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India and Spain Launch Country’s First Private Military Aircraft Plant

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India and Spain Launch Country’s First Private Military Aircraft Plant

In a significant step towards bolstering India’s defense and aerospace manufacturing capabilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated the country’s first private military aircraft plant on Monday.

The Tata Aircraft Complex, located in Gujarat state’s Vadodara city, will produce the Airbus C-295 transport military aircraft in collaboration with Airbus Spain. The aircraft will be deployed by the Indian air force, marking a major milestone in India’s efforts to grow local manufacturing in its defense and aerospace industries.

Sanchez, who was welcomed with a roadshow in Vadodara where hundreds of people cheered and waved banners, praised the project as a triumph of Modi’s vision to transform India into an industrial powerhouse and attract international investment and collaboration. He added that the partnership between Airbus and Tata would contribute to the progress of the Indian aerospace industry and pave the way for other European companies to enter the market.

Under the $2.5 billion deal signed in 2021, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, with six already delivered to the Indian air force. Tata Advanced Systems Ltd will produce the remaining 40 aircraft at the Vadodara plant, which is expected to roll out the first Made-in-India C-295 aircraft in 2026.

The C-295 aircraft can transport up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers and will be able to access remote locations. It can also be used for medical evacuations, disaster response, and maritime patrol duties.

Since taking office in 2014, Modi has been committed to turning India into a global manufacturing hub across various sectors, including infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and defense. As part of this effort, the government has sought to grow the private defense manufacturing sector, which was previously dominated by government-run organizations, and has eased foreign direct investment regulations to encourage companies to establish themselves in India.

The visit by Sanchez, the first by a Spanish leader to India in 18 years, will also include talks with Modi to review bilateral ties and a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. On Tuesday, Sanchez will travel to Mumbai, India’s financial capital and home to Bollywood, to interact with trade and industry leaders and visit film studios to explore collaboration opportunities between the Indian and Spanish entertainment industries.

Bilateral trade between India and Spain stood at nearly $10 billion as of 2023, with more than 200 Spanish companies actively operating in India and around 80 Indian companies in Spain. The two leaders are expected to sign agreements to further boost ties and cooperation in various areas, including trade, information technology, renewable energy, and defense.

The inauguration of the Tata Aircraft Complex marks a significant step forward in India’s ambitious plans to become self-reliant in defense manufacturing and strengthen its position as a global aerospace hub.

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Florida Woman Convicted of Second-Degree Murder for Leaving Boyfriend to Die in Suitcase

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Florida Woman Convicted of Second-Degree Murder for Leaving Boyfriend to Die in Suitcase

Sarah Boone, a woman accused of leaving her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, to die after he was zipped into a suitcase in their Winter Park, Florida, residence, has been found guilty of second-degree murder by a jury in central Florida. The verdict was delivered on Friday evening, four years after Boone’s initial arrest, following a brief 90-minute deliberation by the jurors.

According to an arrest report, Boone initially told detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that she and Torres had been playing hide-and-seek while intoxicated on Feb. 23, 2020. They thought it would be amusing for Torres to get into the suitcase. Boone claimed she went to sleep, believing her boyfriend could get out of the suitcase on his own. However, when she woke up the next morning, she found Torres unresponsive inside the suitcase.

Detectives charged Boone with murder after discovering incriminating videos on her cellphone. The videos showed Torres yelling from inside the suitcase, saying he couldn’t breathe and repeatedly calling out Boone’s name. In one of the videos, Boone can be heard saying, “Yeah that’s what you do when you choke me. Oh, that’s what I feel like when you cheat on me,” according to the arrest report.

During her trial, Boone testified that past violent incidents between her and Torres led her to perceive a threat of imminent harm, prompting her to act in self-defense by keeping him in the suitcase.

An autopsy report revealed that Torres had suffered scratches on his back and neck, contusions to his shoulder, skull, and forehead from blunt force trauma, and a cut near his busted lip.

The trial, which lasted 10 days, was delayed due to Boone going through several attorneys since her arrest. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2 and faces up to life in prison.

The case has garnered significant attention due to the unusual and tragic circumstances surrounding Torres’ death. The verdict brings a measure of closure to the victim’s family and friends, who have been seeking justice for the past four years.

As the sentencing date approaches, the court will consider the evidence presented during the trial and the impact of the crime on the victim’s loved ones before determining Boone’s punishment for her role in this shocking and devastating incident.

