Monthly Archives: June 2020

2020-06-12: News Headlines

Robert Glynne-Jones, Mark Harrison, Drostan Cheetham (2020-06-13). [Correspondence] NICE guideline for rectal cancer: already out of date. thelancet.com As members of a colorectal multidisciplinary team, some of whom have contributed to previous National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance1 and European Society of Medical Oncology guidelines in rectal cancer,2 we disagree with the current recommendations in the update to NICE guidance that was published in 2020: "offer preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy to people with rectal cancer that is cT1-T2, cN1-N2, M0, or cT3-T4, any cN, M0."3…

R Todd Stravitz, William M Lee (2020-06-13). [Correspondence] Acute liver failure — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We appreciate the additional insights provided by Sandro Vento and Francesca Cainelli regarding the incidence and diagnosis of acute liver failure in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Beyond the differences in known causal factors (viruses, drugs) between high-income countries and LMICs, the predominance of the indeterminate group in these regions is of concern to all. In our study,1 only 5% of patients remained indeterminate after thorough serological testing and review of history and available liver histology.

Sandro Vento, Francesca Cainelli (2020-06-13). [Correspondence] Acute liver failure. thelancet.com In their Seminar, R Todd Stravitz and William Lee1 state that estimates of the incidence of acute liver failure range from one case per million people per year to about 2000—3000 cases per year in the USA; that viral hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis E are the main causes of acute liver failure in "developing countries"; and that only about 5% of all diagnoses have indeterminate causes.

Andre Vltchek (2020-06-12). It is all About Race: Awful Hypocrisy to Say it is Not! dissidentvoice.org While I am following closely various discussions on Western mass media and social media, simultaneously engaging in several direct exchanges, one overwhelming leitmotif that I see is clearly emerging: "What is happening in the United States (and the UK, France and other parts of Western Empire) is not really about the race. Let us protest …

Philip Giraldi (2020-06-12). Russians "Stirring Up Trouble": An Obama Retread Sees Moscow's Hand in US Protests. globalresearch.ca If one ventures into the vast wasteland of American television it is possible to miss the truly ridiculous content that is promoted as news by the major networks. One particular feature of media-speak in the United States is the tendency …

Staff (2020-06-12). Georgia's Elections Were A Voter Suppression Horror Show. therealnews.com Georgia's primary election could be a warning for what's to come when Americans head to the polls in November.

Bill Hackwell (2020-06-12). Distortions and Attempts to Undermine the Cuban Medical Brigades Will Not Succeed. dissidentvoice.org Cuban medical brigade returning from Italy (Photo: Ismael Fransisco Gonzalez) Every evening for the past two and a half months the people of Cuba have come out on their streets and porches to applaud and cheer for the 3,000 members of the Henry Reeve medical brigades who are fighting the Covid-19 pandemic on the front …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-12). Europe's top human rights court overturns French conviction of BDS activists. peoplesdispatch.org A French court had convicted 11 BDS activists for 'incitement to economic discrimination' after they organized a boycott protest against Israel outside a supermarket in France during the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2009-10…

Scott Ritter (2020-06-12). NATO's Call on 'Like-minded Nations' to Stand Up to the Rise of China Is Just a Desperate Bid for Global Relevance. globalresearch.ca As the influence of the US and Europe wanes in the face of a new geopolitical reality, their Cold War progeny, NATO, seeks to redefine itself as a global player. The problem is NATO is not capable of even stepping …

Gary Younge (2020-06-12). What Black America Means to Europe. zcomm.org Many have attempted to claim that `things are better here' for black people than in the US. This ignores both Europe's colonial past and its own racist present…

Fight Back (2020-06-12). Stock market tanks as reality sinks in. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – On Thursday, June 11, reality finally caught up with Wall Street. For weeks there was a huge gap between the economy, where millions upon millions of people had lost their jobs and livelihood, and the soaring stock market which had turned positive for the year. But today reality seems to have sunk in, sending the headline Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 1800 points, or almost 7%. The broad S&P 500 index fell almost 6%, and the technology-heavy NASDAQ fell more than 5%. Stock market from Asia to Europe also fell. | The day before, on June 10, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave a ve…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-12). Austrian communists criticize government bailout to private airline. peoplesdispatch.org On June 9, Tuesday, Austrian leftist groups, including the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) and the Communist Youth of Austria (KJO), criticized the government's bailout to the private sector Austrian Airlines (AUA), a subsidiary of the Germany-based Lufthansa Group. The conservative Austrian People's Party (àñVP)-Green-led government in the country has issued EUR 150 million (USD 170 million) as direct state aid, and EUR 300 million (USD 340 million) worth of loans to the airline. | Responding to the move, KJO stated "Once again, àñVP and Greens prove which side they really are on. While there are…

Daniele Pozzati (2020-06-12). German Official Leaks Ministry of Interior Report Denouncing Corona as 'A Global False Alarm'. globalresearch.ca Germany's federal government and mainstream media are engaged in damage control after a
| Wir machen unsere Leser auf die Zusammenfassung dieses wichtigen durchgesickerten Berichts aufmerksam, der …

Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi (2020-06-12). COVID-19 , "Global False Alarm". Leaked German Government Report. globalresearch.ca We bring to the attention of our readers details concerning the Leaked Report of Germany's Ministry of Interior. | What is at stake is a …

