Daily Archives: October 20, 2020

2020-10-20: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-10-20). The Expiry of The Iranian Arms Embargo. globalresearch.ca The 13-year-long anti-Iranian arms embargo expired on the 18th of October, which creates opportunities for the Islamic Republic to strengthen its national defense capabilities and cultivate even deeper relations with its top strategic partners such as China and Russia, possibly …

Carol Polsgrove (2020-10-20). Nuclear War Makes a Comeback. counterpunch.org On websites where policy makers, scholars, and military leaders gather, concern about the possibility of nuclear war has been rising sharply in recent months as China, the United States, and Russia develop new weapons and new ways of using old ones. On War on the Rocks, an online platform for national security articles and podcasts,

Kim Petersen (2020-10-20). The Communist Party of China: Putting the People First. dissidentvoice.org Wherever we lift one soul from a life of poverty, we are defending human rights. And whenever we fail in this mission, we are failing human rights. — Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General Among other items "proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people," the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights …

Sondoss Al Assad (2020-10-20). Bahrain's Mounting Anger over the Monarchy's Official Formalization of Ties with Tel Aviv. thealtworld.com A joint delegation, head by US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, headed to Manama on Sunday, hoping to ink a communique that officially bolster the US-brokered normalization deal and establish the embassies in the two capitals. | According to the US Treasury, the trip focused on inking memorandums of understanding that cover trade, aviation services, telecommunications, finance as well as economic cooperation, tourism, science and technology. | Public Outrage: | Streams of citizens, from different backgrounds and affiliations, flood the streets across Bahrain in huge peaceful push to vehemently denounce the visit…

Kim Scipes (2020-10-20). Fighting Racism in the US Marine Corps. counterpunch.org By 1971, the Marine Corps had suffered racial outbreaks at every major Marine base in the world, except one. In Vietnam, some units were disarmed after coming out of the bush, as there had been firefights between white and Black Marines. A celebration of Martin Luther King's life by Black Marines at Chu Lai in April 1969, one year after his assassination, had been surrounded by tanks. Racial "relations" were terrible. (As was true in all the other branches, in Vietnam, the US and on bases in Europe.)

Eds. (2020-10-20). Neoliberal 'Omnibus Law' sparks rebellion in Indonesia. mronline.org A major protest movement is underway in Indonesia against the neoliberal, authoritarian-populist regime of Joko Widodo and his collaborators in the House of Representatives. Frans Ari Prasetyo explains the so-called 'Omnibus Law' that sparked the protest, and reports on the clashes now unfolding in Bandung and many other cities.

Prabhat Patnaik (2020-10-20). One hundred years of Indian communism. mronline.org The economic programme suggested for such a front included the right to strike, banning reductions of wages and dismissals of workers, an adequate minimum wage and 8-hour day, a 50 per cent reduction in rents and banning the seizure of peasant land against debt by imperialists, native princes, zamindars and money lenders.

Ragip Soylu (2020-10-20). Turkey arrests Jordanian on suspicion of spying for UAE. middleeasteye.net Turkey arrests Jordanian on suspicion of spying for UAE | Sources tell MEE Ahmed al-Astal posed as a Muslim Brotherhood supporter to spy on Arab dissidents | Tue, 10/20/2020 – 10: 06 | Turkish police officers patrol in front of Hagia Sophia on 11 July 2020 in Istanbul (AFP) | Turkey's intelligence agency has arrested a Jordanian national on accusation of spying for the United Arab Emirates. | Turkish int…

Rep. Ron Paul (2020-10-20). Troops Coming Home from Afghanistan? Depends on Who You Ask. globalresearch.ca There is a lot to cheer about when it comes to most of President Trump's foreign policy statements. He regularly tells us he is ending foreign wars and bringing troops home. But do the people who work for him even …

Tony Cartalucci (2020-10-20). US Seeks to Prolong Terrorism in Syria, Not Defeat It. globalresearch.ca Recent attacks on Syrian positions from terrorists of the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" (ISIS) and the release of thousands of prisoners in US-occupied eastern Syria illustrate how Washington is demonstratably prolonging instability in Syria as part of its promise to transform …

The Alternative World (2020-10-20). Chomsky: from nuclear weapons to Iran, Trump's worst threats are dangerously ignored. thealtworld.com New Chomsky on OPCW scandal: "US & its allies want evidence provided by some of the top inspectors to be banned… they want to ensure it's not discussed, meaning they have no confidence in their own conclusions, meaning the US bombing of Syria was undertaken on fal…

Kathy Kelly (2020-10-20). Afghanistan, Black Lives Matter, and Antiwar Activism. zcomm.org Interview on a variety of topics…

