Daily Archives: July 1, 2020

2020-07-01: News Headlines

Daria Solomennikova (2020-07-01). In Russia, a New Generation of Activists are Taking on Climate Crisis. commondreams.org For young climate activists like Alexey, the lesson is clear: Vladimir Putin, the authoritarian president who has been in power for all of their lives, has never been all too concerned about their safe and sustainable future. (Photo: Fridays for the Future Russia / Facebook) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/climateemergency.jpg

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-01). Global protests against Israel's 'Annexation Plan'. peoplesdispatch.org Protests, both on the ground and on the virtual platforms, were organized on Wednesday July 1 across the world to denounce the proposed Israeli annexation of parts of the occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank. Several organizations are also demanding international sanctions against Israel if it goes ahead with the move. | Civil society movements, including the Palestinian Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS), organized protests in countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and Spain, among several others. | Israel had announced that it would start the process of annexation of the parts of the occupied…

Andrew Korybko (2020-07-01). The Truth About Russian-Taliban Ties Is as Intriguing as the Fake News About Them. globalresearch.ca Russia doesn't exploit the Taliban as a proxy for killing Americans, but seeks to nurture equally close relations with it along the lines of the ones that it presently enjoys with Pakistan. Moscow seems to believe that the group will …

WSWS (2020-07-01). Ireland's Greens agree to join austerity coalition government. wsws.org Almost five months after Ireland's February 8 general election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have formed a coalition government after the Green Party voted to come on board.

Andre Vltchek (2020-07-01). Some Italian Thinkers are now resisting Lies about the Soviet Union and WW II. dissidentvoice.org Lying about world history is one of the main weapons of the Western imperialists, through which they are managing to maintain their control of the world. European and North American countries are inventing and spreading a twisted narrative about almost all essential historic events, be they colonialism, crusades, or genocides committed by the Western expansionism …

Ramzy Baroud (2020-07-01). Tearing Down the Idols of Colonialism: Why Tunisia Must Demand a French Apology. mintpressnews.com A debate is brewing in Tunisia on whether to demand an apology from France for the exploitation and trauma wrought by French colonialism, a move that could preclude a demand for compensation.

Matthew J.L. Ehret (2020-07-01). A Canada Day Surprise: How a "Synthetic Nationalism" Was Created to Break the US-Russia Alliance. dissidentvoice.org As a Canadian author associated with a Canadian geopolitical magazine and a book series rooted in the thesis that Canada is still under the dominance of the British Empire to this very day, the July 1st holiday known as "Canada Day" is a bit of a strange thing to celebrate. As I have recently written …

Daniele Pozzati (2020-07-01). 2022: A Vaccination Passport. The EU Keeps Quiet Over Suspicious Documents. globalresearch.ca Surprise, surprise, the European Commission (EC) had a "Roadmap on Vaccination" ready months before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. | The Roadmap should lead to a "commission proposal for a common vaccination card / passport for EU citizens by 2022". | Last …

WSWS (2020-07-01). Coronavirus crisis triggers mass layoffs, wage cuts across Europe. wsws.org Having given massive state bailouts to the corporations, the ruling class is using the pandemic to effect a historic restructuring in class relations.

Germán Gorraiz López (2020-07-01). What Is the United States Plotting in Kashmir and Balochistan? The Destabilization of Pakistan? globalresearch.ca The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (OCS), founded in 2001 by the Shanghai Five (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) and to which Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan were later added would be the ALBA and Iran countries. Hard core of resistance to world …

_____ (2020-07-01). Spain's Zapatero: There Are Governments That Regret Having Recognized Guaido. popularresistance.org Former Spain Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero believes that there are governments that regret having recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela back in early 2019. | "I do not know if they will say it in public, but that reflection is there," Zapatero said during an interview with the Argentine radio station Radio La Pizarra. | His statements are based on the global disappointment that Guaidó has created, whose leadership has been overshadowed after his participation in the failed Operation Gideon, intended to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. | The Spanis…

