AMERICA’S GOT A PROBLEM

The United States has the highest rate of civilian gun ownership in the world, with an estimated 393 million firearms. That’s more than one gun for each of about 341 million people. It should then not come as a surprise that gun-related injuries killed 42,967 people in the United States in 2023.

Research shows a correlation between stricter gun laws and lower rates of gun violence.

However, the mainstream media doesn’t point out that, for Africans, ensuring the right of self-defence against white supremacist violence is paramount. Further, guns find their way into inner cities, where many of our people are forced to live, amplifying the danger of street violence.

Continued….. The modern gun-control movement emerged after California enacted legislation in 1967 upon seeing Black Panthers wielding firearms in public to defend their communities against brutal police violence.

Some say the high rate of gun violence in the United States mirrors US military violence around the world.

Some would also say it really should not be a surprise that the United States doesn’t offer its citizens healthcare or guarantee other human rights, as the speaker, Ayishat Akanbi (@ayishat_akanbi on IG and X) mentions, because the US began as a profit-driven settler colony rather than simply as a refuge for those allegedly escaping religious persecution.

PAID CROWD CHEERS NETANYAHU IN CONGRESS

Does this 60 second clip show the power of money in politics? Watch as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gets nearly 50 standing ovations during his address to US Congress last week.

He called pro-Palestine protesters ‘Iran’s useful idiots’ and demanded more American support to ‘finish the job’ in Gaza, as if the deaths of likely more than 186,000 Palestinians, according to Lancet, is not enough. Dozens of Democrats boycotted his speech but, as you can see, his message was well received by most.

Although disheartening, it’s worth remembering this is largely a paid crowd. In 2024, Israel’s main lobby group, AIPAC, is set to spend $100-million across its political entities, according to Politico. And their main targets are politicians deemed insufficiently supportive of Israel.

Continued….. So, just how influential is the lobby group? Here is an excerpt from their website, ‘So far this cycle, an AIPAC-endorsed candidate has won in every district (224 races) where an endorsee was on the ballot. All 90 AIPAC-backed Democrats who have had their primary races in 2024, have won. These Democrats are strong pro-Israel voices’

NIGERIENS BACK COUP LEADERS ONE YEAR ON

It’s been a year since Niger had a revolutionary coup d’etat that rallied widespread public support. But how do Nigeriens feel today about their new government led by The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP)? Well, we headed to the capital Niamey to find out. And the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

From women’s organisations to political parties and community groups, most back the country’s drive for greater independence away from former colonial power France.

One of the organisations we caught up with was The Union of Nigerien Scholars. It’s existed since August 1960, before Niger’s independence, and has witnessed the country’s evolution every step of the way. I

Continued….. t’s a mass Marxist-Leninist trade union that’s based around Niger’s schools and universities and it’s publicly backing and working alongside the CNSP. Their positive reaction just one of many we received.

This might come as a shock if you’ve been reading reports on the anniversary by US news agency Associated Press. It claims there’s ‘growing frustration’ on the streets, and businesses are ‘failing’. Well, for the record, we went there to find out first hand and, honestly, it was hard to come across anyone who didn’t support Niger’s new revolutionary leaders.

NETANYAHU LIES IN US CONGRESS

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already been labelled a ’genocide perpetrator’ by some world leaders. And his recent address to US Congress has likely just earned him a new one: Pathological liar.

During a speech that was boycotted by a good number of US politicians, Netanyahu delivered a toxic cocktail of outright fabrications and Israeli propaganda. He dished it all, from claims there are no civilian casualties in Rafah to denials about blocking Gaza-destined humanitarian aid. He also accused pro-Palestine protesters of being Iranian agents.

African Stream’s William Sakawa reacts to the leader’s diatribe of falsehoods.p

NIGER’S REVOLUTIONARY YEAR

On 26th July, Niger’s revolutionary new leadership turned one year old. There was a large celebration in Niamey to mark the anniversary - but what was there to celebrate?

