Cosy business alliances holding Asia back - 360
Simon Commander, Saul Estrin
Published on May 10, 2023
For future economic growth, Asian economies need effective policy interventions to foster, not limit, competition and innovation.
Close ties between big business groups and political elites are ubiquitous in Asia.
We term these links the Connections World. In this world, business group structures facilitate opaque corporate governance, weak minority shareholder rights and a raft of undesirably close relationships with politicians. They also leverage their connections to build substantial market power.
Although Asia’s high levels of concentration and business entrenchment have not been a barrier to growth, they have resulted in constraints on competition and, in particular, a brake on innovation, threatening Asia’s prospects. Yet neither businesses nor politicians have incentives to deviate from their mutually rewarding relationships.
To start loosening this chokehold of the Connections World to induce greater competition along with more entry and exit of companies, something can be done to lower the appeal of the business group format.
The most radical approaches to do this were taken in the US in the 1930s and in Japan post-1945, where Roosevelt and then Macarthur respectively pushed through policies to effectively eliminate the business group format. Limits were placed on the number of levels or tiers, higher taxes were imposed on inter-group dividends, consolidated group tax filing was eliminated and constraints imposed on financial institutions acting as controlling shareholders as well as on business groups controlling public utilities.
However, such drastic policies were undertaken at a time of economic depression or defeat in war and a backlash against incumbent companies. It is unlikely anything so sweeping would now be feasible in Asia. Rather, incremental policies that address corporate governance, taxation and market structure have far more chance of success.
Asian business groups, with few exceptions, have highly opaque corporate governance. This facilitates the dominant (mostly family) owners exerting control, usually at the expense of the minority shareholders.
Improving protection of minority shareholders by giving them legal rights to call shareholder meetings and to limit the dilution of shareholdings by the majority shareholders can begin to address this imbalance. Reducing non-transparent inter-group financial transfers can also be aided by requiring the publication of plans for related party transactions and ensuring minority shareholders have a say in such transactions. This could be done through voting at shareholder meetings and mandatory veto rights over the sale of additional shares.
Policy initiatives are needed to govern how businesses configure themselves. A variety of policies have been tried to reduce the number of levels permitted in pyramid structures along with the number of subsidiaries. Policies to restrict crossholdings and the use of holding companies have also been adopted.
Yet these measures have largely failed. An alternative approach taken in Israel, for example, has been to give business groups a specified and limited time in which to reduce to no more than two layers, while also banning large companies from controlling both financial and non-financial entities. This approach has proven relatively effective.
Using tax policy to influence how a business is organised is another option. Although, in principle, higher taxation of dividends could restrict inter-group transfers, most Asian business groups do not rely on dividends for these purposes, using loans and transfer-pricing instead.
Imposing additional tax liabilities, over and above normal corporate tax rates, on closely held family businesses (but excluding young entrepreneurial family firms) is more promising. By targeting the business entity, the value of any control premium is effectively attributed and taxed to all the relevant members of the family. This has the additional advantage of targeting the format of the business group.
A further tax intervention could be the adoption of inheritance taxes. South Korea — following in the footsteps of Japan — has recently introduced a 50 percent inheritance tax rate (Commander, 2022). The effective tax rate in 2020 on the value of the deceased Chairman of the Samsung Group shares amounted to over 58 percent (Commander, 2022). This has led the current Chairman to announce he does not intend to hand over management to his children. Over time, inheritance taxation may prove to be an effective way of curtailing family business groups and also help address the high levels of wealth inequality in Asia.
In most Asian economies, competition laws are in place, as are bankruptcy laws. All — except Malaysia — have merger control laws. Yet, their implementation has been erratic and the competition authorities have often been captured by the same entities whose behaviour they seek to check.
To deal with the anti-competitive impact of business groups, authorities need to move beyond evaluating marginal changes to market structure via mergers and acquisitions. Following Israel’s experience in the 2010s, policy measures could explicitly target the overall levels of market concentration, as well as sectoral market concentration.
One way to do this is to set limits on the maximum market share a firm or business group can hold — say, 30 percent — and then require that existing firms be broken up to ensure the thresholds are not exceeded, sector by sector. The thresholds might be lowered when firms are affiliates of the business groups to counter their ability to leverage resources and market power through their position in other markets.
Although this sort of approach would be more stringent than in most advanced economies, it could be the starting point in much of Asia where there is far more market power vested in a limited number of business groups.
Of equal importance is to apply pressure on politicians and political parties to limit their leveraging of connections with business.
This requires greater involvement of civil society by increasing transparency and creating a workable enforcement system. Yet these are all hard to achieve, even in democracies.
Plenty could be done. Rules regarding political contributions can be tightened. Except for South Korea, no other country has banned or limited political contributions by businesses.
Compulsory asset and interest declarations also have a role to play. Although many Asian countries do notionally mandate such declarations, much depends on how such reporting is designed, let alone implemented. Registers of interests — individual and family — can be used for parliamentarians and ministers. Pushing for greater automatic disclosure along with easy and wide access, along with measures aimed at limiting corruption in public spending decisions, are necessary.
Such measures include frequent external audits. Some countries have achieved traction by setting up dedicated and autonomous anti-corruption agencies – for instance, Indonesia’s KPK – that have sufficient political support to take on sensitive cases.
Asia’s sustained growth has been built on the concentration of resources, assets and market power. These features will be less benign in the future. Dismantling the hold of business groups and limiting the ability of politicians to leverage connections to business are some of the most urgent policy challenges now on the table.
*Analysis and examples in this article can be sourced in Connections World, Commander and Estrin (2020).
is Managing Partner of Altura Partners providing policy advice to governments and companies in emerging economies. He is also Visiting Professor of Economics at IE Business School in Madrid and was previously at London Business School. From 1998 to 2011 he worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London and from 1988-1998 at the World Bank in Washington DC.
was the founding Head of the Department of Management at LSE and formerly a Professor of Economics, and Associate Dean at London Business School. He researches in international business and entrepreneurship, especially with reference to emerging economies. He is former President of the European Association for Comparative Economic Systems.


Sri Lanka: Clearing the way · Global Voices
Rezwan

Jason Motlagh reports in Untold Stories: “Journalists have been barred from covering the war in Sri Lanka's battered northern region, and now aid workers are out of the picture. As government forces aggressively advance toward the Tamil Tiger capital, Kilinochchi, tens of thousands of displaced Tamils have lost the only bulwark between them and two sides with grim human rights records.”


Peru, China: First Round Election Analysis · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Peru Election 2006 and Un Lobo en Perú both have the latest numbers and analysis from yesterday's presidential elections in Peru. China Confidential explains why Chinese officials aren't ecstatic about Ollanta Humala's first round plurality.


New Bridges: Indigenous People and New Canadians - New Canadian Media

September 28, 2021
Inhabitants of different social and cultural worlds, Indigenous people and New Canadians have remained, politically speaking, largely separate. Immigrant populations have their own media outlets and quite distinctive political environments. The major political parties work for their support extensively and, to an impressive degree, successfully. That there are more Indo-Canadian and Asian-Canadian Members of Parliament than there are Indigenous, however, speaks to the growing engagement and achievement of New Canadians in Canadian politics.
Indigenous people have a lower profile in partisan politics, but they have long been associated in electoral terms with the Liberal Party. Individually, and riding by riding, First Nations, Metis and Inuit people also engage as candidates and on policy development with the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party. But they are not large or cohesive enough, nor are they sufficiently active in federal politics, to attract sustained interest at election time. Indigenous media, given little attention in the Canadian mainstream but extremely insightful about developments in the communities, generally devote little attention to immigrant populations.
Two of the most important demographic trends in Canada seem disconnected: the rapid growth of the Indigenous population in Canada and the continuing surge in immigration. As First Nations, Metis and Inuit people rebuild their numbers – only in recent decades reaching likely pre-European contact levels – the large and sustained pace of immigration has long since transformed the nation in positive and constructive ways and, as the federal election of 2021 shows, continues to reform Canadian politics.
While both populations are much younger than the Canadian average, they generally inhabit different geographic spaces. Most Indigenous people live in rural, remote, and small town areas, even with a recent growth in Indigenous urban populations. New Canadians are overwhelmingly urban, with most drawn to the urban magnets of the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa.  While provincial nominee programs have attracted some migrants to smaller centres, re-migration to metropolitan areas remains commonplace.
Indigenous demands of the government in Canada rest on the history of colonialism and paternalism. Canadians know well the misdeeds and interference of the Government of Canada. Indeed, historical guilt weighs heavily on many Canadians and accounts for the desire of the country at large to apologize for residential schools, to support changes to the Indian Act and to accept major financial settlements associated with land claims and other legal challenges.
New Canadians, particularly those who arrived in Canada in the last 40 years, have no specific reason to share these sentiments. They and their ancestors hold no direct responsibility for the intrusive policies and the generations-long marginalization of Indigenous Peoples; indeed, many immigrant groups faced decades of racism and discrimination at the hands of governments and the dominant societies. Nonetheless, and as Canadians, New Canadians share a legal and moral responsibility to support the legal and political obligations of the state toward Indigenous people.
The divide between Indigenous and New Canadians – marked primarily by limited engagement and much less by conflict and antagonism – remains one of the most fundamental gaps in Canada’s political landscape.
New Canadians, many of whom struggle with the economic transition to their new country, have been known to harbour resentments to government support for Indigenous communities and Indigenous legal and constitutional rights. For their part, Indigenous people have noted the growing political power of New Canadian populations and the growing government attention to their concerns and understand that their own claims to Canadians’ attention may slip over time. But they have not engaged with the newcomers extensively.
There are significant exceptions to this substantial gap. Indigenous political organizations, most notably the Assembly of First Nations and its former National Chief Perry Bellegarde, have reached out to immigrant groups. The University of the Fraser Valley, particularly through former President Mark Evered, made extensive efforts to bring First Nations and Indo-Canadian communities together. Aditya Jha, an impressive Ontario-based business leader and philanthropist, has a long-standing interest in supporting Indigenous economic participation. Grace Chum, a well-connected Chinese-Canadian activist and philanthropist, has deep interests in Indigenous cultures and social development. These are small, largely personal, overtures, but they point toward more promising engagements in the future.
Much more is needed, not for partisan or political reasons, but in the interests of building a stronger nation. Through the match of their remarkable resilience and legal and political processes, Indigenous people have a growing power within the Canadian federation. New Canadians, through force of numbers, activism, and collective determination, now feature prominently in national politics; their authority will grow in the coming years. Canada is strengthened by the presence of both groups (which, in turn, are marked by great diversity). The country will be stronger again if there is greater understanding and coordination of activities between Indigenous people and New Canadians.
This is, decisively, not a matter for government action. It falls, instead, to representative organizations to reach out, to learn from each other, to address differences and to identify areas of agreement. Indigenous and New Canadian media have a crucial role to play in building bridges and creating new levels of understanding. Cultural groups, on both sides, could play a vital role in enhancing mutual respect; indeed, the importance attached to food, ceremony, storytelling, dress and other manifestation of active and proud cultures provides an obvious point of safe and supportive contact between groups.
Canada’s future will be defined, in surprisingly large measure, by Indigenous people and New Canadians.
Building strong ties and mutual understanding should be a top collective priority. Failure to build bridges will leave Indigenous people and New Canadians on opposite sides of important political and policy divides. With successful accommodations, the Canadian mosaic could be strengthened in a manner that solidifies the place and authority of Indigenous people while respecting and recognizing the growing stature and importance of New Canadians.
Countries are built by the constant vigilance and creative engagement of its citizens. This is particularly true with the current separation of Indigenous and immigrant communities. It is time to convert a potential fault line in the Canadian body politic into a source of unity and common purpose.
Kenneth Coates is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Saskatchewan; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; and the Munk Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Ken was raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, and has long-standing professional and personal interests in Aboriginal rights, northern development, northern Canadian history, science, technology and society, and Japan Studies.


