(2020-12-16). Iran's Rouhani to Biden: We Will Fulfill Our Nuclear Obligations on Day One if You Return to 2015 Deal. globalresearch.ca
(2020-12-16). Boston rallies for striking Indian workers, farmers. workers.org 
Hundreds of millions of Indian workers and farmers staged the world's largest strike on Nov. 26 and are continuing to shut down areas of the economy. On Dec. 12, the anniversary of the racist and discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act of India's fascist-minded Modi government, the Boston South Asian Coalition brought . . . |
(2020-12-16). 'Solidarity with the people, not the state'. workers.org 
Skehan delivered the Workers World Party solidarity message at the Dec. 12 action called by the Boston South Asian Coalition in support of farmers and workers in India who are leading historic strikes. As we come together on a rainy Saturday, there is much cause for revolutionary optimism as we . . . |
(2020-12-16). Resistance in the face of repression: India's striking farmers share their stories. peoplesworld.org 
DELHI—Across the rows of concrete barricades at the Tikri border blocking the entrance into New Delhi from the neighboring state of Haryana, a stretch of more than ten kilometers of Rohtak Road remains occupied by caravans of tens of thousands of farmers. They have journeyed hundreds of kilometers from different parts of Punjab and Haryana. …
(2020-12-16). Rabbi Moshe Ber Beck Endured a Nearly a Century of Struggle for His Beliefs. mintpressnews.com 
Having dodged Nazi soldiers at 10 years old and later beatings by Israeli police, Rabbi Moshe Ber Beck is not the type to let a bit of adversity stand in the way of fighting for his beliefs.
(2020-12-16). Trump Is Prolonging the Civil War in Syria. progressive.org Under the Obama and Trump administrations, the unending war has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. But will Biden be any different?
(2020-12-16). When the People Rose: How the Intifada Changed the Political Discourse around Palestine. mintpressnews.com Very few popular movements around the world, and throughout modern history, can be compared to the First Intifada, which remains as relevant today as it was when it began thirty-three years ago.
(2020-12-16). China's Economy of Peace. The End of Dollar Hegemony? globalresearch.ca Transcript of Peter Koenig's presentation to webinar Conference (14 December 2020), on "China's New Development Paradigm and High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation", China Center for Contemporary World Studies, and the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, …
(2020-12-16). Trump threatens to veto defense bill over restrictions on troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. peoplesdispatch.org The defense bill, already passed by both houses of Congress with more than two-thirds majority, assigns USD 740 billion to the US military for financial year 2021…
(2020-12-16). Covid-19: Ten Palestinians die in 24 hours as Gaza reaches 'dangerous stage' in pandemic. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Ten Palestinians die in 24 hours as Gaza reaches 'dangerous stage' in pandemic | Rising cases of coronavirus infections have strained the medical system in the besieged Gaza Strip | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 14: 45 | A Palestinian man walks past a mural showing mask-clad doctors in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, 16 November (AFP) | Ten Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have died o…
(2020-12-16). Qatar beats Saudi Arabia to host 2030 Asia Games. middleeasteye.net 
Qatar beats Saudi Arabia to host 2030 Asia Games | Doha will hold competition while Riyadh takes the 2034 event, Olympic Council of Asia announces | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 12: 37 | Doha was revealed as the host city of the 2030 Asia Games during the Olympic Council of Asia's general assembly in Muscat, Oman (AFP) | Qatar has beaten off competition from Saudi Arabia and won the rights to host the 2030 Asia…
(2020-12-16). Covid-19: Scholars say having vaccine is religious duty for Egyptians. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Scholars say having vaccine is religious duty for Egyptians | Arrival of first shipment of vaccine from China has raised religious, political and public debate in the country | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 12: 41 | Worshippers attend Friday prayers inside Cairo's historic al-Azhar mosque (AFP) | Egypt's religious establishment has stepped into the heated debate over Covid-19 vaccines, ur…
(2020-12-16). 'What kind of an alliance is this?': Turkey's Erdogan slams US over sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
'What kind of an alliance is this?': Turkey's Erdogan slams US over sanctions | Turkey's president responds to sanctions levied on Monday, calling them unjust and 'open attack' on its sovereignty | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 18: 53 | Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after chairing cabinet meeting in Ankara on 14 December (AFP/File photo) | Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan respo…
