Daily Archives: 2020-06-22

2020-06-22: News Headlines

Staff (2020-06-22). Five Black & Brown Men Have Been Recently Found Hanged in Public. Were Some of Them Lynched? democracynow.org As mass protests against racism and police brutality continue, at least five men — four Black and one Latinx — have been found hanging in public across the U.S. in recent weeks. We speak with Jacqueline Olive, director of "Always in Season," a documentary that examines the history of lynchings through the story of Lennon Lacy, an African American teenager who was found hanged from a swingset in 2014. "They deserve a full investigation," Olive says of the recent hangings, "and given the context of this history … that we look at them more than three days, and then that they are looked at as a whole."

Martin Hart-Landsberg (2020-06-22). Racism, COVID-19, and the fight for economic justice. mronline.org While the Black Lives Matter protests sweeping the United States were triggered by recent police murders of unarmed African Americans, they are also helping to encourage popular recognition that racism has a long history with punishing consequences for black people that extend beyond policing.

yenisafak (2020-06-22). EU raises 'serious concern' over Egypt's Libya remarks. yenisafak.com The EU is concerned about the recent surge in declarations on Libya as they work against the de-escalation of the conflict, the bloc's chief spokesman for the foreign policy said on Monday, commenting on the Egyptian president's threat of military intervention. | "The people of Libya … do not need more escalation, do not need more confrontation. In this light, the recent escalation of declarations, statements, and the interference by outside actors is a source for serious concern," EU spokesman Peter Stano said. | He also reminded international actors involved in the conflict to "work on diffusing the tensions,…

Pavan Kulkarni (2020-06-22). Unions accuse government of seeking to destroy South African Airways for the benefit of global capital. peoplesdispatch.org The Department of Public Enterprises, which had repeatedly assured the unions that the national airline will not be liquidated, came out in support of a so-called "business rescue plan" which will result in its effective liquidation…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-22). Algerian court sentences prominent Hirak activist to one year imprisonment. peoplesdispatch.org Amira Bouraoui, who has been convicted for her Facebook post, is part of the popular ongoing Hirak movement which calls for large-scale democratic reforms in Algeria…

FRHKS (2020-06-22). WATCH: Heroes: A Conversation with Albert Woodfox and Robert King (of the Angola 3). indybay.org Heroes: A Conversation with Albert Woodfox and Robert King (of the Angola 3) is a short video being released at this time to highlight another dimension of the protests taking place around the world supporting Black Lives Matter and to draw attention to racism in criminal justice systems around the world.

Nino Pagliccia (2020-06-22). Canada's UN Security Council Loss Shows Its "Foreign Policy Weaknesses" globalresearch.ca India, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, and Kenya after a second round, won the June 17 elections at the 74th United Nations Assembly for five non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for a two-year term starting on January 1, 2021. | The …

Nino Pagliccia (2020-06-22). Canada's UN Security Council Loss Shows Its Foreign Policy Weaknesses and Might Embolden a Reform Movement. counterpunch.org India, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, and Kenya after a second round, won the June 17 elections at the 74th United Nations Assembly for five non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for a two-year term starting on January 1, 2021. The biggest loser was Canada in its competition with Ireland and Norway for two seats available.

Prof. Claudia von Werlhof (2020-06-22). Compulsory Vaccination That Genetically Alters the Human Body … No Longer a "Human Being"? globalresearch.ca Will the "Gate(s)keepers" of the so-called Corona-pandemic force a vaccination upon us, without which we will not be allowed to return to normality? What is really meant by the "new normality"? | It is these questions that are intensely debated at …

Julia Conley (2020-06-22). Global Experts, Alarmed at Signs US Has 'Given Up' Fight to Stop Covid-19. zcomm.org "The U.S. will endure much higher, persistent negative effects from something that other countries have solved; we'll normalize it and convince ourselves nothing can be done"

Peoples Dispatch (2020-06-22). Demonstrators in Tunisia demand freedom for George Abdallah and other revolutionaries in jail. peoplesdispatch.org Abdallah, a prominent Lebanese communist leader, has been languishing in a prison in France for the last 35 years. The demonstrations in Tunisian capital Tunis on Saturday were part of the International Week of Action between June 15-22…

yenisafak (2020-06-22). Libya's Sarraj meets AFRICOM commander. yenisafak.com A closed meeting began Monday between Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the US ambassador in Tripoli Richard Norland, and commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Gen. Stephen Townsend, according to local media.The two US officials arrived at Zuwarah Airport, west of Tripoli, Libya Al-Ahrar TV channel reported, citing anonymous sources.Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga and the military commander of the western region, Osama al-Juweili, were present at the meeting.Officials are yet to comment on the reported news.* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat…

