OpenNewsWire

Paris 2024 Paralympics: Five things we learned on Day 10 – Back to reality Attribution+ — Political uproar in them thar hills as the Paralympic thrills come to a close. Woe, woe and thrice woe, the end is nigh. ... Radio France Internationale	19 min	⟶
Almodovar's 'The Room Next Door' triumphs at Venice Festival Public Domain — VENICE, ITALY — Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's first English-language movie "The Room Next Door," which tackles the hefty themes of euthanasia and climate change, won the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. Starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, the film received an 18-minute standing ovation when it premiered at Venice earlier in the week — one of the longest in recent memory. Almodovar is a darling of the festival circuit and was awarded a lifetime achievement award at Venice in 2019 for his bold, irreverent and often funny Spanish-language features. He also won an Oscar in the best foreign language category for his 1999 film "All About My Mother." Now aged 74, he has decided to try his hand at English, focusing his lens on questions of life, death and friendship. Speaking after collecting his prize, he said euthanasia should not be blocked by politics or religion. "I believe that saying goodbye to this world cleanly and with dignity is a fundamental right of every human being," he said, speaking in Spanish. He also thanked his two female stars for their performances. "This award really belongs to them, it's a film about two women and the two women are Julianne and Tilda," he said. While "The Room Next Door" had been widely tipped to win, the runner-up Silver Lion award was a surprise, going to Italian director Maura Delpero for her slow-paced drama set in the Italian Alps during World War Two — "Vermiglio." Australia's Nicole Kidman won the best actress award for her risqué role in the erotic "Babygirl," where she plays a hard-nosed CEO, who jeopardizes both her career and her family by having a toxic affair with a young, manipulative intern. Kidman was in Venice on Saturday, but did not attend the awards ceremony after learning that her mother had died unexpectedly. France's Vincent Lindon was named best actor for "The Quiet Son," a topical, French-language drama about a family torn apart by extreme-right radicalism. Road to Oscars The best director award went to American Brady Corbet for his 3-1/2 hour-long movie "The Brutalist," which was shot on 70mm celluloid and recounts the epic tale of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor played by Adrien Brody, who seeks to rebuild his life in the United States. "We have the power to support each other and tell the Goliath corporations that try and push us around: 'No, it's three-and-a-half hours long and it's on 70mm," he told the auditorium Saturday. The festival marks the start of the awards season and regularly throws up big favorites for the Oscars, with eight of the past 12 best director awards at the Oscars going to films that debuted at Venice. The prize for best screenplay went to Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega for "I'm Still Here," a film about Brazil's military dictatorship, while the special jury award went to the abortion drama "April," by Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili. Among the movies that left Venice's Lido island empty-handed were Todd Phillips's "Joker: Folie à Deux," starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the sequel to his original "The Joker" which claimed the top prize here in 2019. Luca Guadagnino's "Queer," with Daniel Craig playing a gay drug addict, and Pablo Larrain's Maria Callas biopic "Maria," starring Angelina Jolie as the celebrated Greek soprano, also won plaudits from the critics but did not get any awards. The Venice jury this year was headed by French actress Isabelle Huppert. ... Voice of America	21 min	⟶
Brazil's X ban provokes Bolsonaro supporters to rally for 'freedom' Public Domain — SAO PAULO — Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro began flooding Sao Paulo's main boulevard for an Independence Day rally Saturday, buoyed by the government's blocking of tech billionaire Elon Musk's X platform, a ban they say is proof of their political persecution. A few thousand demonstrators, clad in the yellow-and-green colors of Brazil's flag, poured onto Avednia Paulista. References to the ban on X and images of Musk abounded. "Thank you for defending our freedom," read one banner praising the tech entrepreneur. Saturday's march is a test of Bolsonaro's capacity to mobilize turnout ahead of the October municipal elections, even though Brazil's electoral court has barred him from running for office until 2030. It's also something of a referendum on X, whose suspension has raised eyebrows even among some of Bolsonaro's opponents all the while stoking the flames of Brazil's deep-seated political polarization. "A country without liberty can't celebrate anything this day," Bolsonaro wrote on his Instagram account September 4, urging Brazilians to stay away from official Independence Day parades and instead join him in Sao Paulo. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered X's nationwide ban on Aug. 30 after months of feuding with Musk over the limits of free speech. The powerful judge has spearheaded efforts to ban far-right users from spreading misinformation on social media, and he ramped up his clampdown after die-hard Bolsonaro supporters ransacked Congress and the presidential palace on January 8, 2023, to overturn Bolsonaro's defeat in the presidential election. The ban is red meat to Bolsonaro's allies, who have accused the judiciary and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government of colluding to silence their movement. "Elon Musk has been a warrior for freedom of speech," staunch Bolsonaro ally and lawmaker Bia Kicis said in an interview. "The right is being oppressed, massacred, because the left doesn't want the right to exist." "Our liberties are in danger; we need to make our voices heard. De Moraes is a tyrant, he should be impeached, and people on the streets is the only thing that will convince politicians to do it," said retiree Amaro Santos as he walked down the thoroughfare Saturday, Musk, a self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist," has also urged Brazilians to turn out in droves for the rally, resharing someone else's post claiming that X's ban had awakened people "to the fact that freedom isn't free and needs to be fought for." He's also created an X account, named for the controversial jurist, to publish sealed court orders directing X to shut down accounts deemed unlawful. But De Moraes' decision to ban X was far from arbitrary, having been upheld by fellow Supreme Court justices. And while expression, online and elsewhere, is more easily censored under Brazil's laws than it is in the U.S., Musk has emerged as both a cause celebre and a mouthpiece for unrestricted free speech. Since 2019, X has shut down 226 accounts of far-right activities accused of undermining Brazil's democracy, including those of lawmakers affiliated with Bolsonaro's party, according to court records. But when it refused to act on some accounts, de Moraes warned last month that its legal representative could be arrested, prompting X to disband its local office. The U.S.-based company refused to name a new representative — as required to receive court notices — and de Moraes ordered its nationwide suspension until it did so. A Supreme Court panel unanimously upheld de Moraes' decision to block X days later, undermining Musk's efforts to cast him as an authoritarian bent on censoring political speech. The more controversial component of his ruling was the levy of a whopping $9,000 daily fine for regular Brazilians using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access X. "Some of these measures that have been adopted by the Supreme Court appear to be quite onerous and abusive," said Andrei Roman, CEO of Brazil-based pollster Atlas Intel. In the lead-up to Saturday's protest, some right-wing politicians defied de Moraes' ban and brazenly used a VPN to publish posts on X, calling for people to partake in the protests. The march in Sao Paulo is organized in parallel to official events to celebrate Brazil's anniversary of independence from Portugal. Commemorations have been fraught with tension in recent years, as Bolsonaro used them while in office to rally supporters and show political strength. Three years ago, he threatened to plunge the country into a constitutional crisis when he declared he would no longer abide de Moraes' rulings. He has since toned down the attacks — a reflection of his own delicate legal situation. Bolsonaro has been indicted twice since his term ended in 2022, most recently for alleged money laundering in connection with undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia. De Moraes is overseeing an investigation into the Jan. 8 riot, including whether Bolsonaro had a role in inciting it. ... Voice of America	21 min	⟶
