U.K. RACIST MOBS ATTACK ASYLUM SEEKERS' HOTELS

Warning: This video clip contains scenes of violence that may disturb some viewers.

Waves of far-right Islamophobic and anti-migrant violence spread across the United Kingdom on the weekend of 3-4 August following the 29 July fatal stabbing of three girls. Initially, racist mobs blamed an illegal Muslim migrant who had gotten off a boat that had crossed the English Channel until court documents revealed the accused to be a 17-year-old non-Muslim of Rwandan descent who was born in Wales. To stop the misinformation, the courts side-stepped the rule forbidding naming suspects under 18. 

However, this has not been enough to stop the Islamophobia-fuelled violence.

Continued…. In Manchester city's Piccadilly Gardens, a horde of white men attacked a Black man. The clip that has since gone viral shows white men punching and kicking the man before police intervened. However, in a strange but not surprising fashion, the police tackled the victim to the ground instead of going after his attackers.

The mobs also targeted two hotels housing asylum seekers. Riots targeting Muslims and other non-white minorities have engulfed the UK since the end of July.

SCINTILLATING SOUTH SUDAN SHOULD UNITE US!

South Sudan’s male Basketball team have left the Olympics with their heads held high. They just missed out on a quarter-final spot after losing to Serbia and the USA in their group. And their performances have silenced a lot of the racist and derogatory narratives we heard from some commentators in the lead up to the games. Chief among them was former NBA star Gilbert Arenas who happily mocked the Africans as ‘dart-shooters’ when they narrowly lost to the USA a pre-Olympic friendly.

In this clip @kingxgreen stresses the importance of Black people being united and not divided, especially when it comes to this amazing side from South Sudan. The country only gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and its men’s national basketball side didn’t play their first competitive match until 2017. Quite rightly, Arenas got ripped for his xenophobic tropes and has since apologised.

Video credit: Tag@kingxgreen

Senegal's Foreign Ministry has summoned Yuriy Pivovarov, Ukraine's ambassador to Senegal, for reportedly posting a comment on the embassy's Facebook video in support of Tuareg rebels and jihadists attacking Malian soldiers and Russia's Wagner Group.

Footage reportedly showed Malian Armed Forces and the Wagner Group in a 25-27 July battle in Tinzaouatène, a commune in northern Mali. The video and the ambassador's comment no longer appear on the Facebook page.

The ambush k*lled two Malian soldiers and 10 unidentified people.

Andriy Yusov, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence representative, said Ukraine provided rebels with information to conduct a successful operation.

Senegal has condemned the attack, reiterating its unwavering support for Mali. Dakar maintains 'constructive neutrality' in the two-and-a-half-year Russia-Ukraine war and is committed to preventing it from spilling into Africa.

AL-SHABAAB KILL 37 IN BEACH ATTACK

At least 37 people have been killed and more than 60 injured in a suicide and gun attack at Lido beach in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. It’s the country’s deadliest terror attack in months.

The tranquility of the popular beach was violently interrupted when a suicide attacker blew himself up at the entrance of the Beach View Hotel. Officials say that some of the wounded are in critical condition and the number of dead could rise.

Al-Qaeda-linked group Al-Shabaab took responsibility for the attack via an affiliated radio station. The armed group has inflicted terror on Somalia for 17 years through bombings and attacks throughout the country in a bid to topple the government.

Earlier, in June, Somalia pleaded for a slower withdrawal of African peacekeeping mission (ATMIS) troops, currently scheduled to pull out completely by December.

Mali’s government has cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine following Ukrainian representatives publicly supporting terrorist groups that k*lled two Malian soldiers and 10 unidentified people. That led a Malian government spokesperson to read aloud from a statement that Mali considers support for Ukraine as support for terrorism. 

The story begins with Malian authorities saying Tuareg rebels and members of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a jihadist group that aligns with al-Qaeda, attacked Malian armed forces and Russia’s Wagner Group on 25-27 July.

Things took a turn when Andrii Yusov, a Ukrainian Defence Ministry press representative, stated on a Ukrainian television program aired on 29 July that Ukraine provided intelligence to a rebel movement in Mali. ‘The rebels received necessary information, which enabled a successful military operation against Russian war criminals. We won’t discuss the details at the moment, but there will be more to come,’ Yusov said.

Continued…. That same day, Ukrainian news outlet Kyiv Post published what it referred to as an ‘exclusive photo’ of Tuareg rebels holding up the Ukrainian flag. Russian media outlets have claimed that the image was photoshopped.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal, Yurii Pyvovarov, also commented in favour of Malian terrorist groups on a video his embassy shared on Facebook. The video has since been deleted, and Senegalese authorities have summoned Pyvovarov.

Mali is consulting judicial authorities regarding Yusov and Pyvovarov’s support for terrorism, keeping a watchful eye on nearby Ukrainian embassies, and alerting all Ukrainian allies of Ukraine’s support for terrorism.

