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The Shift: 25 years after 9/11, our country is still dominated by the “War on Terror”

President George W. Bush addresses the nation from the White House following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Photo by Greg Mathieson/Mai/Getty Images

This story originally appeared in Mondoweiss on Sep. 11, 2026. It is shared here with permission.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The United States has experienced much political and social upheaval since then, but the subsequent “War on Terror” paved the way for our current moment, and there are booming echoes of the era all around us.

Once again, the United States is waging a disastrous war in the Middle East with no discernible end in sight. Islamophobic rallies targeting NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani conjure up memories of the “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy. The government designates activist and advocacy organizations as terrorists. The Guantánamo Bay detention camp remains open. In fact, a legal immigrant was just sent there.

CBS reveals that the Taliban seized roughly $7 billion worth of American-purchased military hardware after the United States officially lost that war 5 years ago.

“Taliban fighters patrol in armored vehicles once supplied to Afghan forces, wearing American tactical gear and carrying American weapons,” reads the report. “CBS News saw one Humvee in the Afghan capital still adorned with a faded Green Bay Packers decal — a remnant from its past operators.”

The small number of Americans who opposed that war were either dismissed or attacked. So too were those who warned that the Bush administration’s overreach would result in disaster.

“The civil libertarians were mostly ignored, and as one new threat followed another — Iraq, ISIS, ‘lone wolves’ — the president’s reach continued to grow. Across the Bush and Obama administrations, the commander in chief was given, or simply took, new powers to prosecute, shut down and seize the assets of alleged terrorist groups and their supporters,” writes Radley Balko in the New York Times. “With the arrival of armed drones, the president assumed the right to remotely assassinate anyone, anywhere outside U.S. borders, at any time, including American citizens.”

“If the ratcheting diminishment of our liberties came slowly and sometimes without much outcry under Presidents Bush, Obama and Joe Biden, the consequences of all those years of expanded presidential power are plainly visible now,” he continues. “Mr. Trump is using every authority we have given the president since Sept. 11, 2001, and some we haven’t, in ways the civil libertarians had tried to warn us about at the start.”

One of the major differences between the current war on Iran and Bush’s war on Iraq is that a sizable chunk of the population fell for the administration’s lies back then. The polling shows that’s not the case this time around, and, despite information from the region being consistently repressed, there seems to be a growing understanding that the United States military is losing quite badly.

They say Americans don’t vote based on foreign policy, but that isn’t exactly true. Many people voted for Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primary because he opposed the Iraq War. People voted for Trump because he claimed he wouldn’t launch any new wars. It’s quite obvious that Kamala Harris’s connection to Israel’s genocide hurt her at the polls.

Whether or not this typically translates into policy shifts is a separate debate.

Obama’s election effectively killed the domestic antiwar movement, and he launched the largest assassination campaign in world history. Trump’s rhetoric predictably turned out to be nonsense. The Democratic Party’s establishment certainly didn’t rethink its Israel policy as a result of the Harris loss.

This is all to say that the war in Iran, which the administration now says might last through 2029, could help propel the Democrats back into power during the midterms, but will that actually result in a foreign policy reset?

In recent weeks, Democratic leaders and presidential hopefuls have directed their anger toward Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, hoping to quash the party’s left flank before the 2028 nomination process. For them, it’s an existential battle that transcends the question of which party may or may not control Congress at any given time and there’s no broader discussion about reversing our current course beyond removing Trump from office.

Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, was recently attacked for an old 9/11 tweet in which he expressed sympathy for those who died on that day and those who were killed in the wars after.

“Today, I mourn the 3K lives, 6K injuries, & infrastructural devastation in NYC, perpetrated ignorantly in the name of my faith,” it read. “Tomorrow, I’ll mourn ~1M lives, millions of injuries, & infrastructural devastation in 3 countries, perpetrated ignorantly in the name of my country.”

According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, an additional 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, which brings the overall death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.

25 years after 9/11, the American Empire is undoubtedly in decline, but its demise seemingly remains far off, and we’ve yet to collectively reckon with its ongoing crimes.

  •  

La Compagnia della Buona Morte

 

 

Roberto Pecchioli
La Compagnia della Buona Morte era una confraternita il cui scopo era garantire a tutti
una degna sepoltura ed assistere spiritualmente e materialmente i morenti. I membri
indossavano sai e cappucci per sottolineare che la morte azzera le differenze tra nobili e
umili, ricchi e poveri. Erano tempi in cui si pensava che la vita appartenesse a Dio e che nel
trapasso di dovesse esprimere il destino trascendente della creatura umana. Brutti tempi:
superstizione , false credenze, illusioni alimentate dalla religione alleata con il potere. Oggi
è molto meglio: la Compagnia della Buona Morte resiste in forme diverse. Si chiama
eutanasia, disprezzo e indifferenza per la vita. Ai suoi massimi banditori come Emma
Bonino sono riconosciuti funerali di Stato. Solidarietà necrofila: aborto non come
possibilità in casi specifici, ma diritto universale; morte di Stato; infanticidio in via di
sdoganamento in alcune legislazioni; tendenza a giustificare l’omicidio dei figli, se
commesso da madri in crisi. Il processo a Lindsay Clancy, l’americana che ha ammazzato i
suoi tre bambini, si è concluso senza un verdetto.
La sepoltura cade in disuso: l’homo sapiens odia talmente se stesso da distruggere il corpo
defunto. Chi opta per disperdere le ceneri, chi preferisce diventare compostaggio, chi
conserva i resti in un’urna sul comò. La morte viene nascosta nel gelido scenario di
ospedali, amministrata igienicamente in camice bianco da personale specializzato,
somministrata come liberazione da vite “non degne di essere vissute “. La pratica
dell’eutanasia – buona morte, dal greco- è vista come atto supremo di civilizzazione
dell’animale sapiente che annulla se stesso. Il consenso è ampiamente maggioritario, come
sull’aborto e sulla disponibilità del corpo morente a diventare un magazzino di pezzi da
asportare. Nell’era del materialismo compiuto che non rispetta alcunché se può servire al
mercato misura di tutte le cose, l’essere umano vale meno del maiale, di cui non si butta via
niente.
Abolito il concetto di anima, su cui tace anche la chiesa, resta l’ingombro del corpo, il
fastidio della malattia, della vecchiaia, del declino mentale. Oplà, la soluzione è pronta,
civilissima, igienica, altruistica. La Compagnia della Buona Morte ci fa morire a richiesta,
previa compilazione di un modulo scaricabile online . Con sprezzo della realtà- grande
assente nel manicomio occidente- la corte costituzionale ha stabilito che non si può
accedere al suicidio assistito ( l’officina della neolingua è sempre attiva) se non si è
considerati dagli “esperti” convocati alla bisogna, la necro burocrazia, capaci di intendere e
volere. Come se la condizione di chi rifiuta la vita fosse uguale a quella di chi è sano e felice.
Il sistema ha avvelenato tutti i pozzi e la grande maggioranza è convinta che aborto e
eutanasia siano avanzamenti di civiltà. I temi sono troppo profondi e delicati, attengono
alle fibre più drammatiche e alle angosce più profonde per essere trattati con negazioni
assolute o applausi scroscianti. E’ proprio la semplificazione, la convinzione che l’esistenza
valga solo a determinate condizioni e addirittura si abbia il diritto a decidere anche sugli
altri – i non nati, i malati gravi, gli invalidi- a sconcertare chi ancora si interroga sui
fondamenti dell’esistenza. Nessuno stupore se avanza la sottocultura della morte
amministrata, scelta, talora perfino pretesa come atto supremo di potere su se stessi. La
Compagnia della Buona Morte ha prima cambiato il senso della vita e le priorità dei sudditi

chiamati cittadini, poi ha sferrato l’attacco. Il sistema dominante possiede le tecnologie, ha
scoperto molte leggi della natura e della fisica. Gran parte dell’umanità è un ingombro,
fastidioso bestiame dotato di cervello, parola, diritti. Non più quelli naturali alla vita e alla
dignità, ma quelli inventati dal sistema.
Dopo aver convinto che avere figli è un fastidio, una responsabilità insopportabile, un peso
per la libertà, la realizzazione individuale, il piacere e il consumo, è stato facile chiamare
diritto sopprimere chi non potrà nascere. Il feto viene smaltito come rifiuto organico
oppure utilizzato in alcune lavorazioni industriali. L’homo oeconomicus non butta via ciò
che può essere venduto all’ homo consumens. Si comincia a giustificare addirittura la
soppressione del figlio, se la madre vive il disagio post parto, molto diffuso nelle società
individualiste in cui non esiste più famiglia o comunità che condivide, allevia, accoglie il
nuovo nato. Diventati adulti, entriamo trionfanti nel girone del consumo e delle
dipendenze. Inevitabilmente, arrivano delusioni, tragedie esistenziali, malattie, sconfitte.
La terapia è il suicidio. Puoi sparire da solo – quattromila suicidi all’anno in Italia- o con la
fattiva collaborazione delle istituzioni e dei suoi agenti, il boia collettivo. Il sistema
prospetta la “buona” morte come soluzione. A una giovane canadese paraplegica è stato
proposto il suicidio come alternativa alla costosa rimozione delle barriere architettoniche.
Tutte le campagne eutanasiche sono state finanziate dal potere economico. Siamo un costo,
un fardello insostenibile: meglio convincere a togliersi definitivamente dai piedi.
Incredibile è chi ci riesca: ben scavato, vecchia talpa. Così esclamò Amleto salutando il
fantasma del padre che aveva rivelato gli inganni della corte; così ripeté Marx descrivendo
il cammino sotterraneo della rivoluzione.
La cultura del consumo, dell’attimo da cogliere a ogni costo ed esaurire nel nonsenso
quando non siamo più giovani, performanti, sani, ha per conseguenza il disprezzo della
vita. Diventati fragili o malati, meglio levare il disturbo. Disturbiamo il bilancio pubblico, il
profitto del sistema assicurativo e sanitario, sconvolgiamo la vita di chi ci circonda, quando
c’è. Dietro le luci abbaglianti del gran teatro si ammassano i detriti di una civiltà che non
vuole saperne di rinunciare allo spettacolo. Chi non può o non vuole partecipare, si
accomodi all’uscita. Nelle società benestanti abbiamo conquistato il diritto di morire; in
quelle povere la preoccupazione è la sopravvivenza. Si chiama progresso. Si aggira in
Occidente lo spettro di un benessere indolore, di una società senza sofferenza, di una vita
senza agonia. Le élite dominanti non saranno sostituite, i proprietari dei mezzi di
produzione non cambieranno, i conflitti non cesseranno, ma il nuovo capitalismo,
autodefinito inclusivo e sostenibile, fornirà i mezzi per evitare disperazione, dolore,
afflizione, a chi è stato persuaso di non valere e non essere nulla, se non massa biologica da
sostenere con sostanze chimiche per vivere senza lamentarsi e per morire senza protestare.
In qualche paese sopprimono anche i bambini: dicono che lo hanno scelto loro, all’età in
cui non si è ancora elaborato bene e male, vita e morte. Se non hai un futuro, se non sei
utile a lungo termine o il dolore è troppo grande, c’è la soluzione che tutto azzera. Se la
chimica che dà la vita non basta più, abbiamo a disposizione la chimica letale. Se nessuno
può garantire una vita dignitosa -la promessa dello Stato sociale- possiamo però avere la
morte amministrata senza rimorso a norma di legge, previo verbale delle operazioni svolte.

