Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Ho Chi Minh: The Early Years


 MAY 29, 2024

   

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Hồ Chí Minh, 1921, going by the pseudonym Nguyễn Ái Quốc, attending a Communist congress in Marseille, France.

In 1968, as war raged across Vietnam, the Vietnamese revolutionary popularly known as Ho Chi Minh wrote a New Year’s message to the worldwide movement against the US war on the Vietnamese.  After somewhat poetically listing the ongoing war crimes of the US military, the letter ended with these words:  “We enjoy the support of brothers and friends in the five continents. We shall win and so will you.  Thank you for your support for the Vietnamese people.”

I wouldn’t read these words until the fall of that year; my antiwar consciousness was just taking shape.  I was thirteen.  I recall that, when I did read them that first time, it was like a light bulb going off.  I could no longer consider any Vietnamese as an enemy.  To do so would require demonizing them—something I could no longer do after reading this simple and honest letter.  The leader of the people I was told wanted to destroy my way of life sounded more human than the leaders of the system reporting kill counts and pushing for a greater war.

Ho Chi Minh died a few months later.  US warplanes were carpet bombing Vietnam and Richard Nixon was discussing the use of nuclear weapons with his henchman Henry Kissinger.  The struggle continued.  Ultimately, the Vietnamese won and so did we.

Joseph Andras, the French author whose novel about Algeria and its war of national liberation titled Tomorrow They Won’t Murder Us Anymore I reviewed a year or so ago, has written a similarly brief novel about the man who became known as Ho Chi Minh.  It was a time when revolution was definitely in the air and the potential for liberation from colonialism was on many people’s minds.  Titled Faraway the Southern Sky, the novel tells a version of the young revolutionary’s time among the lumpen of Paris, seeking education and contacts, working low-paying jobs and living a life comparable to a monk’s.  Using the alias Nguyen Ai Quoc moves from Paris to the Soviet Union as the representative of the Vietnamese independence struggle.  His name and activities are known—by police spies and national governments.  By his people and international revolutionaries.

This novella is structured as a walk along Parisian streets.  The protagonist’s various residences serve as points of interest on this tourist trek; so do landmarks of f the Paris commune and other revolutionary manifestations.  If anything, the narrative is of the past and the present. Vonnegut might say it is unstuck in time.  Fancy vintage shops and a murder of a Maoist worker killed by a private cop on Renault security team.  History makes the streets matter even while the current residents carry on their shiny shallow modern lives of easy credit and easier debt.  It’s a time when colonies were common; a time when the colonizers thought their colonies would exist forever, giving their labor, resources and their lives for the enrichment of the mother countries and the colonized began to fight back.  As those who were colonized began to throw off their colonizers, socialists and communists still debated the role of the left in these basic struggles for national freedom struggling to rid themselves of  European command.  In July 1920, Lenin endorsed the anti-colonial struggle.  The man who would be known as Ho Chi Minh sent in his application to join the third international.  The rest, as they say is history.

Andras’ fictionalization of Ho Chi Minh’s time in Paris reminds us that nobody is born a fully-formed revolutionary.  The narrator’s thoughts and observations on the young Ho Chi Minh (who was using a different name at the time) blend together with the protests of the gilets jaunes taking place in the city at the time, random details about Paris street life and visits to addresses known for their place in France’s revolutionary history.  Likewise, the presence of the authorities lurks throughout the text; authorities keeping a close eye on the young revolutionary in the past and the gilets jaunes  in the present.

This brief novel is a lyrical reflection on a young man who would challenge two empires and, in doing so, change the world.  It’s well worth the read.

Ron Jacobs is the author of Daydream Sunset: Sixties Counterculture in the Seventies published by CounterPunch Books. He has a new book, titled Nowhere Land: Journeys Through a Broken Nation coming out in Spring 2024.   He lives in Vermont. He can be reached at: ronj1955@gmail.com

Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and the Media-made 'Discrimination' Controversy

Kyodo News alleged recent comments by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa discriminated against certain women. But is this really the case?



 May 29, 2024
By Daniel Manning
Foreign Minister Kamikawa gives a speech in Shizuoka City on the afternoon of May 18. (©Kyodo)

On May 18, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa delivered a speech in Shizuoka Prefecture in support of a gubernatorial election candidate. In her speech, Kamikawa used imagery that some construed as referencing childbirth to encourage female attendees to vote.