yenisafak (2020-06-22). Libyan government exposes Haftar's financial corruption. yenisafak.com The documents published by the government-led Operation Volcano of Rage showed the illegal seizure of state land and property by the Military Investment Authority, an economic arm of Haftar's militia.They also revealed that the warlord had illegally seized assets of agricultural projects and investment projects in Libya.The government earlier revealed that Haftar's Military Investment Authority had signed an agreement with the Union of Italian Fishing in March 2019 under which Italian fishing boats were allowed to fish in Libya's territorial waters in return for 10.000 euros ($11,100) a month for 5 years.In 2016,…

yenisafak (2020-06-22). Libya defends efforts to take Sirte, Jufra from Haftar. yenisafak.com The Libyan Defense Ministry said Monday the return of the central city of Sirte and al-Jufra base to the government's control would serve the best interests of all brotherly and friendly countries."It serves the interests of all brothers and friends to return Sirte and al-Jufra to the control of the state," ministry undersecretary Salah Al-Namroush said in a statement published by the government-led Operation Volcano of Rage."We expect from all brothers and friends to support the legitimate government to achieve stability on the entire Libyan territory," he said.He said reports by experts of the UN Security Counc…

yenisafak (2020-06-22). Muslim bloc to address situation in Kashmir. yenisafak.com The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) "upon the request of Pakistan" will hold an emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers over the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will also participate in the Emergency Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, where "possible joint actions within the OIC concerning the ongoing problems regarding human rights and freedoms in Kashmir will be discussed," said the statement.Additionally, foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan and Saudi Arab…

_____ (2020-06-21). United Nations Sets Up Inquiry Into Racism After George Floyd Death. popularresistance.org Geneva – The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday condemned discriminatory and violent policing after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month and ordered a report on "systemic racism" against people of African descent. | The 47-member-state forum unanimously adopted a resolution brought by African countries. The mandate also asks U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to examine government responses to peaceful protests, including alleged use of excessive force, and deliver findings in a year's time. | Philonise Floyd, the brother of the Black man whose death under the knee of a whit…

RT (2020-06-21). 'Just blame the Russians!' Moscow's deputy UN envoy mocks Nikki Haley over blaming US unrest on Russia. rt.com The only task US officials seemingly have is finding a way of pinning the blame for literally any incident on Moscow, Russia's deputy UN envoy jokingly said as former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley did just that. | The ex-UN envoy apparently decided to jump on the bandwagon of Russia bashers and put all the blame for the massive riots gripping the US following the murder of an African American by a cop on Moscow. | Haley stated in a Twitter post that "playing up" the "allegations" of police abuse in America has been the new tactics of Russian intelligence apparently hell bent on disrupting yet another US…

teleSUR (2020-06-21). Egypt has 'International Support' to Intervene in Libya: Sisi. telesurenglish.net Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said on Saturday that any intervention by his country in Libya has international legitimacy, a claim that has been described as "a declaration of war." | RELATED: | "Any direct intervention by the Egyptian state has now gained international legitimacy," said El-Sisi, who inspected military units on Saturday at an airbase near the border with Libya. | The Egyptian President said his countr…

yenisafak (2020-06-21). Ethiopians marvel at once-in-decades solar eclipse. yenisafak.com Parts of Ethiopia witnessed a solar eclipse that lasted hours starting in the early hours on Sunday.People living in Wollega in Oromia, Ajibara and Lalibella in Amhara and numerous places in Afar woke up to a spectacular fire ring, as up to 90% of the sun was blocked by the moon.First visible in Central and East Africa starting from the Republic of Congo, the eclipse passed over Oman, Yemen, Pakistan, India and China, covering parts of the Pacific Ocean, according to Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute.Many people in Ethiopia, however, missed the once-in-decades sight due to lack of protective grasse…

teleSUR (2020-06-21). Botswana Dehorns 100 Wild Rhinos to Protect Them From Poachers. telesurenglish.net Botswana dehorned at least 100 wild rhinoceros between March and May this year in order to save them from the marauding poachers in the northwestern part of the southern African country, an official said Sunday. | RELATED: | Cyril Taolo, the acting director in Botswana's department of wildlife and national parks, made this revelation during a virtual media briefing held via a live broadcast through the national television, Botswana Televisi…

sputniknews (2020-06-21). Photos: NASA Astronaut Shares 'Super Cool View' of Annular Solar Eclipse From Space. sputniknews.com The rare annular solar eclipse took place on 21 June, primarily visible in parts of Asia and Africa. The phenomenon is also known as a "ring of fire", as the moon blocks the sun in a way that leaves the star's outer edge visible as a bright ring of light.

