Monthly Archives: November 2020

2020-11-18: News Headlines

Vijay Prashad (2020-11-18). Why Biden will keep the US-imposed Cold War rolling. peoplesdispatch.org Will US foreign policy change significantly under the incoming Biden administration? Vijay Prashad argues that this is unlikely, especially with regard to the Cold War on China…

Fight Back (2020-11-18). Demand immediate release of Palestinian women's movement leader Khitam Saafin. fightbacknews.org Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) demands Israel immediately release Khitam Saafin, the president of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, who has been jailed without charge or trial. Saafin was taken into custody on November 2 along with six other Palestinian human rights activists. Her imprisonment is another in the long list of crimes by the callous and cruel Zionist occupiers of Palestine. | Khitam Saafin is among those who stand in the forefront of the Palestinian women's movement and is a tireless organizer for social and national liberation. She has spoken at many international venues on th…

Editor (2020-11-18). Amazon is censoring: We need your help to distribute this book! workers.org "Capitalism on a Ventilator" is a new anthology comparing the effective Chinese response to COVID-19 to the disastrous response in the U.S. This book pushes back against the racist anti-China campaign in U.S. media. However, Amazon is currently censoring the book's distribution. We need your support to get the book . . . |

Media Lens (2020-11-18). The Dead and Those about to Die: Climate Protests and the Corporate Media. dissidentvoice.org The Roman poet Horace famously declared: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. Wilfred Owen, the great English poet of the First World War, described this phrase as 'the old Lie' in his famous war poem, 'Dulce et decorum est'. Patriotism so often means 'honouring' …

Media Lens (2020-11-18). The Dead And Those About To Die: Climate Protests And The Corporate Media. dissidentvoice.org The Roman poet Horace famously declared: Dulce et decorum est pro patrie mori. It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. Wilfred Owen, the great English poet of the First World War, described this phrase as 'the old Lie' in his famous war poem, 'Dulce et decorum est'. Patriotism so often means 'honouring' …

Andrew Korybko (2020-11-18). Syrian Foreign Minister Muallem Was a Multipolar Visionary. globalresearch.ca Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem passed away earlier this week, but his multipolar vision will be remembered forever. The Arab Republic's top diplomat previously served as his country's Ambassador to the US from 1990-1999 prior to becoming Assistant Foreign Minister …

Prof. Juan Cole (2020-11-18). Trump Bruited Strike on Iran Civilian Nuclear Facilities, Which May Kill as Many as Did Nuclear Bombing of Hiroshima. globalresearch.ca

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2020-11-18). BRICS 2020: Achievements and Future Challenges. Summit of Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. globalresearch.ca On November 17, under Russia's BRICS Chairmanship, Vladimir Putin hosted the 12th BRICS Summit via videoconference. The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated to discuss the state and prospects of cooperation within BRICS, discussed the global …

Tom Clifford (2020-11-18). The Decline of the US Does Not Mean Plain Sailing for China. globalresearch.ca Who lost China? The question, first asked when Mao's dictum about power coming from the barrel of a gun proved pertinent and Truman was in the White House, is being asked again with renewed vigor. Some in the West believed …

Thomas Hon Wing Polin (2020-11-18). Hong Kong: Beijing Presses the Cleanup. counterpunch.org Is China a sovereign country? The question may seem ludicrous. But it must be asked of the US and other Western politicians and media objecting loudly to Beijing's disqualification of four opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong. That act has sparked the resignation of 15 other "pro-democracy" legislators. A sovereign nation has the unchallengeable right to

Dmitry Bokarev (2020-11-18). India and ASEAN to Create a "Belt and Road Alternative"? asia-pacificresearch.com

South Front (2020-11-18). Video: Silent Retreat of Neo-Ottoman Forces from Syria. globalresearch.ca In October and the first half of November, the war in Syria remained in a relatively calm phase, which was not marked by any active military actions of the sides involved in the conflict. Nonetheless, this period demonstrated several trends …

