Gulf gold empire claims hundreds of African lives in mine collapses

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Mine collapse — Over 100 African workers died recently in a horrific artisanal mine collapse at the illicit Zamboye mine. The riverside Zamboye mine borders between western Central African Republic (CAR) and eastern Cameroon. Red Cross volunteer Gervais Ganagoroh, involved in the relief effort, told AP news agency that more than 100 bodies had been recovered from the mine collapse. City official Bertrand Be Yangue said the toll is expected to rise, with several people still missing or trapped beneath the rubble. He told AP: Finding them alive would be a miracle … We are saddened and heartbroken to see young…

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The Premier League season 26/27 preview

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Premier League. Arsenal: Players look sharp, squad settled after Premier League win Christos Tzolis has been the standout of Arsenal’s pre‑season, arriving from Club Brugge for £34m and immediately producing end‑product. Across six friendlies, he registered six assists and a goal, including two assists in the Community Shield win over Man City. His numbers mirror last season’s output in Belgium, where he delivered 51 goal contributions in 52 games.  Arsenal’s pre‑season results underline consistency. Wins over MK Dons, Girona and Man City, competitive outings against Betis, Dortmund and Como. Mikel Arteta’s side look settled, with the champions entering the season with…

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Real Madrid tops football brand rankings as Arsenal surges into Europe’s elite

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Real Madrid is still the biggest name in football when it comes to brand value. But this year, Arsenal has made the headlines with a huge jump up the rankings. Brand Finance’s latest Football 50 report, published on 20 August, values the world’s 50 biggest football brands at €23.9 billion in total. That’s the biggest year-on-year increase since the ranking began 15 years ago. And the money is increasingly concentrated at the top. The 10 biggest clubs account for €14.9 billion of that total — more than 60 per cent. Real Madrid breaks the €2 billion mark Real Madrid has now…

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Infantino faces his greatest test: Continental alliance hints at no-confidence vote against FIFA president

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing one of the most significant political crises since taking office in 2016. Major continental federations have begun exploring a potential no-confidence motion amid escalating disputes over a controversial investment project concerning World Cup commercial rights. According to informed sources speaking to Reuters, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) are considering a move that could ultimately lead to Infantino’s removal from office. This potential step comes as the FIFA president remains committed to running in the March 2027 elections, turning the current crisis from…

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EXCLUSIVE: Unite boss Graham’s leaked message asking deletion of evidence against husband

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In 2022, Skwawkbox first exposed the attempts of Unite general secretary Sharon Graham – before she took the top job – to have evidence gathered by workers against her husband destroyed. Union staff had recorded four months’ worth of Jack Clarke’s bullying and misogyny, and the union had transcribed the recordings for its disciplinary investigation, which turned into a whitewash. Unite responded by smearing Skwawkbox. Lawyers later – explosively – admitted the union had destroyed the evidence. But they insisted the recordings and transcripts showed no abuse by Clarke. Supposedly, they only showed him and others getting angry about the management…

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Australia’s leadership spill history might still teach the UK what not to do

In the early 2000s, Australia topped the charts for an interesting political indicator: the most leadership spills. Since that time, the Australian Labor Party has tightened down on debate and dissent, perhaps in an effort to look united after bad polling has driven various leaders out of office. History may be about to repeat itself as governments attempt to silence debate on issues affecting diverse and marginalised communities once again. But it is not only in Australia where this crackdown on dissent is being felt. With the Burnham Bounce in effect, will the UK follow suit? Do you know who the…

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Is Burnham feeling the heat on Rosebank?

