East Asia & the Pacific
Australia: Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail over alleged war crime of murder offences
ABC News (Australia)
War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith was granted bail after spending more than a week in custody over allegations of war crimes. The 47-year-old was arrested at Sydney Domestic Airport last week and charged with five counts of the war crime of murder, alleged to have occurred in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012. A Sydney court heard it would likely take years for his charges of war crime of murder offences to be resolved.
Cambodia: Thailand says ready for talks with Cambodia, rejects ‘pressure tactics’
Khmer Times (Cambodia)
Thailand has reiterated its willingness to engage in negotiations with Cambodia over ongoing border issues, while cautioning against what it described as attempts to pressure Bangkok into premature talks.
China: Hong Kong-flagged oil tanker passes through Strait of Hormuz amid US blockade
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
An oil tanker sailing under the flag of Hong Kong has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf of Oman, as a US blockade continues to target vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, according to a maritime data firm.
China: Smoother waters? China and Vietnam vow to ‘better’ navigate South China Sea disputes
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Beijing and Hanoi have bolstered their commitment to demarcation talks over a contested stretch of water in the South China Sea, pledging to “better” navigate bilateral frictions in the area, according to a joint communique.
China: A week of bustling diplomacy in Beijing as world leaders look to China for stability
The Straits Times (Singapore)
A stream of foreign leaders visited Beijing this week amid a US naval blockade in the Middle East that has disrupted energy supply flows, reflecting how countries are engaging China to deepen ties and to navigate an increasingly volatile global landscape. The packed diplomatic calendar saw leaders from Spain, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam visiting China, which has long positioned itself as a steady and reliable partner in contrast to the unpredictability of the Trump administration.
Indonesia: Australia, India eye Indonesian urea as global supply tightens
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono said governments of four countries had approached Jakarta for possible urea imports, as the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has sent shock waves through global fertilizer markets and pushed prices sharply higher.
Japan: Japan pledges $10bn to help Asian countries deal with oil crisis
BBC News (United Kingdom)
Japan has pledged to provide $10bn (£7.4bn) to help its Asian neighbors, especially those in Southeast Asia, secure energy including crude oil as the region reels from disruptions caused by the Iran war.
Malaysia: Putrajaya rejects report of Sebatik land loss, says Malaysia gained 662ha in broader border deal
Malay Mail (Malaysia)
The Malaysian government has challenged a news report claiming that 127.3 hectares of territory on Pulau Sebatik now belongs to Indonesia, labelling the assertion as inaccurate and inconsistent with official records. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) clarified that the border realignment on the island was part of a larger, comprehensive resolution with Indonesia that resulted in Malaysia achieving a net gain of 662 hectares of territory.
Myanmar: Former President Win Myint freed in broad Myanmar prisoner amnesty
AP News (United States)
Myanmar’s former President Win Myint was freed Friday as part of a broad prisoner amnesty by newly inaugurated President Min Aung Hlaing to mark the traditional New Year, state-run media reported. In addition to the 4,335 Myanmar prisoners pardoned, nearly 180 foreigners would be released and deported.
New Zealand: Christopher Luxon meets with other world leaders to discuss Strait of Hormuz situation
RNZ News (New Zealand)
The prime minister has taken part in a virtual meeting of world leaders overnight to discuss efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. More than a dozen countries said they were willing to join an international mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz when conditions permit, Britain said.
North Korea: North Korean missiles used in Ukraine strikes aren’t just Russian copies: Kyiv
NK News (South Korea)
North Korea developed its KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles used by Moscow in attacks on Ukrainian cities combining foreign tech with designs of Russia’s earlier Iskander models, Kyiv’s researchers found.
Philippines: Marcos says key suspect in Philippine corruption firestorm arrested
BBC News (United Kingdom)
A key suspect at the heart of a corruption scandal that sparked widespread anger in the Philippines has been arrested in the Czech Republic, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said. Zaldy Co, a former lawmaker, was detained by authorities in Prague after crossing into the country “without proper documentation”, Marcos said on Thursday.
