Excluded Headlines: Indonesia fines Google, Sudan, West Bank, Thailand ...
Stay up to date on the Global South news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
Some Sudanese are digging trenches to survive - Some people have dug trenches and are living underground in order to avoid the violence in Sudan. People urgently need food, medicine, and for the fighting to stop. Famines have been declared in some displaced-people’s camps. The UN says that direct attacks on civilians are becoming more common and things are likely to get worse, as the RSF and the Armed Forces fight for control of Khartoum. Source, source.
While aid trucks enter Gaza during ceasefire, Israel attacks the West Bank - Reports are that Israeli soldiers are firing randomly at people in Jenin, in the West Bank, with hundreds of people fleeing their homes there today based on messages from drones with loudspeakers. The Israeli military then demolished various houses. In the West Bank, 150,000 people’s work permits were taken away after October, 2023, and in the first six months of the genocide in Gaza, unemployment in the West Bank tripled. Israel has stated publicly that it will continue its military “operation” in the West Bank for months. Source, source, source.
Indonesia hits Google with US$12.6 million fine for monopolistic practices - Indonesia’s antitrust agency KPPU fined Google 202.5 billion rupiahs on Wednesday for antitrust violation following an investigation launched in 2022 into Google’s market dominance, particularly its requirement that Indonesian app developers use Google Play Billing (GPB). Source.
Some DR Congo soldiers quit fighting - In an important significant step towards some end to the fighting, at least 600 militias have laid down their arms and joined the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS) promoted by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Source.
At least 98 die in Nigeria gas tanker explosion - The blast, that happened over the weekend, was caused as people tried to transfer gas from the tanker after it crashed. Those people and the many bystanders (some watching and some trying to scoop gasoline) were impacted by the explosion. Important context is that gasoline/petrol prices have soared after the government removed subsidies, which has led to severe hardships. Source.
First gay couples celebrate marriage in Thailand - After legalising same-sex marriage in June last year in both houses of parliament (with the king’s endorsement in September), same-sex couples were able to marry as of today, as the law came into effect. Source, source.
Argentine governor blames fires on Indigenous community - Several fires have broken out in Argentine Patagonia, destroying more than 5,000 hectares and setting the town of Epuyé on fire. The fire occurred during a prolonged drought, but the governor blamed a recently evicted Mapuche community instead of taking responsibility for not implementing any preventative measures. Source.
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