This week, in the Middle East, Israel and Hamas continued to conduct prisoner exchanges while Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their cease-fire. In the Indo-Pacific, U.S. President Donald Trump announced possible tariffs on Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, and the emergence of a new Chinese AI model sent shocks through the U.S. tech and financial sectors. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU discussed resuming Russian natural gas imports in exchange for a cease-fire in Ukraine, while Latvia reported another incident of damage to underwater internet cables in the Baltic Sea.

Read the full Weekly Forecast Monitory here: https://newlinesinstitute.org/forecast/week-20250131/

Marxist Arrow by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Global Hotspots: Hostages Released in Gaza; US-China Tech Competition Intensifies

Since July 31st Healthcare Workers For Palestine, the Palestinian Rights Committee, and other ceasefire coalition groups have held weekly demonstrations outside Albany Medical Center. Benno Greene visited one of these protests again and talked to three attendees about the weekly protests, the ceasefire, and organizing going forward.

Revisiting The Albany Medical Weekly Pro-Palestine

From WEWANTSOUNDS:

SOUGHT-AFTER CULT CLASSIC INSTRUMENTAL LP BY LEGENDARY EGYPTIAN MUSICIAN AMMAR EL SHEREI, FIRST RELEASED ON SOUTELPHAN IN 1976, IS REISSUED ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the reissue of Ammar El Sherei's superb instrumental album “Oriental Music” from 1976. Here, the iconic Egyptian musician and composer revisits six classic compositions by another Egyptian legend, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, in his own hypnotic way. This reissue has been newly remastered and comes in its beautiful original artwork.



Omar El Shariyi - Musika Min Al-Sharq (1976)

US President Donald J. Trump’s approach to managing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may have legs, even if Arabs and Muslims reject his call for the resettlement of Gazan Palestinians.
Egypt, Jordan, and Palestinians have rejected resettlement in no uncertain terms. So have non-Arab Muslim countries like Indonesia and Albania, who the United States reportedly approached with a request to take in Palestinians.
Palestinians say they voted with their feet with hundreds of thousands of Gazans returning this week to their ruined homes in the north of the Strip.
Even so, Egypt and Turkey, a more strident Middle Eastern state, see geopolitical and geostrategic advantage and commercial opportunity in working with the Trump administration on a plan first tabled during Mr. Trump’s first term in office that falls short of Palestinian aspirations but would serve Egyptian and Turkish interests.


Trump’s Middle East plan may have legs

مع السلامة يا مسك فايح

frieden

In Episode 263 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg deconstructs the moves by the unconstitutional Trump regime to consolidate a dictatorship over the United States—attempting to seize autocratic control over the bureaucracy, and (in a case of fascist pseudo-anti-fascism) weaponizing concern with anti-Semitism to suppress free speech while institutionalizing indifference to (and consciously enflaming) all other forms of racism. And this as Elon Musk (a private-sector oligarch given extra-legal power over government functions) tells a rally of the Nazi-adjacent Alternative für Deutschland that Germany has "too much of a focus on past guilt." It took Hitler mere weeks to establish a dictatorship after coming to power, whereas with Mussolini it took some three years. We shall soon find out how long it will take in the United States—unless the country can find there wherewithal to resist.

In Episode 263 of the CounterVortex podcast

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Is it fascism yet?

Donald Trump’s Oval Office could be Binyamin Netanyahu’s brick wall.
That is if the president uses Tuesday’s meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit Washington since Mr. Trump returned to office, to ensure a successful Israeli-Hamas negotiation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement’s second phase.


Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu could decide the Gaza ceasefire’s fate

de la Palestine au Maroc, en passant par le Koweit, le Soudan, l'Algerie, le Senegal, la Tunisie, petite escapade entre Kaboul et Bamako aussi, avec Khaled Jubran, Abdallah Al Faddalah, Tinariwen, Karim Ziad, Gnawa Diffusion, Alun Wade, Hassan Hakmoun, Mamani Keita, Aida Nosrat, ARAT KILO አራት ኪሎ, Aiwa et plus ❤

Poivre Noir, Piment Rouge SAM 1 FEV 2025

on celebre le oud, le violon, le buzuq et l'accordeon! de la Tunisie, au Liban, en passant par l'Espagne, la Palestine, l'Inde, le Maroc, et Rome en quelque sorte 😉 avec Ihsen Laribi, Eduardo Niebla, Adel Salemeh, Anouar Brahem  أنور ابراهم, Khaled Yassine, Klaus Gesing, Bjorn Meyer, Dhafer Youssef, Mohamed Mokhtari, Kollektiv Tarab, Oussama AbdelFatah, Khalil El Baba, Samah Boulmona, Farah Kaddour, Firas Andari, Federico Pascucci, Makram Aboul Hosn, Mazen Malaeb, Ali Hout et plus ❤

Poivre Noir, Piment Rouge DIM 2 FEV 2025

CiiRadio - Education Matters - The Need For A Palestine Curriculum In SA

03-02-25 Education Matters - The Need For A Palestine Curriculum In SA

In this first episode of Voices for Peace, Frank Hamm speaks with Karen, an Israeli peace activist dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding in the midst of conflict. What does peace truly mean in a divided region? How do identity, security, and forgiveness shape perspectives on coexistence?