South Korea: First S. Korean tanker navigates alternative Red Sea route amid Hormuz blockade
The Korea Herald (South Korea)
A South Korea-owned vessel has departed from the Red Sea, the first Korean ship to use it as an alternative route to transport crude oil amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government said Friday.
Taiwan: Interoperability crucial for Taiwan evacuation: Ex-Philippine Army official
Focus Taiwan (Taiwan)
Former Philippine Army vice commander Leodevic B. Guinid, in a recent interview, called for regional interoperability mechanisms for the evacuation of international noncombatants in the event of a Chinese attack against Taiwan.
Thailand: Eastern border crossings to stay shut for now: PM
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Border crossings in Trat and Chanthaburi will remain closed, with no diplomatic talks or timeline set for reopening, says Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Thailand has yet to enter any discussions regarding Cambodia’s request to reopen border checkpoints in the eastern provinces, saying this was not an appropriate time.
Vietnam: To Lam leaves China: Highlights of his first trip
BBC News (Vietnam)
(Translated from Vietnamese) On the afternoon of April 17, General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi by train after concluding their activities in Nanning, China. This is To Lam’s first overseas trip in his capacity as both party and state leader after the “unification” of power, similar to the leadership model of neighboring China.
Europe & Eurasia
Austria: Rat poison found in HiPP baby food jar in Austria, police say
Reuters (United Kingdom)
Rat poison was found inside a jar of HiPP baby food, Austrian police said late on Saturday after the product was recalled from 1,500 SPAR supermarkets in the country over safety fears.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria’s former President Rumen Radev win parliamentary election by landslide
Euronews (France)
Bulgaria’s ex-president Rumen Radev, an EU critic who has called for renewing ties with Russia, hailed a “victory of hope” after his coalition topped the eighth parliamentary elections in five years on Monday. With almost 99% of the votes counted by Monday afternoon, the Central Electoral Commission put Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria (PB) party in the lead, securing close to 45% of the votes, an absolute majority of at least 132 seats in the 240-seat parliament.
Czech Republic/Russia: Czechs Demand Explanation After Russia’s Medvedev Threatens Europe’s Drone Factories
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Czech Republic)
The Czech Republic demanded an explanation after Russia’s Defense Ministry published a list of companies it claimed are helping produce attack drones for Ukraine and bellicose former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called it “a list of potential targets” for the Russian military.
European Union: EU to game out bloc’s mutual assistance clause in case of attack
Politico (United States)
In the first operation of its kind, EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas is to oversee a “tabletop” exercise next month to establish how the bloc’s mutual assistance clause, Article 42.7, would work in practice, a senior EU official said. The plan is to test the bloc’s political rather than military response.
European Union: European civil servants are being forced off WhatsApp
Politico (United States)
Governments in France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium have started rolling out in-house messaging services for officials to exchange sensitive information, in an effort to stop staff from using popular encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal and switch to local alternatives they can control.
France: Thousands of Parisians evacuated as WW2 bomb detonated
BBC (United Kingdom)
Thousands of people were evacuated from a northern suburb of Paris while a World War Two bomb was rendered safe on Sunday.
Slovenia: Slovenia’s outgoing PM Robert Golob fails to form government coalition as Janša opts to wait
Euronews (France)
Robert Golob admitted failure to form a coalition in Slovenia on Monday, opening the way for former three-time Premier Janša, who said he was in no rush and open to a repeat election.
Ukraine: Eight people remain in hospital after Kyiv shooting, mayor says
Reuters (United Kingdom)
Eight people, including a child, remain hospitalized in Kyiv after being wounded in a shooting that killed six people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Sunday. A Russian-born man opened fire on passers-by with an automatic rifle on Saturday before barricading himself in a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police.
United Kingdom/France: UK and France to lead defensive mission in Strait of Hormuz
BBC (United Kingdom)
The UK and France will lead a multinational mission to protect commercial shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Near East
Iran: Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over US blockade and fires on ships
Associated Press (United States)
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz escalated again Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the United States pressed ahead with its blockade of Iranian ports. The strait is closed until the U.S. blockade is lifted, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy said Saturday night, warning that “no vessel should make any movement from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered as cooperation with the enemy” and be targeted.
