(2020-07-29). Has anything changed since 1840? Trade, imperialism, Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta megacity. mronline.org 
In modern times, China has been the ultimate challenge for imperialists: it's independence being an enigma to Europeans and Americans. From Marco Polo to Mike Pompeo, China has been a mystery to Christian crusaders.
(2020-07-29). Trump's War on the Environment and Its Inhabitants. counterpunch.org 
Trump's climate denial has made the United States an environmental "pariah state" in a global community committed to addressing the problem of climate change. Trump's withdrawal from the Paris accord made the United States the only nation in the world to reject the climate accord. The two original outliers—Syria and Nicaragua—have joined, and Nicaragua stayed out initially because the agreement didn't go far enough. Trump has undermined the rich legacy of the Obama administration in the environmental field, which included getting the world's other major polluters—particularly China and India[mda…
(2020-07-29). Forget basic income—In Canada, the new normal should bring a public housing revolution. mronline.org 
"I had like $500 left in my account," my friend Jordan excitedly tells me. "I was seriously fucked for rent." Like millions of others, Jordan had entered his final few weeks of eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the government's $2,000 per month unemployment program.
(2020-07-29). Jewish Labor Committee remembers coronavirus dead on traditional mourning day. peoplesworld.org 
BOSTON —Nineteen hundred and fifty years ago, in the year 70 CE (AD for non-Jews), the Romans conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Second Temple, sacked and burned the city, slew tens of thousands of people and drove all but a few of the rest into exile. Ever since then, Jews worldwide have honored their dead on …
(2020-07-29). The UK's Russia Report on the "Londongrad Laundromat" counterpunch.org 
The UK parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), drawn from MPs and peers of all parties, last week published its report on possible Russian interference in UK politics. The report's release had been delayed by 9 months after it had been blocked by Boris "BoJo" Johnson in the run-up to the December 2019 general election.
(2020-07-29). List of Targets Leaked: Israel Fears Worst in ICC War Crimes Investigation. mintpressnews.com The fact that a "secret list" exists is an indication that Tel Aviv understands that this era is different and that international law, which has failed Palestinians for over 70 years, may, for once, deliver a small measure of justice.
(2020-07-29). Video: Hezbollah-Israeli Escalation on Lebanese Border. Rocket Strikes against US Bases in Iraq. globalresearch.ca On July 27, fighting broke out between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the Israeli-Lebanese contact line. This became the heaviest open confrontation between the sides in about a year. The incident occurred in an area known as Chebaa Farms, which …
(2020-07-29). Iranian Military Exercises Prepare to Counter Aggression if Occurs. globalresearch.ca Iran is the leading Middle East proponent of peace, stability, and cooperative relations with other countries. | It hasn't attacked another nation in centuries, threatening none now except in retaliation against aggression by a foreign power if occurs — the right …
(2020-07-29). Taliban ceasefire brightens hopes for talks in Afghanistan. peoplesdispatch.org The Taliban announced a three-day ceasefire on the occasion of Eid, which would be the third since June 2019. The ceasefire comes after a particularly brutal few weeks of clashes between the group and government forces…
(2020-07-29). CHC #6 — Behind the Armenia — Azerbaijan conflict. thealtworld.com Counter Hegemonic Chat #6. Tim and Jay discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and its roots with Mia Shouha, graduate student who wrote a thesis on this matter and has traveled extensively in the region.
(2020-07-29). Neo-Nazi Bad, Left-wing Israel-Critic Store Owner much Worse? dissidentvoice.org Contrasting the Jewish establishment's reaction to alleged bigotry from a left-wing Toronto restaurant and unambiguous hatred from a far-right politician is a sad comment on their political priorities. As I detailed here and here, the anti-Palestinian lobby went into overdrive after Foodbendors owner Kimberly Hawkins posted to Instagram at the start of the month: "Open …
(2020-07-29). It Is Now the "Israel-led" Coalition that Is Destroying Yemen. globalresearch.ca It wasn't supposed to take this long to eliminate the independence movement of the backward land of the living Bible. A coalition of the world's major military powers, led by the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and …
(2020-07-29). New Reports Suggest Libyan Warlord Khalifa Haftar is Working with Mossad. mintpressnews.com Reports of Israeli support for the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar are nothing new, but as the apartheid state gains ground among Arab nations, the need to hide Mossad's role in the destabilizing of oil-rich Libya may be disappearing.
