2020-07-11: News Headlines

RT (2020-07-11). Mail-in voter fur-raud? CAT who DIED 12 years ago receives voter registration application in Atlanta. rt.com An Atlanta family was surprised to receive a voter registration application in the mail for their long-dead pet cat — and the state government is wondering what other kind of fraud "out-of-town s" are up to in Georgia. | Cody Tims, a beloved pet cat who was a venerable 18 years old when he died 12 years ago, received an application to register for mail-in voting earlier this week, according to his owners, Ron and Carol Tims — providing serious ammunition to opponents of mail-in voting for November's presidential election. | There's a big push to get people to register to vote, but cats? One…

_____ (2020-07-11). Nicaragua: How Phony Human Rights Groups Slandered A US-Targeted Nation. popularresistance.org During the Nicaraguan coup attempt and ever since it failed, the North American and European human rights industry has falsely accused the Nicaraguan authorities of having brutally repressed ful opposition s with disproportionate lethal violence. In doing so, reports by human rights organizations have systematically ignored numerous very serious crimes and even massacres by Nicaragua's US-supported right-wing opposition and their allies. Between April 18th and July 17th, 2018, 23 police officers were killed by opposition s and 400 officers suffered gunshot wounds inflicted by opposition gunmen…

Marco Antonio Bessa, Ronaldo Laranjeira, David Martin (2020-07-11). [Correspondence] Organised crime: the missing link in drug policies. thelancet.com Illegal drugs and their effect on public health were discussed in a 2019 Lancet Series.1 However, the Series authors did not report how a global criminal enterprise, the drug—abuse industrial complex,2 is the origin of the problem. This global network of organised crime, corrupt politicians, money laundering, and distribution systems perpetuates this public health crisis. We have reason to believe the drug trade is now expanding under the guise of legal cannabis and cannabidiol, especially in North America, with outreach to other markets in South America, Europe, and Asia.

The Lancet (2020-07-11). [Editorial] COVID-19: the worst may be yet to come. thelancet.com As much of western Europe begins to ease countrywide lockdowns, globally the pandemic may still be in its infancy, with more than 160‚Äà000 new cases reported each day since June 25. Individual countries count cases differently, so direct comparisons are difficult, but the numbers illustrate a worrying pattern. At a subnational level the picture is nuanced, with local hotspots, but at a country level the picture is clear—the world is facing a worsening multipolar pandemic.

Richard Horton (2020-07-11). [Comment] Offline: Restoring trust in WHO. thelancet.com Belgium has the sad distinction of leading the world league table of deaths from COVID-19. At 843 deaths per million, Belgium is ahead of the UK (650 per million), Italy (576 per million), Sweden (537 per million), and France (458 per million). COVID-19 was first reported in Belgium on Feb 4, 2020, in a 54-year-old man who had been repatriated from Wuhan, China. Community transmission was confirmed in early March after holiday makers returned from school vacation breaks in northern Italy. The national sense of failure and anger is spurring a serious effort to initiate an international inquiry into the global resp…

RT (2020-07-11). 'Another phony hit job': Trump slams NYT for 'made up' story about alleged Russian bounties in Afghanistan. rt.com A sensational New York Times report which alleged that Russia paid the Taliban to target US forces in Afghanistan was pure fabrication, Donald Trump has claimed after the Pentagon and intel agencies dismissed the story. | The claim that Moscow had placed bounties on US and coalition troops operating in Afghanistan, first reported by the Times last month, has been widely discredited by senior military and intelligence officials. Defense Secretary Mark Esper testified earlier this week that "all the defense intelligence agencies have been unable to corroborate that report." | Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gener…

_____ (2020-07-11). As Long as Mass Media Propaganda Exists, Democracy Is a Sham. strategic-culture.org Caitlin JOHNSTONE | "A majority of Americans believe that Russia paid the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan last year amid negotiations to end the war, and more than half want to respond with new economic sanctions against Moscow, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday," "Overall, 60% of Americans said they found reports of Russian bounties on American soldiers to be 'very' or 'somewhat' believable, while 21% said they were not credible and the rest were unsure,"

The Canary (2020-07-11). Institutional racism 'led to data breach over migrant workers' in Ireland. thecanary.co Levels of "institutional racism and discrimination" in the health service reportedly led to a serious data breach in Ireland. It occurred when employers were told of coronavirus (Covid-19) test results before meat factory workers who were tested.Edel McGinley, director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), described the practice as a "gross and serious breach of confidentiality". She told the Special Oireachtas Covid-19 committee that comments made by a senior health official about the scandal were "deeply worrying".(PA Graphics)"Institutional racism and discrimination that led to this very serious dat…

