CANVAS Weekly Update – September 15th, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

Mediterranean storm Daniel swept through northeast Libya on Sunday evening after killing 26 in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey the prior week. The city of Derna, held by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, was hit the hardest as two nearby dams burst, causing catastrophic flooding that swept away entire blocks of the city. Rescue efforts have continued throughout the week; however, the death toll continues to grow as thousands are still unaccounted for. 10,100 people remain missing while 11,300 are presumed dead. In a rare show of unity for an otherwise divided nation, relief and assistance are pouring in from all corners of the country including from the Tripoli government. Likewise, international aid is entering the country from around the world with other Arab countries sending support alongside the UN, the EU, and the United States. Questions have arisen as to Libya’s preparedness to deal with natural disasters. Experts say safety measures were far from adequate as the divided government’s institutions rarely function properly.

A powerful 6.8 earthquake hit Morocco this past Saturday. Centered around the High Atlas Mountains, 75 km west of Marrakech, villages were ravaged and roads destroyed, greatly complicating relief efforts. Earthquakes of this scale are rare in Morocco and infrastructure systems are poorly equipped to sustain such shocks and deal with large levels of destruction.  The death toll has neared 3,000 people while injuries have topped 5,500. Critics of King Mohammed’s monarchy have been vocal about the government’s poor response. Mohammed has been tight-lipped, offering few public comments about the relief effort. Since the time of the earthquake, there were large numbers of governments and institutions offering much needed relief to the people, but the government was slow to let foreigners in to assist, primarily only permitting aid from Qatar, Britain, Spain and the UAE. Many Moroccans have been forced to dig through rubble themselves, searching for family members and friends, as assistance was too slow to arrive.

Ukraine’s slow moving counteroffensive has continued this past week. Ukrainian forces reportedly retook the town of Andriivka, northeast of Bakhmut, while fighting continues along the heavily fortified southern line. Ukraine has also stepped up air assaults on Russian forces in Crimea and the Black Sea, reportedly taking out a missile defense system and heavily damaging Russian submarines at a dry-dock in the city of Sevastopol. On the political front, President Zelensky is expected to visit Washington in a bid to shore up support for Ukraine amidst growing calls for a halt to aid amongst some in the Republican party.

 

Iran:

Saturday, March 16th, marks the one year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, also known by her Kurdish name Jina. Amini, 22 years old from the northwest city of Saghez, died at the hands of the so-called Iranian “Morality Police ” after being arrested for improperly wearing her hijab. Police initially responded with heavy force to local protests in Saghez, giving great visibility to the movement across the country. Her death soon became a rallying cry for Iranians across the country as protests exploded against the government’s repressive policies. Protests continue one year after her death. 500 Iranians have died to date at the hands of the police while thousands more have been arrested for peacefully demonstrating.

 

Venezuela:

On September 12, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in Beijing for a state visit. Discussions are expected to include Venezuela and China’s economic relations related to the oil and gas sector. Venezuela, an oil rich nation and OPEC member, has been largely excluded from the international scene due to strong western sanctions against the ruling government. The state visit led to an upgrade in the relationship to an ‘all weather strategic partnership’, which is a status China only grants to a limited set of countries. The two heads of state, Xi Jinping and Maduro, signed bilateral agreements in a large variety of areas, including the economy, trade and aerospace.

 

Georgia:

Georgian politicians continue to discuss actions plans needed for EU accession. A recent meeting of Prime Minister Gharibashvili and his government resulted in the adoption of the so-called “deoligarchization” plan, a bid to shore up corruption and achieve EU standards. However, Georgian politicians continue to straddle the fine line between East and West. Georgia has added its name to the recent nations who have allowed Chinese nationals to travel to their country visa-free. In a bid to shore up relations with China, Prime Minister Gharibashvili announced bilateral relations between the two nations after a state visit in July. The latest move towards China’s sphere of influences comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between Tbilisi and the west, as Gharibashvili has been slow to condemn Russia for their actions in Ukraine.

 

Myanmar:

On Saturday, September 9, 1,200 Chinese nationals were arrested and repatriated due to their alleged involvement in criminal online scam operations taking place in the eastern state of Shan. The arrests were carried out by the United Wa State Army, a powerful ethnic minority militia that controls the state independently from the military junta based out of Naypyidaw. The Chinese nationals were repatriated through the China-Myanmar border in Panghsang, which borders the Yunnan province in China. Cybercrime has been on the rise recently in Asia, where large organized crime groups often lure unknowing workers through fake job offers.

 

Thailand:

Prime Minister Shretta Thavisin announced this week a new set of economic policies. Thailand’s economy has been struggling from fewer exports, and low investor confidence. Thavisin spoke to parliament during his inaugural speech on Monday about measures to relieve debt problems, lower energy costs and boost tourism as the country still has not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans include a 10,000 baht (280$) handout program for all Thais 16 and above in a bid to boost economic spending and the waiving of visas for Chinese nationals to increase tourism. Thavisin, a retired real estate mogul, recently took power after a long election period saw the popular Move Forward party unable to form a ruling coalition.

 

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe’s newly reelected president, Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ZANU-PF, appointed his son and nephew to deputy minister posts. The opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change, has heavily criticized this decision, reaffirming the dangers that Mnangagwa posed to democratic wellbeing, previously cited when the party dismissed the recent election results and called for a fresh election. The ZANU-PF party has been in control of the presidency and parliament since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. The continuation of electoral corruption seen throughout Mnangagwa’s reelection has plagued Zimbabweans, while international organizations have stated that the elections fell short of international standards.

 

CANVAS Weekly Update – September 8th, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

On Sunday, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy announced he would remove his minister of defense, Oleksii Reznikov, in a continuation of overhauls designed to counter issues of graft and other forms of corruption in the military. Ukrainian parliament approved the move on Tuesday, paving the way for Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar, to replace Reznikov. Umerov formerly served as head of the State Property Fund and was seen as a bulwark fighting corruption there.

North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, will supposedly visit Vladmir Putin in Russia in the next coming days to discuss potential arms deals to supply the Russian war in Ukraine. US intelligence first reported on the potential meeting. Possible locations for the meeting include Vladivostok in Russia’s far east, not far from the North Korean border. The meeting would highlight growing relations between the two international pariahs, largely excluded from doing business on the world stage.

As Russia removed itself from the Black Sea Grain Deal in July of 2022, designed to protect grain carrying cargo ships leaving Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, attacks have ramped up on transport infrastructure. One alternative for Ukrainian grain export has been the Danube river. Attacks this week on the Ukrainian city of Izmail, directly across the Danube from NATO member Romania have resulted in a Russian drone falling on NATO territory. Tensions remain high and the war comes closer and closer to NATO’s doorstep.

 

Georgia:

Potential European Union integration remains at the forefront of Georgian politicians. President Salome Zourabichvili’s visit to different European leaders in Berlin and Brussels last week is raising issues as members of the ruling Georgian Dream party allege the visits are a breach of the national constitution. Georgian Dream party members are looking to impeach Zourabichvili for the visits. 100 members of the 150 member parliament need to vote in favor of impeachment for Zourabichvili to be impeached. Georgian Dream currently has 84 seats.

Georgia’s EU candidate status has lead to disputes within the government and society. While politicians seem to want credit for the possible admission of Georgia to the EU, attention is turning to who is actually deserving of credit for the possible admission of Georgia to the block. Georgia’s progress on the necessary EU-demanded reforms remains to be seen. EU foreign policy minister chief Josep Borrell claimed that the EU is open to Georgia, but they need to implement serious reforms to receive the candidate status. In October, the EU makes further decisions on the progression.

 

Venezuela:

Last Friday, the LGBTQ+ club in Valencia, which had been raided by the police in July, opened its doors again. There is a growing concern about the government who is strengthening alliances with strong religious groups that use anti-LGBTQ+ rights language. Even though homosexuality is not a crime in Venezuela, there is a fear among the LGBTQ+ community that the government could move towards criminalization again.

UNICEF warns about record numbers of children crossing the Darién Gap, a dangerous jungle cross between Colombia and Panama. The largest group of migrants comes from Venezuela, as economic issues continue to plague the nation.

 

Myanmar:

A drone strike perpetrated by a resistance group has killed five Burmese officials in a major border town in eastern Myanmar. The attack, which targeted police headquarters, is another counter resistance effort by the People’s Defense Force, a large organization that allied themselves with Burmese guerilla groups to take power back from the Myanmar government.

ASEAN has condemned the Myanmar Armed Forces for their continuous attacks against civilians. Although Myanmar is a member of this bloc, they were not in attendance for the 43rd ASEAN Summit, which took place this week. These statements come after the Southeast Asian block has failed to implement their “five-point consensus” peace building plan in Myanmar that was mutually agreed upon in 2021.

Former democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been denied much needed medical care. The 78-year old, who has been experiencing severe toothaches and gum disease, is left unable to eat. Kyi, who is currently detained via house arrest, faces an extreme health risk, which is being ignored by the junta. Local actors are urging the international community to put pressure on the junta to allow for Kyi to receive the much needed medical care.