Taiwan: mobile coffee · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Funck Chen at CCB.2.0 blogs about the cultural history of mobile coffee house. The first coffee car appeared in 1999, and now becomes a national landscape and the drivers of moible coffee house are usually the best tourists’ guides (zh).


Nigeria: Middle class comfort · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kazey's Journal discusses the middle classes, becoming rich and moaning about not being comfortable when you have loads of money.” Comfort is a condition. You can only be comfortable when you have no immediate challenges in life that gives you discomfort.I understand wealth quite well and the need to get money”


Madagascar: After the Land Grab Affair, Is Daewoo Back in the Country ?    · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Sam posts an open letter to Andry Rajoelina written by Mamy Rakotondrainibe that demands more transparency on the return of Daewoo Logistics in the economy of  Madagascar [fr].  Mahefa Rakotomalala provides more context on this return [fr]. The South Korean company is notorious for an attempted land grab deal that provoked the fall of former president Ravalomanana. Other land deals are still supposedly in the work in Madagascar.


Taiwan: terrorist blogger · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates some reports and posts about a blogger in Taiwan who blogged about various ways to depose President Chen Shui Bian. The blogger is now investigated by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and may be charged with incitement of others to commit crime soon.


Nicaragua: Why Do So Few Blog? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Nicaragua Y Su Blog [ES] wonders why so few people blog in Nicaragua?  Responses came from the Nicaraguan Facebook group where some of the existing bloggers gave their thoughts on the matter.


Iran:Praising Ahmadinejad · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Abedto admires[Fa] Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's courage and says before his presidency,USA had upper hand in dealing with Iran.Now USA asks Iran to take part in negotiations [in Iraq].


Why West Africa civil society organizations are urging ECOWAS to prioritize disability inclusion · Global Voices
Zita Zage

An illustration showing people with disabilities standing behind a barrier. Screenshot from Disability Inclusion Matters for All on World Bank YouTube channel. Fair use.
Disability inclusion remains a critical issue in Africa, with millions of people facing significant challenges in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and social protection. Civil society organizations in West Africa are urgently calling on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prioritize disability inclusion, warning that failure to do so may impede progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the World Bank and ReliefWeb report, people with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa confront numerous obstacles that hinder their full participation in society. These challenges include limited access to education, employment disparities, inadequate healthcare services, pervasive social stigma, and insufficient access to social protection programs. Such barriers perpetuate a cycle of poverty and exclusion, preventing individuals with disabilities from reaching their potential and contributing to their communities.
To address the issue of disability inclusion, inclusive education must be prioritized as a fundamental stepping stone to empowerment and socio-economic mobility. Shockingly, the data from the World Bank reveals that only a small percentage of children with disabilities are enrolled in schools compared to their non-disabled peers, underscoring the need for inclusive education systems that accommodate diverse needs and foster a supportive learning environment. This requires governments to implement policies ensuring accessible schools, inclusive teacher training, and specialized support services. Additionally, awareness campaigns can help challenge disability stigma and promote a more inclusive mindset within communities.
Unemployment rates among persons with disabilities in Africa are significantly higher than among the general population, as emphasized by the ReliefWeb report. Overcoming barriers in the job market requires a concerted effort from governments, businesses, and civil society. Disability-inclusive hiring practices, workplace accessibility, and vocational training programs are essential to provide economic opportunities for people with disabilities. By empowering individuals with the skills and resources to pursue meaningful careers, Africa can tap into a vast pool of talent and drive economic growth through diversity and inclusion.
Quality healthcare is a basic human right, yet many people with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant challenges in accessing essential medical services because of physical barriers, discrimination, and limited resources. Governments and healthcare providers must prioritize disability-inclusive health policies and services, ensuring that healthcare facilities are accessible to all, medical professionals are trained in disability-sensitive care, and affordable assistive devices are made available.
Before the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Guinea Bissau that took place on Sunday, July 9, a coalition of disability rights organizations comprising the West African Federation of Associations for the Advancement of Persons with Disabilities (FOAPH), Sightsavers, and Light for the World issued a joint statement. The statement implored member governments to commit to championing inclusion at the ECOWAS event and the forthcoming United Nations (UN) summit on the SDGs in September.
The SDGs, a collection of 17 ambitious global goals established by the UN and governments worldwide in 2015, aim to tackle poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. However, a recent UN report indicates significant gaps in progress toward achieving these goals. Sightsavers’ Global Advocacy Officer for Francophone West Africa, Saleck Ould Dah, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating:
As the world is reaching the halfway point towards the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, evidence shows that progress has derailed, and we are completely off-track.
Dah further emphasized the critical importance of inclusion, noting:
The promise to leave no one behind, including people with disabilities, is in peril. If the SDGs are to be delivered, now is the time to reflect on their implementation and the necessary global and national steps to achieve them.
The SDGs play a crucial role in promoting disability inclusion in Africa. They encourage countries to create policies and implement measures that ensure the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The SDG Progress Report emphasizes the significance of disability-inclusive policies and practices. It acknowledges both the progress made and the challenges that persist in making the African continent more inclusive. The report highlights the importance of gathering data on disability and mainstreaming disability considerations across all sectors to develop targeted strategies for inclusion.
Through its Equal World campaign, Sightsavers urged ECOWAS to renew its commitment to greater inclusion of people with disabilities at the SDG summit. They called upon ECOWAS to serve as a champion for inclusion not only in West Africa but also on the global stage.
At the midway point of the SDGs, on September 18 and 19, world leaders, including ECOWAS heads of state and government, will convene at the UN SDG Summit in New York to assess progress and make commitments towards transformative and accelerated actions. The summit's outcome will be a negotiated political declaration to which member states can contribute. FOAPH President Yatma Fall acknowledged ECOWAS's historical leadership in inclusive commitments, stating:
ECOWAS has been a global leader in commitments to inclusion. The Equal World campaign calls on them to continue championing efforts to reach those who are being left furthest behind.
Fall further stressed the need for the involvement of people with disabilities in the processes leading up to the SDG Summit, emphasizing that an equal say in decisions that impact their lives is crucial to achieving a fair, inclusive, and equal world for all.
The joint statement released by the coalition forms part of Sightsavers’ broader Equal World campaign, which implores world leaders to recognize the jeopardy facing the promise to leave no one behind. The campaign urges them to ensure that the political declaration and all national commitments made at the SDG Summit prioritize reaching those who are most marginalized in global development.
Disability inclusion in Africa is not only a matter of social justice; it is imperative for sustainable development and growth. By recognizing the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities and taking proactive measures to address them, the continent can build a more inclusive, equitable, and thriving future for all its citizens. To achieve this vision, collaboration among governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector is essential. Through the implementation of disability-inclusive policies, investment in education and healthcare, and the promotion of inclusive workplaces, Africa can unleash the potential of its disabled population, fostering a society where every individual can contribute their talents and dreams to create a brighter future for everyone.


