(2020-06-26). The 'New' American Mercenary: A Pocket History. popularresistance.org Though the bizarre story has been subsumed by other events, last month's aborted invasion of Venezuela should've hardly shocked anyone. The United States has long used mercenaries to do its bidding. They have provided Washington distance and deniability for unsavory operations. During the Cold War, the U.S. hoped this would limit domestic and international protest. Policymakers also discerned mercenary alternatives to bloody, expensive quagmires like the Vietnam or Iraq Wars. Traditionally, most of these hired guns were foreigners — ex-soldiers of declining European empires. | Much of this parallels the lat…
(2020-06-26). In Support of President Putin's History of World War II. strategic-culture.org 
On 19 June President Vladimir Putin published
(2020-06-26). Eastern Partnership of Post-Soviet States Gives Members False Illusions of Joining the EU. globalresearch.ca The
(2020-06-26). Iran Sets Conditions to Resume Negotiations with the US. globalresearch.ca Iran's President Hassan Rouhani announced Wednesday that Tehran will negotiate with Washington only within the framework of the nuclear agreement and under the condition that the U.S. side pays compensation to the Middle East country for the damage caused. | "We …
(2020-06-26). Russia to build four new nuclear power units. yenisafak.com Preparations are underway in Russia to build four new power reactors, two in Leningrad and two in Smolensk, the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom announced on Friday.Rosatom Director-General Alexey Likhachev signed the agreement for the new generation VVER-1200 and VVER-TOI reactors, which are based on VVER technology developed by Rosatom, that Lihachev said "meets all current international safety requirements."The reactors are included in the country's scheme of electricity facility placement up to 2035, which was approved by the Russian government.Rosenergoatom, part of Rosatom, will be both the d…
(2020-06-26). Turkey's oil imports down 18.1% in April 2020. yenisafak.com Turkey's total oil imports dropped by 18.1% to 2.93 million tonnes in April this year compared to the same month last year, according to data of Turkey's energy watchdog on Friday.Crude oil imports, the category with the highest oil import volume, decreased by 1.1% during that period down to 2.35 million tonnes, Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) said in its monthly oil market report.In April 2020, Turkey imported the highest amount of crude from Iraq at 1.46 million tonnes. Russia and Norway followed with 513,253 tonnes and 273,093 tonnes, respectively.Oil refinery product output decreased by 9.4…
(2020-06-26). Flagging U.S. Credibility at Vienna Arms Control Talks. strategic-culture.org A puerile propaganda stunt pulled by U.S. negotiators in Vienna this week ahead of talks with Russian counterparts was both at insult to China and a reprehensible distraction from credible bilateral business with Moscow on the vital issue of strategic security. | Ahead of talks with Russian delegates, the Americans took a stealthy photo of the venue U.S. envoy Marshall Billingslea then tried to twitter-shame China by decl…
(2020-06-25). Russia says Poland should be aware of costs if it wants to obtain status of 'frontline state'. rt.com 
Poland should be aware of the costs of obtaining the status of a 'frontline state', including implications for its own security, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko said on Thursday. He was commenting on the US plans to relocate its forces from Germany to Poland. | "If Warsaw wishes to intentionally position itself in the capacity of a frontline state by accommodating foreign forces on a permanent basis, it is apparently aware of all related costs, including those that concern its own security," Grushko told TASS. | Speaking with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on Wednesday, President Donald…
(2020-06-25). Democrats seethe as Trump calls them 'more unreasonable' than North Korea, China or Russia. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump paid the opposition Democrats a backhanded compliment, saying in a speech that they were tougher to deal with and "far more unreasonable" than the governments of North Korea, China or Russia. | The Democrats in the USA are much tougher to deal with than any of these people that we deal with. They're far more unreasonable. And actually, they're a little crazy. | Trump made a comment as part of an anecdote during an address at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin on Friday, prompting the DNC war room to accuse him of having "no idea what it means to be president" and daring to…
(2020-06-25). US Embassy in Moscow flies rainbow flag to honor Pride flag day. rt.com 
