- The Guardian
- Issue #2041
PERU: Hip hop, rock reggae, and punk songs are accompanying the continuing protests of thousands of Peruvians. Displaying unprecedented creativity, Peruvian youth have composed songs that reflect the discontent of those who raise their voices against the political and economic elites, structural racism, state terrorism. “The democracy is no longer democracy, Dina, murderer, the people hate you,” is the most popular song during the massive marches demanding the resignation of Dina Boluarte, who assumed power on 7th December, 2022 after Congress dismissed President Pedro Castillo.
SYRIA: An estimated 5.3 million people in Syria may have been left homeless by the earthquake that struck both Turkey and Syria, said the UN Refugee Agency representative. “This is a large number and comes to a population already suffering mass displacement,” he added. “For Syria, this is a crisis within a crisis. We’ve had economic shocks, COVID, and are now in the depths of winter, with blizzards raging in the affected areas.” International assistance is limited by the western sanctions imposed on Syria in 2011.
SUDAN: Sudan’s authorities concluded a review of an agreement with Russia to build a naval base on the Red Sea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Sudan recently and was warmly welcomed there. The agreement allows Russia to set up a naval base with up to 300 Russian troops, and to keep simultaneously up to four navy ships there. In its turn Russia will provide weapons and military equipment to Sudan. The agreement is to last for 25 years, with automatic extensions for 10-year periods if neither side objects. The deal is yet to be ratified and is awaiting the formation of a civilian government and a legislative body to ratify it before it takes effect.
BRAZIL: Brazil’s ex-president Dilma Rouseff will head BRICS New Development Bank until the end of Brazil’s presidency of the organisation in 2025. BRICS is Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Rouseff will replace Brazilian diplomat Marcos Troyjo, who was appointed by the country’s previous leader Jair Bolsonaro.
NORTH KOREA: Between 300 and 500 North Korean specialists will be coming to the Donbass region to help with the rebuilding of civilian structures destroyed by the Ukrainian military.
