(2020-08-17). US Remains Defiant, Promises New Sanctions After UN Rejects Anti-Iran Measures. mintpressnews.com According to the State Department, it was the world that was wrong, not Washington. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the decision to reject their "reasonable resolution" and side with "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism" as "inexcusable."
(2020-08-17). Russian-Belarusian Relations: Back to Being Brothers? Crimea 2.0 Is Unlikely. globalresearch.ca Several recent developments in Russian-Belarusian relations — in particular, Belarus' return of 32 suspected Wagner mercenaries to Russia, Belarusian opposition leader Tsepkalo's departure from Russia, and the two phone calls between Presidents Putin and Lukashenko — hint that bilateral ties …
(2020-08-17). Venezuela: President Maduro Volunteers To Test Russian Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Sunday announced he'll be the first to get vaccinated when the Russian COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, arrives in the country. | RELATED: | He recalled that Russia was the first country in the world to vaccinate its population and volunteered to test the Sputnik V. | "There will be a time when we all get vaccinated and the first to be vaccinated will be me. I'm going to get the vaccine, I…
(2020-08-17). Xi's article on Marxist political economy in contemporary China to be published. mronline.org 
An article by President Xi Jinping on opening new horizons of the Marxist political economy in contemporary China will be published Sunday.
(2020-08-17). The Hoopla Over the Kamala Harris VP Selection Obscures the Many Young People of Color Who Are Winning Offices Nationally. counterpunch.org 
Joe Biden's pick of Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) as his running mate for the 2020 Democratic presidential ticket has generated strong responses. While many Democrats are elated at the idea of seeing a brown-skinned woman of Indian and Jamaican heritage in such a position, progressives are debating one another about Harris' mixed record on bread-and-butter
(2020-08-17). "A Cynical Manipulation": On Israel's Empty Gesture of Goodwill to Beirut. mintpressnews.com 
While some may see Israel's gesture as an act of magnanimity, showing solidarity with an enemy country, one is hard-pressed to find words to express just how disgusting and cynical it really is.
(2020-08-17). The Decline in Power of the Oil States. counterpunch.org 
President Donald Trump is cock-a-hoop over the United Arab Emirates becoming the first Arab Gulf state to normalise its relations with Israel. He needs all the good news he can get in the months before the US presidential election. "HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!" Trump tweeted.
(2020-08-17). Lebanon's future is uncertain after this month's massive explosion. therealnews.com 
After protests, citizens are looking to end corruption once and for all.
(2020-08-17). Russia officially produces first batch of COVID-19 vaccine. mronline.org 
"Russia's health workers and teachers will be the first ones to receive the vaccine in the country," Russia's Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
(2020-08-17). History of Settler Colonialism in Palestine. globalresearch.ca The following research article aims at exploring the issue of history of settler colonialism in Palestine. It will tackle three different settler colonial projects that were established in Arab Palestine: the German Templers, the Jewish and the Zionist. | In the …
(2020-08-17). 'Regime Change' in Belarus Looks Like an Objective of Both the Trump Administration and the Biden Campaign. globalresearch.ca It seems that whoever wins the presidency, United States foreign policy will keep chugging away at intervening across the world, including via "regime change" efforts. Over the last couple decades, targets for US-government-supported overthrow have included Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, …
(2020-08-17). Lebanon Devastated by Corruption, Economic Collapse, and Beirut Explosion. globalresearch.ca A perfect storm affects Lebanon and vast majority of its near-seven million people, including: | Out-of-control rampant corruption. | Unemployment of a third or more of working-age Lebanese. | Poverty exceeding 50% of the population. | Over 80% inflation since last October, debasing the …
(2020-08-17). China Announces Its First COVID-19 Vaccine Patent. telesurenglish.net China's National Intellectual Property Administration Monday granted the first patent to a COVID-19 vaccine developed in the Asian nation. | RELATED: | The Ad5-nCoV vaccine was co-developed by CanSino Biologics, the Beijing Biotechnology Institute, and a People's Liberation Army (PLA) team. | During the next year, the vaccine will be for the military forces' exclusive use. However, the military high command will be responsible for autho…
(2020-08-17). India: Motherson's "inquiry" rubber stamps sacking of strikers. wsws.org The ongoing persecution of Motherson autoparts strikers was facilitated by the Maoist Left Trade Union Centre's betrayal of the 140-day walkout.
