(2020-07-02). Tearing Down the Idols of Colonialism: Why Tunisia, Africa Must Demand French Apology. dissidentvoice.org The visit by newly-elected Tunisian President Kais Saied to France on June 22 was intended to discuss bilateral relations, trade, etc. But it was also a missed opportunity, where Tunisia could have formally demanded an apology from France for the decades of French colonialism, which has shattered the social and political fabric of this North …
(2020-07-02). Mayo Clinic experts to help guide Delta Air Lines COVID-19 safety measures. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Industry leaders in health and travel formalize partnership to transform the future of safe flying ROCHESTER, Minn. — Delta Air Lines and Mayo Clinic, a global leader in serious and complex medical care, are deepening their relationship to provide additional safety and COVID-19 infection control measures for customers and employees. The collaboration is another significant …
(2020-07-02). Africa lost almost $55 billion in travel and tourism due to pandemic. yenisafak.com Africa countries have lost almost $55 billion in travel and tourism revenues in three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the African Union commissioner for infrastructure and energy said on Thursday.Amani Abou-Zeid told a news conference that due to the prolonged lockdown and border closures to curb the spread of the virus, the air industry will be greatly impacted."Some airlines in the continent will not make it post-COVID-19," she said.
(2020-07-02). Hungary not to open borders at EU's request, says PM. yenisafak.com "For now, we cannot support the EU's request because that would be against the health interests of the Hungarian people," Victor Orban said.Hungary, which joined the EU in 2004, opened its borders to Serbian citizens early June.This week the 27-member bloc added 14 states to the list of non-EU countries whose citizens can resume travel to the EU from July 1.The countries are Serbia, Montenegro, Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. China is also on the register, but only on the condition of reciprocal action by the Chinese authorities…
(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.
(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…
(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…
(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…
(2020-07-01). UNESCO urges caution over fraudulent African artefacts, sold in its name. news.un.org The UN on Wednesday revealed the existence of an illicit trafficking scam in African cultural artefacts, which are being sold to unsuspecting buyers, thanks to the entirely fake UNESCO stamp they come with.
(2020-07-01). South Africa accounts for a third of Africa's total COVID-19 cases. peoplesdispatch.org Since 65% of all testing in South Africa has been conducted in costly private hospitals, questions are being raised if the most vulnerable sections of the population, which includes the majority of South Africans, are being tested sufficiently for COVID-19?
(2020-07-01). "Into the World of Bad Spirits": Slavery and Plantation Culture. counterpunch.org Between 1500 and 1880 ten to eleven million Africans were moved by force and terror into "new worlds." Sir Philip Sherlock and Hazel Bennett write of the immensity of the "physical suffering, anguish of spirit and unbearable cruelty" of their lot "from the time of … capture" (The Story of the Jamaican People [1997, p. 122]).
(2020-07-01). Who's Entitled? Diamond Mining and Internal Displacement in Botswana. globalresearch.ca "Not Blood Diamonds" | Diamonds represent 'forever'—so begins the brand statement of any generic diamond company leaning in on the mythological status of deep time and the alchemical compression of history. From encrusting royal jewelry, to the consumer rite of passage …
(2020-07-01). Cameroon and Nigeria: The Risk of Breathing. globalresearch.ca There is a long history of human rights violations by Cameroon's government against its Anglophone people. Brutalized by war with Boko Haram the Cameroon military is now engaged in low intensity warfare against militant Anglophone separatists. On May 15, 2019 …
(2020-07-01). Venezuela Slams Interpol Arrest Of CLAP Contractor In Cape Verde. popularresistance.org Alex Nain Saab Moran, 48, was arrested on the archipelago island while on a technical stop-over in his private jet on Friday. He was allegedly en route to the Islamic Republic of Iran to negotiate food import contracts on behalf of the government's subsidized CLAP food program, as well as medicine and other imports needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza denounced Saab's arrest as "illegal," claiming that no Interpol warrant existed at the time of detention. He also accused the French-based international policing organization of violating "the diplomatic immunity which international…
(2020-07-01). Human rights just tool in service of US malign aspirations. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi described human rights just a tool in service of US malign aspirations, saying it is not a sincere concern for US.