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Traitors to Holy Quds have no future in region. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker's Special Aide for International Affairs said that traitors to Holy Quds and Palestine have no future in the region.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Iranian film 'The Enemies' goes to Estonian festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Iranian film 'The Enemies' directed by Ali Derakhshandeh has been accepted into the 2020 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Pres. Rouhani congrats Sultanate of Oman on Natl. Day. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani felicitated the Sultanate of Oman on the arrival of National Day.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Zarif felicitates Oman on National Day. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister has congratulated his counterpart on the occasion of Oman's National Day.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). US to cut troop levels in Afghanistan, Iraq. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — United States President Donald Trump will sharply reduce the number of US forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 before he leaves office, the Pentagon has announced.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Iran COVID-19 cases exceed 800,000. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 13,421 COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, bringing the total cases in the country to 801,894.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). 'Iran not to fullfil commitments if US does not so'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Iranian President's Chief of Staff said if the US does not return to its commitments, Iran will not be able to meet its requirements, either.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Iranian filmmaker joins juries at Cortos en Grande fest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Iranian filmmaker Ghasideh Golmakani has joined the jury panel at the 3rd edition of the Cortos en Grande Short Film Festival in Chile.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Iran can reach $300b market via EAEU agreement. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (MNA) — Iran's ambassador to Moscow says accession to the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) can be an opportunity to reach a $300-billion worth market.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). 75 Democrats urge Trump to show leniency on Iran Sanctions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Democrats on Capitol Hill are pushing back on the Trump administration's plan to unveil stepped-up sanctions against Iran, urging the outgoing US president to be flexible and allow coronavirus aid to be sent.

Staff (2020-11-18). As North Dakota Faces World's Deadliest Outbreak, Native Communities Condemn States' COVID Response. 18.224.45.15 As COVID-19 rampages through the U.S., we look at how the rapid spread of the disease is affecting Native American communities, which have already faced disproportionate infection and death rates throughout the pandemic. "We're having a lot of people perish. We're having a lot of death, a lot of hospitalizations," says Jodi Archambault, a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and former special assistant to President Obama for Native American affairs. We also speak with Allie Young, founder of Protect the Sacred, who says the Navajo Nation has "worked hard to flatten the curve" of COVID-19 infections but is st…

news.un (2020-11-18). Backed by space technology, Asia-Pacific countries power sustainable development. news.un.org Asian and Pacific nations are increasingly leveraging space technology and geospatial information to respond to challenges on the ground, including in their efforts to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new United Nations report.

A Guest Author (2020-11-18). A survivor speaks: 'I had to defend myself'. workers.org EDITOR NOTES: I first met Wendy Howard when I joined the No Justice Under Capitalism Coalition in spring 2020. She attended many of its demonstrations demanding mass release of prisoners due to the COVID epidemic. Later I found out Wendy was facing felony murder charges for killing her physically and . . . |

A Guest Author (2020-11-18). A survivor speaks: 'I had to defend myself'. workers.org This is a slightly edited version of a talk given at the webinar "Women and Oppressed Genders: Survival and Resistance" hosted by WWP's Prisoners Solidarity Committee on Sept. 24. Wendy Howard with daughters Bailey (left) and Miranda (right) in front of the office of the Kern County District Attorney. . . . |

Matthew Rozsa (2020-11-18). Is the pandemic making turkey more expensive?>. salon.com After outbreaks among agriculture workers, industry experts weigh in on the pandemic's effects on turkey prices…

Ceren Sagir (2020-11-18). Thai students lead charge against military rulers and monarchy. peoplesworld.org Thailand's riot police fired water cannons and tear gas at protesters Tuesday as they tried to break through barricades outside parliament while possible changes to the constitution were discussed. Police had set up the barbed wire barricades earlier as hundreds of royalists demonstrated to call on MPs not to change the constitution. But the student-led …

Gavan McCormack (2020-11-18). Japan, Australia, and the Rejigging of Asia-Pacific Alliances. asia-pacificresearch.com

Kweku Toure (2020-11-18). 'If You Want to Make the Gods Laugh, Tell Them Your Plans'. thenation.com 'If You Want to Make the Gods Laugh, Tell Them Your Plans'

