Censorship in China
Censorship enforcement by China has required their citizens to download a program to access broader perspectives on the COVID 19 virus. There are a few software options, but, the program accessible on GitHub, Terminus2049 was targeted recently. GitHub is a platform to discover software. This program required volunteers to manually archive articles about the Coronavirus. "Mr Chen Mei, Mr Cai Wei and his girlfriend surnamed Tang" were most active on the project, and Chinese law enforcement arrested them without informing anyone on April 19th; furthermore, the software GitHub download page is blocked in China.
"The administrators of 2019nCoVMemory - another GitHub coronavirus archive - made the "protective" move to restrict access to its site to members only, according to an e-mail sent to subscribers that was circulated on Weibo."[1]
Separatists in Yemen claim Aden
A separatist group, which is not the Houthi rebels, had negotiated “a peace deal with the country’s internationally recognized government” over the weekend, granting the group governance of a Yemeni regional capital called Aden. Although the separatists have fought along side with the Saudi-led coalition, their protests and claim of Aden is alarming, inciting fear of a greater conflict, as “the [Yemen] government dismissed the separatists’ move.”[2]
COVID 19 concerns prompt the release of twelve thousand prisoners in Afghanistan
President Ashraf Ghani announced the amnesty and release of 12,399 prisoners Monday on top of previous orders totaling about 16,000 people. The people are of “minimal threat to the public” were pardoned, including corruption criminals; furthermore, an additional five thousand Taliban prisoners are planned to be released.[3]
New Zealand resolved the COVID 19 situation in their country, reopening
As New Zealand reports one new case of COVID 19 Sunday and single digits for several days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared that “the virus was ‘currently’ eliminated.” “Schools, shops, restaurants could operate without social-distancing”[4]; however, government officials encourage their citizens to exercise vigilance.[5]
April 28 , 2020
Venezuela restructures leadership to re-establish oil industry
On March 26, 2020 I recorded that the United States charged and sanctioned “14 of the ruling elite of Venezuela” for sustaining the drug trade in Colombia and other local economies. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ignored their sanctions and charges, shuffling his ruling elite to address the oil industry concerns in the country. Yesterday he appointed, one of his vice presidents, Tareck El Aissami, to be oil minister; Asdrubal Chavez, a cousin of “Hugo Chavez, as interim president of the state oil firm PDVSA”; and El Aissami, who “played ‘a significant role in international narcotics trafficking’”, as “the twin responsibilities of oil minister and PDVSA chief.” [6]
Jailed lawyer in China sees family after 4.5 years
I reported on April 7, 2020 that “Wang Quanzhang …was arrested among many activists and human rights lawyers in 2015 during a nationwide China crackdown”, and he “was ’freed’ on Sunday, the 5th of April 2020.” Wang was unable to see his family despite his release from jail until yesterday, saying in an interview that “he felt like he was in a ‘trance.’ ‘Finally being able to hug my wife and kid—this once was a common routine, but it took five years for me to do so.’”[7]
Two million in Syria left without medical supplies and personnel
After authorities reported the first death of COVID 19 in northeast Syria on April 17, 2020, the Human Rights Watch group is advocating for the region because “Damascus and Iraq are preventing medical supplies and personnel needed to prevent, contain, and treat” the coronavirus; furthermore, the UN Security Council ended the authorization of their aid delivery to that region in January.[8]
Fuel tanker explosion in Syria kills forty
A town in northern Syria endured a fuel tanker bombing, killing 40 civilians. 11 of which are children. The town is held by the Turkey-backed opposition group. Turkey believes that it was “carried out by Syrian Kurdish fighters linked to Kurdish militants fighting Turkey” according to state news. The Kurdish militant violence in Syria is greater than one may realize.[9]
April 29, 2020
Peruvian prisoners demand better conditions
After “more than 600 prisoners have been infected by Covid-19 in Peru” and at least 13 prisoners dead, inmates at the Miguel Castro Castro prison in Lima “protest[ed]…, manag[ing] to ”climb to the roofs with the aim of preventing access by (security forces) by throwing stones and other blunt objects at them.” Nine prisoners were killed, and some were shot. They were demanding COVID-19 testing, more sanitary measures, medical care, and amnesty.[10]
Man in Florida arrested for illegal drug possession
Hernando County in Florida arrested a man was “carrying enough narcotic fentanyl to kill half a million people.” The man’s name is David Gayle. “They found more than two pounds of the synthetic drug fentanyl and methamphetamine” as well as “small amounts of cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana.” Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the following: “We can never measure what we prevent, but it is a very good bet that this quantity of fentanyl would have resulted in a number of overdose deaths right here in Hernando County.”[11]
Construction fire in South Korea kills 38