Malati e disabili, depressi ed emarginati, giovani senza futuro e anziani decrepiti, poveri e
disoccupati: se lo Stato non si cura di loro e il Mercato li ignora per scarso potere
d'acquisto, basterà una semplice iniezione per smettere di soffrire, piangere e lottare
quando il corpo si deteriora, la mente si affievolisce e non si è utili per lavorare,
consumare, rivendicare “diritti”. La buona morte sarà inclusiva: potremo richiederla per
esercitare il diritto a non disturbare, a non essere un peso, a non soffrire. È a disposizione
qualcosa di più sofisticato del soma, la droga euforizzante del Mondo Nuovo di Aldous
Huxley; dobbiamo approfittarne. Contribuiremo a salvare il pianeta sfoltendo l’umanità
eccedente, sgradite alle élite divenute progressiste. Avere figli è inutile, il tempo delle
rivoluzioni è passato. Senza la coscienza di essere schiavi fungibili, sopportiamo senza
reagire. Ai sopravvissuti continuerà a essere detto che le innumerevoli dipendenze fornite
dal sistema, nonostante gli effetti indesiderati, rappresentano la salvezza dal buio passato e
la promessa di libertà del futuro. Ci hanno convinti che ognuno è dio di se stesso; uccidere
per “compassione” sarà legale, un diritto inalienabile in continua evoluzione. Prima per
coloro che non hanno speranza, poi per i fragili, infine per tutti gli altri. O una vita
funzionale o la morte di Stato. Se il consumismo non permette più di sfuggire ai problemi,
se ti stanchi di usare e buttare via cose e relazioni, se le dipendenze mostrano il loro vero
volto, se nessuno ti sostiene quando il corpo cede e la mente vacilla, una semplice,
economica iniezione ti fornirà la perfetta soluzione.
Il materialismo adempirà la sua profezia: non saremo uguali nella vita, ma nella morte.
Selezione naturale. L'eugenetica, in versione democratica e umanitaria, ha spianato la
strada. Con i diritti civili di nuova generazione il darwinismo sociale raggiungerà livelli
senza precedenti: colpirà malati depressi, bambini depressi, anziani depressi. L’eutanasia è
applicata in modo discreto e rapido: nessuno ascolterà l’ultimo sospiro. Nessuno deve
soffrire, nessuno può dettare le nostre scelte, nessuno deve dirci come lasciare questo
mondo; possono toglierci i mezzi di produzione, ma non quelli di distruzione. La morte
assistita è un tuo diritto e devi esigerlo: un servizio pubblico gratuito erogato senza
indugio. Non ci saranno classi sociali nell'eutanasia. Smetteremo di essere imperfetti in un
mondo che vende la perfezione, disfunzionali in un meccanismo funzionale, sconfiggeremo
il dolore con l’ analgesico definitivo. Che bellezza morire per sfuggire la sofferenza che non
riusciamo a sopportare.
Il cinema, controllato dall’oligarchia dominante che sparge il seme dei nuovi valori,
anticipa i tempi . Nel film I figli degli uomini (2006) si parla di Quietus, la pillola per il
suicidio, commercializzata legalmente, sponsorizzata dallo Stato e pubblicizzata in TV.
Non finiremo all'inferno. Nessun Dio può giudicarci per una scelta sovrana. È la “mia” fine,
nient’altro, di un qualsiasi prodotto con data di scadenza legalmente definita o
obsolescenza programmata. Marx insegnava che l'uomo è l'essere supremo per l'uomo. Lo
hanno preso in parola seguaci e avversari. Non siamo liberi nell’esistenza, però possiamo
decidere quando fare l'iniezione letale, anzi liberatrice. Di fronte al declino della vita,
legalmente saremo eguali: chiunque, sena dolore, potrà essere trasformato in polvere. La
Compagnia della Buona Morte comanda di sparire “con dignità”. Niente cure palliative,
affetto, assistenza spirituale. Nell’obitorio progressista siamo semplici prodotti. Scarti,
falliti, sofferenti, non aspiriamo a vivere meglio dei vostri genitori, ma a morire meglio

L'articolo La Compagnia della Buona Morte proviene da Blondet & Friends.

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France Accelerates Rafale F5 Upgrade After Collapse Of FCAS Next-Gen Fighter Project

France is accelerating work on the Rafale F5 standard, bringing forward development of a major new configuration of its combat aircraft at a time when the country’s planned next-generation fighter with Germany has effectively collapsed in its original form. The contracts cover the equipment judged to have the highest technical risk, ahead of the overall development contract for the F5 standard, expected for the end of this year.

The French defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), ordered the first upstream development work for F5 from Dassault Aviation, Thales, MBDA, and Safran. The contracts cover key areas including navigation, datalinks, radar, electronic warfare, and propulsion, laying the groundwork for the next configuration of the Rafale, which is planned to enter service with the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy starting around 2033.

#Commande | Rafale F5

La DGA commande les 1ers travaux en amont du prochain lancement en réalisation du standard F5 du Rafale

Ils concernent notamment :
➡la centrale inertielle
➡le moteur
➡le radar
➡la suite d’autoprotection de l’avion
⤵ pic.twitter.com/n3uhBYqIvi

— Direction générale de l'armement 🇫🇷 (@DGA) September 9, 2026

The most extensive modernization of the Rafale yet, the F5 standard was originally part of a longer transition toward France’s next-generation combat-air capability. But with the Franco-German New Generation Fighter (NGF) effort now effectively dead in its original configuration, the accelerated F5 program is taking on a much larger strategic role.

Concept artwork of the NGF future fighter. Dassault Aviation

Rather than simply keeping the Rafale relevant until NGF arrives, France is now developing a version of the aircraft that is set to carry much of the country’s high-end combat-air capability well into the 2030s and potentially beyond.

The increasingly capable F5 could, in turn, reduce the urgency of finding a replacement for the Rafale — while potentially adding to the fighter’s export appeal. After a slow start, Dassault has recorded export sales of 299 new-build Rafales to eight nations.

The DGA’s contracts engage four of France’s principal combat-aircraft industrial players. Dassault Aviation remains responsible for the aircraft and its overall integration; Thales is involved in major sensor, electronic warfare, and communications capabilities; MBDA is responsible for much of the weapons system; and Safran is responsible for propulsion.

The Rafale assembly line at the Dassault Aviation facility in Mérignac, France. Dassault Aviation – V. Almansa ALMANSA

Previous Rafale standards have largely consisted of incremental upgrades, focusing on software and other improvements to the existing aircraft configuration. F5 is notably more extensive, addressing many of the critical systems that determine how the aircraft senses the battlespace, communicates with other platforms, conducts electronic warfare, and generates the power needed to operate increasingly demanding equipment.

The DGA has specifically identified the Thales RBE2-XG radar as one of the major technological advances associated with F5.

The RBE2-XG is expected to feature gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors. Compared with previous technology, GaN generates less heat and has the capacity to operate at higher voltages, meaning that output power can be increased, while component size can be reduced. Overall, using GaN should help to get more power out of the radar without increasing its size.

According to the DGA, “This new radar will benefit from a substantial increase in power, and consequently in detection range, as well as improvements in the identification of targets with an extremely low radar cross-section (RCS). Its computing capabilities will also be enhanced to facilitate the integration of artificial intelligence.”

The RBE2-XG will also be “designed with collaborative combat in mind, featuring sensors capable of working together without the need for pilot intervention.” It is also planned to have enhanced resilience, including against cyber threats.

France is already working on the concept of a combat drone to accompany the Rafale, with the future F5 standard providing the crewed aircraft around which those systems can operate.

A Rafale during a test mission with a Dassault nEUROn combat drone demonstrator. Dassault Aviation – A. Pecchi

The new radar will be combined with more capable electronic warfare equipment, improved communications and datalinks, expanded processing capacity, and a more capable propulsion system.