The US Embassy in Moscow is flying the rainbow pride flag alongside the country's famous Stars and Stripes as a show of support for the LGBT community. | The move comes as Russians begin to head to the polls to vote on proposed constitutional amendments, including the definition of marriage as a union between a man and woman. | "LGBTI rights are human rights. Human rights are universal," said the caption on the embassy's Instagram page. "Pride Month is designed to emphasize that everyone deserves to live a life free of hate, prejudice, and persecution." | In the USA, LGBT Pride Month occurs in June, on the…
(2020-06-25). Son of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev died of gunshot wound to the head — US police. rt.com 
Sergey Khrushchev's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, US police said. The 84-year-old son of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev passed away at his Rhode Island home last week. | "There were no immediate signs of outside foul play," Major Todd Patalano of the Cranston Police Department said. He didn't elaborate as to whether the death was being treated as an accident or a suicide, simply stating that the investigation was closed. | The gunshot wound was revealed by Joseph Wendelken, spokesman for the Rhode Island state medical examiner's office, the AP news agency reported. | However, the younger Khr…
(2020-06-25). Russians begin voting on changes allowing Putin to stay in power until 2036. thecanary.co 
Polls have opened in Russia for a week-long vote on constitutional changes that would allow president Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.The vote on a range of constitutional amendments, proposed by Putin in January, was initially scheduled for 22 April but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.It was later rescheduled for 1 July, with polling stations opening a week earlier and staying open for seven days in an effort to avoid crowds on the main voting day.The proposed amendments include a change in the constitution that would allow 67-year-old Putin, who has ruled Russia for over two decades…
(2020-06-25). Trump Admitted Relocation of American Soldiers to Poland Is Aimed Against Russia. globalresearch.ca It appears that despite achieving so-called independence from the Soviet Union and joining the EU and NATO in 2004, Lithuania does not have full sovereignty. In yesterday's negotiations with US President Donald Trump, the interests of Vilnius were not …
(2020-06-25). Trump claims the redeployment of US troops from Germany to Poland is a 'signal' to Russia. But is it just a tempest in a teapot? thealtworld.com President Trump has announced that thousands of US troops will be redeployed to Poland as part of …
(2020-06-25). "Referendum in Russia exposes the sham of bourgeois democracy" peoplesdispatch.org Roman Kononenko from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation talks about the ongoing referendum in Russia on the constitutional reforms proposed by president Vladimir Putin. He also talks about how the country handled the COVID-19 pandemic…
(2020-06-25). Beset by crisis, Kremlin holds "victory parade" wsws.org The parade and the reopening of the economy have been timed to precede by one week the national referendum on constitutional changes proposed by Putin earlier this year.
(2020-06-25). Turkey says Libya's GNA demands Haftar withdraw from Sirte, Jufra. yenisafak.com Libya's internationally recognised government demands that Khalifa Haftar's forces withdraw from the coastal city of Sirte and Jufra region as pre-conditions for ceasefire talks, Turkey said on Thursday.With Turkish military support, the Government of National Accord (GNA) has reversed a 14-month offensive on Tripoli by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told broadcaster CNN Turk that the United States, which Turkey has urged to take a more active role in Libya, was reluctant to play a "decisive role" in t…
(2020-06-25). Public vote on constitutional changes in Russia begins. yenisafak.com Russians Thursday have started to vote on the constitutional changes that will allow the incumbent president to serve two more terms in office.The vote will last from June 25 to July 1 to avoid mass gatherings at the polls, associated with risks of the coronavirus spreading, the country's Central Election Commission (CEC) explained in a statement.The polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (0500-1700GMT). The precinct election commissions issued recommendations for the residents of each house in their districts, indicating the best time for casting ballot to better organize the voter turnout.Ho…
(2020-06-25). India Urges Russia to Deliver Igla-S Missile System ASAP Amid Border Tensions, Media Claims. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Media outlets earlier reported that Indian authorities have decided to "pressure" Russia into expediting the delivery of its S-400 air defence missile system to New Delhi amid the latter's ongoing border face-off with China.