Manlio Dinucci (2020-06-12). No Economic Sovereignty Without Political Sovereignty. globalresearch.ca There is a current discussion on how much and what kind of funding Italy will receive from the European Union and under what conditions. Reassuring messages arrive from Brussels. But since such financing will be mostly provided in the form …

Press TV (2020-06-12). Iran Air seals deal with Italy's Rimini airport. iranian.com AIRiminum, the company that operates Italy's Federico Fellini International Airport says it has signed a deal with Iran's flag carrier airline, Iran Air. The deal will ensure three flights per week connecting the Iranian capital and the seaside city of Rimini. The move is in line with efforts to revamp the airport named after the …

yenisafak (2020-06-12). UK won't extend Brexit transition period: Minister. yenisafak.com The UK on Friday confirmed to the EU that it will not extend the Brexit transition period. | Michael Gove, minister for the Cabinet Office, wrote on Twitter that he chaired a "constructive" EU Joint Committee meeting with European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic. | "I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period the moment for extension has now passed. On 1 January 2021 we will take back control and regain our political economic independence," he wrote. | This came after Scottish and Welsh first ministers sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, requesting an extension to c…

yenisafak (2020-06-12). UK to introduce EU border controls in stages from 2021. yenisafak.com Britain said on Friday it would introduce border controls in stages on European Union goods after the end of the Brexit transition period, to try to soften the blow for companies already battling the coronavirus pandemic.Reversing an original plan to impose full border controls on imports coming into Britain from the EU from next year, the government said it would introduce the changes in stages up until July 1, 2021, giving firms more time to deal with paperwork.Companies have long called on the government to give them more clarity about what new border checks will be in force at the end of this year, when the s…

Andrey Areshev (2020-06-12). Why the Sudden U.S. Keenness for Arms Control Talks With Russia? strategic-culture.org The answer to the above question comes down to one word: China. | U.S. envoy Marshall Billingslea is, rather belatedly, making enthusiastic sounds about arms control talks to be held with Russia later this month. The talks are scheduled for June 22 in Vienna. The Kremlin has confirmed the venue and discussions, with deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov representing the Russian side. | On

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2020-06-12). U.S. President Trump sparks renewed interest in Juneteenth Celebrations Globally. indybay.org "In 1535, the first enslaved Pan African were recorded in California. Spanish conquistadors brought enslaved Pan Africans for conquest and who were later breed with indigenous population (Afro-Latino) throughout "New Spain" and much, much later evolved into today's Republic of Mexico. Authentic Alta California History remains cloaked in slavery and secrecy that remains off limits for any principled dialogue as the California State Legislature prepares for a 2020 Juneteenth State Budget due next week.

yenisafak (2020-06-12). EU warns COVID-19 health crisis not over yet, urges vigilance. yenisafak.com The public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic in Europe is not over yet, the European Union's top health official warned on Friday, urging governments to remain vigilant and plough ahead with testing and tracing the population."This is not behind us yet. We need to be vigilant," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU health ministers in a videoconference, amid fears of a new surge in infections as EU states gradually reopen business and borders and after mass protests in recent days across the continent [ nL8N2DO589].

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Families' sit-in against PKK terror continues in SE Turkey. yenisafak.com A sit-in in southeastern Turkey by families pleading for the return of their children kidnapped by the YPG/PKK terror group has entered its 284th day.The protest started on Sept. 3, 2019, in Diyarbakir province outside the office of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party accused by the government of having links to the YPG/PKK.Solmaz Ovunc, whose son was abducted five years ago, said she has been staging a sit-in for 284 days and that she will continue the sit-in until the return of her son."HDP took my son and handed him over to the PKK. The PKK did not come and take my son from the neighborhood…

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Turkey calls on Germany to lift travel warning. yenisafak.com Turkish foreign minister on Friday called on Germany to lift travel warning for Turkey.Speaking to German weekly Der Spiegel, Mevlut Cavusoglu commented on Germany's decision to lift travel warning for EU countries while extending it for all other countries until Aug. 31."It is hard to understand scientific reasons behind this decision," said Cavusoglu, and called on Berlin to also lift its travel warning for Turkey, which has successfully managed the pandemic process."German tourists are most warmly welcome. All kinds of hygiene measures will be taken against COVID-19 from the moment the German tourists start th…

yenisafak (2020-06-12). UNHCR urges Greece to investigate refugee pushbacks. yenisafak.com The UN Refugee Agency on Friday urged Greece to investigate multiple reports of pushbacks by Greek authorities at the country's sea and land borders, possibly returning migrants and asylum seekers to Turkey.UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch said at a twice-weekly UN press briefing that allegations of people being turned back had increased since March.He said reports indicate that several groups of people may have been summarily returned after reaching Greek territory."UNHCR has continuously addressed its concerns with the Greek government and has called for urgent inquiries into a series of alleged incidents reported…

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Turkish economy sees total turnover down 20.9% in April. yenisafak.com The Turkish economy's total turnover saw an annual decrease of 20.9% in April, the nation's statistical institute reported on Friday.The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said turnover in industry slipped 24.9% during the same period.On the services side, the turnover index declined 23.9% and the figure in trade fell 17.4% year-on-year.The construction sector's turnover dropped 19.6% on a yearly basis in the same month.The official report also revealed that Turkey's seasonally and calendar-adjusted total turnover index

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Turkey's industrial output down 31.4% y-o-y in April. yenisafak.com Turkey's industrial production saw a decline of 31.4% year-on-year in April 2020, the country's statistical authority said on Friday.Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) revealed that all three main sub-indices