(2020-08-17). Modi govt attempts to dilute Indian environment laws amid pandemic. peoplesdispatch.org India's right-wing government is set on diluting its environment protection laws. In yet another neoliberal move, the government has proposed amendments in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process that will make it easier for private capital to exploit natural resources.
(2020-08-17). Indiana Rank-and-File Safety Committee demands reinstatement of whistleblower at Faurecia Gladstone plant. wsws.org The newly-formed Faurecia Gladstone Rank and File Safety Committee is also demanding an immediate halt on the part of the company and the local union to all forms of intimidation and harassment.
(2020-08-17). Foiled in the Security Council: The United States, Extending Arms Embargoes and Iran. dissidentvoice.org There are no official policing authorities as such when it comes to international relations. Realists imagine a jungle of states, the preyed upon and the predators, a grim state of affairs moderated by alliances, agreements and understandings. But there is one body whose resolutions are recognised as having binding force: the Security Council, that most …
(2020-08-17). The Secret History of the Emirates' Relationship to Israel. zcomm.org The Palestinians have always felt that the UAE has been seeking for years to exploit their suffering and their need for financial and relief aid, to stipulate that they should not issue a position condemning any step to enhance normalisation with Israel.
(2020-08-17). Following protests across the globe, Israel releases BDS activist Mahmoud Nawajaa. peoplesdispatch.org Following his release after 17 days in prison, Mahmoud Nawajaa called for the intensification of BDS campaigns "to bring to an end this system of apartheid and oppression and free all 4,700 Palestinian prisoners"
(2020-08-17). "The World That I See Today": Sanity, Her Son, and the Credulous. globalresearch.ca I have recently completed a large painting (oil on canvas), exploring the emotional and spiritual side of mandatory masks, and what they symbolize. Visual art can serve as a medium to express sentiments from an angle that cannot be …
(2020-08-17). Rival Belorussian protests take place in Minsk as EU ponders new sanctions. peoplesworld.org …
(2020-08-17). US-backed opposition in Solomon Islands opposes ties to Beijing. wsws.org A provincial administration in Malaita insists that it has the right to maintain its own relations with Taiwan and refuses to recognise Beijing.
(2020-08-17). Confirmed: King Juan Carlos I Is in the United Arab Emirates. telesurenglish.net Spanish Royal Family Monday confirmed that the Emeritus King Juan Carlos I has been in the United Arab Emirates since early August. | RELATED: | On August 3, he arrived in the Arab country and has remained there ever since. His decision to leave Spain occurred amid an investigation into hidden businesses that Juan Carlos I maintained in Switzerland. | It was speculated that the monarch had chosen an exclusive neighborhood…
(2020-08-17). Headlines for August 17, 2020. democracynow.org Pelosi Calls House Back from Recess as Outrage Mounts over Turmoil at USPS, AZ Teachers Halt School Reopening; COVID-19 Data Shows Devastating Effect on Latinx, Black People, New Zealand Postpones Election Amid COVID-19 Spike; Virus Compounds Disaster in Lebanon, Mass Protests Continue in Belarus Amid Reports of Torture in Jails, Student Protests in Thailand Swell, Demanding Democratic Reforms, 16 People Killed After Car Bomb Blast at Hotel in Somalia, At Least 6 People Killed as Protests Intensify in Ivory Coast, Trump Vows to Reinstate U.N. Sanctions Against Iran, Lawyers Say Guards at Immigration Jail "Systema…
(2020-08-17). Beirut Explosion, Western Imperialism And Media Misinformation. popularresistance.org On August 4, 2020, an explosion of tons of ammonium nitrate being stored at the port of Beirut Lebanon ripped through the city killing 0ver 170 people and injuring 6,000 people. This happened at a time when Beirut was already suffering an economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic. We speak with Rania Khalek, a Lebanese-American independent journalist who was in Beirut, about what it was like during and after the explosion, the protests that followed and the complicated political situation in Lebanon. Khalek explains how the United States and other Western and Gulf States are interfering and causing more harm an…