To be developed by MBDA and Thales, the forthcoming F5 version of the SPECTRA self-protection suite is intended to significantly improve detection and jamming capabilities, the DGA says, “through a fully digital approach, enabling a complete overhaul of the core electronic warfare system to counter the increasing density and broadening of the threat spectrum, as well as the growing complexity of threat waveforms, expected by 2035.”

Thales will also be responsible for the new Inter-Vehicle Data Link (IVDL) system, described as a “stealthy and resilient datalink.” The DGA says the new datalink will expand connectivity “thanks to a new high-speed, discreet, and jamming-resistant waveform. IVDL will allow the Rafale to penetrate hostile areas where jammers are widespread, while maintaining optimal quality of communication and dialogue between aircraft.”

Safran will begin preliminary design work on the M88 T-Rex engine, which is planned to increase the turbofan’s thrust from around 16,500 pounds to nearly 19,850 pounds, an increase of roughly 20 percent.

In terms of armament, the contract announcement mentions the ASN4G missile, set to be introduced to service by 2035, which will allow the Rafale F5 to continue to serve as the airborne nuclear component. The munition remains in the early stages of development, but it will be capable of hypersonic speeds — defined as speeds greater than Mach 5 — with a range in excess of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

Other likely new missiles include a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile to succeed the current Meteor. As you can read about here, France’s Comet program, apparently led by the French side of MBDA, is already looking into this requirement, with an apparent plan to introduce the weapon around 2030.

An older video from MBDA showing some of the company’s weapons integrated on earlier versions of the Rafale:

For France, the original logic behind the pan-European FCAS program was that Rafale would eventually give way to the NGF as its principal crewed combat aircraft, operating from land bases and aircraft carriers.

With the collapse of the Franco-German effort, France cannot simply wait for a next-generation fighter program whose industrial and political future is uncertain. Instead, the Rafale has to remain capable against rapidly evolving threats throughout the 2030s and beyond.

With the F5 standard, however, France is looking to incorporate some of the concepts envisaged for NGF. These include distributed architectures in which crewed fighters, uncrewed aircraft, remote carriers, missiles, and offboard sensors cooperate across a battlespace.

The nEUROn drone and a Rafale M in flight over the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, during tests to investigate the use of a UCAV in a naval context. Dassault Aviation – A. Pecchi

A highly upgraded Rafale operating as the crewed controller of uncrewed combat aircraft and remote weapons could perform some of the missions that France originally expected from NGF.

For now, F5 also sidesteps the central problem in the now-defunct Franco-German effort: whether the two countries could agree on the requirements, industrial structure, and workshare behind a new-generation combat aircraft.

Despite its advances, the F5 airframe remains derived from a design dating back to the 1980s, which first entered French service in the early 2000s. In particular, it falls well short of fifth-generation designs — let alone sixth-generation ones — in terms of low observability. This is one area where collaborative drones could potentially help compensate for the Rafale’s inherent limitations.

DA00052389_CCO_
The current standard F4 Rafale with a full weapons load. Dassault Aviation – C. Cosmao © Dassault Aviation – C. Cosmao / © Dassault Aviation – C. Cosmao

France has therefore bought itself some time with the F5 program. But it may eventually decide that it needs a future high-end crewed fighter to provide capabilities that an upgraded fourth-generation airframe cannot fully replicate, particularly in terms of survivability against advanced integrated air-defense systems, signature reduction, internal weapons carriage, and operations deep inside heavily contested airspace.

On an industrial level, F5 is also significant because it brings together the same French industrial heavyweights that would have formed the backbone of its FCAS effort. Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran, and MBDA are now well-positioned to work together on whatever comes after F5, whether that is a crewed combat aircraft, uncrewed CCA-type platforms, or a combination of both. Based on its experience with the nEUROn program, France would be well placed to develop a UCAV that can work cooperatively as well as independently, taking over the deeper-penetrating fighter mission set, and potentially skipping a sixth-generation fighter altogether.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frNsu7g7r94

Meanwhile, success with F5 — and, in particular, with the wider combat ecosystem planned around it — could put France in an even stronger position when it comes to any future European fighter project.

For the time being, Britain, Italy, and Japan are pursuing the GCAP/Tempest pathway toward a new combat aircraft. Germany and Spain remain tied to the wider FCAS architecture, even as the original Franco-German NGF arrangement has fractured. Sweden’s position is less clear, with indications that it could collaborate with either France or Germany.

France, for its part, is now investing heavily in an increasingly sophisticated Rafale architecture while maintaining its own sovereign industrial base.

In terms of acqusition, France is expected to pursue a mixed approach, buying new-build Rafales while upgrading suitable aircraft already in service to the F5 standard. The oldest jets are unlikely to receive the full F5 treatment, however.

The irony is that the failure of the NGF effort may ultimately make Rafale F5 more important — and potentially more capable — than it was ever expected to be.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

The post France Accelerates Rafale F5 Upgrade After Collapse Of FCAS Next-Gen Fighter Project appeared first on TWZ.

  •  

Haaretz Claims UAE Warned Netanyahu of Oct 7 Attack Days Before, Netanyahu Says 'False'

Israeli paper Haaretz (Lean Left bias) reported on Tuesday that just before Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel. Netanyahu has since described the report as "false."

The Report: Haaretz said bin Zayed was surprised that Netanyahu reacted calmly when he told him this, and assured him Israel was prepared for any scenario. The paper also reported speaking to "a close adviser to bin Zayed, a Palestinian who had emigrated years ago from Gaza to Abu Dhabi and maintained strong ties in the Strip." The adviser said bin Zayed "explained that, in his assessment, Sinwar was preparing for a major event" and "hoped that despite his reserved response, Netanyahu would take the message seriously and take action."

2023 Political Context: Haaretz reported speaking to a Palestinian official also trusted by Israeli intelligence who said Israel and Gaza were closer than ever to a deal during the summer of 2023 and that the only main thing to be worked out was prisoner exchanges. Haaretz framed this as happening amid "ongoing internal upheaval in Israel." Haaretz wrote, "Netanyahu repeatedly postponed [finalizing the hostage deal]. Perhaps he did so out of fear of reaching an agreement with Hamas, or perhaps out of fear of the reaction from his extremist partners in his new government."

Netanyahu's Response: Netanyahu's office told Haaretz its investigation is an "absolute lie" and that "Netanyahu didn't speak to the president of the UAE during the period in question and received no warning from him." Netanyahu said on behalf of his Likud party that the report was politically motivated and demanded that a criminal investigation be opened into Haaretz, the reporters, and his political opponent Yair Golan and his Democrats party. His office also said, "This is a sinister libel with clear political timing, as part of the left's election campaign, and there will be more such false libels."

UAE Comment: The UAE's Foreign Ministry said it "does not comment on reports or speculations published in the media regarding conversations between government leaders."

Current Political Context: Israel will hold parliamentary elections on October 27. Netanyahu's "right-wing" Likud party has held a significant lead in polls, though in recent months the "centrist" Yashar party has closed the gap, even leading in some polls. Most recently, Netanyahu has called on right-wing leaders Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to unite their parties since Smotrich's party is currently polling below the threshold of votes needed to enter parliament.

Biden Admin Misinfo?: Haaretz also claimed that immediately after the October 7 attacks, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Israel Hamas was ready to release all the hostages it had taken. Israel reportedly did not want to speak to Hamas, so al-Thani then called Biden administration Secretary of State Antony Blinken to request help in mediating a release deal. Haaretz reported that Blinken said "there's no one to talk to" and that he would "speak with Netanyahu personally" in three days. Of the reporting, Blinken wrote on X, "For the record, this is false. Complete fiction."

RELATED: USAID Report Claims Over 100 UNRWA Employees Participated in October 7 Attacks | AllSides

Past Speculation: Haaretz noted that on October 9, 2023, Israeli outlet Ynet reported that one week before the attack, Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel warned Netanyahu that "something fierce will happen from Gaza." One year ago, Haaretz reported that the Nova music festival – where, on October 7, 378 Israelis were killed and 44 were taken hostage – was originally slated to end on October 6 but was permitted to extend to October 7 by the IDF. Haaretz said at the time that the IDF had expressed concern that the festival took place too close to Gaza. Notably, in American media, five days after the October 7 attacks, Charlie Kirk (Right) appeared on the Patrick Bet-David Podcast and questioned why Israel took so long to respond to Hamas' attack. He argued that in the nine months leading up to the attack, Israel was "on the brink of civil war" and framed the attack as a "mandate" for Netanyahu's government to "try to ethnically cleanse Gaza."

RELATED: Israeli Minister Ben Gvir Says He's 'Pleased' With Worsening Conditions for Palestinian Prisoners Ahead of Elections | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: Haaretz's original report was picked up by several major mainstream US publications. NBC News (Lean Left) described it as a "political bombshell." The New York Post (Right) described it similarly in its headline, though as a "bombshell" that Netanyahu "furiously" disputed. Several major outlets also covered Netanyahu's denial and plans to sue Haaretz. In its coverage of this, The Times of Israel (Center) reported that "an Emirati source familiar with the conversation confirmed the Haaretz newspaper's report to The Times of Israel on Tuesday." Haaretz has stood by its reporting.

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.

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Anthropic Researcher Resigns, Says AI "Could Kill Us All By the End of the Decade"

An engineer at Anthropic, the company that owns the artificial intelligence (AI) model Claude, resigned and starkly warned the public about the dangers of AI.