Karen shares her personal journey, the challenges of activism, and her vision for a future beyond violence and fear. A thought-provoking conversation about hope, reconciliation, and the power of human connection.

Interview with Karen: A Peace Activist’s Perspective

Arab Digest editor William Law's guest this week is the European Council on Foreign Relations' Kelly Petillo. While the world is fixated on Trump and tariffs the refugee crisis in the Middle East gathers pace as Europe pushes to remove Syrian refugees under the assumption that now that Assad is gone Syria is safe. Meanwhile President Trump muses on relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, in other words an ethnic cleansing that Israel is eager to embrace.

Sign up NOW at ArabDigest.org for free to join the club and start receiving our daily newsletter & weekly podcasts.

Refugee crises in the Levant

Essayist and commentator Indrajit Samarajiva joins me to discuss several concepts he works with for his blog, indi.ca, including White Empire and its decline, the Axis of Resistance and the shifting terrain of warfare in the 21st century, and finally, the limits to growth and collapse.

// Episode notes: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/indrajit-samarajiva 

// Sustain + support: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness 

// Donate: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast

380 / Collapse³ / Indrajit Samarajiva

🎶 لِـيـهْ سِبْـتُـوا غَــزَّة؟ 🎶
(Why Did You Leave Gaza?)

لِـيـهْ سِبْـتُـوا غَــزَّة؟ وَيْنَ العَهْدُ الَّذِي انْكَتَبْ؟ 📝💔
وَيْنَ الشَّوَارِعُ الَّتِي صَاحَتْ وَالدُّمُوعُ الَّتِي انْسَكَبَتْ؟ 🌊😢
قَالُوا "إِنَّا مَعَـهَا"، طَلَعَ الحَكِي بَسْ غُـبَـارْ 🌬️
كَلِمَاتٌ مِثْلُ الرَّصَاصِ، بَسْ بِدُونِ أَيِّ نَارْ 🔫🔥

يَا بَحْرُ، اِسْأَلْ عَنْهُمْ وَيْنَ اخْتَفَـوْا؟ 🌊🔍
كَانُوا قَمَرًا فَوْقَ السَّمَا، بَسِّ اللَّيْلَةِ انْطَفَـوْا 🌙🕯️
قَالُوا القَضِيَّةُ تَحْيَا فِينَا لِلْأَبَدْ 🏳️✨
بَسْ لَمَّا احْتَاجَتْكُمْ، مَا لَقَتْ إِلَّا الصَّدَى وَالبَـرْدْ 🧊🎭

كَانُوا عَايِرِينْـهَا بِالصَّبْرِ، وَالْآنَ بَاعُـوهَا لِلصَّمْتْ 🤐💰
لَمَّا نَادَتْكُمْ، سَكَّرْتُمْ كُلَّ بَابٍ وَكُلَّ صَوْتْ 🚪🔇
وَيْنَ الصِّحَابُ، وَيْنَ العَرَبُ، وَيْنَ الجُيُوشْ؟ 🏴‍☠️🪖
وَلَا بَسْ شِعَارَاتٌ جَوْفَاءُ وَزَحْمَةُ مَنْشُورَاتْ؟ 📢📱

يَا بَحْرُ، اِسْأَلْ عَنْهُمْ وَيْنَ اخْتَفَـوْا؟ 🌊🔍
كَانُوا قَمَرًا فَوْقَ السَّمَا، بَسِّ اللَّيْلَةِ انْطَفَـوْا 🌙🕯️
قَالُوا القَضِيَّةُ تَحْيَا فِينَا لِلْأَبَدْ 🏳️✨
بَسْ لَمَّا احْتَاجَتْكُمْ، مَا لَقَتْ إِلَّا الصَّدَى وَالبَـرْدْ 🧊🎭

تَارِيخُكُمْ كَتَبْنَاهُ بِالحَجَرِ وَبِالحَدِيدْ 🏗️🪨
كُلُّ بَيْتٍ تَهَدَّمَ، لَكِنْ ظَلَّ فِيهِ الشَّهِيدْ 🕊️❤️
يَا عَرَبُ، غَــزَّةُ مَا نَسِيَتْ، بَسْ أَنْتُمْ مِينْ؟ 🏴❓
وُجُوهُكُمْ غَابَتْ… وَبَقِيَتْ فِلَسْطِينْ! 🇵🇸🔥