 

Iran:

One of Mahsa Amini’s uncles, Safa Aeli was arrested on September 5th in their hometown of Saghez in the northwest Kurdish Province. The arrest comes upon the upcoming anniversary of the arrest and death of Amini who was detained on September 13th 2022, in Tehran and died three days later in custody. Her death sparked protests in her hometown of Saghez that then spread across the country, posing one of the greatest threats to the government’s rule since their inception in 1979.

Two female journalists were sentenced over the past weekend to a month’s prison time and ‘professional ethics training’ and are prohibited from leaving the country in the latest crackdown on free media. The two journalists, Negin Bagheri and Elnaz Mohammadi, were arrested for ‘conspiracy and collusion’. Mohammadi’s sister has been in prison since September 2022 after she reported on the funeral of Mahsa Amini.

 

Thailand:

Indonesia hosted the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta from September 4th to 7th. The Thai Prime Minister Shretta Thavisin missed the summit for unexplained reasons. Foreign leaders were present including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov.

CANVAS Weekly Update – September 1st, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

Ukrainian forces claimed to have retook the southern village of Robotyne, in the Zaporizhzhya region, on Monday, August 28th. The capture of the village means that the military has successfully punctured the primary layer of Russian fortifications built in preparation for the much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. The capture of the Robotyne opens new opportunities with the villages of Novoprokopiva and Ocheretuvato close by. Ukrainian drone assaults have ramped up inside of Russia. 400 miles from Ukraine, 4 military transport planes were hit at an airfield in Pskov, Russia, close to the Estonian border. Aerial bombardments also targeted the Soltsy base in the Novgorod region, destroying one aircraft there. Ukrainian assaults inside Russia have become all too common, with Moscow’s four airports repeatedly needing to halt operations of commercial flights. President Zelensky, on Sunday August 27, sought to reiterate his stance on seeking security guarantees from Washington. Zelensky said he believes that Washington will offer military aid and funding in a relationship that is similar to that of the US and Israel, in which Israel is designated as a major non-NATO ally.

President Ali Bongo won reelection on early Wednesday morning, August 30th, for his third consecutive term, having been first elected in 2009 following the death of his father. Upon the announcement of his reelection gunshots could be heard in the capital and the military soon proclaimed that they had taken over, canceled the results of the election, closed borders and dissolved all state-institutions. The African Union subsequently paused Gabon’s membership.

Africa has been racked over the past decade with military coups with nine over the past three years. However, Gabon and the surrounding countries south of the Sahel have largely been spared. Gabon is an OPEC member, first obtaining membership in 1975 and has large oil reserves. Gabon is the latest former French colony to remove a long standing democratically elected leader after a coup in Niger in July.

The military in Niger has strengthened their hold on power, recently severing all diplomatic ties with the French mission in the country. Diplomatic immunity for Sylvian Itte was revoked and his family’s visas were voided. France has yet to withdraw him from the country.

 

Zimbabwe:

The Zimbabwe opposition party has called for a new election after tampering and corruption conspiracies arose regarding prevalent abnormalities during voting procedures and extended voting deadlines. Last week’s votes showed that incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, of the ZANU-PF, won reelection, a result that was completely rejected by the opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Mnangagwa’s win pushes the ZANU-PF party’s ruling to 43 years since the rule of longtime dictator Robert Mugabe. The opposition party requests that any new election is monitored and controlled by neighboring nations, with hopes that the ruling party has no chance to alter the results. The CCC party has attempted to launch a legal challenge, which analysts say will not gain much traction.

The triumph of the ZANU-PF party has caused concern for humanitarian organizations. The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres expressed worries for election monitors who have been arrested for checking the results to confirm they were not rigged. Mnangagwa has been unable to reign in high levels of unemployment, uncontrolled inflation, and widespread corruption that has left many Zimbabweans looking for opportunities elsewhere.

 

Serbia:

Protests are slated to resume this week advocating for the replacement of heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Security Information Agency in Serbia, and the banning of reality shows that promote violence and unethical behavior.  On Wednesday, the news broke out that the hackers changed the name of the grammar school in Valjevo to the name of the boy who committed the massacre in the Belgrade school in May on Google Maps. Despite the fact that the upcoming 18th protest against the violence is going to focus on education and the rule of law it is highly possible that concerns about this worrying event will be addressed.

This week marked several more activist initiatives in Serbia. Serbian students formally addressed PM Ana Brnabić asking for information on what has been done concretely to prevent tragedies, such as the one that occurred in May, while activists in Futog attempted to symbolically hand a bullet-proof vest to the Mayor of Novi Sad during his visit to one elementary school. In other news, the European Commission expressed its concerns about the recently changed law on Serbian citizenship, because it facilitates procedures by which foreign citizens can get Serbian passports. The circumstances as such, according to the EC, can present a public political and security threat to the EU because Serbian citizens enjoy their visa-free regime within the union.

 

Myanmar:

The military-installed government has expelled the ambassador of East Timor out of Myanmar. These orders come after the senior diplomat of East Timor in Myanmar met with the military government’s main opposition and shadow government, the National Unity Government (NUG). Furthermore, East Timor invited the NUG’s human rights and foreign service minister to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in July. These extended relations with the shadow government, coupled with the outward criticism of the military junta, have led to strained ties between the nations.

August 25 marked six years since the beginning of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in Myanmar, which has left over 25,000 Rohingya dead and hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in neighboring Bangladesh. Refugees continue to struggle to survive in Bangladesh, facing food crises with most stuck in camps with no work. The World Food Programme assistance to refugees in camps has been cut by nearly a third.

 

Thailand:

May elections voted in Pita Limjaroenrat, a 42 year old reformist politician, and his Move Forward party, to power in a move that was seen as a rebuke to the monarchy and the ruling military powers. Due to “intractable military and conservative opposition” pro-democracy Pheu Thai party member Shretta Thavisin was elected Prime Minister by parliament. Upon the election of Thavisin, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra returned to the country after years living in exile. Shinawatra was convicted of abuse of power and sentenced to eight years in prison. Shinawatra founded the Pheu Thai party and is a close ally of Thavisin. Upon returning to the country Shinawatra was immediately transferred to prison where he was sent a pardon request that first must be approved by Thavisin before being transferred to the king.

 

Iran:

Four Americans remain under house arrest in Iran as negotiations for a prisoner swap have concluded. Five Iranians under arrest in the United States as well as 6 billion in sanctioned oil revenue that is tied up in South Korea will be returned to Iran in exchange. The oil revenue must be used for humanitarian efforts in Iran. The deal has been agreed upon, however the swap has yet to take place.

Last week Iran received an invitation to join the BRICS block alongside 5 other countries, expanding the block to 11. The block, formerly run by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is growing in a push for the global south to counter western influence in world affairs. The expansion has created questions about the creation of a currency used by the block to counter the influence of the US Dollar in international trade. However, experts maintain that the creation of any common currency is a long way off.

Javad Rouhi was arrested last year soon after the death of Mahsa Amini in a wave of mass arrests designed to quell anti-government protests. He was found guilty of leading rioters, destroying property, and apostasy for allegedly burning a Quran during a demonstration. Rouhi was sentenced to death for his actions. His sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court. Rouhi died on August 31st of a seizure after being exposed to floggings and freezing temperatures while in prison awaiting a new sentence.

CANVAS Weekly Update – August 11th, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

The heads of state of nine West African nations held an emergency summit to discuss options related to the situation in Niger. In a move to solidify their rule, the coup’s leaders announced a new government, including 21 cabinet ministers. Neighboring countries have imposed economic and travel sanctions, and the Nigerian president pledged that “no option is off the table,” though experts cast doubt on the capabilities of the ECOWAS bloc to restore democracy. Sources reported that they threatened to kill President Bazoum if military intervention was attempted. There is also speculation that the junta may appeal to the Wagner Group, Russia’s mercenary army, for help, which is active in the Sahel region.

Fernando Villavicencio, a presidential candidate vocal about state corruption and organized crime, was assassinated while leaving a rally on Wednesday evening. Nine other people were shot, and crossfires between security forces killed the suspected gunman, with six other people in connection detained. Less than a month after the fatal shooting of the mayor of Manta, a port city used by gangs to transport drugs, this falls within a year of unprecedented crime and violence. It also comes just days before the first round of voting is set to take place. President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency for 60 days and three days of national mourning.

 

Serbia:

As European and Western nations place sanctions on Russian fuel imports in an attempt to cut Russia’s war funds, fuel smuggling emerges as an increasingly attractive business. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime warns that Russian crude oil smuggling may increase with the Danube River, including nearly 40 locations in Serbia, serving as a central transport route. The illegal trade not only helps Russian business, but also cuts out the tax revenue that the Balkan countries would have gained from legal regulations.