The Details: Jacob Coxon performed pre-training research at Anthropic and OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, for the last three years. After his resignation, Coxon said that "neither company is acting responsibly" and posted a thread on X, which read, "Do not underestimate the power of this technology. These will soon be superhuman systems that can hack anything, revolutionize any field overnight, and acquire real power and resources… The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade." Another researcher at Anthropic, Evan Hubinger, responded that many researchers "really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans! I personally think it is >10% within the next decade." Hubinger continued, "I believe Anthropic is trying its best, but we do not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence and are not clearly on track to."

For Context: In July, an AI model by OpenAI allegedly hacked the AI company Hugging Face with no human direction. Anthropic and Meta also acknowledged that some of their own AI models had carried out rogue hacks. A bill called the "AI Kill Switch Act" that would give Congress the authority to turn off AI models that threaten the public was introduced to the House of Representatives after the Hugging Face hacking incident, according to CBS News (Lean Left bias).

How the Media Covered It: Fortune (Center) wrote that both Anthropic and OpenAI "seem to be struggling to find the right balance between prioritizing safety research—and public messaging about AI safety—and prioritizing model development." Fortune also noted calls to action from several AI employees, including Coxon, who asked, "If you are a lab researcher, I urge you to consider what the next few years will actually feel like. Should you put your head down because 'it's happening anyway'—or take this moment to call for different conditions?" New York Post (Lean Right) highlighted an X thread from one of Anthropic's safety experts, Samuel Marks, who wrote, "I work on safety research at Anthropic because I hope my work will reduce the chance of these extinction-level bad outcomes." CBS noted that the notion that AI has the potential to threaten humanity "is not new," and "many top executives within both OpenAI and Anthropic have stated as much in the past."

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.

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Outlets Reflect on Charlie Kirk's Death One Year Later

One year after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's death, media outlets across the political spectrum are reflecting on his impact, the future of Turning Point USA and where campus speech stands today.

For Context: Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson is accused of killing Kirk after allegedly firing a rifle from a rooftop near the Turning Point USA "Prove Me Wrong" campus event that Kirk was speaking at. Robinson pleaded not guilty of several charges in connection with the assassination, including aggravated murder, on Sept. 1.

From Conservative Commentators: Fox News (Right bias) shared interviews with Ben Shapiro (Right), Michael Knowles (Right) and Turning Point reporter Savanah Hernandez who reflected on Kirk's death and shifts in violence and "potentially antagonistic audiences" following the incident, specifically from the left. Knowles called Kirk's death the "apotheosis of a decade of leftist threats and violence against conservatives" while Shapiro said it seemed the "permission structures for violence have become commonplace in American public life."

The Meme-ification of Kirk: An opinion for The Intercept (Left) focused on the memes that've followed Kirk's death, including the AI-generated song, "We are Charlie Kirk" and insertions of his face into popular movies and video games. The writer argued, "The ridicule comes as a product of the American right's insistence that Kirk's violent death be taken seriously," and noted instances where the Trump administration attempted to crack down on these memes. They said the attempts to memorialize Kirk have "failed spectacularly" and that "One year after Kirk's killing, the conservative movement has descended into in-fighting," while Turning Point has "no heir apparent to energize young conservatives."

What's Next for Turning Point: Other outlets on the left also focused Turning Point's role leading up to the midterms. The Washington Post (Lean Left) emphasized challenges that the GOP faces with young voters and wrote that "Republicans are bracing for losses." It reported that the organization was in "good financial shape," despite undergoing challenges like finding another leader and dealing with "a proliferation of conspiracy theories about Kirk's death," including those fueled by "onetime allies including Candace Owens." Wired (Left) wrote that Turning Point is expected to spend tens of millions of ads and turnout ahead of the midterms, with a focus on New Hampshire, Arizona and Nevada.

Speech on Campus: Many outlets cited a FIRE (Center) report that showed 121 of the 261 colleges surveyed (46%) received "F" grades when it came to promoting free expression on campus. The Washington Times (Lean Right) quoted FIRE's chief researcher who said Kirk's assassination has negatively impacted speech on campus and cited responses from both liberal and conservative students who said threats of violence, like Kirk's shooting, kept them from sharing their views. Opinion writers in the Wall Street Journal (Center) called the findings "troubling." The writers argued, "If our free society is to function at all, it must never be considered OK to stop Kirk from spreading his message with the ultimate heckler's veto: a bullet." 

In an opinion for Fox News, University President Dr. Kent Ingle argued Kirk didn't take open debate away from colleges; the role of maintaining dialogue was up to higher education, and "We vacated it." Ingle wrote, "We taught a generation that disagreement is a form of injury, then acted surprised when they began treating a speaker as a threat." He highlighted speaker events hosted on his campus, Southeastern University, and urged university leaders to "Adopt a real free expression policy." Ingle concluded by saying, "[Kirk] should not have needed the tent. The room was ours. It is time we starting using it for what it was built for." 

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.

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What’s up with all these ballot questions in NC in 2026?

Voting in Rocky Mount 2018

From proposed constitutional amendments about taxes and voter ID to a range of local referendums, 2026 NC voters will face ballot questions.

What’s up with all these ballot questions in NC in 2026? is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

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Denmark: Man with ‘Arabic-sounding name’ raped mother next to her 4-year-old child

A 40-year-old man with an Arabic-sounding name is on trial this week at Glostrup District Court in Denmark on charges of rape, prolonged physical abuse, and death threats.

According to the indictment, there are two female complainants. One is the defendant’s long-term cohabitant, who says she was raped over the course of nine years, including next to her 4-year-old child while the child was in the bed. The other is a woman he is accused of picking up while working as a taxi driver, driving to a deserted location and raping her despite the victim telling him “no” and telling him repeatedly to stop.

Prosecutors from Copenhagen’s Vestegn Police say the alleged offenses took place on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and around Brøndby Strand between March 2016 and May 2025.

The prosecutors allege the woman who lived with the defendant was subjected to repeated rapes over nine years, accompanied by violence and threats. They say she was told she had to obey him, according to Islam.

The indictment describes her crying, trying to get away, being held down and repeatedly telling him, “No.” One count concerns the night of Nov. 19-20, 2025, when the alleged rape occurred in the same bed where her 4-year-old child was sleeping. It remains unclear whether the defendant is also the father of the child.

The man also faces charges of assaulting the cohabitant throughout the same period. Police say the violence included blows, kicks, hair-pulling, spitting, and throwing objects.

In some incidents, the defendant used wires and a knife to inflict harm, while in another incident, he threw an object, which resulted in the woman fracturing her wrist. Additional counts allege psychological control: she was not allowed to go out in public alone, drive a vehicle, see female friends, or hold a job. She also routinely received death threats.

Second rape allegation involves drunk taxi passenger

The second alleged rape is dated to Feb. 14, 2026, between 3:40 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Prosecutors say that when the defendant targeted her, the female victim was under the influence of alcohol and unable to resist or even know exactly where she was. The defendant allegedly drove her to a deserted area while working as a taxi driver and raped her.

The defendant has been in pre-trial custody at Vestre Fængsel. Prosecutors have asked for a permanent deportation order if he is convicted. A court-imposed name ban prevents publication of his identity.

Defense lawyer Millemaxine Isolde Cornelia Albrektsen told Presse-Fotos.dk that her client denies all of the allegations.

“In addition, I do not want to go into details. The information will come out in court,” she said.

The court trial began on Sept. 7 and a verdict is expected later this month.

The post Denmark: Man with ‘Arabic-sounding name’ raped mother next to her 4-year-old child appeared first on Remix News.

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Germany: Israeli weapons company could help with future ‘remigration and deportation offensive,’ says AfD election winner Siegmund

The lead candidate for Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, has tied a potential Israeli arms manufacturer’s arrival in Sangerhausen to the party’s planned large-scale removal of foreigners required to leave Germany.

He said the Israeli company could be used in some capacity for a “remigration and deportation offensive.”

Siegmund zu neuen Rüstungsindustrieprojekten.

😶🫥
Ich glaub, ich höre nicht richtig. pic.twitter.com/y6mItBYIdb

— 🐈‍⬛doro hoff (@liberal_dvh) September 10, 2026

Siegmund’s statement has provoked considerable outrage, including from the left-wing party BSW, a potential coalition partner.

Speaking at a Magdeburg state parliament press conference, Siegmund declined to take a firm position on whether Elbit Systems should set up operations in the town.

He then connected military production to the AfD’s broader agenda: “We do not demonize the production of armaments across the board, because we will of course also need appropriate support in the later remigration and deportation offensive.”

Linking weapons production to a “remigration and deportation offensive“ quickly went viral on social media, with Essen SPD politician Ali Kaan Sevinc writing: “Now, Ulrich Siegmund is shedding his smiling facade and showing his true face and the AfD.“

Jetzt legt Ulrich #Siegmund die lächelnde Fassade ab und zeigt sein wahres Gesicht und der #AfD – Rüstungsgüter für „#Remigration“ verwenden wollen. Was. Zur. Hölle! #SachsenAnhalt pic.twitter.com/HuNgiUhFtQ

— Ali Kaan Sevinc (@AliKaanSevinc) September 10, 2026

Former CDU General Secretary Ruprecht Polenz commented: “This is called ethnic cleansing.”

The prospect of Elbit establishing a presence has already drawn local opposition, according to Welt. The BSW party is organizing protests together with residents of Sangerhausen against the Israeli company.

Siegmund did not clarify how the arms company would participate in remigration efforts.

The BSW is the only party that said it was open to meeting with the AfD to form a government coalition and the two parties are expected to meet in the near future. Notably, the BSW is considered a party with a strong opposition to Israel and routinely features images of destruction in Gaza and of Palestinian children in its campaign posters.

