(2020-07-29). Rev. Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church on Legacy of John Lewis & Ongoing Fight for Voting Rights. democracynow.org 
We look at the life and legacy of late civil rights icon and Georgia Congressmember John Lewis, who is being mourned across the U.S. and who became the first Black politician to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. "The irony of this moment is that even as we celebrate and honor John Lewis, the patron saint of voting rights, he hailed from the state which in many instances is ground zero for voter suppression," says Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, who serves as senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, was with Lewis in the final days of his life and will preside over his memorial service. "In recen…
(2020-07-29). An ultra-parasitical global financial system that enjoys unwavering protection. mronline.org 
During the evolution of the pandemic in Europe, the financial system has received little attention in the media. It was only at the end of February/beginning of March that a very sharp fall in the stock markets made the front page of newspapers and television broadcasts.
(2020-07-29). Has anything changed since 1840? Trade, imperialism, Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta megacity. mronline.org 
In modern times, China has been the ultimate challenge for imperialists: it's independence being an enigma to Europeans and Americans. From Marco Polo to Mike Pompeo, China has been a mystery to Christian crusaders.
(2020-07-29). The UK's Russia Report on the "Londongrad Laundromat" counterpunch.org 
The UK parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), drawn from MPs and peers of all parties, last week published its report on possible Russian interference in UK politics. The report's release had been delayed by 9 months after it had been blocked by Boris "BoJo" Johnson in the run-up to the December 2019 general election.
(2020-07-29). US officials claim Russia is behind the spread of virus disinformation. thecanary.co 
US officials say Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation about the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.The officials alleged Russian operatives have acted in seeking to exploit a crisis the US is struggling to contain ahead of the presidential election in November.Two Russians who have held senior roles in Moscow's military intelligence service known as the GRU have been identified as responsible for the effort to reach American and western audiences, according to the US government officials, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The i…
(2020-07-29). Michigan inn owners remove Norwegian flag after taking flak from folk mistaking it for Confederacy banner. rt.com 
What is red, has a white and blue cross and may make people call you a racist? A Norwegian flag… which owners of a Michigan inn decided to pull down after too many people got angry, thinking it represented the Confederacy.
(2020-07-29). 'Cruel' evictions in France are causing a spike in channel crossings, aid workers say. thecanary.co 
"Cruel" evictions of people from camps in Calais are at their highest intensity for years and attempts to cross the English Channel have risen as a result, campaigners have claimed.Aid workers in northern France say police evictions are happening at the highest levels since the 'Jungle' camp was cleared in 2016.In one incident, more than 500 people were put onto buses and moved away ahead of a visit from UK home secretary Priti Patel earlier this month.Clare Moseley, founder of the humanitarian charity Care4Calais, said conditions in the French city are as bad as she has seen since 2016 and criticised police tact…
(2020-07-29). Turkish parliament approves social media law with strict new powers. thecanary.co 
Turkey's parliament has approved a law that gives authorities greater power to regulate social media despite growing concerns over censorship.The law requires major social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to keep representative offices in Turkey to deal with complaints against content on their platforms.If a social media company refuses to designate an official representative, the legislation mandates steep fines, advertising bans and bandwidth reductions.With a court ruling, bandwidth would be reduced by 50% and then by 50% to 90%. Bandwidth reductions mean social media networks would be too slow to…
(2020-07-29). Group of European MPs say 'no' to W.Bank annexation by Israel. yenisafak.com A group of European MPs from the UK, France, Ireland, and Belgium have released a statement on Wednesday to reject the "illegal plan" of Israel's annexation of part of the occupied West Bank.Convened by Stephen Kinnock, a British MP and the co-chair of the Britain-Palestine All-Party Parliamentary Group, the lawmakers agreed to challenge and seek to deter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial plan.Prompting parliamentary colleagues from Europe and the US to sign their statement to oppose the proposed annexation, the group also appealed the public members to forward it to their local MPs.- 'No…
(2020-07-29). U.S. Is Pushing for a New Provocation Against Serbia over the Kosovo Issue. globalresearch.ca Belgrade and Pristina have resumed dialogue in Brussels, but the recent delivery of American-made armored vehicles to Kosovo could make the talks difficult and signifies Washington is once again attempting to destabilize the Balkans. Serbia and Kosovo returned to the …
(2020-07-29). CHC #6 — Behind the Armenia — Azerbaijan conflict. thealtworld.com Counter Hegemonic Chat #6. Tim and Jay discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and its roots with Mia Shouha, graduate student who wrote a thesis on this matter and has traveled extensively in the region.
