Israeli spy chief ‘threatened’ ICC prosecutor over war crimes case: Report
Report claims ex-Mossad chief tried to pressure Fatou Bensouda into abandoning a 2021 war crimes probe. The former chief of Mossad threatened the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor to try to get a 2021 war crimes probe dropped, a report has claimed. Yossi Cohen, ex-chief of Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence agency, threatened the ICC’s former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in a series of secret meetings, an investigation by The Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday. The report tallies with others suggesting Israel and its main Western allies have sought to pressure international justice bodies. Cohen’s covert contact to pressure Bensouda took place in the years leading up to her decision to open a formal probe into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in occupied Palestinian territories, the report said, citing numerous anonymous sources. Last week, Bensouda’s successor, Karim Khan, applied for an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu based on that probe launched in 2021. Khan announced his office had “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant bear “criminal responsibility” for “war crimes and crimes against humanity”. One individual briefed on Cohen’s activities said he had used “despicable tactics” against Bensouda as part of an ultimately unsuccessful effort to intimidate and influence her. According to accounts shared with ICC officials, he is alleged to have told her: “You should help us and let us take care of you. You don’t want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family.” Khan also applied for arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders – Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (also known as Deif) and Ismail Haniyeh – for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognise its jurisdiction. Israel has also faced accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest United Nations court, which, like the ICC, is based in The Hague. Experts believe ICC indictments further undermine the legitimacy of Israel’s war on Gaza and complicate its exceptional relationship with European allies who are members of the Rome Statute. But the US, the key ally of Israel, is believed to be shielding the Israeli government from the consequences of its international law violations. US President Joe Biden called Khan’s move against the Israeli officials “outrageous”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the White House would be willing to work with members of Congress on legislation to penalise the international tribunal. Several US lawmakers have also urged Washington to impose sanctions against the ICC after the court’s request for the arrest warrants. Palestinians fear that Israel and the US will pressure ICC judges into rejecting Khan’s requests. Adblock test (Why?)
South Africa elections 2024: Key issues by the numbers
South Africa will go to the polls on May 29 for the most unpredictable election in the country’s 30 years of democratic rule. The governing African National Congress (ANC) is projected to lose its parliament majority for the first time, possibly paving the way for the country’s first coalition government. With voter discontent high, leading opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and newcomer umKhonto we Sizwe (MK) have put pressure on the ANC in online campaigns and countrywide rallies, promising sweeping reforms in hopes of swaying some 28 million registered voters to their side. Young people constitute a key demographic, making up a bulk of the electorate. They are also the most removed from South Africa’s apartheid past, to which the ANC’s legacy as the party of liberation is closely tied. Voting will be held across the country’s nine provinces, where people will cast ballots for national and provincial governments. Here are the key issues that are top of mind for the majority of voters: Jobs: One in three South Africans unemployed The country has the highest unemployment rate in the world. For young people who have diplomas but find their education of no use, unemployment is the biggest issue on the ballot. Analysts say poor industrialisation in the decades of ANC rule means Africa’s most advanced economy has failed to create jobs for its bulging youth population. General unemployment rates rose slightly late last year from 31 percent to 33 percent during the first quarter of 2024. The problem is particularly poignant among the country’s youth, aged 15-34. Unemployment in this group stands at 45.5 percent, higher than the national average. By province, the Eastern Cape – known for being Nelson Mandela’s homeland, housing the city of Gqeberha, previously named Port Elizabeth, and being the poorest of all nine provinces – has the highest levels of unemployment at 42.4 percent. The North West province trails closely at 40.5 percent and the Free State at 38 percent. On the other hand, the Western Cape, the home turf of the opposition DA party and where the city of Cape Town is located, has the country’s lowest unemployment levels at 21.4 percent, followed by the Northern Cape at 28.3 percent and KwaZulu-Natal at 29.9 percent. Education and employment: Lingering inequalities Historical inequalities continue to rack South Africa’s education sector, creating negative feedback in the employment sector. Although schools were desegregated before the end of apartheid, Black-majority communities still have largely underfunded public schools with inadequate amenities like libraries and laboratories. Some do not have basic facilities like the internet and lack qualified teachers. On the whole, the Black population has higher numbers of people who do not have any kind of education. Among white South Africans, however, a higher percentage are more likely to have attained a tertiary level education – three times the numbers seen in Black people, Indians, or mixed or multiracial communities. Researchers say the lower levels of tertiary qualification in general are connected to lower skill levels and to the type of jobs people are qualified for. While 