2020-09-02: News Headlines

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-09-02). NATO Begins Provocative Military Exercises on Russian Border. globalresearch.ca Once again, NATO is operating dangerous and bold military maneuvers in regions close to the European Russian border. This time, the country hosting the tests is Estonia, a Baltic State that in recent decades has been characterized by a strong …

WSWS (2020-09-01). Immigration Nation reveals the suffering of migrants at the hands of the US detention and deportation machine. wsws.org The Trump administration tried to stop or delay the release of this important documentary.

Lucia Sabini Fraga (2020-09-01). The resistance of Senegalese street vendors. peoplesdispatch.org With respect to the wave of anti-racist protests in the US, we reviewed the experiences of Senegalese workers on two different parts of the world. On the one hand, street vendors in the city of Buenos Aires -organized in the CTEP- who struggle everyday to survive the world of the street, police abuse and social indifference. And on the other hand, the group that created the TopManta brand, a textile venture in Barcelona that defends the genuine work of immigrants and produces a clothing line with an anti-slavery stamp. | The first attempts to reach them by phone were all unsuccessful. Alpha had meetings at the CT…

Staff (2020-09-01). Jailed Asylum Seekers Report Unlivable Conditions in Wake of Hurricane Laura. truthout.org New Orleans, Louisiana—Incarcerated immigrants and their families and advocates have reported dangerous, unlivable conditions and haphazard evacuations at remote immigration jails in Louisiana, where Hurricane Laura caused widespread damage and power outages as it rampaged across the state late last week. | Speaking to Truthout over the phone on Monday, an asylum seeker jailed at the Jackson Parish Correctional Center in northwestern Louisiana said her dormitory was on "lockdown" after…

yenisafak (2020-09-01). EU welcomes Qatar law reforms serving migrant workers. yenisafak.com The European Union welcomed Qatar's labor reforms on the employment of foreign workers."Once these reforms enter into force, Qatar will become the first country in the Gulf region to dismantle the kefala ("sponsorship") system governing the employment of migrant workers, which gives employers excessive control over them," Peter Stano, the bloc's lead spokesperson on foreign affairs wrote in a statement on Tuesday.The UN's International Labour Organization announced Sunday that Qatar had "effectively dismantled" the long-criticized employment scheme which obliged migrant workers to ask for their employer's permiss…

Felipe de la Hoz (2020-09-01). This Simple Change Could Legalize Millions of Immigrants. thenation.com This Simple Change Could Legalize Millions of Immigrants…

John Feffer (2020-09-01). COVID-19 and the Future of Autocrats. counterpunch.org The outbreak of COVID-19 initially looked like a gift to autocrats around the world. What better pretext for a state of emergency than a pandemic? It was a golden opportunity to close borders, suppress civil society, and issue decrees left and right (mostly right). Donald Trump in the United States, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Rodrigo

RT (2020-09-01). Religious tension enters Belarus mix? Catholic Archbishop refused entry into country after criticising government on Polish TV. rt.com The head of the Catholic Church in Belarus has been refused entry into the country, despite being a Belarusian citizen. The right of citizens to enter the country without hindrance is protected by the country's constitution. | According to Yuri Sanko, the church's press secretary, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz was refused the right to return to his homeland on Monday, after visiting Poland on a business trip. Kondrusiewicz, who was born in the village of Odelsk, located on the Western border, was forced to go back to Poland. | According to Article 30 of the Belarusian Constitution, "Citizens of the Republic…

RT (2020-09-01). India accuses China of new 'provocative actions' on border amid de-escalation talks. rt.com New Delhi has accused Beijing of new provocations in a disputed border region just as the two nations were holding talks on de-escalation in the very same area. China has not commented on the accusations so far. | The Chinese troops "engaged in provocative action" on Monday, Indian Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a statement. He did not provide any further details, only adding that Indian forces had prevented an attempt to "unilaterally alter the status quo." | The incident came just as both Chinese and Indian commanders held talks to ease tensions in the disputed area following the l…

John Stanton (2020-09-01). Life During a Trump Second Term: Paramilitary Democracy Accelerates. counterpunch.org "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place

jamanetwork (2020-09-01). Rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) for Acute Treatment of Migraine. jamanetwork.com This Medical Letter review summarizes evidence supporting the use of rimegepant (Nurtec), a small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults.