(2020-06-25). Bolton's Book Has 'Misleading and Manipulative Presentations' of Erdogan-Trump Talks, Ankara Says. sputniknews.com In his memoir published on 23 June, John Bolton claimed that US President Donald Trump was manipulated and easily influenced by the leaders of China, Russia, Turkey, and North Korea.
(2020-06-25). Iran expresses concern about violation of CTBT by US, France. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 25 (MNA) — Addressing the 54th session of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission in Vienna on Thursday, Iran's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi reiterated Iran's support for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and expressed worry about violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the US and France.
(2020-06-25). Dutch Government Outright Lies about MH17, to Blame Russia. strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | 1. The page 84, (under 2.13.2 "Crew autopsy") that "First Officer Team A … During the body scan of the First Officer's body, over 120 objects (mostly metal fragments) were detected. The majority of the fragments were found in left side of the upper torso." Then, it reported, on | page 85 (under 2.13.3) "the First Off…
(2020-06-24). Mobilize, Organize, Legislate, and… counterpunch.org Millions marched across the United States in protest and celebration of Juneteenth on June 19. There have been localized million people marches, specifically in 1982 in New York for a nuclear freeze; in Washington D.C. in 1995 the Million Man March to "convey to the world a vastly different picture of the Black male;" the
(2020-06-24). Two years of US sanctions against Iran. peoplesdispatch.org 
The US withdrew the last set of exemptions provided to some foreign companies to work on Iranian nuclear sites in May, which also marked the second anniversary of Donald Trump administration's renewed aggression against Iran.
(2020-06-24). 'Russiagate' case against ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn effectively OVER, as DC appeals court orders to close it. rt.com 
An appeals court in Washington, DC, ruled that the case against President Trump's one-time national security adviser, Michael Flynn, must end. The Justice Department had dropped charges against Flynn, but his case remained open. | In a ruling issued on Wednesday, the Washington DC Circuit Court of Appeals effectively ended the case against Flynn, ordering federal judge Emmet Sullivan to heed the Justice Department's advice and close the case. Sullivan had attempted to keep the case active, even though the Justice Department dropped its charges against Flynn last month. | The appeals battle was a last-ditch sho…
(2020-06-24). Temperatures climb to 38C in COLDEST city on Earth – records broken as Russian Arctic endures more ANOMALOUS hot weather. rt.com 
Scientists are already alarmed at the spike in temperatures in Russia this year. While the mercury is creeping up everywhere, in Siberia it has spiked dramatically, delivering unprecedented heat. | This summer is on course to be the hottest since record-keeping began, in the world's largest country. Towns usually still blanketed by snow at this time of year are experiencing a blazing heatwave, thanks to the escalating climate crisis. | The effects of global warming have arrived and are already causing problems, especially in Siberia. A massive oil spill in the far northern mining city of Norilsk earlier this y…
(2020-06-24). Indian commander who led elite troops through Red Square in Victory Day parade says friendship with Russia 'increasing by the day'. rt.com 
Security challenges now faced by India have complicated preparations of its troops for the Victory Day parade, but they still marched on the Red Square and won the hearts of the Russian audience, their commander told RT. | The parade in Moscow, marking the 75th anniversary of victory against the Nazi Germany, was "a gala performance, with a great history behind it," said Colonel Anil Kumar, commander of the tri-services contingent. The participation of the Indian troops in it has become yet another sign that friendship between India and Russia is "increasing by the day." | | A parade formation of the Indian…
(2020-06-24). As the UK heads into a heatwave Siberia is going off the charts. thecanary.co 
Scientists have expressed concerns about the implications for the rest of the world after a heatwave in Russia's Siberia region.On Saturday, the thermometer hit a likely record of 38C — or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit — in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk in Russia's Sakha Republic.The World Meteorological Organisation said it is looking to verify the temperature reading, which would be a record for the region north of the Arctic Circle.The increasing temperatures in Siberia have been linked to wildfires that grow bigger and more severe every year, as well as the thawing of the permafrost.Scientists are ala…
(2020-06-24). Video: "Militants" Launch Massive Drone Attack on Russian Airbase in Syria. globalresearch.ca Late on June 22, Russian air defense units repelled a massive drone attack on Russia's Hmeimim air base in Syria. According to local sources, Russian Pantsir and Tor systems launched almost two dozen missiles at unmanned aerial vehicles launched by …
(2020-06-24). US Sanctions Iranian Ship Captains as Russia Hosts Venezuelan FM. venezuelanalysis.com Russian FM Sergei Lavrov reiterated his opposition to US aggression in Venezuela.