(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…
(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…
(2020-06-30). Looting Palestine—MES EP. 60. thealtworld.com Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the time would be ripe on July 1 for his regime to permanently seize Palestinian territory by annexing swathes of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. In the meantime, Palestinians called on political leaders in the Arab and Muslim world to join hands in defense of the Palestinian cause and devise mechanisms to stop Israel's plan. To discuss this issue with us from the occupied West Bank Dr. Amal Wahdan, Human Rights Advocate. | Meanwhile, the conflict in Libya has taken a new turn. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's threat to take military action if the city of Sirte or the…
(2020-06-30). Who created the Saharan dust cloud? workers.org 
From March 19 to Oct. 31 in 2011, the U.S. empire and its imperialist client states, ranging from Belgium to Qatar, launched over 160 tons of cruise missiles and multiple air strikes against the anti-imperialist state of Libya. The strikes targeted hospitals, bakeries, religious services and private residences, killing hundreds . . . |
(2020-06-30). Video: Russian Private Military Contractors Took Control of Libya's Largest Oil Field. globalresearch.ca Washington is concerned by the growing Russian influence in Libya as Turkish-led forces are preparing to storm the port city of Sirte, controlled by the Libyan National Army. | On June 26, the US embassy in Libya released a statement claiming …
(2020-06-30). Silence Is Not An Option: Black Women Make History. popularresistance.org Mainstream media and politicians have paid almost exclusive attention to ideas and images of Black men — whether as victims of police violence or as protesters against it. Yet Black women, who are no less subject to structural racism and violence, have been at the forefront of the multi-racial Black Lives Matter Movement for years. | ROAR associate editor Eleanor Finley had the opportunity to explore some of these subjects with Dr. Keisha N. Blain, an award-winning historian and Black feminist scholar at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Blain is also president of the African American Intellectual History S…
(2020-06-30). The fight to save South African Airways continues. peoplesdispatch.org The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) have accused the country's Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) of "destroying" the state-owned South African Airways (SAA). | The business rescue plan for SAA, prepared by the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) hired by the DPE to resuscitate the airline, was presented for voting at the Leadership Consultative Forum (LCF) on June 25, after receiving last-minute backing from the DPE. The LCF is composed of representatives of the stakeholders at SAA, including its workers, creditors and the DPE. | Ho…
(2020-06-30). Silence Is Not An Option": Black Women Make History. popularresistance.org Mainstream media and politicians have paid almost exclusive attention to ideas and images of Black men — whether as victims of police violence or as protesters against it. Yet Black women, who are no less subject to structural racism and violence, have been at the forefront of the multi-racial Black Lives Matter Movement for years. | ROAR associate editor Eleanor Finley had the opportunity to explore some of these subjects with Dr. Keisha N. Blain, an award-winning historian and Black feminist scholar at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Blain is also president of the African American Intellectual History S…
(2020-06-30). The 2020 Elections: The Struggle Is For Power Not Reform. popularresistance.org The great African revolutionary, Amilcar Cabral, reminded us that without revolutionary theory there can be no revolution. | His reminder was not a call for abstract theorizing, quite the contrary. What he meant was that one cannot advance in practice unless that practice is guided by the most advanced understanding of the material and ideological conditions that revolutionary forces face. | Over the next two days, we will ground ourselves in our particular realities as they relate to our strategic and tactical engagement with the bourgeois electoral system in the United States. | Let's begin: | The ongoing and c…
(2020-06-30). Confronting Prejudice Isn't Enough. We Must Eradicate the White Racial Frame. truthout.org The brutal enslavement of Black people lasted for a full 60 percent of this country's colonialist history. | It is this deadly longevity of anti-Black racism that we must grasp in order to understand the currently palpable and deeply painful anti-Black racist experiences that African Americans continue to endure in the 21st-century U.S., and the massive multiracial protests that have ensued. | U.S. anti-Black racism was founded upon the brutal enslavement of Black people. In the decades since t…
(2020-06-30). Libya pushes back at Macron's remarks on Turkey. yenisafak.com Libya on Tuesday pushed back recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron on Turkey's role in the north African country."We hoped to hear from President Macron a position that states his rejection of [Khalifa] Haftar's 14 months of aggression against Tripoli," the nation's capital, said Mohamed Taher Siala, Libya's foreign minister, referring to an eastern-based warlord who has attacked the government. | Siala made the comments in response to Monday statements by Macron claiming the Turkish role in the Libyan crisis posed a "threat to Africa and Europe." | Last week, Macron also called Turkey's support f…
(2020-06-30). Macron underlines fight against terror in Sahel summit. yenisafak.com France's president on Tuesday said his country would step up its fight against terrorism in Africa's Sahel Region."When France engages, it is Europe that engages with it," Emmanuel Macron said upon his arrival in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott before taking part in the G5 Sahel Summit."It is also our desire to Europeanize the fight against terrorism in the Sahel," he said.The Nouakchott Summit, that brought together the heads of state of G5 Sahel members Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, as well as France and Spain, follows the conclusions of a previous summit last January in Pau, France.At the…
(2020-06-30). Burundi's new government sworn in. yenisafak.com The newly appointed Burundian government was sworn in Tuesday by the head of state and the senate, local media reported.President Evariste Ndayishimiye promised to combat corruption in public services and the COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in an address to the nation after the ceremony."Burundi will be managed by its sons and daughters with dignity. A country where all citizens can eat as much as they need, have financial independence to meet their needs," SOS Médias Burundi quoted the president. "Burundi is a nest for everyone. We call on all Burundian refugees to return to their country.
