Monthly Archives: September 2020

2020-09-26: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-09-26). Eurasian Geopolitics: US' Hybrid War on Russian Energy Targets Germany, Belarus, and Bulgaria. globalresearch.ca The US is ruthlessly waging an intense Hybrid War on Russian energy interests in Europe by targeting the Eurasian Great Power's relevant projects in Germany, Belarus, and Bulgaria, banking on the fact that even the partial success of this strategy …

Andrew Korybko (2020-09-26). Taiwan's 'Self-Defense' Claim against China: Euphemism for US-Backed Aggression? globalresearch.ca It's important to explain the context of the island leadership's provocative comments in order to better understand why everything isn't as simple as they try to make it seem. | Taiwan's self-described "Ministry of National Defense" released a statement on Monday …

Eds. (2020-09-26). The Sino-Russian alliance comes of age—Part 2. mronline.org The Russian diplomacy, which has a glorious tradition in modern history, does not make its moves accidentally or impulsively. The historical consciousness is intense.

Kareem Chehayeb (2020-09-26). Lebanon's PM-designate resigns in blow to French initiative. middleeasteye.net Lebanon's PM-designate resigns in blow to French initiative | Mustapha Adib stands down less than a month after his appointment, after failing to form a reform-minded government | Sat, 09/26/2020 – 11: 06 | Lebanese prime minister designate Mustapha Adib, speaking at a press conference at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut on 26 September 2020 (AFP/Dalati and Nohra…

Eds. (2020-09-26). Sinophobia Inc: Understanding the anti-China Industrial complex. mronline.org Take a deep dive into the inner workings of Sinophobia Inc. to learn how to see through the media machine.

Fareed Taamallah (2020-09-26). 'Cultivated with love': Palestinian farmers' markets flourish in the West Bank. middleeasteye.net 'Cultivated with love': Palestinian farmers' markets flourish in the West Bank | Souk el-fallaheen has offered Palestinian farmers a space to sell their products and build relationships with their communities

| Sat, 09/26/2020 – 10: 20 | The Palestinian farmers' market in al-Bireh has seen an unprecedented turnout from buyers and farmers this summer (MEE/Al-Bireh Municipality) | "

Peoples Dispatch (2020-09-26). West Papuans reject Indonesia's plans to extend Special Autonomy Law. peoplesdispatch.org In the twenty years of living under this law, Papuans say that it did not address the contested history of Papua's integration and its outstanding political and human rights issues.

_____ (2020-09-26). Train A Woman To Farm, And The Community Will Eat. popularresistance.org There is no shame in farming, there is only shame in biting the hand that feeds you. Farmers for a long time have been looked down upon and yet they are an essential group. Constantly working hard to provide food to sustain life on earth. | Women farmers especially in my community have been ignored and their concerns dismissed. I did not like this attitude and wanted to change it. It was not until I ventured more into organic farming that I became more respectful of nature, but also myself and those around me.

Jordan Davidson (2020-09-26). Trump administration to allow logging in pristine national forest. nationofchange.org The roughly 9 million acres that the administration wants to open up now have been protected since the 2001 by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, or Roadless Rule.

Juan Cole (2020-09-26). Russia tells Trump to Jump in Lake. zcomm.org Commits 80,000 Personnel to War drill alongside Iran, China…

Arzu Geybullayeva (2020-09-26). In Turkey, women rise up to stop withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. zcomm.org The Istanbul Convention is a Council of Europe treaty designed to prevent violence against women…

IRMEP (2020-09-26). Expropriate, Capture & Marginalize: the Energix business model from Palestine to the US. indybay.org Energix expropriated 24 acres from a Palestinian community in the Israeli-occupied West Bank to boost its bottom line. When residents in the Israeli-occupied Golan questioned Energix electricity exports from massive wind turbines built on occupied land, Energix sued them in Israeli court. | Now Energix has brought its business practices to America. But can Energix get away with expropriating $26,000 from each home within 100 feet of its utility scale energy generators in Virginia? Will county boards of supervisors accept quiet Energix payoffs of $50,000 in exchange for 35-year licenses? Will the officials and ass…

Zion Hagay (2020-09-26). [Correspondence] Israeli aid to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during the COVID-19 pandemic. thelancet.com The claims asserted in David Mills and colleagues in their Correspondence1 were so egregious that we feel the need to respond, even though some time has passed since its publication and the Correspondence has since been removed from The Lancet's website.

Ikram Ahmed Tunio, Syed Mohammad Qaisar Sajjad, Pakistan Medical Association (2020-09-26). [Correspondence] End curfews in Kashmir. thelancet.com The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) is a national organisation representing medical fraternity of Pakistan. PMA works for the betterment of patients and physicians, and it acts to achieve the highest possible standards of medical care, ethics, education, and health-related human rights for all people.

