Daily Archives: June 3, 2020

2020-06-03: News Headlines

WSWS (2020-06-03). Sweeping attacks on migrant workers in Russia amid COVID-19 pandemic. wsws.org The Russian government is considering the creation of a vast database that contains foreign workers' biometric information, health histories, legal and "social" status, and criminal records.

M.K. Bhadrakumar (2020-06-02). NATO returns to Libya to challenge Russia. mronline.org The great game in Libya has begun surging with the United States shedding its strategic ambivalence and resorting to a proactive role. At the end of May, the Pentagon marked a dramatic escalation by accusing Moscow of bolstering "Kremlin-linked mercenaries" who are allegedly helping Khalifa Haftar, the eastern warlord in Libya.

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-06-02). Will Italy be the Next Country to Leave EU? globalresearch.ca On May 27, the political movement Italia Libera submitted a constitutional bill to the Supreme Court of Cassation demanding a referendum for Italy to leave the EU. After years of discussions, the foundation stone was laid for Italians to debate …

Zero Hedge (2020-06-02). Susan Rice Goes Full Conspiracy Rant on CNN: 'Russians Behind Race Protest Mayhem!'. globalresearch.ca "This is fuxxing lunacy — conspiratorial madness of the worst kind — but it's delivered by a Serious Obama Official and a Respected Mainstream Newscaster so it's all fine," Intercept journalist Glenn Greenwald

Mike Whitney (2020-06-02). Sweden's Triumph; Staying Free in a Lockdown World. globalresearch.ca Why is the media so preoccupied with Sweden? And why is the media so determined to prove that Sweden's approach to the coronavirus is wrong? Are we supposed to believe that the same MSM that promoted every bloody coup, intervention …

South Front (2020-06-02). Video: Syrian Air Force Received Batch of MIG-29 Jets From Russia. globalresearch.ca Russia has intensified its military involvement in the Syrian conflict. | On May 30, Syrian state media announced that it had received a batch of MiG-29 multirole fighters from Russia. Damascus did not provide details regarding the number of the received …

teleSUR (2020-06-02). Thousands Attend #BlackLivesMatter Protests in Paris. telesurenglish.net Thousands of people demonstrated Tuesday in Paris, France, defying a ban to protest over the death of a young black man in French police custody in 2016. | RELATED: | Using slogans in English such as "Black Lives Matter" and "I can't breathe," protesters echoed the protest movement in the United States (U.S.) over the police killing last week of unarmed black man, George Floyd. | "Today we are not just talking abo…

Max Parry (2020-06-02). The Pandemic Revives Fears the U.S. Is Developing 'Ethnic Bioweapons' Against Russia. globalresearch.ca It has been 75 years since the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Russia postponed its annual Victory Day celebrations last month due to the health crisis as …

teleSUR (2020-06-02). Easy Jet to Resume Flights to European Destinations in August. telesurenglish.net The EasyJet airline Tuesday announced plans to restart flights in most of its routes this summer, with flights from all of its U.K. airports during July and August. | RELATED: | EasyJet will fly half of its 1,022 routes in July and 75% in August, although with lower frequencies. | This will represent just under a third of its normal capacity in the high season. | The move comes after it announced that it would reduc…

WSWS (2020-06-02). Germany and EU expand military deployment in Africa. wsws.org German imperialism sees the crisis as an opportunity to assert its global geopolitical interests by force of arms.

Fight Back (2020-06-03). Greece: "Solidarity with the Struggle of the Workers and People of USA Against Barbarism" fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the influential Greek labor organization, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), that was sent to AFSCME Local 3800. | PAME, a member of the WFTU, expresses its solidarity with the workers and the people of the United States who are on the streets of rage against barbarism and misery. | The assassination of George Floyd was another death toll in the world's richest country. Murdered either by racism or by poverty. The pain and misery of millions of poor Americans is shared by that of the thousands of Greek immigrants in USA, as well as the…

Andrey Areshev (2020-06-02). So Who Defeated the Nazi Germany? strategic-culture.org