The AfD itself has a more nuanced stance on Israel, with some in the party known for their strong support of the Middle Eastern nation. However, the AfD leadership has signaled strong criticism of Israel, in particular Tino Chrupalla, who has called on Germany to stop supplying weapons to Israel and stop its “one-sided support” of Israel.

BSW federal chairman Fabio de Masi responded to Siegmund’s remark on X: “This shows they don’t want to govern at all and are desperately looking for a way out through provocation.”

AfD defense spokesman Rüdiger Lucassen defended Siegmund’s comments. He noted that deportations fall primarily under the responsibility of the state government and are normally carried out by state police. Once migrants reach the airport, however, German Federal Police assume control, since airports and airspace are within federal jurisdiction.

Lucassen added that the Bundeswehr could still play a supporting role: “Of course, the German Armed Forces can be deployed as part of administrative assistance for deportation flights.”

Israel’s Elbit Systems produces drones, howitzers and rocket launchers, among other military systems, but it remains unclear which items would be produced in Sangerhausen.

Siegmund stressed that the AfD does not reject arms production in principle: “Of course, also in the interest of internal security, its own stability and national defense. We are aware of that. That doesn’t fall from the sky.”

He drew a distinction, however, regarding exports, “But there is a big difference between sending armaments into foreign wars, even at our expense. And this puts us at risk of participating in foreign conflicts.”

Siegmund said the party is following developments in Sangerhausen but added that the economic benefits of a possible arms factory should not be ignored.

“Let’s take a close look: What is being produced there, under what conditions? And does this put us at risk of participating in foreign conflicts? Then, we see this as more than critical,” he added, signaling he may not back the arms factory in the end.

He concluded that the party has not yet taken a final stance on the project because the party has not received all the information they need to make a decision.

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14-year-old Danish girl suffered ‘violent anal rape’ from man with ‘Arabic-sounding name’ on Copenhagen park bench

A 32-year-old man with an “Arabic-sounding name” is standing trial in Copenhagen City Court for charges that he subjected a 14-year-old girl to a “violent anal rape” on a park bench in February.

According to the indictment obtained by Presse-Fotos.dk, the brutal rape took place in Lersøparken along Tagensvej in Copenhagen on Feb. 23, 2026, between approximately 8:20 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Prosecutors say the man met the girl there and then used force to rape her, which also includes other sexual acts besides intercourse. Due to the nature of the case, further details from the indictment were not released by the news outlet that broke the story, Presse-Fotos.dk.

The news outlet notes that the accused man has an “Arabic-sounding name.” His first name has not been released to the public. However, the man holds Danish citizenship, which prevents him from being deported.

“The editorial office is familiar with the name of the 32-year-old, but a name ban prevents Press-photos.dk and other media from describing his identity more closely,” wrote Press-Photos.

The defendant denies the allegations and remains in custody at a Copenhagen prison pending the outcome of the trial.

Copenhagen Police press officer Troels Jensen wrote in a statement: “The other circumstances of the case appear during the main proceedings, which will continue on Sept. 28. We are not commenting on the details of the case as long as the main hearing is underway.”

Defense lawyer Christian Bjerrehuus has declined to comment on the case. Neither the lawyer nor police would say whether the accused and the girl knew each other beforehand.

A verdict is expected on Sept. 28.

The post 14-year-old Danish girl suffered ‘violent anal rape’ from man with ‘Arabic-sounding name’ on Copenhagen park bench appeared first on Remix News.

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France: Foreigners responsible for 87% of thefts, 61% of sexual violence on Paris public transport

Foreigners account for a massive share of thefts, sexual violence, and robberies on Paris public transport in 2025, according to new government data.

According to compilations from the SSMSI data files, foreigners accounted in 2025 for 87 percent of simple thefts on Île-de-France public transport, 60 percent of robberies, and 38 percent of physical assault.

In addition, foreigners account for 61 percent of sexual violence cases on Paris public transport and its surrounding regions.

National figures for foreigners committing crimes on public transport are lower but still high, approximately 76 percent of simple-theft suspects are foreigners and 71 percent of all theft suspects are foreigners.

Some groups are highly overrepresented among foreigners.

Maghrebi nationals, for instance, account for about 40 percent of theft suspects in transport nationwide, while making up roughly 2 percent of the national population, according to data analyst Marc Vanguard.

🔴 Des chiffres CHOC sur l'insécurité viennent de sortir.

👉 Dans les transports en commun, les étrangers représentent 87% des mis en cause pour vols simples en Île-de-France, et 76% sur la France entière.

Tous les chiffres dans ce fil 🧵⬇ pic.twitter.com/WK38I3FlKL

— Marc Vanguard (@marc_vanguard) September 10, 2026

INSEE’s latest estimate puts foreigners at 9.1 percent of France’s population in 2025, or around 6.3 million people. Their share is higher in Île-de-France, especially in the multicultural Seine-Saint-Denis department, but the crime for foreigners is still disproportionately high.

In total, police and gendarmerie recorded 104,880 victims of theft, violence, or payment fraud in public transport nationwide in 2025, down 2 percent from 2024 and 22 percent from 2016 — the lowest level in a decade, including the pandemic years.

🇫🇷‼ A Brazilian tourist was subjected to a vicious sexual assault on a French train on Wednesday morning, and only escaped being raped thanks to the intervention of a brave woman who filmed the assailant to scare him off.

Jhordana, 26, had been visiting her brother in Paris.… pic.twitter.com/pxOTu4fZXf

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) October 19, 2025

Theft without violence still accounts for 77 percent of those victims. Thefts and payment frauds fell but recorded physical and sexual violence rose slightly, jumping 3 percent. Drug-use and trafficking suspects in transport rose another 5 percent after the sharp Olympic-year jump in 2024.

It should be noted that among the “French” perpetrators, their potential migration background is not recorded. There are approximately 10 million people in France with a foreign background, including second-generation citizens with a migration background. As a result, a French citizen who is an ethnic Algerian, for instance, would be recorded as a French perpetrator in all crime statistics. France does not keep data on the race of crime suspects, as required by national law.

More broadly speaking, there are estimates that foreigners and French citizens with a migration background account for two out of three crimes in France.

🇫🇷🚫 This public awareness campaign in France shows a White man as the harasser on a bus.

French interior ministry stats from recent years have shown that 69% of violent crimes, including sexual assaults and harassment, on public transport in the greater Paris region were… pic.twitter.com/H3fRwEWtK2

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) July 3, 2025

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Entroncamento reforça resposta a necessidades educativas especiais

O Agrupamento de Escolas Cidade do Entroncamento inicia o ano letivo com 3.258 alunos, 41% estrangeiros, e prepara uma nova resposta às necessidades educativas especiais, que aumentaram cerca de 7%. O presidente da Câmara do Entroncamento, Nelson Cunha (Chega), disse hoje à Lusa que está a ser preparada uma prestação de serviços específica para estas crianças, considerando “urgente” reforçar a…

Source

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Na urna com o ex: Rivais históricos se unem por espaço e poder nas eleições 2026

Investigamos o que importa para os brasileiros além do que passa na campanha eleitoral. Leia mais reportagens como essa clicando aqui.

Em 22 de julho, os brasileiros presenciaram a oficialização de uma das alianças mais improváveis na corrida eleitoral deste ano. Ciro Gomes (PSDB) publicou nas redes sociais um vídeo em que agradece ao Partido Liberal (PL), sigla do ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro, pela aliança firmada em torno de sua candidatura ao governo do Ceará. Partiu do Partido Democrático Trabalhista (PDT), antiga sigla de Ciro, a ação que tornou Bolsonaro inelegível por oito anos.

Crítico ferrenho do ex-presidente, Ciro construiu trajetória recente em oposição ao bolsonarismo. Em entrevistas, chamava o ex-presidente de “corrupto”, “fascista”, “incompetente”, “imitador de Trump” e “ladrão de galinhas”. Em 2026, no entanto, mudou o tom da fala e passou a liderar uma frente que reúne candidatos de diferentes campos da política estadual, incluindo bolsonaristas que ele próprio criticava duramente.

Entre os integrantes do novo palanque de Ciro estão André Fernandes (PL) – deputado federal e uma das principais lideranças bolsonaristas, e Capitão Wagner (União Brasil), ambos antigos opositores a Ciro e seus aliados no Ceará. 

Ciro Gomes durante lançamento da candidatura 2026
Ciro Gomes e antigos adversários se unem no Ceará para disputar as eleições de 2026

A aliança rendeu críticas dentro do próprio PL. A ex-primeira dama e candidata ao Senado pelo Distrito Federal Michelle Bolsonaro (PL) se mostrou insatisfeita com a parceria por considerar Ciro “o principal responsável” pelo processo que resultou na inelegibilidade do marido, além de lembrar das ofensas de corrupção feitas não apenas ao ex-capitão do Exército, mas também a seus filhos.

Contra Elmano de Freitas (PT), que disputa a reeleição ao governo do estado, Ciro se juntou ao PL para a disputa e divulgou como mote: “É hora de união para mudar os rumos do Ceará”.

Por meio de nota, Wagner disse que a história dos recém aliados “é pública” e que “não foge dela”: “Eu e Ciro estivemos em lados opostos e tivemos embates muito duros. Em alguns momentos, o calor da disputa levou os dois a excessos. O próprio Ciro reconheceu publicamente que personalizou críticas, que foi injusto em algumas acusações e me pediu desculpa”. O candidato ao Senado resumiu a aliança da dupla como: “compreensão de que nenhum interesse pessoal, vaidade ou mágoa poderia ficar acima do Ceará”. Ciro Gomes e André Fernandes foram procurados por email e por telefone, mas não responderam à reportagem.