Rebeccah Slater, Fiona Moultrie, Ralph Bax, John van den Anker, Aomesh Bhatt (2020-09-26). [Comment] Preterm health: time to bridge the evidence gap. thelancet.com Despite the development of revolutionary life-sustaining advances in neonatal medicine, medications are frequently administered in an ad-hoc and suboptimal way. Most drugs prescribed in neonatal care have not been submitted to the stringent regulatory processes of drug licensing that are standard in adult medicine.1 Although clinical research and licensing regulations differ between countries, the scarcity of licensed medications and inevitable use of off-label drugs in neonates are universal problems1 (countries reporting these issues include the USA, Japan, China, the Netherlands, Australia, India, and Brazil).

The Lancet (2020-09-26). [Editorial] COVID-19 in India: the dangers of false optimism. thelancet.com Despite a strong response at the outset of the pandemic, as of Sept 22, India has the world's fastest growing outbreak of COVID-19 in absolute numbers according to WHO, reporting more than 5 ∑6 million infections. Restrictions began to be lifted in June, and this relaxation has continued in the face of a continuing dramatic increase in case numbers nationally. Beneath these alarming national figures, the pattern of spread in India is nuanced and complex, with marked differences between states, and between rural and urban areas.

Suresh Reddy, Seema Arora, Ravi Kolli, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (2020-09-26). [Correspondence] Finding common ground in Kashmir. thelancet.com The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), representing the interests of approximately 80‚Äà000 practicing Indian physicians and 40‚Äà000 medical students, residents, and fellows in the USA, is disenchanted and disappointed with your Editorial.1AAPI, along with its counterpart in India and globally, denounces the Editorial not only as premature but biased and reprehensible for lack of due diligence in research and consultation with proprieties or stakeholders.

_____ (2020-09-26). Leaked Docs Expose Massive Syria Propaganda Operation Waged by Western Govt Contractors and Media. strategic-culture.org 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. | 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 political narratives to their branding, from what th…

_____ (2020-09-26). China and the Washington Oscars. strategic-culture.org Fred REED | As the presidential debates approach, and our grotesque candidates prepare to compete for Best Actor, with their supporting casts of pollsters, advance men, media shills, gestures coaches, focus groups, and allied technicians of mendacity, Americans of broad historical illiteracy, which is most of them, hear endlessly of the evils of China. Whether the evils exist doesn't matter. The electorate won't know the difference. Still, it might be amusing to think about the matter. How bad (as Ivanka would put it) is the Middle Kingston? | Permit me a more sanguine view than those of our leftover Cold Warrior…

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Iran considers US presence detrimental to regional security. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Tehran considers the presence of US terrorist forces in the region as detrimental to the security and stability of the region.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). El Salvadorian filmmaker hails medical personnel. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Iran's 16th Resistance International Film Festival has held an interview with Susana Beatriz Serrano, a filmmaker from El Salvador.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). US attack on top generals, 'insult to Iraq sovereignty'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) —Iranian Parliament Speaker said that US assassination of former IRGC Quds Force Cmdr. General Soleimani and second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis was an insult to sovereignty of Iraq.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Iran's Army not worried about regional threats: Pourdastan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — The Head of Army's Strategic Studies Center said that Iran's Army is not worried about the regional threats.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Zarif talks US assassination of Iran top general with Iraq FM. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed the US terrorist murder of Iran's top general Martyr Soleimani with visiting Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran on Saturday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Iranian, Iraqi FMs hold meeting in Tehran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on Saturday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). AEOI promoting use of nuclear tech. in determined manner. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that it is pursuing and promoting the use of nuclear technology in a precise and determined manner.

yenisafak (2020-09-26). India fails to curb virus despite strict lockdown. yenisafak.com India enforced one of the world's most stringent lockdowns in March to check the spread of the coronavirus.The shutdown took effect four hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement and created chaos and confusion as Indians were totally unprepared.All economic activities came to a standstill. More than 140 million migrant workers in big cities were suddenly left without work as shops, factories and establishments shut down.In the COVID-19-hit months of April to June, India's GDP shrank 23.9% year-on-year. Although the pandemic turned into a financial crisis and rendered millions jobless, the virus spr…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Hamas deal to counter US-Israeli plots: Fatah. yenisafak.com Palestinian group Fatah said Saturday its deal with rival Hamas group aims to counter US-Israeli plots against the Palestinian cause."The agreement is part of efforts to unify the Palestinian position in order to abort the passage of US-Israeli plots," Fatah deputy leader Mahmoud al-Aloul told the official Voice of Palestine Radio.He said the Fatah-Hamas deal also aims to "confront moves by some Arab countries to normalize their relations with the [Israeli] occupation state".The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain signed US-sponsored deals earlier this month to normalize their relations with Israel.Palestinia…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Hamas chief hails Abbas' speech to UN. yenisafak.com Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday hailed President Mahmoud Abbas's speech to the UN General Assembly, according to the official Wafa news agency.This came during a phone call Abbas received from the Hamas leader.Abbas' speech "reflects the moment [the Palestinian people are going through] in this historic stage," Haniyeh said.In his speech on Friday, Abbas said the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has not mandated any party to speak in its name."We will not bow or abandon our rights in spite of the unjust blockade targeting our national decision," Abbas said.The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and…

M.K. Bhadrakumar (2020-09-26). The Sino-Russian Alliance Comes of Age — Part 3. mronline.org Soon after becoming the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping is known to have spoken about the former Soviet Union. The first time was in December 2012, when, in comments to party functionaries, he reportedly remarked that China still had to "profoundly remember the lesson of the Soviet collapse."

