Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez said he requested former U.S. President Donald Trump to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. President Lopez also reiterated an offer to Assange for asylum in Mexico. According to NPR, Assange faces 18 charges by American authorities (17 of espionage and one for computer misuse). The
The World Bank finalized a proposal to redirect frozen Afghanistan aid funds to humanitarian agencies. However, the plan omits thousands of public sector workers, and U.S. sanctions complicate the issue further. On December 10th, board members of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), managed by the World Bank, decided to
On November 1st, Facebook said it removed a troll farm that was comprised of more than 1,000 accounts between Facebook and Instagram. The social media company alleged the troll farm was operated by Nicaragua’s government and the ruling party, the Sandinista National Liberation Movement (SNLM), and that the accounts violated
On September 6th, a World Health Organization official said that hundreds of medical facilities in Afghanistan risk imminent closure. In an interview with Reuters, Regional Emergency Director Rick Brennan said that the western donors which financed these medical facilities had regulations barring them from dealing with the Taliban government. Brennan
On August 2nd, the European Union (EU) sanctioned eight Nicaraguans, increasing the total number under restrictive measures to 14. They were accused of “serious human rights violations,” or undermining the democratic rule of law. Some high ranking officials were targeted such as Vice President Rosario Murillo, National Assembly President Gustavo
A parent and an administrator from Bethel Baptist High School (BBHS) in Nigeria’s Kaduna state reported about 150 students missing after armed men raided the premises. At around two o’clock in the morning on 5 July, gunmen reportedly stormed the school, shooting their guns sporadically as they abducted students. This
On 2 May 2021, Turkish authorities removed followers of Islamic opposition figure Alparslan Kuytul forcefully from three mosques in southeast Turkey, claiming their gatherings were a provocation against COVID-19 restrictions. These followers audibly exclaimed they were reading the Koran in footage that showed a police skirmish inside a mosque in
In early April, the Russian government announced President Vladimir Putin is signing legislation that potentially extends his power until 2036. Following changes to Russia’s constitution, enabled by a 2020 referendum, it allows him to run for two additional six-year terms after his current term ends in 2024. Passing Parliament’s upper and
Responding to Alexei Navalny’s poisoning last year, President Joe Biden’s administration announced sanctions against seven Russian government officials, and military intelligence agencies Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). Before the announcement, two anonymous sources said the
On 18 January, Guatemala security forces cleared a road occupied by migrants from a large caravan, comprised mainly of Hondurans entering the country and camped overnight. Security forces were seen wielding shields and descending the road toward them by the Vado Hondo village. Migrants were prompted to assemble by increased
On 9 December, the United States Senate backed President Donald Trump’s high-tech arms deals to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), following his veto threat against resolutions seeking to block them. Although introduced by Democratic Senators Robert Menendez, Chris Murphy, and Republican Senator Rand Paul, two procedural votes were mainly partisan,
Dozens of people were confirmed dead in a “brutal” terrorist attack in the West Wellega Zone of Ethiopia. It occurred after government forces left unexpectedly on 1 November. Following their departure, survivors said rebels identifying themselves from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) arrived and claimed authority to the area. According
Western Myanmar insurgents claimed responsibility for kidnapping three candidates from State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). On 14 October, armed Arakan Army (AA) operatives overran a campaign event in southern Rakhine. When speaking with Agence France Press, witness and NLD supporter Thant
Last Thursday, European Union leaders met in Brussels to discuss enforcement for a prospective Brexit trade deal, skeptical of United Kingdom promises. Chief Brexit negotiator Micheal Barnier was expected to ensure support for “level playing field” guarantees through the same rights enabling E.U. retaliation against Britain if they breach previous
On Monday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Qatar amid peace talks for a bilateral meeting with Qatari leaders, neglecting to include Taliban officials in the discussion. Last month, the Afghan government and Taliban agreed to reduce violence and potential power-sharing in Afghanistan. However, violence has continued since these negotiations
Belarusian opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s appeal to the European Union failed to overturn blocked sanctions against individuals within President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. Citing requirements for unanimous decision on foreign policy, top diplomat Josep Borrell said, “[T]he required unanimity was not reached.” On Monday, only Cyprus of the 27 E.U. members
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko entreated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support at the Black Sea Sochi resort on Monday, as crackdown measures fail to dispel protests. Putin responded with a $1.5 billion dollar loan to Belarus, to refinance earlier loans, as well as gold and foreign exchange reserves depleted last month
United Kingdom and European Union trade talks returned to crisis, amid Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s threat to override the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement he previously signed unless a deal is reached by 15 October. Indicating impatience, his administration drafted the Internal Market Bill on Wednesday. It explicitly violates Brexit, particularly the
Belarusian presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya hopes to start dialogue with authorities amid controversy over the August 9th election, which many believe was rigged. Belarus’s central election commission cited preliminary results showing a landslide victory for Tsikhanouskaya’s opponent, the incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, who received 80% of the vote to Tsikhanouskaya’s
The death toll from Sunday’s attack on the Elite Hotel in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu has increased to 16. In a tweet late Sunday, government spokesman Ismail Mukhtar Omar declared one security guard dead, and 18 injured. Militant group Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. It started when