In other news, Serbia has stated that, after a difficult decision, it will choose to ignore the U.S. sanctions placed on four Bosnian Serb officials. The sanctions came in response to a law drafted by the officials to not recognize the decisions of Bosnia’s multi-ethnic Constitutional Court. The law appears to be a further attempt to distance the Bosnian Serbs from the Bosnian federation, thereby undermining the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

More than three months after the devastating events of mass shootings in Serbia, citizens who protested against the structural violence that transcended to the fatal consequences still gather on the streets of Belgrade and other Serbian cities. Even though the number of protesters decreased, citizens are still determined to peacefully make the Serbian government meet their demands. On Wednesday the 15th protest against the violence has been announced for Saturday, 12 August in Belgrade. According to the map for the upcoming protest, citizens will walk to the Government of Serbia.  The main focus will be on verbal and institutional violence, a phenomenon of femicide, and the fact that none of the protest demands have been met so far.

 

Iran:

In the first step of a planned prisoner swap, five Americans imprisoned in Iran have been transferred to a hotel in Tehran for house arrest. The agreement, in negotiations for months, will grant Iran access to an estimated $6 billion in assets, currently frozen in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions. The funds are to be used exclusively to buy food, medicine, or humanitarian aid, which will be overseen by Qatar’s central bank. The Biden Administration is also expected to release several Iranian prisoners serving sanctions-related sentences. Counsel for one of the Americans hopes this development marks “the beginning of the end,” while many have likened this to a “hostage” situation, using false charges to weaponize people as “bargaining chips.”

Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with Japanese officials on Monday, for the first visit between high-ranking officials from the two countries in over three years. Prior to the meetings, which spanned the Japanese Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister, Amirabdollahian denied the allegations that Iran has provided drones to Russia to use in its war against Ukraine. Additionally, Japan, who has supported restoring the nuclear deal, raised concerns over nuclear development in Iran. In a statement released afterwards, it urged compliance with International Agency for Atomic Energy standards.

The foreign minister also summoned a British Ambassador, Simon Shercliff, to Tehran following social media comments, a common practice to protest disagreeable remarks by Iran’s envoys. In a post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, Shercliff urged the Iranian government to release those “arbitrarily detained.” Shercliff specifically included the jailing of journalists, as the country has been named the worst jailer of journalists in 2022 and is celebrating Journalists Day this week.

 

Venezuela:

Venezuelans protested this week after six trade unionists were sentenced to sixteen years in prison each with charges of conspiracy and terrorism. Opposition leaders, including María Corina Machado and Henrique Capriles, have taken to Twitter to speak out against the charges.

Maduro’s regime successfully took back $1.5 billion USD in assets that had been in Portugal in an account with Novo Banco. Maduro saw the frozen funds as another attempt of foreign governments trying to limit his power as they were intended to be used to support a UN backed fund to give humanitarian assistance to the country. This, however, was the same claim that Maduro made when the United States lifted sanctions last year, and the fund has yet to be created.

On the evening of July 23rd, police raided Avalon an LGBTQ bar in Valencia, Venezuela and arrested 33 patrons. The men were rounded up in the bar and then brought to police headquarters without being told what crime they were charged for, instead they were told they were witnesses. The men were charged with “lewd conduct” and “sound pollution”, which many claim were simply baseless allegations to discriminate against these men even though being LGBTQ is not a crime under Venezuelan law. The patrons’ personal photos were also leaked by the police, which added to the quick backlash and protests (including the hashtag #los33) from citizens criticizing President Maduro for supporting anti-LGBTQ groups and policies.

Zimbabwe:

At a rally on Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa tells supporters they will go to heaven if they vote for his party in the upcoming August 23rd election. The ruling ZANU-PF party has been in power for 43 years, ever since Zimbabwe gained independence from white minority rule. Mnangagwa claimed, “No one will stop us from ruling this country. We are the only party that brought independence and freedom to a colonized people of this country. We kicked out imperialism.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa claims that Mnangagwa is undermining independent institutions and using intimidation in order to cling to power. He points to Mnangagwa’s use of police and courts to stifle opposition rallies and deter candidates from entering the race. In the words of Chamisa, and in light of a recent murder of a Chamisa supporter, the choice appears for many, “death or ZANU-PF”. While President Mnangagwa denies these charges, independent NGOs such as Amnesty International have found evidence of such violations.

 

Myanmar:

On Tuesday, the United Nations released a report that detailed a dramatic increase in war crimes in Myanmar. The report went on to say that there was “strong evidence that the Myanmar military and its affiliate militias have committed three types of combat-related war crimes with increasing frequency and brazenness.” The three types of war crimes that have experienced a drastic increase are the killing of civilians, torture, and sexual violence. The Burmese government continues to deny these atrocities and claims that it is carrying out a legitimate campaign against terrorists.

 

Thailand:

Pheu Thai political party’s prime ministerial candidate will be backed by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) to help them push through the country’s political deadlock. PPRP are not a part of Pheu Thai’s coalition but believe the country needs to have functioning leadership after five months of a limited caretaker government. However, Pheu Thai is still short on votes to attain the majority they need to confirm a new prime minister. The winning party from May’s elections, Move Forward, have yet to decide if they will back Pheu Thai after their PM candidate was blocked again by the Senate and Pheu Thai subsequently left their coalition.

 

Georgia:

Georgian Dream MP Ketevan Dumbaze has been appointed as the Head of the House of Writers. Over 80 Georgians involved in literature and culture, such as writers, translators and publishers, have signed a statement that neither recognizes the Ministry of Culture nor the Head of the House of Writers. Part of the statement reads, “The decision taken by the minister to select the head of an institution such as the House of Writers behind closed doors on the basis of party affiliation is categorically unacceptable.”

Amid a slew of environmental disasters across the world, the death toll of the landslide that occurred on August 3rd in the resort town of Shovi has risen to 17. The town also suffered major damage to their infrastructure including important bridges.

CANVAS Weekly Update – August 4th, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to be returning from our short hiatus to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

Following last week’s coup, France, Italy, and Spain announced evacuations for European citizens and nationals currently in Niger. With the country’s airspace shut down and borders restricted, a French military transport was the first to coordinate a departure. The mutineers who took power received support from the military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali; in a joint statement, the neighbors warned that outside intervention to reinstate democratically-elected President Bazoum would be regarded as a “declaration of war.

In Senegal, the government has charged opposition leader Ousmane Sonko with insurrection and dissolved his party, the Patriots of Senegal. Citing the recent fatal uprisings and destruction of property, the country’s interior ministry announced the measures were intended to “preserve peace and tranquility.” Two people were killed in the protests that followed. Amid economic hardship, the fierce anti-corruption figure has recently mobilized his supporters to take to the streets and challenge President Macky Sall’s rule, an ally of the west. In the past, Sonko was at the center of a controversial trial in which he was acquitted of rape allegations but convicted of youth corruption. This record may threaten ambitions to run for the presidency in the coming election.

 

Serbia:

Pro-democracy Russians protested in Serbia on Sunday after Russian anti-war activist Peter Nikitin was detained in the Belgrade airport for two nights and Vladimir Volokhonski was refused an extension of residency by the Serbian police. The activists gathered in the centre of Belgrade holding signs reading “We came to live in peace” and “I love Serbia and I want safe and happy life here”.

Eight hundred and twenty Serbian police have been deployed near the Hungarian border in the wake of dozens of armed confrontations between Afghan, Syrian, and Moroccan smuggling gangs since last summer. In this large scale people-smuggling bust, thirteen suspected criminals have been detained and twenty-seven will be charged with misdemeanors.

 

Iran:

Due to “unprecedented heat”, Iranian authorities designated Wednesday and Thursday public holidays, before extending the effective shutdown into the weekend – instructing the elderly and those with health conditions to remain indoors. This comes after southern cities recently reported temperatures as high as 123 degrees Fahrenheit. Some suspect that the underlying causes are an “overstretched electricity grid” and an insufficient supply of natural gas. Iranians are pointing to the government’s inability to pursue investment and technology from the West, given the sanctions targeting its nuclear development. 

Additionally, the country’s Revolutionary Guard executed a surprise military drill in the Persian Gulf, landing in disputed islands where the United States has recently increased its presence. In a televised address, the chief, General Hossein Salami, asserted the nation’s vigilance against “threats, complicated seditions and secret scenarios and hostilities.”

 

Venezuela:

Authorities confiscated Voluntad Popular’s presidential candidate Freddy Superlano’s passport as he attempted to cross the border into Columbia with the justification that there are “inconsistencies” in the identification, although there is no reason to believe that is the case and is instead thought to be a measure to prevent him from running for public office against Maduro. Superlano was chosen as the party’s candidate in May, replacing Juan Guaido, who is currently taking refuge in the United States after being forced out of Columbia, where he was attending a conference on the future of Venezuela’s political scene.

Venezuela applied this week to be a member of BRICS, the geopolitical group of member states Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The application follows a meeting in the spring between Lula and Maduro, and represents the continued trend of states normalizing relations with the nation despite the continued political repression and human rights abuses.

