Monday, May 25, 2020

The island enjoys a certain degree of autonomy in terms of its economy and laws, but recently Beijing decided to introduce stricter penalties for treason and sedition in light of the protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019 and which led to casualties as well as numerous accounts of vandalism.
China's Foreign Ministry has harshly criticised Washington's recent attempts to meddle in its policies towards Hong Kong, vowing to use "every necessary measure" to stop the US from doing so in the future if necessary. The ministry's spokesman Zhao Lijian argued that Washington had "no right to criticise and interfere" in how Beijing regulates its semi-autonomous territory .
"What laws, how, and when Hong Kong SAR [Special Administrative Region] should legislate are entirely within the scope of China’s sovereignty. If the US insists on hurting China’s interests, China will have to take every necessary measure to counter and oppose this", Zhao Lijian stated.
US Interference in Hong Kong Affairs
While Hong Kong does have its own legal system, Beijing has a say in the laws that are applied there. Namely, the Chinese government recently introduced a bill that is yet to be voted on that would make treason and sedition laws stricter, banning activities that could potentially subvert the government or "split the country".
The move was criticised by US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, who threatened that Washington would strip the island of its preferential trading status if Beijing doesn't backtrack on the bill. O’Brien argued that by introducing the new law, Beijing was violating its own promise to grant the island significant autonomy.
The new piece of legislation came after Hong Kong was rocked by a series of public protests back in 2019. The protesters demanded the withdrawal of another bill that would have legitimised extraditions to mainland China, but continued their riots even after it was scrapped. The demonstrations often turned violent, resulting in numerous acts of vandalism and injuries to local police officers.

The earth's magnetic field is weakening! It will have significant effects on communication.

The Earth has a moderately strong magnetic field, which is generated by superheated liquid iron that makes up the outer core of our planet. The magnetic field is vital to life as it shields the Earth’s ozone layer from solar winds, cosmic rays, and harmful ultraviolet radiation.
The Earth’s magnetic field is weakening, the European Space Agency (ESA) said in a statement, citing data from its Swarm mission, a constellation of satellites that was launched in 2013. According to the ESA, over the last 200 years, the Earth’s magnetic has field has lost 9 percent of its strength.
In 1958, scientists discovered the South Atlantic Anomaly, an area that sits between Africa and South America where the magnetic field has been weakening considerably. According to the ESA’s latest study, this area has grown and moved westward at a pace of around 12 miles (20 km) per year and scientists cannot explain why.
Moreover, according to data provided by the Swarm mission, which studies our planet’s magnetic field, a second area with less strength has emerged in South Africa, which the ESA says could be a sign that the South Atlantic Anomaly "could split up into two separate cells".
"The new, eastern minimum of the South Atlantic Anomaly has appeared over the last decade and in recent years is developing vigorously", said Jürgen Matzka, from the German Research Centre for Geosciences. "We are very lucky to have the Swarm satellites in orbit to investigate the development of the South Atlantic Anomaly. The challenge now is to understand the processes in Earth’s core driving these changes", Matzka said
The space agency said one hypothesis that may explain the magnetic field’s bizarre behaviour is a reversal of the North and South Poles, a process during which the poles switch places. It has occurred many times throughout the planet’s history and the ESA says "we are long overdue by the average rate of roughly 250,000 years".
The ESA said that at the moment, the weakening of the magnetic field, which protects our planet from cosmic radiation and charged particles emitted by the Sun, poses no risk for humans. However, satellites and spacecraft that fly through an area with reduced field strength are more likely to experience technical malfunctions.