Mehr News Agency (2020-09-01). Trade to be increased in region via Iran-Afghanistan borders. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 01 (MNA) — Through launching Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) corridor and Iran-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan corridor, trade activities will be increased in the region via Iran-Afghanistan borders.

sputniknews (2020-09-01). China Cites Loosely Demarcated Border as Reason For Tensions as Tanks Reach Firing Range in Ladakh. sputniknews.com Relations between India and China dipped to a new low after skirmishes in the Ladakh region on 29 August. The two sides accused each other of violating the protocols reached during military and diplomatic level talks after a violent clash in the Galwan Valley on 15 June, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

sputniknews (2020-09-01). US Army Holds Live-Fire Rocket Artillery Drills Less Than 70 Miles From Russian Border. sputniknews.com The US Army announced on Monday the beginning of live-fire drills involving rocket artillery in Estonia, less than 70 miles from Russian territory. The move comes just days after large Russian naval exercises in the Bering Sea, near Alaska.

yenisafak (2020-09-01). India accuses China of fresh provocation during military talks over border. yenisafak.com India's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Chinese troops had "engaged in provocative action" on the border on Monday even as military commanders held talks to defuse tensions."Even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation, the Chinese troops again engaged in provocative action," ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said."Due to the timely defensive action, the Indian side was able to prevent these attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo."

_____ (2020-08-31). Rescuers Penalized For Saving Lives At The World's Deadliest Border. popularresistance.org Humanitarian organizations are being penalized for fulfilling responsibilities abandoned by European governments at the world's deadliest border, activists have warned after an eventful weekend in the Mediterranean. | Late on Friday, the Louise Michel rescue ship was alerted by a charity reconnaissance plane Moonbird to a boat carrying 130 refugees in distress inside Malta's search-and-rescue zone. | The ship, funded by street artist Banksy and run by a seasoned team of rescuers, had already picked up 89 people in previous operations and so, unable to bring everyone on board, the crew waited for hours into Saturd…

yenisafak (2020-08-31). UN sends 16 truckloads of aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com The UN on Monday sent 16 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…

Fight Back (2020-08-31). Hundreds march in St. Paul for clean Dream Act and legalization for all. fightbacknews.org Saint Paul, MN – Hundreds marched through the West Side of Saint Paul from Castillo Park to Senator Tina Smith's office on August 29 demanding the Senate take immediate action towards legalization for all residents. The march was part of an ongoing campaign by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) demanding legalization for all immigrants eligible for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), TPS (Temporary Protective Status), and DED (Deferred Enforced Departure) status. | The Dream and Promise Act, which would accomplish that goal, has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. For…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-31). Qatar announces non-discriminatory minimum wage, changes to kafala system. peoplesdispatch.org On Sunday, August 30, Qatar announced a non-discriminatory minimum wage of 1,000 Qatari Rials (around USD 274) for all its migrant workers. Qatar's ministry of administration, development, labor and social affairs (ADLSA) also announced crucial changes in the country's infamous kafala system. | According to the ministry, the employees will no longer need a "no objection certificate" from their employers to change their jobs. According to the rules of kafala or sponsorship system, an employee is not allowed to change jobs during the contract period without the permission of the employer. Now, an employee can chang…

teleSUR (2020-08-31). Greece Builds New Anti-Migrants Fence on Its Border With Turkey. telesurenglish.net Greece's Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis Monday announced that his country will allocate 63 million euros for the construction of the fence of about 30 kilometers long and five meters high that will be installed in the southern part of the land border with Turkey. | RELATED: | Intended to contain the entry of migrants and refugees into Greek territory, the upper part of the fence will have barbed wire. Seve…

teleSUR (2020-08-31). Mexico: Police Arrested for Migrant Trafficking Near US Border. telesurenglish.net Mexico's National Institute of Migration (INM) policeman was detained in the border State of Coahuila while he was transporting 14 migrants to the U.S. frontier. | RELATED: | "The Coahuila Police detained the agent and his accomplice after verifying that they were transporting the migrants in a van," INM stated, adding that these individuals were wearing the organization's uniform. | The traffickers were stopped by the police in Acuña, a…

Lee Siu Hin, Immigrant Solidarity Network (2020-08-31). Fall 2020 National Immigrant Solidarity Network Immigrant News Alert! indybay.org ICE Is Leaving Immigrants To Die In Detention, Trump Used Looted Venezuelan Public Money To Build Border Wall With Mexico…

Staff (2020-08-31). In COVID Era, Artists Are Generating Hope and Illustrating Pandemic Inequities. truthout.org Almost immediately after the coronavirus began to spread throughout New York City, art historian Han Hongzheng, an immigrant from China, started seeing anti-Asian slurs on social media. | Then he experienced the hatred at close range. | "One day in early March, my partner, who is white, and I were walking our dog on the Upper West Side of Manhattan," Hongzheng says. "All of a sudden, this guy on skates got very close to us and screamed the word 'traitor' at my partner." | Hongzheng describes…