RT (2020-06-02). Ming the pantless! Politician caught on VIDEO stream attending European parliament in underwear. rt.com Irish politician Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has taken video conferencing calamities to extraordinary new heights by being caught on camera attending a European Parliament committee in his underpants. | MEPs have been participating in European Parliament debates via video link due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development was plodding along at a pedestrian pace on Tuesday when all-of-a-sudden Flanagan was beamed onto the screens of everyone watching, sitting on a bed in a state of undress. | When putting his questions to the chairman the politician was seemingly unaware that t…

RT (2020-06-02). French govt launches virus tracing app as it allows people to go to restaurants & cafes. rt.com France is rolling out an official coronavirus contact-tracing app aimed at containing fresh outbreaks, as lockdown restrictions gradually ease. The French are able to download the StopCovid app on their Google Android devices and Apple iPhones starting Tuesday — the same day they are once again allowed to go to restaurants and cafes. | The country has become the first major European state to deploy the smartphone technology, amid a debate over privacy fears. The UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland are developing their own apps. They are using different technical protocols, raising questions about compatib…

RT (2020-06-02). German govt may swap EU travel warning for softer guidelines this week, FM Maas says. rt.com The German cabinet will on Wednesday discuss a resolution on downgrading the travel warnings currently in force for EU countries and several other associated states into softer guidelines, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said. | "We are preparing a resolution for the cabinet tomorrow, which is still being agreed within the government," Maas told reporters on Tuesday. | "This week, we want to start by turning the travel warning we have for the European Union and the associated countries into travel guidelines," Reuters quoted him as saying.

RT (2020-06-02). Czech Republic to classify states 'based on coronavirus risk' as it opens foreign travel from June 15. rt.com The Czech Republic will open up foreign travel from June 15. It also plans to introduce a system to classify other countries according to their coronavirus risk. | Prague will place 19 European states in the least-risky category under its new color-coded system. Travel to and from Britain and Sweden will be put in the riskiest category, Reuters said. | Czechs have undone most restrictions, with restaurants and hotels fully reopened on May 25. Tourism suffered as lockdown measures hit the economy. Only short-term business travelers from the EU, people in transit or students were allowed into the country. | Czec…

RT (2020-06-02). 'Understandable & more than legitimate': Germany backs 'peaceful' US protests. rt.com Berlin has voiced its support for what it calls "legitimate" and "understandable" protests that are raging across the US. Germany also expressed hope that protests don't "turn violent" — which they already have. | The support for civil unrest, sparked by the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at hands of American police, was voiced by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday. | The peaceful protests that we see in the US, involving many moving gestures, including by American police officers, are understandable and more than legitimate. | "I can only express the hope that the peaceful protests d…

RT (2020-06-02). Be our guest! Russia invites Pentagon chief to take part in Victory Day parade. rt.com Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu invited US Defense Secretary Mark Esper to visit the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow. The 75th-anniversary event has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. | The rare invitation was made on Tuesday, when the two officials held phone talks, Russia's Defense Ministry revealed in a statement. | While the Red Square parade marking the victory over Nazi Germany is traditionally held on May 9, it has been postponed this year, owing to the coronavirus situation. Instead, the parade will be held on June 24 — the date on which the original Victory Day parade w…

RT (2020-06-02). US Ambassador to Germany Grenell steps down after 2 years in job — embassy spokesman. rt.com Controversial US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell has resigned after little more than two years in the job. "Ambassador Grenell resigned from his post and the State Department on June 1," Reuters quoted an embassy spokesman as saying on Tuesday. | Robin Quinville, deputy chief of mission at the embassy, will take over as charge d'affaires until a new ambassador is confirmed. As ambassador, Grenell, 53, has not been shy about voicing criticism of German policies on NATO and its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia. | In February, Trump had named his close political ally Grenell as acti…

RT (2020-06-02). Italy's opposition parties and supporters defy social distancing rules at anti-govt rally. rt.com Opposition parties and hundreds of supporters defied Italy's social distancing rules on Tuesday, gathering for an anti-government protest in Rome. The demonstration was organized by the League, Brothers of Italy and Go Italy parties, to protest against the coalition government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. | The event took place on the anniversary of a referendum on replacing the monarchy with a republic after the Second World War. | Protesters carried a large national flag along the Via del Corso, leading to the Piazza del Popolo in Rome's historic center. Many activists were not wearing face masks, w…