9.6 percent of people with a graduate degree are unemployed, the number more than quadruples for those who did not complete high school. Other findings also point to the fact that school curriculums are not preparing young people for the job market as they are not aligned with employer needs. The results are a glaring skills and job mismatch: a 2019 report from the Boston Consulting Group, for one, found that there is a 50 percent mismatch between skills demanded and supplied in South Africa, contributing to a low-productivity workforce. Crime: Rising and worsening High levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality have led to increased violent crime in South Africa, worsened by the rise of organised criminal groups. According to the South African Police Service’s annual crime report (PDF), during the 2022-23 financial year, 1.8 million counts of serious and violent crimes were reported across the country, an increase of 7.7 percent from the year before. On average, 75 people are murdered every day, an increase of some 60 percent over the past 10 years. Carjackings have more than doubled over the past 10 years from an average of 31 incidents per day in 2013 to 62 cases reported in 2023. On the flip side, common robbery reports dipped by 12 percent over the past 10 years and sexual offence crimes, including rape and sexual assault, decreased by 5.6 percent over the same period. Housing: Millions still live in shacks Housing is a sore topic in South Africa, where the minority white population has traditionally owned the majority of the land. It is one of the most visible examples of the stark mismatches that contribute to South Africa being labelled as one of the world’s most unequal countries. Although approximately eight in 10 South Africans (83.2 percent) live in formal homes, at least 2.2 million people still live in informal dwellings, including shacks built out of corrugated iron sheets or other scrap material. Black South Africans, who make up about 80 percent of the population, are disproportionately affected. Under apartheid rule, Black people were dispossessed of their land and forced into “bantustans” (homelands) or crowded slums and hostels, where many died of diseases from the poor conditions there. Although Black people are no longer legally bound to live in such conditions, many remain stuck in inadequate and informal housing. Land reform was a major principle of the ANC in the fight to end apartheid, but efforts to redistribute land and provide affordable housing to the millions in need continue to fall short three decades later. Basic services: Unequal access South Africa is generally water-stressed. The country is highly susceptible to drought from low-average rainfall and a hot climate. Add to that, poor management and unequal distribution of water have meant that access to this crucial resource also varies according to race. More than 80 percent of South African homes have access to piped water but cuts are regular in some parts, like Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Across the country, it
Taiwan’s parliament passes bill pushing pro-China changes
Thousands protested outside Taiwan’s parliament after reforms seen as reducing the president’s power were passed. Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature has ignored large protests to push through legislative changes seen as favourable to China. The controversial bill, adopted on Tuesday, diminishes the power of President William Lai Ching-te, who was sworn in last week, and his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government. The reforms, pushed through by the opposition nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) and smaller partner Taiwan People’s Party, give lawmakers the power to require the president to give regular reports to parliament and answer lawmakers’ questions. It also criminalises contempt of parliament by government officials. The bill also hands the legislature increased control of budgets, including defence spending. The legislature will also be able to demand that the military, private companies or individuals disclose information deemed relevant by parliamentarians. The nationalist opposition parties officially back reunification with China, from which Taiwan separated during a civil war in 1949. They took control of the legislature with a single-seat majority after elections in January, while the presidency went to Lai. A supporter of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds a sunflower and a poster with the slogan, ‘My Taiwan. I Protect’, in front of the legislative building in Taipei, Taiwan, May 28, 2024 [Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo] Rubbish bags and paper planes Thousands of people gathered outside the legislature to protest the changes. The legislative chamber was festooned with banners promoting both sides in the dispute while arguments on the floor broke into shouting and pushing matches. DPP legislators accused deputies from the KMT and the minority Taiwan People’s Party of undermining Taiwan’s democracy by expanding the legislature’s oversight of the executive branch. The DPP says the reforms were forced through without proper consultation and their content is either vague or an overreach of power. Lawmakers from the governing party threw rubbish bags and paper planes at their opposition counterparts as the vote on the bill went through. “You can seize parliament, but you cannot seize public opinion,” DPP parliament leader Ker Chien-ming said in an address to the chamber, adding that Beijing had influenced Taiwanese politics. Opposition lawmakers, holding sun-shaped balloons, shouted: “Let sunlight into parliament.” China sends planes and ships near Taiwan on a daily basis in a campaign aimed at wearing down Taiwanese opposition to unification and at deteriorating its defences, which are strongly backed by the United States, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties. On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said three Chinese warplanes and 11 naval and coastguard ships were detected in the past 24 hours – down from the 21 aircraft and 15 ships it reported on Monday. Adblock test (Why?)