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-18). Several injured in police action against pro-democracy protesters in Thailand. peoplesdispatch.org Protesters in Thailand are demanding a curb on the monarchy's power. The government led by prime minister Prayush Cha-ocha has resorted to repression of the protesters and arrested several leaders…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Iran, Uzbekistan to establish Joint Trade Committee. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — The Presidents of the Iran-Uzbekistan Chambers of Commerce, in a video conference, signed an MoU to establish the joint trade committee of the two sides.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). Intl. Resistance Filmfest great chance to touch Resistance. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Stating that today the West seeks to justify its terrorist ideology, a Syrian artist said, "Resistance International Film Festival reflects the reality of the resistance and it is a great chance to watch the real resistance."

_____ (2020-11-18). A Typical Democratic Official On The Pentagon And War. popularresistance.org Jeh Johnson, formerly homeland security secretary under President Obama, showed how a typical Democratic official approaches the Pentagon and war as he spoke on ABC's This Week on Sunday (11/15). For Johnson, the Pentagon "is typically an island of stability" in the U.S. government, but President Trump was destabilizing that island because of recent changes to Pentagon personnel. Trump's changes could be driven by his desire to get U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, speculated Johnson, which was not a good thing:…

Xia Zhijian (2020-11-18). How Can the Belt and Road Better Protect Biodiversity? asia-pacificresearch.com

Andrew Emett (2020-11-18). Lawsuit filed against Fort Worth and police officer who killed innocent woman. nationofchange.org "Defendant Dean in his prowl around the backyard of her home caused Atatiana fear and uncertainty. Dean shot Atatiana, causing pain and suffering. Dean failed to render medical aid to Atatiana."

_____ (2020-11-18). Afghanistan War: A Troop Drawdown is Welcome, But It's Not Enough. popularresistance.org "A drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq is a long-overdue and welcome step in the right direction. But let's be clear: this is just a step, not an end to these long wars. Maintaining thousands of troops in indefinite occupation is far from a rethinking of the logic of militarism, particularly when past drawdowns have been repeatedly undermined by troop surges, redeployments to nearby countries, increased reliance on private contractors, and the dramatic growth of aerial warfare, resulting in massive increases in civilian deaths.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-18). No safe, impenetrable refuge for criminals: Shamkhani. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said that Iran's security forces will eventually terminate any aggressor or criminal.

Raul Diego (2020-11-17). Our House: Why China's New South Asian Trade Deal is Making Washington Sweat. mintpressnews.com A 15-member South Asian trade agreement that includes China and Japan has put the West on notice that its influence in the region is waning and possibly done for.

Nur Ayoubi (2020-11-17). Covid in Lebanon: Minister's 'let women cook' in lockdown comment causes uproar. middleeasteye.net Covid in Lebanon: Minister's 'let women cook' in lockdown comment causes uproar | Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi also said women 'too timid' to be prime minister, sparking widespread backlash | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 51 | Mohammed Fahmi has come under fire for his comments (Reuters) | Social media users in Lebanon have organised a campaign challenging controversial comments made by caretaker Interior Minis…

MEE and agencies (2020-11-17). Russia to build naval base in Sudan, ushering in new foothold in Africa. middleeasteye.net Russia to build naval base in Sudan, ushering in new foothold in Africa | Port Sudan facility will be Moscow's first substantial military presence on the continent since the fall of the Soviet Union | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 15 | The new facility will make it easier for the Russian navy to operate in the Indian Ocean (AFP) | Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Monday approvin…

Anand Naidoo (2020-11-17). The Heat: RCEP Trade Deal. america.cgtn.com An historic achievement – China and 14 other Asian countries sign a massive trade agreement. We'll discuss what it means for the region and the world.