Para o advogado e analista político Melillo Dinis, os partidos políticos não se articulam necessariamente com base em afinidades ideológicas, mas em torno dos interesses e das vantagens de suas lideranças. “Não é uma conta de chegada. É um acordo de partida”, começou.

[Essas] movimentações políticas são reflexo do fenômeno que acaba por ser explicado pelas expectativas de resultado, antes das urnas apuradas. É um ciclo em que o rabo abana o cachorro e o comanda, sem a menor preocupação com a coerência.”
Melillo Dinis
Analista político em Brasília

A aliança política firmada entre os ex-rivais no Ceará não é evento isolado. Políticos que outrora trocaram acusações contra opositores e que, em alguns casos, chegaram a transformar a rivalidade em marca eleitoral mudaram de lugar nas trincheiras e passaram a dividir partido, chapa ou palanque com antigos inimigos. Alguns exemplos elencados pela Agência Pública chamam a atenção e confirmam como Relembrar é votar.

A candidatura à reeleição do governador Antonio Anastasia recebeu nesta segunda-feira (26/07) manifesto de apoio dos presidentes dos clubes de futebol mineiros e dirigentes das torcidas. América, Atlético e Cruzeiro se uniram, fora de campo, para abraçar a candidatura do governador Antonio Anastasia à reeleição. O encontro aconteceu no Comitê Central da coligação “Somos Minas Gerais”, em Belo Horizonte, e contou com a presença do ex-governador Aécio Neves, candidato ao Senado. Estiveram presentes também presidentes e diretores dos três clubes, Alexandre Kalli, Zezé Perrela e Marcos Salum, além de representantes de torcidas organizadas.
Kalil e Aécio já trocaram críticas duras. Agora, antigos rivais dividem a mesma chapa em Minas

De instinto “matador” a amizade eterna ao sabor mineiro

A aproximação do ex-prefeito de Belo Horizonte Alexandre Kalil (PDT) e do deputado federal Aécio Neves (PSDB) tem como antecedente uma das disputas mais incisivas da política mineira recente.

Em 2016, Kalil concorreu à prefeitura de Belo Horizonte contra João Leite (PSDB) –  candidato apoiado pelo grupo político de Aécio. À época, Kalil declarou ter tido “vontade de matar” Aécio quando o tucano se aliou a partidos contra ele, criticou duramente o deputado e, em uma das ocasiões, disse que não adiantava “quererem” que ele “lambesse o saco de Aécio”. Naquele ano, Kalil saiu vencedor.

Dez anos depois, a história é outra. Kalil se lançou candidato ao governo do estado e o PSDB passou a integrar a chapa, após articulação de Aécio. A aliança incluiu o anúncio do ex-deputado federal Carlos Mosconi (PSDB) como seu candidato a vice-governador. 

Presidente nacional do partido, Aécio chegou a ser cogitado para disputar o Senado na composição com Kalil, mas anunciou, em 4 de agosto, que não concorrerá a cargos em 2026.

Na sabatina realizada por Folha e UOL, Kalil reconheceu a mudança de relação. Disse que havia atacado Aécio em 2016 e afirmou: “Eu agredi o Aécio, mas ele nunca respondeu”. Também declarou que não guardava mágoa do tucano e classificou a aproximação como uma decisão política. 

Alexandre Kalil informou que não comentará a questão. O deputado federal Aécio Neves foi procurado por meio do email oficial de seu gabinete na Câmara dos Deputados e pela assessoria que o representa, mas não respondeu aos questionamentos. Este espaço será atualizado em caso de manifestação.

José Roberto Arruda (PSD) e Maria de Lourdes Abadia (PSD)
Rivais na eleição de 2006, Arruda e Abadia voltam a dividir o mesmo palanque no Distrito Federal

Um reencontro no planalto central

No Distrito Federal, a origem da ex-rivalidade entre José Roberto Arruda (PSD) e Maria de Lourdes Abadia (PSD) está na eleição de 2006. Abadia era governadora e disputava a reeleição, mas foi derrotada por Arruda. Os adversários permaneceram distantes politicamente por quase 20 anos até voltarem a dividir espaço neste pleito. 

A reaproximação passou pela mudança partidária de Abadia. Em março, a ex-governadora anunciou sua filiação ao PSD, partido que abriga o projeto de Arruda para voltar ao Palácio do Buriti. Abadia passou a participar das articulações do grupo de Arruda para 2026 e esteve ao lado do ex-governador em encontros partidários e na convenção que confirmou a candidatura dele ao governo. 

São duas trajetórias antes opostas que voltam a se encontrar no mesmo palanque em 2026.

Em resposta à Pública, Arruda declarou que “diferente dos tempos de hoje, onde as pessoas não são adversárias, mas sim inimigas”, ele e Abadia “nunca fizeram política assim”. “Nós mesmos já fomos aliados, muito aliados, e também já fomos adversários. No entanto, no tempo em que estávamos em caminhos diferentes, nunca deixamos de nos respeitar e isso nunca afetou a nossa relação de amizade pessoal”, disse o ex-governador do DF. Abadia não disponibiliza contato público,foi procurada por mensagem ao perfil oficial que mantém nas redes sociais Instagram, mas não respondeu aos questionamentos.

Débora Régis e Antônio Rosalvo
Após uma disputa acirrada em 2024, Débora Régis e Antônio Rosalvo agora são aliados na Bahia

Briga com tempero baiano

Em apenas dois anos, uma relação marcada por acusações de misoginia e suspeita de violência física e política evoluiu para parceria inabalável, em Lauro de Freitas (BA). Nas eleições de 2024, Débora Régis (União Brasil) derrotou por 60% a 40% o candidato Antônio Rosalvo (PT). Em 2026, eles são aliados.

Durante a campanha, os dois trocaram críticas públicas e acusações sobre a administração do município e o período foi marcado por episódios de tensão. Em maio daquele ano, Rosalvo afirmou, durante ato político, que iria “tapar a boca” de Débora ao responder a críticas feitas por ela sobre problemas da cidade. Ela o acusou de se valer do fato de ela ser mulher na política. 

Depois, ele afirmou à imprensa local que um apoiador de Débora teria sido responsável por um tiro que atingiu um de seus aliados, pediu calma e que a disputa não fosse marcada pela violência. 

Mas Rosalvo mudou de grupo político. Em 2026, deixou a base do PT, filiou-se ao PSDB e passou a integrar o campo político de ACM Neto – vice-presidente nacional do União Brasil. Agora, o ex-candidato a prefeito concorre a uma vaga de deputado estadual e recebe apoio público de Débora Régis para que integre a Assembleia Legislativa da Bahia.

Em agosto, Débora defendeu a candidatura de Rosalvo durante evento político em Lauro de Freitas: “Temos que colocar Rosalvo como deputado estadual para defender Lauro de Freitas.”

À Pública, Rosalvo explicou que “nenhum momento” afirmou que taparia a boca de Débora Régis “no sentido literal”, que o termo seria “uma figura de linguagem relacionada à disputa política e à resposta administrativa”: “Qualquer interpretação de que eu estivesse defendendo agressão, violência ou que pretendesse literalmente “tapar a boca” de uma mulher não corresponde ao que quis dizer”, pontuou. “Não pretendo apagar ou negar os embates ocorridos em 2024. Foi uma eleição extremamente disputada, com momentos de muita tensão e divergências profundas entre os grupos políticos”, concluiu em nota.

Régis foi procurada por meio do email oficial de seu gabinete, pelo telefone da prefeitura e pelo perfil oficial dela nas redes sociais, mas não respondeu.

Posse do Governador Wilson Witzel no Palácio Guanabara.
Anthony Garotinho
Witzel (à esq) desistiu da disputa pelo governo do Rio e declarou apoio ao antigo adversário, Garotinho (à dir)

Disputa pelo governo do Rio é samba para poucos

Dois ex-governadores do Rio de Janeiro estariam em embate direto nas urnas nas eleições 2026, mas os adversários agora estão no mesmo lado. Wilson Witzel (Democrata) desistiu de disputar o governo para apoiar Anthony Garotinho (Republicanos). 

Witzel havia lançado sua pré-candidatura ao Palácio Guanabara em julho. Menos de um mês depois, em 1º de agosto, retirou o nome da disputa e declarou apoio a Garotinho. A decisão foi oficializada durante a convenção estadual do Democrata.

A justificativa apresentada por Witzel foi eleitoral. Segundo ele, o objetivo era criar uma frente para levar Garotinho ao segundo turno. A aproximação ocorre entre dois políticos que já estiveram em lados opostos e tiveram trajetórias marcadas por confrontos. 

O ex-juiz usava sua trajetória na magistratura para questionar o adversário, enquanto Garotinho respondia atacando Witzel ao dizer que ele tinha “problemas de corrupção”.

Agora, ao justificar o apoio, Witzel também faz referência à trajetória jurídica de ambos e aponta que os dois tinham “uma história de injustiças” e destacou que processos que levaram Garotinho à prisão haviam sido posteriormente anulados pela Justiça.

A reportagem tentou contatar Wilson Witzel e Anthony Garotinho por email, telefone e rede social, mas não obteve retorno. Em caso de manifestação, este espaço será atualizado.

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Loulé lança 4ª Edição do Prémio de Investigação Joaquim Romero Magalhães

A Câmara Municipal de Loulé, através da Revista Al-’Ulyà do Arquivo Municipal de Loulé, está a promover a 4ª edição do Prémio de Investigação Joaquim Romero Magalhães.

