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Mexico Bans Influential Ex-Minister From Holding Public Office

By
Zoe Maven
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Former Mexican Cabinet minister Luis Videgaray has been banned from holding jobs or positions in public service for 10 years for failing to properly disclose his assets while in office.

Mexico’s Public Administration Ministry (SFP) said it had applied the maximum possible sanction against Videgaray for making incorrect declarations for three years running during his time as finance minister and later as foreign minister.

Videgaray, who was widely viewed as the most influential minister under Mexico’s last president, Enrique Pena Nieto, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Videgaray has consistently rejected any allegations of wrongdoing.

The SFP said on Tuesday said it had in 2019 opened an investigation into Videgaray over his possible involvement in the 2014 purchase by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos of a fertilizer plant known as AgroNitrogenados, which later caused a scandal.

Asked publicly in February 2020 about his role in scandals in Mexico, including investigations relating to Pemex, Videgaray said that he had done good things and made mistakes as a policymaker, but that he stood by his track record.

Videgaray was notified of the sanction on May 11, but the news was not made public until now due to the campaign for mid-term elections, which were held on Sunday.

Mexico’s government argues the plant deal wasted millions of dollars in public money and was tainted by corruption.

Belarus Introduces Prison Sentences For Protesters

By
Zoe Maven
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed into law prison sentences for people taking part in protests or insulting state officials, as part of a record crackdown by the veteran leader since a disputed election last year.

In a series of amendments to the criminal code, Lukashenko also for the first time introduced a four-year prison sentence for people found guilty of spreading false information that discredits the state.

Under the new law, anyone who has been detained at least twice for taking part in a protest, or insulted a government official, faces up to three years in prison, whereas previously they were subjected to detentions or fines.

The Russian-backed president also introduced tougher penalties for resisting the police and using protest symbols.

In power since 1994, Lukashenko launched a violent crackdown against mass protests after winning an election in August that his opponents say was blatantly rigged.

Lukashenko did not comment on the new measures, which parliament had first adopted last month, but in March he had warned of a tougher response to opposition.

Lukashenko has previously signed amendments on laws governing the media, allowing the government to close down media outlets without needing a court order as before.

The European Union is preparing new sanctions on Minsk following the May 23 arrest of dissident Belarusian blogger Roman Protasevich after the forced grounding of a Ryanair plane while on a flight from Greece to Lithuania.

Israel To Permit Right-Wing March Through Jerusalem’s Old City

By
Zoe Maven
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Israeli officials say they will allow a far-right march through Jerusalem’s Old City to go ahead, a day after scrapping the event over fears it would rekindle fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Several right-wing Israeli groups had planned a flag-waving procession through the walled Old City’s Damascus Gate and into its Muslim quarter this Thursday, drawing warnings from Gaza’s rulers Hamas of renewed hostilities should it proceed.

The original march on May 10 was re-routed at the last minute as tensions in Jerusalem led Hamas to fire rockets towards the holy city.

Israel responded with air strikes, and the most serious cross-border fighting with Hamas in years raged for 11 days before a fragile ceasefire was reached.

The far-right groups cancelled the Thursday march after police denied them a permit. But following a meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet on Tuesday, his office said ministers had approved the march to be held next week.

Netanyahu faces an end to his long hold on power on Sunday when the country’s legislature is scheduled to vote on approving a government of diverse parties that came together to unseat him.

If that vote is successful, it will be up to prime minister-hopeful Naftali Bennett and his partner opposition leader Yair Lapid to decide whether to proceed with the march.

Tal Schneider, a leading political reporter in Israel, said on Twitter: “The flag parade has been postponed to June 15, two days after the government is sworn in, meaning it will be Naftali Bennett’s headache.

U.S. Imposes Visa Bans On Cameroon Perpetrators Of Violence

By
Zoe Maven
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The United States has announced visa restrictions against “leaders” and “accomplices” of violence in western Cameroon, which has seen a four-year bloody conflict between armed Anglophone groups and the army.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement, without naming those targeted by the ban said the sanctions are aimed at those who undermine the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The statement condemned those who undermine the peace by provoking or inciting violence, human rights violations and threats to peacekeepers and humanitarian workers.

The statement further read that Washington is deeply concerned about the continuing violence and continues to call on the Cameroonian government and armed separatist groups to end the violence and engage in dialogue without preconditions to peacefully resolve the crisis.

