Category: News

In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland made new rules to protect journalists. These rules say that the government shouldn’t go after journalists’ notes or communications with their sources unless there’s a serious situation, like preventing violence. But these rules can change with different leaders.

Now, President-elect Donald Trump is coming into power, and he has a history of being unfriendly to journalists. He wants Congress to stop these protections, saying they shouldn’t pass a bill called the Press Act, which would make these protections into law. This act has already passed the House of Representatives without any arguments and would stop the government from using tools like subpoenas to invade reporters’ privacy.

Some Republican senators support this bill, but Trump’s disapproval makes them think twice. In the past, both Democratic and Republican leaders have attacked reporters to find out their sources, which is dangerous for Free Speech. If reporters can’t keep their sources secret, people might be afraid to share information that helps the public.

Some critics believe this bill could cause more leaks that would hurt national security. But the reality is that recent government rules didn’t lead to more leaks. It is important now to stand up for journalists because they are vital for uncovering government misconduct. Leaders in the Senate, like Chuck Schumer, need to push to make the Press Act a reality before Congress ends this year.

The U.S. government is thinking about putting stronger rules on Russia’s oil trade. They want to make it harder for Russia to fund its military, especially with Donald Trump coming back to the White House soon. According to Bloomberg News, the plans aren’t final yet, but President Joe Biden’s team is looking at options that could target some Russian oil exports. These new rules aim to limit the money Russia makes from selling oil and to help stop the conflict

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, is in intensive care after emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain due to a fall. Lula, at 79 years old, is a symbol of someone who overcame many obstacles to lead one of the biggest economies in the world. He has faced tough times, including poverty, health issues, and even jail time for a corruption case that was later thrown out because the judge was unfair. Despite his struggles, Lula has always fought for people’s rights, worked to end hunger, and protected the Amazon rainforest.

Recently, Lula had surgery after a fall that caused bleeding in his brain. He is currently serving his third term as president after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in a tough election in 2022 that split the country. Lula’s journey is incredible: he grew up poor as the son of farmers, became a shoeshine boy and a metalworker, and eventually led major workers’ strikes against Brazil’s military government in the 1970s.

He started the Workers’ Party and ran for president three times before finally winning in 2002. Lula was once called “the most popular politician on Earth” by Barack Obama. Though he hopes to live to 120 years old, he has had many health problems, including high blood pressure and cancer treatment. Lula’s latest challenge came after he fell in a bathroom, suffering a concussion and other injuries that required surgery.

In his personal life, Lula has lost two wives and married again in 2022. He has five children from his relationships. Lula’s story is one of resilience, fighting against the odds, and standing up for the less fortunate.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh’s government announced that there have been 88 cases of violence against minorities, mainly Hindus. This happened after the previous leader, Sheikh Hasina, was removed from power in August. Muhammad Yunus, who is in charge of the interim government, said that 70 people have been arrested in connection with these incidents.

This announcement followed a meeting where India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, expressed concern about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. He shared India’s worries after witnessing attacks on these communities.

From August 5 to October 22, there have been 88 reported cases of violence against minorities. The number may continue to rise as new incidents are being reported in different places like Sunamganj and Gazipur.

Alam, the press secretary, mentioned that some of the victims might have been part of the previous ruling party. He stated that the government claims most attacks were not against Hindus because of their religion but due to personal disputes or political reasons. However, the police are still taking the necessary actions regarding these incidents.

Alam also promised to provide updates about incidents that occurred after October 22. There has been a worrying increase in violence against Hindus and attacks on temples in Bangladesh in recent weeks, which has raised serious concerns in India.

In New Delhi, the European Union (EU) has raised concerns with India about some Indian companies that might be sending important goods to Russia, which could be used for military purposes. This would go against the bans set by Western countries on Russia. David O’Sullivan, the EU Sanctions Envoy, visited India in October and talked with Indian officials about ways to stop the illegal sending of these important goods to Russia.

O’Sullivan mentioned that he shared information with Indian authorities about the companies involved. Recently, the U.S. has imposed penalties on 19 Indian companies for allegedly helping Russia by providing technologies that could be used for military operations. Some sources from the EU indicated that two Indian companies are under specific restrictions for their exports.

O’Sullivan said that many other countries he visited have set up special systems to handle this issue. He emphasized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a significant concern for the EU, and they will keep working to disrupt Russia’s access to important technologies.

He pointed out that Russia is paying much more for some items because of the sanctions. The EU is also working on its latest set of sanctions against Russia, which will target ships and companies supplying military goods.

The EU represents many nations and continues to monitor companies that might break the sanctions.