Later, the same day, Kyodo News ran an article about these comments on its English-language website. The headline read, "Japan's female foreign minister queries women's worth without birth in an election speech." Barely 100 words long, the piece offered scant context for Kamikawa's remarks and condemned them as demonstrating "a lack of sensitivity."

Kamikawa, Japan's foreign minister and a potential future prime minister, is now facing backlash from certain media.

However, although Kyodo anticipated criticism of Kamikawa's comments, ironically, the news outlet's article has arguably garnered even more criticism. Several lawmakers, including Yuichiro Tamaki and Takako Suzuki, have slammed the article for its poor translation and misleading nature. The result, they argued, prompts concerns about deliberate misreporting by Kyodo.

So what exactly did Kamikawa say? Truly grasping the essence of the foreign minister's statement will necessitate clarification and, unsurprisingly, more than 100 words.

A Call to Vote

Kamikawa took the stage in Shizuoka City on May 18, rallying support for candidate Shinichi Omura. Before a crowd exceeding 100, the minister appealed to the numerous women present for their votes. "How can we call ourselves women if we do not bring (Omura)'s administration into the world?" she asked.

Reflecting on her first campaign, Kamikawa revealed that she used to tell voters, "[We are] in the throes of birth. I ask for your help in ensuring a safe delivery."
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"Giving birth is painful and daunting," she continued. "However, as we contemplate the future of Shizuoka waiting to be born and its present condition, we must not falter." Concluding her speech, the minister stated, "If we come together and combine our strengths, we can prevail in this fight."

Foreign Minister Kamikawa responds to supporters in Shizuoka City on the morning of May 19. (©Kyodo)


Clear Misinterpretation

Some media have argued that Kamikawa was discriminating against women unable to bear children.

It seems redundant to have to point it out, but Kamikawa was, of course, speaking figuratively. Naturally, she was not making literal assertions about anyone's reproductive functions. She did not imply that a woman's value hinges on her ability to have children. Kamikawa was simply appealing to women as a voting demographic. One would think encouraging more women to vote should be applauded.

It appears that the women present on May 18 did not object to Kamikawa's statements. Instead of boos or hisses, her words were met with resounding applause.
LDP Reaction

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politicians have criticized Kyodo's report and emphasized the potential harm it could cause. Takako Suzuki, the Director of the LDP's Youth Division, addressed the issue in an interview with The Sankei Shimbun on May 21. "The article's misrepresentation of Kamikawa's words failed to capture their true meaning," she said. Suzuki added, "It also threatens Japan's international image."

In addition, Suzuki highlighted the foreign minister's advocacy for women. Kamikawa is currently focusing on promoting women's participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding through the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) initiative. "Considering Kamikawa's dedication to WPS, I'm sure she's disappointed, if not deeply troubled, by this development," Suzuki commented.

On May 19, Suzuki took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the Kyodo News English article. "Doesn't this article require an apology and correction? (Kamikawa) said no such thing, did she?" Suzuki wrote. In response to her post, Toshiko Abe, an LDP member in the House of Representatives, chimed in, "She most certainly didn't!"
Foreign Minister Kamikawa shakes hands with voters in Shizuoka City on May 11. (©Kyodo)


Tamaki's Take

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, also voiced his opinion on the matter. In a May 19 X post, he wrote, "Pundits are touting Kamikawa as a potential candidate for the next prime minister. In that sense, I think she was careless to leave herself open to attack with a statement like that."

However, Tamaki noted linguistic discrepancies between initial and subsequent reports. "At first, certain media outlets ran headlines like 'What defines a woman if she doesn't give birth?'" he observed. "Later, there was a change in approach. Online articles began replacing the kanji for 'doesn't give birth' (産まず, umazu) with the hiragana (うまず, umazu)."

This is a subtle but crucial difference. While 産まず explicitly refers to giving birth, うまず can connote a more figurative meaning, implying the failure to achieve or realize something.

"The initial reports seemed to categorically define women as 'those who give birth,'" Tamaki explained. "Following the correction, the message is clearer, emphasizing the need to 'elect a new governor.'"

Tamaki also questioned the motivations behind the original headlines. "I'd like to believe that the media didn't select the original headlines simply to create a stir and boost article views," he emphasized. "But if they did, they should seriously consider whether that was the best approach."
Censure and Concession

Despite the bipartisan support Kamikawa received following the media coverage, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was less sympathetic. Speaking to reporters about the foreign minister's remarks on May 19, he said, "It is best to avoid misleading statements."

