2020-09-08: News Headlines

Staff (2020-09-08). Headlines for September 8, 2020. democracynow.org Record-Breaking Wildfires and Heat Scorch California, Rochester Protests Continue as Mayor Promises Changes After Police Killing of Daniel Prude, Major Drug Companies Pledge to Not Rush COVID-19 Vaccine as U.S. Cases Top 6.3 Million, India Becomes Second Most Infected Country; Spain First European Country to Surpass 500,000 Cases, Belarusian Opposition Leader Resists Expulsion at Border with Ukraine After Reports of Abduction, Alexei Navalny Out of Induced Coma as He Continues Recovery from Poisoning, Extradition Hearing Resumes for Julian Assange in U.K., Hundreds of Rohingya Refugees Arrive on Dry Land After Mo…

yenisafak (2020-09-08). UN sends 38 truckloads of aid to Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Tuesday sent 38 trucks with humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria, where millions of people remain in need of assistance due to internal conflicts. 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 a 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 und…

news.un (2020-09-08). Alexei Navalny poisoning must get independent probe, says UN's Bachelet. news.un.org UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Russia to carry out or cooperate with a rapid and transparent criminal investigation into the poisoning of opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

yenisafak (2020-09-08). Dozens of abandoned migrants rescued in Sahara. yenisafak.com Drivers abandoned four trucks carrying the migrants from Nigeria, Togo, Mali and Ghana with no food or water about 230 km (143 miles) north of the Sahara crossroad town of Niger's Dirkou after spotting military vehicles.Three days later, an IOM rescue team found the group, which included children, by chance on Sept. 3. Many were dehydrated, injured and in need of immediate medical assistance.Spokesman Paul Dillon told Reuters it was not unusual for smugglers, who tend to take payment upfront from people desperate to reach Europe, to abandon their passengers if they fear they will be intercepted."Sometimes smuggle…

Eds. (2020-09-08). 850 thousand Insulin kits from Russia arrived in Venezuela (bypassing U.S. sanctions). mronline.org This Friday, a shipment of 850 thousand vials of 4 types of insulin from Russia arrived in Venezuela, being the 8th and 9th delivery within the framework of the Strategic Trade Alliance signed in 2019 between Russia and Venezuela in the International Economic Forum of St. Petersburg.

Anthony Cartalucci (2020-09-08). Thailand's "Youth Protests" Made in USA. thealtworld.com US repeats "soft power" strategy targeting youths used to destroy North Africa and the Middle East amid the "Arab Spring" in 2011 to target China-friendly nations in Asia today. | Imagine the reaction if the Russian government funded programs and events for years inside the US to create youth groups indoctrinated in support of Moscow's interests — particularly in regards to voting in US elections and the shaping of the US government itself. | It would be considered up to and including an act of war, with Russian-funded organizations in the US dismantled, those involved jailed for sedition and even treason, a…

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-09-08). Serbia Normalizes Relations with Kosovo, Serbia's Embassy Moves to Jerusalem… globalresearch.ca Within the agreement on the normalization of economic relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which was signed in Washington last week, it was agreed that Serbia would move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It was this part …

teleSUR (2020-09-08). EU To Deploy an Election Observation Mission in Bolivia. telesurenglish.net The European Union (EU) Tuesday announced that it will deploy election observers to control Bolivia's general elections to be held on October 18. | RELATED: | "The organization of genuine and credible elections is of paramount importance for the Bolivian people, who stand ready to reaffirm their commitment to democratic values and restore the country's much-needed stability," European Union High Representative for For…

Tanya Wadhwa (2020-09-08). Rafael Correa barred from contesting in the 2021 elections in Ecuador. peoplesdispatch.org The court of cassation of the National Court of Justice of Ecuador, on September 7, ratified the 8-year prison sentence against former president Rafael Correa and 15 other officials from his government in the "Bribes 2012-2016" case. The court also confirmed that Correa will be barred from electoral politics for the next 25 years. With the confirmation of the sentence, Correa is officially and definitively disqualified from contesting as a vice-presidential candidate in the 2021 general elections in Ecuador. | The former president, who is currently residing in Belgium, rejected the ruling through his Twitter acco…

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). MP urges France to apologize for insulting Holy Prophet (S). en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — Chairwoman of Iranian Parliament's Human Rights Committee called on French government to apologize to Muslims for insulting the Holy Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad (S).