(2020-08-17). US intelligence agencies have another bounty case in Afghanistan, alleging Iran paid the Taliban to attack American forces. rt.com 
It turns out Russia isn't the only country that US intelligence agencies are anonymously accusing of paying bounties to Taliban fighters to attack US troops in Afghanistan. Another bogeyman, Iran, is allegedly to blame this time. | A foreign government
(2020-08-17). Democrats' election platform demands end to 'forever wars' — most of which were launched last time Biden held office. rt.com 
The Democratic Party's 2020 electoral platform includes a call to end the US' "forever wars" – which sounds great, except that a Democratic president started many of those wars and the party has stonewalled efforts to end them. | "Democrats know it's time to bring nearly two decades of unceasing conflict to an end," the platform, released in draft form on Monday and expected to be approved by Democratic leaders later this week, reads. | It's a relatively uncontroversial statement in itself: at nearly 19 years and counting, the US war in Afghanistan is the longest conflict in American history. The various satel…
(2020-08-17). The Russian Interference Report, Without Laughing. strategic-culture.org 
Craig MURRAY | Now the madding crowd has moved on, I take a mature look at the report by the It calls expressly and repeatedly for the security services to be actively involved in "policing the democratic space" and castigates the security services for their unwillingness to interfere in democratic process. It calls for t…
(2020-08-17). Ainu People Sues Japan to Confirm Salmon Fishing Rights. telesurenglish.net A cultural organization of the Ainu People Monday sued the Japanese State and the Hokkaido Island government so that the authorities recognize their indigenous rights and lift the ban on commercial salmon fishing in rivers. | RELATED: | The lawsuit is the first of its kind filed by members of this Indigenous people, who were subjected to forced assimilation more than a century ago. | Although Japanese law recognize…
(2020-08-17). The Cost of 'Singapore Inc.'? A Coronavirus Outbreak Among Migrants. thenation.com The Cost of 'Singapore Inc.'? A Coronavirus Outbreak Among Migrants.
(2020-08-17). Three Asiatic cheetahs spotted in Semnan. en.mehrnews.com SEMNAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — Park rangers have spotted three Asiatic cheetahs in near Sharoud in Semnan province, central Iran.
(2020-08-17). 'Untimely' to take part at Italian, American film festivals. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (MNA) — Iranian feature 'Untimely', directed by Pouya Eshtehardi, will take part at three international film festivals in Italy and the US.
(2020-08-17). 'Gabriel' to go on screen at Cheongju Intl. Short FilmFest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — Iranian short film, 'Gabriel' directed by Yousef Kargar, will be screened at the 17th edition of the Cheongju International Short Film Festival in South Korea.
(2020-08-17). Iran Air to resume Tehran-Madrid flights after 17 years. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Spain announced the resumption of weekly flights on the Tehran-Madrid-Tehran route after 17 years.
(2020-08-17). Foreign patent offices registers 110 of Iran's inventions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (MNA) — Iran Patent Center announced that as many as 110 inventions by Iranian scientists have been granted patents by authentic foreign patent offices, according to Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.
(2020-08-17). Tough sanctions situation should be disseminated to people. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that tough conditions of sanctions imposed against the country as well as salient measures taken by the government should be disseminated to all walks of life.
(2020-08-17). Supreme Council of Standards meeting held. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — Iran's Supreme Council of Standards held in meeting on Monday morning with the presence of First Vice President Es'hagh Jahangiri and other senior officials at the place of Presidential Administration.
