Daily Archives: August 10, 2020

2020-08-10: News Headlines

Alan MacLeod (2020-08-10). Trump Appoints Disgraced Iran-Contra Hawk Elliott Abrams as Iran Envoy. globalresearch.ca Activists, the UN, and even mainstream news outlets expressed dismay at the Trump administration's decision to appoint regime-change champion Elliot Abrahams to the role of Special Representative for Iran. | *** | The Trump administration has appointed disgraced neoconservative hawk Elliott …

Ben Norton (2020-08-10). Twitter spreads paid US gov't propaganda while falsely claiming it bans state media ads. thegrayzone.com Twitter says it bans ads from state-affiliated media outlets. However, US government propaganda organs like Voice of America's VOA Persian…

Medea Benjamin (2020-08-10). Elliott Abrams' Appointment as the Next U.S. Special Representative for Iran. Spells Disaster. globalresearch.ca The appointment of Elliott Abrams to replace Brian Hook as the next U.S. Special Representative for Iran is another low point for the Trump administration's disastrous policy towards Iran. The dangerous conflict resulting from Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement …

Jane Green (2020-08-10). Worker's death sparks historic oil and gas strike in Iran. peoplesworld.org

Bill Hackwell and Alicia Jrapko (2020-08-10). US: Crimes against Humanity at Home and Abroad. dissidentvoice.org Photo Credit: Albert Eisenstaedt This month marks the second year since former President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, announced to the world a campaign promoted by a group of Latin American writers and academics to declare August 9 as International Day of US Crimes against Humanity. Appropriately the day is to remember the second nuclear bomb …

WSWS (2020-08-10). Iranian oil workers mount wave of strikes as COVID-19 rages across the country. wsws.org According to reports, at least 10,000 workers have participated in walkouts at nearly 30 oil and petrochemical facilities, including the Abadan, Parsian and Qeshm refineries.

news.un (2020-08-10). Young people have a major role to play in ridding the world of nuclear weapons. news.un.org Nuclear weapons are still one of the most serious threats to mankind, and the dangers are growing. Young people can play an important role in ensuring that they are eliminated once and for all, says the UN's top disarmament official, ahead of International Youth Day on 12 August.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). "Hormuz Peace Endeavor" can only be sustained strategically. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, Chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies at the London Middle East Institute believes that "The "Hormuz Peace Endeavour" can only be sustained strategically.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Anibar Animation Festival to screen 'Eaten' from Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iranian animation 'Eaten', directed by Mohsen Rezapour, will be screened at the 2020 edition of the Anibar International Animation Festival.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Swiss financial channel to facilitate cereals, pharmaceutical. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Chairman of Iran-Switzerland Joint Chamber of Commerce said that Swiss financial channel with the Islamic Republic of Iran will facilitate trade of cereals and pharmaceuticals.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran records 2,132 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,132 people and claimed 189 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Pharmaceutical industry discussed under Covid-19 pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Mehr news agency, on Monday, hosted the head and members of the Iranian Pharmaceutical Industries Syndicate in a meeting to investigate the condition of the domestic pharmaceutical industry under the coronavirus pandemic.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran' Mahiroud Market exports over 13 million $ goods. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) —The Director-General of South Khorasan Customs administration said, "The definite export from Mahiroud Market in the first quarter of the current year has been 13 million and 112 thousand and 97 dollars."

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). UNSC facing major test to show independence: Vaezi. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iranian President's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi said that the members of UN Security Council are facing a major test to show their independence and react negatively to US pressure on Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran to adopt various methods to unblock frozen assets. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the Islamic Republic of Iran will adopt various methods to unblock its frozen assets in other countries.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran-Eurasia trade reaches $2.6 billion in 9 months. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union trades reached $2.6 billion in the nine months since October 27, 2019 — when the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was inked between Islamic Republic of Iran and Eurasian Economic Union.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan transit corridor operational. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — The pilot project of the Iran-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan transit corridor became operational under the TIR system with two trucks starting transporting goods from Iran to Afghanistan and finally to Uzbekistan on Monday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iranian animation 'Crab' competing at Animafest Cyprus. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iranian short animation 'Crab' directed by Shiva Sadegh Asadi is present at the international competition film program of the 19th Countryside Animafest Cyprus, the official animation event of the country, August 9-12.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran not officially notified of ship seizure off Pakistan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — In reaction to reports that an Iranian oil tanker was seized in the port of Karachi, Iranian Ambassador to Islamabad said that the Iranian embassy has not received any official report from Pakistani authorities.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran, Azerbaijan set roadmap for development of coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare announced that Iran and Republic of Azerbaijan have set a roadmap for the development of cooperation between the two countries.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Beirut Blast to change political arrangement in Lebanon. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — Iranian ex-ambassador to Germany said that It seems when the Beirut tensions end, the political arrangement of the forces in Lebanon will change and some political groups will turn to Hezbollah.

