Daily Archives: August 18, 2020

2020-08-18: News Headlines

Otis Grotewohl (2020-08-18). U.S., fascists set scopes on socialist-leaning Belarus. workers.org Chinese President Xi Jingping and Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his reelection Aug. 9. USSR-era socialist art in Minsk, Belarus, in February 2019. U.S. imperialism and the Western bourgeois media, however, wasted no time in denouncing Lukashenko's victory as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used . . . |

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-18). Finnish communists slam govt. proposal for increased military spending on fighter planes. peoplesdispatch.org Finland's Ministry of Finance has proposed increased military expenditure in its 2021 budget for the procurement of new multipurpose fighter planes to replace the currently used Hornet fleet…

yenisafak (2020-08-18). Merkel, Putin discuss Belarus over phone. yenisafak.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the recent political crisis in Belarus over the phone, her spokesman said on Tuesday.Steffen Seibert said in a press release that the two leaders discussed the latest situation in Belarus after the presidential elections held in Aug. 9."The chancellor has emphasized that the Belarusian government must refrain from using violence against peaceful demonstrators, release political prisoners immediately and initiate a national dialogue with the opposition and society in order to overcome the crisis," he said.In a separate statement, the Kr…

yenisafak (2020-08-18). France to make mask mandatory in work places. yenisafak.com France will make mask wearing mandatory in work places starting from Sept. 1, with some exceptions, as the country grapples with a surge in COVID-19 infections, the head of one the leading unions told BFM TV on Tuesday."The government deems its necessary to wear a mask when you're not alone (in the work place)", said Yves Veyrier, leader of Force ouvriere, adding the labour minister had made it clear it was up to the companies concerned to pay for the masks.

yenisafak (2020-08-18). UN sends 20 truckloads of aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com 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 agreement between Turkey and Russia.The area has been the subject of multiple cease-fire understandings, which have frequently been violated by the Assad re…

yenisafak (2020-08-18). Turkey will always stand with Libyan people: DefMin. yenisafak.com Turkey will always help Libya maintain its integrity, security, and ensure the prosperity of its people, the Turkish defense minister said on Tuesday.Hulusi Akar, who arrived in Libya on Monday along with Turkish military chief Gen. Yasar Guler, spoke to reporters about the specifics of his visit."We are here upon the invitation of the Government of National Accord (GNA) that was recognized by the United Nations (UN). We will continue standing with our Libyan brothers and sisters in the future, with whom we share a common history and culture of 500 years," he said."We will do everything that is needed in order fo…

R.C.A. Achterbergh, E. Hoornenborg, A. Boyd, L. Coyer, S.J.A. Meuzelaar, A.A. Hogewoning, U. Davidovich, M.S. van Rooijen, M.F. Schim van der Loeff, M. Prins, H.J.C. de Vries (2020-08-18). [Original Research] Changes in mental health and drug use among men who have sex with men using daily and event-driven pre-exposure prophylaxis: Results from a prospective demonstration project in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. thelancet.com Mental health disorders are prevalent among those initiating PrEP. We did not find increases in mental health disorders during PrEP use, but rather a decrease in sexual compulsivity and drug use disorders. The initial prevalence of mental health disorders in our study point at the continuous need to address mental health disorders within PrEP programs.

Stephen Crowley (2020-08-18). The Factory Joins the Square: Putin's Nightmare Unfolds in Belarus. thenation.com The Factory Joins the Square: Putin's Nightmare Unfolds in Belarus…

Simon Whalley (2020-08-17). How to Fund the Salvation of Humanity. commondreams.org A smartphone being operated in front of Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon logos as background in Hédé-Bazouges, western France, on Septemeber 28, 2017. (Photo: Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gafa_0.jpg

Andrew Korybko (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 …

Staff (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…

teleSUR (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…

teleSUR Desk (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.

