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Is China really failing Palestine? In this episode, we ask KJ Noh and Carl Zha to respond to critics who argue that China is not doing enough on Gaza and the Israel–Palestine conflict. Watch their in-depth answers on China’s role, U.S. power, and the global struggle for justice.

Generation Z is mobilizing in Peru on September 20 and 21, demanding changes to the Dina Boluarte regime and denouncing the pension reform. Starting at 5 p.m., youth groups, unions, and social organizations rallied in San Martín Square, La República reported this Saturday.

Police repression was swift on the first day of protests against the Peruvian government. A group of protesters was heading toward Avenida Nicolás de Piérola and Carabaya when they were surprised by tear gas bombs.

The protest responds to discontent over the reform of the AFP (Association of Pension Funds), the rise of crime, and the overcrowding of justice institutions, and seeks to channel this outrage into a massive and peaceful day.

So far, excessive police presence has been observed, sparking comments on social media. Police officers were reported to have fired tear gas canisters on Jirón de la Unión in an attempt to disperse the protesters.

Hours before the march against Dina Boluarte and Congress began, representatives of civil society organizations denounced the blocking of their phone lines on social media.

"I can't answer calls because my phone was blocked yesterday. The government may be trying to instill fear in people due to today's march," said Coraly Escobar, a leader of the PUCP Student Federation (FePuc).

Wildalr Lozano, spokesperson for the youth group "Generación Z," spoke out against the labels attributed to the protesters, stating that they are not "a group of vandals" and emphasizing that the march's sole objective is to make the government listen to the population's demands.

https://archive.ph/cxCMW

Vide link -> https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1968038715697004544/vid/avc1/1080x1920/UMi7wUouyMAcrT_z.mp4

IMO I love the decoration for that room. That Lenin Bust and Stalin's portrait are awesome

02-09-2025

Mexican cartels use Israeli - made rifles and pistols and receive training from instructors with ties to that country, according to security reports and international organizations. The presence of foreign mercenaries and high-powered weapons strengthens the military capabilities of organizations such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel .

Between 2006 and 2018, Israel Weapons Industries sold 23,772 weapons to the Mexican government for a value of €34 million. Global Exchange reported that 16,000 Galil and Tavor rifles, used by the Israel Defense Forces, were delivered to local corporations. Part of this arsenal ended up in the hands of organized crime in parts of Mexico. The study "Deadly Exchange: How European and Israeli Arms Exports Are Accelerating Violence in Mexico" states: "Beyond the use of these weapons by the police, many of them have ended up in the hands of cartels."

In 2019, the then Specialized Subprosecutor's Office for the Investigation of Organized Crime tracked operations by former Mossad agents related to the introduction and sale of weapons in Mexico . Authorities also documented the Israeli mafia 's money laundering activities and its participation in Los Zetas training camps alongside members of ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) .

A video released in June 2025 by the mayor of Uruapan , Carlos Manzo , showed seven members of the CJNG training at a clandestine camp in the Purépecha Plateau . The images show the armed men following tactical instructions and basic rules for handling weapons. The mayor himself explained that the material was found on a cell phone abandoned during a rescue operation.

This material coincided with statements by security specialist David Saucedo , who stated: "Years ago, the presence of an Israeli army explosives expert hired by a Mexican criminal group was even detected." Saucedo added that the instructors teach urban combat, ambushes, and advanced explosives handling techniques.

Mountainous areas of Guanajuato , Veracruz , and Jalisco have been identified as clandestine training sites, where foreign instructors strengthen paramilitary structures. Reports suggest that the precision of recent attacks reflects the intervention of personnel with experience in international conflicts.

Intensified operations by the Mexican armed forces have led criminal groups to incorporate drones, armored personnel carriers, and high-caliber weapons, in addition to specialized training provided by foreign mercenaries. This strategy demonstrates an escalation of confrontation that increases risks for communities in disputed regions.

The combination of Israeli weapons and international training is becoming part of a complex scenario for the cartels . Intelligence reports, international studies, and testimony from local authorities all agree that Mexican criminal organizations possess advanced military resources , including knowledge passed down by former foreign military personnel and rifles from one of the world's most renowned military industries.

US President Donald Trump has renewed his call for the United States to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, four years after American forces completed their withdrawal.

