2020-06-25: News Headlines

Staff (2020-06-25). Boycotting Israel Is Not A Crime, Says European Human Rights Court. therealnews.com The EHRC overturned the French court's convictions of 12 BDS activists for "incitement to discrimination" in a watershed ruling for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.

_____ (2020-06-25). Democratizing Energy To Counter The Climate Catastrophe. popularresistance.org Youth climate activists have been striking to demand immediate climate action from political powers. They conjoined the issues of climate and labor by calling for a global climate strike in September, 2019, in which a historic 7.6 million schoolkids, (grand)parents and workers from 185 countries participated. Over 70 trade unions around the world supported the strike and the number of climate groups that are demanding a just transition for fossil fuel workers are also steadily increasing. | The European landscape of climate activism is becoming densely populated. Numerous communities are defending nature together…

Noam Schaulin, JUSO BL (2020-06-25). Sacramento And Swiss Sister City Liestal Need To Talk About Their History. indybay.org After the attack on the now removed statue of the founder of Sacramento John Sutter, the Young Socialist Party of the swiss canton of Baselland launched an action in Sutters hometown to draw attention to the fact that John Sutter was a slave owner and child trader. Now, they want Sacramento and its sister city Liestal (Switzerland), capital city of the canton of Baselland, to use their partnership to remember Sutters victims and educate the citizens of both places.

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-06-25). Trump Admitted Relocation of American Soldiers to Poland Is Aimed Against Russia. globalresearch.ca It appears that despite achieving so-called independence from the Soviet Union and joining the EU and NATO in 2004, Lithuania does not have full sovereignty. In yesterday's negotiations with US President Donald Trump, the interests of Vilnius were not …

The Canary (2020-06-25). Russians begin voting on changes allowing Putin to stay in power until 2036. thecanary.co Polls have opened in Russia for a week-long vote on constitutional changes that would allow president Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.The vote on a range of constitutional amendments, proposed by Putin in January, was initially scheduled for 22 April but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.It was later rescheduled for 1 July, with polling stations opening a week earlier and staying open for seven days in an effort to avoid crowds on the main voting day.The proposed amendments include a change in the constitution that would allow 67-year-old Putin, who has ruled Russia for over two decades…

The Canary (2020-06-25). Red, white and blue makeover for plane used by PM unveiled. thecanary.co The new paint job costing almost £1 million on the plane used by the prime minister has been unveiled.The RAF Voyager — which was previously a military grey colour — has been resprayed in white, with a Union flag on the tailfin and United Kingdom written in gold on the fuselage.Boris Johnson had previously complained about the military paint scheme used on the jet.The RAF Voyager used by the prime minister and the royal family on the runway at Cambridge airport (Stefan Rousseau/PA)But the cost of the respray was condemned by opposition politicians when it was revealed earlier this month.Downing St…

Scott Ritter (2020-06-25). Trump claims the redeployment of US troops from Germany to Poland is a 'signal' to Russia. But is it just a tempest in a teapot? thealtworld.com President Trump has announced that thousands of US troops will be redeployed to Poland as part of …