_____ (2020-08-10). US Crimes Against Humanity At Home And Abroad. popularresistance.org The US crimes against humanity did not begin or end with the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Japan. As militant civil rights leader Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown) pointed out years ago, "Violence is as American as cherry pie." Since its inception, the US has been ingrained with a motor force of violent oppression against everyone and every country that stood in its way of its expansion for control of resources and its entitlement to a limitless accumulation of vast wealth for a few. | The original thirteen colonies that rebelled against England were not motivated solely by being taxed without rep…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Iran's real virus figures higher than announced: Expert. yenisafak.com The coronavirus figures announced by the Iranian authorities are one-twentieth of the real numbers, a member of an anti-virus taskforce said Monday."There was no transparent flow of information regarding the numbers. Authorities announce official numbers by considering political and security concerns", Mohammad Reza Mahboubfar told the Iranian Jahanesanat news website. | Mahboubfar said despite all the warnings, President Hassan Rouhani's statement that the mourning ceremonies of Ashura will be celebrated with enthusiasm revealed serious disagreements between the taskforce members and the government. | Despite an…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Coronavirus: Iran reports 189 more fatalities. yenisafak.com As many as 189 new coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 18,616, the Health Ministry sai…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Israel says ready for war with Lebanon: Gantz. yenisafak.com Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday Israel is ready for a war with Lebanon if such war is imposed on Tel Aviv. | In his briefing to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Gantz warned that such war would have serious consequences on Lebanon. | "While [Hezbollah leader Hasan] Nasrallah is our biggest enemy in the north, he is Lebanon's biggest problem." He said. | Gantz also said that the situation in the Middle East in the past decade was fragile and uncertain, stressing that Israel will continue efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear power, and from operati…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). IRCS sends over 90 tons humanitarian aid to Beirut. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) —The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society said that so far, over 90 tons of various humanitarian packages have been sent to Lebanon, and sending of the other four shipments weighing 60 tons is underway.

South Front (2020-08-09). Video: Syrian Army Undertakes Failed Advance in Northern Lattakia Amid Rise of ISIS Attacks in Deir Ezzor. globalresearch.ca Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian National Defense Forces (NDF) have launched a joint security operation against ISIS cells in the area between the towns of al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal, on the western bank of the Euphrates. According to pro-government sources, hundreds …

General Wesley Clark (2020-08-09). Global Warfare: "We're Going to Take out 7 Countries in 5 Years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan & Iran.." globalresearch.ca Originally published in March 2007. | Global Research Editor's Note: | This interview serves as a reminder regarding the diabolical timeline of America's hegemonic project. Is Iran the next target "to be taken out"? | All these countries including Lebanon and Iran are …

news.un (2020-08-09). Lessons of Nagasaki survivors should motivate the world to eliminate all nuclear weapons — UN chief. news.un.org UN Secretary General António Guterres on Sunday marked 75 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki with praise for the hibakusha, the survivors, who transformed their decades-long plight into a warning about the perils of nuclear weapons and an example of the triumph of the human spirit.