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Iran, UN official discuss latest developments in Syria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister's Senior Assistant for Special Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji held a phone talk with the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen on the latest developments in Syria.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Iran COVID-19 update: 3,204 new cases, 172 deaths in 24h. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Iran's Health Ministry confirmed 3,204 new COVID-19 infections and 172 deaths due to the disease in the past 24 hours.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Kuwait calls for dialogue between Iran, Arab states. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) — Kuwait's Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah urged Iran and Arab countries to dialogue in order to end tensions in the region.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). 1st VP's visit to Bandar Abbas. en.mehrnews.com BANDAR ABBAS, Sep. 27 (MNA) – In his one-day trip to Bandar Abbas, the First Vice President of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri inaugurated several projects including the second phase of steel-making of Kish South Kaveh Steel Company (SKS).

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-26). Iranian short 'Talker' wins at Tirana Intl. FilmFest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 27 (MNA) — Iranian short film, 'Talker' directed by Mehrshad Ranjbar, has won the best film award at student film competition in the 18th edition of the Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF) in Albania.

sputniknews (2020-09-26). Tehran Accuses Trump of Being Even More of a Threat to Iran Than Saddam Hussein. sputniknews.com Iran and Iraq fought a brutal, eight-year war between 1980 and 1988, with Baghdad invading the Islamic Republic to try to seize the oil-rich province of Khuzestan soon after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Up to 1.2 million people died in the conflict, which included Iraqi use of chemical weapons against both Iranian troops and civilians.

sputniknews (2020-09-26). Don't Take or Promote Drugs: B-Town Filmmaker Karan Johar Slams Malicious Campaign, Netizens React. sputniknews.com Filmmaker Karan Johar's 30-second video, posted by him in July 2019 about his alleged drug party, is going viral. The clip is being investigated in relation with an ongoing probe of B-town's drug world. Former Delhi legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa filed a police complaint on 15 September over an alleged 'drug party' at Karan's Mumbai house.

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Erdogan says Turkey's Teknofest will foster innovations. yenisafak.com Groundbreaking innovations, from artificial intelligence (AI) to blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), will take root and grow at Teknofest, Turkey's biggest aerospace and technology event, the nation's president said on Saturday.Teknofest is a place for young people who want to show their abilities in technological fields such as rockets, robotic, and aerospace, Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed at the event, held in the southeastern metropolis of Gaziantep.Technology's most important capital is productive brains, and Turkey needs successful young people to reach its goals, he added.He also said that while in…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Over 70 kg of heroin seized in eastern Turkey. yenisafak.com Over 70 kilograms (around 156 pounds) of heroin were seized in Turkey's eastern Van province, police said on Saturday.The drugs were found in 70 packs in three sacks hidden in a streambed in Baskale district, read a police statement.Efforts are underway to track and arrest the suspects responsible, it added.

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Boosting infrastructure, Turkey poised to be global tech leader. yenisafak.com With its solid technology infrastructure and great potential at its bag, Turkey is going to be racing to the top within 10 years, the deputy technology and industry minister expressed his strong belief during Teknofest, Turkey's largest aerospace and technology event.The National Technology Move under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has boosted Turkey's technology infrastructure and environment, Mehmet Fatih Kacir told Anadolu Agency in Gaziantep, a southern city hosting four-day event through Sunday.The National Technology Move refers to the transformation of Turkey's technology industry through…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Archeologists discover sun disk in NW Turkey. yenisafak.com Archeologists in northwestern Turkey discovered a sun disk on a rock altar Friday in the ancient Thracian settlements.Engin Beksac, head of the art history department at Trakya University told Anadolu Agency that the Thracian rock altar, discovered in Edirne, dates to 3,500 years ago.Explaining the sun disk on the rock altar was used to observe the movements of the moon and the sun, Beksac said Thracians carried out works in astronomy.In his examination of the rock altar where the Thracians performed religious rituals and worship, he said: "The rock altar is a type of temple that hosts rituals and prayers held on…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate resigns. yenisafak.com Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib resigned Saturday after failing to form a new government.Adib announced his resignation in a televised address after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace in Beirut."I excuse myself from continuing the task of forming the government," Adib said.On Aug. 31, Adib, a former ambassador to Germany, was tasked with forming a new government after his predecessor Hassan Diab resigned in the wake of Beirut's port explosion, which caused a massive destruction in the capital.Adib secured 90 votes out of 120 in the parliamentary consultations to form the…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Lebanon's parliament speaker says still sticks to French initiative. yenisafak.com Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is the leader of the Shi'ite Muslim Amal Movement, said his group would stick to a French initiative after the plan was dealt a blow by the prime minister-designate's decision to step down."Our position is to stick to the French initiative and its content," Berri said in a statement, after a dispute over the new cabinet that centred around a demand by Amal and its ally Iran-backed Hezbollah to name several ministers.