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Turkish stocks down 0.87% at Friday's opening. yenisafak.com Turkey's benchmark stock index started the day at 108,201.50 points on Friday, down by 0.87% or 953.91 points from previous close.At Thursday's close, Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index was down 0.57% at 109,155.41 points, with a daily trading volume of 16.1 billion Turkish liras ($2.4 billion).The US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate stood at 6.8400 as of 9.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) Friday, compared to 6.8220 at Thursday's close.The euro/Turkish lira exchange rate dropped to 7.7320 from 7.7610, and one British pound traded for 8.6270 Turkish liras, down from 8.6550 at the previous close.One barrel of Brent crude…

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Turkey: COVID-19 narrows retail sales volume in April. yenisafak.com Turkey's retail sales volume shrank 19.3% on an annual basis in April due to coronavirus crisis, the country's statistical authority said on Friday.Food, drinks and tobacco sales in April grew 12.5% compared to the same month last year, according to TurkStat.Non-food

yenisafak (2020-06-12). Turkey's current account posts $5.06B gap in April. yenisafak.com Turkey's current account balance posted a $5.06 billion gap in April, widening from a $469 million deficit in the same month last year, the Turkish Central Bank announced on Friday.According to the balance of payments figures released by the bank, the country's 12-month rolling deficit totaled $3.3 billion.The figure beat market expectation of $4.1 billion deficit in the month as the coronavirus' impact started to be felt in earnest in mid-March and April.An Anadolu Agency survey on Thursday showed that a group of 16 economists' projections ranged from $2.2 billion to $5.2 billion for the fourth month of this yea…

_____ (2020-06-12). Court of Human Rights Deals Major Blow To Israel's War On Palestine Solidarity. popularresistance.org The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled unanimously that the French highest court's 2015 criminal conviction of activists with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement advocating nonviolent boycotts of Israeli goods violated article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights. | Reacting to the breaking news, Rita Ahmad from the Palestinian-led BDS movement said: | This momentous court ruling is a decisive victory for freedom of expression, for human rights defenders, and for the BDS movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. It confirms a 2016 European U…

yenisafak (2020-06-12). FETàñ 'infiltrated' US missions in Turkey, says Foreign Ministry. yenisafak.com His comments came a day after a Turkish court sentenced Metin Topuz, a US Consulate employee, to eight years and nine months in prison on charges of helping FETO, the terror group behind the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.Shortly after the court's decision, the US embassy questioned the decision, saying its observers "have seen no credible evidence to support this conviction and hope it will swiftly be overturned."In response, Hami Aksoy said Turkey anxiously observes how the US has become a safe haven for members of FETO."Essentially, Metin Topuz is not the only FETO affiliated person working in the US representati…

Andrey Areshev (2020-06-11). The EU Continues to Talk Utter Baloney About Libya. But What's the Real Reason Its Warships Are in the Eastern Mediterranean? strategic-culture.org It's often said that the EU plays no role whatsoever in the conflict in Libya and takes no side. And given that Italy, being the odd man in Europe, supports the incumbent government and its ragtag coalition of soldiers and militias it employs fighting under the so-called GNA — whereas most EU countries are more aligned to General Haftar (supported by Russia, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia), it's easy to see how the EU can't take a single position. | But it has. Although at the end of May there was more waffling by the EU's foreign policy wonk, Spanish socialist Josep Borrell, who, undoubtedly frustrated by…

Juan Cole (2020-06-11). Russia shoots down "Ridiculous" Trump demand for Arms Embargo on Tehran. zcomm.org The Neoconservative wing of the Trump administration, which is dying to drag the United States into a war with Iran, suffered an embarrassing setback on Monday when its latest flimsy scheme crashed and burned.

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-06-11). Greek-Italian Maritime Deal Disrupts Turkey's Endeavour for East Mediterranean Dominance. globalresearch.ca Greece and Italy signed a historic agreement yesterday that demarcates the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the two countries in the Ionian Sea. The agreement signed between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio has …

Tracy Keeling (2020-06-11). Palestinians score huge victory against Israel's apartheid regime in a European court. thecanary.co Palestinians have scored a major victory against Israel's apartheid regime in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). | On 11 June, the ECHR passed a ruling on a French court's conviction of people boycotting Israeli goods to show solidarity with Palestinians. It found that the convictions violated the European Convention on Human Rights. | As the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement

Ahmed Abdulkareem (2020-06-11). New Evidence Suggests Turkey Preparing for Libya-Style Military Intervention in Yemen. mintpressnews.com Turkey is sending advisors and weapons into Yemen and flexing its influence in the war-torn country as it seeks to expand its power across the Middle East.