The same day, Kamikawa clarified the intent behind her statements. "I meant to encourage women to make their voices heard and contribute to electing a governor," she told reporters. "However, I accept that some may interpret my intentions differently and hereby retract my statement."

But as the philosopher Karl Popper once said, "It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." If he had lived to see the 21st century, he might have added: "deliberately misinterpreted by the media."

RELATED:
Samsung Electronics union calls first-ever strike

Peter Hoskins,Business reporter
REUTERS

National Samsung Electronics Union members held a rally last week

A union representing thousands of workers at Samsung Electronics has called the first strike at the South Korean technology giant since it was founded five and a half decades ago.

The National Samsung Electronics Union says it will hold a one-day protest by asking all of its members to use their paid leave on 7 June and has not ruled out a full-scale strike in the future.

The union says its has about 28,000 members, accounting for more than a fifth of the company's total workforce.

Samsung Electronics says it will continue to negotiate with the union.

“We can’t stand persecution against labour unions anymore. We are declaring a strike in the face of the company’s neglect of labourers,” a union representative said during a live-streamed news conference.

Samsung Electronics' management has been in talks with the union since the start of this year over wages, but the two sides have so far failed to strike a deal.

The union has demanded a 6.5% pay rise and a bonus pegged to the company's earnings.

Samsung Electronics is the world's largest maker of memory chips, smartphones and televisions.

Analysts have warned that a full-scale strike could affect the firm's computer chip manufacturing and impact the global supply chains of electronics.

Samsung Electronics is the flagship unit of South Korean conglomerate Samsung Group. It is the biggest of the country's family-controlled businesses that dominate Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Samsung Group was known for not allowing unions to represent its workers until 2020 when the company came under intense public scrutiny after its chairman was prosecuted for market manipulation and bribery.

Samsung Electronics' shares were trading about 1.8% lower in Seoul after the announcement.

With additional reporting by Jake Kwon in Seoul

Samsung Electronics union announces first-ever strike

May 29, 2024

SEOUL (AFP) – A major union representing tens of thousands of people at South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics said Wednesday that workers will go on strike for the first time ever, potentially threatening key global semiconductor supply chains.

A spokesperson said union members, around 20 per cent of the company workforce, would use annual leave to strike for one day on June 7, leaving the door open for a potential general strike down the road.

Samsung Electronics is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers and also one of the only companies globally to produce high-end memory chips used for generative AI, including top-of-the-line AI hardware from industry leaders such as Nvidia.

Management at the firm, the world’s biggest producer of memory chips, has been locked in negotiations with the union since January over wages, but the two sides have failed to narrow their differences.

“We are declaring a strike in the face of the company’s neglect of labourers,” the National Samsung Electronics Union said at a live-streamed press conference.

“We have tried to solve the issue through dialogue,” said the union, which represents more than 28,000 people.

“Responsibility for all collective action from now lies squarely on the company. We are declaring our stance in the face of the company’s neglect and interference in our peaceful struggle so far,” it added.

If the strike goes ahead, it would be the first-ever walkout by workers at the South Korean tech giant.

Union president Son Woo-mok said the union had accepted the pay raise proposed by the company but was asking for one additional holiday plus “a transparent system to measure the performance bonus based on the sales profit”.

“The company is not hearing us and they are not communicating from our last negotiation session,” he said.

A company official told AFP: “Samsung will keep in dialogue with the labour union going forward as it has been.”

Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of South Korean giant Samsung Group, by far the largest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Anti-union?

For almost 50 years, Samsung Electronics avoided unionisation of its employees — sometimes adopting ferocious tactics, according to critics — while rising to become the world’s largest smartphone and semiconductor manufacturer.

Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, who died in 1987, was adamantly opposed to unions, saying he would never allow them “until I have dirt over my eyes”.

Internal documents from 2012 obtained by a South Korean MP instructed managers to control “problematic personnel” seeking to establish unions.

“To avoid claims of unfair labour practices, dismiss key organisers before the launch of a union,” it read, among other recommendations.

But in 2019, organisers seized the opportunity presented by the left-leaning government of President Moon Jae-in — a former rights lawyer who represented trade unions — and controversy around the bribery trial of the company’s vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong, the founder’s grandson, to set up a union.

