Excluded Headlines: World's biggest solar farm, Sudan massacre, India and Mexico elections ...
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
Morena in Mexico almost gets a supermajority - In Sunday’s elections, the coalition of parties lead by Morena won the presidency, six out of eight governorships, two-thirds of the chamber of deputies and almost two-thirds of senate. Some 40% of people did not vote in the elections however. Morena was hoping for the supermajority in order to make constitutional changes, but Morena leaders have said they will put the proposals to the new parliament anyway when it starts to sit in September. Key proposals include making minister and judge positions electable by a citizen vote. Source, source, source.
India elections: BJP looses its majority for first time in a decade - After 44 days of voting and with 642 million people turning out, PM Modi announced his win on Tuesday. However, while his coalition of parties reached the required parliamentary threshold, his party, the BJP, lost its outright majority and allied parties could switch sides. Indians have been voting amidst a heatwave, and dozens have died. Local analysts argue the move away from the BJP is due to Modi’s increasing attacks on minorities and his pro-business and elite policies that alienate the middle and lower classes. Source, source, source, source.
Over 100 massacred in Sudan - Sources and activists reported on Wednesday that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed a massacre in Wad El Noura village in El Gezira, killing more than 100 people. They said the RSF used heavy weapons, and the RSF later did take responsibility for the attack. Source, source
Mass displacement in DR Congo - Since the beginning of the year, more than 738,000 people have been newly displaced in DR Congo - for a total of over 7 million forcibly displaced people. Displaced people lack access to shelter, water, healthcare, safety, and more. The conflict in DR Congo is complex, but includes land disputes, violence, and natural disasters. Parts of DR Congo are rich in mineral wealth, and much of the fighting between the army and M23 is fuelled by foreign countries seeking to maintain geopolitical influence and profit from the extraction of the area's mineral riches. Source, source
China builds world’s biggest solar farm - Roughly the size of New York City, the plant has a capacity of 6 billion kilowatt hours, enough to power a small country like Luxembourg. The plant is in the desert and is being run by the country’s public power company. Source, source.
Israeli airstrike kills 40 in UN school sheltering displaced Gazans - In addition to the deaths, nearly 80 Palestinians were also wounded in Thursday’s predawn strike that hit the al-Sardi School run by UNRWA. Source, source, source.
Indonesia’s Broadcasting Bill could restrict sexual diversity content - The bill was last revised in mid-May, and stipulates that investigative journalism featuring LGBTQI+ individuals, behaviours, and/or “professions or figures with negative lifestyles” is prohibited. Activists and media groups have protested. Source.
Severe drought in southern Africa - Over 30 million people across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, and Mozambique, are facing severe drought. Rural communities could face hunger, and say they have never seen anything like it and are very worried about the future. Source.
Useful reads:
Once again, Burkina Faso is the world’s most neglected crisis
Indigenous People of Guam Are Fighting US Militarism and Environmental Ruin
Is Shell’s exit from Nigeria a front to dodge legal responsibilities?
India election results are a mandate against the Modi dictatorship
After training African coup leaders, Pentagon blames Russia for coups
In Indonesia, women ranger teams go on patrol to slow deforestation
Land Squeeze: The hidden battle for Africa’s soils
Why Mexico Electing First Woman President Doesn’t ‘Automatically Translate Into Hope’
Climate change may be fuelling a resurgence of piracy across Africa