2020-12-02: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-12-02). "Global Policeman": Why's the US in the South China Sea? globalresearch.ca America regards itself as the "global policeman", hence its arrogant actions, but it was never deputized by the international community to fulfill such a role. Rather, it's more like a dangerously delusional role player than a legitimate law enforcement officer….

Steve Gillis (2020-12-02). Thousands bust 'Thanksgiving' myth on 51st National Day of Mourning. workers.org Plymouth, Mass. November 26 marked the 51st National Day of Mourning. The first was in 1970 when Aquinnah Wampanoag elder Wamsutta Frank James called Indigenous peoples and their supporters to "America's Hometown." The crowd joined the United American Indians of New England on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass., to expose . . . |

Sara Flounders (2020-12-02). Lucha de clases en China: øcómo lidiar con los multimillonarios? workers.org "El aprendiz del brujo" es una vieja historia que se repite en muchas variaciones, desde mitos griegos hasta un famoso poema alemán de Goethe en 1797 y hasta una película de Alfred Hitchcock y varias versiones de Disney. Todas las variaciones tratan de invocar o desatar fuerzas abrumadoras que no . . . |

Steve Gillis (2020-12-02). Thousands bust 'Thanksgiving' myth on 51st National Day of Mourning. workers.org Plymouth, Mass. November 26 marked the 51st National Day of Mourning. The first was in 1970 when Aquinnah Wampanoag elder Wamsutta Frank James called Indigenous peoples and their supporters to "America's Hometown." The crowd joined the United American Indians of New England on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass., to expose . . . |

Martha Grevatt (2020-12-02). Working class unites across India/250-million-strong strike! workers.org For the second time this year, a class-wide mobilization in an "All-India strike" brought out 250 million workers. With one in four working-age people in India participating, this 24-hour work stoppage can again claim the status of "world's biggest strike." The first record-breaking general strike had taken place on Jan. . . . |

Ted Kelly (2020-12-02). Palestinian prisoner Maher-al-Akhras released after 103-day hunger strike. workers.org Hunger striker Maher al-Akhras Palestinian political prisoner Maher al-Akhras was released from Israeli prison Nov. 26. He had staged a hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his arrest and incarceration. He was held by occupation forces under "administrative detention" and was never charged with a crime. Akhras, who . . . |

The Tricontinental (2020-12-02). Dossier 35: The Legacy of Lekra: Organising revolutionary culture in Indonesia. mronline.org Martin Aleida recalls the moment he was released from prison at the end of 1966. At twenty-two, Martin emerged from nearly a year behind bars to Jakarta, unable to find his friends and comrades.

Martha Grevatt (2020-12-02). Working class unites across India/250-million-strong strike! workers.org For the second time this year, a class-wide mobilization in an "All-India strike" brought out 250 million workers. With one in four working-age people in India participating, this 24-hour work stoppage can again claim the status of "world's biggest strike." The first record-breaking general strike had taken place on Jan. . . . |

Beatrice Lumpkin (2020-12-02). Communist teacher turned health minister leads pandemic fight in India. peoplesworld.org "How Communist Physics Teacher Flattens COVID-19 Curve in Southern India," a headline in the online Science News, caught my eye. That was a contrast to the tragic number of pandemic deaths in the rest of India, or for that matter, in the United States. But I wasn't surprised. I had attended a math teachers conference …

Gareth Porter (2020-12-02). How Israel deployed an intelligence deception to justify killing Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. thegrayzone.com Israel's Mossad has spent years on a propaganda campaign aimed at convincing the world Iran possessed a nuclear weapons program — and legitimizing its assassinations of Iranian academics. The Israeli assassination of Iranian defense official Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is being treated as a triumph of Israeli intelligence, with ubiquitous references in the New York Times and other major media outlets to the killing of "Iran's top nuclear scientist". In fact, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency eliminated Fakhrizadeh, a defense official, despite the …

John Grant (2020-12-02). Joe Biden and the American Shame of War. counterpunch.org Sadly, my generation had to relearn the lessons of Vietnam in Iraq and Afghanistan. But in coming to terms with our defeat, we have a chance to ensure that we do not sacrifice future generations to such folly. — Timothy Kudo, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, from a NYC op-ed I'm sure President-Elect Joe Biden had some

