Bolivian authorities said they struck a significant blow against cocaine producers in the country after the discovery and destruction of three “mega-factories” that they stated could produce up to 910 kg of crack a day.
Police found the tarpaulin-covered, makeshift factories hidden in forestry reserves and national parks in eastern Beni province, central Cochabamba and south-central Santa Cruz, law enforcement ministries said.
Jaime Mamani, deputy minister for social defense and controlled substances, said Bolivian anti-drugs squads had seized a record 7.41 tonnes of cocaine over the past four months.
Bolivian anti-drug police have also resumed the destruction of coca crops in their habitual cultivation zones of Los Yungas and El Chapare that had been suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.
epa06649009 Former South African president Jacob Zuma appears at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban, South Africa 06 April 2018. Zuma faces 16 charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering relating to 783 payments which he allegedly received in connection with the controversial multi-billion Rand arms deal. EPA/NIC BOTHMA / POOL
The corruption trial of South Africa’s scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma was postponed once again on Monday, this time to May 26, as backers of the former president staged a boisterous show of support.
Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military gear from five European arms firms for 30 billion rand, then the equivalent of nearly $5 billion.
The 79-year-old Zuma, who was president Thabo Mbeki’s deputy at the time, is accused of accepting bribes totalling four million rand from one of the firms, French defence giant Thales.
The case has been postponed numerous times as Zuma, who has described the trial as a “political witch hunt”, lodged a string of motions to have the charges dropped.
In the latest snag last month, all of Zuma’s lawyers quit without explanation.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) forced Zuma to resign in 2018 after a mounting series of scandals.
Zuma struck a defiant note after Monday’s postponement, telling supporters outside the courthouse: “If I were to reveal the things I know about other people, it would be a disaster.”
Zuma was the feared intelligence chief of Nelson Mandela’s ANC during the party’s years in exile under apartheid, hunting down traitors and informers.
Zuma also spent 10 years on Robben Island as a political prisoner. He has constantly played cat-and-mouse with the anti-corruption commission that he himself set up in early 2018 in an abortive bid to convince the country that he had nothing to hide.
At Monday’s brief hearing, nearly everyone rose as Zuma, dressed in a dark blue suit, entered the wood-panelled courtroom at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
In response, he clasped his hands in front of his chest.
A man sitting in the public gallery chanted “Long live Jacob Zuma, long live!”
Outside, dozens of supporters wearing military fatigues, some dancing, formed an honour guard as Zuma left the court building.
Zuma said he was “ready for trial and waiting for the law to take its course”, while warning he would “fight if the laws are bent”.
‘Boxes of evidence’ –
The state has lined up around 200 witnesses in the case, in which Thales is also in the dock.
Patricia De Lille, who blew the whistle on the arms deal and is now public works minister, had been due to be the first witness on Monday.
She spoke of “boxes and boxes of evidence,” telling journalists: “Finally this evidence will be disclosed by the state”.
The opposition politician said she blew the whistle to help “root out the bad apples within the ANC, (but) the response… was vicious”.
“We were vilified, ridiculed,” she said.
Carl Niehaus, a fervent Zuma supporter and former spokesman for Mandela, said he was anxious for the trial to end because “our leader cannot be persecuted any further”.
For his part, ANC lawmaker Supra Mahumapelo said Zuma, “at his advanced age… should be allowed to go into obscurity and we to move forward as a society.”
Zuma’s successor Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to root out corruption.
Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday in Florida, after fellow contestant Miss Myanmar used her stage time to draw attention to the bloody military coup in her country.
Sunday night marked the Miss Universe competition’s return to television after the pageant was cancelled in 2020 for the first time due to the pandemic.
Andrea Meza, 26, finished first ahead of the Brazilian and Peruvian finalists in a flashy televised event, hosted by American actor Mario Lopez and television personality Olivia Culpo.
Former Miss Universe contestants Cheslie Kryst, Paulina Vega and Demi-Leigh Tebow (who won the title in 2017) served as competition analysts and commentators, and a panel of eight women determined the winner.
Dressed in a sparkling red evening gown, Meza tearfully walked the catwalk as Miss Universe for the first time, before rushing back for a group hug with the other competitors.
Meza beat more than 70 contestants from around the globe in the 69th instalment of Miss Universe, which was held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
In the days leading up to the final competition, Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin, who made the top 21, made waves when she used her time in the spotlight to bring attention to the coup in her country.
It is no longer news that food is essential for nutrition and it is important for every stage of life. Postpartum diet is no different as the mother needs more nutrition during this period for herself and her baby.
At times not much attention is paid to postpartum nutrition, as most of the attention is on the new born baby. What many seems to forget is the fact that the nutrition of the baby is dependent on the mother so it’s very important for new mums to prioritize nourishing their bodies well, too.
Having a variety of nutrient-dense foods that require little prep work can be a lifesaver for new mums. Hence, this article attempts to identify some super healthy and convenient foods for a postpartum diet.