“Having 20 per cent of its workforce on strike will significantly impact the company as a whole, especially at a time when it needs to act quickly in the ever-evolving semiconductor industry,” said Kim Dae-jong, professor of business at Sejong University

“Unlike Hyundai Motor, which has dealt with strikes almost annually, Samsung management will struggle to control this situation because it has never dealt with a strike before,” he added.

The union said that as an initial starting measure, they would strike for one day only on June 7 and would use annual leave.

“It could lead to a general strike,” a union spokesperson said, adding that the action was still the company’s “first strike action (and) we believe it is meaningful.”

Semiconductors are the lifeblood of the global economy, used in everything from kitchen appliances and mobile phones to cars and weapons.

And demand for the advanced chips that power AI systems has skyrocketed thanks to the success of ChatGPT and other generative AI products.

Semiconductors are South Korea’s leading export and hit USD11.7 billion in March, their highest level in almost two years, accounting for a fifth of South Korea’s total exports, according to figures released by the trade ministry.

ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

Executions worldwide jumped last year to the highest number since 2015, Amnesty report says

This photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the state's death chamber in Columbia, S.C. (AP file photo)

Sylvia Hui
The Associated Press
Staff
Contact
Updated May 28, 2024

The number of executions recorded worldwide last year jumped to the highest level since 2015, with a sharp rise in Iran and across the Middle East, Amnesty International said in a report released Wednesday.

The human rights group said it recorded a total of 1,153 executions in 2023, a 30 per cent increase from 2022. Amnesty said the figure does not include thousands of death sentences believed to have been carried out in China, where data is not available due to state secrecy.

The group said the spike in recorded executions was primarily driven by Iran, where authorities executed at least 853 people last year, compared to 576 in 2022.

Those executed included 24 women and five people who were children at the time the crimes were committed, Amnesty said, adding that the practice disproportionately affected Iran's Baluch minority.

"The Iranian authorities showed complete disregard for human life and ramped up executions for drug-related offences, further highlighting the discriminatory impact of the death penalty on Iran's most marginalized and impoverished communities," Agnes Callamard, Amnesty's secretary general, said in a statement.

The group said China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and the United States were the five countries with the highest number of executions in 2023. The total number cited in Amnesty's annual report was the highest it recorded since 2015, when 1,634 people were known to have been executed.

Amnesty International director general Agnes Callamard delivers her speech in Paris.
 (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Callamard said progress faltered in the U.S., where executions rose from 18 to 24 and a number of states "demonstrated a chilling commitment to the death penalty and a callous intent to invest resources in the taking of human life."

The report cited the introduction of bills to carry out executions by firing squad in Idaho and Tennessee, and Alabama's use of nitrogen gas as a new, untested execution method in January.

Amnesty said that despite the setbacks, there was progress because the number of countries that carried out executions dropped to 16, the lowest on record since the group began monitoring.

Authorities urge proper cooking of wild game after 6 relatives fall ill from parasite in bear meat

By The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reaffirmed the importance of properly cooking wild game after six people became sick from a parasite traced to undercooked bear meat that was served at a family reunion in South Dakota.

The six — one in South Dakota, four in Minnesota and one in Arizona — became infected when bear meat that was served rare turned out to be contaminated with roundworms that cause trichinellosis, also known as trichinosis. Two of the people ate only the vegetables that were grilled with the meat. While the meat had been frozen for 45 days, the trichinella worms were from a freeze-resistant species.

“Persons who consume meat from wild game animals should be aware that that adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites and that infected meat can cross-contaminate other food,” the CDC said in its report on the outbreak last week.

The first case turned up after the 2022 reunion in a 29-year-old Minnesota man who had been hospitalized twice with fever, muscle aches and pain and swelling around his eyes, among other abnormalities. A sample of the meat, from a black bear harvested in Saskatchewan, tested positive. Three of the victims were hospitalized in all. All six, ranging in age from 12 to 62, eventually recovered.

Trichinellosis has become rare in the U.S. While it was once commonly associated with undercooked pork, most U.S. cases nowadays are attributed to consumption of wild game. From 2016 to 2022, seven outbreaks, including 35 probable and confirmed cases, were reported to the CDC. Bear meat was the suspected or confirmed source in most of those outbreaks.

The larvae can settle into intestinal, muscle, heart and brain tissues, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most patients fully recover within two to six months.

