Daily Archives: November 15, 2020

2020-11-15: News Headlines

MEE and agencies (2020-11-15). Israeli army strikes Gaza Strip overnight. middleeasteye.net Israeli army strikes Gaza Strip overnight | The air and land attack took place shortly after the first anniversary of the assassination of an Islamic Jihad leader | Sun, 11/15/2020 – 10: 33 | Israeli air strikes, like the one pictured in the town of Khan Younis on 23 October 2020, are a regular occurrence in Gaza (AFP) | The Israeli army said it struck Hamas positions in the besieged Gaza…

Binoy Kampmark (2020-11-15). A Dedicated Obsession: Washington's Continuing Iran Sanctions Regime. dissidentvoice.org One dogma that is likely to persist in US foreign policy during a Biden presidency will be the sanctions regime adopted towards Iran. Every messianic state craves clearly scripted enemies, and the demonology about the Islamic Republic is not going to go begging. Elliot Abrahams, the current US special representative for Iran, told Associated Press …

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). Shamkhani's meeting with Iraqi Defense Minister. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani met and held talks with the visiting Iraqi Minister of Defense Juma Inad Sadoon in Tehran on Sunday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). MP terms re-negotiation with fraudulent liars as foolish idea. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — MP Moghtadaei stressed, "re-negotiation of JCPOA with fraudulent liars and criminals, who have never stopped their hostile moves against Iran, is basically a foolish idea."

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). Parliament's Sunday open session. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament, during its open session on Sunday, investigated an urgent bill to extend the VAT law.

Iran Aguilera (2020-11-15). Communal Organisation: The Barcelona Experience. zcomm.org Venezuelan communard Iran Aguilera examines the advances of popular power in Anzoátegui State…

American Indian Resource Center at UCSC (2020-11-15). Friday 11/20: Indigethanx. indybay.org Online Event | http: //bit.ly/INDIGETHANX20…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). Iran-Bulgaria: Great capacities for coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — Taking a look at the commonalities between Iran and Bulgaria in a variety of aspects, signals that the two countries have great capacities for further enhancing ties.

Marwa Osman (2020-11-15). Iraq Threatens U.S.—MES EP.80. thealtworld.com Iraq's anti-terror Kata'ib Hezbollah group, a faction of the country's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, has warned that a "tougher and stronger" confrontation awaits US forces should they defy a timetable set for their withdrawal from the Arab country. The Iraqi resistance further warned that the next stage of the fight will soon take place featuring new types of weapons. To discuss this issue with us from Malmo is Feras Ali political commentator. | Israeli Bulldozers and diggers demolished Palestinian village of Khirbet Humsa last week, leaving 74 people, including 41 minors, ho…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). Swapping to improve Iran's foreign trade. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — In an interview with Mehr News, Deputy Foreign Minister for the Economic Diplomacy Affairs said bartering will improve Iran's foreign trade.

Global Times (2020-11-15). China's U.S. Funded Think Tanks and Research Institutions. Interference in China's Internal Affairs? globalresearch.ca While US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls for vigilance over think tanks he believes are "tainted by the machinations" of foreign governments, he turns blind eye to the fact that the US is the world's worst when it comes …

Prof. Ruel F. Pepa (2020-11-15). Making Sense of the Oriental Mindframe. asia-pacificresearch.com

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). Iran to avenge perpetrators of assassinating Martyr Soleimani. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said that Iran will certainly revenge the perpetrators of assassination of former IRGC Quds Force Commander Martyr Lt. Gen. Soleimani.

