Daily Archives: October 14, 2020

2020-10-14: News Headlines

Staff (2020-10-14). Can Trump Delay Election or Reject Peaceful Transition of Power? Amy Coney Barrett Refuses to Say. democracynow.org Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett faced 11 hours of questioning in the Senate Tuesday but refused to provide clarity about her views on the Affordable Care Act, Roe v. Wade, voting rights and even if President Trump could delay the election. Republicans are racing to confirm the 48-year-old federal judge before Election Day, which would give conservatives a commanding 6-3 majority on the high court. We air highlights from the marathon session.

Alan Macleod (2020-10-14). Western Anger as China, Russia Elected to UN Human Rights Council and Saudi Arabia Rejected. mintpressnews.com The rejection of Saudi Arabia, the only country that did not receive the required number of votes from UN member states, has been seen as a repudiation of the Kingdom's decreasing international support.

Eds. (2020-10-14). Exposing Trump's deadly sanctions on Venezuela. mronline.org KEN LIVINGSTONE looks in-depth at the story of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

Michael Perelman (2020-10-14). The political economy of intellectual property. mronline.org The dramatic expansion of intellectual property rights represents a new stage in commodification that threatens to make virtually everything bad about capitalism even worse.

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2020-10-14). Russia and the European Union Looking for Common Business Language. globalresearch.ca Despite the series of sanctions, corporate European businesses are still highly interested in Russia and Russia recognizes the enormous significance and invaluable contributions of these businesses in its economy. The stark reality is that there are more European businesses in …

Carla Stea (2020-10-14). Human Rights Debate at UN Security Council. Horrifying Social Consequences of US Sanctions Inflicted on North Korea. globalresearch.ca During the press briefing outlining Russia's program of work for their October Presidency of the UN Security Council, I mentioned the offer by Dr. Kee B. Park, Director of the Korea Policy Project at Harvard Medical School, and renowned …

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-14). New sanctions on Iran more window dressing: Atlantic Council. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 14 (MNA) — The Atlantic Council in a report on Wednesday named the new round of US sanctions of Iran as "more window dressing than anything of strategic import".

The Alternative World (2020-10-13). Trump's new Iran sanctions hurt civilians and threaten war. thealtworld.com Grayzone- Pushback with Aaron Maté | Weeks before the U.S. election, the Trump administration has imposed crushing new sanctions that sever Iran from the global financial system and further threaten the import of humanitarian goods. The Israeli government and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a pro-regime change think tank, reportedly lobbied White House officials for the new move. | Assal Rad of the National Iranian American Council discusses how the sanctions target Iranian civilians, and threaten an outbreak of military conflict. | Guest: Assal Rad, Research Fellow at the National Iranian American Cou…

Staff (2020-10-13). "Let the People Decide!" Protests at Amy Coney Barrett Hearing Decry GOP Power Grab, Attack on ACA. democracynow.org Hundreds protested outside the Senate Monday against the confirmation hearing for President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. At least 21 were arrested after staging a sit-in to oppose the Senate pushing through Barrett's nomination in the middle of the presidential election. Senate Democrats warn the federal judge's record suggests she would overturn the Affordable Care Act and threaten reproductive rights if she takes the seat left vacant by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "Trump and the Republicans are trying to execute a power grab," says Ana María Archila, co-executive director of…

MEE staff (2020-10-13). UN rejects Saudi bid for human rights council but Russia and China are elected. middleeasteye.net UN rejects Saudi bid for human rights council but Russia and China are elected | Rights groups express alarm after Moscow and Beijing secure seats on UN's top human rights body | Tue, 10/13/2020 – 19: 34 | The UN General Assembly held elections on Tuesday for 15 vacant seats in the UN Human Rights Council (AFP/File photo) | Saudi Arabia failed in its bid to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Co…

WSWS (2020-10-13). Democrats silent on Trump's election coup plans as confirmation hearings begin on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. wsws.org Besides her potential role in an election coup d'etat, Barrett will shift the Supreme Court further to the right, gutting abortion rights, reversing protections for gays, attacking the separation of church and state, lifting restrictions on guns and blocking federal regulation of business.

