US House delays vote on bill to avert a government shutdown
Democrats controlling the House of Representatives on Tuesday delayed a planned vote on a funding bill that would keep United States government agencies running and prevent a government shutdown on September 30. “At some point in the next day or two, we expect that there will be a continuing resolution on the floor that will…
Fed, Treasury chiefs: economy needs more COVID help from Congress
With six weeks to go until the November 3 presidential election, the United States economy is definitely on the mend, but the recovery is incomplete and another round of spending from Congress is almost surely in order. That was the message Tuesday on Capitol Hill, where Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and US Treasury Secretary…
Suspect wrote ‘give up’ on ricin White House letter: Court papers
A woman arrested by US authorities on suspicion of sending a ricin-filled envelope to the White House was due to appear before a federal court in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday. The Department of Justice said Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 53, is charged with making threats against the president of the United States. The envelope…
US airlines to make plea for new bailout ahead of Oct 1 layoffs
Major United States airlines plan to make a last-ditch bid to persuade Congress to grant them a new $25bn bailout to help avert thousands of employee furloughs set to begin October 1, even as a separate $25bn in government loans for the sector sits untapped. The chief executives of American Airlines, United Airlines and JetBlue…
‘Sick to my stomach’: Louisville awaits Breonna Taylor verdict
Louisville, Kentucky, USA – The mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, has declared a state of emergency ahead of an expected decision on whether charges will be brought against the officers involved in the police killing of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman. Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on Tuesday he does not know when State Attorney…
Iran sends message of resistance to US at UNGA
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday to denounce American pressure and send a message of resistance and resilience to the United States, signalling no matter the pressure, the country will refuse to budge. In his pre-recorded video message, Rouhani started by pointing out that COVID-19…
Suspect wrote ‘give up’ on ricin White House letter: Court papers
A woman arrested by US authorities on suspicion of sending a ricin-filled envelope to the White House is due to appear before a federal court in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday. The Department of Justice said Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 53, is charged with making threats against the president of the United States. The envelope…
US House delays vote on bill to avert a government shutdown
Democrats controlling the House of Representatives on Tuesday delayed a planned vote on a funding bill that would keep United States government agencies running and prevent a government shutdown on September 30. “At some point in the next day or two, we expect that there will be a continuing resolution on the floor that will…
At UN, Qatar emir questions world inaction on Israeli occupation
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has questioned the credibility of the international community as it “stands by, unable to take any effective action to confront Israeli intransigence and its continued occupation of Palestinian and Arab land”. In his video speech at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the emir…
Louisville under state of emergency as Breonna Taylor case looms
Louisville, Kentucky, USA – The mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, has declared a state of emergency ahead of an expected decision on whether charges will be brought against the officers involved in the police killing of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman. Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on Tuesday he does not know when…
China: Trump ‘spreading political virus’ at United Nations
US President Donald Trump used the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday to attack China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it must be held accountable for having “unleashed this plague onto the world”. China, meanwhile, accused Trump of spreading a “political virus” at the United Nations with President Xi Jinping calling for enhanced cooperation…
UN General Assembly 2020: What the world leaders said
World leaders have addressed an increasingly divided United Nations at its 75th General Assembly. The annual meeting on Tuesday in New York was moved online this year because of the coronavirus, with the pandemic high on the agenda, among other issues of global concern. Here is a summary of what the world leaders said: Donald…
Is this a new beginning for Mali?
