Monthly Archives: August 2020

2020-08-31: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-08-31). Is Russia Backtracking on China's "Belt and Road" (BRI)? Moscow's Balancing Act Between China and India. globalresearch.ca The critical assessment of China's Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) last month by the influential Director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Far Eastern Studies coupled with India's eagerness all summer to court the Eurasian Great Power into …

Ben Norton (2020-08-31). US Sanctions Russian Research Institute that Developed COVID-19 Vaccine. globalresearch.ca Russia won the race to develop the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus. The United States has responded by slapping sanctions on a Russian research facility involved in creating it. | The US government has blacklisted several Russian scientific institutes, including …

Muhammed Shabeer (2020-08-31). India's Communist youth raise $1.4 million for COVID relief with recycling drive. peoplesworld.org KERALA STATE, India—Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, leftist youth organizations around the world have been in the forefront of both providing relief and resisting attempts to attack the rights of people. An instance of this has been the "Recycle Kerala" initiative launched by the communist Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), which …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-31). Qatar announces non-discriminatory minimum wage, changes to kafala system. peoplesdispatch.org On Sunday, August 30, Qatar announced a non-discriminatory minimum wage of 1,000 Qatari Rials (around USD 274) for all its migrant workers. Qatar's ministry of administration, development, labor and social affairs (ADLSA) also announced crucial changes in the country's infamous kafala system. | According to the ministry, the employees will no longer need a "no objection certificate" from their employers to change their jobs. According to the rules of kafala or sponsorship system, an employee is not allowed to change jobs during the contract period without the permission of the employer. Now, an employee can chang…

Patrick Cockburn (2020-08-31). Trump at the RNC: Echoes of Saddam. counterpunch.org The Republican convention was a nauseating performance even by the cess-pit standards of the Trump administration. In its cult-like obeisance to the supreme leader it reminds me of meetings of the Iraqi Baath Party that periodically endorsed Saddam Hussein as the national saviour. The only speeches acceptable in both cases were dollops of fawning praise. Speakers outdid each other in adulation, pretending that shambolic failures were triumphant successes.

Philip Giraldi (2020-08-31). TG 45: The rise of China and "American exceptionalism" thealtworld.com Media coverage of China can be very hypocritical. To put the China story into context Peter and George are joined by Philip Giraldi — former CIA counter-terrorism specialist.

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-31). EU Supports US Coup Plot Against Belarus, Imposes Illegal Sanctions. globalresearch.ca Nearly always, EU countries are subservient to Washington's geopolitical agenda — no matter how unlawful. | Support by Britain, France, Germany (the E3), and Brussels for Iran's right to buy and sell conventional arms once the UN embargo on the practice …

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-31). Battleground South China Sea? Growing US Hostility toward China. globalresearch.ca US hostility toward China's growing political, economic, technological, and military prominence risks possible direct confrontation between both nations. | China seeks peace and cooperative relations with other countries in stark contrast to Washington's aim for unchallenged dominance by whatever it takes …

Colin Todhunter (2020-08-31). From Cotton to Brinjal: Fraudulent GMO Project in India Sustained by Deception. globalresearch.ca Insecticidal Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton is the first and only GM (genetically modified) crop that has been approved in India. It has been cultivated in the country for more than 20 years. In a formal statement to the Supreme Court …

Timothy Alexander Guzman (2020-08-31). Who Will Win November's US Presidential Elections? … Israel? globalresearch.ca The US presidential elections coming this November will determine whether the current President Donald Trump or the Democratic nominee Joe Biden (if his mental capabilities are still intact) will run the White house. | But whether Trump or Biden becomes president, …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-31). Indian people's organizations stand up to Modi govt. peoplesdispatch.org Under the banner of Hum Agar Uthe Nahi Toh (If We Do Not Rise), over 400 Indian women's groups and human rights organizations are coming together for a joint campaign.