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Turkish forces make major drug bust. yenisafak.com Turkish forces seized a large cache of drugs in the southeastern Diyarbakir province, local officials said on Saturday.The gendarmerie seized 1.7 tons of marijuana and 587,704 cannabis roots as part of Operation Yildirim-7 in Lice district, according to a statement from the governor's office.Five suspected drug traffickers were also arrested in the operation, it added.Turkish authorities have been confiscating narcotics shipments owned or operated by the PKK terrorist organization since the 1980s, with the country seizing over 40 tons of marijuana in 2019 alone.Turkey's ongoing crackdown on drugs has helped it fi…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Turkey condemns Boko Haram terror attack in Nigeria. yenisafak.com Turkey on Saturday condemned a deadly attack by the Boko Haram terror group in Nigeria that claimed over a dozen lives."We are deeply saddened to receive the news that many people lost their lives in a terrorist attack that took place in Baga region of Nigeria targeting the convoy of Borno Governor," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement."We condemn this heinous terrorist attack. We convey our sincere condolences to the people and Government of Nigeria, wish Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured," it added.At least 15 people were killed on Friday as the Boko Ha…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Iran prepares to impose new coronavirus lockdowns as cases rise. yenisafak.com "We are forced to intensify regulations and supervisions," starting in the capital Tehran, Rouhani said in televised remarks.He said government-run coronavirus task-force offices around the country would make recommendations on restrictions and whether to impose one-week lockdowns.Iran's death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 25,000 and identified cases on Friday totalled 439,882, according to the health ministry.Iran's health officials have expressed alarm over a surge in infections, urging the country to respect health protocols to control the spread of the disease.

yenisafak (2020-09-26). Normalization deals 'tool' to undermine Islam: Scholar. yenisafak.com A top Muslim scholar has linked recent normalization deals between the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Israel to a campaign aimed at undermining Islam and monopolizing the Islamic countries.Ali al-Qaradaghi, the Secretary-General of the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS), said there are many tools being used to "uproot Islam and reoccupy Muslims intellectually, socially, economically and politically"."One of these tools is through creating a new religion under the beautiful name of 'Abraham's faith'," al-Qaradaghi said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "[This claim] does not have anything to do…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). COVID-19 recoveries top 75% in Bangladesh. yenisafak.com With 1,753 more patients cleared over the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the country now stands at 268,777, or 75.1%, according to the Health Ministry.Some 36 more deaths were also reported in Bangladesh over the past day, along with 1,106 more infections, the lowest single-day figure since Aug. 2.The overall COVID-19 case count is now at 357,873, including 5,129 — 1.43% — fatalities.A total of 3,974 men (77.48%) and 1,155 women (22.52%) have died of COVID-19 in Bangladesh, the ministry said.At least 10,680 more coronavirus tests were conducted over the past 24 hours, taking the total to o…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). 'Turkey will protect its rights with unshakable faith'. yenisafak.com Turkey continues to protect its maritime rights and interests "with a strong will and unshakeable faith," the country's president said on Saturday."With the awareness of how important it is to defend our Blue Homeland, we continue to protect our rights and interests in our seas with a strong will and unshakable faith," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a message ahead of the Turkish Naval Forces Day, marked every year on Sept. 27, the anniversary of the Battle of Preveza."Turkey will continue to strengthen its Naval Forces to protect the Blue Homeland, ensure safety, and deter those who have designs on the country's r…

yenisafak (2020-09-26). US continues to reinforce military bases in Syria. yenisafak.com The US Army has sent 70 trucks to Syria through the al-Waleed border crossing with Iraq, local sources said Friday.The convoy, including 12 armored vehicles, trucks with essential supplies, and several fuel tankers, went to US bases in Syria's Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour provinces on Thursday, according to the sources, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.After a two-month break, the US, which supports the terrorist organization YPG/PKK in Syria, has sent at least 300 trucks in five convoys to the region via Iraq over the past two weeks.These shipments also included ammunition…

2020-09-25: News Headlines

Mike Miller (2020-09-25). 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

Sandy Smith-Nonini, Olivia Paschal (2020-09-25). As COVID-19 hit Georgia Meatpacking Counties, Officials and Industry Shifted Blame. counterpunch.org Hall County in north central Georgia is home to Gainesville, a town of about 43,000 where a large chicken-topped monument in its center declares it the "Poultry Capital of the World." There are more than a dozen meat processing plants in Hall County, and several others in surrounding counties. But Hall County is also home to