RT (2020-08-17). Ukraine recalls Belarus envoy for consultations 'for first time ever', but it's not about protests. rt.com Kiev has recalled its ambassador from Minsk for consultations, for the "first time in history." However, the move appears to be more about Belarus' refusal to hand suspected Russian mercenaries over to Ukraine than the protests. | Ukraine has joined the chorus of Western nations refusing to recognize the results of last week's elections in Belarus, which officially handed a landslide victory to Alexander Lukashenko for his sixth term in office. "Belarussian-Ukraine relations" have been "fundamentally changed" by the developments in Belarus, in which "society has expressed a vote of no confidence in the officia…

RT (2020-08-17). Lukashenko's offer to change Belarus' constitution likely an attempt to buy time as opposition lacks mechanism to remove him. rt.com If Belarus' opposition succeeds in removing Alexander Lukashenko from the presidency, the big question is what happens next? The country lacks institutions for managing the transfer of power, working to the president's advantage. | As protests continued in Belarus on Monday demanding the resignation of Lukashenko, the country's embattled ruler blew hot and cold about his intentions. Speaking to workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT), Lukashenko struck a defiant tone. "We have held the election. There will be no other elections unless you kill me," he declared. | Following this, however, Lukashenko str…

RT (2020-08-17). Europe still dealing with initial stage of Covid-19 pandemic, real 'second wave' likely to arrive in fall — leading Russian expert. rt.com A top Russian expert in virus control says Europe is experiencing the continuation of the initial stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the current increase in infections is not a sign of a "second wave" as many experts speculate. | Worryingly, Nikolai Malyshev, the chief infectious diseases specialist in the Moscow Health Ministry, believes there will be a new outbreak, but it will come in the fall, as the daylight hours become fewer and the weather gets colder. | "The rise in respiratory infections, as you and I know, [occurs] yearly at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter," Malyshev explained at a pr…

RT (2020-08-17). Moscow says increased US military presence in Poland worsens security situation in Europe, warns NATO trying to 'distort reality'. rt.com The US increasing its military presence in Poland aggravates the situation near Russia's western borders and facilitates the escalation of tensions, while claims from NATO that the expansion isn't significant aren't credible. | That's according to a statement posted on Monday by the Russian Foreign Ministry which dismisses the NATO argument "as an attempt to distort reality." | "We would like to point out once again that increasing the US military presence in Poland does not solve any security issues, on the contrary, it aggravates the difficult situation near Russia's western borders, facilitating an escalati…

RT (2020-08-17). Another Russian Covid-19 vaccine on the way? Siberian lab begins 2nd phase of trials just days after registration of Sputnik V. rt.com A mere week after Russia registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine, the 'Vector' virology center in Novosibirsk has announced that an entirely different Covid-19 solution is entering the second stage of clinical trials. | As with the US, Russia is not putting all its eggs in one basket when it comes to a potential fix for coronavirus. Anna Popova, the head of the national health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, announced on Monday that volunteers were injected with Vector's experimental vaccine on August 12. Five days later, on August 17, a second group received the shot. | "Clinical trials are being carried o…

RT (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). 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…

The Canary (2020-08-17). Northern Ireland GCSE students to be awarded grades predicted by teachers. thecanary.co GSCE students in the north of Ireland are to be awarded the grades predicted by their teachers, Stormont's education minister has announced.Just days before the results are published on Thursday, Peter Weir has scrapped a plan that would have had grades calculated using a mathematical model that took into account the past performance of schools.The major policy shift comes amid a raging controversy in the north of Ireland about the system used to allocate A-level grades.The move affects grades issued by Northern Ireland exams body, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).CCEA accounts f…

Adam Dick (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, …

South Front (2020-08-17). Belarus Kicks Off Large-scale Military Drills Near Poland, Lithuania. globalresearch.ca On August 16, the Belarusian Armed Forces announced large-scale military drills near the country's nuclear plant and in the Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania. The drills will take place on August 17-20 and involve rocket and artillery units, air-defense …

WSWS (2020-08-17). Protests, strikes against Lukashenko regime mount in Belarus. wsws.org The involvement of growing sections of workers has panicked the Lukashenko regime, and the NATO-backed opposition is calling for "dialogue" with the regime.