(2020-07-29). Progressives denounce Poland's plan to quit treaty on violence against women. peoplesdispatch.org The conservative government in Poland has decided to quit the Istanbul Convention, which is a Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence…
(2020-07-29). Greece: Masks mandatory in more places as virus spreads. yenisafak.com Over 50 more coronavirus cases were recorded in Greece over the past 24 hours, health authorities said on Wednesday.A total of 52 more people tested positive for COVID-19, including seven who were checked while entering the country, according to the National Organization for Public Health (EODY).As infections continue to rise, the government has made masks mandatory in more public places starting Wednesday, including food and retail stores, hair salons, banks, and public service offices.People were already required to wear masks in markets, public transport, cafes, and restaurants since Greece started easing its…
(2020-07-29). Thirty-three Russians arrested in Belarus. yenisafak.com Thirty-three Russian nationals allegedly linked to the private military company Wagner were arrested in Belarus last night, the country's state news agency Belta said on Wednesday.According to Belta, the law enforcement bodies followed the suspects from the moment of their arrival in Belarus.It said a total of 200 Wagner mercenaries came to the country "to destabilize the situation during the presidential election campaign". The Investigative Committee is probing the detained individuals.Belarus will hold its presidential election on Aug. 9, and earlier, acting President Alexander Lukashenko voiced concern over p…
(2020-07-29). Merkel ally: US decision to withdraw troops from Germany weakens NATO. yenisafak.com A senior member of Chancellor Angel Merkel's conservatives has criticised a U.S. decision to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany and move its European headquarters to Belgium."Instead of strengthening NATO, the troop withdrawal will weaken the alliance," Norbert Roettgen, chairman of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, told Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper."The effectiveness of the U.S. military is not increased but reduced, especially with a view to Russia and ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East," Roettgen added.The U.S. military said on Wednesday it would move its headquarters out…
(2020-07-29). Quo Vadis, Aida? by Bosnian director to vie in Venice. yenisafak.com With Turkey's state broadcaster TRT among co-producers, Bosnian director's film Quo Vadis, Aida? will compete for the grand prize at the Venice Film Festival this year.Set in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 during the Serbian occupation of Srebrenica, where one of the world's most horrific genocides took place in the heart of Europe, the drama will be among 18 films in the main competition of the festival which will be held between Sept. 2-12.A film by Bosnian director Jasmila Zbanic, Quo Vadis, Aida? tells the story of Aida, a translator for the UN peacekeeping task force in Bosnia. It is co-produced by Bosnia, T…
(2020-07-29). EU signs $74M contract for coronavirus drug. yenisafak.com The European Commission signed a ‚Ǩ63 million ($74 million) contract with US drug firm Gilead to secure COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, the EU institution announced on Wednesday. | The agreement will cover the treatment of approximately 30,000 patients with severe symptoms of the novel coronavirus. | The procurement is financed by the EU budget and the medicine will be distributed among EU members states and the UK from August. | "The [European] Commission is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to secure access to safe and efficient treatments, and is supporting the development of vaccines a…
(2020-07-29). Germany to introduce mandatory COVID tests for travellers next week. yenisafak.com New rules for mandatory coronavirus tests for travellers entering Germany from countries designated as risk areas are due to come into effect next week, a spokeswoman for the country's health ministry said on Wednesday at a regular news conference.Germany announced plans on Monday for free, mandatory coronavirus tests for holidaymakers returning from high-risk countries in order to slow the spread of infections as the holiday season kicks into high gear.
