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During a grueling, weekslong mission in northern Mali, French soldiers were confronted by a familiar threat: Extremists trying to impose the same strict Islamic rule that preceded France’s military intervention here more than eight years ago.Traumatized residents showed scars on their shoulders and backs from whippings they endured after failing to submit to the jihadis’ authority.”We were witness to the presence of the enemy trying to impose Shariah law, banning young children from playing soccer and imposing a dress code,” said Col. Stephane Gouvernet, battalion commander for the recent French mission dubbed Equinoxe.France is preparing to reduce its military presence here in West Africa’s Sahel region — the vast area south of the Sahara Desert where extremist groups are fighting for control. In June, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of Operation Barkhane, France’s seven-year effort fighting extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Africa’s Sahel region. France’s more than 5,000 troops will be reduced in the coming months, although no timeframe has been given.Instead, France will participate in a special forces unit with other European countries and African countries will be responsible for patrolling the Sahel.The move comes after years of criticism that France’s military operation is simply another reiteration of colonial rule. But the shift also takes place amid a worsening political and security crisis in the region. In May, Mali had its second coup in nine months.Although officials of Mali’s government have been able to return to some towns once overrun by jihadis, for the first time since 2012, there are reports of extremists amputating hands to punish suspected thieves — a throwback to the Shariah law imposed in northern Mali prior to the French military intervention.There have been spikes, too, in extremist attacks in Burkina Faso and Niger, sparking concern that the reduction of the French force will create a security void in the Sahel region that will be quickly filled by the jihadis.”If an adequate plan is not finalized and in place, the tempo of attacks on local forces could rise across the region over the coming weeks, as jihadists attempt to benefit from a security vacuum,” said Liam Morrissey, chief executive officer for MS Risk Limited, a British security consultancy operating in the Sahel for 12 years.The Sahel RegionWhile France has spent billions on its anti-jihadi campaign, called Operation Barkhane, Sahel experts say that it never dedicated the necessary resources to defeat the extremists, said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies, a consultancy based in Dakar, Senegal.”They have always been aware that their force in the Sahel is far too undersized to accomplish anything like a counterinsurgency campaign,” he said.France has several thousand troops covering more than 1,000 kilometers of terrain in the volatile region where the borders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso meet. Alerts about attacks are often missed or responded to hours later, especially in remote villages. Operations rely heavily on the French air force, which conduct airstrikes, transport troops and deliver equipment. The desert is harsh with temperatures reaching near 50 degrees Celsius, exhausting troops and requiring additional maintenance for equipment.The Associated Press spent the days before Macron’s announcement accompanying the French military in the field, where pilots navigated hostile terrain in the pitch dark to retrieve troops after a long operation.FILE- In this June 9, 2021 file photo, French Barkhane force soldiers who wrapped up a four-month tour of duty in the Sahel leave their base in Gao, Mali.Some soldiers questioned if the fight was worth it. “What are we doing here anyway?” asked one soldier after Macron’s announcement. The AP is not using his name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.Others acknowledged the jihadis are a long-term threat. “We are facing something that is going to be for years. For the next 10 years you will have terrorists in the area,” Col. Yann Malard, airbase commander and Operation Barkhane’s representative in Niger, told the AP.The French strategy has been to weaken the jihadis and train local forces to secure their own countries. Since arriving, it has trained some 18,000 soldiers, mostly Malians, according to a Barkhane spokesperson, but progress is slow. Most Sahelian states are still too poor and understaffed to deliver the security and services that communities desperately need, analysts and activists say.State forces have also been accused of committing human rights abuses against civilians, deepening the mistrust, said Alex Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati.Since 2019 there have been more than 600 unlawful killings by security forces in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger during counterterrorism operations, according to Human Rights Watch. France’s Barkhane, too, has been accused of possible violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, after an airstrike in Mali in January killed 22 people, 19 of whom were civilians, according to a report by the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali.Soldiers agree that there are limits to what can be achieved militarily and without political stability in the Sahel, jihadis have the edge.”We don’t have an example of a big win in counterinsurgency, and it’s difficult to achieve that in the current environment because for an insurgency to win they just need to stay alive,” said Vjatseslav Senin, senior national representative for the 70 Estonian troops who are fighting alongside the French in Barkhane.Some of those living in the Sahel fear what hard-fought gains have been made will unravel all too quickly.Ali Toure, a Malian working in the French military base in Gao warned that “if the French army leaves Mali, jihadis will enter within two weeks and destroy the country.” 
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Anti-poverty organization Oxfam said Thursday that 11 people die of hunger each minute and that the number facing faminelike conditions around the globe has increased six times over the last year.In a report titled The Hunger Virus Multiplies, Oxfam said that the death toll from famine outpaces that of COVID-19, which kills around seven people per minute.”The statistics are staggering, but we must remember that these figures are made up of individual people facing unimaginable suffering. Even one person is too many,” said Oxfam America’s president and CEO, Abby Maxman.The humanitarian group also said that 155 million people around the world are now living in crisis levels of food insecurity or worse — some 20 million more than last year. Around two-thirds of them face hunger because their country is in military conflict.”Today, unrelenting conflict on top of the COVID-19 economic fallout, and a worsening climate crisis, has pushed more than 520,000 people to the brink of starvation,” Maxman said. “Instead of battling the pandemic, warring parties fought each other, too often landing the last blow to millions already battered by weather disasters and economic shocks.”Despite the pandemic, Oxfam said that global military spending increased by $51 billion during the pandemic — an amount that exceeds by at least six times what the U.N. needs to stop hunger.The report listed a number of countries as “the worst hunger hotspots,” including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen — all embroiled in conflict.”Starvation continues to be used as a weapon of war, depriving civilians of food and water and impeding humanitarian relief. People can’t live safely or find food when their markets are being bombed and crops and livestock are destroyed,” Maxman said.The organization urged governments to stop conflicts from continuing to spawn “catastrophic hunger” and to ensure that relief agencies could operate in conflict zones and reach those in need. It also called on donor countries to “immediately and fully” fund the U.N.’s efforts to alleviate hunger.”We work together with more than 694 partners across 68 countries. Oxfam aims to reach millions of people over the coming months and is urgently seeking funding to support its programs across the world,” the report’s press release said.Meanwhile, global warming and the economic repercussions of the pandemic have caused a 40% increase in global food prices, the highest in over a decade. This surge has contributed significantly to pushing tens of millions more people into hunger, said the report.
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At Radio Soleil, the usual playlist of pulsing Haitian “compas” dance music has been replaced this week with more somber tunes and political analysis as listeners across the diaspora reel from the shock of Haiti President Jovenel Moise’s assassination.Broadcasting from the station’s small Brooklyn storefront, director Ricot Dupuy has fielded calls suggesting dark theories about the assassins or sharing fears for a motherland becoming further disarrayed.Many of Dupuy’s listeners were among the waves of Haitians who fled a country long plagued by the legacy of colonialism, poverty, coups and catastrophic earthquakes. They now live in apartment buildings lining the blocks around the radio station in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood or in Miami’s Little Haiti, home to the largest diaspora communities outside the Caribbean.After Moise was killed early Wednesday, they have fretted over the WhatsApp text chats and audio memos they get from relatives back in Haiti who describe being cooped up in their homes as the nation is now all but locked down.Country’s ‘sad reality’Dupuy, who speaks in Haitian Creole with dabs of English on air, said his revised programming since Moise’s killing was meant “to reflect the sad reality of the country, not necessarily to shed tears over his death.””A lot of Haitians are happy that he’s gone, but they’re not rejoicing over his death because we don’t know who killed him,” said Dupuy, who shares the views of some Haitians that Moise was corrupt and autocratic.Haitian police have killed four people suspected of carrying out the assassination and arrested six more, including two Haitian Americans, the elections minister said Thursday. The motive is still unclear.A youth peers though the closed gate at the border with Haiti in Jimani, Dominican Republic, July 8, 2021. Dominican President Luís Abinader closed the border on Wednesday, after Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s assassination was reported.A state of emergency has been declared and the airport shut, while the neighboring Dominican Republic has closed its border.In interviews on Thursday, many Haitian Americans said the turmoil left them feeling more helpless than ever for the troubled country, able to offer little more than prayers.Rebeca Lafond, the constituent affairs director for a New York legislative district that includes Brooklyn’s Little Haiti, said she had watched her mother try to make contact with relatives back in Port-au-Prince while her father listened to Creole radio for news from back home.”My mom is thinking, ‘Maybe I should send money?’ ” said Lafond, 23, who came to the United States when she was 3. “But if you send money over there, they can’t leave their homes to get the money anyway because of everything that’s happening.”Plans upendedFor Francois Pierre-Louis, a political science professor at New York’s Queens College, months of advocacy now seem threatened. He has been working through his religious aid group Faith in Action to get the U.S. government to send COVID-19 vaccines to his native Haiti, one of the few countries that have not begun vaccinating residents.Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can
download this video to view it offline.Download File360p | 9 MB480p | 13 MB540p | 17 MB720p | 37 MB1080p | 69 MBOriginal | 238 MB Embed” />Copy Download AudioOn Tuesday, a colleague received a voicemail from the White House confirming the United States would send a small shipment of vaccines to Haiti next week. The impact of the assassination on the shipment is unclear, Pierre-Louis said.He signed a letter to the White House on Thursday stressing urgency.”We have to move fast,” he said. “Now there’s a big vacuum.”Moise’s death has generated confusion about who is the next legitimate head of state. The interim prime minister in Haiti has taken over the leadership role for now but not everyone agrees he should be in charge.Before the assassination, the family of Romy Vilsaint – who died in May at age 12 – was trying to secure an emergency waiver through the U.S. State Department that would allow his mother and aunt to travel from Haiti to attend his funeral in Brooklyn on Saturday.Kate Chaltain, an immigration lawyer helping the family, said the chaos had made a tricky situation even more so.”Even if they were able to expedite it immediately, I don’t really know how they’d be able to get the necessary documents to his mom and his aunt — and even if they did, if they would actually be able to get out,” she said.’Crazy’Standing outside her apartment in Miami’s Little Haiti, Gracieuse Jean, 40, said it scared her that she was still waiting to hear from her brother and three sisters back in Cap Haitien.”I want my people to come and live here,” she said. “But even if they want to apply for a visa, they can’t even try. Port-au-Prince is closed. It’s completely locked down. The whole situation is crazy.”Jean Derival, a taxi driver in Boston who left Haiti 17 years ago, said he checked in on Thursday with his brother, mother and father back in the Caribbean.Rather than discuss what was happening, he said he simply told them: “Stay home, stay safe.”
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Montenegro is weeks away from securing a deal to either swap or refinance with European and U.S. banks nearly $1 billion in debt owed to China, and it hopes to reduce the interest rate on the debt to below 1%, Economy Minister Jakov Milatovic told Reuters.
 
