2020-08-29: News Headlines

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-08-29). Dem Convention Made No Mention Of Russiagate Or Impeachment, Because Those Were Fake Things. thealtworld.com 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" during thei…

_____ (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…

WSWS (2020-08-29). Students, teachers, parents and nursery staff in Germany oppose school reopenings. wsws.org As the country's various state governments rush ahead with the policy of opening schools, growing numbers are expressing their opposition to the move.

_____ (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…

_____ (2020-08-29). Riots for Neo-Liberalism: ANTIFA & BLM Are the Global Elites' Useful Thugs. strategic-culture.org The iconoclastic fury we have witnessed this summer in the U.S. and Europe is driven by global capitalism's attempt to destroy everything that stands on the way of its fullest takeover of human society. Western Culture is one such thing. | The Italian writer and movie-maker "In Italy, fascists fall into two categories: fascists and antifascists." | He was referring to the belligere…

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). Russia Presents Device That Detects Toxins, Pathogens Including COVID-19 in Air in Matter of Seconds. sputniknews.com The device, which was first conceived back in 2015, has been perfected over the last five years — and the timing couldn't be better, as countries are lifting their lockdowns while trying to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

sputniknews (2020-08-29). Study Suggests UK Could See Further 85,000 COVID-19 Deaths in Winter, Reports Say. sputniknews.com LONDON (Sputnik) – A study prepared by the UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergency (SAGE) suggests that in a reasonable worst-case scenario, a further 85,000 people could die from COVID-19 in the United Kingdom this winter, the BBC reported on Saturday.

yenisafak (2020-08-29). Turkey expects 'equity' from EU amid East Med tension. yenisafak.com The Turkish vice president Saturday called on the EU for equity amid ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Fuat Oktay said: "Turkey expects equity from the EU, no one should expect Ankara to take a step back based on this equity."Oktay further asked: "If the Greek attempts to expand its territorial waters isn't a cause of war, then what is?" stressing that the country "will protect its rights on every cubic meter in the Eastern Mediterranean waters no matter what.""It is insincere for the EU to call for dialogue on the one hand and make other plans on the oth…

yenisafak (2020-08-29). 'Unthinkable for Turkey to give up Aegean, East Med'. yenisafak.com It is unthinkable for Turkey to give up its "historical interests" in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, the head of a Turkish political party said on Saturday.Greece is playing with fire and is being spurred on by France, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said in a written statement.He said all the countries sitting at the gambling table are familiar with each other and are trying to bet on the winner.Do not come close to a fire that will burn you, Bahceli warned the nations stoking tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.His remarks are an extension of Ankara's strong stance against…

yenisafak (2020-08-29). Over 1,250 suspects held in operations across Turkey. yenisafak.com At least 1,281 suspects were nabbed in simultaneous operations across Turkey over the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.In a statement, the ministry said 63,591 security personnel were part of the "Turkey Peace Security" operations carried out in different areas of the country.It said search operations were carried out at shopping malls, abandoned buildings, fair grounds, event and entertainment venues, bus terminals and other public transport stations, piers and ports, routes leading to airports, internet cafes, and other public places.Along with the suspects arrested for various crimes, 24…

Brian Cloughley (2020-08-28). Washington Schemes to Heat Up the Arctic. counterpunch.org One of the more bizarre indications that Trump Washington is interested in the Arctic was made a year ago when he said he would like to buy Greenland, a vast territory that is administered by Denmark. It is about the same size as Saudi Arabia, and slightly smaller than India — a big country in which there is

RT (2020-08-28). US Marshals rescue DOZENS of missing children in Georgia during 'Operation Not Forgotten'. rt.com The US Marshals Service Missing Child Unit has rescued 26 children and confirmed the safety of an additional 13, while arresting nine people for child trafficking-related offenses in Atlanta and Macon, Georgia. | The children rescued were aged between three and 17 years old, and 15 were confirmed as victims of sex trafficking. | The massive sweep concluded the two-week-long Operation Not Forgotten, as officers cleared 26 arrest warrants in total, including charges for sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, registered sex offender violations, drugs and weapons possession, and custodial interference. | Also on rt…