Staff (2020-10-13). Protests at Amy Coney Barrett Hearing Rail Against GOP Power Grab. truthout.org Image Credit: Twitter: @CPDAction | Hundreds protested outside the Senate Monday against the confirmation hearing for President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. At least 21 were arrested after staging a sit-in to oppose the Senate pushing through Barrett's nomination in the middle of the presidential election. Senate Democrats warn the federal judge's record suggests she would overturn the Affordable Care Act and threaten reproductive rights if she takes the seat left vacant by the l…

Common Dreams staff (2020-10-13). Civil Rights Advocates Warn Supreme Court Order—a Victory for Trump—Will Result in 'Irreversible Damage to 2020 Census'. commondreams.org Justice Sonya Sotomayor issued a dissent warning the "harms caused by rushing this year's census count are irreparable" and that "respondents will suffer their lasting impact for at least the next 10 years." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Frances Madeson (2020-10-13). Cameroonian Asylum Seekers Said to be One Day Away From Deportation Back to the Oppression They Fled. counterpunch.org There is a peaceful room in a safe, joyful home in the Washington metro area waiting for Micah, an English-speaking Cameroonian refugee who spent his 20th birthday on hunger strike in Pine Prairie Detention Center. His 19th birthday was also spent in ICE detention. His uncle, who raised him, has been counseling patience while waiting

Wim Laven (2020-10-13). The Menacing Threat of Hate and Political Violence. zcomm.org Rights for all races, all ethnicities, all religions, all sexual identities—all are vital in our America. We must defend our communities against the forces of division…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-13). Reports chronicle continuing violence and discrimination against Rohingya community. peoplesdispatch.org On October 12, Monday, international human rights groups, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, claimed to have gained

Staff (2020-10-13). Barrett Could Well Be the Decider in a 2020 Replay of "Bush v. Gore" truthout.org If Americans want transparency — as they should — they've got it. Judge Amy Coney Barrett's record of attacks on civil rights, workers' rights, anti-discrimination measures and consumer protections is crystal clear. Though she's just 48 years old, she has a phenomenally large legal footprint. And, as Democratic senators repeatedly pointed out Monday, on day one of the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings, her record does not bode well for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and many of the rights w…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-10-13). Virginia Online Registration Portal Left Unworkable—Just Hours Before Deadline—After Cable 'Accidentally Cut'. commondreams.org Civil rights organizations on Tuesday vowed to make sure Virginia residents are able to vote in the November elections after—for the second time in a recent presidential election year—the state's online voter registration portal crashed. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Joan Walsh (2020-10-13). Amy Coney Barrett Displays Her Twisted Views on Voting Rights. thenation.com Amy Coney Barrett Displays Her Twisted Views on Voting Rights…

Ron Ridenour (2020-10-12). The Tortured Trial of Julian Assange. counterpunch.org Most people might be excused for not knowing it, because the story is mainly ignored, or is shamelessly misreported in the corporate media when it does get any attention. A courageous Australian journalist, abandoned by his own country, is being railroaded by a British court towards extradition to the US where he could face life

teleSUR (2020-10-12). Amid Sanctions, Iran Unlocks Essential Funds Frozen in Iraq. telesurenglish.net Iran's central bank chief announced Monday an agreement with neighboring Iraq to unlock frozen Iranian funds in Iraqi banks to purchase humanitarian goods. | The announcement comes in the context of Washington's move last week to blacklist Iran's entire financial sector, which will further hamper Tehran's ability to purchase essential foods and medicine while facing the worse COVID-19 outbreak in the Middle East. | RELATED: | In a banking and business d…

Prof. Juan Cole (2020-10-12). With Crushing Sanctions on 18 Iranian Banks, Is Trump Trying to Leave a War Behind for Biden? globalresearch.ca As the dying Trump administration, literally on a sickbed, contemplates losing power, its hawks are lashing out at Iran in an attempt to ensure that the 2015 international nuclear deal is dead and buried, and that the US and Iran …

teleSUR (2020-10-12). Bolivia: Leftist Parliamentary Candidate Brenda Segovia Arrested. telesurenglish.net The Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) denounced the arbitrary detention of the parliamentary candidate, Brenda Segovia, in Santa Cruz on Monday. | RELATED: | "We repudiate the coup-born regime's political violence. The political movement demands the immediate release of our militant," MAS presidential candidate Luis Arce tweeted. | A week ahead of Bolivia's elections, Arce also urged "an end to the far-right-wing attacks…

MEE correspondent (2020-10-12). Egyptian writer and Sisi critic Amin el-Mahdy dies days after release from jail. middleeasteye.net Egyptian writer and Sisi critic Amin el-Mahdy dies days after release from jail | The publisher was detained last month after calling president Sisi a 'murderer' and a 'thief' in a Facebook post | Mon, 10/12/2020 – 11: 04 | Mahdy was opposed to both Sisi and the Muslim Brotherhood (Facebook) | The Egyptian author Amin el-Mahdy died on Sunday, soon after his release from a brief detentio…