Montenegro borrowed $944 million from China in 2014 to fund a 41-km (25-mile) stretch of road, which foes of then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic dubbed the “Road to Nowhere,” saying it typified waste under his rule, an accusation he denied.  
 
Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, who came to power in December, is seeking to reduce the cost of the Chinese debt, which has a 2% interest rate and reduce currency risk as the loan is denominated in U.S. dollars, Milatovic said.
 
“We are negotiating with a number of Western banks from Europe and the United States. We are for sure going to do it with the Western banks,” Milatovic, 35, said, adding that he was seeking an interest rate of “less than 1%” for the debt.
 
“There are two options: the first is to refinance, the second is to swap the loan, or the third option is to do part of the first one and part of the second one,” he said. “We believe we can get much better terms – I am very optimistic about it.”
 
Milatovic declined to name the European or U.S. banks but when asked how soon there could be a resolution, he said: “Soon – I think weeks.”
 
Reuters reported on June 11 that Montenegro was counting on European Union aid to ease its Chinese debt burden.
 
The Chinese loan was taken out in 2014 from the state-owned Export Import Bank of China with a six-year grace period and a 14-year additional maturity. The principal is already starting to be paid off.
 
A source with knowledge of the negotiations told Reuters that Montenegro was likely to swap the debt and continue refinancing negotiations and then terminate the swap when the refinancing talks were successful.
 ‘Captured state’
 
Nestled on the shore of the Adriatic, Montenegro has for centuries tumbled with the vicissitudes of great powers, though after seceding from a state union with Serbia in 2006, Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 and hopes to be an EU member this decade.
 
Prime Minister Krivokapic, a 62-year-old former engineering professor, said Montenegro was for the first time in decades entering into a democratic transition toward what he cast as a Euro-Atlantic future along the lines of Luxembourg.
 
Krivokapic said his biggest challenge was to establish rule of law in Montenegro which he said had in essence been “captured” by criminals and ensnared in corruption for years. “International organized crime has been present in Montenegro and as a small country we cannot tackle this problem on our own,” Krivokapic said. “Zero corruption is the formula for the work of this government.”
 Tourism
 
Montenegro’s economy collapsed 15% in 2020, one of the biggest drops in Europe, as the COVID-19 pandemic cut off tourism.
 
“We are now seeing a strong recovery of our tourism sector,” Milatovic said. Tourism activity is around 70-80% of the 2019 level, with a full recovery of the sector expected by the end of 2022.
 
The government is forecasting the economy will grow 10.5% in 2021, with inflation of about 2%, and 2022 economic growth of 6-7%.
 
Krivokapic’s government inherited badly run state enterprises, so ministers are looking at the possibility of creating a professionally run national holding company to manage the assets, Milatovic said.
 
“This is something Greece did in its recovery period – this is the right way to go in order to privatize some of the assets and make some of the state-owned enterprises more efficient and at the end of the day provide a return on the assets for taxpayers.
 