yenisafak (2020-06-21). Rare 'ring of fire' solar eclipse on the longest day of the year. yenisafak.com A shimmering ring of light flashed into view on Sunday in parts of the eastern hemisphere as the moon drifted across the face of the sun in a rare eclipse on the longest day of the year.The path of the eclipse spanned East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Most locations saw only a partial eclipse, with just a handful witnessing the true "ring of fire".Unlike in a total eclipse, the moon in an annular, or ring-like, eclipse is unable to completely cover the sun, leaving a thin halo of light at its maximum phase.Such an eclipse happens when the moon is farther away in its elliptical orbit around the Ea…

yenisafak (2020-06-21). OIC to hold emergency meeting on Jammu and Kashmir. yenisafak.com The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir will hold an emergency meeting via videoconference on Monday to discuss the latest situation in the disputed territory.The online meet will bring together the foreign ministers of the Jammu And Kashmir Contact Group member states: Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the OIC said in a statement."The meeting is part of a series of continuous Jammu And Kashmir Contact Group meetings to address the issue," OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen was quoted as saying. The OIC, founded in 1967 and consists of 67 coun…

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-06-20). Israeli Navy Forces Palestinian Fisherman off the Coast of Gaza. imemc.org The Israeli Navy, early on Friday, forced Palestinian fishermen to flee the coast fearing for their lives, blocking their ability to provide for their families. According to Palestinian sources in the besieged coastal territory, Israeli Navy vessels intercepted fishermen sailing in the north of the Gaza strip, in the Al-Sudaniya …

Annelies Wilder-Smith, Steven W Lindsay, Thomas W Scott, Eng Eong Ooi, Duane J Gubler, Pamela Das (2020-06-20). [Comment] The Lancet Commission on dengue and other Aedes-transmitted viral diseases. thelancet.com The past 50 years have seen the emergence of epidemic arboviral diseases transmitted by the urban mosquito, Aedes aegypti. More than 120 countries are affected by frequent and cyclical dengue epidemics that result in an estimated annual 400 million infections and 100 million symptomatic cases.1 Chikungunya virus re-emerged in 2004 from east Africa and spread to Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and Europe.2,3 Zika virus spread from sub-Saharan Africa through Asia and the Pacific to the Americas, where it caused a major outbreak associated with severe birth defects and neurological complications.

yenisafak (2020-06-20). Egypt asks UN intervention to resolve Nile dam dispute. yenisafak.com Egypt has requested the UN Security Council to intervene to resolve a dispute with Ethiopia over a controversial Nile dam project.In a statement late Friday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it asked the Security Council to "intervene to affirm the importance of the three countries resuming the negotiations with goodwill…to reach a fair and balanced solution" over the Ethiopian dam.The ministry said the move came after negotiations to resolve the dispute over the Nile dam stalled "as a result of Ethiopian stances that are not positive".Ethiopia is building a hydro-electric dam project on the Nile, which Egypt…

Nestor Machno (2020-06-20). Millions of Black People slaughtered in Congo – for cellphones! indybay.org BLM is a pretty cool movement but why is it stopping in the 1st World? | Are smartphones more important than African Lives?>

WSWS (2020-06-20). ANC imposes back to work drive amid sharp rise in South Africa's coronavirus cases. wsws.org More than 84,000 people—25 percent of Africa's confirmed cases—have now been infected with the virus, which has claimed the lives of almost 1,800 people.

_____ (2020-06-20). US Racism's $13 Trillion Legacy Is Just The Start. popularresistance.org New York – Around the time the United States formally abolished slavery in 1865, African Americans owned 0.5% of the United States' wealth. Today they own under 3%, even though around 13% of the population is defined by the U.S. census as "black or African American." This isn't an accident of history — it's a result of government policies and institutional bias. The interest keeps compounding. | The value of income lost during slavery is staggering. The U.S. practice lasted for nearly 250 years — almost equivalent to the time from the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 until today. Uni…

news.un (2020-06-20). UN chief appeals for restraint following protests in Mali. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General has appealed for calm in Mali, following protests in the capital, Bamako, on Friday.

Jenna McGuire (2020-06-20). 'Shell must not get away with this': Niger Delta still waiting for big oil to clean up devastating pollution. nationofchange.org Titled "No Clean-Up, No Justice," the new report explains that for "more than five decades, the people of Ogoniland, in the Niger Delta, have struggled against oil pollution, destruction of the environment and human rights violations."