RT (2020-06-02). G7 is indeed outdated and out of touch, Moscow agrees with Trump, but without China it will stay that way. rt.com Moscow agrees with Donald Trump's criticism of G7 as a "very outdated" institution that does not represent "what's going on in the world," but cannot see how it can be improved without China's participation. | The US president lashed out at the group of seven major industrialized nations last week as he canceled a planned G7 summit in the US. The event was scheduled for June, but Trump said he wanted an extended meeting in September, and wanted Russia to attend. | "I'm postponing [the summit] because I don't feel, as a G7, it probably represents what's going on in the world. It's a very outdated group of count…

RT (2020-06-02). Australian PM Morrison accepts Trump's G7 invitation. rt.com Australia will accept an invitation to attend a Group of Seven (G7) nations meeting, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. | Last week, Trump said he will be postponing the G7 summit he had hoped to hold next month until September or later. He also wants to expand the list of invitees to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India. Trump called Morrison on Tuesday to extend the invitation and it was accepted, Reuters reported, citing a spokesman for the Australian prime minister. | Morrison has teamed up with the US in its tougher stance against China, Austral…

RT (2020-06-02). Cops FIRE rubber bullets at Sputnik journalist covering White House protests, outlet says. rt.com The police shot a US journalist working for Russian news outlet Sputnik with "rubber bullets" as she was covering protests near the White House on Tuesday, the outlet has reported. | Nicole Roussell said she got caught up in police violence in Washington DC when officers deployed anti-riot weapons against the protesting crowd. "I ran closer to get footage of what was happening and the police quickly began shooting what I think were a combination of stinger grenades and rubber bullets," she said. | The police shot projectiles at her despite her wearing a press badge and identifying herself as a journalist, s…

RT (2020-06-02). Turkish authorities issue detention warrants for 118 military, security personnel over suspected Gulen links. rt.com Turkey issued detention warrants for 118 people, mostly members of the military and security forces, who are suspected of links to the network that Ankara says was behind a 2016 coup attempt. | The Istanbul prosecutor's office said Tuesday that detention warrants had been issued for 42 military and gendarmerie personnel as a result of statements by previously detained people and analyses of payphone calls. Among them, 24 officers were on active duty. | It had requested the detention of 76 military, gendarmarie personnel and civilians in a separate operation, after determining they'd used payphones to contact m…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-02). Russia's State Duma Speaker calls for interaction between Iranian, Russian legislators. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 02 (MNA) — Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on Tue. called for interaction and cooperation between Iranian and Russian lawmakers with each other.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-02). US sanctions should not disrupt developing economic ties between Iran-Serbia. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 02 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the US sanctions should not create any obstacle in development of economic relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Serbia.

sputniknews (2020-06-02). COVID-19: Munich Bans Display of Nazi-Era Stars of David at Anti-Lockdown Protests. sputniknews.com Demonstrations against safety measures introduced to curb the spread of the disease continue in Germany, despite the authorities having eased some restrictions. Protests were held in major cities, including the capital Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, and Stuttgart.

sputniknews (2020-06-02). Over 20,000 People Rallying Against Police Violence in Paris, Reports Say. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – More than 19,000 people took to streets in Paris on Tuesday in protest against police violence that is believed by many to be the cause of death of black man Adama Traore in custody, the BFMTV broadcaster reported, citing a police source.