___ Associated Press reporter Michael Schneider in Orlando contributed to this report. Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Ex-Philippine President Duterte Admits to Maintaining ‘Death Squad’ as Mayor, Denies Authorizing Drug War Killings

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Ex-Philippine President Duterte Admits to Maintaining ‘Death Squad’ as Mayor, Denies Authorizing Drug War Killings

In a stunning admission during a Senate inquiry on Monday, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that he had maintained a “death squad” of seven gangsters to kill criminals during his time as mayor of Davao city. However, the 79-year-old former leader denied authorizing the police to carry out thousands of extrajudicial killings during his presidency’s bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, which is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court as a possible crime against humanity.

Duterte’s appearance at the televised inquiry marked his first public appearance since his term ended in 2022. The Senate is investigating the unprecedented scale of drug-related killings under Duterte’s leadership.

“I can make the confession now if you want,” Duterte said, acknowledging his past involvement with the death squad. “I had a death squad of seven, but they were not policemen, they were also gangsters.” He added, “I’ll ask a gangster to kill somebody. If you will not kill (that person), I will kill you now.”

Despite pressing from Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros for more details, Duterte provided unclear responses and said he would explain further in the next hearing.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte listens during a senate inquiry on the so-called war on drugs during his administration at the Philippine Senate Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Throughout the inquiry, Duterte, known for his expletive-laden speeches, stated that he would take full responsibility for the killings that occurred during his presidency. However, he maintained that he never ordered his national police chiefs, including current Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, to undertake extrajudicial killings.

The lack of criminal complaints filed against Duterte in Philippine courts over the killings puzzled the former president. “I’m puzzled why the Justice Department hasn’t filed any case,” he said. “I’ve been killing people for a long time and they haven’t filed any case up to now?”

Former Senator Leila de Lima, a vocal critic of Duterte who investigated the drug killings in Davao, attributed the absence of cases to witnesses being afraid to testify against Duterte while he was in power. De Lima herself was arrested on allegedly fabricated drug charges early in Duterte’s presidency and spent more than six years in detention before being cleared and released last year.

“This man, the former mayor of Davao city and the former president of the Republic of the Philippines, for so long has evaded justice and accountability,” de Lima said, sitting near the former president. She expressed hope that with Duterte out of power, witnesses could now come forward and help prosecute him and his associates.

Arturo Lascanas, a retired police officer who served under Duterte in Davao, previously told The Associated Press that as many as 10,000 suspects may have been killed in the city on orders of Duterte and his key aides. Lascanas, who has gone into hiding abroad, claimed to have provided testimony and evidence to the International Criminal Court.

Despite the serious allegations, Duterte remained defiant throughout the hearing, even issuing a chilling warning to drug dealers and criminals: “If I’m given another chance, I’ll wipe all of you.”

The Senate inquiry has reignited the debate surrounding Duterte’s controversial legacy, with activists regarding him as “a human rights calamity” for the widespread deaths under his war on drugs and his attacks on critical media, the Catholic church, and political opposition.

apnews.com

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe Under Fire for Calling Puerto Rico ‘Island of Garbage’, at Trump’s MSG Rally

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Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe Under Fire for Calling Puerto Rico ‘Island of Garbage’, at Trump’s MSG Rally

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe is facing criticism after making a controversial joke about Puerto Rico during his appearance at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday. The comedian, known for pushing boundaries in his sets, took the stage before the former president and made jokes targeting people of various races and backgrounds.

While many of Hinchcliffe’s jokes drew mixed reactions from the crowd, one in particular sparked outrage. The comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” in the ocean, causing the audience to react with uncertainty. Even Hinchcliffe acknowledged that he had crossed a line with the crowd.

Public figures quickly condemned Hinchcliffe’s remarks. Tim Walz, who ran as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential candidate, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who were on a Twitch stream together at the time, both spoke out against the joke. Walz emphasized that Puerto Ricans are American citizens who pay taxes and serve in the military, and that putting them down in such a manner was unacceptable.

Hinchcliffe responded to Walz, defending his role as a comedian and stating that if Walz had watched the entire set, he would have seen that Hinchcliffe targeted a variety of people, not just Puerto Ricans.

Numerous other public figures, including singer Ricky Martin, rapper Bad Bunny, Congressman Ritchie Torres, and Puerto Rico Republican Party Chairman Ángel Cintrón, have also expressed their disapproval of Hinchcliffe’s joke in the aftermath of the rally.

This is not the first time Hinchcliffe has stirred controversy with his comedy. He previously made headlines for his wild barbs directed at Kim Kardashian during the Roast of Tom Brady.