“Some of the assets would be sold, some of them would be run by the holding,” he said. 
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The U.N.’s top diplomat in Haiti said Thursday that there have been more arrests in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and that police have surrounded a larger group of possible suspects at their hideouts.“What I have now is that in the last 12 hours, reports have emerged that four members of the group that raided the presidential residence have been killed, while another six are now in police custody,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti Helen La Lime told reporters via a video link from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. “I am also aware that a larger group of possible perpetrators have taken refuge in two buildings in the city, and that they are now surrounded by the police.”She said she could not confirm that those numbers were the most up-to-date.On Wednesday, Haitian officials had said four suspects were killed in a shootout with police, while two others they described as “mercenaries,” were arrested.La Lime briefed the U.N. Security Council in a private meeting following Wednesday’s shocking assassination of President Moïse in an attack that also badly injured his wife, Martine.World Leaders React to Killing of Haiti’s Moïse President was killed Wednesday La Lime said Haiti’s U.N. envoy, Antonio Rodrigue, asked the council for additional security assistance. The U.N. no longer has a peacekeeping mission on the island, only a political one.“We should be looking at this assistance. Haiti needs to specify exactly what it is they are after,” she said. “In the meantime, we need to continue to use the technical assistance we have on the ground, maybe render it more dynamic, so that we can call on additional support.”She said the next two weeks will be critical in making sure the investigation moves forward and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.In a statement late Wednesday, the 15-nation U.N. Security Council strongly condemned the assassination and called for justice. The council also urged all political stakeholders in the country to refrain from any acts of violence or inciting people to violence. The council appealed for calm, restraint and dialogue, and the avoidance of any act that could lead to more instability.Key Events in Haiti Before Killing of Haitian President Moise Assassination occurred amid political and other crises in the Caribbean country Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph says he has taken charge of the country and declared a “state of siege.” Haiti is without a functioning parliament and there are fears the assassination could trigger deepening instability.La Lime said Joseph has assured the U.N. that his government is committed to dialogue and to continuing the process to hold elections on time. A first round of presidential and parliamentary elections is planned for September 26, and a second round in November.On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield met with her Haitian counterpart. In a statement, she expressed condolences on the assassination of Haiti’s president and the attack on his wife and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.“The United States echoes calls for calm, and we are committed to working together to support democracy, rule of law, and peace in Haiti,” she said. 
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Haiti was engulfed in chaos Thursday, a day after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated, with authorities vowing to hunt down more alleged mercenaries responsible for shooting him to death in the bedroom of his home.
 
Police said late Wednesday they had killed four assassination suspects in a gun battle in the capital of Port-au-Prince, arrested two others, and freed three officers who had been held hostage. At least two other suspects were arrested Thursday, according to police.4 Suspects in Moise Assassination Die in ShootoutHaiti’s National Police chief says two other ‘mercenaries’ were arrested in standoff, three policemen held hostage rescued “The pursuit of the mercenaries continues,” said Léon Charles, director of Haiti’s National Police. “Their fate is fixed: They will fall in the fighting or will be arrested.”Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph placed the country under a “state of siege” – effectively martial law.“This death will not go unpunished,” Joseph told the impoverished nation of 11 million people in an address WednesdayWorld Leaders React to Killing of Haiti’s Moïse President was killed Wednesday But officials did not provide any details about those killed in the gun battle or the detained suspects, nor what led police to them. They said only that the attack was carried out by “a highly trained and heavily armed group,” with the assailants speaking Spanish or English.
 
The motivation for the assassination remained unclear, but Haiti has long endured poverty and political turmoil.
 
Carl Henry Destin, a Haitian judge, told the Nouvelliste newspaper that the attackers had posed as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, but both U.S. and Haitian officials said the gunmen had no links to the agency.  Haiti: What We Know Latest developments following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse Destin told the newspaper the attackers tied up a maid and another household staff worker as they headed to the president’s bedroom, where they shot Moise at least 12 times.
 
“The offices and the president’s bedroom were ransacked,” Destin said. “We found him lying on his back, blue pants, white shirt stained with blood, mouth open, left eye blown out.”
 
Moise’s wife, Martine Moïse, was injured in the attack and was airlifted more 1,100 kilometers to a trauma center in Miami, Florida, in the United States. Joseph said she was “out of danger” and in stable condition.
 
While Joseph claimed leadership of Haiti on the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola it shares with the Dominican Republic, his tenure may be short-lived.
 Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can
download this video to view it offline.Download File360p | 9 MB480p | 12 MB540p | 15 MB720p | 35 MB1080p | 65 MBOriginal | 79 MB Embed” />Copy Download AudioHaiti’s constitution says Moise should be replaced by the president of the country’s Supreme Court, but the chief justice died recently from COVID-19. In addition, a day before his assassination, Moise had named Ariel Henry, a Haitian politician and neurosurgeon, to replace Joseph as prime minister. In a brief interview with the Associated Press, Henry claimed he is the prime minister, but he acknowledged it was an unusual situation.
 
The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting for Thursday afternoon to discuss Haiti’s crisis. In a statement, its members called for “all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint” and avoid “any act that could contribute to further instability.”
 
U.S. President Joe Biden said he was “shocked and saddened” by the assassination.
 
“We condemn this heinous act,” Biden said in a statement. “I am sending my sincere wishes for First Lady Moise’s recovery.”
 This report includes information from the Associated Press and Reuters.
 
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A news conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at a NATO airbase in Lithuania was interrupted Thursday when fighter jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian jets.
 
The two leaders were three minutes into a news conference, televised live from the Siauliai airbase in northern Lithuanian, when flight crews responded to an alarm and scrambled their jets. The leaders and the media were led away.  
 
Military officials later confirmed the Spanish jets, based in Lithuania on a NATO mission to police Baltic airspace, were activated after reports two Russian Su-24 combat jets had taken off from Russia’s Kaliningrad region without filing flight plans, without their transponders on, and without responding to regional air traffic control.
 
After the Spanish jets took off, the news conference resumed. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez told reporters, “We have seen a real-life case of what happens and precisely it justifies the presence of Spanish troops with the seven Eurofighters in Lithuania.”  
 
Seven Spanish Eurofighter jets have been based at the Siauliai airbase since April 30 for the Baltic air-policing mission, which also includes four Italian F-35 aircraft at Estonia’s Amari airbase.
 
The three Baltic nations – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – joined NATO in 2004 and have no fighter jets of their own. NATO has the responsibility of policing their airspace on a rotational four-month basis from the Siauliai base and in Amari, Estonia.
 
In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the two Su-24 bombers were flying a regular training mission Thursday over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea. The statement claimed the flight was performed in strict accordance with international rules of using airspace and without violation of any country’s borders.
 
Sánchez was visiting Lithuania as part of a three-day trip to the Baltic region, and he earlier met with officials in Estonia and Latvia.
 
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The UK says most of its troops have left Afghanistan. 
 
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the news Thursday, saying the threat from al-Qaida had lessened.  
 
“All British troops assigned to NATO’s mission in Afghanistan are now returning home,” he said, adding that “most of our personnel have already left.” 
 
He appeared to sidestep questions about whether the troop withdrawal would leave Afghanistan open to another takeover by the Taliban. 
 
“We must be realistic about our ability alone to influence the course of events. It will take combined efforts of many nations, including Afghanistan’s neighbors, to help the Afghan people to build their future,” Johnson said. “But the threat that brought us to Afghanistan in the first place has been greatly diminished by the valor and by the sacrifice of the armed forces of Britain and many other countries.” 
 