Nadal defeated by Zverev in likely French Open farewell
Rafael Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam champion, lost in straight sets to Alexander Zverev in his probable last match at Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking French Open career came to its likely end when the 14-time champion slumped to a demoralising first-round defeat against Alexander Zverev. Nadal, who turns 38 on June 3, went down 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to world number four Zverev on Monday, suffering only his fourth loss in 116 matches at Roland Garros since his 2005 title-winning debut. It was the first time he had been defeated in Paris in the opening round and will again lead to questions over his long-term future in tennis. “I don’t know if this is the last time I will be here, I am not 100 percent sure but if it is then I wanted to enjoy it,” said Nadal. “The feelings today are difficult to describe in words.” Plagued by injuries, which had limited him to just four events since January last year, former world number one Nadal is now 275 in the rankings and was unseeded in Paris. However, he insisted on the eve of the tournament that he was “100 percent keeping the door open” on his future in a sport which has brought him 22 Grand Slam titles. In a repeat of the 2022 semifinal, which Nadal won when Zverev quit with ankle ligament damage, the Spaniard had his chances. Nadal was a break of serve up in the second and third sets, only to have his serve broken on both occasions by his in-form 27-year-old opponent. Chants of “Rafa, Rafa” had loudly echoed under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, which was shut tight against the torrential rain sweeping across the grounds and bringing havoc to the schedule. They subsided to silence when Nadal was broken to love in his opening service game and he was left to regret his inability to convert two break points in the fourth game. Nadal saved two set points in the ninth game, but surrendered the opener after 50 minutes when he buried a loose forehand into the net. It was only the fourth opening set he had lost at Roland Garros. Nadal broke for the first time in the match to lead 3-2 in the second set, but couldn’t back up the advantage and handed the break back to three-time semifinalist Zverev as he served for the set. A tense tie-breaker followed which the German claimed, buoyed by stretching to 5/3 on the back of a gruelling 19-shot rally. Nadal dug deep and with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek having watched from the packed stands, he broke and held for 2-0 in the third set. However, Zverev again roared back to level at 2-2 before a besieged Nadal had to save four break points in a 13-minute fifth game to stay in contention. The effort was too much and a composed Zverev was soon 4-3 up and the match was over when Nadal fired a forehand wide and long. Adblock test (Why?)