 

Zimbabwe:

On Thursday, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court cleared 12 candidates from the opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change, to contest the election later this month. This decision emerged amidst chaos over a High Court ruling that initially stated many of these candidates had registered too late. Tensions continue to rise surrounding the election after an opposition supporter was killed on Thursday while traveling to an election rally. A group of opposition supporters also report being assaulted and stoned on their way to the same rally.

Other developments include the ongoing influence of China on Zimbabwe’s mineral resource market which suplants them as a key player in both the economy and government of the Southern African nation. Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, has pronounced China’s recent influence as an exploitation of the people rather than an investment in the nation, exclaiming that, ““You are getting nothing. The only thing you are getting are cracks in your houses from the dynamite blasts. Our people are still jobless, they still remain poor.”

 

Myanmar:

On Tuesday, Myanmar’s ruling military government granted partial celemency to former democratic ruler Aung San Suu Kyi. The decision to pardon her for 5 of the 19 offenses she was charged with came as a result of the start of Vassa in Myanmar. Despite the pardons, Suu Kyi will remain under house arrest, where she was moved to earlier last week.

On Monday, Myanmar’s government announced that it will be postponing elections and extend the state of emergency in the country due to ongoing violence. The announcement likely demonstrates that the military has failed to subdue widespread opposition to its rule and does not have enough control to hold polls. Originally scheduled for August of 2023, the military government has not provided a new date for the elections.

 

Thailand:

The upcoming vote for prime minister, originally scheduled for Friday, has been delayed as the Thai parliament waits for the Constitutional Court to review a case on the constitutionality of the legislature’s rejection of the Move Forward Party’s renomination. Move Forward won the most seats in May’s general election and is attempting to form a new coalition government. The party’s prime minister nominee, Pita Limjaroenat, initially lacked conservative support during his first bid because he promised to reform a law banning criticism against the royal family. His second attempt for office, the one under review, was denied after parliament voted that he could not be nominated twice.

The political party Pheu Thai, originally one of Move Forward’s allies, has placed plans in motion to form a new coalition without Move Forward. However, their proposal has been put on hold due to the canceled prime ministerial vote and their leader, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has canceled his plans to return home.

 

Georgia:

Georgian citizens protest the growing rise in tourism and immigration from Russia. At the port of Batumi, two protests occurred as the mass of Russian cruise ships arrived. Protestors waved Georgia, Ukrainian and EU flags and chanted anti-Putin slogans. 23 protesters were arrested. These protests reflect the growing threat of Russian migration, as approximately 20% of Georgian territory is under Russian occupation.

Russian affiliated war criminals, like Kadyrovtsy, were seen in Batumi, a popular getaway for the Russian military and financial elite. Meanwhile, as one activist stated, “Putin critics and journalists, including our former journalist from Chechnya, are not allowed to come to Georgia.” Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili stressed that Georgia cannot allow an unmonitored flow of Russiansinto the country, as it is a “very gray zone that can be used by Russia.”

CANVAS Weekly Update – May 26th, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

Russia’s Wagner Group claims to have captured Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, but Kyiv says it intends to recapture the ruined city after surrounding it. The battle for Bakhmut has increasingly been the focal point of the war as armies have clashed there for months. Some 20,000 troops from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group were killed in the months-long battle for control of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said.

Thousands of people demonstrated in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region to demand the return of people displaced by a two-year war there and the withdrawal of outside forces now that the conflict has ended. The war forced millions from their homes, including hundreds of thousands from land disputed by Tigray and Amhara. Thousands of demonstrators peacefully rallied in several major cities holding signs with slogans like “invaders must leave our homeland”.

 

Serbia:

The third protest by ‘Serbia Against Violence’ was held in Belgrade and gathered tens of thousands of people making the protest the largest seen in Serbia in the past decade. Citizens say that the deaths that occurred in early May are the consequence of ‘violence that is visible everywhere’, and Serbian officials have been held responsible for the relativization and promotion of domestic violence through reality shows aired on TV in prime time, including convicted criminals who often appear on the channels with national frequency. The Serbian opposition, university professors, and prominent Serbian actors have supported the protests, but these protests are solely citizens’ initiativesOfficials organized the counter-protest in Pančevo. Furthermore, officials led by President Vučić are accusing the opposition of organizing protests against the Serbian leadership. A pro-government rally was organized this Friday in Belgrade. Authorities organized this rally in response to the protests that have been happening over the last few weeks, which is why this gathering today is seen as a counter-rally and reaction to mass protests against violence that happened a week ago. During the event, Vučić announced that he is stepping down from the helm of his party and will be forming a new movement in June.

This Friday, before noon, Kosovan authorities had perpetuated an action in which they attempted to access the municipal buildings. Local Serbs, who gathered in front of the municipal building in Zvečani after hearing sirens that are used to inform the majority of Serbs in north Kosovo when there is trouble, clashed with the Kosovan police. The US ambassador to Kosovo condemned an ongoing action by Kosovan authorities and urged for halting this situation

Representatives of farmers and agricultural producers met with Serbian government officials in Belgrade, where they decided to accept the offer of the government and thus stop 5 days-long blockades, even though the offer does not fulfill half of the farmers’ demands. Since only 3 farmers’ associations agreed to the offer, and 4 remained silent, it is still unclear how the situation will develop.

 

Afghanistan:

The Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council announced that the Taliban have agreed to consider resuming work for Afghan women at NGOs in the southern province of Kandahar. Last December, the Taliban indefinitely suspended Afghan women from working for NGOs, alleging that the women were not correctly wearing the hijab or adhering to laws on gender segregation. Two rights groups, Amnesty International and the International Commission for Jurists, have condemned the attack on Afghan women’s rights and called on the International Criminal Court to hold the Taliban account for gender persecution as a crime against humanity.

 

Iran:

Iran executed three men who were facing drug charges by hanging them last weekend. Iran appointed Ali Akbar Ahmadian as the new top security official, this week. Critics believe that this change reflects the conservative influence of the Iranian establishment and that it might change the state’s main pillars of foreign policy. Meanwhile, the Israeli national security chief claimed that the new nuclear facility built by Teheran will not be immune from potential attacks. Iran responded by stating that its weapons have the potential to reach both Israeli and the US bases in the region and successfully test-launched the newest ballistic missile with a 2000 km range potential.

 

Lebanon:

On Wednesday, a Beirut court confiscated the French and Lebanese passports of Riad Salameh, the chief governor of Lebanon’s central bank, after Interpol put a red notice against him, an alert issued for international fugitives. Salameh and his associates have been accused of embezzling and laundering millions of dollars from Lebanon’s central bank. After failing to appear at an investigation hearing for European prosecutors, France issued a warrant for Salameh’s arrest last week.

Meanwhile, a prominent exiled Egyptian human rights activist, Abdul-Rahman Tarek, was arrested on Wednesday by Lebanese police without a warrant. There was not a clear reason for the arrest, and Tarek was released later that day. Lebanese rights activists planned a protest but called it off after Tarek’s release.

Turkey:

Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party gave split endorsements to the remaining candidates for president, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sinan Ogan, who finished third in the general election, directed his voter base to support President Erdogan. Meanwhile, Ümit Özdağ, the leader of the Victory party to which Ogan belongs, broke party ranks to formally back Kılıçdaroğlu. Özdağ described reaching a consensus with the opposition leader on deporting all refugees residing in Turkey within a year, along with not reinstating democratically-elected Kurdish mayors in the southeast who were removed by authorities.

Additionally, the country’s central bank announced that the current policy rate of 8.5% will remain. This is part of a broader effort to keep the lira, which has lost 6% of its value against the dollar in 2023, stable ahead of the runoff election. At the same time, Cenbank’s net forex reserves fell into negative territory, marking the first time this has occurred in over two decades.

 

Sudan:

Another week-long ceasefire was attempted to allow humanitarian aid into Sudan this week, but it failed to hold with both sides accusing each other of violations. The fighting “lulled” on Tuesday, but air strikes and clashes on the ground returned to bombardment Wednesday morning.  The fighting that started over a month ago between the army and RSF has destabilized the country and raised concern for neighboring nations. Throughout conflict negotiation attempts, African Union diplomats have had a minimized role compared to the presence of US diplomats.

 

Zimbabwe:

Around 800 prisoners were released through a presidential amnesty to reduce overcrowding in jails, especially benefiting prisoners over 60 years old and juveniles. Offenders with a violent record who have served three-quarters of their sentence were also released. Additionally, Zimbabwe dollar inflation has caused an upward trend in purchases by domestic consumers from street vendors. These transactions exclusively utilize the U.S. dollar leading to a decline in sales for brick-and-mortar stores and a subsequent uptick in informal sector employment.

 

Bolivia:

A recent publication of a late Jesuit priest’s diary revealed multiple accounts of child abuse, sparking a movement of around 200 individuals also coming forward with complaints. The attorney general is currently proposing an investigation to determine if church officials are liable. Additionally, the Bolivian government is beginning to instate background checks for visiting religious officials. In response to this development, Pope Francis sent Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu to Bolivia, a sex crime investigator for the church, and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia acknowledged that the church has historically been deaf to the suffering of victims of sexual abuse.