A group chosen by Mali’s military leaders appointed the former defence minister, Ba N’Daou, as president on Monday. He is expected to steer the country back to civilian rule in 18 months. The vice president, Colonel Assimi Goita, is the man who led last month’s coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Keita. Goita is urging people to support…
COVID-19: US reaches ‘unfathomable’ 200,000 death toll
The US death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 on Tuesday, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world’s richest nation with its sparkling laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies. “It is completely unfathomable that we’ve reached this point,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public…
Chelsea owner Abramovich ‘donated $100m’ to Israeli settler group
Abramovich was granted Israeli citizenship in 2018 and has donated generously to Israel [File: Anthony Anex/EPA] Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League football club Chelsea, donated 74 million pounds ($100m) to an Israeli settler group that displaces Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem, an investigation by BBC Arabic found. Abramovich, a Russian national, was granted Israeli…
China, India agree to stop troop deployment along disputed border
An Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stands guard at a checkpoint along a highway leading to Ladakh, at Gagangeer in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Ganderbal district [File: Danish Ismail/Reuters] China and India have agreed to stop deploying more troops to their contested border and avoid any action that might complicate the tense situation there. Senior…
Iranians break taboos with their own version of #MeToo
Tehran, Iran – Countless Iranians have taken to social media in recent weeks to recount their experiences of sexual abuse, bringing to the fore a taboo topic that has largely flown under the radar in the Islamic republic. Iran’s version of the #MeToo movement has seen candid accounts of sexual trauma, some dating back decades, and…
US election explainer: The ‘battleground’ states to watch
So-called “battleground” states, also known as “swing states” or “toss-up” states, hold disproportionate sway in US presidential elections, which are decided not by the national popular vote but by the Electoral College. Every election cycle, millions of dollars are poured into advertising and campaigning in these states, which are considered in play for both candidates…
Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to hold talks in Ankara
Palestinian leaders watch the speech of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya via videoconference during a virtual meeting with Palestinian factions over Israel and the United Arab Emirates’s deal to normalise ties, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank [File: Alaa Badarneh/Reuters] Palestinian party Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority (PA) government in the occupied West Bank,…
Without Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court faces challenges
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death will be felt at the Supreme Court in the coming weeks as it starts a new term with a 5-3 conservative majority while preparing for an important case on the Obamacare healthcare law and possible emergency election-related disputes. The court officially returns on October 5 from summer break with a…
Iran says ‘internal agents’ may be responsible for Natanz blast
Tehran, Iran – The Iranian government said on Tuesday there are strong suspicions that “internal agents” played a role in a massive explosion that occurred at a key nuclear facility earlier this year. On July 2, a fire ripped through a building at Natanz, a major uranium enrichment site. Satellite images showed it caused the…
US elections live news: Romney for filling Supreme Court vacancy
Senator Mitt Romney said on Tuesday he supports filling a Supreme Court vacancy before the election, all-but-assuring Republicans have the needed votes to confirm a potential nominee. Trump campaigns in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, as the vacant Supreme Court seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sparks a new rallying cry among supporters: “Fill that seat”. …
Mali military leader asks for end to ECOWAS economic sanctions
Goita addresses the press during the ceremony of the 60th anniversary of Mali’s independence in Bamako [Michele Cattani/AFP] Mali’s military government chief has demanded an end to potentially crippling economic sanctions imposed after last month’s coup in the country. On Monday, Mali’s former defence minister, Bah Ndaw, was named as president of the country’s new…
At ‘perilous turning point’, UK enforces new COVID-19 measures
The UK government on Tuesday tightened restrictions to stem a rising tide of coronavirus cases, ordering pubs in England to shut early and abandoning calls for people to return to the workplace to help kick-start the battered economy. The United Kingdom is battling a second wave of coronavirus infections and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said…
