2020-08-04: News Headlines

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-08-04). "Wipe the Soviet Union Off the Map", 204 Atomic Bombs against 66 Major Cities, US Nuclear Attack against USSR Planned During World War II. globalresearch.ca According to a secret document dated September 15, 1945, "the Pentagon had envisaged blowing up the Soviet Union with a coordinated nuclear attack directed against 66 major urban areas.

MBNJSD (2020-08-04). U.S. Cold War China Policy will isolate the U.S. not China. dissidentvoice.org CODEPINK (Credit) Tensions between the United States and China are rising as the U.S. election nears, with tit-for-tat consulate closures, new U.S. sanctions and no less than three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups prowling the seas around China. But it is the United States that has initiated each new escalation in U.S.-China relations. China's responses …

RT (2020-08-04). Tribute to xenophobia? Anti-Trump activists face backlash for 'statue' in Portland linking Putin to alleged police brutality. rt.com An activist group has unveiled a new 'statue' in Portland, Oregon which appears to connect Vladimir Putin to allegations of police brutality in the city. Isn't that a bit xenophobic? Twitter observers have asked. | The collective, known as the Trump Statue Initiative (TSI), used live actors covered in gold, and standing on top of a large pedestal, to create the impression that a new monument had been installed in the city on Monday. | Their performance art piece showed Donald Trump holding up a selfie-stick and making a thumbs-up sign as men wearing gas masks and riot gear pull a protester holding a 'BLM' plac…

_____ (2020-08-04). Truman's 'Human Sacrifice' to Subdue Moscow. strategic-culture.org Peter KUZNICK | Sumiteru Taniguchi was one of the "lucky" ones. He lived a long and productive life. He married and fathered two healthy children who gave him four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He had a long career in Japan's postal and telegraph services. As a leader in Japan's anti-nuclear movement, he addressed thousands of audiences and hundreds of thousands of people. He traveled to at least 23 countries. The organizations in which he played a prominent role were nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. | Many of the more than 250,000 who lived in Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 were not so…

Shane Quinn (2020-08-04). World War II: US Military Destroyed 66 Japanese Cities Before Planning to Wipe Out the Same Number of Soviet Cities. globalresearch.ca The number of Japanese cities destroyed was the exact figure that the Pentagon compiled when finalizing plans, in mid-September 1945, to eviscerate the Soviet Union. Indeed, 66 Soviet cities were earmarked to be wiped out — with 204 atomic bombs — less than 2 weeks after Japan's surrender.

Andrew Korybko (2020-08-03). Poland's "Lublin Triangle" Will Create Lots of Trouble for Russia-Belarus Relations. globalresearch.ca Poland's ambitions to restore its long-lost Great Power status in Europe received a fresh impetus following the establishment of the so-called "Lublin Triangle" between itself, Lithuania, and Ukraine that de-facto aims to revive the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as the core of …

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-08-03). Secret Meeting on the Privatization of Nuclear War Held on Hiroshima Day 2003. globalresearch.ca At no point since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, has humanity been closer to the unthinkable. All the safeguards of the Cold War era have been scrapped. "Offensive" military actions using nuclear warheads are now described as acts of "self-defense"

Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J.S. Davies (2020-08-03). US Cold War China Policy Will Isolate the US, Not China. commondreams.org "The sad truth is that 30 years after the supposed end of the Cold War," write Benjamin and Davies, " the U.S. military-industrial complex has failed to reimagine itself in anything but Cold War terms, and its 'New' Cold War is just a revival of the old Cold War that it spent the last three decades telling us it already won." (Image: CodePink) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/china_us_policy.jpg

RT (2020-08-03). Former president Medvedev warns Russia set to make it harder for migrants to get work permits as Saudi-style system on cards. rt.com In a surprise move, Russia may tighten visa rules for foreign workers. Former President Dmitry Medvedev says the measure is being considered in response to law and order issues exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. | He told a meeting in Moscow that the possibility of moving to the system favored in Saudi Arabia, where the employer is fully responsible for labor migrants, is being discussed. | "[The expert community] proposes changing the order of entry for migrant workers to Russia," Medvedev explained, the TASS news agency reported. "This means giving such permission to a foreign citizen only in the case of an u…