(2020-12-16). Family of Australian professor detained in Qatar say they fear for his life. middleeasteye.net 
Family of Australian professor detained in Qatar say they fear for his life | Professor Lukman Thalib told relatives that his blood pressure and heart rate had become dangerously low | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 14: 36 | Professor Lukman Thalib (right) received a teaching award at Qatar University in 2018. He is a public health expert and helped Qatar with its covid-19 response (Supplied) | The family of an Austr…
(2020-12-16). Tunisia and Algeria try to cool tensions over Western Sahara. middleeasteye.net 
Tunisia and Algeria try to cool tensions over Western Sahara | Tunisia's former foreign minister provoked anger after blaming Algiers for pushing Morocco to normalise with Israel | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 15: 07 | Tunisia's foreign minister Othman Jerandi has reiterated "Tunisia's pride in brotherly relations with Algeria" (Photo/Screengrab) | Tunisian and Algerian officials are attempting to pu…
(2020-12-16). Antisemitism Claims Mask a Reign of Political and Cultural Terror Across Europe. counterpunch.org 
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has run a fascinating long report this week offering a disturbing snapshot of the political climate rapidly emerging across Europe on the issue of antisemitism. The article documents a kind of cultural, political and intellectual reign of terror in Germany since the parliament passed a resolution last year equating support for non-violent boycotts
(2020-12-16). Taliban delegation arrives in Pakistan for afghan peace talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 16 (MNA) — Led by the deputy political chief and head of the political office of the Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a Taliban delegation arrived in Pakistan to negotiate Afgan Peace Talks.
(2020-12-16). Will Israel Deploy Missile Defense Systems to Persian Gulf Amid Growing Tension with Iran? globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, a senior Israeli official expressed his country's readiness to cooperate in the future in the field of missile defense with Gulf states that share their concerns about Iran. | Moshe Patil, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's Missile Defense …
(2020-12-16). Georgia's Senate Runoffs Set New Record for In-Person Voting on First Day. truthout.org As in-person voting begins for two Georgia senatorial runoff races, a surprising statistic has emerged: more people voted on the first day of in-person voting this week than on the first day of in-person voting for the general election earlier this year. |
(2020-12-16). China undermining human rights by locking up rights lawyers, UN independent expert says. news.un.org China has mounted a "shocking" five-year assault on lawyers who stand up for human rights, putting them in prison and even torturing them, an expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council said in a statement on Wednesday.
(2020-12-16). Latin American Academics Endorse Boycott Of Complicit Israeli Academic Institutions. popularresistance.org In their statement, the signatories commit not to participate in any type of academic exchange or cooperation with or accept funding from complicit Israeli institutions or the State of Israel. In addition, they call on Latin American universities to suspend cooperation with complicit Israeli institutions, until Israel respects the UN- sanctioned political and human rights of the Palestinian people. | The boycott of complicit Israeli academic institutions was initiated in 2004 and later became a key part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel's occupation and apartheid regime. It wa…
(2020-12-16). Casting a Historic Vote in Georgia. thenation.com Casting a Historic Vote in Georgia…
(2020-12-16). Post-Election Reflections on Sinophobia in U.S. Politics. zcomm.org The last 12 months have seen a sharp rise in anti-China sentiment and, consequently, anti-Asian racism…
(2020-12-16). Protesters demand HSBC stop funding Adani. greenleft.org.au Protesters want HSBC to use its influence over the State Bank of India to walk away from funding Adani, reports Jim McIlroy.
(2020-12-15). US Sanctions Directed against Turkey For Its Acquisition of Russia's S-400 Air Defense System. globalresearch.ca The recently imposed targeted sanctions against Turkey and the impending National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2021 ones mandating similar measures against it for its acquisition of Russia's S-400 air defense systems, while illegal in terms of international law and a …
(2020-12-15). The Most Lethal Virus is Not COVID. It is War. counterpunch.org 
In the midst of the greatest health emergency in modern times, with more than 4 million surgical procedures delayed by the National Health Service, Boris Johnson has announced a record increase of £16.5 billion in so-called defence spending — a figure that would restore the under-resourced NHS many times over.