The CDC recommends cooking wild game to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), as verified with a meat thermometer. Meat color is not a good indicator. The family members ate some of the meat before realizing it was undercooked and recooking it, the report said. Raw and undercooked meat and their juices should be kept separate from other foods.

The Associated Press

Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
Many wildlife experts tell bear hunters to consider all bear meat infected. 
(CNN Newsource)

Jen Christensen
CNN
Digital
Updated May 28, 2024 


It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.

The celebration happened in summer 2022, according to the account in the latest edition of the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. An extended family – unnamed in the report – came from across the country for a reunion in South Dakota.

One family member, a hunter, brought some black bear meat that he had harvested in northern Saskatchewan in May 2022. The hunter said that the hunting outfitter had recommended freezing the meat to kill any potential parasites.

The meat had been frozen for 45 days before it was thawed, and the family grilled it with some vegetables and served it as kebabs.

Freezing can kill some parasites commonly found in black bears, but according to the World Organisation for Animal Health, some species of parasites are freeze-tolerant.

Bears and other wildlife including wild boar, wolves and squirrels can often get sick with trichinellosis, a serious disease caused by parasitic roundworms of the genus Trichinella, but they will often appear perfectly healthy. When butchering the meat, it would be difficult to tell if it was contaminated because there are few signs of the parasite.

Many wildlife experts tell bear hunters to consider all bear meat infected, and the CDC recommends cooking the meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasites. Smoking, salting, drying and microwaving do not always kill them, experts say.

The meat at the family reunion was initially served rare, but that was not the chef’s intention, the CDC said. Rather, it was “difficult for the family members to visually ascertain the level of doneness” because the meat was dark in color. After some of the family noticed that it was undercooked, they put it back on the grill before it was served again.Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips

It wasn’t until after people had gone home that some started to get sick.

The first illness was in a 29-year-old man who had to be hospitalized twice over a three-week period. He reported symptoms of severe muscle pain and a fever, and his eyes became swollen. Blood tests showed that he had eosinophilia, a condition involving too many eosinophils in the body, a signal to doctors that someone could have allergies, cancer or parasites.

It wasn’t until his second trip to the hospital that doctors learned the man had eaten bear meat and suspected that he may have trichinellosis. Tests soon confirmed that that was the case, and tests were recommended for the other family members.

Trichinellosis can be a light or severe infection, and the symptoms can depend on where the larvae migrate to in the body. Light infections may not have noticeable symptoms, according to the CDC. If the parasite moves into the gastrointestinal tract, it can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting. In muscle, it can cause a fever, rashes, conjunctivitis and facial puffiness. Occasionally, there may be life-threatening symptoms including heart problems, trouble with the central nervous symptom and breathing issues.

Among the eight family members whom investigators interviewed, six had symptoms that were consistent with trichinellosis. Four had eaten bear meat and vegetables, but the other two had eaten only vegetables cooked with the meat. Three family members had to be hospitalized.

The hospitalized people got trichinellosis-directed treatment with albendazole, an antiparasitic drug. Those who were not hospitalized received only supportive care since their symptoms had resolved before it was determined they had the infection. Everyone has since recovered.

In the course of the investigation, CDC labs received samples of the frozen bear meat and found Trichinella larvae, and the hunter was advised to discard any remaining meat. The CDC also informed the Public Health Agency of Canada about the outbreak since the bear had comefrom that country.

The CDC says it’s important that game meat – particularly wild game harvested in northern latitudes – be cooked thoroughly.

Since meat that is contaminated with Trichinella can cross-contaminate other foods, raw meat should be stored and prepared separately from other foods. The CDC also recommends that government agencies and private groups that organize or oversee hunting should educate hunters about these risks and how to protect themselves.
Facing deportation from Canada, Indian students to go on full hunger strike

The hunger strike by Indian students, protesting the immigration cuts in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, has entered the fourth day. The protestors will now go on a complete hunger strike for 24 hours on May 28.


Protesting Indian students in Canada's PEI are now going on a full hunger strike. 
(Image: X/SamJensen541638)

India Today World Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: May 28, 2024 
Written By: Priyanjali Narayan

In ShortIndians will go on a full hunger strike from May 28 to protest against immigration cuts
Protesters demanding that those who came to Canada before July 2023 be exempted
Cuts by Prince Edward Island come amid strain on province's healthcare and a housing

Indian students, facing deportation from the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, have been on a hunger strike for four days. Now, they have threatened to go on a full hunger strike by avoiding even fluid intake on May 28. The hunger strike comes as hundreds of Indian students are facing deportation after a change in the provincial laws related to immigration.

