2020-10-04: News Headlines

_____ (2020-10-04). On Contact: Assange Extradition Hearing. popularresistance.org Chris Hedges discusses with former British ambassador Craig Murray the hearing that just adjourned in London to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. Murray's exhaustive reporting, which can be found at craigmurray.org.uk, has become one of the few sources of reliable information about the hearing, which has become notoriously difficult to cover due to court restrictions imposed on the press, and is being ignored by most mainstream news organizations.

Steven Sahiounie (2020-10-04). Will Lebanon be the Next US-NATO Humanitarian War? The Elimination of Hezbollah is Israel's Top Priority. globalresearch.ca The waters off Lebanon are the scene of a gathering Armada of French and American naval ships. What appeared at first to be a humanitarian response to the devastating

Lucine Kasbarian (2020-10-04). Spike in Boycotts of Turkish Goods and Services. indybay.org For years, Turkey has injected itself, often militarily, into the sovereign affairs of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Greece, Cyprus, India, and now, Armenia and Artsakh. On October 2, reports emerged that Turkey is using NATO and American facilities to attack Armenia and Artsakh. Since NATO is unable or unwilling to rein in this rogue nation that many consider to be the single greatest threat to global security, public boycotts are increasingly gaining favor.

MEE and agencies (2020-10-03). Syrian rebels sign up to fight for Azeris to feed families. middleeasteye.net Syrian rebels sign up to fight for Azeris to feed families | At least 36 Syrian rebel fighters killed in Nagorno-Karabakh in past 48 hours, according to war monitor, as Damascus claims 'blatant Turkish interference' in the conflict | Sat, 10/03/2020 – 19: 47 | Azeri troops fire artillery shells towards Armenian positions on 28 September (AFP) | Desperate to help his family displaced by Syr…

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-03). France seeking to maintain relations with Hezbollah. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 03 (MNA) — French Ambassador to Lebanon Bruno Foucher noted that France seeks to maintain its relations with Lebanese Hezbollah.

Anya Parampil (2020-10-02). US military seeks to "create new base in Syria" — Syrian journalist. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Syrian journalist Bashar Barazi, the correspondent for HispanTV in Damascus, about recent developments in the country. By Anya Parampil They discuss the impact of the new "Cesar sanctions" on the Syrian public, US and Turkish maneuvers within Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent visit to the country, as well as the average Syrian's response to efforts from Gulf countries to normalize relations with Israel. Barazi explains why he believes the US is …

MEE and agencies (2020-10-02). Turkey arrests: New wave of detentions target pro-Kurdish HDP. middleeasteye.net Turkey arrests: New wave of detentions target pro-Kurdish HDP | Of 53 mayoralties won in March 2019 local elections, the party now only controls four as a result of repeated arrests | Fri, 10/02/2020 – 12: 23 | Demonstrators in Istanbul shout slogans during a protest against the arrest of scores of members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (AFP) | Authorities in Turkey have detai…

Sondoss Al Assad (2020-10-02). Protest against the Bahrain's normalization with Israel. thealtworld.com Exclusive- Ever since the Sep 15th US-brokered normalization rapprochement, and defying Manama's trigger-ready security forces, defiant Bahrainis have taken to streets on masses to head off vociferous protest, waving Bahraini and Palestinian flags, as well as placards that condemn the deal. New massive protests are being held this Friday, this time under the title of "Friday of Collapse of the Betrayal Agreement", stressing they will never clinch any ties with the Zionists that might trample on the interests of their fellow Palestinians and their righteous cause. | According to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Manama y…

Elijah Magnier (2020-10-02). I did not fail, Macron said; but why did he indeed fail-and could not have succeeded? thealtworld.com The French initiative President Emmanuel Macron has taken towards Lebanon is not expected to succeed, now or in the coming weeks unless new elements are introduced. The French President is far from finding a solid foothold in Lebanon or uniting the Lebanese and has not even convinced the Europeans to join his initiative and inject sums of money into the crumbling Lebanese economy. Macron has friends in Lebanon who do not mind preserving a good relationship with France as long as it can offer solutions to solve this intractable Lebanese crisis. As for blaming others, not admitting his mistakes, and not realising t…

Abdel Bari Atwan (2020-10-02). Dragging Lebanon toward normalisation. thealtworld.com Lebanese politicians browbeaten into agreeing a deal with Israel ahead of US elections | After the Beirut Port explosion destroyed half the Lebanese capital, killed and injured thousands of people and made 300,000 homeless; and after a contrived banking crisis caused the collapse of the Lebanon's currency and drove more than 60% of the population below the poverty line; Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Thursday that, as a result of US mediation, a 'framework agreement' had been reached with Israel to demarcate the maritime boundary. | Direct talks on delineation are to be conducted by Lebanese army chi…

_____ (2020-10-02). Why Is the British Press Sexing Up Stories on Hezbollah, Iran and China? strategic-culture.org

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-02). Chabahar, Gwadar ports coop. could bring prosperity to region. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 02 (MNA) — The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan said getting Iran's Chabahar and Pakistan's Gwadar ports linked will strengthen bilateral trade and bring prosperity to the region.