(2020-07-29). Romanticism and the Modern World: Re-Examining Emotion and Justice in Enlightenment Ideals. globalresearch.ca "We are slipping back from the age of reason into the mire of mystery, into a world of gods and devils, ghouls and angels. The difference this time is that we have chosen ignorance over knowledge, vapidity over insight, folly …
(2020-07-29). 2019 was the bloodiest year for environmental and land rights activists, says report. peoplesdispatch.org Over 212 "land defenders" were killed in the year 2019, says a report by Global Witness, with Colombia and the Philippines accounting for half of those…
(2020-07-29). Presumptuous Pompeo Pushes Preposterous 'Peking' Policy. popularresistance.org Quick. Somebody tell Mike Pompeo. The secretary of state is not supposed to play the role of court jester — the laughing stock to the world. There was no sign that any of those listening to his "major China policy statement" last Thursday at the Nixon Library turned to their neighbor and said, "He's kidding, right? Richard Nixon meant well but failed miserably to change China's behavior? And now Pompeo is going to put them in their place?" Over the weekend an informal colloquium-by-email took pace, spurred initially by an op-ed article by Richard Haass critiquing Pompeo's speech. Haass's views served as a s…
(2020-07-29). Video: NYPD Officers Throwing Protest Leader Into Unmarked Van. popularresistance.org NYPD officers dragged a protest leader into an unmarked minivan van and doused onlookers with pepper spray during an anti-police brutality march in Manhattan on Tuesday night. | The individual, who friends identified as an 18-year-old trans woman named Nicki, was grabbed from the group by plainclothes officers at 25th Street and Second Avenue. Video shows a man in an orange shirt marked "Warrant Squad" helping to push the woman into a silver KIA minivan before driving away. Witnesses said the arrest came as roughly 200 people were leaving a small plaza on 26th Street where they had stopped for a skateboarding eve…
(2020-07-29). US officials claim Russia is behind the spread of virus disinformation. thecanary.co 
US officials say Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation about the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.The officials alleged Russian operatives have acted in seeking to exploit a crisis the US is struggling to contain ahead of the presidential election in November.Two Russians who have held senior roles in Moscow's military intelligence service known as the GRU have been identified as responsible for the effort to reach American and western audiences, according to the US government officials, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The i…
(2020-07-29). VP urges Pakistan to help keep security at borders with Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — First Vice President called on the Pakistani government to seriously prevent any measure that undermines security at the borders with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2020-07-29). Group of European MPs say 'no' to W.Bank annexation by Israel. yenisafak.com A group of European MPs from the UK, France, Ireland, and Belgium have released a statement on Wednesday to reject the "illegal plan" of Israel's annexation of part of the occupied West Bank.Convened by Stephen Kinnock, a British MP and the co-chair of the Britain-Palestine All-Party Parliamentary Group, the lawmakers agreed to challenge and seek to deter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial plan.Prompting parliamentary colleagues from Europe and the US to sign their statement to oppose the proposed annexation, the group also appealed the public members to forward it to their local MPs.- 'No…
(2020-07-29). Mnuchin says China's TikTok under federal CFIUS review. yenisafak.com U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Wednesday social media app TikTok is under federal government review and a recommendation will be made to President Donald Trump on it.The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews deals by foreign acquirers for potential national security risks, is looking at TikTok, Mnuchin said.Trump said before leaving the White House on a trip to Texas that they are thinking about a decision on the matter.