The effects!
An imminent polar reversal on planet Earth - a North and South Pole switch - and thus a weakening of the planet’s magnetic field in parts of the globe would definitely bring about at least some changes to how Earth would be protected from harmful ultraviolet radiation, as well as space winds,
News18 reported, citing scientists.
Satellites are feared to be rendered non-operational, which would automatically mean massive disruptions to global communication systems, including telecom networks and Internet connection. Scientists say spacecraft flying through an area with a depleted magnetic force, as the North Pole and South Pole are set to swap places, are more likely to experience technical issues.
According to Mike Hapgood, a scientist who focused on geomagnetic storms and conducted a study on the solar storm of 1921, a powerful geomagnetic event would disrupt most technological innovations that people widely exploit nowadays.
"This could include regional power outages, profound changes to satellite orbits, and loss of radio-based technologies such as GPS", he said in a statement, as per SpaceWeather.com .
"The disruption of GPS could significantly impact logistics and emergency services”, he went on.
Although magnetic field reversals don’t usually happen overnight, concerns have mounted over how the main consequences could be avoided, or at least, promptly fixed.
In a recent statement, the ESA warned about the weakening of Earth’s vital magnetic field, generated by superheated liquid iron hundreds of kilometres beneath the planetary surface. According to the ESA, over the last 200 years, the Earth’s magnetic field has lost 9 percent of its strength.
In 1958, scientists discovered the South Atlantic Anomaly, an area that sits between Africa and South America where the magnetic field has been weakening the most. According to the ESA’s latest study, this area has expanded and moved westward at a speed of around 12 miles (20 km) per year.
One theory that may explain the magnetic field’s bizarre behaviour is a reversal of the North and South Poles, a process during which the poles switch places. It has occurred many times throughout history - roughly every 250,000 years - and the ESA says that now "we are long overdue”. However, it assures, these events hardly pose any direct danger to humanity, except the aforementioned technical malfunctions.

The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, expressed his desire to discuss possible cooperation in rocket construction with Chinese President Xi Jinping

In September 2019, the president of Belarus stated that he would take steps towards cooperating with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky in order for Minsk to create its own rocket.
The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, expressed his desire to discuss possible cooperation in rocket construction with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
 Having previously suggested the possibility of building Chinese missiles in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted that there should be "no dependence" on foreign actors.
"Let me then negotiate that on my level, I'm ready to negotiate that with Xi Jinping, I don't think that will be a problem", the president said.
The statement came after Lukashenko was updated on the state of missile development in Belarus and the construction of Chinese rockets. In particular, he was told that there have been successful moves towards the development and eventual deployment of the country's own missiles, that could destroy targets up to 300 kilometres away.
Earlier, Lukashenko said that Russia did not want to work with Belarus on missile development and had refused to provide a range, comments that were slammed by Moscow as "groundless accusations", as Russia said it does not have such ranges, and instead rents them in Kazakhstan.

Heavy gun fire in minembwe as FARDC clashed with Rebels on sunday

The have been reported clashes from Minembwe between FARDC and the rebels, on Sunday, May 2020, 23 for 13 hours.
According to local sources, the exchange of heavy weapon's fire was heard in the village of Kakenge located in the eastern part of the city of Minembwe, Basimuniaka-Sud group.
These clashes have been against the Congolese army, FARDC and the Ngumino militiamen.
No record is available yet, but the population of Minembwe centre are engulfed in panic.
International, national and local humanitarian agents, present in Minembwe, had taken refuge in the camps.
According to other sources, mentioned by the radio Tanganyika Hope, the last position of FARDC would be towards the Ugeafi office, which  is less than a mile from Madegu centre / Minembwe.
It should be noted that, as of 23 May 2020, there was exchanges of fire between FARDC and the inhabitants in the village of Ilundu which located north of Minembwe.
These Banyamulenge people are telling FARDC that rebels  steal products from their corn fields.
Military sources have promised to bring details about this clash in the following hours,today.

DRC WarLord and rebel leader Mihonya has been comfirmed as arrested few hours ago, 24/05/2020

