WORLD - The African Mirror

Apr

02

2021

Three takeaways from the George Floyd murder trial

WORLD

Here are three takeaways from yesterday's testimony at the trial of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin, accused of killing George Floyd, a Black man whose death in May led to protests against racial injustice in cities worldwide: * Floyd's girlfriend Courteney Ross, 45, testified they were a loving couple who struggled with an addiction to painkillers. Chauvin's lawyers argue Floyd's death was the result of an overdose, but the Floyd family's lawyers said in a statement: "Tens of thousands of Americans struggle with self-medication and opioid abuse and are treated with dignity, respect and support, not brutality." Months ago the…

Apr

02

2021

By The African Mirror

Suu Kyi faces new charge under Myanmar’s secrets act; wireless internet suspended

WORLD

MYANMAR’S deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule, her lawyer disclosed yesterday. Myanmar has been rocked by protests since the army overthrew Suu Kyi's elected government on February 1 citing unsubstantiated claims of fraud in a November election that her party swept. In a new measure to stifle communication about the turmoil, the junta ordered internet service providers to shut down wireless broadband services until further notice, several telecoms sources said. Suu Kyi and other members of her National League…

Apr

02

2021

By The African Mirror

Brazil’s Bolsonaro seeks police support before elections with reshuffle

WORLD

GABRIEL STARGARDTER PRESIDENT Jair Bolsonaro rattled Brazilian politics and irked military commanders with a major cabinet reshuffle this week but one powerful constituency is thrilled: the police have one of their own running the Justice Ministry. By picking a cop, rather than a lawyer or civil servant, Bolsonaro sent a clear message on law and order in turbulent times, said Wellington Corsino, who leads an association of 134,000 state military police officers. "It's great to have a president who is concerned with public security at this time of disturbance, at a moment of political, social and economic instability," said Corsino.…

Apr

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi ‘looks healthy’, lawyer says, as U.S. orders non-essential staff to leave

WORLD

MYANMAR's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in good health in a video meeting yesterday, one of her lawyers said, as the United States ordered its non-essential embassy staff to leave after "horrifying" violence against opponents of a coup. The detained Nobel laureate, who has been held in custody since the military seized power on February: 1, had wanted to meet lawyers in person and did not agree to a wide discussion by video in the presence of police, lawyer Min Min Soe told Reuters by telephone. "Amay looks healthy, her complexion is good," Min Min Soe said, using…

Apr

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Biden proposal: $174 billion for EVs, new funds for renewable power

WORLD

DAVID SHEPARDSON and NICHOLA GROOM 0606President Joe Biden's vast infrastructure plan includes $174 billion to boost the markets for electric vehicles and billions more for renewable power - both provisions aimed at weaning the U.S. off of fossil fuels and combating climate change. The $2 trillion plan, which also seeks to invest in traditional projects like roads and bridges, is a centerpiece of the administration's ambitious agenda to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050 and restore the nation's leadership in addressing global warming. It also vows to spend $165 billion on public transit, Amtrak and other rail projects - moves…

Jan

08

2021

By The African Mirror

Trump faces 2nd impeachment after Capitol siege

WORLD

RICHARD COWAN and JOSEPH AX CONGRESSIONAL Democrats have weighed impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time, two days after his false claims of election fraud helped encourage a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol. Democratic leaders including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's cabinet refused to take steps to remove Trump from power. "The president's dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office," they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an "insurrection." As calls…

Jan

08

2021

By The African Mirror

After Capitol violence, Trump faces removal and staff exodus

WORLD

ANDY SULLIVAN and JONATHAN LANDAY THE top two Democrats in Congress have called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office, one day after his supporters stormed and vandalized the U.S. Capitol in a harrowing assault on American democracy. With 13 days left in Trump's term, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer both said Vice President Mike Pence should invoke the U.S. Constitution to remove him from office before then. Absent that, they said Congress should move quickly to expel him through the impeachment process. "We are in a very difficult place in…

Jan

08

2021

By The African Mirror

World stunned by Trump supporters storming U.S. Capitol, attempts to overturn election

WORLD

SOME world leaders expressed their shock as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building where Congress meets in an attempt to overturn the results of the November 3 election won by Joe Biden. Iran's president said it proved the weakness of Western democracy while officials in China and Russia compared the storming to protests in Hong Kong and Ukraine. Here are reactions from around the world: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "saddened" by the events at the U.S. Capitol, his spokesman said. "In such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on…

Jan

08

2021

By The African Mirror

Chinese web firms ‘bullying’ customers with data, algorithms – consumer watchdog

WORLD

CHINESE internet companies have been violating customers' rights by misusing personal data and "bullying" people into purchases and promotions, a government-backed consumer association said on Thursday. The statement from the China Consumers Association (CCA) did not name any companies, but comes as Beijing has ramped up scrutiny of technology giants, reversing a once laissez-faire approach towards its vast internet space. "Consumers are being squeezed by data algorithms and becoming the targets of technical bullying," the association said. Companies must stop using systems to scan through consumers' personal data and offer them different prices for goods based on that information, the…

Jan

08

2021

By The African Mirror

Some Israeli Arabs, Jerusalem Palestinians wary of coronavirus vaccine

WORLD

AS Israel leads the world in the rate of coronavirus vaccination, some of its Arab citizens and Palestinians in annexed East Jerusalem are regarding the shot with suspicion. In what officials see as a result of misinformation about possible side-effects or supposed malicious properties, turnout for vaccines has been low among Arabs, who make up 21% of Israel's population, and Jerusalem Palestinians. "I will not be vaccinated because I don't know what is in there. No one explained it to me," said Marouf Alyino of East Jerusalem. "Everyone is looking at Facebook and social media, where we hear about someone…