a 6-3 conservative majority on the court .
Trump accused Biden of not supporting law enforcement .
Biden countered the claim , accusing Trump of racism , and of stoking unrest .
“ If he ever got to run this country and they ran it the way he would want to run it … Our suburbs would be gone , ” Trump said , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I was raised in the suburbs .
This is not the 1950s .
All these dog whistles and racism don ’ t work any more .
The suburbs are by and large integrated , ” Biden said .
Trump wants to “ rile everybody up .
He doesn ’ t want to calm things down .
I ’ m saying let ’ s get everybody together , figure out how to deal with this .
What he ’ s doing , he just pours gasoline on the fire constantly at every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump also brought up Biden ’ s son Hunter , whose business dealings in China and the Ukraine have brought allegations of influence peddling and conflicts of interest .
Shortly before the debate started , Biden released his 2019 tax returns and his campaign called on Trump to do the same .
Almost three quarters of US voters indicated they intended to watch the first presidential debate live , according to a Monmouth University Poll released this week , however , only 13 % said that they expected to hear something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would vote for .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Trump tries to tame the social media shrew • Leader of ultra-right militia predicts end of US and warns of civil war • Protestors in Portland diversify tactics and upgrade hardware the winner is confusion and chaos

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The first of three debates between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden was held on Tuesday night. The debate, held in Cleveland Ohio, was moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News. The topics covered included Trump’s and Biden’s political records, the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy, race and violence in US cities, and the integrity of the electoral process itself.
In addition to two more scheduled debates between Trump and Biden, vice presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris will also meet for one debate on October 7.
The first debate between US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden was tense from the outset, and quickly degenerated into an unruly exchange of criticisms and insults, though most analysts agreed that Trump was more disruptive.
Moderator Chris Wallace never managed to establish control over the debate, with Trump repeatedly ignoring his calls to let Biden speak. The two White House contenders talked over each other and repeatedly exchanged insults and derogatory comments, undermining efforts to focus on fundamental political and economic records and objectives.
During the debate, Trump repeated his claim that the Democrats were trying to steal the November presidential election, and declined to criticize white supremacist groups when asked to do so.
The two candidates traded accusations about the adequacy of the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, health care policies, the pending appointment of a Supreme Court magistrate, and the economy, interspersed with criticisms of each others’ political records, achievements and gaffes.
Trump was asked whether he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups and instead of directly answering the question, Trump instead blamed the months of violence in US cities almost exclusively on ‘left-wing groups’.
“Are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence or the number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha, and as we’ve seen in Portland?” moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump. “I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right,” Trump responded. “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.” “Then do it sir,” Wallace urged Trump before his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, chimed in. “Do it, do it. Say it,” said Biden. Trump shot back, “You want to call them. What do you want to call them? Give me a name.” Biden said, “Proud Boys,” referring to a right-wing group. “Proud Boys. Stand back and stand by,” responded Trump. Wallace asked both candidates if they would urge their supporters to remain calm and not take to the streets if the election is close. Trump said he was urging his supporters to be vigilant about the actual voting on election day. “I am urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully,” Trump said. Biden said Trump “has no idea what he’s talking about”. “Once the winner is declared after all the ballots are counted, that will be the end of it,” Biden said.
Trump and Biden, prompted by a question on election integrity from Wallace, argued over whether the mail-in ballots can be counted properly. Trump continued to cast doubt on the accuracy of mail ballots.
Biden was sharply critical of Trump’s record on the coronavirus pandemic which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, accusing him of failing to protect Americans because he was more concerned about the economy.
“He panicked or he looked at the stock market,” Biden said of Trump, who has pushed for states to reopen their economies and played down the threat of the pandemic. “A lot of people died and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter, a lot quicker,” Biden said. Trump objected to Biden using the word “smart” and defended his approach on the pandemic, claiming he did “a great job” and that “millions” would have died had his challenger been in office.
Trump defended his effort to rapidly appoint a new member to the US Supreme Court seat, saying that he had the right to appoint a new judge despite Democratic objections.
“I will tell you very simply we won the election, elections have consequences. We have the Senate and we have the White House and we have a phenomenal nominee respected by all,” Trump said in defence of his nominee, conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Biden said the seat of the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be filled after the election, when it was clear who the president would be. “We should wait, we should wait and see what the outcome of this election is,” Biden said, adding that a more conservative Supreme Court would endanger the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare.
Trump is moving quickly to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court, hoping to secure a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.
Trump accused Biden of not supporting law enforcement. Biden countered the claim, accusing Trump of racism, and of stoking unrest.
“If he ever got to run this country and they ran it the way he would want to run it … Our suburbs would be gone,” Trump said, noting that law enforcement unions have been endorsing him. “I was raised in the suburbs. This is not the 1950s. All these dog whistles and racism don’t work any more. The suburbs are by and large integrated,” Biden said. Trump wants to “rile everybody up. He doesn’t want to calm things down. I’m saying let’s get everybody together, figure out how to deal with this. What he’s doing, he just pours gasoline on the fire constantly at every single solitary time,” Biden said.
Trump also brought up Biden’s son Hunter, whose business dealings in China and the Ukraine have brought allegations of influence peddling and conflicts of interest.
In particular, Trump mentioned a finding from a recent Senate Republican investigation saying that the mayor of Moscow gave Hunter Biden $3.5m. “What did he do to deserve it?” Trump asked Biden. “Totally discredited,” Biden said. “My son did nothing wrong.” Biden then shot back saying if Trump wanted to drag family into this debate, they could talk about the Trumps “all night.” Trump responded saying what he has said throughout his presidency: that he and his family have “lost a fortune” with their public service.
Shortly before the debate started, Biden released his 2019 tax returns and his campaign called on Trump to do the same.
Two days earlier the New York Times reported Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 — and none in 10 of the previous 15 years — following years of reporting losses from his businesses. Biden’s taxes showed that he and his wife Jill paid more than $346,000 in federal taxes and other payments for 2019 on an income of nearly $985,000 before seeking a refund of nearly $47,000 they said they had overpaid the government. The Democratic nominee used taxes as a point of attack, saying Trump “does take advantage of the tax code” and “pays less tax than a schoolteacher.”
Almost three quarters of US voters indicated they intended to watch the first presidential debate live, according to a Monmouth University Poll released this week, however, only 13% said that they expected to hear something that would affect their decision as to who they would vote for.
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southfront--2020-10-02--S-300 Downs Azerbaijani UAVs Over Yerevan, With Clashes Ramping Up

