The executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a leading human rights organization in Egypt, was arrested yesterday. Two of the organization’s other staff members were arrested earlier this week amid the government’s yearslong crackdown on dissent (New York Times).
Indian security forces killed four alleged terrorists said to be planning an attack for the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks next week (Hindustan Times).
In his first visit to Afghanistan while in office, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged to help reduce violence in the country and push for a cease-fire between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Afghan officials have accused Pakistan of aiding the Taliban in the past, which the country has denied (Radio Free Afghanistan).
The United States sanctioned two al-Shabab leaders for plotting an attack on a military camp in January. Three Americans died in the attack on the base, which is used by the U.S. and Kenyan militaries (Nation).
Australian troops unlawfully killed thirty-nine civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan over an eleven-year period, Australia’s military announced. A long-awaited report by the military’s inspector general did not call the killings war crimes, but recommended a criminal investigation of nineteen soldiers and compensation for the victims’ families. Australia will also disband one of its special forces units (New York Times).
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unprecedented visit to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank during a three-day trip to Israel. Pompeo also referred to the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel as anti-Semitic and said the United States would withdraw support from groups that “engage in hateful BDS conduct.” Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced that products made in the settlements can list Israel as their country of origin (Haaretz).
The United States agreed to drop charges against former Mexican defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda and send him back to Mexico. Cienfuegos was arrested in Los Angeles several weeks ago on drug-related charges, angering Mexican officials who viewed the arrest as a violation of sovereignty that could jeopardize bilateral cooperation. Mexico has not committed to trying him upon his return (Washington Post).
Parliament approved sending troops to monitor Armenia and Azerbaijan’s truce over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey, which backed Azerbaijan in the conflict, will jointly enforce the deal with Russia (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty).
The Democratic Republic of Congo declared an end to its latest outbreak of Ebola fifty days after the last case was reported. It was the country’s eleventh outbreak in forty-four years and killed fifty-five people (Nation).
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran would return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement if U.S. President-Elect Biden lifts sanctions on Iran and recommits to the deal (Al Jazeera). Reuters reported that Iran has fired up uranium-enriching centrifuges at its underground Natanz site in violation of the deal, which President Donald J. Trump withdrew from in 2018 (Reuters).