 

Cuba:

Cuba’s economy minister said there is no quick fix for the country’s sputtering economy, as inflation, fuel shortages, plunging farm production, and a cash crunch drag on output and continue to fan discontent. Economy Minister Alejandro Gil said there was too little foreign currency on the island to pay for coveted fuel, food, and farm imports, meaning Cuba would increasingly scrape by with what it can produce at home. Meanwhile, The European Union’s top diplomat said in Havana that the EU remains Cuba’s top trade partner, and one committed to “mutual respect” despite U.S. sanctions and the country’s increasing overtures towards Russia.

 

The United States:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his campaign in a glitch-ridden collaboration with Twitter and Elon Musk. In his time as governor, DeSantis has risen to national prominence as a staunch “anti-woke” proponent of conservative idealsThough he trails Donald Trump in the polls, DeSantis presents himself as the electable alternative, after winning re-election comfortably in the 2022 midterm elections while a decisive Red Wave otherwise failed to materialize. His launch came days after Tim Scott – the only Black Republican in the Senate, hailing from South Carolina – formally declared his candidacy. Scott kicked off the campaign on the campus of Charleston Southern University, his alma mater, focusing on his Christian faith and optimistic political nature.

 

China:

Chinese state media called the G7 an ‘anti-China workshop’ as a response to China-related statements made during the meeting. By underlying Taiwan matter, human rights abuses, nuclear arms, economic coercion, and tension China creates in the East and South China Sea, G7 triggered a fierce reaction from China whose officials summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest against the hype over China-related concerns. Furthermore, as G7 members tightened sanctions on Russia and called on China to put more pressure on Russia regarding the Ukrainian War, Russian and Chinese officials met and signed a series of agreements on infrastructure and trade. According to China and Russia, all of these agreements are the outcome of unprecedentedly high bilateral relations.

In the meantime, the Chinese foreign ministry called on the US to show more understanding for China in order to “get their bilateral relations on the right track”. In light of these events, the new Chinese ambassador to the US arrived in New York with the aim to foster collaboration and increase dialogue between China and US. Simultaneously, a Chinese state-sponsored hacker group has been accused of spying on numerous critical infrastructure organizations in the US.

 

Hong Kong:

United Kingdom Foreign Minister James Cleverly revealed that he raised the case of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai with senior politicians in China and Hong Kong, as the UK again criticized Beijing’s crackdown on freedoms in the one-time British colony. Hong Kong authorities denounced the report that claimed the Beijing-imposed national security law was being used to punish, “silence,” and “discredit” pro-democracy opposition leaders in Hong Kong, many of whom are jailed or forced into exile. The report called on Hong Kong to follow the UN Human Rights Council’s recommendation to remove the law. In response, Hong Kong authorities strongly disapproved of the report, calling it a political attack.  A Hong Kong government spokesman said Britain should stop interfering in its former colony’s affairs.

 

Indonesia:

Iranian President Raisi met with President Widodo to discuss strengthening ties via a signed Preferential Trade Agreement. The agreement outlines increasing Indonesian exports to the Middle East in hopes of increasing bilateral trade to $20 billion. This would cause Indonesia to gravitate away from traditional trading partners in Southeast Asia and consequently align the two predominantly Muslim nations. President Raisi’s appearance occurred after increasing tensions between the West and Iran, due to Iran’s recent crackdown on protests regarding the death of a woman in police custody.

 

Myanmar:

Myanmar’s military-controlled media said on Friday 145 people were killed when Cyclone Mocha hit the country this week, including 117 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, in stark contrast to reports from rights groups and residents who fear hundreds may have died. The cyclone tore down houses, communication towers, and bridges, and the damage raises concern about whether the urgent needs for shelter, food, drinking water, and medical assistance can be met. Furthermore, UN staff say they have not been given permission to help thousands of Rohingya living in displacement camps in Myanmar who are in urgent need of assistance.

 

Thailand:

Thailand’s progressive Move Forward Party has signed a coalition agreement with seven other parties, promising to draft a new constitution, end monopolies, and allow same-sex marriage, but the deal made no mention of a controversial proposal to revise royal insult laws. That proposal had been part of Move Forward’s campaign platform, and many younger Thais would like to see it considered along with other democratic reforms. However, the monarchy is considered a pillar of Thai national identity and conservatives oppose any changes to the law, which provides for penalties of up to 15 years in prison. The 23-point agreement outlined the coalition’s policy plans and priorities as it seeks support among legislators to form a government after nine years of conservative, military-backed rule.

 

Belarus:

Russia moved ahead with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move, in the Kremlin’s first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment earlier this year, the move was widely seen as a warning to the West as it stepped up military support for Ukraine.

Roman Protasevich, a Belarusian opposition blogger arrested in 2021 after his flight was grounded in Minsk, has been pardoned. The 28-year-old was sentenced to eight years in prison for offenses including inciting “terrorism”, organizing mass disturbances, and slandering Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski has been transferred to a notoriously brutal prison in Belarus and hasn’t been heard from in a month, according to his wife. Bialiatski has been kept in an information blackout since his transfer to the N9 colony, where inmates are beaten and subjected to hard labor.

 

Georgia:

The first direct flight from Russia to Georgia arrived to protests after the announcement of Russia lifting the flight ban last week. Georgia’s national airline, Georgian Airways, banned the country’s president from their flights in response to allowing these flights. More than 100 organizations within Georgia have said this sabotages the country’s aspirations to join the EU, which the public overwhelmingly supports.

CANVAS Weekly Update – May 12th, 2023

Dear Friends, 

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report! 

Conflict Update:

Ukraine said its armed forces broke through Russian formations northwest of Bakhmut, which Moscow’s forces have been trying to capture for nine months. Yevgeny Prigozhin, financier of the Wagner Group, appeared to confirm the Russian retreat. The UK has confirmed it is supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles. Britain is the first major Western country to supply arms that could strike targets deep into occupied Crimea.An anti-government movement is planning new protests in Guinea after its leaders said at least seven people were killed and 32 wounded during demonstrations in the capital, Conakry, and other cities. Police in riot gear cracked down on demonstrators who threw rocks and burned tires during the latest in a series of protests against the military government, which seized power in 2021.Violence during protests in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, has killed one teenager and wounded 30 people as young protesters took to the streets against an increasingly “repressive state.” The city witnessed violent protests when schoolchildren demanding a high school to be built instead of a police station were confronted by police in full gear.On Tuesday, Pakistan’s anti-corruption agency arrested former prime minister Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court on corruption charges. Khan was indicted by a high court in Islamabad on Wednesday and accused of the unlawful sale of state gifts during his term as prime minister. On Thursday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared Khan’s arrest illegal and ordered his immediate release. The decision comes two days after Khan’s arrest sparked violent protests between his supporters and police, resulting in thousands arrested, dozens injured, and eleven deaths.

 

Afghanistan:

UN report released on Monday condemned the Taliban for public executions, lashings, and stonings, requesting the executions be immediately suspended. According to the report, 274 men, 58 women, and two boys were publicly flogged in Afghanistan in just the previous six months. The report also noted that female UN workers had been detained, harassed, and faced travel restrictions since the ban on Afghan women working for the organization. 

At a meeting between China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in Islamabad, foreign ministers of each country vowed to further expand trilateral cooperation on foreign investments, border security, and counterterrorism. China encouraged Afghanistan to reform its bans and restrictions on women in education and public life to gain the international community’s trust. At the end of the meeting, the three countries released a statement stressing the need to prevent any individual, group, or party from committing terrorism on their territories.

 

Iran:

According to the Iranian judiciary, two men were executed on Monday for blasphemy convictions. The men, named Yousef Mehrdad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare, were hung early on Monday after being accused of possessing and publishing anti-religious content. Additionally, the judiciary announced that three men, alleged members of a drug smuggling cartel, were hung on Wednesday. The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk denounced Iran’s record of at least 209 executions since January and called on authorities to halt all executions. 

 

Lebanon:

As Lebanon’s financial crisis worsens, angry bank depositors staged a sit-in in front of parliament on Tuesday in Beirut. The demonstration was called for last week by the Depositors’ Outcry Association, a local organization defending bank depositors’ rights, to demonstrate against the state’s current financial policies and demand the return of their deposits. The army and security forces were deployed, while some protesters set fire to tires and ATMs, and obstructed the roads near the parliament. 

 

Uganda:

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have discussed a possible crude oil pipeline to export petroleum. Uganda is developing the $3.5 billion, 1,445km (898-mile) East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) from oil fields on its western border with DRC to Tanga, Tanzania. The controversial pipeline is for transporting Uganda’s crude oil to international markets when it starts production in 2025. 

