The chaotic aftermath of the Haitian president’s assassination — with at least four people claiming to hold power — has put the spotlight on the Caribbean country’s failing democracy.
The big picture: But there are signs of deterioration even in countries with deeper democratic foundations.
The U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions Monday on 100 members of Nicaragua's National Assembly and judicial system, accusing them of being involved in human rights abuses, crackdowns on peaceful protest and in passing laws aimed at suppressing free speech.
Why it matters: The restrictions come amid escalating political tension in the Nicaragua. President Daniel Ortega’s government has detained 26 opposition figures in recent weeks, including several presidential candidates, and has also forced some critics to flee the country.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday condemned the racist online abuse directed at three Black players after England's European Championship final loss, saying at a briefing that those responsible should "crawl back under the rock from which you emerged."
Catch up quick: Italydefeated England in a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout Sunday night, but the three Black players who missed penalty kicks were subjected to racist attacks on social media after the game.
Israel on Monday will begin offering a third dose of Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine as a booster shot for people with weakened immune systems, according to the Times of Israel.
Why it matters: It's one of the first countries to offer booster shots to bolster protection against the rapidly spreading Delta variant. The Israeli Health Ministry is still determining whether an extra shot should be offered to the general public.
President Biden said Monday he supports the Cuban people and their "clarion call for freedom and relief," amid massive protests on the island against the government and food and medicine shortages during the pandemic.
What he's saying: "The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected," the president said in a statement.
Chinese antitrust regulators blocked the proposed $5.3 billion merger of Huya (NYSE: NUYA) and DouYu (Nasdaq: DOYU), two game streaming companies backed by Tencent.
Why it matters: This reflects how China's crackdown on local tech giants is expanding well beyond data privacy and offshore listings. It's also a big win for Amazon's Twitch, which could have faced a viable challenge from the combined Huya/DouYu.
The South African National Defense Force announced Monday that soldiers will be deployed to help police quell civil unrest over the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, according to AP.
Driving the news: Six people died and 219 were arrested during riots and looting sprees over the weekend, which started in Zuma's home region of KwaZulu-Natal province and spread to Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg.
Army Gen. Austin Miller, who has led U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan since 2018, relinquished his command during a ceremony in Kabul on Monday.
Why it matters: It's a symbolic moment in the drawdown of the U.S. military's involvement in Afghanistan and another major milestone in President Biden's goal of formally ending the mission there on Aug. 31.
A U.S. delegation traveled to Haiti on Sunday to meet with the country's acting prime minister and national police force amid unrest following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, the White House announced Monday.
Why it matters: The visit came after Haitian authorities requested troops from the U.S. to help stabilize the country and protect its critical infrastructure. The Pentagon has not yet made a decision, but spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday the U.S. is "analyzing" the request.
The Biden administration on Sunday reaffirmed a Trump-era policy rejecting the Chinese government's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Why it matters: Secretary of State Antony Blinken's firm statement comes ahead of this week's fifth anniversary of an international tribunal's ruling backing the Philippines' government against the Chinese Communist Party's maritime claims in the region.
Driving the news: Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, who's worked as a doctor in Florida, is the "third Haitian-born suspect with U.S. ties to be arrested" over the July 7 killing, the New York Times notes.