Firstly, General Abdourahamane Tchiani - who heads Niger’s military government - has severed ties with France, which - colonially and neo-colonially - had occupied and exploited the Sahel nation for some 100 years. Paris’ troops were booted out and French uranium miner Orano had a licence revoked - meaning greater security sovereignty for Niger and a reclamation of its long-looted mineral wealth.

Continued….. Niger also entered into a Pan-African confederation with fellow Sahel states Burkina Faso and Mali. The security pact means the trio can pool intelligence and resources in the fight against terrorism, but the alliance will also see greater economic and cultural integration. It’s a model that many Africans promoting a borderless continent have felt inspired by - and would like to see rolled out further afield.

In this video, we explore what else has changed in Niger over the last year. Let us know in the comments if you think the party in Niamey was big enough!

‘NOT A CUTE LOOK’ MISS SOUTH AFRICA XENOPHOBIA

The xenophobia surrounding this year’s Miss South Africa beauty contest has gone up a notch. An online petition’s been launched to disqualify 23-year-old Chidimma Adetshina from the competition. Even though she was born in South Africa, some don’t like the fact her father is Nigerian and her South African mother has Mozambican roots. The petition, at change.org, has already got 7,000 signatures since its release on July 29th.

Chidimma says the criticism is ‘Black-on-Black hate’ and she’s received plenty of support. Miss South Africa organisers insist she meets all criteria to take part in the final on August 10th. And content creator Jacqui Jax has also leapt to her defence, pointing out former winner, Vanessa Carreira, was Portuguese-Angolian.

Continued……In this clip she says, ‘this afrophobic, xenophobic rhetoric is starting to stick on South Africa, and it’s not a cute look.’

The country’s been plagued with xenophobia resulting in violence and discrimination against immigrants which is straining diplomatic relations with other African countries. It also tarnishes South Africa’s image as a diverse and inclusive nation.
Pile in with your comments.

Video credit: starring_jacquijax

Zimbabwe’s denied it’s sent a bloated delegation to the Olympics in Paris.
Late last week it was reported 67 officials had flown with Team Zimbabwe consisting of just seven athletes. However, the country’s Olympic Committee (ZOC) insists only ten people were sent as part of the official delegation. Most of those were technical staff and coaches.

Trying to calm the storm, ZOC President Thabani Gonye, said: “We are aware, though, that there are many other technical officials, dignitaries, invited to the games directly to officiate and as guests, and many other hundreds of Zimbabweans are in Paris in various capacities,”

A government spokesperson also denied allegations Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his wife were part of the delegation.

Continued….. It was said they travelled separately to attend the opening ceremony and ‘other business,’ including seeking investors for Zimbabwe.

The saga sparked an online backlash with many calling it wasteful expenditure as the country faces economic hardships. It’s grappling with decades of Western unilateral sanctions and a drought that’s destroyed nearly half the crops planted in the farming season.

ISRAELI SOCIETY IN CRISIS OVER RAPES

Here’s another example of a deliberately misleading headline, designed to take the heat off Israel. It’s from NBC, the US outlet, and says protesters stormed Israeli military bases after soldiers were accused of ’abusing’ Palestinian prisoners.

What is doesn’t make clear is these demonstrators are SUPPORTING the reservists alleged to have raped an inmate so severely, he needed hospital treatment.

Protesters broke into the detention facility where nine soldiers were being questioned, while others targeted the Sde Teiman base where the abuse allegedly happened. The Israeli Finance Minister called the suspects ‘our best heroes’ and demanded their immediate release.

Continued….. The dehumanisation of Palestinians has been a necessary prerequisite for the occupation of their land, made possible by support from the West. Israel’s top three military suppliers are the US, Italy and Germany, alongside billions of dollars given to the occupying entity annually.

