The government is out in Bulgaria...Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his government resigned yesterday after weeks of anti-government protests over a proposed tax increase and broader concerns about corruption. Many of the demonstrators were young people, and some described their mobilization as a Gen Z-led protest movement, like others around the world. The upheaval comes as Bulgaria prepares to adopt the Euro in January.
…and on its way out in Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament and called for an early election yesterday, less than one hundred days after taking office. Charnvirakul had led a minority government of conservative parties with conditional support from the main opposition party, but that support appeared to fall away this week. Thailand is currently embroiled in a border conflict with Cambodia.
Pressure on Venezuela. The United States sanctioned three of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s family members, six shipping companies, and six ships, calling them part of a network that supports Venezuela’s “narco-terrorist regime.” The move followed the U.S. seizure yesterday of an oil tanker near Venezuela that Washington said was carrying sanctioned oil.
U.S. stance on China-Japan friction. Trump believes the United States should maintain its positive relationships with both China and Japan, the White House press secretary said yesterday when asked about tensions between the two countries. China and Japan have traded barbs since Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s suggestion last month that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.
Turkmenistan summit. Turkmenistan hosted the leaders of countries including Iran, Russia, and Turkey today at a regional summit marking the thirtieth anniversary of declared diplomatic neutrality. After meeting on the sidelines with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin said the countries were exploring increased gas and electricity cooperation. Putin also affirmed Moscow’s support for Tehran at the United Nations.
Former Pakistani spy chief sentenced. A Pakistani military court sentenced former military intelligence chief Faiz Hameed to fourteen years in prison on corruption and political meddling charges. It is the first time that a former head of intelligence has been prosecuted and sentenced by the military. Hameed was appointed by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who accuses Pakistan’s current authorities of carrying out a politicized repression campaign against him and his supporters.
Twist in Ábrego Garcia case. Kilmar Ábrego Garcia, a Salvadoran resident of Maryland whom the U.S. government erroneously sent to a Salvadoran prison earlier this year, was released from immigration detention yesterday. The Trump administration is trying to deport him again, but a judge ruled the government lacked the legal basis to detain him at this time. His deportation earlier this year became a flashpoint for criticism of Trump administration immigration policies.
Flooding in Gaza. Israel is blocking emergency supplies to reinforce flooded tents from entering Gaza, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). At least twelve people are dead or missing and tens of thousands of tents flooded following heavy rains yesterday, Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office said. Israel maintains it is meeting its obligations to allow aid into the enclave.