نَحْنَا نَحْمِلُهَا بِرُوحِنَا وَبِالدَّمْ 🩸💪
حَتَّى لَوِ الكَوْنُ عَلَيْنَا سَدَّ كُلَّ دَرْبْ 🌍🚧
وَغَــزَّةُ تَبْقَى حُرَّةً رَغْمَ العِدَا 🕊️⚔️
أَمَّا أَنْتُمْ… فَالصَّدَى رَاحَ مَعَ الهَـوَى! 🌬️🔚

🎸🎶 نِهَايَةُ الأُغْنِيَةِ… بَسْ مِشْ نِهَايَةُ القَضِيَّة! 🇵🇸🔥

لِـيـهْ سِبْـتُـوا غَــزَّة؟  - Why Did You Leave Gaza?

US President Donald J. Trump’s plan to expel Palestinians and take control of Gaza threatens to render second phase ceasefire negotiations to the dustbin of history and kill prospects for Saudi recognition of Israel.
So has Mr. Trump’s suggestion that he would decide in the next month whether to endorse Israeli annexation of the West Bank occupied by Israel since 1967.
Mr. Trump’s propositions take Palestinian aspirations off the table. They fulfill visiting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s wildest dreams.

Trump’s Gaza plan turns the Middle East on its head

President Trump says U.S. will take over Gaza, RFK Jr. and Gabbard advance, Bondi confirmed, and what’s better for you after a workout, a hot sauna or cold plunge.

This Morning with Gordon Deal February 05, 2025

Healthcare Workers For Palestine, a group made up of employees and medical students at Albany Medical Center, and other ceasefire coalition groups have been holding weekly demonstrations outside Albany Medical Center in support of Palestine since July 31st. On January 29th Benno Greene went to one of these demonstrations again. While there he talked with one of the organizers, Alex Hanks, about the ceasefire, the weekly demonstrations, and the Trump administration.

Talking With Alex Hanks of Healthcare Workers For Palestine

music is a mirror made of magic. 
IG - @sahar.studios

Pai (Palestinian AI Music Creator) is a groundbreaking artistic project that fuses the rich heritage of Palestinian music with the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence. As the first of its kind, Pai redefines music creation by blending traditional Arabic melodies, folk influences, and cutting-edge AI technology to produce a sound that is both nostalgic and futuristic.

Born from a passion for innovation and cultural preservation, Pai isn’t just an artist—it’s a movement. It stands at the intersection of technology and artistry, crafting songs that capture the essence of Palestinian identity while pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve in the music industry. From soulful maqams to electronic-infused rhythms, Pai breathes new life into age-old traditions, creating a unique sonic experience that resonates across generations.

With a vision to revolutionize the global perception of AI-generated music, Pai serves as a bridge between past and future, tradition and technology, Palestine and the world. Every composition is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the boundless potential of AI in music.

Pai is not just a name—it’s a sound, a story, and a step into the future of Palestinian music. 🎶🤖✨

Cii Radio is the globe's first Islamic satellite radio station. The trusted leader in news and analysis from the Muslim World. Online and Onair

Hudson Mohawk Magazine is a local volunteer-produced news hour that provides sanctuary for the discussion of a wide range of topics, scaling from the global to the hyper-local. The show is broadcasted from The Sanctuary for Independent Media on WOOC 105.3 FM.

Thanks to listeners like you, the Sanctuary is able to use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression.

New Lines Institute focuses on issues at the intersection of U.S. foreign policy and global geopolitics.

For more on Newlines Institute, please visit our website: www.newlinesinstitute.org

Wake up with "This Morning: America's First News."  Gordon Deal and news anchor Nicole Murray go beyond the headlines with the day’s first look at news from the U.S. and around the world; bringing a lively blend of intelligent information, humor, and expert analysis to morning radio.

Dr. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, co-director of the University of Würzburg’s Institute for Fan Culture, and co-host of the New Books in Middle Eastern Studies podcast. James is the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer blog, a book with the same title as well as Comparative Political Transitions between Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, co-authored with Dr. Teresita Cruz-Del Rosario and  Shifting Sands, Essays on Sports and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa.

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A podcast about transitions, death, the ruptures of life in between.

Arab Digest is where business leaders and experts on the Middle East and North Africa come together to share analysis and insight about the issues in the region that matter most.
contact email: editor@arabdigest.org

New tracks tagged #Palestine