News Wire | March 2023 Archive
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Trump Is Indicted, Becoming First Ex-President to Face Criminal Charges
The New York Times (free)
A Manhattan grand jury indicted Donald J. Trump on Thursday for his role in paying hush money to a porn star, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a historic development that will shake up the 2024 presidential race and forever mark him as the nation’s first former president to face criminal charges.
Turkey Approves Finland’s NATO Bid, Clearing Path for It to Join Alliance
By Emily Rauhala, Annabelle Timsit & Kareem Fahim | The Washington Post
Turkey’s parliament has voted to approve Finland’s NATO membership bid, paving the way for the Nordic country to join the security alliance.
More from WPR: Sweden and Finland’s NATO Bids Hit a Roadblock Named Erdogan
Kamala Harris Announces Tanzania Trade Boost During Africa Tour
By Nuzulack Dausen | Reuters
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced plans to boost trade with and investment in Tanzania during a visit there Thursday, part of an African tour aimed at strengthening ties with a continent where China and Russia increasingly hold sway.
More from WPR: To Compete With China, the U.S. Must Take Africans Seriously
The U.S. Imposes Sanctions on a Slovakian Accused of Trying to Broker a Russia-North Korea Arms Deal
By Katie Rogers | The New York Times
The Biden administration said Thursday that it was imposing sanctions on a Slovakian national accused of trying to broker a weapons deal between Russia and North Korea.
Kushner Firm Got Hundreds of Millions From Two Persian Gulf Nations
By Jonathan Swan, Kate Kelly, Maggie Haberman & Mark Mazzetti | The New York Times
Wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have invested hundreds of millions of dollars with Jared Kushner’s private equity firm, according to people with knowledge of the transactions, joining Saudi Arabia in backing the venture launched by former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law as he left the White House.
Five Arrested in Migration Center Fire That Left 39 Dead in Mexico
By Natalie Kitroeff & Emiliano Rodríguez Mega | The New York Times
Mexican officials said Thursday that they had arrested five people for their role in the fire in a Ciudad Juarez migrant detention center that killed at least 39 people.
More from WPR: U.S. Border Policy Must Adapt to the Region’s New Migration Patterns
‘Extensive’ Failures Marred Response in Canada’s Worst Mass Shooting
By Amanda Coletta | The Washington Post
A public inquiry into Canada’s worst mass shooting found “significant and extensive systemic inadequacies and failures,” particularly in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s response, and it assailed authorities for ignoring warnings about the gunman’s history of violence and illegal firearms.
Trinidad Wins $100 Million Verdict in Key Corruption Lawsuit
By Gisela Salomon & Dánica Coto | Associated Press (free)
The government of the eastern Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago has won a multimillion-dollar verdict in a sprawling corruption lawsuit that began nearly 20 years ago and involves former high-ranking officials.
U.K. Strikes Agreement to Join Asia-Pacific Trade Bloc
By George Parker & Robert Wright | Financial Times
The U.K. on Friday unveiled an agreement to join an 11-member Asia-Pacific trade bloc, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claiming it proved his government was seizing “post-Brexit freedoms.”
In Beijing, Spanish PM Urges Xi to Speak With Ukraine’s Zelenskyy
By Eduardo Baptista | Reuters
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez encouraged Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to talk to the Ukrainian leadership and learn first-hand about Kyiv's peace formula to help bring an end to Russia's invasion.
Finland’s PM Sanna Marin Faces Reckoning at Home
By Richard Milne | Financial Times
Prime minister is lauded abroad but cuts a polarizing figure in her own country, jeopardizing chances of reelection.
Russia Says Notifications of Ballistic Missile Launches Will Continue
By Francesca Ebel | The Washington Post
The Russian Foreign Ministry clarified Thursday that Moscow will continue to notify Washington of any ballistic missile launches, despite a statement Wednesday that “all forms of notifications” were terminated as a result of President Vladimir Putin suspending the New START nuclear arms reduction agreement.
Pirates Hold Hostage Some Crew of Oil Tanker Off West Africa
By Jan M. Olsen | Associated Press (free)
Several members of the 16-man crew on a Liberia-flagged tanker are being held hostage by pirates who boarded the ship in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea last week, the Danish shipper that owns the vessel said Friday.