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Amir Aliakbari to fight Russian heavyweight in Singapore. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — The Iranian mixed martial artist Amir Aliakbari is set to take on the Russian heavyweight Anatoly Malykhin at the ONE Championship in Singapore on October 30.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Europe seeking to boost its diplomatic role in Iran:Former MP. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — Regarding the failure of the US anti-Iran pressures, a former Parliament Member said that the Swiss Foreign Minister's visit to Iran and his messages show Europeans' tendency to play a more active diplomatic role toward Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Expanding ties between Iran, Turkey only way to foil plots. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani referred to Iran and Turkey as two major regional powers and noted that expanding bilateral ties is the only way to foil conspiracies.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Iran-Turkey talks play crucial role in solving regional issue. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that bilateral talks between Iran and Turkey play a very decisive role in resolving many regional issues.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railway symbol of friendship. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — The Kazakh Foreign Ministry described the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway as a symbol of friendship and a new opportunity to further develop international cooperation between the three countries.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Iran, Turkey agree on expansion of fight against terrorism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — Iran and Turkey issued a joint statement on the expansion of bilateral ties and agreed to fight against PKK, PJAK, and all terrorist groups.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-08). Iranian children shine in Bulgarian painting competition. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — Five members of the Iranian Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults received honorary diplomas from the 22nd International Youth Art Exhibition Nova Zagora held in Bulgaria.

The Canary (2020-09-08). 'Astounding' admission as minister confirms proposed change to Brexit deal would breach international law. thecanary.co A government plan to override elements of Boris Johnson's Brexit deal with Brussels would breach international law, a senior minister has confirmed. | The comment by Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis provoked a furious reaction, including from some Tory MPs, and followed news that the head of the Government Legal Department had resigned amid reports he was "very unhappy" with the proposal. | Lewis told MPs legislation to ensure Northern Ireland could continue to enjoy unfettered access to markets in the rest of the UK would breach international law in a "very specific and limited way". | pic.twitter.com/VQ…

yenisafak (2020-09-08). Turkey-Greece military talks at NATO postponed to Sept.10. yenisafak.com According to Turkish National Defense Ministry sources, the technical talks — planned after a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg — is postponed to Sept.10 by the NATO Military Committee.

yenisafak (2020-09-08). Turkish doctors continue 'troublesome' fight with virus. yenisafak.com Fighting on the coronavirus front lines in northeastern Turkey presents many challenges, Turkish doctors told Anadolu Agency.Ertac Ozeroglu, deputy chief of medicine at Ardahan State Hospital, in a city near Turkey's border with Georgia, pointed to the "troublesome" fight against COVID-19 in intensive care units."This is a psychologically troublesome area for both patients and their relatives," said Ozeroglu, an anesthetist."It's not a good process. We're fighting here while wearing our personal protective equipment. It's really very difficult to work in this equipment."Explaining that patients' relatives want to…

yenisafak (2020-09-08). Turkish first lady marks International Literacy Day. yenisafak.com Turkey's first lady marked the International Literacy Day on Tuesday with a vow to continue efforts for education in the country."The literacy campaign in our country will continue until every individual's world is illuminated by the light of letters. Happy #InternationalLiteracyDay," Emine Erdogan said in a message on Twitter.In the message, which was posted along with a video clip commemorating the day, she also congratulated "all citizens who participated in the literacy campaign."Sept. 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1966 to remind the international community of the importance of lite…