Friday World Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Rebecca MacKinnon

Central Asia:
Kudos to Lyndon at Scraps of Moscow and Nathan at Registan.net for their excellent collection of posts and links, aggregating and translation (by Lyndon) of information about the Uzbekistan uprising.
Baltics:
This picture appeared around Latvia during President Bush's visit. All About Latvia explains what “Peace Duke” means.
Belatedly, here are some impressions on Bush's Latvia visit by Baltic coctail (sic)
Eurasia:
Blogrel links to some critical Armenian views about Bush's Georgia visit.
Cyber-Generation hates cold showers in Moscow.
Some silly person has created a Xanga blog claiming to be authored by Vladimir Putin…
Africa:
Afrotecnik posts some useful links on the impact of cell phones in Africa.
Zimbabwean Pundit gives us the latest links on arbitration for farmers whose land was forcibly seized.
Sokwanele describes his local pastor's latest junket.
Bankele posts from Nairobi on the state of Kenyan media.
East Asia:
ESWN has a long post on China's biggest internet crime trial to date.
Danwei mocks CNN's China coverage.
Southeast Asia:
In Thailand, Sampaworn shows how Bangkok Post editors make things worse.
Mack at BrandMalaysia criticizes Anwar Ibrahim's latest TV appearance.
Middle East:
Iraq:
Raed in the Middle has a good news story on Shia peacemakers in Fallujah.
A Free Writer says the insurgency is death with no rules.
Iranian Election Blogging:
Iranian Prospect describes a Strategy of Fear.
Hossein Derakhshan says the regime is desperate for a high turnout.
Free Thoughts on Iran describes Iran's censorship situation.


Kaduna Train Attack: Terrorists Release Three More Victims - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Publisher (A.M)
July 25, 2022
The victims, who consist of two males and a female, secured their freedom around 11 am on Monday.
They were released by the terrorists at a location inside the forest along
the Kaduna – Abuja highway.  From there, they were picked up by their
relatives.
So far, 22 victims have regained their freedom.
It is however not clear if any money was paid to the terrorists to release their abducted victims.
With the release of the three victims, the number of those still in captivity now remains at 40.


Nigerian Law School releases 2021 bar finals results | EduCeleb
7th July 2021
The Council of Legal Education has released the 2021 Bar Final Results of the last set of the Nigerian Law School.
Statistics obtained by EduCeleb.com shows that a total of 5,770 students sat for the exams and 20 students (0.07%) made first-class while 432 (7.49%) students made Second Class (Upper Division).
Furthermore, 2,172 (37.64%) students made Second Class (Lower Division) while 1,725 (29.90%) scales with pass
35 (0.61%) Students have conditional pass while 1,326 (22.98%) failed. 60 (1.04%) students were absent.
The Council has approved the result and slated 27th, 28th July 2021 for call to Bar.
EduCeleb.com also learnt that the Board of Studies recommended Approval to Commence Faculty of Law Veriitas University Bwari Abuja with a student admission quota of fifty (50) at 100 level only to commence with effect from 2020/2021 academic session.
The Accreditation Panel will visit the faculty again in 2022 to ascertain that all areas that need improvement have been addressed accordingly.
The Council after due consideration of the report endorsed the recommendations of the Board of Studies.


Syria: “The Revolution is Continuing in Daraa; Are You With Us?”  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
The situation in Daraa, Syria, is becoming more destitute, as reports continue of more protests, and a more violent crackdown on the protesters.
On Twitter, Daraa Now reports:
URGENT: Tens of dead bodies still scattered within the city of #Daraa #Syria
and adds:
URGENT: Complete darkness now in #Daraa #Syria, no food, water or communications, bullets are add up!
while SyriansHand notes:
More than fifty of protesters were shot dead by security forces and Syrian army since Monday in #Daraa #Syria
The Angry Arab News Service‘s As'ad Abu Khalil blogs:
A Syrian source sent me this:  “”My cousin tried going to Daraa today to see if his sister and her family are still alive, but as soon as he got close his car was shot at by the army and he was told he will be dead if he gets closer and a lot more which I would rather not share. This is the army that is supposedly protecting the ppl of Daraa from “armed gangs”. By killing more people the Syrian regime is doing the biggest service to radical Islamist.””
In another post, he adds:
I think that we should all call for the return of the state of emergency.  I never knew how dangerous it is for Syrians not to have it.  The regime is killing more Syrians without it.
Meanwhile, on YouTube, videos continue to pour out of Daraa, showing protesters being shot at, like in this video by horanson1:
The video comes with the following note (Ar):
نحن نطلب الحرية لا اكثر و الحرية بنظر بشار و ماهر الأسد تعني لهم سقوط نظامهم القائم على القمع و الأستبداد
فأين انتم يا أكراد اين انتم يا عرب أين انتم يار دروز اين انتم يا علوية اين انتم يا سوريين
كلنا نريد الحرية
الثورة في درعا مازالت مستمرة فهل انتم معنا؟
Whoever demands freedom is considered a traitor or a Salafist or a foreign agent by Bashar Al Assad. Is freedom just for Bashar and Maher (Al Assad)? The revolution will continue and our morale is high despite the fallen martyrs.
We are asking for freedom and nothing more but freedom, in the eyes of Bashar and Maher Al Assad, means the end of their regime, which is founded on repression and injustice. Where are the Kurds? Where are the Arabs? Where are the Druze? Where are the Alawites? Where are the Syrians? We all want freedom. The revolution is continuing in Daraa. Are you with us?
On Facebook, the Sham News Network continues to update readers on the situation in Daraa. A recent update reads:
The Syrian Days of Rage page on Facebook has more on the situation in Daraa:
People of Daraa are calling for stopping the Genocide , Daraa now is completely blocked. the Security forces bombed water tanks , burned bakeries , broke and stole pharmacies. There is no milk for children and they are starving and they also do [not] allow injured people from having medical treatment . and also the reinforcement of the artillery arrived to Daraa , in more than 30 tanks
Back on YouTube, Sham News Network shares this video with us,  showing protesters in Daraa pelting a tank with stones:
And last but not least, the UN Dispatch lists eight must-follow Twitter accounts for the Syrian protests.
“While less refined than traditional journalism, Twitter has become a vital resource for people interesting in keeping up-to-date on the fast-moving events in Syria,” it notes.
They are: @MalathAumran, @ProfKahf,  @SyrianJasmine, @AnasQtiesh, @Mohammad_Syria, @Wissamtarif, @RazanZ and @BBCLinaSinjab.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.


Azerbaijan: Remembering the #EminAdnan campaign · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

With materials now released from Wikileaks showing behind the scenes pressure on the authorities in Azerbaijan to free imprisoned video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, Fatalin's Blog looks back at the international campaign which ultimately led to their release. The case is particularly significant given other documents released through Cablegate allegedly highlighting official Baku's over-reaction in imprisoning them in the first place.


2019: INEC Declares Plateau, Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi Governorship Polls Inconclusive - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 2
March 11, 2019
The IndependentNational Electoral Commission, INEC says the Adamawa state Governorshipelection is inconclusive and a new date for the rerun election would beannounced.
The Returning OfficerAndrew Haruna confirmed the development at the governorship election collationcentre in Yola on Monday.
Similarly INECdeclared of Sokoto state inconclusive. It said the decision was because 75,403votes were cancelled which were higher than 3, 413 margin difference.
A report from Jos saidthe commission has also declared the governorship elections in Plateau stateinclusive.
Also in Bauchi statethe governorship election has been declared inconclusive on Monday.


Video depicting a candid moment between Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath is falsely shared as Modi insulting Yogi - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 12, 2024
A video showing PM Modi pulling Yogi Adityanath by the hand is being widely shared with the claim that Modi insulted Yogi by pushing him away when he attempted to bring up a chair to sit (here, here & here). The alleged incident took place during a public meeting in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. In this article, let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video depicting PM Narendra Modi insulting Yogi Adityanath by pushing him away when the latter attempted to pull up a chair to sit.
Fact: During a public meeting in Pilibhit in April 2024, when Yogi Adityanath was invited to speak, he initially attempted to approach the podium from behind by pushing his chair aside, but PM Modi took his hand and signaled him to approach from the front instead. This moment is misconstrued as Modi insulting Yogi Adityanath. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The event shown in the viral video took place recently in Pilibhit in April 2024, during a public meeting attended by PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath as part of the campaign for the upcoming 2024 elections. However, the full video of the meeting reveals that Modi did not insult Yogi Adityanath; instead, he was directing him towards the podium.
A YouTube search with relevant keywords led us to a news report covering these candid moments between Modi and Yogi Adityanath. According to the report, the footage is from a public meeting in Pilibhit. When CM Yogi Adityanath was preparing to walk to the podium from behind, PM Modi took his hand and directed him to approach from the front.
Additionally, the BJP’s official YouTube channel shared a longer version of the meeting. This footage clearly shows that after Yogi Adityanath was invited to speak, he initially attempted to approach the podium from behind by pushing his chair aside but Modi took his hand and signalled him to approach from the front instead. Yogi Adityanath then approached the podium as guided by Modi and delivered his speech.
Therefore, these confirm that a candid moment is being falsely shared as an insult to Yogi Adityanath.
To sum it up, a video depicting a candid moment between Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath is falsely shared as Narendra Modi insulting Yogi Adityanath.


LASU emerges best delegate at NITMUN for the third time | EduCeleb
17th December 2019
For the third time in a row, delegates from the Lagos State University (LASU) have again emerged best at the Nigerian International Tertiary Institutions Model United Nations(NITIMUN).
The event held between 7th and 12th December in Abuja had delegations from various public and private tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
With the theme, “Engaging young people in promoting peace and countering extremism”, the 12th International Conference provided a platform for participants to discuss issues affecting youths in  member-countries of the United Nations.
At the International Conference, students who became Delegates assumed the positions of Ambassadors of different countries who are members of the UN.
EduCeleb.com recalls that LASU had won the best student delegation award during the 2017 and 2018 editions of the conference.
Interestingly, the school presented seventeen representatives different from those who had previously represented it.
An official of the school, Olaniyi Jeariogbe revealed that the representatives were carefully selected by the school management.
In the words of Mr Jeariogbe who was also the staff adviser for the delegates, “These brilliant, committed and determined young minds with the approval of the Committee of Provost and Deans (CoPD) and University Management decided to represent their Great Citadel of Learning at this critical period of their examination and Life.”
Beyond the overall award, the school’s representatives also went home with eighteen other laurels.
LASU Vice Chancellor,  Olanrewaju  Fagbohun has since congratulated the institution’s delegates to the NITMUN Conference “for once again making the University proud”.
Fagbohun, a law professor, noted  that the performance of the team and their advisers was “praiseworthy and reflective of the hardwork, excellence and the ‘can-do’ spirit that the Lagos State University has come to be known for, in recent years.”
He further stated that, “Their success at the NITMUN is the hallmark of greatness and I have no doubt that ahead of each and every member of the team, lies a bright future.”
The Vice Chancellor, alongside an expanded Management Team will host the Delegation to a lunch on a soon-to-be-announced date.


