2020-12-05: News Headlines

Gavin Lewis (2020-12-05). A Racist Endeavour: Zionist Israel's Black Jewish Victims of Color. mronline.org Even when reports of its racism escape this ideological censorship, examples of racism in Israel are treated as isolated incidents, rather than systemic characteristics of the entire racist regime.

Tony Norfield (2020-12-05). The Mao-Roosevelt No meeting, 1945. mronline.org In January 1945, Mao Tse-tung sent a message to U.S. President Roosevelt asking to visit the U.S. and discuss future relationships with China. The message got blocked by a U.S. diplomat in China, and Roosevelt apparently did not receive it.

Sujata Gothoskar (2020-12-05). The pillage of resources: A glimpse into the lives and labor of marginalized women. mronline.org Lives of women dependent on natural resources, such as land, forests, rivers, and mountains, are being tossed asunder by the appropriation and expropriation of these resources by corporations and the state.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-05). 2020 GITEX to host 20 Iranian Knowledge-based firms tomorrow. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 05 (MNA) — 20 Iranian knowledge-based firms and startups will participate at the 40th international exhibition of electronics, computers, and E-Commerce in West Asia tomorrow.

WSWS (2020-12-05). Sri Lankan government activates lie machine to cover up prison killings. wsws.org Colombo has reacted to opposition to the shooting of unarmed protesting prisoners with increased repression.

Yuri Martins Fontes (2020-12-05). Bielorrússia na mira do Ocidente (II): Entrevista com o pesquisador Paulo Henrique Tavares, direto da Bielorrússia. globalresearch.ca [Continuaàßà£o da conversa com o ativista político, doutorando e engenheiro de petróleo da Petrobrás, Paulo Henrique Tavares, atualmente morador da Bielorrússia] | Primeira parte da entrevista : | | …

Renuka Chintapalli, Roman Romero-Ortuno (2020-12-05). [Research Paper] Choice reaction time and subsequent mobility decline: Prospective observational findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). thelancet.com TILDA participants in the slower MRT group seemed to have faster mobility decline, but this effect was statistically and clinically small.

Ann Danaiya Usher (2020-12-05). [World Report] South Africa and India push for COVID-19 patents ban. thelancet.com They want the WTO to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights so that COVID-19 vaccines and other new technologies are accessible for poor countries. Ann Danaiya Usher reports.

Aarathi Prasad (2020-12-05). [Perspectives] Mona Hanna-Attisha: championing child health against the odds. thelancet.com It was mid-morning on March 16, 1988, when, after 2 days of mortar, artillery, and rocket attacks, aircraft returned to hit the people of Halabja, northern Iraq—this time, with an assault of chemical weapons. "I clearly recall, like it was yesterday, I was 11 years old, and my father showed me a picture of this beautiful baby lying on the ground", says Mona Hanna-Attisha, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Human Development and CS Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, USA.

Roger S McIntyre, Michael Berk, Elisa Brietzke, Benjamin I Goldstein, Carlos López-Jaramillo, Lars Vedel Kessing, Gin S Malhi, Andrew A Nierenberg, Joshua D Rosenblat, Amna Majeed, Eduard Vieta, Maj Vinberg, Allan H Young, Rodrigo B Mansur (2020-12-05). [Seminar] Bipolar disorders. thelancet.com Bipolar disorders are a complex group of severe and chronic disorders that includes bipolar I disorder, defined by the presence of a syndromal, manic episode, and bipolar II disorder, defined by the presence of a syndromal, hypomanic episode and a major depressive episode. Bipolar disorders substantially reduce psychosocial functioning and are associated with a loss of approximately 10—20 potential years of life. The mortality gap between populations with bipolar disorders and the general population is principally a result of excess deaths from cardiovascular disease and suicide.

Kim Petersen (2020-12-05). A Comparison of Respect for the Sanctity of Mosques in France, the US, and China. globalresearch.ca France has seen a spate of attacks carried out by radicalized Muslims. The attacks and killings must be denounced. | But more so must one denounce the terrorism and killings carried out by the French state against Muslims in its wars …

Labor Video Project (2020-12-05). Namibian Rà∂ssing Mine Workers Face Covid-19 & Attacks From State Owned China State Owners. indybay.org Namibian Rà∂ssing mine workers face the Covid-19 pandemic & attacks from state owned China National Uranium Corporation Limited. They have tried to intimidate and bribe union leaders and also have fired the Namibian Miner's Union Rà∂ssing Union branch.

news.un (2020-12-05). First Person: COVID education is child's play for Thai UN volunteer. news.un.org An innovative initiative to provide child-friendly information about COVID-19 has been launched by a UN volunteer (UNV) in Thailand who recognized that children needed to know more about the dangers of the virus but also have fun learning at home during the lockdown. On International Volunteer Day marked annually on 5 December, UNICEF's Rasa Pattikasemkul talks about motivation, family loss and keeping children safe.