On October 1st , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported that S-300 air defense systems are firing in the area of Yerevan .
According to Pashinyan , in the region of Kotayk and Gegharkunik , the air defense unit of Yerevan shot down 3 of 4 drones that invaded the airspace of Armenia .
It is noted that this is the first combat use of the S-300 in a full-scale war , although proposals are being made that other air defense systems were also in operation .
A little bit later , Pashinyan said that the 4th drone had also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the S-300 firing on drones .
It is also quite significant since it means the war is spilling further into the territory of Armenia .
Separately , on October 1st , Armenia and Azerbaijan announced from several dozen to several hundred killed and wounded on both sides , as well as several dozen units of various equipment .
The number of videos confirming these statements is significantly less .
In addition , Armenia and Karabakh declare that 3 planes , 2 helicopters and 3 UAVs were destroyed on October 1st .
Azerbaijan denies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still no significant advancement of the Azerbaijani army and Turkish-deployed Syrian militants .
Combat operations are positional in nature .
At the same time , the hostilities can be characterized as highly intensive with the use of practically all available range of weapons .
It should be noted that on October 1st the US and France have confirmed the accusations of the transfer of Syrian militants to Azerbaijan .
Russia ’ s Security Council confirmed the deployment of Syrian militants to Azerbaijan earlier .
Below are videos of the fights .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with those below from Azerbaijan .
Many of these show the operation of Turkish UAVs .
It is worth noting that some of the Armenian vehicles shown in such videos in a number of cases represent one and the same target shot from different angles , and among them there are wooden models that the Armenians build to mislead the enemy .
Below are infographics showing the losses Azerbaijan has suffered since clashes began .
And the next one shows losses by Armenia according to Azerbaijan .
Finally , Armenia said it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a weapons sale deal between Israel and Azerbaijan was announced .
Protesting against the Israeli weapons exports , Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan said “ Israel ’ s workstyle is unacceptable .
The ministry has to call back its ambassador in Israel.
” According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI ) , a leading conflict and armaments think-tank , Israel provided Azerbaijan with some $ 825 million in weapons between 2006 and 2019 .
Those exports included drones , loitering munitions , anti-tank missiles , and a surface-to-air missile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arms Transfers Database showed .
Separately , in a video interview with Israel ’ s Walla news website on Wednesday , Azeri presidential aide Hikmat Hajayev said Azerbaijan was using “ some ” Israeli-made drones in fighting around Nagorno-Karabakh , without specifying how many .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey Ramps Up Its Involvement In Armenian-Azerbaijani War

