(2020-09-25). Egyptian navy arrests 3 Palestinian fishermen. yenisafak.com The Egyptian navy on Friday arrested three Palestinian fishermen after they allegedly crossed into the Egyptian territorial waters, a local union said.According to Nizar Ayyash, head of Gaza's fishermen union, the Egyptian navy followed the fishermen's boat and opened fire on them after crossing into the Egyptian waters and arrested them.Ayyash added that the three fishermen are from the same family and live in Deir al-Balah, a city in central Gaza.He, however, said no information is available about their situation under custody.The authorities in Gaza and Egypt are yet to comment on the incident.According to the…
(2020-09-25). Susan Abulhawa: 'Palestine is the test'. workers.org 
The following is a lightly edited transcript of a Sept. 19 talk by Palestinian novelist and Workers World Party member Susan Abulhawa during a "Free Palestine! No Normalization with Colonization or Occupation!' webinar sponsored by WWP. We've known for years that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and other . . . |
(2020-09-25). At UN Assembly, President of Burundi rejects diplomatic aggression against his country. news.un.org The "indiscriminate consequences" of the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of multilateralism and how the world handles global challenges and contradictions, the President of Burundi told world leaders gathered virtually for the UN General Assembly.
(2020-09-25). CAR President calls for better representation of Africa on the Security Council. news.un.org Central African Republic, like nearly every nation on the planet, has not been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic, with indictors predicting a contraction by up to 1.2 of the country's economic growth, President Faustin Archange Touadera said on Thursday, calling on world leaders to unite against the virus.
(2020-09-24). Libya is a victim of migration, not its reason, says GNA President Serraj. news.un.org Libya, as a country of transit for migrants, cannot surmount the associated challenges without international support, the country's Head of State told world leaders gathered virtually for the UN General Assembly, rejecting "unilateral" reports on the situation of migrants.
(2020-09-24). Senate confirmation hearing for Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf reveals bipartisan support. wsws.org Democratic as well as Republican senators thanked Wolf for his "service," neglecting to question him on unconstitutional kidnappings, the mass incarceration of immigrants, and the state assassination of a Portland protester.
(2020-09-24). Fatah and Hamas agree to first Palestinian elections in nearly 15 years. middleeasteye.net 
Fatah and Hamas agree to first Palestinian elections in nearly 15 years | Deal between the rival Palestinian factions follows normalisation agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 12: 01 | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, centre, recites a prayer as he arrives for a meeting in Ramallah on 3 September with representatives of Palestinian factions (AFP) | The Pa…
(2020-09-24). No Such Thing as Endless Growth on a Finite Planet. therealnews.com 
Stir Crazy! Episode 90: Today we are joined by TRNN visual producer Andrew Corkery, TRNN climate reporter Steve Horn, Principal Research Fellow at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute at the University of Melbourne Anitra Nelson, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice and Development in Kenya Griffins Ochieng, and Kentucky State Rep. Attica Scott.
(2020-09-24). NBA players denounce decision not to charge Breonna Taylor's killers. peoplesworld.org 
The law isn't just. It is an imperfect contraption susceptible to the will of malicious hearts often protected by a tin badge, robe, or gavel and manipulated by those hungry to keep hold of political power. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police officers for the killing of …
(2020-09-24). Arab states are forging ties with Israel to please US, Ted Cruz says. middleeasteye.net 
Arab states are forging ties with Israel to please US, Ted Cruz says | US senator rejects criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record, says Riyadh played 'major role' in brokering Arab peace with Israel | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 18: 34 | Cruz says Donald Trump's 'clarity' in favouring Israel pushed Arab countries to embrace normalisation (AFP/File photo) | Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in…
(2020-09-24). Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (South Africa): Release U.S. political prisoners jailed for fighting in the anti-racist struggle! liberationnews.org 
Political repression in the USA continues against those leading the massive anti-racist protest movement, as seen in the recent arrests of four leaders of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the ongoing criminalization of the protest movement as a whole.