MEE staff (2020-11-17). Scores of Israelis evicted from former settlement in West Bank. middleeasteye.net Scores of Israelis evicted from former settlement in West Bank | Around 20 families, including a Likud MP, ejected from Sa-Nur by the military 15 years after first being expelled | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 14 | Israeli settlers inside a property in the former settlement of Sa-Nur north of the occupied West Bank (Twitter\@EladHumi) | Scores of Israeli settlers attempting to repopulate an illegal settlement near th…

Alex MacDonald (2020-11-17). Barack Obama's legacy in the Middle East: Six things we learned from 'A Promised Land'. middleeasteye.net Barack Obama's legacy in the Middle East: Six things we learned from 'A Promised Land' | In his latest memoir, the former president discusses being pressured by the Israel lobby, Bahrain's assault on the pro-democracy movement, and the vagaries of having 12 wives | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 16: 21 | Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) and his US counterpart Barack Obama take part in a welcoming ceremon…

Binoy Kampmark (2020-11-17). A Dedicated Obsession: Washington's Continuing Iran Sanctions Regime. counterpunch.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 Abrams, the current US special representative for Iran, told Associated Press

RT (2020-11-17). Russian parliament approves plan making Putin & Medvedev 'senators for life' as possible 2024 Kremlin departure date approaches. rt.com Russia's State Duma has ratified a Bill that may give Russian President Vladimir Putin a permanent post in the powerful Federation Council for life. Putin has previously indicated he may stand down at the end of his current term. | The new legislation, which passed its first reading on Tuesday, states that "a President of the Russian Federation, after terminating his powers due to the expiration of his term of office, or his resignation" would automatically be granted a seat on the body, which also includes two representatives from each political division of the country. The president will also be able to appo…

Pranav Jani (2020-11-17). The 1857 rebellion in Colonial India. mronline.org The 1857 Rebellion against British rule in Colonial India hasn't always received the attention it deserves, despite being one of the most important uprisings of the 19th century. Pranav Jani argues it's high time we changed that.

MEE staff (2020-11-17). Covid-19: Turkey to impose new measures to curb coronavirus surge. middleeasteye.net Covid-19: Turkey to impose new measures to curb coronavirus surge | All schools will remain closed until the year-end and there will be a curfew between 10am to 8pm on weekends, President Erdogan said | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 17: 23 | Erdogan said the government needs people to cooperate with these measures in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus (AFP/File photo) | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said…

MEE and agencies (2020-11-17). Iraq hangs 21 men for terrorism at notorious Nasiriyah prison. middleeasteye.net Iraq hangs 21 men for terrorism at notorious Nasiriyah prison | The men had been convicted under a 2005 counterterrorism law but there were no details on their specific crimes | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 08: 29 | Iraq ranks fifth among countries that carry out death sentences, according to Amnesty International (Reuters) | Iraq executed 21 men convicted of terrorism on Monday at the notorious Nasi…

MEE staff (2020-11-17). Palestinian Authority to restore security, financial coordination with Israel. middleeasteye.net Palestinian Authority to restore security, financial coordination with Israel | Official says President Mahmoud Abbas is ready to restore ties with Israel, a move that could disrupt reconciliation talks with Hamas | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 19: 07 | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a placard with historical maps showing Palestinian land loss during video conference with Palestinian factions on 3 September (A…

2020-11-17: News Headlines

Binoy Kampmark (2020-11-17). A Dedicated Obsession: Washington's Continuing Iran Sanctions Regime. counterpunch.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 Abrams, the current US special representative for Iran, told Associated Press

MEE and agencies (2020-11-17). Russia to build naval base in Sudan, ushering in new foothold in Africa. middleeasteye.net Russia to build naval base in Sudan, ushering in new foothold in Africa | Port Sudan facility will be Moscow's first substantial military presence on the continent since the fall of the Soviet Union | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 15 | The new facility will make it easier for the Russian navy to operate in the Indian Ocean (AFP) | Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Monday approvin…

Thomas Knapp (2020-11-17). How Joe Biden Can Score a Major Foreign Policy Win on Day One of his Presidency. counterpunch.org "President-elect Joe Biden has promised to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal," writes Tom O'Connor at Newsweek. "But a return is set to face challenges on both sides as they attempt to rebuild trust in a radically different environment than five years ago."

