The European Union (EU) on Friday imposed sanctions against five individuals from Guatemala that “undermine democracy, the rule of law or the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala” according to a press release by the Council of the EU. The Friday sanctions followed a January 12 Council decision, purported to freeze assets of those who [...]

The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday against ten Republican state senators who staged a record-long walkout in 2023, disqualifying them from seeking reelection. This ruling affirmed the Oregon Secretary of State’s enforcement of Measure 113, a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2022, to penalize lawmakers with more than ten unexcused absences by barring them [...]

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced Friday that it had suspended senior official Toomas Makhkur after the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) announced that it had exposed an embezzlement scheme within the ministry. In January, the SSU reported that it had discovered an embezzlement scheme involving current and former ministry officials and an arms company, Lviv Arsenal. [...]

The US District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday that accuses President Joe Biden of being complicit in genocide in Gaza because of the president’s support for Israel’s military operation. The decision, written by Judge Jeffrey S. White, hinged on jurisdictional questions and did not speak to the substantive claims [...]

The US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions Thursday on a Sudanese financial institution and two companies accused of funding belligerents in the ongoing civil war in the northeast African country. The sanctions involved Alkhaleej Bank, as well as development company Zadna International and metal ore company Al-Fakher Advanced Works. In a press release, the Treasury [...]

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong announced Thursday that the government was imposing additional sanctions on five entities with direct links to the Myanmar military. Targets of the sanctions include the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and the Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank, two major banks that support the regime’s activities. The sanctions “are a [...]

News agency CNA revealed Wednesday that the top pardons board in Malaysia halved former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 12-year sentence for corruption, embezzlement and money laundering through Malaysia’s state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The board has also reduced the imposed fine to 50 million ringgit ($10.6 million) from 210 million ringgit. Provided Razak pays this, [...]

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced Thursday further sanctions on Myanmar over ongoing human rights violations. This round of sanctions targeted military-linked entities “involved in the repression of the civilian population and serious human rights violations” in the Southeast Asian country. The British government previously imposed sanctions on 25 individuals and 33 [...]

Farmers protested outside the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, demanding relief from taxes and rising costs, as European leaders met during a summit. They were met by police action with water hoses and tear gas. The protests are a part of a growing farmers movement across Europe to demand action on rising costs.  The [...]

Mike Freer, a Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green of almost 15 years, publicly announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection as an MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Justice. The announcement followed an alleged arson attack, an alleged murder attempt and multiple death threats against Freer, along with other incidents. [...]