Month: July 2017

Five things to watch for during Trump’s meeting with Putin
“Hamburg, Germany (CNN)All eyes will be on President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday when the two controversial world leaders meet for the first time…” (CNN)

States sue Betsy DeVos over student loan rule delay
“Democratic attorneys general from 18 states and Washington D.C. sued Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Thursday after she delayed an Obama-era rule meant to protect student borrowers…” (CNN Money)

Security agents have killed at least 13 people in protests in Venezuela
“TODAY VENEZUELA – Ombudsman Tarek William Saab lashed out at violent events and hate crimes in almost three months of protests throughout Venezuela against the government of President Nicolás Maduro…” (Today Venezuela)

Attorney General: Venezuela is a police state
“Venezuela’s Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz said on Monday during an interview released in Lima, Peru, that subordination of the judiciary to secret services has turned Venezuela into a police state, instead of one with advocacy of citizens’ rights…”
(Today Venezuela)

UK business leaders to call for indefinite delay in leaving single market
“Business leaders are to demand that ministers agree an indefinite delay in Britain’s departure from the European single market and customs union to give more time for talks on a long-term trade deal…” (The Guardian)

Grenfell Tower: fire-proof cladding specified by architects used only on ground floor
“The architects of the Grenfell Tower refurbishment, completed in 2016, specified cladding that did not burn but that material was used only on the ground floor, where nobody in the block lived…” (The Guardian)

Read: Miss SA caught up in ‘racism’ scandal after wearing gloves while visiting children (The South African)
“Another race storm has been blowing up in South Africa on Thursday afternoon. Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has had to release a public statement after numerous South Africans took offence to pictures of her visiting and feeding children in Soweto…” (The South African)

KZN cancer patients wait up to eight months for treatment as health experts abandon province
“As KZN says farewell to the last of its oncologists, chilling revelations by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) show that people diagnosed with cancer who are unlucky enough to find themselves living in the crumbling province can wait up to eight months for treatment…” (The South African)

Senior court official calls for more judicial fairness
“A senior official of the Supreme People’s Court underscored the importance of judicial fairness on Wednesday and called on all courts to improve their performance in criminal trials. “People’s increasing legal awareness has brought higher requirements to our judicial work, urging us to uphold justice and improve the quality of case hearings,” said Shen Deyong, executive vice-president of the SPC…” (China Daily)

Award-winning teacher showcases Chinese educational innovation
“After being named one of the top 10 best teachers in the world by the Global Teacher Prize, Yang Boya, a mental health educator from Yunnan province, has successfully attracted global attention to China’s education innovation. Yang is using her platform to showcase the country’s rising influence on international education trends…”
(China Daily)

Photo: By Salavat Fidai (Trump and Putin) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Here’s why a growing number of states are pushing back against Trump’s voter fraud commission
“The Trump administration’s new voter fraud commission is lacking a crucial component in these early days: momentum…” (LA Times)

The U.S. may have one card to play against North Korea: trade
“Chinese banks handle North Korean trade deals. African countries employ North Korean guest workers and buy spare parts for Soviet-era military equipment as well as sophisticated new missiles. Moldova recently announced its intentions to export wine for the more sophisticated palates of Pyongyang…” (LA Times)

Firm commended for creating Yucatán jobs
“The federal government is ready to do more after the private sector created job opportunities in Tizimín, Yucatán…” (Mexico Daily News)

14 dead in Chihuahua as rival gangs battle
“Rival gangs had it out early this morning in Madera, Chihuahua, leaving at least 14 people dead…”
(Mexico Daily News)

Tony Blair should be prosecuted over Iraq war, high court hears
“The Chilcot inquiry’s conclusion that the invasion of Iraq was unnecessary and undermined the United Nations requires the prosecution of Tony Blair, the high court has heard…” (The Guardian)

Theresa May to discuss Paris accord with Donald Trump at G20
“Theresa May will raise the issue of climate change with Donald Trump this weekend when the pair meet for the first time since she lost her majority in the general election. They will talk at the G20 summit in Hamburg, which runs on Friday and Saturday…”
(The Guardian)