(2020-07-29). Police seize record 195 kg of heroin in eastern Turkey. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces seized a record 195 kilograms (429 pounds) of heroin in an anti-narcotics operation in the eastern province of Malatya, the local governorate said on Wednesday.Anti-narcotics force found the illegal drugs when they stopped a truck at a checkpoint. During the search, assisted by a sniffer dog, 375 packs of heroin hidden in the trunk, were recovered.Police seized the illicit items, and held two suspects allegedly involved in their transportation.Malatya governor Aydin Barus said that since the beginning of 2020, local police and gendarmerie forces have conducted 814 anti-drug operations, rou…
(2020-07-29). Turkey's AK Party deputy tests positive for coronavirus. yenisafak.com A lawmaker of Turkey's ruling party announced Tuesday that he tested positive for the new coronavirus.In a written statement, Huseyin Sanverdi, a deputy of Justice and Development (AK) Party from the southern Hatay province, said he is under care in the state hospital for COVID-19."Thank God, I do not feel the severe symptoms of the virus that will negatively affect my health," said Sanverdi.Sanverdi was among the people who attended the reopening of Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia as a mosque last week.He denied allegations that the rules to wear protective mask and social distancing were not followed."Everyone a…
(2020-07-29). Turkey launches new anti-terror operation in east. yenisafak.com With 1,006 personnel, Turkey has launched a new anti-terror operation in its eastern Tunceli province, the country's Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.In a statement, the ministry said Operation Yildirim-4 was launched on Tuesday to "completely eliminate the separatist terror group from the country's agenda and to neutralize terrorists taking shelter in the region."A total of 1,006 security personnel, including gendarmerie commandos, gendarmerie special operations and police special forces as well as security guards, are taking part in the operation, added the statement.Also, operations Yildirim, Yildirim-…
(2020-07-29). Turkey to display seized historical artifacts in museum. yenisafak.com Some 155 historical artifacts seized during a police raid in the Aegean province of Aydin will be displayed in a museum, said an official on Wednesday.The historical artifacts including statues, oil lamps and rings plus 2,300 ancient coins were seized in the Nazilli district on July 24 and handed over to Aphrodisias Museum in Aydin.Umut Tuncer, the provincial director of culture and tourism, told Anadolu Agency that most of the delivered artifacts were genuine and that the analysis process continues for others.Noting that the police operation was one of the biggest operations in Aydin in terms of quality, Tuncer…
(2020-07-29). Paris Will Not Accept Brexit Deal at Any Price, French Minister Says. sputniknews.com The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said last week that an EU-UK trade agreement was "unlikely" as London was not showing a "due level of engagement" in the Brexit talks.
(2020-07-29). 'It Does Damage': Assembly of World's Largest Fusion Reactor Begins Despite 'Huge Problems' – Expert. sputniknews.com Assembly of the world's largest nuclear fusion reactor started at the Cadarache facility in southern France, despite the fact that the the reactor is not radioactive waste-free and costs huge sums of money that could instead be used to address urgent needs in the world, Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog with Beyond Nuclear, told Sputnik.
(2020-07-29). Surprise for the Enemy: What to Know About Rafale Jets as India's Air Power Receives Major Boost. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a 2016 government-to-government deal at a cost of $8.7 billion. The delivery of the jets, which began in October 2019, will be completed by 2022. India urged France to expedite the delivery amid heightened tensions with China along the border.
(2020-07-29). Iranian Missiles Land Near UAE Air Base Where India's Rafale Jets Were Stationed: US Media Reports. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The first batch of Rafale fighter jets are set to arrive in India's Ambala Air Base on Wednesday afternoon after covering the 7,000 kilometers from France. The jets were stationed overnight at the Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE. The same air base houses US and French troops and aircraft.
(2020-07-29). India Celebrates Induction of Five French Rafale Jets to Its Depleting Air Fleet. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian Air Force has a shortage of around 10 squadrons of combat aircraft after phasing out its MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter planes. The induction of French Rafale jets on Wednesday was the first to take place in two decades – last time, India bought 270 Su-30 MKI from Russia in staggered contracts in the late 1990s.
(2020-07-29). VIDEO: Two trains collide in Russia. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — Two cargo trains collided with each other in Russia on Wed. due to the falling sleep of driver of one of the trains, injuring two people and causing trains to derail.
(2020-07-29). Iran, Turkey stress expansion of cultural, media coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman in a virtual conversation with his Turkish counterpart discussed the cultural and media cooperation between the two countries.
