The Nigerian government has accused a Chinese company of seizing its assets overseas, including three presidential jets, over unpaid dues following the cancellation of an export-processing zone management contract in 2015. Abuja says it is not a party to the agreement, signed in 2007 by the Ogun State government and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. Nigeria says Zhongshan has misrepresented facts to courts in the UK, the United States and France, where it secured over $60 million in an arbitration award in 2019. Zhongshan reportedly built infrastructure without support from Ogun State, which, in turn, alleges the Chinese put up no more than a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free-trade zone.

Continued……News of the French court’s order to include the jets has elicited anger in Nigeria, which is undergoing its worst economic downturn in decades, with inflation hitting 34.19% and the national currency, the naira, plummeting in value. Peter Obi, a presidential candidate in the 2023 election, posted a message on X decrying the story as an ‘international embarrassment’ for Nigeria.

Do you think the Chinese company is acting within its rights?

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HOW MUSK, SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHMS PUSH FAR RIGHT

In the last few months, social-media platforms such as Meta and X have taken down or restricted hundreds of accounts for posting pro-Palestinian sentiments and criticising the Israeli military assault on Gaza. They claimed those accounts violated their restrictions on violence and hate speech. However, the same restrictions were not applied to the many accounts that spread disinformation before and during the far-right race riots that shook England and Northern Ireland recently. In fact, Elon Musk, the owner of X, not only condemned the UK government for what he termed ‘suppression of free speech,’ he also participated in the spreading of false information. On 8th August, Musk shared a fake Telegraph article claiming that the UK government was planning to send arrested rioters to detainment camps on the Falklands Islands, a British territory (colony!) off the coast of Argentina. Have you noticed how social media is pushing far-right content?

PAUL ROBESON RESISTING McCARTHYISM

On this date (August 16) in 1955, Pan-Africanist singer, actor, and activist Paul Robeson lost his court appeal to have the U.S. State Department grant him a passport. The U.S. government had denied Robeson the right to travel in 1950 because of his political beliefs.

In this clip, re-enacted by James Earl Jones, Robeson masterfully educates the House Committee on anti-American Activities. This pivotal moment occurred during the McCarthy era, when Robeson's anti-imperialist efforts had caught the attention of U.S. officials. He was held responsible for dissuading African Americans from participating in imperialist wars and was branded 'a Communist'.

Continued….. Paul Robeson was not just a talented individual, but also a powerful influencer. His charisma and ability to engage the public were feared by U.S. authorities. It's important to remember that Robeson was not just an icon in sports and film, but also a figure who left a lasting impact on the public.

He was born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, to a former slave of Igbo (Nigerian) origin and a mother of mixed ancestry. In his early life, he turned heads on the football field, won a place at Rutgers College in 1915 and was their only student of African origin at the time. He went on to play in the NFL, trained as a lawyer and later became an actor and singer. Robeson died in 1976, aged 77, after suffering a stroke.

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MARIKANA MASSACRE: STILL NO JUSTICE 12 YEARS LATER

On this day, twelve years ago, 34 South African miners were killed by police officers during a strike at a mine in the town of Marikana, located some two hours north of South Africa’s commercial capital Johannesburg.
More than 70 sustained severe injuries in the incident, which is the most lethal use of force by security forces against civilians in the country’s post-apartheid era.
The miners had been striking over low wages at a platinum mine that was owned by British conglomerate Lonmin at the time.

Twelve years later, no one has been convicted for the massacre. This has left the community and victims’ families feeling that justice has not been served. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the toxic alliance between politicians and capitalism in the ‘new’ South Africa, where people’s well-being is regularly sacrificed at the altar of profit.

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TALIBAN PARADES U.S. KIT ON EXIT DEBACLE ANNIVERSARY

If you want any more examples of how the U.S. empire is in decline, here is one more.

This video is of the T*liban, a hardline Islamist militant group in Afghanistan - celebrating three years since U.S. armed forces completely withdrew from Afghanistan by parading the weapons that they left behind.

According to a Pentagon report, the U.S. left behind $7 billion of military equipment in Afghanistan after the 2021 withdrawal.

Continued….. The 20-year war, which cost American taxpayers some $300 million a day - was definitely a bad investment, one that had a humiliating end, with the T*liban retaking control two decades after being removed from power.