yenisafak (2020-09-08). Erdogan hails dialogue with Iran on region. yenisafak.com The president of Turkey on Tuesday praised his country's dialogue with Iran to find possible solutions to problems in their shared region."Dialogue between Turkey and Iran has played a determinant role in resolving many regional problems," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the sixth meeting of the Turkey-Iran High-Level Cooperation Council."I believe our cooperation will return to its previous levels as the epidemic subsides," Erdogan said at the meeting, which was being held via video link and co-chaired by himself and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.Turkey's Communications Directorate had said in a…

news.un (2020-09-08). Khashoggi overturned verdict 'parody of justice' — independent UN rights expert. news.un.org An independent UN human rights investigator called the overturned verdict of Saudi Arabia's prosecutor in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey a "parody of justice" that spared "high-level" plotters.

Paul Craig Roberts (2020-09-08). Democrats Have Planned a Coup If Trump Wins Reelection. thealtworld.com Under the pretext that President Trump will not step down if he loses reelection, Democrats and the military/security complex created the Transition Integrity Project. The plan they have worked out is to take the presidency regardless of the vote. Trump's win is to be blamed on vote fraud, and Biden/Kamala are forbidden to concede their defeat. Instead, the presstitutes will conduct a propaganda campaign against Trump alleging election fraud in order to cast Trump's reelection in doubt. | The propaganda campaign against Trump will be conducted by assertions and fake news just as was the Russiagate, Impeachgate, a…

Aaron Maté (2020-09-07). In Navalny poisoning, rush to judgment threatens new Russia-NATO crisis. thegrayzone.com Veteran Russia correspondent Fred Weir on the Navalny poisoning and the Western media's dysfunctional coverage of allegations against Moscow. Claims that Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny has been poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok are threatening a new standoff between Russia and NATO states, with calls for punitive measures against Moscow, including cancelling the Nordstream …

Andrew Korybko (2020-09-07). Serbia's 'Balancing' Act Is An Empty Slogan To Disguise Pro-US Policies. thealtworld.com Serbian President Vucic just discredited his own over-hyped "balancing" act between Russia and the West over the weekend after he de-facto recognized the NATO-occupied Province of Kosovo & Metohija under the cover of "economic normalization" and then committed to moving his country's embassy in "Israel" to Jerusalem, both of which are extremely pro-US policies that exposed his "balancing" act as the empty slogan that it's always been. | Serbia's "Balancing" Act | A lot has been written by many

Andrew Korybko (2020-09-07). Serbia's 'Balancing' Act Between West And Russia. Empty Slogan to Disguise Pro-US Policies. De Facto Recognition of Kosovo. globalresearch.ca Serbian President Vucic just discredited his own over-hyped "balancing" act between Russia and the West over the weekend after he de-facto recognized the NATO-occupied Province of Kosovo & Metohija under the cover of "economic normalization" and then committed to moving …

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-09-07). US-Russia Tensions Flare Up on Multiple Fronts. globalresearch.ca Amidst the escalating tensions with China, the United States should have kept the troubled relationship with Russia on an even keel. But the opposite is happening. For the first time since the presidential election in Belarus on August 9, Washington …

_____ (2020-09-07). How Russia can help ease tensions in the Himalayas. strategic-culture.org MK BHADRAKUMAR | The legend is that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, during his path-breaking visit to India in 1955, told the Indians that all they had to do to get Russian help was to give a shout across the Himalayas. I don't know how far this is true but it has an irrepressibly "Khrushchevian" ring about it. | This came to my mind with the news appearing that Beijing had proposed a meeting between the defense ministers of India and China, who happen to be in Moscow to attend the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). | One would assume that the Russian hosts had done their part in facilitatin…

yenisafak (2020-09-07). UN sends 39 truckloads of aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com The UN on Monday sent 39 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 (2020-09-07). Man suspected of serially MUTILATING horses is detained in France. rt.com Police in France have detained a man suspected of attacking and mutilating horses. The country has been shocked by a nationwide string of vicious attacks on the animals over the past few months. | The suspect, reportedly a 50-year-old man, was detained on Monday in France's eastern department of Haut-Rhin. | The man was apprehended after law enforcement circulated a computer-generated image of the suspect, a police source told AFP, based on information from an eyewitness. | www.facebook.com/gendarmeriedelyonne/posts/3347195265326859 | The police sketch was created after two men infiltrated a stable in…