RT (2020-08-28). Eternal Post-Soviet language wars rage on: Latvian MP wants more usage of 'hated Russian' but ex-Belarusian leader demands less. rt.com If you spend some time in…

RT (2020-08-28). Black Republicans are 'SLAVES,' America 'guilty, guilty, guilty' of racism: 1,000s descend on DC for march against police violence. rt.com A Georgia pastor denounced black politicians supporting President Trump as "slaves" in his speech to marchers at the US capital protesting police violence, underlining the political message beneath an ostensibly nonpartisan march. | Speakers at the Commitment March on Friday delivered spirited condemnations of racism, demanded justice for the victims of police violence, and reminded attendees to vote Democrat — especially that last one. | MLK asked "what good is sitting at a lunch counter if you can't afford to buy a hamburger?" We often forget that the March on Washington was for JOBS & freedom. 57 years…

RT (2020-08-28). Lazy Western caricatures claiming Russian media is overwhelmingly 'state-run' are out of date — the internet is where it's at now. rt.com If you rely on Western media to inform yourself about Russia, you may think Russians are being brainwashed by the state TV zombie box. But in the real world, there's been a huge shift online, where content's largely unregulated. | Of course, a favourite trope of Western analysts is that the Russian press is completely controlled and guided by the state, feeding into a single narrative to convince those both at home and abroad of the Kremlin's viewpoints. This is often used, for example, to explain away the fact that the pro-Western liberal opposition has such limited support: "They don't appear on state TV, so…

RT (2020-08-28). Award-winning investigative journalist ridiculed on Twitter after calling out Ivanka Trump for 'LEGOGATE' fib. rt.com With 'Russiagate' done and dusted, and the 'Ukrainegate' impeachment a flop, some intrepid journalists have scraped the bottom of the barrel and come up with a new Trump family scandal: 'Legogate.' | Speaking to the Republican National Convention on Thursday, the US president's daughter and advisor, Ivanka Trump, shared a personal anecdote about moving to Washington DC with her family. "My son Joseph promptly built Grandpa a Lego replica of the White House. The president still displays it on the mantel in the Oval Office and shows it to world leaders, just so they know he has the greatest grandchildren on Eart…

RT (2020-08-28). Violent riots erupt in Malmo, Sweden after Koran-torching stunt, police say they have 'no control' over situation (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). rt.com A wave of chaotic unrest broke out in Malmo, Sweden after anti-Islam activists filmed a public Koran burning, sparking protests that soon descended into riots, with unruly demonstrators setting fires and clashing with police. | Some 300 people gathered along a main thoroughfare in Malmo on Friday around 7: 30pm local time to protest after members of a far-right political party staged a Koran burning earlier in the day, according to

WSWS (2020-08-28). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute http: //www.wsws.org/wsws/dd-formmailer/dd-formmailer.php to this regular feature.

South Front (2020-08-28). Video: US-Russia "Road War" in Northeastern Syria. globalresearch.ca Four US service members were slightly injured during a standoff with the Russian Military Police near the border-town of Al-Malikiyah in the Syrian province of al-Hasakah. According to reports, the US troops received "mild injures" after their MaxxPro MRAP vehicle …

Dmitriy Kovalevich (2020-08-28). Belarus Crisis Through the Lens of Ukraine. globalresearch.ca On August 9, presidential elections were held in Ukraine's neighbor, Belarus. Economically, they are mutually dependent on each other, and Russia is too, but currently it seems as if trade, like flights, could soon be put on hold. Meanwhile, far …

Kollibri terre Sonnenblume (2020-08-28). The Quadrennial Clusterfuck. counterpunch.org I don't see Republicans and Democrats… I see European civilization killing everything. ~Conrad Justice Kiczenski Here we are again, in…

WSWS (2020-08-28). In the wake of George Floyd's murder: Police violence on the rise in Germany. wsws.org Three months after the police murder of George Floyd in America and the continuing police violence in the US, similar scenes are taking place on the streets of German cities.

WSWS (2020-08-28). US and Russian military units clash in Syria. wsws.org The northeastern region of Syria has become a tinderbox after Washington revealed its plans to bring in a US company to exploit Syrian oil.

