The spokesperson for the Colombian government Wednesday announced the suspension of a recent ceasefire with the National Liberation Army (ELN). Alfonso Prada, official spokesperson and minister of the interior, said the “legal effects” of the negotiated deal would be immediately nullified. The announcement came after the ELN denied that it had reached a deal with [...]

Officials representing Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tuesday condemned a visit by Israeli Minister of Security Itamar Ben Gvir to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Although Gvir toured several courtyards and did not enter the mosque, both countries accused Israel of needlessly escalating tensions in the already volatile region. Secretary General of the [...]

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Wednesday asked the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to rescind new COVID-19 travel restrictions. The restrictions, due to take effect from Friday and set to last until the end of January 2023, will limit inbound flights from HKSAR and Macao to four airports on the main island of Honshu. [...]

The EU and US in a joint Wednesday statement called for swift action in Kosovo amid rapidly rising tensions. The statement urged all parties “to exercise maximum restraint, to take immediate action to unconditionally de-escalate the situation, and to refrain from provocations, threats, or intimidation.” The statement is in response to a rapidly deteriorating situation [...]

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Tuesday condemned the destruction of Imo State’s High Court in Orlu. Unknown assailants attacked and burned the building on Friday. The fire destroyed thousands of legal documents, books and exhibits. NBA national publicity secretary Akorede Habeeb Lawal called the attack “premeditated” and part of a series of assaults on judicial [...]

The Swedish Supreme Court Monday ruled that the extradition of journalist Bulent Kenes to Turkey would violate Swedish law. Kenes is a Turkish national who obtained asylum in Sweden after Turkish officials accused Kenes of participating in the 2016 attempted coup to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has tied Sweden’s cooperation in extraditing wanted [...]

The UN Economic and Social Council (ESC) Wednesday voted to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Of the 54 current ESC members, 29 voted in favor of removal, 8 voted against and 16 abstained. Iran was to serve its term from 2022-2026. In early November, the US promised to [...]

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell called for calm on Monday amid violence across Kosovo’s ethnic Serbian north. Recent political flashpoints have reignited decades of tensions between minority Serbs and majority Kosovo Albanians. Borrell ordered, “arricades must be removed immediately by groups of Kosovo Serbs. Calm must be restored.” He also demanded that all parties [...]

Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday signed an amended “LGBT propaganda” bill into law. The amendments significantly expand the scope of the previous legislation. Last week, the amended legislation passed unanimously in the Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, and it faced no opposition in the Federal Council, the upper house. The law, originally passed [...]

The Solicitor Regulation Agency (SRA) Monday warned solicitors in England and Wales of disciplinary action resulting from “meritless” lawsuits such as Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). According to SRA, “the key aim of a SLAPP is to prevent publication on matters of public importance, such as academic research, whistleblowing or campaigning or investigative journalism.” [...]