RT (2020-09-07). Russian ambassador to UK summoned to Foreign Office over Navalny's alleged 'poisoning,' embassy decries 'politicization' of case. rt.com The UK government has summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin to express its "deep concern" over what it called the "poisoning" of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. The diplomat brushed off the accusations as "baseless." | The British Foreign Office urged Moscow to conduct a "full, transparent investigation" into the matter, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a Twitter post, adding that London considers it "completely unacceptable that a banned chemical weapon has been used" while stopping short of directly accusing Russian authorities of being involved in the incident. | 1/2 Today the UK summoned…

RT (2020-09-07). Sputnik V questions ANSWERED: Head of team financing world's first Covid-19 vaccine explains formula to critics. rt.com Since the launch of the Sputnik V vaccine, developed by scientists from Moscow's Gamaleya Center, Russia has seen immense interest and expressions of hope from many countries and has received requests for 1 billion doses. | However, it has also faced criticism and questions from some Western countries and companies, especially those developing their own vaccines—often based on technologies yet to be proven for safety and efficacy, such as mRNA or monkey adenoviral vector-based platforms. Following the publication of the results of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of Sputnik V in The Lancet, last w…

RT (2020-09-07). Access to Covid-19 vaccine means Russia could totally defeat coronavirus by next summer, according to creator of Sputnik V. rt.com If mass vaccination goes to plan, Russia will have seen an end to Covid-19 by next summer, says Alexander Gintsburg, the director of Moscow's Gamaleya Center, where the groundbreaking Russian coronavirus vaccine was developed. | Gintsburg believes the world will only be able to defeat the pandemic after mass vaccination, which he thinks can happen within a year. Until then, he predicts that society will be engaged in "constant battles" with the virus. | "We'll only be able to say that the pandemic has receded when we've produced the required amount of vaccine and vaccinated the entire population of our country…

RT (2020-09-07). It's a lift-off: Russia's 'Sputnik V' Covid-19 vaccine LAUNCHED into public circulation. rt.com The first batch of Russia's pioneering coronavirus formula Sputnik V has been approved for public use and has already been placed into circulation, the Ministry of Health in Moscow has announced. | The world's first Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, "has undergone necessary quality tests" and "has entered civilian circulation," the ministry said in a short statement on Tuesday. | More batches are on their way to be distributed across Russian regions, it added. | The announcement marks another milestone in the development of Gam-COVID-Vac, bett…

RT (2020-09-07). UK 'fully committed to implementing EU withdrawal deal', PM's office says, after report claims changes afoot over N. Ireland. rt.com The UK will implement the withdrawal agreement reached with the EU, a spokesman for PM Boris Johnson said on Monday, adding that proposed changes to be implemented in domestic law are simply "limited clarifications." | The comments came after a Financial Times report claiming that domestic British legislation was expected to kill the legal force of parts of the deal in areas including state aid and Northern Ireland customs. | Also on rt.com | |

RT (2020-09-07). GOAT on rampage raids cop car, destroys paperwork & takes down officer (VIDEO). rt.com It turns out you can quite easily get away with leaping into a police cruiser, destroying documentation within and even assaulting an officer — if you're a goat — according to hilarious bodycam footage filmed in the US. | Footage of the bizarre altercation was shared online by the Douglas County Sheriff Department, and promptly went viral. The video was captured by the body cam of a deputy as she was out delivering some civil papers in Douglasville, Georgia. | The officer had unwarily left her car door open — and it did not escape the notice of a sneaky goat, which decided to get in. On notici…

Peter Koenig (2020-09-07). Russia — Nord Stream 2 vs. Poisoning of Alexei Navalny. globalresearch.ca The US has for years been objecting voraciously against this pipeline. Trump: "Why should we pay for NATO to defend Germany, when Germany buys gas from Russia and makes herself dependent on Russia?" — He added, "We offer Germany and Europe all the gas and energy they need."

