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… |

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

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…

MEE staff (2020-11-16). Egypt: Human rights worker arrested after meeting with European diplomats. middleeasteye.net Egypt: Human rights worker arrested after meeting with European diplomats | EIPR's Mohamed Basheer has been charged with 'terrorism' and 'spreading false news' | Mon, 11/16/2020 – 10: 44 | Mohamed Basheer was arrested days after a meeting between his organisation and European diplomats in Cairo on 3 November (Supplied) | Security forces detained a manager of a prominent rights group in Cairo on Saturday night…

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 and agencies (2020-11-16). Germany says man working in Merkel's press office was spy for Egypt. middleeasteye.net Germany says man working in Merkel's press office was spy for Egypt | Egyptian intelligence services allegedly hired a German-Egyptian national working in Merkel's office to survey how Egypt is portrayed in media | Mon, 11/16/2020 – 16: 34 | German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Berlin in January 2020 (AFP/file photo)
| Germany's Public Pros…

WSWS (2020-11-16). Coronavirus spreads throughout Germany's schools and businesses. wsws.org The federal and state governments are responsible for a situation in which the virus is running out of control nationwide.

_____ (2020-11-16). World's Public Banks Gathered At First-Ever Summit. popularresistance.org "There is no excuse for the continued funding of billions of dollars in coal, gas, or oil projects. This must stop now," Sophie Richmond, a coordinator with Big Shift Global, said in a statement. | The event in question was the four-day Finance in Common Summit, which ended Thursday. Hosted by France, the virtual summit was billed as a way "to stress the crucial role of Public Development Banks (PDBs) in reconciling short-term countercyclical responses with sustainable recovery measures that will have a long-term impact on the planet and societies."

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…

Telesur (2020-11-16). EU Extends Sanctions on Venezuela Until November 2021. globalresearch.ca The European Union (EU) Thursday announced it is prolonging restrictive sanctions against Venezuela for one year, until November 14, 2021. | These sanctions include the weapon and equipment blockade that may be used in Venezuela and the prohibition of 36 high-ranking …

Tim Hinchliffe (2020-11-16). The 'Great Reset': A Technocratic Agenda that Waited Years for a Global Crisis to Exploit. globalresearch.ca In the face of a global pandemic, an un-elected body of global bureaucrats based in Davos, Switzerland has asked the world to trust its vision of a technocratic "great reset," knowing full well the public would never go for such …

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.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-16). European govts. used the pandemic to expand the private sector. peoplesdispatch.org Alexis Benos of the People's Health Movement talks about the failures of the governments in Europe in preparing for the second wave of the pandemic. He also explains the demands of people's movements…

The Canary (2020-11-15). Eustice: Northern Ireland goods checks to be phased in. thecanary.co There will be a "phasing-in period" for checks on goods entering the north of Ireland at the end of the Brexit transition period, the Environment Secretary has said.Earlier this week, Stormont leaders warned the European Commission of the urgency of striking a deal to maintain continuity of food supplies into the north of Ireland from Great Britain.First minister Arlene Foster and deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill told commission vice president Maros Sefcovic that it was "unacceptable" that it remained uncertain how the Northern Ireland protocol would operate, less than two months before it comes into operat…

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). Covid-19 was present in Italy as early as SEPTEMBER 2019, study of lung cancer screenings shows. rt.com The Covid-19 virus had been active in Italy months before it was first officially detected, new research has found, raising further questions about the true origins, extent and actual duration of the ongoing pandemic. | The new groundbreaking

The Canary (2020-11-15). Swann likely to request more restrictions ahead of hospitality sector reopening. thecanary.co Stormont's health minister has said he is likely to be asking for further coronavirus restrictions for the north of Ireland before the scheduled reopening of the hospitality sector.Robin Swann's remarks raise the prospect of more executive discord in the near future, following a week when the coalition administration was consumed with in-fighting over its pandemic response.After four days of acrimonious exchanges, a majority of ministers finally backed a proposal that saw the region's four-week circuit-break lockdown extended by one week followed by a phased reopening of hospitality businesses.Mr Swann voted for…

RT (2020-11-15). 'No yo-yo shutdowns': Germany should be ready for 4-5 MONTHS of strict anti-coronavirus measures, says economy minister. rt.com Strict anti-coronavirus measures will not be lifted in Germany anytime soon, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has said, arguing that repeatedly imposing and lifting restrictions only worsens the epidemic and the economy. | The recently imposed measures, dubbed "lockdown light" by German media, will not end soon, Altmaier told Bild, pointing to the soaring number of new daily cases. | We're not out of the woods yet… We cannot afford a yo-yo shutdown with the economy constantly opening and closing. | Lifting restrictions prematurely is harmful not only for the country's economy, but for the epidemic situation a…

sputniknews (2020-11-15). Moldova's Sandu Leads in 2nd Round of Presidential Election. sputniknews.com CHISINAU (Sputnik) – Former Prime Minister of Moldova Maia Sandu is the winner of the presidential election in Moldova after securing 90 percent of the vote in the second round on Sunday, according to results of an exit poll conducted by the Intellect Group research company and the SPERO public association.