(2020-12-15). Nicolas Maduro Proposes a COVID-19 Vaccine Bank for ALBA Members. telesurenglish.net At the summit, the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros, proposed the creation of a vaccine bank for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) member countries. | RELATED: | The President highlighted that the region has the four vaccines currently being developed by Cuba, but also other options in the world. | "There is the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia, we are doing the tests in Venezuela a…
(2020-12-15). Rouhani Tells Biden How to Get the Iran Deal Back on Track. scheerpost.com Asia Society / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was asked Tuesday in an interview with a state-owned news outlet under what conditions Iran would return to the 2015 nuclear deal with the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5), including the U.S., plus Germany (+1) He replied, "A thing we are saying today is that if tomorrow morning the… |
(2020-12-15). Nature under settler colonialism in Palestine. workers.org 
By Rana Baker This slightly edited presentation was given by Rana Baker, a Palestinian PhD student at Columbia University, during the online Palestine Writes Festival, Dec. 5. Baker's research focuses on infrastructure and environmental resources as micro-sites of political struggle in colonial and anti-colonial contexts. A Palestinian incendiary kite crosses . . . |
(2020-12-15). Aleppo's Liberation Three Years Ago Today: Anybody Ashamed? globalresearch.ca December 12, 2017, marks the anniversary of the liberation — the West called it fall — of Aleppo in Syria. What happened is conveniently forgotten today by the West. | Some of us can't and won't forget what was both world, …
(2020-12-15). How the rich are cashing in on pandemic pain. mronline.org 
Millions of day labourers in India lost their jobs overnight earlier this year when Narendra Modi's central government hastily announced a national lockdown.
(2020-12-15). Beirut explosion: Lebanon's investigation on edge following political backlash. middleeasteye.net 
Beirut explosion: Lebanon's investigation on edge following political backlash | Political figures have denounced the indictment of caretaker premier Hassan Diab and three former ministers in the legal inquiry into the August blast | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 16: 27 | A woman amid the rubble in her damaged house in Beirut on 6 August 2020, two days after a massive explosion shook the Lebanese capital…
(2020-12-15). No, an Israeli company can't hack into Signal on your phone. middleeasteye.net 
No, an Israeli company can't hack into Signal on your phone | Cellebrite said its product can crack the messaging app, but its technology is not 'groundbreaking' according to experts | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 14: 24 | Grafitti urging people to use Signal, a highly encrypted messaging app, is spray-painted on a wall during a protest in Berkeley, California, 1 February 2017 (AFP) | Journa…
(2020-12-15). How US sanctions will affect Turkey's defence industry. middleeasteye.net 
How US sanctions will affect Turkey's defence industry | Penalties over Ankara's S-400 purchase could hinder crucial projects for up to a year until Turkey finds replacements | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 14: 19 | Turkey's Hurjet light combat aircraft, which is produced by the Presidency for Defence Industries, will be affected by US sanctions (Turkish Aerospace) | US sanctions imposed on Turkey on Monday over the…
(2020-12-15). Iraqi activist shot dead in Baghdad. middleeasteye.net 
Iraqi activist shot dead in Baghdad | Local media reports that Salah al-Iraqi was shot five times in suburb of Baghdad al-Jadeed | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 17: 02 | A social media picture of Salah al-Iraqi (Facebook) | A well-known Iraqi activist was shot dead in Baghdad on Tuesday evening, the latest in a long line of assassinations in the country. | According to local media, Salah al-Iraqi was shot f…
(2020-12-15). US labels Bahraini group Saraya al-Mukhtar terrorist, accuses Tehran of backing its plots against American soldiers. rt.com 
The US government has designated a Bahraini group as a terrorist organization, accusing it of being backed by Iran, plotting attacks against Americans soldiers in the kingdom, and offering cash for the assassination of officials. | "Saraya al-Mukhtar is an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in Bahrain, reportedly receiving financial and logistic support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed in a statement on Tuesday. | He added in a tweet that the move, which freezes any US assets of the group, sends a strong message to Iran that the US would not allow…
(2020-12-15). Outgoing Syria Envoy James Jeffrey Reflects on "What Everyone Got Wrong" globalresearch.ca In a long-ranging interview with Al-Monitor, James Jeffrey looks back on his efforts to incorporate fragments of Obama-era initiatives into a cohesive Middle East policy. | *** | In August 2016, former US Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey James Jeffrey
(2020-12-15). US Treasury and Commerce department email systems reportedly hacked. wsws.org Although no evidence or proof has been provided to substantiate the allegations, unnamed government officials and tech experts quickly concluded that the attack was "believed to be" the work of Russian intelligence.
