Aletho News

Israeli attacks damaged nearly a quarter of Lebanon’s agricultural land

The Cradle | November 2, 2026

Israel’s war and occupation in Lebanon have damaged around 22.5 percent of the country’s agricultural land, Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani said in a 2 November interview with Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency.

“Around 52,000 hectares of the affected land are located in the south and Nabatieh governorates, while another 4,000 hectares are in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel governorate,” Hani said.

He added that the damage has extended past farmland and crops, affecting livestock including cattle, sheep, and goats.

“Lebanon lost more than 30,000 beehives and around 70 percent of the livestock in southern Lebanon as a result of the war,” the minister went on to say.

The agriculture minister also pointed to Israel’s customary use of white phosphorus munitions against Lebanon.

“Israel used white phosphorus during the war and sprayed areas near the border, particularly forested land, with glyphosate herbicide,” he said. … Full article

Taking the Houthis at Their Word: The Bill Saudi Arabia Doesn’t Want to Read

By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | November 1, 2026 

Riyadh has a simple method for dealing with Houthi claims. It announces that its air defenses intercepted something, says nothing about everything else, and hopes the world changes the subject. Aramco, a company that publishes its quarterly earnings to the decimal point, suddenly develops a vow of silence whenever someone asks whether its refineries are on fire.

So let me try something different. For the length of this column, I am going to ignore the Saudi government and Aramco entirely and take Ansar Allah’s military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, at his word. Not because Saree is a paragon of precision. Military spokesmen everywhere, including in Washington, inflate their results. I do it because the exercise tells you what the Houthis believe they are doing, what they are aiming at, and what Saudi Arabia stands to lose if even half of it is true. Since October 10, the answer is: quite a lot. … continue

Iran welcomes regional arrangements without US, ‘Israel’: Bagheri Kani

Al Mayadeen – November 2, 2026

Iranian Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani stressed on Monday that Tehran’s policy approach has remained unchanged since the beginning of the war, reaffirming its commitment to defending the country’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity without making concessions on these principles.

Bagheri highlighted the resilience and victory of the Iranian people in the war of aggression launched by the US and the Israeli entity, noting that Washington now understands the outcome of waging war against a country with an ancient civilization.

He also stressed that preserving regional stability remains a steadfast principle of Iran’s policy, noting that Tehran has borne heavy costs over recent decades to uphold it.

Iran is ready to take steps to restore stability in a region destabilized by the US and “Israel” through new regional security arrangements that exclude their participation and influence, he added.

Earlier today, Bagheri Kani said Iran will make no concessions on its national security, sovereignty, or territorial integrity in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as diplomatic efforts involving Tehran, Beijing, and Muscat gathered pace. […]

The talks came amid an Omani push to explore a new mediation effort between Iran and the United States, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Beijing reported.

According to the correspondent, China supports the idea of joint Omani-Iranian management of the Strait of Hormuz. The correspondent also described Beijing as the regional guarantor in the ongoing diplomatic process.

An Asian source separately told Al Mayadeen that Bagheri Kani had taken part in a closed-door trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of China and Oman, Wang Yi and Badr al-Busaidi, at the Great Hall of the People. … Full article

Carlson warns of US nuclear strike on Iran pressed by Netanyahu

Al Mayadeen – November 2, 2026

Trump administration could launch a nuclear strike on Iran within days, US conservative commentator and journalist Tucker Carlson said.

In a post on X, American journalist and political commentator Tucker Carlson has warned that the Trump administration could be days away from “launching a nuclear strike on Iran,” saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing the US to target Pickax Mountain in central Iran.

Carlson added that “Israeli intelligence claims the Iranian government has restarted its nuclear enrichment program” at the site.

He further argued that “no conventional weapon in the American arsenal can penetrate 300 feet of solid granite to destroy the tunnels where enrichment is supposedly taking place. The only military option is a nuclear strike.”

Carlson revealed that Netanyahu has been lobbying senior US officials, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper, to resume major combat operations, adding that “Bibi calls Trump about it every day,” according to “an informed observer.” … Full article

Trump claims he would have bombed Ho Chi Minh City to win Vietnam War

Al Mayadeen – November 2, 2026

US President Donald Trump has claimed he could have won the Vietnam War in a week, criticizing his predecessors’ military strategy and suggesting that Washington should have intensified its bombing campaign against North Vietnam, as the US war on Iran enters its ninth month.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Trump called previous US leaders “stupid” and criticized the prolonged use of Agent Orange to clear forest cover during the Vietnam War.

He argued that instead of spending “years, and years, and years” dropping the chemical defoliant on forests, the US should have bombed Ho Chi Minh City and other locations to secure victory. … continue

Global Oil Reserves Reduce by 1Bln Barrels Due to Strait of Hormuz Blockade – ADNOC CEO

Sputnik – 02.11.2026

ABU DHABI – A military conflict around Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have resulted in a reduction of global oil reserves by 1 billion barrels, Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s industry and advanced technology minister and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), said.

“Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, global reserves have shrunk by nearly 1 billion barrels,” Al Jaber said while speaking at the opening of the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi.

Diesel fuel reserves in some countries are at their lowest seasonal levels in 35 years, while other nations are facing a supply deficit of 600 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas, he added.