How a Syrian NGO is rebuilding destroyed parts of Idlib
“A non-governmental organisation has launched an initiative to rebuild parts of northern Syria that have been destroyed in the country’s ongoing war…” (Al Jazeera)

Gaza’s ‘Game of Thrones’: A fight to defeat resistance
“The rumored return of exiled leader Mohammed Dahlan is part of an Israeli-backed plan to stifle resistance in Strip…” (Al Jazeera)

Tanzania seeks release of truckers kidnapped in DRC
“Tanzania’s foreign ministry says that 24 truckers driving in a convoy from the country had been kidnapped by the Mai-Mai militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo..(Daily Nation)

President Edgar Lungu invokes state of emergency
“Zambian President Edgar Lungu invoked a state of emergency on Wednesday after a series of apparent arson attacks, in a move likely to trigger fresh accusations of government authoritarianism…” (Daily Nation)
Photo: By Rama (Own work) [CeCILL or CC BY-SA 2.0 fr], via Wikimedia Commons

With fresh tweet blitz, Trump doesn’t seem to be heeding calls to tone down
“resident Donald Trump escalated an intensely personal feud with two high-profile talk show hosts Saturday, suggesting without evidence that their network is biased against him…” (Chicago Tribune)

Police: Doctor hunted ex-colleague before New York shooting rampage
“A doctor angry that his career was derailed at a New York City hospital toted an assault rifle past security in search of a colleague he was going to hold responsible. When that person wasn’t there, he opened fire anyway, killing a doctor who was only there covering a shift as a favor, authorities said Saturday…” (Chicago Tribune)

Puddles and patriotism mark Canada 150 celebration
“Canadians poured out their love for Canada on Saturday — and Canada poured it right back, with twin deluges to start and end a day of remarkable festivities on Parliament Hill…” (Ottawa Citizen)

A call for ‘liberation of indigenous nations’ amid the Canada 150 bash
“While dignitaries from Prince Charles to Justin Trudeau spoke about reconciliation from Parliament Hill’s Canada Day stage, indigenous demonstrators rejected the notion as “lip service” and demanded action…” (Ottawa Citizen)

Brazil Braces for Nationwide Strike Against Reform Bills Today
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Brazilian officials are bracing for what may become a significant nationwide protest today, Friday June 30th, against the government’s labor and social security reform bills in Congress…” (Rio Times)

Brazilian President Michel Temer Charged with Corruption
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The top federal prosecutor in Brazil, Rodrigo Janot, filed corruption charges against President Michel Temer with the country’s Supreme Court (STF) on Monday. This is the first time in history a sitting President has been charged with a crime in Brazil…” (Rio Times)

Top Tories in revolt against May over public spending
“Theresa May is facing a chorus of Tory demands for a radical overhaul of state funding for public services as cabinet ministers and senior Conservative MPs back higher pay for millions of NHS workers, more cash for schools and a “national debate” on student debt…” (The Guardian)

Poll finds that 60% of Britons want to keep their EU citizenship
“Six out of 10 Britons want to keep their European Union citizenship after Brexit – including the rights to live, work, study and travel in the EU – and many would be prepared to pay large sums to do so, according to research led by the London School of Economics…” (The Guardian)

Mosul victory in ‘days’ as Daesh falls back in Syria
“MOSUL, Iraq — Iraq will declare victory over the Daesh terror group in Mosul during the “next few days”, a senior commander said Friday, as the extremists fell back in neighbouring Syria…” (The Jordan Times)

Turkey hopeful as Erdogan meets Qatar defence minister
“ANKARA — Turkey on Saturday said it remained hopeful of a solution to the Gulf crisis that has seen its ally Qatar diplomatically and economically isolated, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with the emirate’s defence minister…” (The Jordan Times)
Photo: By Michael Vadon (Donald Trump) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons