2020-08-14: News Headlines

Richard Falk — Daniel Falcone (2020-08-14). Predatory Capitalism and the Nuclear Threat in the Age of Trump. counterpunch.org Daniel Falcone: You recently stated that it has never been more urgent that we repudiate nuclearism in all forms. What rationales do proponents of this put forth? Richard Falk: It is important to view with some skepticism the justifications offered by the governments of nuclear weapons states for retaining the weaponry, and to articulate the

The Canary (2020-08-14). Iran brands UAE-Israel deal a stab in the back to 'all Muslims'. thecanary.co Iran has strongly condemned a historic deal establishing full diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel. It's called the move a stab in the back to all Muslims. | A statement from the country's foreign ministry, reported by state TV on Friday 14 August, called the normalising of ties between the two countries a dangerous, "shameful" measure. Moreover, It warned the UAE against Israel interfering in the "political equations" of the Persian Gulf region. The statement said: The UAE government and other accompanying governments must accept responsibility for all the consequences of this ac…

yenisafak (2020-08-14). Iran reports 169 more virus deaths, over 2,500 cases. yenisafak.com At least 169 more coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 19,331, the Health Ministry said Friday.Some 2,501 more people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the overall count up to 338,825, according to ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari.She said more than 293,811 patients have recovered so far, while 3,956 are hospitalized in critical condition. Over 2.81 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 has claimed…

Binoy Kampmark (2020-08-13). Don't Stigmatise the Nuke! Opponents of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. counterpunch.org It would seem a logical step, at least from an existential perspective: to ban something so utterly horrendous to life; to forbid its use in any circumstances, whatever rationale employed to justify its use. But the nuclear weapon has its admirers. There are those who continue to worship its sovereign properties, and those who leave

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-13). Is Joe Biden Cognitively Impaired? President Kamala Harris? globalresearch.ca If elected president in November, Joe Biden will be age-78 when entering office in January. | His political career since 1972 as US senator, vice president, and presidential aspirant elevated him to national prominence with high public name recognition. | He's only …

Bob Dreyfuss (2020-08-13). October Surprise: Will War with Iran be Trump's Election Eve Shocker? globalresearch.ca Was Donald Trump's January 3rd

Zayd Alisa (2020-08-13). Will Trump-MBS Shore Up Iraq's Corrupt Ruling Families in Return for Keeping US Troops? Iraq-Iran Relationship in Crisis? globalresearch.ca Iraq's new Prime Minister Mustafa al Khadimi's, decision to make Saudi Arabia rather than Iran his first destination abroad contradicted with what all his predecessors had done. It was designed to send a clear message indicating that he has …

Karsten Riise (2020-08-13). US Color Revolutions: From Eastern Europe to Egypt, Iran, Now Lebanon. globalresearch.ca It is necessary to study, how US color-techniques are applied for regime-change in Egypt (Tahrir) — Iran (Green Movement) and now Lebanon (Cedar Revolution + "Day of Rage"). | The US engineering of these all-but-spontaneous undercover "Color …

news.un (2020-08-13). 'Urgent need' to stop erosion of nuclear order, major UN disarmament forum hears. news.un.org The lack of trust and cooperation among States, and the diminished faith in "the very multilateral institution that was designed to maintain global peace and security", must be overcome, a high-level UN official told a prominent disarmament conference on Thursday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). Zarif to leave Tehran for Lebanon on Friday. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — A number of Lebanese media outlets reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will leave Tehran for Beirut on Friday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). Unveiling ceremony of upgrading line of Armed Forces' tanks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Defense Brigadier General Amir Hatami unveiled the upgrading line of the tanks of Armed Forces in Lorestan province on Thursday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). Pursuing initiatives of Coronavirus Task Force a must. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that pursing the initiatives of the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus is mandatory.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). Hatami unveils upgrading line of Armed Forces' tanks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Defense Brigadier General Amir Hatami unveiled the upgrading line of the tanks of Armed Forces in Lorestan province on Thursday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). Iran registers 2,625 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,625 people and claimed 174 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). US sanctions against Iran failed: Nobakht. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — Head of Plan and Budget Organization (PBO) Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said that the implementation of economic plans and development projects in the country indicates that US sanctions against Iran have failed.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-13). IAEA must investigate Saudi violation of NPT. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (MNA) — Professor Frank N. von Hippel, former assistant director for national security in the White House Office believes that some US companies are assisting Saudi Arabia with its Nuclear activities.