yenisafak (2020-06-03). Kosovo: Avdullah Hoti becomes new prime minister. yenisafak.com Kosovo Assembly on Wednesday elected Avdullah Hoti as the new prime minister of the country's sixth government since the declaring independence in 2008. | In an extraordinary session of the Kosovo Assembly, a new coalition government led by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Hoti was elected with 61 votes in favor, 24 votes against, and one abstention. The total strength of the House is 120. | With a majority of 61 votes required, the motion of electing the government was passed in a single vote. | Addressing to the Assembly before the vote, Hoti said that his government would protect Kosovo's territorial i…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). UN sends over 100 truckloads of aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com Transiting through Turkey, the UN on Tuesday sent 106 truckloads of humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria, where millions of people are in need of assistance due to internal conflict in the country.The trucks carrying supplies entered Idlib, Syria through the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's southern Hatay province.The aid will be distributed to residents of Idlib and nearby rural areas.Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN estimate…

sputniknews (2020-06-02). US Military Reportedly Mulls Pouring Money Into Unmanned Submarines Instead of Conventional Warships. sputniknews.com Unmanned technologies are slowly making their way into militaries around the world with at least Russia and China, alongside the US, already working on fielding unmanned submarines and even warships.

sputniknews (2020-06-02). 'Questions to Heaven': China to Carry Out Its First Mission to Mars This Summer. sputniknews.com China has set a goal to become a major space power as a means of catching up with Russia and the United States, pursuing ambitions to launch missions to the red planet and the Moon.

yenisafak (2020-06-02). European bank loans $67M to Turkey's key fruit producer. yenisafak.com The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Tuesday announced that it is providing a ‚Ǩ60 million loan (nearly $67 million) to Anadolu Etap, the leading fruit producer in the country. "Half of the loan has been syndicated to the Dutch development bank FMO under the EBRD's structure," according to a statement.Anadolu Etap supplies fruits and produces fruit puree, concentrates and juices that are sold throughout Turkey and 60 other countries.The new financing will help the company ensure continuous growth despite the uncertainty caused by the pandemic."A loan maturity of six yea…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Russia's PM says 2-year economic stimulus plan to cost 5 trln roubles. yenisafak.com Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Tuesday that Russia's economic stimulus plan to help the economy recover after the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown would cost Russia around 5 trillion roubles ($72.75 billion) over the next two years.Speaking to President Vladimir Putin at a televised government meeting, Mishustin also said the plan would require changes to be made to a spending plan that was announced by Putin before the crisis. ($1 = 68.7251 roubles)…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Turkish villagers proclaim themselves 'guardian angels' of | storks in bird haven. yenisafak.com Interest in bird-watching has reached a fever pitch after millions across the world became homebound amid the coronavirus pandemic as they discover a feast for the eyes in the comfort of their very own backyards.As Marcel Proust famously once said, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."However, a village in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya has been relishing in the pleasures of bird-watching and "looking with fresh eyes versus seeking new adventures elsewhere" as it hosts and protects dozens of storks every year during the late winter season. T…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Size of Turkey's ICT sector in 2019 topped $22B. yenisafak.com Turkey's information and communication technology (ICT) sector has reached a volume of 152.7 billion Turkish liras (about $22 billion), with sector employment and exports also on the rise, said the head of the country's Informatics Industry Association (TUBISAD) on Tuesday."Despite a slowdown in the observed growth rate of our economy and a period dominated by a cyclical point of uncertainty, the ICT sector last year continued to grow in Turkish lira terms, posting a 14% rise," said Kubra Erman Karaca.She added that last year the sector also added 143,000 jobs."However, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, I thi…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). 'Turkey set to break new export records after pandemic'. yenisafak.com Turkey's exporters will recover quickly and set new trade records after the pandemic period, the head of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) said on Tuesday.Saying that the pandemic led to the sharpest fall in German exports in three decades, Ismail Gulle said Turkey's exports were also affected.In May, Turkish exports dropped 40.9% to $9.96 billion on an annual basis, and 12-month rolling exports fell 8.4% to stand at $165.7 billion."Although our country has experienced similar declines in exports during crises, it has always managed to rapidly hit new records," he recalled.Following the crisis of 2001, Turkey…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Turkey's national palaces reopen as 'new normal' begins. yenisafak.com National museums in Istanbul, including the iconic Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace that were temporarily closed on March 18 to slow the spread of coronavirus, reopened to the public on Tuesday.Istanbul's Topkapi Palace, which served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of Ottoman sultans, also began receiving visitors on Monday just as other museums and archeological sites across Turkey reopened.Several protective measures have been taken by the National Palaces Administration as part of the normalization process.Social distancing has been made compulsory with "social distance control lab…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Turkey sends medical supplies to Tajikistan. yenisafak.com Turkey's state-run aid agency has delivered 70,000 face masks and 1,000 medical overalls to Tajikistan to help the country tackle the coronavirus outbreak.The help by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) was acknowledged by Tajikistan's deputy health minister, who said the medical supplies were a "significant contribution to the country's fight against the pandemic."Saida Umarzoda said TIKA has carried out many projects in the country, including the establishment of Disability Rehabilitation Center, renovation of Pediatric Infection Hospital in Tursunzade province, and the founding of the Contem…