It is important to choose a wide variety of foods from all food groups such as: protein, fruit and vegetables, fiber-rich carbs and good fats.
Taste preference and desire to eat can continue to increase and reduce after giving birth, and many breastfeeding mums experience a voracious appetite. Whatever your postpartum experience looks like, here are some healthy foods to keep accessible, plus ideas for using them:
Pistachios
Pistachios are one of the highest protein nuts. They offer 6 grams of complete protein per serving to help fuel your body with essential amino acids. Plus, they’re a great source of fiber and unsaturated fat to help keep you fuller longer.
For middle-of-the-night breastfeeding hunger, try no-shell pistachios as a convenient, healthy snack. You might also enjoy crushed pistachios for extra crunch in a salad, on top of ice cream or yogurt, or blended into homemade pesto
Tofu
Tofu is a great source of protein, as well as the essential nutrients choline and lysine, which can be harder to find on a plant-based diet.
Choline is important for healthy cells and infant brain development, but the body only makes a small amount. Regardless of diet, most pregnant women don’t consume enough choline, and this likely continues after giving birth. Choline is transferred via breast milk, and tofu is a good way to make sure you’re replenishing stores.
Lysine is an essential amino acid we have to get through diet. While plant foods contain all nine essential amino acids, lysine is limited in some of them—but not tofu.
Tofu takes on the flavor of just about anything. It’s also inexpensive and super versatile. Extra-firm tofu is great to cube and roast, scramble, grill for sandwiches, or use in soup. Silken tofu works well for blending into smoothies or creamy sauces.
Oats
The jury is still out on whether oats help promote milk supply, but they work anecdotally for some moms. Regardless, there’s no harm in, eating oats, plus they’re full of soluble fiber, iron, zinc, and B vitamins and can be a great grain alternative for gluten-free mums.
Use them to make overnight oats, you can add a couple of tablespoons to smoothies, and you can also grind them into oat flour for baking.
Avocado
Avocados are energy-dense and can help keep you fuller for longer. They’re also packed with fiber, healthy omega-3 fats, and fat-soluble antioxidants that research says can improve breast milk quality.
Plus, they’re delicious on just about everything. Use as a spread on toasts, or add them to your salads or a make a delicious smoothie
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great source of nutrients packed with naturally sweet complex carbohydrate that will help keep you satisfied and provide energy for breastfeeding. They’re also a great source of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C. Whether steamed, grilled or baked, anyhow you choose to prepare your sweet potatoes; you surely enjoy the goodness of this powerhouse of nutrition.
Every mama has a unique postpartum experience, but nutrition is important for everyone. As you feed your new baby, it highly advised you also feed and very well too. This is not always easy with the demands of motherhood, but incorporating the nutrient-dense plant foods can help provide the energy and nourishment needed.
Individuals working long hours a week are at increased risk of suffering from stroke and dying from ischemic heart disease, according to a new study published by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization on Monday.
In the first global study of the loss of life associated with longer working hours, the paper in the journal Environment International showed that 745,000 people died from stroke and heart disease associated with long working hours in 2016.
That was an increase of nearly 30% from 2000.
“Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard,” said Maria Neira, director of the WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.
“What we want to do with this information is promote more action, more protection of workers,” she said.
The joint study, produced by the WHO and the International Labour Organization, showed that most victims (72%) were men and were middle-aged or older. Often, the deaths occurred much later in life, sometimes decades later, than the shifts worked.
Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year in a worsening trend that may accelerate further due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with people living in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region — a WHO-defined region which includes China, Japan and Australia — being the most affected.
Overall, the study – drawing on data from 194 countries – said that working 55 hours or more a week is associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared with a 35-40 hour working week.
The study covered the period 2000-2016, and so did not include the COVID-19 pandemic, but WHO officials said the surge in remote working and the global economic slowdown resulting from the coronavirus emergency may have increased the risks.
“The pandemic is accelerating developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time,” the WHO said, estimating that at least 9% of people work long hours.
WHO staff, including its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, say they have been working long hours during the pandemic and Neira said the U.N. agency would seek to improve its policy in light of the study.
Capping hours would be beneficial for employers since that has been shown to increase worker productivity, WHO technical officer Frank Pega said.
“It’s really a smart choice not to increase long working hours in an economic crisis.”
A UN Security Council emergency meeting has begun, with international mediators hoping to broker a ceasefire.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting by describing the violence as “utterly appalling” and said the fighting must stop immediately.
The flare-up of violence over the last week came after weeks of increasing Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews.
Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
Israel’s military said it struck the homes of both Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, whom it described as head of logistics and manpower for the movement.
Local sources confirmed to media that the Hamas leader’s home in the Gaza town of Khan Younis had been bombed. There were no immediate reports about the fate of the two brothers.