(2020-07-29). Brazil may face 'consequences' if it gives Huawei 5G access, says US ambassador. yenisafak.com The top U.S. diplomat in Brazil said in a newspaper interview that the country may face "consequences" if it allows China's Huawei Technologies into its 5G network, referring to U.S. warnings that China fails to protect intellectual property.The U.S. government has stepped up efforts to limit Huawei's role in rolling out high-speed, fifth-generation technology in Latin America's largest economy. It believes Huawei would hand over data to the Chinese government for spying. Huawei denies it spies for China.U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman told O Globo that Brazil would not face reprisals for picking Huawei, but could f…
(2020-07-29). Iran fires ballistic missiles from underground for first time. yenisafak.com Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards fired ballistic missiles from underground for the first time as part of an annual military drill, Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the aerospace division of the Guards, said in a video posted online by YJC, a news agency linked to Iran's state TV.The video showed clouds of dust before the missiles streaked into the sky.ŸÅ€åŸÑŸÖ ÿ¥ŸÑ€å⁄© ŸÖŸàÿ¥⁄©‚ÄåŸáÿ߀å ÿ®ÿߟÑÿ≥&yu…
(2020-07-29). Iran considers three-day Taliban ceasefire positive step. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that Iran considers the three-day Taliban ceasefire a positive step towards peace in Afghanistan.
(2020-07-29). 'They never tell you there WERE people there': Seth Rogen stirs hornet's nest after saying Israel 'makes no sense'. rt.com 
Jewish actor Seth Rogen has courted controversy after saying that Israel's existence "doesn't make sense," and that young Jews are misled to believe the state was created peacefully, without displacing thousands of Palestinians. | "If it is truly for the preservation of Jewish people, it makes no sense, because again, you don't keep something you're trying to preserve all in one place especially when that place has proven to be… pretty volatile," Rogen told comedian Mark Maron on his 'WTF' podcast on Monday. | Rogen — who has been promoting his upcoming movie, 'An American Pickle,' a comedy-drama which…
(2020-07-29). NYPD weighs in on viral protester 'kidnapping' video, says arrestee suspected of vandalizing cop cameras. rt.com 
The New York Police Department has addressed a viral video clip showing officers forcing an activist into an unmarked vehicle, insisting the protester was suspected of vandalism as critics deemed the arrest a lawless "kidnapping." | In footage that circulated on social media on Tuesday, plainclothes officers were seen cramming a woman into the back of an unmarked van as a crowd of angry demonstrators looks on in shock, with uniformed police swooping in to secure the area as the vehicle leaves the scene. The video has driven a wave of criticism directed at the NYPD, with many claiming the woman was 'kidnapped i…
(2020-07-29). WATCH: Protesters lay siege to NYPD police commissioner's home after viral van 'kidnapping' incident. rt.com 
Angry protesters have swarmed the NYPD commissioner's home on West 73rd street in Manhattan, in response to the arrest of a protester who was bundled into an unmarked van on Tuesday. | Furious that one of their own had been arrested in such a way, the protest march, which the 'kidnapped' woman was part of, made its way to NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea's home in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as eyewitness video from the scene purports to show. | "This is a raid, Commissioner Shea"
(2020-07-29). Turkish parliament approves social media law with strict new powers. thecanary.co 
Turkey's parliament has approved a law that gives authorities greater power to regulate social media despite growing concerns over censorship.The law requires major social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to keep representative offices in Turkey to deal with complaints against content on their platforms.If a social media company refuses to designate an official representative, the legislation mandates steep fines, advertising bans and bandwidth reductions.With a court ruling, bandwidth would be reduced by 50% and then by 50% to 90%. Bandwidth reductions mean social media networks would be too slow to…
(2020-07-29). AG Bill Barr Grilled by House Lawmakers on Protest Crackdown, Voter Suppression & Pandemic Failures. democracynow.org 
We play highlights from Attorney General William Barr's grilling by the House Judiciary Committee over how he sent militarized federal forces to confront Black Lives Matter protesters, and his opposition to voting by mail, and get response from a close friend of Congressmember John Lewis who is now running for Senate. "In spite of the machinations of Donald Trump and those who do his bidding, including the attorney general, the good news is that we're seeing a multiracial coalition of people pouring out into American streets," responds Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, "saying that we're concerned about the soul of our d…
(2020-07-29). Rev. Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church on Legacy of John Lewis & Ongoing Fight for Voting Rights. democracynow.org 
We look at the life and legacy of late civil rights icon and Georgia Congressmember John Lewis, who is being mourned across the U.S. and who became the first Black politician to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. "The irony of this moment is that even as we celebrate and honor John Lewis, the patron saint of voting rights, he hailed from the state which in many instances is ground zero for voter suppression," says Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, who serves as senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, was with Lewis in the final days of his life and will preside over his memorial service. "In recen…
(2020-07-29). Iran records 196 more deaths from COVID-19. yenisafak.com Iran on Wednesday confirmed 196 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the nationwide death toll to 16,343, according to an official. | A further 2,636 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the overall count to 298,909, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said. | She said more than 259,116 people have so far recovered and been discharged from hospitals, adding that 4,027 patients remain in critical condition. | Over 2.4 million tests have been conducted in the country to date, Lari added. | The alarming surge in daily fatalities has sent shockwaves across Iran as…
(2020-07-29). Germany to introduce mandatory COVID tests for travellers next week. yenisafak.com New rules for mandatory coronavirus tests for travellers entering Germany from countries designated as risk areas are due to come into effect next week, a spokeswoman for the country's health ministry said on Wednesday at a regular news conference.Germany announced plans on Monday for free, mandatory coronavirus tests for holidaymakers returning from high-risk countries in order to slow the spread of infections as the holiday season kicks into high gear.