Alan Macleod (2020-06-01). National Security "Experts" Blame Russia for the George Floyd Protests. mintpressnews.com The latest instance of American social disharmony being blamed on Moscow is part of a long tradition, where some see an invisible Russian hand whenever it is useful.

The Canary (2020-06-01). Brexit transition uncertainty 'poses threat to stability in Northern Ireland'. thecanary.co Uncertainty and lack of time before the end of Brexit transition poses a "potent threat" to prosperity and stability in the north of Ireland, a report has warned.Businesses in Great Britain could decide it is economically unviable to continue operations across the Irish Sea unless flexibility is shown in the EU negotiations, a House of Lords committee warned.The country will have to follow EU rules on agriculture and manufactured goods, ensuring access to its single market and keeping the border with the Republic of Ireland free-flowing in a key concession maintaining a decades-old peace.The group of peers said:…

Ali Salam (2020-06-01). European Union Calls for a Halt to Israeli Demolition Policies. imemc.org The European Union (EU) missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah released a statement last week, regarding a spike in Palestinian-owned home demolitions ordered and carried out by Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank so far in 2020, Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported. The statement noted that Israeli demolition of Palestinian …

_____ (2020-06-01). UK failure to support Covid-19 vaccine collaboration is 'shameful' on global stage. truepublica.org.uk TruePublica Editor: As the UK prepares itself to crash out of the European Union and sign a trade deal with America — Downing Street continues to side with Donald Trump, if not overtly — more indirectly. It has been known for a few months now that Donald Trump, in his odd quest to weaken America's …

_____ (2020-06-01). Airline bailout tracker reveals 'no conditions' attached to loans. truepublica.org.uk By TruePublica: The airline industry only survives in the first place because it was based on a race to the bottom and is consequently very heavily subsidised by the state in which they operate. In Europe it works like this as pointed out here by Transport and Environment: "The sector depends heavily on public support — from …

Tom Anderson (2020-05-31). Turkey attacked Rojava's water supply. Now an international campaign is trying to repair the damage. thecanary.co An international The Water for Rojava campaign has | Revolution in Rojava: | Rojava is the area of Kurdista…

news.un (2020-05-28). Security Council: Paralysis and 'political infighting' must end, to boost COVID-19 fight: EU foreign affairs chief. news.un.org The global coronavirus pandemic is testing the multilateral system like never before and the Security Council must stop the "infighting", and step up to the challenge, the European Union's foreign policy chief told the 15-member body on Thursday.

Frances Madeson (2020-05-28). Federal Prison 'Should Not Be a Death Sentence'. progressive.org Advocates press for the release of Native inmates due to COVID-19.

Morgan Artyukhina (2020-05-27). Far right Hungarian government launches new assault on trans rights. liberationnews.org Hungary's racist, homophobic, transphobic right-wing government has continued its efforts to divide the Hungarian working class by depriving trans and intersex people of their right to legally change their gender.

Reese Erlich (2020-05-26). Other Nations Lead the Way. progressive.org How China, South Korea, and Germany developed effective strategies for fighting COVID-19.

Aaron Maté (2020-05-25). US threatens nuclear arms race 'into oblivion' as it kills another treaty and mulls bomb tests. thegrayzone.com The Trump administration continues to undermine global arms control and increase the threat of a nuclear weapons race with Russia…