South Front (2020-06-11). Video: Explosion Targets Russian Military Police Patrol in Northern Syria. Who Was Behind It? globalresearch.ca On June 9, an improvised explosive device exploded on the route of the patrol of the Russian Military Police near the town of Ayn al-Arab (also known as Kobani) in northern Syria. Initially, Kurdish sources claimed that at least 3 …

RT (2020-06-11). EU 'sees trajectory of compromise' in post-Brexit trade deal, but Britain should more realistic — adviser. rt.com The European Union sees a path towards a compromise on a trade deal with Britain, an adviser to the EU's chief trade negotiator said on Thursday. However, London must first be more realistic in what it expects to achieve, according to Stefaan de Rynck. | He told a virtual Irish conference that Britain had shown a lack of serious engagement on a number of issues, and the talks needed to be unblocked. The areas where Brussels was seeing this obstruction were in regard to standards for open and fair competition, fisheries, an overarching governance structure, and on judicial and law enforcement cooperation, Reute…

Pien Huang (2020-06-11). WHO Believes That Mass Protests Are Important Even in a 'Pandemic' Provided They're More Popular Than WHO. anti-empire.com In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization took time at its daily press conference to address another pressing issue: the wave of protests against police violence and racial injustice. The demonstrations began in the U.S. when George Floyd died on May 25 after a police officer had pressed a knee into his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while detaining him in Minneapolis. | The protests are now spreading around the world to Europe, Africa and other regions. | "WHO fully supports equality and the global movement against racism. We reject discrimination of all kinds," said WHO director…

Marko Marjanoviƒá (2020-06-11). The Powers That Be Are Ecstatic That the Left Believes the Biggest Problem Right Now Are Statues of Dead White Men. anti-empire.com In the US and the EU both, we've witnessed the biggest monetary heist in history. We're sailing into a depression that central banks have set up for us over the past two decades. And we're doing so in the worst possible condition thanks to the Draconian, harebrained and unnecessary lockdowns that the politicians imposed on us. | Several of Empire's wars and occupations continue in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria. Tension is being needlessly cultivated with China and Russia, and the entire architecture of nuclear arms control is just about done being thrown in that trash bin of history. | Simultaneously the…

Armstrong Economics (2020-06-11). Country Formerly Known as Spain Decides to Institute a Permanent COVID Dystopia, Flog Itself to Death. anti-empire.com FROM A READER IN SPAIN FROM A FORMER COMMUNIST STATE: | The So, masks are obligatory in all closed spaces (work, office, schools, transport, shops, etc… even at home when you receive friends/family who are not living with you in the same household —…

RT (2020-06-11). European Court of Human Rights backs BDS activists convicted in France, orders Paris to pay €101,000 in compensation. rt.com The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that France violated the rights of 11 pro-Palestinian activists when it convicted them for campaigning against Israeli goods, and has ordered the government to pay damages. | The criminal conviction against the activists with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement "had no relevant and sufficient grounds," the ECHR

RT (2020-06-11). Biden indulges fantasy of Trump refusing to leave office in November, says election-stealing is his 'single greatest concern'. rt.com Joe Biden says he has "great concern" that Donald Trump will not only "steal" the 2020 presidential election, but could also refuse to leave the White House should he lose. | 'Daily Show' host Trevor Noah is one of a growing number of liberals concerned about November's election, partly due to recent reports out of Georgia showing people waiting hours in line to cast their ballots. | "What is the plan up until November, to make sure the people can vote, everybody can, whether it's Republican or Democrat, black or white, has the opportunity to vote without being in a line that's six hours long?" Noah asked Bide…

RT (2020-06-11). WATCH as Russian police bike is OBLITERATED during high-speed crash in Moscow. rt.com A Moscow cop suffered serious injuries after his motorbike crashed into a taxi during a high-speed chase. The impact was so powerful that the bike was shattered into pieces, while the officer was sent flying into the air. | The freak accident occurred in the Russian capital on Thursday afternoon, with surveillance footage surfacing online shortly afterwards. | The disturbing video shows a police motorbike approaching an intersection at high speed and crashing into a taxi, which was turning left. The bike apparently passed a red light. | The impact appears to have been very powerful, as the vehicle was liter…

Palestinian BDS National Committee (2020-06-11). European Court of Human Rights Deals Major Blow to Israel's War on Palestine Solidarity. globalresearch.ca ECHR rules unanimously that French highest court's criminal conviction of Israel boycott advocates violates the European Convention on Human Rights' freedom of expression article | *** | The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

Fight Back (2020-06-11). Native Americans pull down Christopher Columbus statue at Minnesota Capitol. fightbacknews.org Saint Paul, MN – On June 10, Native Lives Matter, AIM of Twin Cities and AIM Patrol of Minneapolis led a protest that pulled down the 10-foot tall statue of Christopher Columbus that had stood in front of the Minnesota State Capitol since 1931. A couple hundred people cheered as protesters put a rope around Columbus's neck and dozens pulled until the statue came crashing down face-first. | Generations of children in the U.S. have been taught that Christopher Columbus was a hero that 'discovered America'. But for generations, Native Americans have made clear that Columbus represents the start of a genocidal Europe…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-11). Greeks say no to education system which only serves capitalist needs. peoplesdispatch.org Teachers and students in Greece observed an education strike on June 9, Tuesday, and staged protests across the country denouncing a controversial education bill proposed by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government.

Andrey Areshev (2020-06-11). Russians Stirring Up Trouble: An Obama Retread Sees Moscow's Hand in Protests. strategic-culture.org If one ventures into the vast wasteland of American television it is possible to miss the truly ridiculous content that is promoted as news by the major networks. One particular feature of media-speak in the United States is the tendency of the professional reporting punditry to go seeking for someone to blame every time some development rattles the National Security plus Wall Street bubble that we all unfortunately live in. The talking heads have to such an extent sold the conclusion that China deliberately released a lethal virus to destroy western democracies that no one objects when Beijing is elevated from b…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-11). Finnish communist youth slam proposal to remove friendship memorials. peoplesdispatch.org A Conservative MP in Finland has proposed the removal of the Hakaniemi World Peace Statue in Helsinki and the Friendship of Peoples Monument in Ità§keskus, both symbolic of friendship with the people of Russia…

WSWS (2020-06-11). Report finds European lockdowns saved millions of lives, ending it threatens millions. wsws.org The report is an indictment of governments' initial delays in implementing public health measures and a warning of the terrible consequences of the return to business as usual.