Bill Walton, NBA champion and beloved broadcaster, dies aged 71
Tributes pour in for Walton, a two-time NBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer remembered as ‘truly one of a kind’. Bill Walton, a two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion, Hall of Fame player and beloved broadcaster, has died at the age of 71, the league says. The NBA said Walton passed away on Monday after a prolonged battle with cancer. “Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. Walton, a 6-foot-11 (211cm) centre who moved gracefully despite his height, rose to stardom in college where he was part of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), dynasty under coach John Wooden. He won National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) championships in 1972 and 1973 before establishing himself as a force early in his professional career. Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to the championship in 1977, and he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player the following year. The Denver Nuggets’ Dan Issel, left, guards Portland Trail Blazers’ Bill Walton as Walton moves towards the basket during a game in 1978 [File: Jack Smith/AP Photo] His most famous performance was the 1973 NCAA title game – UCLA against Memphis – in which he shot an incredible 21-for-22 from the field and led the Bruins to another national championship. But Walton’s NBA career – disrupted by chronic foot injuries – lasted only 468 games with Portland, then San Diego and eventually the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Boston Celtics. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in those games, neither of those numbers exactly record-setting. Still, his impact on the game was massive. “As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the centre position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams,” Silver said on Monday. When Walton retired from the NBA, he turned to broadcasting, something he never thought he could be good at or would be possible for him because he had a pronounced stutter at times in his life. But he excelled, winning an Emmy award and eventually being named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association. Rest in peace to a friend, 2X NBA Champion, Hall of Famer, and one of the most skilled centers we’ve ever seen Bill Walton! His NCAA Championship performance as a UCLA Bruin against Memphis is by far the most dominate NCAA Championship performance ever – he shot 21 for 22 and had… — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 27, 2024 And Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, both on and off the court. He “delivered insightful and colourful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans”, Silver said on Monday. “But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life. “He was a regular presence at league events – always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth.” Tributes also rolled in for Walton from some of the biggest names in basketball, including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who described Walton as “one of the most skilled centers we’ve ever seen”. “They talk about [Denver Nuggets star Nikola] Jokic being the most skilled center but Bill Walton was first! From shooting jump shots to making incredible passes, he was one of the smartest basketball players to ever live,” Johnson wrote on X. “Bill was a great ambassador for college basketball and the NBA, and he will be sorely missed.” Julius “Dr J” Erving also paid tribute to Walton and offered condolences to his family. “Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him & to work with him was a blessing in my life,” Erving said in a social media post. I am sad today hearing that my comrade & one of the sports worlds most beloved champions & characters has passed. Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him & to work with him was a blessing in my life. Sorry for your loss Walton family. We’ll miss him too. Doc pic.twitter.com/GAEt1DRH8N — Julius Dr J Erving (@JuliusErving) May 27, 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
What’s behind the rise in political violence in Mexico?
Election campaign marred by assassinations of dozens of candidates. Dozens of candidates have been killed ahead of Mexico’s general election amid surging political violence. Dozens of public servants, party members and politicians across the country have also been attacked ahead of the June 2 election, which will see almost 100 million Mexicans eligible to cast a ballot in the country’s largest vote. Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has expanded the military and the role it plays in society. He pledged to crack down on corruption and organised crime. Have his policies improved the lives of Mexicans? And what problems will his successor inherit? Presenter: Cyril Vanier Guests: Carlos Bravo Regidor – Political analyst Maureen Meyer – Vice president of programs at the Washington Office on Latin America, an NGO Falko Ernst – Senior analyst on Mexico at the International Crisis Group Adblock test (Why?)
Libertarians pick Chase Oliver for US president as Trump, Kennedy rejected
