The tale of a US spy plane over the South China Sea
A US spy plane and a Chinese military jet had a close encounter over the South China Sea. While the US claimed the Chinese plane intercepted its reconnaissance aircraft “unprofessionally,” China demanded that the US “restrict its frontal maritime and aerial forces’ actions and strictly abide by related international laws and relevant agreements”
Threats to free and fair elections intensify in Guatemala
During the past weeks, three presidential candidates have been barred from running for office. All of them have raised concerns about the possibility of electoral fraud in the June elections
UN appeals for aid for war-torn Syria
Around 70% of Syria’s population—over 15 million people—depends on humanitarian aid for their survival, according to the UN. The country’s economy has been severely hurt due to a decade-long war and sanctions imposed by the US and its allies, with the situation worsening since the disastrous earthquake in February
Tunisian groups call for humane treatment of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa
The statement comes in the aftermath of an attack on migrants in the city of Sfax in which one migrant was killed and four others injured. Over 20,000 migrants from sub-Saharan countries are estimated to be living in Tunisia
Progressive Cypriots reiterate resolve to secure peace and unity in the divided island
Working class sections and peace groups have called for opening up more crossing points on the Green Line which divides Cyprus. They also resolved to intensify the struggle for the reunification of the country within the framework of a bi-zonal and bi-communal federal solution
Israel starts resettling former illegal outpost of Homesh in occupied West Bank
Earlier this year, the Israeli Knesset approved a bill that legalized Homesh along with three other illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank—namely, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim—which had been evacuated in 2005
Early elections called in Spain following defeat of incumbent party in regional polls
The conservative People’s Party led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo were the major winners in the regional and local polls held across Spain on May 28, which were considered a trial run for the general elections scheduled for this year
Government bid for EU membership deepens crisis in Moldova
On May 15, the head of the Moldovan parliament, Igor Grosu, announced the initiation of Moldova’s withdrawal from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a political and economic cooperation forum founded by the post-Soviet Republics