Staff (2020-10-20). Headlines for October 20, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Continues Attack on Fauci as U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surge and Death Toll Mounts, SCOTUS Deadlock Hands Victory to Voters in Pennsylvania as Floridians Break Early Voting Record, Debate Commission Announces Changes Ahead of Final Presidential Face-Off, Evo Morales Celebrates Victory of MAS Party, Says He Will Return to Bolivia, Trump Admin to Remove Sudan from U.S. List of Terrorist States, At Least 15 People Killed as Nigerian Protests Against Police Violence Continue, WSJ: U.S. Held Talks with Syrian Intelligence About Missing U.S. Citizens, Palestinian Prisoner in Critical Condition After Nearly 3 Months…

Anand Naidoo (2020-10-20). The Heat: China's economy. america.cgtn.com China's economy is surging ahead. We will take a look at the numbers and how China's experience can drive the world's recovery.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Iranian COVID-19 vaccine to enter human phase in mid-Nov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki said that the Iranian coronavirus vaccine has passed animal test and will enter the human test phase in mid-November 2020.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Iran, Pakistan hold Virtual Coproduction Panel at ICFF Fest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — The virtual joint production panel between Iran and Pakistan was held on Monday evening, October 19.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Foreign drone crashes in NW Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — A foreign drone has crashed in Khoda Afarin county, East Azarbaijan province, amid military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). We can choose peace, security, stability for all: Zarif. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister said that countries can choose peace, security, stability, and prosperity for all.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). VIDEO: Miraculous rescue of woman from an accident in Ukraine. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — A woman was miraculously rescued from a deadly accident with a loader in Ukraine.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Iran's export going on stably despite tough sanctions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 21 (MNA) — Executive of Tehran Province Industrial Townships said that export of country's products remains stable despite all tough and illegal sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Iran Covid-19 update: 322 deaths in past 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 5,039 new COVID-19 infections and 322 deaths due to the disease in the past 24 hours.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). End of Iran arms embargo should be implemented: China. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — Referring to Washington's obstruction of arms deals with Iran, Permanent Mission of China in Vienna said that the end of Iran arms embargo should be faithfully implemented.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Zarif felicitates victory of Bolivia against US conspiracies. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister congratulated the Bolivian people on their victory against US conspiracies on Tuesday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Termination of UNSC arms embargo to entail economic benefits. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Tuesday that the removal of the UNSC arms embargo will bring Iran positive economic consequences and benefits.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-20). Iran's defense power based on deterrence: Gen. Rashid. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (MNA) — Commander of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Tuesday that Iran's military power is meant to deter the threats.

The Canary (2020-10-20). Violence continues to threaten Afghan peace process. thecanary.co 2020 marked the beginning of what some have hailed as "historic" peace talks between Afghanistan's US-backed government and the Taliban. But despite the Qatar based negotiations, this week has seen renewed violence in the country. | The US special envoy to Afghanistan has warned that "distressingly high" levels of violence threaten to derail ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. | Zalmay Khalilzad's comments come as days of renewed fighting have plagued Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, a long-time Taliban stronghold. The US launched airstrikes in Helmand Province on 12 October…

yenisafak (2020-10-20). Mass grave of Daesh victims found in Iraq's Kirkuk. yenisafak.com A mass grave of dozens of Iraqis killed by the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group was unearthed in the northern Kirkuk province, according to a local security officer on Tuesday.The grave in the town of Dawood al-Alouka contains the remains of 45 people killed by Daesh/ISIS terrorists, the officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.He said forensic authorities will exhume the bodies for DNA tests to identify them.Daesh/ISIS terrorists gained full control in Mosul, Salahadin and Anbar provinces and seized territories in Diyala and Kirkuk in 2014. But Iraqi security forces ma…

RT (2020-10-20). Televangelist Pat Robertson predicts Trump will win re-election and bring about THE END TIMES. rt.com Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson has predicted that President Donald Trump will secure re-election, which he says will then lead to the end of the world. | "…The next thing is the election that's coming up in just a few weeks, at which time, according to what I believe the Lord told me, the president is going to be re-elected," Robertson prophesized during his show on Tuesday. The preacher then added that Trump's victory is "going to lead to civil unrest, and then a war against Israel and so forth…" | According to Robertson, the war's outcome has also already been pre-determined. "There…

Martha Grevatt (2020-10-20). How do we defend reproductive justice? workers.org It appears likely that the Trump wing of the ruling class will ram through the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is racist, pro-patriarchy, anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ2S+ and anti-worker. The Senate Judiciary Committee votes on the nomination Oct. 22, and the full Senate vote is expected before the . . . |