Video credit: ORTM 1 (YouTube)

PAEDOPHILE BRIT BLAMES MIGRANTS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

This clip of Jason Oldacre, a convicted paedophile in the UK, is a sharp foreshadowing of the recent eruption of far-right riots against immigrants across the UK.

Speaking to a Sky News reporter on 24 June, Jason blamed immigrants for his joblessness. He conceded his criminal record for ‘assault’ disqualifies him. Oldacre was also placed in the s*x offender programme after pleading guilty to three counts of s*xual assault of a child under 13. Yet, rather than take accountability, he seemed to want to place the blame at the feet of migrants who often come from places colonised, invaded, or destabilised by Britain and its allies.

On the weekend of 3-4 August, rioters set fire to hotels used to shelter asylum seekers in northern England as the country grapples with the worst disorder it has seen in years. The 29 July stabbing of three girls in Southport, northwest England, triggered the violence.

Continued….. The far-right has spread false claims that the attacker was a Muslim illegal immigrant who came via a boat, sparking anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant riots. Courts sidestepped procedure that bars identifying suspects under 18 to say the 17-year-old suspect of Rwandan descent was born in Britain and is not Muslim.

Migrant workers have increased in the UK over the past two decades, rising from 9 per cent of the employed workforce in the first quarter of 2004 (2.6 million) to 21 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 (6.8 million). But the truth is the UK economy needs migrants. The UK has an ageing population, with over 21 million people aged 50 and over. This represents 38 per cent of the population, a 47 per cent increase in a little more than 40 years, leaving one monitoring organisation to announce a shortage of skilled workers.

So, it seems Oldacre, the alleged convicted s*x offender, may also be struggling to understand the basic principles of economics. If any country has an ageing population, it will need workers from somewhere to do essential jobs, one of which is protecting children from s*xual predators.

Video credit: Sky News

SKIT NAILS OLYMPIC DOUBLE STANDARDS

This thought-provoking skit looks at how the Paris Olympics has tied itself in knots over moral judgements. How can organisers ban some countries and not others over global conflicts? How can it welcome athletes with criminal records but ban Muslims for wearing a hijab on certain teams?

The IOC's been performing ethical gymnastics at the highest level, and it's left many of us bewildered. We think this satirical take @Bold_Stories highlights everything that's wrong with the head-spinning decision making. Comments please.

Video credits: tadhghickeycml

Nationwide anti-immigrant riots have rocked the UK after three young girls were killed by a knife attacker, who was falsely reported to be a Muslim immigrant. Businesses have been destroyed; cars, shops and homes attacked; and mosques targeted in Britain's worst race riots in decades.

However, nothing like this erupted when Daniel Anjorin, a 14-year-old Black student in northeast London, was hacked and stabbed to death with a sword by a crazed White man in a random attack as he walked to school. 36-year-old Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a white man who is a dual Spanish-Brazilian national, also seriously wounded four others, including two police officers, in the 30th-April rampage.

So why the different public responses? Here’s one answer in this post from @MalaakSafa on X. We think she makes a fair point, do you?

X credit: @MalaakSafa

FRANCE OLYMPICS EXPOSED

We’re into the last week of the Olympics, and while athletes have produced memorable performances, the same can’t be said of the organisers.

From the word go, there’s been controversy. Why was Israel invited to compete when it’s killed thousands in Gaza in the last nine months, including nearly 400 Palestinian athletes? Why design an opening ceremony that mocked Christianity, according to the French Catholic church. Why can’t Malian-born French superstar, Aya Nakamura, make an appearance without getting a tonne of racist abuse? Why can’t athletes get a decent meal at the Olympic Village? The list goes on.

African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim (@ahmed.ghoneim.official) says it’s an Olympic shambles that’s broken all records. And he wonders If culture, faith and diversity are not respected, hosting etiquette is not followed and organisational standards are not up to par, why do we bother watching at all?

Leave some comments.

This picture will go down in sporting history. It captures the moment Black gymnasts swept the podium at the Olympics for the very first time. But it’s also being hailed for capturing the true spirit of the games.

As Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade receives her gold medal, US rivals Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles affectionately bow down in recognition of her win. From one GOAT to another, Biles and Chiles continued to sing Andrade’s praises at a press conference, calling her a ‘great competitor’ and ‘legend’. Andrade told reporters: ‘We can show the Black power. I love myself, my skin colour.’

Her win in the floor in Paris makes her the most-decorated Brazilian athlete ever. Biles leaves these games as the most-decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history.

NIGERIANS NOT BUYING TINUBU’S DIALOGUE CALL

Following the Nigerian military attacking thousands of unarmed people protesting subsidy cuts, a high cost of living and government corruption since 1 August, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for dialogue.

Many have cited Kenya for inspiring Nigeria’s protests.