Muhammed Shabeer (2020-06-25). "Referendum in Russia exposes the sham of bourgeois democracy" peoplesdispatch.org Roman Kononenko from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation talks about the ongoing referendum in Russia on the constitutional reforms proposed by president Vladimir Putin. He also talks about how the country handled the COVID-19 pandemic…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). Top Turkish diplomat attends SE Europe group meeting. yenisafak.com Turkey's foreign minister on Thursday took part in a meeting of a group of southeastern European countries, including the Balkans.Mevlut Cavusoglu met his counterparts from South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) member states via video conference.Cavusoglu said on Twitter that they discussed regional cooperation and opportunities within SEECP during the coronavirus normalization process."Turkey is taking over 2020-21 Chairmanship of SEECP, the broadest regional organization in the Balkans. @TurkishCiOSEECP," he added.Next week, on July 1, Turkey is set to take over the SEECP chairmanship for one year.In…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). ECB to provide euro liquidity to non-euro area C.banks. yenisafak.com The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday announced it will offer euro loans against collateral to central banks outside the euro area to backstop funding markets amid the coronavirus pandemic."Eurosystem repo facility for central banks (EUREP) introduced as precautionary backstop to address pandemic-related euro liquidity needs outside euro area," the bank said in a statement.New facility will be available until June 2021 and allow a broad set of central banks to borrow euro against euro-denominated debt issued by euro area central governments and supranational institutions."EUREP addresses possible euro liqui…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). Daesh/ISIS suspect going on trial in Paris. yenisafak.com A man accused of being a so-called "emir" of the terror group Daesh/ISIS is due for his day in court in Paris on Thursday, facing trial for his alleged offenses in Syria.Tyler Vilus, a.k.a., Abou Hafs, is accused of leading a terrorist group and committing murders in an organized gang in Syria in 2013-2015, among other offenses.Vilus was arrested on July 2, 2015, nearly five years ago to the day, while boarding a plane to Prague at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, and was later extradited to face trial.Turkey has long championed the repatriation of European nationals found to belong to terrorist groups.Vilus' phone,…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). Germany, France shore up political, financial aid to beleaguered WHO. yenisafak.com France and Germany expressed political and financial backing for the World Health Organization (WHO) in its fight against the coronavirus on Thursday, with Berlin saying it would contribute a record half billion euros in funding this year.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking at a news conference in Geneva, said the agency, criticised by the United States for being slow off the mark in tackling the pandemic, was getting the financial and political support it needed.U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that the United States was cutting ties with the "China-centric" WHO, but he has still not formal…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). EU covering up Greek human rights violations, says Turkish spox. yenisafak.com Turkey on Thursday slammed remarks by Greek and EU officials critical of Ankara's handling of the migrant issue along its borders, calling them an attempt to whitewash Athens' human rights violations.The remarks this Wednesday by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the Turkish-Greek border show Greece's effort to cover up its crimes against asylum seekers under the EU umbrella, said Hami Aksoy, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman."The fact that the EU Commission is a partner to this is exemplary," Aksoy said.Aksoy cited the words of Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Euro…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). Turkey says Libya's GNA demands Haftar withdraw from Sirte, Jufra. yenisafak.com Libya's internationally recognised government demands that Khalifa Haftar's forces withdraw from the coastal city of Sirte and Jufra region as pre-conditions for ceasefire talks, Turkey said on Thursday.With Turkish military support, the Government of National Accord (GNA) has reversed a 14-month offensive on Tripoli by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told broadcaster CNN Turk that the United States, which Turkey has urged to take a more active role in Libya, was reluctant to play a "decisive role" in t…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). Public vote on constitutional changes in Russia begins. yenisafak.com Russians Thursday have started to vote on the constitutional changes that will allow the incumbent president to serve two more terms in office.The vote will last from June 25 to July 1 to avoid mass gatherings at the polls, associated with risks of the coronavirus spreading, the country's Central Election Commission (CEC) explained in a statement.The polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (0500-1700GMT). The precinct election commissions issued recommendations for the residents of each house in their districts, indicating the best time for casting ballot to better organize the voter turnout.Ho…

yenisafak (2020-06-25). Magnitude-5.4 earthquake hits eastern Turkey. yenisafak.com A magnitude-5.4 earthquake jolted Turkey's eastern province of Van on Thursday, according to the country's disaster agency.The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said the quake struck off the Ozalp district at 1.03 p.m. local time (1003 GMT). It originated at a depth of 6.9 kilometers.Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez said some houses were damaged due to the tremors, and damage assessment studies are ongoing.No casualties have been reported so far.Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter that further updates on the situation will be given to the public by Van Governorate and AFAD.Iran and T…

sputniknews (2020-06-25). Norway Paves Way for Big Expansion of Arctic Oil Exploration Amid 'Challenging' Developments. sputniknews.com Norway is western Europe's biggest oil producer and has built the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund worth over $1 trillion on the back of its oil wealth. In the words of Norwegian Energy Minister Tina Bru new discoveries are needed to uphold employment and value creation.

sputniknews (2020-06-25). Calls to List Antifa as Terrorist Organisation in Sweden in the Wake of Black Lives Matter Riots. sputniknews.com US President Donald Trump has argued the violent Black Lives Matter rallies that blossomed across the country following the death of African American George Floyd in police custody and which include looting and pillaging, are being led by Antifa, and pledged to designate it as a terrorist organisation, making it illegal on American soil.

sputniknews (2020-06-25). Bolton's Book Has 'Misleading and Manipulative Presentations' of Erdogan-Trump Talks, Ankara Says. sputniknews.com In his memoir published on 23 June, John Bolton claimed that US President Donald Trump was manipulated and easily influenced by the leaders of China, Russia, Turkey, and North Korea.