Josh Owens (2020-08-31). Saudi Troops Join U.S. Base in Oil-Rich Northern Syria. globalresearch.ca Twenty Saudi soldiers arrived this week at a U.S. military base close to an oilfield in northeastern Syria, according to At the end of last year, Saudi …

Prof. Joseph H. Chung (2020-08-31). KOVID-19: "Virus Terrorism" in Korea? How Powerful Is the "Virus Weapon"? Who Will Win? globalresearch.ca South Korea has been the object of praise and envy of the world for its great success in anti-virus war, off-line presidential election despite the virus crisis and the best performance in GDP growth among the OECD countries. In fact, …

news.un (2020-08-31). Urgent solution needed to address fuel woes in war-torn Yemen. news.un.org The UN Special Envoy for Yemen has called on all parties to urgently work together with his Office, in order to find a solution that ensures people in the country can access basic fuel supplies, amid major shortages in areas controlled by the Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-31). Israeli restrictions, policies hinder Palestinians' fight against pandemic. peoplesdispatch.org Shatha Odeh of the Palestinian Health Work Committees talks about the difficulties faced by the people and health care professionals due to the rules and restrictions imposed by Israeli occupation.

Media Lens (2020-08-31). 'A Perpetual Motion Machine Of Killing': Alleged Cover-Up of Civilians Murdered by UK Special Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. globalresearch.ca On August 1, a rare in-depth investigative

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-31). Mustapha Adib is Lebanon's new PM. peoplesdispatch.org Mustapha Adib, Lebanon's ambassador to Germany, has won the support of the major political blocs but is part of an establishment whose credibility is at a historic low following the Beirut blasts…

Dean Baker (2020-08-31). The Old Japan's Debt Burden is Reaching Its Limits Story. cepr.net That's a theme we have been hearing for decades. Japan is a huge embarrassment for the deficit hawks. It has a debt to GDP ratio of close to 250 percent, more than twice as high as in the United States, yet it has none of the problems that the deficit hawks tell us will come …

Orinoco Tribune (2020-08-31). China Warns of "Accidental" Military Confrontation with US. globalresearch.ca China's military has warned of an unintentional military confrontation with the US if it does not halt its naval operations in the South China Sea, insisting that recent US activities in the region are instigating such hostilities. | The warning came …

WSWS (2020-08-31). Radioactive: The pioneering efforts of physicist and chemist Marie Curie. wsws.org Marie Curie (1867-1934) was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person and only woman to win it twice. Her life and work are the subject matter of Iranian-born French filmmaker Marjane Satrapi's feature.

Dr. Trita Parsi (2020-08-31). What Trump's Troop Withdrawal from Iraq Means for Ending America's Endless Wars. globalresearch.ca The

Asa Winstanley (2020-08-31). Israel's Characteristic Beirut Hypocrisy. globalresearch.ca The massive explosion which devastated Beirut earlier this month was nothing short of a catastrophe. Some 220 people lost their lives and,

_____ (2020-08-31). Reflecting On 12 Years In Palestine. popularresistance.org In Palestine, I have split my time between working on human rights issues for Palestinians and working for the environment. These are not mutually exclusive as there is significant overlap. There are issues of colonizer assaults on the environment and environmental justice. There are issues of human sustainability and food security (dependent on the environment). Of course where and how we act evolves and changes in time. In those 12 years, I learned that our struggle as indigenous people in Palestine is connected to the struggle of indigenous people everywhere. I also learned that since the wealthy elites have n…

_____ (2020-08-31). Ten Days Of Climate Extremes. popularresistance.org Pick almost any slice of time in the recent past and you can find clues to how climate change is jacking up dangerous weather extremes. In the 10 days after the potential global heat record in Death Valley, an unusual lightning storm blasted California with more than 11,000 lightning strikes that sparked hundreds of fires; more heat records were set in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; unprecedented flooding in Asia washed away villages and threatened China's Three Gorges Dam; and twin hurricanes threatened the Gulf of Mexico, with Hurricane Laura generating a storm surge as high as 11 feet that pushed far i…

Staff (2020-08-31). Headlines for August 31, 2020. democracynow.org Protests Continue in Kenosha as Officials Plead With Trump To Cancel Visit, One Dead in Portland as Pro-Trump Rally Clashes With Anti-Racist Protesters, U.S. Covid-19 Cases Top 6 Million, Deaths Top 183,000, Under Pressure From Trump, FDA Admits It Might Approve Vaccine Before Trials End, Gaza Extends Lockdown, India Reports Record Daily Numbers as Global Covid-19 Cases Top 25 Million, Chadwick Boseman, Beloved and Ground-Breaking Actor, Dies at 43 After Battle With Cancer, "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" Rally Held on 57th Anniverary of March on Washington, Mustapha Adib Set to Become New Prime Minister of Lebanon…

_____ (2020-08-31). Territorial Disputes of Japan. strategic-culture.org During the tenure of outgoing Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe hopes were high that he would be able to resolve some of the territorial disputes between Japan and its neighbors. That did not happen. Let's have a look at the legacy Abe will leave to his successor.