Johnson reiterated that Britain will still be involved in trying to achieve peace in Afghanistan, albeit through diplomacy. 
 
“We are not walking away. We are keeping our embassy in Kabul, and we will continue to work with our friends and allies, particularly our friends in Pakistan, to work towards a settlement,” Johnson said. Some 457 British service members lost their lives in Afghanistan during Britain’s nearly 20-year involvement. The withdrawal of the remaining troops was expected to be done “within a few months,” according to the British Defense Ministry. 
 
The U.S. was expected to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by Sept 11. Some Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. 
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Britain’s transportation secretary said Thursday that, beginning July 19, British residents, who are fully vaccinated, will no longer have to self-quarantine when returning from so-called “green” or “amber” or medium-risk nations, including the United States and the European Union.Speaking to parliament Thursday, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said travelers will still be required to take a test three days before returning and demonstrate they’re negative before they travel, and, within two days of arrival, they will not have to isolate if they receive a negative result.The government regards a fully vaccinated person as anyone who received their second dose of vaccine more that 14 days previously.Shapp said the policy change does not include the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and residents in those areas should consult their health ministries.Shapps said that while the change will first prioritize Brits who are vaccinated, the government was making plans to expand the policy to include those fully vaccinated in other countries, such as the United States and European Union, hopefully within the summer travel season.Information from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse was used for this report.
 