2020-06-11: News Headlines

Juan Cole (2020-06-11). Russia shoots down "Ridiculous" Trump demand for Arms Embargo on Tehran. zcomm.org The Neoconservative wing of the Trump administration, which is dying to drag the United States into a war with Iran, suffered an embarrassing setback on Monday when its latest flimsy scheme crashed and burned.

Palestinian BDS National Committee (2020-06-11). European Court of Human Rights Deals Major Blow to Israel's War on Palestine Solidarity. globalresearch.ca ECHR rules unanimously that French highest court's criminal conviction of Israel boycott advocates violates the European Convention on Human Rights' freedom of expression article | *** | The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-06-11). Greek-Italian Maritime Deal Disrupts Turkey's Endeavour for East Mediterranean Dominance. globalresearch.ca Greece and Italy signed a historic agreement yesterday that demarcates the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the two countries in the Ionian Sea. The agreement signed between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio has …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-11). Greeks say no to education system which only serves capitalist needs. peoplesdispatch.org Teachers and students in Greece observed an education strike on June 9, Tuesday, and staged protests across the country denouncing a controversial education bill proposed by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government.

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-06-11). Nord Stream 2 Trade Geopolitics: Towards a US-Germany "Tariff War". Washington Threatens Germany with Sanctions. globalresearch.ca The United States continues to threaten Germany with sanctions if the European country proceeds with the Nord Stream 2 project — a strategic partnership with Russia to build a large gas pipeline that would facilitate the energy flow between Russia …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-10). Portugal's Left Bloc scores win in parliament. peoplesdispatch.org The Portuguese national assembly approved a draft proposal made by the Left Bloc (BE) on June 5, calling on the government to promote equality in Private Social Security Institutions (IPSS) and take steps for the valorization of IPSS workers wages. The draft proposal was approved in the parliament with the support of the Left Bloc, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Social Democratic Party. The incumbent Socialist Party (PS) opposed the proposal. | IPSS in Portugal are created for non-profit purposes by the private sector to provide social assistance to needy groups in society. | Left Bloc MP José Soeir…

Margaret Kimberley (2020-06-10). Rebellion, Confusion and Kente Cloth: The Establishment Can't Handle Black Lives Matter. mintpressnews.com Suddenly, workers are publicly criticizing their bosses. Politicians are backpedaling and newspapers face revolts when they are caught spreading propaganda. In Europe and the United States monuments to genocidaires are defaced and pulled down.

Mark Gruenberg (2020-06-10). Voter suppression in Georgia portends catastrophe for November. peoplesworld.org ATLANTA—The big story in the political party primaries on June 9 wasn't who won or lost, but voter suppression in Georgia — and what that could mean for November's balloting. That Georgia mess — a toxic brew of few voting machines, especially in African-American areas, breakdowns of a new voting system and lack of trained …

Olivia Rosane (2020-06-10). Disastrous oil spill ravages pristine Arctic lake. peoplesworld.org A 21,000 tonne (approximately 23,000 U.S. ton) oil spill that prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to declare an emergency last week has now reached a pristine Arctic lake, and there are concerns it could contaminate the Arctic Ocean. Environmentalists and local officials have raised alarms about the disaster, which they say is the worst of its kind in the Russian Arctic, according …

Alan Macleod (2020-06-10). "By Design" and a "Test Run for November" — Georgia Chaos Is Blueprint for November Election. mintpressnews.com Georgia is shaping up to be an unlikely battleground state in the November presidential election, and if Trump loses Georgia, his chances of overall victory are slim.

WSWS (2020-06-10). Russia's ruling class nervous over spreading global protests. wsws.org The Kremlin's seeming smugness over the crisis gripping the United States seeks to mask deep-seated fears that similar mass protests could erupt in Russia.

Robert Bridge (2020-06-10). Liberal Leaders Aiding and Abetting Rioters. Just the Latest Campaign Strategy to Usurp Trump. globalresearch.ca In a fractious election year that has already witnessed Russiagate, impeachment and a pandemic, Americans are now forced to contend with the malignant scourge of rioting and looting following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white …

teleSUR (2020-06-10). Spain: Gov't Decrees Mask Use as Mandatory. telesurenglish.net Spain's government Thursday announced that mask use on public transportation and common spaces would be mandatory as a COVID-19 precautionary measure. | RELATED: | "I would like to emphasize here the mandatory use of the mask in the terms you already know, whenever a distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained," Health Minister Salvador Illa briefed in a press conference. | The norm is part of the decree-law on urgent prevent…

Dr. Rudolf Hà§nsel (2020-06-10). The Davos Reset 2021 Agenda of the World Economic Forum. A New Phase of Economic and Social Destruction? globalresearch.ca On June 3, 2020, as a consequence of the "global health crisis", the World Economic Forum WEF in Geneva announced a "unique twin summit" for January 2021 in Davos, Switzerland.(1) The theme should be "The Great Reset". The WEF defines …