Neve Gordon (2020-09-25). Redefining Anti-Semitism on Facebook. counterpunch.org The objective is to force Facebook to alter its hate speech definition so that its own "detection algorithm" will characterize any criticism of Israel as hate speech and automatically remove the pertinent content from the platform. Given that Facebook has 2.7 billion users and is the world's largest and arguably most influential media platform, it comes as

Ramzy Baroud (2020-09-25). Palestinians Are Not Numbers: On the Future of the Palestinian Discourse. counterpunch.org Palestine can never be truly understood through numbers, because numbers are dehumanizing, impersonal, and, when necessary, can also be contrived to mean something else entirely. Numbers are not meant to tell the story of the human condition, nor should they ever serve as a substitute for emotions. Indeed, the stories of life, death — and

Eve Ottenberg (2020-09-25). Provocation on the High Seas: U.S. Naval Adventures Near the Shores of Russia, China and Iran. counterpunch.org The war on terror is slowly ending. The U.S. military will try to keep bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, but with most troops gone in the next few years, the lives of the few who remain will be at constant risk. Pressure will mount to get those soldiers out. But Pentagon bureaucrats and brass are masters of institutional infighting, and, apparently, ignoring presidential orders they don't like, so who knows how that will turn out? One thing is sure: the military's focus has shifted, from the Middle East to Russia and China. That means U.S. soldiers and materiel will continue to be in places they shouldn't, in ever g…

Susan Abulhawa (2020-09-25). Susan Abulhawa: 'Palestine is the test'. workers.org The following is a lightly edited transcript of a Sept. 19 talk by Palestinian novelist and Workers World Party member Susan Abulhawa during a "Free Palestine! No Normalization with Colonization or Occupation!' webinar sponsored by WWP. We've known for years that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and other . . . |

MEE and agencies (2020-09-25). Turkey orders scores of arrests over 2014 pro-Kurdish protests. middleeasteye.net Turkey orders scores of arrests over 2014 pro-Kurdish protests | Demonstrators had accused Turkey's army of standing by as Islamic State besieged Kobane, just over the Syrian border | Fri, 09/25/2020 – 09: 36 | The demonstrations led to the deaths of 37 people, with many more injured (AFP) | Turkish authorities on Friday issued arrest warrants for 82 people, including a mayor, over pro-Kur…

A Guest Author (2020-09-25). Surviving a pandemic under siege. workers.org During a Sept. 18 "Free Palestine" webinar, Palestinian writers and activists Susan Abulhawa and Khaled Barakat were asked to comment on the spread of COVID-19 in occupied Palestine, and what it means to have access to healthcare under foreign occupation. The following is an edited version of their replies. Susan . . . |

Kavaljit Singh (2020-09-25). COVID-19 and Sliding Indian Economy: What's the Way Out? counterpunch.org India has become the world's new hotspot for the COVID-19 pandemic as infection cases have surged in recent weeks. On September 22, the total number of confirmed cases surged past 5.6 million. If the current trend continues, India may soon become the world's worst-hit country, surpassing the US. With more than 90,000 people succumbing to

Dean Baker (2020-09-25). It's Not Vaccine Nationalism, It's Vaccine Idiocy. counterpunch.org Last week an official with China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the country may have a vaccine available for widespread distribution by November or December. This would almost certainly be at least a month or two before a vaccine is available for distribution in the United States, and possibly quite a

Nora Barrows-friedman (2020-09-25). YouTube, Zoom and Facebook censor Leila Khaled for Israel. zcomm.org "They are bothered by the ways in which we are focusing on questions of Black liberation, Palestinian liberation and prison abolition, and the connections between these movements"

sputniknews (2020-09-25). Charging Officers for Taylor's Death Would 'Indict System' That's 'Broken From Top to Bottom'. sputniknews.com Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced on Wednesday that only one officer, former Det. Brett Hankison, would be indicted in connection to the March 13 shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman. One expert tells Sputnik the emerging details on evidence provided to the grand jury proves "the whole system is broken."

sputniknews (2020-09-25). Two Terrorists Killed, Arms and Ammunition Recovered in Kashmir Encounter. sputniknews.com Indian-administered Kashmir has witnessed fewer terrorism-related incidents since the federal government overturned Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the country's federal Home Ministry told Parliament during the recently-concluded monsoon season session.

sputniknews (2020-09-25). Murder Charges Against Ex-UK Army Major Over Drowning Iraqi Teen Dropped After 17-Year Inquiry. sputniknews.com As of February 2018, former British Army major Robert Campbell, 47, had been cleared from charges of drowning a 19-year-old Iraqi man, Saeed Radhi Shabram, in the city of Basra in 2003 seven times before a new investigation into the incident was kicked off, weeks after he was given a good conduct medal.

sputniknews (2020-09-25). Any Meaningful Talks With Pakistan Can Only Be Held in Atmosphere Free of Terror – India's UN Envoy. sputniknews.com Sputnik has discussed a wide array of issues with Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti, permanent representative of India to the United Nations, including India's bid for a permanent seat at the UNSC, the ongoing border tensions with China, Pakistan, the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.