More from WPR: Why Piracy Is a Growing Threat in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea
Sudanese Officials Say 14 Workers Dead in Gold Mine Collapse
By Jack Jeffery | Associated Press (free)
At least 14 workers are dead after a gold mine collapsed in northern Sudan, mining authorities said Friday.
Sudanese Talks Hit Roadblock Over Security Sector Reform
Reuters
Talks in Sudan aimed at reaching a final agreement to name a civilian government next month and launch a new transition towards elections have hit a roadblock over the thorny issue of restructuring the military, political and military sources said.
More from WPR: Sudan’s Stalled ‘Transition’ Could Create a Failed State
Israeli Strikes Near Syrian Capital Kill Iranian Adviser
Associated Press (free)
Israeli airstrikes hit the suburbs of Syria’s capital city early Friday for the second day in a row, killing an Iranian adviser, the state media of Syria and Iran reported.
World Court Rules U.S. Illegally Froze Some Iranian Assets
By Stephanie van den Berg | Reuters
In a partial victory for Iran, judges at the International Court of Justice on Thursday ruled Washington had illegally allowed courts to freeze assets of some Iranian companies and ordered the United States to pay compensation but left the amount to be determined later.
Greek Defense Minister to Visit Turkey as Tension Wanes
Associated Press (free)
Greece’s defense minister announced Thursday that he will travel to neighboring Turkey next week as part of an effort to ease tension between the two NATO members, which have long-standing and often volatile disputes.
Malaysia’s Top Court Refuses Ex-PM Najib’s Bid for Review
Associated Press (free)
Malaysia’s top court refused Friday to review its 2022 decision to uphold former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s conviction for graft and 12-year jail sentence, saying he was “the author of his own misfortune.”
Myanmar Resistance Says Military Bombing Kills Eight Civilians
By Grant Peck | Associated Press (free)
Air strikes by Myanmar’s military on a village in the country’s northwest Thursday killed at least eight civilians, including two children, according to members of a rebel ethnic minority group and independent media reports.
More from WPR: As Myanmar’s Crisis Gets Bloodier, the World Still Looks Away
India Hunts for Spyware That Rivals Controversial Pegasus System
By Mehul Srivastava & Kaye Wiggins | Financial Times
India is hunting for new spyware with a lower profile than the controversial Pegasus system blacklisted by the US government, with rival surveillance software makers preparing bids on lucrative deals being offered by Narendra Modi’s government.
More from WPR: Regulating the Global Spyware Market Won’t Be Easy
Pakistani Parliament Approves New Law to Curtail Chief Justice’s Powers
By Asif Shahzad | Reuters
Pakistan’s parliament has passed a new law to curtail the powers of the Supreme Court’s chief justice, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Friday, a move that comes amid a row between the higher judiciary and the government.
More from WPR: Pakistan’s Political Crisis May Be Reaching a Breaking Point
Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case
By Simon Romero, Natalie Kitroeff & Eileen Sullivan | The New York Times
Mexican officials announced Wednesday that they were investigating a fire at a migrant detention center in Ciudad Juarez as a homicide case, saying that government workers and private security employees had not allowed detainees to escape from the blaze that killed at least 39 people.
More from WPR: U.S. Border Policy Must Adapt to the Region’s New Migration Patterns
Russian Security Service Detains Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich
By Daniel Michaels | The Wall Street Journal
Russia’s main security agency said it had detained a Wall Street Journal reporter for what it described as espionage.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Names His Son Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
By Andrew England | Financial Times
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, has named his eldest son crown prince of Abu Dhabi as part of a series of changes to the oil-rich Gulf state’s top leadership.
Top U.N. Court to Rule in Iran-U.S. Dispute Over Frozen Assets
By Mike Corder | Associated Press (free)
The United Nations’ highest court is set to rule Thursday in a case filed by Iran against the United States over frozen Iranian assets worth some $2 billion that the U.S. Supreme Court awarded to victims of a 1983 bombing in Lebanon and other attacks linked to Tehran.
