South Africa’s ruling party backs motion in parliament to close Israeli embassy
According to media reports, South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), “given the unfolding atrocities in occupied Palestine …” is backing the country’s opposition party’s motion to shut down its embassy. The ANC said in a statement it would support the motion “to close the Israel Embassy in South Africa and suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel...
Germany Rejects Reparations Suit Over Colonial Massacre In Namibia
GINNEWS (GIN) — In its first formal response to a class-action suit filed by the Herero and Nama people of Namibia, Germany has asked a New York judge to throw out the suit as “inadmissible” because of “the principle of state immunity.” The indigenous people have been seeking reparations for the genocide of their peoples under German colonial rule in the early...
Renowned Iranian media figure Talebzadeh laid to rest in Tehran
Veteran Iranian movie producer, director and researcher Nader Talebzadeh has been laid to rest at a cemetery in southern Tehran. The burial ceremony held at Behesht-e Zahra on the morning of May 1 was attended by hundreds of mourners, including senior officials, luminaries, family members, friends, colleagues, journalists, among others. Among the participants were Peyman Jebelli, head of the Islamic Republic...
‘Walkout Wednesday’: UK hit by biggest day of strike action in a decade
Up to half a million British teachers, civil servants and train drivers joined the largest coordinated walkout over pay and working conditions in more than a decade. The nationwide walkouts, whose organizers threaten more disruption if their pay demands are not met, fully or partially closed schools, suspended most rail services, and forced the military to be put on standby...
Nauru switches diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China
TAIPEI, Taiwan—The Pacific Island nation of Nauru said January 16 that it is switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, a move that reduces the dwindling number of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to 12 around the world. China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory and has been peeling off the island’s diplomatic allies, often with promises of development aid. It’s a long-running...
Grandson of Nelson Mandela shows solidarity with Palestinians
Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, the grandson of the late South African president and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, was recently in Chicago. Mr. Mandela is an elected member of the South African National Assembly, tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council. He toured the U.S. from May 15-May 20, speaking in several cities in support of solidarity with the Palestinian people...
UN: 20 migrants die after thrown overboard en route to Yemen
NAIROBI, Kenya—The International Organization for Migration says at least 20 migrants are dead after smugglers threw 80 overboard during a voyage from Djibouti in East Africa to Yemen. A statement says “smugglers started shouting there were too many on board” after the boat with 200 migrants, including children under 18, set off on March 3. The IOM says five bodies have...
U.S. seeks seat on rights council
UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - President Barack Obama has taken yet another step in distancing his administration from the past eight years under George W. Bush by announcing U.S. intentions to run for a seat on the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council in May. The Human Rights Council is a UN inter-governmental body that monitors governments and promotes international human rights. Ajamu Baraka,...
Guatemala arrests ex-minister who resigned rather than use force against protesters
GUATEMALA CITY—Guatemalan police on January 11 arrested the country’s former interior minister for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered. Police arrested Napoléon Barrientos at his home, leading him out in handcuffs and a bulletproof vest. Barrientos told reporters he didn’t know...
Growing movement demands return of cultural art, artifacts
Two-years-ago, a study, “The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage,” found at least 90 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s cultural legacy remains preserved outside of the African continent. “Whereas many other regions of the world represented in Western Museum collections are still about to hold on to a significant portion of their own cultural and artistic heritage, this is not the case...