Myanmar Protesters Launch ‘Garbage Strike’ Amidst Violence

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March 30, 2021

Myanmar demonstrators are leaving garbage on the main streets and intersections, urging everyone to do the same in protest against the military coup since it overtook the country’s establishments on February 1.

Following the violent clashes and crack-down which have so far killed over 500 people in the country, activists are resorting to other ways to make their voices heard.

On Monday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) had reported at least 14 civilians were killed by the military. Out of these, eight were killed in Yangon’s South Dagon district.

Security forces were seen firing a heavier calibre weapon than is common on Monday, while protesters hid for their lives behind a barricade.

Several local reports suggested that grenade launchers were being used by the military on protesters. Locals in the South Dagon region claimed that security forces had increased the frequency of crackdowns in the area, increasing fears of more fatalities.

But State news agencies claimed only riot weapons were being used to scatter the protesters.

Earlier, UN-Secretary-General Antonia Guterres urged Myanmar’s generals to end the violence against protesters in the country.

ICC To Rule On Appeal By DR Congo’s Militia Commander Bosco Ntaganda

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Zoe Maven

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March 30, 2021

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The International Criminal Court, ICC, is to decide on an appeal by a Congolese warlord dubbed the “Terminator”, who received the tribunal’s longest-ever war crimes sentence.

In 2019, Militia leader Bosco Ntaganda was convicted by the Hague-based ICC over a reign of terror in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the early 2000’s, and jailed for 30 years.

The court earlier this month awarded Ntaganda’s victims $30 million in reparations, provided he was convicted on appeal. ICC appeals judges will hand down their decision on his appeal against his conviction and sentence at 1300 GMT.

The Rwandan-born 47-year-old was found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, sexual slavery, rape and using child soldiers.

Judges said Ntaganda was also a key leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebel group and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo.

However, Ntaganda’s lawyers, when they announced his intention to appeal, said the Rwandan remains fine and strong, adding that the ICC’s decision to convict him contained many errors of law and fact.

World Leaders, WHO Call For International Pandemic Treaty

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Zoe Maven

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March 30, 2021

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World Leaders on Tuesday backed an idea to create an international treaty that would help the world deal with future health emergencies like the so called coronavirus pandemic.

The idea was floated by the chairman of European Union leaders Charles Michel at a G20 summit last November and would ensure universal and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for pandemics

On Tuesday it got the formal backing of the leaders of Fiji, Portugal, Romania, Britain, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Germany, Greece, Korea, Chile, Costa Rica, Albania, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Senegal, Spain, Norway, Serbia, Indonesia, Ukraine and the WHO.

In a joint opinion article in major newspapers the leaders said there would be other pandemics and other major health emergencies and that no single government can address this threat alone.

They said the main goal of such a treaty would be to strengthen the world’s resilience to future pandemics through better alert systems, data sharing, production and distribution of vaccines, personal protective equipment.

They stressed that nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response.

The past couple of months have seen many countries of the world engage in massive roll out vaccines for which Pharmaceutical companies have received waivers.

However some Advocacy Bodies and Civil societies believe that issues of Vaccine hesitancy, Privacy and Human Rights are yet to be adequately addressed.

China Overhauls Hong Kong’s Electoral System

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Zoe Maven

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March 30, 2021

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Chinese leaders on Tuesday endorsed a sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system, slashing its number of directly elected seats.

The move ensures a majority of the city’s lawmakers are selected by a reliably pro-Beijing committee to ensure their loyalty to the mainland and entrench only “patriotic” figures inpositions of power.

The new measures, which bypassed Hong Kong’s legislature and were imposed directly by Beijing, are the latest move aimed at quashing the city’s democracy movement after huge protests.

According to China’s official Xinhua news agency, President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the amended annexes although there still is some uncertainty with residents on what the new law implies.

However giving a breakdown of what the new measures included, Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to China’s parliament said under the new law, Hong Kong’s legislature will be expanded from 70 to 90 seats.

Tam said Only 20 of those seats will now be directly elected, down from 35, while the majority — 40 — will be chosen by a reliably pro-Beijing committee.

He said anyone standing for election will also have to be vetted for their political views.

Referee Apologises For Disallowing Ronaldo’s Goal Against Serbia

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Emenike Agu

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March 30, 2021

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Dutch referee, Danny Makkelie, has apologised for denying Cristiano Ronaldo the winning goal in Portugal’s 2-2 draw with Serbia in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Serbia defender, Stefan Mitrovic, tried in vain to clear Ronaldo’s effort in stoppage time, but the ball crossed the line.

With no VAR or goal-line technology, Makkelie waved play on much to the anger of Ronaldo and his teammates.

“As per FIFA’s policies, all I can say is that I apologised to the national coach, Mr. Fernando Santos, and to the Portuguese team for what happened.

“As a referee team, we always work hard o make good decisions. When we are in the news in this manner, it doesn’t make us happy at all,” Makkelie told A Bola.

The 38-year-okd has been an international referee since 2008 and took charge of the 2020 Europa League final between Sevilla and Inter Milan.