Richard Horton (2020-11-14). [Comment] Offline: A different kind of lockdown. thelancet.com In April, 2019, Dr Mai Alkaila became the first woman to be appointed Minister of Health in the occupied Palestinian territory. An obstetrician and gynaecologist by training, she later earned a PhD in health policy and systems. But she also had a taste for diplomacy and has served the State of Palestine as Ambassador to Chile and Italy. Perfect credentials, one might imagine, for a role that comes with already delicate political challenges. And then the COVID-19 pandemic struck. How was a divided land and a divided government under occupation going to handle a health emergency that was confounding even the most u…

WSWS (2020-11-14). Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Staff (2020-11-14). Women and Students Are Leading Thailand's Fight for Democracy. truthout.org A mass movement for democracy has swept Thailand since July. Led by a new generation of students and workers, protests have taken place throughout the country. They are fighting for a profound transformation of Thai society. Thai socialist

_____ (2020-11-14). Update: Abby Martin's Lawsuit Over Israel Loyalty Oath Mandate In US. popularresistance.org New developments in Abby Martin's major lawsuit challenging unconstitutional pro-Israel, anti-BDS law in the state of Georgia. | Abby Martin: "In February of this year, I was supposed to give a keynote speech at Georgia Southern University. Before the event, I refused to sign a state-mandated pledge to not boycott Israel in order to speak. My invitation was rescinded and the conference canceled as a result. I decided to sue the state of Georgia because signing an anti-BDS clause in order to work in the state is a direct violation of my rights to Constitutional free speech and to participate in political boycotts.

RT (2020-11-14). Fired Amazon worker & strike leader sues megacorporation for racial discrimination during Covid-19. rt.com An ex-Amazon employee who led a warehouse workers' strike has sued for discrimination, alleging the company failed to "provide PPE equipment to its predominantly minority workforce" while giving whites cushy management jobs. | The trillion-dollar online retail giant "subjected a class of African American and Hispanic workers to inferior terms and conditions of employment as it offered predominantly Caucasian employees working in managerial classifications [sic]," the

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-11-14). Unelected Officials Override The President To Continue Wars (But Only Kooks Believe In The Deep State). thealtworld.com Outgoing US envoy to Syria James Jeffrey stated in a recent interview with Defense One that US officials have been …

Deirdre Griswold (2020-11-14). Class oppression and the virus. workers.org The United States continues to lead the world — in the number of COVID-19 cases as well as in deaths. As of Nov. 9, this rich, high-tech imperialist country has now registered 243,302 deaths from the virus. This is twice as many coronavirus deaths as in India, even though the . . . |

RT (2020-11-14). Ukrainian special forces reportedly practice RECAPTURE of Crimea, 6 years after peninsula rejoined Russia. rt.com Elite soldiers in the Ukrainian army recently staged a series of drills that reportedly rehearsed for a potential invasion of the Crimean Peninsula. | Following reports in the Ukrainian media, Russia's RIA Novosti agency described the proposed tactical playbook for the mock mission. First, "several groups of special forces cross the border unnoticed and go deeper into the territory of the peninsula" where they would "destroy the runways of airfields, destroy communication centers, headquarters and weapons depots, and eliminate commanders." | This covert operation would then be followed by a full-scale air and…

Anand Naidoo (2020-11-14). The Heat: US presidential race and coronavirus surge. america.cgtn.com China on Friday congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, saying China will respect the choice of the American people…one week after the US media projected the former United States Vice President as the winner of the presidential election.

WSWS (2020-11-14). Tropical storms continue to pound the Philippines. wsws.org PAGASA, the national meteorological agency, announced on Thursday that it is expecting one or two storms to hit in November, and possibly three in December.

Prabir Purkayastha (2020-11-14). Good news on vaccines but what about its delivery? peoplesdispatch.org If we plan to vaccinate the entire Indian people, the states need to be involved in a big way, however, the Modi government has so far centralized all aspects of the management of the epidemic, treating it only as an administrative problem.

Devi Sridhar (2020-11-14). [Perspectives] Staying sane in our new COVID-19 world. thelancet.com COVID-19 spread like wildfire across the world: from China to its neighbouring countries to east Asia, Iran, Europe, and the rest of the world. This pandemic showed how connected the world has become, and how even the best mathematical modelling could not predict which countries would be first affected and how elite travellers would move from hotels to ski resorts to cruise ships and restaurants. But during the pandemic, there has been anxiety about the virus and considerable uncertainty, with widespread reports of mental health issues and feelings of isolation, especially under lockdowns.