RT (2020-07-01). Pentagon chief says 'no corroborating evidence' so far to back Russia bounty story. rt.com The US secretary of defense said that while the Pentagon takes all threats against US troops "very seriously," there is so far no proof for the ever-shifting story that Russia paid bounties for the killing of US soldiers. | In a statement on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the top military brass treats the security of military personnel, including in Afghanistan, as a high priority. | "I want to assure all of our service members that the Department takes very seriously any and all potential threats against US military personnel," he said. | Esper noted that while he and others in the US military…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). 'Priority in Syria political unity, territorial integrity'. yenisafak.com Protecting the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria is a priority, the Turkish president said Wednesday."Maintaining the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria, the establishment of calm on the ground and a lasting solution to the conflict are our priority," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a Turkey-Russia-Iran summit under the Astana process via video conference."We'll continue to do our best to provide peace, security and stability in our neighbor Syria," he said.The trilateral meeting is ongoing with the attendance of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Puti…

sputniknews (2020-07-01). House Speaker Pelosi Calls For 'Immediate' Sanctions on Russia Over 'Taliban Bounties' Reports. sputniknews.com Earlier, Democratic Senator Bob Menendez formally requested new sanctions be imposed on top Russian officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, over unconfirmed allegations that Russia offered reward money to Taliban-linked militants to assassinate US soldiers.

sputniknews (2020-07-01). Trump Ramps Up Attack on NYT, Says Russia Bounty Story's 'Secret Source Probably Doesn't Even Exist'. sputniknews.com Democrats have asked Congress to consider new sanctions against Moscow over media claims that Russia has been paying Taliban-affiliated militants to kill American and other coalition troops serving in Afghanistan. Russian officials have vocally denied the allegations, and accused those pushing them of trying to further undermine Russia-US ties.

RT (2020-07-01). Black Lives Matter is 'anti-christian' & 'anti-civilizational' — outspoken senior Russian Orthodox Bishop. rt.com A prominent Russian cleric believes the 'Black Lives Matter' movement isn't a battle for human rights, but rather a "struggle for who is most important in humanity." He says its true nature is "becoming increasingly apparent." | Bishop Savva of Zelenograd, the deputy administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate says the campaign is "anti-Christian and anti-civilizational." | Also on rt.com | | The churchman was reacting to news that the statue of Emperor…

RT (2020-07-01). New York Times calls for punishing Putin over anonymous bounty claims but advised Trump to let ISIS kill Russian troops in Syria. rt.com The same New York Times reporting anonymous claims of Russian bounties on US troops in Afghanistan opined in 2017 that President Trump should let ISIS "bleed" Russian forces in Syria rather than help defeat the terrorists. | Thomas Friedman, who has won three Pulitzer prizes as a journalist and columnist for the Times, argued in an

RT (2020-07-01). Vote on amendments isn't about Putin, it's the first ever 'truly Russian constitution' – leading historian. rt.com Previous Russian constitutions were either inspired or influenced by foreign legislators, but the amendments that the country is voting on are truly "Russia-centered," veteran Russia-focused historian Martin McCauley told RT. | It's no wonder then that the Western media ignores more than 200 proposed changes to the Russian Constitution and only focuses on the one that may allow Vladimir Putin run for president again, if he wishes to do so. | "'Putin wants to be Tsar for life' — that makes headlines, everyone understands that and if you go into the details of constitutional law people get bored," McCauley…

RT (2020-07-01). France warns Israeli annexation of West Bank won't be 'without consequences'. rt.com France has warned that any Israel annexation of the West Bank "could not be left without consequences" and said that it is "examining different options" at a national level and with its European partners. | "Annexation of Palestinian territories, whatever the perimeters, would seriously throw into question the parameters to resolve the conflict," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. | Israel plans to annex as much as 30 percent of occupied Palestinian territory, which has been met with disapproval from much of the international community, including the UK and EU.

RT (2020-07-01). France stands back from NATO's Libya op after maritime face-off with Turkish Navy — media. rt.com Paris has "temporarily" suspended its role in Operation Sea Guardian off the coast of Libya. The French Defense Ministry sent a letter to NATO headquarters announcing the decision and calling upon allies to "solemnly reaffirm their attachment" to the arms embargo on the war-ravaged country. The Turkish envoy to France confirmed the news, saying the French Navy is calling off its frigate Courbet which engaged in a mid-sea standoff with Turkish warships escorting a civilian freighter on its way to Libya several weeks ago. The incident exacerbated already tense relations between the two NATO countries. French Pre…