Explainer: Where do Arab states stand on normalising Israel ties?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain are the latest countries in the Arab region to formally establish diplomatic ties with Israel in deals brokered by the United States. The Palestinians have slammed the deals as grave betrayals by the Arab states, further undermining their efforts to achieve self-determination. The only two Arab countries Israel…
Turkey, Greece ‘ready to resume’ exploratory talks over East Med
Turkey and Greece stated they are ready to resume exploratory talks to address their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean, the Turkish presidency said, after a call between the leaders of Turkey, Germany and the European Union on Tuesday. In a video conference between President Tayyip Erdogan, Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU…
Race to watch: Iranian-American activist faces Texas conservative
A congressional race between staunchly conservative House Republican Dan Crenshaw and Iranian American progressive Sima Ladjevardian has garnered national attention while encapsulating the shifting Demographics in the one-time Republican bastion of Texas. Crenshaw and Ladjevardian are competing to represent the state’s second congressional district, which includes parts of northern and western Houston. Both have earned their…
Pakistan court rules 2012 blaze as arson, sentences two to death
The episode is considered the worst industrial incident in Pakistan’s history [File: Fareed Khan/AP] A court has ruled that Pakistan’s deadliest industrial fire, which killed over 260 factory workers in 2012, was a case of arson and not an accident, as it sentenced two men to death. The Anti-Terrorism Court found on Tuesday that the men, formerly members…
Suarez accused of cheating Italian citizenship language exam
Italian authorities are investigating whether Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, an Uruguay national, was illegally helped to pass an Italian language exam last week, in order to receive a European passport that could help him transfer to a new club. Suarez, whose wife is of Italian descent, passed the exam last Thursday at the University for Foreigners in…
Bogota: Clashes over police brutality continue in Colombia
Demonstrations against police brutality in Colombia have once again turned violent.Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.Anger has been building after the death of a man in custody who was arrested after breaking coronavirus restrictions in Bogota 11 days ago.A video showing Javier Ordonez being beaten and repeatedly tasered by police went viral on…
Blast reported in Hezbollah stronghold in south Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is a political stronghold of Hezbollah. [Screengrab/Al Jazeera] An explosion shook a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, sending grey smoke billowing over the southern village of Ein Qana. The cause of Tuesday’s blast was not immediately clear. Security sources said there were injuries without giving figures. Ein Qana is about 50km (30 miles) south of…
COVID-19: All you need to know about Europe’s second wave
Why are cases rising? As coronavirus infection rates rise across Europe again, experts are concerned another major outbreak, or so-called second wave, is around the corner. The rise comes after a period of unprecedented lockdown during the first wave, which helped reduce cases and the death rate across the continent. Linda Bauld, behavioural scientist and…
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy of empathy and courage
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life embodies the best of America. Her experiences of being a first-generation American, a religious minority, and a woman who overcame discrimination informed her jurisprudence. The grandchild of Jewish immigrants from Russia, Ginsburg understood how fear of violent pogroms caused her family to leave their home, along with hundreds of thousands…
Palestine quits Arab League role in protest over Israel deals
‘There is no honour in seeing Arabs rush towards normalisation during its presidency,’ Maliki said [File: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters] Palestine has quit its current chairmanship of Arab League meetings, the Palestinian foreign minister said on Tuesday, condemning as dishonourable any Arab agreement to establish formal ties with Israel. Palestinians see the deals which the United…
Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan to dominate Trudeau throne speech
Montreal, Canada – With a mounting number of new COVID-19 infections in Canada, the pandemic is expected to be the focus of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s widely anticipated throne speech this week. The throne speech, which opens every new session of parliament and will be delivered by Canada’s governor general on Wednesday, will set…
France’s decades-long feud over the hijab takes centre stage
Paris, France – Last week, a member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s La Republique en Marche (LREM) party walked out of a National Assembly hearing, saying the presence of a veiled student went against the country’s secular values – a stunt which has renewed a debate over the hijab. “As a Member of Parliament and a feminist, committed to Republican…
