International Headlines
Oct 21: Support from US
Three separate bills have been passed by the United States House of Representatives, all supporting the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. One bill condemns Beijing’s intrusions into Hong Kong’s affairs; another calls for annual reviews of Hong Kong’s economic and trade status; the third halts the sale of riot control gear used on the Hong Kong protestors. China has condemned the bills as “gross interference”.
Oct 18: On Trial
Bruno Dey, 93, is on trial in Germany for his role in the mass murders that took place during the Second World War in the Stutthof Camp (located in what is now northern Poland). He is accused of being complicit in the killing of 5,230 prisoners. He admits serving there, having knowledge of the atrocities and has voiced regret, but not admitted to any part in the murders.
Oct 17: Hong Kong Attack
Jimmy Sham, of the Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) is in hospital following an attack, photographs of him lying in the street, covered with blood, have been circulating on social media. CHRF says he has head injuries after being attacked by a group of up to five men wielding hammers. Jimmy Sham is a leader of the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Oct 16: Freed!
67 people aged seven to 40 have been freed by Nigerian police who found them shackled in an Islamic boarding school, or Almajiri, which are common in north Nigeria. Last month another 300 people, all male students, were freed from a different school. The police said the boys and men had been subjected to "inhuman and degrading treatments", including beatings and sexual abuse. Three arrests have been made.
Oct 15: Exposed!
The British BBC has published a report which claims that China’s Study the Great Nation news and information app gives the Chinese Communist Party access to extensive data on more than 100 million citizens. Security firm Cure 53 says the app “gives the government ‘super-user access’, collecting data on its users, a claim denied by China. The app is widely promoted for use by citizens and is mandatory for government officials.
Oct 11: Basketball Spat
Daryl Morey, General Manager of American Basketball team Houston Rockets, has sparked a row with China by tweeting “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong”. The league has invested millions in China which provides 10% of the league's current revenue, and this is expected to double in the coming years. The Chinese Basketball Association said it would suspend all cooperation with the team and streaming of matches.
Oct 10: US Stands Firm
The United States is to impose visa restrictions on Chinese government and Communist Party officials, and their family members, who have been involved in the repression of Muslim populations: this is in reference to China’s abuse of the ethnic minority Muslim Uighur population of east Turkestan [Xinjiang] in north western China. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, accused the Chinese government of instituting "a highly repressive campaign".
Oct 10: China Harrasses Nepal
China is trying to induce Nepal to sign an extradition treaty during Chinese President Jinping’s visit there this month. Nepal-based Khabarhub reports that the treaty is ready in draft form. Experts fear that China's aim is to extradite Tibetans involved in ‘anti-China’ activities in Nepal and are recommending that treaties of this nature should be thoroughly discussed and not signed under pressure.
Oct 8: Hundreds Arrested Worldwide
Extinction Rebellion protests have taken place across the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Austria, France and New Zealand, with further protests planned over the next two weeks. 30 people were charged with committing offences in Sydney, Australia and 270 arrested in London, UK. Extinction Rebellion are demanding that governments take immediate and drastic action to address climate change.
Oct 7: UN Peacekeeper Killed
A United Nations Peacekeeper was killed and four others wounded when their car was hit by an explosive device in northern Mali in West Africa, reports the Hindu. UN peacekeeping and French forces are stationed in Mali to combat jihadist groups seen as threatening security across Africa's Sahel region said the report. The region has been in conflict since 2012 when Islamists hijacked an ethnic uprising.
Oct 4: Theft of Remains
Some of Mahatma Gandhi’s remains have been stolen from a memorial in central India where they had been kept since he was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist, and “traitor” scrawled in green paint across his photographs. Gandhi, a devout Hindu who would have been 150 years old today, was a revered independence leader but viewed by some as a traitor because of his advocacy of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Oct 2: Protestor Shot
An 18-year-old Hong Kong protestor has been shot in the chest with live ammunition. Police have been using rubber bullets in the ongoing demonstrations demanding democracy for Hong Kong, this is the first live ammunition used. The day’s protest was in defiance of China’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China. The man who was shot is reported as being treated in hospital.
Oct 1: 70th Anniversary
China is marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Part with a massive display of military power in Beijing. Communist Party leader Chairman Mao announced the creation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949 in Tiananmen Square with a 17-plane flyby. The PRC was established following a civil war between the nationalists and the communists.
Sep 27: Impeaching the President
The United States Democrat Party is pushing ahead with a formal impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, the Republican US President. He is accused of seeking foreign help (via a phone call to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky) to smear Mr Biden, the Democrat seeking nomination for next year’s presidential election, and in addition of using military aid to Ukraine as a bargaining tool.
Sep 26: No Fine
An unemployed Nigerian immigrant living in Venice decided to sweep the streets instead of begging. He displayed a cardboard sign nearby saying "I would like to integrate myself honestly in your society without asking for alms [...] I will keep your street clean and ask only a contribution for my work." The local council fined him €350 ($383 / £309), but lifted it following a local protest.