Russia: Shamil Basayev Dead · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), announced Monday that Shamil Basayev had been killed shortly after midnight in a truck explosion outside a village in Ingushetia.
Timur Aliev (LJ user timur_aliev), editor-in-chief of the print/online weekly Chechen Society (Chechenskoye Obshchestvo), happened to be in Nazran (the capital of Ingushetia until 2000) last night, and below is the translation of his account (RUS) on how he learned about Basayev's death. Although FSB claims that Russia's most wanted man died as the result of a special operation, some people (and bloggers) doubt it.
I was spending the night in Nazran tonight and heard a powerful explosion around midnight, and some 15 minutes later, a few shots – singular, automatic.
In the morning, it turns out there are blockposts on many roads in Nazran – traffic police and some others, unidentifiable, wearing masks – and IDs are being checked. I ask what's going on – they tell me a car with rebels and explosives blew up in Ekazhevo. And around the same time I start getting phone calls from various journalist acquaintances from Moscow – hasn't Basayev been killed? I call my friends from ITAR-TASS in Ingushetia – what have been heard in this regard? Not known yet, they say, two rebels of the four killed cannot be identified yet. All this I tell to my Moscow colleagues. But to myself I think: I'll stay in Ingushetia till the evening and see how the situation develops.
Then I get a call from our newsroom in Grozny – they say the FSB people stopped by, were checking us in relation to something (irrelevant to this post), and one of them said that Basayev had been killed in Ingushetia. He was identified by a missing leg (without a prosthesis, by the way), and it looks like a DNA analysis showed a match. Though it's not clear how is it possible to do such an analysis in a couple hours.
But since we've already got burned on this topic once [Basayev had been reported dead a few times before], I decided to wait until the release of official confirmation. And here it is – Patrushev reports on a successful operation.
upd. Patrushev is talking about a successful operation, but it appears that the whole operation was about identifying a one-legged corpse. Moreover, it turns out that Basayev has been driving around next to the federal highway, just like that – and if it hadn't been for an accidental truck blast, he would have continued to.
***
goldyz: They [the Kremlin] are trying to score a few points on the eve of the [G8] summit. IMHO.
timur_aliev: Yes, of course…
realavatar: […] They were reports recently that Basayev was somewhere in the former Soviet republics…
timur_aliev: Most likely, he transplanted his DNA to someone else and left… :)
vozrozdenie: […] How popular was Basayev […] with the Chechens?
timur_aliev: I'd say that with time he was becoming less and less popular. But he definitely did have admirers: radicals always attract young people other radicals…
***
English-language Russia bloggers are also reacting to the news.
TaliaXianne of Something In The Way She Moves waited for the Chechen sources outside Russia to confirm Basayev's death:
is, allegedly, dead… again.
However, as I just told a friend, ‘maybe I am in denial, but I do not buy it’. But I told myself earlier, when I first heard the rumours, that I would only believe it when Kavkaz and Zakayev said that it was true. And now they both have. […]
David McDuff of A Step At A Time is also relying on extraneous sources (and translates some, too):
[…] Update: Now Kavkaz Center has also confirmed the death, following the view that it was the result of a military accident, and not of a “successful special operation” by Russian or Russian-backed forces. […]
Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog reviews and links to various reports on Basayev's death and its possible causes, notes that this has been “a great week” for Putin – and offers a brief glance at the discussion to come:
Be sure that over the next day or so analysts and commentators will deal with the obvious question: Does Basayev’s death signal the end to the Chechen resistance and the Chechen War?
Vilhelm Konnander cites Nikolai Patrushev on Basayev's plans to disrupt the upcoming G8 Summit:
[…] Basayev was killed while preparing a terrorist attack in Ingusheti capital of Nazran on occasion of the St. Petersburg G8 Summit this week.
He is pessimistic about the effect Basayev's departure is going to have on the future of Chechnya:
Basayev's death will most likely mean little for the conflict. With Moscow-backed Ramzan Kadyrov as leader of Chechnya, criminality as a form of government has been institutionalised. When Kadyrov turns 30 in October, he will most likely succeed puppet president Alkhanov to rule Chechnya without much restraint from Moscow.
Charlie Ganske of Russia Blog recalls Basayev's most horrendous act of terror – the 2004 school siege in Beslan – by posting photos of the victims – and cheers the FSB:
Russia Blog congratulates the Russian security forces for a job well done. We know that Basayev's death is small comfort to the families of his victims, but it is a huge step towards peace and prosperity in the Caucuses and another stinging defeat for the global jihad.


How Hyderabad vet's rape-murder was communalised by right-wing handles and outlets on social media - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
30th November 2019 / 12:03 pm / Last updated: 30th November 2019
A 26-year-old veterinary doctor went missing on November 27 near Hyderabad. A day later, her charred body was found at the underpass of a National Highway in Chatanpally village. The victim was gang-raped and subsequently murdered and burnt by four. The accused, Mohammed Pasha, Naveen, Keshavulu and Shiva, were identified by the police after scanning CCTV footage installed near a toll plaza where the victim had parked her two-wheeler.
In a press briefing, Hyderabad CP police said that Pasha is a 26-year-old lorry driver, Shiva and Naveen are both 20-year-old lorry cleaners and Keshavulu is a 20-year-old lorry driver. Pasha, accompanied with the others, had parked his lorry at a toll plaza in Shamshabad when they spotted the victim park her scooty. She came back to the toll plaza around 9 pm to collect her vehicle. “By this time the accused had already consumed alcohol and planned how to trap this lady,” said the police. Naveen had removed air from the back tire of the scooty. In the pretext of offering help, Shiva took the vehicle to a nearby repair shop while the others forcefully took the victim to a compound and committed rape. Shiva joined in later. “All these people while they were doing this offence had closed the mouth and the nose of the victim because of which she died on the spot. These people immediately moved back the vehicle, loaded the dead body into the cabin…they bought petrol and took diesel from their own vehicle and burned the dead body in Chatanpally village,” the police added.
The press release by the police also gives similar details with the exception that all the accused raped her one by one and Mohammed Pasha aka Areef was the one who suffocated her to death.
Sharing the press release because it’s easier to share the detaiils this way with all those who’ve been anxious and worried about what exactly happened. It was a case of brutal gang-rape and murder following which they set the body on fire to destroy all evidence. #HangTheBrutes pic.twitter.com/8vP4tAswoV
— Paul Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) November 29, 2019
A report in The Hindu says that the accused confessed to the crime.
The names of the four accused were revealed hours before the police held a press conference. The rape, however, was heavily communalised by members of the BJP, supporters of the party and a section of the media.
BJP MLA T Raja Singh only highlighted the name of the rapist with the Muslim identity,
So did Amitava Chakraborty, State Joint General Secretary (Organisation) of BJP Odisha, and Khemchand Sharma of BJP IT and Social Media Campaign Committee.
IAS officer Sanjay Dixit, who has often been featured on Alt News for sharing misinformation, incidentally shared a report that carried the names of all the four accused. Dixit, however, wrote only Mohammed Pasha’s name in his tweet.
After the news of the rape and murder came to light, one of the top trends on Twitter was #Balatkari_Mohammed_Nikala.
A popular name in the disinformation ecosystem, Parshant Patel Umrao tweeted, “Mohammad Pasha with his Gang, raped Hyderabad doctor & burned alive. They have become denger to survival of Humanity & every Hindu Woman is on target on them.”
He also wrote, “Why are you feeling shame in taking name of Mohammad Pasha,” to a tweet where ANI reported that the accused persons have been arrested by the police.
Why are you feeling shame in taking name of Mohammad Pasha.#ANI https://t.co/4qhprP020Q
— प्रशान्त पटेल उमराव (@ippatel) November 29, 2019
Other usual suspects who communalised the rape were Rishi Bagree, Mahesh Vikram Hegde, Payal Rohatgi, Koena Mitra and Madhu KIshwar.
“हैवान मोहम्मद पाशा ने दोस्तों के साथ प्लान बनाकर किया था डॉ. ***** का बलात्कार, फिर ह्त्या कर जला दिया था लाश को (Devil Mohammed Pasha raped ***** after making a plan with his friends, then burnt her after the murder.)” – reads the headline of a report by Sudarshan News.
But the fuel was added to the fire by Suresh Chavhanke, the channel’s CMD and editor-in-chief. “Hyderabad police has arrested two Hindus for the murder of *****. This is not a balance exercise under the pressure of Owaisi brothers, right? I demand this to be investigated,” he said in a video.
Swarajya and Opindia too communalised the rape and murder. Both platforms highlighted the name of only the Muslim accused.
Other media outlets that did irresponsible reporting were ETV Andhra Pradesh, TV9 Telugu, Orissa Post and Free Press Journal.
It is noteworthy that Andhra Pradesh Mahila Congress had also posted a communally-charged tweet which was later taken down.
Andhra MC claimed that the tweet was a “mischief of a volunteer who acted on her own volition…The said person has been fired from her position with immediate effect.”
A disturbing phenomenon is observed in recent times where crimes as heinous as rape are communalised. The trend is not only true in the case of social media but for also prominent individuals in the government and media outlets capable of shaping public opinion. Since the brutal incident was reported, the police had identified all the four accused. But a social media campaign attempted to paint a communal picture. Irresponsible media reports, with clickbaity headlines, furthered the misleading narrative instead of dousing the hate.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
Following Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win against Argentina in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, speculation about…
The brutal murder of Shraddha Walker has been widely covered across news media over the…
A 1:34-minute-long CCTV camera clip is being widely circulated on social media in which viewers…
The teaser of a movie titled ‘The Kerala Story’ is being widely shared on social…


Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Film Icons · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It took Spike Jones to push Horace Ové into second place in a new ranking of iconic Black directors.”  As the Caribbean Beat Blog reviews the results of the 100 Black Screen Icons poll, it pays homage to some of the people who have contributed to Caribbean film.