Linda Pentz Gunter (2020-08-03). The Resistible Rise of Nuclear Gangsters…and Their Downfall. counterpunch.org It would be tempting to describe last week's nuclear scandals — in three states — as something out of the Wild West. But Al Capone's Chicago would be a more accurate analogy. While no actual shots were fired, some pretty powerful metaphorical ones were, warnings that engaging in criminal racketeering and fraud to fleece ratepayers

RT (2020-08-03). Putin signs law legalizing Bitcoin & other cryptocurrencies, lifting them out of Russian legal 'grey-zone'. rt.com Digital financial assets, including cryptocurrencies, will be permitted to —Åirculate legally in Russia soon, but if you're planning to go shopping with bitcoin, or other variants, forget it. They won't be legal tender. | According to the new rules, due to come into force in January 2021, Russian citizens will be allowed to buy and sell bitcoin and other digital denominations. Until now, various cryptocurrencies have been in a "grey zone," as the state did not recognize their existence, but no penalties for mining or buying them existed either. | The law signed by President Vladimir Putin on Friday…

RT (2020-08-03). Russia could produce MILLIONS of Covid-19 vaccines every single month by 2021 — Trade & Industry Minister. rt.com Production of Russia's homegrown coronavirus vaccine is due to begin in September, and by the start of 2021, the country could be creating several million doses a month. That's according to Russia's Minister of Trade and Industry. | Denis Manturov told news agency TASS that the vaccine will be produced in three Russian regions – Vladimir, Yaroslavl and Moscow Oblast – with a view to a widespread immunization campaign starting in October. | Moscow's Gamalei Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, which led the research of the domestic drug, has partnered with companies Generium, R-Pharm, and Binnopharm, wit…

Gordon Duff (2020-08-03). Vital: Will a 'President Biden' become America's 'Putin?'. thealtworld.com American elections are demonstrations to the world of how democracy can go bad. It is clear and simple. They are ruled by cash, run by 'cons' and exist inside a political system that is the most corrupt on earth. | American politics matter to the world because, quite simply, when America catches a cold, the world goes on life support. | We are going to be looking at a number of policy and leadership issues and the possibility of regime change in Washington and the potential impact, but, at the outset one issue has typified the US under Trump and that is the abandonment of all concepts outlined under the United Na…

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-03). Escalating Trump Regime Cold War on China. globalresearch.ca Until unparalleled US economic collapse occurred this year, Trump's reelection campaign likely planned to focus on the twin pillars of economic growth and rising equity market valuations. | Since January, the latter disconnected from collapse of the former. | Since early 2020, …

Matthew Ehret-Kump (2020-08-03). The Spirit of Apollo-Soyuz Is Alive… With the Russia/China Space Alliance. globalresearch.ca Forty five years ago, Cold Warriors in the Pentagon and CIA shook their fists angrily at the stars- and for good reason. | On July 17, 1975 the first international handshake was occurring in space between Russian Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov and …

Dr. Giulio Pugliese (2020-08-03). COVID-19 and the Reification of the US-China "Cold War" globalresearch.ca Abstract | The implications of the pandemic for US-China relations are relevant for global peace and prosperity, well beyond the Asia-Pacific. Rather than joining forces against the pandemic, COVID-19 is among the factors that have widened the rift between the United …

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2020-08-03). Reviving Soviet-era Confrontation with the United States, Russia Exposes Its Weakness in Africa. globalresearch.ca In her weekly media briefing July 23, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized United States support for educational programs, media and NGOs in Africa. In addition, Zakharova said | "the allocation of grants fits into the White House's efforts to promote …

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Oil industry activities on track despite sanctions: Zanganeh. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says Iran's oil industry activities have been going on strongly in the past two years since the US pulled out of the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Ulyanov reacts to Dubowitz's remarks on Iran nuclear deal. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that the atomic opportunities were given to Iran by NPT are absolutely legitimate.

