Disaster Management

This is The World Today [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcDdoM3lmZnNoMS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Disaster Management [Formerly DailyChatter - Why are we changing our name?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveHFuaXpjcnZ3MS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdjkzMmxmd3dzYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdjcyeDZ6YzZocy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvamV1dGNldHNybi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZmJiOWdiNnMwZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) GlobalPost is an exclusive benefit for subscribers of The Charlotte Observer The Largest Daily Newsletter Devoted to World News Disaster Management THE WORLD TODAY — Friday, September 27, 2024 Disaster Management Disaster Management Need to Know Disaster Management [Austria](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaWo2Z2Y4MWIxbC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Austrian politicians running for parliament before elections on Sept. 29 paused their campaigns recently after flooding that afflicted much of central Europe killed three people in the country. The civility concealed shrewd politicking, however, say analysts. After declaring that disaster recovery needed to supersede electioneering, Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the center-right Austrian People’s Party, for example, made a point of posting images of himself in emergency rooms as he directed efforts to counter the flood damage. “Of course the election campaign continues, only now it’s focused on this issue, and he’s trying to turn that to his advantage,” political analyst Thomas Hofer [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvemNndmdpenlhZy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Reuters. These moves underscore how Nehammer is under intense pressure as the far-right Freedom Party is slated to win the most seats in the election. [According](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYmN1Z3UxNjQ5dS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the European Conservative, the Freedom Party is expected to win 29 percent of the vote compared with the Austrian People’s Party’s expected showing of 23 percent while the other party in the governing coalition, the Greens, is forecast to win only 8 percent. The Freedom Party might be able to partner with other groups to form a government – it has done so before. Still, its success demonstrates yet again how Europe is tilting right in the wake of anemic economic growth, waves of migration from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, and other pressures. The Freedom Party has taken advantage of the Austrian public’s dissatisfaction with their government, the Robert Schuman Foundation [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNzZ0ZTBlenh6Zi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~), with a dose of patriotism, anti-immigration and anti-Muslim stances. The party hopes to cut spending on migrant services while cutting taxes on Austrians and adopting a more neutral stance on the war between Russia and Ukraine. Austria, which is not a NATO member, is technically neutral, but has [joined](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbHptN2FrcHJneS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) in the regime of Western sanctions against Russia. Founded in the 1950s, the party’s first two leaders, Anton Reinthaller and Friedrich Peter, served as Nazi Schutzstaffel, or SS, officers during World War Two, [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdWxycTI2OXYzdi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Inkstick. Today, Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl has vowed to turn Austria into a “fortress” that will protect citizens from migrants and other dangers, [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZjY5djhlcTB0Ni8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Irish Times. He’s also decried “forced multiculturalism, globalization and mass immigration.” Economic woes potentially have made these ideas more attractive to Austrians who say the newcomers aren’t helping them solve their personal problems. Austria’s economy grew by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of the year, then shrunk by 0.4 percent in the second, [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdDQ0ZmZsenhvai8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Dutch multinational bank ING. Meanwhile, high inflation is finally easing, it added. Still, despite the commitment from the main parties to strengthen the economy, whoever wins the election won’t be able to do much to turn the situation around, ING added. “The challenges the Austrian economy is currently facing are so multifaceted that a few measures alone will not be enough to bring the country back onto a higher growth path.” [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcmZoYXdpdjRiMi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Disaster Management ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveHY0eWFubXZoYy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ The World Briefly Para Bellum Para Bellum [Israel](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbXNyc2E4ZTgzcy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) / [Lebanon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaXFwamsyZ2xsdi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Israel prepared for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon in the wake of an intensifying fight this week with Hezbollah, while US and European leaders stepped up their efforts for a ceasefire in an effort to prevent a wider regional war, ABC News [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY3kwenY1MnI4by8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). On Thursday, Israeli forces exchanged fire with Hezbollah fighters as US officials waited for Israel and Lebanon to agree on a [ceasefire proposal](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZmV2anltODNxZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) formulated by the United States and other nations, the Washington Post [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOXZ0ZmYxNnRiOC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the ceasefire proposal, the newspaper added. On Wednesday, Israeli military leaders confirmed they are planning for a ground operation, with thousands of reservists being mobilized to defend the northern front. Israel Defense Force Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said troops are preparing to enter Hezbollah-controlled villages in southern Lebanon, targeting underground infrastructure used to launch attacks on Israeli civilians. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have also ramped up significantly since Sunday, with more than 2,000 Hezbollah targets hit over the past three days. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that at least 650 people have been killed and more than 1,700 wounded in the strikes, with 81 dead and 403 injured on Wednesday alone. Also on Wednesday, Hezbollah launched a ballistic missile targeting Tel Aviv, marking the group’s deepest strike into Israel since the conflict began. Iraq also fired drones at the Israeli port of Eilat, heightening concerns about other countries in the region getting involved in the conflict. Israel’s fight with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group based in Lebanon, began intensifying after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Hezbollah launched a series of rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas, shortly after Israeli troops began an ongoing military campaign in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Analysts say the current hostilities resemble the 2006 war, where both sides engaged in fierce battles resulting in heavy casualties and widespread destruction, [according to](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMXY2Nmt2Nmp0cS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Financial Times. International leaders fear that the conflict risks spiraling into a wider regional war. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for diplomacy while Western nations and a number of Arab states expressed support for the ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, the United Nations said more than 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon because of the fighting, warning that the humanitarian toll is expected to increase. Thousands of Lebanese have already been fleeing into Syria, a country still fighting a civil war in parts of the country and dealing with its own displaced population, [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNzUwaTkxaGcwMy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Associated Press. Lebanese officials expressed concern that the number of refugees could reach half a million if hostilities continue. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMjNrdnBnNjliNy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Righting Wrongs Righting Wrongs [Japan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbHhkMTB4b3B1bC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) The world’s longest-serving death row inmate, Iwao Hakamata, who was convicted of murdering four people in 1966, was acquitted Thursday in a retrial in a case that has sparked debate over the fairness of Japan’s justice system, NBC News [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNXE2czJ3Ym9tby8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Hakamata, now 88, spent 45 years behind bars waiting to be hanged before a court ordered his release and a retrial in 2014, amid doubts about the credibility of the evidence against him. Hakamata retired from a career in professional boxing in 1961 and sought employment at a soybean processing plant in Shizuoka, [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvN29mZG91N290ci8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) CNN. Five years later, Hakamata, no longer working at the plant but as a bartender, became the prime suspect in the murder of his soybean company’s former manager and his wife and children, who were all found stabbed to death in their home that was also set on fire. Initially, Hakamata pleaded guilty after days of questioning. He later changed his statements to proclaim his innocence, arguing that the police had beaten and threatened him to secure his confession and fabricated the evidence against him. The evidence in question was blood-splattered trousers soaking in a tank of miso. Hakamata was sentenced to death in a 2-1 decision by judges and languished on death row for 45 years. After a recent DNA test of the blood revealed no match to either Hakamata or the victims, the Shizuoka District Court ordered a retrial in 2014. Then in 2023, Japan’s Supreme Court approved the retrial, leading to the acquittal. The case has sparked outrage in Japan, and a debate over the fairness of the Japanese justice system, the incessant use of confessions to get convictions, and the use of the death penalty in the country. [According to](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNXczZm85YWZqay8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Japan Times, Hakamata’s case underscores the extreme length of time it takes to secure a retrial in Japan. Retrials are rare in Japan, and 99 percent of cases result in convictions, CNN noted. Japan is one of the few developed nations that still use the death penalty. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNzFsbjR3OHB1Zy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Disaster Management Support Our Student Initiative ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvODJjY3A2MTNyZi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ GlobalPost provides free subscriptions to students and teachers around the world. Help us expand students’ global knowledge. [Donate now](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZGU4OTh3YW5pai8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Your contribution is fully tax deductible. Disaster Management ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsva2x5MXF1cjNkMS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ A Prince and a Pauper A Prince and a Pauper [Eswatini](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbWk3OTBxcmJidi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Eswatini’s main opposition party accused the government of poisoning its leader this week, an incident that has revived international criticism of the southern African kingdom where authorities have banned political parties and cracked down on dissent, the Guardian [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOWk1cjJ0ejhvOC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Mlungisi Makhanya, the president of the People’s United Democratic Movement party (PUDEMO), was hospitalized Tuesday after allegedly being poisoned at his home in neighboring South Africa. The opposition leader had been living in exile. PUDEMO secretary-general Penuel Malinga said Makhanya had been served poisoned food and locked in his bedroom by an unnamed cook. He added that the opposition figure was in a critical but stable condition and is expected to recover. Malinga called the poisoning “a clear assassination attempt by the (Eswatini) state.” Government officials denied any involvement. Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said it was “not in our policy as the government to either kill or poison people who hold a different political view in our country.” The poisoning came days after Makhanya announced plans for new pro-democracy protests in Eswatini next month. Landlocked Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, is currently ruled by King Mswati III who has been in power since 1986. Ruling by decree, the monarch has the power to appoint a prime minister, and some lawmakers, as well as veto laws. Political parties have been banned in the country since the 1970s, although the state allows a few of them to operate, the Associated Press [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNDF4ZHY5NzB5di8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Opponents and human rights groups have criticized Mswati III for his lavish lifestyle in a country where the majority is poor. Now 56, the king recently became engaged to Nomcembo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who is to become his [16th wife](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY3Z4c204ZmFlbS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). He is also known for brutally quashing any dissent against his rule. In 2021, mass pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in the kingdom, prompting authorities to launch a crackdown that killed at least 46 people, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdzR0NXl1dDBpMy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to Human Rights Watch. Makhanya’s poisoning comes more than a year after another PUDEMO member, Thulani Maseko, was shot dead at his home in front of his wife and children. Eswatini officials promised an investigation – but, to date, there have been no convictions in the case. Makhanya decried Maseko’s murder as a political assassination, but the kingdom dismissed the accusations. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveTZ5d2pzNDBmYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weekly Quiz Weekly World Quiz Which of these countries houses the World Heritage site known as the “Manhattan of the Desert”? [Yemen](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcGR5OWFwZWd4cy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Oman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcXRveG1mcnN2My8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Egypt](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMHlqbGU0NmJqcy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [United Arab Emirates](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveXo3dGNkY3d6dy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Powered by [Typeform](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZnZlamxnM29pbS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY2huM2k4eWZ4ZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ The Seed-Sowers Discoveries The Seed-Sowers For thousands of years, wolves roamed large swathes of land of the British Isles at night, dispersing the wildflower and grass seeds caught in their fur along their routes, which allowed for biodiversity and ecosystem growth through the establishment of new plant colonies. Then in the 1700s, they went extinct and some native plant species died out. Now, one nature reserve’s caretakers have decided to enlist the help of wolves’ canine cousins to pick up the task and boost biodiversity. “We’re really interested in rewilding processes, but they often involve reintroducing big herbivores like bison or wild horses,” Dylan Walker of [the Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvN3pkaW96a2U3NC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) in Lewes, south of London, [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaGdmMDdkaDUzci8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Guardian. “In a smaller urban nature reserve, it’s really hard to do those things. “So, to replicate the effect that those animals have on the ecosystem we aimed to utilize the vast number of dog walkers that are visiting the nature reserve daily.” He says those numerous dogs on walks with their owners at the Lewes Railway Land urban nature reserve have impacted the park’s habitat over the years, with it losing some native plant species. Now, the dogs get a chance to give back. To do so, the dogs wear special backpacks on their daily walks full of seeds. As they wander and sniff, seeds fall from the bags, reseeding the landscape of the reserve. According to the trust, the dogs can cover more ground and access areas not in reach by humans, leading to increased germination. The idea for this project stemmed from two sisters in Chile, who have used their backpack-wearing dogs to help reforest areas affected by wildfires, CBS News [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc21sdjBqZW5kNy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0VwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Walker says the project also gets locals involved and invested in the reserve, which was decades ago a railway yard before it was closed and nature began to reclaim it: “A community-based project like this not only helps engage and teach people about the ecological impacts of wildlife, but also allows us to make our wildlife and environments richer in the process.” [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo2QbCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY215OHMwd3d1NC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1zZjdvdmh4NXR0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmb0woH2Zj-od6JSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thank you for reading or listening to GlobalPost. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated. 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