Iraqi journalists struggle to access official information A draft Right of Access to Information Law, approved by the Council of Ministers and referred to parliament, remains under discussion as lawmakers consider amendments to some of its provisions. The legislation aims to strengthen transparency and allow citizens, journalists, and researchers to request official data, but has not yet taken effect. Interviewed by Shafaq News, Wissam al-Mulla, a member of the Alliance for the Defense of Freedom of Expression in Iraq, described the absence of official spokespersons at many ministries as a major obstacle for journalists seeking information from government institutions and other organizations.
https://shafaq.com/en/Report/Iraqi-journalists-struggle-to-access-official-informationIsraeli finance minister unveils plan to ‘Judaize’ Negev, Galilee ahead of electionsThe plan includes establishing 20 new settlements in Galilee and another 20 in the Negev, along with dozens of farms and measures to facilitate migration to areas he described as “strategic,” with the stated goal of bringing 1 million additional Jewish residents to the two regions.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260828-israeli-finance-minister-unveils-plan-to-judaize-negev-galilee-ahead-of-elections/https://archive.ph/xWJNz US cuts off major Egyptian bank from global financial system "The US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed a rule that would revoke Banque Misr UAE’s correspondent banking access to US financial institutions. Treasury assesses that Banque Misr UAE is a critical node for the Iranian regime’s access to U.S. dollars," the Treasury said. "Operation Economic Outcast" was announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday as part of Washington's efforts to squeeze Iran amid the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-cuts-major-egyptian-bank-global-financial-systemSpanish government urges calm after Ceuta anti-migrant protesters clash with policeTensions have been high in the territory of 80,000 people since at least 60,000 people crossed into Ceuta over several days in July, triggering a Europe-wide migrant alert. Spain's leftist government says most have since left the enclave of 18.5 square kilometres (seven square miles) but thousands remain wandering the streets and sleeping on beaches.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260828-spanish-government-urges-calm-anti-migrant-protesters-clash-police-ceutahttps://archive.ph/cG8yc The Social Democratic Party of Finland Demands Worse Conditions for Immigrants Punalippu notes that although this change in tune is to some extent part of the competition for votes –mainly in competition with the the Finns Party, which is more known for its chauvinistic anti-immigration rhetoric – in the upcoming parliamentary elections, it is also a question of the necessity of the bourgeoisie to become increasingly reactionary in an attempt to take control of the crisis of the imperialist system. A crisis of which, the more open chauvinism and militarism are a tell tale sign.
https://redherald.org/2026/08/27/the-social-democratic-party-of-finland-demands-worse-conditions-for-immigrants/Activists Face ‘Terror’ Charges for ‘Vandalising Trump’s Golf Course’The seven have been charged with malicious damage over the 8 March 2025 protest, which came weeks after Trump proposed a US-led takeover of the Gaza strip, the Guardian reported. Activists broke into the US president’s Turnberry golf course and spray-painted the message “Gaza is not 4 sale” on the lawn. They also sprayed weed killer and daubed the clubhouse in red paint.
https://novaramedia.com/2026/08/28/activists-face-terror-charges-for-vandalising-trumps-golf-course/Scottish government publishes draft second independence referendum bill“While people living in the UK endure flatlining living standards and the economic damage caused by Brexit, countries all around us are enjoying a higher quality of life and have more wealth to invest in their public services — often without a fraction of the abundant resources and economic strengths that Scotland enjoys.”
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-independence-referendum-government-publishes-draft-second-independence-referendum-billChileans Reject Calls for Pardons for Dictatorship-Era CrimesThe organizations emphasized the lasting impact of human rights violations committed during that period, noting that thousands of citizens suffered extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearance, political imprisonment, and torture at the hands of state agents. Against this backdrop, human rights defenders announced that the traditional pilgrimage to the General Cemetery, scheduled for Sept. 6, will take place under the slogan: “No to Pardons!”
https://www.telesurenglish.net/chileans-reject-calls-for-pardons-for-dictatorship-era-crimes/The US waives beef tariffs for Brazil and Paraguay, but not for Argentina and UruguayThe exclusion stems from a technical point. The proclamation allocates the entire additional volume to the statistical category of “other countries or areas,” which does not include exporters holding country-specific quotas. That leaves out Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, which obtained its own 13,000-tonne allocation on January 1, as well as Canada and Mexico, covered by the free trade agreement.
https://en.mercopress.com/2026/08/28/the-us-waives-beef-tariffs-for-brazil-and-paraguay-but-not-for-argentina-and-uruguayUN body fortifies demand to free detained journalist, activistsThe UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s Opinion No. 22/2026, which was adopted in its 105th session from March 23 to April 1, 2026, concluded that the deprivation of liberty of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, church worker Marielle Domequil, and human rights worker Alexander Abinguna contravened the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, making it arbitrary. The opinion has been made public recently.
https://www.bulatlat.com/2026/08/28/un-body-fortifies-demand-to-free-detained-journalist-activists/Haiti police confront public frustration after deadly gang attack kills 47The attack on Kenscoff comes as authorities in Haiti seek to reclaim control of the capital city. The United Nations estimates that the community has suffered about a dozen gang attacks since last year. But violence had been dropping in the area. Between January and August, the nonprofit conflict monitor Armed Conflict Location and Event Data found that the crackdown had lowered violence in Kenscoff by 66 percent compared with a year ago.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/27/haiti-police-confront-public-frustration-after-deadly-gang-attack-kills-47https://archive.ph/sT3ivSAF accused of deadly market strike, fighting intensifies in Kordofan and Blue NileSudan’s war escalated on Thursday and Friday as the Western Darfur Civil Administration accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of killing and injuring dozens of civilians in a drone strike on a border market, while at least eight civilians were reported killed in North Kordofan and rival forces claimed new gains in Blue Nile state.
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/saf-accused-of-deadly-market-strike-fighting-intensifies-in-kordofan-and-blue-nile