2020-09-23: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-09-23). Clashed Visions at the 2020 UN General Assembly: The Speeches of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. globalresearch.ca The speeches given by Presidents Trump, Putin, and Xi via video during the 2020 UN General Assembly predictably revealed that the American leader's assessment of the contemporary international situation and related vision of the future markedly differ from his Russian …

Anya Parampil (2020-09-23). US & allies ignore Colombia political assassinations. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with human rights lawyer Santiago Salinas Miranda about a wave of massacres and political assassinations sweeping Colombia. They discuss the Colombian government's role in the murders and ask why the international community has turned a blind eye to the killings.

stclair (2020-09-23). Two Capitalisms: A Challenge To Democratic Socialists, Social Democrats, Progressives and Welfare State Liberals. counterpunch.org [O]n September 24, 1599, in a timbered building off Moorgate Fields, not far from where Shakespeare was struggling to complete Hamlet, a new type of company was founded. [O]wnership of the new firm, called the East India Company, was sliced into tiny pieces to be bought and sold freely…Liberalism's fatal hypocrisy was to celebrate the virtuous

Mark Taliano (2020-09-23). Elected Syrian Government, Led by President Assad, Saves Christianity in Syria. globalresearch.ca Since the beginning of the Regime Change war against Syria, Western -supported sectarian terrorists — al Qaeda, ISIS and affiliates — have actively sought to destroy and extinguish Christians and Christianity from Syria. President Assad and the Syrian people have …

Melvin Goodman (2020-09-23). Arming the Planet: the USA as the World's Leading Weapons Dealer. counterpunch.org For the past several decades, the United States has been the world's leading producer of major weapons systems and the leader in global arms sales. More of these sales have taken place in the globe's most volatile region, the Middle East, than in any other region of the world. The so-called peace deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrein, which were brokered by the United States, were business deals designed to expand U.S. arms sales in the Persian Gulf.

MEE staff (2020-09-23). Turkey, Greece agree to 'exploratory' talks over Eastern Mediterranean disputes. middleeasteye.net Turkey, Greece agree to 'exploratory' talks over Eastern Mediterranean disputes | Officials say talks will be held 'soon in Istanbul' following German-led efforts to defuse tensions | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 11: 34 | Turkey and Greece agreed to hold talks over disputes in the Mediterranean, following a video conference between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Counc…

MEE and agencies (2020-09-23). Israeli airliner flies to Bahrain in wake of normalisation deal. middleeasteye.net Israeli airliner flies to Bahrain in wake of normalisation deal | Tracking data showed the Israir Airlines jet flew to the Gulf kingdom over Saudi Arabian airspace | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 12: 41 | This picture taken on 9 June 2020 shows an Israir Airlines ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft landing at Cyprus' Larnaca International Airport (AFP) | An Israeli airliner flew to the Gulf kingdom of Bahra…

Yasmena al-Mulla (2020-09-23). 'Unaltered position': Kuwait denies Trump claim it will back Israel normalisation. middleeasteye.net 'Unaltered position': Kuwait denies Trump claim it will back Israel normalisation | Cabinet of ministers' statement reflects strong historical relations between the Gulf country and Palestine

| Wed, 09/23/2020 – 14: 21 | Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah accepts the US Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander on behalf of his father the Kuwaiti emir during a ceremony at the…

MEE staff (2020-09-23). More than 14 million people internally displaced in first half of 2020: Report. middleeasteye.net More than 14 million people internally displaced in first half of 2020: Report | The majority of the displacements were caused by natural disasters across the world, while Syrians were the largest group displaced by conflict | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 19: 50 | Children ride in the back of a truck with furniture, mattresses, and blankets while passing by an internally-displaced persons (IDP) camp west of Aleppo on 16…

MEE staff (2020-09-23). US envoy to Israel says UAE will have to wait 'six or seven years' for F-35 jets. middleeasteye.net US envoy to Israel says UAE will have to wait 'six or seven years' for F-35 jets | David Friedman tells Jerusalem Post that Israel's military edge in region is 'matter of law, not a matter of policy' | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 18: 23 | UAE has long voiced interest in F-35 jets and were promised chance to buy them when agreeing to normalise ties with Israel (AFP/File photo) | US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman say…

Dianne Mathiowetz (2020-09-23). Whistleblower exposes: ICE abuses detainees. workers.org EDITOR'S NOTES: As we go to press, a Sept. 21 press release from Georgia Detention Watch announced that Cipriano Chavez-Alvarez, 61, is the third detainee at the Stewart Detention Center located in Lumpkin, Georgia to die of COVID-19. Press conference on ICE abuse, Ocilla, Ga., Sept. 15. Whistleblower Dawn Wooten . . . |

Nadda Osman (2020-09-23). Debris from Beirut explosion adds to Lebanon's rubbish crisis. middleeasteye.net Debris from Beirut explosion adds to Lebanon's rubbish crisis | The port blast has damaged many waste management facilities, leaving rubbish to pile up again | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 12: 20 | Rubbish has started piling up in streets as the country struggles to deal with the aftermath of the explosion (AFP) | Last month's port blast in Beirut has put further stress on Lebanon's waste management infrastructure,…

Eds. (2020-09-23). Senate Democrats want $350 billion to prepare for war with China. mronline.org Democrats in the Senate announced September 17 a massive spending bill aimed at stepping up U.S. hostility towards China to the tune of $350 billion.