Staff (2020-06-10). Headlines for June 10, 2020. democracynow.org George Floyd Laid to Rest, Two Weeks After Killing by Police Sparked Global Uprising, Coronavirus Cases Surge in States That Eased Lockdowns Two Weeks Ago, Georgia Election "Catastrophe" Disproportionately Affects Voters of Color, Protesters Topple Monuments to Slave Traders, Racists and Mass Murderers, Seattle Protesters Take Over City Hall as Calls Grow to Defund Police, New York State Will No Longer Hide Disciplinary Records of Police Officers, Phoenix Protests Demand Justice for Dion Johnson, Black Man Fatally Shot by State Trooper, Minneapolis Police Admit to Slashing Tires of Parked Vehicles During Recent G…

Pien Huang (2020-06-11). WHO Believes That Mass Protests Are Important Even in a 'Pandemic' Provided They're More Popular Than WHO. anti-empire.com In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization took time at its daily press conference to address another pressing issue: the wave of protests against police violence and racial injustice. The demonstrations began in the U.S. when George Floyd died on May 25 after a police officer had pressed a knee into his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while detaining him in Minneapolis. | The protests are now spreading around the world to Europe, Africa and other regions. | "WHO fully supports equality and the global movement against racism. We reject discrimination of all kinds," said WHO director…

Marko Marjanoviƒá (2020-06-11). The Powers That Be Are Ecstatic That the Left Believes the Biggest Problem Right Now Are Statues of Dead White Men. anti-empire.com In the US and the EU both, we've witnessed the biggest monetary heist in history. We're sailing into a depression that central banks have set up for us over the past two decades. And we're doing so in the worst possible condition thanks to the Draconian, harebrained and unnecessary lockdowns that the politicians imposed on us. | Several of Empire's wars and occupations continue in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria. Tension is being needlessly cultivated with China and Russia, and the entire architecture of nuclear arms control is just about done being thrown in that trash bin of history. | Simultaneously the…

Eli Frances (2020-06-11). Wednesday 6/10: Filipinos For Black Lives. indybay.org Meeting at Grand Oriente Filipino Hotel in SOMA and marching all the way to I-Hotel in Kearny. San Francisco…

Eli Frances (2020-06-10). Wednesday 6/10: #FilipinosForBlackLives. indybay.org Meeting at Grand Oriente Filipino Hotel in SOMA and marching all the way to I-Hotel in Kearny. San Francisco…

Staff (2020-06-10). Georgia Election Condemned as Result of Deliberate GOP Voter Suppression. truthout.org Photos of would-be Georgia voters standing — and, in some cases, sitting — in long lines The myriad issues that plagued…

RT (2020-06-10). Top EU official BACKS Twitter in fact-checking 'war' with Trump, says Europe should take same approach. rt.com Twitter has received unexpected support in its fact-checking war with US President Donald Trump. The EU Commission's vice president for values and transparency,Vera Jourova, said it has taken exactly the approach Europe needs. | Jourova, who leads the bloc's own crusade against disinformation, waded into the Trump-Twitter dispute, praising the instant messaging service for "promoting the facts" instead of taking down the president's tweets altogether. | "I support the Twitter reaction to tweets of President Trump," she said during a press conference. "They did not delete it. We all can see it. They provided fa…

RT (2020-06-10). Poland to open EU borders on Saturday, allow international flights from Tuesday. rt.com Poland will open its borders with fellow European Union countries on Saturday and allow international flights from next Tuesday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. The country closed its borders to visitors in March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. | "In some countries… this pandemic is still behaving in a very disturbing way," Morawiecki said, adding that Warsaw will now limit opening borders to EU states. | Poland has seen a recent rise in infections, mostly around coal mines in the south. On Monday, 599 new cases were reported — a record. As of Wednesday morning, the country o…

RT (2020-06-10). Cracked silo at under-construction UK nuclear plant releases DUST CLOUD after accident. rt.com A silo at Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset has suffered structural damage, releasing a cloud of granulated slag into the surrounding area and temporarily halting work on the joint French-Chinese venture. | The 115-foot (35-meter) tower buckled at around 7: 30 am local time on Wednesday. Although initial reports were of an explosion, the smoke was in fact a cloud of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), which was being used to reinforce the concrete, according to a spokesperson with Electricite de France (EDF). | No one was injured and no radiation was released in the incident, according to…

RT (2020-06-10). Putin stresses importance of Libya ceasefire in phone call with Erdogan. rt.com Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday and stressed the importance of a ceasefire in Libya as soon as possible, the Kremlin's press service said. | The two leaders expressed "mutual concern over the mass armed clashes ongoing in the country," the statement said. Putin also stressed the need for renewed inter-Libyan dialogue. | Discussing Syria, Putin and Erdogan underlined the need to implement Russian-Turkish agreements on the Idlib de-escalation zone. | The presidents discussed joint efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, and noted the…

RT (2020-06-10). Call Russia 'sponsor of TERROR'! Imperial-minded House Republicans urge return to Cold War footing & drastic sanctions policy. rt.com The largest House GOP caucus has released a 'national security strategy' that envisions escalating sanctions against China and Russia, more war on terrorism in the Middle East, and a Cold War-type infowar, among other things. | The 120-page It offers a laundry list of possible actions agains…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-10). Iran, Russia voice concern over humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Syria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 10 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister's Senior Assistant for Special Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji held a phone conversation with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and Syria.

