Author: Tyler Jorge Barrett

London (15/11 – 67) Colombo Supreme Court rules that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, former Prime Minister Mahinda, were among several government officials whose conduct contributed to Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in decades. The court was ruling on a petition filed against 13 former officials by rights group Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) which said the Rajapaksa brothers and others were responsible for the crisis. “Their actions, omissions and conduct contributed to the crisis,” the ruling said. The court did not order any punishment, according to a statement by TISL. The two Rajapaksa brothers, two former central…

The quality of the internet has been severely compromised by restrictions placed on the market. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that it exists. Telecommunications regulators in Tajikistan have taken a surprising step in that direction by reportedly admitting this week that a staggering 95 percent of the country’s territory is covered by only outdated 2G mobile connections. This situation is in no small part due to the State Communications Service itself. In addition to regulating the sector, the service and the people running it are also major market players, albeit in highly nebulous ways that would be unthinkable…

Berlin (25/11 – 90) Eight United Nations experts are awaiting a response from Tajik authorities to a letter expressing concern about the fate of convicted journalists and civil activists. UN experts and special rapporteurs in their letter demanded an explanation from Dushanbe regarding reports of gross violations of the rights of nine convicted journalists and bloggers, as well as civil activists. The letter dated 12 May 2023, is published here. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor has visited Tajikistan earlier to address the human rights violations in the country. In their appeal, which UN experts…

Brussels (25/11 – 33.3) Tajikistan Supreme Court has sentenced a widely respected 65-year-old female journalist, Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva, to 21 years in prison on charges of incitement to overthrowing the government. Mamadshoeva was accused by the authorities of being a leading figure behind the political turbulence that rocked her native Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) earlier this year. State propaganda has previously alleged that the veteran reporter and activist hatched the purported plot, for which no credible evidence has been produced, at the behest of an unnamed foreign government. Mamadshoeva’s brother, Khursand, was last week sentenced to 18 years in prison on…

Attacks on journalists have become a frequent occurrence in Tajikistan in recent years. Why are those responsible for attacks on journalists remain unpunished? Berlin (23/11 – 67) November 2 is the “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists”. The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination in Mali of Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont, two French journalists, on November 2, 2013. The 2023 observance seeks to raise awareness of the main challenges faced by journalists and communicators in the exercise of their profession, and to warn of the escalation of violence and repression against them. Attacks on…

CHICAGO – On the eve of the 15th anniversary of his historic election to the White House, former President Barack Obama took the stage at McCormack Place on Friday to address some of the world’s most pressing topics. Gathering activists and business leaders for the Obama Democracy Forum, the 44th President assumed the role of a diplomat, focusing on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a situation that continues to bitterly divide not only the nation but also the world. “All of this is taking place against the backdrop of decades of failure to achieve a durable peace for both Israelis and Palestinians—one that…

An Aspen bar has been inundated with negative reviews online after it was revealed that the establishment’s co-owner went on a raucous date with hard-right Rep. Lauren Boebert. Quinn Gallagher, 46, who is believed to be a Democrat, has co-owned the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar with Pat Flanigan since last year. Hooch has hosted a number of gay-friendly events, including a “winter Wonderland Burlesque and Drag Show” — despite Boebert (R-Colo.), 36, making a name for herself as one of the most conservative members of Congress and a staunch critic of drag entertainment. Many of the online critics accused Quinn of hypocrisy for…

BEIJING — U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has called on China to improve the predictability of the business environment for American companies in the country. “My message was there’s a desire to do business, but we need predictability, due process and a level playing field,” Raimondo said in an exclusive interview with CNBC’s Eunice Yoon on Wednesday. “There’s an appetite certainly for U.S. business to continue to do business in China,” she said, adding however that “It’s an unlevel playing field for U.S. business. It’s unpredictable.” Raimondo was in China this week and met government officials in both Beijing and…

Etihad Airways announced the launch of four weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to Boston, starting on March 31, 2024. This will be Etihad’s fourth destination in the United States, in addition to its existing services to Chicago, New York, and Washington, along with flights to Toronto in Canada. The new Boston route will offer American travellers convenient connections to various cities in North America through its partnership with JetBlue. Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will be used for these flights, providing guests with the airline’s acclaimed Business Studios and Economy Smart seats. This new route aims to enhance connectivity between the…

A bilateral agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will facilitate more two-way investment and trade, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Tuesday at a meeting with a visiting American delegation of conservative Republican lawmakers. Taiwan hopes to negotiate an agreement on avoiding double taxation with the United States, Tsai said, arguing that such a deal would encourage bilateral investment and trade cooperation and create more opportunities for businesses from both sides. She urged the delegation, which consists of six members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) in the U.S. House of Representatives, to “lend its support” on the issue. Taiwan…