Prabir Purkayastha (2020-08-09). Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the threat of nuclear extinction. peoplesdispatch.org It is difficult to believe that the US view of the justness of its possession of nuclear power, while threatening others, is not underpinned by the belief of many in white supremacy…

Shane Quinn (2020-08-09). The Rapid Postwar Increase of America's Nuclear Arsenal. globalresearch.ca Hitler had, as early as June 1942, decided against the development of an atomic bomb — on both racial and pragmatic grounds. By the summer of 1944, Allied intelligence accounts were flowing in that a Nazi atomic bomb was non-existent.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). Parl. mulls over Lebanon's developments after blast: Spox. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission addressed the developments in Lebanon after a devastating explosion happened in Beirut Port last week.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). Iran registers 2,020 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,020 people and claimed 163 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). New US rep. for Iran indicates Trump's confusion. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela Hojjatollah Soltani said that the new US special representative for the Islamic Republic of Iran indicates Trump's confusion.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). Iran could buy a lot of planes during sanctions: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Deputy Ministry of Roads and Urban Development said that Islamic Republic of Iran could purchase a lot of planes in sanctions period.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). Police seize over 4 tons of narcotics in SE Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — The police forces of the Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran, have seized over 4 tons of illegal drugs in two separate operations.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). West wants to avoid strategic coop. between Iran, East. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — In a tweet on Sunday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani wrote that the west is in favor of avoiding Iran from developing ties with the eastern countries.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). Iran copper cathode output passes 90,000 tons in 4 months. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — The performance of large industrial and mineral companies showed that more than 91,000 tons of copper cathode was produced in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (from March 21 to July 22).

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). Iran, Bosnia seeking to expand media coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Sarajevo Mahmoud Heidari met and held talks with the head of the state broadcasting of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). 700 Iranian War Veteran using domestic prosthetic feet. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — The CEO of a knowledge-based firm producing carbon fiber prosthetic feet said, "So far, prosthetic feet have been used for 700 Iranian disabled veterans and 1,000 amputations."

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). World never to forget US crimes in Hiroshima, Nagasaki. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman said the people around the world, alongside the Japanese, will never forget the US crimes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

sputniknews (2020-08-09). Investigators Find Labyrinth of Underground Rooms at Epicenter of Beirut Explosions, Report Claims. sputniknews.com As many as 60 people remain missing following Tuesday's massive blasts in the Lebanese capital, with over 150 killed and up to 6,000 suffering injuries of varying severity. Researchers say the ammonium nitrate believed to have caused the explosions had an explosive power equivalent to that of a small nuclear bomb.

yenisafak (2020-08-09). Magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes western Iran. yenisafak.com The quake that hit at 1.46 p.m. local time (1046GMT) had a depth of 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) and the epicenter was Gilan-e-Garbh district, according to the Tehran University Seismological Center.There were no immediate reports of casualties.Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, where earthquakes occur often and are destructive.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-08-08). Video: The Privatization of Nuclear War. A "First Strike" Use of Nuclear Weapons as a Means of "Self Defense" globalresearch.ca An important transition in nuclear doctrine occurred in the immediate wake of 9/11. | The Cold War MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) doctrine was scrapped by the Bush Jr administration in 2002, replaced by the first strike pre-emptive use of nuclear …

_____ (2020-08-08). CODEPINK Denounces Elliott Abrams' Appointment As US Special Representative For Iran. popularresistance.org The appointment of Elliott Abrams to replace Brian Hook as the next U.S. Special Representative for Iran is another low point for the Trump administration's disastrous policy towards Iran. The dangerous conflict resulting from Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement will be exacerbated by a man committed to Washington's failed policies of regime change, including in his present-day position as Trump's representative for Venezuela. | Elliott Abrams has made a career of lying and committing criminal acts that have led to the death and suffering of innocent people from Guatemala to Iraq.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-08). UN envoy condemns US' support for 'Tondar' terrorist group. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 08 (MNA) — In a letter to UN Secretary-General, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN condemned the US support for 'Tondar' terrorist group and called the international body to take the required measures against such support.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-08). Eid al-Ghadir celebrated in Urmia. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 08 (MNA) — People in Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province of Iran, celebrated the occasion of Eid al-Ghadir on Saturday, preserving the anti-coronavirus health protocols.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-08). UN experts renew call for removal of US anti-human sanctions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 08 (MNA) — A group of UN experts has once agian called for unilateral US sanctions to be lifted on countries including Iran, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and Cuba.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-08). Iran calls on IAEA to clarify Saudis' secret nuclear program. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Iran's ambassador to IAEA Kazem Gharibabadi has called for the IAEA to put forward a report on Saudi Arabia's secret program of building yellowcake uranium processing plant.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-08). 'Funfair' to vie at five international film festivals. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 08 (MNA) — Iranian short film 'Funfair', directed by Kaveh Mazaheri will take part at five international festivals in the next three months.