Staff (2020-08-31). In COVID Era, Artists Are Generating Hope and Illustrating Pandemic Inequities. truthout.org Almost immediately after the coronavirus began to spread throughout New York City, art historian Han Hongzheng, an immigrant from China, started seeing anti-Asian slurs on social media. | Then he experienced the hatred at close range. | "One day in early March, my partner, who is white, and I were walking our dog on the Upper West Side of Manhattan," Hongzheng says. "All of a sudden, this guy on skates got very close to us and screamed the word 'traitor' at my partner." | Hongzheng describes…

yenisafak (2020-08-31). UN sends 16 truckloads of aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com The UN on Monday sent 16 truckloads of humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria where millions of people are in need of assistance due to internal conflict.The trucks carrying supplies entered Idlib province through the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's south.The aid will be distributed among residents of Idlib, and nearby rural areas.Syria has been ravaged by civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN estimates.Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an ag…

RT (2020-08-31). Russiagate without end: US appeals court REVERSES earlier decision to end Flynn criminal case. rt.com A full-bench US federal appeals court has reversed an earlier decision to dismiss the 'Russiagate' case against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, returning it to the judge who refused to let the charges be dropped. | In a 8-2 ruling on Monday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Judge Emmet Sullivan, and sent the case back to him for review. Sullivan had been ordered by a three-judge panel in June to drop the case against Flynn immediately, but hired an attorney and asked for an en banc hearing instead. | Flynn's attorney Sidney Powell said the split was "as expected" based on the tone of…

Nilantha Ilangamuwa (2020-08-31). Sri Lanka and Turkey: an Interview with the Turkish Ambassador, R. Demet Şekercioğlu. counterpunch.org As a part of my series on talking to the foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka for our newly initiated talk show; The New Normal, I have had an opportunity to sit with newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Sri Lanka. In this exclusive interview she has detailed with me about diplomatic relationship between Sri Lanka and

_____ (2020-08-31). Obama, Harris And The Ruse Of Racial Representation. popularresistance.org The nomination of Senator Kamala Harris to the position of Vice President of the United States has been widely recognized as a triumph for Black and Asian women in the country. Something similar happened twelve years ago when then-Senator Barack Obama accepted the nomination for President. | There is no doubt that representation in the media, politics, education, corporate leadership, sports, among so many other areas, matters. However, the more crucial questions are how does representation matter as well as for whom and for what does it matter. Without addressing these questions, representation can easily succum…