Harris Enters the Fray Over Democracy With Visit to Tanzania
By Chris Megerian & Evelyne Musambi | Associated Press (free)
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday encouraged Tanzania’s fragile progress toward a more inclusive government as she stepped onto the front lines of America’s push to strengthen democracy in Africa.
More from WPR: To Compete With China, the U.S. Must Take Africans Seriously
Diplomats in Robes?
By Aziz Huq & Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar | Foreign Affairs
The Supreme Court’s unwelcome forays into foreign policy.
Bolsonaro Returns to Brazil, Ending Self-Imposed Exile
By André Spigariol | The New York Times
Jair Bolsonaro, the former right-wing president of Brazil, returned home Thursday morning after a three-month self-imposed exile in the United States following his defeat last year in an election that tested the stability of one of the world’s biggest democracies.
More from WPR: The Roots of Brazil’s Capital Riot Run Deep—and Far
Colombian Rebels Kill Nine Soldiers in Blow to Peace Talks
Al Jazeera (free)
An attack by the Colombian rebel group known as the National Liberation Army has allegedly killed nine government soldiers, in a blow to the government’s efforts to negotiate a truce with armed groups and curb violence in the country.
More from WPR: Petro’s Road to ‘Total Peace’ for Colombia Passes Through Venezuela
Ecuador Court Says Congress Can Pursue Impeaching President
Associated Press (free)
Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday the opposition-dominated National Assembly can take up the question of whether to impeach President Guillermo Lasso over allegations of crimes against state security and corruption.
More from WPR: Corruption Charges Are Flying in Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia
Peru Recalls Ambassador to Colombia Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Al Jazeera (free)
Peru has announced a “definitive recall” of its ambassador to Colombia, accusing its neighbor, as it did with Mexico last month, of downplaying Former President Pedro Castillo’s recent attempted power grab which led to his removal and arrest.
More from WPR: Peru’s Political Crisis Is Reawakening Echoes of Its Civil Conflict
Soldiers Massing Near Ukrainian Nuclear Plant, U.N. Official Warns
By Matthew Mpoke Bigg | The New York Times
Russia and Ukraine are ramping up their military forces in southern Ukraine amid signs that the fighting may soon escalate, a United Nations official said on Wednesday after crossing a front line held by the Ukrainian military to inspect a nuclear power plant seized by Moscow.
Switzerland to Revive Talks With EU on Forging Closer Ties
By Sam Jones & Andy Bounds | Financial Times
Switzerland has announced plans to restart diplomatic negotiations with the EU after a two-year hiatus that raised doubts over the country’s future economic and political relationship with the bloc.
Finland’s Marin in Battle Over State Spending to Stay in Power
By Anne Kauranen | Reuters
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who in 2019 became the world’s youngest premier at 34, is battling to stay in power in an election Sunday as the country faces a recession and her challengers accuses her government of bloated public spending.
Putin’s Top Security Adviser Holds Talks With India’s Prime Minister as Moscow Seeks Closer Ties
By Sameer Yasir, Ivan Nechepurenko & James C. McKinley Jr. | The New York Times
A senior security adviser to President Vladimir Putin of Russia met with India’s prime minister in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss their nations’ “mutual interests,” officials said, as Moscow continued its campaign to build stronger alliances with trading partners outside the bloc of Western countries helping Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion.
More from WPR: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Is Putting India in the Hot Seat
Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko Given Two-Month Suspended Term for Libel
Al Jazeera (free)
A court in Senegal has handed a two-month suspended prison sentence to leading opposition leader Ousmane Sonko for libel, his lawyers said.
More from WPR: Senegal’s Democratic ‘Exceptionalism’ Is Showing Cracks
South Sudan President Appoints Defense Minister, Breaching Peace Deal
Reuters (free)
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has appointed a member of his own party as defence minister, according to a decree read on state media, breaching a peace deal in which the role should be selected by the party of First Vice President and opposition leader, Riek Machar.
More from WPR: Pope Francis Emphasizes Peace—and Justice—in Congo and South Sudan
Kenya Opposition in Fresh Protests Amid Government Warning
By Evelyne Musambi | Associated Press (free)
Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga has led thousands of protesters in a third round of anti-government demonstrations on Thursday as the government warned that no more violent protests would be tolerated.
