Saturday, May 14, 2022

Six In The Morning Saturday 14 May 2022

 

Kharkiv is a major victory for Ukraine

Joe Inwood

Reporting from Lviv


On the outskirts of Kharkiv the retreating Russians left a parting gift.

Dergachi's Palace of Culture is now a smouldering ruin, thanks to a final barrage of rocket artillery.

But, it may be one of the last buildings in Ukraine's second city to suffer this fate.

Kharkiv is called a fortress, and with good reason. It has withstood more than two months of constant bombardment.

Its buildings and people have been battered, but never broken. Its defences never were breached


India bans all wheat exports over food security risk

Move imposed with immediate effect in attempt to control prices after heatwave damages crops

Associated Press in India

India, the world’s second largest producer of wheat, has banned all exports with immediate effect after a heatwave affected the crop.

A notice in the government gazette by the directorate of foreign trade, dated Friday, said a rise in global prices for wheat was threatening the food security of India and neighbouring and vulnerable countries.

A key aim is to control rising domestic prices. Global wheat prices have increased by more than 40% since the beginning of the year.


Lebanon: Voters cling to hopes election can deliver change

Lebanon elects a new parliament on May 15. Even though many people harbor hope for change, it won't be a walk in the park for the opposition.

Lebanon's adult population will elect a new parliament on May 15 — the first parliamentary election since the Beirut port blast.

The devastating explosion destroyed whole neighborhoods and killed hundreds of people on August 4, 2020.

"This election is extremely important to us," Amal Nassereddine told DW. The 38-year-old doctor admits that until now, she has always cast a blank ballot. "It was clear each time the corrupt political elite would win again," she said.


‘I will not wear the burqa’: Some Afghan women defy Taliban edict

The Taliban earlier this month issued a decree urging women to stay home and ordering those who have to go out to cover their faces with a burqa. But a few brave Afghan women have vowed to defy the restrictive edict.

A day after the Taliban issued a decree on May 7 ordering women to fully cover their faces in public – ideally with the burqa – a group of women took to the streets of Kabul to protest the edict.

One of the women at the protest, who declined to be identified for security reasons, said the Taliban did not let them continue the demonstration.


Israeli police attack on Shireen Abu Akleh mourners sparks outcry


Thousands gathered in occupied East Jerusalem for the Al Jazeera journalist’s funeral after she was shot dead by Israeli forces.



Attacks by Israeli forces on mourners of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh have sparked condemnation, with the United Nations and the United States describing the scenes as “deeply disturbing” – although the US stopped short of explicitly condemning Israel for the violence.

Thousands of people gathered in occupied East Jerusalem on Friday for the funeral of the veteran Al Jazeera journalist, two days after she was shot dead by Israeli forces while covering a raid in the occupied West Bank.


China tightens ban on 'non-essential' overseas travel as lockdown anger rises

By Jessie Yeung, CNN

Authorities in China have imposed a de facto international travel ban, forbidding citizens from going overseas for "non-essential" reasons, as the government ramps up efforts to enforce its zero-Covid policy.

In a statement Thursday, the Chinese National Immigration Administration said it would tighten its reviewing process on issuing travel documents such as passports, and strictly limit those looking to leave.
The administration justified the measures by claiming it was necessary to "reduce the risk of infection when leaving the country, and of carrying the virus when entering the country." Travel will only be permitted for "essential" purposes, defined by the administration as resuming work, study, business and scientific research, as well as seeking medical care.





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