MEE staff (2020-10-12). Turkey asked to halt deportation of Turkmen activist. middleeasteye.net Turkey asked to halt deportation of Turkmen activist | Dursoltan Taganova is at risk of arbitrary detention and torture if deported, human rights campaigners have warned | Mon, 10/12/2020 – 12: 28 | Social media picture of Dursoltan Taganova (Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights) | Human rights organisations have condemned plans by Turkish authorities to deport an activist to Turkmenistan, where they fear she w…

Phyllis Bennis (2020-10-12). As Trump Aims Fresh US Aggression at Iran, How Many Surprises Can This October Hold? commondreams.org A man walks past a mural painted on the outer walls of the former US embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran, on September 29, 2020. – For Iran, struggling from sanctions imposed under Washington's policy of "maximum pressure", the US presidential race raises hope of change—but also fears that life could get even worse. (Photo: Atta Kenare / AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

WSWS (2020-10-12). The Green Party of Canada chooses a new leader—multiple political frauds for the price of one. wsws.org Anamie Paul, the candidate favoured by the Green Party establishment, narrowly prevailed over the "eco-socialist," Palestinian-rights activist, and one-time Wall Street lawyer, Dimitri Lascaris.

teleSUR (2020-10-12). Venezuela Extends Offer to PDVSA and Corpoelec Bondholders. telesurenglish.net To address the economic crisis imposed by the U.S. sanctions, Venezuela's authorities Monday extended for one month the offer made to the bondholders of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) and the National Electric Corporation S.A. (Corpoelec). | RELATED: | "This decision will safeguard the investors' rights without affecting the country's economic recovery," Venezuela's Economy Ministry stated. | In 2017, Venezuela c…

Caren Holmes (2020-10-12). The Campaign to "Kill" the BDS Movement Against Israel Extends Far and Wide. globalresearch.ca Israel is facing declining public support in the United States and sees the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign as a key threat to its legitimacy. That's why Israel is enlisting the US government, American university administrators, and even tech companies …

Dean Baker (2020-10-12). The Washington Post Has Never Heard of the International Monetary Fund. cepr.net That would seem to be the case from reading the paper's editorial on the need to take steps to reduce extreme poverty in developing countries. The editorial never once mentions the proposal before the International Monetary Fund to substantially increase the special drawing rights available to developing countries. This measure, which has the support of …

Nauman Sadiq (2020-10-12). What Does Biden's 'Deliberate Ambiguity' on Iran Sanctions Imply? globalresearch.ca The Trump administration tightened the noose further around Iran's beleaguered economy on Thursday, October 8, announcing a fresh round of sanctions that will effectively shut the country out of the global financial system. | The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on …

news.un (2020-10-12). Greater equality a 'prerequisite' for overcoming global crises: Bachelet. news.un.org In reviewing, assessing and acknowledging the effects of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, enslavement and colonialism, the groundbreaking Durban World Conference of 2001, represented a "milestone" in the common fight against racism, xenophobia and related intolerance, the UN human rights chief said on Monday.

news.un (2020-10-12). New report highlights value of UN's human rights work in the field. news.un.org The UN's work in promoting dialogue between Arabic and Kurdish groups in Iraq is just one example of how human rights personnel are playing a critical role at the Organization's peace operations around the world.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-12). Illegal sanctions amid pandemic sign of genocide: Namaki. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 12 (MNA) — Iranian Health Minister Saeid Namaki said that illegal sanctions amid pandemic are a sign of genocide that targets ordinary people.

Sophia Purdy-Moore (2020-10-12). Nigerian government officially disbands notorious police unit, but the fight against police brutality is far from over. thecanary.co The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a unit of the Nigerian Police Force. Over the years, evidence has mounted of SARS units unlawfully arresting and detaining young people across the country. That evidence includes accounts of kidnapping, extrajudicial executions, stealing property and extorting money. | Since 2016, Amnesty International has documented at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial executions by SARS. In a

sputniknews (2020-10-11). Labour Peer Apologises for Claiming Migrants Could be 'Concentrated' in Camps. sputniknews.com The United Kingdom has faced rising numbers of refugees crossing the English Channel from France this year. Internal Home Office reports made public last month revealed that the government has considered placing migrants arriving in the UK in offshore detention centers.

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-11). US sanctions aim at terminating Iran's exports: Hatami. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 11 (MNA) — Referring to new US sanctions, Iran's Minister of Defense Brigadier General Amir Hatami noted that Washington is afraid of Iran's exports.

