Democracy Now! Over 2,000 Arrested in Egypt in Growing Protests Against Sisi, Trump’s “Favorite Dictator”

Demonstrations continued in Egypt Friday, with thousands taking to the streets to demand the resignation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi over accusations of corruption. Nearly 2,000 people have been arrested over the past week amid protests in Cairo and other cities. The demonstrations were triggered by social media posts by a former army contractor accusing Sisi and other officials of misusing public money. Anti-government protests are rare in Egypt as they’ve been effectively banned since Sisi came to power following the 2013 overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi and launched a widespread crackdown on dissent. Earlier this week, President Trump praised Sisi as the two leaders met during the U.N. General Assembly here in New York. Trump also recently referred to Sisi as “my favorite dictator.” For more, we’re joined by Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Democracy Now! correspondent and a reporter with the independent, Cairo-based media outlet Mada Masr.

Mada Masr »

Boris Johnson's Sister Says His Language Was 'Tasteless'

The prime minister’s sister, Rachel Johnson, said her brother was wrong to suggest the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox was to deliver Brexit. She said Johnson’s language used in the Commons on Wednesday was ‘a very tasteless way of honouring the memory of a murdered MP’

US Troops in Saudi Arabia Defend Hegemony, Not Security

Pushback with Aaron Maté

Are New Laws an Assault on Human Rights in Indonesia? | Inside Story

Extra-marital relations outlawed in Indonesia; and jail sentences for insulting the president. These are some of the controversial proposals causing an outcry in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, which are considered disastrous by rights groups.

Thousands of students vented their anger. Coming under pressure, President Joko Widodo postponed the vote on changes to the draft criminal code, but Indonesians still fear it could be passed by parliament.

They're also angry over the passing of another law that weakens Indonesia's anti-corruption organization. The protests have been dismissed by the Indonesian government. So, can the outrage stop the government's plans?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests: Greg Barton, expert on terrorism at Deakin University: Calvin Dark, former Indonesian Government Campaign Adviser; Damien Kings, conflict resolution specialist

Former French President Jacques Chirac Has Died Aged 86, His Family Says

Trump ‘Must Be Held Accountable,’ Perlosi Says

The Guardian View on Boris Johnson: Guilty but He Won’t Go

THE GUARDIAN: For adherents of a no-deal Brexit the prize of remaking Britain in a reactionary mould was worth dispensing with legislative scrutiny altogether. It took the judges to stop them – for now

he cabinet manual’s rule that the Queen “should not be drawn into party politics” has been broken by Boris Johnson. It was his decision, as prime minister, to advise the monarch to issue an order in council to prorogue parliament for five weeks. That order was declared “unlawful, void and of no effect” by all 11 justices of the highest court in the land in the most significant constitutional judgment in modern times. The government’s decision to disregard convention was taken to evade scrutiny by MPs at a moment of constitutional and political crisis. The Commons will now reconvene. A prime minister found to have acted unlawfully in this manner should not stay in office.

A prime minister with honour would tender their resignation. But Mr Johnson has no honour and no shame. The precedent such an act of defiance sets ought to be unthinkable. The sooner that Britain is rid of him the better. … » | Editorial | Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Breaking News! Trump Ukraine Row: Democrats 'To Launch Trump Impeachment Inquiry'

BBC: Democrats will open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump over claims that he sought political help from Ukraine, US media reports say.

The decision by top Democrat Nancy Pelosi follows growing demands from her party.

Mr Trump has denied impropriety but has acknowledged discussing political rival Joe Biden with the Ukrainian president. » | Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Scharia ohne Peitschenhiebe – Indonesien will sein Strafgesetz verschärfen

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Der Entwurf für ein neues Strafgesetzbuch in Indonesien zeigt, wie stark der Einfluss islamischer Moralprediger geworden ist. Es sieht harte Strafen für Abtreibungen sowie aussereheliche und gleichgeschlechtliche sexuelle Beziehungen vor. Präsident Widodo steht zwischen den Fronten.

