Wednesday

May 20, 2020

International relations

Afghan peace process

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says his group is "committed to a landmark deal with the U.S." despite carrying out hundreds of attacks against Afghan forces since February. Akhundzada also urged the U.S. "to not afford anyone the opportunity to obstruct, delay and ultimately derail this internationally recognised bilateral agreement". (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

In a hearing conducted over Zoom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a court in Singapore sentences a 37-year-old Malaysian man to death for a 2011 heroin transaction. It is the first time that a death sentence has been imposed via teleconferencing in Singapore. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)

Missing WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard's body is found on a California beach. (CNN)

U.S. authorities in Massachusetts arrest a father and son, aged 59 and 27, who have been charged in Japan with helping Carlos Ghosn, former Chairman of Nissan, to escape from Japan to Lebanon last year. (Reuters)

COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia

Bolivian Minister of Health Marcelo Navajas is dismissed and arrested in graft probe over ventilators bought in a Spanish company. (Bloomberg)

Crime in Arizona, gun violence in the United States

A gunman opens fire near the Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale, Arizona. Three people are injured, one of them seriously. The gunman is then taken into custody. (CBS News)