Author: Maria Kuiper

Libyans Killed In Park Shelling

Five Libyans were killed and 12 were wounded from a shelling in Tripoli on May 31. The attack is attributed to forces within the Libyan National Army (LNA). Since April 2019, the LNA has been at war with the Government National Accord (GNA) –  the U.N. backed Libyan government.  The

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First Iranian Gas Tanker Reaches Venezuela

An Iran oil tanker reached Venezuela on May 23. The U.S. has sanctions on both countries and the arrival of the tanker has brought up questions of U.S. intervention. The Iranian tankers hold enough gasoline to supply Venezuela for two to three weeks. Even though Venezuela has the world’s largest

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Documentary Prompts Polish Archbishop To Refer Case To Vatican

Poland’s most senior Archbishop referred a child sex abuse case to the Vatican on May 17th. Following the release of a Youtube documentary from Tomasz and Marek Sekielski, Archbishop Wojciech Polak has called on the Vatican to launch proceedings against Bishop Edward Janiak. The film alleges that Janiak knew about the

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Brexit: U.K.-EU Trade Talks Resume Ahead Of June Summit

The EU and the U.K. are resuming Brexit talks ahead of the June 1 summit. In order to extend past the December 31 deadline, both the EU and U.K. need to decide whether the deadline should be negotiated. After a talk in April, an EU negotiator said progress had been

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Afghan Migrants Allegedly Tortured By Iranian Border Guards

Afghan migrants trying to cross into Iran illegally were allegedly tortured and drowned by Iranian border guards on May 3rd. Reports from the Governor of the Iran border district of Gulran, as well as the Taliban, estimate 55 Afghan migrants were forced into the Harirud river. Eighteen bodies had been recovered

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Indian Police Arrest Members Of Lynching Mob

On April 20, Police in India arrested 110 people that were linked to a lynching in the Maharashtra’s Palghar district. On April 16, three Indian men were lynched to death when a vigilante mob thought the men were thieves. Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagir and Sushilgiri Maharaj were Sadhus, or Hindu godmen.

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Libya’s GNA Shooting Down Haftar Jets Will Cause More Libyan Turmoil

Libya’s U.N.-backed government said two fighter jets and a helicopter belonging to Khalifa Haftar were shot down on Sunday, April 12th. After Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 during the Libyan Civil War, the fight for power has been between two groups: the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan

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Pope Francis Starts Emergency COVID-19 Fund

On Monday April 6, Pope Francis started an emergency fund  to help developing countries affected by the coronavirus and jumpstarted the donations with a generous contribution of $750,000. The Pope has also specifically asked church entities and dioceses to contribute.  This initiative differs from the response of other nations. For

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Guinea’s Constitutional Referendum Vote Met With Protests

Guinea’s constitutional referendum vote was met with violence and opposition on Sunday, 22 March. Sunday’s protest resulted in at least two killed, one kidnapped, and polling materials burned, according to Al Jazeera.  Guinean President Alpha Condé proposed to change the constitution by organizing gender equality policy, social reforms, and term

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Saudi Arabia Detains 298 Government Officials

Saudi Arabia detained 298 government officials on Sunday, March 15 on grounds of corruption. Saudi’s Nazaha, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, accused the 298 officials of financial and administrative corruption, embezzlement, waste of public money, exploitation of position, and public office administration misuse. “The fight against corruption is no excuse for

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Germany Upholds Headscarf Ban For Legal Trainees

The highest court in Germany ruled on Thursday, Feb. 27, that a ban prohibiting Muslim trainee lawyers from wearing headscarves in court, in the state of Hesse, is constitutional on the basis of religious neutrality. The ruling is one of many that bans Muslim headscarves in Germany. Each German state

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