Self-proclaimed Colonel Chance Mihonya, who operated in the Reserves National Park in South Kivu, was arrested by the game rangers on Saturday, May 2020, 23 at this tourist site.
The news is confirmed this Sunday, May 2020, 24 by Hubert Mulongoy, communication manager of Kahuzi Reserves National Park.
He says that this militiaman leader has been made available to the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
" It was around 14 pm that he was arrested by the ecogardes at the level of the Nyaweza river where he was mining the ore. He is now in the dungeon of the Loyalists forces ", he explains.
He says that this lord of geurre, who carried out illegal activities, including the destruction of the park and mining of ore, will be presented to the governor of the province on Monday, May 25th.
Hubert Mulongoy, communication manager of Kahuzi Reserves National Park, reports that 33 elements of militiaman leader Chance Mihonya have been arrested two weeks ago in the territory of Kalehe.
Military sources also confirm the arrest of this rebel leader.
For his part, Delphin Birimbi, president of the framework for territorial dialogue of civil society in Kalehe, says that the arrest of this war lord is a big step for peace in the territories of Kalehe and Kabare.
He calls on the security forces to pursue these elements while wandering in the territory of Kalehe and Kabare.
It should be remembered that 4 militiamen from his armed group were killed on Tuesday, April 28, in clashes with the game rangers in the Reserves National Park.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

DRC army neutralize 17 elements of the CODECO militia during a series of offensive 24.05.2020,

According to our reliable sources in ituri,The DRC army, on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May, neutralized 17 elements of the cooperative Militia for the Development of Congo (CODECO) in Djugu, while recovering villages and guns and ammunitions.
This, in 3 axes where the tracking and neutralization operations of these attackers continue in the territory of Djugu (Nyangarayi axis, Linga axis and Logo-Jiro axis).
" On the Nyangarayi axis, the sokdiers of the 112 Rapid Reaction Battalion have neutralized 13 CODECO attackers. The guns and  ammunitions recovered by these brave military. On the FARDC side, 1 dead and 6 light wounded explains Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, military spokesperson in Ituri.
The same source says that, 4 more militias were killed on the Linga axis. During these operations, the villages Dhebu, Chulu, Ndalo, Dhendo in the of Pitsi sector were conquered and passed under FARDC control. Same for Logo and Jiro locations.
In addition, Lieutenant Jules Ngongo reveals that the strong military delegation, led by the Commander of the 3th Assistant Defense Zone, has already left the territory for Aru since Saturday, May 23, 2020.

Deputy Commander of the DRC's army 3rd Defense Zone on a mission to check allegations of South-Sudan military presence


The Deputy Commander of the 3rd Defense Zone, in charge of operations and intelligence, General Smith Gihaga, has been staying in Aru (Ituri) since Saturday. He co-ordinates a security situation assessment mission following the attacks of the Codeco militia.
This expedition is also aimed at strengthening military presence in some problem areas. He will make it to Kengezi base, at the border with southern Sudan.
According to our source in ITURI,his mission also aims to check allegations of the presence of the South Sudan military on Congolese soil, especially in Berunda.
On Friday, 23 May, the government had reported incursions by the South-Sudanese army into Congolese territory, precisely in the Ituri and Haut-Uele provinces. "Our services have been educated to react strongly to these movements", said the government in its report of the Council of Ministers.

United kingdom's Coronavirus Contact Tracing App Assists 'Surveillance State'