Sri Lanka: Bill granting more powers to president tabled
Sri Lanka’s right-wing government has presented a draft amendment to the constitution which would give extra powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, while the opposition has denounced the move. If passed, the Draft Bill of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution would allow President Gotabaya to dissolve the parliament and would give him full immunity against…
New Zealand’s Ardern set to return in October vote: Opinion poll
New Zealand’s governing Labour Party has lost some support since July as the coronavirus resurged in Auckland, but it is still set to win the upcoming general election on October 17 comfortably, an opinion poll has shown. The 1News-Colmar Brunton poll on Tuesday showed support for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s party, which is seeking a…
Record rise in weekly COVID-19 cases, but deaths down: WHO
The coronavirus pandemic appears to be accelerating worldwide, with new cases soaring last week to a new seven-day high of almost 2 million even as new deaths decreased, World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show. In its latest global update late on Monday, the UN health body said 1,998,897 new cases of the novel coronavirus had been registered…
In Pictures: Kashmir’s elaborate weddings muted by COVID-19
Within months, the centuries-old, lavish marriage tradition for which Indian-administered Kashmir is known has changed drastically in a region that already suffered months-long security lockdown last year. The three days of feasting, elaborate rituals and huge gatherings have been replaced by muted ceremonies attended by a limited number of close relatives and neighbours. Months before…
Trying to revive and protect Indonesia’s mangroves
Indonesia’s coastlines are home to more mangrove forests than anywhere else.They protect the land from erosion and absorb carbon emissions, protecting people’s livelihoods and their health.Over the past few years, a lot of mangroves have been cut down for tourism or industrial developments but now, individual groups and the government are promising to do more…
India building collapse toll climbs to 20, several still trapped
Local police said the building was more than 35 years old and needed repairs, but residents had not vacated the building [Imtiyaz Shaikh/Anadolu] More bodies have been pulled from the debris of a collapsed building near India’s financial capital Mumbai, bringing the death toll to 20, according to police. The three-storey residential building in the congested…
Argentina: Provincial healthcare strained as COVID cases spread
Even though Argentina was one of the first countries to impose a lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, infections continue to rise.Recorded cases have passed 630,000 as COVID-19 spreads from the capital Buenos Aires into the provinces.Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo reports from Buenos Aires, Argentina. SOURCE: Al Jazeera News
India’s new coronavirus infections at lowest in almost a month
So far, nearly 76 percent of the new virus cases are concentrated in 10 states [File: Amarjeet Kumar Singh/Anadolu] India has reported 75,083 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to federal health data released on Tuesday, the lowest daily tally in almost a month. There were 1,053 deaths over…
Soaring food prices hit Sudanese as floods ravage the country
Flooding is adding to the misery of the Sudanese people, who have been struggling with a steep rise in the price of food.The inflation has also affected the provision of aid to tens of thousands of people displaced by the floods in 17 of the country’s 18 states.Prices of essential commodities like bread and sugar…
Venezuela, Cuba denounce US ‘hegemony’ in UNGA speeches
Venezuela has called for the world to fight “hegemony” and “imperialist ideas” while Cuba called the United States “the greatest danger to international peace and security” during the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) virtual summit to mark 75 years of the global body. In a pre-recorded speech on Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, recently accused…
No Belarus sanctions by EU despite Tikhanovskaya plea
European Union foreign ministers have been confronted with images of what are said to be the crimes of Belarus’ government. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya made another plea for sanctions against President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of rigging elections and violently suppressing protests. But diplomats failed to agree on punishments. Al Jazeera’s Nadim Baba reports.…
Obituary: Nepal’s ‘Snow Leopard’ Ang Rita who set Everest record
Ang Rita, the legendary Nepali Sherpa guide known as “Snow Leopard”, has died at the age of 72 after a long illness. Rita was the first person to climb Mount Everest 10 times without bottled oxygen, a feat for which he was honoured in his home country of Nepal and earned international fame. He suffered…
Taiwan tells China to ‘back off’ as airspace ‘incursions’ rise