RT (2020-08-31). China accuses India of violating country's borders, urges it to withdraw troops. rt.com Beijing has reported a new border incident with India in the contested region of Aksai Chin, accusing New Delhi of intrusion into Chinese territory on Monday. China's military warned it was getting ready for any possible scenario. | Indian troops have broken their promise and trespassed over China's border again, Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement. | The official urged India to withdraw its troops from the Chinese-controlled area and "control" them to avoid such incidents in the future. The Chinese military is taking all measures necessary to de…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Shalamcheh border crossing resumes operation after short halt. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Shalamcheh border crossing, which connects Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province to Basra in Iraq, resumed trade operation on Monday morning after a temporary halt last week.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Air defense providing major security of borders of Iran's sky. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Head of Iran's Passive Defense Organization said that Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran is tasked with providing major security of borders of Iranian sky.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iran strengthens border security with modern equipment. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (MNA) — Commander of the Border Guard of the NAJA said that the forces have been equipped with modern tools to strengthen border security.

yenisafak (2020-08-31). China rejects Indian claim about border violation. yenisafak.com In further escalation of tensions between India and China, New Delhi Monday said that its troops thwarted the "provocative military movements" in border areas of the Himalayan region of Ladakh, where the two countries are witnessing a heightened face-off since May this year."On the night of 29/30 August 2020, PLA [People's Liberation Army of China] troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo," said a statement by the Indian Defense Ministry.However,…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Turkey slams Islamophobic act by 'modern barbarians'. yenisafak.com "They shamelessly burn the Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam, in the middle of Europe. They then claim to be the paragons of reason, logic, freedom and justice," Ibrahim Kalin said in a tweet."They label anyone not like them as anti-reason bigots and retros. Modern barbarians know no limits in primitive mindset."The incident took place in the Swedish city of Malmo on Friday evening, where far-right activists of the anti-Muslim group Stram Krus (Hard Line) burned a copy of the Quran at a rally in the largely migrant neighborhood of Rosengard.The Turkish Foreign Ministry has also vehemently criticized the incident,…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). At least three migrants die as boat catches fire off Italy. yenisafak.com At least three migrants died when a fire broke out on a boat carrying them close to the southern coast of Italy on Sunday, police and health officials said.Another five migrants were injured and taken to hospital, health authorities in the Italian port city of Crotone said.Two police officers were hurt as they tried to help the migrants, the Crotone police force said, without going into further details.

Jonathon Flores and Nicholas McKenna (2020-08-30). Farm workers' lives on the line as California burns. liberationnews.org Even as fires in California cause unhealthy air quality all over the state, farmworkers are still working hard.

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-08-30). U.S. Control of Alexandroupolis Port Will Not Help to Protect Greece from Turkey. globalresearch.ca The Greek Private Asset Utilization Fund (HRADF) will sell a 67% stake of Alexandroupolis Port in northern Greece near the border with Turkey and Bulgaria. Two American companies are believed to be interested in the deal. Selling a port of …

sputniknews (2020-08-30). 'Team up for Toys': Narendra Modi Urges Indians to Prop up Domestic Producers in Blow to China. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India imports around 90 percent of its needs of plastic toys from China. The initiative to curb Chinese imports comes at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are accusing each other of disturbing the years-old peace and tranquillity at the border by various means.

news.un (2020-08-29). UN agencies call for urgent disembarkation of hundreds rescued in the Mediterranean. news.un.org Hundreds of rescued migrants and refugees currently on board three vessels in the Central Mediterranean, some of whom have been stuck at sea for weeks, must be brought to shore immediately, two UN agencies said on Saturday.

news.un (2020-08-29). UN agencies call for urgent disembarkation of hundreds of refugees and migrants rescued in Central Mediterranean. news.un.org Hundreds of rescued migrants and refugees currently on board three vessels in the Central Mediterranean, some of whom have been stuck at sea for weeks, must be brought to shore immediately, two UN agencies said on Saturday.

RT (2020-08-29). Italy evacuates dozens from overcrowded Banksy-funded migrant rescue boat after crew accuses Europe of 'IGNORING' emergency calls. rt.com Some 50 people were evacuated from the migrant rescue boat Louise Michel that got stranded off Malta's coast after taking more than 200 people aboard. After one person died, the crew accused Europe of ignoring its pleas for help. | The vessel, which reported rescuing a total of 219 people from the sea over the past few days, including "many women and children," had become so "overcrowded" that a life raft was attached to its side, and it lost its ability to maneuver. The crew's Twitter feed suggests they have been desperately sending distress signals and making calls to various European maritime authorities to…