In the past sanctions deterred coups in Africa, there’s growing evidence they no longer work

In the past sanctions deterred coups in Africa, there’s growing evidence they no longer work

A trend in the current third wave of coups is that sanctions did not prevent repeated overthrows in Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso. Nor have they deterred the unlawful assumption of power by soldiers in Guinea, Niger, Chad and Gabon. Several of these countries have yet to restore constitutional order or revert to the status quo, meaning coup-makers are driving the transition agendas. The latest example is Mali, where presidential elections planned for February 2004 have been postponed.

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Trump sustains tradition of cavorting with autocrats as he lavishes Argentina’s new president with praise

Trump sustains tradition of cavorting with autocrats as he lavishes Argentina’s new president with praise

Rising populism and anger at the perceived establishment could shape not just next year’s US presidential election, but votes across the world. The United Kingdom, Mexico, India, Pakistan and Taiwan are all expected to vote on new leaders in 2024.

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2024: America descends from glamourised high pedestal of democracy to pariah as political violence looms

2024: America descends from glamourised high pedestal of democracy to pariah as political violence looms

In his 2024 campaign, Trump has ramped up his combative rhetoric with talk of retribution against his enemies. He recently joked about the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi and suggested that retired Gen. Mark Milley, a former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, should be executed for treason.

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Wuhan Cover-Up:  Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates are the frontmen for military-medical-industrial complex

Wuhan Cover-Up:  Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates are the frontmen for military-medical-industrial complex

A powerful syndicate, composed of government public health technocrats, a rapacious pharmaceutical industry, military and intelligence officials, and media and social media titans, appropriated awesome new powers to override constitutional and civil rights, censor information, suppress dissent and engineer compliance with arbitrary diktats.

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Public relations: Israeli spyware firm mounts charm offensive to repair damaged brand

Public relations: Israeli spyware firm mounts charm offensive to repair damaged brand

It is not illegal to register to lobby for two affiliated clients, and powerful law firms doing lobbying work often do so for purposes of efficiency and holding meetings together.

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Why Israeli spyware firm NSO wants ‘urgent’ meeting with US Secretary of State Blinken

Why Israeli spyware firm NSO wants ‘urgent’ meeting with US Secretary of State Blinken

For NSO, the blacklisting has been an existential threat. The push to reverse it, which included hiring multiple American public relations and law firms, has cost NSO $1.5 million in lobbying last year, more than the government of Israel itself spent.

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Republican presidential field thins out as grievance-stricken Trumps looks unassailable

Republican presidential field thins out as grievance-stricken Trumps looks unassailable

Nikki Haley entered the GOP field early in the race, emerging as one of the first to challenge to Donald Trump. She was once the governor of South Carolina, as well as the US ambassador to the United Nations under Trump. Now, more than six months into her campaign, Haley is still trying to show voters what makes her different from others in the Republican primary field. AP’s Meg Kinnard explains more.

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Trump turns witness stand into political platform as he lashes out at judge, NY attorney general

Trump turns witness stand into political platform as he lashes out at judge, NY attorney general

Tensions between Engoron and Trump – already on display in recent weeks, when the judge fined him a total of $15,000 for incendiary outside-of-court comments – were evident early on Monday when the ex-president was repeatedly scolded about the length and content of his answers.

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WHO increasingly looks more like a scheme for extracting private profit from the public purse

WHO increasingly looks more like a scheme for extracting private profit from the public purse

It is irrational to support corrupted institutions, but rational to support improvements in health and well-being. It is rational (and decent) to help populations who, through accidents of history such as past colonial exploitation or other misfortune, lack the means to fully address their own basic healthcare.

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Match-fixing: Experts say it’s linked to unsavoury criminal activities like human trafficking, drug dealing

Match-fixing: Experts say it’s linked to unsavoury criminal activities like human trafficking, drug dealing

Ben Paterson, director of data integrity and quality at IMG Arena and whose company monitors anomalies in betting markets that can’t be explained, says the “pantomime” of a fixed match harms not just sporting entertainment but also the commercial viability of a league or competition.

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