The UK and its global allies held Chinese state-affiliated organizations and individuals responsible for two cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions and parliamentarians on Monday. Partners across the Indo-Pacific and Europe expressed support for the UK’s efforts in addressing these cyber activities. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) revealed that the UK Electoral Commission systems were [...]
Search Results for: FARC
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Sunday that his government suspended the ceasefire with the EMC group of rebels in the departments of Nariño, Cauca and Valle del Cauca. The announcement comes a day after the rebel group attacked an indigenous community in the country. An armed group on Saturday shot an indigenous guard in Toribío, [...]
Tunisia opposition figure sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for election criticism
The Court of First Instance of Tunis sentenced prominent opposition figure Jawher Ben Mbarek to six months in prison, his sister and lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek Masddek announced in a live video on Facebook on Saturday. The case was brought by the Independent Higher Authority for Elections (ISIE) against Ben Mbarek regarding his criticism of [...]
Democratic Nullification of Criminal Cases: A Case for Imran Khan — and Possibly Donald Trump
Can a country’s citizens nullify the criminal cases that a popular leader faces by handing them an electoral victory in the general elections? This question raises issues that could prove pivotal to the political processes in Pakistan and the US, pertaining respectively to their former prime minister Imran Khan and former President Donald Trump. Its [...]
Colombia initiates peace talks with Second Marquetalia armed group
Colombia’s Office of the High Commissioner for Peace issued a joint statement on Friday with the Second Marquetalia, formally initiating a dialogue aimed at achieving a peace agreement with the armed group. This initiative is in line with the peace policy established by the Total Peace Law promoted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The law [...]
Colombia and National Liberation Army extend bilateral ceasefire for six months
The Colombian government and the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) Tuesday agreed to extend their landmark truce for 180 days. The truce, called the Bilateral, National and Temporary Ceasefire, was previously extended by one week on January 30 2024, while each side continued ongoing peace talks. In addition to the extension, the peace process is [...]
Colombia government and ELN rebels extend ceasefire for 7 days
On Monday, the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) announced that they would extend the current ceasefire by a week. Meanwhile, delegates from both sides continue to discuss policies that could ensure a longer period of peace. The statement says: Taking into account that today, January 29, 2024, the CFBNT (bilateral, national and [...]
Belarus refuses to invite OSCE observers to its upcoming election
Belarus’s permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Andrei Dapkiunas announced on Monday that Belarus would refrain from inviting observers from the OSCE to monitor the country’s upcoming parliamentary election. The election is currently scheduled for February 25. Dapkiunas explained that the decision has been taken due to certain geographical and [...]
Colombia ombudsman's office reports 181 activist murders in 2023
The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office (DPC) reported Tuesday that 181 social leaders and human rights defenders were murdered in 2023. The figure dropped 16 percent from the data reported for 2022. The ombudsman’s office, in its “Annual report on the killings of social leaders and human rights defenders,” highlighted the alarming situation faced by individuals dedicated [...]
Pakistan writes to The Economist over article by former PM Imran Khan
The Pakistani Government raised concerns in a letter to The Economist on Friday regarding an article purportedly written by former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently in jail after a conviction in a corruption case. Khan questions the fairness of the upcoming general election in the piece. Murtaza Solangi, Pakistan’s Federal Caretaker Minister [...]