 

Sudan:

Fighting between the army and RSF continues in Khartoum and the surrounding cities despite ongoing peace talks hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. The UN estimates over 700,000 people are now internally displaced, and at least 150,000 have fled the country. Aid Agencies such as Islamic Relief and the World Food Programme have struggled to offer services as the country is highly insecure. UN spokesperson  António Guterres said, “Most, if not all, United Nations agencies and our humanitarian partners have been impacted by large-scale looting,” adding to the desperation and calls to protect civilian infrastructure. While the talks have not yielded progress, US negotiators remain “cautiously optimistic” about reaching a ceasefire agreement.

 

Zimbabwe:

Well-known author, Tsitsi Dangarembga, had her ruling of inciting violence overturned by the high court this week. Last year she was found guilty after holding a sign saying, “We want better. Reform our institutions.” Her initial charge of a six-month sentence and a 70,000 Zimbabwean dollar fine brought attention to the democratic stagnation in the country.

 

Bolivia:

During a press conference on Wednesday, Bolivia’s president voiced openness to using the Chinese yuan for international trade, citing similar efforts taken by Argentina and Brazil to use the Asian currency for trade with China. For decades, international trade transactions have been valued in US dollars, particularly for significant commodity markets like grain and oil. President Arce said Bolivia could not afford to sit out the trend of South American countries agreeing to trade with China in yuan.

 

Cuba:

Cubans in Caimanera took to the streets in the first known anti-government protests of the year in Cuba. Videos shared by dissidents and human rights groups showed men in military uniforms and civilian clothing clashing with protesters while onlookers recorded the events with cell phones. The videos showed the protesters voicing anti-government chants and cries of “freedom.” Tensions have run high for several weeks as a dire fuel shortage has stressed the country’s public transportation, power generation, and food supply.

 

Nicaragua:

On Wednesday, the Nicaraguan government announced that the country’s chapter of the Red Cross would be closed down. The National Assembly shut down the Nicaraguan Red Cross after it was accused of “attacks on peace and stability” during anti-government protests in 2018. The local Red Cross claims that it just assisted in providing medical care for injured demonstrators at the time. Additionally, under the new law, Red Cross properties in Nicaragua will be seized and turned over to the government. In its place, lawmakers ordered the country’s health ministry to establish “a new Nicaragua Red Cross.” It’s unclear how the country will obtain the funding for a new organization.

 

The United States:

Prominent Republican politicians, Donald Trump, and George Santos, continued encounters with the US justice system. A jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million, while Trump continued to mock and dismiss the case. Meanwhile, Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty to seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. 

This week marks the end of Title 42, coronavirus restrictions on asylum that allowed the US to expel migrants for the last three years. As asylum seekers flock to the US-Mexico border, the Biden administration will need a plan to handle an estimated 10,000 migrants daily. Biden also met to no avail with congressional leaders to avert government default on its debt set to occur on June 1.

 

China:

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi that the Biden administration is “looking to move beyond” tensions spurred by the US shooting down a Chinese spy balloon. Top officials agreed to maintain communication with both sides.

Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei over allegations he tried to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker and his family critical of China’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority. Hours later, China’s Ministry of foreign affairs said it would expel a Canadian diplomat in retaliation for what it called Ottawa’s “unreasonable actions.”

 

Hong Kong:

This week, Britain’s Minister for Investment, Dominic Johnson, held a series of meetings with government officials and executives in Hong Kong during the first official visit from a senior British official to the city in five years. Relations between Britain and Hong Kong have been strained since the protests and the creation of national security law in Hong Kong. Johnson said his visit was to promote and strengthen UK-Hong Kong investments and trade. 

On Wednesday, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed a legal amendment that allows a judge to prevent foreign lawyers from working on national security cases. The amendment codifies a previous ruling from China on using foreign lawyers in national security cases. The new law successfully blocks media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai from obtaining a UK lawyer for his high-profile case.

 

Indonesia:

convoy of regional diplomats was attacked while carrying humanitarian aid to northeastern Myanmar. Singapore and Indonesia condemned the attack, and it became a core topic at ASEAN’s meeting this week in Indonesia. Leaders at the meeting called for an immediate end to violence in military-ruled Myanmar in an effort to create a window for dialogue and the delivery of humanitarian aid as fighting intensifies.

Indonesian officials said Sunday they freed 20 of their nationals who were trafficked to Myanmar as part of a cyber scam amid an increase in human trafficking cases in Southeast Asia.

 

Myanmar:

ASEAN continues to condemn ongoing violence in Myanmar and struggles to get the military junta to commit to peace. ASEAN representatives met in Indonesia this week to discuss the crisis. Junta generals have been barred from the meetings for failing to implement the previous 5 Point Consensus peace plan.

Human Rights Watch called for foreign governments to stop funding the junta and fueling the fighting by supplying jet fuel. Over 160 civilians were targeted and killed by a thermobaric “vacuum” bomb earlier in the month. This air-fuel-based explosive was not the first instance of civilians targeting war crimes by the junta.

 

Thailand:

The daughter of the formerly overthrown and exiled prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has a significant polling lead in the upcoming May 24th election for the Pheu Thai opposition party. This week she returned to campaigning just days after giving birth.

 

Georgia:

Russia lifted the direct travel ban for Georgians, allowing visa-free travel to resume. Moscow banned direct flights to Georgia in 2019 after anti-Russian protests. The move indicates a warming of relations between the two countries after the “foreign agent” bill that sparked renewed protests against Russian influence in March.

Belarus:

Belarusian activists and their families remain threatened inside and outside the country. Mikalai Klimovicz was imprisoned for sharing a caricature of Lukashenko on social media and died this week, two months into his jail sentence. Klimovicz suffered bouts of heart disease, but authorities have not confirmed his cause of death. Artyom Liabedzk, the son of an advisor to Belarus’s exiled opposition leader, has spent a month in Okrestina, a detention center known to torture prisoners, for “swearing at police” and is now facing up to five years for “financing extremism.”

CANVAS Weekly Update – May 5th, 2023

Dear Friends,

We are heartbroken by the tragic shootings that occurred in Serbia this week. On Wednesday, a 13-year-old boy shot eight fellow pupils and a security guard at a Belgrade school in a planned attack. A teacher and six pupils were hospitalized, some with life-threatening injuries. A second mass shooting occurred on Thursday when a young man killed eight people and wounded 14 others in Dubona and nearby villages outside of Belgrade. The suspect was arrested by police on Friday. Although gun ownership is widespread in Serbia, mass shootings are rare. We would like to send our deepest sympathy to those that have been impacted by these tragedies.

Conflict Update:

Russia’s Wagner Group leader has warned that his mercenary forces will leave Bakhmut on May 10 due to ammunition shortages blamed on the Russian defense chief. Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday promised to withdraw from the eastern Ukrainian city, which Russian forces have tried to seize for months. Prigozhin has vented for months over a lack of support from the Russian defense establishment. It was unclear if his latest statement could be taken at face value, as he has frequently posted impulsive comments.

Kenya’s opposition has suspended the latest anti-government protests after reaching an agreement with the government of President William Ruto. The opposition Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) alliance, led by veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga, said in a statement that its leadership had met and “agreed to once more suspend the mass protests.”

 

Afghanistan:

The UN held a summit of envoys from over 20 countries in Doha to establish a unified strategy for dealing with issues of human rights, terrorism, or drug trafficking in Afghanistan. The Taliban-run government in Afghanistan was not formally acknowledged during a closed-door summit that ended on Tuesday in Qatar. Still, the head of the UN warned there would be another gathering in the future. During the meeting on Tuesday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that the UN would keep its mission in Afghanistan despite Taliban restrictions on women employees. However, he did warn that funding may dry up, with a $4.6 billion U.N. appeal less than 7% funded.

 

Iran:

In a two-day visit, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi became the first Iranian president to visit Syria since the civil war broke out 13 years ago. This strategic meeting included ministers of foreign affairs, roads and urban development, economic affairs, and Iran’s central bank chief. While the visit was a push to strengthen ties, Iran has militarily supported Syrian President Assad throughout the war. Along with US influence appearing to decrease, the US Navy says two oil tankers were seized in Gulf waters by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

 

Lebanon:

Syrian refugees in Lebanon who were deported after being detained by security forces face arrest and forced conscription upon returning to their homeland. According to Amnesty International, Lebanon’s deportations are a “clear violation” of international law on the handling of refugees. According to refugees and humanitarian organizations, the army has raided refugee camps and set up checkpoints to examine the identification of non-Lebanese nationals, arresting and frequently deporting Syrians found to lack legal residency. On Tuesday, the Lebanese interior ministry issued a directive requiring all municipalities to survey the Syrians residing there and to confirm their legal status before engaging in any dealings with them, including renting out property.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s judiciary disciplinary council removed one of the judges investigating the chief bank officer from office. Judge Ghada Aoun was dismissed after she was accused of having biases in the case due to her comments on political corruption.