How to find reputable health information online | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Medical College of Wisconsin
March 4, 2015
While the Internet provides a wealth of information on health-related topics, it cannot replace regular medical care. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
The Internet can be an excellent resource for consumer health information, but finding correct, up-to-date facts online is not always easy. The Medical College of Wisconsin has pulled together tips and tricks to help you evaluate information, and has also curated lists of reliable, trusted web pages.
Tips for evaluating health information on the web:
Learn more about evaluating consumer health information on the Internet at these two websites:
Remember, even the highest quality websites cannot replace regular medical care.


China: No Human Dignity, No Olympic · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Clairewy reposted in her blog an article by Teng Biao (a Chinese Lawyer) about Hu Jia's arrest, which re-instated that “without human right and dignity, there is no genuine Olympic; for the sake of China, for the sake of Olympic, we have to defend human right.” (zh)


Picketing: Federal Government Threatens Labour Unions Over Unlawful Actions - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Publisher (F.BA)
November 17, 2021
Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige gave the warning in a statement issued by the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations in the ministry Charles Akpan in Abuja.
He added that the Federal Government will not condone further hooliganism in the disguise of trade unionism, noting that the Government would no longer fold its hands while what ought to be a peaceful agitation by unions crossed the boundary of lawfulness as stated in Section 43 of the Trade Unions Act 2004.
Ngige also recalled that the offices of the Minister, Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Investment were locked for days by agitating workers unions. The Minister however noted the action is to prevent other workers and officers of government from carrying out their lawful duties.
He also stressed that the fact that the Federal Government allowed the unions time to come to terms with the illegality they embarked upon and doing the right thing, does not constitute license for further illegality.


Nigeria’s First Lady Tasks Youths On Nation Building - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
July 24, 2023
She gave the charge at the National Convention of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN in Abuja, with the title: ‘The role of Christian youths in national building’.
Oluremi, who was represented by the wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, Salamotu Gbajabiamila, said the quantum of challenges confronting Nigeria notwithstanding, the country would reach its full potentials. She also encouraged the youth to emulate and imbibe virtues such as courage, integrity, humility and obedience to God as exhibited by biblical characters who shaped the course of history.
In the sermon, the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, also tasked youths to confront the giants currently facing the country. He also harped on the need for youths to first confront lawlessness, corruption, and to rise above false realities. Earlier, the National chairman of the YOWICAN, Belusochukwu Enwere called on youths across the country to imbibe the spirit of determination, discipline and dedication to secure their future


Sudan: Spotlight on Darfur · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Congo Watch is one of a few blogs to highlight Spotlight on Darfur 1, a blogging initiative by Catez Stevens in New Zealand.


Old photo falsely shared as PM Modi made 'Chief President' in UK among 53 world leaders - Alt News
Kinjal
8th October 2021 / 6:24 pm
A photo of people welcoming PM Narendra Modi with applause is viral. The Hindi text below reads, “Modi was the ‘Chief President’ among the heads of 53 countries at a meeting in the United Kingdom yesterday, the same nation that enslaved us for 200 years. This will surely make every Indian’s chest swell up with pride.”
The graphic is widespread on Facebook.
We also received numerous requests to fact-check the image on the Alt News official mobile app and WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160).
We noticed that this photo was shared on Twitter with the same claim back in 2018.
200 साल तक हमे गुलाम बनाने वाले ब्रिटेन मे, 53देशों के अध्यक्षो के बीच “ मोदी महाध्यक्ष”
कसम से अगर आप सचे भारतीय है तो आपकी छाती भी 56इंच की हो गई होगी
जरा इस फोटो को गौर से देखिये, भारत के इतिहास में कितने ही प्रधानमंत्री आये और गये
लेकिन यह दृश्य देखने को नहीं मिला pic.twitter.com/W4WWLWx7bd
— राजस्थानी  (@_Rajasthani) December 2, 2018
Alt News had published a fact-check report on this image when it was morphed to show Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was also present at the event. The image was circulated with the claim that Khan was trying to hide during the arrival of Prime Minister Modi. The original photo is now viral.
According to a report by DNA dated January 23, 2018, PM Narendra Modi had participated in the International Business Council in Davos. In attendance were the top global CEOs who had arrived to participate in the annual World Economic Forum. The photo was taken at the same gathering.
Indian External Affairs Ministry also tweeted this photo on January 23, 2018.
The world applauds 1.3 bn people of India at the @wef in #Davos appreciating the remarkable transformation in improving the business climate. PM @narendramodi interacting with the top global CEOs at the International Business Council event. #IndiaMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/AfvfarnKGS
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) January 23, 2018
To sum it up, the claim accompanying this image is completely false. It was taken in Davos, Switzerland, and not the UK. In addition, we did not find any media reports to corroborate PM Modi was made the ‘Chief President’ among heads of 53 nations.
Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
The video of a group of people stopping an e-rickshaw with BJP flags attached to…
Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…


India: Wal-mart, Bangalore and BarCamp Bangalore II · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

National Interest, Wal-Mart, Internet, Barcamp, Bangalore and Bollywood are some of the topics we look in this week's round-up about all things Indian.
There is a new group blog called Signal. The focus of this blog is on India's national interest.
President Musharaff of Pakistan offered a new proposal to resolve the Kashmir issue. Naveen Bharat has an analysis on this issue from Stratfor. Here is an interesting snippet from Stratfor's analysis:
Musharraf knows his latest offer will not resonate with India. In reality, he has no concrete proposal — he is just using backchannels and the media to float ideas.
Wal-Mart, the retail giant from Bentonville will finally set up shop in India through a joint venture with India's largest mobile provider: Bharti Telecom's parent company Bharti Enterprise. Wal-Mart's India plans has led to a lot of debate about the pros and cons of having the world's largest retail store doing  business in India. Niti Bhan writes that the Indian media has been having a field day with the entry of Wal-mart into India.
Harish Palaniappan has the latest on how the Indian government plans to block URLs that are a security threat etc. Harish describes the latest Government solution to block the URLs at the International gateways and the pros and cons of such a move.
Barcamp Bangalore held its second session in Bangalore this past weekend. I briefly attended the camp and found that this Barcamp was a little low-keyed. SIdhi has a nice round-up of Barcamp Bangalore-II. Shyam also has a round-up of Barcamp.
Bangalore is all set to become India's first city with complete wireless access. Murali of Thought Garage has a write-up on that and why folks in Silicon Valley were spurred into action by Bangalore's Unwired project.
Portland Curry writes that Vogue, the fashion magazine plans to start an India edition.
Shekar Kapur is a well-know film director who also blogs. He writes that he finally managed to get tickets to the latest Bollywood film Dhoom-2. Here is an interesting suggestion that he makes: change the name from Bollywood to Bodywood. Sami has a review of Dhoom-2.  The film has created a bit of controversy because of a kissing scene. Sakshi Juneja has a write-up on that and shares her views on this much discussed scene.
There is this hilarious video clip that has been making the rounds on the Internet called  the  12 Days of Christmas via YouTube. This one comes with a difference: an Indian accent and content. Go watch it and you will come away with a big smile.


Israel Strikes Lebanese Town Following Roadside Bombing Claimed by Hezbollah · Global Voices
Salma Essam

