Daily Archives: November 16, 2020

2020-11-16: News Headlines

Editor (2020-11-16). There's Still No Evidence Hunter Biden's Emails Are 'Russian Disinformation'. scheerpost.com Wikimedia Commons] By Glenn Greenwald / Substack Congressman Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and, not coincidentally, the single most shameless pathological liar in the U.S. Congress by a good margin, appeared on CNN with Wolf Blitzer on October 16 to discuss The New York Post story about Hunter Biden's emails. The CNN host asked him a rhetorical question embedded… |

Paul Street (2020-11-16). This Regime Must Go NOW: Three Reasons. counterpunch.org The Trump campaign and White House are scheming to get the Republican-controlled state legislatures of Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania to declare invalid the mail-in ballots required by the pandemic Trump fueled and fanned across the nation. This would be the pretext for some or all those legislatures trying to install (over the protests of Democratic governors in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan) un-elected slates of Trump electors to the Electoral College, claiming that Trump won the "legal" popular vote in their states. The murky legal and constitutional tangle that could result fro…

M.K. Bhadrakumar (2020-11-16). India's farewell to ASEAN as it boards RCEP train. mronline.org It comes in the specific context of the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP] on Sunday—the mega free trade agreement centred on the ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea.

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-11-16). The Best Plants And People Grow From Shit. thealtworld.com There are creatures the size of mountains swimming beneath the ice. | There are babies laughing at things you can't see. | That quiet old woman there, sitting in the corner: | she has seen some shit, man. | The lushest plants have their roots in shit, | and the lushest people, too. | They do not rise above the shit, | their roots dangling like car wash tentacles as they levitate in the air. | They sink into it. | They build their foundation in it. | They do not transcend, | they embody. | And they grow. | They grow above the shit. | They grow into the shit. | They grow of the shit. | You are not a snipped and dyi…

Ralph Nader (2020-11-16). Trump's Ongoing Crime Wave Requires a Special Prosecutor. counterpunch.org There are many reasons why loser Trump refuses to concede. Yes, delusion has been the counterfeit coin of his fantasy realm — "I won this election by a lot" he tweeted with all caps last Saturday. In his fevered mind — nourished by a bullying career — all victories are his triumphs, and all losses are fake due

Staff (2020-11-16). "I Need That Pardon": Ronnie Long, Free After 44 Years, Demands Justice for His Wrongful Conviction. democracynow.org "It's a blessing within itself for me to even be sitting here right now," says Ronnie Long, free after 44 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Long, who is African American, was convicted in 1976 of raping a white woman by an all-white jury and sentenced to 80 years in prison. In 2015, his lawyers learned that investigators had withheld exculpatory evidence proving his innocence — including semen samples and fingerprints taken from the crime scene that did not match his own — and witnesses for the state committed perjury at his trial. It would take several more years and a ruling by the 4t…

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-11-16). New Trade Zone in Asia-Pacific Could Ensure Chinese Global Leadership. asia-pacificresearch.com

Andrew Korybko (2020-11-16). The Kashmir Dispute: Pakistan Accuses India of Being a State Sponsor of Terrorism. globalresearch.ca Pakistan released a detailed dossier during a press conference on Saturday making the case that India is a state sponsor of terrorism whose intelligence services have weaponized this phenomenon as part of the proxy war that they're fighting with respect …

Mohammad Ayesh (2020-11-16). Arabic press review: Algerian court sentences media mogul to five years in prison. middleeasteye.net Arabic press review: Algerian court sentences media mogul to five years in prison | Meanwhile, Jordanian MPs are due to be prosecuted over alleged 'vote buying', and more than 200 prominent Palestinians campaign for one-state solution | Mon, 11/16/2020 – 14: 32 | Anis Rahmani's organisation served as the media wing of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's administration (Facebook) | Algerian cour…

Peter Oborne (2020-11-16). Nagorno-Karabakh: Monastery becomes symbol of Armenian grief. middleeasteye.net Nagorno-Karabakh: Monastery becomes symbol of Armenian grief | Armenians flock to Dadivank before site is formally handed over to Azerbaijan as part of ceasefire deal | Mon, 11/16/2020 – 11: 32 | Father Hovhannes said he intended to remain at Dadivank. Azerbaijan has said religious sites will be protected (Reuters) | "Whatever happens I am going to stay," said Father Hovhannes, the priest at the ancie…

