World

World

Gulf of Guinea pirates a growing threat in West Africa controlling area from Senegal to Angola, to Cabo Verde to Sao Tome and Principe

by
Share this
Share

Militant groups robbing and kidnapping foreign nationals for ransom have grown into a proper organized criminal network with a hub in Nigeria running pirate operations with impunity, and the problem is getting worse and more widespread in the region, stifling development across the entire west coast of Africa, according to a pirate expert speaking to Alan Kasujja on Africa Daily. Pirates now control an area that reaches as far as 200 knots into international waters, and modern vessels now allow them to evade authorities. Last year, 130 of 135 maritime kidnappings worldwide occurred in the Gulf of Guinea.

The area gets less international attention that the key oil routes of the Straits of Hormuz and the Horn of Africa.

By Milan Sime Martinic

Downed Brazilian pilot rescued after given up for dead in Amazon jungle

by
Share this
Share

SAO PAULO  -  Antonio Sera survived 36 days in the thick jungle along the Para River in Brazil’s lower Amazonia after his plane crashed and burned January 28. Government rescuers found no trace of him and gave up after a week. He told the Folha of Sao Paulo that he survived by eating fruit that he saw that monkeys would eat. The 36-year-old walked through the thick bush to safety and was 26 kilos lighter when found by Brazil nut farmers.

By Milan Sime Martinic

King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu nation in South Africa has died

by
Share this
Share

The 72-year old ceremonial monarch was hospitalized in KwaZulu-Natal in the last weeks due to unstable diabetes and died unexpectedly after taking a turn for the worse, report South African media.

Despite no political power granted to him in the South African Constitution, the king wielded great influence among millions of Zulus.

By Milan Sime Martinic

Patagonian forest fires threaten protected areas in Argentina near Chile, many dead, missing

by
Share this
Share

Dozens of out-of-control fires have destroyed at least 1,200 hectares of area protected for its ancient trees in the Los Alerces National Park, 1,200 miles southwest of Buenos Aires.

Seven people were confirmed dead, 15 missing as fires burned homes in the region of the Valdivian forest in the pristine Andean pre-mountain range at the border with Chile, according to the Argentinian government.

by Milan Sime Martinic

Kachin people protest military coup – Myanmar

by
Share this
Share

YANGON, Myanmar – Kachin ethnic people in Myikyina city staged a protest against the military coup on March 10, with a purpose of attempting to restore democracy in Myanmar.

The dead woman

In the confrontation with security forces, in which live rounds were used, two people died, including a 20-year-old woman and four others were wounded.

Myikyina is the capital of Kachin state and is famous for the Chinese government’s dam project which was temporary suspended due to the public protests. In Kachin state, Kachin Independent Army, an ethnic insurgent group, controls some areas.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Aye Yar waddy

Niger: Peaceful and democratic change of power

by
Share this
Share

In a first since the country’s independence in 1960, President Mahamadou Issoufou will not use any constitutional amendments or tricks to extend his stay in power and will step down at the end of this term, handing power over to his democratically elected successor, former Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum.

According to The Economist, 13 African heads of state have exceeded their term of office in the past six years.

by Milan Sime Martinic

Zuma consulting lawyers about decision to appear

by
Share this
Share

DURBAN, South Africa – The ANC top leaders has agreed to give former president Jacob Zuma space to continue speaking with lawyers about his refusal to appear before the commission after their meeting on Monday.

The meeting was meant to change Zuma’s mind about appearing before the state capture of inquiry. However, the officials’ attempts failed as Zuma told them that as much he respected the constitution, he also had his rights.

While addressing the media, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said, “The top six heard his explanation and agreed to give him space to continue consulting with his lawyers on these issues which he has actually raised on whether to appear before the commission.”

Magashule said in his presentation, Zuma detailed his reasons for defying the Constitutional Court which had ordered him to appear before the commission. Zuma also told the top six officials that he did not have a problem with the commission itself and that he would appear only if its chairperson, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo, was to recuse himself.

By Zakithi Dlamini

Philippine president calls for hunting of communists, ‘massacre’ ensues

by
Share this
Share

President Rodrigo Duterte launched a campaign Friday targeting everyone he classifies as “communist rebels.”

By Sunday, 9 people were dead in raids by the military and police in what Vice President Leni Robredo, who is Duterte’s rival, called a “massacre” that needs to be cleared up.

Opponents fear the president, who is famous for saying, “Kill them,” when ordering persecutions of drug dealers, is using his declaration of persecuting rebelling communists as a way to silence vocal critics and activists who now say they fear for their lives.

By Milan Sime Martinic

Brazil’s leftist ex-president da Silva can run again

by
Share this
Share

SAO PAULO, Brazil – A judge in the country’s Supreme Court declared the corruption trials against former President Lula da Silva invalid and thus the conviction for which he served time in prison also invalid. Further, it means he can run in the presidential elections of 2022.

Lula, Brazil’s leftist icon, would challenge right-wing populist incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, suspected to have engineered the investigation that convicted Lula on corruption charges, which judges and prosecutors now agree was manipulated and is questionable.

The former union leader ran the country from 2003 to 2011 and still enjoys great support, especially among the poor in Brazil. During Lula da Silva’s tenure, Brazil experienced a boom, but in 2018 the conviction made his candidacy impossible. Despite polls showing he was likely to win the election, he was sent to prison and taken off the ballot, Bolsonaro then won the elections and took the presidency. The 75 year-old Lula has not indicated whether he wants to run again, but his supporters are already celebrating.

According to recent polls, if the elections were held today, he would have more votes than Bolsonaro.

By Milan Sime Martinic

Russia and China want to build a lunar station together

by
Share this
Share

Both nations have signed a letter of intent to build a “complex of facilities for experimental research on the surface and/or orbit of the moon,” announced the Russian space agency Roskosmos Tuesday, adding that the program that the program be open to “all interested states and international partners.”

By Milan Sime Martinic

At least 98 dead, over 600 injured in explosions in Equatorial Guinea

by
Share this
Share

Soldiers and civilians were among the victims as dynamite and explosives depots caught fire and exploded in several detonations at a military base in the city of Bata. The country’s president has said the tragedy occurred because of “negligence and inattention” that allowed farmers’ bush burnings to get out of hand.

By Milan Sime Martinic

Reporters from Myanmar Now news agency escape military arrest

by
Share this
Share

YANGON, Myanmar – Their office was raided Feb. 8, but staff had already fled the scene. Instead, authorities took their computers and office equipment.

Last week, security forces arrested reporter Kay Zan Nway of Myanmar Now while she was reporting news during a protest.

Myanmar’s state-run media announced Feb. 8 at night that the military had revoked the licenses of five media outlets working in Myanmar. They are Myanmar Now, Kit Thit, Mizzima, DVB and 7 days media.

By Htay Win
Photo credit- Shine