Proposed UN peacekeeping plan could replace Kenya-led police mission in Haiti Public Domain — UNITED NATIONS — The United States and Ecuador circulated a draft resolution Friday asking the United Nations to begin planning for a U.N. peacekeeping operation to replace the Kenya-led mission now in the Caribbean nation helping police to quell gang violence. The proposed Security Council resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, says U.N. peacekeepers are needed "in order to sustain the gains" made by the U.N.-backed multinational mission which has seen almost 400 Kenyan police deploy since June to help the Haitian National Police. The circulation of the short resolution to all 15 council members follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Haiti on Thursday where he reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to the multinational mission and pushed for long-awaited general elections. America's top diplomat also said a U.N. peacekeeping force was an option to address a funding crisis for the Kenya-led mission, which depends on voluntary contributions. The U.S. and Canada have provided the bulk of funds so far. Peacekeeping operations, by contrast, are funded from a special U.N. budget. The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990. A 2004 rebellion had the country on the brink of collapse, leading to deployment of a U.N. force. It helped stabilize the impoverished nation after successful elections and a devastating 2010 earthquake that killed as many as 300,000 people and ended in October 2017. But U.N. peacekeepers left under a cloud, with troops from Nepal widely blamed for introducing cholera that has killed about 10,000 people in Haiti since 2010 and other troops implicated in sexual abuse, including rape and the targeting of hungry children. Since 2017, the U.N. has had a series of small missions in Haiti. The latest, political mission, BINUH, has a mandate to advance a Haitian-led political process toward elections, the rule of law and human rights. Many Haitians have rejected the proposal of another peacekeeping operation, given the introduction of cholera and sexual abuse cases that occurred when U.N. troops were last in Haiti. Some Haitians also see U.N. peacekeepers as an occupying force. Haiti asked for an international force to combat gangs in 2022, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for months for a country to lead the force before the Kenyans came forward and pledged 1,000 police. They are expected to be joined by police from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica, bringing the multinational force to 2,500 personnel. They would be deployed in phases that would cost roughly $600 million a year. Currently, the U.N. has $85 million in pledges for the mission, out of which $68 million has been received. The gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and are now estimated to control up to 80% of the capital. The surge in killings, rapes and kidnappings has led to a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups. In February, gangs launched coordinated attacks on police stations and the main international airport, which remained closed for nearly three months. They also stormed Haiti's two largest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. The violence subsided somewhat before the first contingent of Kenyan police arrived in late June, with Blinken noting that economic activity has restarted in some areas of Port-au-Prince, and that joint operations have led to successes including regaining control of Haiti's biggest public hospital. However, gangs continue to attack communities surrounding Port-au-Prince. The draft resolution would determine that "the situation in Haiti continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security and to stability in the region." Extending gratitude to Kenya, it would extend the mandate of the Multinational Security Support mission until Oct. 2, 2025, while the U.N. plans a transition to a peacekeeping operation. Security Council experts held their first meeting on the text of the resolution Friday afternoon and negotiations are expected to continue, a council diplomat said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because discussions were private. No date has been set for a vote. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated Friday that any new peacekeeping force requires approval from the Security Council. U.N. member nations must then volunteer troops and needed equipment, and the force then needs to be deployed — all of which takes time, he said. ... Voice of America	31 min	⟶
Ras El-Hekma: Has Egypt Sold its Land to the UAE? CC BY-NC-ND — In 2024, unidentified leaks brought to light Egypt's transaction involving the sale of Ras El-Hekma City to Emirati investors for $22 billion. This development occurred concurrently with the presence of IMF delegates in Cairo for negotiations on a prospective new loan that the Egyptian government aspires to elevate from $3 billion to approximately $10 billion. Furthermore, individuals with insider sources related to the Egyptian government assert that the Ras El-Hekma deal is poised to be executed for a total value of $42 billion spread across a seven-year period. The post Ras El-Hekma: Has Egypt Sold its Land to the UAE? appeared first on السفير العربي. ... As-Safir Al-Arabi	36 min	⟶
FALSE! Maleek Basintale not wanted by police over ‘Bawumia pork’ comment Attribution+ — Claim: Multiple sources say Ghana’s police had launched a manhunt for Maleek Basintale, a Deputy Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), for describing Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a known Muslim, as a pork eater. Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s research showed the police in Ghana are not trailing the former Savannah Regional NDC … ... Dubawa	45 min	⟶