MEE staff (2020-11-16). Pakistan under pressure to recognise Israel, says Imran Khan. middleeasteye.net Pakistan under pressure to recognise Israel, says Imran Khan | Prime minister says United States and other countries ramping up pressure following Israel's deals with UAE and Bahrain | Mon, 11/16/2020 – 14: 46 | Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the legislative assembly in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, 5 August (AFP) | Pakistan is under pressure from the US and other co…

MEE staff (2020-11-16). Etihad Airways removes advert featuring Second Jewish Temple. middleeasteye.net Etihad Airways removes advert featuring Second Jewish Temple | Promotional video was part of announcement that airline will start operating flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv | Mon, 11/16/2020 – 15: 32 | Screengrab of Etihad Airways' promotional video, subsequently removed, showing a drawing of Jerusalem's Second Temple as one of Israel's landmarks (Twitter\@etihad) | Etihad Airways has removed a video adv…

Nigel Lisbon (2020-11-16). Indianapolis: Protesters take action as system lets another killer cop off the hook. liberationnews.org On Nov. 10, special prosecutor Rosemary Khoury announced that the grand jury she led to investigate the killing of Dreasjon Reed did not bring charges against killer cop Dejoure Mercer.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-11-16). A Dedicated Obsession: Washington's Continuing Iran Sanctions Regime. globalresearch.ca 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 …

Gregory Hood (2020-11-16). America's Social Credit System Is Worse than China's. asia-pacificresearch.com

Anadolu Agency (2020-11-16). Pakistani PM Khan Says He Is Under Pressure to Recognize Israel. globalresearch.ca Pakistan's prime minister said he has been under "pressure" to recognize Israel. However, Islamabad will never recognize the "Zionist" state until a just settlement is reached for the decadeslong Palestinian issue. | In an interview with a local broadcaster aired on …

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Zarif condoles with Syria over his counterpart's demise. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has offered condolences to the Syrian government over the death of his counterpart Walid al-Moallem.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). UN anti-Iran Human Rights resolution ignores Iranians' rights. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — Ali Bagheri-Kani deplored the UN anti-Iran resolution on Human Rights which has ignored many human rights violations against Iran such as US cruel sanctions and the assassination of General Soleimani.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Slovakian, Thai, Japanese envoys submits credentials to Zarif. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — The new ambassadors of Slovakia, Thailand and Japan submitted a copy of their credentials to the Iranian Foreign Minister on Monday.

WSWS (2020-11-16). This week in history: November 16-22. wsws.org 25 years ago: Peres succeeds Rabin as Israeli prime ministerOn November 22, 1995, Shimon Peres officially succeeded Yitzhak Rabin as Israeli prime minister, 18 days after Rabin was assassinated by a religious Zionist fanatic. Peres's major political moves upon taking office—an appeal for new peace talks with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and the appointment of several new cabinet ministers—demonstrated an acute awareness of the depth and explosive potential of the social and political crisis of the Zionist state.

Uriel Araujo (2020-11-16). India and US Signed a Game-changer Defence Deal, Amid the Rise of What Could be a New Bipolarity. asia-pacificresearch.com

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Macron, Pompeo to confer on issues related to Iran in Paris. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — A French newspaper reported that the French President will hold a meeting with the US Secretary of State to discuss issues related to Iran on Monday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Gasoline rationing scheme: From policy to practice. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — These days last year, Iranians were surprised by the sudden news of the implementation of a program for rationing gasoline and also the increase in the fuel prices.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). VIDEO: American experts discuss Iran's cyberpower. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — American experts discuss the cyber power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this video.

news.un (2020-11-16). UN human rights experts denounce 'concerted attempt' to erode civic space in Cambodia. news.un.org Voicing concerns over increasing restrictions on the civil society in Cambodia, a group of independent UN human rights experts have called for an immediate end to the systematic detention and criminalization of activists.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). 'Moallem made great efforts to counter threats of Zionists'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker appreciated the late Syrian FM Walid al-Moallem's great efforts to counter the threats of the Zionist regime.