Stephen Lendman (2020-09-07). US/NATO Preparing for War on Russia? Six Military Exercises at Russia's Doorstep. globalresearch.ca Wars by hot and other means are all about Washington's main strategy to advance its imperium — seeking dominance over other nations, their resources and populations by brute force if other methods don't achieve its objectives. | From inception, the US …

yenisafak (2020-09-07). Pakistan nominates new envoy to Afghanistan. yenisafak.com Pakistan on Monday nominated its new ambassador to Afghanistan as direct negotiations between Taliban and Kabul aiming to end nearly two decades of war are set to begin.Mansoor Ahmad Khan, a veteran diplomat, called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the capital Islamabad before leaving for Kabul, a statement by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said.Qureshi, it said, hoped the appointment of an experienced and professional diplomat like Khan would help improve bilateral ties.Khan, who had been serving as Islamabad's Permanent Representative to UN and other international organizations based in Austria since Ju…

teleSUR (2020-09-07). Italy To Prolong Precautionary Measures Until October. telesurenglish.net Italy's Council of Ministers on Monday passed a decree that prolongs until October several restrictions and precautionary measures against the pandemic. | RELATED: | According to Health Minister Roberto Speranza, masks use in public transportation, commerce, and other public indoor spaces would remain mandatory. The face coverings would be required in outdoor places from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. | Among other measures, the nightclubs…

WSWS (2020-09-07). The unanswered questions in the latest Russian "meddling" allegations. wsws.org The US media's claims of a nefarious campaign by Russia to "sow divisions" during in the 2016 election have been discredited. But the New York Times is "at it again."

teleSUR (2020-09-07). Russia Offers Aid To Syria To Break US Economic Blockade. telesurenglish.net Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov Monday affirmed that his country will help Syria to "break" the economic blockade that President Donald Trump's administration maintains through the "Caesar Act." | RELATED: | "Some countries and foreign powers are trying to impose their own plans on Syria," Lavrov said during his first visit to the Arab country since 2012. | He also explained that the Russian delegat…

WSWS (2020-09-07). Facebook announces political censorship plan in advance of US presidential election. wsws.org The new measures are aimed at protecting the capitalist two-party system and labeling left-wing political ideas as the work of "Russian interference."

WSWS (2020-09-07). German automotive supplier Continental doubles job cuts. wsws.org Continental plans to slash 30,000 jobs worldwide, with 13,000 going in Germany—in close collaboration with the IG Metall union.

Jon Miltimore (2020-09-07). Sweden Now Has a Lower COVID-19 Death Rate than the US. Here's Why It Matters. globalresearch.ca For months, Sweden was the punching bag of the world's media and politicians. | For foregoing a lockdown, Sweden was declared a " "Sweden is paying heavily for its decision not to lockdown," …

WSWS (2020-09-07). In Europe, COVID-19 cases surge and deaths mount following end of lockdowns. wsws.org Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, warned that the virus was starting to infect as many people as in March.

teleSUR (2020-09-07). Study Describes Hyperinflammatory Syndrome in COVID-19 Patients. telesurenglish.net Researchers from the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital (Vatican) and the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) discovered the mechanism causing the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in COVID-19 patients. | RELATED: | The scientists detected the immunological differences between both diseases and their results have already been published in the journal CELL. The MIS-C causes inflammation of the blood vessels and heart and inte…

Francesca Gomes (2020-09-07). NYC Teachers Were About to Strike… Then Union Leaders Cut a Backroom Deal. zcomm.org Teachers are understandably furious about this sellout on the part of their own leadership and the bureaucratic methods used to try to convince members to accept the deal…

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-07). 'MEK was not embraced but imposed on Albania in 2016'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 07 (MNA) — Olsi Jazexhi, an Albanian historian, reveals that the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) was not embraced but imposed on Albania in 2016 by the Obama administration.