MEE staff (2020-09-23). Saudi King Salman delivers scathing attack on Iran in UN speech. middleeasteye.net Saudi King Salman delivers scathing attack on Iran in UN speech | Saudi monarch suggests kingdom backs its Gulf neighbours' normalisation deals with Israel on second day of UN General Assembly | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 17: 09 | 'We support the efforts of the current US administration to achieve peace in the Middle East,' Saudi Arabia's Salman says (AFP/File photo) | Saudi Arabia's King Salman delivered a scathing at…

Rayhan Uddin (2020-09-23). TIME top 100: Waad al-Kateab, Lina Attalah and Yousef al-Otaiba make annual 'most influential' list. middleeasteye.net TIME top 100: Waad al-Kateab, Lina Attalah and Yousef al-Otaiba make annual 'most influential' list | Syrian filmmaker and Egyptian journalist are praised for courageous documenting and reporting, while UAE ambassador gets recognition for building ties with US and Israel | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 14: 15 | (Left to right) Waad al-Kateab, Lina Attalah and Yousef al-Otaiba made the list for TIME magazine's 100…

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-09-23). Washington Is Left Isolated as It Passes Renewed Sanctions Against Iran. globalresearch.ca After the US State Department claimed that Tehran did not meet the terms of the "nuclear deal," Washington renewed its anti-Iranian sanctions on Monday. The UN and the EU found the claims made by Washington to be unconvincing and refused …

Peter Koenig (2020-09-23). Iran — US Sanctions — Unilateralism — Turning the Clock Back to Before the Nuclear Deal. globalresearch.ca Background | Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has slammed US sanctions against his country, saying they are a flagrant violation of the UN charter. | In an address to the UN General Assembly, Rouhani said the Iranian nation successfully withstood the US maximum …

Aggrey Mutambo (2020-09-23). US Tells Kenya to Publicly Support Israel or Forget Free Trade Deal. globalresearch.ca The US wants Kenya to support Israel's political and commercial interests, or forget a free trade deal (FTA) with the world's biggest economy. | This is one of a raft of conditions set in the ongoing FTA negotiations between Nairobi and …

Staff (2020-09-23). No Más Bebés: ICE Hysterectomy Scandal Recalls 1970s LA, When a Hospital Sterilized Chicana Patients. democracynow.org As immigration authorities say they have stopped sending women to a Georgia gynecologist accused of sterilizing female prisoners without their consent, we continue our look at United States' disturbing history of forced sterilization with the producer and historian behind the 2016 documentary called "No Más Bebés," which tells the story of how a whistleblower doctor spoke out about a large number of tubal ligations performed on mostly Latinx patients at the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center some 46 years ago. "Quite often they did not understand the terminology. They did not, in some cases, understand the lan…

Staff (2020-09-23). Headlines for September 23, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 200,000, On Track to Double by Year's End, FDA Reportedly Planning Stricter Guidelines for Release of COVID-19 Vaccine, Pentagon Spent $1 Billion of Coronavirus Funds on Military Supplies, Trump Says Coronavirus "Affects Virtually Nobody" as U.S. Death Toll Tops 200,000, U.N. Secretary-General Warns of New Cold War as Trump Attacks China over Coronavirus, Sen. Mitt Romney Backs Rapid Vote on Trump's Supreme Court Nominee, Officer Involved in Breonna Taylor's Killing Defends Actions, Calls Protesters "Thugs", Federal Agents Tapped Cellphones of Portland Protesters, President Trump…

Staff (2020-09-23). Who Is Amy Barrett? Front-Runner to Replace RBG Is Anti-Abortion Member of Patriarchal Catholic Group. democracynow.org We look at President Trump's top pick for a woman to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is a devout Catholic who has taken conservative stances on abortion, gun rights, immigration and LGBTQ rights. Barrett's involvement with the conservative Catholic group People of Praise, whose members pledge a lifelong loyalty oath to the group, has also raised questions about her ability to rule independently. "There's some real concerns about whether her involvement in there will affect her ability to be impartial a…