The English-speaking minority in Cameroon’s northwest and southwest regions blame the French-speaking majority for marginalizing them.

In 2017, protests by teachers and lawyers in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions over marginalization quickly morphed into armed conflict.

Separatist rebels calling themselves ‘Amba boys’ have said they seek to create an independent state named Ambazonia. Many people have been killed in the conflict which has also driven hundreds of thousands from their homes.

International NGOs and the UN regularly accuse both sides of abuses and crimes against humanity in the violence, which has left more than 3,500 people dead and forced more than 700,000 to flee their homes.

Mugabe’s Children Appeal Chief’s Exhumation Of Former Leader

By
Zoe Maven
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The children of former Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe have appealed a ruling by a traditional chief ordering the exhumation of the remains of the former leader.

In May, Chief Zvimba gave a ruling ordering the body of Mugabe be exhumed and be buried at the National Heroes Acre in the capital Harare but the Children argue that the traditional leader has no jurisdiction on the matter.

A copy of the ruling in the local Shona language stated, “I give powers to those who are permitted by law to exhume the late Robert Mugabe’s remains from Kutama and rebury them at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.”

Chief Zvimba accused Mugabe’s widow, Grace of breaking local customs by burying her husband in a manner deemed inappropriate in the courtyard of their rural home in Kutama, Zvimba district.

The tribunal court later ordered Grace Mugabe to give away five cows and two goats for having buried her husband in such a manner.

Mugabe, who died in 2019, had refused to be buried at the National Heroes Acres in Harare over fears that some individuals especially his political opponents might steal his remains and use them in traditional rituals.

Mugabe’s three children, Tinotenda Robert Jr, Bellarmine Chatunga and Bona appealed with the magistrate court in Chinhoyi stating that the chief had no judicial jurisdiction to interpret legal act from a superior authority.

Local reports allege the traditional chiefs do have the final saying on many local matters but this is the first time a chief has given a judgment on burial rights.

Federal Government of Nigeria propose to increase health workers’ hazard allowance

By
Olasunbo Okoromi
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The federal government of Nigeria has proposed to increase hazard allowance for all health workers in government health establishments in the country.

Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja at the end of a meeting between the Presidential Committee on Salaries(PSC), relevant Federal Government Stakeholders and Health Professional Association and Trade Unions.

The meeting was called at the instance of the Minister to discuss the issue of hazard allowance and retirement age for health sector workers in government establishments.

Ngige said the resolutions reached at the meeting were fruitful.

The federal government has moved up from the N5, 000 monthly hazard allowance paid to all health workers in Nigeria and now offering 350 and 600 per cent increment for junior workers and senior workers respectively.

The government side led by the Minister of State for Budget and Planning gave a counteroffer to the earlier submissions made by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and affiliate associations and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

The offer from the government side was given based on the realities of the current situation of the economy of the country, the Minister explained.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and affiliate associations and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have requested for two weeks adjournment to enable them to conclude consultation with their members and report back to the committee.

Ngige added that the meeting agreed that the offers should be left as it is until both parties go back for consultation with their members and return in two week’s time for further negotiations.

The Minister also stated that the federal government has agreed in principle to increase the retirement age of doctors and other health workers from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants.

U.S. Senate Set To Pass Sweeping Bill To Address China Tech Threat

By
Koko Lawrence
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U.S. Senate Tuesday is set to approve a sweeping package of legislation intended to boost the country’s ability to compete with Chinese technology, as Congress increasingly seeks to take a tough line against Beijing.

The nearly $250 billion bill cleared a procedural vote 68-30 in late May and is expected to win final approval after a couple of votes on outstanding issues. The desire for a hard line in dealings with China is one of the few bipartisan sentiments in the deeply divided U.S. Congress, which is narrowly controlled by President Joe Biden’s fellow Democrats.

The measure authorizes about $190 billion for provisions to strengthen U.S. technology and research — and would separately approve spending $54 billion to increase U.S. production and research into semiconductors and telecommunications equipment.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said the funding could result in seven to 10 new U.S. semiconductor plants.

Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who co-sponsored the legislation, said the United States spends less than 1% of gross domestic product on basic scientific research, less than half of what China does.

“The bipartisan legislation will be the largest investment in scientific research and technological innovation in generations, setting the United States on a path to lead the world in the industries of the future,” Schumer said Monday.