More from WPR: Protests in Kenya and South Africa Are About More Than the Cost of Living
DNA Confirms Oral History of Swahili People
By Elie Dolgin | The New York Times
A genetic analysis of dozens of ancient skeletons from East Africa helps pin down the origins of coastal Swahili society.
Lebanon Abruptly Nixes Plan for $122 Million Airport ‘Terminal 2’
Associated Press (free)
Lebanon’s caretaker transportation minister on Thursday said a contract for a new terminal at the country’s main airport is cancelled, following criticism that no public bidding was held for the $122 million project.
More from WPR: Lebanon’s Meltdown Has Become a Dystopian Nightmare
Syria State Media: Israel Launched Missiles at Targets Near Damascus
Reuters
Israel launched a number of missiles from the Golan Heights targeting the vicinity of Syria’s capital Damascus that left two soldiers wounded and “some material damage,” Syrian state media reported early Thursday citing a military source.
Australia Ends ‘Wasted Decade’ With Emissions Reduction Law, Leader Says
By Frances Vinall | The Washington Post
The Australian Parliament took its most meaningful step in years toward addressing global warming Thursday, passing an emissions reduction bill that will compel the country’s biggest industrial polluters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 percent by 2030.
Philippine Ferry Catches Fire; Dozens Dead or Injured, Authorities Say
By Regine Cabato & Rebecca Tan | The Washington Post
At least 31 people, including a baby, died in the Philippines after a ferry carrying 250 passengers caught fire, authorities said Thursday. Passengers were forced to jump into the sea as flames engulfed the vessel overnight, leaving some stranded in their cabins.
Kazakh PM Smailov Set to Keep Job After Election
Reuters
Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party nominated Alikhan Smailov, prime minister since January 2022, for the same position Thursday, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s office said, meaning he was certain to retain the job.
More from WPR: Kazakhstan’s Tokayev Is Playing With Fire at Home—and With Russia
Pakistan Militants Kill Four Police Officers, Hurt Six in Attacks
By Riaz Khan | Associated Press (free)
Taliban militants in a pair of attacks killed four police officers by targeting a police vehicle with a roadside bomb and wounded six in an attack on a police station in northwest Pakistan early Thursday, police and the insurgents said.
U.S. Says Taiwan President Is Just Passing Through. China’s Not Amused
By Meaghan Tobin & Vic Chiang | The Washington Post
Hours before President Tsai Ing-wen’s departure from Taipei, Beijing threatened retribution if she followed through on an expected meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California while on her return journey through the United States from Central America.
More from WPR: Waiting for Tsai’s Departure Won’t Solve China’s ‘Taiwan Problem’
U.S.-Israel Tensions Over Judicial Overhaul Burst Into Open
By Isabel Kershner | The New York Times
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel responded defiantly Wednesday to sharp criticism from President Biden over his government’s contentious judicial overhaul plan, declaring that Israel was “a sovereign country” that would make its own decisions.
More from WPR: The U.S.-Israel Relationship Is Special, but Not Indestructible
U.S. to Withhold Nuclear Data From Russia in Escalation of Tensions
By James Politi & Max Seddon | Financial Times
The U.S. has told Russia it would not provide Moscow with nuclear data that is meant to be exchanged twice a year under the New Start treaty after Russia suspended its participation in the agreement.
Mike Pence Must Testify Before Grand Jury in Donald Trump Probe, Judge Rules
By Lauren Fedor & Stefania Palma | Financial Times
Mike Pence must testify to a grand jury about conversations he had with Donald Trump relating to the former president’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Biden Starts Democracy Summit With $690 Million Pledge for Programs
By Aamer Madhani | Associated Press (free)
President Joe Biden is opening his second Summit for Democracy with a pledge for the U.S. to spend $690 million bolstering democracy programs around the globe.
Peru Prosecutors Probe President, Ex-President for Alleged Money Laundering
Reuters
Peruvian prosecutors are investigating President Dina Boluarte and former president Pedro Castillo for allegedly laundering money as part of a criminal organization, the attorney general’s office said on Twitter on Tuesday.