MEE staff (2020-12-02). Israel's Knesset passes first hurdle towards a fourth election. middleeasteye.net Israel's Knesset passes first hurdle towards a fourth election | If the bill to dissolve the Knesset passes, this will put Israel on the track of the fourth election in March 2021 | Wed, 12/02/2020 – 11: 14 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Knesset in Jerusalem on 2 December 2020 (AFP) | Israel is on the verge of heading into a fourth legislative election since April 2019, after a prel…

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Iranian filmmakers urge UN to condemn Fakhrizadeh terror. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Filmmakers Union urged the UN Secretary-General to condemn the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). World urged accountability of 'scientist terror perpetrators'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — The international community on Wed. was urged accountability of perpetrators behind assassination of Iran's prominent nuclear and defense scientist 'Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh'.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Iraqi president condemns Iranian scientist terror. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Iraq's President Barham Salih strongly condemned the Friday assassination of Iran's prominent nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Iran scientist assassination a state terrorism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Chairman of Russian Duma's International Affairs Committee called assassination of nuclear and defense scientist 'Mohsen Fakhrizadeh' as example of state terrorism.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Azeri defense min. condemns assassination of 'Dr.Fakhrizadeh'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan in separate messages on Wed. to Iran's Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces and Defense Minister condemned assassination of Iran's prominent nuclear scientist 'Fakhrizadeh'.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). 'We know who was behind Fakhrizadeh's assassination'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Iranian ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali has stated that the Islamic Republic knows who is responsible for the assassination of nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

_____ (2020-12-02). Iran Calls On The International Community To Confront Israel. popularresistance.org Iran is asking the international community to confront the Israeli regime's actions, "a murderer of children" and "a violator of human rights." | In a message sent on Tuesday to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Iranian President Hasan Rohani has declared Iran's strong support for the Palestinian people to achieve their ideals. | Rohani condemned the recent actions of the Israeli regime against the Palestinians, including the killing of Palestinians in custody and the torture of prisoners, especially women and children…

_____ (2020-12-02). France's New Security Law May Have Sparked A 'George Floyd' Moment. popularresistance.org Award-winning Syrian photographer Ameer Alhalbi lies dazed on the ground. His head is heavily bruised and bandaged, blood covers his face, arms, and much of his body. Lengths of cotton wool have been stuffed up his broken nose, giving him an almost comical appearance. Alhalbi has been badly beaten by police. But this is not Syria, it is Paris, where he was covering — ironically — huge, nationwide protests against police brutality this weekend.

_____ (2020-12-02). Provisional Government Of West Papua Won't Bow Down To Jakarta. popularresistance.org Today, we announce the formation of our Provisional Government of West Papua. We are ready to take over our territory, and we will no longer bow down to Jakarta's illegal martial rule. From today, December 1, 2020, we begin implementing our own constitution and reclaiming our sovereign land. | On this day in 1961, the elected West New Guinea Council raised the Morning Star flag in Jayapura. Our national anthem and name, West Papua, were accepted. Diplomats from Australia, the Netherlands and the UK, and a delegation from colonised Papua New Guinea had already witnessed the formation of the Council on April 5, 196…

Keith Lamb (2020-12-02). Australian War Crimes in Afghanistan Go All the Way to the Top. globalresearch.ca The Australian Defense Force's (ADF) recent inquiry into Australian special forces conduct in Afghanistan, between 2005 and 2016, reveals that 39 Afghan prisoners and civilians were killed outside of battle, as part of a culture of "competition killings," where commanders …

Binoy Kampmark (2020-12-02). Doctored Indignation: Australia-China Relations. dissidentvoice.org Clay foot diplomacy is all the rage in Canberra, and the Australian government has become a solid practitioner. Having stuck its neck out across continents and seas to proclaim the need to investigate China over the origins of the novel coronavirus, the Morrison government now finds itself in the tightest of corners. Very much one …

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-12-02). Doctored Indignation: Australia-China Relations. asia-pacificresearch.com

_____ (2020-12-02). One Assassinated Iranian Scientist — Many Questions Raised. strategic-culture.org One of the key players in Iran's nuclear program has been assassinated. This has led to a lot of posturing, finger pointing and narrative spinning about what the ramifications of this event will be down the line. It isn't every day that a scientist gets taken out by organized killers but someone at this very point in history seems desperate to create some change in the status quo in Iran. As we wait to hear the final verdict of the Electoral College the atomic heart of Persia has been ripped out very loudly. So who killed Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, why now and why did they even bother? | Well, who else could it be? | No…

