Daily Archives: August 18, 2020

2020-08-18: News Headlines

yenisafak (2020-08-18). Migrant attacked by man moments after landing in UK. yenisafak.com A young migrant was assaulted by a man moments after landing in the UK, the Sun reported Tuesday.The migrant, who was in his twenties, landed on the beach in Kingsdown, Kent, southeast England. The attack happened around 11 a.m. (1000GMT) Sunday, and the migrant was left injured.Police, searching for the attacker, said in a statement: "Kent Police was notified at around 11.05 a.m. on Sunday of a reported assault of a man in his 20s off Undercliffe Road, Kingsdown."Officers attended to ensure the welfare of the man, who was not seriously injured and did not require hospital treatment."Enquiries to establish the ci…

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…

Alan MacLeod (2020-08-17). Julian Assange Court Case Delayed Again in Bizarre Circumstances. globalresearch.ca "I have never in my career faced so much difficulty attempting to trial monitor as in Julian Assange's case." — Rebecca Vincent, Director of International Campaigns for Reporters Without Borders. | *** | There were bizarre scenes at Westminster Magistrates' …

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…

Kirsten Han (2020-08-17). The Cost of 'Singapore Inc.'? A Coronavirus Outbreak Among Migrants. thenation.com The Cost of 'Singapore Inc.'? A Coronavirus Outbreak Among Migrants.

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…

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 …

teleSUR (2020-08-16). Israel's Army Bombs Gaza as Border Tensions Hit Up. telesurenglish.net The Israeli army Sunday bombed the Gaza Strip again in retaliation for the launching of incendiary balloons from the Palestinian territory into Israel. | RELATED: | "Israel's jets and military aircraft attacked Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip, including underground infrastructure," Israel's army stated. | Military authorities also reported on clashes along the wall separating Israel and Gaza. | A dozen peopl…

teleSUR (2020-08-16). Colombia: UN Condemns Massacre in Nariño. telesurenglish.net The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia condemned this Sunday the massacre in the Nariño department where a group of armed men killed nine young people. | RELATED: | The OHCHR in Colombia also rejected the recent killing of two minors last August 10 in the border between Cauca and Nariño Department when they were headed to their school to submit their homework. | "We reject the massacre of 8 y…

RT (2020-08-16). 'I'm KNEELING for you,' Lukashenko tells supporters at a rally, warning Belarus will 'die as a country' if a repeat vote happens. rt.com President Alexander Lukashenko has said that Belarus will cease to exist as a country if authorities concede to demands for a new election. He also warned about NATO troops at the nation's border. | At a rally outside the government's HQ in Minsk, Lukashenko urged his supporters to "defend your country, independence and families." | I am kneeling for you, for the first time in my life. You have deserved it! | In an impassioned speech, the president rejected calls to hold a new election, after the opposition accused him of having rigged the vote to secure a sixth term in office last week. | "The leadership of…

RT (2020-08-16). Belarus to conduct military drills on its western borders amid mass post-election protests. rt.com Minsk has said it will conduct large-scale military drills on Belarus' borders with Poland and Lithuania. The exercises, focused particularly on air defense, come amid mass protests following the contested presidential election. | The drills, which are also set to involve artillery and missile troops, will take place in the western region of Grodno from August 17 to 20, the country's Defence Ministry said Sunday. The action will happen near the town of Astravyets — not far from the country's new nuclear power plant, which is being constructed in cooperation with Russia. | Detachments from three air defens…

teleSUR, ce (2020-08-16). Guatemala: Q'eqchi' Maya Farmer Families Suffer Attack. telesurenglish.net The Altiplano Campesino Committee of Guatemala denounces that 40 Q'eqchi' Maya families in Cubilguitz, Alta Verapaz were attacked by armed groups on Saturday night. | RELATED: | Six houses were completely burned and destroyed, including the clothing and belongings of the victims. Other possessions were robbed by the armed criminals. The community fears a repeat attack as night falls. | The Campesino Committee is linking the violent actions to b…

WSWS (2020-08-15). Journalists in Malaysia persecuted for exposing treatment of migrant workers. wsws.org The government's investigation into seven Al Jazeera journalists, including a police raid of their offices, is part of a broader crackdown on press freedom.

Graham Peebles (2020-08-15). The Plight of Refugees and Migrant Workers under Covid. dissidentvoice.org In a world where nationalism and social division is increasing, bigotry growing, are the words refugee, asylum seeker, migrant worker, derogatory labels triggering prejudice and intolerance? Such terms create an image of 'the other', separate and different, strengthening tribalism, feeding suspicion, our common humanity denied. Under the shadow of Covid-19 those living on the margins …

_____ (2020-08-15). ICE Guards 'Systematically' Sexually Assault Detainees. popularresistance.org Guards in an immigrant detention center in El Paso sexually assaulted and harassed inmates in a "pattern and practice" of abuse, according to a complaint filed by a Texas advocacy group urging the local district attorney and federal prosecutors to conduct a criminal investigation. | The allegations, detailed in a filing first obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, maintain that guards systematically assaulted at least three people in a facility overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement — often in areas of the detention center not visible to security cameras.