sputniknews (2020-08-13). US Seizes Four Iranian Tankers, Now En Route to Houston – Report. sputniknews.com US officials told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday that the US had seized four Iranian tankers on the high seas allegedly loaded with Iranian petroleum in violation of US sanctions. The four vessels are now en route to Houston, Texas, a major petroleum port.

yenisafak (2020-08-13). Iran briefly seized oil tanker in Persian Gulf, says US. yenisafak.com Iranian naval forces briefly seized and boarded a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, according to the US military.The US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a black-and-white video on Thursday showing special forces getting down from a helicopter and boarding the ship named MV Wila."Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian "Sea King" helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the 'Wila'," CENTCOM said in a statement.The video was shot from a US warship some five kilometers (about three miles) away, according to Americ…

Bob Dreyfuss (2020-08-13). Would Trump Go to War With Iran to Get Reelected? thenation.com Would Trump Go to War With Iran to Get Reelected?

Melvin Goodman (2020-08-12). Trump's War On Arms Control and Disarmament. counterpunch.org Seventy-five years ago, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing more than 200,000 Japanese and injuring another 100,000. The great fires that raged in each city consumed many of the bodies. If ever there was a visceral force for promoting a world free of nuclear arms, it should be the memory

Leonid Savin (2020-08-12). The Beirut Port Explosion: A Comprehensive Analysis. thealtworld.com On the evening of 4 August, there were two explosions in Beirut's port area. The first was relatively small and was caused by ignited fireworks, which the fire brigade went to extinguish. Enormous clouds of smoke attracted a large number of onlookers, who caught the second explosion on camera. This one was like the detonation of a tactical nuclear device. The explosion was so powerful that all the buildings in the city's business district and even the airport, which is in a different part of the city, were damaged by the blast wave. | By the evening of 5 August, the death toll had reached 135, with nearly 5,000 w…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Iranian documentary wins at Ierapetra filmfest of Greece. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Mahmoud Reza's documentary 'Kiarostami and His Missing Cane' has won an award at the 2020 edition of Ierapetra International Documentary Film Festival in Greece.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Iran COVID-19 update: 2,510 cases, 188 deaths. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry announced 2,510 new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, putting the total number of cases in the country at 333,699.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). FAO supplies Iran with more desert locust equipment. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — FAO delivers two more consignments of desert locust control equipment and materials to Iran to further enhance national technical capacity to prevent and decrease the damages caused by this migratory pest.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Police dismantle 3 drug-smuggling bands in Tehran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — According to Tehran's Police Chief, the anti-narcotics police of the province have dismantled three drug-smuggling gangs and seized over 2 tons of illicit drugs in the Iranian capital during separate operations.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Qatar says stances of PGCC Sec. Gen. not of council members. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Qatari special envoy Majed Al-Qahtani said that the stances of the Secretary-General of the PGCC Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf about the extension of Iran's arms embargo can not be generalized to other council members.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). 'Inner Love' goes to Italian film festival's final. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Iranian short 'Inner Love' has made it into the final stage of the 8th edition of Spi Stories Film Festival in Italy.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Police seize 460 kg of narcotics in SE Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — The police force of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province have seized 460 kg of illicit drugs in Saravan County.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Zarif says US determines EU's trade partners not Union itself. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Criticizing the EU's dependency on the US, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that this is the United States Department of the Treasury that determines EU's trade partners, not Europe itself.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Sidelines of Cabinet meeting. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — On the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting, some of the Iranian ministers and officials answered reporters' questions on Wednesday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Exports via Qom province top $50 million in four months. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — More than 49,000 tons of commodities worth around $56 million were exported through the customs of Qom province, central Iran, during the first four months of the current fiscal (March 20 -July 21), a senior official said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). IRGC, Army commanders hold seasonal meeting. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — High-ranking commanders of the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guard Crops held a seasonal meeting on Wednesday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). 'Driving Lessons' wins at Beirut Intl. Women Film Festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Iranian Short 'Driving Lessons' has won at Beirut International Women Film Festival.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Parliament's open session on Wed. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — Iranian lawmakers held an open session on Wednesday and did not give the vote of confidence to Hossein Modarres Khiabani as the new industry minister.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). US clings personal position of PGCC's SG 'regional consensus'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the United States, in desperation, calls the position of the Secretary General of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) as 'regional consensus'.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Iran symbol of power in region: Brig. Gen. Heidari. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces said that Islamic Republic of Iran is a symbol of power in the region and the Global Arrogance must leave the West Asia.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-12). Iran to set up pavilion at Chinese high-tech. fair. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — Iranian knowledge-based companies are planning to set up a pavilion at 22nd edition of China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF), which is going to be held on November 11 to 15 at Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Shenzhen, China.