teleSUR (2020-08-17). Belarus: Mass Protests Against President Lukashenko Continue. telesurenglish.net Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko Sunday attended a demonstration organized by government supporters in Minsk, while hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered to demand his resignation at the most massive opposition demonstration ever. | RELATED: | The protests began in Minsk nine days ago, after the announcement of Lukashenko's re-election. Today the demonstrations have spread throughout Belarus, with more par…

news.un (2020-08-17). Belarus crisis: Top UN official concerned over torture allegations. news.un.org In the wake of ongoing electoral-related unrest in Belarus, the top UN official in the country has requested an urgent meeting with authorities focused on the issue of human rights, according to a statement from her offic…

teleSUR (2020-08-17). Latin America Increases its Food Exports to the European Union. telesurenglish.net The Latin American countries increased their agricultural exports to the European Union (EU) during the pandemic. | RELATED: | "The behavior of the Latin American agricultural exports has been outstanding compared to the rest of the world," the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) specialist Joaquin Arias said. | He also mentioned that the Latin American countries are takin…

WSWS (2020-08-17). A risky game with health and lives as schools reopen throughout Germany. wsws.org With the beginning of mandatory school attendance, the number of COVID-19 infections is increasing.

Finian Cunningham (2020-08-17). US Snapback From Humiliation. thealtworld.com American President Donald Trump has darkly warned of something big this week, vowing to apply "snapback" international sanctions on Iran. It would be a drastic move and likely to further isolate Washington in the eyes of the world. | But the real snapback is Washington's fury after the United States was subjected to a humiliating diplomatic defeat at the UN security council last week. | A proposal by the US for the United Nations to extend an arms embargo on Iran was decisively rejected by the security council comprised of five permanent members and 11 non-permanent members. Russia and China voted against the…

Steve Sweeney (2020-08-17). Rival Belorussian protests take place in Minsk as EU ponders new sanctions. peoplesworld.org

teleSUR (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…

Mehr News Agency (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.

Mehr News Agency (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.

Mehr News Agency (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.

imperial.ac.uk (2020-08-17). World still in 'early stage of pandemic' – Neil Ferguson. imperial.ac.uk Neil Ferguson is 'optimistic' Europe won't see very large numbers of new COVID-19 cases this year, but poorer nations may face 'bigger problems'.

_____ (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…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Lithuania says Russian military help in Belarus would mean 'an invasion'. yenisafak.com Russian military help in Belarus would constitute "an invasion", Lithuanian foreign affairs minister Linas Linkevicius said on Monday."There are no reasons for military support from Russia, and no legal or other grounds for it. It would constitute an invasion into the country and would destroy the last traces of its independence", Linkevicius told reporters in Vilnius."Russia would risk a lot if it did it, in the face of what is going on in Belarus, in the face of the popular support. It should figure out that an invasion would not be justified, neither legally, nor morally, nor politically", he added.The Kremlin…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Belarusian leader says new election will be held after new constitution adopted: RIA. yenisafak.com Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said a new presidential election would be held after the country adopts a new constitution, the RIA news agency reported.Lukashenko, who is facing the biggest protests of his 26 years in power following a disputed Aug. 9 presidential election, had said earlier on Monday that no new election would be held.

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Belarus: Opposition leader says 'ready to lead country'. yenisafak.com The leader of the Belarusian opposition said Monday she is "ready to lead the nation" through a transitional period in order to end the unrest and organize "in the shortest terms" a new "fair and open presidential election".In a video message, published on her YouTube channel, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya promised to release all "political prisoners" and relax the election legislation so that the results of the new election are recognized by the international community.Tikhanovskaya, who is currently in Lithuania, also expressed solidarity with the people rallying against the results of the presidential election in Bel…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). France to propose masks at work as infections rise. yenisafak.com Minister for Labor Elisabeth Borne has announced that she will propose it in meetings with union leaders on Tuesday.At least 3,352 new cases of coronavirus infection were registered on Saturday, and 3,015 on Sunday. About 17 more active clusters are being observed. Hospitalizations and cases under intensive care have ticked up slightly.In a tweet, Borne reinforced the need for vigilance on the part of the country."Everyone must do their utmost to prevent the spread of the disease. We will discuss Tuesday with the social partners strengthening health standards in companies to guarantee health at work and the conti…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Germany: Outrage grows over footage of police violence. yenisafak.com A video of a police officer in the city of Dusseldorf placing his knee on a young man's neck caused outrage in Germany, as many likened it to the case of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man who died on May 25 after a police officer similarly knelt on his neck.The 15-second video last Saturday showed a police officer — along with two other police officers standing by — placing his knee on a suspect's neck as people at the scene shouted at the police to release him. Authorities said the incident of possible police misconduct was being investigated.Meanwhile, a similar video was recorded in the city o…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Germany asks UAE to use influence over Libya's Haftar. yenisafak.com Germany urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to use its influence over warlord Khalifa Haftar, leader of the illegitimate armed forces in eastern Libya, according to the German Federal Foreign Office. | "In Libya at the moment, we are observing a deceptive calm. Both sides and their international allies are continuing to massively arm the country and holding firm to their preconditions for a ceasefire", German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued a statement upon his arrival in Tripoli. | Maas said during his two-day official visit to Libya, he will meet with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, Foreign Minister…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Putin, Erdogan discuss conflicts in Libya, Syria in phone call. yenisafak.com Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflicts in Libya and Syria with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan in a telephone call on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement.The Kremlin said the call's main focus was on the crisis in Libya, highlighting the need to make real steps towards a sustainable ceasefire.It also said both leaders agreed to step up anti-terrorism efforts in Syria, after reports earlier on Monday of a Turkish-Russian joint patrol being hit by a blast in the Idlib region.