_____ (2020-12-02). Is the U.S. Actually a 'Police State'? strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | Is the phrase "police state" anything more than propaganda that a government uses against a foreign government that it wants to overthrow — such as the U.S. did against Iraq before invading it in 2003, and against Libya and Syria since 2011, and against Venezuela since 2012, and against Ukraine since 2013, and in all instances destroyed those countries, allegedly to 'bring democracy and human rights and the rule of law, and fight against corruption' there (as if that were honestly the intention)? | The phrase "police state" is used propagandistically to denigrate a foreign nation that one's ow…

news.un (2020-12-02). UN chief launches plan to revitalise Beirut as 'beating heart of Lebanon'. news.un.org Against the "grim background" of tragic explosions that destroyed much of central Beirut in early August, the UN chief on Wednesday offered a new multi-agency plan to help the Lebanese people move forward, following months of political gridlock.

South Front (2020-12-02). Video: Azerbaijani Troops Are in Lachin, but Unresolved Karabakh Status Remains Source of Tensions. globalresearch.ca The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been nearing the end of the first phase of the implementation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire deal that started on November 10. | Late on November 30, Azerbaijani troops started entering the Lachin district in the Nagorno-Karabkah region. …

Staff (2020-12-02). Where Are the Progressives? Briahna Joy Gray on Neera Tanden & Other Biden Picks for Economic Team. democracynow.org President-elect Joe Biden announced his top economic advisers this week, setting the tone for his administration's recovery plan, including Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress think tank, as head of the Office of Management and Budget. While Tanden would be the first woman of color and the first South Asian woman in the role, critics oppose her organization's cozy relationship with corporate funders, her record of antagonizing and undermining progressive Democrats, and her aggressive foreign policy positions. Briahna Joy Gray, former national press secretary for the Bernie Sanders 2020 pre…

oneworld.press (2020-12-02). Why's The US In The South China Sea?>. oneworld.press America regards itself as the "global policeman", hence its arrogant actions, but it was never deputized by the international community to fulfill such a role. Rather, it's more like a dangerously delusional role player than a legitimate law enforcement officer.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Iranian filmmakers, cinema artists slam Fakhrizadeh assassin. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — A number of Iranian filmmakers, documentarians and cinema artists in a statement slammed the assassination of Iran's scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

_____ (2020-12-02). France's New Security Law May Have Sparked A 'George Floyd' Moment. popularresistance.org ward-winning Syrian photographer Ameer Alhalbi lies dazed on the ground. His head is heavily bruised and bandaged, blood covers his face, arms, and much of his body. Lengths of cotton wool have been stuffed up his broken nose, giving him an almost comical appearance. Alhalbi has been badly beaten by police. But this is not Syria, it is Paris, where he was covering — ironically — huge, nationwide protests against police brutality this weekend.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Khaf-Herat railway to be officially inaugurated in 10 days. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — The Khaf-Herat railway Project will be inaugurated officially in 10 days with the presence of the Presidents of Iran and Afghanistan.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). VIDEO: China lands Chang'e-5 Spacecraft on moon. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — China successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon's surface late on Tuesday in the first mission to retrieve lunar surface samples in 40 years, said the country's National Space Administration.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Sidelines of Cabinet meeting on Wed. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Iranian First Vice President Es'hagh Jahangiri and President's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi answered the reporters' questions on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Individuals involved in Fakhrizadeh terror identified: Spox. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Government Spokesman said that the Ministry of Intelligence has identified the individuals involved in the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Beligian FM slams martyr Fakhrizadeh's assassin. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — In a telephone conversation with Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif today, the Belgian FM Sophie Wilmes condemned the assassination of Martyr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Iran extends hand of friendship to regional countries: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — Stating that Iran's strategy is one of cooperation, peace and friendship, the country's Ambassador to Muscat said that Iran has extended a hand of friendship to the countries of the region.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Acclaimed journalist, documentarian in Cinema Verite. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 03 (MNA) — Acclaimed journalist and documentarian, Phil Rees, will hold an online master class in Iran International Documentary Film Festival known as "Cinema Verite".