(2020-07-28). Spain hits out at UK's 'error' over coronavirus travel warning. thecanary.co 
Boris Johnson's government faces a diplomatic storm with Spain and warnings that its policy on travel to the country risks major damage to business and confusion for holidaymakers.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned against all but essential travel to Spain's Balearic and Canary Islands, having already issued the same advice for the mainland.Travellers from all parts of Spain are required to quarantine for a fortnight on arrival in the UK, a change imposed at short notice over the weekend. | Travel advice for
(2020-07-28). Russian envoy appreciates Kuchma's work on Donbass settlement as ex-Ukrainian president leaves contact group. rt.com 
Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma did a lot to make sure that Kiev implements its obligations under the Minsk agreements, Russian presidential envoy to the Contact Group on the settlement in Donbass, Boris Gryzlov, has said. He was commenting Tuesday on Kuchma's decision to step down as head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Minsk talks on the conflict in eastern Ukraine. | "The approval of additional measures to monitor the ceasefire in Donbass, which was the last of the Contact Group's moves that involved Kuchma, is an important step in the right direction," Gryzlov said. He noted that Kuchma "took a…
(2020-07-28). 'Why don't we focus on now?' Pressed over Trump campaign spying, Obama adviser 'recreates' Hillary's infamous Benghazi moment. rt.com 
Former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett was grilled on the Steele Dossier and the FBI spying on the Trump campaign live on TV, but tried to dodge the topic altogether, earning comparisons to Hillary Clinton from conservatives. | Confronted by a Fox Business anchor with mounting
(2020-07-28). Taking from crooks to give to the old? Russian finance ministry to seize unexplained bank funds & transfer them to pension pot. rt.com 
It's not quite Robin Hood, but it's close. Russia's Ministry of Finance is planning to transfer the confiscated suspicious savings of Russian citizens to the country's pension fund, according to newly proposed amendments. | So, if you can't prove where your money came from, it's going to the old folks. | As things stand, illegally held assets can be seized by the state. If the proposed new amendments pass through parliament, any money taken because the owner can't prove the source of the moolah will be sent to the Russian Pension Fund (PFR), which is responsible for payments to pensioners and other forms of so…
(2020-07-28). Anyone for a 'CoronaBurger?' Crimean fast-food PR ploy falls flat as Covid fails to whet the appetite. rt.com 
Who says that a pandemic can't have a silver lining? In Sevastopol, on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, a fast food restaurant called 'Covid-Burger' has popped up, hoping to cash in on the hype. | Local entrepreneurs developed a brand new burger concept inspired by the Coronavirus epidemic – but customers aren't so interested. | The burger joint's cashier, who spoke to a journalist from the local edition of national daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, explained the restaurant is the same as before – just rebranded. | "The name is just a trick, we are fighting the coronavirus, before that we just sold burgers," the c…
(2020-07-28). Turkey wants to reopen all schools on August 31 if coronavirus cases keep receding — report. rt.com 
Turkey plans to reopen schools nationwide on August 31 to free up students' working parents, assuming a recent stabilization in coronavirus cases holds. The daily infection rate may need to dip below the more than 900 seen recently to allow Ankara to execute its Plan A, government sources told Reuters. | Schools shifted to distance education in March, when Turkey identified its first case and began restricting movement. Much of the economy reopened on June 1, after the school year ended, but masks and other hygiene measures are still required in public. | "If the number of cases decreases, all schools will be…
(2020-07-28). Swedish activist cycles for Gaza. yenisafak.com A Swedish activist is cycling 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) to raise funds for Palestinian children.Benjamin Ladraa, on the eighth day of her journey, told Anadolu Agency that the campaign aimed at raising funds for 3,000 children in Palestine who have lost their limbs due to Israel's attacks."We are helping them with prosthetic legs, rehabilitation and with mental health care through this fundraiser," he added.The bike ride started from the Swedish city of Gothenburg and will end in Abisko in Sweden, Ladraa said.Ladraa — along with 12 people– started the 33-day journey on July 20."Today is Day 8 and we have c…
(2020-07-28). China's Vision in a Post-COVID World. globalresearch.ca On 13 July an international newscast reported that the European Commission will discuss as a priority on how the EU should react to China's national security law for Hong Kong, a sovereign decision taken by Beijing to protect the citizens …
(2020-07-28). US Threatens European backers of Nord Stream 2 Pipeline, NATO in DC's Crosshairs. mintpressnews.com The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is nearing completion despite all the best efforts by the U.S. to stop its construction, causing a rift between Washington and its largest European ally and the potential end of NATO.