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Officials in Haiti say four people suspected in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse were killed in a shootout with police.  Two others, described as “mercenaries,” were arrested during the shootout.The Wednesday assassination of Moïse during an attack on his private home in a Port-au-Prince suburb prompted interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph to take charge of the country and declare a state of siege. First lady Martine Moïse, who was also shot during the attack, is in stable but critical condition and has been transferred to a hospital in Miami for treatment, according to Haiti’s ambassador to the United States. U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned the assassination and expressed condolences in a statement issued by the White House. The U.N. Security Council will meet Thursday to discuss the events in Haiti. Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division, as well as a rise in gang violence.  
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World leaders are reacting to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “I condemn in the strongest terms the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse of the Republic of Haiti. The perpetrators of this crime must be brought to justice. The U.N. will continue to stand with the Government and the people of Haiti.” U.S. President Joe Biden “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the horrific assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and the attack on First Lady Martine Moïse of Haiti. We condemn this heinous act — and stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti.” Pope Francis “On hearing the news of the heinous assassination of His Excellency Mr. Jovenel Moïse, President of Haiti, His Holiness Pope Francis offers his condolences to the Haitian people and to his wife, who was also seriously wounded, whose life he commends to God. Praying to the Father of Mercy for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the Holy Father expresses his sadness and condemns all forms of violence as a means of resolving crises and conflicts.” Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader “As president of the Dominican Republic I strongly condemn this reprehensible act against the democratic system, the stability, and the peace in our neighboring country, and I stand in solidarity with the Haitian people to whom I wish all the strength to face this difficult situation.” Chile President Sebastian Piñera “Our solidarity and condolences to his family and to all the Haitian people. We call for unity and peace in order to strengthen democracy and find a way out of the grave crisis that Haiti is going through.” Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness “We wish for the people of Haiti peace and stability at this time … My thoughts and prayers are with the Moïse family and the Government and people of Haiti.” Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei “We condemn and reject the cowardly assassination of the president of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse. This terrible act goes against the democratic order, we send our most sincere condolences to his family, the government and the Haitian people.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “Canada stands with the people of Haiti during these difficult and uncertain times. Our two countries are united by a strong friendship, built on enduring people-to-people ties. Canada has a deep and longstanding commitment to Haiti, and we are ready to offer any assistance it needs.” Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis “The government is deeply saddened by the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse and strongly condemns the actions of the perpetrators. We pray for the people of Haiti and offer our deepest condolences.” Panama President Nito Cortizo “Panamá regrets and strongly condemns the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Our solidarity with his family and the Haitian people. Panamá calls for unity so that Haiti finds social peace and the reestablishment of its democratic institutions.” Nicolas de Riviere, French ambassador to the U.N. and rotating U.N. Security Council president “This is a critical moment. I think we all knew it was sensitive and difficult on the ground in Haiti, in view of the political situation and the security situation, this puts that in even graver danger than before, so I’m quite confident the council will in a very quick way meet to see how we can continue to support the people of Haiti. I think this is a dark hour for them, and we certainly want to be sure we can express our support for the people of Haiti.” Cuba President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez “We deeply regret the death of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. We strongly condemn the violent act that caused his death. We send our condolences to his relatives and the Haitian people. We call for peace.” Argentina President Alberto Fernández “We condemn and deeply lament the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, president of Haiti. We are with the Haitian people and call for unity to reestablish the rule of law and democracy in light of this vicious crime.” European Council President Charles Michel “We condemn the assassination of President Moïse. Our condolences to his family and to the people of Haiti. We continue to monitor the situation and call for calm and stability. Only an inclusive political dialogue can ensure the organization of free and transparent elections.” Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado Quesada “I condemn the assassination of the president of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, and the attack on first lady Martine Moïse. No political situation justifies criminal acts of violence. Solidarity to their family and the Haitian people. May stability, institutions and dialogue prevail.” Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley “The assassination of President Moïse of Haiti is an atrocious act which Barbados vehemently condemns. Violence can never be a solution, and must be rejected in all circumstances. Barbados urges all to pause and work at all costs for peace.” Colombia President Iván Duque  “We reiterate our rejection the vile and cowardly assassination of the president of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, a defender of democracy and friend of Colombia.” Belgium Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès “The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in #Haiti Flag of Haiti takes place in a context of unacceptable violence. Justice must fulfill its duty. The priority is to restore security for all Haitians, to allow for a peaceful exit from the crisis and a stabilization of the country.” United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson “I am shocked and saddened at the death of President Moïse. Our condolences are with his family and the people of Haiti. This is an abhorrent act and I call for calm at this time.” 
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Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, says “professional killers” speaking Spanish shot and killed Haitian President Jovenal Moise on Wednesday morning. He appealed to the international community for help to find them and bring them to justice, as VOA’s Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.
Producer: Kimberlyn Weeks
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The head of Haiti’s National Police Force said four people suspected of carrying out Wednesday’s assassination of President Jovenel Moise were killed in a shootout with police.Chief Léon Charles told reporters in Port-au-Prince that two other suspects, whom he described as “mercenaries,” were arrested during the shootout. Three police officers who were held hostage by the suspected assassins were freed. Charles did not provide any other information on the operation.A manhunt was launched shortly after Moise was gunned down during a predawn raid on his private residence in a wealthy suburb of Port-au-Prince. Bocchit Edmond, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, told reporters in Washington that Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic and its airports are closed.Asked by VOA whether officials knew the nationality of the gunmen, Edmond said he was unsure, but based on video footage obtained by the national police and deemed credible, the assassins posed as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph declared a state of siege and said he was now in charge of the country.First lady Martine Moise, who was also shot during the attack, is in stable but critical condition, the ambassador said. She has been transferred to a hospital in Miami, Florida, for treatment. One of the president’s children who was home during the attack has been taken to a secure location.U.S. reactionU.S. President Joe Biden condemned the assassination and expressed condolences in a statement issued by the White House.“We condemn this heinous act, and I am sending my sincere wishes for First Lady Moïse’s recovery. The United States offers condolences to the people of Haiti, and we stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti.”Biden called the attack “worrisome.”“We need a lot more information,” he said in response to a reporter’s question before boarding Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday morning.World bodies reactIn Washington, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States held a virtual emergency meeting to discuss the Moise assassination Wednesday afternoon. Member states condemned the killing and expressed condolences and solidarity with the Haitian people.U.S. Ambassador Brad Freden said that he was shocked by the news and that the United States was concerned about Haiti’s security and political stability. He called on all political actors to set aside their differences and work for the common good of the Haitian people.In New York, the United Nations Security Council president, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, said the council was deeply shocked by the assassination.The council will meet privately Thursday morning to discuss developments.“This is a critical moment. I think we all knew it was sensitive and difficult on the ground in Haiti,” Ireland’s ambassador, Geraldine Byrne Nason, told reporters. She said the council would discuss how it could support the people of Haiti.“I think this is a dark hour for them, and we certainly want to be sure we can express our support for the people of Haiti,” she said.The United Nations has about 1,200 staff in Haiti as part of its political mission there.U.S. lawmakers reactOn Capitol Hill in Washington, the chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, New York Democrat Gregory Meeks, extended condolences to the Moise family and the Haitian people. He also expressed his concerns about violence.“The spiral of violence and political assassinations are a threat to democracy in Haiti. My thoughts go out to the Haitian people as we all hope for a return to peace and stability,” Meeks said in a statement. “I will do everything I can to support a thorough investigation to ensure that those involved are held accountable.”The committee’s top Republican, Michael McCaul of Texas, also released a statement condemning the killing and calling for a probe.“I strongly condemn the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse and hope his wife who was injured in the attack recovers quickly. There must be a full investigation and appropriate accountability for his murder. My condolences to the Moïse family and people of Haiti.”Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into Moise’s assassination, calling it a “shocking indicator of the serious human rights and political crisis that Haiti has been facing for years.”“This is a wake-up call for the international community, and for the Haitian authorities who have overseen chronic impunity and ignored the calls of human rights defenders that has paved the way for such a serious crisis,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty’s regional director for the Americas.Recent uptick in violenceHaiti has been experiencing political instability and division, as well as a rise in gang violence.Last week in Port-au-Prince, gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, who is known by the nickname Barbecue, took to the streets to protest Moise’s government, calling on him to resign.“Jovenel (Moise) must go!” Cherisier told reporters during the protest. “A new group of people needs to lead this country, and we must sit together around a table, have a national dialogue so we can redefine this country.”Seeking to reassure the nation, Joseph has appealed for tranquility. “Stay calm. The nation is secure. Let’s look for harmony,” he said.Edmond reiterated that message during his briefing with reporters.“Violence is not the answer. There is no future in that,” he said. VOA’s Matiado Vilme in Port-au-Prince, United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer, Capitol Hill correspondent Katherine Gypson, and White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report, which includes some information from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
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Ethnic minorities, the self-employed and low-income families in Britain suffered greater deprivation levels during the coronavirus pandemic despite “surprisingly positive” living standards figures, a report published Thursday found.The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank’s annual report on living standards, poverty and inequality identified these groups as the hardest hit, even as unprecedented state support mitigated the worst effects of the crisis.The research follows other studies showing that Britain’s ethnic minorities were more likely to suffer worse health and economic outcomes during the pandemic and less likely to accept vaccines.”How fast and to what extent these groups recover as the economy reopens will be a key determinant of the pandemic’s legacy,” said report co-author Tom Wernham.Some 15% of Britons from minority ethnic backgrounds were behind their household bills at the start of 2021, compared with 12% before the pandemic.The proportion of adults of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin living in households where all adults were unemployed or furloughed remained 10 percentage points higher at the beginning of 2021 than pre-pandemic levels, as many of these households relied on one income earner.Household worklessness for black adults rose 2.4 percentage points, higher than the national average of 1.9, the report added.The share of self-employed workers who lost all work in the first lockdown in March 2020 and fell behind household bills is now 15%, up from 2% before the pandemic.Despite the government’s flagship furlough scheme, which has paid millions of workers’ wages since March 2020, 36% of self-employed workers — many of whom work in the hard-hit events, arts and culture sectors — were ineligible for the government self-employed income support scheme.Researchers also found that more families suffering from in-work poverty fell behind on bills during Britain’s first nationwide lockdown from last March, with the share jumping from 9 to 21%.The figure receded to 10% in the first quarter of 2021, but 13% of such families expect their financial situation to deteriorate in the near future.One of the report’s authors, Tom Waters, said the furlough scheme’s success largely explained Britain’s “surprisingly positive” deprivation and labor market statistics.But he added that people’s ability to return to their old jobs or find new ones would be the key factor for living standards as support was withdrawn.The government’s furlough scheme initially paid 80% of employees’ wages to prevent mass job losses but is to be phased out by the end of September.An increase of $28 per week to its main social security payment, Universal Credit, is also due to end at that time. 
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The streets of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, were mostly empty Wednesday following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his private residence in the early-morning hours. Businesses were closed, most people remained home and armored police vehicles were seen on the main roads. Armed guards stood watch in key locations of the capital.A state of siege was declared by interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who said he was in charge of the country.Haitian officials said heavily armed gunmen posing as U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers who spoke Spanish and English shot and killed the president in a “highly coordinated” attack. His wife, Martine Moise, was gravely injured and remained in critical but stable condition at a Miami hospital.Haitian media reported the late president’s “alleged assassins” had been intercepted late Wednesday, although details about the arrest were scarce as the investigation continued amid a national border lockdown.Speaking to people on the street about the president’s killing, VOA Creole received a diverse range of responses.One resident of the president’s Pelerin neighborhood, a wealthy suburb of the capital, said she heard the gunfire but was confused about what was happening at the time. She told VOA Creole the gunfire lasted for about an hour.A forensic investigator carries a bagful of bullet casings collected at the residence of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise, where he was killed by gunmen in the early morning hours, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021.”We are victims of our own insecurity,” the woman, who declined to give her name, said. “We hope this will not happen again, but, hopefully, the next president will do better so this type of event doesn’t repeat itself.”A man in his 20s who spoke to VOA Creole near the downtown area of the capital said he worried that the killing would damage Haiti’s image abroad.”I think this presents a problem for the country’s image,” he told VOA. “Jovenel should have been brought to justice to explain his actions. I blame him for the impunity that exists currently and for putting guns in the hands of young people. He likened himself [in a speech] to a fish bone stuck in the Haitian people’s throat. I would have liked to ask him to explain what he meant by that. The people need to unite now and take hold of our government and choose a leader who can represent us well, improve our image and allow us to move forward.”Another man in his 30s who spoke to VOA Creole near the national palace, and who also did not want to give his name, said, “It really hurts me to hear Jovenel Moise died this way. This is not what I wished for. I would have preferred he be imprisoned for all the bad things he did [while in power] and explain what happened with the PetroCaribe funds, the Bel Air massacre, the La Saline massacre. I did not wish for his death.”Security forces investigate the perimeters of the residence of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021. Gunmen assassinated Moise and wounded his wife in their home early Wednesday.PetroCaribe is a corruption scandal linked to profits from oil sold to Haiti by Venezuela at a discount, which were supposed to be used for social, educational and infrastructure projects. Most of the money was allegedly misused, and efforts to bring those responsible to justice have so far failed.Moise was blamed by some Haitians — as well as U.S. officials such as U.S. Representative Maxine Waters  and Ambassador Michele Sison — for failing to bring to justice those responsible for the mass killings of residents in the capital’s Bel Air and La Saline slums. Gangs with ties to the president were blamed for the killings.Another man in his 20s who spoke to VOA Creole in a downtown neighborhood expressed sorrow over Moise’s death. “It pains me to hear President Jovenel Moise was assassinated. Today his death does not make us feel good at all,” he told VOA. “We would prefer to have a real government leading us. For now, all we can say is, ‘Rest in peace.’ “A man who described himself as a Moise supporter said he thought the killing was politically motivated.”I believed in Jovenel Moise. I believe he was assassinated today because of his political convictions,” the man, who did not give his name, said. “[Moise] is a Haitian citizen who was fighting against the oligarchs and greedy people. I blame those oligarchs for his murder. This was a heinous act.”Former government attorney Francisco Rene, who spoke to VOA at his office in Port-au-Prince, expressed concern about the gravity of the event.”This is serious. It impacts the future of our democracy, the future of the country,” he said. “It’s also serious with regards to the economic fallout. Many countries may decide to prevent their citizens from traveling to Haiti. This has diminished our standing in the world.”It was unclear how long the state of siege would be in effect. Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic and its airports were closed until further notice.
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A manhunt is under way to find those responsible for assassinating Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moise, at his private residence in a wealthy suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, before dawn on Wednesday.”Those killers are on the loose,” Haitian Ambassador to the United States Bocchit Edmond said Wednesday during a briefing with reporters covering the State Department. “We are calling for an international manhunt.”Edmond said Haiti would request U.S. assistance and expertise. “A stable Haiti is in the interest of the United States,” he said.Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic and its airports are closed, the ambassador said. Edmond said officials suspected the attackers were either still in Haiti or had escaped over the border. He ruled out the possibility of an escape via air, saying it would have been virtually impossible to evade the country’s air surveillance system.Members of the Haitian police and forensics look for evidence outside of the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021.Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph declared a state of siege and said he was now in charge of the country.Asked by VOA whether officials know the nationality of the gunmen, Edmond said he was unsure, but based on video footage obtained by the national police and deemed credible, the assassins, whom he described as “mercenaries,” posed as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.”They are speaking Spanish and presented themselves as DEA agents. As we well know, this is not the way the DEA operates. I believe they are fake DEA agents. Experts who saw the video said those are professional killers,” Edmond told reporters.An emergency vehicle is parked at the entrance of Ryder Trauma Center where Haitian first lady Martine Moise was taken for treatment in Miami, July 7, 2021.First lady Martine Moise, who was shot during the attack, is in stable but critical condition, the ambassador said. She has been transferred to a hospital in Miami, Florida, for treatment. One of the president’s children who was at home during the attack has been taken to a secure location.White House reactionU.S. President Joe Biden condemned the assassination and expressed condolences in a statement issued by the White House.U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he departs the White House in Washington, July 7, 2021.”We condemn this heinous act, and I am sending my sincere wishes for First Lady Moïse’s recovery. The United States offers condolences to the people of Haiti, and we stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti.” Biden called the attack “worrisome.” “We need a lot more information,” he said in response to a reporter’s question before boarding Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews Wednesday morning.World bodies reactIn Washington, the permanent council of the Organization of American States held a virtual emergency meeting to discuss the Moise assassination Wednesday afternoon. Member states condemned the killing and expressed condolences and solidarity with the Haitian people.FILE – Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise speaks during an interview in his office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 28, 2019.U.S. Ambassador Brad Freden said that he was shocked by the news and that the United States was concerned about Haiti’s security and political stability. He called on all political actors to set aside their differences and work for the common good of the Haitian people.In New York, the United Nations Security Council president, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, said the council was deeply shocked by the assassination.  The council will meet privately Thursday morning to discuss developments.”This is a critical moment. I think we all knew it was sensitive and difficult on the ground in Haiti,” Ireland’s ambassador, Geraldine Byrne Nason, told reporters. She said the council would discuss how it could support the people of Haiti.”I think this is a dark hour for them, and we certainly want to be sure we can express our support for the people of Haiti,” she said.The United Nations has about 1,200 staff in Haiti as part of its political mission there.US lawmakers reactOn Capitol Hill, the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, New York Democrat Gregory Meeks, extended condolences to the Moise family and the Haitian people. He also expressed his concerns about violence.”The spiral of violence and political assassinations are a threat to democracy in Haiti. My thoughts go out to the Haitian people as we all hope for a return to peace and stability,” Meeks said in a statement. “I will do everything I can to support a thorough investigation to ensure that those involved are held accountable.”Members of the Haitian police and forensics look for evidence outside of the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021.The committee’s top Republican, Michael McCaul of Texas, also released a statement condemning the killing and calling for a probe.  “I strongly condemn the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse and hope his wife who was injured in the attack recovers quickly. There must be a full investigation and appropriate accountability for his murder. My condolences to the Moïse family and people of Haiti.”Recent uptick in violence  Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division, as well as a rise in gang violence.  Last week in Port-au-Prince, gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, who is known by the nickname Barbecue, took to the streets to protest Moise’s government, calling on him to resign.”Jovenel (Moise) must go!” Cherisier told reporters during the protest. “A new group of people needs to lead this country, and we must sit together around a table, have a national dialogue so we can redefine this country.”Seeking to reassure the nation, the Prime Minister Joseph has appealed for tranquility.”Stay calm. The nation is secure. Let’s look for harmony,” he said.Ambassador Edmond reiterated that message during his briefing with reporters.”Violence is not the answer. There is no future in that,” he said. VOA’s Matiado Vilme in Port-au-Prince, United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer, Capitol Hill correspondent Katherine Gypson, and White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report.
 