Moreover, before the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, transportation costs accounted for less than 5% of the price per barrel, but now they represent more than 30%, he said.

German MPs and officials targeted in spyware attack – minister

RT | November 2, 2026

German lawmakers and government officials have been targeted in a spyware attack, Digital Transformation Minister Karsten Wildberger has said.

Berlin suspects state involvement in the targeting of officials’ iPhones, with affected users being notified of the vulnerability, Wildberger told German broadcasters ARD and ZDF on Monday.

“The whole matter is still under investigation,” he said.

Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has described the threat as “mercenary spyware,” citing Israeli-developed Pegasus as a prominent example. The agency said state actors are frequently behind such attacks but has not identified those responsible.

The scale of the operation remains unclear. The BSI said on Monday that “other public figures” had also been targeted, but did not identify those affected or disclose their number.

The agency warned that affected iPhones should be treated as compromised, even though Apple’s notifications did not establish whether the attempted intrusions had succeeded. It advised those targeted to replace their devices, obtain new phone numbers, and transfer only essential data.

According to the BSI, such attacks can infect devices without any action by their owners, including through specially crafted messages that do not need to be opened. Once installed, spyware can potentially access encrypted communications, steal passwords, track locations, and remotely activate cameras and microphones.

Pegasus, developed by Israel’s NSO Group, is known for its ability to infiltrate smartphones without requiring users to click malicious links. The software has been used in nearly a dozen EU countries since 2016, including to monitor journalists, political opponents, and senior officials.

Similar Israeli-developed surveillance tools have reportedly been deployed in Cyprus, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Spain. … Full article

Ukraine-backed self-styled ‘decolonizers’ push to break up Russia

RT | November 2, 2026

A small but vocal group of activists claiming to represent Russia’s many ethnic minorities has been courting Western support for what they call the country’s “decolonization.”

Ukrainian and Western officials have helped the activists gain platforms in the EU, the Council of Europe and the UN.

Some of their claims, including the portrayal of Russia, home to roughly 200 ethnic groups, as Europe’s last colonial empire, have been echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

One such group, the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum, has published a map depicting Russia divided into 40 independent states.

In his latest report, RT’s Igor Zhdanov examines the activists’ ties to Ukraine and questions their claims to represent communities inside Russia.

Among those featured is Pavel Sulyandziga, who left Russia in 2017 after coming under suspicion of embezzling more than $100,000 in funds donated to support indigenous culture in one of the country’s northern regions. – Video report

The Night of Warsaw: Anatomy of a constitutional coup in Poland

By Lorenzo Maria Pacini | Strategic Culture Foundation | November 2, 2026

… Poland currently finds itself in a situation of dual legitimacy. There are two presidents of the Constitutional Tribunal, two mutually exclusive panels, a head of state who does not recognize the government’s actions, and a government that does not recognize the Tribunal’s rulings. The Supreme Court, through Kapiński, has sided with the president. The Ministry of Justice is taking action against the Court’s leadership, and the Court’s leadership is announcing criminal charges against police officers. In a semi-presidential system already marked by conflictual coexistence, the crisis now strikes at the very heart of sovereignty: who ultimately decides what is constitutional.

There are three short-term scenarios. The first is a stalemate: the government maintains physical control of the courthouse, the presidential camp refuses to recognize its actions, and every future ruling is delegitimized from the outset, with direct effects on legal certainty – from public procurement to fiscal policy. The second is an escalation: new street protests, criminal charges against Święczkowski and Sochański, and further deployment of security forces – with a real risk of serious incidents in a country that presents itself as Europe’s military bastion. The third, and least likely, is institutional mediation, which would, however, require both sides to abandon the claim that the other is entirely illegitimate.

Whatever the outcome, that night in Warsaw has already set a precedent. It demonstrated that a European executive can replace the leadership of its own constitutional court through an act lacking any legal basis – carried out by the police while the president is abroad – and present it as a restoration of the rule of law with the support, or at least the silence, of EU institutions. It has also shown just how fragile, on the eastern flank of the Atlantic Alliance, a state is that for ten years has been unable to determine who its judges should be. Those who today applaud Tusk’s method should ask themselves how the next government of the opposing political persuasion will use it. In constitutional matters, precedents do not belong to those who create them. – Full article

Russia shows Europe that prolonging the Ukraine war is pointless

By Ahmed Adel | November 2, 2026

Moscow has shown the European Union that continuing the conflict in Ukraine makes little sense, as Norway and Finland suggest the need for a new approach to building relations with Russia, according to Responsible Statecraft. This became clear after the Oslo conference on Ukraine, when the positions of some European leaders visibly softened.

“Finland and Norway’s more moderate language is a crucial first step toward a shared European understanding that continuing the war in its current form is self-defeating,” Responsible Statecraft reported.