The antiwar activist supports a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and an end to the US military support for Ukraine and Israel. The Libertarian Party in the United States has picked a presidential candidate who has expressed support for a ceasefire in Gaza, rejecting the nationally known former President Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr as its nominee, after they each spoke at the party’s convention. Chase Oliver garnered about 60 percent of the vote from Libertarian delegates during the final round of voting on Sunday night. “We did it! I am officially the presidential nominee,” Oliver posted on X after his nomination was approved. “It’s time to unify and move forward for liberty.” Third parties have rarely been competitive in the US presidential election and the Libertarian candidate four years ago won 1 percent of the vote. But the party’s decision is getting more attention this year due to the rematch between Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden, which could hinge again on small vote margins in a handful of contested states. In a speech on Sunday, Oliver, who is an antiwar activist, pledged to support a “ceasefire” as well as the end of “genocide” in Gaza. Leading up to his nomination, Oliver said he had received the highest amount of campaign donations among all the Libertarian candidates. On Saturday night, Trump appeared in Washington at the Libertarian convention to give a speech that was repeatedly booed by many in the room. It did not pay off with the endorsement he requested, though his Republican allies praised him for choosing to go before an unfriendly crowd. Trump’s appearance at the gathering, unusual for a Republican candidate, also signalled how seriously he and his campaign take the threat of third-party candidate Kennedy, who has long opposed vaccines and mandates. Kennedy was quickly eliminated from the party’s presidential nomination on Sunday. Still, he got a friendlier reception when he spoke on Friday and attacked both Trump and Biden for how they addressed the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy had talked up his support for the Libertarians and an endorsement could have helped him expedite the process of gaining ballot access in all 50 states, perhaps the biggest hurdle he faces in qualifying for the first presidential debate in June hosted by CNN. Libertarians prioritise small government and individual freedoms, with a mix of policy positions that could be seen as liberal, conservative or neither. Oliver is an activist and openly gay politician from Atlanta who previously ran for the US Senate and US House from Georgia. During his Senate campaign in Georgia, he ended up gaining enough votes to deny the two highest vote-getters an outright majority of 50 percent plus one, thus forcing a run-off that was later won by a Democrat. This year, he could again act as a spoiler in the presidential race. Oliver’s campaign website calls for major cuts to the federal budget with an eye towards balancing it, the abolition of the death penalty, and the closure of all overseas military bases and ending of military support to Israel and Ukraine. He also promised to appeal to the 41 million young Americans, adding that voters are “fed up by the status quo and negativity” in the Democratic and Republican parties. Oliver will be joined on the ticket by vice presidential candidate Mike ter Maat, according to The Hill, a US news publication. Adblock test (Why?)
Israel closing Rafah a ‘death sentence’ for thousands of ill and wounded
Deir el-Balah, Gaza – Sadeel Hamdan was just about six weeks old when Israel launched its relentless war on Gaza. Now she lies silently on a paediatric hospital bed in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital – weak, intubated, her belly swollen and skin jaundiced. Three months ago, doctors managed to get her name on a list of patients who badly needed to leave Gaza for treatment overseas. But then, just days before she was to be evacuated, Israel invaded Rafah and closed the only crossing available for the sick to leave the besieged enclave, trapping Sadeel and many others. Abdul Majeed, struggling to breathe Abdul Majeed al-Sabakhi, 20, lives on an oxygen respirator in the hospital. Speaking is a struggle for the youth who has had cystic fibrosis since childhood. In the first month of Israel’s war on Gaza, the Israeli army bombed the house next door to the al-Sabakhis’ home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The impact destroyed their home as well. “That day, I was pulled out of under the rubble, nearly suffocated by the toxic smoke and dust,” he recalls. Abdul Majeed in his hospital bed, emaciated and struggling for breath, wholly dependent on the oxygen ventilator [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Abdul Majeed spent about a month in intensive care on ventilators, further damaging his lungs to the point where he is now dependent on them. “I lived almost normally before the war. I walked, moved around and attended university without obstacles,” Abdul Majeed says. “But after the war … I became unable to do anything.” Displaced with his parents, four brothers and two sisters to Rafah and then Deir el-Balah, he suffered in the tent and eventually had to be taken to hospital to stay on oxygen. Abdul Majeed was supposed to travel, accompanied by his 21-year-old brother Osama, for urgent lung surgery, but