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Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, a former banana producer and political neophyte who ruled Haiti for more than four years as the country grew increasingly unstable under his watch, was killed on Wednesday. He was 53. Moïse was assassinated at his private home during “a highly coordinated attack by a highly trained and heavily armed group,” interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said. His wife, Martine, was injured in the attack and remains hospitalized. “Haiti has lost a true statesman,” Joseph said. “We will ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are swiftly brought to justice.” An emergency vehicle is parked at the entrance of Ryder Trauma Center where Haitian first lady Martine Moise was taken for treatment in Miami, July 7, 2021.A businessman from northern Haiti, Moïse had no political experience before being hand-picked by former President Michel Martelly as the ruling Tet Kale party’s official candidate in 2015 elections. Campaigning under the nickname “Neg Bannan Nan” — “Banana Man” in Haitian Creole — he promoted achievements that included launching a banana-exporting joint venture with help from a $6 million loan approved by Martelly’s administration. As a businessman, he also distributed drinking water and established a renewable energy project in various towns. Moise won the 2015 presidential vote, but the results were thrown out following allegations of fraud, leading to a period of political limbo, including the appointment of an interim president. Moise later won November 2016 elections, although voter turnout was only 21%. A man looks at the bullet holes in a car outside of the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021.He took office in February 2017, pledging to strengthen institutions, fight corruption and bring more investments and jobs to the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation. “It’s really important to change the lifestyle of these people,” he said of impoverished people in Haiti’s rural areas. But his administration was soon plagued by massive protests, and critics accused him of growing increasingly authoritarian. Moïse had been ruling by decree for more than a year after Parliament was dissolved and lawmakers failed to organize legislative elections. He was widely criticized for approving decrees, including one that limited the powers of a court that audits government contracts and another that created an intelligence agency that answers only to the president. Members of the Haitian police and forensics look for evidence outside of the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021.Political and economic instability had deepened in recent months, with widespread protests paralyzing the country of more than 11 million people. In addition, gangs in the capital of Port-au-Prince have grown more powerful, with more than 14,700 people driven from their homes last month alone as gangs set fire to homes and ransacked them. In addition, 15 people were killed during a June 29 shooting rampage in the capital, including a journalist and well-known political activist. Officials blamed a group of rogue police officers but have not provided any evidence. Moïse is survived by his wife and three children. 
 