The bill must also pass the House of Representatives to be sent to the White House for Biden to sign into law. It’s not clear what legislation in the House will look like or when they might take it up.

The legislation also seeks to counter Beijing’s growing global influence through diplomacy, by working with allies and increasing U.S. involvement in international organizations after former Republican President Donald Trump pulled Washington out as part of his “America First” agenda.

Indiana Jones: Grosmont Village Hosts Hollywood Stars

By
Koko Lawrence
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Hollywood stars have descended on a sleepy North Yorkshire village for filming of the new Indiana Jones movie.

A-lister Harrison Ford has dusted down his fedora to reprise the role of Indy and is thought to have been on set for the scenes shot in Grosmont.

Filming has been taking place on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, with props such as tanks and Nazi uniforms.

Excitement has been building in Grosmont, with one woman tweeting she had bumped into Ford’s stunt double.

Vicki Laven tweeted: “Look who walked right past us in Grosmont today…Our son asked him if he was Indiana Jones and he tipped his hat and said no, he was just the stunt double.”

Resident Delphine Gale said what was believed to be Ford’s Winnebago had driven through the village to where the film’s base camp had been set up.

“It created a lot of attention when it came through because it was absolutely massive,” she said.

Gale, who chairs the Grosmont Co-operative Society, which runs the local shop, said the arrival of cast and crew had created a “fantastic vibe” in the village.

“After the year we’ve had, to have the excitement of Hollywood coming to the village has really cheered us all up.”

It is the second time in 2021 that North Yorkshire has drawn in Hollywood royalty, after Tom Cruise filmed on the North Yorkshire Moors railway near Pickering and in Levisham for the latest Mission Impossible movie.

Ford, 78, will star alongside Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the latest Indiana Jones instalment, which comes 40 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first film in the series.

Switzerland To Vote On Synthetic Pesticides Ban

By
Angel Gimalo
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Switzerland could become the first European country to ban artificial pesticides.

On June 13th a referendum will take place, and backers hope it will trigger similar moves elsewhere.

They want the country to ban the use of products made by agro-chemical giants such as Swiss firm Syngenta and Germany’s Bayer and BASF.

Campaigners say artificial products cause serious health problems and reduce biodiversity.

But manufacturers insist their pesticides are rigorously regulated and that crop yields would slump without them.

Another vote on the same day aims to improve the quality of Switzerland’s drinking water and food.

It would stop direct subsidies to farmers who use artificial pesticides and antibiotics in livestock.

If adopted, the proposals give farmers up to 10 years to make the transition.

And would allow Switzerland to become a leader in organic food and drink production.

South African Woman Claims To Have Given Birth To Ten Children In New World Record

By
Koko Lawrence
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A South African woman claims to have given birth to ten children in what would be the world’s largest-ever live birth if confirmed by doctors.

Gosiame Thamara Sithole, 37, who is already a mother of twins, gave birth to seven boys and three girls by Caesarean section at a hospital in Pretoria late Monday, her husband said.

Tebogo Tsotetsi – who is currently unemployed, told journalists of the birth of the decuplets late on Monday night, saying he is ‘happy’ and ’emotional’.

Sithole had previously claimed the pregnancy was ‘natural’, but such extreme births are almost always the result of fertility treatments, with multiple fertilized embryos inserted into the womb to increase the chances the patient will fall pregnant.

It comes just a month after a Malian woman, Halima Cisse, gave birth to nine children at a hospital in Morocco, in another case thought to have been caused by fertility treatment.

A fertility doctor who had previously commented on the case has been contacted for verification but had not responded at the time of publication.

Tsotetsi was the first to reveal the birth to local outlet Pretoria News, with the news subsequently picked up by other major international outlets.

Speaking to the paper late last night, Tsotetsi said:

It’s seven boys and three girls. She was seven months and seven days pregnant. I am happy. I am emotional. I can’t talk much.

In an interview with the same newspaper before the birth, Sithole – who is a store manager – said doctors initially told her that she was pregnant with six children.

But that was increased to eight following a later scan. It was only while undergoing surgery that the other two babies were discovered.

Sithole said she suffered through the complicated pregnancy, experiencing morning sickness early on followed later by pain in her leg.

Meanwhile, Tsotetsi revealed that he initially could not believe his wife was pregnant with six children, thinking it was medically impossible.

The condition of the children following the birth was not made clear by Pretoria News, which was the first to report the case.

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