(2020-08-17). Iran registers 2,247 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,247 people and claimed 165 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.
(2020-08-17). Armed Forces has taken giant stride in fight against COVID-19. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) —Spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces said that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have taken giant strides in battling the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 and its activities should be reflected duly.
(2020-08-17). 67 years after 1953 Coup; Is it possible to put trust in US? en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (MNA) — Iran is marking the 67th anniversary of the 1953 Coup, a clear foreign intervention by the United States that that shaped Iran-US relations up to now.
(2020-08-17). Police Seize 853 kg of narcotics in Yazd province. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — The police forces of Yazd province in central Iran have seized 853 kilograms of illicit drugs in two separate operations.
(2020-08-17). UAE rulers' betrayal not to be erased from Muslims' memories. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — Referring to UAE-Israeli tie normalization, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that the strategic mistake and the brazen betrayal of the UAE rulers will not be erased from the historical memories of the Muslims and freedom seekers.
(2020-08-17). Triggering Snapback Mechanism to create more problems for US. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov criticized the White House for claiming to trigger the Snapback Mechanism.
(2020-08-17). School Cancelled In Arizona Area After 'Sick Out' Over Reopening. popularresistance.org An Arizona school district that ignored state safety guidelines and voted to begin in-person learning on Aug. 17 has had to cancel classes after staff said it was unsafe to return and called in sick. | Greater Phoenix's J.O. Combs Unified School District canceled all instruction for Monday due to "insufficient staffing," days after its board disregarded state benchmarks on when students can safely return to classes during the pandemic. | The "sick out" underlined the difficulties in returning to in-person learning in the United States after schools in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama closed this week as students a…
(2020-08-17). The Abyss of Disinformation Gazes Into Its Creators. strategic-culture.org He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. | Friedrich Nietzsche | The other day the U.S. State Department published " Everything you read in the NYT or hear Rachel Maddow say about Russia is true: Putin is a murderer, a thief and a thug, he shot down MH17, poisoned the Skripals, elected…
(2020-08-17). Indonesia reports 1,821 new coronavirus cases, 57 deaths. yenisafak.com Indonesia reported 1,821 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing its infection total to 141,370, data from government's COVID-19 task force showed.The Southeast Asian country also added 57 new deaths, taking its fatalities to 6,207, the highest coronavirus death toll in Southeast Asia.
(2020-08-17). US imposes further sanctions on China's Huawei. yenisafak.com US President Donald Trump's administration on Monday expanded restrictions on Chinese telecom company Huawei over the company's alleged ties with the Chinese Communist Party.Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business that Huawei's access to semiconductor chips is banned, and new limitations will further prevent it from getting around the bar."On May 20, we issued an order that prevented American technology from being used in Huawei-designed chips. That led them to do some evasive measures. They were going through third parties," Ross said. "The new rule makes it clear that any use of American software or Am…
(2020-08-17). Iran reports 165 more virus deaths, over 2,200 cases. yenisafak.com At least 165 more coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 19,804, the Health Ministry said Monday. | Some 2,247 more people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the overall count up to 345,450, according to ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari. | She said more than 299,157 patients have recovered so far, while 3,773 are hospitalized in critical condition. Over 2.88 million tests have been conducted in Iran to date. | Iran is struggling to contain the pandemic since February, when the first cases were confirmed in the holy city of Qom. | The coronavirus pandemic…
(2020-08-17). Israel president invites UAE crown prince to visit Israel. yenisafak.com Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday sent an invitation to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, to visit Israel. | Rivlin posted on his Twitter account a photo of the message he sent to the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). | UAE authorities did not comment on the invitation. | "In my name and in the name of the people of Israel, I open the opportunity to extend to your Excellency an invitation to visit Israel and Jerusalem, as a distinguished and honored guest," Rivlin said in his message. | "The crystallized agreement between our two countries with the mediation of U…
(2020-08-17). Disagreements delay Israeli delegation's visit to UAE. yenisafak.com Internal Israeli disagreements have led to…