More from WPR: Peru’s Challenge Runs Deeper Than the Current Crisis
Three Dead, 13 Missing in Caribbean Sinking; 14 Africans Saved
By Dánica Coto | Associated Press (free)
At least 14 people from the African nation of Cameroon were rescued from waters in the eastern Caribbean early Tuesday after their boat capsized, but three people were dead and 13 others missing, authorities in St. Kitts said.
U.S. Adds Nicaraguan National Police to Export Control List, Citing Human Rights
By David Shepardson & Daphne Psaledakis | Reuters
The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday added the Nicaraguan National Police to a government export control list after the Biden administration said the police force was engaged in serious human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
More from WPR: Further Sanctions May Only Enable Ortega’s Repression in Nicaragua
Russia Stops Sharing Missile Test Info With U.S., Opens Drills
By Vladimir Isachenkov | Associated Press (free)
A senior Russian diplomat said Wednesday that Moscow will no longer inform the U.S. about its missile tests, an announcement that came as the Russian military deployed mobile launchers in Siberia in a show of the country’s massive nuclear capability amid the fighting in Ukraine.
More from WPR: A Russian Nuclear Strike in Ukraine Would Cross a Point of No Return
Humza Yousaf Sworn In as Scotland’s Leader as Bid for Unity Falters
By Andrew Macaskill | Reuters
Humza Yousaf was sworn in as Scotland’s new leader Wednesday in a ceremony that blended formal tradition with his Pakistani heritage before he announces appointments to his Cabinet that risk worsening the deep divisions in his governing party.
Sweden Summons Russia’s Ambassador Over ‘Legitimate Target’ Statement
Reuters
Sweden’s foreign ministry said Wednesday it will summon Russia’s Stockholm ambassador to complain about an “attempt at interference” with the Swedish NATO application process.
Ethiopia’s PM Announces Outreach to Rebel Group in Oromia
Associated Press (free)
Ethiopia’s prime minister said Tuesday his administration is attempting talks with an outlawed rebel group operating mainly in the restive Oromia region.
German Government Plans to Deploy Troops to Niger as Part of EU Mission
Reuters
The German government Wednesday paved the way for German troops’ participation in a European Union military mission in Niger, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters after the Cabinet decision.
Ship Seized by Pirates Seen 540 Miles West From Gulf of Guinea Attack Point
Reuters
A Danish-owned vessel that was boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea on Saturday was spotted about 540 miles further off shore Tuesday, according to a maritime cooperation center monitoring security in the area.
More from WPR: Why Piracy Is a Growing Threat in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea
Riyadh Joins Shanghai Cooperation Organization as Ties With Beijing Grow
Reuters
Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approved Wednesday a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China despite U.S. security concerns.
More from WPR: China and Saudi Arabia Are Making a Big Show of Upgrading Relations
Assad Reshuffles Syria’s Cabinet Amid Harsh Economic Crisis
Associated Press (free)
Syrian President Bashar Assad replaced several Cabinet ministers Wednesday amid a sharp increase in prices and worsening economic conditions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, state media reported.
Turkey’s Government Uses Disaster for Profit
By Sehrazat G. Mart & Arjin Tas | The New York Times
The ruling Justice and Development Party has a long record of targeting minorities through reconstruction projects.
More from WPR: Turkey’s Earthquake Has Also Shattered Erdogan’s Political Brand
Junta Disbands Aung San Suu Kyi’s Political Party in Myanmar
By Sui-Lee Wee | The New York Times
The political party of Myanmar’s imprisoned opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has been officially dissolved, in yet another blow to the Southeast Asian nation’s democracy.
More from WPR: As Myanmar’s Crisis Gets Bloodier, the World Still Looks Away
Top Security Aide for South Korea’s Yoon Offers to Resign
Reuters
A top security adviser for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday he had offered to step down.
Inside North Korea’s Oil Smuggling: Triads, Ghost Ships and Underground Banks
By Christian Davies, Primrose Riordan & Chan Ho-him | Financial Times
A joint investigation by the Financial Times and the Royal United Services Institute think-tank shows how business figures in east Asia linked to organised crime have helped facilitate illicit deliveries of hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil.