Despite the country’s immense natural wealth, close to 31 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, according to 2023 UN statistics. Following International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendations, Tinubu’s government stripped fuel subsidies, tripling fuel prices. He also devalued the naira, the Nigerian currency, to attract foreign investment. Yet, that move wiped out millions of Nigerians’ savings and purchasing power, creating an inflation crisis not seen in 28 years. Many struggle to place a single meal on the table.

Have Kenya’s anti-IMF protests inspired people in your country? Let us know in the comments.

ALGERIAN BOXER HITS BACK AT GENDER SLUR

The Algerian boxer at the centre of a gender row has set her sights on Olympic gold. Imane Khelif will take to the ring tonight in the semi-finals of the women’s 66kg.

But her preparation could not have been worse, after battling a wave of online hate over claims she shouldn’t be allowed to compete as a female.
Even Elon Musk and Donald Trump waded in, wrongly suggesting she’s a man.

The Algerian Olympic Committee has accused foreign media of orchestrating a propaganda campaign against their fighter. And Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee, insists she’s a woman, as stated by her passport.

What should’ve been headlining is that she’s secured her country’s first-ever Olympic medal in female boxing. And if she wins tonight, she’ll be on the brink of gold. However, Khelif has been left fighting a monumental scrap outside the ring.

These are the details of a scandal that’s rocked the Games.

DEADLY ANTI-GOVERMENT PROTESTS SWEEP NIGERIA

Cost-of-living protests continue to rock Nigeria, despite appeals by President Bola Tinubu for them to stop.

So far, 15 people have been killed by police who’ve been accused of using excessive force. Curfews have been declared in several states, and tensions remain high.

African Stream’s Poloum David spoke with demonstrators who voiced their anger and desperation as inflation hits a 28-year high.

Video Credit: Nedu An (X)
@onejoblessboy (IG)
@realTobiAkinbo (X)
@aystickz (X)

SOUTH SUDAN’S BASKETBALL MASTERMIND

South Sudan’s Bright Stars certainly lit up the basketball at the Olympics. And their achievement at reaching their first-ever Games has been largely credited to one man, Luol Deng. The former NBA star is the president of the Basketball Federation for the world’s youngest country. And, like many of his players, he fled a civil war and grew up as a refugee.

In this clip he’s interviewed by South Sudan forward Nuni Omot, who says ‘we’ve been through a lot to get to this point’.

That’s an understatement. Deng was born in what’s now South Sudan, before its people voted for independence in 2011 after decades of repression from the Islamist government of Omar al-Bashir.

Continued….. Deng’s family fled to Egypt during the second Sudanese civil war, before finding asylum in the UK. In his teenage years he headed to the US to pursue his dream of playing professional basketball, and represented Britain at the 2012 Olympics. In early 2011 he set up South Sudan’s national basketball team, using his skills, influence and resources to bring the ‘village’ along with him to the international stage. The result, the Bright Stars made an impressive Olympic debut, just missing out on a quarter-final spot.

As you’ll see from this interview done just before the Games, he’s got big hopes for a team that’s only played professionally since 2020!

TALE OF TWO PROTESTS EXPOSING BRITAIN'S CONTRADICTIONS

We can’t help but notice the shocking contrast in some British media coverage of racist protests currently gripping the UK, and pro-Palestinian marches a few months before.

Remember the headlines when a peaceful demonstrator held a placard depicting as coconuts the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his home secretary. Marieha Hussain was lambasted for racism and police launched a social media campaign to find and arrest her. She's defended her actions, saying: ‘I was under the belief, and still am, that I have full ownership of that word, as each culture has their own language used to hold to account people of ethnic origins who use their positions of power to push White supremacy ideals, narratives and policies.’

Continued…. Compare that to the headlines we’re seeing now, as mobs target migrants and people of colour across Britain. Some outlets have attacked Prime Minister Keir Starmer for calling rioters ‘far-right’ thugs. He’s even been accused of ‘not reading the room’ after a police crackdown aimed at restoring order. How can media not show disgust at widespread racist violence, but huge revulsion at a placard held by a peaceful protester?

COULD SAHEL’S REVOLUTIONARY ‘PILL’ CURE CONGO?

The revolutions in the Sahel have inspired many Africans. The case of Niger is particularly striking. Since showing the door to French and US soldiers and ripping up exploitative mineral deals, Niamey’s registered 12.8% growth (says the World Bank) - making it the third most rapidly expanding economy on the planet, and Africa’s fastest growing. Many are now thinking: why don’t countries like the DRC - one of the mineral-richest and most exploited of African nations - ‘do a Sahel’?

It’s a question we put to one of our recent guests - Petna Ndaliko (@petna_ndaliko_katondolo, https://www.alkebu.org/), a Pan-Africanist educator and co-founder of Yole! Africa (a cultural centre that focuses on social innovation through art).