Tel Faher, mine fields surrounding the former Syrian outpost, in the background part of the Shebaa farms. Photo by Chaver83 via Wikipedia.
Israeli forces have shelled the southern Lebanese town of Al-Wazzani near the border between the two countries in a retaliatory attack against the political party and paramilitary group Hezbollah. Local media reported there were injuries.
The firing came in response to a roadside bombing of Israeli military vehicles in the Shebaa farms area, for which Hezbollah took responsibility. While the group claimed its actions had injured soldiers inside a Hummer vehicle, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lernet affirmed that there were no casualties in the incident.
Hello @Brian_Rohan @AP there we no casualties in the incident.
— Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) January 4, 2016
In a televised speech on December 21, 2015, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah vowed his group would avenge the death of commander Samir Kuntar, killed in an airstrike in Damascus for which the group blamed Israel. “It’s possible that the Israeli enemy misinterpreted…And this Israeli thought Kuntars wasn’t that important to Hezbollah and didn't imagine that we would adopt his martyrdom and his revenge,” Nasrallah said.
Kuntar rose to prominence within Hezbollah, which is fighting in Syria to support Bashar al-Assad as his regime clings to power against forces that would see his ouster, after his release from Israeli prison as part of a prisoner swap in 2008. He had been convicted of murder in the kidnapping and killing of an Israeli father and his 4-year-old daughter in 1979 while a member of the Palestine Liberation Front. The mother accidentally smothered their other child, 2 years old, while hiding from the intruders. Kuntar was 16 years old at the time.
Kuntar, who was shot in the ensuing shootout with police, initially accepted responsibility for the deaths, but later maintained he had nothing to do with them. He claimed he and his team had intended to only take hostages and that Israeli fire had in fact killed the father; he said he didn't know how the little girl had been bludgeoned to death.
He was particularly despised in Israel, but received ceremonial honors from leaders in Lebanon, Syria and Iran upon his release. He had reportedly been working around the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to liberate the area, which Israel captured in 1967 from Syria and annexed in 1981 despite condemnation from the United Nations Security Council.
The group that Hezbollah said carried out the roadside bombing was named after Kuntar.
It's not the first time that Israeli and Hezbollah forces have come to blows along the border. In 2006, more than a thousand Lebanese and about 150 Israelis were killed in the 34-day July War. The United Nations brokered a deal to end the fighting at the time.
Activist and journalist Joe Carton reported on the renewed back-and-forth attacks and condemned Israel's actions:
#Hezbollah strikes back following Israel's assassination of Samir Kuntar in Damascus on December 19. pic.twitter.com/kQ7TNwD47k
— Joe Catron (@jncatron) January 4, 2016
Only Israel could occupy parts of two countries, bomb one, shell another, then play victim. Expect weeping shortly. https://t.co/briARCPo1j
— Joe Catron (@jncatron) January 4, 2016
A number of users tweeted using the Shebaa farms hashtag to show support for the actions taken by Hezbollah:
#مزارع_شبعا مقبرة الكيان الصهيوني
— Mohammed Abbas (@MohAbbas313) January 4, 2016
The graveyard of the Zionist entity #ShebaaFarms
على الجبال، خلف التلال، وفي الوديان ستهزمون ستهزمون #مزارع_شبعا
— Maryam Zeineh (@MaryamZeineh) January 4, 2016
On mountains, behind hills, you will be defeated, you will be defeated #ShebaaFarms
يا وعد الله يا نصر الله #مزارع_شبعا
— nemes bond (@6580cf72b3c846e) January 4, 2016
Oh God's promise, Oh God's victory #ShebaaFarms
المجد ل#حزب_الله #مزارع_شبعا pic.twitter.com/BiwvWyRg2P
— ♌M@|\|@|_♌ (@manalbagh) January 4, 2016
Glory to Hezbollah #ShebaaFarms
International lawyer and Middle East analyst Arsen Otrovsky criticized the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL):
How about #UNIFIL do their job and stop #hezbollah from firing at #Israel in first place? https://t.co/3YlGVIonzJ
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) January 4, 2016
Founded in 1982, with backing from Iran, after the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah is today stronger than the Lebanese army and is often described as a “state within a state.”


Panama: The Most Globalized Country in Latin America? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jorge Arango is surprised that Latin Business Chronicle named Panama “the most globalized country in Latin America.”


Lebanon: Students make banner of peace for Gaza · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Students in Lebanon pose with their banner of peace,  a denunciation of the conflict in Gaza.


9th Senate: Lawan Performs First Plenary Assignment As President, Swears In Okorocha - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
June 13, 2019
Senator Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday, performed his firstplenary assignment as the new Nigeria’s Senate President, swearing in Sen.Rochas Okorocha, representing Imo West Senatorial District.
The event took place immediate after the Senate hadtaken the prayers, approval of votes and proceedings at plenary in the redchamber in Abuja
Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege were on Tuesday elected bythe lawmakers as senate president and deputy senate president respectively.
However, the name of Okorocha, the immediate-pastgovernor of Imo was missing from the senators-elect from the state as a resultof the Independent National Electrical Commission (INEC)’s inability to givehim a certificate of return.
At Thursday:s plenary, Okorocha took the Oath ofOffice at the chamber at about 10:39am.
He then advanced to the senate president to have ahandshake after signing the necessary documents.


Myanmar Alphabet, Names and Culture · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Ba Kaung writes about the Myanmar alphabet and explains the meaning of some of the popular names used in the country


Ghana/Egypt: Egypt wins the Africa Cup of Nations · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Emmauel posts a photo from the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ghana: “digital camera capture of the President of Ghana John Kufuor awarding a member of the Egyptian team. Note the inscription on the back! It speaks volumes!”


Russia: St. Pete Tailors · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Megan Case writes about affordable tailors in St. Petersburg.


Learn To Speak English With a ‘Pershian’ Accent · Global Voices
Mahsa Alimardani

A new series is resulting in a lot of laughs across social media.
I can't stop laughing. This is brilliant! – Persian Accent Word Pronounciation https://t.co/dw8HzjsfgJ #Iran #Persian
— Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari) September 11, 2015
These eight-to-ten-second videos teach viewers how to pronounce words with a thick and delectable Iranian accent. Learn to pronounce English words in a mock Iranian accent, and say things like “eskool” (school), or “eyes ceream” (ice cream).
And in case you didn't get it the first time, the instructional teacher will repeat the word for you three times with various degrees of emphasis on the Iranian pronunciation of the words’ consonants, vowels and syllables.
The core of the video celebrates just how well Iranians can take a joke, especially about themselves.
The group behind the comedic instructional series is called Accent Cards. Based in Canada, the Iranian member of their collective of five said they wished to remain anonymous because, as they said in an email to Global Voices, “it's not about us, it's about the accents.”
The group consists of what one member explained to be “a Persian, a Russian, an Indian, an Italian, and an Iraqi.”
I love accents, in fact I go out of my way to watch videos of people talking with different accents. The major inspirations for my idea were this video and this one.
That's when I realised how diversely English language is pronounced. This made think about coming up with a way to celebrate all the different ways English is spoken and sharing it. Kind of like a video wikipedia of accents with a hint of comedy.
As a Persian living outside of Iran, I miss speaking Farsi. Whenever I hear someone speak with a Persian accent it makes my day. The Persian accent is beautiful, passionate and funny all at the same time. I love how Persians can take a joke, we can laugh at our own accent and at the same time be proud of it.
I live in Canada and have a very diverse group of friends, so I pitched my idea and formed our team.
Our goal is to upload 1 video a day and expand to other accents (Arabic, Indian, Russian, Italians, French,…) as we go on.
Follow the series and you'll quickly learn ‘Iranian’ is pronounced “Per-shian”


Puerto Rico: Professors debate student strike · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Blogger and law student Mariana Iriarte comments [es] on the debate among professors of the University of Puerto Rico on the effectiveness of the strategies proposed by students as part of their protest against the imposition of tuition fees.


Jamaica: Women in Danger  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

YardFlex.com reports that “women and girls have been the steady target of unscrupulous men who have been recently wreaking havoc in different areas of Jamaica with their random kidnappings or attempts.”


Armenia: Regional Supermarket · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogrel comments on news that a Yerevan-based supermarket chain has opened a store outside of the capital. The blog wonders how such a development will affect small stores and market traders in the regions.


Japan: Wire Free Gadgets Network Bloggers Meeting · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

The Agile Media Network blog has a post [ja] about a bloggers meeting in Tokyo's Shiodome area on September 29th, organized by NTT Communications, on the theme of “Wire Free Gadgets Network”. Doors open at 19.00 and the event starts at 19.30. There is no admission fee, but people interested in attending should register in advance here [ja]. (Presentations will presumably be in Japanese.)


Vietnam: Food safety · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Health authorities discovered that a Vietnamese bottled drinking water is not safe for consumption. Banned food items are also being sold in many market stalls.


Recapitalisation: CBN Gov. Emefiele Promises To Reposition Nigerian Banks - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 4
June 24, 2019
The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, says he will bring inflation to single digit within the next five years.
Emefiele made the promise in Abuja on Monday during a press briefing on his policy road map in his second term.
inflation rate dropped to 11.4 per cent as at May.
He said that CBN, under his leadership, would ensure that monetary policy measures would be geared towards containing inflationary pressures.
Emefiele, also pledged to reposition Nigerian banks through recapitalization during in his second term.
He said that recapitalisation of Nigerian banks was long overdue because it was done last in 2004 by Charles Soludo, a former governor of the apex bank.
Emefiele also said in the next five years, the CBN under his leadership would work with deposit money banks to enable Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs have access to credit.


Turkey: Still Considering Bid on Nuclear Plant from Japan? · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Earthquake-prone Turkey is currently considering a bid on a nuclear power plant tender from a Japanese energy company. Selene Verri from Turkish Diary asks: “So, Turkey is going nuclear. Is it wise, knowing what just happened in Japan, a conscientious and prepared country?”


First Pakistani Anti-Virus Software · Global Voices
Rezwan

Spring of Autumn informs that the first ever Pakistani Anti-Virus Software has been launched.


Jamaica: Hypersexuality · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

At The Pan Collective, Mikaila writes about the “hypersexuality” of Jamaica.