The article noted that European efforts to pressure Moscow have failed. Neither Kiev nor its Western allies achieved the desired results, even after attempting to escalate the conflict, the author added. … continue

There is cautious optimism about ending the Ukraine War – Part 2

Peace comes in driblets in Ukraine

By M. K. BHADRAKUMAR | Indian Punchline | November 2, 2026

The famous line of Irish poet WB Yeats from the poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree comes to mind: ‘And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow…” Yeats was expressing his longing for the peace and tranquility of Innisfree, an uninhabited island in Ireland near which he spent his summers as a child while residing in an urban setting. And that is how Ukraine’s search for peace is meandering – not in a sudden, overwhelming wave; rather, in tiny, quiet increments, much like a gentle rain or a slow leak.

The ‘leak’ by Russia’s presidential aide for foreign policy Yuri Ushakov is no doubt an increment of potentially immense consequence when he told Kremlin’s preferred reporter Pavel Zarubin on Sunday that President Vladimir Putin never refused to speak with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Replying to a pointed question whether Putin would answer a call from Zelensky, Ushakov foretold, “I think he would answer, of course. Putin has never refused to talk. He [Zelensky] is sending signals through various sources. If he really wants to negotiate, he is free to come [to Moscow].”

The remark comes within a week of the joint phone call on October 27 by Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to Putin during which, per a subsequent disclosure by Ushakov, the Nordic leaders discreetly broached the subject of direct contact between Putin and Zelensky. Zelensky later appreciated their debriefing. This is the first thing. Apparently, Putin repeated the refrain that Zelensky can always visit Moscow and that the Kremlin would ensure his personal safety and security. Now, an addendum, as it were, has appeared for the first time to Putin’s standing offer. Presumably, it was an orchestrated Q&A. This is the first thing.

Secondly, the Kremlin closely studied the commotion in Europe that the two Nordic leaders’ impudent behavior triggered — as if the wolf entered the hay pen. The two Nordic leaders broke ranks. Denmark and Sweden protested they were not consulted. However, the two EU heavyweights — France, Germany – simply looked away, and the super hawkish European Commission (EC) leadership under Ursula von der Leyen and her fiery foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, were uncharacteristically subdued. … continue

Denmark vows to recover millions lost in sketchy Ukraine arms deal

RT | November 2, 2026

The government of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has pledged to recover approximately $10 million in taxpayer funds paid to a dubious company that failed to deliver a single artillery shell to Ukraine.

The money was channeled through Estonia at the request of its former defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, who resigned in early September after controversial advance payments to the supplier came under public scrutiny. Danish funds continued flowing to the Italian-registered company even after Estonian authorities had reason to question its reliability, according to a new investigation.

Frederiksen has been among Kiev’s staunchest supporters and has also backed a deal to manufacture rocket fuel in Denmark for a Ukrainian arms producer promoted by Vladimir Zelensky. The company, Fire Point, originated as a film location scouting business.

The latest controversy over arming Ukraine’s military was exposed last week by the Danish investigative outlet Danwatch, which examined Copenhagen’s involvement in the Estonian procurement scandal. […]

Danwatch identified multiple warning signs surrounding Datasel, which had no experience manufacturing weapons before being acquired by Indian company Neco Defense, which claims to be an arms manufacturer. The takeover took place in March 2024, the same month Pevkur began promoting his initiative to foreign governments.

Datasel’s website, since taken down, reportedly used artwork from military-themed video games to advertise its supposed industrial capacity. Its registered address in the Italian city of La Spezia was shared with an Audi dealership also owned by Neco Defense. … Full article

Ukraine debt reaches $212.6bln as military funding needs grow

Al Mayadeen | November 2, 2026

Ukraine faces substantial financing demands ahead of another year of military spending, with state and state-guaranteed debt reaching $212.6 billion at the end of September, according to the country’s Finance Ministry.

The total stood at 9.53835 trillion hryvnias as of September 30. External obligations, including government-guaranteed borrowing, accounted for approximately 7.4819 trillion hryvnias, or about 78% of the overall debt.

The figures underscore the scale of Kiev’s financial obligations as authorities seek continued international support to meet spending requirements.

Ukraine plans to allocate $108.3 billion to its armed forces in 2027, alongside a projected budget deficit of $37 billion, according to figures cited by RIA Novosti. The agency also reported a forecast placing government debt at $276 billion.

However, the planned military allocation remains substantially below the Defense Ministry’s assessment of its requirements. Deputy Finance Minister Roman Yermolychev said in September that the Ministry estimated military funding needs at $175 billion, according to the report.

That would leave a difference of approximately $66.7 billion between the proposed allocation and the ministry’s estimated requirements.

Kiev is looking to foreign financing to help cover its budget shortfall. RIA Novosti reported that negotiations over further Western assistance have involved lengthy discussions and disagreements, while partners have increasingly urged Ukrainian authorities to mobilize additional domestic funding. … Full article

Ukrainian air alert app hacked with fake nuclear warnings

RT | November 2, 2026

Ukraine’s government-backed mobile air alert app sent out false warnings of nuclear and chemical attacks on Sunday night, Ukrainian media reported.

At around 11pm, the Air Alert app sent notifications urging residents to seek shelter due to a “radiation threat” and a “chemical attack.” It also warned of “street battles” in Kiev. … continue

Pyongyang Sees US-South Korea ‘Iron Mace’ Drills as Rehearsal for Nuclear War

Sputnik – 02.11.2026

The Iron Mace command-post exercises, focused on the integration of conventional and nuclear forces and conducted jointly by South Korea and the US, constitute a rehearsal for a nuclear war aimed at the use of nuclear weapons against North Korea, Kim Jong Sik said.