Now, we are no fans of the Taliban and their hardline ideology. Still, it is worth remembering that the U.S. essentially helped put them in power after they armed, funded and supported the Mujahideen, including Osama Bin Laden, in their fight against the Soviets. The Mujahideen which evolved into the Taliban, took power in 1996, and after falling our with their former backers and fighting them for over two decades, they are now back in power and better armed than ever. Proving once again that American imperialism never solves problems but always exacerbates them.

Makes you wonder, when will another bad investment - AFRICOM - get out of Africa?

And do you think they will do us the privilege of leaving behind their extensive and expensive weaponry?

Video credit: @RTA (Radio Television of Afghanistan)

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TRAGEDY OF SUDANESE REFUGEE GIRL

This is a heartbreaking account of a Sudanese child’s last moments at a refugee camp in Eastern Chad. Content creator @bsonblast reads the words of a photographer @finbarroreilly who witnessed what happened.

Young Nimat died from dehydration and disease. Her mother, Khadija, had left the camp for a few days to earn money for her family, but when she returned, her daughter was gravely ill. Doctors tried but could not save her.

Her life is one of over 15,000 that have been lost during the 16-month war in Sudan according to conservative estimates, while some estimates have put the figure as high as 150,000 . And her family are just some of the 11-million Sudanese who’ve been forced to flee their homes. Over two million of them have fled to neighbouring countries like Chad.

Continued……Sudan is now the world’s largest displacement crisis, according to the UN. Conditions are dire, famine has been declared in Darfur and over 25 million people face acute hunger, according to the World Food Programme. UNICEF is warning thousands more children, like Nimat, may die over the coming months from malnutrition and disease/

Video credit: @bsonblast

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POLITICAL IMF HOSTAGES

A cost-of-living crisis has seen protests recently sweep Kenya and Nigeria. Many blame them on financial reforms imposed by the International Monetary Fund. Governments are pressured to make spending cutbacks to help repay outstanding IMF debt.

In this clip, political commentator Shahid Bolsen outlines the vicious cycle. He likens it to a kidnapping where a hostage (the government) is forced to read out a list of demands (reforms) demanded by the captor (IMF)

In Africa’s case, all but three countries (Botswana, Eritrea and Libya) have taken IMF loans. And according to website@developmentreimagined.com 31 nations on the continent are still trying to repay the IMF. Ghana holds the biggest outstanding debt, worth nearly $1.7bn.

So, they are big numbers, and it’s not the people that benefit. According to Mr Bolsen, the real winners are Western multinationals. Have a listen and tell us if you agree.

Video credit: @MiddleNation @shahidkbolsen

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WHY MUSK SMELLS BAD

Elon Musk likes to project himself as Iron Man - but his recent behaviour is more reminiscent of Lex Luthor.

Musk - the owner of social-media platform X, space-rocket launcher Space X and e-car maker Tesla - has spread fake news about Venezuela and fuelled racist rhetoric in the UK, not to mention reinstating controversial figures on X, and attacking athletes over their gender.

In his latest ‘Africa in 90’, African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim (@ahmed.ghoneim.official) says that Musk’s actions are troubling - interfering in global crises and promoting harmful content on social media.

Are you staying on X?

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MALCOLM X: ‘YOU’RE MORE DANGEROUS SOBER THAN DRUNK’

Revolutionary Pan-African icon Malcolm X (1925-65) understood the dangers of escapism for the liberation of African people. In this 1963 video clip, he highlighted how entertainment and drugs have distracted descendants of enslaved people in the United States. It’s much like the ‘bread and circuses’ of ancient Rome.

Many decades later, the Pan-Africanist’s remarks ring true. Media forms such as hip-hop, rooted in radical Black conciousness and the experiences of our people, have been hijacked and diluted. Much of the art form today glorifies misogyny, drug and alcohol use, and self-hate, feeding a toxic loop.

While distracted, we cannot agitate for our interests, such as the historical debt owed to Africans in the United States for slavery or the over-policing of Black communities that feeds our people into the US prison-industrial complex.

As Malcolm said, the white man worries when the African stops dancing.

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TRUMP ON NATIVES: ‘THEY DON’T LOOK INDIAN TO ME’

Former US President Donald Trump’s bigotry and racism have been on display for many decades. 