Danica Jorden (2020-11-14). Police Fire on Femicide Protest in Cancún. zcomm.org The details were sickening and at the same time so familiar. Another young woman missing, raped, murdered and mutilated…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-14). Yet another journalist killed in Afghanistan. peoplesdispatch.org On November 12, a journalist was killed and three others were critically wounded in an improvised bomb blast in Helmand's Lashkar Gah. 33-year-old Elyas Dayee was associated with Radio Free Afghanistan RFE/RL. | In another bomb blast last week, former Tolo news presenter Yama Siawash was killed in Kabul's Makrorayan-e-Char. Siawash had recently joined Afghanistan's central bank as an adviser. Abdullah Abdullah, who head the country's peace and reconciliation process, termed his death "an forgivable and unforgettable crime." | As many as 50 journalists and dozens of rights activists have been killed in Afghanistan…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-14). Iran's trade vol. exchange with Europe at $8.8bn in 7 months. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (MNA) — Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) put the country's trade volume exchanged with Europe in the seven months of the current year (from March 21 to Oct. 22) at $8.8 billion.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-14). Pro-govt. groups gain advantage in Jordanian polls amid poor turnout. peoplesdispatch.org Pro-government figures and independents won a majority of seats with a large number of them from military backgrounds. Out of 130 elected members, 100 are first-time winners…

sputniknews (2020-11-14). Nusra Terrorists Carry Out 31 Attacks in Syria's Idlib De-escalation Zone. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group* carried out 31 attacks in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone over the past 24 hours, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian Reconciliation, Rear Adm. Alexander Grinkevich, said on Saturday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-14). Iran ready to aid Iraq boost its defense capabilities: Hatami. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (MNA) — Iran's Minister of Defense voiced Iran's readiness to help Iraq strengthen its defense capabilities.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-14). IRGC launches attack on anti-revolutionary group in NW Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (MNA) — IRGC's Hamza Sayyid al-Shuhada Base announced that it has targeted the positions of anti-Revolutionary groups on the other side of the Iranian border.

sputniknews (2020-11-14). Two Chinese 'Aircraft-Carrier Killer' Missiles Hit Target in South China Sea, Report Says. sputniknews.com According to a former PLA colonel, the successful launch of the DF-26B and DF-21D missiles in August is a "warning" to the United States that they should not take any military risk against China.

_____ (2020-11-14). VIDEO: Russian Diplomacy Pulls Caucasus from Brink of Disaster. strategic-culture.org

sputniknews (2020-11-14). Two Men Killed, One Woman Injured in Cholet Commune in Western France, Report Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Two men were killed and one woman was seriously injured in the commune of Cholet in France's western department of Maine-et-Loire, the BFMTV broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing police sources.

Women's March Action (2020-11-14). Monday 11/16: Georgia: Let's Get It! Mass Organizing Call w/ Women's March Action. indybay.org Online organizing call…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-14). Iran produces effective antiviral COVID-19 drug. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (MNA) — Iranian researchers have developed an effective COVID-19 drug that has been approved by Iran's Food and Drug Administration (IFDA).

WSWS (2020-11-14). Re-release of Bong Joon-ho's Memories of Murder (2003): A picture of South Korean society. wsws.org An early film by South Korean writer-director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) has been released over the course of the past year in a number of countries—and now in the US. It is well worth seeing.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-14). Iraqi army captures ISIL commander in Al Anbar province. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (MNA) — Iraqi army forces identified and arrested an ISIL commander in a large-scale operation in Al Anbar province.

Mike Daube, Maurice Swanson (2020-11-14). [Correspondence] Conflicts of interest should be declared. thelancet.com In her Correspondence about smoking cessation programmes in China,1 Yuchen Xue declares no competing interests. However, she writes from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, which is entirely funded by Philip Morris International, a tobacco company that has been heavily criticised for promoting tobacco industry agendas.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-14). Iranian "The Hunter" to vie at Canadian HECFF. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (MNA) — The documentary film "The Hunter" directed by an Iranian filmmaker will be taking part in Human-Environment Care Film Festival in Canada.

sputniknews (2020-11-14). Armenian National Security Service Says Prevented Attempt to Kill Prime Minister Pashinyan. sputniknews.com YEREVAN (Sputnik) – Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) said on Saturday that it had thwarted an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan by his political opponents.

