Category Archives: Viva!

Peru: why a fundamentalist sect became an unexpected winner in elections

Off the rails?

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Political party of Los Israelitas wins second largest share in new congress, and prompts concern over their fundamentalist views

In a country that takes pride in its colourful folklore, Los Israelitas – a religious sect whose members dress in flowing biblical robes – were regarded as just one more strand in Peru’s cultural tapestry.

That was until their political party became an unexpected winner in parliamentary elections on Sunday.

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Most of 11m trees planted in Turkish project ‘may be dead’

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Agriculture and forestry union says up to 90% of saplings they have looked at so far have died

Up to 90% of the millions of saplings planted in Turkey as part of a record-breaking mass planting project may have died after just a few months, according to the country’s agriculture and forestry trade union.

On 11 November last year, which the government declared National Forestation Day, 11 million trees were planted by volunteers in more than 2,000 sites across the country, including by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the parliament Speaker, Mustafa Şentop.

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The birth of Bougainville, the world’s newest country

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Last year the small Pacific island of Bougainville, a self-governed part of Papua New Guinea, held a referendum on whether it should become an independent country. In this episode of Full Story, Leanne Jorari looks at the long and sometimes violent journey to this historic vote, and where to now for Bougainville

You can read this explainer on Bougainville’s referendum by Pacific editor Kate Lyons. Leanne Jorari also reported on the lead up to the referendum, and the day of the vote.

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Gunman injures Indian student in attack on citizenship protest

See Fascist India up close and personal

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Suspected Hindu nationalist went live on Facebook before firing on march against new law

A suspected Hindu nationalist went live on Facebook to warn he was taking his “final journey”, minutes before opening fire on university students protesting against India’s new citizenship law.

One student was reportedly shot in the hand before police arrested the alleged gunman, who timed his attack on Thursday to coincide with the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 by a Hindu radical.

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Chicago police announce major restructuring, moving detectives and specialized cops to patrol districts to take on violence – Chicago Tribune

Interim Chicago police Superintendent Charlie Beck unveiled a massive restructuring Thursday that will move hundreds of detectives and narcotics and gang officers from specialized units to police districts in a bid to bring added resources and better coordination to combating violence.
— Read on www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-chicago-police-department-reorganized-20200130-hsu4mimclvhqrpqmt6h6vf5a4m-story.html