sputniknews (2020-06-25). India Urges Russia to Deliver Igla-S Missile System ASAP Amid Border Tensions, Media Claims. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Media outlets earlier reported that Indian authorities have decided to "pressure" Russia into expediting the delivery of its S-400 air defence missile system to New Delhi amid the latter's ongoing border face-off with China.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-25). Iran's information about Judge Mansouri's case limited to reports of Romanian media: spox. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 25 (MNA) — A spokesman of Iran's Judiciary Gholamhossein Esmaeili condemned Romania's lack of cooperation with Iran on the death case of Iranian Judge Mansouri, who lost his life in Romania, saying that the Islamic Republic has no more information about the case than what Romanian media have reported and a short quotation from Bucharest's Prosecutor.

_____ (2020-06-25). Dutch Government Outright Lies about MH17, to Blame Russia. strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | 1. The page 84, (under 2.13.2 "Crew autopsy") that "First Officer Team A … During the body scan of the First Officer's body, over 120 objects (mostly metal fragments) were detected. The majority of the fragments were found in left side of the upper torso." Then, it reported, on | page 85 (under 2.13.3) "the First Off…

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-06-24). Video: The Social Impacts and Economic Dimensions of the Drug Trade. globalresearch.ca Being a neighbor to one of the biggest producers of drugs in the world has caused the Islamic Republic of Iran to shoulder a heavy burden as one of the main routes for drug transport. | Iran is at the forefront …

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Int'l law will determine future of Libya, says Turkey. yenisafak.com The vice president of Turkey on Wednesday underlined that international law would determine Libya's future."Putschists should know that it will be on the legitimate basis of international law that will determine the future of peace in Libya," Fuat Oktay said, adding that with Tripoli's "decisive stance" and Turkey's support, all "games and traps have been thwarted."Oktay said Turkey would back "its Libyan brothers until peace, tranquility and justice are established in the country."He emphasized that those who until now "could not propose any approach towards resolution" to the conflict between the war-torn count…

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-06-24). US Sanctions Iranian Ship Captains as Russia Hosts Venezuelan FM. venezuelanalysis.com Russian FM Sergei Lavrov reiterated his opposition to US aggression in Venezuela.

RT (2020-06-24). Kosovo 'president' cancels US trip after war crimes indictment but Trump-sponsored talks still on. rt.com Talks sponsored by US President Donald Trump between Serbia and its breakaway province of Kosovo will still take place but without Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci, who was indicted for war crimes by an international court in The Hague. | Thaci has notified the White House that he was not coming, Ambassador Richard Grenell, Trump's special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks, confirmed on Wednesday. | "I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled," Grenell added. | The President of Kosovo has just informed us that he has canceled his trip to Washington, D.C.

South Front (2020-06-24). Video: "Militants" Launch Massive Drone Attack on Russian Airbase in Syria. globalresearch.ca Late on June 22, Russian air defense units repelled a massive drone attack on Russia's Hmeimim air base in Syria. According to local sources, Russian Pantsir and Tor systems launched almost two dozen missiles at unmanned aerial vehicles launched by …

Mark Gruenberg (2020-06-24). Trump touts fake wall; EU mulls real 'wall' to bar Americans. peoplesworld.org On Tuesday in Arizona Trump had his picture taken at the phony prop he calls his "beautiful wall," one of the props along the border with Mexico that he runs to every time he wants to stir up fear of immigrants. While he was doing that the European Union was drafting plans to establish a …

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-06-24). U.S. must return political prisoner Simón Trinidad to Colombia. peoplesworld.org Murderous violence and oligarchy were at the center of Colombian political life during the 20th century. Colombians by the millions were marginalized, impoverished, and/or displaced from small land holdings. Violence and the failings of liberal democracy turned Simón Trinidad into a revolutionary. Few in the United States and Europe know about him. Colombia's allies in …

Anand Naidoo (2020-06-24). The Heat: China-EU relations. america.cgtn.com Chinese and European Union officials meet to boost economic ties amid a global health crisis.

