The crew of the Freedom Flotilla boat, Handala, warned Israel to obey international law but are now in captivity, reports LINDA PENTZ GUNTER

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had bad news for Boris Johnson last week.
Lighthizer told the House ways and means committee — the chief tax-writing committee of the House of Representatives — that securing a US-UK trade deal by the end of the year is unlikely.
It is Britain’s stated objective to strike deals with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan that would make up the shortfall of no deal with the EU — and open the way for Britain to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement For Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). That agreement covers Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

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

TONY BURKE says an International Labour Conference next month will try for a new convention to protect often super-exploited workers providing services such as ride-hailing (taxis) such as Uber as well as fast food and package delivery