Nigeria vs Lesotho: Lagos to shut Teslim Balogun Stadium roads for 12 hours, Tuesday

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Emenike Agu

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March 30, 2021

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Lagos State Government said it will close all vehicular movement around the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the live football match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Crocodiles of Lesotho for 12 hours Tuesday.

The Commissioner of Transportation Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who announced this on Monday, said the closure was necessary in order to effectively manage traffic and tighten security at the Stadium.

He assured that provisions have been made to manage traffic along the axis for the 12 hours period.

In line with this development, motorists are advised to avoid movement around the stadium from 10.00am. Traffic approaching Teslim Balogun from Ojuelegba and Alaka/Eric Moore can only pass through the flyover.

The statement further explained that only vehicles with VVIP stickers or tickets would be allowed to approach the stadium and park, also vehicles conveying persons with VVIP tickets would be permitted to drive into the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Oladeinde appealed to motorists that use the corridor frequently to cooperate with the LASTMA officials that will be deployed to manage the traffic flow as it will ease movement and minimize expected inconveniences.

South Africa Court Sets Trial Date In Malema Firearm Case

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Zoe Maven

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March 29, 2021

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South Africa’s radical left-wing opposition Leader, Julius Malema is set to appear before the court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and three counts contravening the Firearms Control Act.

Julius Malema is set to appear before the court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and three counts contravening the Firearms Control Act.

The East London Magistrate’s Court said the trial of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader will take place from August 23-27, together with co-accused Adriaan Snyman.

The duo are accused of discharging a firearm at a rally in Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane near East London in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province in 2018.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani expressed confidence in the trial saying they have a strong case against the accused.

A video purporting to show Malema discharging a semi-automatic rifle during the 5th-anniversary celebrations for the founding of EFF has been doing around social media.

However, Malema has maintained innocent on the allegations and further refuted the video as a fabrication.

The EFF was founded in 2013 by Malema after he was thrown out as the leader of the ANC’s youth wing.

Israel Advises Citizens To Avoid UAE, Citing Iranian Threat

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Zoe Maven

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March 29, 2021

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Israel’s National Security Agency has advised tourists against travelling to the United Arab Emirates and other countries across the region, citing the threat of attack by arch-enemy Iran.

The warning included both Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE as well as Bahrain. Both Gulf Arab countries established diplomatic ties with Israel last year under historic U.S.-brokered agreements.

The agency’s anti-terrorism office said in a statement they estimate that Iran would continue to operate in the near future to harm Israeli targets.

The agency also identified Georgia, Azerbaijan, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, the Kurdish region of Iraq, as well as Turkey, Jordan and Egypt as areas to avoid.

After launching formal ties with Israel last year, the UAE became a popular destination for Israeli tourists, even after a similar travel advisory was issued.

Israel considers Iran as its top threat, citing the country’s suspect nuclear program, its frequent calls for the destruction of Israel, its support for anti-Israel militant groups and its development of long-range missiles.

Iran has accused Israel of killing a top nuclear scientist last November and vowed revenge. But Israel has accused Iran of being behind an attack last month on an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.

Myanmar Death Toll Tops 500 As Protesters Defy Junta’s Forces

By

Zoe Maven

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March 29, 2021

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Myanmar’s security forces have killed at least 510 civilians in a brutal two-month crackdown to stop protests against a coup, with thousands of people taking to the streets again.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said, Another 14 civilians were killed on Monday while number of those killed on Saturday had risen to 141, figures showed

AAPP added that Monday’s dead included at least eight in the South Dagon suburb of Myanmar’s main city, Yangon

Heavy clashes erupted on the weekend near the Thai border between the army and fighters from Myanmar’s oldest ethnic minority force, the Karen National Union.

State television said security forces used riot weapons to disperse a crowd of “violent terrorist people” who were destroying a pavement and one man was wounded.

But despite the violence, crowds turned out in towns across the country, according to media and social media posts.

In the meantime, the White House has condemned the killings of civilians as an repulsive use of lethal force and renewed a call for the restoration of democracy.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also urged Myanmar’s generals to stop the killings and repression of demonstrations.

Paris Court Finds Pharma Giant Guilty Of Fraud, Manslaughter

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Zoe Maven

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March 29, 2021

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A French court on Monday found pharmaceutical Company Servier guilty of aggravated fraud and involuntary manslaughter over a diabetes and weight loss pill.

The drug Mediator, blamed for hundreds of deaths in the country, was on the market for 33 years and used by about five million people before being pulled in 2009 over fears it could cause serious heart problems.

Many of the victims who testified in court on the impact of the drug on their lives were women. Initially intended for overweight people with diabetes, Mediator was widely prescribed to healthy individuals as an appetite suppressant.

Servier’s former deputy boss was sentenced to a suspended jail sentence of four years, and the court fined the company 2.7 million euros.France’s medicines agency was fined 303,000 euros for its role in the scandal.

12 people and 11 legal entities — Servier, nine subsidiaries as well as France’s medicine watchdog, were tried in late 2019 and early 2020 over their alleged role in the scandal.

The Mediator affair was the subject of a 2016 French film titled “150 Milligrams”, about the work of lung specialist Irene Frachon, who was instrumental in bringing the alleged wrongdoing to light.