World News Briefs For Friday, 25 October 2019
Hello Australia!! - New information about the 39 people found dead in the UK - Boris wants a new election - Another South American country could be running into unrest - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:
Chinese officials are en route to Essex, UK, where it has been determined that the 39 people found dead in a refrigerated big rig trailer were Chinese immigrants. Another group from the Chinese embassy in Belgium is demanding an investigation because that is where the trailer is believed to have originated. Police searched three properties in Northern Ireland apparently related to 25-year old Mo Robinson, the truck driver who was arrested on suspicion of murder. The first 11 bodies have been transported to a local hospital for identification and postmortem examinations, Essex Police said.
Boris Johnson appears to have given up on his 31 October, deal-or-no-deal Brexit: Johnson announced that he will give Commons more time to discuss the deal he reached with European leaders this month, but in return he wants an election on 12 December. Parliament has twice before denied his desire for an election, and Labour leader Jeremy Jeremy said he would not support an election until a no-deal Brexit is "off the table". The Scottish National party likewise won't support an election with these conditions; Plaid Cymru and the Lib-Dems oppose an election and would rather have a referendum letting the people approve any Brexit deal or ever call it off and stay in the EU.
A Bangladesh court sentenced 16 people to death for setting a woman on fire, killing her, because she had reported a teacher for sexual harassment. Those convicted of murdering 19-year old Nusrat Jahan Rafi included: the headteacher Nusrat had accused of harassment, who ordered the murder from jail; two female classmates; two members of the local group of Bangladesh's ruling party. Swift and decisive justice in the case that shocked the nation had been promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bolivian President Evo Morales says he is the winner of last weekend's election and will get a fourth term. Critics say the vote count was hinky - although it showed him ahead, TV coverage of the ballot count abruptly ended when it appeared that Morales wouldn't get enough votes to clear the threshold to avoid a runoff, election coverage was pulled off the air. The European Union and the US-backed Organization of American States (OAS) are demanding a second round to the election which some observers believe Evo would lose. Morales accuses his opponents of trying to foment a coup; and let's face it, that's pretty much what the US does in South America.
They're still hitting the streets for anti-government protests in Chile.
Ugandan police arrested 16 members of an LGBT activist group, and forced them to undergo invasive medical examinations. Gay sex is illegal in Uganda and can be punishable with life imprisonment, while sexual minorities face harassment and violence. Earlier this month, activists reported that a gay rights campaigner was bludgeoned to death. This is happening as lawmakers have reintroduced the "kill the gays" law to impose the death penalty on LGBT people, legislation influenced by American and Western evangelicals.
The remains of Spain's fascist dictator Francisco Franco have been removed from a tomb at the Valley of the Fallen monument, and transferred to a private family plot next to those of Franco's wife. The move by Spain's Socialist government was praised by those who want to end any glorification of the Franco years during which thousands were murdered; it was opposed by the country's far-right, some of whom wore swastikas to protests.
A painting stolen by the nazis in 1933 from a Jewish family in Germany has turned up - in the Arkell Museum in New York City. German-Jewish publisher and philanthropist Rudolf Mosse took his family and fled Germany, leaving behind everything - including the painting by American artist Gari Melchers entitled "Winter". Shortly after that, the painting made its way to New York where it was purchased buy American industrialist Bartlett Arkell. He kept it in his personal collection, eventually winding up in the museum bearing Arkell's name. The Mosse descendants 20 years ago set out to recover the family's stolen property. Current management was distressed to learn the history of the painting and will give up all rights to it.