(2020-07-28). Spain's Podemos hails €750 billion EU bank bailout for COVID-19 crisis. wsws.org The EU bailout Iglesias calls a "breath of fresh air" is the roll-out across Europe of the model of Greek bailouts after the 2008 crash, to repay trillions of euros given to the rich.
(2020-07-28). Retail workers strike in France as wage cuts and layoffs spread. wsws.org The unions' central concern is to prevent a movement of the entire working class in France and across Europe against layoffs and European Union austerity measures.
(2020-07-28). Les trois premières fautes de Jean Castex. thealtworld.com Sans aucun doute, Jean Castex est un brillant haut fonctionnaire. Mais cela n'en fait pas l'homme de la situation pour devenir Premier ministre de la France. Il n'a pas réfléchi à la manière de restaurer le pacte social face à la globalisation financière et se satisfait de mesures pour acheter la paix sociale à court terme. Dès sa nomination, il a montré qu'il ne voulait pas réformer la classe politique, qu'il se contentait de lutter contre la pandémie en faisant comme les autres, et qu'il soutenait le projet maastrichien conàßu durant la Guerre froide. | L'administration franàßaise fonctionne très bi…
(2020-07-28). Jean Castex's first three errors. thealtworld.com
(2020-07-28). Germany's "voluntary military service": Government recruits for army deployments at home and abroad. wsws.org The programme has two key goals: a major deployment of the army domestically, and the recruitment of new soldiers for external wars.
(2020-07-28). Hungarians rally for press freedom. peoplesdispatch.org Hungary is ranked the second-worst in the EU with regard to freedom of press by Reporters Without Borders. There have been a number of previous instances of pro-Orban forces and individuals gaining control over media outlets critical of the government.
(2020-07-28). Mass protests continue in Russian Far East. wsws.org Demonstrators expressed anger over social inequality and the federal government's infringement of regional authorities and laws.
(2020-07-28). Johnson demands two-week UK quarantine for 600,000 Britons holidaying in Spain. wsws.org Spain was taken off the government's "safe-travel" list with a few hours' notice, after being put on it just weeks earlier…
(2020-07-28). Human Rights Fraud from Ukraine to Nicaragua. globalresearch.ca Current Western human rights industry practice has nothing to do with establishing the truth. Increasingly in recent years, US and allied elites have sought to legitimize illegal aggression by exploiting human rights motifs in their attempts to recolonize the majority …
(2020-07-28). Signs of virus 2nd wave appearing in Europe: PM Johnson. yenisafak.com The British premier on Tuesday warned "the signs of a second wave" of the coronavirus are appearing in some European countries.Speaking to Sky News during a visit to Nottingham, Boris Johnson said his government's job is to take measures when they see those signs."What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we think that the risks are starting to bubble up again," Johnson said, defending his government's decision of a blanket quarantine introduced to all those arriving from Spain."Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe, amongst some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are st…
(2020-07-28). Re-globalization is hallmark of post-COVID-19 world: Spanish FM. yenisafak.com Turkey and Spain have decided to extend their Alliance of Civilization agenda for further 15 years to address issues like xenophobia and discrimination in societies.At the end of her first visit outside the European Union (EU) after the COVID-19 lockdown, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive conversation in Ankara that both countries have agreed to invest a little bit more in redefining a positive agenda of Alliance of Civilization for the next 15 years and diversify it further to combat extremism.In the wake of tragic events of 9/11 both countries had set up the agen…
(2020-07-28). German health agency concerned over COVID-19 surge. yenisafak.com Germany's disease control agency on Tuesday warned of an imminent second wave of coronavirus in the country amid a drastic rise in cases.Speaking at a televised news briefing, Robert Koch Institute head Lothar H. Wieler said: "We are in a rapidly developing pandemic. For a few days now, we have seen again the number of cases increase significantly."He went on to say 3,611 new cases were reported nationwide over the past seven days."The latest developments in the number of cases make me and everyone at the Robert Koch Institute very concerned," Wieler said.He cautioned this could be the beginning of the feared sec…