Iran's secret service plots to kill Jews in Europe, says France Public Domain — paris — A Paris court in May detained and charged a couple on accusations that they were involved in Iranian plots to kill Jews in Germany and France, police sources told Agence France-Presse. Authorities charged Abdelkrim S., 34, and his partner Sabrina B., 33, on May 4 with conspiring with a criminal terrorist organization and placed them in pretrial detention. The case, known as "Marco Polo" and revealed Thursday by French news website Mediapart, signals a revival in Iranian state-sponsored terrorism in Europe, according to a report by France's General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) seen by AFP. "Since 2015, the Iranian (secret) services have resumed a targeted killing policy," the French security agency wrote, adding that "the threat has worsened again in the context of the Israel-Hamas war." The alleged objective for Iranian intelligence was to target civilians and sow fear in Europe among the country's political opposition as well as among Jews and Israelis. Iran is accused of recruiting criminals, including drug lords, to conduct such operations. Abdelkrim S. was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in a killing in Marseille and released on probation in July 2023. He is accused of being the main France-based operative for an Iran-sponsored terrorist cell that planned acts of violence in France and Germany. A former fellow inmate is believed to have connected the suspect with the cell's coordinator, a major drug trafficker from the Lyon area who likely visited Iran in May, according to the DGSI. The group intended to attack a Paris-based former employee at an Israeli security firm and three of his colleagues residing in the Paris suburbs. Three Israeli-German citizens in Munich and Berlin were also among the targets. Investigators believe that Abdelkrim S., despite his probation, made multiple trips to Germany for scouting purposes, including travels to Berlin with his wife. He denied the accusations and said he simply had purchases to make. French authorities are also crediting the cell with plots to set fire to four Israeli-owned companies in the south of France between late December 2023 and early January 2024, said a police source. Abdelkrim S. rejected the claims, saying he had acted as a go-between on Telegram for the mastermind and other individuals involved in a planned insurance scam, the source added. ... Voice of America	51 min	⟶
Fierce border clashes erupt between Pakistan and Afghanistan Public Domain — Islamabad — Border security forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan were engaged in intense clashes Saturday, reportedly resulting in several casualties on both sides. The war zone is located between the southeastern Afghan border province of Khost and the adjoining Pakistani district of Kurram, as reported by security officials and residents on both sides. The conflict reportedly broke out when Taliban forces attempted to construct a security outpost on the Afghan side, prompting Pakistani troops to open fire to force the other side to stop the activity. Pakistani officials maintain neither side can construct new posts unilaterally under mutual agreements regarding the nearly 2,600-kilometer border between the two countries. Multiple sources reported that ongoing heavy clashes had injured at least five Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, and more than four Afghan border guards. Pakistan and Afghanistan authorities have not commented immediately on the fighting. This is the second time in as many days that the two countries have clashed over the construction of the disputed Afghan border outpost. The military tensions come amid Pakistan's persistent allegations that militants linked to the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, have taken shelter on Afghan soil and are being facilitated by the country's Taliban leaders in orchestrating cross-border terrorist attacks. "We have, on numerous occasions, presented evidence of the activities of these terror groups, which have hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan," Mumtaz Baloch, the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson, reiterated Thursday. "We urge the government of Afghanistan to take action against these terror groups and to ensure that these terror groups do not stage terror attacks against Pakistan," she told a weekly news conference in Islamabad. Taliban authorities deny foreign militant groups, including TTP, are present in Afghanistan, saying no one is being allowed to threaten neighboring countries from their territory. However, recent United Nations assessments disputed the Taliban claims and backed Pakistan's concerns that TTP operatives had intensified cross-border violence with the help of the de facto Afghan government in Kabul, which no country has officially recognized. Since the Taliban regained power three years ago, bilateral ties have been strained due to increasing TTP attacks inside Pakistan and occasional border skirmishes, significantly undermining trade and transit ties between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan. ... Voice of America	1 hr	⟶
Israeli strike kills three Lebanese medics, Hezbollah retaliates Public Domain — cairo — Three Lebanese paramedics were killed and two others wounded, one critically, in an Israeli attack while they were extinguishing fires in the southern town of Faroun, Lebanon's health ministry said on Saturday. "Israeli forces targeted a team from the Lebanese Civil Defense as they responded to fires sparked by recent Israeli airstrikes," a ministry statement said, specifying that the strike hit a fire truck. The Israeli military said: "Earlier today, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) struck and eliminated terrorists from the Amal terrorist organization that operated within a Hezbollah military structure in the area of Froun in southern Lebanon." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack as a violation of international law and announced an emergency meeting on Monday with Western ambassadors and international organizations to address the ongoing hostilities. "To date, because of Israel's aggression, 25 paramedics from various ambulance teams have been killed, along with two health workers, and 94 paramedics and health workers have been injured," the health ministry statement added. The health ministry also condemned the attack as a "blatant strike" on an official Lebanese state apparatus, marking the second such attack on an emergency team in less than 12 hours. Hezbollah issued a statement, saying it launched a "squadron of missiles" in response to the Faroun attack, targeting an Israeli military headquarters, causing casualties. Around 140 civilians have been killed by Israeli bombardment of Lebanon since October 8, when hostilities broke out between the Israeli military and Hezbollah in parallel with the war in Gaza. The intensity of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has ratcheted up steadily, displacing tens of thousands of people on either side of the Lebanese Israeli frontier. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, between October 8, 2023, and August 26, at least 133 civilians have been killed. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the total number of casualties stands at 2,412, including 564 fatalities. ... Voice of America	1 hr	⟶
Petrobras’ oil plans in Equatorial Margin cause concern in French Guiana CC BY-ND — Agência Pública traveled to the country to understand how our neighbors feel about oil prospecting on their border ... Agência Pública	1 hr	⟶
Petrobras foresees oil record and may curb reduction of greenhouse gas emission CC BY-ND — Data show that the state-owned company may go in the opposite direction of foreign oil companies in terms of emissions ... Agência Pública	1 hr	⟶
Ukraine mourns victims of Russian attack on military institute Public Domain Voice of America	2 hr	⟶