RT (2020-07-11). Anti-Trump camp in meltdown over VIDEO of dancing Roger Stone after his prison term's commuted. rt.com Political huckster Roger Stone celebrated the commutation of his prison sentence in typically flamboyant style: by gyrating to music in a video that went viral and hit a raw nerve with his opponents and those of President Trump. | Ensnared by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's 'Russiagate' probe, Stone was sentenced in February to three years in prison for interfering with the investigation and tampering with witnesses — charges the long-time Republican maintained were baseless. Trump commuted his sentence on Friday — a move that doesn't overturn his conviction, but spares him a stint behind bars. | Fa…

RT (2020-07-11). Trump wants Christopher Steele, UK spy behind 'Russiagate' dossier 'tried and thrown into jail'. rt.com US President Donald Trump has called for the extradition, trial and imprisonment of disgraced British spy Christopher Steele, whose scandalous allegations against the president helped kickstart the 'Russiagate' investigation. | "This man should be extradited, tried, and thrown into jail," Trump said of Steele on Saturday, calling the British snoop a "sick lier [sic] who was paid by Crooked Hillary & the DNC!" | This man should be extradited, tried, and thrown into jail. A sick lier who was paid by Crooked Hillary & the DNC!

The Canary (2020-07-11). Survivors mark 25th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre. thecanary.co Bosnia is marking the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, the only crime in Europe since the Second World War that has formally been declared a genocide.The brutal execution in July 1995 of more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys is being commemorated in a series of events. These include the reburial of recently identified remains of nine victims in a memorial cemetery just outside Srebrenica.A woman prays in Potocari, near Srebrenica (Kemal Softic/AP)Bodies still being identified 25 years later: The Srebrenica massacre is the only episode of Bosnia's 1992-95 war to be formally recognised as g…

_____ (2020-07-11). The US And UK Are A Wrecking Ball Crew Against The Pillars Of Internationalism. popularresistance.org Over the past few decades, Western countries—such as the United Kingdom, but more so the United States of America—have flouted international laws and failed to even try to uphold the high-minded principles of the charter. Most recently, the United States has attempted to muzzle the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it has pursued a perfectly reasonable investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan; and the United Kingdom has denied Venezuela its sovereign right to gold held in the Bank of England. In both cases, the United States and the UK have undermined the sovereignty of nations and mutilated i…

Gareth Porter (2020-07-11). How the Pentagon failed to sell Afghan government's bunk 'Bountygate'. zcomm.org Another New York Times Russiagate bombshell turns out to be a dud, as dodgy stories spun out by Afghan intelligence and exploited by the Pentagon ultimately failed to convince US intelligence agencies…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-11). European court rules in favor of Belgian Workers' Party legislator on electoral dispute. peoplesdispatch.org Germain Mugemangango of the Workers' Party of Belgium, a legislator in the Walloon parliament, filed a case in the European Court of Human Rights on a 2014 election when his own competitors decided his appeal for a recount…

Global Research News (2020-07-11). Video: COVID-19 "Fake" Data in Italy: Politician Slams False Numbers: Vittorio Sgarbi. globalresearch.ca First published by Global Research on May 8, 2020 | Vittorio Sgarbi, MP (Forza Italia) slammed the closure of 60% of Italian businesses: A decision which was taken on the basis of an alleged 25,000 Coronavirus deaths. "It's not true," he …

yenisafak (2020-07-11). UK 'stands with' all feeling Srebrenica genocide pain. yenisafak.com British administration on Saturday "reiterated the UK's commitment to supporting reconciliation across the Western Balkans," on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina."Today (11 July) marks twenty-five years since the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of the Second World War," a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) statement said."Today I stand with all who continue to feel unimaginable pain from the genocide 25 years ago at Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter…

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Turkey to always stand by Bosnia in search for justice: Erdogan. yenisafak.com The Turkish president on Saturday remembered the Srebrenica martyrs on the 25th anniversary of the genocide."We will always stand by our Bosnian brothers in their search for justice. The Srebrenica Genocide will never be forgotten," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video message.As part of the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, Erdogan spoke via video link at the memorial ceremony held at the former accumulator factory used by the United Nations troops as a base in the war in Bosnia.Erdogan stressed that despite all tragedy and tears, European politicians have learned no lessons from Srebrenica Genocide,…