Defense for Children International, Palestine (2020-12-04). Isolated and Alone. Palestinian Children Held in Solitary Confinement by Israeli Authorities for Interrogation. globalresearch.ca Overview | Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019, Defense for Children International — Palestine (DCIP) documented 108 cases in which Palestinian children arrested by the Israeli military were held in isolation for two or more days during the interrogation …

Sheren Khalel (2020-12-04). 'From the river to the sea': Palestinian advocates say call for freedom is not antisemitic. middleeasteye.net 'From the river to the sea': Palestinian advocates say call for freedom is not antisemitic | Amid renewed outrage over historic slogan, pro-Palestinian activists stress difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 20: 34 | Palestinian protesters wave national flag in Gaza Strip near Israeli division barrier last December (AFP/File photo) | A decades-old slogan used by Palest…

teleSUR (2020-12-04). Palestine on the Verge of a Total COVID-19 Lockdown. telesurenglish.net The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) could decide to implement a total lockdown to stop a severe wave of Covid-19 in the territories under its jurisdiction where more than 2,000 cases are daily reported, according to a report issued Friday by Al-Ayyam newspaper. | RELATED: | According to a recent report, the Ministry's experts diagnosed some 2,738 cases in 24 hours; 827 were located in the Gaza Strip -blocked and bo…

Harry Blain (2020-12-04). America's Lame Duck Period is Palestine's Nightmare. counterpunch.org The political scientist William Adler recently argued that the main risk of our current lame duck period is inaction, rather than action. So far as the United States is concerned, it's hard to argue otherwise. Sure, President Trump will pardon his buddies, maintain the relentless grift of frivolous lawsuits, and do his best to undermine

Pip Hinman (2020-12-04). War crimes in Afghanistan: Don't fall for diversions. greenleft.org.au PM Scott Morrison is using a nationalism-charged diversion to take the focus off the Brereton report's findings into Australian special forces war crimes in Afghanistan, argues Pip Hinman.

Vijay Prashad (2020-12-04). We are grass. We grow on everything. mronline.org Farmers and agricultural workers from northern India marched along various national highways toward India's capital of New Delhi as part of the general strike on 26 November.

MEE staff (2020-12-04). Israeli forces fatally shoot Palestinian child during village protest. middleeasteye.net Israeli forces fatally shoot Palestinian child during village protest | Ali Abu Aalya succumbs to wounds after being shot in stomach by Israeli forces near Ramallah in occupied West Bank | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 17: 39 | Ali Abu Aalya was killed by Israeli forces on 4 December in his hometown of al-Mughayir (Supplied) | Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian child near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on…

RT (2020-12-04). French-Lebanese businessman who once claimed to transport Gaddafi funds to Sarkozy campaign by suitcase 'arrested in Beirut'. rt.com Authorities in Beirut have reportedly arrested a French-Lebanese businessman linked to allegations of illicit Libyan financing for Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 French presidential election campaign, on foot of an Interpol request. | Ziad Takieddine fled to the Lebanese capital earlier this year after a French court sentenced him to five years in prison in a separate case involving millions of euros he'd allegedly received for arms sales to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. | Takieddine previously claimed he had personally delivered suitcases carrying a total of €5 million from Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Tripoli to Sa…

Meron Rapoport (2020-12-04). As Israel heads to elections, nothing is different but everything has changed. middleeasteye.net As Israel heads to elections, nothing is different but everything has changed | Netanyahu is looking strong as his latest government collapses around him. But fundamental shifts in society mean voters are more polarised than ever | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 09: 01 | Israelis from the Centres For Social Justice wearing masks of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gant…