Venezuela revokes Brazil's authorization to represent Argentine interests in the country Public Domain — BRASILIA, Brazil/CARACAS, venezuela — Venezuela revoked Brazil's authorization to represent Argentine interests in the country, including administering the embassy where six opposition figures are sheltering, the Venezuelan government said Saturday. In a statement, Venezuela said the decision was effective "immediately" and was due to proof that the embassy was being used to plan assassination attempts against President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez Gomez. Shortly afterward, the Brazil government said that it had received the communication "with surprise." In a statement, it insisted that it would remain in custody and defense of Argentine interests until Argentina indicates another state acceptable to Venezuela to do so. "The Brazilian government highlights in this context, under the terms of the Vienna Conventions, the inviolability of the facilities of the Argentine diplomatic mission," it said, adding that it housed six Venezuelan asylum-seekers, assets and archives. Argentine government representatives did not immediately reply to a request for comment. On Friday night, some opposition members in the Argentine residence reported on their X accounts, formerly Twitter, that the building was under surveillance and had no electricity. They posted videos showing men dressed in black and patrols from the government intelligence agency, SEBIN. In March, six people sought asylum in the Argentine embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, after a prosecutor ordered their arrest on charges including conspiracy. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has denied the allegations against her collaborators. On Friday, Argentina's Foreign Ministry asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against Nicolas Maduro and other senior government officials for events that occurred after the July elections. Venezuela broke relations with Argentina following its disputed presidential election on July 28. Brazil, like Colombia and Mexico, has asked the Venezuelan government to publish the full results of the vote. The government has not done so, and the country's electoral authority proclaimed that President Nicolas Maduro won reelection for a third term, without showing any documented evidence to back their claim. ... Voice of America	2 hr	⟶
Saturn’s moon Mimas may hide a surprisingly young ocean CC BY-ND — The existence of another watery world in the outer solar system may offer clues to how such seas form — and hope for another spot to search for life ... Knowable Magazine	2 hr	⟶
Louisiana advocates ‘gobsmacked’ by decision halting massive grain terminal CC BY-NC-ND — The project in Wallace was at the center of a local fight to preserve surrounding area’s historic treasures from further industrial development ... Floodlight	3 hr	⟶
Chatham district attorney: Republican opponent ‘compromised’ drug investigation Attribution+ — Chatham County's embattled Democratic District Attorney says her Republican opponent interfered in an ongoing drug-trafficking investigation The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities. ... The Current	3 hr	⟶
Española begins clearing homeless encampment Attribution+ — The post Española begins clearing homeless encampment appeared first on Searchlight New Mexico. City officials had wavered for months as anger from locals mounted The post Española begins clearing homeless encampment appeared first on Searchlight New Mexico. ... Searchlight New Mexico	3 hr	⟶
While police protect them, pride marchers demand better rights in Serbia Public Domain — BELGRADE, Serbia — A pride march Saturday in Serbia's capital pressed for the demand that the populist government improve the rights of the LGBTQ+ community who often face harassment and discrimination in the conservative Balkan country. The march in central Belgrade was held under police protection because of possible attacks from right-wing extremists. Organizers said assailants had assaulted a young gay man in Belgrade two days ago and took away his rainbow flag. Serbia is formally seeking entry into the European Union, but its democratic record is poor. Serbia's LGBTQ+ community is demanding that authorities pass a law allowing same-sex partnerships and boosting other rights. "We can't even walk freely without heavy (police) cordons securing the gathering," said Ivana Ilic Sunderic, a resident of Belgrade. The event Saturday was held under the slogan 'Pride are people.' It also included a concert and a party after the march. Participants carried rainbow flags and banners as they danced to music played from a truck. The crowd passed the Serbian government headquarters and the National Assembly building. Dozens of Russians who fled the war in Ukraine and the regime of President Vladimir Putin could be seen at the march. Mikhail Afanasev said it was good to be there despite the Belgrade Pride being cordoned off by police. "I came from Russia where I am completely prohibited as person, as gay, (a) human being," he said, referring to the pressure on gay people in Russia. "We want to love, we want to live in a free society, and to have those rights like all other people have." No incidents were reported. Regional N1 television said that a small group of opponents sang nationalist and religious songs at one point along the route, carrying a banner that read "Parade-Humiliation" Western ambassadors in Serbia, opposition politicians and liberal ministers from the Serbian government joined the event. But the right-wing Belgrade mayor openly opposed the Pride gathering. Pride marches in Belgrade had been marked in the past by tensions and sometimes skirmishes and clashes between extremist groups and police. The populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic in 2022 first banned a pan-European pride event in Belgrade but later backed down and allowed the march to take place. ... Voice of America	3 hr	⟶
Olympics may be transport hub for global disease spread CC BY — Pathogens can travel both ways between big events and home countries—and we may be unwittingly inviting them along. ... SciDev.Net	4 hr	⟶
Death toll in Kenya school fire rises to 21 children Public Domain — NAIROBI, Kenya — The number of children who died in a fire in a school dormitory in central Kenya has risen to 21, the government spokesperson said Saturday. Officials began removing the bodies of the children as they tried to account for the dozens of boys still missing. Journalists were moved to wait outside the Hillside Endarasha Primary School compound as a team that included the government pathologist and morticians from the Nyeri provincial hospital set up tables outside the dormitory Saturday. The Thursday night fire razed a dormitory that was housing 156 boys ages 10 to 14. More than 100 boys have been accounted for and the government is urging parents and people living near the privately owned school to help account for all the boys. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura called for patience from members of the public as government agencies comb through the scene to ascertain the numbers of those who died and what caused the fire. Police are still investigating. Mwaura said that some of the children were burned beyond recognition and agencies would take longer to identify the victims. "These figures are still preliminary because the process is ongoing. … It's a DNA process that will take a number of days," he said. Kenya's president, William Ruto, declared three days of mourning Friday. Anxious parents, who had been waiting all day for news about their children, were allowed to see Friday evening what remained of the dormitory. Some parents broke down as they left the scene. The government has urged school administrators to enforce boarding guidelines that require dormitories to be spacious, with three doors and no grills on the windows for easy escape in case of fire. School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, often caused by arson fueled by drug abuse and overcrowding, according to a recent education ministry report. Many students board because parents believe it gives them more time to study without long commutes. Some fires have been started by students during protests over the workload or living conditions. In 2017, 10 high school students died in a school fire in Nairobi started by a student. Kenya's deadliest school fire in recent history was in 2001, when 67 students died in a dormitory fire in Machakos county. ... Voice of America	4 hr	⟶
Colin Allred responds to comparisons with Beto O’Rourke’s campaign, defends his strategy Attribution+ — Allred has run a more traditional campaign in his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, focusing on targeted ads and moderate policy. ... The Texas Tribune	5 hr	⟶