One of the Indian protesters said around 50 students had already left Canada.

After the hunger strike for four days, the protestors will start a dry hunger strike on May 28, Canadian media outlet, CBC, reported on Tuesday.

A dry hunger strike means these protestors would be without any liquids as well and this puts their lives at more risk than if they were at least having liquids.

This comes against the backdrop of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) government's decision to reduce the number of workers for permanent residency in 2024 from around 2,100 to 1,600. It would decrease the people from other countries who are nominated for permanent residency in Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The nominees will be cut by 25% in 2024, as there is stress on PEI's healthcare and housing system. 

GOVERNMENT HAS GONE DEAF, SAYS INDIAN STUDENTS

The Indian immigrants say their opportunities are being taken away.

Jaspreet Singh Sivia, one of the protestors, blames the government for disrupting the life of people who were already in the process of getting permanent residency in Canada.

The Indian students plan to step up the protests if the government refuses to listen.

"There have been no actions taken. It looks like the government has become deaf," Sivia said. "We will be doing a 24-hour dry hunger strike effective Tuesday if we still don't hear from the government officials. We will be there 24/7, every day."

Silvia said the protestors realise the health risk they are taking, but they also want to fight for fair opportunity.

These protests began on May 9 and involved 60 protestors with their posters in front of the Colest Building at the PEI legislature.

Now, from May 28, the protestors will move to the site permanently, reports CBC.
WHAT PROTESTING INDIAN STUDENTS IN PEI ARE DEMANDING

The protestors are demanding that people who came before July 2023 should be exempted from the immigration cuts.

Rupinder Pal Singh, one of the protestors even told CBC how around 50 people have left Canada due to the change of regulations.

"There are some people who have been harassing us ... throwing glasses, cans at us, throwing water while people were asleep," Singh said. "We even saw the harassment from people shouting, making noise all night long because we have been protesting outside, people have been sleeping."

POLICE KEEPING TABS ON PROTESTING INDIANS IN CANADA

Charlottetown police's Deputy Chief Sean Coombs told CBC how the protests are being watched by patrol officers.

"We have not received any medical distress calls through our dispatch to this location. We have a designated officer who remains in contact with this group and has open dialogue. The group remains peaceful and respectful of rules and law," Coombs told CBC.

The protestors have the opposition's support. "It's very unfair," said Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly. "They're already here."

He supported the immigrants and said, "those little things that the government is making this excuse about. And they should be treated with more respect and listened to."

Green MLA Peter Bevan-Baker said, "I'm ashamed that the province who welcomed these folks here had a set of rules — legitimate, perfectly reasonable rules — laid out to which all of these people complied fully."

"Then, without any warning, [the government] changed those rules to the point now where those whose work permits are expiring, their choices are very limited."

 

Haiti transition council taps former PM Conille to again lead country

Garry Conille, UNICEF's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, speaks during an interview with Reuters, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti January 27, 2023.
Garry Conille, UNICEF's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, speaks during an interview with Reuters, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti January 27, 2023

By Harold Isaac

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Haiti's transition council on Tuesday tapped former Prime Minister Garry Conille, who briefly led the country over a decade ago, to return to the role as the Caribbean nation works to restore stability and take back control from violent gangs.

The transition council voted 6-1 to install Conille as interim prime minister, a member told Reuters.

Conille's extensive resume in development, working largely with the United Nations, is considered key to shoring up international support as Haiti prepares to launch a U.N.-backed security mission led by Kenya, though its deployment has faced hurdles.

The transition council, which holds some presidential powers, and its head, Edgard Leblanc, acting as a de-facto president, are now tasked with holding elections before Feb. 7, 2026, as laid out in Haiti's constitution.

"Following discussions within the transition council after hearings with the candidates for prime minister, Dr. Garry Conille was chosen by consensus to lead the government during this transition period," Leblanc said on X.

Conille's naming underscores progress in Haiti's political process and follows Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation in March after he left Haiti to seek support for the Kenyan security mission and was unable to re-enter the country.

President Jovenel Moise, who named Henry, was assassinated in 2021. Haiti has not had a president since.