Barbara Requa, visionary of Jamaican dance, passes on · Global Voices
Emma Lewis

Screenshots of Barbara Requa's piece ‘Treadmill’ being performed by dancer Arlene Richards, taken from the National Dance Theatre Company's YouTube video ‘TREADMILL’ (1985) choreographed by Barbara Requa and ‘ONE TIME’ (1986) choreographed by Sheila Barnett.
Pioneering Jamaican dancer, choreographer, educator and cultural icon Barbara Requa passed away on February 22, at the age of 90. As a founding member of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022, Requa helped lay the groundwork for post-Independence dance theatre on the island. She was also a founding member (and later, Dean) of the School of Dance, which has since become part of the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, and of Dance and the Child International.
Jamaican-born dancer Lisa Wilson, who now lectures at the University of Cape Town, posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, where she recalled Requa's lofty principles, wit, “genuine heart,” and “calming presence”:
If you asked me who I admired in dance in Jamaica, easily Barbara Requa's name would be mentioned. Mi spirit jus tek to di lady. She was a beautiful dancer back in the day and her pioneering work in dance education in Jamaica is unparalleled. Her life was totally dedicated to giving dance space and place in the education system and in people's lives. I truly admired her passion for dance. In many of our conversations she would get teary speaking about dance and its value to us as a people. She had achieved so much yet, she was still so humble. She seemed to embody the dance administrator-educator-performer-mentor-mother-grandmother-wife roles seamlessly. I truly admired her ability to juggle all those identities and to juggle them well. In my eyes she was all woman.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange tweeted her condolences:
Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late Barbara Requa, especially to the @NDTCJAMAICA family.
This educator/dancer/choreographer was an inspiration to a generation of Jamaican creatives and many others from across the Anglophone Caribbean. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/IetfgJqa13
— Hon.Olivia Grange (@Babsy_grange) February 23, 2023
Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts shared:
We pause to pay tribute to Dancer Extraordinaire, Visionary and co-founder of the School of Dance, Barbara Requa. She served the College in a number of roles; Dean for the Performing Arts School and Acting Principal. pic.twitter.com/bL5dNRHdwp
— Edna Manley College (@EMCJamaica) February 23, 2023
Requa grew up on the Appleton Estate in St. Elizabeth, where her father, Henry Grant, was a manager. Dancing was her dream, but she also studied music at high school and beyond, for eight years, with the piano as her instrument of choice. Throughout her life, she was a lover of jazz and classical music.
Requa’s creative career took shape during her years studying at St. Andrew's High School for Girls in Kingston. At 17, she fulfilled her dream and joined the dance school of the legendary Ivy Baxter, who developed the “barefoot” style of dancing in the 1950s. An early member of this group was Rex Nettleford who, along with Eddy Thomas, co-founded the NDTC in 1962, the year Jamaica gained its Independence from Britain. Requa was therefore in inspirational company from the start of her dancing career.
In 1955, she continued her education in dance composition at the Dartford College of Physical Education, as well as the Laban Technique at Goldsmith's College in London, UK. On returning to Jamaica, she was invited by her alma mater, St. Andrew's, to teach physical education and dance. She also taught at The Mico University College, a teacher training college. Known for her graceful style and remarkable energy in dancing, she joined Nettleford in performing in the National Pantomime's 1959, 1960 and 1961 productions. In 1963, her role in Nettleford's “Woman in Dialogue for Three” was highly acclaimed. Many other memorable performance followed. Between 1982 and 1995, she choreographed five major works for the company, one of which (“Treadmill,”) was remounted by the NDTC in 2022:
NDTC 60 OPENS FRIDAY, JULY 22 AT THE LITTLE THEATRE: Don't miss the special remount of Barbara Requa's ‘Treadmill’ (1985) during this season's presentation to be danced by principal dancer Kerry-Ann Henry with Mark Phinn, Marlon D. Simms and Patrick Earle. pic.twitter.com/GMFxkzNEoN
— NDTC of Jamaica (@NDTCJAMAICA) July 8, 2022
On its website, the company added:
To the NDTC, Mrs. Requa brought technical versatility and a sound knowledge of movements as well as performing style. Her strength is rooted in a deep understanding of the dancer’s instrument and the possible range of movement in space, due in part to her Laban studies.
Requa had a lifelong passion for education. The dance classes that she started for children at her home eventually evolved into the Jamaica School of Dance, which began operating in 1970 at Kingston's Little Theatre. It was a partnership among Requa and two fellow dance pioneers, Bert Rose and Sheila Barnett. The dance school would later become one of four departments at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. Requa also traveled extensively, teaching at various international workshops and seminars.
After more than 30 years at Edna Manley College, Requa retired as Dean in 2004. However, she continued to teach and mentor young people, firmly believing that dance should be integrated into Jamaica's school curriculum at both primary and secondary levels. She also continued to work with the College's alumni fund, which she founded in 1998. On her retirement, she received the Order of Distinction, a national honour, as well as a Centenary Medal and a Silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica for her contribution to the arts. In 2019, she was recognised by the Rex Nettleford Foundation for her work, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edna Manley College in 2022.
Last year, podcaster Tenement Yaad Media celebrated Requa's career for Caribbean Women's History Month:
The Yaad celebrates March as #CaribbeanWomenHistoryMonth & to kick off our month long celebration, we highlight one of the region's widely acclaimed dancers, Barbara Requa, one of the founders of @NDTCJAMAICA
See below for highlights of her life
Artwork by @natashashaneek pic.twitter.com/YatwKESAyg
— Tenement Yaad Media (@tenementyaad_) March 2, 2022
In many ways, Barbara Requa was the last of a formidable group of creatives, who together shaped Jamaica's dance landscape, from Independence onwards. Their legacy is a powerful one; the institutions Requa and her peers co-founded have maintained their strong reputation over decades, both at home and abroad, spawning several active dance groups that still exist and perform regularly. Moreover, as a cultural expression, dance continues to enjoy a resurgence in popularity, with numerous reggae, dancehall and street dance competitions, including the annual government-sponsored Performing Arts Competition, taking place across the island.


Mexico: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

December 12 marks the feast day of the Virgen of Guadalupe in Mexico.  Daniel Hernandez of Intersections provides a first-hand view of the crowd with pictures.


Review: Parliamentary Standing Committee makes multiple recommendations including pragmatic budgetary allocation for MNREGA - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 21, 2022
The Parliamentary Standing committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj recently submitted its evaluation report of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Among other things, the committee highlighted the need to make pragmatic budgetary allocation for the scheme, ensure seamless flow of funds throughout the year, inclusion of multiple other works under the scheme.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, also popularly known as MGNREGA, is a social security scheme implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development together with state governments. The legislation guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year, to adult members in a rural household who are willing to do unskilled manual work at a fixed minimum wage. The objectives of the scheme include:
After about 16 years of the implementation of the act, a parliamentary standing committee on rural development and Panchayati Raj recently tabled the report, ‘Critical Evaluation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)’ in the Lok Sabha. In the report, the Committee assessed and highlighted the shortcomings in the implementation of the flagship scheme and made a slew of recommendations to be incorporated to improve the outcomes of the scheme.
Despite increase in demand, government budget allocation continues to be low for MGNREGA
Analysing the budget estimates (BE), revised estimates (RE), and actual funds released for the scheme since its inception, the committee noted that there was an increase in demand for the scheme drawing out of the constantly rising budgetary demand. However, since 2015-16, there was a substantial hike at the RE stage, which further elevated the budgetary allocation of the scheme. For instance, in 2018-19, the BE was Rs. 55,000 crores were increased to Rs. 61,830 crores at the RE stage. Similarly, in 2019-20, the BE was 60,000 crores which were revised to Rs. 71,002 crores during the RE. In 2020-21, the RE was Rs. 1,11,500 crores, up from Rs. 61,500 crores at the BE stage. For 2021-22, as of 01 September 2021, only six months into 2021-22, Rs. 52,228.84 crore of the allocated BE of Rs. 73,000 crores were already spent.
In 2020-21, the demand for work under MGNREGA had witnessed an unprecedented surge following the reverse migration due to the pandemic. A total of 389.1 crore person days were generated and 7.55 crore households (11.19 crore individuals) availed of the scheme in 2020-21. Making note of the lower allocation for the scheme despite a rise in demand, the committee stated that the budgetary allocation of such an enormous scheme should be done in a more pragmatic manner taking into consideration the expenditure of previous years. The committee also said that ‘agreed to labour budget’ must be available at the concerned level so that there is no dearth of funds in mid-year and flow of funds for payment of wages, material share, etc. is maintained seamlessly. However, in the Union Budget for 2022-23, the Government has retained the allocation at Rs. 73,000 crores despite the previous year’s revised estimates being 25% higher at Rs. 98,000 crores.
Centre was asked to work with State Governments to ensure provisions of the Act are adhered to
The Department of Rural Development cited the non-completion of requisite procedural formalities by the State governments in the stipulated time, such as non-updation of muster rolls, delay in submission of documents for releasing wages, material share by the States along-with delay in the release of states’ share of 25% material costs, as some of the hindrances for the seamless flow of funds. Calling out the Department for highlighting only the State governments’ issues, the committee stated that instead of pointing fingers at each other, the governments should work together for the upliftment of the quality of lives of the rural population. The Department was also asked to take measures to force the state governments to stick to the statutory provisions to ensure that the beneficiaries are not kept waiting.
Allocated funds should be utilized in time-bound manner
The unspent balance during 2018-19 was Rs. 2,599 crores which increased to Rs. 5,271 crores in 2020-21. As of 5 November 2021, the unspent funds stood at Rs. 1,351 crores. Citing this, the committee noted “improvement” in the reduction of unspent funds by the Department. The committee recommended that “this downward trend in the accrual of unspent balances need to be maintained through rational measures and asked the Department of Rural Development to ensure that the unspent balances are completely mitigated by the utilization of allocated funds in a time-bound and financially prudent manner”.
As of 05 November 2021, the wage liability was Rs. 2,763.78 crores including Rs. 339.2 crores for SCs and Rs. 330.54 crores for STs. Stating its disappointment over the ‘state of affairs’ of the scheme, the committee stated that there was no reason for justifying this pendency and asked the Department to wipe off the liabilities as soon as possible.
Allowance for unemployment, compensation for delay in wage payment are not being paid
The committee also noted that despite legal provision which entitles wage seekers for compensation for delay in receiving wages, only about Rs.11.78 crores was paid as compensation between 2018-19 and 2020-21. This could be because the amount of delay in payment of wages is low or that the provision of delay compensation is not being implemented strictly on the ground level. It noted that the provision of the act for delay compensation was not being complied within most parts of the country and called for immediate action to ensure compliance.
The Act also provides for an unemployment allowance to those applicants who are not provided employment within 15 days. Despite the legal mandate, only Rs. 12,000 in 2019-20, and Rs. 3,000 in 2020-21 was paid under this head. Though it pulled up the state governments for not abiding by the provisions of law, it also held the nodal agency (Department of Rural Development) responsible for this and called for the implementation of the mandate in true ‘letter and spirit’ on the ground level.
Wages should be made uniform across the country and linked with inflationary index
To keep up with the rise of inflation having an effect on the price rise of even essential commodities, the committee suggested linking wages under the scheme to a commensurate inflationary index. The nominal wage under the scheme would not be sufficient otherwise, and so the rural masses will be forced to migrate to urban areas for better remuneration, against the objective of the scheme. It noted that the wage rates across most states were between Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 in 2021-22. The daily wage ranged from Rs. 193 in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and Rs. 198 in Bihar and Jharkhand to Rs. 318 in 3 Gram Panchayats of Sikkim and Rs. 315 in Haryana. Noting the disparity of wages across states, the committee also asked the Department to fix a single unified wage rate at the beginning of every financial year.
Guaranteed workdays should be increased to 150 from 100
The Committee also strongly recommended an increase in the number of guaranteed days of work per household from 100 to 150 and further diversifying the nature of works under MGNREGA to meet 150 days of work. It stated that it was high time that the scheme is revamped, especially considering the changing times and emerging challenges arising out of the pandemic situation. However, as per the data provided in the report, the average days of employment provided per household ranged between only 48 to 52 days between 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Inclusion of agricultural works and agricultural labourers under the permissible domain of MGNREGA such as sowing, fencing, cutting of weeds, etc. was recommended by the committee. Rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, plantation of cash crops on the roadside and government lands, and lining of ponds with plastic to deal with water scarcity were suggested by the committee to be taken up under MGNREGA.
The Act provides 40% of the funds for material components, skilled and semi-skilled labour, and the remaining 60% for wages of unskilled labourers. Nonetheless, since the inception of the scheme, the nature of work and practices under the scheme has changed substantially with time because of the intervention of technology and called for the revision of the 60:40 wage-material ratio.
Other measures suggested by the committee
Apart from these, the committee also made the following recommendations.