WSWS (2020-06-20). Financier of 1994 Rwandan genocide Félicien Kabuga arrested in Paris. wsws.org Kabuga, who financed and helped equip the genocidal Interahamwe militias, had been located by police in 2007 but was still living quietly in the Paris suburbs.

Manlio Dinucci (2020-06-20). From 1945 Until Today — 20 to 30 Million People Killed by the USA. globalresearch.ca The study documents the wars and coups d'État executed by the US in 30 Asian, African, European and Latin-American countries. It reveals that US military forces are directly responsible for between 10 and 15 million deaths, caused by the major wars — those against Korea and Vietnam and the two wars against Iraq.

sputniknews (2020-06-20). Floyd Family Attorney Warns Removing Confederate Statues May Repeat US History. sputniknews.com The US, as well as many major cities around the globe, are witnessing an ongoing wave of anti-racism and anti-police-brutality protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd and many other African-Americans at the hands of white police officers. Many Confederate statues and monuments have been removed, either officially or by demonstrators.

yenisafak (2020-06-20). Africa: Virus cases pass 286,000, deaths near 7,700. yenisafak.com According to the latest update, the death toll on the continent is now up to 7,693, while 132,412 people have recovered in 54 countries.With 91,800, Southern Africa leads in the number of cases, followed by North Africa with 77,200, West Africa 59,500, East Africa 30,000, and Central Africa with 28,000.At least 3,200 people have died in North Africa, 1,900 in Southern Africa, 1,100 in West Africa, 915 in East Africa, and 621 in Central Africa.Southern Africa also has the highest number of recoveries at 49,700, followed by North Africa's 31,700, West Africa 26,500, Central Africa 12,400, and East Arica with 12,100…

yenisafak (2020-06-20). Turkish sailors freed after 3-month captivity in Eritrea. yenisafak.com Three Turkish sailors on a world tour detained in the East African country of Eritrea were freed Saturday as a result of Ankara's intervention.Selim Ekmekcioglu, Ibrahim Ignak and Erman Lutfu Atamer regained their freedom under the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the intervention of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to diplomatic sources.Seyda Ekmekcioglu told Anadolu Agency that her husband called her to say they had been freed."I spoke to my husband for the first time today since April 25. H sounded fine. He said their condition was very good and that they were treated very well in…

yenisafak (2020-06-20). Libyan premier arrives in Algeria for talks. yenisafak.com The head of Libya's internationally-recognized government on Saturday arrived in Algeria in an official visit to discuss the ongoing conflict in his country.According to the official Algerian TV network, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad, Foreign Ministers Sabri Boukadoum and Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud received Libyan premier Fayez al-Sarraj at the capital's Houari Boumediene Airport.Al-Sarraj's one-day visit is expected to focus on the latest developments in Libya.On Friday, Libyan local media said the country's Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha and al-Sarraj would meet Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune…

yenisafak (2020-06-20). Turkey rejects UN group's claims on activities in Libya. yenisafak.com Turkey has rejected "unfounded" allegations by the UN Human Rights Special Procedures."We reject the unfounded and unfortunate allegations in the press release of the UN Human Rights Special Procedures," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.Aksoy said Turkey, extending its support to the internationally recognized Libyan government upon its request and pursuant to UN resolutions, emphasized from the very beginning that there was no military solution to the conflict in Libya."In this context, Turkey spares no effort to ensure a lasting and sustainable ceasefire and to reinvigorate the politica…

yenisafak (2020-06-20). Libya says 190 bodies found in mass graves by Haftar. yenisafak.com The Libyan army said Saturday 190 corpses have been found in mass graves south of Tripoli and the city of Tarhuna since June 5. | In a statement, the army said 106 bodies, including children and women, were found with signs of torture inside a hospital morgue in Tarhuna on June 5. | A further 37 bodies were found in another hospital in the city, of which 14 corpses were identified, the military said. | According to the statement, 15 additional bodies were found in Qasr bin Ghashir area, south of Tripoli. The military said those bodies belonged to persons kidnapped by militia of warlord Khalifa Haftar. | The remai…

Staff (2020-06-19). 99 Years Later, Wounds of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Have "Never Been Remedied" democracynow.org President Trump's first campaign rally since the start of the pandemic takes place Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, despite a spike of COVID-19 cases there. Trump rescheduled the rally to Saturday after facing backlash for saying it would happen on Juneteenth — a celebration of African Americans' liberation from slavery — amid a nationwide uprising against racism and police brutality. Tulsa is also the site of one of the deadliest massacres in U.S. history, when a white mob in 1921 killed as many as 300 people in a thriving African American business district known as "Black Wall Street." For more on this…