RT (2020-07-01). Turkey accuses 'biased' France of allowing Libya embargo violations in support of Haftar. rt.com Ankara has taken aim at France for allegedly ignoring violations of an international arms embargo placed on Libya, claiming that illegal activity was being carried out to benefit commander Khalifa Haftar. According to Reuters, Turkey's ambassador to Paris, Ismail Hakki Musa, said on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates and Egypt were bypassing the UN blockade — and that "biased" France was doing nothing to stop it. | The accusation comes a day after Turkey slammed France's "dishonest approach" to the crisis in Libya. For its part, Paris has condemned Ankara for turning a blind eye to illegal arms shipm…

RT (2020-07-01). UK turns to Germany in bid to finally get its Covid-19 contact tracing app off the ground, ambassador says. rt.com Germany's ambassador to the UK says British health services have reached out to their German counterparts to find a solution to the UK's embarrassing predicament over its yet-to-be-launched coronavirus contact tracing app. | Diplomat Andreas Michaelis made the remark while speaking to BBC Radio 4's 'Today' show about the success of Germany's domestic contact tracing app, which relies on Apple and Google tech to trace people who may have contracted coronavirus because of their proximity to a confirmed case. "It works," Michaelis said. | This is in stark contrast to the UK's own app which, far from working, has…

RT (2020-07-01). Career CIA officer made 'the right call' not to brief Trump on 'Russian bounties' — NSA O'Brien. rt.com A career CIA officer decided not to brief President Donald Trump about intelligence speculation that Russia was paying bounties for deaths of US troops in Afghanistan, his national security adviser Robert O'Brien has revealed. | "She made that decision because she didn't have the confidence in the intelligence that came up," O'Brien told reporters on Wednesday. "She made that call and you know what? She made the right call. And knowing the facts I know now, I stand behind that call," he added. | The New York Times published a story last week, sourced to anonymous intelligence officials, claiming that the "asse…

RT (2020-07-01). Trump resumes attack on NYT's 'Russian bounty' story, says 'secret source probably doesn't even exist'. rt.com US President Donald Trump has again attacked the "discredited" New York Times over its disputed story that Russia offered bounties for the killing of US troops in Afghanistan, blasting the story as a "fake news tale". | In a tweet on Wednesday morning Trump said the story was made up to damage him and the Republican Party. | "The Russia Bounty story is just another made up by Fake News tale that is told only to damage me and the Republican Party," the president wrote. | "The secret source probably does not even exist, just like the story itself. If the discredited @nytimes has a source, reveal it. Just another…

RT (2020-07-01). Over 77 percent of Russians back constitutional amendments, 21 opposed — preliminary results. rt.com After processing 85 percent of the ballots, the Russian election commission has announced that 77,8 percent of the voters approved the changes to the constitution, while 21,3 percent opposed. Nationwide turnout was at 65 percent. | Millions of Russians went to the polls on Wednesday to cast their vote for or against the 206 proposed amendments, already approved by the legislature. This was preceded by five days of early voting starting June 25 and even online voting in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod — all due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which delayed the vote from its originally scheduled date of April 22. | Al…

RT (2020-07-01). Constitutional amendments vote in Russia: RT special coverage. rt.com Russians are heading to the polls on the last day of voting on amendments to the country's constitution. Citizens have plenty of time to express their will, as July 1 has been declared a holiday. | Among other things, the proposed amendments would transfer more power to Russia's two houses of parliament, as well as potentially allow Vladimir Putin to run for the presidency two more times. | Initially scheduled for April 22, the vote was postponed until July 1 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government allowed voters to go to their polling stations up to a week before the final date, in order to reduce crowds…

RT (2020-07-01). Russia has come a long way since 1993; Putin's constitutional changes reflect the needs of a revitalized state. rt.com Russia's 'super-presidential' 1993 Constitution was forged in blood after violent upheaval, at a time when the country was on its knees. It is logical that it would be revisited when modern Russia had finally come of age. | What is so problematic with the current 1993 Constitution, and what are the reasons behind the proposed amendments? The answers can be found in the circumstances under which President Boris Yeltsin's document came into effect and in the major transformation that Russia has undergone since then. | First of all, it is necessary to stress that Russia in 1993 and Russia in 2020 are essentially…

RT (2020-07-01). Russians vote in favor of changes to constitution potentially enabling Putin to remain as president until 2036 — exit polls. rt.com Exit polls after the Russian constitutional vote show 71 percent of the country supported the proposed amendments while just over 28 percent were opposed. The changes are major updates to Russia's most important legal document. | The tallies were conducted at 800 polling stations in 25 jurisdictions. They are based on questions asked of over 445,000 voters, 69.9 percent of which responded. | Wednesday marked the final day of in-person voting in the referendum, with turnout reaching 65 percent. The Central Elections Commission (CIK) has received reports of only four possible instances of irregularities, its hea…