As the backlash continues to grow, it is expected that more celebrities and public figures will speak out against Hinchcliffe’s comments in the coming days. The incident has reignited discussions about the boundaries of comedy and the impact of offensive jokes targeting specific communities.

Hinchcliffe’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the controversy surrounding his performance at the Madison Square Garden rally.

Denver Cardiologist Sentenced to 158 Years for Drugging and Raping Women Met on Dating Sites

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Denver Cardiologist Sentenced to 158 Years for Drugging and Raping Women Met on Dating Sites

Stephen Matthews, a Denver cardiologist who drugged and raped nearly a dozen women he met on dating sites, has been sentenced to 158 years in prison. The sentencing marks the end of a four-year reign of terror that lasted from 2019 to early last year.

Matthews, 37, wept in the dock as he was convicted on 35 counts in August. He returned to court on Friday to learn his fate, with District Court Judge Eric Johnson condemning his actions. “You have diminished this world,” Johnson told him. “You have dimmed many of its lights. You’ve hurt our society, and it’s a darker place because of you. You brought disgrace upon yourself.”

Prosecutors said Matthews trawled through online dating apps including Hinge and Tinder, “strategically” trying to arrange dates near his home in the city’s Lower Highland neighborhood. Eleven victims came forward to testify against him, but prosecutors fear there were dozens more, with one branding him “one of the most prolific serial rapists in the history of the state of Colorado.”

Victims recounted remarkably similar experiences of being drugged and raped after accepting drinks from Matthews. One victim, Allie, said she felt ill and her speech became slurred after drinking only a quarter of the glass Matthews had prepared for her. She managed to escape “shoeless, vomiting and barely conscious” into an Uber.

Another victim, Audrey, met Matthews for brunch before he invited her back to his home. Her last memory is of sipping a drink he made her, before coming to, hours later, back in her own home with hickeys, bruises, and no recollection of what had happened.

While Matthews’ mother pleaded for leniency, telling him “I love you always, and no matter what,” victims welcomed the lengthy sentence. “We are now a powerful army of survivors, and you are nothing,” one said, branding him a “narcissistic monster.”

Denver DA Beth McCann thanked the survivors for their courage in bringing Matthews to justice. “Stephen Matthews took advantage of nearly a dozen women in the most egregious way imaginable, and for that, he will now pay a significant price,” she said. “I hope today’s verdict provides a measure of comfort to all the victims, whose courage throughout this case should be an inspiration to us all.”

Small Ohio Town Struggles to Cope with Influx of 3,000 African Migrants Who Don’t Pay Taxes

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Small Ohio Town Struggles to Cope with Influx of 3,000 African Migrants Who Don’t Pay Taxes

The tiny midwestern town of Lockland, Ohio, is grappling with a sudden surge in its population, as more than 3,000 legal Mauritanian asylum seekers have arrived over the past year, nearly doubling the town’s size.

Lockland, located near Cincinnati, had a population of just 3,500 in 2023. Local officials say the influx of Mauritanian migrants, many of whom are not able to work and pay taxes, has put a strain on the town’s resources and emergency services.

“If you look at 2021, 2022, the United States had seen a huge influx of immigrants from Mauritania,” Lockland Village Administrator Doug Wehmeyer told Fox News Digital. “Somehow, a good number of them have landed in Lockland.”

Social media, particularly TikTok, has played a significant role in the sudden deluge of migrants. Videos posted on the platform outline a route from Mauritania to Turkey, then through South America to the U.S., with a stop in Managua, Nicaragua, where relaxed entry requirements allow Mauritanians to purchase low-cost visas without proof of onward travel.

“The American dream is still available,” promises one TikTok video. “Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today.”

Lockland Mayor Mark Mason attributes the “explosion” in the town’s population to these TikTok videos and has called for changes to the Biden administration’s border policies. “If they’re going to have an open border policy, they’re going to need a policy to direct these immigrants to communities that can withstand that kind of population outburst,” he said. “1.2 square mile village — it’s unsustainable.”

The influx has also led to a projected $200,000 shortfall in the town’s income tax revenue, as many of the Mauritanian migrants are unable to work. Additionally, the fire service has seen a 12 percent increase in call-outs this year, largely due to the cramped living conditions of the migrants, with up to a dozen people living in each of the approximately 200 housing units.

The sudden arrival of Mauritanians has surprised U.S. officials, as it occurred without a triggering event such as a natural disaster or political upheaval. Some of the new arrivals say they are fleeing state violence and racial tensions in Mauritania, particularly in the wake of the death of a young black man, Oumar Diop, in police custody.