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On the day the government ended its ‘public consultation’ on whether to allow drilling from a controversial new oil field, scientists sprayed fire extinguishers at the energy department, dozens of protestors rallied outside the Treasury and hundreds of famous musicians wrote to the Prime Minister. These different groups are all aligned in their message: greenlighting Rosebank is a recipe for more disruption, destruction and deaths. What’s Rosebank? Located about 80 miles from the Shetland Islands, Rosebank is the largest remaining untapped oil field in UK waters. Drilling from Rosebank was originally approved back in 2023 by the Conservative government. At that…

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‘Barclay 5’ Palestine activists will not be tried as terrorists

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Judge rules that damage caused during protest at bank branch not enough to merit terrorism sentencing Five activists who broke windows and threw red paint at a Barclays Bank branch in protest over Israel’s genocide in Gaza will not be sentenced as terrorists, a judge has ruled. Judge Robert Altham told a packed room at Preston Crown Court on Friday that the damage the activists caused with their August 2024 direct-action protest in Burnley was “significant”. However, Altham said he was “not satisfied” that the damage met the statutory measures of “serious damage” required under the terrorism act.  Visibly relieved, the…

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Breaking: Barclays 5 judge rules NO terror sentencing in blow for Mahmood

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Remarkably, and in a rare blow for justice amid the UK regime’s war on anti-genocide speech and protest, a judge at Preston Crown Court has just ruled that the ‘Barclays 5‘ will not be sentenced as terrorists. As with the ‘Filton 24’ direct action protesters, the Crown Prosecution Service was asking the judge to rule a “terrorist connection” in the case of five protesters who sprayed a Barclays Bank building, despite only criminal damage charges being brought. But the judge ruled against the CPS, rejecting the state’s — farcical but so far successful — claim that longer sentences should be applied because…

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Operating theatre staff set to strike in Greater Manchester hospitals

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Four hospitals in Greater Manchester are facing strikes from over 350 operating theatre workers next week. But the staff aren’t taking action for higher wages or better hours — they’re walking out to force their employers to pay them what they’re already owed. The same staff already took part in four rounds of industrial action during June, taking on additional strikes to push for their rights. However, their simple demands have so far gone unmet. The workers have scheduled their latest strikes for Monday 24 August, Wednesday 26 August and Friday 28 August. Clinical support staff, housekeepers and nurses at Fairfield…

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Smuggling booms in Gaza — and Palestinians aren’t the ones profiting

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An Associated Press (AP) investigation has revealed that the smuggling of goods into Gaza has skyrocketed since Israel began to restrict everything from basic necessities to wood and x-ray machines flowing into the territory. The AP investigation used Israeli court documents and interviews with truckers, traders, Palestinians, abd UN and Israeli officials to draw its conclusions. It stated that the middlemen — the traders, drivers, and often Israeli soldiers — are “accused of pocketing millions of dollars”. Note: The AP article uses the term “Hamas-led government” throughout. Within the Gaza Strip, this is currently true. However, this article uses the term ‘Palestinian government’ throughout, for…

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British Press Photographers’ Association condemns government’s lie to refugees

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The British Press Photographers’ Association (BPPA) has sharply condemned Shabana Mahmood’s Home Office for lying to refugees in its information pack for asylum seekers. Home Office pandering to racists The latest lie comes amid wider condemnation for Mahmood for implying in the pack that asylum seekers are more likely to rape or sexually harass. This has played into, and inflamed, UK white supremacist prejudices that are already a blight on this country. But the BPPA has spotted another: the Home Office is telling refugees that they cannot take photos in public places without permission. This, as the BPPA points out, is…

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UAE-funded Israeli mercenary ran surveillance operation against British activist

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An Israeli-Hungarian mercenary ran a covert surveillance operation against a British activist and think-tanker. The operation was funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One member of the surveillance team even suspected the operation was part of a lead-up to an assassination attempt. ITV News reported on 19 August that US-based mercenary Abraham Golan had organised a UAE-funded close surveillance operation against Anas Altikriti. Altikriti is a former Stop the War Coalition vice president and hostage negotiator. He is also a founder member of the Cordoba Foundation thinktank. The surveillance took place in 2016. Golan has a long history with the…

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Trump’s Rwanda scheme? First 20 US deportees have arrived in Liberia

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The first 20 deportees from the US have arrived in Liberia. The Trump administration plans to send 1,200 people in total. The plans echo the UK’s failed Rwanda deportation scheme. Associated Press reported on 20 August: The deportees arrived at the Roberts International Airport outside Monrovia. The Liberia-U.S. agreement is among the largest third-country deportations driven by the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. It comes a day after the UK’s Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake tried to re-hash the Rwanda scheme. The scheme, which was widely seen as abhorrent, was scrapped by the incoming Labour government in 2024. AP reported: The 1,200…