RT (2020-06-24). EU's Barnier accuses UK of 'backtracking' on commitments, but says Brexit trade deal 'still possible'. rt.com A post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and UK is possible, but only if London stops "backtracking" on its commitments and shows a "willingness" to work towards an agreement, Brussels' top negotiator Michel Barnier has said. | Speaking at a video conference on Wednesday, Barnier urged the UK to send "clear signals" demonstrating that it's ready to work towards an agreement with the European Union before the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31. | "Our problem is not related to timing, but to substance, in particular, that the UK keeps backtracking on its commitments in the political declaration,"

RT (2020-06-24). EU 'irrelevant' during pandemic & failed in its Covid-19 response, citizen survey reveals. rt.com New polling reveals a deep disappointment among EU citizens with the bloc's response to the coronavirus pandemic and their governments' handling of it, though a majority say they want EU nations to work more closely in future. | The European Council on Foreign Relations think tank

RT (2020-06-24). Indian commander who led elite troops through Red Square in Victory Day parade says friendship with Russia 'increasing by the day'. rt.com Security challenges now faced by India have complicated preparations of its troops for the Victory Day parade, but they still marched on the Red Square and won the hearts of the Russian audience, their commander told RT. | The parade in Moscow, marking the 75th anniversary of victory against the Nazi Germany, was "a gala performance, with a great history behind it," said Colonel Anil Kumar, commander of the tri-services contingent. The participation of the Indian troops in it has become yet another sign that friendship between India and Russia is "increasing by the day." | Making it to the Russian capital was…

RT (2020-06-24). Temperatures climb to 38C in COLDEST city on Earth – records broken as Russian Arctic endures more ANOMALOUS hot weather. rt.com Scientists are already alarmed at the spike in temperatures in Russia this year. While the mercury is creeping up everywhere, in Siberia it has spiked dramatically, delivering unprecedented heat. | This summer is on course to be the hottest since record-keeping began, in the world's largest country. Towns usually still blanketed by snow at this time of year are experiencing a blazing heatwave, thanks to the escalating climate crisis. | The effects of global warming have arrived and are already causing problems, especially in Siberia. A massive oil spill in the far northern mining city of Norilsk earlier this y…

The Canary (2020-06-24). As the UK heads into a heatwave Siberia is going off the charts. thecanary.co Scientists have expressed concerns about the implications for the rest of the world after a heatwave in Russia's Siberia region.On Saturday, the thermometer hit a likely record of 38C — or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit — in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk in Russia's Sakha Republic.The World Meteorological Organisation said it is looking to verify the temperature reading, which would be a record for the region north of the Arctic Circle.The increasing temperatures in Siberia have been linked to wildfires that grow bigger and more severe every year, as well as the thawing of the permafrost.Scientists are ala…

Stansfield Smith (2020-06-24). The Wasp Network Highlights Our Lack of Freedom to Tell the Truth on the Cuban Five Case. dissidentvoice.org The film Wasp Network, based on the book The Last Soldiers of the Cold War, The Story of the Cuban Five by Fernando Morais, is a co-production between France, Spain, Belgium and Brazil. It was shown in Cuba last December, soon after it came out. You can now watch it on Netflix. It is not a …

WSWS (2020-06-24). France backs Egypt's threat to intervene against Turkey in Libyan war. wsws.org Even as COVID-19 threatens millions in Africa, the NATO powers risk escalating their nine-year carve-up of Libya into a major regional or even global conflict.

WSWS (2020-06-24). More than 1,500 COVID-19 infections at pork processing plant in Germany. wsws.org The Tà∂nnies Group, Germany's largest meat processing firm, has a long record of putting profits before the health and safety of its workforce.

WSWS (2020-06-24). Pandemic intensifies unemployment and poverty among Turkish workers. wsws.org Millions of workers are losing their jobs, left unable to meet basic needs as billions go to cheap loans in the interests of the ruling class in Turkey.

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Norway plans big expansion of Arctic oil exploration. yenisafak.com Norway is planning a major expansion of oil exploration in the Arctic, despite commitments to tackling global warming and opposition from environmental groups.Minister of petroleum and energy Tina Bru said on Wednesday the expansion was needed to protect jobs and generate wealth.The government will auction up to 136 new oil exploration blocks in a major licensing round, with 125 of those in the Arctic Barents Sea, a relatively unspoiled corner of the planet."We need new discoveries to uphold employment and value creation," Bru said in a statement.Norway is western Europe's biggest oil producer and has built the w…