_____ (2020-08-31). Definitive Eurasian Alliance Is Closer Than You Think. strategic-culture.org Pepe ESCOBAR | We have seen how China is meticulously What you are about to read next comes from a series of private, multilateral discussions among intel analysts, and may helpfully design the contours of the Big Picture. | In China, it's clear the path ahead points to boosting internal demand, and shifting monetary policy towards the c…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iraqi forces capture 12 ISIL terrorists in Al Anbar Province. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep.01 (MNA) — Intelligence forces of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior have arrested 12 ISIL terrorist elements in Al Anbar Province.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Shalamcheh border crossing resumes operation after short halt. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Shalamcheh border crossing, which connects Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province to Basra in Iraq, resumed trade operation on Monday morning after a temporary halt last week.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iran, Pakistan emphasize on cooperating in regional forums. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Agu. 31 (MNA) — Iranian and Pakistani Parliament speakers stressed the need to develop and enhance bilateral political, economic, cultural, trade and parliamentary cooperation in regional forums.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iran registers 1,642 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 1,642 COVID-19 infections and 109 deaths due to the disease in the past 24 hours.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iran voices readiness to assist flood-hit Afghan people. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Energy Reza Ardakanian expressed Iran's readiness to help flood victims in Afghanistan.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Air defense providing major security of borders of Iran's sky. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Head of Iran's Passive Defense Organization said that Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran is tasked with providing major security of borders of Iranian sky.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Police bust over 1.3 tons of drugs in eastern Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Iranian anti-narcotic forces have captured over 1.3 tons of opium in the eastern province of Khorasan Razavi.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iranians for Iranians against pandemic in Muharram. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Iranian society is experiencing new trends under the coronavirus pandemic and in Muharram, the most significant of which is the increasing people's support for each other and their cooperation on improving their livelihood.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Pursuing Gen. Soleimani's assassination case high on agenda. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Iran's Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raeisi said that his body considers the case of Lieutenant General Soleimani's assassination as a priority to deal with.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iran's deputy FM holds talks with Austrian FM in Vienna. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Agu. 31 (MNA) —Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi met and held talks with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on Monday evening.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Lebanese president designates new PM. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Lebanon on Monday designated Berlin envoy, Mustafa Adib, as the new premier following consultations with parliamentary blocs at Baabda Presidential Palace.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Several injured in Abu Dhabi restaurant blast. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — One person was killed and several people were injured on Monday in two separate explosions in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi and its tourism hub Dubai, the police and local media said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Witnessing Zionists' airplane landing in UAE painful. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — The Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Mohammad Shtayyeh said it is very painful to see a zionist plane landing in the UAE.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Niger to prevent UNSC from abusing US unilateralism: Rouhani. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep.01 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Niger will prevent abuse of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for US unilateralism.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). 1st Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi flight leaves occupied lands. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Despite all criticisms, the first-ever commercial flight from occupied lands of Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi took place on Monday, with Israeli regime and US delegations on board.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iran strengthens border security with modern equipment. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Commander of the Border Guard of the NAJA said that the forces have been equipped with modern tools to strengthen border security.

sputniknews (2020-08-31). Iran Invests in Advanced Drone Technology to Strengthen 'Deterrence Power' – State Media. sputniknews.com Iran's Ministry of Defense is investing in its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to ensure it remains one of the top countries in combat drone development, according to state media.

sputniknews (2020-08-31). Mama Mia! NASA Tracking Asteroid Nearly Double the Diameter of Roman Colosseum Approaching Earth. sputniknews.com The so-called 'Near-Earth Object', classified as such by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was first discovered by astronomers in 2010, and is set to cross Earth's orbit on Sunday.

2020-08-30: News Headlines

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Turkey slams Islamophobic act by 'modern barbarians'. yenisafak.com "They shamelessly burn the Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam, in the middle of Europe. They then claim to be the paragons of reason, logic, freedom and justice," Ibrahim Kalin said in a tweet."They label anyone not like them as anti-reason bigots and retros. Modern barbarians know no limits in primitive mindset."The incident took place in the Swedish city of Malmo on Friday evening, where far-right activists of the anti-Muslim group Stram Krus (Hard Line) burned a copy of the Quran at a rally in the largely migrant neighborhood of Rosengard.The Turkish Foreign Ministry has also vehemently criticized the incident,…

Subodh Varma (2020-08-30). COVID-19: How and why India is losing the battle. peoplesdispatch.org It has become customary to say that given its huge population, India is doing much better than say, the US or Europe. This is how officialdom is trying to explain away the shockingly high numbers of total confirmed cases (over 340,000 on August 29) and total deaths (nearly 63,000) — both of which put India at the third position globally, behind the US and Brazil. | However, the comparison is not really valid. India needs to be compared not with the US and Europe but to regions of the world where the population's age, economic standards and healthcare access is similar. Such a comparison reveals that, in fac…

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-08-30). U.S. Control of Alexandroupolis Port Will Not Help to Protect Greece from Turkey. globalresearch.ca The Greek Private Asset Utilization Fund (HRADF) will sell a 67% stake of Alexandroupolis Port in northern Greece near the border with Turkey and Bulgaria. Two American companies are believed to be interested in the deal. Selling a port of …

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Montenegro holds parliamentary polls amid pandemic. yenisafak.com More than half a million voters are expected to cast their ballots on Sunday in Montenegro's fifth parliamentary elections since independence.Candidates from 11 coalitions, six alliances, and five parties are vying for a place in the 81-seat parliament.The main contest is expected between President Milo Djukanovic's pro-West Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which has ruled the country for 30 years, and the opposition Democratic Front (DF), which leans more towards Russia and Serbia.However, neither of the two is projected to win a majority in parliament.Montenegrins can vote at 1,217 polling stations until 8…