21k Workers Deaths Reported in Saudi Arabia’s Neom Megaproject, ITV Investigation Reveals

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21k Workers Deaths Reported in Saudi Arabia’s Neom Megaproject, ITV Investigation Reveals

An undercover investigation by a female reporter has uncovered the dangerous and deadly working conditions inside Saudi Arabia’s £1 trillion Neom megaproject, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of his Saudi Vision 2030 plan.

According to shocking new statistics revealed in ITV’s documentary “Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia,” more than 21,000 workers have died in just eight years since the project’s launch. Migrant workers have complained of feeling like “trapped slaves” and “beggars” while facing serious allegations of missed payments, illegal working hours, and human rights violations.

The documentary features interviews with terrified workers and heartbroken family members of those who have died since moving to Saudi Arabia to work on the megaproject. Reports allege that as many as 100,000 migrant workers have gone missing during the construction of Neom, with over 650 Nepalese worker deaths still unexplained, according to Nepal’s Foreign Employment Board.

An undercover journalist named Noura spoke with workers from The Line, a futuristic 100-mile car-free city under construction in the Saudi desert. One worker revealed that he often works 16-hour days, totaling upwards of 84 hours per week, far exceeding Saudi Arabia’s legal limit of 60 hours per week.

Nicholas McGeehan, director at human rights organisation FairSquare, commented, “These working hours are way beyond what the international minimum standards permit. The reality is that workers all over Saudi Arabia are subject to deeply abusive and dangerous exploitation.”

Workers also reported not being paid for months, with some claiming they haven’t received any cash in their accounts for up to 10 months. Others allege that they don’t get fed or can’t afford to eat, and are never allowed to leave the Kingdom to see their families.

The documentary features a harrowing phone call from a Nepalese worker named Raju Bishwakarma, who begged to be rescued while in tears due to his deteriorating health. Despite his condition, he was allegedly forced to continue working and was later found dead in his room.

Nepali human rights lawyer Anurag Devkota said, “Migrant workers are leaving this country every day, for a better future for their family members and a better future for their country. But in return, what we are getting is the dead bodies in the wooden boxes.”

ITV states that they presented all of the allegations in the film to the Saudi Government but did not receive a reply. In a statement, Neom replied, “We are assessing the claims made in this programme and, where required, will take appropriate action. We require all contractors and subcontractors to comply with NEOM’s Code of Conduct, based on the laws of Saudi Arabia and the policies of the International Labour Organization.”

The documentary “Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia” is set to air on Sunday, October 27 at 10:15pm on ITV, shedding light on the dark reality behind Saudi Arabia’s ambitious megaproject and the human cost of its construction.

Source: the-sun.com

Thai YouTuber ‘Nutty’ Arrested in Indonesia After Fleeing £47 Million Fraud Allegations

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Thai YouTuber ‘Nutty’ Arrested in Indonesia After Fleeing £47 Million Fraud Allegations

Natthamon Khongchak, a 32-year-old Thai YouTuber known as ‘Nutty’, was arrested in Indonesia after fleeing Thailand amid accusations of scamming victims out of £47 million through a fraudulent foreign exchange trading scheme.

Khongchak’s arrest came after Indonesian immigration officials became suspicious of her accent when she attempted to obtain an Indonesian passport. When asked to sing the national anthem and recite the country’s constitution, she failed, leading to her admission of illegally entering the country.

Further investigation revealed that Khongchak was a wanted fugitive in Thailand, where thousands of alleged victims had filed complaints against her in Bangkok. One victim claimed to have lost thousands of pounds that were intended to send her child to university.

Khongchak, along with her secretary Nichapat Ratananukrom and her mother, had fled to Kuala Lumpur before taking a boat to a remote Indonesian island. She was arrested on October 2, 2024, in Dumai City, Riau Province, on the island of Sumatra.

Police Lieutenant General Thatchai Pitaneelabut, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, stated that Khongchak is currently under investigation and will be sent to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for legal action.

Despite claiming that she had turned herself in and apologizing for her actions, Khongchak and her mother were deported to Thailand, where they now face lengthy jail terms.

Khongchak ran a popular YouTube channel with more than 800,000 subscribers, regularly sharing trading tips while posing as a foreign exchange trader. Her Instagram showcased a luxurious lifestyle, featuring tropical beach snaps and photos of luxury cars.