MEE staff (2020-11-17). Scores of Israelis evicted from former settlement in West Bank. middleeasteye.net Scores of Israelis evicted from former settlement in West Bank | Around 20 families, including a Likud MP, ejected from Sa-Nur by the military 15 years after first being expelled | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 14 | Israeli settlers inside a property in the former settlement of Sa-Nur north of the occupied West Bank (Twitter\@EladHumi) | Scores of Israeli settlers attempting to repopulate an illegal settlement near th…

MEE and agencies (2020-11-17). Iraq hangs 21 men for terrorism at notorious Nasiriyah prison. middleeasteye.net Iraq hangs 21 men for terrorism at notorious Nasiriyah prison | The men had been convicted under a 2005 counterterrorism law but there were no details on their specific crimes | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 08: 29 | Iraq ranks fifth among countries that carry out death sentences, according to Amnesty International (Reuters) | Iraq executed 21 men convicted of terrorism on Monday at the notorious Nasi…

Raul Diego (2020-11-17). Our House: Why China's New South Asian Trade Deal is Making Washington Sweat. mintpressnews.com A 15-member South Asian trade agreement that includes China and Japan has put the West on notice that its influence in the region is waning and possibly done for.

Alex MacDonald (2020-11-17). Barack Obama's legacy in the Middle East: Six things we learned from 'A Promised Land'. middleeasteye.net Barack Obama's legacy in the Middle East: Six things we learned from 'A Promised Land' | In his latest memoir, the former president discusses being pressured by the Israel lobby, Bahrain's assault on the pro-democracy movement, and the vagaries of having 12 wives | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 16: 21 | Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) and his US counterpart Barack Obama take part in a welcoming ceremon…

Nur Ayoubi (2020-11-17). Covid in Lebanon: Minister's 'let women cook' in lockdown comment causes uproar. middleeasteye.net Covid in Lebanon: Minister's 'let women cook' in lockdown comment causes uproar | Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi also said women 'too timid' to be prime minister, sparking widespread backlash | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 51 | Mohammed Fahmi has come under fire for his comments (Reuters) | Social media users in Lebanon have organised a campaign challenging controversial comments made by caretaker Interior Minis…

MEE staff (2020-11-17). Covid-19: Turkey to impose new measures to curb coronavirus surge. middleeasteye.net Covid-19: Turkey to impose new measures to curb coronavirus surge | All schools will remain closed until the year-end and there will be a curfew between 10am to 8pm on weekends, President Erdogan said | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 17: 23 | Erdogan said the government needs people to cooperate with these measures in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus (AFP/File photo) | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said…

Pranav Jani (2020-11-17). The 1857 rebellion in Colonial India. mronline.org The 1857 Rebellion against British rule in Colonial India hasn't always received the attention it deserves, despite being one of the most important uprisings of the 19th century. Pranav Jani argues it's high time we changed that.

Anand Naidoo (2020-11-17). The Heat: RCEP Trade Deal. america.cgtn.com An historic achievement – China and 14 other Asian countries sign a massive trade agreement. We'll discuss what it means for the region and the world.

MEE staff (2020-11-17). Palestinian Authority to restore security, financial coordination with Israel. middleeasteye.net Palestinian Authority to restore security, financial coordination with Israel | Official says President Mahmoud Abbas is ready to restore ties with Israel, a move that could disrupt reconciliation talks with Hamas | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 19: 07 | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a placard with historical maps showing Palestinian land loss during video conference with Palestinian factions on 3 September (A…

Andrew Korybko (2020-11-17). Russia's Red Sea Base in Sudan Is a Recalibration of Its Intra-Ummah Balancing Act. globalresearch.ca Russia's draft deal to open up a Red Sea naval base in Sudan amounts to a strategic recalibration of its careful "balancing" act between the GCC and Turkey after moving more closely to the latter following the end of the …

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-11-17). Japan Militarizes and Worries Russia and China. asia-pacificresearch.com

South Front (2020-11-17). Video: Russia's Diplomatic Intervention and the Armenia-Azerbaijan War. Russia's Military Presence in Armenia. globalresearch.ca Results of the Nagorno-Karabakh war continue shaping the balance of power of the South Caucasus. The ceasefire regime established as a result of the Russian diplomatic intervention and the deployment of the Russian peacekeeping force in the region nears the …