 

Uganda:

Uganda’s parliament passed a lightly revised version of its previous anti-LGBTQ+ bill after President Museveni asked that certain provisions from the original legislation be toned down. The bill retains most of the harshest measures of the legislation, including the death penalty for certain same-sex acts and a 20-year sentence for “promoting” homosexuality. The revised bill has attracted widespread criticism from international human rights groups.

 

Sudan:

Intense fighting continues for the third week in the capital and surrounding areas. Further attempts at ceasefires also failed, with National Intelligence head Avril Haines saying, “fighting will likely not stop as neither side has the incentive to seek peace.” Thursday, Joe Biden signed an executive order setting the path to sanction individuals leading the fighting in Sudan. Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced. The UN and other international organizations are pressing for peace and the safe passage of humanitarian aid. Earlier in the week, six trucks were looted, and air strikes in the capital undermined a supposed truce.

 

Bolivia:

On Monday, Bolivian prosecutors started an inquiry into a deceased Spanish priest’s alleged abuse of children dating back to the 1980s. Over the weekend, the Spanish newspaper El País brought attention to the case against Jesuit priest Alfonso Pedrajas Moreno, who passed away in 2009. Attorney General Wilfredo Chávez tweeted that he was requesting information on the case from the Spanish consulate and that he was also asking the Catholic Church for its opinion.

 

Cuba:

Due to severe fuel shortages, Cuba’s government canceled the annual International Workers’ Day parade on Monday. The parade is a key political event on the island as top officials and leftist organizations from around the world attend to march alongside hundreds of thousands of Cuban workers. President Miguel Diaz-Canel claimed earlier this month that Cuba only received two-thirds of the fuel it needed and that suppliers were breaking their agreements.

 

Nicaragua:

In a recent roundup of government critics, forty political opponents of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega have been detained and charged with crimes of conspiracy and treason. According to the families, the opposition leaders were apprehended on Wednesday night, driven to the capital Managua to face charges, and then returned home to be put under house arrest. Among those detained are journalists, farmers, attorneys, activists, and the mother of a student who died in the 2018 anti-government protests.

 

The United States:

The union representing 11,500 film and television writers has gone on strike. The industry’s movement to shorter series via streaming services has led to fewer jobs and lower wages for writers. When months of negotiations between producers and writers did not lead to meaningful change, and the writers’ contracts expired, they voted overwhelmingly to call a strike. The strike is expected to grind the massive industry to a halt as the strikers’ on-screen co-workers stand with them in solidarity.

A former police officer in the US city of Minneapolis has been found guilty of aiding and abetting in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police set off mass racial justice protests across the United States. Tou Thao, who already had been convicted in federal court of violating Floyd’s civil rights, was the last of the four former officers facing judgment in state court over the killing.

 

China:

After Beijing allegedly targeted a member of Canada’s parliament and his family, China has accused Canada of “slander and defamation” and demanded an apology. In 2021, Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Chong sponsored a successful motion that declared China’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority genocide. A 2021 Canadian  intelligence report cited that China sought information on Chong’s family in China to   deter any “anti-China positions.” In response to these events, Canada’s Foreign Minister said she was “assessing different options, including the expulsion of diplomats.”

 

Hong Kong:

On Tuesday, the leader of Hong Kong announced his intentions to abolish the majority of directly elected seats on local district councils, the last significant political representative body selected by the public. About 470 council seats will be filled by government appointees and committees of pro-establishment staff. Government authorities will vet and disqualify any candidates they deem “unpatriotic”.

 

Indonesia:

Military prosecutors at Guantanamo Bay have announced that the full trial of Hambali, detained over terrorist attacks in Indonesia, will start in March 2025, even though he has been detained for 17 years. Hambali is accused of involvement in the Bali bombings in 2002, which killed more than 200 people, and the JW Marriott hotel attack in 2003 in Jakarta, where 11 people died.

 

Myanmar:

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang visited Myanmar this week, saying the trip bolstered the country’s “friendship.” He is the first high-level Chinese official to visit the country since the military coup two years ago. This trip accompanies concerns that China’s military is constructing a surveillance post on Myanmar’s Great Coco Island.

After continued international pressure, the military junta pardoned more than 2,100 political prisoners. Myanmar’s ruling military council said this was a humanitarian gesture. However, thousands still remain imprisoned, including many on charges of criticism of military rule or participating in protests.

 

Thailand:

The daughter of the formerly overthrown and exiled prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has a significant polling lead in the upcoming May 24th election for the Pheu Thai opposition party. This week she returned to campaigning just days after giving birth.

 

Belarus:

Roman Protasevich, a journalist who was taken from a plane that was forced to land in Belarus two years ago, has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Protasevich’s arrest elicited outrage in the West, with some saying the plane’s diversion was a state-sponsored hijacking. The charges against him include organizing mass riots, preparing actions violating public order, calling for sanctions against Belarus, creating or leading an extremist group, and conspiracy to seize power.

 

 

CANVAS Weekly Update – April 28th, 2023

Dear Friends,

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report!

Conflict Update:

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have spoken for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, with Beijing saying it wanted to send an envoy to Kyiv to serve as a mediator to pursue a “political settlement”. Beijing presents itself as neutral and a potential peacemaker, but in practice China has largely supported Russia’s stance. And, at least 12 people have been killed and several injured after Russian forces attacked cities and regions across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, in a series of night-time air raids.

Peru’s police and military have violently suppressed anti-government protests, resulting in deaths that likely amount to “extrajudicial or arbitrary killings” under international law. 49 people have been killed by Peru’s security forces as they responded to the protests with extreme force against demonstrators and bystanders. More than 1,000 people were injured.

 

Afghanistan:

According to US officials, the Taliban killed the IS leader who was responsible for the suicide attack at the Kabul airport in 2021 that killed nearly 180 people. The IS leader was assassinated in southern Afghanistan in early April during one of the Taliban’s operations against the Islamic State group. The Taliban did not inform the US about the death, but it could draw this conclusion from its intelligence collection.

The UN Security Council unanimously condemned a ban by the Taliban on Afghan women working for the UN in Afghanistan, calling on leaders to “swiftly reverse” a crackdown on the rights of women and girls. The resolution describes the ban as “unprecedented in the history of the United Nations” and says it “undermines human rights and humanitarian principles”.

 

Iran:

Two renowned Iranian actresses were charged with violating hijab rules, and authorities shut down businesses that offered services to women not wearing headscarves. Iran also seems persistent with its decision to execute Iran-German citizen, Jamshid Sharmahd, an opposition figure who is charged with masterminding a deadly attack, despite German efforts to make Iran reverse this decision.

senior Shiite cleric on the Assembly Experts, Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani, was killed by an armed guard at a bank. The identity and motives of the guard who killed Soleimani are not known yet, but Iranian officials announced that a special investigation will be conducted. The following day, the Iranian Navy seized an oil tanker coming from the Marshall Islands in the Gulf of Oman. This action was understood as a part of the tensions over Teheran’s nuclear program, while Iranian news claimed that this happened after an unknown ship collided with an Iranian vessel, and injured several Iranian people.

 

Lebanon:

Amnesty International called on Lebanese authorities to stop the deportation of Syrian refugees. The request comes after Lebanese Armed Forces raided houses occupied by Syrian families across the country and deported dozens of Syrian refugees.

The brother of Lebanon’s central bank governor missed a hearing with European investigators looking into charges that the siblings misappropriated and laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in public money. The brothers dispute their wrongdoing. Meanwhile, an assistant to the governor of the central bank of Lebanon was questioned by European investigators in Beirut on Thursday.

 

Uganda:

Uganda’s government continues to receive criticism after the parliament passed potentially the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ law. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni asked legislators to make clear in the proposed law that it is not criminal to merely identify as gay. Biden’s press secretary said the administration has “grave concerns” about the impact of the bill and US officials postponed a meeting about the HIV/AIDS program in Uganda to assess the impact of the potential law.

 

Sudan:

Fighting continues for a second week in Sudan between the RSF and military with over 500 deaths and 4000 wounded. A 72-hour ceasefire was attempted to allow civilians to escape coinciding with Eid but failed. An additional 72-hour ceasefire was attempted later in the week but the fighting did not break. Foreign nations including South Africa, Canada, the US, the UK, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Germany began evacuating their citizens but many remain. As the humanitarian crisis also rises, US diplomats warn, “The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that outside actors will start trying to back one general or another, hyper-charging this fight” prolonging the violence.

 

Zimbabwe:

Farmers continue to seek justice and reach a compensation settlement with the government after hundreds were evicted from their land two decades ago. A plan was initially agreed upon by the Commercial Farmers Union in July 2020 but the timeframe and amounts are still being negotiated. Hyperinflation remains in the country. Leading to  76% of employment in Zimbabwe is now being in the informal sector.

 

Cuba:

As the US anticipated an increased number of Cuban citizens coming to the States through the Mexican border, it officially resumed regular removals processing of the Cuban nationals “who have received final orders of removal.” Cuban officials confirmed this information, and the first deportation flight from the US to Cuba occurred on April 24.