then came news of the Rafah crossing being closed. “Closing the crossing is a death sentence for me and many patients like me,” Abdul Majeed says, gasping for breath as the effort of speaking shakes his frail body. “Every day I am delayed, my chance of survival decreases. “I’ve lost so much weight because my weak lungs mean I can’t even eat.” Osama stays with Abdul Majeed in the hospital, day and night. “Before the war, we used to go out together, stay up late with friends, and have fun. Despite his illness, his condition was stable,” Osama says. “Abdel Majeed’s not just my brother; he’s my companion and friend.” Abdul Majeed’s health deteriorated drastically during the war. Here, a photo of him in healthier times is held up to compare with his current state [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Ahed, a young mother immobilised Ahed Abu Holi nearly lost her leg when the roof of their home collapsed on top of her family when Israel bombed it two months ago. Her leg was in terrible shape, tissues and bones badly damaged. After five reconstructive surgeries, all of which have been unsuccessful, her doctors said they could do little else to help her and recommended that she see specialists overseas. Otherwise, she was told, the only solution available to them would be to amputate her leg. Now, the 25-year-old mother cannot move, spending her days in a hospital bed with her leg heavily bandaged and bolted. Her two-year-old son is being looked after by her family, but she cannot see him because she worries that he could catch something in the hospital. Her husband and sister take turns staying with her there, ducking out to fetch necessities, as her husband has done, leaving her for a short period to find some food for them. “Two days before my travel date, the crossing was closed … and it doesn’t look like it’ll reopen,” Ahed says. Ahed is terrified that she will lose her leg, which would affect her young, newlywed life, hopes and dreams [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] “I had really hoped I’d be able to travel. I waited so long and suffered so much. For two months, my life has been at a standstill. “I can’t see or care for my only child. I’m in agony every day when they change the dressing on my wound.” The wounds on Ahed’s leg have not healed, a common complication in Gaza now, where the population is extremely malnourished, their bodies too weak to recover. Depending on how her condition progresses, doctors say they may have to amputate because there will be no other way to save Ahed. “All I want is to walk again before it’s too late,” she says. “I’m still young, at the beginning of my married life, and I want to continue my life and take care of my child. Amputation is a nightmare for me if the crossing remains closed.” Sadeel, a baby struggling for her life Sadeel was diagnosed with an enlarged and cirrhotic liver and enlarged spleen at six months old, and her condition has gotten worse, day after day. Her mother, Heba, 32, is constantly by her side, fretting but trying to cope as her daughter’s condition worsens. “My daughter had jaundice from birth, and her condition worsened with displacement until her stomach swelled noticeably, prompting us to take her to the hospital,” Heba says. Heba has not left her baby’s side, constantly praying and hoping that a miracle will happen to save her young life [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Doctors say the treatment Sadeel needs is not available in Gaza, which makes it even harder that the crossing was closed just as she got the approval to go. “The news of the crossing closure was like a lightning bolt,” says Heba, a mother of four. “I had prepared to travel, and my children were prepared for me to accompany their sister for treatment. But everything changed.” On May 7, Israeli tanks invaded the Rafah border crossing, displacing up to one million Palestinians from all over Gaza who had sought refuge there since the war began.
Cyclone Remal slams into India, Bangladesh: What we know
EXPLAINER Nine people have been killed, as the cyclone, which made landfall on Sunday, now weakens and heads inland. At least nine people were killed and more than a million were evacuated as Cyclone Remal approached the coasts of eastern India and Bangladesh, which made landfall late on Sunday. Here is what we know about the cyclone. Where did Cyclone Remal make landfall? The storm made landfall in the coastal regions of Bangladesh, near Mongla port, and the adjoining Sagar Islands in India’s West Bengal state with wind speed of up to 135kmph (84mph), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Remal began to land at about 9pm in India (15:30 GMT) on Sunday, a process that continued for about five hours, according to the regional meteorological office in Kolkata. Remal was the first cyclone to hit the Bay of Bengal this year in advance of the June-September monsoon season. What do we know about people killed by the cyclone? Seven people have died in Bangladesh’s Barishal, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Bhola and Chattogram, according to a news release by the Bangladeshi developmental organisation BRAC. Indian media reported that two people died in West Bengal due to the cyclone. How did authorities respond to the cyclone? On Sunday, Bangladesh