‘ Freedom Convoy’ against the COVID mandate in Canada turned to bring down the Government
February 09, 2022, OTTAWA: They came to Ottawa by the thousands with different goals and grievances but united in their disenfranchisement with the federal Liberal government and COVID-19 health restrictions. The protesters who formed the self-titled “Freedom Convoy” and similar demonstrations across the country blockaded the streets of the capital and international border crossings, marking a new form of protest in Ottawa.
Russia launches ‘full-scale invasion’ in Ukraine.
Feb. 24, 2022: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a military operation in Ukraine, with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a “full-scale invasion” was underway.
Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 soldiers along the borders of Ukraine. Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and said the operation was overseeing a “genocide” in the east of Ukraine.
Biden immediately warned of “consequences” for Russia and that there would be a “catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.” NATO’s chief condemned Russia’s “reckless and unprovoked attack” on Ukraine.
10 Hours daily power cuts shattered the country
March 30, 2022: Sri Lanka suffers long power cuts as currency shortage makes fuel scarce.
• Kelanitissa Plant has come to a complete halt due to a lack of fuel
• CEB requests urgent fuel supplies to prevent other plants from shutting down
• Sources say that required fuel stocks for this week were yet to be supplied
Sri Lankans faced 10-hour power cuts and warnings of longer blackouts, as a deepening economic crisis roiled markets and the electricity regulator urged more than a million government employees to work from home to save fuel.
Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera reporter killed by Israeli forces
May 12, 2022, Ramallah, Occupied West Bank: Israeli forces have shot dead Al Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank, according to witnesses and the Palestinian health ministry. Israeli forces shot Abu Akleh in the head while she was on assignment in Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
Abu Akleh, a long-time TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, was killed on Wednesday while covering Israeli army raids in Jenin’s northern occupied West Bank. She was rushed to a hospital in Jenin in critical condition, where she was declared dead shortly after, at 7:15 am (4:15 GMT), according to the Palestinian health ministry. Abu Akleh was wearing a press vest and was standing with other journalists when she was killed.
SL hikes fuel prices as it faces economic collapse
June 26, 2022, Colombo: Sri Lanka has raised its fuel prices, causing further pain for people as officials from the United States arrived for talks to support the island nation amid its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. The move comes a day after the energy minister said there would be an indefinite delay in getting new oil shipments.
How a band of activists helped bring down Sri Lanka’s Rajapakse government
In June, a few dozen activists started meeting regularly at a seaside tented camp in Colombo for hours-long sessions to think up ways to revive Sri Lanka’s flagging protest movement. The group, which included a Catholic priest, a digital strategist, and a popular playwright, succeeded beyond their wildest hopes.
Public frustration at ongoing shortages has brought the economy to a standstill. Riding on trains, buses, lorries, bicycles, or simply walking, huge crowds converged in Colombo on Saturday, outnumbering security forces deployed to protect government buildings and upending Sri Lankan politics.
“Gota Go Home!” the crowds chanted in Colombo’s Fort area, seething over the country’s worst economic crisis since independence.
Within weeks, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Colombo. After initially clashing with police, protesters occupied key government buildings and residences, forcing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse, and Basil Rajapakse to step down.
July 20, 2022: Ranil Wickremesinghe, the six-time Sri Lankan Prime Minister became president
Nuclear site attacked amid blame-game
5 Aug. 05, 2022: Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations after attacks hit near a nuclear reactor at the Zaporizhzhia power plant.
The United States has warned that 40 million people will be plunged into food insecurity because Russia invaded Ukraine, saying sub-Saharan Africa will be the hardest hit region by the crisis.
Ukraine-Russia trade blame over nuclear plant attacks. Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of striking Europe’s largest nuclear site, causing a reactor stoppage.
Iranian woman declared brain dead after her arrest by morality police in Tehran
September 17, 2022, Dubai: An Iranian woman was declared brain dead hours after being reportedly arrested by morality police in Tehran for not complying with the country’s mandatory hijab rules. Mahsa Amini was allegedly beaten inside the morality police’s van while being taken to a detention center, according to reports by Radio Farda, quoting eyewitnesses.
The 22-year-old had travelled from Kurdistan to Tehran to meet relatives when she was arrested on September 13. Her family was later informed that Amini was hospitalized after the media center of the Tehran Police Department had informed that she ‘suddenly suffered a heart problem.’
Authorities in Iran have increasingly cracked down on women who violate the mandatory wearing of the hijab in public, which became compulsory for Iranian women and girls over the age of 9 after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Reports suggest that women deemed ‘non-compliant’ have been barred from entering government offices, banks, or riding on public transportation.
Iran’s hijab law under review: Iran Attorney General
Dec. 03, 2022, Tehran: Iran’s parliament and the judiciary are reviewing a law which requires women to cover their heads, which triggered more than two months of deadly protests, the attorney general said. The demonstrations began after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, died in custody on September 16 after her arrest by Iran’s morality police for an alleged breach of the dress code.
Protesters have burned their head coverings and shouted anti-government slogans. Since Amini’s death, many women are not observing hijab, particularly in Tehran’s fashionable north. The hijab headscarf became obligatory for all women in Iran in April 1983, four years after the 1979 revolution overthrew the US-backed monarchy.
Saudi crown prince hosts summit with China’s Xi Jinping, Gulf leaders
December 10, 2022, Riyadh: Arab countries will seek to improve cooperation with China and look forward to a new partnership phase, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Friday at the Arab-China summit in Riyadh.
“The Kingdom is working on enhancing cooperation [with China] to serve international stability,” the crown prince said in front of Arab leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom. President Xi also said the summit would “lead to a brighter future,” adding that China sought “comprehensive cooperation” with Arab states to serve Chinese-Arab mutual interests.
All Parties should unite for the solution to the ethnic problem – President Ranil Wickramasinghe
Dec. 15, 2022: President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that all political Parties should come to a joint agreement to solve the ethnic problem by the upcoming 75th Independence Celebration. President Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed this while attending the All-Party Conference held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (13) afternoon.
The President convened this conference to resolve the ethnic problem through national reconciliation. Below are the views expressed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the other representatives of political parties who participated in the All-Party Conference: The President, addressing the All-Party Conference, said, “We must all come together to solve the problem in this country. Whether it is called an ethnic problem or something else is not essential. We want to provide solutions to these problems. All the political parties came together to find a solution and reach an agreement in the parliament. Today this party leaders’ meeting was called for that purpose.
