NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
Russia protest: Thousands of demonstrators gathered Monday for a third straight day of large protests in Russia’s far east against the jailing of a provincial governor accused of involvement in multiple murders. Protesters in Khabarovsk have rejected the charges against Gov. Sergei Furgal as a sham and denounced the federal authorities. Furgal, who has denied the charges, defeated a Kremlinbacked rival to win the governor’s seat in 2018. His unexpected victory dealt a humiliating blow to the main Kremlin party, United Russia.
Mass shooting: The Australian white supremacist who admitting killing 51 worshipers in a mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques has dismissed his lawyers and will represent himself when he is sentenced next month. Brenton Harrison Tarrant had pleaded guilty in March to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one charge of engaging in a terrorist act for the shootings in the city of Christchurch in 2019. His sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 24. Tarrant’s defense team applied during a hearing Monday to withdraw as his counsel. A judge approved Tarrant’s request to dismiss his lawyers. Tarrant faces life imprisonment.
Taliban attack: Taliban insurgents launched a complex attack on an intelligence compound in northern Afghanistan on Monday that began with a suicide bombing and killed at least 11 intelligence agency personnel, officials said. The attack took place in Aybak, the capital of the Samangan province. Sediq Azizi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said another 63 people were wounded in the attack and the ensuing clashes. A suicide bomber struck the compound, followed by two insurgents who opened fire. Both were killed in the gunbattle, Azizi said. The blast from the initial bombing damaged several nearby buildings. Abdul Khalil Musadiq, a provincial hospital chief, said many of the wounded were civilians. The insurgents have continued to target Afghan security forces despite signing a peace agreement with the U.S. in February that was intended to pave the way for an end to decades of war.
Venezuela talks: Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson plans to travel this week to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro to free several jailed Americans as a goodwill gesture aimed at easing tensions with the U.S. The Richardson Center on Monday announced the planned meeting. Richardson didn’t say on whose behalf he was traveling to Caracas or what day he would meet with Maduro, who was recently indicted on U.S. drug trafficking charges. But among the U.S. citizens jailed in Venezuela are two former Green Berets — Luke Denman and Airan Berry — arrested in May while participating in a botched raid to oust Maduro. Also being held are six oil executives from Citgo. While Richardson’s visit is a private mission, he coordinated with the State Department and has kept U.S. officials briefed of his plans. Border clash: Armenia and Azerbaijan blamed each other Monday for skirmishes on their volatile border that left four Azerbaijani soldiers dead and several troops wounded on both sides. The neighbors in the South Caucasus have been locked in conflict over NagornoKarabakh, a region of Azerbaijan that has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in 1994. International efforts to settle the conflict have stalled. Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have frequently engaged in clashes. The latest incident began Sunday when Armenian and Azerbaijani troops exchanged fire in the northern section of their border. Officials in both countries blamed each other for starting the fighting and said sporadic shelling continued Monday.