RT (2020-08-15). Belarus' Lukashenko to move air assault brigade to country's western border amid protests & NATO activity in Poland, Lithuania. rt.com Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said an air assault brigade will be moved to the country's border, amid massive anti-government protests that the leader has dubbed a "color revolution" directed by foreign agents. | Speaking to state media on Saturday, Lukashenko said he was "worried" that NATO was carrying out military exercises in Poland and Lithuania, regarding it as an arms build-up on Belarus' borders. | The president said that Belarus "cannot calmly observe this" and do nothing, adding that he has ordered the transfer of an airborne brigade from Vitebsk to Grodno. | Lukashenko also slammed f…

Unicorn Riot (2020-08-15). Minneapolis Police Sweep West Powderhorn Encampment, Pepper Spray Defenders. unicornriot.ninja Minneapolis, MN — On August 14, 2020, Minneapolis Police along with the Park Police pepper sprayed houseless advocates while doing a sweep of the West Powderhorn Sanctuary tent encampment. Tents were bulldozed in scenes reminiscent of July 20 clearing of East Powderhorn. | Hours before severe…

The Canary (2020-08-14). UK must 'stop demonising people and consider its own role' in the refugee crisis, campaigners say. thecanary.co The UK must stop "demonising" refugees and consider its own role in creating the circumstances they are escaping from, campaigners say. | Many refugees have risked their lives to reach the UK this year by crossing the English Channel in everything from kayaks to a paddling pool. | The list of countries they hail from is diverse, but many have left nations wracked by conflicts the UK has played a part in. | Places like Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya have all seen direct British military involvement. | Meanwhile, a small number of migrants have been seen coming from Yemen. It is suffering the worst humanitarian…

teleSUR (2020-08-14). Over 1.500 Migrants Died on Their Journeys in 2020 So Far. telesurenglish.net The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned on Friday that at least 1.504 people have died trying to migrate during the first half of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | According to the latest data published by the organization ¥s Missing Migrant Project, most deaths took place in the Mediterranean region, which accounts for 443 of the total followed by North Africa and the U.S. Mexico border, wit…

WSWS (2020-08-14). Wisconsin immigrant meat packing workers fired in retaliation for protesting over unsafe working conditions. wsws.org After employing the workers for years, management suddenly informed the targeted workers that they were not authorized to work in the US.

WSWS (2020-08-14). Oregon residents block unmarked ICE buses carrying detained immigrants. wsws.org The standoff lasted around 12 hours in Bend, Oregon, until dozens of federal agents were deployed to disperse the protesters using pepper spray.

_____ (2020-08-14). Poor People's Army To Protest At Biden's Headquarters During DNC. popularresistance.org Protestors have declared that irrespective of permits, they plan to march on Presidential Candidate Biden's national headquarters on August 17th at 4pm from the Liberty Bell. Upon arrival demonstrators will present the DNC and Biden offices with a list of demands. They include: | ‚óè Unite immigrant families and children | ‚óè Transfer the war budget to provide healthcare, housing, and food for people | ‚óè Meet with PPEHRC homeless families that are forced to live in abandoned houses…

news.un (2020-08-14). Interception, no solution to address migrants crossing English Channel. news.un.org Intercepting boats full of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, is not the solution to deter them from attempting to reach the United Kingdom, UN agencies have stressed, warning that deployment of large naval vessels to block small, flimsy dinghies could lead to fatal incidents.

RT (2020-08-14). Infowars reporter Millie Weaver 'arrested' mid-premiere of her whistleblowing investigation into 'shadow government'. rt.com Investigative reporter Millie Weaver and her husband have reportedly been arrested at the same time her documentary on the US "shadow government" was being screened on YouTube, sending Conservative Twitter into theory overdrive. | Weaver's "arrest" at the couple's home — which has yet to be confirmed by authorities — was initially reported by Infowars on Friday, shortly after the YouTube premiere of her documentary film "ShadowGate." The film purports to expose the secrets of the massive 'Deep State' intelligence apparatus manipulating politics within the US and beyond its borders, based on the repor…

teleSUR (2020-08-14). The US Renews Travel Ban With Mexico and Canada. telesurenglish.net The United States' land borders with Mexico and Canada will remain close to all non-essential travel for another 30 days, authorities announced on Friday. | RELATED: | U.S. Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, said that Both Canadian and Mexican partners had agreed to extend the limitation of travel until September 21. Authorities said that the measure could be extended for more time if necessary to tackle…

yenisafak (2020-08-14). Turks in Greece still being denied their rights. yenisafak.com For decades, the Turkish minority in Greece has faced government-imposed hurdles to exercising its fundamental rights on education, religious affairs, and the recognition of its ethnic identity. | Greece's Western Thrace region — in the country's northeast, near the Turkish border — is home to a substantial, long-established Muslim Turkish minority numbering around 150,000. | Several recent developments have cast a harsh spotlight on the problems of Turks in Greece, including a decree restricting the autonomy of the mufti Muslim clerics, land belonging to a Muslim religious foundation being sold off t…

yenisafak (2020-08-14). North Korea's Kim says no to foreign flood aid. yenisafak.com Addressing Political Bureau of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim said: "The situation, in which the spread of the worldwide malignant [COVID-19] virus has become worse, requires us not to allow any outside aid for the flood damage but shut the border tighter and carry out strict anti-epidemic work," state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.At least 39,296 hectares of land was marooned due to the ongoing rainy season and Kangwon, North and South Hwanghae provinces and Kaesong City were hit badly.At least 16,680 houses and over 630 public buildings were destroyed or inundated beside…