Judge Strikes Abortion Referendum From November Ballot CC BY-ND — New York's Equal Rights Amendment would enshrine the right to abortion in the state. A judge threw it off the ballot for the fall, but an appeal is expected. ... New York Focus	5 hr	⟶
'Equal And Loud': Pride Marchers In Belgrade Press Demands For Rights Attribution+ — Thousands of LGBT supporters turned out on September 7 for a Pride march in Belgrade, where organizers said their demands that the government pass laws to recognize same-sex unions and gender identity remain their top priorities. ... Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty	5 hr	⟶
White House warns Iran on missile transfers to Russia Public Domain Voice of America	6 hr	⟶
Countermeasures to information warfare CC BY-SA — ... Propastop	6 hr	⟶
As Egypt’s economy dips, sustainable fashion soars CC BY-ND — Editor’s note: This story is part of a collaboration between Ensia and Egab exploring environmental efforts by communities facing potentially more urgent concerns such as war and poverty. Egab is a media startup that helps young local journalists from across the Middle East and Africa get published in regional and international media outlets, with a focus on solutions journalism. You can read the other stories in the series here and here. To the sweeping majority of roughly 4.7 million people living in Monofeya, one of Egypt’s poorest provinces, “sustainable fashion” is a term that likely means very little. But it’s here, where 26% of the population lives below the poverty line, that a single business upcycled around 940 tons (850 metric tons) of fabric in five years. “We, as entrepreneurs, were interested in creative manufacturing and environmental solutions after noticing the amount of textile waste,” says Amgad Moustafa, co-founder of Green Fashion, the brand that has brought together some 200 women to breathe new life into piles of fabrics and textiles that would otherwise get incinerated or dumped in landfills. The business, which began in 2018, uses surplus fabrics and textile waste from 50 textile factories for its raw materials. Each year, Egypt’s sprawling garment industry — which accounts for 4% of the country’s GDP — produces around 234,000 tons (212,000 metric tons) of textile waste, according to a UN study. And the environmental impact of the global fashion industry is massive. It takes 10,000 liters (2,600 gallons) of water to grow the cotton for a single pair of jeans, enough to hydrate one person for 10 years, according to the UN. And according to recent reports by McKinsey, the industry produces 3–10% of total greenhouse gasses, its solvents and dyes make up a quarter of industrial water pollution, and in recent years it has accounted for 20–35% of microplastic flows into the ocean. The UN has called fast fashion “an environmental emergency.” Things changed with the advent of mass production and fast fashion. But today, as the economy struggles, repurposing and reusing again are on the rise. In recent… Read More The post As Egypt’s economy dips, sustainable fashion soars appeared first on Ensia. ... Ensia	6 hr	⟶
Ukraine voices concern at reports of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia Public Domain — KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine's foreign ministry said Saturday it was deeply concerned by reports about a possible impending transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. In a statement emailed to reporters, the ministry said the deepening military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow was a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East, and called on the international community to increase pressure on Iran and Russia. CNN and The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, citing unidentified sources. Reuters reported in August that Russia was expecting the imminent delivery of hundreds of Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles from Iran and that dozens of Russian military personnel were being trained in Iran on the satellite-guided weapons for eventual use in the war in Ukraine. On Friday, the United States, a key ally of Ukraine, also voiced concern about the potential transfer of missiles. "Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York said Friday that Tehran's position on the Ukraine conflict was unchanged. "Iran considers the provision of military assistance to the parties engaged in the conflict — which leads to increased human casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a distancing from cease-fire negotiations — to be inhumane," it said. "Thus, not only does Iran abstain from engaging in such actions itself, but it also calls upon other countries to cease the supply of weapons to the sides involved in the conflict." ... Voice of America	6 hr	⟶
UK, Irish leaders meet in Dublin, try to reset relations after Brexit Public Domain — DUBLIN — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with his Irish counterpart Saturday in what was billed as an attempt to reset relations between the two countries after years of tensions following the U.K.'s departure from the European Union. Starmer's visit to meet Irish Premier Simon Harris is the first by a British leader to Ireland in five years. It is a further sign that the two wish to deepen relations on economic and security matters. Harris was the first international leader Starmer hosted following his Labour Party's landslide election victory on July 4. “Today is really significant because we have made clear our ambition to reset the relationship and today we take that forward," Starmer said after the afternoon meeting with Harris at Farmleigh House in Dublin, the Irish government’s formal reception house for state visits. “We are clear that by March we want to have a summit to show the yield from this and then annual summits after that.” Relations between the two countries have been strained ever since the United Kingdom voted in June 2016 to leave the European Union, especially considering how it affected the political structures of Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. When the U.K. left the bloc, the British government and the EU agreed to keep the Irish border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. Later, Starmer's Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak renegotiated the initial agreement, and that has won the support of both sides of the Northern Irish political divide. Starmer said now was a chance to further solidify the relations, with Ireland as well as the EU. He has said that the U.K. will not seek to rejoin the EU under his leadership, nor the bloc's frictionless single market and customs union. However, he has made it clear that he wants to renegotiate elements of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU in order to bolster growth. “We are also resetting our relationship with the EU, and I have made it very clear that I want a closer relationship with the EU," he said. “That is of course on security, on defense, but also on trade, reducing the friction and any business here in Ireland will tell you that reducing the friction helps and so we want to reset that relationship." He has been touring EU capitals since he was elected in the hope of generating the goodwill to move forward on that front, as well as "stand together" on international issues such as the war in Ukraine. The two leaders participated in a business roundtable in Dublin to explore how a “reset” in relations could benefit trade. The economic relationship is worth around 120 billion euros ($130 billion), supporting thousands of jobs on both sides of the Irish Sea. The two leaders headed off after the early meeting to a soccer match between Ireland and England in Dublin, which provided them with a clear photo opportunity. They swapped jerseys with Starmer holding up an Irish shirt with his surname on it and Harris holding up an England jersey with his name on it. “We will have intense and friendly competition, and then we will renew and reset again later in the evening,” said Harris, who is also new in the job, having been elected in April. ... Voice of America	7 hr	⟶