WSWS Repost (2020-07-01). Another anti-Russian smear from the New York Times. indybay.org Patrick Martin at the World Socialist Web Site describes the New York Time's ongoing aversion to facts. [Illustration shows how a current Google Search simply amplifies the propaganda.]…

_____ (2020-07-01). Three Glaring Problems With the Russian Taliban 'Bounty' Story. strategic-culture.org There seems to be a lack of sourcing and a big whiff of politics, say former intelligence officers. | Barbara BOLAND | Abombshell The article alleges that GRU, a top-secret unit of Russian military intelligence, offered the bounty in payment for every…

Matthew Ehret-Kump (2020-07-01). A Canada Day Surprise: How a 'Synthetic Nationalism' Was Created to Break the US-Russia Alliance. globalresearch.ca As a Canadian author associated with a

WSWS (2020-07-01). Anti-Russia war fever spreads on Capitol Hill. wsws.org Without providing a shred of evidence, the corporate media, congressional Democrats and many Republicans are demanding US retaliation against alleged Russian targeting of US soldiers in Afghanistan.

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Malaysia to file WTO legal action against EU over palm oil. yenisafak.com Malaysia, the world's second largest palm oil producer, on Wednesday said it will take legal action with the World Trade Organisation against the European Union's "anti-palm oil campaign" via a dispute settlement mechanism.EU policies under its Delegation Regulation restricts free trade practices, Malaysian Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said in a statement.Malaysia will also act as a third party in Indonesia' WTO case against the EU, he said.Neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia together produce 85% of the world's palm oil.

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Germany takes over EU presidency. yenisafak.com Germany took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1.In the next six months, members of the German government will chair the meetings of EU ministers and diplomats, as well as they will undertake European decision-making by formal and informal events.The main role of the EU presidency is to seek a compromise between the diverging interests of EU member states.Having a reputation as European deal-breaker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's turn to lead EU affairs has been long-awaited.Especially, it is the second time that her government assumes the rotating presidency. In 2007,…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Iran reports 141 more fatalities from coronavirus. yenisafak.com Iran on Wednesday confirmed 141 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the nationwide death toll to 10,958.A further 2,549 people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the overall count to 230,211, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said.She added that a total of 191,487 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far, adding that 3,081 patients remain in critical condition.Over 1.69 million tests have been conducted in the country to date, Lari noted.Iran sees an upward trend in daily infections in many provinces as Khuzestan, Razavi Khorasan, West and East Azerbaijan, Kurd…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). France suspends role in NATO naval operation. yenisafak.com France on Wednesday suspended its participation to NATO's naval mission Sea Guardian, French media reported.According to an article of French daily L'Opinion, the country's permanent representative to NATO, Muriel Domenach, sent a letter Tuesday to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to inform him of the decision.Paris opted to withdraw from the mission due to recent tension with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.France last week claimed that Turkey harassed one of its vessels taking part in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean. Turkish military officials denied the allegations.Stoltenberg said NATO officials…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Merkel stresses 'strategic ties' with Turkey. yenisafak.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday stressed the importance of "strategic ties" with Turkey, also vowing to enhance dialogue with Ankara to help resolve conflicts in Libya and Syria.Speaking on the day Germany assumed the EU's six-month rotating presidency, Merkel said she shares the view that EU member states should take a more "coherent strategy" towards Turkey, stressing that this strategy should involve both cooperation and criticism."We have strategic ties [with Turkey], as we are [both] members of NATO. Moreover, addressing the refugee question is only possible with the EU-Turkey agreement, if we m…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Former Pope Benedict's brother Georg dies at 96. yenisafak.com Georg Ratzinger, the brother of former Pope Benedict who nurtured a very close relationship over decades to his sibling, has died at the age of 96 in the German town of Regensburg, public broadcaster BR reported on Wednesday.In June, Benedict, aged 93, had spent five days in his native Germany to visit his ailing brother, who was also a priest.It was the first time that Benedict left Italy since 2013, when he became the first Pope to resign in six centuries.The Diocese of Regensburg had no immediate comment.Georg and Benedict entered a seminary where they both trained to be priests at the same time in January 194…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Turkey, Russia, Iran commit to Syria's unity, independence. yenisafak.com Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, and Hassan Rouhani released a 14-item statement after a videoconference where they discussed the current situation in Syria.The leaders reviewed the developments following their last meeting in Ankara last September and "reiterated their determination to enhance the trilateral coordination in light of their agreements," according to the statement.The leaders "emphasized their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," the statement said.They also…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Trump 'fully briefed' on Russia bounty report. yenisafak.com O'Brien declined to say whether the information had been included in a written presidential briefing earlier this year."The president's been fully briefed," O'Brien told reporters at the White House, adding, "We don't get into written classified documents."