Lawyers representing the alleged victims claim that Khongchak used her significant social media influence to lure victims into investing money with the promise of quick returns of 35 percent, but failed to pay out. Phaisal Ruangri, a lawyer campaigning to help fraud victims, estimated that there are around 6,000 victims who had allegedly been fleeced of at least £47 million in total.

One mother who lost her child’s university savings told local media she had lost £42,000 in the alleged scam, stating, “I thought that the money Nutty promised would help us live a more comfortable life. Now I am sick with worry as I’ve lost everything.”

Khongchak and her secretary Ratananukrom are accused of “defrauding people together” and “advertising or announcing to the public of money borrowing where the pay benefits rates are higher than the highest interest rate that a financial institution can pay.”

Egypt Proposes Two-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Release of Hostages and Prisoners

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Egypt Proposes Two-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Release of Hostages and Prisoners

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced on Sunday that his country has proposed a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during which four hostages held in Gaza would be freed, some Palestinian prisoners would be released, and humanitarian aid would be delivered to the besieged area.

Speaking in Cairo, Sisi said the proposal aims to “move the situation forward,” adding that once the two-day ceasefire goes into effect, negotiations would continue to make it permanent. There was no immediate response from Israel or Hamas, as the latest talks were expected to take place in Qatar, another key mediator in the conflict.

This marks the first time Egypt’s president has publicly proposed such a plan since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The last ceasefire, which lasted a week in November, saw the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

In an effort to end the fighting and ease regional tensions, Israel’s Mossad chief was traveling to Doha on Sunday for talks with the prime minister of Qatar and the CIA chief. The tensions have escalated in recent weeks, with Israel now at war with both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and openly attacking their backer, Iran, for the first time this weekend.

Iran’s supreme leader said on Sunday that the strikes “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” while stopping short of calling for retaliation.

During a government memorial for the Hebrew anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged that “not every goal can be achieved through only military operations,” and that “painful compromises will be required” to secure the return of the remaining hostages.

At the same event, protesters disrupted a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shouting “Shame on you.” Many Israelis hold Netanyahu responsible for the failures that led to the attack and for not yet bringing home the remaining hostages.

Georgian Opposition Calls for Protests as President Accuses Russia of Election Fraud

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Georgian Opposition Calls for Protests as President Accuses Russia of Election Fraud

The Georgian opposition has called for protests and the European Union has demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities in the disputed legislative election held on Saturday. The election, seen as a crucial test of democracy in the Caucasus country, showed a win for the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has been accused of moving towards Russia’s orbit.

Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili accused Moscow of being behind the election fraud, calling it a “Russian special operation.” She has called for a rally on Monday, while jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili has also called for mass protests.

The European Union had warned that the vote could determine Tbilisi’s chances of joining the bloc. EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Georgian authorities should “swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof.”

International observers said the election was “marred by an uneven playing field, pressure and tension,” with an EU parliament mission expressing concern about “democratic backsliding” and instances of “ballot box stuffing” and “physical assault” of observers.

Official tallies from more than 99% of precincts showed the ruling Georgian Dream party winning 54% of the vote, with the main pro-Western opposition coalition on 37.5%. The result gives Georgian Dream 91 seats in the 150-member parliament, enough to govern but short of the supermajority needed to pass a constitutional ban on all main opposition parties.

Opposition parties have denounced the vote, with Tina Bokuchava, leader of Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM), calling it “an attempt to steal Georgia’s future.” Nika Gvaramia, leader of the liberal Akhali party, described the way the vote was held as “a constitutional coup” by the government.

Analyst Gela Vasadze of the Georgian Strategic Analysis Center said the country was plunging “into political instability for an indefinite period” and that its EU hopes had “dimmed.” However, he noted that the opposition lacked “charismatic leaders who could channel popular anger into a protest wave capable of bringing about political change.”

Georgia has been gripped by mass demonstrations this year against what the opposition saw as government attempts to curtail democratic freedoms and steer the country of four million off its pro-Western course and towards Russia.

In power since 2012, Georgian Dream initially pursued a liberal pro-Western policy agenda but has reversed course over the last two years. Its campaign centered on a conspiracy theory about a “global war party” that controls Western institutions and is seeking to drag Georgia into the Russia-Ukraine war.

The ruling party’s controversial “foreign influence” law, which targeted civil society, sparked weeks of street protests and was criticized as a Kremlin-style measure to silence dissent. The move prompted Brussels to freeze Georgia’s EU accession process, while Washington imposed sanctions on dozens of Georgian officials.

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