UNITED STATES
Eighteen years in prison for the assault on the Capitol
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right militia “The Oath Keepers”, was sentenced on May 25 to 18 years in prison for “sedition” because of his role in the assault on the Capitol. This is the highest sentence related to the events of January 6, 2021. As reported by the wall street journal, this severity is explained by “the terrorist nature” of the accused’s actions against “American democracy at its most important moment: the transfer of power”. “You represent a permanent threat and a danger to this country, to the republic and to democracy itself,” insisted the judge when delivering the verdict.
Türkiye
Erdogan, a victory despite the crisis
After a tumultuous campaign, Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the presidential election in Turkey on May 28 with 52% of the vote. In power since 2003, the Turkish president retains his throne for five years. “His victory cements his power and status as the longest-lived leader in Turkish history. underlines the site Al-Monitor. However, the president will have to face immense challenges in the face of galloping inflation and an acute crisis in the cost of living.” For the first time since 2002, the Turkish Central Bank shows a negative balance in foreign currencies, but Erdogan has ruled out to have recourse to the International Monetary Fund.
BRAZIL
Outcry over a smartphone game
It is a curious entertainment that causes unease in Brazil: launched on April 20 by the developer Magnus Game, a game for smartphones entitled “Slavery Simulator” offers its users the opportunity to buy slaves, to get rich thanks to their work and to torture them. Deleted from the Google store on May 24, the game remains accessible for those who had downloaded it. “Racism is a persistent problem in Brazil, which still has to deal with the legacy of slavery, analyzes THE Guardian. The country transferred the largest number of African slaves to the Americas, around 4 million.”
BELARUS
Transfer for atomic weapons
Moscow has started transferring tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, its president, Alexander Lukashenko, said on May 25. His Russian counterpart had threatened such a deployment two months ago. “The Kremlin has defended this decision, believing that it is provoked by Western powers supporting Ukraine”, remind him Guardian.
“This does not just endanger the lives of Belarusians, but creates a new threat for Ukraine, for all of Europe”, was indignant the opponent in exile Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa.
MALI
Washington sanctions Wagner officials
The leader of the Russian Wagner militia in Mali, Ivan Maslov, is in the sights of the justice of the United States: the American Treasury announced on May 25 a series of economic sanctions against him. They aim to “put an end to essential operations to support the group’s global activity”, specifies the press release.
“The sanctions come after a US official told CNN that Wagner was trying to ship military equipment for the Ukrainian front via Mali and to falsify the documents for the transactions”, specifies the American media.
LEBANON
Riad Salamé surrounded… but quiet
Under French arrest warrant, registered on the Interpol red list and now targeted by German justice: the noose is tightening on the governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, target of several investigations for ill-gotten gains in $330 million. On May 24, he appeared before the Court of Cassation in Beirut, which seized his passports and prohibited him from leaving the country. Riad Salamé was probably not about to leave Lebanon, where he is protected. “By refusing to extradite its citizens, [la justice libanaise permet] wanted persons to escape prosecution”, deplore The Orient-The-Day.
CHINA
Back in force of the Covid
The Covid is coming back strong in China. “By the end of June, 65 million people could be infected every week,” warns the New York Times, or 28 million more than in December. If the situation of the elderly worries the authorities, the government does not however intend to put in place a strict control policy. For Beijing, “the unemployment rate of around 20% among young urbanites seems more pressing politically than the increase in the number of Covid”, judges the daily.