All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Pope Francis condemns Myanmar junta ahead of landmark visit to Iraq

Pope Francis on Wednesday reiterated his call on Myanmar’s military junta to release all political prisoners and allow the country to continue its journey toward democracy.

The country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi is among those detained, facing several charges, including causing “fear and alarm” and possessing illegally imported communications equipment.

“I would like to draw the attention of the authorities involved to the fact that dialogue prevails over repression and harmony over discord,” Pope Francis said, speaking at the end of his general audience.

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Pope Francis on Wednesday reiterated his call on Myanmar’s military junta to release all political prisoners and allow the country to continue its journey toward democracy.

The country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi is among those detained, facing several charges, including causing “fear and alarm” and possessing illegally imported communications equipment.

“I would like to draw the attention of the authorities involved to the fact that dialogue prevails over repression and harmony over discord,” Pope Francis said, speaking at the end of his general audience. 

His comments came in the wake of another violent crackdown on protesters who were demonstrating peacefully against the coup. Security forces have killed at least 30 people participating in pro-democracy marches since the military coup on February 1.

“I repeat the wish I expressed a month ago,” he said, “that the path towards democracy taken in recent years by Myanmar may be resumed through the concrete gesture of the release of the various political leaders imprisoned.”

Only on Wednesday, the day of the Pope’s appeal, police forces in the country killed at least 9 people participating in the protests. 

On March 5, the Pope will visit Iraq, his first foreign trip since the outbreak of the pandemic. The landmark move was labelled as an “act of love for this land, for its people and for its Christians.”

Israel denies COVID vaccine to Palestinian student at Tel Aviv University – +972 Magazine

In the wake of the incident, the university president wrote a letter to the director general of the Health Ministry on the same day, requesting a plan that would allow Palestinian students with an entry permit into Israel for the purpose of studies to be vaccinated the same way all other students are. We hope that the change in the Health Ministry’s approach regarding the vaccination of Palestinian workers, which was announced yesterday, will also provide a plan for the vaccination of [Palestinian] students.Source: Israel denies COVID vaccine to Palestinian student at Tel Aviv University – +972 Magazine

Police disarm pipe bomb at Iowa polling site

Police in Ankeny, Iowa, say they disarmed a live pipe bomb after it was found by a pair of dog walkers at a polling location as voting took place in a local election Tuesday.”

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Police in Ankeny, Iowa, say they disarmed a live pipe bomb after it was found by a pair of dog walkers at a polling location as voting took place in a local election Tuesday.”Ankeny Police officers were called to t…

‘Facebook has a blind spot’: why Spanish-language misinformation is flourishing

Researchers say Spanish-language content is less often and less quickly moderated for misinformation than English content

In the last year, Facebook adjusted some of the most fundamental rules about what gets posted on its platform, halting algorithmic recommendations of political groups, banning lies about vaccines and removing a number of high-profile figures for spreading misinformation and hate – including Donald Trump.

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Researchers say Spanish-language content is less often and less quickly moderated for misinformation than English content

In the last year, Facebook adjusted some of the most fundamental rules about what gets posted on its platform, halting algorithmic recommendations of political groups, banning lies about vaccines and removing a number of high-profile figures for spreading misinformation and hate – including Donald Trump.

Related: Twitter targets Covid vaccine misinformation with labels and ‘strike’ system

Continue reading…

Dozens killed in Myanmar’s worst day of violence since coup

Security forces open fire on anti-coup protesters in Yangon, Mandalay and elsewhere

At least 33 people have been killed after Myanmar’s security forces opened fire on peaceful anti-coup protesters in multiple towns and cities, in the worst day of violence since the military coup last month.

Police and military have increasingly used lethal violence in an attempt to crush demonstrations, killing at least 40 people since the coup on 1 February.

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Security forces open fire on anti-coup protesters in Yangon, Mandalay and elsewhere

At least 33 people have been killed after Myanmar’s security forces opened fire on peaceful anti-coup protesters in multiple towns and cities, in the worst day of violence since the military coup last month.

Police and military have increasingly used lethal violence in an attempt to crush demonstrations, killing at least 40 people since the coup on 1 February.

Continue reading…