(2020-06-24). A Tipping Point in Libya's Long-Standing Conflict. thealtworld.com Africa's most oil-rich nation has turned into a battleground for half a dozen foreign states. In the west, is the UN-backed Government of National Accord and NATO. In the east, is warlord Khalifa Haftar. Russia, Egypt, Turkey, the UAE and France are all involved. But why is Washington staying out of it? And what is Moscow's endgame in the war-torn country? | Guests: | Jonathan M Winer | Former US Special Envoy for Libya | Anas El Gomati | Director of the Sadeq Institute | Samuel Ramani | Russian Foreign Policy Researcher at Oxford University | Marco Carnelos | Libya Adviser to former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi…
(2020-06-24). The Anti-American Universities Are a Much Greater Threat to Us than Putin and China. thealtworld.com This is an introduction to a letter written by a black American professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He says that the University no longer serves scholarship and has become a servant to the Democratic Party and Black Lives Matter. He says that the university is akin to a suppressive regime that crushes real diversity and exiles free debate. At the end of his letter, he damns the University of California regents and the Berkely history department for eulogizing George Floyd, a depraved, drug-ridden thug "who hurt women. A man who hurt black women. With the full collaboration of the UCB history depa…
(2020-06-24). The Wasp Network Highlights Our Lack of Freedom to Tell the Truth on the Cuban Five Case. dissidentvoice.org The film Wasp Network, based on the book The Last Soldiers of the Cold War, The Story of the Cuban Five by Fernando Morais, is a co-production between France, Spain, Belgium and Brazil. It was shown in Cuba last December, soon after it came out. You can now watch it on Netflix. It is not a …
(2020-06-24). Russia displays military might to mark WW II victory. yenisafak.com Some 14,000 troops from 13 countries as well as vintage and the latest state-of-art military hardware marched along the Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of its victory in World War II.The parade, which highlighted Russia's fighting capabilities were also held in 28 other cities under the shadow of coronavirus pandemic. The parade was also marked by a colorful fly-past by fighter aircrafts.Russia showed its military might by displaying the latest stealth fighter jet Su-57 with hypersonic Kinzhal complexes, Ka-52 helicopters, and Armata tanks.Originally, the parade was scheduled to tak…
(2020-06-24). Despite Border Tensions Between India and China, Russia to Ensure RIC Remains Viable, Experts Say. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The foreign ministers of Russia, India, and China on Tuesday participated in a special videoconference session called by Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War and the creation of the United Nations.
(2020-06-24). First COVID-19 Case Registered at Chernobyl Nuclear Plant. sputniknews.com In mid-March, Ukraine introduced a nationwide quarantine for a month and subsequently extended it several times. The Ukrainian government decided to relax coronavirus-related restrictions starting 11 May.