Earlier, the Yonhap news agency reported citing military sources that South Korea and the US had held the Iron Mace command-post exercises, which centered on the integration of conventional and nuclear forces.

“These military exercises, with their aggressive codename, represent the most horrific rehearsal for a nuclear war, aimed at the use of nuclear weapons against North Korea,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim Jong Sik, a deputy department director of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee, as saying. … Full article

Congratulations climate skeptics — you are a ‘Hybrid weapon of war’ and a growing public health threat

By Jo Nova | October 28, 2026

Horrible people want to discuss upper tropospheric warming or their electricity bills and we can’t have that.

Careless discussion of such like, or radiosondes, cannot be permitted. Rest assured, the World Health Organization (the WHO) are here to save you from accidentally hearing any climate debates. Average voters must be shielded from climate disinformation, lest they forget to vote correctly, sorry, I mean, forget to leave burning buildings. Because that could happen to anyone, right?

The WHO (why are we still members) have produced a report titled ‘Protecting Health in the Age of Climate Disinformation’. It is said to be the ‘first instance of the health community addressing how climate disinformation harms’. This follows on from the EU declaring they would crack down on fake news, and conspiracy theories at the last COP meeting in Brazil.

The WHO has hauled out the linguistic artillery. Those who wield “climate disinformation” are not just shills of big oil, they  are a “hybrid weapon of war” and a growing “public health threat”. … continue

UK police arrest 139 in Palestine Action crackdown in London

Press TV | November 1, 2026

British police have arrested 139 people during a demonstration against the country’s ban on Palestine Action outside the US Embassy in London, days before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal challenging the group’s proscription.

On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Battersea, south London, carrying placards reading, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” according to The Guardian. A separate solidarity vigil was held outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh.

The Metropolitan Police had warned participants that expressing support for Palestine Action, which is proscribed under British “terrorism legislation,” could lead to arrest. The police had also warned that organizers and those providing logistical assistance or directing participants could face criminal charges.

Following the arrests, the force said in a statement on X, “Officers remain on scene and are continuing to make arrests.”

Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the crackdown, tried to defend the arrests, saying, “All those intending on coming to this event know that supporting a proscribed organization is unlawful – they are essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime,” according to the paper. … Full article

Canada’s largest labor federation votes to block Israel arms shipments amid Gaza genocide

Press TV | November 1, 2026

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), which is the largest labor organization in the country, has urged its members to refuse to handle any weapons and military equipment being transported through Canada to the Israeli-occupied territories.

The labor body, which represents about 3 million workers, said in a statement published on October 28 that it stands in solidarity with Palestinian workers and their families, as well as with all those advocating for peace, justice, and adherence to international law.

The CLC emphasized that Canada is responsible for ensuring that arms manufactured on its soil are not used against Palestinian civilians or in breach of international humanitarian law, and called on the Ottawa government to stop all direct and indirect transfers of weapons and military equipment to the Israeli-occupied lands.

The umbrella organization called on Ottawa to adhere to international law, safeguard civilian lives, and support a fair and lasting peace for Palestinians.

Despite assertions from Canada that it has limited or suspended arms transfers to the Israeli-occupied lands, shipping and import records indicate a steady supply of weapons and military components. … Full article

‘The Arab Vote’: How Israeli Racism Has Ruined Their Elections

By Robert Inlakesh | Palestine Chronicle | November 1, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Palestinians are responsible for “stealing” the latest round of Israeli elections, in what has been labeled the most consequential race in Tel Aviv’s history. What instead has been revealed is that Israel’s existence is predicated on the idea that democracy should be forbidden. … continue

IOF detains Palestinian teachers, seizes camels in southern al-Khalil

Palestinian Information Center – November 1, 2026

AL-KHALIL – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained 10 Palestinian teachers in Masafer Yatta and appropriated 20 camels in the Yatta pastoral region, south of al-Khalil in the West Bank, on Sunday.

Local sources reported that Israeli forces intercepted a vehicle carrying teachers on the Khillet al-Daba road as they were en route to Jinba School before detaining them and taking them to a nearby military outpost.

Israeli forces also seized a herd of 20 camels belonging to Nayef al-Atimin near the Umm Qassah area in the pastoral region of Yatta.

A local activist said that Israeli forces transferred the camels to one of their military bases, claiming they were grazing in an area designated as a “nature reserve.”

Meanwhile, a horde of extremist settlers surrounded a medical crew in Masafer Yatta, preventing them from reaching local communities, specifically Khirbet al-Majaz, to provide healthcare to residents.

Israel forces Palestinians in Gaza to choose between assassination alone or death with their families: Report

The Cradle | November 1, 2026

Israel is reportedly forcing some Palestinians in Gaza, among them resistance fighters and supporters of the resistance,  to choose between being assassinated alone or alongside their families, Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported on 1 November.

“They received a call from the occupation giving them a choice between being bombed along with their families or being killed alone,” the paper wrote.