evacuated 800,000 people from nine coastal districts and port areas of Mongla and Chittagong. India’s Kolkata airport suspended operations on Sunday afternoon, cancelling 50 domestic and international flights. Volunteers were deployed to accommodate the evacuees in up to 9,000 cyclone shelters. Schools were also closed until further notice. About 150,000 people in India’s Sundarbans mangrove forest were evacuated inland. The Indian Coast Guard posted on X early on Monday that it was closely monitoring the landfall. “Ships, Hovercraft standby at short notice to respond to post-impact challenges,” the maritime security organisation wrote. Update cyclone #Remal@IndiaCoastGuard is closely monitoring the landfall of cyclone #Remal with disaster response team, Ships, Hovercraft standby at short notice to respond to post-impact challenges. Follow official advisories, Stay informed and stay safe.#CycloneRemal… pic.twitter.com/WZlGMBgYtw — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) May 26, 2024 India’s National Disaster Response Force is clearing roads by removing trees that fell due to strong winds. #CycloneRemal #LandfallNDRF team cleared road due to fallen trees at Ganganagar behind Nimpith Ashram at Sagar Block amid rains and gusty winds.#आपदा_सेवा_सदैव_सर्वत्र@HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 @PIBKolkata@PIBHomeAffairs@2_ndrf pic.twitter.com/Vg7arrlCyt — NDRF 🇮🇳 (@NDRFHQ) May 26, 2024 What other effect has the cyclone had? Several trees were uprooted, houses damaged and island villages were flooded. Protective embankments in the Sundarbans Delta, shared by India and Bangladesh, were also breached and damaged by high tides. An embankment is a wall built to prevent flooding in an area. People from the Rohingya community in Myanmar, who have fled to seek refuge in Bangladesh’s Cox Bazar, are especially vulnerable since their shelters are made of unsound structures such as tarpaulin or bamboo. Did Remal cause a power outage? Millions do not have electricity in the affected areas after authorities cut power supply to avoid accidents. Fallen trees and structures further disrupted power lines. Within an hour of landfall, there were reports of damaged transformers and at least 356 uprooted electricity poles, according to West Bengal Power Minister Aroop Biswas. Is climate change intensifying cyclones in South Asia? Cyclones are a very complex type of natural disaster, making their trends hard to quantify. Cyclones have decreased in frequency over the years, and a report by the NASA Center for Climate Simulation postulates that the number of tropical cyclones will decrease in the future due to a warming climate. However, more intense cyclones are anticipated to rise in the northern Bay of Bengal, affecting India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, due to rising temperatures, the NASA report from February 2024 predicts. Where is Cyclone Remal now? The IMD posted on X on Monday at 11:43am (06:13 GMT) that the cyclonic storm is about 40km (24.9 miles) northwest of Bangladesh’s port Mongla, 90km (56 miles) east of Kolkata and 90km northeast of West Bengal’s Canning. Cyclonic Storm Remal over Coastal Bangladesh and adj Coastal West Bengal is about 40 km northwest of Mongla, 90 km east of Kolkata, 90 km northeast of Canning. System is initially likely to move north-northeastwards, subsequently northeastwards and gradually weaken further. pic.twitter.com/uk78IgVnXJ — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 27, 2024 On Monday morning, the cyclone weakened to a cyclonic storm, with a wind speed of about 80-90kmph (50-60mph). The Kolkata airport and Indian Railways have also resumed operations. However, India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has not yet posted an update confirming that it is safe to go out in vulnerable areas. An NDMA bulletin on Sunday advised residents in affected areas to remain indoors. Where is Cyclone Remal likely to move next? The IMD post added that the cyclone is likely to initially move “north-northeastwards” and then move northeastwards, inland, before gradually weakening further. Adblock test (Why?)
Has democratic South Africa lost its way?
Governing African National Congress faces its toughest test yet in national election. South Africa is preparing for a milestone election. The governing African National Congress (ANC) has been in power for 30 years, but its dominance over South African politics could be waning. Millions of voters say they are disillusioned, and the country’s unemployment rate is the highest in the world. Violent crime is rising, with the latest police statistics showing a person is killed every 20 minutes. And rolling electricity outages are hurting businesses. The ANC is still the most popular party but its support base is shrinking. So, has the one-party majority run its course? Could the election on Wednesday launch a new political landscape, with rival parties forming coalitions in order to govern? Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam Guests: Crystal Orderson – Journalist and host on Cape Talk radio station Lesego Makhubela – Spokesperson for the governing African National Congress in Gauteng province Nqabayomzi Kwankwa – Opposition MP with the centre-left party the United Democratic Movement Adblock test (Why?)