Iran: U.S. intelligence detects signs China is weighing giving Iran advance radar systems
CBS News (United States)
Days after the U.S.-Israel led war with Iran kicked off last month, American intelligence agencies detected signs that the war risked widening beyond the immediate battlefield as Russia and China sought to support Iran to blunt U.S.-Israeli military operations. Analysts at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s arm for military intelligence, assessed that China was weighing whether to provide Tehran with advanced radar systems, according to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The deliberations came amid separate reports that Russia had shared intelligence with Iran on American military positions across the Middle East.
Lebanon/Israel: 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon begins as Israel agrees to U.S.-backed deal
The Washington Post (United States)
A tentative 10-day ceasefire was greeted with celebratory gunfire after the clocks hit midnight in Lebanon, as the U.S.-brokered deal that promised to halt Israeli strikes in the country went into force. The ceasefire was announced early Thursday by President Donald Trump and confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a later video, Netanyahu said that Israel had an “opportunity to forge a historic peace agreement with Lebanon” but that Israeli forces would remain inside Lebanese territory in a “reinforced security buffer zone.”
Lebanon: Macron: French soldier was killed in Lebanon
Reuters (United Kingdom)
A French soldier who was part of international Forces stationed in southern Lebanon was killed, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday, adding that evidence suggests Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah was responsible for the attack. Three other soldiers were wounded and have been evacuated, Macron said in a post on X, urging the Lebanese government to act against the alleged perpetrators.
Syria: Syria takes control of all bases where US forces were deployed
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Syria has taken full control of all military sites where US forces had previously been deployed, completing a handover that Damascus says reflects the successful absorption of Kurdish-led fighters into national structures. The announcement on Thursday comes after the final convoy of US soldiers and equipment departed Qasrak air base, located in the northeastern governorate of Hasakah, ending a military presence that began in 2014 when US forces entered the fight against ISIL (ISIS) alongside Kurdish fighters who went on to lead what became known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa: WHO warns that aid cuts and Middle East war threaten vaccination progress
AP News (United States)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that historic progress in African vaccination programs is being jeopardized by significant cuts in U.S. health funding and supply chain disruptions from the war in the Middle East. Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 50 million lives in Africa, but the recent withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO has resulted in the loss of 40% of the agency’s overseas development funding. The ongoing conflict has also increased fuel prices and disrupted the delivery of critical supplies to remote areas. Health experts are now urging African nations to increase domestic health financing to protect the millions of children who remain at risk.
Burundi: Information Minister found dead on the outskirts of Bujumbura
The New Times (Rwanda)
The Burundian Minister for Media and Communication, Gabby Bugaga, was found dead in his vehicle in a palm plantation on the outskirts of the economic capital, Bujumbura. Bugaga, a former journalist who had been appointed to his cabinet position in August 2025, was discovered in his car on the morning of April 16. Although high-ranking government officials from the ministries of justice and interior arrived at the scene shortly after the discovery, no official communication regarding the cause of death was immediately released. The incident has left the circumstances surrounding the minister’s passing shrouded in mystery.
Cameroon: Pope Leo XIV denounces foreign exploitation of African resources
BBC News (United Kingdom)
During a Mass attended by an estimated 20,000 people in Bamenda, Pope Leo XIV delivered a blunt critique of foreigners who “exploit and plunder” Africa’s wealth for profit. The Pope linked the extraction of natural resources to a “cycle of destabilization and death,” arguing that profits are often reinvested in weapons that ravage the continent. He also challenged the Cameroonian government to break the “chains of corruption” to ensure that peace and justice can prevail in the country’s divided Anglophone regions. His visit to the Northwest region, a center of separatist insurgency, took place during a temporary “safe travel passage” granted by rebel groups.
DR Congo: Peace talks open in Switzerland as fighting shifts to remote highlands
RFI (France)
Peace negotiations between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebel delegates have commenced in Geneva and Montreux under the moderation of U.S. and Qatari envoys. Despite these diplomatic efforts, heavy fighting has shifted into the remote highland plateaus of South Kivu, making humanitarian access nearly impossible and trapping civilian populations, such as the Tutsi Banyamulenge minority, under blockade. M23 leaders have accused the Congolese army of using drones and Sukhoi aircraft to strike inhabited areas during the talks, characterizing the violence as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the peace process. Mediators are currently prioritizing the reopening of regional airports to allow for urgent aid flights.