South Front (2020-08-30). Video: UAE and Israel Plan to Create Intelligence Bases on Yemen's Socotra Island. globalresearch.ca Israel and the United Arab Emirates are going to create a military intelligence-gathering infrastructure on Yemen's Socotra Island, according to Arab and French sources. | The 3,650km2 island, located south of the Yemeni mainland in the Indian Ocean, overlooks the Bab …

Newsclick (2020-08-30). The raging power struggle in North Africa and Mediterranean. peoplesdispatch.org Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha talks about the faultlines emerging in west Asia and north Africa where Turkey and the Gulf monarchies have been engaging in a geopolitical contest…

Prabir Purkayastha (2020-08-30). TikTok ban and Trump's extortionist policies. peoplesdispatch.org China sees the US demand for opening their and others' markets, while ordering ByteDance to sell TikTok, as another version of the Opium War. If TikTok owning the data of its users is dangerous to national security, so is Facebook and Google owning their users' data…

Sandipan Talukdar (2020-08-30). Half of the world's oceans are already affected by human-induced climate change. peoplesdispatch.org A recent study of ocean depths shows that 20-55% of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans have shown an emergent human-induced signal and it is likely to increase to 40-65% and up to 80% by 2080…

Steven Sahiounie (2020-08-30). The US and Russia Collide, while Syrians Call for US Withdrawal. globalresearch.ca Wednesday's collision between Sheiks and elders of the Arab Al-Uqaydat …

_____ (2020-08-30). Definitive Eurasian Alliance Is Closer Than You Think. popularresistance.org We have seen how China is meticulously planning all its crucial geopolitical and geoeconomic moves all the way to 2030 and beyond. | What you are about to read next comes from a series of private, multilateral discussions among intel analysts, and may helpfully design the contours of the Big Picture. | In China, it's clear the path ahead points to boosting internal demand, and shifting monetary policy towards the creation of credit to consolidate the building of world-class domestic industries. | In parallel, there's a serious debate in Moscow that Russia should proceed along the same path.

sputniknews (2020-08-30). 'Team up for Toys': Narendra Modi Urges Indians to Prop up Domestic Producers in Blow to China. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India imports around 90 percent of its needs of plastic toys from China. The initiative to curb Chinese imports comes at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are accusing each other of disturbing the years-old peace and tranquillity at the border by various means.

sputniknews (2020-08-30). Israel Engaged in 'Many More' Secret Talks With Arab Leaders on Establishing Ties, Netanyahu Says. sputniknews.com Earlier this month, Israel signed a landmark agreement brokered by the United States that paved the way for establishing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, making the Gulf monarchy the third Arab country to forge ties with Israel.

sputniknews (2020-08-30). Development of Russo-Turkish Cooperation is Important for the Whole World, Istanbul Mayor Says. sputniknews.com This week, a delegation of the Russian-Turkish Business Council (RTBC) and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu held a meeting led by the Chairman Ahmet Palankoev discussing measures to boost the bilateral trade turnover amid the coronavirus outbreak. The mayor has shed light on potential spheres that could prove lucrative for both sides.

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Turkey to EU: 'Be fair, Turkey will not pull back'. yenisafak.com Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay sat down Saturday in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency to discuss the latest developments in Eastern Mediterranean, regional and international issues, and the country's foreign policy.He stressed that Ankara "expects fairness [from the EU]. Nobody should expect Turkey to pull back in line with this fairness."When Turkey resumes exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, do you have different goals there? Do you plan to do something else? Why does Europe react so actively?Unfortunately, we do not remember Europe supporting Turkey for any issues in favor of Ankara, standin…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Turkey to start space trials of domestic rocket engines, says Erdogan. yenisafak.com Turkey will start space trials of its liquid-propellant rocket engines, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday."I would like to announce the start of the first space trials of domestically developed liquid-propellant rocket engine technology," Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of Turkey's leading defense company Roketsan's production facility and research center in the capital Ankara.Early this year, Erdogan promised the launch of a national space program in 2020 joining the ranks of China, the US, India and Russia.