_____ (2020-08-02). Are Russia And US Different When It Comes To Election Meddling? popularresistance.org On this week's installment of "Scheer Intelligence," Robert Scheer challenges guest David Shimer on the fundamental conclusions of his new book, "Rigged: America, Russia and 100 Years of Covert Electoral Interference," regarding the "intentions" for US covert operations versus those of the Soviet Union/Russia. | Excerpted and lauded in the New York Times and elsewhere in the mainstream media, "Rigged" outlines covert operations in various countries by both nation-states, including American interference in 1970s Chile and post-World War II Italy, among others, but has been best reviewed for its deep dive into Russ…

South Front (2020-08-02). Video: That Sinking Feeling: Ukrainian Naval and Coastal Forces. globalresearch.ca In few areas are Russia's and Ukraine's divergent fortunes as evident as in naval armaments. Whereas the Russian Navy has overcome the malaise of the 1990s and went on to introduce new classes of warships, including state-of-the-art missile frigates, attack …

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Zarif stresses need to update document on Iran-Russia coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister in his meeting with with Chairman of the Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee stressed the need to update the document of long-term cooperation between the two countries.

_____ (2020-08-02). The Russians Are(n't) Coming! popularresistance.org In America's Emerald City these days, if there's even a hint of a war-wind-down, imperial-deescalation, or military budget-cuts, Washington's (non-dribbling) Wizards have a ready response: Russia! Indeed, these military's magicians have a far-simpler and more effective playbook than the city's aptly-named NBA franchise. Since President Donald Trump's election year, basketball's Wizards are a meager 148-162; the Wizards of Warfare are essentially undefeated — not a single war hath ended. The first-place War Wizards rely on two go-to moves to maintain militarism…

sputniknews (2020-08-02). Iran Imposes Sanctions Against Former Aid to John Bolton for 'Economic Terrorism'. sputniknews.com Relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have become increasingly strained in recent years, following the 2018 withdrawal by the Trump administration from the 2015 joint agreement pledging a peaceful development of nuclear power.

yenisafak (2020-08-02). Russia's coronavirus cases surpass 850,000. yenisafak.com Russia reported 5,427 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, bringing its nationwide tally to 850,870, the fourth largest caseload in the world.Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 70 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll in the country of around 145 million people to 14,128.

RT (2020-08-01). USSR's unique Cold War-era flying ship 'Caspian Sea Monster' to become main star of military theme park in Russia (VIDEO). rt.com A one-of-a-kind and bizarre-looking ekranoplan vehicle, which looks like a plane but is actually a military super ship, has arrived in the city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea where it will be the highlight of Patriot Park. | Built in the Soviet Union in 1986, 903 Lun became the first and only missile-carrying ekranoplan in the world. It joined the Caspian Flotilla in the early 1990s and remained in service for a decade. | The 74-meter vehicle used the lift generated by the ground effect of its huge wings to fly several meters above the water surface. Despite closely resembling a plane, Lun was classified as a s…

RT (2020-08-01). 'Caspian Sea Monster': Unique Soviet Cold War-era flying ship to become main attraction at military theme park in Russia (VIDEO). rt.com A one-of-a-kind bizarre ekranoplan vehicle, which looks like a plane but is actually a military super ship, has arrived in the city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea. It will eventually be the highlight of its 'Patriot Park.' | Built in the Soviet Union in 1986, 903 Lun became the first and only missile-carrying ekranoplan in the world. It joined the Caspian Flotilla in the early 1990s and remained in service for a decade. | The 74-meter vehicle used the lift generated by the ground effect of its huge wings to fly several meters above the water surface. Despite closely resembling a plane, Lun was classified as a s…

RT (2020-08-01). UAE becomes first Arab country to harness nuclear power following successful reactor launch. rt.com The United Arab Emirates has become the first nation in the Arab world to produce nuclear energy, following the start-up of a newly constructed plant in Abu Dhabi. | The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 1 is now using nuclear fuel to produce energy after the facility successfully executed initial tests on Saturday. Three other reactors are still under construction and the plant still needs to be connected to the country's power grid, local media reported. | The

RT (2020-08-01). US 'working on nuclear non-proliferation agreement with Russia,' Trump says after discussing New START with Putin. rt.com US President Donald Trump has said that "it would be great" if Moscow and Washington agreed on a new nuclear non-proliferation deal. The admission comes after rare phone talks between the Russian and US leaders last week. | Trump has not provided any details as to the current state of the negotiations, which have been underway for quite some time. | Last Thursday, Trump held a rare phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the two touched on a range of issues, among them the New Start Treaty, the last standing pillar upholding the nuclear arms control framework in…

