2019-07-23: News Headlines

Thomas Knapp (2019-07-23). Peckerwood Populism is About Political Strategy, Not Personal Belief. counterpunch.org The controversy around President Donald Trump's recent tweets targeting "The Squad" — four Democratic members of Congress who are all women, all people "of color," and all of whom Trump seems to think aren't "from America" (one came from Somalia as a young woman and became a US citizen at 17; the rest are "natural More

Kate Zeller (2019-07-23). Credit Suisse Banker Pleads Guilty in Mozambique Loan Scandal. indybay.org On Friday, former Credit Suisse banker Andrew Pearse pled guilty in US Federal Court for accepting millions of dollars in a fraud scheme that led to a $2 billion Mozambique loan scandal and debt crisis in the East African country.

teleSUR (2019-07-22). Powerful Explosion Hits Somalian Capital, Gunfire Reported. telesurenglish.net A powerful explosion was heard inside the Somalian capital city of Mogadishu on Monday morning, prompting local civil defense units to quickly emerge on the scene. | RELATED: | Ilhan Omar Was Right on 'Black Hawk Down' Events in Somalia Despite Right-wing Media's Lies | Following the explosion, the Mogadishu police forces told the Reuters News Agency that heavy gunfire was heard in the vicinity of the explosion. | No one immediately claimed responsibi…

Ryan Grim (2019-07-22). He Was Told to Go Back to Africa. Instead, He May Go to the U.S. Senate. theintercept.com Helena, Montana, mayor Wilmot Collins was reminded by Donald Trump's recent comments of the racism he faced when he first came to the U.S. from Liberia.

Marc David (2019-07-22). "With 5G, We are Guinea Pigs": Swiss Magazine Reports First 5G Injuries in Geneva. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published in French on L'illustré, translated into English by Claire Edwards on EMFacts Consultancy. | Since 5G antennas were installed near their home in the heart of Geneva, these residents of the same area suffer …

United Nations (2019-07-22). Monday's Daily Brief: Palestine demolitions, nuclear watchdog chief dies, UK troops to Mali, Afghan journalist murder condemned, Somalia sexual violence pledge. un.org Our main stories today: UN condemns Israel's destruction of Palestinian property; the head of the IAEA dies at 72; UK troops will bolster Mali mission; UNESCO chief condemns Afghan journalist's murder; Somalia commits to ending conflict-related sexual violence.

United Nations (2019-07-22). UN peacekeeping in Mali boosted with addition of 250 UK troops. un.org The United Kingdom is to send a contingent of 250 troops to Mali next year, to support the UN's peacekeeping operation in the country, MINUSMA.

teleSUR (2019-07-22). Kenyan Finance Minister Henry Rotich Arrested on Graft Charges. telesurenglish.net Kenyan Finance Minister Henry Rotich was arrested Monday on suspicion of corruption related to the construction of two dams, an unprecedented incident where a sitting minister is arrested for corruption. | Charges against Rotich stem from a police investigation into the misuse of funds in a dam project overseen by the Italian construction company CMC Di Ravenna. | Rotich denied any wrongdoing in a large newspaper advertisement in March. The company has also denied any wrongdoing. | Rotich and his co-accused face eight charges, ranging from conspiring to defraud and financial misconduct, Noordin Haji, the dir…

United Nations (2019-07-19). Don't panic, support DR Congo in fight against deadly Ebola virus, UN health agency urges. un.org Ebola virus is just one challenge among many facing communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, reiterating an appeal for the international community to show support and solidarity for its people.

Robert Mackey (2019-07-19). Trump Praises Supporters Who Want to Deport Ilhan Omar as "People That Love Our Country" theintercept.com The president first disavowed and then praised a baying mob that responded to his rant against a Somali-American congresswoman by chanting, "Send her back."

United Nations (2019-07-19). Zimbabwe: Droughts leave millions food insecure, UN food agency scales up assistance. un.org Severe drought has rendered more than a third of rural households in Zimbabwe — or around 3.5 million people — dangerously food insecure, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) revealed on Friday.

susan_p (2019-07-19). New Zealand accused of complicity in Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara. greenleft.org.au Activists are tracking a ship bound for New Zealand containing an unknown quantity of what they allege is stolen Sahrawi phosphate which is illegally mined and exported by Morocco, the occupying power in Western Sahara. Morocco is the largest producer and exporter of phosphates in the world. | Bruce Munro reported the ship's journey in the July 15 Otago Daily Times. He said it had sailed for 44 days, without divulging the nature of its cargo or the fact that it was headed for New Zealand. Kamal Fadel, Australia's Polisario…

susan_p (2019-07-19). Sudan: 'The only way to ensure justice for our martyrs is in the streets.'. greenleft.org.au Sudanese took to the streets in their tens of thousands across the country on July 13, while negotiations for a transitional civilian-led government hung in the balance. | Two days later, protests broke out again in response to the killing of a civilian, shot dead in the town of El Souk, southeast of Khartoum. Witnesses reported that members of the feared Rapid Support Forces fired on protesters, who were demanding that the paramilitaries leave their town. | Negotiations between the democratic Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and the Transitional Military Council (TMC), which seized control following the toppl…

unitedEditor (2019-07-18). WHY IS THE TURKISH PRESS SILENT ON THE CRISIS IN LIBYA? uwidata.com Faruk Bildirici, one of the distinguished representatives of Turkish journalism, with whom I worked for 27 years at Hàºrriyet news, has consistently represented the interests of his readers over the past few years. After he was fired several months ago, Bildirici created his own website to continue his work. Last week Bildirici published a curious …