MEE and agencies (2020-10-01). Lebanon and Israel agree to hold UN-mediated talks on border dispute. middleeasteye.net Lebanon and Israel agree to hold UN-mediated talks on border dispute | United States, which has welcomed the framework agreement, will act as facilitator during the discussions | Thu, 10/01/2020 – 14: 37 | A file picture taken on 5 September 2018 near the Rosh Hanikra border crossing in northern Israel, shows the Naqura Bay south of the Lebanese city of Tyre as seen behind a new wall on th…

The Alternative World (2020-10-01). Russian Defense Minister Reviews 5 Years Of Syria Operation. thealtworld.com September 30th, 2020, marked exactly 5 years since the beginning of the Russian operation in Syria. | It began after Damascus issued an official invitation for the Russian army to help the Syrian people and liberate the country from international terrorist groups. | On this day in 2015, the Federation Council gave its consent to Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the Russian Armed Forces in Syria. The decision was a response to the official appeal of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad."In the specified period, the situation in Syria turned out to be critical. The emerging situation threatened the defeat of…

Chloé Benoist (2020-10-01). France temporarily detains relatives of citizens trapped in Syria camps. middleeasteye.net France temporarily detains relatives of citizens trapped in Syria camps | At least six people were arrested by anti-terrorism unit for sending funds to family members | Thu, 10/01/2020 – 17: 18 | A woman covers her face with a veil as she holds a manifest of names while sitting by children outside a tent at al-Roj camp, 30 September 2020 (AFP) | French authorities arrested at least six French citizen…

RT (2020-10-01). Lebanon agrees 'framework' to negotiate on disputed maritime border with Israel — senior official. rt.com Lebanon is ready for US-mediated talks with Israel to resolve a long-standing maritime border dispute, the speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, said. The two nations are technically in a state of war. | The talks will be held under the auspices of the United Nations, at a base near the UN-monitored boundary with Israel, known as the Blue Line, Berri told reporters on Thursday. The Lebanese military will lead the rare direct negotiations between the two nations, which will be mediated by the US. | "This is a framework agreement, and not a final one," Berri noted. | Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steini…

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-01). Russia vs. US Imperial Aims in Syria. globalresearch.ca Former NATO commander General Wesley Clark earlier explained that the US underwent a post-9/11 transformation. A "policy coup" occurred. | With no public debate or acknowledgement, hardliners in Washington usurped power. | Days after 9/11, Clark learned from Pentagon commanders that plans …

Steven Sahiounie (2020-10-01). Russia-Turkey Agreement over Idlib Faces Collapse. globalresearch.ca Hayat Tahir Sham (HTS), formerly known as Jibhat al Nusra, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, began demanding the evacuation of civilians in Agrabat in the Idlib province recently, or they would be moved by force. HTS is supported by …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-01). US announces fresh sanctions on war-ravaged Syria. peoplesdispatch.org The newly imposed unilateral sanctions by the US are likely to harm the Syrian government's efforts to rejuvenate the economy. Already existing EU and US sanctions are seen as among the main hurdles to the reconstruction process in Syria…

WSWS (2020-10-01). Russia, France denounce Turkey as Armenian-Azeri war escalates. wsws.org As reports emerge that Turkey is sending Syrian Islamist mercenaries to Azerbaijan to fight Armenia, the risk of a Russian-Turkish clash and a broader regional war is rising.

Marwa Osman (2020-10-01). Crisis in Lebanon—MES EP.74. thealtworld.com Lebanon's prime minister-designate Mostafa Adib quit on Saturday after trying for almost a month to line up a non-partisan cabinet, dealing a blow to a French bid aimed at rallying sectarian leaders to tackle the worst crisis since the nation's 1975-1990 civil war. | Adib's resignation comes a few days after President Michel Aoun himself bluntly told reporters that Lebanon would be going to "hell" if a new government was not formed soon. | To discuss this issue with us from Beirut Omar Nashabi political commentator. | With the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain having joined Egypt and Jordan in declaring peac…

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-01). Damascus rules out any agreements Israeli regime. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 01 (MNA) — Syria has underlined its rejection of any agreement with the Israeli regime, noting that the regime is harming the Arab cause and especially the Palestinian cause.

MEE staff (2020-09-30). Israel's West Bank annexation postponed for a year, not cancelled, says Friedman. middleeasteye.net Israel's West Bank annexation postponed for a year, not cancelled, says Friedman | US ambassador to Israel reiterates that controversial annexation plans have only been temporarily suspended | Wed, 09/30/2020 – 12: 04 | Archimandrite Abdullah Yulio, parish priest of the Melkite Greek Catholic church in Ramallah, joins other Palestinians as they gather to commemorate the second intifada and to protest against t…

Drago Bosnic (2020-09-30). Exposed: US Occupation of Syria Now Official. globalresearch.ca The United States has now sent more occupying forces into Syria in clear violation of international law. The Pentagon regime officials claim the deployment of additional occupying forces allegedly came due to a series of "incidents" between US occupying forces …