Mexico City imposes severe, monthslong water restrictions as drought dries up reservoirs
MEXICO CITY—Mexican officials imposed severe, monthslong cuts to Mexico City’s water supply at midnight November 10, acting just a month after initial restrictions were ordered as drought dries the capital’s reservoirs. The Mexican National Water Commission and mayor announced the moves at a news conference, but officials did not report the cuts on social media until just four hours before they took...
South African revolt aimed at economic apartheid
An uneasy calm hung over South Africa after 25,000 army troops were deployed to assist police responding to unrest in the country. The social eruptions, riots, destruction of businesses and clashes with police began July 8 when former President Jacob Zuma started serving a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court. “Supporters in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal set...
Nation faced with rising suicides among young and old
GINNEWS (GIN)–South Africa's rising suicide rate is in the spotlight as the World Health Organization marks World Suicide Prevention Day. According to the Men's Foundation of South Africa, 450 men take their lives every month with four out of five deaths being the result of suicide. In August, Professor Bongani Mayosi succumbed to the pressures of being one of the few Blacks...
Activists demand U.S. attends race conference
NEW YORK (FinalCall.com) - The December 12th Movement, a Brooklyn-based advocacy group, spearheaded a March 21 national grassroots day of protest against a decision by the Obama administration not to attend the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland April 20-24. The meeting is a follow up to a major international conference on race eight years ago. Standing in front of...
Africa Watch – Free Trade, Women Entrepreneurs and Vestiges of Apartheid South Africa
Africa from exporter of raw material to supplier of manufactured goods Africa's intra-regional commerce as a share of its overall trade rose a mere seven percent from eight percent in 2011, points out Moody's, the rating agency. The continents total inter-continental exports in 2016 amounted to just 18 percent of Africa's total exports. Compare that with intraregional exports in...
Haiti crisis flares up with constitutional crisis
Violence and political upheaval have flared up in Haiti over a constitutional crisis caused by a presidential term dispute. Demonstrations have intensified on the streets of Port-au-Prince amid demands Haitian President Jovenel Moïse step down. Opposition leaders, a cross section of civic groups and a growing number of international activists and observers agree his five-year term ended February 7,...
World News in Brief: Syria violence intensifying, heavy weapons threat in Myanmar, justice call for Thai lawyer
The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry, which reports to the Human Rights Council, warned that fighting escalated on October 5 last year, when consecutive explosions at a military academy graduation ceremony in government-controlled Homs killed at least 63 people, including 37 civilians. The Syrian Government and Russian forces “responded with bombardments” that struck at least 2,300 sites in opposition-controlled areas in...
Do county payments to judges amount to bribes?
They are drafting legislation to require judges to provide financial disclosure forms to parties that come before them in courtrooms, including who gave political donations, and organizations they belong to and serve on board of directors. The disclosures are already mandated, however, you have to probe the Secretary of State and County Registrar’s Office, said to Atty....
Wyclef brings excitement to Haiti’s politics
ERICTOUREM -Staff Writer- Hip hop artist may have major impact on Haiti politics, but can he pull the country together? (FinalCall.com) - On the streets of Port-au-Prince, Wyclef Jean, the popular musician and founder of the Yele Haiti foundation, formally announced his run for president of the country. His music career and humanitarian work, have made him well known to Haitians and...
Spain restarts talks to resolve Catalan secession crisis
BARCELONA, Spain—Spain’s prime minister and Catalonia’s leader met Sept. 15 to restart negotiations in hopes of finding a solution to the ongoing political crisis caused by the region’s separatist movement. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the two-hour meeting with regional president Pere Aragonès was important to continue mending relations between their governments, but that there would be no quick fix...