AQEL TAQAZ looks warily at the implications of Western states’ proposed recognition of the Palestinian state

LAST year, on April 7, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was jailed for “indeterminate acts” of corruption while millions across Brazil were gearing up for the most important presidential election in a generation.
At the time of his sentencing, earlier that year, Lula was leading every poll. At the time of his jailing, Lula was leading every poll. When Lula was denied the right to stand in the election and removed from the ballot, he was leading in every poll.
Just weeks before he was removed from the political process, the UN human rights committee officially requested that Lula be allowed to stand, have access to media and have access to members of the Workers Party while he was imprisoned.

TONY BURKE revels in the publication of previously unreleased tracks by the great US folksinger

This is a remarkable set of hop hip, salsa, reggae, soul, cumbia and traditional Mexican music finds TONY BURKE

New releases from Madalitso Band, Gabriel da Rosa, and Femi Kuti

A New Awakening: Adventures In British Jazz 1966 - 1971, G3, and Buck Owens