Aaron Maté (2020-10-20). Chomsky: OPCW cover-up of Syria probe is 'shocking'. thegrayzone.com Noam Chomsky says that the OPCW's cover-up, under US pressure, of a Syria chemical weapons probe raises "very severe suspicions." In his first public comments on the OPCW's Syria cover-up scandal, Noam Chomsky criticizes the chemical watchdog for suppressing, under US pressure, evidence that undermined the pretext for the US-led bombing of Syria in April 2018. The censorship recently extended to the UN Security Council, where the US, UK, and France blocked former OPCW Director General José Bustani from testifying …

yenisafak (2020-10-20). Bread crisis deepens in regions under Assad control. yenisafak.com The Bashar al-Assad regime, which is incapable of meeting the basic needs of the people living in the regions it controls in Syria, cannot prevent a bread crisis from worsening.The bread crisis has deepened in the last two weeks and turned into an endless ordeal to the people in regime-held areas.Due to the ongoing fuel crisis, some bakeries in crowded cities such as the capital Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Hama have come to a standstill.The regime, which is trying to maintain its power by killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in the country, cannot provide flour for bakeries in the regions under its control.F…

yenisafak (2020-10-20). 'China's potential vaccines show no adverse reaction'. yenisafak.com China claimed on Tuesday that its experimental vaccines for protection against COVID-19 have shown "no adverse reaction." "So far, none of those who have received the 'emergency use' vaccine have shown severe adverse reactions," Zheng Zhongwei, a top official at China's National Health Commission, was quoted as saying by the state-run Global Times newspaper.Pharma giants in many countries have resisted the idea of taking a shortcut in rolling out an antigen for the novel virus.China and Russia, however, have started vaccinating a select group of people with experimental shots, prompting a debate on risks of admin…

yenisafak (2020-10-20). Russia's daily coronavirus cases hit record high of 16,319. yenisafak.com Russia recorded a record high 16,319 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, including 4,999 in the capital Moscow, to take the national total to 1,431,635.Authorities reported 269 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking Russia's official death toll to 24,635.

yenisafak (2020-10-20). Coronavirus cases in Eurasia up by 7,376. yenisafak.com Coronavirus infections and deaths continued their upward trend across Eurasia and Central Asia on Tuesday.- UkraineUkraine's Health Minister Maksim Stepanov announced 5,469 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the tally on 309,107.The death toll in the country rose to 5,786 as 113 people died from COVID-19, while 3,044 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 126,489, Stepanov said.Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelenskiy met with religious leaders in his country and asked for their support amid the rising number of virus cases.Zelenskiy said that if the number of daily cases reach 9…

yenisafak (2020-10-20). India: 20 Muslims cleared of flouting virus rules. yenisafak.com A court in western on India Tuesday acquitted 20 members of a Muslim group who had been charged with violating the nationwide lockdown in April.The members of the Tablighi Jamaat, including 10 from Kyrgyzstan and 10 from Indonesia, were booked in the state of Maharashtra for attempted murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.The police also charged them under laws against spreading diseases and preventing disasters.Ruling in the case, Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan said: "There was no iota of evidence with prosecution to show any contravention of order by accused persons beyond all shadow of doubt. D…

yenisafak (2020-10-20). Hashd al-Shaabi head decries attack on KDP office. yenisafak.com The leader of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia in Iraq has decried an attack on the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) branch office in Baghdad as a criminal act.Falih Alfayyadh told state television that 15 people who stormed the headquarters of the party were arrested.He said that al-Hashd al-Shaabi was not responsible for the occasional missile attacks against the US and other foreign missions in Baghdad."Those who attack foreign representatives are illegal groups that have nothing to do with us," Alfayyadh stressed.Supporters of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia ransacked the KDP headquarters in Baghdad and set it on fi…

yenisafak (2020-10-20). Iran reports record 5,039 new daily COVID-19 cases. yenisafak.com Iran's health ministry on Tuesday reported 5,039 new coronavirus infections in the previous 24 hours, the highest ever daily tally, pushing the national total to 539,670.Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that 322 people had died from the disease in the previous 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 31,034 in Iran, one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East.

Alex Bainbridge (2020-10-20). Thai democracy movement supported in Brisbane. greenleft.org.au Alex Bainbridge reports on a rally outside the Thai consulate in Brisbane on October 20 to express support for the democracy movement in Thailand.

