Freedom of the Press? Not in the U.S
Ted Rall | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-27
The United States ranks 48th among nations for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders. Since few other countries have the equivalent of our First Amendment, learning that we rank below Botswana and Slovenia may come as a surprise. Mostly the organization pins this dismal state of affairs on Trump's attacks on the news media.
counterpunch.org/2019/08/27/freedom-of-the-press-not-in-the-u-s/

Upshots and Unintended Consequences of Africa's Nuclear Energy Ambitions
Gerard Boyce | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-27
Earlier this month, cash-strapped Zimbabwe announced that it had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia to engage in uranium exploration and enrichment with a view to the possibility of generating nuclear energy in future. In so doing, it joined | …
globalresearch.ca/upshots-unintended-consequences-africa-nuclear-energy-ambitions/5687338

400 years after slavery's start, economic band-aids won't solve racial divide
Jessicah Pierre | peoplesworld.org | 2019-08-27
Four hundred years ago this month, the first enslaved people from Africa arrived in Virginia. Slavery is often reduced to a crime of America's long-ago past. But enslaved labor created the backbone for America's capitalist economy, allowing it to grow into–and remain–the world's leading economy today. The effects of this reliance on unpaid African slave …
peoplesworld.org/article/400-years-after-slaverys-start-economic-band-aids-wont-solve-racial-divide/

From Protest to Power
Mike Miller | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-27
August, 1964, fifty-five years ago, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party presented itself to the national Democratic Party Convention seeking to be seated as the official party from that state. The predominantly black delegation wanted to deny seating to the all-white "regulars" who had earlier in the year denied Mississippi African-Americans the right to participate in precinct, county, congressional district and statewide meetings that nominated these delegates.
counterpunch.org/2019/08/27/from-protest-to-power/

Reply to The Economist: Not many Egyptians miss Mubarak
Aboulfotouh Kandil | peoplesworld.org | 2019-08-26
On August 22, 2019, The Economist published an article entitled "Many Egyptians miss their deposed president, Hosni Mubarak." Predictably, numerous stakeholders including political analysts and followers would read that article with curiosity seeking explanations as to why many Egyptians miss Mubarak, particularly after all he had done to them during his 30 years of dictatorial …
peoplesworld.org/article/reply-to-the-economist-not-many-egyptians-miss-mubarak/

Marginalized groups hit hardest by inequality and stigma in cities
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-26
Millicent Auma Otieno, a Kenya-based human rights and community activist, campaigns on behalf of women and persons with disabilities who face stigmatization, as a result of cultural and religious beliefs. In an interview with UN News, Ms. Otieno reinforced the message that inequality is prevalent in Africa where, she said, political power often remains in the hands of wealthy elites, adding that many people in cities are forced to live in informal settlements, which have proven to be hotbeds of unemployment, violence, drug abuse and early pregnancies.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044981

FROM THE FIELD: Malawi farmers diversify to fight climate change
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-26
Farmers in Malawi are diversifying their crops and adopting sustainable technologies as they look at ways to adapt to a changing climate.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044941

Monday's Daily Brief: UN chief talks climate action at G7, WFP official visits camp in Central African Republic, Deadly violence at Lesvos migrant centre, Security Council meets on AU-UN Darfur mission
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-26
A recap of Monday's stories: UN chief urges more action from G7 leaders to tackle 'climate emergency'; WFP official visits camp for displaced in Central African Republic, UN refugee agency calls on Greece to keep young migrants safe after deadly incident at Lesvos reception centre; and Security Council considers work of AU-UN Mission in Sudan's Darfur region.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044971

Sudan: New political transition, bolstered by peacebuilding, could bring long-term stability to Darfur, Security Council told
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-26
"Important developments" under way in Sudan since midsummer, including a pledge to end the country's outstanding conflicts, and the establishment of a new transitional government, could serve to edge the country's people closer to stability, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, briefing the UN Security Council on Monday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044961

Blacks don't blame immigrants for the boss's crimes
Glen Ford | mronline.org | 2019-08-24
Large proportions of African Americans registered strong opposition to building a wall on the southern border, keeping undocumented people in limbo, and mass deportations. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/08/24/blacks-dont-blame-immigrants-for-the-bosss-crimes/

With security improving in DR Congo's Kasai, thousands of refugees head home from Angola
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-23
As security has improved in the restive Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), some 8,500 refugees have left the Lóvua settlement in Angola's north-east Lunda Norte province in the past week, hoping to cross the border and return home, according to the UN refugee agency.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044871