In the letter, the signatories - which include tech justice NGO Foxglove and digital rights campaigners Access Now - say the proposed app could be another step towards a surveillance state.
Campaign groups have written an open letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning GCHQ and its digital arm, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), will have the capacity to re-identify the phones of people who install the country’s coronavirus contact-tracing app.
They also note the legal framework underpinning the software, which is currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight, is believed to be inadequate to protect people from misuse of their data by the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
“Parliament has to quickly issue an adequate legal framework that guarantees users’ human rights protection. In addition, contrary to some recommendations, the app the Government is trialling uses a centralised model for the collection, processing and storage of users’ data. The centralised recording of data could facilitate mission creep; there is no guarantee that the Government will not add additional tracking features or later use the data for purposes other than Covid-19 tracking…Based on the UK Government’s track record on surveillance, we consider these risks to be real,” the letter states.
Files marked secret on the plans for the IOW app were left unsecured on Google Drive and Wired had a look. We already know the data collected goes to JHub, GCHQ etc to “anonymise” it, now it gets worse. Is there anything right about it ?
https://t.co/Kdx9Egg0WR
— Ian collins (@Iancoll94354676) May 21, 2020
The groups are particularly concerned that scope for scrutiny of government use of contact-tracing app data is restricted - in April, the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK data watchdog, said it would be "flexible” around enforcing Freedom of Information obligations and has told requesters they might experience delays when making information requests during the pandemic.
“This has consequences for transparency at a time when it is most needed. For example, an FOI request made on April 3 for more information about patient data-sharing deals between the UK Government and tech companies has not received a substantive reply. During a public health emergency, it is vital the Government publishes and shares official data in order to encourage public debate, promote transparency and ensure accountability. However, a lack of transparency around public procurement means that there is no information publicly available about, for example, which businesses are being supported by the Government and which companies are getting subsidies or loans,” the letter explains.
The campaigners also expressed concern about state efforts to combat ‘fake news’ and ‘disinformation’ related to COVID-19. In March, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport launched a "Counter Disinformation Cell" to counter "false and misleading narratives” online. Under the initiative’s auspices, UK officials are working with social media platforms to remove "harmful content”.
“We need to ensure freedom of expression is not disproportionately restricted during this time. The sharing of information, analysis and ideas is vital for public engagement and trust. The Government must be transparent about any initiatives in this respect and ensure that any restrictions on freedom of expression are narrowly drawn and strictly necessary and proportionate to [the] legitimate aim of protecting public health,” the letter concludes.

United kingdom on Huawei's 5G:Boris is too hesitant on huawei's 5G network due to massive allegations of Spying

Such is the controversy over the decision, Downing Street isn’t convinced the plan would pass a vote in the House of Commons, despite the government having an 80 seat majority.
Boris Johnson is to “look again” at his decision to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to build more than a third of Britain’s 5G broadband network, amid fresh concerns by spy agencies and growing rebellion on the Conservative backbenches.
New US sanctions imposed on the firm outlaw any intellectual property from being used in the production of Huawei equipment - chips manufactured for use in Huawei products use US technology, but British spies warn future Chinese alternatives cannot be trusted, scuppering plans to use the tech in 35 percent of Britain’s new 5G network.
“We think the new sanctions slapped on Huawei by the US basically mean no US intellectual property can be used in the manufacture of Huawei’s chips. This means bits of kit they get from Taiwan and elsewhere, which we think are full of good US stuff, will be cut off from them from the autumn. They’re likely to turn to cheaper, less secure, local stuff instead. There’s next to no chance we could say it’s safe enough to use in 5G. It changes the calculation completely,” an anonymous Whitehall source told The Daily Mail .
Steve, now if you’d said:
1. End the Lockdown
2. Return to normal
3. Stop HS2
4. Drop Net Zero targets
5. Dump Huawei
6. Stop victimising car drivers
7. Sack Hancock & Cressida Dick
8. Remove Hate Speech laws
9. Destroy Common Purpose
Then ‘Steve Baker PM!’
But as it is... https://t.co/6DLHjYWfZk
— Zero to Here...Oh (@zero_to_here_oh)
May 24, 2020
On 19th May, Johnson held the first meeting of the National Security Council since February to discuss the reliance of British supply chains on foreign states. It was in January Huawei was granted permission by the Prime Minister to supply equipment for ‘non-core’ elements of future broadband infrastructure. There was international outcry over the decision, with US President Donald Trump threatening to ban Britain from intelligence sharing if they let the firm in.
Huawei has argued against any U-turn, with vice-president Victor Zhang insisting the firm is “private” and “100 percent owned by employees”.
“[Having] operated in the UK for 20 years, our priority has been to help mobile and broadband companies keep Britain connected, which is more vital than ever in this health crisis,” he added.
Nonetheless, the prospect of a Downing Street rethink has been received warmly by Conservative MPs, with Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, warning any continuing relationship with Huawei would be “extremely problematic” because the company is “actually owned by the Chinese Communist Party”.

M23 in Plans of massive attacks on Sake,Goma,Butembo and Bunia, and rumours all over DRC unconffirmingly have Uganda implicated in this act!

 They have been a lot of claims that M23 rebels are about to lay dangerous attacks on the city of Saké as well as the towns of Goma and Bute...