Comitato No Nato No Guerra (2020-08-28). Apelo Aos Dirigentes Dos Nove Estados Detentores De Armas Nucleares (China, Franàßa, Ândia, Israel, Coreia do Norte, Paquistà£o, Rússia, Reino Unido e Estados Unidos da América). globalresearch.ca Nós, pessoas de boa vontade, de todas as etnias e de todas as classes socioeconómicas, a viver em todos os continentes e a professar credos e religiàµes distintas, dirigimos a vossa atenàßà£o para a ameaàßa de uma guerra nuclear total …

Carla Stea (2020-08-28). "Modern Attila the Hun" Ravages Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iran… China and Russia Block The Momentum, Are They the Next Targets? globalresearch.ca In 1991-1992, just prior to, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US gloated over its global supremacy which, of course guaranteed its unfettered dominance of United Nations agencies, the most powerful of which is the UN Security …

Carla Stea (2020-08-28). "Modern Attilla the Hun" Ravages Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iran… China and Russia Block The Momentum, Are They the Next Targets? globalresearch.ca In 1991-1992, just prior to, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US gloated over its global supremacy which, of course guaranteed its unfettered dominance of United Nations agencies, the most powerful of which is the UN Security …

Finian Cunningham (2020-08-28). Trump and Dems take turns playing 'Russian card' — which only proves it's the joker. thealtworld.com As the White House stakes pile up, both sides are playing the "Russian card" and claiming Moscow's interference. Yet at the same time, both sides are apt to deny their opponents' claims of such interference — when it suits them. | And what that proves is the fingering-Russia game is a charade. So, can both the Republicans and the Democrats be simultaneously right and wrong? | President Donald Trump earlier this month

_____ (2020-08-28). Belarus: NATO Lobby Acknowledges That Its Color Revolution Failed. popularresistance.org It is over. The 'patchy strikes' were never real industrial actions. A few journalist of the Belarus state TV went on a strike. They were unceremoniously fired and replaced with Russian journalists. A few hundred workers at the MTZ Minsk Tractor Works did a walk out. But MTZ has 17,000 employees and the 16,500+ who did not walk out know very well why they still have their jobs. Should Lukashenko fall it is highly likely that their state owned company will be sold off for pennies and immediately 'right sized' meaning that most of them would be out of work.

_____ (2020-08-28). Victory For The Humboldt 3! popularresistance.org Es lebe die freiheit — long live freedom — is the cry of every Palestinian and all people longing for freedom from colonialism.They were also the last words of Hans Scholl, a member of the White Rose anti-fascist resistance movement in Nazi Germany, before his execution on February 22 1945. The White Rose brought the Nazis' crimes to public awareness, and demanded justice for their victims. | Over seventy years later we, the Humboldt 3, drew inspiration from the White Rose. Along with Israeli anti-Zionist activists Ronnie Barkan and Stavit Sinai, I disrupted a talk given at the Humboldt University of…

_____ (2020-08-28). Syria: What Actually Happened In Collision Between US And Russian Forces. popularresistance.org On Tuesday, four US service members were reported injured with concussion-like symptoms in an incident involving Russian forces. However, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Ullyot said on Wednesday that the injuries were the fault of the Russians, and that the US service members withdrew to deescalate – a far different story than that told by video footage of the event. | "At approximately 10 a.m. (Syria Time), Aug. 25, a routine Defeat-ISIS Coalition security patrol encountered a Russian military patrol near Dayrick, in northeast Syria. During this interaction, a Russian vehicle struck a Coa…

_____ (2020-08-28). British Soldier Arrested For Opposing UK Arming Saudi Arabia. popularresistance.org A British soldier has been arrested for opposing the United Kingdom's role in the Saudi-led war against Yemen. Video shows Lance Corporal Ahmed Al-Babati of the Royal Signals being led away by military police from his protest outside Britain's Ministry of Defense in London. Al-Babati earlier released a video explaining his decision to risk his freedom rather than participate in what he feels is a grossly immoral war. "Our government continues to arm and support Saudi Arabia," he said. "We tried to make our voices heard by protesting in London, Manchester, Liverpool and many other cities.