Mainstream media has a role to play within this framework, such as downplaying the severity of crimes against Palestinians, which is straight out of the colonial handbook.
We’ve re-jigged the NBC headline to make it more accurate.

IS THIS WHY WEST HATES MADURO?

Here’s a snapshot of what Venezuela’s President-elect Nicolas Maduro stands for. After winning 51 per cent of the vote to secure a third term, he was asked by an Al-Mayadeen reporter ‘What about Palestine.’ Without hesitation Maduro replies ‘Long live a free Palestine.’

Maybe that helps explain the hostile reaction to his victory by the West and the country’s right-wing opposition? Maria Corina Machado has been vocally pro-Israel, promising to establish Venezuela’s embassy in Jerusalem and even asking for an Israeli invasion of Venezuela in 2018. And the differences don’t stop at foreign policy.

Continued…Maduro’s economic planning involves nationalisations, price controls and extensive social programmes aimed at reducing poverty, inequality and national development. They have received resources and prioritise people over multi-national corporations. Could that also be fuelling the ‘serious concerns’ the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has about the election results?

Video Credit: Al Mayadeen Español

RIDING WHILE BLACK: RACIAL PROFILING IN AMERICA

Imagine you’ve just picked up your teenaged grandson and are driving along - when the cops pull you over. Were you speeding? No. The cops think your grandson might be robbing you!

Sounds absurd, right? Welcome to racial profiling in America. This is exactly what happened to Akil Carter in Wisconsin in 2018. He’s Black, his grandmother is White; he was in the back seat, she and a friend were in the front - and someone had called in an attempted robbery of two elderly ladies, by a Black suspect, in a car that matched theirs. The officers who pulled them over handcuffed Carter and held him in the back of their police car for six minutes while they tried to satisfy themselves that he really was a relative and not a criminal. Last year, a federal jury ruled that the officers had done nothing wrong.

Continued….. Fair enough, you might argue - it was the ‘concerned citizen’ that did the racial profiling, and the officers’ duty was to check. But studies have found that Black and Latino drivers in the US are more likely to be searched, ticketed and arrested during traffic stops compared with White drivers.

This can have tragic consequences. For example, in 1999, Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant, was shot 41 times by NYPD officers - who mistakenly believed he was reaching for a gun.

But deadly racial profiling doesn’t just happen at traffic stops. In 2012, Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager, was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida by local ‘community watch’ member George Zimmerman, who claimed Martin looked ‘suspicious.’

There are countless other cases in all spheres of life. This clip contains video of Akil Carter’s arrest. Let us know your reaction in the comments.

Video credit: @cbseveningnews

OBI MIKEL: FOOTBALL STARS DISRESPECT AFRICAN ROOTS

Nigeria and Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel says footballers need to start respecting their African roots. Too often they refuse to play for their African country and instead dream of representing the likes of England or France.

The former tough-tackling midfielder challenged the growing list of unpatriotic stars on his Obi One podcast. And he does have point. Kylian Mbappe, for example, could be playing for Cameroon, not France. England’s Bukayo Saka could’ve opted for Nigeria. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, over 50 players of African descent represented non-African nations.

Adding insult to injury, many players only consider playing for their African countries late in their careers as a fall-back option, but by that time they’re past their best.

We think Mikel is bang on target with his analysis, do you?

Video credit: The Obi One Podcast

MADURO WARNS ’CRIMINALS’
AFTER HQ TORCHED

The fallout from the disputed Venezuelan election is turning ugly, with opposition protesters allegedly resorting to arson - torching one of the ruling party’s regional HQs and a mayoral office. President Nicolas Maduro used an address to the nation to brand the perpetrators criminals, showing a video of the fire on his mobile phone. While the official election results gave him 51% of the vote, the opposition - relying on exit polls - say they won a landslide. It has the support of the West, including the US.

Anti-government protests in Venezuela led to deadly violence in 2014 and 2017, with dozens killed. Back then, several government and ruling-party buildings were also torched.