Netanyahu Delays Bid to Overhaul Israel’s Judiciary as Protests Rage
By Patrick Kingsley, Isabel Kershner & Eric Nagourney | The New York Times (free)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he was delaying his government’s campaign to exert greater control over the judiciary, backing off in the face of furious public protest that has plunged Israel into one of the deepest crises of its history.
More from WPR: Israel’s Protests Are a Battle Over the Meaning of a Jewish State
Fire in Mexico Kills at Least 39 in Migration Center Near U.S. Border
By Mike Ives | The New York Times
At least 39 people were killed Monday night and 29 others seriously injured when a fire broke out at a government-run migration facility in northern Mexico, near the border with the United States, the authorities said.
More from WPR: U.S. Border Policy Must Adapt to the Region’s New Migration Patterns
Hungary Approves Finland’s NATO Membership in Westward Pivot
By Marton Dunai & Richard Milne | Financial Times
Hungary ratified Finland’s NATO membership Monday in the latest sign of Prime Minister Viktor Orban slowly turning away from Russia as the economic benefits of their relationship fade.
Biden Acts to Restrict U.S. Government Use of Spyware
By Mark Mazzetti | The New York Times
President Biden on Monday signed an executive order restricting American government use of a class of powerful surveillance tools that have been abused by both autocracies and democracies around the world to spy on political dissidents, journalists and human rights activists.
More from WPR: Regulating the Global Spyware Market Won’t Be Easy
U.S. and Japan Strike Trade Deal on Critical Minerals for Electric Car Batteries
By Aime Williams & Kana Inagaki | Financial Times
The U.S. and Japan will sign a trade agreement covering critical minerals needed for electric car batteries Tuesday, as Washington pushes to reduce its supply chain dependency on China.
Inside the U.S. Pressure Campaign Over Israel’s Judicial Overhaul
By David E. Sanger | The New York Times
In the 48 hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reluctantly delayed his effort to overhaul the Israeli judiciary, his government was bombarded by warnings from the Biden administration that he was imperiling Israel’s reputation as the true democracy at the heart of the Middle East.
More from WPR: The U.S.-Israel Relationship Is Special, but Not Indestructible
Some Rules of Global Politics Matter More Than Others
By Stephen M. Walt | Foreign Policy
Norms are real, but there’s enormous room for interpretation.
Voter Abstention Rises in Cuban National Assembly Election
Associated Press (free)
Cuba’s government reported Monday that abstention in National Assembly elections was 24.1 percent, a figure some analysts said reflects discontent with the island’s economic crisis as well as a rise in apathy.
More from WPR: Cuba’s Deepening Economic Crisis Is Putting Diaz-Canel in a Bind
Guatemala Sets Lineup for Presidential Vote as Critics Slam Disqualifications
By Sofia Menchu | Reuters
Guatemala’s presidential race kicked off Monday, a day after the electoral authority finalized its approved candidate lineup for the June election, even as critics blasted decisions to disqualify some candidates while allowing others to run.
More from WPR: Guatemala’s Authoritarian Slide Under Giammattei Is Putting Biden in a Bind
‘At Least $20 Million’ Worth of Cocaine Headed for Turkey Seized in Peru
Al Jazeera (free)
Peruvian authorities say they have seized 2.3 tons of cocaine disguised as ceramic tiles destined for Turkey via a growing maritime route for illicit drugs.
Venezuela’s Opposition Still Has Lots of Work to Do
By Maryhen Jiménez Morales | Americas Quarterly (free)
Upcoming primary elections present an opportunity, but don’t guarantee unity—or a connection with voters.
More from WPR: Elections Are Still the Best Hope for Venezuela’s Opposition
U.N. Official Heads to Ukrainian Nuclear Plant as Safety Fears Grow
By Matthew Mpoke Bigg | The New York Times
The United Nations’ chief nuclear energy official met Monday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to discuss what he describes as increasingly dire fears about a battle-scarred nuclear plant on the front line of the war, ahead of his first visit to the plant in almost seven months.
EU Agrees Trade Defense Tool Against China
By Andy Bounds | Financial Times
The EU has agreed a new trade defense tool allowing it to retaliate against countries using punitive measures such as China’s block on Lithuanian imports over the Baltic state’s relationship with Taiwan.