International students running out of housing options in Ontario's North Bay - New Canadian Media
Kaitlyn Smith and Vrunda Bhatt
September 8, 2023
Advocates for international students struggling to find housing in North Bay, Ont. say they know of hundreds who can’t find accommodation near Canadore or Nipissing University.
“There are easily more than 200 students directly impacted by the accommodation crisis in North Bay,” Montreal Youth Students Organization member Mandeep Singh told New Canadian Media this week.
Singh said the organization was approached by international students who were scheduled to attend school in September or in January 2024. They organized a sit-in with North Bay students on Sept. 5.
There are so few places for students to live in the area that “all the motels in the vicinity are jam-packed,” Singh said.
International students running out of housing options set up tents skirting Canadore’s campus to demand alternatives if the situation can’t be remedied.
International student Chinmay Singhla arrived in Canada on Aug. 16, and found a promising basement to rent on Kijiji –until the renter backed out at the last minute.
“At the eleventh hour, the owner of the basement suite backed out citing reconstruction of the basement,” the 26-year-old Canadore student said at the sit-in. In a last-ditch effort, Singhla approached six different motels in the area to find housing in time for the start of school.
“I am completely taken aback with how the system in Canada has failed the promises that are sold to international students. Often, I ask myself: ‘Did I pay $16,250 to face this?’”
The Montreal student organization joined with North Bay students to present several demands to the university and college. They include exempting students from the 50-per-cent classroom attendance requirement set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in order to qualify for a work permit; transferring students to another campus; and refunding tuition so they can enroll in another school in time for the semester.
International students reportedly account for 72 per cent of enrolments at Canadore College. The college did not respond to questions from NCM to confirm this statistic, or the number of units on campus, or any plans to expand student housing.
The college’s off-campus living website strongly encourages students to look for housing early, but did not elaborate when NCM asked for more details by email.
A provincial cap set in March allows Ontario colleges to enroll 7,500 international students across all campuses.
“Canadore is aggressively pursuing opportunities to lessen its reliance on international student enrolment,” according to the college’s 2023/2024 business plan.
The college expects to enroll 5,858 international students in 2024, which will bring in nearly $138 million in tuition fees — more than twice what the college expects in government grants and domestic students’ tuition combined.
In 2022, 1,907 domestic students enrolled at Canadore paid $13 million in tuition; the college has budgeted $11.5 million from these students in 2024.
In comparison, Nipissing University has the lowest number of international students among Ontario post-secondary schools, accounting for just 2.6 per cent of students in 2022/2023, according to an email response from the university.
“Nipissing has resisted recruiting even modest percentages of international students during an era when the majority of universities in Canada secured significant tuition revenues from international students,” the university reported in its latest operating budget for 2022/2023.
“We are employing a moderate international recruitment strategy to slowly increase the diversity of our campus,” Nipissing told NCM today via email.
In its 2022/2023 budget Nipissing refers to a plan to “aggressively recruit international students.”
The university has “just under 1,000 units” in student housing and prioritizes first-year students; it does not have separate housing for international students, the spokesperson said in the email.
“Our staff volunteer to provide an airport/bus station pick-up service to all students who require it when they arrive,” the spokesperson said. “Volunteers provide food, accommodations and connect foreign students with extensive transition and support services.
“We also provide emergency housing to students who arrive without notice and with no housing secured.”
This year’s rental market report, published in January, did not list the vacancy rate of North Bay, but did show that Greater Sudbury on the western side of Lake Nipissing has a vacancy rate of 2.3 per cent in its purpose-built rentals.
In comparison, Toronto’s purpose-built rental vacancy rate is 1.7 per cent, and its condo/apartment rate is 1.1 per cent. In Vancouver, purpose-builts have a 0.9 per-cent vacancy rate, and condo/apartments are at 2.2 per cent.
According to an August report, tenants in Toronto paid the  highest rent in southern Ontario, and a two-bedroom apartment rented for $3, 370 per month. Vancouver has the highest rents in Canada.
Nipissing University encourages students to visit Places4Students.com where vetted landlords advertise vacancies, or refer to Off Campus Living staff and the Nipissing University Student Union for information on the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.
In the email to NCM, the university spokesperson said: “A survey to all students is also being launched in the next few days to try to identify any students who remain without housing who have not yet come forward for assistance.”
*This article was updated on September 12, to correct the name of the Montreal student organization previously reported as the “Montreal Student Youth Organization.”
Keitlyn (they/them) is a multi-media journalist residing in Scarborough, Ont. They are interested in long-form journalism that highlights the visibility of BIPOC expression. True to millennial form, they are a small business owner, carpenter and freelance photographer. They were interested in NCM as it understands the "big picture." Journalists are dedicated to truth and democracy. Our communities have not always had access to these privileges. NCM is filling in a large gap that North American media has long neglected.
Media Professional with over 5 years of versatile experience in corporate communications, content creation, community engagement, report writing, story promotion and effective editing skills. Presenter and writer with a reputation for offering prompt creative initiatives, drafting detailed reports with over 300+ published bylines in national publications. Adept at researching online/offline prospects to actively garner audience’s attention on brand, both offline and online.


TEPO verifies retired teachers online | EduCeleb
Abdussalam Amoo
16th November 2017
The Teachers’ Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), has put a smile on the faces of pensioners who live outside Lagos and Nigeria by introducing an online platform for verification.
The verification done through SKYPE at the TEPO ,Old Secretariat Ikeja, started October 18 and ends today.
The exercise requires pensioners’ personal data, oracle number, present location, last position held and date of retirement.
After the verification, a clearance certificate would be forwarded to the pensioners.
Permanent Secretary, TEPO, Mrs , told The Nation that the verification which is done annually will continue so as to ease the burden of those people in diaspora.
She also said there is a need to verify to ensure the benefits gets to the beneficiaries as at when due and that they are alive and healthy.
Amusu said the vision is to reach out to people outside Lagos and Nigeria, adding that TEPO already have 37 beneficiaries in the diaspora.
“We have 37 people outside Nigeria and have asked them to spread the news amongst their friends and others, as well as visit the TEPO site-
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>The only challenge we have is the time frame. We have asked them to send an email on the time we can reach them which has to be within our working hour. And we have also gotten a separate wifi to avoid interruption.


2023 Elections: New Electoral Law Now Awaits NASS, Presidency – INEC - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
December 14, 2021
INEC’s Commissioner, Festus Okoye, said this at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room National Stakeholders’ Forum on Elections in Abuja.
According to Okoye, as far as the electoral management body is concerned, INEC is still operating with the existing electoral legal framework because the new one is still in incumbent.
He said that there were some fundamental issues around the new electoral framework; one of the big issues as far as the electoral management body is concerned related to the deepening of democracy through the use of technology.
He said that INEC from the beginning, made a determination that it is important in the national interest to reduce human interference in the electoral process, and based on that, decided to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process.
Okoye said that the second issue related to internal democracy in political parties which had been very challenging and difficult to handle.


Bangladesh: The Military and the Government · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying on the precarious political situation in Bangladesh. “The situation in Bangladesh looks and feels like the period of coups and counter-coups in 1975. It has been widely reported that junior officers in the Bangladesh army, majors and colonels, had been intimidating the press recently – that in itself has echoes of 1975. However, the press in Bangladesh has begun to openly challenge this military government. The situation is ostensibly calm but highly unstable and fluid. “