RT (2020-08-01). Fuel truck rams into plane at Russia's largest airport on the day international flights resume (VIDEO). rt.com The resumption of international flights in Russia after the hiatus caused by Covid-19 has been marred by an accident at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, where a fuel truck collided with an Airbus A321. | The truck crashed into a plane belonging to Russia's top air carrier, Aeroflot, early on Saturday. It happened on a remote parking lot, and no crew or passengers were on board the Airbus, which was preparing for a flight to the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Sheremetyevo Airport's press service said. | Both the plane and the truck suffered damage in the collision. Photos and videos from the scene published by RT's R…

RT (2020-08-01). If she's keen on Turkey, this may be why: Research says it's Russian women's favorite place for extramarital holiday fling. rt.com Are you thinking what she's thinking? Some women were undoubtedly overjoyed when it was announced that flights to Turkey are back on. A study revealed the country is the most popular infidelity destination for Russians. | Specialists from the psychological training website 'Know Yourself' analyzed women's online communities, telegram chats, and popular forums, and identified 16 different resort locations where women admitted to cheating on their spouse. | The psychologists discovered that Russian women cheat on their husbands in Turkey more than any other resort location, ahead of Crimea and Sochi, as well as…

RT (2020-08-01). Wife arrested on suspicion of murder after Ukrainian rapper Cartwright's corpse found chopped into pieces in fridge. rt.com The wife of Ukrainian rapper Andy Cartwright, who dismembered her deceased husband and placed his body parts in their apartment fridge, has been detained on suspicion of murder. | She had Russia's Investigative Committee charged Marina Kokhal with murder and believes she killed her husband during a quarrel, although how is unknown. She then cut up the body "in order to hide the traces of the crime," investigators said. Kokhal maintains that she did not kill the artist, whose…

RT (2020-08-01). Da, Da, Da! As flights reopen, research reveals Russian women prefer Turkish delights for extramarital holiday fling. rt.com Are you thinking what she's thinking? Some women were undoubtedly overjoyed when it was announced that flights to Turkey are back on. A study has revealed the country is the most popular destination for Russians seeking to stray. | Specialists from the psychological training website 'Know Yourself' analyzed women's online communities, telegram chats, and popular forums, and identified 16 different resort locations where women admitted to cheating on their spouse. | The psychologists discovered that Russian women cheat on their husbands in Turkey more than any other resort location, ahead of Crimea and Sochi, a…

RT (2020-08-01). As rain falls & holiday season begins, Khabarovsk protests start to peter out. But thousands still march in support of ex-governor. rt.com Residents of the Far Eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk took to the streets for the 22nd day in a row, as thousands of locals protested against the arrest of former Governor Sergey Furgal, accused of ordering killings in the 2000s | But the crowd was significantly smaller than in previous weeks. Around 3,500 people

RT (2020-08-01). Moscow calls Polish claims it planted explosives on crashed president Kaczynski's plane 'endless fantasy-making'. rt.com Polish allegations that Russia planted TNT aboard the plane of President Lech Kaczynski that crashed in 2010 are a figment of their imagination, Moscow said, advising Warsaw to listen to the pilots' communications again. | "Reality has firmly intertwined with fiction, turning it into an endless fantasy-making process," Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, This inves…

RT (2020-08-01). Moscow slams Polish claims that it planted explosives on late President Kaczynski's plane as 'endless fantasy-making'. rt.com Polish allegations that Russia planted TNT aboard the ill-fated plane of former President Lech Kaczynski are a figment of their imagination, Moscow has said, advising Warsaw to listen to the pilots' communications again. | "Reality has firmly intertwined with fiction, turning it into an endless fantasy-making process," Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, This investigati…

RT (2020-08-01). Russia aims to begin public Covid-19 vaccinations in October, starting with medical workers & teachers — Minister of Health. rt.com Russia expects to start mass anti-coronavirus vaccinations, across the country, by October, the country's health minister has said. Mikhail Murashko added that medical workers and teachers will be given first priority. | Murashko announced on Saturday that clinical trials of a vaccine developed by the Moscow-based Gamalei Institute have been completed and that the health ministry is aiming to begin a public vaccination program in October. Medical personnel and teachers will be the first to receive immunization, he said. "Now, the package of documents for the procedure of registration [of the vaccine] is being…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-01). Iran-Russia coop. expected to be promoted: Ghalibaf. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that comprehensive cooperation between Islamic Republic of Iran and Russian Federation is expected to be enhanced.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-01). Ghalibaf meets chair of Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Cmte. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met and held talks with Chairman of the Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky on Saturday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-01). IRGC's military exercise serious warning to enemies. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) — Colonel Anatoly Tsyganok, a member of the Russian Center for Political-Military Studies believes that the recent IRGC's military exercise was a serious warning to the enemies of Iran, especially the United States.