_____ (2020-08-28). Kosovo Endgame: A Perfect Storm of Betrayal. strategic-culture.org It is difficult to avoid the impression that the denouement of the Kosovo political saga is approaching at an accelerated pace. On September 4 an important meeting will be held in Washington, with President Trump's attendance at some stage strongly suggested. Its purpose is to sort out the finer details of what should soon be unveiled as a "comprehensive and legally binding" settlement between Serbia and its province of Kosovo. Kosovo has been illegally occupied by NATO since 1999 and was spurred on in 2008 to unilaterally proclaim its "independence." | A few preliminary facts need to be stated before embarkin…

imperial.ac.uk (2020-08-28). Cholesterol drug combinations could cut health risk for European patients. imperial.ac.uk More patients could benefit from combinations of cholesterol-lowering drugs to reduce their risk of stroke and heart attacks.

sputniknews (2020-08-28). Merkel on Greece-Turkey East Med Row: All EU Countries Have Obligation to Support Athens. sputniknews.com Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean have been escalating since Turkey renewed its efforts to explore energy reserves near Cyprus. Ankara claims rights to parts of the island's offshore resources despite vehement opposition from Greece and some other EU states.

sputniknews (2020-08-28). Russian FM: US Sanctions on Institute Working on COVID Vaccine Aimed at Promoting Their Own Pharma. sputniknews.com On Wednesday, the US slapped sanctions on five Russian institutes, accusing them of developing chemical and biological weapons. The restrictions were specifically imposed on a research institute of the Russian Defence Ministry that developed the first COVID-19 vaccine together with the Gamaleya Institute.

The Canary (2020-08-28). Banksy-funded rescue boat is helping to save refugees in Mediterranean. thecanary.co British street artist Banksy has funded a refugee rescue boat that is helping to save people encountering danger in the Mediterranean Sea. | The Louise Michel, a vessel that used to be owned by the customs authorities in France, launched under its new guise last week and features a painting from Banksy depicting a young girl holding on to a heart-shaped safety float. | The boat was renamed after a 19th-century French feminist anarchist, and is spattered in pink paint after the secretive artist "decorated her with a fire extinguisher". | It was bought with the proceeds of some of Banksy's works and is captained by…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Germany would be ready to sanction Russia over Navalny case: Maas. yenisafak.com Germany would be ready to impose diplomatic sanctions against Russia if it concludes that Russian state agencies were behind the poisoning of a critic of President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday."Concerning Russia's readiness to clear up the case of (Alexei) Navalny we will act like we did in the case of the Tiergarten murder," Maas said, referring to Germany's expulsion of Russian embassy employees over Moscow's lack of cooperation in a probe into the murder of a Georgian man in a Berlin park.

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Germany calls for dialogue between Turkey, Greece. yenisafak.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday reiterated her call for dialogue between Turkey and Greece over the offshore energy exploration in Eastern Mediterranean. | "I made an effort to reduce tension. Sometimes this is only possible with both parties speaking over and over again," said Merkel during her traditional annual summer news conference. | "The discussion regarding the distribution of economic zones can only be carried out together. Germany is making an effort for this," she added. | "As EU member states, we all have a duty to take our Greek friends' rights seriously and support them where they are right."