(2020-09-24). Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'next day or two', US official says. middleeasteye.net 
Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'next day or two', US official says | UN ambassador Kelly Craft declined to name names, but recent moves indicate Sudan or Oman may be next on list of countries to move forward with normalisation deal | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 16: 34 | Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain met with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Net…
(2020-09-24). 'We are cheerleaders' for pro-US camp in Middle East, says UAE's Al-Otaiba. middleeasteye.net 
'We are cheerleaders' for pro-US camp in Middle East, says UAE's Al-Otaiba | Abu Dhabi's ambassador to Washington says normalisation deal with Israel will give 'moral boost' to religious minorities in region | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 23: 00 | Flags of US, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on ramparts of Jerusalem's Old City on 15 September (AFP/File photo) | The Emiratis are "cheerleaders" for the US role in the…
(2020-09-24). Scores injured after MASSIVE gas tanker explosion on outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria (VIDEOS). rt.com 
A major explosion has occurred outside Nigeria's largest city, Lagos, after a gas tanker caught fire. Footage from the scene shows heavily damaged buildings and vehicles, and reports say multiple people have been injured. | The incident occurred in the town of Ajuwon, to the north of Lagos, on Thursday. Multiple videos from the scene show a gas tanker truck on fire, emitting a thick plume of black smoke. The vehicle was apparently parked by a refueling station, which likely added to the blast's power. | We need fire service attention happening presently at Grail land-Elliot Road Ishaga tag any fire service you…
(2020-09-24). Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'day or two', US official says. middleeasteye.net Another Arab state to announce ties with Israel in 'day or two', US official says | UN Ambassador Kelly Craft declines to identify, but recent moves indicate Sudan or Oman may be next on list of countries to move forward with normalisation deal | Thu, 09/24/2020 – 16: 34 | Foreign ministers of United Arab Emirates and Bahrain met with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last…
(2020-09-24). Algerian journalist Belkacem Djir acquitted of all charges by Algiers court. peoplesdispatch.org 34-year-old Djir was accused of 'blackmail' and using a 'false identity' and sentenced to three years in prison in a common law case. He is now expected to be released soon after over a year in detention…
(2020-09-24). Rejecting Normalization with Israel—MES EP.73. thealtworld.com The recent bilateral agreements simply formalized the normalization of Israel's already thawing relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. But the agreements do not address the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Arab population because of the Palestinian cause, who view the pacts as a stab in the back of their fellow Palestinians and a betrayal of their cause for a Palestinian state. To discuss this issue with us from London is Jawad Fairouz Former Bahraini MP. | It is not a secret that US President Donald Trump is obsessed with either voiding or emulating the legacy of his predecessor, Barack…
(2020-09-24). Somalia committed to promoting democracy, accountability despite COVID-19 challenge. news.un.org Somalia is working with its international partners to build a democratic, inclusive and prosperous country for its citizens, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as 'Farmajo', told the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
(2020-09-24). Ethiopia: Flood Affects 1 Million People, Thousands Displaced. telesurenglish.net Floodings in the Afar Regional State have affected more than 144.000 people as one million more were affected nationwide in Ethiopia during the past weeks, authorities reported on Thursday. | RELATED: | The head of Afar's Regional State Disaster Prevention and Food Security Bureau, Mohammed Hussein, explained to local media outlets that in the state alone, 240.000 people had suffered damages as the overflow of the Awa…
(2020-09-24). UK: Labour schools spokesperson confirms bi-partisan "malign neglect" policy on COVID-19. wsws.org Remarks by Labour Party education spokesperson Kate Green and the panicked response of her frontbench colleagues have underscored the policy of "malign neglect" shared by Tory and Labour alike on COVID-19.
(2020-09-24). Only international action can restore security in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, says Niger President. news.un.org In a pre-recorded address on Thursday to the UN General Assembly, Mahamadou Issoufou, the President of Niger, stressed that only international action can restore security in the strife-torn African regions of the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, and expressed serious concern about the situation in Mali.