_____ (2020-09-23). 'Confirmed' Has Become a Meaningless Word in Mainstream News Reporting. strategic-culture.org Caitlin JOHNSTONE | Last week Politico published a The claim was nonsensical on its face; the idea that Iran would see the assassination of some random ambassador to an irrelevant country as a proportionate…

Staff (2020-09-23). Front-Runner to Replace RBG Is Anti-Abortion Member of Catholic Group. truthout.org We look at President Trump's top pick for a woman to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is a devout Catholic who has taken conservative stances on abortion, gun rights, immigration and LGBTQ rights. Barrett's involvement with the conservative Catholic group People of Praise, whose members pledge a lifelong loyalty oath to the group, has also raised questions about her ability to rule independen…

yenisafak (2020-09-23). Palestine hails Erdogan's speech to UN. yenisafak.com The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday hailed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's speech to the United Nations General Assembly. | "We must thank the Turkish president for his insistence on reminding the world of the Palestinian people's suffering as well as their right to freedom and independence and his rejection of any initiative that the Palestinian rejects," the ministry said in a statement. | In his speech, Erdogan said: "Upon rejection of the document of surrender, which was tried to be imposed on Palestine under the name of 'Deal of the Century,' Israel this time accelerated its attempts to 'h…

yenisafak (2020-09-23). Afghanistan's top peace broker to visit Pakistan. yenisafak.com The top Afghan peace negotiator in talks with the Taliban will travel to Pakistan next week to discuss matters related to the ongoing talks in the Qatari capital, Doha.On Monday, Abdullah Abdullah will go for the first time since 2008 to Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, upon an earlier invitation by the South Asian country's Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to his office, the High Council of National Reconciliation, which is a top-level body designated to broker a peace deal with the insurgents.Addressing the US Council on Foreign Relations think tank on Tuesday, Abdullah said there is a "lot of mistrust, found…

Ben Norton (2020-09-23). Leaked docs expose massive Syria propaganda operation waged by Western govt contractors and media. thegrayzone.com Western government-funded intelligence cutouts trained Syrian opposition leaders, planted stories in media outlets from BBC to Al Jazeera, and ran a cadre of journalists. A trove of leaked documents exposes the propaganda network. By Ben Norton Leaked documents show how UK government contractors developed an advanced infrastructure of propaganda to stimulate support in the West for Syria's political and armed opposition. Virtually every aspect of the Syrian opposition was cultivated and marketed by Western government-backed public relations firms, from their …

MEE staff (2020-09-23). Florida to offer vanity license plates that 'stand with Israel'. middleeasteye.net Florida to offer vanity license plates that 'stand with Israel' | Few US officials at state level have as close ties to Israel as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has taken a series of controversial steps in support of the country | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 15: 52 | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a delegation trip to Israel in 2019 (Twitter) | Florida will be…

Stephen Lendman (2020-09-23). Navalny Incident a US Plot to Block Nord Stream 2's Completion? globalresearch.ca When completed and operational, Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany will double the amount of natural gas Gazprom will be able to supply the country and other European ones — at around a 30% lower cost than US LNG….

South Front (2020-09-23). Video: Turkish-based Syrian Militants Prepare to Participate in Azerbaijani-Armenian Conflict. globalresearch.ca 1,000 fighters of the so-called Syrian National Army, a coalition of Turkish-funded militant groups, will be moved to Azerbaijan in September as a part of a 6-month long deployment, Syrian pro-militant media reported. According to reports, Turkish proxies will pass …

Fight Back (2020-09-23). Car caravan rally held in Arlington to protest UAE-Israel relations. fightbacknews.org Arlington, Texas – On September 20, over 50 people gathered at Masjid Dar El Eman, an Islamic center, for a car protest against the United Arab Emirates' and Bahrain's normalization of relations with Israel. The car caravan was organized by the Dallas Palestine Coalition; Palestinian Youth Movement-Dallas, Muslim Democratic Caucus-Texas; American Muslims for Palestine-Texas; Code Pink-Greater Dallas, and Veterans for Peace-Dallas. | After a short prayer, a car caravan drove around South Arlington. Many of the protesters attached Palestinian and American flags to their cars to call for an end to U.S. support…

news.un (2020-09-23). Saudi King outlines country's contributions to pandemic response, denounces attack on its oil facilities. news.un.org Saudi Arabia continues to promote global response efforts and help countries reeling under the devastating impact of COVID-19, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud told world leaders, gathered virtually at the United Nations General Assembly.

news.un (2020-09-23). 'COVID-19 has exposed our past mistakes and failures' says Kazakhstan President. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stress test for the world, and has exposed our past mistakes and failures, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, told world leaders, during his address to the General Debate of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-09-23). Why are Indian farmers protesting Modi's agriculture bills? peoplesdispatch.org During this pandemic, the Narendra Modi led BJP government in India has pushed through multiple legislations that are a direct assault on people's rights. The latest among these are three bills on agriculture. The government passed these three bills brazenly flouting parliamentary rules and ignoring the protesting farmers across the country.