For example, in this 1993 clip, Trump, known at the time for his casino deals and romantic affairs splashed on tabloid-newspaper front pages, argued with former US Congressperson George Miller over what he viewed as Indigenous people’s ‘privilege’ to build casinos on tribal lands without being obligated to pay taxes to the US government.

‘They do not look like Indians,’ he said, using the outdated terminology for the Indigenous peoples of what is now the United States.

The tax exemption is part of the US government granting Native Americans limited autonomy and is not reparations for centuries of gen*cide and dispossession.

Continued….. Poverty, poor health outcomes and substance abuse plague Indigenous peoples who stay on reserves that were long ago designated on lands European settlers did not prefer because of poor conditions for farming, as well as other reasons.

Unfortunately, Trump does not represent a fringe viewpoint in the United States, where most people hold negative attitudes toward Indigenous peoples and tribal casinos, according to public opinion polls. This also does not bode well for other unaddressed issues, such as reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans.

For some Trump supporters, these type of views seem to be an endearing quality.

Have a watch, and please share your thoughts.

Video credit: @60Minutes / @CBSNews 

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SLEEP-BOXING MUHAMMAD ALI PRANK

Ailing professional boxer Muhammad Ali still had it in him to pull no punches when it came to entertaining guests.

One such occasion was during a 1996 interview with US broadcaster Ed Bradley (1941-2006). Ali (1942-2016) appeared to lapse into sleep over a meal, startling the journalist and another companion. Ali’s wife, Lonnie (@lonnieali on X), played along with her husband’s prank, alluding to a doctor’s recommendation that the legendary boxer not be roused from his sleep, even if he appeared to be shadow-boxing imaginary opponents.

Continued…. It seemed like a sad story from a sad wife until Ali suddenly jolted out of sleep, playfully jabbing at his delighted guests. What refreshing humour from one of the 20th century’s greatest athletes, who battled Parkinson’s Disease, which k*lled him 20 years later.

For Pan-Africans everywhere, he will be primarily be remembered for his heroically refusing induction into the U.S. armed forces during its brutal war of aggression against the people of Vietnam. He set an example for Africans in America to take a critical perspective on American imperialism overseas that often used Africans in the U.S as cannon fodder.

Video credit: @60Minutes / @CBSNews

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AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN IN UK: ‘NO DESIRE FOR BRITISH IDENTITY’

Some members of minority communities in the UK have responded to the recent race riots across the country by making a show of their Britishness - in a bid to pull the rug from under the far right’s contention that foreigners are changing the cultural landscape with all their imported customs. That’s definitely not the approach of brother @shakaraspeaks. In this clip, he explains why he will never seek a British identity - despite holding British citizenship. Instead, he will continue proudly projecting his African-Caribbean identity - whatever the bigots make of it. We couldn’t agree more.

Video credit: @kimbungamedia @shakaraspeaks

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U.S. REPUBLICAN CALLS FOR NIGER INVASION!

In May of this year, US Congressman Matt Gaetz openly called for an invasion of Niger on the floor of the US House of Representatives.

Recall that an anti-imperialist revolution has swept Niger - beginning with the coup of 27th July, 2023, which brought to power President Abdourahamane Tiani. Since then, the Nigerien government has declared the US military presence in the country illegal and ordered the expulsion of US troops. This makes Niger the first country in history to expel US Africa Command (AFRICOM) troops. Niger also expelled French troops from its territory and began to nationalise and revoke French licences in important sectors of its economy.

Continued….. But, clearly, some US politicians are not happy about this. Gaetz brands Niger “Third World thugs.” He is especially upset that the US Air Force’s most expensive construction project, Niger Air Base 201, will no longer host US military operations. The drone base, which is the biggest in Africa, cost roughly a quarter of a billion dollars to build and operate, and the US spent an additional $500 million on other military expenditures in Niger.

Despite Washington’s Niger exit, it looks like the US is now moving into another West African country now - Ivory Coast. French outlet Le Monde claims to have received information that Ivory Coast has granted the US permission to set up a base in the village of Odienné, near Mali and not far from Burkina Faso. Last month, Burkina Faso‘s president, Ibrahim Traoré, stated, “There is indeed a centre of operations in Abidjan to destabilise our country.” And this month he stated, “We are effectively tracking a cell in a neighbouring country that is run by Western intelligence services directed primarily against our country.” Could this point to a new headquarters for US operations in the region?

Video credit: C-Span

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