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Iran marks Ashura with low-key ceremonies over virus. yenisafak.com Iranians marked the annual Ashura ritual with low-key ceremonies on Sunday, amid a coronavirus outbreak in the country.Shia Muslims hold mourning processions, which attract large crowds, on the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, to mark the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, who was killed in a battle in the Iraqi city of Karbala in 680 AD.The day is commonly known as Ashura.All major ceremonies marking the day, however, were canceled this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.Iran, one of the first countries in the region to report coronavirus cases in mid-February…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Iraqi parliament accuses gov't of delaying reforms. yenisafak.com Iraq's Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi on Sunday accused the government of "dragging its feet" on carrying out reforms and holding early elections, despite growing public demands."The reform process has slowed down again and again despite efforts of the good and honorable [people] in this country," al-Halbousi said in a statement.He said the government's actions came "despite the legitimate demands of the people for change and reform through early elections and a government program that fulfil the people's demands".The speaker said the Iraqi parliament has shouldered the responsibility of "proceeding with…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Jordan releases cartoonist held over UAE drawing. yenisafak.com Jordan on Sunday decided to release a cartoonist held for drawing a cartoon mocking a recent deal to normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.Emad Hajjaj was arrested by Jordanian police on charges of insulting an Arab country after he drew a caricature that mocks UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as Israel refused to allow the UAE to buy F-35 warplanes from the US despite Abu Dhabi's normalization deal with Tel Aviv."The Judiciary has ordered Hajjaj's release," his lawyer Marwan Salem told Anadolu Agency.The lawyer, however, did not give any further details, and there wa…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Mauritius fishermen battle to save dozens dolphins near oil spill. yenisafak.com Fishermen battled on Sunday to save dozens of injured dolphins washed ashore in Mauritius where in recent days at least 40 of the animals were found dead in a lagoon near the site of an oil spill from a Japanese bulk carrier which struck a coral reef.Yasfeer Heenaye, a fisherman near Pointe aux Feuilles on the island's eastern shore, said he had counted at least 45 dead dolphins since they were first discovered on Wednesday, and said half a dozen more dolphins were in the bay fighting for their lives.He said he believed the animals' vision was impaired by the spilled oil, which is how they ended up on the reef wh…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Third Lebanese IMF negotiator quits post, says source. yenisafak.com A senior member of Lebanon's negotiating team with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has resigned, becoming the third to do so over deadlocked talks, a source close to the finance ministry told Reuters on Sunday.Talal Salman was economic advisor to the Lebanese finance ministry. A ministry spokeswoman declined to comment.Lebanon began talks with the IMF for a bailout in May after defaulting on its huge sovereign debt but the negotiations were put on hold in July due to a lack of action on reforms and a row on the Lebanese side over the size of its vast financial losses.The government that launched the talks r…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). France in Lebanon: Solidarity or renewed neocolonialism? yenisafak.com Massive explosions that rocked Beirut on Aug. 4 made headlines around the world, with Hiroshima-like visuals that seemed hard to fathom.France, led by President Emmanuel Macron, rushed to the rescue of the ailing nation — with supplies, crisis and health care workers, and strong leadership.But why the immediate moves? Were Macron's actions a result of a shared history or a view on the future?Two enormous blasts erupted in the Port of Beirut after a neglected stockpile of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse was left for more than six years to decay and then ignited by fireworks stored in the same…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Lukashenko gets birthday call from Putin as Belarus protests rumble. yenisafak.com Russian President Vladimir Putin used a birthday phone call on Sunday to invite Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to visit Moscow, a Kremlin show of support as thousands of protesters streamed into central Minsk demanding Lukashenko step down.President Lukashenko, who turned 66 on Sunday, is struggling to contain three weeks of protests and strikes since winning an Aug. 9 election that his opponents say was rigged. He denies electoral fraud and has said the protests are backed from abroad."It was agreed to hold a meeting in Moscow in the coming weeks," the Kremlin said in a statement after the leaders' call.

