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New York considers paying reparations for slavery

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New York is considering paying reparations to the descendants of slaves under new plans approved by the City Council.

The proposals are yet to be signed into law by Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. They are aimed at acknowledging and addressing the impact of slavery in New York City

According to the City Council, New York City had one of the highest rates of slave ownership in the country during the 1700s, before abolishing it in 1872.

However, businesses across the city, including the predecessors of some modern banks, continued to benefit financially from the slave trade up until 1866.

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The lawmakers behind the proposals noted that the harms caused by the institution are still felt by Black Americans today.

One of the proposals would also require the city to install a sign on Wall Street in Manhattan to mark the site of New York’s first slave market. The market operated between 1711 and 1762.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said: “The wealth of Wall Street banks was built on the backs of the human beings sold on that very spot.

“And we have a moral obligation to accurately acknowledge this slave market’s tragic history, the pain of enslaved people in our city, and the role slavery had in New York’s economy, one which has echoed painfully across generations.”

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Council Member Farah Louis, a Democrat who sponsored one of the bills, told the City Council on Thursday: “The reparations movement is often misunderstood as merely a call for compensation.”

She added that systemic forms of oppression still affected Black American’s today, including through the underfunding of crucial services in predominantly black neighbourhoods.

“Does that mean we are going to hand everyone a check? No,” Louis said.

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“But starting the conversation is the most important part.”

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City Hall signaled the mayor’s support in a statement calling the legislation “another crucial step towards addressing systemic inequities, fostering reconciliation, and creating a more just and equitable future for all New Yorkers.”

However, not all city council members were on board with the new bill.

Joseph Borelli, the Republican minority leader of the city council, who represents Staten Island, criticized the plans.

“I bear no responsibility for slavery,” Borelli said.

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“Unless someone could explain to me why I should bear some individual and societal guilt through my taxes, I’m going to be opposed.”

The new bills would direct the city’s Commission on Racial Equity to suggest remedies to the legacy of slavery, including reparations.

It would also create a truth and reconciliation process to establish historical facts about slavery in the state.

The commission would work with the existing state commission, which is also considering the possibility of reparations.

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Credit: MailOnline

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Ukraine alleges N’Korea is sending troops to Russia

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He was speaking days after visiting several European capitals to press his case for more military and financial help in the war against invading Russian forces.

“We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea,” Zelensky said in his evening address.

“It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier’s military forces.

“Obviously, in such circumstances, our relations with our partners need to be developed. The frontline needs more support,” he said.

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Zelensky completed a whirlwind two-day tour of European capitals last week including Berlin, London and Paris to ask for sustained military aid as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds on through its third year.

“When we talk about more long-range capability for Ukraine and more decisive supplies for our forces, it is not just a list of military equipment,” Zelensky said.

“It is about increasing the pressure on the aggressor, which will be stronger for Russia than they can withstand. And it is about preventing a bigger war.”

AFP.

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Kenyan Governor Detained Over Violent Clan Disputes

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A regional governor in Kenya has been taken into custody due to his involvement in clan violence in the Tana River County, where multiple fatalities have occurred.

Dhadho Godhana, along with a local legislator, were arrested separately for failing to comply with summonses regarding the clashes, as stated by the police on Saturday. The accused individuals have not publicly addressed the allegations.

The clashes in southeast Kenya have resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people, leading the authorities to declare two areas in the county as hazardous and insecure for the next 30 days.

According to an official notice from the Interior Ministry, security measures have been intensified in these areas, and residents are prohibited from carrying weapons.

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DCI chief Mohamed Amin confirmed that Godhana presented himself at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi on Saturday morning and is being interrogated about the clashes.

Five politicians from Tana River County have been summoned to appear before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on Monday for questioning regarding allegations of instigating conflict between two communities.

Tana River has previously experienced ethnic clashes over disputes about grazing rights, resulting in numerous fatalities.

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North Korea Removed as Observer from Regional Anti-Money Laundering Group

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North Korea has lost its observer status in a regional group that fights money laundering. This decision was announced on Monday by the South Korean foreign ministry. The reason for this action is North Korea’s lack of involvement and its failure to fulfill its responsibilities to the group.

The decision was made unanimously at the 26th general assembly of the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), which convened last Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates.

The South Korean ministry released a statement explaining the outcome.

Established in 1997, the APG is an intergovernmental body dedicated to enforcing international standards against money laundering and combatting terrorism financing, including preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

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The group currently consists of 42 member states, including key global powers such as the United States, Japan, China, and South Korea, which joined in 1998.

North Korea gained observer status in the APG in July 2014. However, it was warned by the group that its continued lack of engagement would lead to disqualification. The North failed to meet even the minimal requirements to retain its status, prompting the members to endorse the revocation.

To maintain its observer status, a country is required to permit visits from APG delegations, facilitate information exchange, and cooperate with the group in publishing regular reports on the nation’s anti-money laundering efforts. The APG found that North Korea had not participated in the group’s activities for six consecutive years, nor had it responded to any of the group’s attempts to establish contact.

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In response, North Korea issued a statement through its state-run Chosun Central News Agency on October 3rd, protesting the APG’s decision. The regime claimed the APG had become a “puppet group” serving the interests of the United States and suggested the move was a result of America’s continued “hostile policy” towards the country.

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