Ghana: Immigration Service rescues 305 West African nationals in trafficking bust
AP News (United States)
The Ghana Immigration Service has rescued 305 West African nationals, including 113 children, following an intelligence-led operation targeting organized street begging rings in Accra. The bust targeted human trafficking networks that exploit foreign nationals, particularly women and children, often under coercive and abusive arrangements. While Ghana has increased its efforts to eliminate trafficking, a 2024 U.S. State Department report noted that the country still does not meet the minimum standards for eradication. Officials highlighted the high number of minors as a growing concern, indicating that children are increasingly being used as “strategic” assets in these criminal schemes.
Kenya: High Court allows class action lawsuit against BP over toxic waste
AP News (United States)
The High Court in Kenya has ruled that a class action lawsuit involving 299 petitioners can proceed against the multinational oil giant BP over allegations of decades-long environmental pollution. The suit claims that Amoco Corporation, which BP acquired in 1998, improperly disposed of toxic and radioactive waste during oil exploration in northern Kenya in the 1980s. Petitioners allege that the contamination of groundwater has led to the deaths of more than 500 residents from cancers and other illnesses, citing the presence of heavy metals like arsenic and lead in unlined pits. The lawsuit also accuses several Kenyan government ministries of failing to intervene despite having evidence of the contamination.
Liberia/Ethiopia: Nations sign major agreements on AI and technology
Liberian Observer (Liberia)
President Joseph Boakai has concluded a strategic visit to Ethiopia by signing bilateral agreements focused on Artificial Intelligence, science, technology, and education. The Memoranda of Understanding aim to formalize collaboration in emerging technologies and leverage Ethiopia’s growing status as a continental technology hub for data hosting and outsourcing. Liberian officials expressed a desire to learn from Ethiopia’s progress in sustainable agriculture and innovation to accelerate their own national development. Technical teams from both countries are scheduled to meet in the coming months to operationalize research partnerships and explore easing travel restrictions to boost trade and investment.
Liberia: Senators propose major reforms and national gold refinery to curb smuggling
FrontPage Africa (Liberia)
Two Liberian Senators have introduced the Gold Sector Reform Amendment Act of 2026, a bill designed to formalize the country’s gold resources and address significant revenue leakage. Currently, over 70% of Liberia’s gold sector is informal, leading to pervasive smuggling and limited benefits for rural communities. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a national gold refinery and a National Gold Company of Liberia to manage state equity, while mandating that all artisanal miners organize into cooperatives. Additionally, the act would phase out the use of toxic mercury and establish a Mining Dispute Tribunal to resolve conflicts between license operators and local communities.
Malawi: Pharmaceutical supplier sold stolen and expired insulin to state hospitals
GroundUp (South Africa)
An investigation has revealed that GPSL Wholesale Ltd, a prominent pharmaceutical supplier in Malawi, sold stolen and expired insulin to public hospitals during a critical national shortage in 2022. The insulin was smuggled out of a hospital storeroom by a technician and relabeled with false expiry dates before being redistributed to facilities across the country. Although regulators recommended revoking the company’s license, the board issued only a warning, allowing the firm—which was previously shut down in 2013 following infant deaths linked to faulty antibiotics—to continue operating. The case remains clouded by allegations of political interference and bribery, while criminal prosecutions have stalled.
Nigeria: Government probes deadly military airstrike on Jilli village market
Reuters (United Kingdom)
Nigeria has ordered an independent investigation into a military airstrike on a market in Jilli that is feared to have killed at least 200 people. While the government defends the operation as a “deliberate, intelligence-led” strike on a logistics hub used by Boko Haram and ISWAP, the information minister expressed regret for the high number of civilian casualties. Human rights groups have warned that targeting places like markets, which are often the only source of survival for civilians in contested areas, carries an extreme risk of killing bystanders. The upcoming probe will specifically examine the planning and execution of the operation to determine how the tragedy occurred.