Fight Back (2019-07-18). Rally demands "Justice for Isak Aden" fightbacknews.org Eagan, MN – Some 200 community members gathered here July 16 to demand justice for Isak Aden, a Somali man who was killed by police in this Saint Paul suburb on July 2. Aden was a 23-year-old college student who was killed by police after a four-hour standoff with 90 officers from nine different agencies. Five police officers from the cities of Eagan and Bloomington were named responsible for his death. | Marching behind a 30-foot banner, about 100 protesters took to the streets around the municipal center, which includes the Eagan Police Department and the Eagan City Hall. Then, the crowd poured into the center…

Staff (2019-07-18). Mandela Would have Turned 101 — What Has Become of his Legacy? therealnews.com South African scholar and activist Rasigan Maharajh describes South Africa as a microcosm of capitalism's world crisis in a conversation that takes us from corruption to hope. We also discuss anti-apartheid activist and singer Johnny Clegg, who died on July 16th…

Staff (2019-07-18). Headlines for July 18, 2019. democracynow.org House Lawmakers Vote to Table Trump Impeachment Resolution, Trump Renews Racist Attacks on Four Progressive Congresswomen, Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Bill Affirming the Right to Boycott, House Votes to Bar Trump's Planned Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, U.S. to Deploy 500 Troops to Saudi Air Base, Sudan's Military Rulers Agree to Share Power with Civilian Protesters, United Nations Declares Global Health Emergency as Ebola Spreads, Puerto Ricans Demand Resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló over Hateful Messages, AG Barr & Commerce Secretary Ross Held in Contempt of Congress, Sen. Rand Paul Blocks Vote on S…

United Nations (2019-07-17). 'Emulate his example' urges UN chief as world celebrates Nelson Mandela: a 'global advocate for dignity and equality'. un.org Nelson Mandela was an "extraordinary global advocate for dignity and equality" who anyone in public service should seek to emulate, Secretary-General António‚ÄØGuterres said in his message marking the International Day that honours the iconic anti-apartheid campaigner, and South Africa's first democratically-elected President.

Janine Jackson (2019-07-17). 'Journalism Is Helping to Normalize the Concentration Camps' – CounterSpin interview with Arun Gupta on immigration abuses. fair.org Janine Jackson interviewed Arun Gupta on Trump's concentration camps for the July 12, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…

Staff (2019-07-17). "They Didn't Do Their Job": Eric Garner Family Outraged DOJ Won't Prosecute His Death by Police. democracynow.org It's been five years since Eric Garner, an African-American father of six, was killed when a white New York City police officer wrestled him to the ground and applied a fatal chokehold, while Garner, who was unarmed, said "I can't breathe" 11 times. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced they will not bring civil rights charges against Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer implicated in Garner's death. The move reportedly came after Attorney General William Barr ordered that the case be dropped. Earlier this year, a medical examiner testified that it was a chokehold that triggered an asthma attack that led to Ga…

Staff (2019-07-17). Sudan Transition to Civilian Rule Endangered as Foreign Interests Prevail. therealnews.com With the foiling of a coup attempt last week, the Sudanese military is consolidating its rule, despite having signed transition agreement for joint military-civilian rule. Gulf states want the military in charge, especially since Sudanese soldiers are fighting in Yemen, says Prof. Khalid Ahmed…

Staff (2019-07-16). 2020 Hopeful Julián Castro Vows to Break Up ICE & Calls Trump's New Asylum Rule Unconstitutional. democracynow.org As Trump faced national rebuke for his racist comments against four progressive congresswomen, his administration announced a new rule essentially banning most immigrants from seeking refuge in the United States. The rule, which the ACLU has already vowed to challenge in court, would deny asylum to any migrant who failed to apply for protection in another country they passed through on the way to the U.S. border—including children traveling alone. If enacted, the law would effectively block people from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, as well as Haitians, Cubans and many people from African countries, who…

unitedEditor (2019-07-15). S-400, Sudan, Hong Kong protests, Somali attack. uwidata.com S-400 On July 14, the seventh aircraft carrying Russian S-400 air defense system components arrived in Turkey at the Myrted airbase. Turkey has now become the first NATO country to purchase the S-400. The purchase caused months of disagreements with the United States, who argued that the F-35 fighter jets Turkey had purchased were incompatible …

Joel Northam (2019-07-15). Struggle in Sudan: A revolution, not a 'crisis'. liberationnews.org Strikes, civil disobedience and other mass action are continuing as the Sudanese people push forward with their revolution…

SHREKKKLITR (2019-07-12). SPLC: Holiday recognizing early Ku Klux Klan leader an insult to Tennessee residents. splcenter.org Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has proclaimed Saturday as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day in his state, honoring a Confederate general who became the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, a terrorist organization that targets African Americans.

ACLU (2019-07-03). I Spent 16 Months in Solitary Confinement and Now I'm Fighting to End It. aclu.org A new report proves that the degrading conditions in solitary confinement continue to harm people and communities. | I was just 17 years old when I was sent to solitary confinement in "Camp J," one of the most severe lockdown units at one of America's most brutal prisons, the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. I languished in solitary for 16 months. | Back then I didn't know that Louisiana was the solitary confinement capital of the world. All I knew was that I'd been convicted of a crime I didn't commit, and I had to maintain my humanity in one of the most dehumanizing places on earth. | It's called "23 and…

CounterSpin (2019-06-14). Sandy Cioffi on Nigerian Oil, Riki Ott Looking Back at Exxon Valdez Spill. fair.org Media…