(2020-07-29). Thirty-three Russians arrested in Belarus. yenisafak.com Thirty-three Russian nationals allegedly linked to the private military company Wagner were arrested in Belarus last night, the country's state news agency Belta said on Wednesday.According to Belta, the law enforcement bodies followed the suspects from the moment of their arrival in Belarus.It said a total of 200 Wagner mercenaries came to the country "to destabilize the situation during the presidential election campaign". The Investigative Committee is probing the detained individuals.Belarus will hold its presidential election on Aug. 9, and earlier, acting President Alexander Lukashenko voiced concern over p…
(2020-07-29). Merkel ally: US decision to withdraw troops from Germany weakens NATO. yenisafak.com A senior member of Chancellor Angel Merkel's conservatives has criticised a U.S. decision to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany and move its European headquarters to Belgium."Instead of strengthening NATO, the troop withdrawal will weaken the alliance," Norbert Roettgen, chairman of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, told Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper."The effectiveness of the U.S. military is not increased but reduced, especially with a view to Russia and ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East," Roettgen added.The U.S. military said on Wednesday it would move its headquarters out…
(2020-07-29). Turkey launches new anti-terror operation in east. yenisafak.com With 1,006 personnel, Turkey has launched a new anti-terror operation in its eastern Tunceli province, the country's Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.In a statement, the ministry said Operation Yildirim-4 was launched on Tuesday to "completely eliminate the separatist terror group from the country's agenda and to neutralize terrorists taking shelter in the region."A total of 1,006 security personnel, including gendarmerie commandos, gendarmerie special operations and police special forces as well as security guards, are taking part in the operation, added the statement.Also, operations Yildirim, Yildirim-…
(2020-07-29). Police seize record 195 kg of heroin in eastern Turkey. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces seized a record 195 kilograms (429 pounds) of heroin in an anti-narcotics operation in the eastern province of Malatya, the local governorate said on Wednesday.Anti-narcotics force found the illegal drugs when they stopped a truck at a checkpoint. During the search, assisted by a sniffer dog, 375 packs of heroin hidden in the trunk, were recovered.Police seized the illicit items, and held two suspects allegedly involved in their transportation.Malatya governor Aydin Barus said that since the beginning of 2020, local police and gendarmerie forces have conducted 814 anti-drug operations, rou…
(2020-07-29). Quo Vadis, Aida? by Bosnian director to vie in Venice. yenisafak.com With Turkey's state broadcaster TRT among co-producers, Bosnian director's film Quo Vadis, Aida? will compete for the grand prize at the Venice Film Festival this year.Set in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 during the Serbian occupation of Srebrenica, where one of the world's most horrific genocides took place in the heart of Europe, the drama will be among 18 films in the main competition of the festival which will be held between Sept. 2-12.A film by Bosnian director Jasmila Zbanic, Quo Vadis, Aida? tells the story of Aida, a translator for the UN peacekeeping task force in Bosnia. It is co-produced by Bosnia, T…
(2020-07-29). Turkey to display seized historical artifacts in museum. yenisafak.com Some 155 historical artifacts seized during a police raid in the Aegean province of Aydin will be displayed in a museum, said an official on Wednesday.The historical artifacts including statues, oil lamps and rings plus 2,300 ancient coins were seized in the Nazilli district on July 24 and handed over to Aphrodisias Museum in Aydin.Umut Tuncer, the provincial director of culture and tourism, told Anadolu Agency that most of the delivered artifacts were genuine and that the analysis process continues for others.Noting that the police operation was one of the biggest operations in Aydin in terms of quality, Tuncer…
