Six In The Morning Saturday 9 April 2022

 

Russia or die

After weeks under Putin's bombs,
these Ukrainians were given only one way out

By Eliza Mackintosh, Oleksandra Ochman, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Katie Polglase, Teele Rebane and Anastasia Graham-Yooll, CNN

When Russian forces and allied separatist soldiers arrived offering a path to safety, it felt like a sick twist of fate.

It was mid-March and residents in Mariupol had spent weeks in freezing, damp basements, hiding from relentless Russian bombardment and fearing for their lives. Now, they were being told that to survive, there was only one way out: to Russia.

If they didn't leave they would die in the rubble, the Russian soldiers warned. They said they had little choice.

‘We’re finished’: Sri Lankans pushed to the brink by financial crisis

Thousands take to the streets to call for the resignation of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Colombo

As thousands of angry cries and anti-government slogans filled the streets of the Sri Lankan city Colombo on Saturday, Chanda Upul stood quietly nearby, desperately pushing his wares of soft drinks and bottled water on protesters. But in his heart he was chanting along with them.

As Sri Lanka has descended into its worst financial crisis since independence, with food, fuel, medicine and electricity becoming increasingly scarce, and calls for the president Gotabaya Rajapaksa – frequently referred to as Gota – to step down, 50-year-old Upul, who lives in a poor northern suburb of the city, is among those who have been pushed to the brink of survival.

As petrol became scarce and expensive, Upul was no longer able to afford repayments on his rented rickshaw and lost his only means of income. Now he and his four children survive only on rice and water. Vegetables and milk powder are just too expensive these days.

Political chaos doesn't augur well for Pakistan's democracy

Prime Minister Imran Khan may take his fight to the streets after a setback in Pakistan's top court, heightening political tensions and instability in the nuclear-armed Islamic nation, DW's Adnan Ishaq writes.

Pakistan's Supreme Court dealt a severe blow to Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Thursday by ruling that his maneuver to dissolve parliament — to avoid a vote of no-confidence in his leadership — and call early elections was illegal.  

It's not clear what Khan's next steps would be, but the opposition was ecstatic after the verdict. 

As per the court order, lawmakers are to convene at the National Assembly in Islamabad on Saturday for a no-confidence motion. 

French voters in Covid-hit Shanghai barred from casting presidential ballots

French citizens under lockdown in Covid-hit Shanghai will be unable to vote at a city polling station in Sunday's tightly contested first round of the presidential election, France's embassy in Beijing said on Friday.

Repeated approaches to Chinese authorities seeking permission to open the polling station inside the city's French consulate, and for voters and polling officials to be allowed to leave their homes, were rejected, the embassy said.

"Unfortunately, it was answered by the Shanghai authorities on April 7 that 'given the serious and complicated situation in Shanghai, it is objectively impossible to fulfil the conditions for the organisation by your consulate of the election, for the security of all people residing in Shanghai'," the embassy said on its WeChat social media account.

Kenyan climber joins first all-black team attempting Mount Everest

By Emmanuel Onyango
BBC News, Nairobi

Kenyan mountaineer James Kagambi is among a group of 10 climbers aiming to make history in a sport not known for its diversity. The group hope to be the first all-black team to climb Mount Everest. The other nine members of the team are Americans.

About 6,000 climbers are known to have conquered Everest to date, but fewer than 10 people of African origin are in this exclusive group. The Full Circle Everest team hopes to more than double that number.

They have just left base camp and hope to reach the summit in about two months.

At 62, Mr Kagambi is the oldest in the team of experienced mountaineers. He has summitted all the highest peaks in Africa, as well as the highest point in four continents, and hopes to become the first African to achieve all seven.

Prisoner raises stink over lack of access to a bath for 2 years

By TOMOAKI HOSAKA/ Staff Writer

April 9, 2022 at 17:23 JST

An elderly prisoner with mobility problems who claims he was not allowed to take a bath for more than two years is seeking 1.54 million yen ($12,400) in compensation from the government, citing psychological stress.

The 70-year-old filed the lawsuit in Gifu District Court on April 8.

According to the lawsuit, the man was transferred from Osaka Prison to Gifu Prison in January 2011. The man had difficulty walking because of leg and hip problems. Osaka Prison authorities allowed him to use a wheelchair, but Gifu Prison officials ignored his repeated requests to use one.