(2020-06-23). Several international delegates join Palestinians' protest against proposed Israeli annexation. peoplesdispatch.org The protests in Jericho in the Jordan Valley were part of the Palestinian Authority's popular initiatives against the annexation move by Israel. The UN peace envoy and representatives of Russia, China and EU attended the protest…
(2020-06-23). Russia Can't Broker China-India Peace: The Best It Can Do Is Balance Its Response to this Crisis. globalresearch.ca Nobody should have the false expectation that the virtual Foreign Minister's meeting between the Russian, Chinese, and Indian dignitaries, nor the presence of the latter two's Defense Ministers in Moscow this week to attend the delayed Victory Day celebration there, …
(2020-06-23). Thousands Of Palestinians Protest Against Israeli Annexation Plan. popularresistance.org Thousands of Palestinians have rallied in Jericho to protest against Israel's unilateral plan to annex large swaths of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley. | Monday's gathering was also attended by dozens of foreign diplomats, including the United Nations peace envoy for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, and the European Union's representative, Sven Kuehn von Burgsdorff. | British, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and Jordanian diplomats were also at the rally. | Citing the presence of the dignitaries, Al Jazeera's Nida Ibrahim said: "Palestinians hope that by doing gatherings like this, they would pressure the…
(2020-06-23). Is the JCPOA Nuclear Deal Doomed? globalresearch.ca Trump regime hardliners want the landmark JCPOA nuclear deal eliminated to facilitate escalation of sanctions war on Iran — risking things turning hot. | Decades of US hostility toward the country are all about wanting it transformed into a vassal state …
(2020-06-23). Russia to abandon flat tax after almost two decades, will start moving back to progressive system — Putin. rt.com 
Russia is planning to introduce a progressive tax regime, adding a 15% tax bracket for those earning over five million rubles ($72,000) a year, President Vladimir Putin said. The money will be used to treat severely ill children. | In a televised address on Tuesday, Putin explained that a tax hike would raise approximately 60 billion rubles a year ($870 million), with Russia's highest earners paying an extra two percent tax on their income. The rate for all other Russians will remain unchanged at 13 percent. | He said that the tax increase will be used to treat children with serious illnesses, removing the nee…
(2020-06-23). 'Unrealistic': Russia says it won't pressure China to join nuclear talks on Washington's behalf. rt.com 
US expectations that China will join nuclear arms control talks are unrealistic, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said, noting the only way forward is bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Washington. | Ryabkov pointed out that he made that clear to US special envoy for arms control Marshall Billingslea as the two met in Vienna on Monday for negotiations on prolonging the New START Treaty, which expires in February. | "We quite thoroughly explained to them why counting on China joining [the negotiations] is unrealistic," Ryabkov said, noting that Moscow will not pressure Beijing the way Washingt…
(2020-06-23). Israel Leverages Dubious 'Nuclear Archives' to Re-enlist IAEA in Campaign Against Iran. globalresearch.ca The International Atomic Energy Agency has once again lent itself to the political interests of the United States and Israel, provoking a needless conflict with Iran | *** | The approval by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of a June …
(2020-06-23). How We Sold the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia for Plastic Shopping Bags. globalresearch.ca For months, this has been a story that I have wanted to share with young readers in Hong Kong. Now it seems to be the really appropriate time, when the ideological battle between some West superpowers and China is raging, …
(2020-06-23). Victoria Nuland Alert. Her Ambition is Confront Russia to Deter Putin. globalresearch.ca It is difficult to find anything good to say about Donald Trump, but the reality is that he has not started any new wars, though he has come dangerously close in the cases of Venezuela and Iran and there …
(2020-06-23). Extreme weather 'record' likely in Arctic Circle, says UN weather agency WMO. news.un.org Reports that temperatures in a Russian town in the Arctic Circle likely reached a record 38C (100.4F), last weekend, have been approved by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) pending final verification, it said on Tuesday.
(2020-06-23). US shares draft resolution with UNSC to extend arms embargo on Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 23 (MNA) — With the ban on arms transactions with Iran set to expire in October under terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, the US has shared its prepared anti-Iranian draft resolution with members of the UN Security Council, sources say.
(2020-06-23). NATO 2030: How to Make a Bad Idea Worse. strategic-culture.org Just when you thought the leaders of NATO could not push the limits of insanity any further, something like After helping blow up the Middle East and North Africa, dividing the Balkans into zones of war and tension, turning Ukraine upside down using armadas of neo Nazis, and encircling Russia with a ballistic missile shield, the leaders of this Cold War relic have decided that the best way to deal with instability of the world is… more NATO. | In a June 8th online event co-sponsored by the Atlantic Council, NATO…
(2020-06-23). Russia-Haters Then and Now. strategic-culture.org A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it. | — I've been at the Russia business for a while — since the days of Konstantin Chernenko in fact. As I've