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On October 1st, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported that S-300 air defense systems are firing in the area of Yerevan.
According to Pashinyan, in the region of Kotayk and Gegharkunik, the air defense unit of Yerevan shot down 3 of 4 drones that invaded the airspace of Armenia.
Թշնամական չորս անօդաչու թռչող սարքեր են հայտնվել Կոտայքի եւ Գեղարքունիքի մարզերի օդում: Հայաստանի ՀՕՊ ուժերը արդեն իսկ ոչնչացրել են դրանից երեքին: Ընթանում է չորրորդի տեղորոշման եւ չեզոքացման գործընթացը: Posted by Nikol Pashinyan / Նիկոլ Փաշինյան on Thursday, October 1, 2020
It is noted that this is the first combat use of the S-300 in a full-scale war, although proposals are being made that other air defense systems were also in operation.
A little bit later, Pashinyan said that the 4th drone had also been destroyed.
There are videos of the S-300 firing on drones. It is also quite significant since it means the war is spilling further into the territory of Armenia.
Separately, on October 1st, Armenia and Azerbaijan announced from several dozen to several hundred killed and wounded on both sides, as well as several dozen units of various equipment.
The number of videos confirming these statements is significantly less.
In addition, Armenia and Karabakh declare that 3 planes, 2 helicopters and 3 UAVs were destroyed on October 1st. Azerbaijan denies losses in planes and helicopters.
There is still no significant advancement of the Azerbaijani army and Turkish-deployed Syrian militants. Combat operations are positional in nature. At the same time, the hostilities can be characterized as highly intensive with the use of practically all available range of weapons.
It should be noted that on October 1st the US and France have confirmed the accusations of the transfer of Syrian militants to Azerbaijan. Russia’s Security Council confirmed the deployment of Syrian militants to Azerbaijan earlier.
Below are videos of the fights.
The above videos were primarily from Armenia, with those below from Azerbaijan. Many of these show the operation of Turkish UAVs.
It is worth noting that some of the Armenian vehicles shown in such videos in a number of cases represent one and the same target shot from different angles, and among them there are wooden models that the Armenians build to mislead the enemy.
Below are infographics showing the losses Azerbaijan has suffered since clashes began.
And the next one shows losses by Armenia according to Azerbaijan.
Finally, Armenia said it had recalled its ambassador to Israel, after a weapons sale deal between Israel and Azerbaijan was announced.
Protesting against the Israeli weapons exports, Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan said “Israel’s workstyle is unacceptable. The ministry has to call back its ambassador in Israel.”
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a leading conflict and armaments think-tank, Israel provided Azerbaijan with some $825 million in weapons between 2006 and 2019.
Those exports included drones, loitering munitions, anti-tank missiles, and a surface-to-air missile system, information from SIPRI’s Arms Transfers Database showed.
Separately, in a video interview with Israel’s Walla news website on Wednesday, Azeri presidential aide Hikmat Hajayev said Azerbaijan was using “some” Israeli-made drones in fighting around Nagorno-Karabakh, without specifying how many.
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southfront--2020-10-02--Ten Nigerian Soldiers Killed By Terrorists In New Borno Ambush

On September 30 , a unit of the Nigerian Armed Forces was ambushed by ISIS terrorists in the northeastern state of Borno .
The ambush took place near the town of Marte .
ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , said the group ’ s terrorists targeted the unit ’ s vehicles with improvised explosive devices then engaged in heavy clashes with Nigerian soldiers .
Amaq claimed that 15 soldiers were killed were killed in the ambush .
The agency also claimed that four vehicles were destroyed and another was captured along with large quantities of weapons .
ISIS ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who reported the death of ten soldiers only and the injury of at least eight others .
Last week , 30 soldiers , policemen , local fighters and civilians were killed when ISIS terrorists ambushed the convoy of Babagana Umara Zulumr , regional governor of Borno .
The ambush took place near the town of Baga , on the shores of Lake Chad .
Nigerian government forces stepped up their operations against ISIS cells in Borno in the last few weeks .
However , the terrorist group is still carrying out large attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring Lake Chad .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Dozens Killed In ISIS Ambush On Borno Governor In Nigeria

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On September 30, a unit of the Nigerian Armed Forces was ambushed by ISIS terrorists in the northeastern state of Borno.
The ambush took place near the town of Marte. ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, said the group’s terrorists targeted the unit’s vehicles with improvised explosive devices then engaged in heavy clashes with Nigerian soldiers.
Amaq claimed that 15 soldiers were killed were killed in the ambush. The agency also claimed that four vehicles were destroyed and another was captured along with large quantities of weapons.
ISIS’ claims were denied by Nigerian sources, who reported the death of ten soldiers only and the injury of at least eight others.
Last week, 30 soldiers, policemen, local fighters and civilians were killed when ISIS terrorists ambushed the convoy of Babagana Umara Zulumr, regional governor of Borno. The ambush took place near the town of Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad.
Nigerian government forces stepped up their operations against ISIS cells in Borno in the last few weeks. However, the terrorist group is still carrying out large attacks the state, especially in the areas neighboring Lake Chad.
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