Relatives of activists affiliated with Palestinian resistance factions killed by Israel say they were targeted by Israeli drones while walking alone on side streets or main roads, or while on the rooftops of homes, residential buildings, or shelters where they lived with their families.

In the latest case, an Israeli drone killed a young Palestinian man, Mohammed al-Bayouk, on Wednesday afternoon in central Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Bayouk’s relatives stated that before he was assassinated, he received a phone call from an officer of Israel’s General Security Service (Shin Bet) who gave him a choice between being bombed along with his family or going up to the roof of the shelter where they were living to be killed alone.

Bayouk chose to spare his family and went to the roof where a small missile killed him.

One of his aunts suffered serious injuries while chasing after Bayouk to prevent him from leaving the family’s small room in the shelter alone after receiving the call. … continue

Israeli attacks kill 9 in Gaza, including police officers

Al Mayadeen | November 1, 2026

Israeli drone attacks killed eight Palestinians in Gaza, bombing the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis and the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday. A ninth person succumbed to wounds sustained in an earlier IOF attack on central Gaza.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza Strip reported that a drone bombed a gathering of civilians in al-Rimal, west of Gaza City, killing three people, including a father and his child. Six others were wounded, among them children in critical condition.

In the south, a drone attack on al-Mawasi killed five people and wounded others. Gaza’s Interior Ministry said the attack targeted police officers and personnel on duty, with several martyrs and wounded among its ranks. … Full article

Israeli forces carry out demolitions, shelling in southern Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | November 1, 2026

Israeli forces carried out detonations and artillery strikes in several towns and areas across southern Lebanon, while Israeli warplanes and a drone also targeted locations in the region, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported on Sunday.

Israeli occupation forces carried out demolitions in the towns of Aitaroun and Ainatha, according to the correspondent. Israeli artillery also shelled the towns of Kfar Tibnit and Beit Yahoun, as well as Wadi Zibqin.

Separately, Israeli warplanes targeted the town of al-Qusayr, while an Israeli suicide drone exploded in the town of Maifadoun, the correspondent reported. … Full article

How renewed US-Israeli aggression against Iran could put Israeli nuclear infrastructure in the crosshairs

By Arman Shariati | Press TV | November 1, 2026

… The Dimona complex is not simply a reactor that can be switched off or rendered irrelevant by a single strike. It is an integrated nuclear installation encompassing multiple functions associated with spent-fuel storage, reprocessing and the handling of nuclear materials.

Israel’s nuclear infrastructure is concentrated, interdependent and, in part, exposed above ground, while its supporting systems present vulnerabilities distinct from those of its more heavily protected core facilities.

This broader picture raises important questions about the resilience of Israel’s nuclear infrastructure in the face of Iran’s demonstrated missile capabilities, including its precision-guided, solid-fuel ballistic missiles and its ability to penetrate even highly sophisticated air-defence systems.

These vulnerabilities also undermine the escalation logic set in motion by the previous two imposed wars. A rogue entity that attacks a democratic, sovereign country’s nuclear facilities risks inviting retaliation against its own strategic infrastructure.

But a strike on Dimona resulting in a significant radiological release would go far beyond a conventional act of military action, potentially creating consequences that extend widely.

This is precisely why the distinction between Iran’s demonstrated capabilities and its actual choices matters. During the 40-day war, Iranian missiles struck areas near Dimona rather than the nuclear facility itself. They also struck a refinery and an area without directly attacking the reactor. Tehran thus demonstrated its reach while stopping short of hitting the reactor.

The sequence of events matters. The military aggression against Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities was not initiated by Tehran. It began with unprovoked Israeli and American attacks on Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Arak in 2025 and 2026, accompanied by repeated declarations from Israeli and American leaders that the objective was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear bomb.

Like the nuclear infrastructure of any other entity, Israel’s facilities cannot be considered immune from military attack. Their geographical concentration raises additional questions about their strategic vulnerability. This is a description of the strategic environment that the previous two wars have helped create.

If the third war, now being discussed, proceeds against Pickaxe Mountain, Tehran will have further grounds to regard the precedent established by attacks on its own nuclear infrastructure as justification for expanding the scope of potential retaliation.

It should be noted that all these facilities are situated in the Negev, far from any major population center and at a distance from the cities and settlements inside the occupied territories, so that, on this reading, no danger would be posed to the people, Palestinians or Israeli settlers.

On the other hand, the Dimona complex has never been placed under IAEA safeguards, Israel has refused to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the site’s military character has been concealed from international inspection for six decades. Responsibility for any release, on this account, would fall on the regime that secretly built an unsafeguarded weapons plant in the desert. – Full article

Iran declares UK intelligence hostile, military branches terrorist

Al Mayadeen | November 1, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it had designated British intelligence a hostile entity and the British Navy and Air Force terrorist organizations.

The decision was taken “in response to the hostile actions carried out by the British government against Iran over the past year,” the ministry said, citing Britain’s involvement in the war on Iran and its designation of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organization” in July, following a similar move by the European Union.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the measures were adopted “in accordance with international law,” adding that the British government “will be responsible for the consequences.”

It further confirmed that, “as of the date of publication of this statement, the British Navy and British Air Force will be subject to the law of reciprocity.”