Indonesien steht vor einer Reform seines Strafgesetzes, von der Islamisten lange nur träumen konnten. Die neue Gesetzessammlung sieht unter anderem vor, dass vorehelicher Sex, Kontakte unter Gleichgeschlechtlichen, Abtreibungen, obszöne Aktivitäten oder Aufklärung über Verhütungsmittel ausserhalb einer Arztpraxis mit Gefängnis bestraft werden können. Abtreibungen ohne «dringenden medizinischen Grund» könnten demnach bis zu vier Jahre Gefängnis zur Folge haben. Auch an anderer Stelle sind Eingriffe in die persönliche Freiheit geplant, die dem Ruf Indonesiens als relativ liberales Land widersprechen. » | Manfred Rist, Singapur | Montag, 23. September 2019

Boris Johnson: Rücktritt, jetzt!

ZEIT ONLINE: Das Urteil des Supreme Courts zeigt: Boris Johnson ist in dieser Krise der Falsche, um Großbritannien zu führen. Er hat Parlament und Queen belogen und muss gehen.

Der britische Supreme Court hat entschieden, einstimmig – und für Boris Johnson vernichtend. Die von ihm verordnete Zwangspause des britischen Unterhauses ist nicht verfassungskonform. Härter hätten die elf Richter des obersten Gerichtshofes nicht urteilen können. Boris Johnson muss die schwerste Niederlage einstecken, die ein britischer Premierminister seit dem Krieg erlebt hat. Eigentlich bleibt ihm jetzt nur eins: Er muss zurücktreten. » | Ein Kommentar von Bettina Schulz, London | Dienstag, 24. September 2019

Supreme Court Announces Prorogation Is 'Unlawful, Void and of No Effect'

The supreme court has ruled that Boris Johnson’s advice to the Queen that parliament should be prorogued for five weeks at the height of the Brexit crisis was unlawful. The judgment from 11 justices on the UK’s highest court follows an emergency three-day hearing last week that exposed fundamental legal differences over interpreting the country’s unwritten constitution. Lady Hale said 11 justices heard the appeal and the judgment is unanimous.

Donald Trump: Skrupellos bis zum Ende

ZEIT ONLINE: Der Skandalanruf des US-Präsidenten in der Ukraine zeigt: Donald Trump ist eine Gefahr, solange er im Amt ist. So darf es eigentlich nicht weitergehen. Wird es aber.

Donald Trump kann jede Hilfe gebrauchen. Auf die Politik des US-Präsidenten trifft das schon lange zu: Seine mexikanische Grenzmauer gegen Einwanderer, sein Handelskrieg gegen China, überhaupt seine außenpolitische Krawallstrategie in vielen Konflikten, die er zum Teil selbst verschlimmert oder sogar begonnen hat – all das entspringt ja mehr einem leidlich scharfen Instinkt als einer umfassenden Einsicht in komplexe Zusammenhänge. Andere müssen dann sehen, dass sie das Beste daraus machen. Unbestritten ist allerdings Trumps Talent, die Schwächen seiner Gegner oder auch des demokratischen Systems zu erkennen und für sich auszunutzen, wenn es seinen Zielen dient. » | Eine Analyse von Carsten Luther | Dienstag, 23. September 2019

Strategic Importance of Aramco and Politics of Saudi Oil

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is heading to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he says he will reveal the details of his Gulf security proposal.

Tensions are high in the region after a series of attacks. Most recently, Saudi Arabia's largest oil processing plants have been crippled by Houthi rebel attacks. Saudi Arabia and the United States say Iran is to blame, and US reinforcements are being deployed to the region.

Iran denies involvement in the attacks and has denounced the presence of more foreign troops in the region.

Saudi Arabia may take several months to get their damaged oil facilities back online, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. It contradicts promises by Saudi oil executives of a speedy recovery taking no more than ten weeks.

Aramco's CEO sought to reassure markets in a published letter in which he said the company is "stronger than ever".

Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid joins us live on set.

As

Stevie Wonder: 1976 - Songs in the Key of Life

A Crackdown on Islam Is Spreading Across China

THE NEW YORK TIMES: YINCHUAN, China — In China’s northwest, the government is stripping the most overt expressions of the Islamic faith from a picturesque valley where most residents are devout Muslims. The authorities have destroyed domes and minarets on mosques, including one in a small village near Linxia, a city known as “Little Mecca.”

Similar demolitions have been carried out in Inner Mongolia, Henan and Ningxia, the homeland of China’s largest Muslim ethnic minority, the Hui. In the southern province of Yunnan, three mosques were closed. From Beijing to Ningxia, officials have banned the public use of Arabic script.

