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Musings From Abroad

Expensive joke: Oscars Academy slams 10 years ban on Will Smith for assaulting Chris Rock

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The troubles of veteran US actor Will Smith, is not about to end anytime soon as he has been slammed with a 10 year ban by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, organisers of the Oscars, following his altercation with comedian Chris Rock, leading to the now famous ‘Oscar Slap.’

As a result of the ban, Smith will not attend any event organised by the Academy for the next 10 years either physically or virtually, as a result of his slapping Rock on stage during this year’s Oscars ceremony after the comedian’s nasty joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett, over loss of hair due to a health condition known as alopecia.

Will Smith smacking Chris Rock at the Oscars

Will Smith smacking Chris Rock at the Oscars

A statement by the Academy on Friday announcing the ban on Smith said:

“The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards,” the statement signed by Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson, said.

The decision to ban Smith, according the Academy, was made during a Board of Governors meeting held on Friday in Los Angeles, after an initial scheduled meeting for April 18 was expedited after Smith announced his resignation from the Academy last week.

After receiving the ban notice, Smith issued a quick and short statement which reads;

“I accept and respect the Academy’s decision,” the actor said.

What went down at the Oscars?

During the Academy Awards on March 27, Rock who was on stage to present an award, had made a joke about Jada Smith’s close-cropped hair, which Smith found offensive and stormed the stage in a fit of anger to smacked the comedian.

After a lot of public outcry, Smith publicly apologized to Rock the day after the incident via social media.

Smith also reached out the next morning to the show’s producer, Will Packer, apologized and expressed his embarrassment over his behaviour.

To further express his regret, Smith had tendered his resignation from the Academy but entertainment aficionados had predicted that further actions would be taken against him.

Musings From Abroad

US sanctions companies financing warring parties in Sudan

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The United States has announced sanctions on companies identified to be contributing to the ongoing armed clashes in Sudan.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that “through sanctions, we are cutting off key financial flows to both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, depriving them of resources needed to pay soldiers, rearm, resupply, and wage war in Sudan.”

The move is believed to be an attempt to step up pressure on the army and a rival paramilitary force to bring an end to the fighting as ceasefire talks have mostly failed translate to an actual ceasefire.

The conflict in the country has been between the army under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s transitional government’s Sovereign Council, and army troops loyal to General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the council’s deputy leader who controls the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In a statement, the United States Treasury Department said two companies had been identified to be affiliated with Sudan’s army and two companies affiliated with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of generating revenue from the conflict and contributing to the fighting.

Some of the targeted companies are Algunade, which has in the past bypassed central bank controls to export tens of millions of dollars of gold to Dubai and is said to be a Sudanese holding company controlled by RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his brother; Tradive General Trading L.L.C., a front company owned by RSF Major Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, another brother; Sudan’s largest defense enterprise, Defense Industries System; and arms company, Sudan Master Technology.

Over 1,000 civilians have been killed in the war, which began on April 15, and more than 1.4 million people have been internally displaced, with approximately 350,000 fleeing into neighbouring countries.

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Musings From Abroad

BRICS Foreign Ministers call for ‘rebalancing’ of global order 

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Foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa currently meeting in Cape Town ahead of the BRICS Summit have called for a “rebalancing” of the global order.

India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said during opening remarks, “Our gathering must send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, that it is rebalancing and that old ways cannot address new situations.”

A video of Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov at the conference also surfaced yesterday, while speaking about the changes in the international system which makes the pursuit of national interest attainable for all in the system.

“A more just, polycentric international order is taking shape,” Lavrov said.

The host, South Africa, has been under pressure to arrest Russian President, Vladimir Putin during an expected visit to the summit in August following a ruling by the International Criminal Court for his arrest.

United States ambassador, Reuben Brigety last month also accused South Africa of supplying Russia with arms in December in the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, Pretoria has maintained that it is neutral over the war, but is accused by critics of tilting towards the Kremlin, and has long advocated for BRICS to act as a counterbalance to a Western-dominated international order.

“Our vision of BRICS is for our partnership to provide global leadership in a world fractured by competition, geopolitical tension, inequality, and deteriorating global security,” South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told the meeting.

“Our discussions today will therefore focus on opportunities… strengthening and transforming global governance systems”.

Meanwhile, South African opposition parties are divided over the country’s continued relations with Russia and the supposed welcoming gesture ahead of Putin’s visit. While Democratic Alliance (DA) disagrees with the stance and has initiated a suit against it, the EFF movement has insisted that “Putin is welcomed.

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