_____ (2020-09-23). US Bully In Last Chance Saloon. popularresistance.org US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced this week the reimposition of international sanctions against Iran. Trouble is nobody is listening to Washington's remonstrations any longer. Not only has the emperor no clothes, he's lost bullying power too. | The Trump administration asserts it has the legal right to invoke "snapback" UN sanctions on Iran over Washington's baseless allegations that Tehran is in breach of the 2015 international nuclear accord. This is in spite of the fact that the American side forfeited its legal rights when it unilaterally quit the nuclear deal in May 2018.

news.un (2020-09-23). Put 'people before politics' in Lebanon, urges Guterres, following Beirut disaster. news.un.org It's time that leaders across Lebanon put "people before politics" following last month's explosions in Beirut port, said the UN chief on Wednesday, which must serve as a wake-up call following a year of upheaval and clamour for reform on all fronts.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-09-23). Hamas and Fatah begin reconciliation talks in Turkey. peoplesdispatch.org The meeting is a follow-up of an earlier meeting in which their general secretaries took part earlier this month. The factions have agreed to adhere to a principle of peaceful transfer of power on the basis of fresh elections…

Rez Karim (2020-09-23). The 1917 Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Origins of Saudi Arabia. globalresearch.ca Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud's actions during WWI eventually led to the founding of Saudi Arabia. To document a historically accurate account of his role, we examined in Part I three official documents from WWI. In Part II, we will …

Jenn Zhu (2020-09-23). On Proper Naming: The Reflection of Ancient Asian Philosophy on Modern Society. The Quest for Peace and Livelihood. globalresearch.ca The original article in Chinese will be available on our Chine language page | Throughout human history, no matter in the east or in the west, there would be a chaotic situation taking place every few decades in human society. In …

news.un (2020-09-23). At UN Assembly, Lebanese leader appeals for help to rebuild after Beirut explosion. news.un.org Lebanon will need support from the international community to rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating explosion in the port of its capital, Beirut, the country's President told world leaders, gathered virtually at the United Nations General Assembly.

Rez Karim (2020-09-23). The 1917 Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Origins of Saudi Arabia. globalresearch.ca Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud's actions during WWI eventually led to the founding of Saudi Arabia. To document a historically accurate account of his role, we examined in

Tony Cartalucci (2020-09-23). A US Government-Funded Petition to Rewrite Thailand's Constitution. globalresearch.ca An organization calling itself Internet Law Reform Dialogue or "iLaw" has for over a month now been organizing a petition nationwide at literally every anti-government rally — big or small, at every opposition venue or office headquarters, and at every …

Press TV (2020-09-23). Iran: US Sanctions Unilateralism. dissidentvoice.org PressTV Interview — slightly enhanced transcript Background Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has slammed U-S sanctions against his country, saying they are a flagrant violation of the UN charter. In an address to the UN General Assembly, Rouhani said the Iranian nation successfully withstood the U-S maximum pressure campaign. He added, Iran even flourished under the …

_____ (2020-09-23). Two Paradigms Clash: Offers for U.S.-China-Russia Partnership That Won WWII or Hellish Plunge Into WWIII. strategic-culture.org The Pentagon's

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). Restoration of Pahlavi one of Saddam's goal to invade Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — In an interview with Mehr News Agency, Anthony Tucker-Jones talked of Saddam's intentions and miscalculations in attacking Iran, including his attempt for the restoration of the royal family, Pahlavi.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). Iran, Russia seeking to expand scientific cooperation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali met and held talks with the special assistant to the Russian president for science and technology Andrei Fursenko on Wednesday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). Inauguration of Holy Defense museums and exhibitions in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — An exhibition with the theme of Sacred Defense was inaugurated on Wed. with the presence of Parliament's Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Major General Bagheri at the Islamic Revolution & Holy Defense Museum.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). Iran, Sweden study avenues to send food, medical aid to yemen. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister's Senior Assistant for Special Political Affairs and Sweden's Special Envoy for Yemen held an online meeting and explored possible avenues for disptaching food and medicine to Yemeni people.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). 'That night's train' to be screened at Cinekid Festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — Iranian movie 'That night's train' by Hamidreza Ghotbi is to be screed at Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam, this October.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). Iran's qanats symbolize patience, hard work. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 24 (MNA) — Over the centuries, qanats have served as the main supplier of fresh water in arid regions of Iran, and thus helped harmonize the population distribution across the country.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-23). A bomb explodes on way of US terrorist army in Iraq. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — Iraqi sources on Wednesday said that a column belonging to the US terrorist army has been targeted by a bomb in Iraq's Salah al-Din Governorate.