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Hind Rajab’s mother speaks: Israel’s ‘investigation’ ploy is not justice

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Hind Rajab’s mother Wesam Hamada has spoken out after Israel announced a closed, military investigation into the 2024 murder of her 5-year-old daughter by Israeli troops. And she says that the occupation’s ploy is not justice: View this post on Instagram A post shared by wesam hamada (@mom_hind_rajab) Hind Rajab — ICC justice is the only justice She is correct. The deliberate murder of little Hind, her six family members and two brave paramedics who tried to help cannot be whitewashed by Israel’s feeble mime of an investigation. Justice will not be served until the murderers — and all Israel’s war…

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Football fans call for Infantino’s resignation

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Pressure is mounting on FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Fan groups worldwide have launched a petition demanding his resignation and calling for broad reforms to FIFA’s management and decision-making processes. This development follows growing controversy surrounding Infantino’s plan to secure private investment for a company managing the commercial rights to FIFA tournaments, most notably the Men’s and Women’s World Cups. The proposal has faced widespread criticism across the international football community. Petition demanding Infantino’s departure Fan groups launched the petition via Change.org, arguing that the attempt to introduce private investors to manage World Cup commercial rights constitutes a dangerous overreach of the…

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Scottish government challenged over funding to Israel-linked weapons firms

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Files released to the Sunday National revealed that the Scottish Government recently handed millions in funding to weapons firms supplying Israel. The total funding, awarded last year, comes to over £5.5m. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws have exposed Scottish Enterprise, the government’s “economic development” agency. It gave more than £5,500,000 to Israel-linked arms firms in the year ending 31 March 2026, including multiple directly implicated in Gaza’s horrific genocide. The £5.5m total represented two-thirds (around 67%) of all funding given to firms in the aerospace, defence, marine, and security (ADMS) sector in that financial year. These revelations severely…

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‘Burnham’s vibe is not establishment’ according to establishment Guardian journalist

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The ground is up, the sky is down, and Andy Burnham’s vibe just isn’t “establishment”, you know? That last bit’s according to Guardian columnist Johnathan Freedland. Though, of course, that statement makes almost as much sense as either of the other two. "Burnham's vibe is not establishment." Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland says it's difficult for the Green Party to run an "anti-establishment" campaign against PM Andy Burnham. #Newsnight pic.twitter.com/MynzDRDdez — BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) August 19, 2026 Politics is about vibes – and Burnham is vibing In his recent appearance on BBC’s Newsnight, Freedland opined that: So much of politics in the 21st century is…

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Pro-Palestine groups call for Israel arms ban on anniversary of UK recognition

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UK pro-Palestine groups have called for a full ban on arms sales to Israel. The demand comes a year on from the UK’s recognition of Palestinian statehood. Palestinian Forum in Britain, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of Al-Aqsa and Muslim Association of Britain all co-signed the call. Their 19 August statement said: Nearly three years into Israel’s continuing genocide in Gaza, Palestinians still face killing, starvation and displacement, while British-funded humanitarian aid remains subject to Israeli restrictions. The Government must secure an end to Israeli attacks and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza. Adding that:…

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‘Israel’ kills Gaza’s civilian police yet again in attempt to derail ‘Peace Plan’

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On 19 August, Israel attacked Gaza’s provincial police headquarters, killing nine Palestinians, including two female officers: Lt. Samaher Misbah Abdelhadi Hamada and police chief Col. Fatina Al-Sahhar. Moreover, a 13-year-old girl, Dana Haitham al-Jamasi, was also killed: https://x.com/gazanotice/status/2090082511284048316/video/1 Claims that Israel was after Hamas “completely unfounded” The Israeli occupation alleges it was targeting ‘resistance leaders.’ Hamas says these claims are false and “completely unfounded.” In a statement, Hamas says ‘Israel’ put forward these lies to: Justify its aggression and cover up its deliberate targeting of the civilian police and defenseless civilians in Gaza. The attack followed a recent meeting between Hamas…

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