sputniknews (2020-08-01). UK Wants US to Take Up Part of Spending Burden for Trident Missile's New Warhead, Report Says. sputniknews.com The Pentagon leaked the UK's plans to purchase a new generation of W93 nuclear warheads for its submarine-based Trident weapons system earlier this year, with the upgrade expected to cost in excess of £11 billion ($14 billion) for the warheads alone, and £31 billion ($40 billion US) total.

sputniknews (2020-08-01). Muslim Celebrations of Eid al-Adha Around the Globe Amid Pandemic. sputniknews.com Usually this holiday is one of the most widespread in all countries where a significant number of Muslims live, including Russia. In Moscow alone, more than 300,000 believers take part in it.

sputniknews (2020-08-01). EU's Cybersanctions Against Russian Citizens Politically Motivated, Foreign Ministry Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The political connotations of the European Union's decision to impose sanctions against Russian, Chinese, and North Korean citizens and entities for alleged cyberattacks are obvious, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

sputniknews (2020-08-01). Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Hopes Incident in Belarus Resolved for Friendly Ties. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergey Naryshkin said on Saturday he hoped the incident of Minsk's detention of 33 Russian nationals will be resolved in the interest of fraternal relations between the two countries.

_____ (2020-08-01). The Sprit of Apollo-Soyuz Is Alive… With the Russia/China Space Alliance. strategic-culture.org Forty five years ago, Cold Warriors in the Pentagon and CIA shook their fists angrily at the stars- and for good reason. | On July 17, 1975 the first international handshake was occurring in space between Russian Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov and American astronaut Thomas Stafford as the first official act kicking off the historic

_____ (2020-08-01). Russophobia is Going Viral… Again. strategic-culture.org The writers at AP and NYT believe beyond a doubt that all Russian media is controlled by the state. They cannot believe that Russians want to have a diverse and free media and have their say in global affairs. Watch the video and

yenisafak (2020-08-01). Environmental disasters across world in July 2020. yenisafak.com Numerous environmental disasters occurred across the world in the month of July which included forest fires in Ukraine, a storm in Russia, landslides in Myanmar, Nepal, China and many flash floods caused by heavy rains.Here is a timeline compiled by Anadolu AgencyJuly 1: – Powerful floods affect over 1.4 million people in the state of Assam, northeast India, according to the country's disaster authorities.July 2: – At least 110 miners are killed in a landslide, caused by heavy rain, at a jade mine in the state of Kachin, northern Myanmar, according to the country's emergency services.July 3: – At least eight people…

yenisafak (2020-08-01). Russia's coronavirus death toll exceeds 14,000. yenisafak.com Russia reported 95 new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Saturday, pushing its national tally to 14,058.Officials also reported 5,462 new cases of the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, pushing the country's tally to 845,443.

Rob Urie (2020-07-31). Russiagate, Nazis, and the CIA. counterpunch.org The political success of Russiagate lies in the vanishing of American history in favor of a faàßade of liberal virtue. Posed as a response to the election of Donald Trump, a straight line can be drawn from efforts to undermine the decommissioning of the American war economy in 1946 to the CIA's alliance with Ukrainian fascists in 2014. In 1945 the NSC (National Security Council) issued a series of directives that gave logic and direction to the CIA's actions during the Cold War. That these persist despite the 'fall of communism' suggests that it was always just a placeholder in the pursuit of other objectiv…

T.J. Coles (2020-07-31). The Space Wars Have Begun. counterpunch.org "Space is now a distinct warfighting domain," says the U.S. Defense Space Strategy. Last week, corporate media repeated U.S. military propaganda: that Russia had "tested new technologies that could lead to so-called 'killer satellites'" (ABC); the U.S. and Britain "accused Russia of testing a weapon-like projectile in space that could be used to target satellites