Greek Prime Minister Calls General Election for May 21
By Derek Gatopoulos | Associated Press (free)
Greece’s center-right prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, called a May 21 general election Tuesday as his party’s long-standing lead in opinion polls has declined in the aftermath of the country’s worst train disaster.
French Court Refuses to Extradite Italian Former Militants
Associated Press (free)
France’s highest court ruled Tuesday against extraditing 10 former far-left militants who were convicted of attacks in Italy carried out in the 1970s and 1980s.
Anti-Government Protests in Kenya Hit Nairobi for Second Week
By Evelyne Musambi | Associated Press (free)
Thousands of anti-government protesters marched on the streets of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Monday despite the government’s declaration that the protests are illegal.
More from WPR: Protests in Kenya and South Africa Are About More Than the Cost of Living
Paul Rusesabagina, ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Dissident, Departs Rwanda for Qatar
By Abdi Latif Dahir | The New York Times
Paul Rusesabagina, the human rights activist, left Rwanda on Monday, more than 900 days after he was duped into re-entering the country, charged with terrorism and sentenced to 25 years in prison before being released after monthslong negotiations brokered by the United States.
More from WPR: The ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero’s Arrest Shows the Fearsome Extent of Kagame’s Control
Rebels Kill at Least 17 people in Troubled Eastern Congo
By Christina Malkia | Associated Press (free)
At least 17 people were killed by rebels in eastern Congo, local authorities said on Monday.
More from WPR: The War in Eastern Congo Matters, Too
Pirates Board Danish-Owned Ship in Dreaded Gulf of Guinea
Al Jazeera (free)
Pirates attacked and boarded a Danish-owned ship in the Gulf of Guinea on Saturday and all communications channels with the vessel are down, a spokesperson for shipping company Monjasa said.
More from WPR: Why Piracy Is a Growing Threat in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea
Russia Supplies Iran With Cyber Weapons as Military Cooperation Grows
By Dov Lieber, Benoit Faucon & Michael Amon | The Wall Street Journal
Russia is helping Iran gain advanced digital-surveillance capabilities as Tehran seeks deeper cooperation on cyberwarfare, people familiar with the matter said, adding another layer to a burgeoning military alliance that the U.S. sees as a threat.
More from WPR: Iran and Russia’s ‘Partnership of Convenience’ Expands to Ukraine
Israel’s ‘Fired’ Defense Chief Hangs On as Netanyahu Hits Pause
By Dan Williams | Reuters
The Israeli defense chief whose dismissal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought the country’s constitutional crisis to a boil is staying in office until further notice, aides said Tuesday, suggesting government indecision on how to proceed.
More from WPR: What’s Happening in Israel Is Unlikely to Stay in Israel
A Battle Over Daylight Saving Time Raises Tensions in Lebanon
By Raja Abdulrahim | The New York Times
Two government leaders delayed the time change so Muslims would not have to break their daytime fast an hour later during Ramadan. But after a firestorm ensued, they backtracked.
Kim Jong Un Says He Will Expand Production of Nuclear Material
By Dasl Yoon | The Wall Street Journal
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for expanding the production of nuclear material to boost the country’s arsenal exponentially, saying his weapons program was aimed at defending the country.
More from WPR: The North Korean Nuclear Threat Is Creating a Regional Arms Race
China Grants Billions in Bailouts as Belt and Road Initiative Falters
By James Kynge | Financial Times
China has significantly expanded its bailout lending as its Belt and Road Initiative blows up following a series of debt write-offs, scandal-ridden projects and allegations of corruption.
North Korea to Restart Diplomatic Activity After Three Years of COVID Isolation
By Edward White | Financial Times
North Korea is preparing to resume foreign diplomatic activity as Kim Jong Un gradually reopens the isolated country that was sealed off for three years during the coronavirus pandemic.
Philippines’ Marcos to Shut Out ICC After Losing Drugs War Appeal
Reuters
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he would cut off contact with the International Criminal Court after it rejected an appeal asking it to stop investigating his predecessor’s lethal war on drugs.