Month: June 2020

In his first public appearance since May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday expressed confidence that “an absolute majority” of Russian citizens support constitutional reforms that include allowing him to stay in office until 2036.Putin, speaking at a Russia Day Celebration at Moscow’s Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill, offered holiday greetings to Russian citizens and …

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U.N. agencies are expressing alarm at persistent reports Greek authorities are rejecting asylum seekers and migrants at the country’s sea and land borders with Turkey.The U.N. refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration say they have been receiving multiple and persistent reports that Greek authorities are sometimes violently pushing back and collectively expelling migrants …

Read more “UN Alarmed by Reports Greece Forces Out Asylum Seekers”

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced Thursday night that all professional sport competition in the country will resume starting Friday — but without fans attending, to prevent the risk of spreading the coronavirus.Conte also announced that amateur contact games may restart beginning on June 25 as Italy emerges from the COVID-19 outbreak and regional authorities …

Read more “Italy Resumes all Professional Sport Competitions”

French police defied a ban on mass gatherings to protest what they see as a lack of government support, marching shoulder to shoulder on Friday on the Champs-Elysees to show their anger against new limits on arrest tactics and criticism of racism in their ranks. France this week announced a ban on chokeholds is part …

Read more “French Police Stage Banned Demo to Demand Government Support”

A Turkish court on Thursday convicted a local U.S. Consulate employee in Istanbul of aiding an armed terror organization and sentenced him to eight years and nine months in prison, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.Metin Topuz, a translator and assistant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, has been jailed since 2017, accused of links …

Read more “Turkey Sentences US Consulate Employee to More Than 8 Years”

Like many countries, France is witnessing a public awakening on the issue of police violence and racial profiling, sparked by the death of George Floyd in the United States. In northern Paris, one group of judicial experts and activists is working with minority youngsters, teaching them their rights and how to interact with the police …

Read more “In France, Minorities see George Floyd’s Death Mirrored at Home”

A British political insider says there is no longer any doubt that the London government will abandon plans to incorporate technology from Chinese tech giant Huawei in the rollout of its 5G telecommunications network.The government will make an official announcement in the coming weeks of its plans to “sunset” Huawei’s involvement in the network, said …

Read more “British Decision to Oust Huawei Is Settled, Analyst Says”

The United States is urging Turkey to stop drilling in contested waters of the Mediterranean Sea out of concern the move will hurt diplomatic relations with Greece. Tension is rising among the NATO neighbors and others in the region trying to control energy-rich zones.  The warning from U.S. Under Secretary of State Matthew Palmer marks Washington’s …

Read more “US ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Turkish Drilling in Mediterranean”

The British government is facing strong criticism for its response to the coronavirus pandemic, as latest forecasts suggest the economy could be the worst-hit globally. Britain has the world’s second-highest death toll from the virus and is emerging from its lockdown later than most of Europe. Henry Ridgwell reports from London. …

Italian authorities on Thursday unveiled a stolen artwork by British artist Banksy that was painted as a tribute to the victims of the 2015 terror attacks at the Bataclan music hall in Paris.L’Aquila prosecutors said the work was recovered on Wednesday during a search of a home in the countryside of Tortoreto, near the Adriatic …

Read more “Stolen Banksy Honoring Bataclan Victims Found in Italy”

A white nationalist Norwegian who killed his stepsister and then stormed an Oslo mosque and opened fire, hitting no one, was found guilty Thursday and sentenced to 21 years in prison, the longest jail term under Norwegian law. Philip Manshaus, who had said in court that he regretted not having caused more damage, “has proven …

Read more “Norwegian Man Gets 21 Years for Slaying, Mosque Attack”

France is prepared to lift the special government powers granted to cope with the coronavirus pandemic on July 10 but will continue to restrict gatherings and freedom of movement for the next four months, the prime minister’s office said.In March, as the coronavirus outbreak spread across the globe, France implemented “state of health emergency” legislation, extending the government’s power …

Read more “France Will Roll Back Special Government Powers on July 10  “

London’s mayor announced Tuesday that more statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britain’s streets after protesters knocked down the monument to a slave trader, as the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis continued to spark protests — and drive change — around the world. On the day Floyd was buried in his hometown of …

Read more “London May Remove Statues as Floyd’s Death Sparks Change “