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Paris nears pre-pandemic air pollution levels. yenisafak.com Air pollution in Paris has more than doubled since the end of lockdown on May 11, and hit the highest level among European cities, said a new study put out on Wednesday.The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent research organization based in Helsinki, Finland, found that the level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the atmosphere has nearly doubled since confinement was lifted. | Although the level of air pollution — which dropped by 60% during lockdown — is not presently at pre-COVID-19 level, it has risen in the capital by 120%. | COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, origina…

yenisafak (2020-06-24). German reporter plays tourist in Antalya, lauds Turkey's coronavirus precautions. yenisafak.com An enthusiastic correspondent from the Germany-based Bild newspaper hopped on a flight from Berlin to Turkey's popular holiday getaway of Antalya, probing the country's safety measures for those seeking a change of atmosphere during the global coronavirus pandemic. Michael Quandt penned his travel experience as a tourist in Turkey in an article titled "Even the lifeguard wears a mask," mapping out the country's precautions against the virus. He underlined that it is mandatory for all travelers who board a plane to wear masks and the violation of this rule costs between 70 and 700 euros.Passengers' body temperatur…

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Italy says 28 migrants test positive to COVID-19 on quarantine ship. yenisafak.com Dozens of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean have tested positive for the new coronavirus while held in a quarantine ship off the southern Italian coast, Sicily's regional leader Nello Musumeci said on Wednesday.In April Italy banned migrant rescue ships from docking in its ports until July 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It now transfers all those saved at sea onto large ferries which must wait off its coast.After saving more than 200 people stranded at sea last week, the Sea-Watch 3 charity boat arrived on Sunday in the Sicilian town of Porto Empedocle.The mainly African passengers were immediately moved to…

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Russia displays military might to mark WW II victory. yenisafak.com Some 14,000 troops from 13 countries as well as vintage and the latest state-of-art military hardware marched along the Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of its victory in World War II.The parade, which highlighted Russia's fighting capabilities were also held in 28 other cities under the shadow of coronavirus pandemic. The parade was also marked by a colorful fly-past by fighter aircrafts.Russia showed its military might by displaying the latest stealth fighter jet Su-57 with hypersonic Kinzhal complexes, Ka-52 helicopters, and Armata tanks.Originally, the parade was scheduled to tak…

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Turkey popular tourist destination for Serbia. yenisafak.com As many as 1,000 Serbian tourists have already started their holidays in Turkey this summer, the country's travel agency association said Wednesday.The information from the National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia (YUTA) came after Turkish Airlines resumed its flights to the country only a few days ago after a three-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.Turkey's flagship air carrier company resumed its flights between Belgrade and Istanbul on Monday."Tourists who traveled to Turkey have no problems," said the director of YUTA, Aleksandar Senicic.The rise in Serbian tourists arriving in Turkey…

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Top Turkish, Spanish diplomats talk COVID-19, tourism. yenisafak.com Mevlut Cavusoglu and Arancha Gonzalez Laya discussed the latest developments on the outbreak in both countries, effort to bring back tourism, and Turkish-EU relations, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.As tourism worldwide ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Turkey's new case numbers are falling, and the country is looking to bring back tourists by restarting flights and issuing certificates for businesses that have taken necessary steps against the outbreak.Spain is also seeking to reassure tourists as its numbers fall and its borders reopen.

yenisafak (2020-06-24). Turkey remands Iraqi national over links to Daesh/ISIS. yenisafak.com A Turkish court on Wednesday remanded an Iraqi national into custody over links to the Daesh/ISIS terror group, according to a security source.The suspect was arrested from a cell house in the western Denizli province where he was hiding after participating in terrorist activities in Syria, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.The operation was launched as part of the investigation against Daesh by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Denizli, the source added.Many digital materials were also seized from the address raided.Turkey was one of the first countries…

sputniknews (2020-06-24). First COVID-19 Case Registered at Chernobyl Nuclear Plant. sputniknews.com In mid-March, Ukraine introduced a nationwide quarantine for a month and subsequently extended it several times. The Ukrainian government decided to relax coronavirus-related restrictions starting 11 May.

sputniknews (2020-06-24). Despite Border Tensions Between India and China, Russia to Ensure RIC Remains Viable, Experts Say. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The foreign ministers of Russia, India, and China on Tuesday participated in a special videoconference session called by Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War and the creation of the United Nations.

sputniknews (2020-06-24). Trump Says Some US Troops Cut in Germany Will 'Probably' Move to Poland. sputniknews.com US President Donald Trump claims that some of the US troops removed from Germany over Berlin's alleged delinquent payments to NATO will be relocated to Poland.