yenisafak (2020-09-25). Czechs plan to buy air defence from Israel's Rafael. yenisafak.com The Czech Defence Ministry will start talks with the Israeli government to buy a short and medium range air defence system made by Israeli state-owned supplier Rafael, the ministry said on Friday.The government has been raising defence spending to modernise its armed forces, but has admitted it would fall short of its pledge, as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defence by 2024.The ministry said it expected a government-to-government contract to be signed in early 2021 and supplies from 2023 and had picked Rafael's SPYDER Short Range Air Defence/Medium Ra…

yenisafak (2020-09-25). Turkish infrastructure projects draw global interest. yenisafak.com This week the 13th Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum spotlighted billion-dollar infrastructure projects for global investors, including attractive transportation projects in Turkey. | "We believe that Turkey has some of the most sophisticated infrastructure companies, policies, and projects in the world," said Norman Anderson, CEO of CG-LA Infrastructure, the Washington, DC-based organizer of the forum, held virtually on Thursday. | Turkey has built a strong infrastructure over the last decade, he said. | "Turkey's projects at the forum were first class, some of the best opportunities in the world," Anderson…

yenisafak (2020-09-25). Iran, Russia discussing joint production of COVID-19 vaccine. yenisafak.com Iran and Russia's sovereign wealth fund RDIF are discussing the joint production of a vaccine against COVID-19, Russian news agencies cited the Iranian ambassador to Moscow as saying on Friday."We are holding talks, I spoke with the head of RDIF Kirill Dmitriev, our officials have held several rounds of consultations and we announced that we will co-operate," Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali was cited as saying.Thus far, Russia has struck a manufacturing partnership deal with India, which is due to produce 300 million doses of the 'Sputnik-V' vaccine domestically. It is also discussing such partnerships with sev…

_____ (2020-09-24). The US Is Using The Guardian To Justify Jailing Assange For Life. popularresistance.org 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 claims by Donald Trump's administration that his exposure of US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan amounts to "espionage". | The charges against Assange rewrite the meaning of "espionage" in unmistakably dangerous ways. Publishing evidence of state crimes, as Assange's Wikileaks organisation has done, is covered by both free speech…

commondreams (2020-09-24). CODEPINK Commends Mayor de Blasio's Decision to Skip the G20 Summit Hosted by Saudi Arabia. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Jonathan Cook (2020-09-24). The US is Using the Guardian to Justify Jailing Assange for Life. Why is the Paper So Silent? counterpunch.org 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 claims by Donald Trump's administration that his exposure of US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan amounts to "espionage".

MEE and agencies (2020-09-24). Arab and European states call on Israel and Palestine to restart talks. middleeasteye.net Arab and European states call on Israel and Palestine to restart talks | Foreign ministers from France, Egypt, Germany and Jordan called for the resumption of talks on the basis of the two-state solution | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 20: 53 | The top diplomats from Egypt, France, and Jordan met in Amman, while Germany's Heiko Maas joined virtually (AFP) | Foreign ministers from four Arab and Europea…

A. Majumdar (2020-09-24). PDF of September 24 issue. workers.org Download the 12-page PDF. Whistleblower: ICE abuses detainees ALSO: Migrant caravan for residency; Defend BLM activist lawyers; Trump, Biden, and U.S. decline; 'Free Palestine' webinar; U.S. Cold War vs TikTok; Is Marxism still relevant? WORKERS ORGANIZE: Illinois; North Carolina. WORLD: Editorial: Ginsburg & SCOTUS. WORLD: Belarus; Bolivia. TEAR DOWN THE . . . |

Fight Back (2020-09-24). Minneapolis calls for an end to aid to Israel, remembers Sabra and Shatila. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – On September 17, over 30 activists in Minneapolis bannered across Interstate 94 during rush hour to remember the Sabra and Shatila massacre and highlight the destructive role the U.S. plays in Lebanon. They waved Palestinian flags and dropped banners across eight lanes of traffic demanding an end to aid in Israel, demanding an end to apartheid, and expressing solidarity against state violence. The response from people passing by was overwhelmingly positive with a constant stream of honks from cars. | From September 16 to 18, 1982, pro-Israel militiamen murdered more than 1000 Palestinian and Leb…

MEE and agencies (2020-09-24). Iran's coronavirus death toll surpasses 25,000. middleeasteye.net Iran's coronavirus death toll surpasses 25,000 | Health Ministry says 5,000 people have died from Covid-19 in past month and warns of 'third wave' | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 18: 47 | Islamic Republic has suffered worst outbreak of Covid-19 in Middle East (AFP) | The death toll from Covid-19 in Iran has surpassed 25,000, the highest total in the Middle East, with infection rates continuing to surg…