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Photography enthusiasts to bid for prized photos by Ara Gàºler. yenisafak.com An online auction will sell 46 prized works of renowned Turkish-Armenian photographer Ara Guler on Sunday, according to the head of an Istanbul auction house.Ugur Yegin, a Turkish art collector and owner of Istanbul Muzayede, an auction house in the Turkish metropolis, told Anadolu Agency that Guler's photographs had never been auctioned in Turkey in this quantity before.The famous photographer's works will be auctioned between for prices of 400-4,000 Turkish liras ($58-582), Yegin said."It's possible to see the photos printed by Ara Guler in the collections of some private museums and galleries," he added.Accord…

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Bosnia marks 25th anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide. yenisafak.com Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, bidding farewell to nine newly identified victims of the massacre at a memorial service.Every year on July 11, newly identified victims of the genocide are laid to rest at a memorial cemetery in Potocari, eastern Bosnia. Thousands of visitors from various countries attend the service.The memorial center is the focal point of remembrance for friends and relatives of the victims, mostly men and boys, murdered by Bosnian Serb militias.At this year's ceremony, world leaders sent video messages on the anniversary of the gen…

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 378 to 198,556. yenisafak.com The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 378 to 198,556, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday.The reported death toll rose by six to 9,060, the tally showed.

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Germany could take further public stakes in companies: minister. yenisafak.com Germany will take further stakes in companies threatened by the coronavirus crisis, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said, adding that "probably a few dozen" firms might follow airline group Lufthansa in passing into partial state ownership.Shareholders backed a 9 billion euro government bailout last month, securing the future of Germany's flagship carrier after it was brought to the brink of collapse by the travel slump caused by the pandemic.In an interview with Saturday's Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper, Altmaier said: "We're talking about perhaps a few dozen cases. In these very limited number of cases we wil…

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Russia reports 6,611 new coronavirus infections. yenisafak.com Russia on Saturday reported 6,611 new coronavirus cases, taking its nationwide tally of infections to 720,547.The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 188 people had died from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 11,205.Russia said 497,446 people have recovered from the virus.

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Focus on low-performing students will add $6.3T to Turkish economy. yenisafak.com Turkey has seen good progress over the last decade, not just enrolling more students in education but also raising the learning standards of these students, said Andreas Schleicher, founder of Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)."I am hopeful that Turkey will see further improvements in the years to come," he added.Schleicher, who is head of education at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which runs PISA, said, the COVID-19 struck at a point when most education systems were simply not ready for the digital learning."If Turkey can address the needs of the lowest-perf…

yenisafak (2020-07-11). Wanted terrorist neutralized in eastern Turkey. yenisafak.com A terrorist wanted by Turkish security forces was neutralized in the eastern Erzurum province, the country's Interior Ministry announced on Saturday.Halis Eroglu, codenamed Hejar, was neutralized by provincial gendarmerie forces in an operation in the rural area of Senkaya district, the ministry said in a statement.It said the terrorist was in the gray category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list and carried a bounty of 500,000 Turkish liras (nearly $73,000).The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange, and gray.An AK-47 rifle, a pist…

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-11). 'Srebrenica genocide began as Europe failed to uphold duties'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 11 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Srebrenica genocide began as Europe failed to uphold its basic duties.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-11). Europe has learned no lessons from Srebrenica Genocide. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 12 (MNA) — Despite all tragedy, tears, European politicians have learned no lessons from Srebrenica Genocide, says Turkish president.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-11). Iran helps Azerbaijan with providing water to its cities. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 11 (MNA) — Officials in Azerbaijan announced on Saturday that Iran helped the country in solving the problem of water shortage in some border areas.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-11). Iran opposes OPCW's decision over Syria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 11 (MNA) — Iranian ambassador to the Netherlands called the new decision of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) over Syria unbalanced and a step towards politicizing the organization.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-11). Iran-Serbia bilateral ties on development track: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 11 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Serbia said that bilateral relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Serbia is on the track of development and growth.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-11). Turkey, UK very close to free trade deal: Cavusoglu. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 11 (MNA) — Turkey and the UK are "very close" to signing a free trade agreement for…