yenisafak (2020-06-11). Turkey's Istanbul Airport partially resumes int'l flights. yenisafak.com The Istanbul Airport partially resumed on Thursday to international flights, which have been suspended for two months as part of the normalization process from the novel coronavirus pandemic. Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines began scheduling flights again from Istanbul Airport to Germany, the UK and the Netherlands.Entry was limited only to passengers, who started to come to the airport early in the day and had their temperatures taken upon arrival with thermal camera.Social distance rules were also followed both by passengers and airport personnel.Turkish Airlines' first scheduled flight was made…

yenisafak (2020-06-11). Norway mosque attacker sentenced to 21 years in prison. yenisafak.com A Norwegian court on Thursday sentenced a man who staged an attack at a mosque to 21 years in prison, the maximum prison term possible, according to local media reports.On Aug. 10 last year, Philip Manshaus, killed his 17-years-old stepsister at home and stormed the nearest mosque during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Baerum, outside Oslo.Manshaus opened fire on people in the mosque but was overpowered by one of the men in the mosque. One elderly man was injured.He was charged with the murder of his stepsister and the terrorist attack at the Al-Noor Islamic Center and found quilty, according to the Norwegia…

yenisafak (2020-06-11). Cherry season ensues in Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com Syrian civilians have started harvesting cherries in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the northwest of the country amid relatively secure environment since cease-fire agreement inked between Turkey and Russia on March 5.Idlib is home to hundreds of thousands of cherry trees.However, farmers returning to their homes after the cease-fire have been badly affected by skyrocketing fertilization, tree pruning, transportation and fuel prices."We suffered a lot during the migration period. We returned to our land after the cease-fire. We look forward to this month every year," Syrian farmer Haci Ahmet Muhammad told Anadol…

yenisafak (2020-06-10). UN dispatches 57 trucks carrying aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com The UN on Wednesday dispatched a total of 57 trucks carrying humanitarian aid for needy people in Idlib city of northwestern Syria.Truckloads of supplies entered the Syrian city through the Cilvegozu border crossing of Turkey's southern Hatay province.The aid will be distributed among 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 estimates.Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an agreem…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-10). Iranian embassy in Madrid planning for fourth direct flight to Tehran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 10 (MNA) — Iranian embassy in Spain is planning to launch the fourth direct flight to Tehran to bring home Iranian nationals to the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-10). Be ashamed of crying wolf over detention of an Iranian. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 10 (MNA) — In a tweet on Wednesday, Iran's Ambassador to UK Hamid Baeidinjad lashed out at United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson for his latest remarks urging the release of the detained Iranian citizen Morad Tahbaz by the Islamic Republic.

sputniknews (2020-06-10). Spain's Andalusia Fines Belgian Prince for Breaking Coronavirus Rules – Reports. sputniknews.com MADRID (Sputnik) – Belgian Prince Joachim has been fined for breaking a mandatory quarantine shortly after arriving in Spain last month, Spanish media said Wednesday.

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Israel's annexation violates Int'l law: Germany. yenisafak.com German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Wednesday that Israel's annexation of the West Bank will be a violation of international law."Europe regards annexation as a violation of international law," Maas told a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.Maas, who is the first diplomat to visit Israel since the formation of the Israeli government last month, did not refer to specific European responses to the annexation decision once implemented.He stressed that the aim of his visit to Israel was to "learn more about Israel's plans".Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced th…

yenisafak (2020-06-10). France's Macron to address nation on Sunday. yenisafak.com French President Emmanuel Macron will make an address to the nation on Sunday at 1800 GMT, the Elysee office said on Wednesday.Macron had initially planned to speak between the second round of mayoral elections on June 28 and July 14.

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Masked | gangs in Greece recorded forcing migrant boats back to Turkey. yenisafak.com Shocking photos were released by

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Erdogan, Putin discuss Libya, Idlib over phone. yenisafak.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday spoke over the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the latest situation in Libya and Idlib, northwestern Syria.According to the Turkish Communications Directorate, the two leaders also discussed regional issues and steps to be taken in…

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Saudi Arabia records 36 new virus deaths. yenisafak.com A ministry statement said 3,717 new infections and 1,615 recoveries were registered over the past 24 hours.The kingdom's confirmed cases from coronavirus now stand at 112,288, including 819 deaths, and 77,954 recoveries.The pandemic has claimed more than 411,900 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in China's Wuhan city last December. The US, Brazil and Russia are currently the worst-hit countries.Over 7.26 million cases have been reported worldwide, while more than 3.38 million people have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Turkish defense company distributes aid in Pakistan. yenisafak.com Turkey's leading defense company Roketsan on Wednesday distributed food packages among 1,000 families in Pakistan through the Turkish Red Crescent.The food packages distribution event held in Rawalpindi, a city adjacent to the capital Islamabad, was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul and the country's head of the Turkish Red Crescent Carlos Camilo.The ongoing coronavirus crisis and earlier lockdown has deprived a large number of poor families and daily wage workers of their source of income in Pakistan.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Camilo said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affecte…

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Turkey to reopen tourism facilities: Minister. yenisafak.com Speaking to CNN Turk, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy commented on the revival of tourism in the country."In tourism, there is no other country that has done certification better and more reliable than Turkey," the minister said.The country's main priority in this process is to resume air traffic to all countries, he added.Turkey on Wednesday reported 2,241 more recoveries, 17 deaths and 922 more cases of the coronavirus.To a question about the reopening of Hagia Sophia for worship, Ersoy said: "If the court decision comes through [to open Hagia Sophia for worship], I will not be worried about tourism, we will find a solution.