38 people is the current count of deaths for a construction fire in Icheon, South Korea, which is south of Seoul. The large fire required four hundred of firefighters, working several hours to contain it. Most of the 38 deceased died of toxic gases as eight other construction works are being treated for injuries.[12]
2020 Chernobyl fire, taking at least a month to fully extinguish
Ukraine has been fighting a fire in an exclusion zone due to the Chernobyl incident since the beginning of the month. "More than one thousand firefighters were still working to fully extinguish the fires in the zone," covering thousands of acres. The blaze came less than a mile to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site.[13]
April 30, 2020
Nigeria continue operations against Boko Haram
Nigeria’s military reported several successful operations within the past week or so on Wednesday. They reported on offensives, ambushes, counterattacks, and clearance operations. Only one military casualty was reported of at least seven operations as many Boko Haram Terrorists were neutralized.[14]
India and Pakistan violate ceasefire agreements at Kashmir
In recent days I have seen both Pakistan and India accuse each other of violating ceasefire agreements at Kashmir. A result of this long lived land dispute is that civilians are killed. Two more civilian deaths were reported yesterday. Kashmir is occupied by India, but the land is not officially given to either country. “The overall civilian casualties since the start of the year are six deaths and injuries to 61 others.”[15]
Europe’s GDP shrinks
The coronavirus and quarantining has caused a decline in the Gross Domestic Product by more than 3 percent for most prosperous countries. Although France’s economy already contracted 0.1% during the fourth quarter of 2019, France’s GDP shrank 5.8% for the first quarter of 2020 as the average economists’ expectations were 3.5% with the worst at 7%.[16] Spain’s GDP contracted 5.2%, and the United States’ shrank 4.8% as “the European Union lost 3.5% of gross domestic product”, which is the total of products and services’ accumulated of a country over a quarter of the year.[17]
Libyan’s government rejects Khalifa Haftar’s ceasefire
Khalifa Haftar leads Libyan National Army, the rival faction against the Government of National Accord, which isrecognized by the United Nations as the government of Libya. After proclaiming himself the ruler of Libyan by “popular mandate”, Khalifa “had said on Wednesday it would cease hostilities for the duration of Ramadan in response to international calls for a truce.” The GNA rejected Khalifa’s lead into a ceasefire due to his trustworthiness.[18]
May 1, 2020
Sudan bans Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation is a custom that has been documented in thirty countries.[19] “Girls get cut because of a widespread cultural belief that it is essential for girls' reputations and future marriage prospects.” The majority of the countries that practice this custom are in Africa. “According to a Unicef report carried out in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East, the practice is still being widely carried out, despite the fact that at least 24 of these countries have legislation or some form of decrees against FGM.”
Sudan has joined the countries, criminalizing female genital mutilation. “Some 87% of Sudanese women aged between 14 and 49 have undergone some form of FGM, according to the UN.” Although most states in Sudan made FGM illegal prior to the amendment, the ban is largely ignored as the punishment of a fine and a three year prison sentence has been established for anyone that is found guilty of performing female genital mutilation.[20]
Daesh claims Thursday’s explosion, targeting a military vehicle of Egypt
Amaq News Agency was informed by Daesh, an Islamic State militant group in Egypt, that they claim Thursday’s bombing “without giving any evidence or details on how many were involved.” “10 military personnel were killed or wounded in a blast targeting an armoured vehicle” near Bir al-Abd of the North Sinai province.[21]
Denmark foils Islamic militancy operation
Danish secret services and police in Copenhagen acted on a terrorist threat, arresting the suspect. A police official said that they “carried out a coordinated police action”, and “the suspect had attempted to acquire a weapon and ammunition.” No further information was given other than the suspect is “charged with intent to commit terror”, and the individual was “inspired by Islamic militancy.”[22]
Many United States implement plans to reopen next week
Approximately twenty four of the United States implement plans to reopen. Most plans include “easing restrictions on restaurants, retail and other businesses shuttered by the coronavirus crisis.” “About two dozen states, mostly in the South, the Midwest and mountain West, have moved to relax restrictions since Georgia led the way late last week. Texas and Florida, among others this week, outlined plans for doing so in the days ahead” as most of the other states are facing daily record counts of new cases and deaths. The United States also faces a “lack of wide-scale virus testing and other safeguards urged by health experts.”[23]
I have seen articles headlines saying that other countries are reopening carefully as well.
[2] Al-Haj, Ahmed. “Yemen’s southern separatists claim sole control of Aden.” AP, 25 Apr. 2020, https://apnews.com/82b8fff1a5f03154ec19ddb2e2380718.
[3] Mukhtar, Ahmad. “Afghan leader orders release of more than 12,000 prisoners to help curb spread of COVID-19.” CBS News, 27 Apr. 2020, https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-update-lockdowns-million-cases-2020-04-27/.
