September, 2020

• 29 September

  Russian missile with satellite navigation will be able to hit targets up to 200 km

  The Russian Ministry of Defense has published the results of the latest missile tests for the 9A53-S Tornado multi-lead missile launcher [modernized BM-30 Smierch]. This system uses GLONASS satellite navigation and will be able to effectively hit targets at a distance of up to 200 km.

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• 29 September

  Waiting for Antifa

  ‘Chung chung!’ He froze. He knew the sound of a double-action pump. You never went into a room after you heard that sound. – Michael Crichton, Next, (New York: Harper), 2007, p. 500 Donald Trump has called armed, right-wing militias, like the fascist Oath Keepers “great patriots.” Attorney General Bill …

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• 29 September

  U.S. War Crimes in Yemen: It’s Time to Stop Looking the Other Way

  The longstanding involvement of the United States in the conflict in Yemen is facing renewed scrutiny. On September 16, State Department officials testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about whether the State Department misled Congress — and the American people — by circumventing controls designed to limit arms sales …

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• 29 September

  The US is Using the Guardian to Justify Jailing Assange for Life. Why is the Paper So Silent?

  Julian Assange is not on trial simply for his liberty and his life. He is fighting for the right of every journalist to do hard-hitting investigative journalism without fear of arrest and extradition to the United States. Assange faces 175 years in a US super-max prison on the basis of …

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• 26 September

  Turkey’s Heritage (Mis)management

  Heated debates about heritage management in Turkey over the Mosque reversions of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Museum, and the planned demolition of the Bomonti beer factory expose the tensions that exist between conservation, ownership, use and accessibility.

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• 26 September

  Albanian Leader in Montenegro Wants Minorities in Government

  Nik Gjeloshaj tells BIRN that Montenegro’s national minorities can fight for their goals better inside the government, signaling an end to years of cooperation with the once-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists

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• 26 September

  Ditching Dinars: Will the Balkans Take to Cryptocurrency?

  The daring few involved in cryptocurrency and blockchain in the Balkans say the benefits could be big, if the regulatory framework is put in place. Cash may still be king in the Balkans, but growth in online payments – particularly in the era of COVID-19 – is fuelling optimism among …

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• 26 September

  Serbia’s Blacklisting of Hezbollah ‘a Concession to Israel, US’

  Belgrade’s decision to declare Hezbollah in its entirety ‘a terrorist organisation’ is a purely diplomatic move – and does not reflect any previous security assessments, experts told BIRN.

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• 26 September

  Is Abbas Rival Mohammed Dahlan Plotting a Comeback, With the UAE’s Help?

  After the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain broke with most Arab countries and established diplomatic relations with Israel, there are already signs of growing tensions in the Palestinian territories. Mahmoud Abbas, the longtime president of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, is apparently trying to foreclose a potential challenge to his …

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• 26 September

  Syrian Military Suffers Heavy Casualties in ISIS Attack

  The Islamic State (ISIS) carried out a large attack against the Syrian Armed Forces near the Raqqa-Homs administrative border this week. According to reports from the front, a group of ISIS terrorists ambushed the Syrian army and National Defense Forces near the historical ruins of al-Rusafa, resulting in heavy casualties …

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