Day: June 24, 2023

Amid widespread bans on LGBTI+ events, activists found a creative way to deliver their message. The 21st Istanbul Pride Parade Committee projected a message onto the Bosphorus Bridge using laser lights in anticipation of tomorrow’s Pride Parade in the city.

In a video shared on the committee’s social media accounts early today, activists can be seen on a boat sailing beneath the bridge that connects Asia and Europe. They projected the message “As we live, you go insane” onto the bridge, followed by the date of the parade.

Bu gönderiyi Instagram’da gör

I?stanbul LGBTI?+ Onur Haftasi (@istanbulpride)’in paylastigi bir gönderi

In a statement, the committee expressed, “The time has come, the queen of months, June’s last Sunday. It’s time to march, queers!”

“Get dolled up, put on your makeup, and on Sunday, we MARCH!

“Our 21st Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade will take place on Sunday, June 25, at 15:00. Don’t be late, come and join us. Don’t forget to follow us on social media, organize, meet, support each other. We will be together, we will march together, and you will hear from us, queers!

“We march against those who try to silence us with their oppression. We resist for our rights, for freedom, for equality, queers! Thump thump, thump thump!”

The action takes place against the backdrop of widespread bans on LGBTI+ events during Pride Month. Just two weeks ago, during the Trans Pride March was not allowed in Istanbul’s Taksim amid heavy police presence. However, the activists successfully assembled at an undisclosed location, defying the restrictions, and delivered a powerful statement. Ten people were detained during the event

Source: English Bianet

The president has expressed his “full support for the steps taken by the Russian leadership,” the Kremlin has said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to express his support for the Russian government in the face of an uprising by the Wagner private military contractor.

Erdogan expressed his “full support for the steps taken by the Russian leadership” as Putin informed him about the current situation, the Kremlin said in a written statement.

Later, Turkey’s Directorate of Communications also released a statement about the conversation, saying that Erdogan emphasized the importance of “acting with common sense” during the crisis.

He further said “no one should take advantage of what has happened in Russia” and “we are ready to do our part” to resolve the issue, according to the statement.

Earlier, Putin had said that he had given orders to the army to “neutralize those who organized the armed rebellion.” Addressing the nation, he accused Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin of “treason.”

The uprising began early Saturday when Wagner fighters took over the city of Rostov before heading to Voronezh. Tensions between Moscow and the paramilitary group rose after Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking his fighters in Ukraine.

Russia denied those claims late Friday and issued arrest orders for Prigozhin.

Prigozhin has, in recent months, repeatedly accused Russia of not supplying sufficient arms to the paramilitary group which has been fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine.

Russia has been relying on Wagner to carry out its operations in Syria and Ukraine, with the group also known for its involvement in other conflicts around the world, including Libya, Sudan and Mozambique

