Page 53 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

around the w rLd Here is a round-up of international news to update our readers on everything

important that’s happening in different parts of the world.

Hundreds killed in Syria as govt cornered by Opposition parties and abandoned by an iraqi court
millions of voters. Zuma, a charismatic anti-apartheid
sentenced 16 Turkish
forces rebut UNSC call for ceasefire leader, survived a string of corruption scandals and harsh women to death by
court judgments during his nearly nine-year presidency.
hanging for joining
Zumba was once imprisoned on Robben Island with
the Islamic State. Iraq
Nelson Mandela and served as the ANC’s intelligence is conducting trials of
chief. Initially his presidency inspired hope in millions hundreds of foreign
of South Africans, especially the poorest. But, tainted women who have been
The war in Syria school, immediately set by numerous accusations of misconduct, he came to detained, with hundreds
reached new levels of into motion yet another symbolize the corruption that flourished during his time of their children, by Iraqi
devastation as hundreds debate on gun control in office. It was alleged that Zuma’s business partners or forces as ISIS strongholds
of civilians, including laws in that country friends influenced government decisions in their personal crumbled. The central
several children, were that takes place every interest. His departure as president has left South Africa criminal court issued the sentences after it was “proven”
killed within just a week time a case of shooting with a disillusioned electorate, a weakened economy and they belong to the IS, aka Daesh, terrorist group and after
after government forces of innocents takes place. a tarnished image in the rest of Africa. Cyril Ramaphosa they confessed to marrying Daesh elements or providing
bombarded a rebel- There have been calls to took over as the new President after surviving a power members of the group with logistical aid or helping them
held Damascus suburb. ban the sale of deadly struggle with Zuma after the former was elected ANC carry out terrorist attacks. Thousands of foreigners have
According to activists, guns at departmental leader in an election in December last year. fought on behalf of ISIS in Iraq and Syria since at least
more than 500 civilians stores without concrete 2014. Many foreign women came – or were brought –
were killed in eight days background checks from overseas to join the militants.
of airstrikes and artillery fire, nearly a quarter of the and strict licensing requirements. Ironically, there is
dead being children. The government’s effort to reclaim political will building behind the opposite gun legislation China’s CommunisT
territory lost in its ever-escalating civil war came just — reforms that aim to increase, rather than decrease, the ParTy has cleared
hours after the United Nations Security Council called for number of firearms in schools and other public buildings, the way for President Khaleda Zia, the 72-year-old three-time former
a 30-day halt to the fighting in Syria to permit the delivery and arm teachers and school staff as a means of defence. Xi Jinping to stay in prime minister of Bangladesh, was given five0year jail
of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of critically Facing a public outcry at the massacre, and renewed calls power indefinitely by term by Dhaka’s Special Court on in connection with the
sick and wounded civilians from besieged communities. for gun control, the powerful National Rifle Association announcing that it embezzlement of 21 million taka in foreign donations
Exceptions were made for military operations against (NRA) pushed heavily in the opposite direction. This time intends to abolish term meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her
Islamic State, Al Qaeda-affiliated groups and other too, the NRA has declined to back any efforts to ban limits on the presidency, late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-
terrorist organizations. One child died after suffering firearms at public places on the premise of people’s right a momentous break with politician. The verdict virtually shook the country’s
symptoms consistent with a chlorine attack, according to self-defence. decades-old rules meant political scenario ahead of the general elections while
to the Syrian American Medical Society, which said the to prevent the country the BNP, the main opposition party outside Parliament,
child was among 16 patients admitted to a hospital it from returning to the days alleged that it was
supports in eastern Ghouta with those symptoms. Syrians when Mao was shown cultish obedience. politically motivated
have been enduring the bloodiest of assaults in seven ConTroversial The surprise move, revealed in a dryly worded proposal to debar Zia from
years of civil war as a result of fierce clashes between the South African President to amend the Constitution, is the boldest yet by Xi as he contesting elections, an
government and rebel forces. Jacob Zuma stepped seeks to strengthen the party’s control over a modernizing allegation denied by
down after being society and restore China to what he considers its rightful Prime Minister Sheikh
repudiated by the place as a global power. The timing of the announcement Hasina-led government.
governing African has startled many: Xi completes his first term as president The High Court accepted
aT leasT seventeen people were killed after a 19-year- National Congress next month and could have waited until late in his second for hearing her bail
old ex-student opened fire at a high school in Parkland (ANC) Party, threatened term to act. He also could have stepped down after his petition along with
in the state of Florida, USA. This incident, at least the by a no-confidence second term and run the country from behind the scenes, prayers challenging her
ninth such case this year of shooting at an American vote in Parliament, as some of his predecessors have. conviction.

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