Hailing resistance role
The secretary-general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah Movement hails resistance groups for defending the country in the face of Israel’s military attacks and threats over the past decades. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was speaking in a ceremony commemorating the martyrs of resistance. He denounced Israel as a racist and apartheid entity, saying the regime is on the decline. Nasrallah also touched upon Hezbollah’s military capabilities. He said the movement has been producing drones in Lebanon and has the ability to turn thousands of rockets into precision-guided missiles.
JCPOA revival talks
The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says the US and Europe have failed in fulfilling their obligations regarding the 2015 Iran deal. In a tweet, Ali Shamkhani said because of such inaction, the deal has already turned into an empty shell for Iran both in terms of the economic benefits and the removal of sanctions. The top security official said there will be NO negotiations beyond the deal, with a non-compliant Washington and a passive Europe. Currently, Iran and the remaining signatories are engaged in intensive talks in Vienna to revive the accord. Iran is demanding a verifiable removal of sanctions, as well as guarantees that the deal will last beyond the current US administration.
US police racism
US law enforcement is once again facing accusations of double standards. Now a video showing officers' response to a fight between a black and a white teen has rekindled fears of racial bias. The footage shows the teenagers arguing in a mall in New Jersey and police arriving to break up the brawl. Officers then tackle the black boy to the ground and handcuff him, while the white teen is seated on a couch and looks on. Social media users have reacted to the police behavior and slammed it as racially biased. The New Jersey governor has described the situation as racially disparate treatment by police. Anti-racism sentiments have remained high in the US following several high-profile cases of police brutality against Black Americans, including the murder of George Floyd in 2020.