Palestinian rescue workers have been working through the rubble of at least three destroyed buildings, pulling out bodies and searching for survivors.
Shortly after noon, rockets were launched by militants in Gaza against Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot and other parts of central and southern Israel, according to Israeli media.
President Biden’s envoy, Hady Amr, has been in Israel since Friday, discussing the crisis with Israeli officials.
Iran’s foreign minister has cancelled a visit with his Austrian counterpart to show displeasure that Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s government had flown the Israeli flag in Vienna in a show of solidarity.
Confirming a report in newspaper Die Presse, a spokeswoman for Schallenberg said, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was supposed to meet Alexander Schallenberg but had called off the trip.
The spokeswoman said, they regret this and take note of it, but for them it is as clear as day that when Hamas fires more than 2,000 rockets at civilian targets in Israel then they would will not remain silent.
In Tehran, foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told the semi-official news agency ISNA that Zarif did not consider the trip beneficial in these circumstances, and therefore the travel arrangements were not finalised.
Hamas is the Islamist group that runs Gaza. Israel has pummelled Gaza with air strikes and Palestinian militants have launched rocket barrages at Israel in the worst escalation of violence in years.
Kurz, who is firmly pro-Israel, had called flying the Israeli flag over the federal chancellery on Friday a mark of solidarity amid the violent clashes. But Abbas Araqchi, who heads the Iranian delegation at the Vienna talks, criticised the move.
The dispute comes during talks in Vienna to try to revive a 2015 accord with western powers in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from sanctions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, prompting Iran to begin violating its terms.
A jury in a North Carolina federal civil rights case has awarded $75 million to two black, intellectually disabled half brothers who spent decades behind bars after being wrongfully convicted in the 1983 rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl.
The eight-person jury last week decided that Henry McCollum and Leon Brown should receive $31 million each in compensatory damages, $1 million for every year spent in prison. The jury also awarded them $13 million in punitive damages.
After the trial Raleigh attorney Elliot Abrams who was part of the brothers’ legal team said the first jury to hear all of the evidence found Henry and Leon to be innocent and has done what the law can do to make it right at this late date.
McCollum and Brown have pursued the civil case against law enforcement members since 2015, arguing that their civil rights were violated during the interrogations that led to their convictions.
The two were released from prison in 2014 after DNA evidence that pointed to a convicted murderer exonerated them. They were teenagers when they were accused of the crime, which happened in Red Springs in Robeson County.
Attorneys for the men have said they were scared teenagers who had low IQs when they were questioned by police and coerced into confessing. McCollum was then 19, and Brown was 15.
On Friday, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, one of the defendants, settled its part of the case for $9 million. The town of Red Springs, originally named in the civil suit, settled in 2017 for $1 million.
Ecuador’s National Assembly has elected a representative of the Pachakutik indigenous political party as its president for the next two years, with the support of allies of conservative President-elect Guillermo Lasso.
Lawmaker Guadalupe Llori who previously served as a local official in Orellana province in the Amazon region, won the National Assembly presidency with 71 votes in the 137-seat chamber.
She was jailed during former President Rafael Correa’s government on terrorism and sabotage charges after organizing protests against oil companies but was later granted amnesty, describing the charges politically motivated.
The alliance between Pachakutik and Lasso’s CREO party effectively sidelined the left-wing UNES party. UNES won the most seats in the congress in elections earlier this year but fell short of an outright majority.
Meanwhile, President-elect Guillermo Lasso will take office in the oil-producing South American country on May 24 after beating out UNES candidate Andres Arauz, a Correa protege, in an April runoff.
Lasso, a former banker, has pledged to revamp crude production contracts to attract more investment to the sector but has also promised to review the need for more drilling in the Amazon region.
Pachakutik candidate Yaku Perez placed third in a first-round vote in February.
Fighters of a local militia opposed to Myanmar’s junta have pulled back from the northwestern town of Mindat after days of assault by combat troops backed by artillery.
The fighting in the hill town of Mindat, about 100 km from the Indian border in Chin state, has been some of the heaviest since the coup plunged Myanmar into chaos with daily protests.
One fighter said they retreated out of concern over damage to the town, adding that only women and children remained in the town of over 40,000 that was now largely occupied by the army.
The U.S.-funded RFA website quoted a member of the group as saying five of its fighters were killed, but it believed it had inflicted losses several times that many on the army, widely known as the Tatmadaw.
The United States and Britain called on the army to avoid civilian casualties while the shadow National Unity Government formed by loyalists of Myanmar’s detained elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, appealed for international help.
The fighting marks the emergence of the Chinland Defence Force, one of several new groups to spring up in opposition to the junta in a country which already had about two dozen ethnic armed groups.
The fighters also say they are part of the People’s Defence Forces of the shadow government.
But the Army-controlled Myawaddy television said on Saturday that some security forces were killed and others missing after attacks, adding that Security forces would work day and night to bring order.
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