Besides the designation and escalating rhetoric, London has taken part in the US aggression against Iran after Prime Minister Andy Burnham approved allowing the United States to use British military bases against Iran.

IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi had warned several states, including Britain, supporting the United States in the war against Iran that they could become a “legitimate target” for Iran, stressing that Tehran has specific scenarios prepared for each situation.

He stated that US B-1 bombers used British airfields and warned that if Britain continues this cooperation, it will become a “definite and legitimate” target for the Armed Forces. … Full article

US Approves Sale of 500 Patriot Missiles to Ukraine, Deliveries May Take Years

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | November 1, 2026

The State Department announced it had approved a potential $2.1 billion sale of Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Patriots are the most advanced interceptors available to Ukraine; however, Kiev is dealing with a shortage of Patriots, leading to more Russian missiles hitting Ukrainian cities.

“The US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine for purchase of PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, and related equipment,” the statement released on Friday explained. “The estimated total cost is $2.1 billion funded entirely by partners and allies.”

The State Department said Ukraine requested 500 Patriot missiles, and European countries will pay for the interceptors.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pleading for a winter package of Patriot missiles. The Ukrainian leader praised the decision to approve the sale of interceptors; however, he called for the timeline to be accelerated. … continue

German Imperialism: An Urgent Explainer

By Kit Klarenberg | Global Delinquents | November 1, 2026

The fate of Central and Eastern Europe after the People’s Democracies’ post-1989 fall cannot be fully appreciated without reference to the EU as an extension of German imperialism. Berlin’s drive to ensure the region remains composed of weak, frequently mutually-resentful microstates has endured for well-over a century. Over time, battlefield conquest and occupation has been supplanted by economic and monetary union, and ever-rising military, security and intelligence “interoperability” and “cooperation”, all conducted under “internationalist” auspices.

Comprehending this process and the consistent needs of German imperialism provides a typically absent, critical lens through which to view events such as Yugoslavia’s destruction, the rise and recent demise of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, and seen and unseen political machinations throughout the Balkans old and new. German imperialism is a potent, dangerous force frequently overlooked due to its nigh-invisible operation. With US global hegemony irreversibly faltering, it is vital to truly understand the phenomenon as it threatens to emerge in its own militarised right again. … continue

Poland Is the Symptom and Europe Is the Patient

By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | November 1, 2026 

The midnight brawl at Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal is not a Polish problem. It is the local flare-up of a continental disease. Across Europe, when voters pick the wrong candidate, the establishment reaches for a judge, an intelligence service or the EU’s checkbook, and calls the result “defending democracy.” The Journal of Democracy wrote the textbook. Warsaw is the teaching hospital. … continue

Backed by AAP, West Virginia Proposal Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Give HPV Vaccine to 9-Year-Olds

By Jill Erzen | The Defender | October 26, 2026

West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month.

The effort is part of a national push by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Cancer Society to increase HPV vaccination rates and encourage vaccination starting at age 9.

Both the AAP and the American Cancer Society receive funding from Merck.

The campaign comes amid questions about the vaccine’s safety and claims that it prevents cancer. Merck, the maker of Gardasil, recently agreed to pay $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits alleging vaccine-related injuries, including autoimmune disorders and reproductive problems.

Although Merck markets Gardasil as a vaccine that protects against certain cancers, clinical trials did not test whether the vaccine prevented cancer — only whether it blocked certain strains of HPV. … continue

They Compared the Spice to the Drug. The Spice Won — Again. (Part 2)

Nature continues to put drugs to shame, yet why has no one heard of this research?

By Sayer Ji | October 6, 2026

Part 2 of our series. Part 1 can be found here. Ten more head-to-head clinical trials — pulled from the GreenMedInfo archive — in which ginger, St. John’s wort, garlic, saffron, valerian and a handful of other simple remedies matched or outperformed an antibiotic, Prozac, Aricept, Ritalin, a beta-blocker and a benzodiazepine. Each one links to the full research write-up. … continue

Saudi aggression on Yemen: Toll at 768 civilian casualties

Al Mayadeen | October 31, 2026

The death and injury toll from the Saudi aggression against Yemen has reached 768 civilians since the escalation began, according to Yemen’s Ministry of Health and Environment in Sanaa. […]

In a statement carried by the Yemeni Saba News Agency, the Ministry of Health and Environment said 232 civilians had been martyred, including 68 children and 35 women, while 536 others had been injured, including 137 children and 72 women.

Taiz recorded the highest number of casualties at 279 killed or injured, followed by Saada with 166 casualties, al-Jawf with 114, Sanaa province with 58, and al-Hudaydah with 47. Dozens of additional casualties were reported in other provinces.

The ministry said the figures reflect what it described as systematic war crimes against civilians and the direct targeting of children and women, calling on the international community and humanitarian and rights organizations to take legal and moral responsibility and act to halt the aggression and hold those responsible accountable. … Full article

Israeli forces kill two Palestinians, including teacher, in separate strikes on Gaza

Press TV – October 31, 2026

Two Palestinians have been killed, including a teacher, in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, as the regime’s forces continue to violate the 2025 ceasefire agreement.

A Palestinian identified as Diaa Abu al-Rous was killed early Saturday when an Israeli drone struck an area north of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to medical sources.