44-year-old charged with royal defamation over comment on activist’s Facebook post CC BY-NC — A 44-year-old man has been charged with royal defamation, sedition, and defamation by publication for commenting on a Facebook post made by activist Promsorn Veerathamjaree. ... Prachatai	7 hr	⟶
Central grip on Thai community forests must end, say local advocates CC BY-NC — Community forests, once hailed as a crucial mechanism for expanding Thailand's forested areas and enhancing local involvement in forest management, now face significant threats due to the 2019 Community Forest Act, criticized for the lack of public input in its drafting and its centralization of power. Local advocates are now calling for a more decentralized approach that would allow local administrative organizations and communities a greater role in the management and establishment of community forests. ... Prachatai	7 hr	⟶
Hochul in Hiding as Congestion Pricing Hangs by a Thread CC BY-ND — Since announcing her plan to put the program on ice, the governor has not appeared in public. ... New York Focus	7 hr	⟶
Book launch on missing Thai activist postponed after venue bans ‘political’ content CC BY-NC — The Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) has postponed the launch of a book on the disappearance of Thai activist in exile Wanchalearm Satsaksit after the executive board of a partner organisation expressed concern about publicly discussing Wanchalearm and managers of the launch venue banned content on the grounds that the venue has to remain ‘politically neutral.’ ... Prachatai	7 hr	⟶
Algeria's 78-year-old president expected to win 2nd term Public Domain — ALGIERS, Algeria — Polls closed in Algeria on Saturday, where voters were deciding whether to grant army-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune another term — five years after pro-democracy protests prompted the military to oust the previous president after two decades in power. Since Algeria announced the election date earlier this year, there has been little suspense about the result. Though he is expected to be named the winner once the results are finalized, military-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Saturday after voting that he hoped "whoever wins will continue on the path towards a point of no return in the construction of democracy." Rather than who wins, the question is how many voters will stay home. Tebboune's backers and challengers have all urged voters to come out to cast their ballots after boycotts and high abstention rates in previous elections marred the government's ability to claim popular support. Throughout the day, many polling places in Algiers sat mostly empty, apart from scores of police officers manning their posts. However, polling places were kept open until 9 p.m. Saturday after officials extended the voting period to accommodate concerns that people may not have voted during the day in certain parts of the country due to the heat. As of 5 p.m., voter turnout was 26.5% in Algeria and 18.3% for precincts abroad. Vote counting has begun, and preliminary results are expected late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Campaign characterized by apathy Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and, with almost 45 million people, it's the continent's second most populous after South Africa to hold presidential elections in 2024 — a year in which more than 50 elections are being held worldwide, encompassing more than half the world's population. The campaign — rescheduled earlier this year to take place during North Africa's hot summer — has been characterized by apathy from the population, which continues to be plagued by high costs of living and drought that brought water shortages to some parts of the country. "Uncle Tebboune," as his campaign has framed the 78-year-old, was elected in December 2019 after nearly a year of weekly "Hirak" demonstrations demanding the resignation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Their demands were met when Bouteflika resigned and was replaced by an interim government of his former allies, which called for elections later in the year. Protestors opposed holding elections too soon, fearing candidates running that year each were close to the old regime and would derail dreams of a civilian-led, non-military state. Tebboune, a former prime minister seen as close to the military, won. But his victory was stained by boycotts and Election Day tumult, during which crowds sacked voting stations and police broke up demonstrations. Throughout his tenure, Tebboune has used oil and gas revenue to boost some social benefits — including unemployment insurance as well as public wages and pensions — to calm discontent. To cement his legitimacy, Tebboune hopes more of the country's 24 million eligible voters participate in Saturday's election than in his first, when only 39.9% voted. 'Algerians don't give a damn' Many of the last election's boycotters remain unconvinced about elections ushering in change. Activists and international organizations, including Amnesty International, have railed against how authorities continue prosecuting those involved in opposition parties, media organizations and civil society groups. Some have denounced this election as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo. "Algerians don't give a damn about this bogus election," said former Hirak leader Hakim Addad, who was banned from participating in politics three years ago. Twenty-six candidates submitted preliminary paperwork to run in the election, although only two were ultimately approved to challenge Tebboune. Neither political novices, they avoided directly criticizing Tebboune on the campaign trail and, like the incumbent, emphasized participation. Abdelali Hassani Cherif, a 57-year-old head of the Islamist party Movement of Society for Peace has made populist appeals to Algerian youth, running on the slogan "Opportunity!" Youcef Aouchiche, a 41-year-old former journalist running with the Socialist Forces Front, campaigned on a "vision for tomorrow." ... Voice of America	8 hr	⟶
Protesters rally in France against appointment of prime minister Public Domain — PARIS — Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France Saturday, responding to a call from a far-left party leader who criticized as a power grab the president's appointment of a conservative new prime minister, Michel Barnier. The protests are a direct challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to bypass a prime minister from the far-left bloc following a deeply dividing legislative election in July. The left, particularly the France Unbowed party, views Barnier’s conservative background as rejecting the electorate’s will, further intensifying the EU's second-largest economy's already charged political atmosphere. Authorities expected tens of thousands of demonstrators. In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la Bastille, and tensions ran high as police prepared for potential clashes. Other rallies were planned in 150 points nationwide, including the southwestern cities of Montauban and Auch. In Montauban, the demonstrators denounced Barnier’s appointment as denying democracy, echoing France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon's fiery rhetoric from recent days. “The people have been ignored,” a rally speaker told the crowd. While Barnier was meeting with health care workers at Paris’ Necker Hospital for his first official visit as prime minister, opponents say the unrest in the streets is shaping his government’s future. Barnier, who is working to assemble his Cabinet, expressed a commitment to listening to public concerns, particularly about France’s public services. Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, warned that Barnier was “under surveillance” by his party as well. Bardella, speaking at the Chalons-en-Champagne fair, called for the prime minister to include his party's priorities in his agenda, particularly regarding national security and immigration. Barnier, 73, is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers that have served modern France’s Fifth Republic. He replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago. Attal was forced to resign after Macron’s centrist government suffered a major defeat in the July snap legislative elections. Macron called the election in the hopes of securing a clear mandate, but it instead produced a hung parliament, leaving the president without a legislative majority and plunging his administration into turmoil. Attal was also France’s first openly gay prime minister. French media and some of Macron’s opponents, who immediately criticized Barnier’s appointment, quickly dug up that, when serving in parliament in 1981, the new prime minister had been among 155 lawmakers who voted against a law that decriminalized homosexuality. Although Barnier brings five decades of political experience, his appointment offers no guarantee of resolving the crisis. His challenge is immense: He must form a government that can navigate a fractured National Assembly, where the political spectrum is deeply divided between the far left, far right and Macron’s weakened centrist bloc. The snap poll’s outcome, far from clarifying, has served only to destabilize the country and Macron’s grip on power. The president’s decision to turn to Barnier, a seasoned political operator with deep ties to the European Union, is seen as an attempt to bring stability to French politics. And Barnier, who gained prominence as the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has faced daunting tasks before. Critics say Macron, elected on the promise of a break from the old political order, now finds himself battling the instability he once promised to overcome. ... Voice of America	8 hr	⟶
The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth without its crew – a former astronaut details what that m... CC BY-ND — The Boeing Starliner, shown as it approached the International Space Station. NASA via APBoeing’s crew transport space capsule, the Starliner, returned to Earth without its two-person crew right after midnight Eastern time on Sept. 7, 2024. Its remotely piloted return marked the end of a fraught test flight to the International Space Station which left two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, on the station for months longer than intended after thruster failures led NASA to deem the capsule unsafe to pilot back. Wilmore and Williams will stay on the International Space Station until February 2025, when they’ll return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The Conversation U.S. asked former commander of the International Space Station Michael Fossum about NASA’s decision to return the craft uncrewed, the future of the Starliner program and its crew’s extended stay at the space station. What does this decision mean for NASA? NASA awarded contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX in 2014 to provide crew transport vehicles to the International Space Station via the Commercial Crew Program. At the start of the program, most bets were on Boeing to take the lead, because of its extensive aerospace experience. However, SpaceX moved very quickly with its new rocket, the Falcon 9, and its cargo ship, Dragon. While they suffered some early failures during testing, they aggressively built, tested and learned from each failure. In 2020, SpaceX successfully launched its first test crew to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Boeing struggled through some development setbacks. The outcome of this first test flight is a huge disappointment for Boeing and NASA. But NASA leadership has expressed its support for Boeing, and many experts, including me, believe it remains in the agency’s best interest to have more than one American crew launch system to support continued human space operations. NASA is also continuing its exchange partnership with Russia. This partnership provides the agency with multiple ways to get crew members to and from the space station. As space station operations continue, NASA and its partners have enough options to get people to and from the station that they’ll always have the essential crew on the station – even if there are launch disruptions for any one of the capable crewed vehicles. Having Starliner as an option will help with that redundancy. NASA has a few options to get astronauts up to the International Space Station. Roscosmos State Space Corporation via AP What does this decision mean for Boeing? I do think Boeing’s reputation is going to ultimately suffer. The company is going head-to-head with SpaceX. Now, the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft has several flights under its belt. It has proven a reliable way to get to and from the space station. It’s important to remember that this was a test flight for Starliner. Of course, the program managers want each test flight to run perfectly, but you can’t anticipate every potential problem through ground testing. Unsurprisingly, some problems cropped up – you expect them in a test flight. The space environment is unforgiving. A small problem can become catastrophic in zero gravity. It’s hard to replicate these situations on the ground. The technology SpaceX and Boeing use is also radically different from the kind of capsule technology used in the early days of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. NASA has evolved and made strategic moves to advance its mission over the past two decades. The agency has leaned into its legacy of thinking outside the box. It was an innovative move to break from tradition and leverage commercial competitors to advance the program. NASA gave the companies a set of requirements and left it up to them to figure out how they would meet them. What does this decision mean for Starliner’s crew? I know Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams as rock-solid professionals, and I believe their first thoughts are about completing their mission safely. They are both highly experienced astronauts with previous long-duration space station experience. I’m sure they are taking this in stride. Prior to joining NASA, Williams was a Naval aviator and Wilmore a combat veteran, so these two know how to face risk and accomplish their missions. This kind of unfavorable outcome is always a possibility in a test mission. I am sure they are leaning forward with a positive attitude and using their bonus time in space to advance science, technology and space exploration. Their families shoulder the bigger impact. They were prepared to welcome the crew home in less than two weeks and now must adjust to unexpectedly being apart for eight months. Right now, NASA is dealing with a ripple effect, with more astronauts than expected on the space station. More people means more consumables – like food and clothing – required. The space station has supported a large crew for short periods in the past, but with nine crew members on board today, the systems have to work harder to purify recycled drinking water, generate oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from their atmosphere. Wilmore and Williams are also consuming food, and they didn’t arrive with the clothes and other personal supplies they needed for an eight-month stay, so NASA has already started increasing those deliveries on cargo ships. What does this decision mean for the future? Human spaceflight is excruciatingly hard and relentlessly unforgiving. A million things must go right to have a successful mission. It’s impossible to fully understand the performance of systems in a microgravity environment until they’re tested in space. NASA has had numerous failures and near-misses in the quest to put Americans on the Moon. They lost the Apollo 1 crew in a fire during a preflight test. They launched the first space shuttle in 1981, and dealt with problems throughout that program’s 30-year life, including the terrible losses of Challenger and Columbia. After having no other U.S. options for over 30 years, three different human spacecraft programs are now underway. In addition to the SpaceX Crew Dragon and the Boeing Starliner, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, is planned to fly four astronauts around the Moon in the next couple of years. These programs have had setbacks and bumps along the way – and there will be more – but I haven’t been this excited about human spaceflight since I was an 11-year-old cheering for Apollo and dreaming about putting the first human footprints on Mars. Michael E. Fossum is a retired NASA astronaut. The people involved at NASA are all friends and colleagues of his. ... The Conversation	8 hr	⟶
