LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

AMLO Speaks on the Release of El Chapo’s Son
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known as AMLO, spoke on October 21 about the release of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán’s son Ovidio by authorities in Culiacán. Officials released the son of the Mexican drug lord after realizing they were overmatched by forces suspected to be affiliated with him. AMLO said the decision to free Ovidio Guzmán halted the shootings and saved lives, and he would order another apprehension provided there is an arrest warrant for the operation and that the public is not put in danger. According to a survey survey published on October 21 by the newspaper Reforma, Mexicans were divided over the decision to free Guzmán and widely skeptical over the government's ability to contain escalating violence.

INDO-ASIA-PACIFIC

Hong Kong Officially Kills Controversial Extradition Bill
Hong Kong authorities have formally withdrawn the widely unpopular extradition bill introduced in February 2019. This bill had acted as the impetus for the continuous protests in Hong Kong, where citizens are worried of Beijing increasing political overreach. The withdrawal was a long time coming, as the province’s leader, Carrie Lam, had declared it “dead” back in July. Beijing is also reportedly considering replacing Ms. Lam with an interim chief executive in light of the ongoing manifestations.

MIDDLE EAST & CENTRAL ASIA

Lebanese Protesters Reject Call for Talks by Aoun
Protesters in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, have rejected a call for talks by President Michel Aoun, with the demand that the current government resign before any negotiations begin. The protesters, who have been in the streets for over a week now, are demanding accountability by the post-civil war leadership for years of corruption and economic mismanagement. Aoun dismissed calls for his resignation, but came out in support of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's recently unveiled economic reform package which left protesters “unimpressed” according to Al Jazeera. The protest movement also accuses the members of the political elite of enriching themselves amid weak economic growth, soaring borrowing costs, and high unemployment.

EASTERN EUROPE & RUSSIA

Putin, Orban Helped Sour Trump on Ukraine
According to a report by the Washington Post, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban swayed U.S. President Donald Trump’s views of Ukraine. The report specifically notes that Putin and Orban reinforced Trump’s perception of Ukraine as a hopelessly corrupt country. Under Putin’s leadership, Russia’s relationship with Ukraine continued to deteriorate, resulting in the 2014 annexation of Crimea and an ongoing civil war in Ukraine’s Donbass region. Orban’s grievances, on the other hand, are grounded in a historic border dispute and the claimed mistreatment of a Hungarian-speaking minority that resides in Ukraine.

AFRICA

Ethiopian Protest Leader Urges Calm Following Deaths
Ethiopian activist Jawar Mohammed urged for calm after 16 people were killed in protests against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Jawar urged protesters to take down their barricades, clear blocked roads, and “reconcile with those you have quarreled with.” Awar told protesters that “now is not the time to kill each other,” but urged them to be alert to the government’s actions. Following Awar’s message of calm, roads opened up throughout the country. Jawar organized protests with members of the Oromo ethnic group that Abiy is part of who last year helped propel him to power.

WESTERN EUROPE & CANADA

EU to Decide Soon on Brexit Extension
Members of the EU are set to come to a decision on October 25 over whether to give Britain another extension concerning Brexit, with the proposed length of extension being three months. However, with France taking a hard stance against the extension thus far, leaders instead could meet on October 28 in Brussels to come to a decision face-to-face. These discussions would be occurring in response to Boris Johnson’s insistence that Britain leave the European Union by October 31. He has said that if the EU does grant an extension, he plans on calling for an election to further satisfy his demands.