Abu al-Rous was a teacher at the Malaysian School in Gaza and was on his way to work when the Israeli drone struck him.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education condemned his killing, describing it as an attack on the education community and warning of the continued dangers facing teachers and other educational personnel in Gaza. … Full article

Israeli shelling targets south Lebanon villages; homes blown up

Al Mayadeen | October 31, 2026

Israeli occupation forces shelled villages and towns across southern Lebanon on Friday, blew up houses in Tayri and near Kfar Chouba, and raked Khiam and Qantara with machine-gun fire, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the South reported.

Israeli artillery hit the outskirts of Tulin in the Marjayoun district, toward Wadi al-Hujeir, and the area around Kfar Chouba in the Arqoub region.

It also shelled the outskirts of Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district and Wadi Zibqin in the Tyre district.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said Wadi al-Hujeir was hit with 155 mm shells.

Occupation forces blew up a house on the road linking Kfarn Chouba, the Sadanah hill and Shebaa, and carried out another explosion in the town of Tayri in Bint Jbeil.

Meanwhile, Khiam and Qantara in Marjayoun were swept with machine-gun fire, and homes were set on fire in Qantara, the National News Agency reported. … Full article

Demonstrators reject possible sale of Lavrio Port to Israeli firm

MEMO | October 31, 2026

Protesters gathered at Lavrio Port in Greece on Saturday, to oppose its planned privatization and possible sale to an Israeli company, Anadolu reports.

Demonstrators voiced opposition to the involvement of Israel Shipyards Industries, an Israeli company linked to the country’s defense industry and among the firms interested in acquiring the port.

They demanded that the privatization decision be canceled and that the port not be used to transport weapons or military equipment.

Speaking to Anadolu, protester Sofia Topalidu said the demonstration aimed to send a message to the Greek government opposing the sale of Lavrio Port to an Israeli company and its potential use in wars and what she described as genocide. … Full article

Albania protests escalate as demonstrators clash with police in Tirana

Al Mayadeen | October 31, 2026

… The demonstration began peacefully outside the Education Ministry amid heavy rain. However, dozens of young protesters later threw paving stones and firebombs at police and set rubbish bins on fire. Police deployed two water cannons to disperse the crowd.

The leaderless demonstrations began in May over allegations of corruption and opposition to a luxury hotel project in a protected nature reserve, reportedly linked to the US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Since mid-October, the protests have broadened into demonstrations addressing wider public grievances, including shortcomings in Albania’s healthcare system and limited prospects for young people.

Saturday’s clashes marked another escalation in the demonstrations, which have increasingly involved confrontations between protesters and security forces. … Full article

Wrong, AP and NPR: Europe’s 50,000 Heat Deaths Are a Computer-Model Estimate, Not a Real Body Count

By Anthony Watts | ClimateRealism | October 28, 2026

National Public Radio (NPR), reprinted an Associated Press (AP) report from climate reporter Seth Borenstein titled “Europe’s heat claims 50,000 lives. Climate change blamed for two-thirds of deaths,” which claims that summer heat killed 50,391 Europeans in 2026 and that human-caused climate change killed 32,619 of them. This is false. Modeled numbers are presented by NPR as observed deaths when they are not. The data show that neither number is a count of actual people medically determined to have died from heat or climate change; both are statistical constructs produced by computer models. … continue

More Than 5,500 NYC Teachers Fired Under COVID Vaccine Mandate, Attorney Says

By Henrick Karoliszyn, DSW | The Defender | October 29, 2026

More than 5,500 New York City public school teachers were fired in 2022 and 2023 under COVID-19 vaccine mandates, according to newly uncovered documents from the New York City Department of Education (DOE).

The records, first obtained by attorney Jimmy Wagner through Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests and reviewed by The Defender, show 5,399 teachers were terminated in 2022 and another 112 in 2023, bringing the total to 5,511.

The figures represent a significant departure from February 2022 reports that 1,430 municipal employees, including 914 DOE workers, were fired for failing to comply with vaccination requirements.

“We know it is a lie, because it was 5,500 teachers,” Wagner told The Defender.

Some advocates believe the number of DOE employees let go is even higher because the figures didn’t account for non-teachers.

“We now know for sure that over 5,500 teachers were fired for not getting the COVID shot,” said Michael Kane, founder of Teachers for Choice and director of advocacy at Children’s Health Defense. “However, this does not include any non-pedagogues. That would be paraprofessionals, nurse aides, occupational therapists, physical therapists and many other job titles.”

Kane believes resignations due to COVID-19 vaccination mandates also increased throughout these years. He estimated 10,000 DOE teachers were fired or left their jobs due to the mandates.

“It is truly ridiculous that here we are, five years later, and we still don’t know what these numbers are,” Kane said. “If this was really not a big deal, and if the numbers were low, New York City would have reported them publicly a long time ago.”

The city rescinded its vaccine requirement for municipal employees in February 2023, but the decision didn’t automatically restore the jobs of workers who had been fired.

The DOE did not respond to several requests for comment.

Fired teachers continue challenging dismissals

The figures emerge as former New York City educators continue pursuing lawsuits alleging religious discrimination, wrongful termination and violations of their constitutional rights.