(2020-07-29). Turkey's AK Party deputy tests positive for coronavirus. yenisafak.com A lawmaker of Turkey's ruling party announced Tuesday that he tested positive for the new coronavirus.In a written statement, Huseyin Sanverdi, a deputy of Justice and Development (AK) Party from the southern Hatay province, said he is under care in the state hospital for COVID-19."Thank God, I do not feel the severe symptoms of the virus that will negatively affect my health," said Sanverdi.Sanverdi was among the people who attended the reopening of Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia as a mosque last week.He denied allegations that the rules to wear protective mask and social distancing were not followed."Everyone a…
(2020-07-29). India to Deploy 35,000 Troops Along China Border Amid Disengagement Talks – Reports. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Earlier in July, India and China agreed to pull back their troops to ensure a complete disengagement in the high-altitude Ladakh region following the worst clash between the two South Asian nations in nearly 50 years. The troops of two countries engaged in an intense standoff that killed 20 Indian soldiers.
(2020-07-29). Rafale Jets to Boost Morale of Indian Air Force Amid Rising Tensions With China, Ex-Pilot Believes. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India on Wednesday welcomed five French Rafale fighter jets out of the 36 it had ordered in 2016 at a cost of $8.7 billion. The procurement was made on an emergency basis by the federal government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the worrying slide of combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force.
(2020-07-29). Surprise for the Enemy: What to Know About Rafale Jets as India's Air Power Receives Major Boost. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a 2016 government-to-government deal at a cost of $8.7 billion. The delivery of the jets, which began in October 2019, will be completed by 2022. India urged France to expedite the delivery amid heightened tensions with China along the border.
(2020-07-29). Iranian Missiles Land Near UAE Air Base Where India's Rafale Jets Were Stationed: US Media Reports. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The first batch of Rafale fighter jets are set to arrive in India's Ambala Air Base on Wednesday afternoon after covering the 7,000 kilometers from France. The jets were stationed overnight at the Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE. The same air base houses US and French troops and aircraft.
(2020-07-29). India Celebrates Induction of Five French Rafale Jets to Its Depleting Air Fleet. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian Air Force has a shortage of around 10 squadrons of combat aircraft after phasing out its MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter planes. The induction of French Rafale jets on Wednesday was the first to take place in two decades – last time, India bought 270 Su-30 MKI from Russia in staggered contracts in the late 1990s.
(2020-07-29). Video: NYPD Claims Responsibility for Viral Abduction of Homeless Teen in Manhattan. sputniknews.com After hours of speculation on a viral video showing the abduction of a woman during a demonstration in the New York City borough of Manhattan, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) confirmed late Tuesday evening that its officers were responsible for carrying off the woman in an unmarked Kia minivan.
(2020-07-29). US presence in West Asia detrimental to region. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the US' illegal presence in West Asia is the main cause of destruction in the region.
(2020-07-29). "Najibeh' to go on screen at Shanghai Intl. FilmFest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — Iranian feature 'Najibeh', directed by Mostafa Gandomkar will be screened at the 23rd edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in China.
(2020-07-29). US harassment of Iranian airliner disgraceful: Vaezi. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — In reaction to the US harassment of an Iranian airliner in Syria, Iranian President's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi said that the US act is disgraceful and contrary to international standards.
(2020-07-29). 'Underground ballistic missiles launched'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (MNA) — In a tweet on Wednesday, Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh informed of the successful launch of underground ballistic missiles against the hypothetical enemies.
(2020-07-29). Iran's Police bust over 1.5 tons of narcotics in Zahedan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul.29 (MNA) — Dismantling a drug-smuggling gang in Zahedan, police forces of Sistan and Baluchestan have seized over 1.5 tons of illicit drugs in a single operation.