MEE and agencies (2020-09-24). Fatah and Hamas agree to first Palestinian elections in nearly 15 years. middleeasteye.net Fatah and Hamas agree to first Palestinian elections in nearly 15 years | Deal between the rival Palestinian factions follows normalisation agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 12: 01 | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, centre, recites a prayer as he arrives for a meeting in Ramallah on 3 September with representatives of Palestinian factions (AFP) | The Pa…

Margie Mason, Robin McDowell (2020-09-24). Top consumer brands, big banks linked to brutal palm oil worker abuses. peoplesworld.org PENINSULAR MALAYSIA (AP)—Jum's words tumble out over the phone, his voice growing ever more frantic. Between sobs, he says he's trapped on a Malaysian plantation run by government-owned Felda, one of the world's largest palm oil companies. His boss confiscated and then lost his Indonesian passport, he says, leaving him vulnerable to arrest. Night after …

MEE correspondent (2020-09-24). Iranian press review: Middle East's highest peak gravely threatened by mining. middleeasteye.net Iranian press review: Middle East's highest peak gravely threatened by mining | Meanwhile, US sanctions lead to flu vaccine shortage and conservatives want the next president to be a military commander | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 12: 35 | Mount Damavand is under threat from mining in its foothills (Greger Ravik/flickr) | Conservatives say next president should be from military : | Conse…

Ali Harb (2020-09-24). 'We are cheerleaders' for pro-US camp in Middle East, says UAE's Al-Otaiba. middleeasteye.net 'We are cheerleaders' for pro-US camp in Middle East, says UAE's Al-Otaiba | Abu Dhabi's ambassador to Washington says normalisation deal with Israel will give 'moral boost' to religious minorities in region | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 23: 00 | Flags of US, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on ramparts of Jerusalem's Old City on 15 September (AFP/File photo) | The Emiratis are "cheerleaders" for the US role in the…

Jay Janson (2020-09-24). Imagine Trump or Biden in Church Praying for Yemeni Children Facing Starvation and US Missiles. dissidentvoice.org Thousands of precious Yemeni children are being starved to death, dying of cholera, or being blown to bits by US made and managed missiles. Can Americans glued to their TV sets, straining to understand what is happening to their country, imagine Trump or Biden in church praying for Yemeni children facing starvation and US missiles? …

Ali Harb (2020-09-24). Arab states are forging ties with Israel to please US, Ted Cruz says. middleeasteye.net Arab states are forging ties with Israel to please US, Ted Cruz says | US senator rejects criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record, says Riyadh played 'major role' in brokering Arab peace with Israel | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 18: 34 | Cruz says Donald Trump's 'clarity' in favouring Israel pushed Arab countries to embrace normalisation (AFP/File photo) | Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in…

Henry Millstein (2020-09-24). Solidarity with China doesn't mean closing our eyes to painful realities. peoplesworld.org It's no wonder that China is in the crosshairs of imperialism, both U.S. and European. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the nation has over the past few decades built itself up from poverty to become the world's second-largest economy, with an incredible rise in living standards. With its expanding trade and …

Media Lens (2020-09-24). The "War Against Us", the Battle of Britain, and Steve Richards on the Prime Ministers. dissidentvoice.org We can report that the skies over South East England have been swarming with Spitfires and Hurricanes this month. Is there a war on? Well, yes. In 1991, the historian Howard Zinn described the two targets of Operation Desert Storm: The American population was bombarded the way the Iraqi population was bombarded. It was a …

MEE staff (2020-09-24). New York City mayor boycotts summit in Saudi Arabia over rights concerns. middleeasteye.net New York City mayor boycotts summit in Saudi Arabia over rights concerns | Coalition of human rights groups urges world city mayors to speak out 'against injustices' and boycott summit, which is part of G20 | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 20: 50 | New York Mayor Bill de Blasio attends 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York on 11 September (AFP/File photo) | New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is pulling out of a G20 world citi…

Vijay Prashad (2020-09-24). Hunger Will Kill Us before Coronavirus. dissidentvoice.org Baasanjav Choijiljav (Mongolia), Promise, 2018. In April 2020, a month after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the pandemic, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the numbers of people who lived with acute hunger around the world would double due to COVID-19 by the end of 2020 'unless swift action is taken'. A …

Ragip Soylu (2020-09-24). Turkey surprises investors with first interest rate hike in two years. middleeasteye.net Turkey surprises investors with first interest rate hike in two years | Analysts welcomed the step, saying it could help Turkey avoid a balance of payments crisis | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 13: 44 | A currency exchange office worker counts Turkish Lira banknotes in front of the electronic panel displaying currency exchange rates at an exchange office in Istanbul (AFP) | The Turkish Central Bank raised interest…

Umar A Farooq (2020-09-24). US congressman calls for 'UAE 94' prisoner's release. middleeasteye.net US congressman calls for 'UAE 94' prisoner's release | Abdulsalam Mohamed Darwish al-Marzooqi was handed 10-year sentence in 2013 after being accused of planning to overthrow Emirati government | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 17: 16 | While in prison, Marzooqi has been reportedly been subject to abuse, including solitary confinement and beatings (AFP/File photo) | A US congressman has called for the release of…