Former school employee Helene Moffatt is appealing a September 2026 federal court ruling dismissing her lawsuit over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Moffatt, who began working for the DOE as a teacher in 1990 and later held an administrative position, was fired April 7, 2022, after officials denied her religious exemption request.

She claimed the department discriminated against her because of her Catholic beliefs, and alleged that the DOE assigned her a personnel designation known as a “problem code,” preventing her from obtaining another teaching position after the mandate ended. … continue

Questioning Your Doctor Is Now Considered A Psychological Problem (Seriously)

By Dr. Roger McFillin | Radically Genuine | October 31, 2026

I want to give you a warning before we go any further.

If you have ever questioned your doctor, pushed back on a prescription, or asked to slow down on a vaccine, the medical establishment now has a framework for you. And it isn’t “careful,” or “informed,” or “engaged.”

Your resistance will be seen as a psychological problem to be managed.

I’m not exaggerating. Let me show you. … continue

Lyor Cohen: The Shady Israeli Executive Running YouTube Music & the Global Hip Hop Industry

By Alan Macleod | MintPress News | October 30, 2026

When most people are asked “who controls hip hop?” they are unlikely to think of a 67-year-old Israeli Zionist who comes from a family of Israeli spies and state officials. But Lyor Cohen is the real deal. The brash, cigar-smoking 6 ft 5 in head of YouTube Music is the undisputed king of rap, and arguably the most important and influential person in the entire music business.

Entering his fifth decade in the industry, Cohen began his career as the manager of legendary rap group, Run-DMC, and has launched the career of countless hip hop acts, including LL Cool J, Public Enemy, De La Soul, Slick Rick, A Tribe Called Quest, the Beastie Boys, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (Will Smith).

He later moved beyond just rap and worked with stars like Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Nickelback, The Killers, Shania Twain, and Elvis Costello.

Throughout his career, Cohen has pushed hip hop to become more profitable and corporate-friendly, and has worked hard to root out what he sees as anti-semitism in the industry, and ensure that the medium does not become a vehicle for revolutionary change or Palestine solidarity.

MintPress explores the story of how a white Israeli-American came to dominate rap.

This is part of a series of investigations examining the relationship between the U.S. national security state and hip hop music. “From Fight the Power to Work for It: Chuck D, Public Enemy and How the CIA Neutralized Rap” explained how Washington works with American musicians to promote regime change in foreign countries.

“Rappers For Regime Change: How the CIA Recruits Hip Hop Artists Around the World” exposed a large network of political rappers quietly on the CIA payroll, promoted by the agency to lead color revolutions across the planet. … continue

US forces attack Iranian fishing boats off Qeshm Island; two fishermen missing

Press TV – October 31, 2026

US military forces have attacked two Iranian fishing boats in the waters of the Persian Gulf near Qeshm Island, injuring one crew member and leaving two fishermen missing, a senior provincial official announced.

Ahmad Nafisi, the Deputy Governor for Political, Security, and Social Affairs of Hormozgan Province, confirmed that the unprovoked aggression occurred at around 11:30 a.m. local time.

The incident took place approximately 18 nautical miles off the coast of Masan village, a coastal settlement in Qeshm County.

According to the deputy governor, both fishing vessels were carrying two crew members each when they came under attack by American forces.

Following the assault, two of the fishermen were rescued and transported back to Qeshm. … Full article

The $500 billion price of US war on Iran, but true cost may hit $3.5 trillion

Press TV – October 31, 2026

The US military gamble, encouraged by Israel’s longstanding campaign against Iran and sold with promises of decisive victory, has unleashed an economic shock whose costs are being transferred to households, businesses and developing economies.

The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimates that consumers worldwide have paid an additional $468 billion for gasoline and diesel since the US and Israeli war on Iran began on February 28.

Of that staggering sum, the United States accounts for $160 billion, approximately one-third of the global increase, despite being the world’s largest oil producer.

Americans have incurred an additional $471 per person, nearly eight times the estimated global average of $60, while Chinese consumers have absorbed another $54 billion nationally and Canadians $17 billion.

The figures, covering 169 countries, expose the extraordinary economic repercussions of an unprovoked military aggression whose consequences have travelled far beyond Iran’s borders.

The figures represent additional expenditure on everyday transportation fuels, before accounting for the wider economic consequences transmitted through electricity, freight, aviation, manufacturing, agriculture and international trade. […]

CREA’s estimated $468 billion additional global gasoline and diesel expenditure, combined with the Pentagon’s $47.1 billion military expenditure estimate through October 16, already represents approximately $515.1 billion.

This calculation excludes numerous additional costs, including disrupted production, infrastructure destruction, lost trade, insurance increases and deteriorating international investment conditions.

There is, however, a much stronger figure for the conclusion. The Institute for Economics and Peace, through its Global Peace Index 2026 analysis, estimates that the war could cost the world $1.3 trillion in lost GDP during 2026 under its extended-war scenario.

If the war resumes and the Strait remains closed for six months or longer, its estimate rises to approximately $3.5 trillion.

These projections reveal the extraordinary scale of the economic destruction potentially unleashed by a military aggression whose consequences extend across international production, trade, investment and consumption. … Full article