Putin proposes to extend nuclear arms control pact with U.S.
On Friday, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, proposed to save the last existing nuclear arms control pact between Russia and the U.S. According to the Associated Press, “Putin’s statement comes amid conflicting signals from Russian and U.S. diplomats about the fate of the New START treaty that is set to expire in February unless Moscow and Washington agree on its extension.” Putin proposed to extend this pact for at least one year, emphasizing that Russia is ready to discuss the new weapons it deployed in talks with the U.S.
Kyrgyzstan’s president resigns
On Thursday, the president of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, resigned. According to NPR, “After 10 days of unrest sparked by disputed parliamentary elections… Jeenbekov abruptly stepped down, saying nothing was dearer to him than the life of each of his compatriots.” Jeenbekov is Kyrgyzstan’s third president to be overthrown since the country gained its independence in 1991. In a statement posted on the presidential website, Jeenbekov said, “I’m not clinging to power. I don’t want to go down in Kyrgyzstan’s history as the president who spilled blood and shot at his own citizens.”
French cities under curfew
As COVID-19 cases have begun to rise again throughout Europe, in France, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday night that Paris, as well as eight other densely populated areas, would have nightly curfews. According to NPR, “The curfews will run from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the next four weeks, starting on Saturday. Anyone who violates the curfew would face a fine of 135 euros (nearly $160) for the first offense. A second offense would bring a far steeper fine of 1,500 euros — around $1,760.”
Former Mexican defense minister charged with drug trafficking
Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, a former Mexican defense minister was arrested for drug trafficking and laundering money while holding public office on Thursday. According to BBC, “Prosecutors accuse Zepeda, a retired general known as ‘The Godfather,’ of helping the H-2 Cartel — ‘an extremely violent Mexican drug-trafficking organization’ — smuggle drugs into the U.S.” Zepeda has been arrested on a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warrant and has been charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana to the U.S.