During a joint press conference alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump emphasized Bagram's critical location, stating, "We want that base back. It’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons."

Trump's comment underscores a broader strategic calculus, as the base lies near the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where nuclear testing and weapons development are believed to occur.

The push to reclaim Bagram comes as the US grapples with China’s expanding nuclear capabilities. According to the Pentagon, the People's Liberation Army increased its nuclear stockpile to 600 warheads by mid-2024, with projections indicating the arsenal could reach 1,000 by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035. These figures edge China closer to matching the deployed arsenals of the US and Russia under the New START treaty.

TEHRAN, Sep. 19 (MNA) – The UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on extending the lifting of sanctions against Iran

The United Nations Security Council has failed to adopt the draft resolution that would give continued sanctions relief for Iran as per the JCPOA

According to Al-Mayadeen’s correspondent, nine members of the UN Security Council voted against activating the snapback mechanism aimed at reinstating sanctions on Iran, while only four members supported it and two abstained.

Given the mechanism and procedures of the snapback process, the draft resolution on continuing the lifting of sanctions against Iran was not adopted.

The Chinese government urged the United States on Thursday to cease "coercion" toward Latin American countries and respect their right to decide their foreign relations , following press reports of pressure from Washington for nations in the region to reduce their ties with Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the U.S. stance "once again demonstrates that policies of pressure and coercion are not supported and are becoming increasingly less viable."

“ China and Latin America are good friends and equal partners , characterized by openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Our cooperation responds to the will of the people and the common interests of both sides ,” the Chinese diplomat said.

Lin Jian added that Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone's 'backyard' , and have the right to choose their development path and cooperation partners.

The Asian country's foreign ministry official called on the U.S. to cease coercing Latin American countries, stop interfering in their internal affairs , and contribute to their development, rather than sowing discord and issuing orders.

US media outlets such as The Economist and The New York Times recently reported that Washington will increase diplomatic, commercial, and military pressure on several Latin American and Caribbean countries in 2025 to contain what it calls China's "exploitative practices" in the region.

According to these media outlets, US pressure has had a limited effect and, in some cases, has strengthened the rapprochement of Latin American governments with Beijing.

Following the announcement of a new lethal operation in international waters, voices in the U.S. Congress are growing, demanding limits on the executive branch and warning of the risk of an escalation of the war against Venezuela.

Democratic Senator Jack Reed, representing the state of Rhode Island, publicly expressed his opposition to the recent military operation announced by President Donald Trump, in which U.S. forces attacked a vessel allegedly linked to drug trafficking in Caribbean waters. Reed questioned the legality of the operation and warned that such unilateral actions could lead to an armed conflict with Venezuela.

In a message posted on his official account on the social network X, the senator stated that “the power to declare war belongs to Congress, not the President ,” in direct reference to the military intervention that, according to Trump, resulted in the deaths of three people aboard a speedboat. “These murders are illegal and put the United States at risk of going to war with Venezuela,” he added .

Reed's statement came on Monday, September 15, hours after the US president announced in a video on the Truth Social network that the attack was part of a broader strategy against what he called "narco-terrorists." Trump offered no verifiable details about the exact location of the attack or independent evidence to support the allegations against the vessel's occupants.

Other congressional figures have echoed this critical stance. Senator Tim Kaine, along with more than twenty Democratic lawmakers, sent an official letter to President Trump demanding an explanation about the legality of the attack and demanding transparency regarding the intelligence that supported the action.

In the same vein, Republican Senator Rand Paul expressed concern about the use of lethal force without due process , warning of the legal and ethical risks of carrying out such military operations without explicit authorization from Congress.

This latest incident occurs amid growing Washington aggression against Caracas. In recent weeks, the Venezuelan government has denounced repeated U.S. military maneuvers near its territorial waters, the deployment of warships, and the overflight of combat aircraft in the region.

Venezuelan authorities describe these movements as acts of provocation and threats to their sovereignty. They also denounce the fact that the US is using the pretext of fighting drug trafficking, but in reality, it wants to promote a change of government in Venezuela.

The American Federation of Texas Teachers (AFT) strongly rejected this measure, calling it a "witch hunt."

