Excluded Headlines: Lebanese president, Guatemalan soldiers in Haiti, Indonesian free meals...
Stay up to date on the Global South news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
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In this week’s Global South news:
After two years without a head of state, Lebanese parliament elects a president - Today, the parliament selected army chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s president. The parliament had met on 12 prior occasions to select a president but hadn’t been able to. Such lack of agreement came in a context of severe economic hardship in the country, the explosion in Beirut in 2020, which killed hundreds, and the recent Israeli bombing and invasion. Source.
Guatemala and El Salvador send soldiers to Haiti - Guatemala and El Salvador have sent a symbolic amount (150 in total) of soldiers to the country, in addition to those sent by Kenya last year. Though billed as “multinational security mission” - the soldiers are very much an initiative of the US and UN. So far the “mission” has been totally ineffective in reducing violence in Haiti, and has only created resentment among local police and soldiers, who are paid much less. Source, source.
Indonesia begins free meals program - The Indonesian government began its program this Monday, after promising it during the recent elections. The goal is to provide food to 89 million people within five years. So far, however, there have been criticisms and concerns regarding the 570,000 mostly school children who have started receiving meals, with allegations that the food is unpalatable and unsafe. Source, source.
After almost a year of farmers’ protests in India, one dies by suicide - Amid ongoing protests against the national government and demanding minimum price support for crops, a farmer died by suicide after being frustrated at the lack of a resolution from the government despite the protracted protest. The death follows a similar one by another farmer protester in mid December. Source.
Armed assault on presidential building in Chad - Some 19 people have died in clashes between armed people and security forces Wednesday during an assault on the palace after the president returned from meeting with Chinese officials. Source, source, source.
‘There’s no future in Palestine’ read billboards placed by Israel in the West Bank - The billboards include photos of the forced displacement of Gazans and seem to encourage Palestinians to leave the West Bank. The billboards come as attacks escalate in the area and there are increasing crackdowns by Israeli forces. Source, source.
Earthquake in Tibet - Over 120 people died in a 7.1 earthquake in Tibet on Tuesday, in the city of Shigatse - an important city in Buddhism. Many homes were reduced to rubble, while temperatures are currently below zero in the region. Source, source.
Useful reads:
Sudanese refugees in Chad face dire water shortages
How Congolese climate activists stopped a ‘carbon bomb,’ for now
Who is Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army commander elected president?
Peru: Latest Petroperú oil spill wrecks local fishing, tourism industry
Migrant Deaths Off Spain’s Coast Are Worse Than Ever
Raffi Berg: BBC Middle East Editor Exposed as CIA, Mossad Collaborator