Kareem Chehayeb (2020-12-04). Lebanon: Sectarian parties trounced in unprecedented student elections. middleeasteye.net Lebanon: Sectarian parties trounced in unprecedented student elections | Independents sweep elections across universities, revealing a shift away from Lebanon's traditional sectarian parties | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 15: 17 | Lebanese students wave the national flag during a demonstration in the capital Beirut on 9 November, 2019 (AFP) | Twenty-year-old psychology student Yara Idris was still in di…

Ragip Soylu (2020-12-04). Erdogan says France needs to get rid of Macron. middleeasteye.net Erdogan says France needs to get rid of Macron | Turkish President slams French counterpart over his intervention in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 13: 46 | French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey at a Nato summit in Watford, near London, December 2019. (AFP) | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his personal attacks against his Fren…

MEE and agencies (2020-12-04). Israeli man attempts to burn down Jerusalem's historic Gethsemane Church. middleeasteye.net Israeli man attempts to burn down Jerusalem's historic Gethsemane Church | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemns attack and blames it on Israeli government | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 17: 58 | Spokesperson for firefighters says blaze did not spread throughout church (AFP) | Israeli police said they arrested a man for attempting to set fire to East Jerusalem's Gethsemane Church on Friday.

Shimbun Akahata (2020-12-04). U.S. military bases importing COVID-19 into Japan, details kept secret. peoplesworld.org OKINAWA, Japan—The Okinawa prefectural government on Nov. 30 announced that 72 coronavirus infection cases were newly confirmed among the U.S. forces stationed in the there. This is the largest number of cases in a single day, making the total number of cases among the U.S. military in Japan increase to 564. The 72 U.S. military …

Anand Naidoo (2020-12-04). The Heat: Europe and Iran battle COVID-19. america.cgtn.com The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide continue to explode. And, from the Middle East to Europe and the Americas, the death rate is alarming. About 50,000 people have lost their lives to coronavirus in Iran. In Europe countries like Italy that were hard hit early …

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-12-04). 'Short-Sighted and Inhumane': Human Rights Groups Sound Warnings as Bangladesh Sends Rohingya Refugees to Low-Lying Silt Island. commondreams.org "The relocation of so many Rohingya refugees to a remote island, which is still off limits to everyone including rights groups and journalists without prior permission, poses grave concerns about independent human rights monitoring." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bangladesh-rohingya-bhashan.jpg

Peter Koenig (2020-12-04). Alert COVID-19: RNA-Type Vaccines Which Modify the Human Genome. Crackdown on Free Speech. globalresearch.ca This first video interview may be one of the most important ones you listen to before the onslaught of the Covid-19 vaccine — distinction: Western style Covid-19 vaccine. | The Russian Sputnik V is not part of the same design. | The …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-04). More than half of Yemeni population likely to face acute food insecurity by mid-2021: UN agencies. peoplesdispatch.org UN agencies have emphasized that an end to the Saudi-led war in Yemen is the only long-term solution for ending the food insecurity in the country…

Dave DeCamp (2020-12-04). US Slaps More Sanctions on Iran, Claiming Tehran Has Secret Chemical Weapons. theantimedia.com Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran in 1980s war while receiving support from the US.

sputniknews (2020-12-04). Saudi Arabia, Qatar Near US-Mediated Deal to End Standoff. sputniknews.com Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain all cut their diplomatic ties to Qatar in 2017 and began a blockade against the Middle Eastern country after accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar has, however, repeatedly denied all claims that it supports terrorist activity.

imperial.ac.uk (2020-12-04). Chinese water deer introduced to UK may be valuable to restoring numbers in Asia. imperial.ac.uk Researchers have found Chinese water deer populations in the UK might be able to supplement declining populations in their native range in East Asia.

Mike Head (2020-12-04). Australian Court Upholds Sacking of Academic for Criticising US and Israeli Militarism. asia-pacificresearch.com

Bonnie Kristian (2020-12-04). The Next President Should Get Us Out of Yemen. commondreams.org This is at most a conflict of regional import in which the US role has been to protract hostilities, facilitate unconscionable treatment of innocents, and unintentionally benefit the very terrorists we oppose. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/yemen_2_1.jpeg

Badri Raina (2020-12-04). Proof Against Sophistry, India's Farmers Demand a Simple but Truthful Commitment in Writing. zcomm.org The time has come when the theatrics of artful dissembling comes to be seen for what it is — theatrics unconnected to reality…