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A Vatican spokesman said Wednesday Pope Francis’ recovery from intestinal surgery continues to be “regular and satisfactory.”  
In a statement, Vatican Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said the 84-year-old pope was continuing to eat regularly following his Sunday surgery to remove the left side of his colon, and that intravenous therapy had been stopped.
In a post on his official Twitter account, the pope said “I am touched by the many caring messages received in these days. I thank everyone for their closeness and prayer.”
Bruni said final examination of the affected tissue “confirmed a severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis,” or a hardening of the sacs that can sometimes form in the lining of the intestine.
Francis underwent three hours of planned surgery Sunday. He is expected to stay in Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic in the pope’s special suite.
During a White House news briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. President Joe Biden — a Roman Catholic — wishes the pope “well and a speedy recovery.” Bruni said Francis appreciated all the prayers coming his way.
Francis had been considered healthy overall and this is the first time he has been admitted to the hospital since he became pope in 2013, though he lost the upper part of one lung in his youth because of an infection. He also suffers from sciatica, or nerve pain, that makes him walk with a pronounced limp.
The Vatican has continued normal operations in his absence, though July is traditionally a month when the pope cancels public and private audiences. 
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The Greeks are redoubling a monthslong diplomatic effort to persuade Germany to stop selling submarines to Turkey, saying that the planned sale of a half dozen subs will shift the balance of naval power in the eastern Mediterranean.Greece and Turkey have been locked in a quarrel about the territorial status of Mediterranean real estate and waters — and more important, the oil and gas reserves beneath them. The energy potential of the eastern Mediterranean has raised the stakes and drawn in neighboring powers.Turkey has said it will keep up energy exploration in the contested eastern Mediterranean waters, where last August a pair of Greek and Turkish frigates collided during a volatile naval standoff, bringing the two NATO members near to a military clash.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday, during a tour of Turkey’s northwestern Black Sea province of Sakarya: “Whatever our rights are, we will take them one way or another. And we will carry out our oil exploration operations in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, and all those seas.”The first of six German-designed submarines destined for Turkey was floated from its dock earlier this year and is scheduled to join the Turkish fleet next year. Five other Reis-class subs are to follow over the next few years in a deal worth around $4 billion.Greece asked the European Union last month to impose an arms embargo on Turkey, but Germany, Spain and Italy rebuffed the request.’Proactive’ foreign policy“Greece is entangled in the remarkably swift geopolitical changes in the eastern Mediterranean,” according to Vassilis Ntousas, a senior international relations policy adviser at the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, a think tank in Brussels.“Athens has responded to the region’s explosive mix of competing maritime interests, energy claims and military exercises by pursuing an increasingly proactive foreign policy,” he added. In a paper published last week he said, “Greece has reached out to [EU] member states that traditionally take a more conciliatory approach to Turkey – such as Spain, Italy and Malta.”Naval tensions have subsided recently in the eastern Mediterranean, where Greece and Turkey are also in a long-standing dispute over the status of Cyprus, following several rounds of face-to-face talks between the Turkish and Greek foreign ministers. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Erdogan also met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels in June with both committing not to hold naval exercises the next few months.Greece Warns Turkey it Will Push for Sanctions if Tensions PersistThe two age-old foes and NATO allies exchange barbs ahead of a key summitKathimerini, the Greek daily newspaper published in Athens, said Erdogan “appeared eager not to stoke tension,” adding, “A calm tourist season is as important for Turkey as it is for Greece. On top of that, Erdogan wants to smooth relations with the European Union and the U.S.”Erdogan has irritated NATO allies by buying Russian surface-to-air missiles and intervening in Syria and Libya.But behind the scenes both Greece and Turkey have been maneuvering to strengthen their diplomatic positions — as well as their militaries. “Turkey’s president is trying to sound more helpful to the West. But his broader policy objectives have not changed,” according to Dimitar Bechev, author of a forthcoming book on Erdogan.’Charm offensive’He said Erdogan has been engaged in “a charm offensive over several months” aimed at rekindling his relations with the West and the Biden administration. The Turkish president met the U.S. leader last month.”The overtures towards Biden are broadly in line with Erdogan’s wish to ‘have his cake and eat it.’ That is, he wants to retain reasonably good relations with the U.S., despite the toxic anti-Americanism pervading Turkish media and the public at large, and to cling on to NATO, while at the same time teaming up with Russia on issues where their interests coincide,” he added in a commentary for the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense think tank.And Turkey, NATO’s second-largest military, has been on a buying spree — as has Greece.Greece announced in December that it was doubling its annual defense spending to $6.6 billion, and it signed a $3 billion deal in January with France to buy 18 Rafale warplanes, 12 of them used.Turkey is awaiting completion of a light aircraft carrier designed by Spain.The German-designed submarines are equipped with air-independent propulsion, or AIP, allowing them to go without the air supply normally needed by diesel engines. They can stay underwater for three weeks with little noise emission. Naval experts say they are well-suited for the shallow waters of the eastern Mediterranean and could be armed with medium-range anti-ship missiles.Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias expressed his profound disappointment last month when Germany’s ruling coalition blocked efforts in the German parliament by opposition lawmakers to stop the submarine sales. “Both Prime Minister Mitsotakis and I have numerous times spoken to almost everyone in Germany about the necessity to keep the balance in the Aegean,” Dendias told reporters. He warned that the submarine deal risked shifting the balance in the Aegean Sea in favor of Ankara.
 