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has launched a campaign to suspend the licenses of more than 100 public school teachers in the state, in retaliation for comments the educators made on social media following the murder of Charlie Kirk, the ultraconservative activist and commentator who died last week.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott endorsed the initiative, echoing a TEA statement that it had received approximately 180 reports of teachers allegedly posting or sharing “inappropriate content” on their online profiles following Kirk’s death.

Mike Morata, TEA commissioner, detailed that the agency opened a formal investigation into these cases .

If an individual is found to have incited “further violence ,” his or her professional license will be revoked and he or she will be prohibited from teaching in the state’s public school system.

At the same time, Morata issued a letter announcing that all Texas educators who expressed opinions about Kirk's murder will be investigated .

The American Federation of Texans Teachers (AFT), a state teachers union representing 66,000 educators and support staff, strongly rejected the measure , calling it a “witch hunt” exemplified by an authoritarian government.

Zeph Capo, president of the Texas AFT, lamented that the "purge of public officials" is beginning with teachers, urging all Texans to speak out to defend their constitutional right to speak out on matters of civic debate.

Capo denounced that what began with legislators using their platforms to attack public servants morphed into a state directive to "hunt down and fire educators for opinions shared on their personal social media accounts . "

In the United States, a country celebrated as a nation of “free speech,” this TEA directive follows a series of dismissals and sanctions affecting professors at public universities in Texas for ideological reasons.

For example, Texas State University fired a history professor for “inciting political violence ,” and Texas A&M University dismissed two members of the College of Arts following controversies over “gender ideology.”

State representatives like Briscoe Cain and Hillary Hickland used platforms like X to target teachers, demanding their firing, and Rep. Brian Harrison launched an online smear campaign against a Texas A&M professor for recognizing LGBTQ+ people .

Adam Goldstein of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warned that trying to “paint everyone with the same brush” is a key symptom of “cancel culture ,” a term coined by conservatives but now adopted by President Trump and his administration from the right.

Rubio's statement follows the sentencing of Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for leading a coup plot on January 8, 2023.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that Washington will implement new measures against Brazil next week in response to alleged "extraterritorial claims" by the South American giant's judicial system.

In an interview with Fox News, Rubio claimed that in Brazil, judges act as "activists" who "persecute" former President Jair Bolsonaro and target companies and individuals operating from the United States.

"There will be a response from the U.S.; we will make some announcements next week about the measures we will take ," he said.

Tensions between the administrations of Donald Trump and Lula da Silva have worsened in recent weeks due to U.S. interference in the South American giant's internal affairs, measures against judicial officials, and the application of harmful tariffs on Brazilian companies , following the legal proceedings against the right-wing former president, a supporter of Trump's policies.

The Donald Trump administration has already imposed sanctions against Brazil, including 50 percent tariffs on exported products, revoking visas for Supreme Court (STF) judges, and economic sanctions against Judge Alexandre de Moraes, the investigator in the Bolsonaro case.

Rubio called the sentence "unfair" and accused Moraes of leading a "witch hunt."

For his part, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva responded to US pressure with a letter published on September 14, in which he called for an "open and frank dialogue" with Trump, but defended national sovereignty and the independence of the Brazilian judicial system.

In an essay in The New York Times , Lula rejected Trump's accusations of an unfair trade relationship, highlighting that "75 percent of American exports to Brazil enter tariff-free" and that the average tariff on American products is only 2.7 percent.

Lula also denied accusations of censorship against US technology companies, clarifying that "all digital platforms are subject to the same laws" in Brazil.

He also defended the sentence against Bolsonaro, stating that it was based on procedures in accordance with the national Constitution and that the investigation revealed plans to assassinate him, the vice president, and a Supreme Court justice.

Bilateral tensions escalated following statements by Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president's son, who called for military intervention in Brazil from the U.S. , suggesting the deployment of "F-35 fighter jets and warships."

Eduardo, who left his position as federal deputy in March and moved to the United States, maintains contact with White House officials and Republican legislators to promote unilateral coercive measures against Brazil.

Lula Da Silva emphasized that Brazil is open to negotiating mutual benefits , but made it clear that “Brazil’s democracy and sovereignty are not negotiable.”

Contrary to Western media narratives, Bolsonaro's conviction did not spark massive protests or incidents . What is underway, as the Lula government anticipated, is an escalation of the diplomatic crisis with the US.