"My sincerest congratulations," business leader Alix Didier Fils-Aime, who had also put his hat in the ring for the role, said on X. "I'm still a patriot who believes in this country. Long live Haiti!"

Conille was prime minister for just seven months, resigning in February 2012 after losing the support of his cabinet and clashing with then-President Michel Martelly.

Conille and Martelly butted heads over reconstruction contracts following a deadly 2010 earthquake and a parliamentary investigation into politicians holding dual citizenship, which is illegal in Haiti.

Conille most recently held the post of regional director at U.N. children's agency UNICEF.

He will now be tasked with fighting off rampant insecurity as gangs have expanded their reach. More than 360,000 people are already internally displaced within Haiti, according to U.N. estimates, mostly from capital Port-au-Prince, due to the gang conflict.

(Reporting by Harold Isaac; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Valentine Hilaire and Anthony Esposito)

Colombia’s Congress Votes to Ban Bullfighting in Blow to Tradition

A demonstrator holds an anti-bullfighting banner in Bogota on May 7, 2024.Antonio Cascio—SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images


BY MANUEL RUEDA / AP
MAY 28, 2024 

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s congress voted Tuesday to ban bullfights in the South American nation, delivering a serious blow to a centuries-old tradition that has inspired famous songs and novels but has become increasingly controversial in the countries where it is still practiced.

The bill calls for the banning of bullfights in a three-year span, making the tradition illegal by the start of 2028. The new law now needs to be signed by President Gustavo Petro, who has been a longtime opponent of these events.


Bullfighting originated in the Iberian Peninsula and is still legal in a handful of countries, including Spain, France, Portugal, Peru, Ecuador and Mexico.

It was once a popular event, broadcast live by multiple television networks. But the tradition has come under increased scrutiny as views change about animal rights, and many find it unacceptable to see an animal suffer for entertainment’s sake.

A protester places a poster of a bull with a message that reads in Spanish: “No more culture of violence” near a glimmering of candles, during a protest against bullfighting, which has been temporarily suspended as Congress debates its legality, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)


“This ban is a huge victory for organizations that have worked to transform society and reject violence against animals,” said Terry Hurtado, an animal rights activist and city council member in Cali, who has been leading protests against bullfights since the 1990s. “I feel relieved that bulls and horses (which also participate in some bullfights) in Colombia will no longer be tortured, and that children will no longer be exposed to this spectacle.”

In bullfights, a matador faces bulls that are bred to be aggressive. The matador taunts the bull with a red cape and kills the animal with the blow of a sword after it has been injured with lances and daggers, and is tired of charging at the matador in a circular arena.


In Colombia, where bullfights have been held since colonial times, less than two dozen municipalities continue to hold these events, although the annual bullfights in the city of Manizales still draw tens of thousands of spectators.

Bullfighting aficionados described the ban as an assault on the freedoms of minorities as well as a problem for cities where these events draw thousands of visitors

 

[Graphic News] Cristiano Ronaldo named world’s highest-paid athlete

By Nam Kyung-don

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the highest-paid athlete over the past year, according to the Forbes article, “The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2024.” The Portuguese soccer superstar earned $260 million between May 1, 2023 and May 1, 2024.

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, who made headlines with his move from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in December 2023, ranked second with $218 million in earnings.

In third place was Argentina’s Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, with $135 million. NBA stars LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks followed in fourth and fifth places, earning $128 million and $111 million, respectively.

Palestine’s Quest for UN Recognition: What’s Next and What’s at Stake?

For Palestinians, the recognition holds both symbolic and practical significance, offering avenues for representation and diplomacy. However, the tangible benefits and freedoms of statehood remain elusive until Israel acknowledges Palestine as an equal partner.


BYRAMEEN SIDDIQUI
MAY 29, 2024
 UN Photo/Manuel Elías



The United Nations General Assembly has decisively voted in support of an enhanced Palestinian membership within the organization.

The recent decision by the UN General Assembly to support increased Palestinian membership in the United Nations could have significant implications. The resolution, backed by countries including Ireland, acknowledges Palestine’s eligibility for full UN membership and urges the Security Council to revisit the issue, following a previous veto by the US. This development highlights the growing international support for Palestinian recognition and could lead to important changes in the region.

The current vote holds significant implications, with divergent perspectives on its potential outcomes. Some view it as a crucial initial move towards enduring peace in the Middle East, while others fear it may inadvertently reward terrorism, potentially prompting the United States, the largest contributor to the United Nations, to withdraw its financial support. The decision made today could shape the future trajectory of international relations and global peace efforts in the region.