Source: English Bianet

Cyprus President Nikos Chirstodoulides expressed his satisfaction over the inclusion of a reference to the Cyprus issue in the draft conclusions of the European Council, which will convene on June 29th and 30th. He emphasised that this reference sends messages in all directions. President Christodoulides, who was replying to journalists’ questions on the sidelines of an event for Children’s Day at the Presidential Palace, also said that he would have a series of phone calls with European leaders as part of the consultations for the conclusions. He noted that the European Council is the first of the three milestones implicitly set out in the Government’s efforts to restart the negotiations. As he said, this milestone is followed by the NATO Summit in Lithuania and the United Nations General Assembly. The President expressed his satisfaction that there is a reference to the Cyprus issue in the draft, as the Cyprus issue was not among the topics to be discussed by the European Council. “Because of our initiative, the mobility that we are trying to create through our efforts, our partners have included a specific reference to the Cyprus issue in the draft, which is reinforced each time,” he said. He added that the Summit will take place on Thursday and Friday and that the processes are ongoing. President Christodoulides is strongly advocating for the appointment of an EU envoy that would assist in restarting negotiations for Cyprus problem and has been actively promoting his proposal during his contacts with EU leaders and institutions. “There are contacts at the technocratic level, and I will also have contacts at my level with leaders of other countries before the Summit, so that a positive message about the EU’s readiness can be conveyed,” he noted. He reiterated that the goal is to break the deadlock and resume negotiations. “What we see in the EU, the response we see from our partners and also the decision of the institutions to include a reference to the Cyprus issue, I consider it a positive development, a development that sends messages in all directions,” he said. The latest draft of the conclusions of the next European Council states in a paragraph for Cyprus that: ‘Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the UN framework, and in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded. The European Union will continue to play an active role in supporting the UN negotiation process’. Regarding the NATO Summit, which will take place on July 11-12, the President pointed out that it will be the first one attended by the President of Turkey after his re-election, and within the framework of his presence there, there will be several meetings with European leaders. He added that in these discussions, Europeans will also refer to the Cyprus issue, the need to restart the negotiations, and the role that the EU can play in conjunction with the desire expressed by the Turkish President for progress in EU-Turkey relations. The President added that the results of the initiative of the Cypriot Government would officially start to be reflected with the European Council meeting next week, while expressing hope that they will culminate with the resumption of negotiations. He also noted that within the framework of ongoing consultations, he would also have a series of telephone conversations with European leaders, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of the situation. Regarding the United Nations General Assembly, he stated that there would be a meeting on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus with the UN Secretary-General “to convey our own messages privately and to see how we can achieve this goal in cooperation.” When asked about statements made by the Turkish Cypriot leader that efforts are being made to open the crossing point in Mia Milia, the President said that such a request has not been brought before the Government for examination. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including claims of an ”armed rebellion” in Russia by the head of the Russian paramilitary group, Wagner, the implosion of the Titan submersible and the death of 31 suspected illegal miners in an abandoned mine in South Africa. TOP STORIES Russia tightens security amid Wagner chief’s ‘armed rebellion’ Russia stepped up security measures in Moscow and border towns early Saturday after the head of the paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused Russian forces of attacking his mercenaries and he vowed to retaliate. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said “anti-terrorist measures” are being taken in the city. Armored vehicles were sent into Moscow amid heightened security. Generals accused Prigozhin of an ”attempted coup” with Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, Sergey Surovikin, urging Wagner fighters to obey Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Federal Security Service said Prigozhin’s actions were a ”stab in the back” and accused him of inciting an ”armed rebellion.” It urged Wagner fighters not to carry out his ”criminal and treacherous” orders and to detain their leader. Canada, US to investigate Titan submersible disaster The US announced Friday it will investigate the loss of the Titan, while Canada said separately it will probe the actions of the Polar Prince, the Canadian vessel that towed the submersible to the site of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. The Polar Prince lost contact with the Titan early Sunday, about 90 minutes after it began towing the submersible toward the Titanic — 700 kilometers (435 miles) off the coast of Newfoundland. A remotely operated vehicle found the Titan submersible’s tail cone on the seafloor roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic. 31 illegal miners die in abandoned mine in South Africa At least 31 suspected illegal miners have died in an abandoned mine in South Africa’s east-central province, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said in a statement. The miners, believed to be Lesotho nationals, reportedly died in a mine ventilation shaft that was last operational in the 1990s. South Africa is one of the world’s largest producers of gold and other precious minerals. There are many closed mine shafts scattered across the country. Abandoned mines have attracted a large number of illegal miners from within the country and from the southern African region. NEWS IN BRIEF The Klyuchevskaya volcano in the Kamchatka region of eastern Russia has erupted, according to media reports. Russia has launched a formal legal case against Australia regarding the cancellation of Moscow’s lease on land to construct a new embassy building in Canberra near parliament. Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved male mummy inside a stone tomb during excavation in the Rimac district of Lima, Peru. The European Union adopted on Friday the 11th sanctions package against Russia for its war in Ukraine. The UN human rights chief on Friday urged Israel to immediately end violence in the occupied West Bank. A Japanese woman in her 70s, who died after 26 days of treatment at a hospital, became the world’s first victim of a tick-borne infection after contracting the Oz virus in the eastern Ibaraki province, north of Tokyo, authorities said Friday. The Biden administration sanctioned two Russian intelligence officers Friday who are accused of meddling in a local US election. The EU on Friday voiced concerns about tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The UN on Friday called for the removal of all obstacles to guarantee the uninterrupted continuation of the Black Sea grain deal. Israel’s far-right national security minister called for a wider military operation and intensive settlement campaign in the occupied West Bank, according to media reports Friday. SPORTS US to host expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 The US will host a first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 as a prelude to the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. “The FIFA Council has unanimously appointed the United States as the host of the new and expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup that is due to take place in 2025, at its meeting held by videoconference from the Home of FIFA,” the world’s football governing body said Friday. Canada, Mexico and the US will co-host the 2026 World Cup as the ultimate international football contest returns to North America. BUSINESS AND ECONOMY Oil prices fall with economic slowdown concerns fueled by rate hikes Concern about a slowdown in economic growth resulting in lower global oil demand continued to weigh on oil prices during the week ending June 23. International benchmark Brent crude traded at $73.28 per barrel at 2.29 p.m. (1129 GMT) Friday, falling 4.34% from the closing price of $76.61 last Friday. American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $68.56, posting a 4.48% fall from last Friday’s session which closed at $71.78. Recessionary fears grow in Western economies as central banks raise interest rates and signal further hikes. Just one in five Brexit voters think it is going well on 7th anniversary of controversial vote Only 18% of those who voted ‘Leave ‘in the UK’s 2016 Brexit referendum think the decision has turned out ‘well’ or ‘very well,” according to a new poll. Friday marks the seventh anniversary of the Brexit referendum. A major study by research firm, Public First, found 26% of Leave voters think it is still ‘too soon to say’ whether the outcome was good for the country. In the 2016 referendum, voters backed quitting the bloc by 52% to 48%, and the strains of the divorce are still being felt.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Russia stepped up security measures in Moscow and border towns early Saturday after the head of the paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused Russian forces of attacking his mercenaries and he vowed to retaliate. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said “anti-terrorist measures” are being taken in the city. Armored vehicles were sent into Moscow amid heightened security. Rostov region Governor Vasily Golubev urged residents not to leave their homes. Generals accused Prigozhin of an ”attempted coup” with Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, Sergey Surovikin, urging Wagner fighters to obey Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Federal Security Service said Prigozhin’s actions were a ”stab in the back” and accused him of inciting an ”armed rebellion.” It urged Wagner fighters not to carry out his ”criminal and treacherous” orders and to detain their leader. Prigozhin defied Russian forces and threatened to destroy anyone who stands in the group’s way. He said his forces in Ukraine have crossed into the Russian city of Rostov in a voice message shared on the Telegram social media platform. Prigozhin also said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin has been fully briefed on the situation with Prigozhin and that all necessary measures are being taken. Meanwhile, Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee opened a criminal case against Prigozhin on charges of incitement to armed rebellion and demanded he “stop the illegal actions.” Earlier, Progozhin shared a voice message on Telegram that claimed Russian forces had attacked his paramilitary group. After a reported rocket strike on Wagner, Prigozhin accused the Russian Defense Ministry and personally swore to “punish” the perpetrators and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. “There’s 25,000 of us and we’re coming to figure out why there’s such chaos in the country,” said Prigozhin. ‘These 25,000 are waiting as a tactical reserve, and the strategic reserve is the whole army and the whole country. Anyone who wants come and join! We need to end this mess.” He then claimed that Shoygu came to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to “carry out an operation to destroy Wagner,” adding that he used artillerymen and helicopter pilots “in the dark.” Prigozhin claimed Thursday that Russian military chiefs are deceiving Putin. He highlighted a discrepancy between his information and official data, claiming ‘shameless lies are being brought to the president’s desk.” He added that he expects a new wave of military mobilization in Russia and said: “People have to be prepared” to replace soldiers who have died in battle. Prigozhin has, in recent months, repeatedly accused the Russian Defense Ministry and Shoygu of not supplying sufficient arms to the paramilitary group, members of whom are fighting with Ukrainian forces in year two of the Ukraine war. Earlier, the Wagner leader claimed Ukraine’s armed forces were 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Russian positions in the Zaporizhzhia region. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that all of Ukraine’s attacks were repulsed.

Source: Anadolu Agency