MEE staff (2020-09-24). Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'next day or two', US official says. middleeasteye.net Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'next day or two', US official says | UN ambassador Kelly Craft declined to name names, but recent moves indicate Sudan or Oman may be next on list of countries to move forward with normalisation deal | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 16: 34 | Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain met with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Net…

Gordon Duff (2020-09-24). Feet First? Trump Says He Won't Leave White House When He Loses Election. thealtworld.com 'We're going to have to see what happens,' says US president, again raising concerns over integrity of mail-in-ballots despite no evidence of fraud | "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful — there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. The ballots are out of control. You know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else.": | WASHINGTON (Times of Israel) — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday again declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 presidential election. | "

Mike Walter (2020-09-24). The Heat: COVID-19 soars in US, UK and India. america.cgtn.com The World Health Organization says COVID-19 appears to be accelerating, with cases soaring in the United States, the United Kingdom and India.

RT (2020-09-24). Russian Embassy in US tells Washington to focus on fighting Covid-19, rather than bashing Russia's pioneering Sputnik V vaccine. rt.com The Russian Embassy in Washington issued a sharp rebuke of the US government on Thursday, telling them to "save American lives (and) fight Covid19 , not Russian Vaccines (being prepared to fight the killer pandemic)." | The comments were made in response to a US Department of State press briefing which had seemed to cast doubt over the effectiveness of coronavirus formulas developed in Russia. | The official Twitter account for the Russian Embassy in the USA warned the government not to "try to downplay President Putin's constructive proposal to hold an online top-level conference shortly for countries interes…

RT (2020-09-24). Russia now testing Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine on elderly & other high-risk groups as part of third phase trials. rt.com Russia has started clinical trials of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on volunteers from high risk groups, including the elderly. The formula is currently in its final phase of tests, before planned mass distribution. | Developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute of Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Sputnik V is the first registered Covid-19 vaccine in the world. It has already been through the first two phases of clinical trials and is due to be eventually tested on 40,000 Muscovites. Previous trial stages in the summer only accepted volunteers between the ages of 18 to 60, but the third phase…

MEE staff (2020-09-24). Three UK Labour MPs demoted over opposition to torture prosecution bill. middleeasteye.net Three UK Labour MPs demoted over opposition to torture prosecution bill | Nadia Whittome, Beth Winter and Olivia Blake defied a Labour Party whip to oppose Overseas Operations Bill against 'vexatious' lawsuits

| Thu, 09/24/2020 – 14: 31 | Kuwaiti and British soldiers take part in exercises about 40km north of Kuwait City (AFP) | Three Labour MPs have lost their roles in the United Kingdom shadow cabine…

MEE staff (2020-09-24). Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'day or two', US official says. middleeasteye.net Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'day or two', US official says | UN Ambassador Kelly Craft declines to identify, but recent moves indicate Sudan or Oman may be next on list of countries to move forward with normalisation deal | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 16: 34 | Foreign ministers of United Arab Emirates and Bahrain met with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last…

MEE and agencies (2020-09-24). 'Edge of the abyss': Israel tightens coronavirus lockdown as infections climb. middleeasteye.net 'Edge of the abyss': Israel tightens coronavirus lockdown as infections climb | Move comes after number of daily new cases has reached nearly 7,000 among a population of just nine million | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 08: 04 | Netanyahu has rejected allegations from protesters that a tougher lockdown was essentially aimed at quashing demonstrations against him (Reuters) | Prime Minister Benjamin Net…

MEE and agencies (2020-09-24). Netanyahu brings dirty laundry to Washington for US staff to wash: Report. middleeasteye.net Netanyahu brings dirty laundry to Washington for US staff to wash: Report | For the first time, US officials have commented on the Israeli prime minister's behaviour, which has been reported on for years | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 11: 16 | One US official said that after multiple trips to Washington it became clear that the bringing of the dirty laundry was intentional (AFP) | Officials in the Un…

Global Research News (2020-09-24). Selected Articles: "Second Wave" Faked on False-Positive COVID Tests. globalresearch.ca By The confrontation with Russia and the decision to boost America's military presence in Syria is but a microcosm of America's wider struggle to maintain its invasive primacy over the …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-09-24). Groups from across the world ask UN General Assembly to act against Israeli apartheid. peoplesdispatch.org More than 450 civil society and human rights groups from across the globe released a letter addressed to the ongoing 75th session of the UNGA asking it to revive its anti-apartheid bodies and take action to end Israeli occupation of Palestine…

commondreams (2020-09-24). Thousands Call on Facebook to Stop Censoring Palestine. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-09-24). Advocates Demand Facebook #StopCensoringPalestine After Platform Blocks Livestream Featuring Palestinian Rights Defenders. commondreams.org "When it comes to speech advocating for Palestinians. Facebook swiftly censors and removes content, often with no explanation." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/facebook-censorship_petition.jpg