Taiwan on Tuesday demanded that China “back off” and accused it of threatening peace, after recent incursions and a Beijing official openly rejecting a largely respected marine boundary. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu urged Beijing to “return to the civilised international standards” after a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said there was no so-called median line in…
Why environmental justice is an anti-colonial struggle
In the mesmerising context of a global pandemic, a Black-led mass uprising against systemic racism, a “heated” election in the United States, and an ever-heating planet, it is increasingly clear that structural violence and environmental collapse are mutually reinforcing crises. The closely dated murders of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minnesota, of…
Redefining anti-Semitism on Facebook
With its 2.7 billion users, Facebook is the world’s largest and arguably most influential social media platform. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that right-wing Zionist organisations have identified it as a key platform to promote their agenda. Several years ago, for example, the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs alongside students from IDC, an Israeli university in…
Legacy of Iran-Iraq War still reverberates 40 years later
Baghdad, Iraq – A jaw, various bones and a few personal belongings – plastic pocket comb with broken teeth, dog tags and metal wristwatch – were among the remains recently unearthed of a man killed during the Iran-Iraq War. The heartbreaking photos – posted on Facebook with details on the area where the remains were discovered,…
‘Crazy year up north’ as Arctic ice shrinks to near record-low
Ice in the Arctic Ocean melted to its second lowest level on record this year, scientists announced on Monday, in yet another sign of how global warming is rapidly transforming the polar region. Satellites recorded this year’s sea ice minimum at 3.74 million square km on September 15, only the second time the ice has…
Indian man cuts pregnant wife’s belly ‘to check gender’
A man has been arrested in northern India after slashing his pregnant wife’s stomach with a sickle, leaving her critically ill and causing the death of their unborn baby boy, police and her relatives said. The woman was in intensive care in a hospital in the capital, New Delhi, said police in Budaun district in…
Vatican, China prepare to renew historic deal angering US
The Vatican and China are preparing to renew a historic deal on the appointment of bishops that has slightly thawed icy relations, but has angered the United States. Pope Francis has given the go-ahead for the renewal of the agreement, which is still in “experimental” mode, for another two years, AFP news agency reported on…
Rescue underway to save 270 whales stranded in Australia
Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to save 270 whales stranded off the coast of the Australian island of Tasmania, amid fears that about a third of the animals had already died. Scientists said the long-finned pilot whales became stuck on sandbars at Macquarie Harbour, on Tasmania’s rugged and sparsely populated west coast, on Monday. Images…
Trump to name Supreme Court pick at end of week
United States President Donald Trump has indicated that he will announce his nominee for the Supreme Court at the end of the week, intensifying an already nail-biting campaign for the presidency on November 3. Behind in the polls against Democratic opponent Joe Biden and widely criticised for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump is…
No sign of US, China as global vaccine plan gathers momentum
An initiative to ensure any future vaccine against COVID-19 is fairly shared throughout the world has secured the backing of 156 countries and territories, representing about 64 percent of the global population, but the United States and China have yet to sign up. The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX) is being led by the World Health Organization…
US COVID-19 deaths near 200,000, one in five of global toll
The death toll from COVID-19 in the United States was nearing 200,000 on Tuesday – accounting for more than one in five deaths globally, putting US President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic in the spotlight as he campaigns for a second term in office. According to Johns Hopkins University, the US has reported at least…
Rivalries challenge UN as it marks 75 years since founding
World leaders came together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the coronavirus pandemic and economic disruption challenge the effectiveness and solidarity of the organisation that was set up after the horrors of World War II. Millions of people were forced into lockdown and economies were devastated as COVID-19 began to…
Canadian rights groups urge Trudeau to end Saudi arms sales
Toronto, Canada – Dozens of civil society organisations have sent an open letter urging Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end to arms shipments to Saudi Arabia. The Canadian Labour Congress, the largest labour organisation in Canada and some of Canada’s largest unions have added their signatures to an open letter (PDF) addressed to the prime minister to…
US charges NY police officer with spying for China