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Missing persons in Syria near 100,000: Watchdog. yenisafak.com In a report released on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said a vast majority of these people were picked up by the Syrian regime forces, followed by the ISIS/Daesh.A total of 84,371 were forcibly disappeared by the Syrian regime forces, including 1,738 children and 4,982 women, it said.An additional 8,648 individuals, including 319 children and 225 women, were disappeared by ISIS [Daesh], the report added.Stating that disappearances were on the rise since 2011, the report said 991 people according to the Syrian regime died in detention. T…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Turkish president marks 98th anniversary of Victory Day. yenisafak.com Turkey on Sunday celebrated the 98th anniversary of Victory Day, which commemorates the resounding defeat of the Greek forces at the hands of the Turks in the Battle of Dumlupinar in 1922.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, senior government and high-ranking military officials, and opposition leaders laid a wreath at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the capital Ankara."Our critical achievements in different fields are the clearest indication of our will to protect the rights and interests of our country," Erdogan wrote in the Anitkabir memorial book.He also wrote: "We ar…

_____ (2020-08-29). Dem Convention Made No Mention of Russiagate or Impeachment, Because Those Were Fake Things. strategic-culture.org Caitlin JOHNSTONE | Despite their dominating mainstream news cycles for years on end, at no time during the four-day Democratic National Convention was the word "impeachment" ever uttered, nor was any mention made of the Mueller investigation into allegations of collusion between Trump and the Russian government. | Politico Eight months after Democrats mounted a historic effort to remove Donald Trump from office, not a single speaker uttered the word "impeachment" du…

_____ (2020-08-29). U.S. Sanctions Russian Research Institute That Developed Covid-19 Vaccine. strategic-culture.org The US Commerce Department blacklisted a Russian research institute that helped create the world's first Covid-19 vaccine. | Ben NORTON | Russia won the race to develop the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus. The United States has responded by slapping sanctions on a Russian research facility involved in creating it. | The US government has blacklisted several Russian scientific institutes, including the Russian Defense Ministry's 48th Central Research Institute, which has worked with other non-military medical centers to develop and test the world's first Covid-19 vaccine. | In the midst of the global c…

Juan Cole (2020-08-29). How Trump brought us 11.1% Unemployment, lost Manufacturing Jobs, worsened Trade Deficits and Kowtowed to China. zcomm.org Trump has the worst job creation record of any modern president and far worse than even the much maligned Jimmy Carter…

Vietnam News Agency (2020-08-29). Promueven Vietnam y Cuba cooperación en medicina. peoplesworld.org HANOI (VNA) — El viceministro de Defensa de Vietnam y jefe de la Dirección de la cartera para la prevención y el control del COVID-19, Tran Don, recibió hoy a un grupo de expertos de Cuba. Tran Don afirmó que durante las últimas seis décadas, particularmente en los momentos más difíciles, la cooperación bilateral evidenció …

WSWS (2020-08-29). Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

_____ (2020-08-29). CIA's Addiction to Afghanistan War. strategic-culture.org It is America's longest overseas war and shows no clear sign of ending despite a shaky peace deal underway between the Trump administration and Taliban militants. A phased withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan over the next year could yet be derailed, resulting in continued American military operations in the South Asian country — nearly two decades after President GW Bush launched Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001. | US involvement in Afghanistan is the archetypal quagmire. Hundreds of thousands killed or maimed, trillions of dollars wasted, a failed state — despite American pretension…

sputniknews (2020-08-29). Afghan Forces Recapture Territory From Taliban, Kill 18 Militants, Local Authorities Say. sputniknews.com KABUL (Sputnik) – Afghan forces on Saturday managed to recapture an area, previously held by the Taliban* movement for years, in the eastern Nangarhar province, Ahmad Ali Hazrat, head of the provincial council, said.

WSWS (2020-08-29). The Kill Chain: A new era of world war. wsws.org The Kill Chain exposes US imperialism's advanced war preparations against China, with Silicon Valley playing a critical role.

WSWS (2020-08-29). China launches missiles into South China Sea in response to US provocations. wsws.org The ultimate responsibility for the dangerous escalation of tensions rests with Washington, which is continuing to try to provoke China.

WSWS (2020-08-29). Canada's Conservatives choose Erin O'Toole as leader in further shift right. wsws.org O'Toole has pledged to "take back Canada" from the "radical left," aggressively confront China, and make Canada more investment friendly.

Andrew Emett (2020-08-29). Sheriff resigns after caught on tape using racial slurs. nationofchange.org In addition to the racial slurs, the sheriff can also be heard verbally abusing a woman for several minutes.