Nigeria: Gunmen attack passenger bus and abduct students in Benue State
AP News (United States)
Armed gangs in Nigeria’s Benue state attacked a passenger bus on the Otukpo-Makurdi highway, abducting several students who were traveling to sit for university examinations. While the exact number of abductees has not been officially confirmed, local reports suggest at least 14 passengers were on board at the time of the attack. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the targeting of students as a violation of every norm of civil order and has ordered immediate search and rescue operations. Analysts noted that student kidnappings have become a strategic target for gangs in the region as a means to draw national attention and secure higher ransoms.
Rwanda: Defence minister warns against rising genocide ideology during Kwibuka 32
The New Times (Rwanda)
During events marking the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda’s Defence Minister issued a stern warning against ongoing acts of violence and the spread of genocide ideology. Officials noted that harmful rhetoric and history distortion are increasingly prevalent on social media, while the continued presence of the FDLR in the DR Congo remains a significant national and regional security threat. At the Musanze Genocide Memorial, speakers reflected on the 1994 massacre of over 800 people at a local court building as a grave symbol of “failed justice”. The government emphasized that the national commitment to “Never Again” requires a proactive fight against divisionism and hate speech.
South Africa: Vigilante anti-immigrant “clean-up” campaigns spark violence in Durban
GroundUp (South Africa)
Vigilante “clean-up” campaigns led by the anti-immigrant group March and March, joined by members of the MK Party, have escalated into the harassment and “citizens’ arrest” of people suspected of being undocumented in Durban. While organizers claim the campaign’s primary goal is street sanitation, splinter groups have reportedly looted grocery stores and engaged in violence, including an incident where a shopkeeper’s brother was stabbed. Metro police have warned that while peaceful protest is protected, they will act against acts of intimidation, damage to property, or the unlawful closure of businesses. Meanwhile, in Vryheid, local municipal officials have expressed support for the group’s views, citing concerns that immigrant traders are crowding out South African businesses.
Zambia: U.S. Senators protest reported conditioning of HIV/AIDS aid on mining reforms
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (United States)
A group of US Senators has sent a letter to the Secretary of State raising alarm over reports that the State Department may be withholding critical HIV/AIDS treatment and economic aid from Zambia. The Senators allege that officials are using the threat of cutting support for 1.3 million HIV-positive Zambians to coerce the country into granting favorable economic reforms for U.S. businesses, particularly regarding access to copper mines. They characterized this tactic as “economic coercion” and a disturbing departure from the long-standing bipartisan support for the PEPFAR program. The letter urged the Department to ensure that commercial diplomacy “does no harm” and does not come at the cost of human lives.
Zimbabwe: Investigation finds migrants using false abuse claims for residency
NewZimbabwe.com (Zimbabwe)
A BBC investigation has revealed that some migrants in the United Kingdom are fabricating allegations of domestic abuse to exploit legal concessions that offer a fast track to permanent residency. Undercover footage caught an immigration adviser offering to create “psychological abuse” stories for a fee of £900 to help clients avoid deportation after separating from British partners. The number of people applying for fast-track residency through this route has risen by more than 50% in three years, reaching over 5,500 annually. British officials have vowed to prosecute “sham lawyers” facilitating this fraud, while genuine victims and their partners describe having their lives “turned upside down” by false accusations.
South & Central Asia
Afghanistan: Kabul says it has sent more than 500 tonnes of aid to Gaza
Khaama Press (Afghanistan)
The Taliban has sent more than 500 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza and is expected to be distributed among 22,000 Palestinian families facing shortages. This comes at a time as Afghanistan is dealing with its own worsening humanitarian crisis. Deputy spokesman, Zia Ahmad Takal has pushed for international actors to push for a ceasefire and the need for a resolution that respects the rights of Palestinians. Furthermore, the Taliban has announced fundraising campaigns to support Gaza.
Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s capital is in the grip of a water crisis
AP News (United States)
Since the Taliban have seized power in 2021, they have cut pipes in some residents and had laid to siphon water from a communal well to their homes causing Kabul to rapidly run out of water. The population relies on groundwater extracted from wells which has been dropping at an alarming rate. Without changes, Kabul will soon face an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. With authorities and the government being aware of the problem there are two potential solutions that could alleviate the crisis however, other infrastructure within the country has been prioritized
Bangladesh: Govt has plans to explore alternative labour markets, PM tells parliament
Prothom Alo (Bangladesh)
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stated that initiatives have been taken to sign bilateral agreements to expand labor markets in new destinations, including Serbia, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Portugal, Brazil, and Russia. He also further added that high-level visits are being arranged to assist in strengthening bilateral relations with workers receiving countries outside the Middle East with growing opportunities in Japan, where there is a strong demand for Bangladeshi workers.
Bhutan: Bhutan prepares to chair WHO Executive Board
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (Bhutan)
Bhutan is set to chair the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board for one year and serve as a board member for three years. This signifies that Bhutan will help guide important global health discussions. It is a new endeavor that will allow Bhutan to contribute to decisions that affect health systems worldwide.
India: Muslims the target? Fury as millions lose voting rights in India’s Bengal
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
The ECI this month revised its electoral rolls through special intensive revision (SIR), a controversial exercise India’s election authorities have conducted in more than a dozen states and federally governed territories. This has caused nearly 12% of voters to lose their voting rights, with almost six million voters of the nine million who have been declared absentee or deceased with another three million being unable to vote until special tribunals hear their cases. Furthermore, this SIR exercise has shown across West Bengal that Muslims have been disproportionately affected, primarily being in districts where they constitute a higher percentage of the population and could sway the elections.
India: ‘Women’s reservation bill not to favour any single party, no state will face injustice’: PM Modi in Lok Sabha
India TV News (India)
A Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill marks a significant moment in India’s legislative history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified that the bill is not intended to benefit a single political party but to strengthen democratic representation across the country. He has stressed that empowering women through political representation is essential for a strong and more inclusive India and that anyone who opposes the bill will face electoral setbacks.
Kazakhstan: Russia won’t build three CHP plants in Kazakhstan. Who will come now?
Radio Azzttyk (Kyrgyzstan)
Russia will not build three heating plants that were supposed to be built in Kazakhstan. Over the past years, projects have not progressed. According to official data, the parties could not agree on a financial model: Inter RAO could not provide favorable lending conditions.
Kazakhstan: B2 or A1 level? Foreigners’ Kazakh language test for citizenship sparks debate
Radio Azattyk (Kyrgyzstan)
There has been information circulating that in Kazakhstan, foreign citizens must pass a Kazakh language test and confirm their B2 level to obtain a temporary residence permit. However, the capital city Astana has not officially confirmed this.
Kyrgyzstan: State Committee for National Security: In Talas, several Yakyn-Inkar supporters have abandoned radical ideology
Kaktus Media (Kyrgyzstan)
In the Talas region, several residents of the Aitmatov district and the city of Talas, identified by the State Committee for National Security as supporters of the Yakyn-Inkar religious extremist movement, banned in Kyrgyzstan, have renounced their radical ideology and was reported by the State Committee for National Security’s press service.
Kyrgyzstan: Exports are falling. What’s happening with Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade?
Kaktus Media (Kyrgyzstan)
According to preliminary data, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade volume amounted to $2.1 billion. In comparison last year, the decline was 2.9%. Exports have fallen by 12.5% and imports falling at 1.1% in Kyrgyzstan.
Maldives: President establishes Office of the Territories to define Maldives’ boundaries and resolve disputes
The Sun Online (Maldives)
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu establish an agency called the Office of the Territories of Maldives to determine the territories of Maldives and resolve disputes related to the country’s territorial claims. The purpose of establishing the agency is to define the territories of Maldives and to handle all matters and issues relating to the country’s territorial disputes with the President keen on efforts to recover the lost a of the country.
Maldives: Citizens Complaints Bureau formed; operations to begin mid-year with 24-hour call center
The Sun Online (Maldives)
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday established the Citizens’ Complaints Bureau, which will operate as a 24-hour call center for the public to submit concerns and complaints. He says the bureau is a key step in making the government responsive to the people with its primary responsibility being to monitor, organize, and respond to complaints received through social media.