Tensions between the United States and China have soared since US President Donald Trump took office [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] A New York City police officer who also serves as a United States Army reservist has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the government of China, US federal prosecutors have said. Baimadajie Angwang,…
Supreme Court fight could elevate Kamala Harris’s profile
Kamala Harris is poised to become a leading figure in the Democratic opposition to United States President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick, with her status as both a lawmaker and vice-presidential nominee putting her in the centre of the fight. The California senator is in a unique role following the death of Supreme Court Justice…
At 60 and with new rulers, Mali once again at a crossroads
Sixty years since independence, Mali, once again, stands at a crossroads. The new military rulers who last month overthrew embattled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita named on Monday former Defence Minister Bah Ndaw president of a transitional government, tasking him with leading the country to elections. Colonel Assimi Goita, head of the group of soldiers behind…
White House ricin letter one of six sent from Canada: Police
Canadian police have searched an apartment in a Montreal suburb linked to the woman arrested for sending a ricin-filled envelope to the White House and to five other addresses in Texas, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Monday. US authorities arrested a woman at the US-Canada border near Buffalo, New York, on Sunday…
Italy’s left defeats far-right bid to take stronghold Tuscany
The two-day vote went ahead despite a threatened resurgence of the coronavirus in Italy, which is now registering more than 1,500 new cases daily [EPA] Italy’s far-right conceded defeat after a fierce battle in the country’s regional elections for the left-wing bastion of Tuscany, providing a significant boost for the fragile national government. The two-day…
CDC abruptly pulls COVID-19 guidelines on airborne spread
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken down its guidance warning on possible airborne transmission of COVID-19, saying the draft recommendation was posted in error. The now-withdrawn guidance, posted on the agency’s website on Friday, recommended people use air purifiers to reduce airborne germs indoors to limit the spread of the…
Kenya’s judge advises Parliament to dissolve over lack of women
Kenya’s top judge has advised the president to dissolve the country’s male-dominated Parliament, saying legislators failed to meet a constitutional provision which would allow for one-third of seats to be occupied by women. Despite Kenya’s 2010 constitution stating no more than two-thirds of any elected or appointed body can be of the same gender, women…
Iran’s Zarif dismisses sanctions, calls US ‘irresponsible actor’
Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Zarif has blasted the efforts of the United States government to reimpose sanctions during a digital address to the Council on Foreign Relations, calling the US an “irresponsible actor”. The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance on Iran, pulling out of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of…
Is Washington’s ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran working?
The Trump administration has brought back sanctions on Iran and it is threatening “consequences” against those who violate them. Russia is calling the action “reckless” and close European allies are saying the United States has no right to reimpose any penalties since it withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal two years ago. The US’s top…
US Supreme Court: Trump’s possible picks to fill Ginsburg’s seat
As President Donald Trump deliberates over who he will nominate to replace late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, several female judges have emerged on his shortlist. Trump said Monday that he will make an announcement about his choice this Friday or Saturday and he has already indicated he will choose a woman. “It…
Chile’s Mapuche step up fight for basic rights
As Indigenous Mapuche conflict escalates, some hope the writing of a new constitution could lay the groundwork for reconciliation and peace in the trouble-torn region of southern Chile. Armed Mapuche groups fighting for ancestral land rights and the presence of militarised police have increased the level of violence in the region. Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman…
Key US Senate races put Republican majority control at risk
Control of the United States Senate will be at stake when Americans go to vote on November 3. Republicans presently hold a 53-47 majority over Democrats and two independents in the 100-member upper chamber of the US Congress. But Democrats are eyeing several paths to a majority through at least nine vulnerable Republican seats. Democrats will…
Iranians remember sacrifices on Iran-Iraq war anniversary
Tehran, Iran – He has lost more than many can imagine to the horrors of war. But 60-year-old Asghar Bakhtiari, who spent 48 gruelling months in a variety of battlefronts in the Iran-Iraq War, says now his only regret is “not being able to be in that atmosphere more and learn more from it”. “There was…