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-11-17). Albania's Attempts to Refocus Kosovo War Crime Tribunal onto Serbia Will Not Work. globalresearch.ca Kosovo Albanians via their allies in Tirana are once again attempting to antagonize Serbia, this time through the Self-Determination Movements initiative. The Movement is trying to push through the Albanian Parliament a declaration condemning the so-called "Serbian genocide in Kosovo." …

Robert Fantina (2020-11-17). Jammu and Kashmir: Implications for Regional and Global Peace. globalresearch.ca The current situation in India's illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) is not without current, tragic precedent. Bringing non-native Kashmiris into the territory, and since April, two million non-natives have been approved to do so, with the goal of eliminating …

_____ (2020-11-17). Free Speech Is More Complicated Than You Think. popularresistance.org The truth is — words are dangerous. | Words are the catalysts of all action — good or evil. To start with a cliché but solid example: words inspired millions of Germans to direct their ire towards Jews, Romani, LGBTQ and other state-labeled "degenerates." Words inspired the Manson family to murder innocent people. Words inspired the murder of entire villages of Vietnamese, Afghan, and Iraqi civilians. Words convinced thousands of colonizers that this land was their land and that the native people were nothing but mere savages to be removed by force in the name of a pearly white Manifest Destiny.

teleSUR (2020-11-17). Biden Says US and Its Allies Need To Counter Chinese Influence. telesurenglish.net Only days away after China signed a major trade deal in the Asia Pacific area that encompasses roughly one-third of the world's gross domestic product and population, making it the largest free-trade agreement ever signed, the U.S. President-elect reacted during a news conference in Wilmington, Delaware. | RELATED: | On Monday, Biden said the United States needed to negotiate with allies to set global trading rules to…

Shane Quinn (2020-11-17). Will Biden Seek to De-escalate Tensions with China and Russia? globalresearch.ca A crucial advantage that China enjoys over its Western rivals, principally the United States, is the country's rebuffing of neoliberalism. Under its present leadership, Beijing's influence over corporations and private power has increased substantially. | By contrast to America, almost all …

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-17). Iran produces COVID-19 rapid antigen diagnostic test kits. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — The unveiling ceremony of the production line of COVID-19 rapid antigen diagnostic test kits was held in the presence of Iranian First Vice President at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences on Tuesday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-17). Borders of Iran, Azerbaijan to be peaceful forever: Envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) — The Ambassador of Iran in Azerbaijan said that borders between Iran and Azerbaijan will always be peaceful due to historical and cultural similarities between the two countries.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-17). Hungarian Faludi Intl Film Fest to host Iranian "Branded" en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) — The short film "Branded" directed by an Iranian filmmaker is scheduled to vie at the Faludi International Film Festival in Hungary.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-17). Iran among top 5 in COVID-19 rapid test kit production. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) — Chairman of the Coronavirus Combat Headquarter said that Iran is among the top five countries in the world in the production of COVID-19 rapid detection kit.

Pepe Escobar (2020-11-17). RCEP Hops on the New Silk Roads. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published on Ho Chi Minh, in his eternal abode, will be savoring it with a heavenly smirk. Vietnam was the — virtual — host as the 10 Asean nations, plus China, Japan, …

teleSUR (2020-11-17). Saudi Arabia: Nuclear Weapons to Confront Iran Is an Option. telesurenglish.net Saudi Arabia announces that it is considering as an "option" equipping itself with nuclear weapons to deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran. | "It is definitely an option. If Iran becomes a nuclear power, more countries will follow its example," said Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Yubeir, in a recent interview with the German agency DPA. | RELATED: | Although Iran has repeatedly clarified tha…

WSWS (2020-11-17). New China-led trade bloc sets stage for further tensions with the US. wsws.org While relatively limited in scope, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a further blow to US ambitions for economic domination of the Asia-Pacific.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-17). Protecting security of borders, Ground Force's main priority. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) — Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces said that protecting and preserving security of borders is an important priority of Iran's Army Ground Force.

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-17). Meeting of Coronavirus Combat Headquarters in Isfahan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) — The meeting of Coronavirus Combat and Prevention Headquarters was held in the presence of Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences on Tuesday.