WSWS (2020-11-13). Socialist Equality Group webinar discusses New Zealand and US elections. wsws.org Speakers debunked the claims of pseudo-left groups that the re-election of Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party is a win for workers, and outlined the stronger military alliance between New Zealand and the US in the context of a crisis of democracy in Washington and preparations for war against China.

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-11-13). War in Ethiopia Threatens China's Economic Penetration in Africa. globalresearch.ca Less than a year after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military operation against the country's northern Tigray province. Ethiopia is often described as the Horn of Africa's pillar of stability and …

RT (2020-11-13). A very good boy: Turkmenistan unveils six-meter-tall golden statue of president's favorite dog breed. rt.com Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has unveiled a giant statue of a dog in the center of Ashgabat, the country's capital. The gilded monument is dedicated to the Alabai, a popular breed in the Central Asian country. | Six meters tall on a nine-meter-high plinth, the canine statue is in the middle of a busy roundabout, surrounded by a brand new housing development. | According to the Turkmen government, "the sculpture looks very majestic," depicting the "dignity and self-assuredness" of the Alabai breed. The statue "is clearly visible from all sides and visible from a distance," the statement says.

MEE staff (2020-11-13). 'Dangerous precedent': Palestinian premier warns Pompeo over settlement visit. middleeasteye.net 'Dangerous precedent': Palestinian premier warns Pompeo over settlement visit | Mike Pompeo's visit, a first for a US secretary of state, will 'legitimise' Israeli settlements despite international consensus over their illegality, warns Prime Minister Shtayyeh | Fri, 11/13/2020 – 21: 32 | Protesters in Nablus burn cardboard cutout of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this year during demonstration agai…

RT (2020-11-13). Soldiers and civilians reportedly killed as shells fired along Pakistan-India border in Kashmir (VIDEO). rt.com At least a dozen people have been killed in fighting between Pakistani and Indian forces at the disputed border in Kashmir, according to reports, in one of the deadliest encounters between the two militaries this year. | Indian officials reported the death of six civilians, three soldiers and one border guard following a day of heavy shelling between the neighboring states on Friday. | Meanwhile, Pakistan reports four civilian deaths but has not named any military fatalities, despite Indian officials claiming that they inflicted casualties among Pakistani security forces. | Both sides contend that the other in…

Joseph Natoli (2020-11-13). The 77/72* Phenomenal World Divide. counterpunch.org "I can't tell you how many people are saying Trump's saying what I've been thinking all my life." "Most of them [Biden voters] are morons." "That V.P. of Biden's, oh my God, that woman is vicious," "The worst thing about the Trump presidency isn't what we've learned about Trump. It's what we've learned about our

RT (2020-11-13). Ties between Moscow & OPCW going through 'period of challenges,' but point of no return not yet reached, Russian envoy tells RT. rt.com The US and its allies are trying to turn the UN's chemical arms watchdog into a political tool, but it remains an important platform via which Moscow can defend its interests, Alexander Shulgin, Russian envoy to the body, told RT. | The ambassador was speaking in the light of a statement made by Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, on Thursday. Nebenzia had suggested that the country may well consider quitting the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) altogether, if "it completely loses credibility." | The statement was made amid a row between Moscow and the Wes…

The Canary (2020-11-13). Met Commissioner admits force 'not free of discrimination, racism or bias'. thecanary.co The Metropolitan Police commissioner has said she feels "very sorry" that trust among Black communities is so low, as she admitted her force "is not free of discrimination, racism or bias".Cressida Dick issued a statement as the force outlined plans for 40% of new recruits to be from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME) from 2022.It comes as London mayor Sadiq Khan published an action plan to address concerns over the use of police powers affecting Black Londoners, including stop and search and the use of Tasers. It also comes after the mother of Stephen Lawrence argued "that there has been very li…