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Libyan Mufti calls for resisting Russian 'invasion'. yenisafak.com Libya's Mufti, the country's top Muslim cleric, on Wednesday called on all Libyans to mobilize and resist the Russian "occupation" of their country. | In a statement, the Mufti's office said Russia has begun increasing its influence in Libya's cities, airports and oil fields "in order to take control of Libyan lands and sources". | "Every able Muslim must fight against Russian mercenaries, wherever they are, and avoid any trade or other dealings with them," the statement said. | On Friday, mercenaries from Russian Wagner Group and the Sudanese Janjaweed militia forced their way into El-Sharara oilfield to halt oi…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Turkey determined to control social media platforms, Erdogan says. yenisafak.com Turkey will introduce regulations to control social media platforms or shut them down, President Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday, pressing ahead with government plans after he said his family was insulted online.Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Erdogan's son-in-law, said on Twitter on Tuesday that his fourth child had been born. Albayrak's wife Esra was insulted by some users, who were later detained, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.Speaking to members of his AK Party, Erdogan repeated that his party would introduce new regulations to control the use of social media, adding that an increase of…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Turkey catches suspected Daesh terrorist. yenisafak.com A suspected Daesh terrorist was captured in central Turkey, security sources said on Wednesday.The suspect was apprehended in an operation by provincial gendarmerie forces in the Kayseri province, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.After a health check, the suspect was sent to the local courthouse.Turkey, in 2013, was among the first countries to list Daesh as a terror group.The country has since been hit by the group numerous times in at least 10 suicide attacks, seven bombings, and four armed attacks, in which 315 people have been killed and hundreds others…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Turkey's Erdogan welcomes 'promising' economic figures. yenisafak.com Turkey's economic figures showed promising developments in June amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the nation's president said Wednesday."Initial figures for June signal promising developments in this respect," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's extended meeting of provincial heads via video link.He added that July would bring a "much higher jump" for the economy.Erdogan said all commercial activities had gradually been resuming with the country's normalization process from strict social distancing and isolation measures implemented during the pandemic, adding that the gov…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). World Bank backs Turkey's rail connectivity, logistics. yenisafak.com The World Bank is providing a ‚Ǩ314.5 million ($350 million) loan to Turkey for improving its rail connectivity and logistics, the bank said in a statement late Tuesday.The Turkey Rail Logistics Improvement Project aims to reduce transport costs in selected rail freight corridors and to strengthen institutional capacity at the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry to deliver rail freight connectivity and manage rail-enabled logistics centers, said the statement.The financing will help revitalize the transport and logistics sector and contribute to the sustainability of cargo owners operating sup…

sputniknews (2020-07-01). Merkel Says US Sanctions on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Elude Understanding. sputniknews.com BERLIN (Sputnik) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that proposed US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia were law-defying and would be dealt with.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Iran, Belarus Legal Medical Organizations hold meeting. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) —The first educational video conference between members of Iran and BelarusLegal Medical Organizations was held on Wednesday.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). France repeats meddlesome comments on Iran's internal affairs. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — France has once again made meddlesome comments over Iran's internal affairs following a death sentence issued for Ruhollah Zam, the administrator of the Amad News counterrevolutionary website and Telegram channel.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Kazakhstan, one of Iran's top priorities for extraterrestrial cultivation: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Majid Samadzadeh Saber on Wed. described Kazakhstan as Iran's priorities for extraterrestrial cultivation.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Iranian-Turkish border guards enjoy good interaction: Cmdr. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, Border Guards Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran police said in a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Turkey, that the interaction between Iranian and Turkish border guards is of high quality and we are looking forward to expanding our interactions and cooperation more and more.