(2020-09-23). 'Unaltered position': Kuwait denies Trump claim it will back Israel normalisation. middleeasteye.net 
'Unaltered position': Kuwait denies Trump claim it will back Israel normalisation | Cabinet of ministers' statement reflects strong historical relations between the Gulf country and Palestine
| Wed, 09/23/2020 – 14: 21 | Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah accepts the US Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander on behalf of his father the Kuwaiti emir during a ceremony at the…
(2020-09-23). TIME top 100: Waad al-Kateab, Lina Attalah and Yousef al-Otaiba make annual 'most influential' list. middleeasteye.net 
TIME top 100: Waad al-Kateab, Lina Attalah and Yousef al-Otaiba make annual 'most influential' list | Syrian filmmaker and Egyptian journalist are praised for courageous documenting and reporting, while UAE ambassador gets recognition for building ties with US and Israel | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 14: 15 | (Left to right) Waad al-Kateab, Lina Attalah and Yousef al-Otaiba made the list for TIME magazine's 100…
(2020-09-23). Egypt: Dozens arrested as anti-Sisi protests continue for third day. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt: Dozens arrested as anti-Sisi protests continue for third day | Egyptian villages in several governorates have witnessed continued protest since Sunday in response to a call by self-exiled activist Mohamed Ali | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 09: 47 | Egyptian protesters shout slogans as they take part in a protest calling for the removal of President Abdelfattah el-Sisi in Cairo's downtown on 20 September, 2019 (AFP…
(2020-09-23). US envoy to Israel says UAE will have to wait 'six or seven years' for F-35 jets. middleeasteye.net 
US envoy to Israel says UAE will have to wait 'six or seven years' for F-35 jets | David Friedman tells Jerusalem Post that Israel's military edge in region is 'matter of law, not a matter of policy' | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 18: 23 | UAE has long voiced interest in F-35 jets and were promised chance to buy them when agreeing to normalise ties with Israel (AFP/File photo) | US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman say…
(2020-09-23). Saudi King Salman delivers scathing attack on Iran in UN speech. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi King Salman delivers scathing attack on Iran in UN speech | Saudi monarch suggests kingdom backs its Gulf neighbours' normalisation deals with Israel on second day of UN General Assembly | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 17: 09 | 'We support the efforts of the current US administration to achieve peace in the Middle East,' Saudi Arabia's Salman says (AFP/File photo) | Saudi Arabia's King Salman delivered a scathing at…
(2020-09-23). Israeli airliner flies to Bahrain in wake of normalisation deal. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli airliner flies to Bahrain in wake of normalisation deal | Tracking data showed the Israir Airlines jet flew to the Gulf kingdom over Saudi Arabian airspace | Wed, 09/23/2020 – 12: 41 | This picture taken on 9 June 2020 shows an Israir Airlines ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft landing at Cyprus' Larnaca International Airport (AFP) | An Israeli airliner flew to the Gulf kingdom of Bahra…
(2020-09-23). Drivers will need 'Kent Access Permit' to get into UK once Brexit transition ends, Michael Gove says. rt.com 
British ports could face up to 7,000 lorry queues if businesses do not cooperate and get proper paperwork to make it through the county of Kent, according Minister for Cabinet Office Michael Gove. | "The biggest potential cause of disruption are traders not being ready for controls implemented by EU Member States on 1 January 2021," Gove wrote to British businesses in a letter leaked this week, laying out a "worst case scenario" for Brexit. | It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities. | These formalities will include an internal border of sorts, that will sport police and camera te…
(2020-09-23). Car caravan rally held in Arlington to protest UAE-Israel relations. fightbacknews.org Arlington, Texas – On September 20, over 50 people gathered at Masjid Dar El Eman, an Islamic center, for a car protest against the United Arab Emirates' and Bahrain's normalization of relations with Israel. The car caravan was organized by the Dallas Palestine Coalition; Palestinian Youth Movement-Dallas, Muslim Democratic Caucus-Texas; American Muslims for Palestine-Texas; Code Pink-Greater Dallas, and Veterans for Peace-Dallas. | After a short prayer, a car caravan drove around South Arlington. Many of the protesters attached Palestinian and American flags to their cars to call for an end to U.S. support…
(2020-09-23). We learnt lessons from the Ebola outbreak; DR Congo President says country moved swiftly to curb coronavirus spread. news.un.org Learning its lessons from the Ebola outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took swift and decisive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, when the first cases were detected in March, the country's President told world leaders, gathered virtually, at the UN General Assembly.
(2020-09-23). Mali: Rights expert calls for 'immediate release' of former officials detained during coup. news.un.org An independent UN human rights expert has called on Mali's coup leaders to release former government officials, who have been detained for more than a month.