Nepal: NOC holds petrol price, raises diesel and aviation fuel amid mounting losses
The Himalayan Times (Nepal)
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has raised the retail price of diesel and kerosene by Rs 30 per liter and domestic aviation fuel by Rs 5 per liter. This revision is due to the ongoing conflict that is occurring in the Middle East, which has made automatic price adjustments based on Indian Oil Corporation supply rates unviable.
Pakistan: Hopes grow for a breakthrough in US-Iran talks as Pakistan mediates
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Pakistani officials are expecting a breakthrough in talks between Iran and the U.S. on Tehran’s nuclear program. With Army Chief Asim Munir expressing in laying the groundwork for a second round of talks focusing on compromise of uranium enrichment level and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President, Donald Trump, seems very optimistic and has expressed that the war in Iran is “very close to over”, however tensions remain with U.S. Naval blockades restricting Iranian ports.
Tajikistan: Dozens of trucks carrying Tajiks stranded on the Caspian Sea coast
Ozodi (Tajikistan)
Dozens of trucks bound for Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan have been waiting to cross the Caspian Sea for six months. Tajik traders do not yet know when their turn will come to transport cargo with more than four thousand trucks now just waiting to cross the border.
Tajikistan: Economic consequences of the Iran war for Central Asia
Ozodi (Tajikistan)
Tajikistan, an oil-importing country, is facing the pressure of the war in the Middle East with rising oil prices putting pressure on government budgets as a result, reducing household purchasing power and slowing economic growth. In Tajikistan, consumers are facing shortages and increase cost of their necessities which often came through the Iranian corridor. There has been warning from economist Hajimuhammad Umarov that if the war continues prices in Tajikistan will rise more.
Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan’s Defense Minister has reset absenteeism to prevent officers from resigning
Turkmen News (Turkmenistan)
Begench Gundogdyev, Turkmenistan’s Defense Minister, is doing everything to keep the military on the job. With the current instability in the Middle East, the situation of Turkmenistan forces is a growing concern. To deal with this problem he has tried to offer benefits such as allowing officers to serve in their native region, however it seems to have failed. To handle the situation Gundodyev has simply ignored and not signed any documents of resignation with many officers attempting to appeal the violation of their rights to the Prosecutor General’s Office, but the oversight body is inactive.
Western Hemisphere
Argentina: Argentina approves Milei’s glacier mining bill amid environmental protests
The Guardian (United Kingdom)
On April 9th, the Argentino Congress amended the “glacier” law that was approved late last February in the Senate that made it easier to mine for metals with a new piece of legislation that was later approved by Javier Milei. This new law now allows mining activity in some of the Andes’s most environmentally sensitive areas, which has sparked mass outrage as thousands of people marched outside parliament on Wednesday in a demonstration marked by isolated skirmishes with police. Seven greenpeace activists were arrested the day after scaling a statue outside parliament and furling a banner urging lawmakers “not to betray the Argentine people.”
Brazil: Brazil’s Indigenous leader Raoni backs Lula despite protesting against railway in the Amazon
Associated Press (United States)
On April 8th, the Amazon’s most internationally famous indigenous leader expressed during the closing of annual Terra Livre, or Free Indigenous Encampment, his continued support for President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva in his Presidential campaign for reelection in October. He has supported indigenous rights and stewardship in the past; however, the indigenous leader and other fellow indigenous peoples have expressed contempt with his administration. Because it has backed and launched development projects in the Amazon, for example, the Ferrograon railway project.
Canada: Carney says it’s Canada’s ‘time to come together’ after Liberals secure majority
The Guardian (United Kingdom)
On April 13th, Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney secured a controversial parliamentary majority for his Liberal party, giving his government strong control with 174 seats. During remarks, Carney produced a call for national unity and revealed some of his plans, including tackling economic pressures and preparing for difficulties, especially amid the current administration’s behavior with Canada. Critics, among them the leader of the Conservative Party, argue that the majority came from political back door deals, not genuine voting numbers.