(2020-12-15). Iraq to Sue US over Use of Depleted Uranium Weapons: Official. globalresearch.ca An adviser to the Iraqi parliament's foreign affairs committee said the Baghdad government is planning to lodge an international lawsuit against the US for using internationally-banned munitions in civilian areas. | Hatif al-Rikabi told Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency in an interview …
(2020-12-15). 'Raking in Cash From Major Financial Interests': Wall Street Gives Millions to Georgia Lawmakers in Bid to Maintain GOP-Controlled Senate. commondreams.org "Conservative outside groups are also raking in cash from major financial interests for the Georgia Senate runoffs in an attempt to keep these seats—and the Senate—for the GOP." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/loeffler_perdue.jpg …
(2020-12-15). Why the Cleveland Indians Will Change Their Name. thenation.com Why the Cleveland Indians Will Change Their Name…
(2020-12-15). Israel Performs First Successful Tests of Sea-Based Missile Defense System. sputniknews.com Tests of a new sea-based aerial defense system were performed during the past few weeks. The so-called Iron Dome and David's Sling and Arrow are short-, medium- and long-range missiles, designed to intercept a variety of objects, including enemy aircraft, drones, ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets and cruise missiles.
(2020-12-14). Evasions and Cover-ups by Western Governments over Funding of Terrorist Groups in Syria Start to Unravel. dissidentvoice.org 
Evidence of Dutch and British funding for extremists who've beheaded children & carried out ethnic-cleansing grows by the day. Yet most of the mainstream media — including the BBC — still try to keep this truth silent. Recently, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte effectively blocked a Parliamentary motion to allow an external independent investigation of …
(2020-12-14). A Middle Finger Cost Me My Livelihood as a Woman Athlete. aclu.org 
It took a split second for my whole world to come crashing down. , , My teammates on the University of Connecticut's women's soccer team were jumping and screaming and hugging each other. We had just won a championship game. It was one of the happiest moments of my life — my first championship win at the collegiate level. Without thinking, I flashed a middle finger in celebration as I embraced teammates on camera. I couldn't have known that split-second, mindless gesture of celebration would cause UConn to suspend me from the NCAA tournament, revoke my scholarship, and completely upend my life as I…
(2020-12-14). "Myopia:" Moroccan Director/Actor Sanaa Akroud's Latest Screen Gem. counterpunch.org 
This film story by Sanaa Akroud is, like its title "Myopia", just too simple to carry the power of a deeply moving universal message. Fatem a hardy woman from a remote Moroccan mountain village is sent on a frivolous mission to the city where she is innocently swept up in a street protest. She finds
(2020-12-14). US elections 2020: Muslims in state of Georgia mobilise for Senate runoff. middleeasteye.net 
US elections 2020: Muslims in state of Georgia mobilise for Senate runoff | As early voting begins, the contest will have implications on issues of Islamophobia, police reform and systemic racism across US | Mon, 12/14/2020 – 20: 20 | Georgia is home to more than 100,000 Muslim residents, and of that number, more than 71,000 are registered to vote (AFP/File photo) | Ahead of the consequential US Se…
(2020-12-14). Ignore the Spin, The Hague's ICC Ruling on British War Crimes in Iraq Is Damning. globalresearch.ca The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court recently reported that there was "reasonable basis to believe" that British troops committed war crimes in Iraq. She declared that there was evidence of crimes including unlawful killing, rape, torture and inhumane treatment …
(2020-12-14). Israel's Isolation of Palestinian Child Prisoners Amounts to Torture. globalresearch.ca Israeli authorities routinely detain Palestinian children in isolation solely for interrogation purposes, a practice that amounts to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, Defense for Children International — Palestine said in a report released today. | The 73-page …
(2020-12-14). Corporate Media Shills For Assassination Of Iranian Scientist. mintpressnews.com Corporate media features serial liars and pundits paid by the weapons industry to discuss the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist and Defense Minister Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Dan Cohen examines the propaganda campaign to drum up support for a war against Iran.
(2020-12-14). Pakistan and the Question of Recognizing Israel. globalresearch.ca The changing geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East have re-opened an old debate in Pakistan; should Pakistan re-examine its policy towards Israel? This is not the first time that Pakistanis are discussing this issue pertaining to the recognition of Israel, …