2020-10-02: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-10-01). Iranian Geostrategic Calculations In The Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis. thealtworld.com Iran has an extremely rare opportunity to greatly improve its regional reputation by offering to host peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan to replace the failed OSCE Minsk Process, though it might experience intense Russian resistance if it opts for this course of action unless Tehran can convince Moscow that its proposal stands the credible chance of being just as successful as the Astana peace process in Syria which those two and Turkey are closely cooperating on and won't reduce the Eurasian Great Power's influence. | A New War On Iran's Northern Frontier | The intense fighting between Armenia and Azerba…

Anya Parampil (2020-10-01). Using human rights to promote war: debunking UN's new Venezuela report. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil debunks a new report issued by the UN Human Right's Council which accuses Venezuela's government of "crimes against humanity". Transcript below. By Anya Parampil A new report by a special mission of the United Nations Human Rights Council was released in September and is making headlines after it accused Venezuela's government of crimes against humanity. Because it is getting so much attention, several people have reached out to me asking for clarification regarding the information …

Ben Norton (2020-10-01). Serious questions remain about mysterious 'PeaceData' website blamed on Russian trolls. thegrayzone.com As political censorship escalates on social media, American spy agencies accuse Russia of running a fake left-wing news website called PeaceData. But there is no evidence for the FBI's claims, and many questions remain unanswered. By Ben Norton US government intelligence agencies have initiated a series of smear campaigns relying on false innuendo to suggest that independent left-wing American media outlets are connected to Russia. The broad-based, longstanding operation to imply links between foreign governments and alternative news websites through …

Ben Norton (2020-10-01). Serious questions remain about shady 'PeaceData' website blamed on Russian trolls. thegrayzone.com As political censorship escalates on social media, American spy agencies accuse Russia of running a fake left-wing news website called PeaceData. But there is no evidence for the FBI's claims, and many questions remain unanswered. By Ben Norton US government intelligence agencies have initiated a series of smear campaigns relying on false innuendo to suggest that independent left-wing American media outlets are connected to Russia. The broad-based, longstanding operation to imply links between foreign governments and alternative news websites through …

Manuela Solé (2020-10-01). Venezuela Announces New Fuel Scheme as Iranian Gasoline Arrives. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro government also presented a new "anti-blockade" law.

sputniknews (2020-10-01). Two Iranian-Flagged Tankers Reportedly Arrive in Venezuela as Maduro Vows to Improve Gasoline Output. sputniknews.com In May, five Iranian tankers delivered more than a million barrels of oil to Venezuela, hit by a serious fuel shortage caused by US sanctions.

yenisafak (2020-10-01). Turkish cross-border, peacekeeping missions up for extension. yenisafak.com Turkey's parliament is due to consider a motion extending authorization to launch cross-border anti-terrorist operations in northern Iraq and Syria, as well as deploy peacekeeping forces to the countries of Lebanon, Mali, and the Central African Republic.The motion, submitted on Thursday by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, would allow the Turkish military to carry out cross-border operations in northern Iraq and Syria for another year, from Oct. 30, 2020 until Oct. 30, 2021.The motion states that Turkey places great importance on protecting Iraq's territorial integrity, national unity, and stability."

Black Alliance for Peace (2020-10-01). Black Alliance for Peace: International Day of Action on AFRICOM. globalresearch.ca We demand: | The complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Africa, | The demilitarization of the African continent, | The closure of U.S. bases throughout the world, and | The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) oppose U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and conduct hearings on AFRICOM's …

teleSUR (2020-10-01). Venezuela Rejects EU Conditions To Monitor Upcoming Elections. telesurenglish.net The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza, described as inadmissible the conditions that the European Union (EU) requested from his country to send a mission to monitor the parliamentary elections on December 6. | RELATED: | On Sept. 30, the EU asked to postpone the elections 6 months, arguing that conditions for a free, fair, and democratic electoral process do not exist. | "Venezuela regrets the unfortunate…

news.un (2020-10-01). Central African Republic: elections are 'unique opportunity' for peace – Guterres. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General has called for parties in the Central African Republic (CAR) to prioritize national dialogue and consensus-building ahead of elections scheduled to begin in December.

sputniknews (2020-10-01). Venezuela Calls EU Terms for Sending Election Observers 'Unacceptable'. sputniknews.com MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – Venezuela considers unacceptable the conditions put forward by the European External Action Service for sending a mission to monitor the country's general election, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

yenisafak (2020-10-01). Merkel calls for 'constructive' relations with Turkey. yenisafak.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called for a diplomatic solution to tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and underlined the importance of developing "constructive" relations with Turkey.Speaking to reporters in Brussels ahead of a key summit of European leaders, Merkel said Germany's EU term presidency will continue its efforts to find a peaceful solution to rising tensions in the region."Our relations with Turkey is highly complex. Despite all the difficulties, the EU has a great interest in developing constructive relations with Turkey," she stressed.Merkel reiterated the bloc's solidarity with EU…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-10-01). 2020 Right Livelihood Laureates Honored for Fighting 'Increasing Threats to Democracy' Across Globe. commondreams.org Human rights defenders in Iran, the U.S., Nicaragua, and Belarus were recognized this year for what is known as the "Alternative Nobel Peace Prize." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/rs9918_img_9060_1.jpg

teleSUR (2020-09-30). Pompeo Campaigns Against China and Venezuela From Italy. telesurenglish.net During a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reactivated his smear campaign against the Chinese 5G technology and the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela. | RELATED: | "China's Communist Party is trying to exploit its presence in Italy for its own strategic purposes… It is not here to establish a mutually benefici…