(2020-09-23). Libyan Oil Export Agreement Between GNA and LNA the First Step Toward Peace. globalresearch.ca Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya, Ahmed Maiteeq announced that he had reached a deal on behalf of the Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli and the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Brigadier General Khalifa …
(2020-09-23). US Tells Kenya to Publicly Support Israel or Forget Free Trade Deal. globalresearch.ca The US wants Kenya to support Israel's political and commercial interests, or forget a free trade deal (FTA) with the world's biggest economy. | This is one of a raft of conditions set in the ongoing FTA negotiations between Nairobi and …
(2020-09-23). Tunisia always played a positive role in addressing IW issues. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 23 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker's Special Aide for International Affairs said that Tunisia has always played a constructive and positive role in addressing issues of the Islamic World (IW).
(2020-09-23). Tanker to enter Libya's Hariga port, load 1 million barrels of oil. yenisafak.com The Delta Hellas tanker will enter Libya's Hariga port on Wednesday and load 1 million barrels of oil from the port's storage, the Arabian Gulf Oil Co which operates the port said in a statement.The Unipec tanker Marlin Shikoku is also heading to Hariga according to shipping data and traders.
(2020-09-23). UAE signs contracts with Israeli firms on UN blacklist. yenisafak.com Emirati companies have signed contracts with Israeli firms and banks blacklisted by the United Nations for supporting illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, an investigation by Anadolu Agency has revealed. | In February, the UN released a database of 112 companies on its blacklist for doing business inside Israeli settlements in the West Bank. | On Aug. 13, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel announced a US-brokered agreement to normalize their relations. The move was followed by a series of announcements on agreements and contracts between companies from both countries. | But Anadolu Agency found t…
(2020-09-23). Libya: 4 Russian mercenaries killed in helicopter crash. yenisafak.com Four mercenaries from the Russian Wagner group were killed when a helicopter carrying ammunition crashed in central Libya, the Libyan army said on Wednesday."A helicopter carrying Russian mercenaries and ammunition fell in the town of Sukna, in the city of Al-Jufrah," military spokesman Abd al-Hadi Dara told Anadolu Agency."According to preliminary information, the helicopter exploded, killing 4 Russian Wagner mercenaries," he said.The spokesman noted that, "the helicopter was heading towards one of the oil fields used by the mercenaries as an operations room".Eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar uses mercenaries from…
(2020-09-22). Palestine renounces Arab League Council chair to protest Israel normalisation. middleeasteye.net 
Palestine renounces Arab League Council chair to protest Israel normalisation | Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki says Palestine has been subjected to 'pressure and blackmail' at the Arab League following the normalisation deal between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel | Tue, 09/22/2020 – 11: 54 | Protesters gathered in Gaza outside a Unesco building on 15 September to denounce the normalisation deals (MEE/Mohammed a…
(2020-09-22). Violence leaves more than 300,000 'completely reliant' on assistance in northern Mozambique. news.un.org Worsening conflict, combined with a precarious humanitarian situation, has forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes and villages in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, leaving them completely reliant on humanitarian assistance, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has said.
(2020-09-22). Socialist Party of Zambia calls for solidarity with Denver victims of state repression. liberationnews.org 
The Socialist Party Zambia has called upon the United States government to without delay address all forms of structural aggression against the anti-racist protesters.
(2020-09-22). As UN turns 75, multilateral milestones show successes and 'how much remains to be done' — Kagame. news.un.org In a virtual address to the UN General Assembly's annual general debate, the President of Rwanda on Tuesday noted that while milestones on gender, climate and development have demonstrated the achievements of multilateral action, they also serve to remind "how much remains to be done".
(2020-09-22). Citing dismal pay, teachers to boycott classes in Zimbabwe. peoplesdispatch.org The average salary of a public school teacher has dropped to the equivalent of USD 30-35 a month. The Zimbabwe Teachers' Association says they cannot afford to work until salaries are restored to the equivalent of USD 50…
(2020-09-22). ANALYSIS: What do the Abraham Accords entail for the Middle East and North Africa? yenisafak.com After the normalization ceremony in Washington on Sept. 15, where Israel officially established full diplomatic relations with both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and some commentators labelled this as a sign of Middle East peace. Other observers meanwhile suggested that a new front against Iran and Turkey was being established.Much of this coverage, however, misses their developing relations, under the surface, for several years, and how the agreement will advance Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv's geopolitical cooperation.While the UAE's initial acceptance of normalization on Aug. 14 was un…