WSWS (2020-08-29). Significant support for Joseph Scalice's lecture on the Communist Party of the Philippines. wsws.org Overwhelmingly the comments and posts on social media have been supportive of the lecture and opposed to the slanderous attacks of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison on Scalice.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-29). STC abandons power sharing deal with the Hadi govt in Yemen. peoplesdispatch.org The development is a serious blow to the Saudi hopes of uniting the Hadi government and the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in order to strengthen the fight against the rebel Shia Houthis in Yemen…

Sophie Cousins (2020-08-29). [World Report] Bangladesh's COVID-19 testing criticised. thelancet.com Experts say that the government's approach to testing and surveillance, including charging patients a fee, is hampering the response. Sophie Cousins reports.

_____ (2020-08-29). Black Families Purchased Land To Build Their Own City. popularresistance.org n Toomsboro, Georgia, a group of 19 Black families banded together to create what has the potential to be the next Black Wall Steet. | Black people are resilient, we've had to be to thrive under systems that weren't built for us. This resiliency has created innovative solutions to impossible problems such as racial injustices, food insecurity, and a lack of secure and safe communities. | Ashley Scott, a realtor living in Stonecrest, Georgia, was reaching her breaking point after watching the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in her home state.

_____ (2020-08-29). Kings Bay Plowshares Sentencing Delayed. popularresistance.org The six remaining Kings Bay Plowshares defendants have had their sentencing dates moved from September to October 15 and 16. They had requested a continuance because they want to appear in open court in Georgia and the virus situation there is still too out of control to safely allow it. | Steve Kelly has now served almost 29 months in county jails since the action in April 2018 so has already met the guidelines for his likely sentence. The court may not want to grant him further extensions. (You can send a postcard to Steve to let him know you're thinking of him. Directions on writing here.) | The other defendan…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-29). China's UNSC stance 'actual rejection of US bullying'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) — Iran's ambassador to Beijing hailed China's standing against US bullying policies at the UN, saying such stance has thwarted Washington's unilateralism.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-29). Iranian support for Iraqi government 'unconditional'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi expressed the Islamic Republic's "unconditional support" to the Iraqi government, whether Iraq decides to expel US troops or not.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-29). Iran, Austria review security, law enforcement coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) — Iran and Austria have reviewed the bilateral relations in the field of security, police and law enforcement.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-29). Iran, Italy discuss expansion of ties. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) — Iranian and Italian ambassadors to Russia held a phone conversation on Friday to discuss ways of boosting bilateral ties.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-29). Muharram mourning ceremony at Fatima Masumeh's holy shrine. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) — People of Qom, central Iran, convened at the holy shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masumeh on Saturday night to hold mourning ceremonies of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam. The ceremony was held while observing all health protocols.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-29). Iran to keep pursuing disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran has constantly been pursuing the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr, the founder of the basic core of anti-Zionism resistance in Lebanon, and will keep it on the agenda.

yenisafak (2020-08-29). Jordan urged to free cartoonist held over UAE drawing. yenisafak.com Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Jordanian authorities to immediately release a cartoonist for drawing a satirical cartoon about a recent normalization deal between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.Emad Hajjaj was arrested by Jordanian police on charges of insulting an Arab country."Calling a satirical cartoon a terrorism offense only confirms that Jordan intends to muzzle citizens who speak freely," Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East director, said in a statement."This arrest sends the message that Jordanian authorities would rather abuse the rights of their own citizens than risk offending…

sputniknews (2020-08-29). 'Game of Chicken': US Risks War With Beijing by Stoking South China Sea Tensions With FONOPs. sputniknews.com Military tensions are growing between the US and China as Washington continues to pursue a policy of attempting to dominate global affairs, Mike Wong, the vice president of the San Francisco chapter of Veterans for Peace, told Radio Sputnik's Loud & Clear Friday.

sputniknews (2020-08-29). Turkey Launches Shooting Exercises in Eastern Mediterranean Amid Drilling Tensions With Greece. sputniknews.com The development comes as Ankara is engaged in a bitter territorial dispute with Greece and Cyprus. The European Union has threatened to slap sanctions on Turkey if it continues with what Brussels has called "illegal drilling".

sputniknews (2020-08-29). After 10-hour Questioning, Bollywood Actor Sushant's Ex May Face Polygraph Test, Source Says. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Three Indian federal agencies are investigating different angles into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment in India's Mumbai city on 14 June.