Manlio Dinucci (2020-10-20). Nuovo comando Usa per la battaglia navale Nato in Europa. globalresearch.ca A Norfolk in Virginia (Usa) è nato un nuovo comando Nato: il Joint Force Command Norfolk, definito ´Comando Atlantico ª, un clone del Joint Force Command Naples con quartier generale a Lago Patria (Napoli). La sua costituzione era stata approvata dal …

Paul Craig Roberts (2020-10-20). The New York Times Is Anti-White and Anti-American. thealtworld.com The vast majority of the New York Times's subscribers are white people. These are people who apparently are so emotionally and mentally weak and so full of guilt and self-loathing that they support a rabid anti-American propaganda organization that brands its readers "racists" and delegitimises the founding principles of the United States. | The US Defense Secretary, Espy, distracts us with the "Russian and Chinese enemies," while the worst enemy that the United States has ever had—The New York Times—carries on its deadly attack of deconstructing America. The New York Times' position is that America i…

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-10-19). Former OPCW Chief Says His Office Was Bugged While USA Pushed Iraq War. thealtworld.com In an The most significant piece of new information revealed i…

Andrew Korybko (2020-10-19). The Expiration Of The Iranian Arms Embargo Opens Up Exciting Opportunities. thealtworld.com The 13-year-long anti-Iranian arms embargo expired on Sunday, which creates exciting opportunities for the Islamic Republic to strengthen its national defense capabilities and cultivate even deeper relations with its top strategic partners such as China and Russia, possibly even playing them off against one another in a "friendly competition" so as to derive the greatest benefit. | The End Of The Embargo | The US is enraged that the UN let the 13-year-long anti-Iranian arms embargo

Staff (2020-10-19). Jeremy Scahill: "Trump Is Not the Root of the Problem, He Is a Product of American Imperial History" democracynow.org Donald Trump ran for president in 2016 with a mixed message of attacking the legacy of the Iraq War and U.S. military adventurism, while simultaneously pledging to commit war crimes and promote imperialism. As we look back at Trump's record, Jeremy Scahill, co-founder of The Intercept, says his flouting of international norms and bullying of other countries is in keeping with how U.S. presidents have long behaved. "Donald Trump is not the root of the problem. Donald Trump is a product of American imperial history," Scahill notes.

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-19). Nagorno-Karabakh Ceasefire 2.0? globalresearch.ca An October 9 Russia-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh (NK below) failed to take hold. | On Saturday, warring sides again agreed to halt fighting, effective Sunday, citing humanitarian reasons. | An Azeri Foreign Ministry statement said the following: | "The …

yenisafak (2020-10-19). Venezuela congrats Bolivia's Arce as he claims victory. yenisafak.com Venezuela's president on Monday congratulated the Bolivian left-wing presidential hopeful Luis Arce as he claimed victory in Sunday's poll."Great victory! The united and conscious Bolivian people defeated the coup against our brother [former President] Evo [Morales] with their votes," Nicolas Maduro said on Twitter."Congratulations to President-elect Luis Arce, Vice President David Choquehuanca and our South Indian Chief @evoespueblo. Jallalla Bolivia!" he added.Jallalla, or long live, is an expression for jubilation in Aymara — an indigenous nation to which Morales belongs.Exit polls showed that the Movement fo…

Prof. Juan Cole (2020-10-19). America Is Complicit, as Yemen Spirals toward Mass Starvation. globalresearch.ca

RT (2020-10-19). Greece to expand wall on Turkish border to block migrants. rt.com Athens said on Monday it had finalized plans to build a wall along Greece's border with Turkey, to prevent large numbers of migrants from crossing into the country illegally. | About 26 kilometers (16 miles) of wall will be added to an existing 10 km section of fence, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said, adding that the project is due to be completed by the end of April. The five-meter (15-foot) barrier would cost €63 million ($74 million). | The wall will be made of galvanized square steel tubes and concrete foundations, Greece's public order ministry has said. In addition, a surveillance camera net…

Mohammad Ayesh (2020-10-19). Arabic press review: Tunisia investigates MP's Facebook post on French teacher beheading. middleeasteye.net Arabic press review: Tunisia investigates MP's Facebook post on French teacher beheading | Meanwhile, Arab financial support for the Palestinian government reportedly falls by 82 percent and Bahrainis protest against Israeli visit | Mon, 10/19/2020 – 14: 47 | A man holds a French flag as people gather in Paris on 18 October 2020, to remember teacher Samuel Paty, beheaded by an attacker (AFP) | <...

Mark Gruenberg (2020-10-19). Women marchers declare: 'Time to finish what we started' against Trump. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—One big electronic sign, rented by Planned Parenthood, said it all as tens of thousands of women—and male allies—paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown D.C., denouncing anti-woman, anti-worker GOP President Donald Trump. "Time to finish what we started," it flashed, after two rotating messages reminding people to wear their masks and keep social distancing, due …

Farooque Chowdhury (2020-10-19). Engagement for environment. mronline.org ALL conscious citizens know the state of the Bangladesh environment. Bangladesh's courts of law regularly rule in favour of the environment.