Taiwan urges China to curb its ‘military adventurism’

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, and has increased military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s president has urged China to curb its “military adventurism” as tensions between the two sides reach their highest level in years. Beijing has ramped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen came

After Nicaragua flips, U.S. sanctions seen pushing Central America towards China

A creeping barrage of U.S. sanctions on top Central American officials has made China an attractive partner for governments resisting Washington’s push to tackle corruption and democratic backsliding in the region, officials and analysts say. The trend was thrust into focus this week when Nicaragua re-established ties with Beijing, severing a longstanding relationship with U.S. ally

Democracy slipping away at record rate, intergovernmental body warns

A greater number of countries are sliding towards authoritarianism, while the number of established democracies under threat has never been so high, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) said on Monday. Populist politics, the use of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to silence critics, a tendency of countries to mimic the anti-democratic behaviour of

Record number of environmental activists murdered

A record number of activists working to protect the environment and land rights were murdered last year, according to a report by a campaign group. 227 people were killed around the world in 2020, the highest number recorded for a second consecutive year, the report from Global Witness said. Almost a third of the murders

U.S. restricts visas of 100 Nicaraguans associated with Ortega government

The U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions Monday on 100 members of Nicaragua’s National Assembly and judicial system, accusing them of being involved in human rights abuses, crackdowns on peaceful protest and in passing laws aimed at suppressing free speech. Why it matters: The restrictions come amid escalating political tension in the Nicaragua. President Daniel Ortega’s government has detained

Nicaragua president Daniel Ortega orders detention of rivals ahead of November’s presidential elections

Police in Nicaragua have detained another leading opposition politician and potential presidential candidate, the latest in a series of moves by President Daniel Ortega that prevent candidates from running against him in his third consecutive re-election bid. Police said they arrested Arturo Cruz Sequeira, a former ambassador to the United States, under a controversial ‘treason’ law passed