RT (2020-11-16). Watch: British diplomat in China DIVES INTO RIVER to save drowning girl. rt.com Stephen Ellison, British Consul General in the Chinese Chongqing municipality, has been hailed as a hero after being filmed jumping into a river and saving a woman from drowning. | The official Twitter channel for the British Embassy in Beijing tweeted on Monday the UK foreign affairs community was "immensely proud" of Ellison's Saturday act. | We are all immensely proud of our Chongqing Consul General, Stephen Ellison, who dived into a river on Saturday to rescue a drowning student and swim her to safety.

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.

RT (2020-11-16). 'It's unrecognizable': Booming Crimea better off in Russia as Moscow pours in cash, says ally of Ukrainian President Zelensky. rt.com A Ukrainian lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelensky's own ruling party has raised eyebrows in Kiev after arguing that her native Crimean Peninsula has changed for the better since returning to Moscow's control in 2014. | Elizaveta Bogutskaya, a member of the Ukrainian parliament for the governing 'Servant of the People', made the explosive claims as part of an interview with a TV news station. "A lot of people are satisfied and happy", she said of those living in the region, many of whom had been Ukrainian citizens before Crimea voted to join Russia in 2014. | "Compared to here on the mainland… people are…

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…

RT (2020-11-16). Thought police: Russian law enforcement seeks funding for development of $720 million 'virtual brain' to help catch criminals. rt.com It may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has requested funding for a new project that would use so-called neural networks to help identify those involved in crimes. | The plans were presented at a strategic session chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko last week, with officials seeking more than 55 billion roubles (almost $720 million) to fund the scheme. | According to the project's roadmap, the artificial intelligence tool, which supposedly mimics the way the human brain operates, will be used to help search for repeat offenders. The ministry pr…

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.

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…

Jordan Woll (2020-11-16). Country reels from explosion in COVID cases. liberationnews.org The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to spiral out of control across the country. The seven-day moving average of new Coronavirus cases has increased by 80 percent in the most recent two weeks, currently standing at 153,000.

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… |

Pepe Escobar (2020-11-16). RCEP set to supercharge the New Silk Roads. thealtworld.com World's biggest free trade pact isn't about excluding the US or China's geopolitical ambitions but rather the natural evolution of Asian integration | Ho Chi Minh, in his eternal abode, will be savoring it with a heavenly smirk. Vietnam was the virtual host as the 10 ASEAN nations, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, on the final day of the 37th ASEAN Summit. | RCEP, eight years in the making, binds together 30% of the global economy and 2.2 billion people. It's the first auspicious landmark of the Raging Twenties, which start…

teleSUR (2020-11-16). Syria Mourns Death of Foreign Minister, Deputy PM Walid Muallem. telesurenglish.net According to the Syrian news agency SANA, Muallem died at dawn on Monday and was laid to rest later on Monday in Damascus. | Although no details were provided for the cause of death, Muallem has been suffering from a heart condition for years. | According to sources close to Damascus's government, Faisal Mekdad is expected to be named Syria's new Foreign Minister. | RELATED: | The veteran diplomat has held severa…

sputniknews (2020-11-16). Lavrov Offers Condolences to Damascus Over Death of Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended his condolences to Damascus on Monday over the death of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

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.

Anthony Cartalucci (2020-11-16). Social Media as a Weapon. thealtworld.com One strongpoint of these US-funded anti-government protests here in Thailand is their social media game. | They claim it's is because it's a "youth movement" and they are simply better at using technology than the so-called "old" establishment. But this isn't true. The US-funded anti-government protests are so successful on social media because the US-based social media networks they are using have tilted the entire game in their favor. | References:…

teleSUR (2020-11-16). Francisco Sagasti Elected New Interim President of Peru. telesurenglish.net The Peruvian Congress on Monday elected Francisco Sagasti as the new leader of its Board of Directors, which at the same time makes him the new successor to the former president, Manuel Merino, at the head of the country's presidency. | RELATED: | Along with Sagasti are Congresswoman for the Frente Amplio, Mirtha Vásquez, for Acción Popular, Luis Roel, and for Somos Perú, Matilde Fernández, in the first, second a…