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Haiti is under a state of siege, interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph announced during a national address on state television Wednesday morning.  
 
The announcement came hours after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by a group of unknown gunmen at his private residence in Pelerin, a wealthy suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince.Prime Minister Joseph said he is in charge of the country and has imposed martial law, as Haiti’s borders and its main airport closed.  President Joe Biden walks towards members of the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, July 7, 2021, for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Md, and then on to Illinois.U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack and expressed condolences in a statement issued by the White House.  
 
“We condemn this heinous act, and I am sending my sincere wishes for First Lady Moïse’s recovery. The United States offers condolences to the people of Haiti, and we stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti,” the statement said.  
 
Biden called the attack “worrisome,” adding that “we need a lot more information” while responding to a reporter’s question before boarding Marine One enroute to Joint Base Andrews Wednesday morning.  Biden called assassination of the Haitian president “worrisome” & said he’ll deliver message to Putin on ransomware before departing WH to JBA for flight to Illinois.Asked if U.S. w/ take more action in response to cyber attacks, Biden just smiled. Per pooler Presidential guards patrol the entrance to the residence of late Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 7, 2021.Assassination details 
 
The Haitian prime minister described the attack, which occurred about 1 a.m., as “highly coordinated” by a “highly trained and heavily armed group” whose members spoke in English and Spanish.  Moïse’s wife, Martine, was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, Joseph said. One of the president’s children, who was at home during the attack has been taken to a secure location. Joseph said the national police force is in control of the situation now and has taken measures to ensure the continuity of government, as well as to secure the nation. Joseph urged the international community to investigate the murder. “We also call on the international community to launch an investigation into the assassination and for the United Nations to hold a Security Council meeting on Haiti as soon as possible,” he said in a statement emailed to VOA.  
 
Joseph vowed to bring those responsible to justice.  
 FILE – Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.US lawmaker reaction  
 
On Capitol Hill, House Foreign Affairs Committee lead, Texas Republican Michael McCaul, released a statement condemning the killing and calling for a probe. 
 
“I strongly condemn the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse and hope his wife who was injured in the attack recovers quickly. There must be a full investigation and appropriate accountability for his murder. My condolences to the Moïse family and people of Haiti.”   
 United Nations reaction 
 
United Nations Security Council president, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, said the council was deeply shocked by the assassination.The council will meet privately Thursday morning to discuss developments. 
“This is a critical moment. I think we all knew it was sensitive and difficult on the ground in Haiti,” Ireland’s ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason told reporters. She said the council would discuss how it could support the people of Haiti.“I think this is a dark hour for them, and we certainly want to be sure we can express our support for the people of Haiti,” she said.The United Nations has about 1,200 staff in Haiti as part of its political mission there.  Recent uptick in violence  
 
Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division, as well as a rise in gang violence.   
 
Last week in Port-au-Prince, gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, who is known by the nickname Barbeque, took to the streets to protest Moise’s government, calling on him to resign.   
 
“Jovenel [Moise] must go!” Cherisier told reporters during the protest. “A new group of people needs to lead this country, and we must sit together around a table, have a national dialogue so we can redefine this country.” 
 
Seeking to reassure the nation, the prime minister had appealed for calm.  
 
“Stay calm, the nation is secure, let’s look for harmony,” he said. Matiado Vilme and Yves Manuel in Port-au-Prince, White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara, Capitol Hill correspondent Katherine Gypson, United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.
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The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Elsa came ashore late Wednesday morning (local time) on Florida’s northwest coast, bringing a storm surge and heavy rain but sparing the region hurricane force winds.After briefly intensifying once again to hurricane strength late Tuesday, Elsa weakened overnight as it approached the western Florida coastline.  The hurricane center said the storm came ashore in Taylor County, about 83 kilometers southeast of Tallahassee. At last report, the storm had maximum sustained winds of about 100 km per hour and forecasters expect it to move to the north-northeast over the course of the next 24 hour.The track has it moving across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States through Thursday, where tropical storm watches have been issued.The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, possible flooding and the chance of tornados and severe thunderstorms.In comments to the media, Florida Governor Ron Desantis said the area where the storm came on shore is lightly populated and no serious damage or injuries were reported. He said the state is fortunate because the situation is better than it looked three days ago and the impact is likely to be less severe than had been feared.The Associated Press reports about 26,000 people were without power in western and northwestern Florida.Elsa swept over Cuba’s southcentral coast Monday, bringing strong winds, heavy rains and storm surges.  Cuban officials said they had evacuated 180,000 people from homes in flood-prone areas.The Associated Press and Reuters News services contributed to this report.
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Haitian interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph has appealed for calm after President Jovenel Moïse was shot dead overnight in an attack at his private residence. In a statement Wednesday, Joseph said an unidentified group of people who attacked the president’s private residence, located in a suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, were responsible for the killing, which he called a “hateful, inhuman and barbaric act.”   Joseph described the attackers as “foreigners” during an interview with a Port-au-Prince radio station Wednesday morning and said some group members spoke in Spanish.  He also said Moïse’s wife, Martine, was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.  
 
“The president’s wife is alive and is being treated,” Joseph confirmed to local radio station Magik 9.  Joseph said the national police force is in control of the situation now and that measures have been taken to “protect the nation.” He vowed to ensure the continuity of government adding that “we are a democracy.” 
 
Joseph said he had met with officials of the National Police Force and that he plans to address the nation later today.  
 
The U.S. is “assessing” the attack and U.S. President Joe Biden will be briefed on the situation in Haiti, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told MSNBC.   
 
Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division as well as a rise in gang violence.  Last week in Port-au-Prince, gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, who is known by the nickname Barbeque, took to the streets to protest Moise’s government, calling on him to resign.  
 
“Jovenel (Moise) must go!” Cherisier told reporters during the protest. “A new group of people needs to lead this country and we must sit together around a table, have a national dialogue so we can redefine this country.” 
 Sandra Lemaire in Washington and Matiado Vilme in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report, which includes information from the Associated Press, AFP and Reuters
 
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Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was shot dead overnight in an attack at his private residence, interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said Wednesday.In a statement, Joseph said an unidentified group of people were responsible for the killing, which he called a “hateful, inhuman and barbaric act.”He also said Moïse’s wife, Martine, was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division as well as a rise in gang violence.  This report includes information from the Associated Press, AFP and Reuters
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The Transportation Department issued a final order Tuesday that blocks most travel between the United States and Belarus, underscoring Washington’s concern about the recent forced landing of a passenger jet to arrest a dissident Belarussian journalist.The order, which was requested by the State Department, bars airlines from selling tickets for travel between the two countries, with exceptions only for humanitarian or national security reasons.The Transportation Department proposed the ban last week and said Tuesday that it received no objections. There are no direct passenger flights between the U.S. and Belarus.In May, Belarussian officials ordered a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius, Lithuania, to land in Minsk, where authorities removed journalist Raman Pratasevich from the plane and arrested him. Pratasevich faces a possible 15-year prison term.President Joe Biden has called the forced diversion an “outrageous incident” and joined others in calling for an international investigation.
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