[4] “Schools, shops, restaurants could operate without social-distancing”—New Zealand’s virus-free goal.” The Economist, 27 Apr. 2020, https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2020/04/27/schools-shops-restaurants-could-operate-without-social-distancing-new-zealands-virus-free-goal.
[5] “Coronavirus: New Zealand claims no community cases as lockdown eases.” BBC News, 27 Apr. 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52436658.
[6] “Venezuela Names Official Indicted by US as Oil Minister.” Yahoo!, AFP, 27 Apr. 2020, news.yahoo.com/venezuela-names-official-indicted-us-oil-minister-213311763.html.
[7] Fu, Eva. “‘Feels Like a Dream’: Teary Reunion for Freed Chinese Human Rights Lawyer and Family.” The Epoch Times, 27 Apr. 2020, www.theepochtimes.com/feels-like-a-dream-an-teary-reunion-for-freed-chinese-human-rights-lawyer-and-family_3329402.html.
[8] “Syria: Aid Restrictions Hinder Covid-19 Response.” Human Rights Watch, 28 Apr. 2020, www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/28/syria-aid-restrictions-hinder-covid-19-response.
[9] Fraser, Suzan. “Attack in Syria Town Run by Turkish-Backed Fighters Kills 40.” ABC News, Associated Press, 28 Apr. 2020, abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bombing-north-syrian-town-afrin-kills-20-civilians-70383888.
[10] Osborne, Samuel. “Peru Prison Riot over Coronavirus Fears Leaves Nine Dead.” Independent, 29 Apr. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/peru-prison-riot-coronavirus-miguel-castro-castro-lima-a9490351.html.
[11] Zoellner, Danelle. “Florida Man Is Arrested with Enough Fentanyl to Kill 500,000 People, Police Say.” Independent, 29 Apr. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/florida-drugs-bust-arrest-fentanyl-david-gayle-cocaine-marijuana-a9490461.html.
[12] “South Korea Construction Fire Kills at Least 38.” CBC News, Associated Press, 29 Apr. 2020, www.cbc.ca/news/world/south-korea-construction-fire-1.5548893.
[13] Reevell, Patrick. “Drone Video Shows Devastation Caused by Wildfires around Chernobyl.” ABC News, 29 Apr. 2020, abcnews.go.com/International/drone-video-shows-devastation-caused-wildfires-chernobyl/story?id=70363555 .
[14] Dapam, Tobias Lengnan. “Troops Kill Several Boko Haram Terrorists, Recover Weapons.” Peoples Daily, 30 Apr. 2020, peoplesdailyng.com/troops-kill-several-boko-haram-terrorists-recover-weapons/.
[15] Naqash, Tariq. “Indian Ceasefire Violations Will Always Be Met with a Befitting Response: COAS.” Dawn, 29 Apr. 2020, www.dawn.com/news/1553236.
[16] “France Enters Recession as GDP Falls by Record 5.8 Percent in First Quarter.” France 24, News Wires, 30 Apr. 2020, www.france24.com/en/20200430-france-enters-recession-as-gdp-falls-by-record-5-8-percent-in-first-quarter.
[17] Nagarajan, Shalini. “The Coronavirus' Horrendous Impact on Europe's Economy Is Growing Clearer as GDP Shrinks 3.8%, and Germany, France, and Spain Report Catastrophic Data.” Business Insider, 30 Apr. 2020, www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/the-horrendous-impact-of-coronavirus-on-europes-economy-is-growing-clearer-as-gdp-shrinks-38-and-germany-france-and-spain-report-catastrophic-data/ar-BB13pCeL.
[18] “Libya's Unity Government Says Rejects Haftar's Truce Offer.” Yahoo!, AFP, 30 Apr. 2020, news.yahoo.com/libyas-unity-government-says-rejects-haftars-truce-offer-174255811.html.
[19] “Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).” WHO, www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/.
[20] “Sudan criminalises female genital mutilation (FGM).” BBC News, 1 May 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52502489.
[21] “Daesh claims responsibility for Egypt's Sinai attack.” The Daily Star, Reuters, 1 May 2020, https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2020/May-01/505238-daesh-claims-responsibility-for-egypts-sinai-attack.ashx.
[22] Buttler, Morten. “Danish Police Arrest Terror Suspect in Copenhagen.” Bloomberg, 1 May 2020, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-30/denmark-police-say-they-have-acted-on-islamic-terrorist-threat.
[23] Caspani, Maria. “Half of U.S. states easing coronavirus restrictions as jobless numbers grow.” The Globe and Mail, Reuters, 1 May 2020, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-half-of-us-states-easing-coronavirus-restrictions-as-jobless-numbers/.
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