South Korean police raid office of incoming head of doctors’ group over protracted strikesThe development could further dim prospects for an early end to the strikes. The office of Lim Hyun-taek, who is to be inaugurated as head of the Korean Medical Association next week, called the raid politically motivated and questioned whether the government is sincere about its offer for dialogue to end the strikes.
https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-doctors-strikes-lim-5fef85834ba6121449bb25e1268d6baeChina highlights extremism threat, pledges deeper military ties with KazakhstanSince 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, Beijing has repeatedly warned against a revival of terrorist forces in the region. In a 2023 position paper on the Afghanistan situation, China warned that the “three forces” still posed a “major security threat to the region and the world”.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3260479/china-highlights-extremism-threat-pledges-deeper-military-ties-kazakhstan?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionIn huge police raids, Australian teenagers arrested on vague “terrorism” chargesThe raids—the largest for a decade—were conducted despite police admitting there was no evidence of any specific plans, locations, times or targets for a terrorist act. Instead, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigations had revealed a “network” of people who share a “similar violent extremist ideology.” This common “ideology” was not named, but clearly the accusation was directed at identification with Islamic belief.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/04/25/kuzv-a25.htmlUS troops begin construction of Gaza aid pier as questions remain over distributionA UN official said the port will probably have three zones – one controlled by the Israelis where aid from the pier is dropped off, another where the aid will be transferred, and a third where Palestinian drivers contracted by the UN will wait to pick up the aid before bringing it to distribution points. A senior Biden administration official said aid coming off the pier will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land. That is despite the aid having already been inspected by Israel in Cyprus prior to being shipped to Gaza.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/us-military-troops-gaza-aid-pierGaza boycott: Calls for Egypt's Al Ahly to end Coca-Cola contract over alleged Israel linksA boycott campaign has gone viral on social media as part of a larger boycott movement in Egypt against businesses and brands that are accused of backing Israel's continuous onslaught in Gaza. Fans are calling on Al Ahly to end its contract with the soft drink giant following the circulation of images of the club's players and logo on Coca-Cola cans.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-al-ahly-fc-under-pressure-end-ties-coca-cola-israel-boycott-gaza-warEgypt sends delegation to Israel, its latest effort to broker a cease-fire between Israel and HamasThe official said mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties’ main demands, then lead to continued negotiations with the goal of a larger deal to end the war. A Western diplomat in Cairo said that Egypt’s intensified efforts for a cease-fire aim to avert a Rafah offensive.
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-04-26-2024-0656fe67d5441b0fff348aa6121b3336Colombia suspends guerrilla arrest warrants ahead of peace talksColombia’s chief prosecutor suspended the arrest warrants of nine commanders of the Segunda Marquetalia guerrilla group on Thursday. The move came a day after President Gustavo Petro granted the group of former FARC commander “Ivan Marquez” political status, clearing the way for peace negotiations.
https://colombiareports.com/colombia-suspends-guerrilla-arrest-warrants-ahead-of-peace-talks/Indigenous people in Brazil march to demand land recognitionA group of Indigenous leaders entered the palace to talk to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while others shouted outside the building: “Our rights are not negotiable.” Last week, he backed down from the creation of four Indigenous territories, citing opposition from state governors. In addition to calls for more land recognition, some tribes protested a proposed 950km (590 miles) rail project to transport soybeans from the state of Mato Grosso, in the central part of the country, to ports along the Tapajos River, a large Amazon tributary.
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/4/26/indigenous-people-in-brazil-march-to-demand-land-recognitionhttps://archive.is/ZRlGMTransitional council sworn in to set Haiti on new political path away from rampant gang violenceA TRANSITIONAL council has been sworn in to pick Haiti’s new prime minister and cabinet and prepare for eventual presidential elections in an effort to curb rampant gang violence.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/transitional-council-sworn-set-haiti-new-political-path-away-rampant-gang-violenceEFF members decry state of Tshilidzini Hospital during a march“Our community members are complaining about the availability of ambulances. When you call for their service to come to pick up a patient, they do not come. The ambulances that were allocated are not of assistance to the people of Vhembe region,” adds Matodzi.
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/hospital-service-lp/