School closures triple in Central and Western Africa as education comes under fire
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-23
A surge in "deliberate" attacks against students, teachers and schools in West and Central Africa has led to a tripling in school closures in the last year and left almost two million youngsters "robbed of an education", the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044821

Friday's Daily Brief: Education in Africa, Sudan flash-floods, WHO on Ebola, spike in South Sudan violence, Rwanda, Uganda move to normalize relations
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-23
A recap of Friday's stories: Education under fire in Central and Western Africa; Sudan flash-floods wreak havoc; Ebola outbreak spreads, albeit with fewer transmissions; UN rights experts on South Sudan; and UN chief welcomes understanding between Rwanda and Uganda…
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044861

South Sudan: UN rights experts see little headway on peace deal amid spike in local-level violence
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-23
A United Nations expert group looking at human rights in South Sudan said on Friday that it is "deeply concerned" that, although the overall armed conflict has waned, there has been little progress in adhering to the peace agreement that guided the country thus far.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044831

A recap of Thursday's top stories: International Day honours victims of religious-based violence, UN experts on Kashmir, environmental disasters in Asia-Pacific, animal protections, and UN chief on Burkina Faso
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-22
Thursday's Daily Brief: New international day honouring victims of religious-based violence; Kashmir shutdown must be reversed; Relentless sequence of disasters in Asia-Pacific; Giraffes fare well for protection, elephants not so much; UN chief condemns Burkina Faso violence…
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044771

Rep Ayanna Pressley on Israel's Ban: "Bigoted, Short-Sighted and Cruel"
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-08-21
These are the words tweeted by Rep. Ayanna Pressley in response to the Israeli decision to ban the entry of Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The story has a striking resemblance to South Africa and Rhodesia blocking the entry of African American Democratic Representative Charles C. Diggs Junior in January 1972…
therealnews.com/stories/rep-ayanna-pressley-on-israels-ban-bigoted-short-sighted-and-cruel

Somalia security remains a concern, head of UN Mission warns Security Council
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-21
Despite "encouraging" developments, insecurity across Somalia remains a serious concern, James Swan, head of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), warned the Security Council, in his first briefing to the world body since taking office.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044651

Wednesday's Daily Brief: Yemen aid programmes closing, Guterres Idlib concern, Somalia insecurity, honouring terror victims
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-21
Today's stories: aid money promised for Yemen fails to materialize, prospects of new Idlib conflict put millions at risk, new Sudanese transitional government welcomed by UN chief, insecurity threatens Somalia progress.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044711

Emerald Garner, Eric Garner's Daughter, Says Firing Pantaleo "Should Have Happened a Long Time Ago"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-20
Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer who killed Eric Garner in 2014 by using an illegal chokehold, was fired Monday and stripped of his pension benefits. The decision came more than five years after Pantaleo held Garner, an unarmed African-American man, in a chokehold until he dropped to the ground. Before dying, he gasped "I can't breathe" 11 times. Despite outcry from the family and community members, Pantaleo had remained on the police force on desk duty since the killing. Last month, on the fifth anniversary of Garner's death, the Justice Department declined to charge Pantaleo with a crime despite calls by the…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/20/emerald_garner_daniel_pantaleo_nypd_firing

Sudan's Bashir "Took Millions in Cash From Saudi Crown Prince," Trial Hears
Middle East Eye | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-19
Detective tells court the deposed president was handed the money by Mohammed bin Salman's envoys.

Sudan's Bashir "Took Millions in Cash From Saudi Crown Prince," Trial Hears

Sudan agreement, Hong Kong Protests, Venezuela and Trade War
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-08-19
Sudan Agreement The first agreements between military and civilians have been reached in Sudan following months of turmoil. According to the newly signed constitutional declaration, a sovereign council will become the highest authority in Sudan during the transition period pending upcoming elections. The console will include five representatives of the military and five civilian figures, …
uwidata.com/4995-sudan-agreement-hong-kong-protests-venezuela-and-trade-war/

Shot in the back: Colorado Springs police kill De'Von Bailey, community fights cover-up
Sarah Farley | liberationnews.org | 2019-08-12
On Aug. 3, 19-year-old De'Von Malik Bailey was shot in the back as he fled from two Colorado Springs police officers.
liberationnews.org/shot-in-the-back-colorado-springs-police-kill-devon-bailey-community-fights-cover-up/