O prémio bienal visa galardoar estudos de investigação sobre o património histórico e cultural do concelho de Loulé nas suas diferentes abordagens, tais como na Histórica, Arqueológica e Etnográfica.

Os candidatos deverão enviar um exemplar da obra candidata para pserra@cm-loule.pt, até 15 de maio de 2027, ano a que respeita o concurso, de acordo com o regulamento disponível em www.cm-loule.pt

O trabalho vencedor terá um prémio pecuniário de 4000 euros, para além de ter a sua primeira edição publicada pela revista Al-’Ulyà. A cerimónia de entrega do galardão acontece no dia 21 de novembro de 2027, data comemorativa do lançamento desta revista. 

O Prémio foi criado para homenagear o ilustre Professor e Historiador, autor de uma obra histórica notável, promotor e divulgador da documentação histórica do Arquivo Municipal de Loulé, que desde 2021 passou a ter o seu nome.

Joaquim Romero Magalhães nasceu em Loulé, 18 de abril de 1942, e faleceu em Coimbra, 24 de dezembro de 2018. 

Licenciou-se em História na Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra, em 1967. Obteve o grau de Doutor, em 1984, na Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, e integrou o corpo docente dessa Faculdade. Foi nomeado, em 1994, Professor Catedrático daquela Universidade. Foi Presidente do Teatro dos Estudantes da Universidade de Coimbra (1963), Presidente da Associação Académica de Coimbra (1964) e Presidente do Conselho Diretivo da Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra (1985-1989 e 1991-1993).

Foi Professor convidado da École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, de Paris (1989 e 1999), da Universidade de São Paulo (1991 e 1997) e da Yale University (2003).

Desempenhou as funções de Comissário-Geral da Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses (1999-2002), e dirigiu a revista Oceanos (1999-2001).

Foi membro da Comissão Consultiva das Comemorações do Centenário da República (2009-2011).

Dirigiu a revista “Anais do Município de Faro”, de 2012 a 2018.

A 12 dezembro de 2018 recebeu o título de Doutor Honoris Causa da Universidade do Algarve.

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Como Mário Frias chegou ao centro da máquina de propaganda da família Bolsonaro

Duas armas de cano longo e cinco pistolas de fabricantes variados, inclusive internacionais, como Glock, Sig Sauer e FXR. Esse pequeno arsenal foi apreendido pela Polícia Federal (PF) nesta quinta-feira, 10 de setembro, em nome do deputado Mário Frias (PL). Segundo a corporação, as armas não estavam no endereço registrado, o que configuraria crime de porte ilegal de armas de fogo.

Embora o arsenal irregular não tenha sido o que motivou a ida da polícia atrás de Frias — o mandado de busca e apreensão mira o que seria uma organização criminosa que usaria dinheiro de emendas parlamentares para alimentar a produtora do filme de Jair Bolsonaro, o Dark Horse —, são as armas que explicam como o deputado se aliou ao bolsonarismo e ganhou poder político.

Ex-galã da Malhação, Frias tem um currículo “artístico” antes de chegar à política: passou pela Globo, Record e RedeTV antes de ingressar no Governo Federal. A estreia na política formal aconteceu em maio de 2020, quando a também colega atriz Regina Duarte foi demitida do cargo de Secretária Especial de Cultura após uma passagem rápida e problemática, que incluiu uma entrevista que minimizou a ditadura militar brasileira.

A saída de Duarte levou Frias a assumir a Secretaria, onde pôde unir dois mundos que interessam a ele e ao bolsonarismo: armas e cultura.

Armas de cano longo e cinco pistolas apreendidas hoje durante operação da Polícia Federal
Armas de cano longo e cinco pistolas apreendidas hoje durante operação da Polícia Federal

O plano para a cultura de 2020 a 2022: dinheiro para grupos armamentistas

Em 2022, a Agência Pública revelou como Frias, ao lado do então secretário nacional de Incentivo e Fomento à Cultura, André Porciuncula, prometeram R$ 1 bilhão da Lei Rouanet para conteúdo pró-armas.

“Pela primeira vez, vamos colocar dinheiro da Rouanet em eventos de armas de fogo, vai ser super bacana isso”, disse Porciuncula. A estratégia era convocar grupos armamentistas a submeterem projetos que usassem a isenção de impostos da Rouanet para conseguirem aprovar projetos elogiosos à cultura do uso de armas no Brasil. Uma pauta, no mínimo, contraditória, visto que a Rouanet é historicamente criticada por bolsonaristas e já foi chamada de “desgraça” por Jair Bolsonaro.

“Estou à disposição, qualquer dúvida, enquanto estiver na secretaria — que eu devo sair agora esta semana para concorrer —, mas nós vamos deixar uma equipe totalmente alinhada ao secretário especial de cultura. Qualquer dúvida estamos de portas abertas, o Mario é CAC, nós adoramos atirar. Essa pauta é importantíssima, uma pauta de liberdade e eu peço senhores, usem (a Lei Rouanet) e não deixem de usar”, frisou Frias.

A promessa foi feita durante a Convenção Nacional Pró-armas, realizada pelo grupo presidido pelo hoje deputado Marcos Pollon (PL-MS) — que hoje aparece novamente ao lado de Frias, justamente no escândalo do Dark Horse. Pollon é um dos deputados suspeitos de enviar emendas para o filme de Jair. Segundo a PF, Pollon enviou R$ 1 milhão à Academia Nacional de Cultura (ANC), entidade presidida por Karina Ferreira da Gama, produtora do longa-metragem. Foi também durante a gestão de Frias na Secretaria que ele teria conhecido Karina Gama, segundo apurou a Folha de S. Paulo.

A promessa de Frias gerou ao menos um resultado. A Pública mostrou com exclusividade que, em novembro de 2025, foi lançado um livro sobre a história das armas no Brasil com recursos captados via Lei Rouanet. Todo o dinheiro para bancar o livro veio da Taurus, a maior fábrica de armas do Brasil e a maior fabricante de revólveres do mundo, que patrocinou R$ 336 mil e doou outros R$ 85 mil para o livro. A fabricante pode abater impostos a partir dessa produção.

Após a Secretaria de Cultura de Bolsonaro, Frias foi para o Congresso. Catapultado pela visibilidade que alcançou no governo de Bolsonaro e por mais de R$ 1,4 milhão da direção nacional do PL, ele se elegeu em 2022 deputado federal por São Paulo.

Mário Frias durante a Convenção Nacional Pró-Armas, realizada em 28 de março de 2022, quando ainda era secretário da Cultura do governo Jair Bolsonaro.
Mário Frias durante a Convenção Nacional Pró-Armas, realizada em 28 de março de 2022, quando ainda era secretário da Cultura do governo Jair Bolsonaro

A atuação como deputado de 2023 a 2026: produção e dinheiro para filme de Bolsonaro

É durante o mandato de deputado federal que Frias se envolve no escândalo atual: os pedidos de dinheiro para o filme autobiográfico de Jair Bolsonaro e o envio de emendas parlamentares — isto é, dinheiro público — para o Instituto Conhecer Brasil, o ICB, da mesma Karina Gama, produtora do filme. Segundo a PF, foram duas emendas de Frias no valor de R$ 2 milhões. Além de Frias e Pollon, os negócios de Karina teriam recebido também emendas de Bia Kicis, no valor de R$ 150 mil.

A investigação também aponta um círculo de favores: o dinheiro das emendas sai dos cofres públicos, por meio de Frias, para o ICB de Karina; do outro lado, pessoas ligadas a outras empresas de Karina doam para a campanha de Frias em 2022.

A Pública mostrou como Karina tem acesso a gabinetes de ministérios e prefeituras e comanda empreendimentos que prometem uma revolução no empreendedorismo cristão. Dentre os principais apoiadores, está o prefeito de São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), que abriu portas para Karina em ao menos três ocasiões, para os muitos negócios da empresária — o ICB, a ANC e o grupo lobista GT Cristão. O ICB tem um contrato de R$ 108 milhões com a Prefeitura de Nunes para a instalação de wi-fi na periferia de São Paulo.

Frias também é próximo do marido de Karine, Wemerson Marinho dos Santos. Os dois participaram de reuniões com Frias enquanto ele era secretário da Cultura de Bolsonaro. 

Além do envolvimento financeiro, Frias é o principal idealizador do filme sobre Jair. O embrião já estava na sua gestão na Secretaria de Cultura quando apoiou a criação de heróis nacionais alinhados à pauta bolsonarista para disputar os corações dos jovens — uma ideia que dialoga com o ex-mentor dos Bolsonaro, o falecido Olavo de Carvalho. “Se a gente acredita em armas, a gente precisa criar os heróis. A gente precisa entender que as narrativas, principalmente pra população mais jovem, não são a partir de estatística, coronel, não são a partir de números que a gente vai convencer essa garotada de que nós queremos um Brasil melhor, e sim a partir da cultura”, disse à época.

Como a Pública mostrou com exclusividade, o argumento inicial do filme — e um dos principais — era atacar a imprensa e associá-la a uma suposta conspiração para matar Jair Bolsonaro durante a campanha eleitoral de 2018. O texto criava a figura de uma jornalista com passado comunista, Iara, que representaria o antagonismo da imprensa contra Jair, e que se envolvia numa teoria da conspiração com Adélio Bispo, autor das facadas contra o ex-presidente em 2018.

A Pública também mostrou que Frias se ausentou da Câmara dos Deputados, dizendo que faria uma viagem em missão oficial para “participar de debates sobre implantação de escolas cívico-militares”. No mesmo período, foram realizadas gravações do filme.