_____ (2020-07-11). The First NATO: British and French Joint Aggressions in the Mid-19th Century. strategic-culture.org The two most militarily powerful nations in the West, both free to project naval power and maritime domination anywhere in the world, get together to punish and overthrow regimes they find guilty of human rights abuses and political repression in the name of human rights and promoting democracy: What could possibly go wrong? | It is of course NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's new call for NATO, which has already over the past decade exercised its nation-building and promotion of enlightened regime policies with such brilliant success in Ukraine, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan to spread its mantle of protect…

RT (2020-07-10). 'Slap in the face': ers rally against Macron-backed new French interior minister accused of rape. rt.com Women's-rights s took to the streets in Paris and other cities in France to decry the appointment of Gerald Darmanin as interior minister. Darmanin is subject to an ongoing rape investigation. | Dozens of s bearing signs condemning Darmanin and rape culture in general greeted the new interior minister as he arrived in Dijon early on Friday. He was visiting the capital of Burgundy with Prime Minister Jean Castex to show support to the local police after the city was rocked by massive riots last month. | A still larger crowd ed the controversial cabinet appointment in Paris later on in the…

yenisafak (2020-07-10). Putin, Russian Security Council discuss Libyan crisis. yenisafak.com "The situation in Libya was discussed with an emphasis on the absence of alternative to a ful settlement in this country," the Kremlin said in a statement on its official website following the meeting.Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.Libya's new government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to the military offensive by warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces.The UN recognizes the Libyan government headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj as the country's legitimate authority.

RT (2020-07-10). French police DESTROY Calais migrant camp and send over 500 to reception centers. rt.com French police have torn down a migrant camp in Calais, arrested 20 people and sent over 500 residents of the makeshift shelters to reception centers. It was the first operation of its kind in months. | The operation began at 5am at the Dunes industrial area of Calais, and "took place in ," the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais said in a statement, although Reuters photographs show tear gas being deployed and men throwing objects at the police. | | Migrants throw objects at French police officers in a cloud of tear gas as police dismantle a makeshift shelter camp in Calais, France July 10, 2020. © Reuters…

_____ (2020-07-10). Serbia Explosion — Vuƒçiƒá Caught Between Coronavirus and Color Revolution. strategic-culture.org On the evenings of July 7th and 9th, a wave of unrest swept through several Serbian cities — chiefly Belgrade — in opposition to an announcement from Vuƒçiƒá that Belgrade would return to the government mandated coronavirus quarantine lockdowns. | Largely the s were ful if energetic, with the vast majority of ers of all ages and walks of life observing norms and voicing their opposition to the announcement that quarantine would return. Many of those ing were not anti-Vuƒçiƒá per se, and their issues were not political in the ele…

WSWS (2020-07-10). The collapse of the New York Times' "Russian bounties" campaign. wsws.org Less than two weeks after it kicked off a media frenzy, the Times published an editorial effectively conceding that there was no factual basis for its reporting that Russian military intelligence had paid bounties to Taliban fighters to kill American soldiers.

WSWS (2020-07-10). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Mark Fiore (2020-07-10). Screen Shot 2020-07-09 at 11.57.46 AM.png. progressive.org With Democrats increasing the impeachment pressure, of course President Trump and his supporters would go after a decorated combat veteran who was a refugee.

Melvin Goodman (2020-07-10). The Washington Post and Its Cold War Drums. counterpunch.org The Washington Post has taken its Cold War campaign against China, Russia, and Iran to a new level. In the Sunday edition of its Outlook section,…

Staff (2020-07-10). Srebrenica At 25: Have We Learned Anything? therealnews.com In 1995, between July 11-22, Serbian forces murdered 8,327 defenseless Bosnians in an act of genocide. What's happened to international law and outrage over crimes against humanity?

Vijay Prashad (2020-07-10). The U.S. and UK are a Wrecking Ball Crew Against the Pillars of Internationalism. counterpunch.org On January 9, 2020, Ambassador Karen Pierce—the United Kingdom's permanent representative to the United Nations—spoke at a meeting on the UN Charter. "Nobody could accuse the founding members of a lack of ambition when they drafted the Charter," Ambassador Pierce said. "But at times, the United Nations has often suffered from an almost unbridgeable gap

Anand Naidoo (2020-07-10). The Heat: U.S.-Russia ties. america.cgtn.com The Russia factor. How will relations between United States and Russia fare in an all-important election year?>

RT (2020-07-10). Netherlands to take Russia to European Court of Human Rights over 'role' in MH17 crash. rt.com The Dutch government has said it will file a suit against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). It alleges that Moscow played a part in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. | "Today, the Dutch government decided to bring Russia before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) for its role in the downing of Flight MH17,"