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Turkish, British defense chiefs discuss East Med, Libya. yenisafak.com Turkey's defense chief and his British counterpart spoke over the phone Friday about recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya.Hulusi Akar and Ben Wallace spoke amid escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Greece.On disputes over maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akar on Thursday stressed that Turkey would not usurp anyone's land or sea, but at the same time, would not allow any attack on its territory.Turkey has long opposed efforts of various countries to exclude it from its rightful maritime jurisdiction and deprive it from exploring energy resources…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Spanish police arrest pandemic-denier for inciting hatred. yenisafak.com Spanish police said on Friday they had arrested a man near the northeastern city of Zaragoza, who believed the coronavirus pandemic to be a hoax, for inciting hatred and violence across several anonymous social-media profiles.The 38-year-old, who claimed that health professionals and the media were behind what he called the "COVID farce", urged his followers to attack politicians and journalists, police said."All this would be solved with a shot to the back of (Spanish Prime Minister) Pedro Sanchez's head," he wrote on one of his accounts.In other posts he said the headquarters of Spain's doctors' union should be…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Turkey says determined to preserve Idlib de-escalation zone. yenisafak.com Turkey is determined to preserve the de-escalation zone in Idlib, Syria despite the violations of cease-fire and the brutality of Assad regime, the country's presidential spokesman said on Friday.Turkey's Ibrahim Kalin met visiting US special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey and his delegation in Istanbul.The Syria crisis, especially Idlib, political process in the war-torn country, works of Syrian Constitutional Committee, anti-terrorism efforts, asylum seekers, and bilateral and regional issues were the items of the meeting's agenda.During the talks, Kalin stressed that any political, economic, military support to…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Top Turkish diplomat regrets Japan PM's resignation. yenisafak.com The Turkish foreign minister on Friday expressed sorrow at the resignation of the Japanese prime minister due to health issues.In a Twitter post, Mevlut Cavusoglu said Shinzo Abe made a great contribution in the sense of improving diplomatic ties between Turkey and Japan.Cavusoglu thanked Abe for his efforts in this regard and wished him recovery.Earlier, the 65-year-old Japanese premier announced his resignation due to health concerns, saying: "I have decided to step down as prime minister as poor health should not lead to wrong political decision."The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will hold a poll of se…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Turkey to become battery production hub: Tech minister. yenisafak.com Turkey aims to become a hub for battery production with its investments in battery modules, packages and cells, a senior official said Friday.To reach this goal, the country will support electric-electronic firms' investments in the automotive sector, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank told a ceremony by Korean automotive giant Hyundai that marked the launch of mass production of i20 model automobiles in Turkey's industrial province of Kocaeli.Hyundai's Turkey factory will cover half of all i20 output across the globe, with 90% of all vehicles produced to be exported, Varank noted.The minister also s…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Top Turkish, Libyan officials discuss mutual issues. yenisafak.com Turkey's foreign and defense ministers on Friday met separately with Khaled al-Mishri, the head of Libya's High Council of State.Foreign Minister Mevlàºt àáavu≈üoƒülu, in a statement, said the two discussed Turkish cooperation with "brotherly" Libya, which he said grows stronger every day.Saying both countries are determined to speed up joint economic and commercial projects, he added that Turkey will continue to support the political process in Libya.In a separate statement, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said Hulusi Akar discussed the latest developments in Libya with Al-Mis…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Turkish aid agency sends medical aid to Afghanistan. yenisafak.com A Turkish aid agency Friday sent medical aid to Afghanistan to help the country fight COVID-19.The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency's (TIKA) Afghanistan office in Kabul facilitated the process.The two countries have strong historical, cultural and religious ties, and Turkey has always stood with Afghanistan, said Afghanistan's Deputy Health Minister Abdul Kadir in a statement. Kadir thanked Turkey for its contributions to Afghanistan's development.As part of the fight against COVID-19, the agency delivered to Afghanistan's Health Ministry the second batch of aid as well, said Zuhtu Cal, TIKA's coordina…

yenisafak (2020-08-28). Pakistan lauds Turkey's support on Kashmir. yenisafak.com Pakistan on Thursday praised Turkey for its support for the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.Following a meeting in the capital Islamabad with Turkey's envoy to the South Asian country, the chairman of Pakistan's Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Afridi, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's stance on Kashmir has helped internationally highlight the issue."President Erdogan has played vital role in exposing Hindutva designs against the people of Kashmir and Indian minorities as the goons of proscribed Rashtariya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were lynching Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and…

WSWS (2020-08-28). UK government planning troops on the streets for combined pandemic "second wave" and hard Brexit crisis. wsws.org The Cabinet study follows on from previous government plans for the possible imposition of martial law in the context of the deepening crisis over Britain's exiting the European Union.

Roger Harris (2020-08-27). Belarus's Options in the Midst of a Color Revolution. counterpunch.org A "color revolution" is a media term for a movement based on legitimate grievances only to be co-opted into a regime change operation backed by the US and confederates. There have been so many — Georgia in 2003, Ukraine in 2004, Kyrgyzstan in 2005 — that they have run out of colors. Belarus is amidst