_____ (2020-08-12). Remembering Hiroshima And Nagasaki By Shutting Down A Nuclear Base. popularresistance.org At around 6: 45 AM on Monday, demonstrators arrived at the Main Gate and formed a vigil line along the roadway. At around 7: 05 AM, four "peacekeepers" entered the roadway and stopped traffic, while behind them, six demonstrators set themselves and their banners on the roadway. | Three of the demonstrators carried a banner stating, "Hiroshima Nagasaki Never Again!" Two demonstrators held a blue painted banner stating, "No More Genocide in My Name." One demonstrator carried a banner, "Peace Walk Nuclear-Free World, Black Lives Matter."

yenisafak (2020-08-12). Coronavirus deaths rise to almost 19,000 in Iran. yenisafak.com As many as 188 new coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 18,988, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.A total of 2,510 people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the tally to 333,699, according to ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari.She said more than 290,244 patients have recovered so far, while 3,940 are hospitalized in critical condition.Since appearing in China last December, the virus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, according to figures compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.More than 20.3 mil…

Manlio Dinucci (2020-08-12). What Is Italy Doing for Nuclear Disarmament? globalresearch.ca On the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, reiterated that "Italy strongly supports the goal of a world free from nuclear weapons." He was echoed by the …

South Front (2020-08-11). Video: Chaos in Lebanon, Marked by Start of New Round of Israeli-Iranian Standoff. globalresearch.ca The explosion in the port of Beirut in early August that caused thousands of casualties became a trigger point for the further development of the already existing crisis in Lebanon. | In the following week days after the August 4 explosion, …

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Beirut Blast, chance for great unity in Lebanon. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Leaving a note in the memorial notebook of Lebanon, an Iranian politician considered the threat caused by the recent blast in Beirut as an opportunity for reaching a great unity among the diverse Lebanese nation.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Honey extraction in Daryan, NW Iran. en.mehrnews.com DARYAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Some 15.025 tons of honey are produced per annum from 1,391,679 hives in East Azarbaijan Province, northwest Iran. The images show the process of honey extraction in Daryan Village in Shabestar County.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Regional states should strengthen coop. in combating COVID19. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Health Saeed Namaki held talks with WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Mandhari on the expansion of regional cooperation in the fight against coronavirus via videoconference.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Extending arms embargo on Iran lacks legal basis. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — A Chinese diplomat at the UN said that extending the Arms Embargo on Iran in whatever form lacks legal basis and will undermine efforts to preserve the Nuclear Deal.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Saudi Arabia abusing old regulatory gap in IAEA: Mousavi. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said that Saudi Arabia continues to refuse to accept IAEA inspections, despite currently pursuing a comprehensive nuclear program.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). 3rd Iranian film week opens in Japan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — The third Iranian Film Week opened in Japan on Monday and was welcomed by a large number of Japanese enthusiasts on the first day.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Iran to continue efforts to produce COVID-19 vaccine strongly. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that efforts to produce coronavirus, COVID-19, vaccine and drugs will continue vigorously until the final result is achieved.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Iran's Intelligence Min. arrests five spy teams. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Deputy Counterintelligence Ministry of Intelligence said that forces of the ministry nabbed five intelligence teams of foreign countries and thwarted their conspiracies waged against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Iran exports $153.7mn worth of dairies in four months: IRICA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said that the country exported $153.7 million worth of dairy products in the first four months of the current year (from March 21 to July 22).