yenisafak (2020-06-10). Turkey: 'City of gladiators' ready for visitors. yenisafak.com The ancient city of Kibyra, also known as the "city of gladiators," in southwestern Turkey is set to become a new tourist hotspot.The 2,300-year-old city is located among juniper and cedar forests in the Golhisar district of Burdur province at an altitude of 1,350 meters (4,429 feet).The town, where excavations began in 2006, fascinates visitors with its monumental buildings.It is admired by many for its magnificent 10,400-person-capacity stadium built with Roman and Byzantine architectural tradition, its odeon (music house) covered with the Medusa mosaic, the Late Roman bath, agoras, main street, theatre with a…

Patrick Cockburn (2020-06-09). The Brexit Crisis Led to Totally Incompetent Leadership at a Time of Unprecedented Calamity. Now We are Paying for It. counterpunch.org Britain is failing to cope with the Covid-19 epidemic as well as other countries in Europe and East Asia have. Out of 62,000 excess deaths in the UK, says former chief scientific officer Sir David King, "40,000 excess deaths could have been avoided if government had acted responsibly". The failure is devastating: on a single

Staff (2020-06-09). Stir Crazy! Episode #49: Stand Up And Make A Change. therealnews.com On today's show: TRNN labor and politics reporter Jaisal Noor, "Why You Should Give A F*ck" co-host Tunde Ogunfolaju, and Executive Director of the New Georgia Project Nse Ufot. Hosted by Kim Brown.

T.J. Coles (2020-06-09). Nukes in Space: the Extinction Rebellion Yet to Be. counterpunch.org In January 2017, President Trump ordered the Department of Defense to conduct a Nuclear Posture Review. The document published a year later makes clear that the US possesses nuclear weapons, in part, so that "our diplomats continue to speak from a position of strength on matters of war and peace." The Nuclear Posture Review cites Russia as the evil menace against which the US must defend by renewing its nuclear stockpiles.

ahtribune (2020-06-09). Dr. Wolfgang Streeck: "We Are Being Governed by An Oligarchy" ahtribune.com Mohsen Abdelmoumen: Can Europe survive the Covid-19 crisis? | Dr. Wolfgang Streeck: It depends on what you mean by "survive". Complex societies don't "die"; something always remains—the question is: what? If you mean the European Union or the European Monetary Union, will they still exist when the virus has left? Of course. If you ask if the virus is undermining them, I think one must not forget that both EU and EMU were already undermining themselves before the pandemic; remember Brexit? Also remember the tensions between Germany and the Mediterranean countries, and between Germany in particular and the…

ahtribune (2020-06-09). SouthFront Is Censored under Cover of Pandemic. ahtribune.com Introducing SouthFront | Where do you find daily news, videos, analysis and maps about the conflict in Syria? Detailed reports about the conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Venezuela? News about the rise of ISIS in Mozambique? Original analysis of events in the US and Russia? SouthFront is unique and influential, reaching a global audience of hundreds of thousands. They have opinion articles but their reports and videos are informational and factual. Their website says, | "SouthFront focuses on issues of international relations, armed conflicts and cri…

RT (2020-06-09). Austria 'may open borders' to Italy & over 20 European states as Salzburg Festival begins on August 1. rt.com Austria will reopen its borders to Italy and more than 20 other European countries next week, officials were quoted as saying on Tuesday. The move could ease tensions with Rome after Vienna singled its southern neighbor out for continued coronavirus-related checks. | Details of the decision will be finalized at a ministerial meeting on Wednesday, Reuters reported, citing officials. The Foreign Ministry has not commented on the report. | The Salzburg Festival of classical music, Europe's top festival, announced on Tuesday it will stage a reduced 100th anniversary celebration, with capacities limited to about 50…

RT (2020-06-09). Austrian court convicts mystery former colonel of 'spying for Russia' — then sets him free. rt.com A year after the "Ibiza Affair" brought down a government in Vienna, Austria has sentenced an unnamed retired Army colonel to three years in prison on charges of being a spy for Russia. | Peter Egger, a spokesman for the court in Salzburg, confirmed the sentence to reporters on Tuesday, but did not disclose the officer's identity. The colonel was first arrested in 2018, with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz personally alleging that the accused had spied for Russia for at least 25 years, since 1992. Later Egger disclosed that the defendant was actually released on parole, after the 18 months served in pre-trial confin…

RT (2020-06-09). Eiffel Tower reopens on June 25, after longest closure since WWII. rt.com Paris's iconic Eiffel Tower will welcome back visitors on June 25, after its longest closure since World War II, those responsible for its management said on Tuesday. | One of France's most popular tourist attractions, it had been forced to shut for more than three months, owing to the coronavirus pandemic. | Wearing a face mask will be compulsory for all visitors aged 11 or older after the reopening, according to Reuters. | The French government started to ease lockdown measures in the country from mid-May, the Palace of Versailles reopened on June 6 and the Louvre will welcome back visitors from July 6.

RT (2020-06-09). Zeitgeist heist: Truck with 400,000 MASKS parked outside German cafe gets stolen & RANSACKED. rt.com In what looked like a carefully planned carjacking, a vehicle full of face masks went missing in southwestern Germany within just ten minutes — as if to prove that personal protective gear has become the new gold. | The prelude to the brazen theft saw a local driver make a brief stop near the town of Wertheim in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. He parked his white Ford van — loaded with a whopping 400,000 protective masks — outside a fast food restaurant and went inside to take a break. | The driver was absent for only ten minutes, but it was enough for the perpetrators to hijack the van and ge…