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Turkish defense minister, military chief visit Libya. yenisafak.com Turkey's defense minister and chief of general staff on Monday visited Libya to review the activities carried out under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two nations.A military ceremony was held for Hulusi Akar and General Yasar Guler upon their arrival at the Mitiga International Airport in the capital Tripoli.Following the ceremony, Akar and Guler went to the Defense Security Cooperation and Training Assistance Advisory Command, which was created as part of a MoU between Turkey and Libya.On Nov. 27, 2019, Ankara and Tripoli signed two MoUs; one on military cooperation and the other on maritime bou…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Turkey arrests 26 suspects for FETàñ, PKK terror links. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces arrested 26 people for their suspected links to the PKK terror group and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETàñ) in southeastern Turkey, security sources said on Monday.Local counter-terrorism police in the Sirnak province nabbed suspects during anti-terror operations held on Aug. 10-16, said the sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.The suspects were sent to a local courthouse which released 13 of them. The legal procedures continue for the remaining suspects.FETàñ and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Libya belongs to Libyans, says Turkish defense minister. yenisafak.com Turkey on Monday reiterated its support for Libya's legitimate government, with the visiting defense minister saying, "Libya belongs to Libyans"."We believe that we will achieve the wanted results by supporting our Libyan brothers in their just cause," Hulusi Akar said during his visit in the capital Tripoli.Accompanied by Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Guler, Akar is visiting Libya to review the training and advisory activities carried out under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two nations on security and military cooperation.The duo met with the Turkish training personnel at lunch, foll…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). Turkey marks 21st anniversary of Marmara earthquake. yenisafak.com Turkey on Monday marked 21 years since the devastating 1999 earthquake in Turkey's Marmara region which took some 17,000 lives on Aug. 17.According to information obtained by Anadolu Agency, the 7.4-magnitude-earthquake, which occurred at 3.02 a.m. [0002GMT] and continued for 45 seconds, jolted Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya and Yalova provinces.A total of 17,480 people died in the quake and around 45,000 were injured, according to a 2010 parliamentary investigation commission report.Nearly 16 million people were affected by the earthquake and some 200,000 people left homeless.A total of 66,441 houses and 10,901 work…

yenisafak (2020-08-17). UK records 713 new daily cases of COVID-19. yenisafak.com The United Kingdom recorded 713 new daily confirmed cases of COVID-19, official data showed on Monday, the first time i…

RT (2020-08-16). Belarus interior minister claims protester killed in anti-government demonstrations could have been hit by 'non-lethal' round. rt.com A protester who was killed in unclear circumstances during clashes with police in Belarus, might have been hit by a non-lethal round, the country's interior minister claimed, urging the public to wait for investigation results. | Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old demonstrator who was killed during protests in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk on Monday, might have come under fire from non-lethal weaponry, Interior Minister Yuri Karaev said on Sunday. | "Maybe he was shot with non-lethal weapons. I don't know yet, I'm not an investigator," Karaev told local media before diverting attention to months-long…