(2020-06-29). 'Not just an African issue': Female genital mutilation victim shares harrowing story with RT as practice ON THE RISE in Germany. rt.com 
An activist and victim of female genital mutilation (FGM) living in Berlin told RT "big action" is needed to tackle the issue in Germany, which has seen a rapid rise in women and girls forced to undergo the torturous procedure. | Artist and activist Fatou Mandiang Diatta underwent the dangerous procedure in her native Senegal when she was about four or five years old. | I remember how my mum asked me not to cry. Her face was so serious in front of me. I remember two ladies — one was holding my hand and the other one my legs. And there was a third one who did something quite painful… | Having been so yo…
(2020-06-29). 'Dilbert' creator prompts fury saying he lost jobs and 'my TV show for being white'. rt.com 
Cartoonist Scott Adams has received a barrage of criticisms from 'woke' Twitter users angered by his claim that he's lost three jobs due to being white, one being on the cancelled adaptation of his comic strip 'Dilbert'. | "I lost my TV show for being white when UPN decided it would focus on an African-American audience," Adams tweeted. "That was the third job I lost for being white. The other two in corporate America. (They told me directly.)" | Adams was responding to 'Star Wars' actor Ahmed Best (best known as the voice of Jar Jar Binks), who is black, tweeting about his struggles to get work in Hollywood c…
(2020-06-29). The Blundering British Political Class has Shown the Same Incompetence in Both Fighting Wars and Coronavirus. counterpunch.org 
The government's controversial Prevent programme aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists, but it would be much more effective if it taught British political leaders not to engage in wars that become the seed-beds of terrorism.
(2020-06-29). How Palestine Advocates Can Support Black Struggle. popularresistance.org Black people are one of the first and largest victims of Western colonialism and racial capitalism. We have never received justice for 500 years of racist violence and exploitation. | The US and most Western countries built their empires through profits from the Atlantic slave trade. | As an illegitimate settler colony that was built on the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population and enslavement of Africans, the US requires the continuous subjugation of Black and Indigenous people to maintain its imperial domination abroad. | Accordingly, the greatest internal threat to the US empire is that of a Black revo…
(2020-06-29). Sudan: Popular Struggles, Elite Compromises, and Revolution Betrayed. globalresearch.ca After more than six months of sustained and growing demonstrations across Sudan demanding the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir, on 11 April 2019 the military placed him under arrest and attempted to rule the country for an indeterminate period …
(2020-06-29). Sudan on high alert ahead of mass protests. yenisafak.com Sudanese security forces have been placed on high alert on Monday ahead of mass protests by rival groups on the first anniversary of a power-sharing deal between the military and civilians. | Forces from the military and police have been deployed across the streets of Khartoum. Main roads and bridges leading to the army headquarters in the capital have been sealed, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter on the ground. | Activists have called for demonstrations on June 30 to pile pressure on the transitional government to implement "goals of the revolution" that ousted long-serving President Omar al-Bashir last y…
(2020-06-29). Iran censures naturalization of killing of civilians by US. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 29 (MNA) — In a tweet, on Sunday, Iran's ministry of foreign affairs lambasted normalization and de-tabooing of the killing of civilians in US military operations.
(2020-06-29). US attack on Hashd Al-Sha'abi to have intl. consequences: Qom Seminary. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 29 (MNA) —Following the United States attack on Hashd Al-Sha'abi forces, the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom issued a statement, stressing that this malicious attack was absolutely an arrogant one and it would have international consequences.
(2020-06-29). An Illuminating Farmer-to-Farmer Story in Morocco. globalresearch.ca Bill Nichols served as a volunteer consultant to the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) through the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (F2F) for two weeks in January 2020. Originally from New Mexico, now residing in Boston, Bill collaborated as an F2F volunteer with four …
(2020-06-29). Spain says PM off to Africa, EU's list of safe nations ready soon. yenisafak.com Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is to make his first international trip since the coronavirus crisis to west Africa on Tuesday for a summit on Sahel region issues with other heads of state including France's President Emmanuel Macron.The European leaders will be joined in Mauritania by heads of the so-called G5 Sahel states – also including Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger – and U.N. boss Antonio Guterres, Sanchez's office said in a statement.The region is plagued by jihadi violence.In another sign of travel slowly resuming after months of coronavirus lockdowns, Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez La…