Staff (2020-10-11). Barrett Nomination Spurs Greater Election Spending by Abortion Rights Groups. truthout.org Since President

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-10-10). The Covid-19 Numbers Game: The "Second Wave" is Based on Fake Statistics. globalresearch.ca "Red zones", travel bans, quarantines, "red lists". A "Second Wave". Millions of people are lining up for Covid-19 testing. The "Numbers Game". How statistics and "estimates" are used by politicians to justify the closure of the national economy and the derogation of fundamental civil rights.

MEE and agencies (2020-10-10). Iran's rial hits new low against dollar as economy stumbles. middleeasteye.net Iran's rial hits new low against dollar as economy stumbles | Latest US-imposed sanctions on Iran's financial sector are another blow to the country's economy | Sat, 10/10/2020 – 11: 46 | Iranians gather inside the capital Tehran's Grand Bazaar in March 2020, as the Covid pandemic was starting to make an impact on the country (AFP) | The Iranian currency hit a new low against the US dollar…

Eds. (2020-10-10). National strike: Indonesia rises up against new anti-worker law. mronline.org Hundreds of thousands of workers and students in Indonesia have taken to the streets in a powerful wave of strikes and demonstrations opposing the enactment of a new set of laws that would dramatically weaken the rights of the working class and environmental protections.

RT (2020-10-10). Japanese man reportedly detained after staying at hotel for 10 MONTHS & failing to pay the bill. rt.com An unemployed Japanese man has been arrested by Niigata Prefectural Police after staying for some 10 months at a hotel and allegedly failing to pay the bill. | The bizarre case was reported by Nippon News Network on Friday. The suspect, said to be a 58-year-old unemployed man, was grabbed by the police after failing to pay the bill for his stay at a hotel in Myoko city. | The man checked into the hotel in late December 2019 — and has never actually paid for its services. The hotel notified the police of the situation only on Thursday, which resulted in the suspect's arrest. | The not-that-generous guest h…

WSWS (2020-10-10). US imposes draconian new sanctions against Iran amid spiraling COVID-19 pandemic. wsws.org The sweeping sanctions announced on Thursday are aimed at denying Iran all access to the financial markets, thus cutting off the country's access to desperately needed food and medicine.

teleSUR (2020-10-10). Colombian Judge Rules to Free Former President Alvaro Uribe. telesurenglish.net Bogota's Guarantee Control judge Saturday conceded the immediate freedom of Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe because there are "no charges against him." | RELATED: | After several months in detention at his farm El Uberrimo, in Cordoba, the former president can regain his freedom through the process of bribing witnesses and procedural fraud against him. | "It is neither possible nor constitutionally permissibl…

Disability Rights CA (2020-10-10). Tuesday 10/13: Your Right to Vote, Voice Your Choice! Webinar (Disability Rights CA). indybay.org Online webinar…

_____ (2020-10-10). South America: The Escazu Agreement Requires a Change in Regional Politics. strategic-culture.org Taking into consideration the UN Sustainable Development Goals in terms of environmental matters, the The initiative was led by Chile and Costa Rica, laying the foundations for a human rights trea…

_____ (2020-10-10). Middle East leaders prefer the devil they know in US presidential elections. And yet a Biden victory might be the bitter pill needed for reform in the region. strategic-culture.org There are few leaders in the Middle East who would want Joe Biden to take office in January of next year. Considered a disciple of Obama, many consider him as a potential U.S. president who will merely replicate Obama's policies and ostracise them from the White House as a punishment and a recalibration of U.S. relations in the region. | Indeed, countries like Saudi Arabia — which has the most to lose — will place its de facto young leader in a pickle when faced with Iran being reinvigorated by going back to the so-called 'Iran Deal' and the lifting of sanctions, in particular on oil sales in a period…

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-10). US sanctions not to affect Iran-Swiss financial channel. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) — Chaiman of Iran-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce noted, "New sanctions of the US on 18 Iranian banks will not affect the Iran-Switzerland financial channel in terms of importing of cereals and pharmaceuticals."

sputniknews (2020-10-10). Leeds Woman Charged at London Airport After Attempting to Board Flight Carrying £1.9m in Cash. sputniknews.com A woman was detained by airport security at Terminal 2 of London's Heathrow airport on 3 October as she attempted to board a flight to Dubai carrying the equivalent of nearly 2 million dollars in cash hidden in her luggage.

WSWS (2020-10-10). Germany, France to sanction Russia over Navalny's alleged poisoning. wsws.org Nothing published by the OPCW and the imperialist powers on the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny can be taken at face value.