Shenaz Kermalli (2020-12-04). The Assassination of an Iranian Scientist and the Double-Standards of American Outrage. commondreams.org Public discourse on these state-sponsored acts of terrorism (we wouldn't hesitate to characterize these acts as terrorism if Iran assassinated an Israeli or U.S scientist, would we?) has historically been largely absent. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-12-04_at_11.57.48_am.png

Fair Fight (2020-12-04). Thursday 12/3: Rock the Runoff! Virtual Concert Fundraiser to #GOTV in Georgia. indybay.org Online event…

Binoy Kampmark (2020-12-03). The David McBride Case: Whistleblowing, Afghanistan and Australian War Crimes. dissidentvoice.org Much complaint can be had of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report. It exempts political actors of responsibility for alleged atrocities and war crimes. It suggests that those in the highest echelons of the Australian Defence Forces are ignorant in incompetent innocence. It spares the desk warriors and flays the field …

Jessica Buxbaum (2020-12-03). Jerusalem municipality sparks controversy by renaming Damascus Gate steps. middleeasteye.net Jerusalem municipality sparks controversy by renaming Damascus Gate steps | Critics denounce the move to name the area after two slain Israeli soldiers as an attempt to further erase Palestinian identity of occupied East Jerusalem's Old City | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 13: 00 | A mask-clad teenager sits in front of the nearly deserted area outside the Damascus Gate in the Old City in occupied East Je…

Ahmed AbdulKareem (2020-12-03). Yemen: Trump Is Showering Saudi Arabia with Last-Minute Gifts. globalresearch.ca While the administration of Donald Trump readies its exit from the White House and the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's use of American diplomatic cover and weapons alike has taken on a fevered pace as the Kingdom deepens the tragedy it …

Umar A Farooq (2020-12-03). UN, aid groups warn US against blacklisting Yemen's Houthis. middleeasteye.net UN, aid groups warn US against blacklisting Yemen's Houthis | Designating Houthis as terrorist organisation would have far-reaching consequences in Yemen, including halting aid work amid threat of famine | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 18: 11 | Aid groups are operating in Yemen amid funding shortages, working to deliver as much humanitarian assistance as possible (AFP/File photo) | The United Nations is making…

Staff (2020-12-03). 200K wrongfully purged GA voters fight to be heard in Senate runoffs. therealnews.com Civil rights groups are seeking an injunction against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to allow those voters to participate in the Jan. 5 runoff senate election, which will determine the balance of power in Congress.

Ramzy Baroud (2020-12-03). Moving Past Apartheid: One-State is not Ideal Justice, but It is Just and Possible. counterpunch.org Once again, Europe's top diplomats expressed their 'deep concern' regarding Israel's ongoing illegal settlement expansion, again evoking the maxim that Israeli actions "threaten the viability of the two-state solution". This position was communicated by EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Josep Borrell, on November 19, during a video-conference with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki. All Israeli

Philip Giraldi (2020-12-03). A Killing in Iran: Who Gains from Yet Another Assassination? The Role of MEK? globalresearch.ca It is not often that one can agree with the pronouncements made by former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan, but his

South Front (2020-12-03). Video: Chicken Kiev Meets Cold Turkey: Black Sea Turkey-Ukraine Axis Emerges? globalresearch.ca On the face of it, an alliance between Turkey and Ukraine seems like a rather odd creation, yet one that may surprisingly durable simply because neither country has anywhere else to turn. What practically dooms them to a partnership if …

Ricardo Vaz (2020-12-03). Venezuela, China Condemn US Sanctions Against Tech Company. venezuelanalysis.com Beijing reiterated its support for Venezuelan sovereignty.

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-03). Indian Farmers Continue Historic Protests After 250 Million People Rise Up Against Modi's Neoliberal Policies. commondreams.org "The government side [was] not ready to listen to any of our demands and they have left us with no choice but to protest on the streets," said one farmer-organizer. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/india_0.jpg

Israel Shahak (2020-12-03). "Greater Israel": The Zionist Plan for the Middle East. globalresearch.ca When viewed in the current context, the war on Iraq, the 2006 war on Lebanon, the 2011 war on Libya, the ongoing wars on Syria and Iraq, the war on Yemen, must be understood in relation to the Zionist Plan for the Middle East…

Timothy Pratt (2020-12-03). Asian American Voters Could Help Flip Georgia. thenation.com Asian American Voters Could Help Flip Georgia…