This campaign represents the newest front in the Chinese Communist Party’s sweeping rollback of individual religious freedoms, after decades of relative openness that allowed more moderate forms of Islam to blossom. The harsh crackdown on Muslims that began with the Uighurs in Xinjiang is spreading to more regions and more groups. » | Steven Lee Myers | Saturday, September 21, 2019

Trump Admin Threatens to Defund Colleges for Portraying Islam in Positive Light

Donald Trump swears that he doesn’t discriminate against anyone, but the actions of his administration say otherwise. The Department of Education, headed by Betsy DeVos, has warned Duke and UNC that they will cut funding for the colleges if they don’t stop portraying Islam in a positive way. This is a disgusting move by this administration, but sadly, not all that shocking. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Can the US Guarantee Gulf Security? | Inside Story

Washington has blamed Tehran for the attack on Saudi oil facilities and says it's now building a coalition against Iran.

The Gulf region is on the edge. Who's responsible for last week's attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, has led to accusations from different sides. The US and Saudi Arabia say Iran is behind the Aramco strikes. But the Houthis in Yemen say they are responsible and have warned of more to come.

The US Secretary of State visited allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE to talk to their leaders. Mike Pompeo said Washington was seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but blamed Iran for seeking an 'all-out war.'

Iran's foreign minister says the U.S. is preparing to use the Aramco incident as an excuse to attack his country, and that Tehran's ready to defend itself. So, will tension escalate even further? Or would diplomacy defuse it?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver; Mohammad Marandi, Professor of American Studies at the University of Tehran; Adolfo Franco, Republican strategist and former adviser to Senator John McCain

Verlierer Netanjahu

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Nach dem Patt der jüngsten Knessetwahl sind Israels Parteichefs auf der Suche nach Koalitionspartnern. Sind damit die Tage von Benjamin Netanjahu als Ministerpräsident gezählt?

Ein Jahrzehnt hatte sich die Parteienlandschaft Israels von der säkularen Mitte weg nach rechts ins religiöse Lager verschoben. In der Zeit regierte als Ministerpräsident Benjamin Netanjahu, der mit seiner Demagogie und Verachtung für das Recht das politische Klima in Israel zunehmend vergiftet hat.

Diesen Trend scheint die jüngste Parlamentswahl gebrochen zu haben. Denn sie stärkte erstmals wieder das säkulare Lager. Zudem könnte sie das Ende der politischen Karriere Netanjahus eingeläutet haben. So verlor keine Partei gegenüber der Wahl im April stärker als sein Likud, und er wird sich nun Anklagen wegen Korruption stellen müssen. Niemand sollte Netanjahu aber vorzeitig abschreiben. Denn in Israel vermag es niemand mit dem Taktiker der Macht aufzunehmen. Derzeit ist eine Konstellation, mit der er noch einmal in das rettende Amt des Ministerpräsidenten einziehen könnte, von dem er bei einer Anklage nicht gleich zurücktreten müsste, aber nicht in Sicht. » | Ein Kommentar von Rainer Hermann | Freitag, 20. September 2019

Ben Ali, l’ex-autocrate tunisien renversé par le « printemps arabe », est mort

LE MONDE: L’ex-autocrate, à la tête de son pays de 1987 à 2011, est mort, jeudi, à l’âge de 83 ans en Arabie saoudite, où il vivait en exil depuis la révolution de 2011.

Le président déchu de Tunisie, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, est mort, jeudi 19 septembre, à l’âge de 83 ans en Arabie saoudite, où il vivait en exil depuis la révolution de 2011, a indiqué à l’Agence France-Presse le ministère tunisien des affaires étrangères. « Nous avons eu la confirmation de sa mort il y a trente minutes », a ajouté le ministère, sans plus de détails.

Après plus de deux décennies d’un pouvoir répressif, Ben Ali avait été renversé début 2011 par un mouvement populaire, point de départ d’une vague de révoltes dans la région connue sous le nom de « printemps arabe ». » | Par Florence Beaugé | jeudi 19 septembre 2019

Has Bibi Lost It? Israel Vote Fails to Deliver Majority for Netanyahu

Could it really be the end for Israel's longest-serving prime minister? Benjamin Netanyahu's gamble of a second snap election to try and rule without hard right rival Avigdor Liberman backfiring. Now the Likud leader could be facing corruption charges. François Picard's panel draws possible scenarios.