Italy: AGI sale prompts press freedom row

Eni, Italy’s largest energy and petroleum company, said they’re considering the sale of subsidiary company AGI – Italy’s second largest news agency – to a rightwing MP with links to Giorgia Meloni’s government. Potential buyer, Antonio Angelucci, is a member of Italy’s rightwing League party (Lega per Salvini Premier), which rules alongside Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (“FdI”). Some reports suggest he’s offered €40million to buy AGI. … Continue reading Italy: AGI sale prompts press freedom row

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Russia: 137 killed in Moscow concert hall terror attack

Russia announced a day of mourning following Friday’s terror attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow in which 137 were killed and dozens more injured. The attackers used guns and set fire to part of the building. Isis-Khorasan, a wing of the Islamic State, has claimed responsibility for the attacks via an affiliate news company on Telegram, claims which the White House accept based on … Continue reading Russia: 137 killed in Moscow concert hall terror attack

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Haiti: Anarchy in Port-au-Prince

The Caribbean nation of Haiti is rapidly descending into lawless anarchy following the escape of over 3,500 inmates from the country’s largest prison in Port-au-Prince. The Haitian Ministry of Communication said on Sunday that police were “not able to stop criminals from freeing a large number of prisoners” and that the violence left several inmates and prison staff injured. Gangs, led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, control … Continue reading Haiti: Anarchy in Port-au-Prince

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Iran: Morality Police flog and fine hijab dissenters

Amnesty International has released reports of the Iranian morality police using floggings, fines, and car confiscations to punish tens of thousands of women for removing their headscarves. The police continue to enforce strict Islamic dress codes almost eighteen months after protests against the death of Mahsa Amin began. She died in detainment in September 2022 after being arrested for removing her hijab. Some dissenters have … Continue reading Iran: Morality Police flog and fine hijab dissenters

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Russia: The Death of Alexei Navalny

The West hopes from afar that Alexei Navalny (1976-2024) will be remembered as the man who, by his death, triggered the first real stirrings of uprising against Vladimir Putin’s ironclad tyranny. Thousands attended his funeral on Friday in one of the most open displays of defiance against the Kremlin since the inception of Putin’s presidency at the dawn of the millennium. Navalny died in the … Continue reading Russia: The Death of Alexei Navalny

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UK-US: Julian Assange Appeals Extradition

Julian Assange has begun a UK High Court Appeal against his extradition to the US to face sabotage charges. The US government claimed that his whistleblowing website, Wikileaks (est. 2006), put lives at risk and damaged the country’s national security by allegedly breaking into US military databases and disclosing secret information in 2010 and 2011. The Wikileaks founder, best known for releasing in the public … Continue reading UK-US: Julian Assange Appeals Extradition

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Indonesia: Prabowo Subianto wins presidential race

Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s new president-elect, has completed his evolution from ex-special forces strongman accused of human rights violations against pro-democratic activists to head of the world’s third largest democracy of almost 300 million people. Throughout the course of his campaign, the ostensibly cuddly grandpa cultivated TikTok and the use of AI to appeal to younger generations in an effort to soften his military image. He … Continue reading Indonesia: Prabowo Subianto wins presidential race

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Italy: Meloni’s immigration scheme approved by Albanian court

An Albanian court has constitutionally approved the Italian government’s plan to process asylum claims in the port town of Shengjin in North-West Albania from Spring 2024. According to Albanian media, the decision was narrowly passed with five votes in favour and four against. The decision means two centres in Albania will process in excess of 36,000 migrants hoping to reach Italy per year. Under the … Continue reading Italy: Meloni’s immigration scheme approved by Albanian court

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UK: Lord David Cameron’s First Months As Foreign Secretary

David Cameron’s return to British Politics in November 2023 as The Right Honourable Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton signified the Conservative Party’s efforts to return to a pre-Brexit, “One Nation” centre ground. The move from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought to stem the tide of more right wing manoeuvring within the Tory party that had edged to a shaky climax with the election … Continue reading UK: Lord David Cameron’s First Months As Foreign Secretary

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Argentina: Milei’s Sweeping Economic Reforms Divide Public Opinion

Economist says austerity means ‘more Argentinians below the poverty line’ Argentinian President Javier Milei, self-styled libertarian economist and leader of Partido Libertario, has proposed sweeping reforms to combat the country’s worst economic crisis in more than three decades. Argentina owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF) more than $31.1billion,1 inflation is set to rise from 210%2, and more than 4 in 10 people live in poverty.3 “Money and power go … Continue reading Argentina: Milei’s Sweeping Economic Reforms Divide Public Opinion

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