June, 2021

• 25 June

  EU leaders back funding but warn Erdogan against ‘instrumentalizing’ Syrian migrants

  

  EU leaders propose further funding to Turkey for Syrian refugees, but, at Greece’s insistence, issue a warning that the bloc “condemns any attempt by third countries to instrumentalize migrants for political purposes.” Top European Union leaders agreed in principle June 24 on a new financial package for Turkey for hosting …

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• 25 June

  Head of U.S. Intelligence: We May Never Know COVID-19’s Origin

  

  On the menu today: Avril Haines, the U.S. director of national intelligence, ominously declares in an interview that the U.S. intelligence community is no closer to determining how the COVID-19 pandemic began, and may never know with certainty; the need to end the crisis mentality on evictions; and Vice President …

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• 25 June

  New Israeli government jumps to deepen ties with Emirates, Bahrain

  

  Foreign Minister Yair Lapid plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates June 29-30 in the first ever Israeli ministerial visit to the country. The Israeli press reported June 20 that Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is planning to travel to the United Arab Emirates next week for a two-day visit. …

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• 25 June

  Turkey promotes tribal role in Syrian opposition institutions

  

  The Syrian opposition is divided over activating the role of tribes in the coalition, as some believe this would be in favor of figures close to Turkey and would help it dominate the opposition institutions. The Turkish-backed Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans has replaced four of its representatives at …

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• 25 June

  Saudi agents who killed Khashoggi received training in the US: NYT

  

  The New York Times reports that four members of the Saudi team that killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi received training under a contract approved by the State Department. Four members of the Saudi hit team that killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi reportedly received paramilitary training in the United States, The New York …

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• 25 June

  US government seizes news sites linked to Iran

  

  The US government seized several websites affiliated with Iran and its allies, including Press TV. The US has government seized several news websites linked to Iran. Domains for the Iranian state-owned Press TV and Al Alam as well as the Yemeni website Al Masirah took visitors to a notice from …

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• 25 June

  Netanyahu tries to sabotage new government’s relations with Washington

  

  Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falsely accuses Foreign Minister Yair Lapid of giving up on Israel’s freedom of action against Iran. In his bid to undermine the legitimacy of Israel’s new government, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no qualms about torpedoing its efforts to forge a solid working relationship …

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• 25 June

  Chinese president calls for building closer Belt and Road partnership

  China stands ready to work with all parties to build a closer Belt and Road partnership, President Xi Jinping said Wednesday in a written message to the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation. Xi said the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that …

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• 25 June

  Asian Countries Welcome G7’s Answer to China’s One Belt, One Road Program

  Bangladesh and nations in Southeast Asia are welcoming the Group of Seven’s new answer to China’s One Belt, One Road initiative, saying it will be another source for financing their burgeoning infrastructure needs. But because the U.S.-led Build Back Better World Partnership (B3W) initiative is scant in details, officials of …

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• 25 June

  Warning Shots Fired at British Destroyer in Black Sea, Russia Says

  Russian forces said they fired warning shots Wednesday at a British Royal Navy destroyer taking part in a U.S.-led naval exercise in the Black Sea near Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the action was taken because the HMS Defender entered 3 kilometers …

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