_____ (2020-12-02). 250 Million People Participate In Countrywide Strike In India. popularresistance.org On Thursday, November 26, India witnessed the biggest organized strike in human history. Over 250 million workers and farmers, along with their allies among students, feminists and civil society groups participated in the nationwide strike. The strike coincides with India's Constitution Day, which commemorates the adoption of the constitution in 1949, and comes in the background of an unprecedented attack on workers' rights and farmers' protections by the right-wing government of prime minister Narendra Modi.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). US sanctions prevent Iran from buying medical equipment. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — UN Special Rapporteur said that the US has imposed sanctions on companies that were trying to supply Iran with ventilators.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). Commemoration ceremony of martyr 'Fakhrizadeh' held in Absard. en.mehrnews.com ABSARD, Dec. 02 (MNA) — A commemoration ceremony of Iran's nuclear scientist 'Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh' was held at the venue of the martyrdom of this esteemed martyr in Absard city of Damavand County on Wed.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-02). UNHCR hails Iran's move to give nationality to 75000 children. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, has welcomed Iran's decision to give nationality to children born to Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers.

Kim Petersen (2020-12-01). The Slow-motion Assassination of Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca Another Iranian nuclear scientist has been assassinated. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed by an elaborately planned and executed ambush. The complexity of the attack and the resources required to carry it out strongly indicate a state actor. Fingers of blame quickly …

Andrew Korybko (2020-12-01). Germany's Undiplomatic Threat to Russia, Triggers Harsh Rebukes from Moscow, Russia-Germany Relations in Crisis. globalresearch.ca The German Defense Minister's undiplomatic threat that her country must negotiate "from a position of strength" with Russia, especially regarding military issues, triggered some harsh rebukes from Moscow which aimed to remind her of how unacceptable it is for Berlin …

RT (2020-12-01). Berlin warns against 'rash actions' in Afghanistan, says further troop withdrawal must be linked with peace talks. rt.com The German foreign minister has called on the NATO alliance to carefully consider the impact that further troop withdrawals from Afghanistan would have on the peace process, warning against reckless actions. | Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members must be cautious not to jeopardize the peace process in Afghanistan by withdrawing troops prematurely. | "As NATO partners, we want to ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions," he said. | Maas was speaking ahead of a virtual meeting with his NATO colleagues in which tr…

RT (2020-12-01). The more the merrier? Philippines orders Covid-19 vaccines from FOUR different countries. rt.com As nations around the world begin lining up for the roll-out of a range of coronavirus jabs, the Philippines has apparently decided to hedge its bets by purchasing four different vaccine brands. | The Southeast Asian country will procure Covid-19 vaccines developed by China's Sinovac, the US-German Pfizer-BioNTech partnership, the UK's AstraZeneca-Oxford University variant, as well as the jab created by Russia's Gamaleya Center, known as Sputnik V. | Read more | | The decision…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-01). Tens of thousands of Indian farmers set up camp outside Delhi against Modi govt.'s pro-corporate laws. peoplesdispatch.org Indian farmers have gathered outside the capital New Delhi in huge numbers demanding the withdrawal of the three laws. Their stand has forced the government to call for early talks…

RT (2020-12-01). 'Not useful': Iranian govt speaks out against its parliament backing an end to international inspections of nuclear sites. rt.com The national parliament of Iran on Tuesday approved a bill demanding the suspension of UN inspections of its nuclear facilities, but the country's government has opposed the move as "neither necessary nor useful." | The bill approved by MPs would suspend any further UN inspections, and require the government to "produce and store 120kg per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent" if European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal fail to provide relief from oil and banking sanctions. | This would run counter to Iran's commitments under the deal agreed with world powers, and the parliament's vote prompted the exec…

RT (2020-12-01). Russian diplomatic staff injured in IED bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. rt.com Employees of the Russian diplomatic mission in Afghanistan have suffered minor injuries after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Kabul, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow has confirmed. | The people inside the car suffered "mild concussions," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters during a briefing in Moscow on Tuesday. | The Foreign Ministry believes the IED was intended for a vehicle carrying Afghan security forces loyal to the government in Kabul, but does not rule out the possibility of a terrorist attack aimed against Russian citizens. | Moscow has called on Kabul to cond…