The World Briefly

May 02, 2022

Calling the Mothership

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands’ (BVI) constitution should be suspended and Britain should take direct control of its overseas territory, according to a new report that found the governance in the self-autonomous islands was “appallingly bad,” BBC reported. The report, led by retired British judge Sir Gary...

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The World Briefly

May 02, 2022

Convoy Redux

Canada

Police arrested at least eight people over the weekend as hundreds of bikers and others in cars and trucks waving Canadian flags took the streets of the capital, less than three months after a similar trucker’s movement paralyzed Ottawa for more than three weeks, Reuters...

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The World Briefly

May 02, 2022

What’s In a Name?

Italy

Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled this week that children should inherit both of their parents’ last names, a verdict that would end a longstanding tradition for a child to automatically receive their father’s surname, NPR reported. The top court said parents should each have a say in...

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The World Briefly

April 29, 2022

The End

Denmark

Denmark became the first country in the world to halt its Covid-19 vaccination program, saying that virus infection rates are now under control, CNBC reported Thursday. The country’s National Board of Health said that vaccination rates in the country are high and that the “epidemic has...

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The World Briefly

April 29, 2022

Friends and Foes

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic became the first African country and the second one in the world to adopt bitcoin as its legal currency this week, a move that has raised questions among observers and politicians because of its status as one of the globe’s poorest...

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The World Briefly

April 29, 2022

Unfulfilled Requirements

European UnionHungary

The European Union moved to punish Hungary for breaking bloc rules, a push that would allow the bloc to withhold millions in EU funds to the country, the Wall Street Journal reported. The European Commission’s move marks the latest escalation between Hungary and the bloc, amid...

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The World Briefly

April 28, 2022

Kangaroo Justice

Myanmar

A court in Myanmar found Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of corruption Wednesday, the latest verdict against the former civilian leader, who was detained under a series of charges following last year’s military coup, BBC reported. The court sentenced the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to five...

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The World Briefly

April 28, 2022

Connecting the Dots

IsraelWest Bank

Israel is planning to implement a policy addressing the entry and the residence of foreigners in the West Bank, a move that has raised concerns that the new rules will add further restrictions on movement in the occupied territory, Al Jazeera reported Wednesday. The “Procedure for...

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The World Briefly

April 28, 2022

No Quarter

Singapore

Singapore executed a Malaysian man convicted of smuggling drugs, despite a series of appeals by human rights advocates and global leaders to spare him because he suffered from a mental disability, the New York Times reported. Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam was hung early Wednesday, a day after...

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The World Briefly

April 27, 2022

Justice, Delayed

Central African Republic

A long-awaited trial to prosecute war crimes in the Central African Republic was postponed for the second time in a week, delaying once again the work of a special court created to address the ongoing civil war, Africanews reported Tuesday. The delayed proceedings by the country’s...

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The World Briefly

April 27, 2022

Judicial ‘Assassination’

Turkey

A Turkish court sentenced businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala to life in prison on charges of attempting to oust the government, in a long-running trial that has underscored the erosion of democratic standards and rule of law in Turkey, the Wall Street Journal reported. Kavala, one...

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The World Briefly

April 27, 2022

No, Big Brother

Mexico

Mexico’s Supreme Court struck down a 2021 law that would have ordered cellphone companies to collect biometric data from their customers in an effort to fight phone crime in the country, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The court ruled that the request to collect data such...

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The World Briefly

April 26, 2022

Nexit

Nicaragua

Nicaragua withdrew from the Organization of American States (OAS) this week following criticism from the regional bloc over the re-election of autocratic President Daniel Ortega last year, Al Jazeera reported Monday. Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada announced an immediate break from the organization and the closure...

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The World Briefly

April 26, 2022

‘The Biggest Loser’

Slovenia

A newly-formed Slovenian party won the country’s parliamentary elections over the weekend, dealing a huge blow to populist prime minister, Janez Janša, Politico reported Monday. The left-leaning Freedom Movement secured around 34 percent of the vote, just a few months after the party was taken over...

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The World Briefly

April 26, 2022

Carrots and Sticks

European UnionIndia

India and the European Union agreed Monday to establish a trade and technology council in an effort to deepen cooperation as the bloc and other Western leaders urge New Delhi to weaken its ties to Russia, Reuters reported. The mechanism’s formation follows a two-day visit by...

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The World Briefly

April 25, 2022

A Collective Exhale

France

Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron decisively defeated his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s presidential runoff, a vote closely watched around the globe due to its impact on the country’s future, the European Union and NATO, ABC News reported. Macron secured 59 percent of the vote...

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The World Briefly

April 25, 2022

The Kingpin

Honduras

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández appeared virtually before a US court over the weekend, following his extradition to the United States where he faces multiple charges related to drug trafficking, CNN reported. Hernández was extradited to the US on Friday, a month after Honduras’ top...

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The World Briefly

April 25, 2022

Pants On Fire

United Kingdom

British lawmakers approved an investigation into whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament about parties at his offices at Downing Street that violated pandemic lockdown rules, BBC reported. The probe is part of the “Partygate” scandal that has embroiled the prime minister and other officials...

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The World Briefly

April 22, 2022

Just Paper

China

China ratified two international conventions on forced labor this week in an effort to reduce international criticism over its treatment of the Uyghur ethnic minority in the Xinjiang province which has hindered trade ties with Western nations, Bloomberg reported. The National People’s Congress agreed to ratify...

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The World Briefly

April 22, 2022

Offshoring Desperation

DenmarkRwanda

Denmark began negotiations with Rwanda this week about establishing a reception center for asylum seekers, a proposed plan that resembles a similar scheme between the African country and Britain, Euronews reported. Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Mattias Tesfaye said the two governments are conducting talks but...

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