Lawrence Wittner (2020-09-30). Where Does the Democratic Party Stand on War, Peace, and International Relations? counterpunch.org After nearly four years of the Trump administration, U.S. voters have a pretty good idea of the policies that the President and his Republican allies champion when it comes to America's dealings with other nations. These policies include massive increases in military spending, lengthy wars abroad, threats of nuclear war, withdrawal from climate and nuclear

Jeff Jurgens (2020-09-30). Meet the Candidates — Sri Kulkarni and Dana Balter. peaceaction.org Join pro-peace candidates Sri Kulkarni (TX-22) and Dana Balter (NY-24) LIVE Thursday 10/1 at 8pm Eastern! Despite all the unpredictability this year has presented us with, one thing remains certain: this election will be the most important in our lifetime. We invite you to join us in the final of our "Meet the Candidates" series …

Manuel García, Jr. (2020-09-30). Conflict and Choice for Human Survival. counterpunch.org What can you say about people for whom the beauty of Nature does not inspire, and the fear of its destruction does not motivate? People do not change unless they feel pain. Politics does not allow for social improvements unless first stung by social revolts. The idea of a spontaneous, peaceful and uneventful evolution of

RT (2020-09-30). Fokin fired: Ukraine's Zelensky sacks ex-PM from his Donbass peace delegation for saying Russia is not at war with Kiev. rt.com Former Prime Minister Vitold Fokin has been removed from Ukraine's delegation to the contact group tasked with regulating the Donbass conflict after remarks he made in Kiev's parliament that were deemed to be supportive of Russia. | The comments, which Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky's office called "appalling," were delivered in the Verkhovnaya Rada on Tuesday, where Fokin, Ukraine's first prime minister, was outlining his vision for how to achieve peace in the Donbass. | "I see no signs of a war [in the east of the country] between the Russian Federation and Ukraine," he replied in answer to a question…

teleSUR (2020-09-30). Colombians Denounce Assassination of Social Leader in Risaralda. telesurenglish.net There have been 222 leaders and human rights defenders murdered in Colombia in 2020 alone. | Social and peace organizations in Colombia denounced the murder Monday of the president of the Community Action Board of the Sabanitas neighborhood of the Dosquebradas municipality of Risaralda department, Jorge Quintero Villada. | RELATED: | Quintero was intercepted in the rural area of the municipality of Dosquebradas i…

_____ (2020-09-29). Unfounded UN Report On Venezuela Used As Regime Change Tool. popularresistance.org The United Nations Human Rights Council issued a report* by the Independent Mission to Determine the Facts in Venezuela (Independent Mission), which accuses Venezuela of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment committed since 2014." The veracity, timing, and political intent of this report is best understood in the context of a campaign led by the U.S. to overthrow Venezuela's democratically elected government of President Nicolás Maduro and before him of Hugo Chávez. | Venezuela is a historically petroleum exporting nation and has consequently suffered from the crash in the international oil prices starting in 20…

Evaggelos Vallianatos (2020-09-29). On the Precipice of Tyranny. counterpunch.org As if climate change, its consuming heat and fires, and the killer pandemic plague were not enough, the country is getting closer to tyranny — by the day. Trump refuses peaceful transfer of power President Trump keeps saying the only result of the November 3 elections he will accept is his own reelection. His refusal

Black Alliance for Peace (2020-09-29). Racism, Militarism and Materialism = AFRICOM. globalresearch.ca A year before the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was murdered, he declared the United States was the greatest purveyor of violence on the planet. | Some people today focus on the moral implications of this statement, disconnected from the …

news.un (2020-09-29). UN Middle East envoy urges sides to engage 'before it is too late'. news.un.org Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and their international partners, must urgently resume peace efforts "before it is too late", UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov told the Security Council on Tuesday, echoing the Secretary-General.

news.un (2020-09-29). Nuclear threat against North Korea 'continues unabated', UN ambassador tells Assembly. news.un.org During the past several decades, North Korea has done "everything possible" to safeguard peace and security on the Korean peninsula, the country's representative told the UN high-level General Debate on Tuesday.

news.un (2020-09-29). UAE expresses hopes for Middle East peace talks following 'historic' accord with Israel. news.un.org The historic agreement normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should boost efforts towards achieving regional peace and a brighter future for generations to come, the UAE's Foreign Affairs Minister told the UN General Assembly in a pre-recorded speech broadcast on Tuesday.

_____ (2020-09-29). Venezuela: Democracy Versus Blockade. popularresistance.org On December 6 there will be elections in Venezuela to elect all the deputies to the National Assembly (NA), an event of extraordinary political transcendence. But before going into that subject I will mention the elections that will be held in several Latin American countries in the coming months, all of them are very important in the dispute for our America between the right-wing and the popular forces. | On October 18, general elections in Bolivia, where Evo Morales' MAS is the favorite to win in the first round, but the big question remains whether the same oligarchic and racist group that, supported by Washin…

sputniknews (2020-09-29). Pundit on Trump: I'll Vote for Man Who'll Bring Peace Back to US Regardless of What He Paid in Taxes. sputniknews.com On 27 September, The New York Times published an "investigation", in which it claimed that Donald Trump's tax bill was only $750 in both 2016 and 2017 – after he became US president. According to the newspaper, Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the last 15 years.

yenisafak (2020-09-29). Germany calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to end fighting. yenisafak.com Germany on Tuesday called for an immediate cease-fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia, amid the heaviest clashes in years in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, spoke on the phone with presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia on the recently escalated conflict, and called for a peaceful solution, the government spokesman said on Twitter."The Chancellor has underlined the urgent need for an immediate cease-fire and return to the negotiation table," Steffen Seibert said, adding that Germany supports diplomatic efforts of OSCE…