RT (2020-07-10). Dutch lawsuit with ECHR alleging Russia played part in MH17 downing will only further 'complicate' search for truth — Moscow. rt.com Russia had nothing to do with the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, but it'll work with the European Court of Human Rights if the Netherlands files a law suit, Moscow has said. | Earlier on Thursday, the government of the Netherlands announced that it was planning to take Russia to the Strasbourg Court, alleging that Moscow had played "a role" in the plane crash six year ago, in which 298 lives, mostly of Dutch citizens, were lost. | Russia's Ministry of Justice countered in a statement that the ECHR hadn't yet informed it of the Dutch complaint. But if it's filed eventuall…

RT (2020-07-10). Trump commutes sentence of ally Roger Stone, sentenced to 6 years in 'Russiagate' probe. rt.com US President Donald Trump has commuted the 'Russiagate' sentence of Roger Stone, a political operative who briefly worked on his 2016 campaign, just as Stone was ordered to report to prison to serve time behind bars. | Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Stone in February to 40 months in prison for obstruction of justice, another 18 months for witness tampering, and 12 months for making false statements to Congress — but the sentences are to run concurrently, so the maximum time Stone would have spend behind bars is three and a half years. | The charges stemmed from the investigation by special counsel Rob…

RT (2020-07-10). Russia & China veto Western resolution on keeping Syria-Turkey border crossings open, but Moscow's counter-proposal fails. rt.com A Russian UN Security Council resolution on Syrian-Turkish border crossings has been rejected, after Moscow and Beijing vetoed a draft by Western members who sought to reopen the checkpoints outside of government control. | The international body, working in an online format due to the coronavirus pandemic, rejected the Russian proposal with four votes in favor, seven against, and four abstentions. It is the fourth time that a vote on the rival measures has failed, with the council struggling to reach a compromise as the mandate of the border crossings expires on Friday. | Earlier on Friday, 13 out of 15 Secur…

RT (2020-07-10). Trump commutes sentence of ally Roger Stone, jailed for 6 years in 'Russiagate' probe. rt.com US President Donald Trump has commuted the 'Russiagate' sentence of Roger Stone, a political operative who briefly worked on his 2016 campaign, just as Stone was ordered to report to prison to serve time behind bars. | Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Stone in February to 40 months in prison for obstruction of justice, another 18 months for witness tampering, and 12 months for making false statements to Congress — but the sentences are to run concurrently, so the maximum time Stone would have spent behind bars is three-and-a-half years. | The charges stemmed from the investigation by Special Counsel Rob…

RT (2020-07-10). New evidence shows FBI knew General Flynn was not 'agent of Russia' but prosecuted him anyway. rt.com President Donald Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn was "not acting as an agent of Russia" by the FBI's own determination, yet the Mueller probe was based on that claim and his legal odyssey still continues. | New evidence provided by the Justice Department to Flynn's legal team this week, and made public on Friday as part of a court filing, shows that the FBI determined Flynn wasn't a Russian agent, and believed he did not deliberately lie to agents during his January 2017 interview. | A handwritten document shows the officials believed there were no reasonable grounds for prosecution under…

RT (2020-07-10). New evidence shows the FBI knew General Flynn was not 'agent of Russia' but prosecuted him anyway. rt.com President Donald Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn was "not acting as an agent of Russia" by the FBI's own determination, yet the Mueller probe was based on that claim and his legal odyssey still continues. | New evidence provided by the Justice Department to Flynn's legal team this week, and made public on Friday as part of a court filing, shows that the FBI determined Flynn wasn't a Russian agent, and believed he did not deliberately lie to agents during his January 2017 interview. | A handwritten document shows the officials believed there were no reasonable grounds for prosecution under…

RT (2020-07-10). US 'disappointed' in Turkey's Hagia Sophia mosque conversion. rt.com The US State Department is "disappointed" by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to reopen Istanbul's historic Hagia Sophia as a mosque. Erdogan's decision has been roundly criticized ahead of the move. | The Islamic call to prayer will ring out from the sixth-century Hagia Sophia again on July 24, Erdogan announced on Friday, after he issued a decree turning the UNESCO World Heritage Site over to the country's religious directorate. Though the building will be rededicated as a mosque, Erdogan has promised to allow all faiths to visit the iconic site. | The US is "disappointed" in Erdogan's decis…