Mario Frias (ao centro) no set de Dark Horse
Mario Frias (ao centro) no set de Dark Horse

Os escândalos de 2026: o envolvimento não explicado dos filhos de Jair

Todo o escândalo envolvendo o Dark Horse envolve não apenas Frias, mas também ambos os filhos de Jair Bolsonaro.

Flávio, candidato à presidência, apareceu em áudio, revelado pelo Intercept, pedindo R$ 134 milhões a Daniel Vorcaro, ex-dono do Banco Master, para bancar a produção do filme. “Irmão, estou e estarei contigo sempre, não tem meia conversa entre a gente”, disse em mensagem. Inicialmente, ele negou o envolvimento, dizendo “É mentira”. Depois, admitiu, negando qualquer ilegalidade. A apuração mostrou que Vorcaro teria pago R$ 61 milhões entre fevereiro e maio de 2025. Depois, a revista piauí mostrou que os pagamentos foram ainda maiores, com mais R$ 8,2 milhões, e aconteceram após o período que Flávio havia admitido.

Áudio obtido pelo Intercept mostrou Frias agradecendo a Vorcaro pelo apoio ao filme Dark Horse.

Já a ligação com Eduardo aparece em um rascunho de contrato com uma empresa com braços na Hungria e na Holanda, a Freeway Cam B.V., que moveria fundos para o filme, como revelou a Pública. Ele e Karina procuraram a empresa, e Eduardo assumiu o compromisso de financiar a produção mesmo com o risco do filme não sair.

Ele também aparece no escândalo através do fundo Havengate, sediado nos EUA, onde o ex-deputado vive com muitas mordomias. O advogado de imigração Paulo Calixto, próximo de Eduardo, é quem administra o fundo. Ele teria recebido cerca de R$ 69 milhões através do doleiro Antonio Carlos Freixo Júnior, o “Mineiro”, também para o filme de Jair.

Mário Frias no ato de 7 de Setembro na Avenida Paulista, convocado e liderado por Flávio Bolsonaro.
Mário Frias no ato de 7 de Setembro na Avenida Paulista, convocado e liderado por Flávio Bolsonaro

A operação de hoje: as acusações contra Frias

A operação desta quinta, 10 de setembro, leva o nome de Make Up, expressão do inglês que remete a algo fabricado e também faz alusão à Go Up, empresa que produz o filme de Jair. Autorizada pelo ministro Flávio Dino — que é relator das investigações envolvendo o desvio de emendas para a produção do filme no STF (Pet 16669) —, a operação acontece em São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará e Distrito Federal.

Assim como Frias, Karina também é um dos alvos. São investigados os crimes de peculato, falsidade documental, lavagem de dinheiro, organização criminosa e crimes licitatórios.

A polícia, utilizando informações do Conselho de Controle de Atividades Financeiras (Coaf), aponta envios de Frias no valor de R$ 645,4 mil à Go Up em um período de menos de 60 dias, que seriam incompatíveis com o rendimento do deputado, de cerca de R$ 44 mil mensais. O deputado está impossibilitado de deixar o país por ordem de Dino, mas ainda não há ordens de prisão.

Ao todo, o relatório aponta que a produtora movimentou R$ 19 milhões entre 10 de novembro e 30 de dezembro de 2025. O período de gravação do filme Dark Horse seria praticamente o mesmo, de 20 de outubro a 7 de dezembro de 2025.

As investigações são um desdobramento da ação Compliance Zero, que investiga os desvios no Banco Master e levou à prisão de Vorcaro em 2025. No STF, o ministro André Mendonça é o relator das investigações sobre as fraudes envolvendo o banco. É esse o inquérito que gerou o relatório envolvendo o também ministro Alexandre de Moraes, divulgado na semana passada, e que deu início à crise atual envolvendo o STF. Dino, que é relator do inquérito sobre irregularidades no orçamento de emendas do Congresso, conduz investigações envolvendo a produção do filme Dark Horse por envolverem emendas parlamentares.

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UK, France and Canada Move to Block Imports From Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the United Kingdom will join France and Canada in blocking imports of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank in defense of a two-state solution to the conflict in the Gaza region.

The Details: Miliband said, "Our argument is not with the people of Israel, with whom the U.K. has unshakeable bonds; our argument is with the conduct of its government." He told members of Parliament, "The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists." NPR (Lean Left bias) noted that "measures announced today are understood to be limited but symbolically significant," with the government expected to target goods specifically originating from the Israeli settlements rather than Israeli products as a whole.

For Context: The UK made this announcement in conjunction with Canada and France, joining Ireland, Spain, Norway, and others, who have also taken steps to restrict trade on goods produced in the West Bank. The countries released a statement together that said, "Together, we are resolute: the two-state solution must be protected, and we will take action in pursuit of a just and lasting peace." Reuters (Center) reported that Israel's government "is ​financing some of the West Bank's most radical settlers, who use illegal outpost farms to displace Palestinians."

Response in the US: Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, called the move "irrational" and told BBC (Center), "I don't understand what it's supposed to achieve. If the U.K. is really interested in dealing with issues they feel like are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, and Russia?"

How the Media Covered It: Both Reuters and NPR highlighted the symbolic nature of the trade ban, as products from the West Bank represent a very small portion of Israel's exports. Both outlets mentioned the criticism from Huckabee but focused largely on statements from participating countries about the importance of peace in the region and a two-state solution that recognizes Palestine. Fox News (Right) noted that the UK's decision could "create an early point of friction" between President Donald Trump and the UK's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as Trump has strongly backed Israel. Fox also included a social media post from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, which translates to "We will not be a doormat for an antisemitic government in a country occupied by radical Islam that is trying to escape economic and social collapse by attacking Jews and the State of Israel. The British Mandate in Israel is over."

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.

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Canada's Retaliatory Tariffs Take Effect, Trump Retaliates With 50% Tariff, Targeted Import Ban

After Canadian tariffs took effect on roughly $20 billion of US goods on Tuesday, President Trump has issued an import ban on Canadian dairy products, large motorcycles, and alcoholic beverages, and a 50% tariff on additional goods.

The Details: The new tariffs will take effect on September 15, and the import bans will take effect on September 29.

Trade Context: After tensions escalated earlier this year between the two countries, in July, the Trump administration announced a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of various Canadian imports set for August 19th, arguing that the US experienced "trade discrimination" from Canada. Then in August, right before the deadline, the two countries almost reached a deal, but it ultimately fell through, prompting Canada to go ahead with its retaliatory tariffs. Most recently, President Trump has stirred controversy with Canada by signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.

RELATED: US-Canada Tensions Rise Amid Brewing 'Trade War' | AllSides

US Position: US trade ambassador Jamieson Greer said, "After weeks of good faith and intensive efforts between U.S. and Canadian negotiators, Canada walked away from a near-final trade deal that offered better treatment than any other trading partner, and instead Canada chose to embark on senseless retaliation against the United States. Today's action… is a natural consequence of Canada's continued discriminatory treatment of crucial American... President Trump will continue to leverage the tools at his disposal to defend the interests of American workers and exporters, and restore reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships."

CAN Position: Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada is "assessing" Trump's latest move and that Canada's "first priority remains on protecting and supporting Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses from these unjustified actions." He added that he is "in contact with Ambassador Greer" and that "when the United States is ready to engage in dialogue, our government will work in good faith and constructively toward establishing safer and mutually beneficial trade relations that fully respect Canadian sovereignty."

How The Media Covered It: As has been the case with previous developments in the US-Canada trade saga, outlets from the left and center more prominently noted the depth of the US-Canada trade relationship and potential consequences, though outlets across the spectrum have noted concerns. Axios (Lean Left bias) concluded in its news coverage, "The two economies are so deeply intertwined that escalating trade tensions could run into political and economic limits." Fox Business (Lean Right) concluded, "Neither government has indicated when formal trade negotiations will resume, leaving uncertainty over whether the latest restrictions represent another negotiating tactic or a longer-term shift in North American trade relations." German state broadcaster DW News (Center) included a section that said with his recent maneuvers, President Trump has "pushed Ottawa to explore a deeper relationship with the European Union."

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US Court Rules No Constitutional Right to Clean Water, Information About Water Quality

A US appellate court on Friday determined that the federal constitution doesn't guarantee a right to clean water.

The Details: In a 10-5 vote, the court concluded that there are no clearly established rights to clean drinking water and that public officials aren't required to provide accurate information about water quality under the 14th Amendment. The decision upholds a lower court's dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit from Jackson, Mississippi residents who claimed the contaminated water they were drinking violated their bodily integrity under the 14th Amendment's due process clause. 

2022 Lawsuit: In 2022, several residents of Jackson, Mississippi sued over the quality and safety of the city's drinking water, arguing that the city falsely claimed the water was safe to drink despite it having high levels of lead and other contaminants. The lawsuit said that the water supply had been "neglected for decades" and argued that "access to clean, poison-free water is a fundamental human right." 

How the Media Covered It: USA Today (Lean Left bias) quoted Judge Kurt Engelhardt, who wrote the majority opinion, saying the judges were "skeptical" that the Plaintiffs' argument "fits within the right to bodily integrity" and that there was no existing precedent to go off of. Mother Jones (Left) also quoted Engelhardt, but emphasized he was a Trump-appointed judge and framed him as a central figure behind the decision. The outlet wrote that the ruling comes as "the Trump administration moves to weaken clean-water-related protections." Reason (Center) said there might be an opportunity for the Supreme Court to review the case, however "it is difficult to see the [Court] being any more sympathetic" than the appellate court. AllSides didn't find coverage from the right.

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.

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