Afghanistan: Bloodiest day of fighting since peace talks began
Clashes and casualties were also reported in several parts of Afghanistan earlier this week [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters] At least 57 members of the Afghan security forces were killed and dozens injured in overnight clashes with Taliban fighters across Afghanistan in the bloodiest day of fighting since the government and the armed group began peace talks in…
Ba N’Daou named Mali’s interim president, colonel named VP
Mali’s former defence minister Ba N’Daou has been named as president of the country’s new transition government. Military government leader Colonel Assimi Goita was appointed vice president, state television announced on Monday. According to a plan backed by the military government, the new president is meant to lead the country for several months before staging…
US election live updates: Biden, Trump campaign after RBG death
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has dramatically changed the election as both candidates head to battleground states on Monday. President Donald Trump says he will pick a replacement after Ginsburg’s funeral, likely by Friday or Saturday. Democratic candidate Joe Biden has appealed to Republican Senators to delay a vote on Trump’s…
Navalny demands Russia return clothes worn during ‘attack’
Alexey Navanly has been updating his followers through his Instagram page, posting pictured of his recovery since an alleged poisoning attack [Navalny/Instagram via Reuters] Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has demanded that Moscow return his clothes, claiming that Western laboratories had found traces of a Novichok nerve agent in and on his body. Navalny, who…
UN marks 75th anniversary amid coronavirus pandemic: Live updates
Flags fly outside UN headquarters as the 75th session looks to recommit to multilateralism in the age of COVID-19 [File: Jennifer Peltz/AP] The United Nations marked its 75th anniversary on Monday, celebrating the mantra that “multilateralism is not an option but a necessity” – even as the coronavirus pandemic underscores the fragility of international cooperation.…
The end of the Saudi era
As we approach the second anniversary of the state-sponsored assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia continues its retreat, losing direction and influence in the Gulf and Middle East regions. More than 50 years after the Saudi kingdom began its rise to regional and international prominence as the leading member of OPEC and the Organisation…
Analysis: US election ‘October surprise’ comes early
Every four years around this time, political observers become breathless in anticipation of an “October surprise,” an event or disclosure or a gaffe that will change the dynamic of the upcoming US presidential election. And it is almost a given something will come up to shake things up. 2016 had two so-called “surprises”: Donald Trump’s…
Erdogan files complaint over Greek newspaper’s insulting headline
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lodged a criminal complaint against four senior staff employed by a Greek newspaper about an insulting headline, according to Turkish media. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the president’s lawyer, Huseyin Aydin, filed the complaint on Monday about the headline run in Dimokratia, a right-wing paper, on September 18.…
UK faces exponentially growing COVID death rate, scientists warn
The United Kingdom, where at least 41,777 people have died with coronavirus, faces an exponentially growing death rate within weeks unless the government moves urgently to halt a rapidly spreading second wave, the country’s senior medics said on Monday. The UK already had the highest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe – and the fifth-largest…
Explained: Pakistan’s emotive blasphemy laws
Islamabad, Pakistan – Bishop John Joseph, 65, one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights activists, had been campaigning for decades to reform the country’s strict blasphemy laws. On the morning of May 6, 1998, he led a procession to the steps of the court in the central Pakistani town of Sahiwal, where a young man,…
Turkey to continue supporting Libya’s GNA even if al-Sarraj quits
Turkey will continue to support Libya’s internationally recognised government despite Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj announcing last week that he planned to step down by the end of next month, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman. Ibrahim Kalin said on Monday that Turkish support for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and their bilateral…
Honduras to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem by end of year
Honduras hopes to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before the end of the year, putting an end to its policy of neutrality – a move likely to further anger the Palestinians. “I have just talked to Prime Minister Netanyahu to strengthen our strategic alliance, we spoke to arrange the opening of the…
Stream@UNGA: Can the ‘misinformation pandemic’ be stopped?