Sophia Purdy-Moore (2020-11-15). Activists hang giant letter from parliament demanding justice and debt cancellation for Africa. thecanary.co On 12 November, three activists scaled the Houses of Parliament to hang an oversized open letter to the people of the United Kingdom. The peaceful protest marked the launch of Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity's The campaign is supported by Action for Climate Truth and Reparation (ACTR), Black Liv…

sputniknews (2020-11-15). Moldova's Sandu Announces Presidential Election Victory. sputniknews.com Leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity and Moldova's former prime minister, Maia Sandu, who is currently ahead in the presidential runoff, says she has achieved common victory with her supporters.

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.

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.

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…

_____ (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.

Dana Drugmand (2020-11-14). Norway's Supreme Court to decide on climate lawsuit challenging offshore Arctic oil drilling. nationofchange.org "To disregard this is to disregard Norway's international responsibilities and science."

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…

WSWS (2020-11-14). Neo-Nazis march in Germany on anniversary of anti-Jewish November Pogroms. wsws.org On the night of November 9—10, 1938, Nazis across Germany torched synagogues, looted Jewish businesses, murdered hundreds of Jews and sent tens of thousands more to concentration camps.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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…

sputniknews (2020-11-14). Estonia Set on Bidding to Become OSCE Chair in 2023. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Estonia intends to run for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2023, the press service of the Estonian Foreign Ministry has announced.

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.

_____ (2020-11-14). Racism In Britain Has A Long If Contested History. popularresistance.org The demobilized troopship HMT Empire Windrush that arrived at Tilbury Dock on 22 June 1948 was not Britain's first migration ship, but its passengers were the first to be promised British citizenship, which the British Nationality Act of 1948 conferred on "every person born within the United Kingdom and Colonies." Of the 1029 passengers, 802 from the Caribbean, 96 were household domestics and 85 were mechanics; there were also, in smaller numbers, scholars, civil servants and a judge. They had accepted an invitation to help rebuild the Mother Country and arrived full of hope for a warm reception.

Juan Cole (2020-11-13). Georgia Sen. David Perdue Ready to Save His Ocean-Front Mansion From Rising Seas While Voting to Burn More Oil and Gas. commondreams.org Perdue, who is worth between $13 million and $39 million, is worried about rising sea levels. But he votes like he isn't worried, because he is sure he has the wealth to protect his own property from the worst effects, at least in his lifetime. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/perdue_0.jpg

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-13). More than 70 migrants die in a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea near Libyan coast. peoplesdispatch.org The small dinghy was reportedly carrying over 120 people of whom at least 47 were rescued. Every year, hundreds of migrants are killed in similar accidents while trying to reach Europe from Libya or other countries in the region…

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…

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.

Anand Naidoo (2020-11-13). The Heat: France Tensions over Terror Response. america.cgtn.com Why are recent terror attacks in France causing tensions with the Muslim community? The country has suffered from a series of terrorist strikes over the last few years and has been hit again in recent weeks with more gruesome attacks. A teacher was beheaded outside …

Liberation Staff (2020-11-13). Protesters in Georgia demand justice for Jabril Robinson. liberationnews.org "This could've been anybody just like me, anyone who has dreads, anyone from Clayton County. That's why this is personal for me," said Johnny Ross, cofounder of the Justice For Georgia Coalition which organized the protest.

Victor Grossman (2020-11-13). Germans celebrate U.S. election, hope for a vaccine, and fight the right. peoplesworld.org BERLIN — Ding-dong, the wicked witch is dead! A wicked but very male U.S. Witch was crushed under a houseful of angry voters, though this house, unlike Dorothy's in The Wizard of Oz, was definitely not from Kansas! And I have a lingering fear that the man still in the White House may plan another …

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-13). Developing trade ties with neighbors, way to counter sanction. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 13 (MNA) — Chairman of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce said that development of economic relations with neighboring countries is the best way to deal with sanctions.

Johanna Ross (2020-11-13). With Biden, Don't Expect this 'Cold War' to Thaw Anytime Soon. globalresearch.ca Russian President Vladimir Putin is no stranger to changes in the US administration. In the last couple of decades, as a member of Boris Yeltsin's office, then as both President and Prime Minister he has dealt with Republican and Democrat …

WSWS (2020-11-13). Over 300,000 coronavirus deaths in Europe: Capitalism's crime against humanity. wsws.org The thousands of deaths now occurring every day were not inevitable; they are the product of a deliberate policy by the European ruling class.

WSWS (2020-11-13). European governments seize upon terrorist attacks in France and Vienna to build a police state. wsws.org Under the pretext of a "fight against terror", the EU and European heads of government have agreed to expand "Fortress Europe" and further arm the police.

commondreams (2020-11-13). Student Action Spurs Student Vote to Help Turn Georgia Blue and Defeat Trump. commondreams.org ______________________________…

_____ (2020-11-13). Russian Diplomacy Pulls Caucasus From Brink of Disaster. strategic-culture.org