_____ (2020-06-19). 'Black Lives Matter' Is International. popularresistance.org Corte Madera, California – The police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25th was the spark that ignited the tinder of accrued injustice throughout the US and globally. This injustice has deep antecedents in the US and indeed in much of what is now called the Global South. There is a shared history of colonial conquest of the Indigenous and the abominable institution of the enslavement of African peoples. | What happened has its roots in systemic oppression that has resonated internationally. Just as the police suffocated George Floyd, US unilateral coercive measures against Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua,…

news.un (2020-06-19). Human Rights Council calls on top UN rights official to take action on racist violence. news.un.org The UN's top rights official, Michelle Bachelet, is to spearhead efforts to address systemic racism against people of African descent by law enforcement agencies, the Human Rights Council decided on Friday. The resolution — decided unanimously without a vote – follows a rare Urgent Debate in the Council earlier in the week, requested by the African group of nations, following the death of George Floyd in the US state of Minnesota.

teleSUR (2020-06-19). UN Sets up Inquiry Into Racism After George Floyd's Death. telesurenglish.net The U.N. Human Rights Council Friday condemned discriminatory and violent policing after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month and ordered a report on "systemic racism" against Black people. | RELATED: | The 47-member-state forum unanimously adopted a resolution brought by African countries and which asks U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to examine government responses to peaceful protests,…

RT (2020-06-19). PANDER-MONIUM: Snapchat yanks cringeworthy Juneteenth filter that asked users to 'smile to break chains'. rt.com Snapchat has removed a Juneteenth-themed that encouraged users to "smile" to break the chains of slavery, something that was quickly flagged by social media users as an offensive attempt to pander to Black Lives Matter activists. | If users chose to use the filter, they could photograph themselves in front of a Pan-African flag with the words "Juneteenth" and "Freedom Day" captioned. The user was then told to smile as chains appear and then suddenly break, a clear nod to the day being a celebration of the end of slavery in the US. | The filter was disabled after numerous complaints and removed from the service…

RT (2020-06-19). PANDERMONIUM: Snapchat yanks cringeworthy Juneteenth filter that asked users to 'smile to break chains'. rt.com Snapchat has removed a Juneteenth-themed that encouraged users to "smile" to break the chains of slavery, something that was quickly flagged by social media users as an offensive attempt to pander to Black Lives Matter activists. | If users chose to use the filter, they could photograph themselves in front of an African flag with the words "Juneteenth" and "Freedom Day" captioned. The user was then told to smile as chains appear and then suddenly break, a clear nod to the day being a celebration of the end of slavery in the US. | The filter was disabled after numerous complaints and removed from the service in…

ahtribune (2020-06-19). Caesar Tries to Suffocate 17 Million Syrians. ahtribune.com Since 2011, the US and allies have promoted, trained and supplied militants trying to bring about The new law is fraudulen…

Editor (2020-06-19). Editorial/Celebrating Juneteenth during an uprising. workers.org On Juneteenth, commemorated on June 19, African Americans mark the anniversary of the day in 1865 when union troops arrived in Galveston Island to inform the enslaved people in Texas that the heinous system of slavery had ended. The delayed announcement forced an estimated 250,000 African descendants to languish under . . . |

Aaron Morrison, Kat Stafford (2020-06-19). Juneteenth: A day for national action. peoplesworld.org In just about any other year, Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the day in 1865 that all enslaved Black people learned they had been freed from bondage, would be marked by African American families across the nation with a cookout, a parade, a community festival, a soulful rendition of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing." But in …

ahtribune (2020-06-19). Do Not Belittle Protesters in U.S. By Calling Their Struggle A "Color Revolution"! ahtribune.com For almost a decade, I have been covering "Color Revolutions" in virtually all parts of the world. While making a film for TeleSur, I was facing Egyptian tanks, risking my life under sniper fire, getting roughed-up in the middle of clashes of the supporters of al-Sisi and Morsi. | Together with Syrian commanders, I was also facing the terrorists in Idlib; challenged the Ukrainian fascists; encountering Bolivian indigenous elders high in the Altiplano, after the revolution of Evo Morales and MAS was crashed by the U.S.-sponsored coup in 2019. I regularly worked in Venezuela, Lebanon, and Iraq. And of course, ag…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-06-19). The 'Palestinian Chair': Exposing Israel's Direct Role in US Violence. counterpunch.org The banning of deadly police practices by many American states and cities following the murder of an African American man, George Floyd, at the hands of Minneapolis police officers is, once more, shedding light on US-Israeli collaboration in the fields of security and crowd-control. From California to New York, and from Washington State to Minneapolis,