Recognizing a country as a sovereign state involves complex considerations that go beyond just geographic boundaries and government structures. The Montevideo Convention, signed in 1933, outlines four key criteria for statehood: a permanent population, a government, defined borders, and the ability to engage in foreign relations. However, not all recognized states strictly adhere to these guidelines. For instance, countries like Libya, which may have multiple governing bodies, challenge the conventional notions of statehood.

As of the end of 1988, approximately half of the United Nations member states had acknowledged Palestine. Fast forward to the present day, and that number has risen to 140 nations. On May 28th, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are set to formally join this group, a significant development given that most other Western countries do not officially recognize Palestine. Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany advocate for a two-state solution in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, asserting that they would only acknowledge a Palestinian state if endorsed by both parties. However, Israel opposes any independent actions taken by Palestinians without mutual agreement and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has consistently rejected the idea of a two-state solution.

In diplomatic circles, there is a discussion about whether the current situation could establish a precedent for other similar cases, like Kosovo and Taiwan. Meanwhile, the United States is facing a significant issue due to a law from the 1990s that prohibits the allocation of funds to the United Nations if Palestine is granted equal status as member states. Amendments have been made to clarify that Palestinians will not be able to participate in General Assembly voting or propose candidacies for UN organizations, including the Security Council.

The admission of a new member state into the United Nations is subject to the approval of both the Security Council and the General Assembly. Should the Palestinian Authority’s application successfully navigate the Security Council, it will proceed to the General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority is required for approval.

The likelihood of the application’s success appears more favorable in the General Assembly than in the Security Council. This is evident from the fact that 139 nations, representing a substantial majority of the General Assembly, already formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. This widespread recognition could potentially play a pivotal role in securing approval from the General Assembly when the time comes for a vote on the matter.

Ireland has emerged as a prominent advocate for Palestinian membership, particularly within the European Union. The recent vote showcased overwhelming support for this stance, with 143 countries voting in favor, nine against, and 25 abstentions.

Such resounding numbers not only signal a clear message but also have the potential to mobilize international pressure for a constructive political resolution. Ireland’s proactive engagement in drumming up backing for Palestinian aspirations reflects its commitment to promoting peace and justice on the global stage.

Even if this proposal falls short of full membership, it offers Palestinian representatives the opportunity to occupy seats in alphabetical order on the General Assembly floor, a significant shift from their current placement at the rear of the hall. This adjustment grants them the ability to co-sponsor proposals, engage in international conferences, and partake in meetings. As highlighted by Adil Haque, a law professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey, this development will empower Palestinians to voice their concerns and influence discussions on a variety of topics.

The necessity of establishing a Palestinian state according to the borders set in 1967. It also urges the UN Security Council to review their decision regarding Palestine’s membership. If this proposal were to be approved, it would highlight the United States’ isolation on this issue. Any potential decision by President Biden to cut funding to the UN in response would only serve to diminish the country’s international standing even further.

The Palestinian quest for complete U.N. membership emerges in the aftermath of Israel’s prolonged offensive in Gaza and its unlawful expansion of settlements in the West Bank. The U.N. has consistently supported the concept of two states coexisting peacefully with secure boundaries. Palestinians aspire to establish their state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, a move that is opposed by Israel. This ongoing conflict underscores the complexities and challenges hindering a peaceful resolution in the region.

For Palestinians, the recognition holds both symbolic and practical significance, offering avenues for representation and diplomacy. Symbolically, recognition acknowledges the existence and legitimacy of Palestine as a state, paving the way for the establishment of embassies in supportive nations. However, the tangible benefits and freedoms of statehood remain elusive until Israel acknowledges Palestine as an equal partner.

The hurdles to achieving full statehood are evident in the stalled peace talks, with the last direct negotiations collapsing in 2014. The current political climate casts doubts on the feasibility of reinitiating these crucial dialogues. Nevertheless, the necessity of such discussions cannot be overstated, as they represent a vital step towards lasting peace and recognition for the people of Palestine.


Rameen Siddiqui
Rameen Siddiqui
A thought leader and youth activist with main focus areas being Sustainable Development, Political Economy, Development Justice and Advocacy. A member of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY). Also a Youth Member of United Nations Association of Pakistan (UNAP).