El Salvador: Appeals court halts contempt inquiry into removal of Venezuelans to El Salvador
Yahoo News UK (United Kingdom)
On April 14th, a U.S. appeals court halted a federal judge’s contempt investigation into Trump officials accused of violating a court order tied to the deportation flights of Venezuelan immigrants. Over 200 Venezuelan migrants have been sent to El Salvador’s CECOT mega prison, a deal that was created by President Trump and President Bukele. The majority in the court argued major points: authority overreach and intrusion on executive powers, while a dissenting judge argued that this decision could weaken the courts’ ability to hold officials accountable.
El Salvador: Nayib Bukele Signs Law Allowing Life Sentences for Children as Young as 12
Complex (United States)
On April 15th, President Nayib Bukele signed a law allowing children as young as 12 to receive life sentences for the following crimes: murder, rape, and terrorism. The controversial law comes as another step in Bukele’s plan to cut down on the gang violence in El Salvador. Supporters of the new law say it targets violent crime and closes loopholes to crack down on the behavior before it gets worse, while critics argue it lessens legal protections for children, raising their risk of exposure to the alleged abuse that occurs in Salvadorian prisons.
Haiti: Brutal Accident at an Island Tourist Attraction Causes Death Count of 30 people
PennLive (United States)
On April 13th, at the Laferriere Citadel, at least 30 people are believed to have been killed during a mass stampede accident as people tried to enter and leave the site at the same time during heavy rainfall. Emmanuel Menard, the country’s minister of culture and communication, reports people were pushing each other; some fell, some were tramped, and some suffocated.
Nicaragua: US sanctions sons of Nicaragua’s leaders and officials in the country’s gold industry
The Seattle Times (United States)
On April 16th, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the two sons of Nicaraguan leaders, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, along with sanctions on officials and companies tied to the nation’s gold industry. The sanctions come after accusations of the individuals helping fund and sustain an increasingly repressive regime.
Peru: Peru’s Presidential Election Extends Voting in Lima After Widespread Logistical Failures
Latin America Daily Briefing (Argentina)
On April 13th, more than 63,000 people were left unable to cast their ballots in parts of Lima, leading both police, and prosecutors to raid the headquarters of the National Office of Electoral Processes. In Peru, voting is a mandatory constitutional obligation for people ages 18 to 70 to fulfill, and failure to do so comes with a fine up to $32. Thus, when word came out of a widespread extraordinary logistical disruption that prevented the installation of 211 polling tables at 15 locations in Lima, caused some of the Presidential candidates to question the validity, and conduct of the election.
Trinidad and Tobago: Police Uncover the Bodies of 56 Bodies in a Graveyard
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
On April 18th, law enforcement officials launched an investigation after 56, majorly children, were found abandoned at a cemetery alongside the bodies of four adult males and two females. One of the bodies of the adult women and one adult male demonstrate signs of post-mortem examination, meaning there may be indications that this is a case involving the unlawful disposal of unclaimed corpses. The discovery took place in the town of Cumuto, some 40km from the capital, Port of Spain.
Venezuela: Venezuela’s government, opposition may cooperate to safeguard US assets
Reuters (United Kingdom)
On April 6th, Delcy Rodriguez’s team of lawyers are working with the administration’s opposition to negotiate with the Manhattan-based U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn a potential up to 45-day pause in which creditors are seeking to seize funds linked to the state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela. They have asked for a pause so they can make the proper assessment as to who would best represent Venezuela’s interests after the U.S. military intervention just a few months ago that had toppled the presidency of Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela: Police Use Tear Gas on Protestors Calling for Higher Pay and Pension Raises
France24 (France)
On April 16th, 2,000 protestors marched on the streets towards the presidential palace to demand salary increases and were met with riot police in full gear firing tear gas to drive back the protesters as they made their way through central Caracas. The day after, acting President Delcy Rodriguez, announced she would propose a wage increase to the Venezuelan congress, but did not disclose exact amount nor details.
The SHU World Review is produced by the Student Research Assistants of the DiploLab at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. Some summaries may be copied from article text. Back issues are available in Seton Hall’s repository.