 

The United States:

President Joe Biden formally announced that he is running for reelection in 2024. If elected, Biden would become the oldest person elected president of the United States. He faces criticism from inside and outside his party for his age. He hopes that his legislative successes from his first term and the increasingly extreme beliefs of the Republican party will get him elected again.

House Republicans narrowly passed legislation that would raise the government’s legal debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions. Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package and has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings attached. McCarthy’s ability to unite his slim majority and pass the bill in light of opposition from Democrats and holdouts in his own party gives currency to his strategy to use the vote as an opening bid forcing Biden into talks.

 

China:

Ukraine criticized remarks made by a Chinese envoy who claimed that Crimea was a Russian peninsula gifted to Ukraine and that ex-USSR countries do not have status under international law. In light of the upcoming meeting with Ukraine, China issued a statement that it respects and affirms the sovereignty of former Soviet Republics and that Beijing’s position is “consistent and clear”.

The meeting between Zelensky and Xi over the phone call raised optimism that China is ready to use its friendly relations with Russia to create prospects for peace talks. According to Zelensky, the meeting was “long and meaningful” and it will “give a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations”. However, there are some concerns that China has involved itself as a mediator out of its own interests, to improve its status as an economical and political leader and thus build an international order that favors Beijing’s interests.

 

Hong Kong:

Hong Kong’s executive leader announced that the city plans to overhaul its district councils. This change will ensure that Beijing loyalists manage municipal-level organizations, eliminating any potential opposition. At a press conference, Chief Executive John Lee stated that the government would not permit the district councils to be used as a platform for calling for the independence of Hong Kong or interfering with its governance.

 

Indonesia:

magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck west of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island and sent people fleeing to higher ground after a tsunami warning was briefly triggered. Indonesian authorities urged caution as residents returned gradually to their homes. The number of dead and injured victims is still unclear.

Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua region released a video showing the New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February saying that recent Indonesian military attacks threatened his safety. After five Indonesian troops were killed by rebels, Indonesia began dropping bombs over the West Papua region which the pilot said was, “dangerous for me and everybody here.”

 

Myanmar:

As violence between the military junta and the opposition continues, Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the country. He met Myanmar’s military ruler, saying the trip was aimed at promoting peace. Representatives from Myanmar and its neighbors, including India and China, held talks in New Delhi as part of a secretive effort to de-escalate the ongoing crisis. The military junta has failed to take steps to implement the ASEAN peace plan agreed on in 2021.

A top-level election official was assassinated by guerrilla opposition forces this week. This is not the first time resistance groups have disrupted election preparations this year.

In 2007, Japanese veteran journalist Kenji Nagai was shot while filming the Saffron Revolution against the military regime at the time sparking collective grievance and attention on Myanmar. This week the camera he was filming on while killed was returned to his family and the footage was released.

 

Thailand:

Human rights groups monitoring Thailand remain alarmed, as a second asylum seeker from China’s Muslim Uyghur minority died in detention this week. Detainees face inadequate access to healthcare, food, and sanitary living conditions. Human Rights Watch and the UN Commission for human rights continue to press for the release of those detained under lese majeste laws. The Move Forward political party has been gaining traction, especially with younger voters calling out the human rights violations of the government, as the election approaches.

 

Belarus:

Belarus has supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, allowing the Kremlin to launch attacks from Belarus and offering to station some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons there, in return for Russia’s support to survive months of protests, mass arrests, and Western sanctions. However, the war is deeply unpopular in Ukraine, and if Lukashenko’s administration deploys its own troops into the conflict, it may set Belarus into a new realm of political instability.

The United Kingdom and France’s sports ministers have insisted that Russian and Belarusian athletes must never compete as neutrals as recommended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) because they could still be funded by their governments after they were banned last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

CANVAS Weekly Update – April 14th, 2023

Dear Friends,  

CANVAS is delighted to bring you another issue of our weekly report! 

Conflict Update:

A series of documents have emerged online purporting to contain highly classified Pentagon intelligence related to the Ukraine war and information gathering on close US allies. The information publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on intelligence matters. One document refers to the presence of Western special forces operating inside Ukraine. Other documents say when a dozen new Ukrainian brigades will be ready for a prepared offensive, listing the tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces provided by Ukraine’s Western allies. 

 

According to the Taliban Defense Ministry, a raid on a National Resistance Front hideout in northern Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of eight rebel fighters, including the commander Akmal Amiri, on Tuesday. The National Resistance Front has operated in the Panjshir province since the Taliban takeover. The group comprises former security forces from the previous Western-backed government that swore to oppose the new government.

On Monday, the UN World Food Program announced that its mission in Afghanistan would need $800 million for the next six months to continue assisting people. The UN also stated on Tuesday that it is reviewing its presence in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned women from working with the organization. A UN spokesperson said that the organization hopes to fulfill its mission to provide humanitarian support to the Afghan people, but the ban will require the UN to ” assess the scope, parameters, and consequences of the ban, and pause activities where impeded.”  A Taliban spokesperson responded to the UN’s statement, stating that there are no obstacles for the U.N. to operate in Afghanistan after the ban on Afghan women working, and the organization should respect the decision.

 

Afghanistan:

According to the Taliban Defense Ministry, a raid on a National Resistance Front hideout in northern Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of eight rebel fighters, including the commander Akmal Amiri, on Tuesday. The National Resistance Front has operated in the Panjshir province since the Taliban takeover. The group comprises former security forces from the previous Western-backed government that swore to oppose the new government.

On Monday, the UN World Food Program announced that its mission in Afghanistan would need $800 million for the next six months to continue assisting people. The UN also stated on Tuesday that it is reviewing its presence in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned women from working with the organization. A UN spokesperson said that the organization hopes to fulfill its mission to provide humanitarian support to the Afghan people, but the ban will require the UN to ” assess the scope, parameters, and consequences of the ban, and pause activities where impeded.”  A Taliban spokesperson responded to the UN’s statement, stating that there are no obstacles for the U.N. to operate in Afghanistan after the ban on Afghan women working, and the organization should respect the decision.

 

Lebanon:

Lebanese banker and chairman of Lebanon’s AM Bank, Marwan Kheireddine, is officially under investigation by French authorities. Kheireddine is suspected of participating in a criminal organization and aggravated money laundering. This is the latest development in an international inquiry into embezzlement allegations against Riad Salameh, the governor of Lebanon’s central bank. 

In his Easter service message, a senior Christian cleric in Lebanon urged for the expulsion of Syrian refugees from Lebanon. The Maronite Church’s patriarch, Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, claimed that the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees were “draining the state’s resources.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights accused Patriarch Bechara of using inflammatory language towards a vulnerable group.

 

Cuba:

The Central Bank of Cuba passed a resolution to lift a ban on cash deposits in US dollars this Monday. This means that Cubans will again be able to deposit dollars into their bank accounts after two years, during which this practice was banned due to the “continuing difficulties caused by the US embargo.” The decision that is estimated as surprising became effective immediately.

 

Nicaragua:

President Ortega’s religious persecution of the Catholic Church intensified during Holy Week as processions and other Catholic traditions were banned publicly. Worshippers had to hold all Easter activities within church groups to avoid confrontations with police or risk arrest. The Blue and White National Unity (UNAB), an opposition organization, reported 35 instances of human rights violations during Holy Week, including the arrests of nine parishioners participating in Holy Week activities and the detention of journalist Víctor Ticay, who was reporting on the tradition of La Reseña in southern Nicaragua.

 

The United States:

Republicans expelled Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in a gun control protest on the Tennessee State House floor after a Nashville school shooting left three children and three adults dead. This week, both representatives’ respective county commissioners reappointed them to their positions. Expelling the lawmakers has focused national attention on an issue Republicans would have liked to have blown over, gun control. An important racial component was added when the two Black representatives were ousted from their seats, but a white representative who participated in the same protest was not punished

Access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. plunged into uncertainty following conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone, which has been widely available for more than 20 years. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone, overruling decades of scientific approval. At nearly the same time, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice essentially ordered the opposite and directed U.S. authorities not to make any changesthat would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability. The issue will likely be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court, which last year repealed Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that had established a constitutional right to abortion.

 

Hong Kong:

UK advocacy group, Hong Kong Watch, released information that about £2.2 billion in pension assets are being withheld from tens of thousands of Hongkongers who moved to the UK after pro-democracy protests in 2019. According to the group, the city’s government is retaliating against individuals it deems “unpatriotic” for emigrating under the British National (Overseas) program. Meanwhile, a top financial minister from Hong Kong is scheduled to visit the UK in April for the first time in three years. Hong Kong wants to promote tourism and invite foreign investors back after pandemic rules devastated the economy.

 

Belarus:

Alexander Lukashenko told Russia’s defense minister that he wanted guarantees that Moscow would defend his countryif it was attacked. Lukashenko was cited as saying that he previously discussed the matter with Russian President Putin who he said had agreed with him that such security guarantees were necessary and needed to be formalized.