WSWS (2020-11-16). Large COVID-19 outbreak in Xinjiang, China. wsws.org Repeated flare-ups of coronavirus in different regions of China highlight the fact that the pandemic is a global issue that cannot be resolved on a national basis by locking down borders.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Hashd al-Sha'abi captures 5 ISIL elements in Diyala. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha'abi have arrested 5 ISIL terrorist elements in Diyala province.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Iran Health Ministry announces 13,053 new COVID-19 cases. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — A spokesperson in the Iranian Health Ministry said that 13,053 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease in the past 24 hours which brings total infections to 775,121.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-16). What is RCEP and why are trade unions in the Asia-Pacific region concerned about it? peoplesdispatch.org Even as the new agreement between ASEAN nations and its free trade partners establishes the largest trading bloc in the world, it is vehemently being opposed by labor unions, trade justice groups and women's movements…

Daniel Nichanian (2020-11-16). ICE Suffered Blows in the South in Last Week's Elections. zcomm.org Voters in populous Georgia and South Carolina counties elected sheriffs who ran on ending contracts with ICE…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). Wahhabi terrorists to fail in northern borders of Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — Ali Akbar Velayati said that the presence of Wahabi terrorists in the northern borders of Iran is doomed to failure.

Middle East Eye (2020-11-16). Groups Critical of Israel to be Branded 'Antisemitic' Under Pompeo Plan: Report. globalresearch.ca The US State Department is expected to announce plans to create a new governmental process that would officially designate some groups, including NGOs and human rights organisations, as antisemitic. | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has reportedly decided to establish the …

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-16). FAO starts project on improving Iran agro-rural capacities. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) started the implementation of a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project to enhance the resilience of Iranian rural communities and agricultural systems.

RT (2020-11-15). Russian military setting up humanitarian response center in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh to assist refugees displaced by conflict. rt.com Following the Moscow-brokered armistice between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Russian military has begun setting up a humanitarian response center in Stepanakert, the de facto capital of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. | The conflict over the territory, which had been raging since late September, came to an abrupt end on Monday, after Russia managed to persuade Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to agree to halt the fighting. As part of the truce, Russian peacekeepers moved into Nagorno-Karabakh to separate the warring sides and curb any possible provocations. | The Russian military has already started setti…

Vietnam News Agency (2020-11-15). Acuerdo de Asociación Económica Integral Regional firmado tras años de conversaciones. peoplesworld.org HANOI, 15 nov (VNA) — Ministros de 15 países de la región Asia-Pacífico firmaron hoy el Acuerdo de Asociación Económica Integral Regional (RCEP) después de ocho años de conversaciones. El pacto comercial involucra a 10 países miembros de la ASEAN: Brunéi, Camboya, Indonesia, Laos, Malasia, Myanmar, Filipinas, Singapur, Tailandia y Vietnam, y los socios del …

MEE and agencies (2020-11-15). Assassination of PM foiled as Armenia withdraws from Nagorno-Karabakh. middleeasteye.net Assassination of PM foiled as Armenia withdraws from Nagorno-Karabakh | Armenian Premier Pashinyan had come under pressure to quit after agreeing to ceasefire in the contested region | Sun, 11/15/2020 – 11: 11 | Thousands have demonstrated against Nikola Pashinyan, pictured here on 6 October 2020, after he agreed to a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh after nearly two months of fighting (AFP)…

RT (2020-11-15). Iran boosts military cooperation with Iraq as it warns of US-backed 'terrorists' being redeployed to the region. rt.com A senior Iranian military official has hailed an agreement to increase defense cooperation with Iraq, claiming that the two nations must guard against extremists allegedly being sent into the region by Washington. | Tehran and Baghdad have drafted a plan that calls for joint military drills and cooperation between their defense industries, as well as strengthening border security. The document will be finalized and formally signed in the near future, according to Iranian state media. | Iraqi Defense Minister Juma Anad Saadoun, accompanied by senior Iraqi commanders, traveled to Tehran to iron out the deal. | R…

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…

sputniknews (2020-11-15). Strong 6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Registered in Mindanao, Philippines. sputniknews.com An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 hit Mindanao in the Philippines, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

sputniknews (2020-11-15). Hallyu Star Lee Seung-gi is Back With His New Song. sputniknews.com Talented South Korean actor dropped the pre-release song "Ordinary Man" ahead of his full 7th album.

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.

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). Iran's new amb. submits credentials to Qatari official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) — Iran's new envoy to Qatar submitted a copy of his credentials to the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-15). 'Iran self-reliant in port construction sector'. en.mehrnews.com CHABAHAR, Nov. 16 (MNA) — In an interview with Mehr news the Head of Coastal and Port Engineering department of PMO said Iran is self-reliant in the port construction sector and the majority of the maritime equipment in Iranian ports is domestic.

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.

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). 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.

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 …