On Tuesday, September 22 at 19:30 GMT: Fighting pandemics has always been fraught with challenges but, according to the United Nations, efforts to defeat the coronavirus could be thwarted by a particularly modern threat: viral misinformation. The World Health Organization calls it an “infodemic” and says a huge amount of lies about the virus are being…
Still confused by the coronavirus? | Start Here
It has been nearly 10 months of living with this coronavirus. There has been a lot of debate, a lot of science and we have learned a lot about the virus. But it can still be pretty confusing. So why has it been so tough to get our heads around COVID-19? And when are we…
India, China commanders meet again on ending border standoff
Senior Indian and Chinese military commanders are holding talks on Monday to find ways to resolve a months-long standoff between rival forces along their disputed Himalayan border in Ladakh, a region bordering Tibet that India administers. Details of the talks, which are happening on the Chinese side in Moldo, facing the Indian-controlled Ladakh region, were…
Two sentenced over Bulgaria bus bombing blamed on Hezbollah
A handout picture released on July 19, 2012, by the Bulgarian interior ministry shows the wreckage of the bus in Burgas after the explosion [Bulgarian Interior Ministry/AFP] A Bulgarian court sentenced two men to life imprisonment without parole over a 2012 bus bombing that killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian driver at the country’s…
Botswana authorities identify cause of mysterious elephant deaths
The number of dead elephants rose to 330, from 281 when last reported in July [File: National Park Rescue via AFP] Officials in Botswana say the deaths of hundreds of elephants in recent months which baffled and alarmed conservationists in the country were caused by toxins produced by cyanobacteria in water. The government in the…
Brazil’s Infinity Memorial commemorates COVID-19 victims
In Brazil, a monument dedicated to those who have died from coronavirus has been unveiled in Rio de Janeiro.The architect of the Infinity Memorial said she wanted to provide families with a symbol of their loss.Brazil has the second-highest death rate in the world.Al Jazeera’s Monica Yanakiew reports from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SOURCE: Al…
Lebanon PM-designate Adib calls for collaboration to form gov’t
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib has urged political forces in the crises-hit country to cooperate to facilitate the formation of a new government, almost a week after the passing of the deadline agreed with France to name a cabinet. Over the past year, Lebanon has been rocked by unprecedented protests calling for an overhaul of…
Israel court: Child abuse suspect can be extradited to Australia
An Israeli court has ruled that an ultra-conservative Jewish former school principal suspected of sexually abusing her female pupils in Australia can be extradited, paving the way for her to stand trial after a six-year legal battle. The Jerusalem district court, which in May had determined Malka Leifer mentally fit to stand trial, said in…
UNGA75 to go virtual as COVID-19 keeps world leaders home
The United Nations turns 75 this year – and its annual General Assembly was meant to be especially big. But what is usually an event packed with world leaders from around the globe will look much different this Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic. Al Jazeera’s James Bays reports from a subdued UN headquarters in…
Johnson rejects claim he took Italy trip as ‘completely untrue’
The UK has denied a report in an Italian newspaper claiming that Prime Minister Boris Johnson went to Italy last weekend, saying he had not travelled to the country in recent months. La Repubblica said Johnson was seen in Perugia from September 11 to 14, citing a statement from the city’s airport. It reported that he…
Hungary’s PM Orban endorses Trump’s re-election bid
Hungary president Viktor Orban (left) and US President Donald Trump [File: Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFP] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has endorsed Donald Trump’s re-election bid for the US presidency, saying his rival Democrats have forced “moral imperialism” on the world that illiberal leaders like himself reject. “We root for Donald Trump’s victory, because we know…
Sudan leaders in UAE for talks with Emirati, US officials
A high-level delegation led by the head of Sudan’s ruling council has travelled to the United Arab Emirates for separate talks with Emirati and US officials, including discussions on its removal from the US’s list of countries that “sponsor terrorism”, according to state media. The Sudanese state news agency SUNA said on Sunday General Abdel-Fattah…
On Westgate’s 7th anniversary, Kenya is repeating its mistakes
Seven years ago on September 21, on a bright and sunny Saturday morning, four men armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades stormed the Westgate shopping mall in the upmarket Westlands district of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Closed-circuit cameras within it captured them strolling through the mall, killing on sight. Within hours, they had murdered…
Doctor’s Note: Can wearing glasses help protect against COVID-19?
A recently published study looking at 276 patients in the Suizhou Zengdu Hospital in Suizhou, China showed that those who wore glasses for more than eight hours a day were at significantly lower risk of getting COVID-19 than those who did not wear glasses. Only 16 (less than 6 percent) of those patients being studied…