The Assembly aims to be a state-level, digital-first Atlantic Magazine for North Carolina CC BY-NC-SA — The outlets stepping into the breach of the United States’ local news crisis come in many shapes, sizes, and models. You have startup nonprofits; worker-owned newsrooms; for-profits, including legacy chains (for-profits still make up the majority of local news outlets today); and publications originally established with narrower coverage mandates expanding to other areas to meet... ... Nieman Lab	8 hr	⟶
The Seemingly Endless Cycle of Reforms in Juvenile Justice CC BY-NC-ND — As Ohio considers closing youth detention facilities, recent efforts in other states have hit roadblocks. ... The Marshall Project	8 hr	⟶
Pakistani man faces 20 years in New York Jewish center plot Public Domain Voice of America	8 hr	⟶
Chrysler-parent Stellantis recalls 1.46 million vehicles worldwide Public Domain — WASHINGTON — Chrysler parent Stellantis said Saturday it is recalling 1.46 million vehicles worldwide due to a software malfunction in the anti-lock brake system that can increase the risk of a crash. The recall includes nearly 1.23 million Ram 1500 trucks from the 2019 and 2021-2024 model years in the United States, as well as about 159,000 vehicles in Canada, 13,000 in Mexico and 61,000 outside North America. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said a software malfunction might result in the anti-lock brake system control module disabling the electronic stability control system. The issue means the vehicles do not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard on electric stability control systems. Stellantis said if the issue occurs, the ABS, ESC, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning indicator lights will be illuminated at vehicle start up, indicating the systems are not working. Foundational braking would be working, it added. The company said it is unaware of any related injuries or crashes. Stellantis also said Saturday it is recalling about 33,000 Jeep Gladiator models from 2020-2024 and Jeep Wrangler vehicles from 2018-2024 due to a potential internal short circuit issue in the instrument panel cluster. ... Voice of America	8 hr	⟶
Why journalists are speaking out against Western media bias in reporting on Israel-Palestine Attribution+ — Media should not only inform, but foster understanding without exacerbating tensions or perpetuating biased narratives. Instead, Western media’s coverage of Israel-Palestine has prioritised certain perspectives while diminishing others, neglecting crucial context and perpetuating (unconscious) stereotypes. The post Why journalists are speaking out against Western media bias in reporting on Israel-Palestine appeared first on Unbias The News. ... Unbias The News	8 hr	⟶
Activists organise to oppose teacher retrenchments CC BY-ND — Over 2,400 posts to be lost by 1 January ... GroundUp	9 hr	⟶
Rising rents, unlivable apartments leave tenants desperate, confused, and often helpless Attribution+ — The post Rising rents, unlivable apartments leave tenants desperate, confused, and often helpless appeared first on Injustice Watch. ... Injustice Watch	9 hr	⟶
Solutions for landlord-tenant inequity range from clerical adjustments to radical change Attribution+ — Listen to this story: Injustice Watch · The Tenant Trap – Part 5: Solutions The Chicago renters who band together to form tenant unions — who work with community organizers to present demands and launch rent strikes, who call in top city officials, and who file lawsuits against their landlords — are unique among the […] The post Solutions for landlord-tenant inequity range from clerical adjustments to radical change appeared first on Injustice Watch. ... Injustice Watch	9 hr	⟶
Few wins for tenants suing landlords Attribution+ — Listen to this story: Injustice Watch · The Tenant Trap – Part 4: Few wins for tenants suing landlords In 2020, Tonnett Hammond was getting increasingly anxious about not being able to reach her new landlords. By then, the post office had stopped delivering mail because of broken mailboxes at the 11-story apartment building known […] The post Few wins for tenants suing landlords appeared first on Injustice Watch. ... Injustice Watch	9 hr	⟶
Tenants who call the city for help find lackluster enforcement Attribution+ — Listen to this story: Injustice Watch · The Tenant Trap – Part 3: Tenants call the city, find lackluster enforcement Thelia Stennis didn’t live in the worst of Gary Carlson’s 83 buildings. Sewage wasn’t backing up into her tub, and there was no black mold or lead paint in her home — as far as […] The post Tenants who call the city for help find lackluster enforcement appeared first on Injustice Watch. ... Injustice Watch	9 hr	⟶
Tenants’ right to withhold rent becomes landlords’ weapon Attribution+ — Listen to this story: Injustice Watch · The Tenant Trap – Part 2: Tenants' right to withhold rent It wasn’t always tense between Megan Franklin and her landlords. In 2014, when she moved in, most of the 35 units in the courtyard building with castle turrets were occupied by condo owners. It showed in the […] The post Tenants’ right to withhold rent becomes landlords’ weapon appeared first on Injustice Watch. ... Injustice Watch	9 hr	⟶
Decades of courts data, 2.3M records analyzed to reveal unfair system Attribution+ — To examine the link between dangerous building disrepair and evictions in Chicago, Injustice Watch analyzed roughly 1.9 million code violations, 60,000 administrative court dockets, 300,000 eviction court dockets, and 43,000 housing court dockets dating back to the early 2000s. Because Chicago Property Index Numbers were absent from these records, Injustice Watch relied on street addresses […] The post Decades of courts data, 2.3M records analyzed to reveal unfair system appeared first on Injustice Watch. ... Injustice Watch	9 hr	⟶
French left protests against appointment of new conservative PM Attribution+ — Protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday to denounce what they call a power grab after President Emmanuel Macron appointed conservative Michel Barnier as the country's new prime minister. Critics say the choice overrides elections that made a left-wing alliance the biggest faction in the French parliament. ... Radio France Internationale	9 hr	⟶
Back in business: Bookstore forced to close in China reopens in Washington Public Domain — Six years after Jifeng Bookstore was forced to close its doors in Shanghai, the shop has reopened in Washington to bring debate and literature to a new audience. Liam Scott has the story for VOA News. Videographer: Yi Ruokun ... Voice of America	9 hr	⟶
Reading List: Mara Kardas-Nelson CC BY — I wrote We Are Not Able to Live in the Sky: The Seductive Promise of Microfinance ... Africa is a Country	9 hr	⟶