What You Need To Know:

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping reappointed President with no limit on the number of terms he can serve.

2. Russian President Vladimir Putin overwhelmingly re-elected President for 4th term. Many irregularities in the election process were reported.

3. The United States slapped sanctions on Russian individuals and entities for meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections.

4. Turkish military and allied Syrian forces captured the Syrian Kurdish town of Afrin nearly 2 months after launching their offensive.

5. Slovenian Prime Minister Cerar resigned after a top Court annulled the result of a September referendum that approved a 1-billion-euro railway project.

6. British Prime Minister Theresa May expelled 23 Russian diplomats over spy poisoning.

7. A roadside bomb struck the convoy of Palestinian Prime Minister Hamdallah in Gaza. No injuries were reported.

8. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Fico resigns amid protests over corruption linked to journalist’s murder.

9. A plane carrying 71 people from Bangladesh crashed in Nepal killing at least 50 people.

10. Thousands march in Brazil after execution-style murder of a popular Rio de Janeiro councilwoman and outspoken critic of police killings.

Afghanistan

• Security forces retake district office from Taliban in Western Farah, 8 killed
• Car bomb kills at least 3 in Kabul
• Botched suicide attack injures 5 students in Kabul

Albania

• Police arrest 39 for smuggling people into Britain and U.S.

Australia

• Two Australians killed by landmine in training exercise on military base in Cambodia
• Prime Minister meets Myanmar’s leader Suu Kyi, to raise human rights concern
• Liberals win state election in blow for renewables lobby

Austria

• Knife attacker shot outside Iranian ambassador’s residence in Vienna 

Bolivia

• Police storm notorious jail killing 6 inmates

Botswana

• President says Trump encourages elephant poaching 

Brazil

• Thousands march after murder of activist councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro

Burundi

• President sets May date for referendum on power

China

• Xi Jinping reappointed President with no term limits
• South Korea praises China’s role in nudging North Korea to talks

Colombia

• Peace deal backers lose big in Congress elections

Congo

• Ethnic clashes in Eastern Congo kill at least 40 people

Czech Republic

• Court delays alleged Russian hacker extradition 
• Foreign minister rejects Russian claims of manufacturing nerve agent

Eritrea

• Authorities arrests hundreds of perceived opponents

Ethiopia

• 38 students killed in bus accident north of Addis Ababa
• At least 2,000 Ethiopians to flee Kenya after botched military operation

Finland

• North Korean diplomat heads to Finland for talks with U.S. and South Korea

Germany

• Angela Merkel sworn-in as German chancellor for 4th term

Greece

• 16 migrants die as smuggling boat sinks in Aegean
• Protesters and police clash at property repossession auction

Guinea

• 2 killed in third day of riots

India

• Pakistan shelling kills 5 family members in Kashmir
• Key regional party quits Prime Minister Modi’s alliance

Iraq

• Prime Minister to lift ban on international flights to Kurdistan Region

Ireland

• Prime Minister Varadkar under fire after revealing he helped U.S. President years ago

Israel

• Court suspends plan to deport African migrants

Italy

• League leader open to government deal with 5-Star

Japan

• Prime Minister Abe under fire over suspected cover-up
• PM Abe denies involvement in discount land sale

Kazakhstan

• Authorities outlaw political movement created online by exiled opponent

Kenya

• Opposition suspends “People’s Assembly” after rivals meet

Kuwait

• Kuwait reaches deal with Philippines on domestic workers

The Maldives

• Police arrest 139 opposition protesters under emergency rule

Mauritius

• President Gurib-Fakim resigns over claim of financial impropriety 

Moldova

• Former member of Parliament jailed for spying on Russia

Nepal

• Plane carrying 71 people from Bangladesh crashes in Kathmandu killing at least 50

North Korea

• Foreign minister visits Sweden

Pakistan

• Bomb targets police in Lahore killing 7 people

Palestine

• Explosion strikes Prime Minister’s convoy during visit to Gaza

Panama

• Strike paralyzes port after protests against city plans turn violent

Peru

• President says he used offshore firm to legally avoid U.S. taxes

Philippines

• Small plane crashes outside Manila killing 10
• Fire at Manila hotel kills at least 3 workers
• President Duterte withdraws Philippines from International Criminal Court

Russia

• Vladimir Putin re-elected President for 4th term
• Irregularities reported in Presidential election
• U.S., France, Germany blame Russia for U.K. nerve agent attack
• Authorities expel 23 U.K. diplomats in spy-poisoning tit for tat
• Government says U.S. plans to strike Syria, pledges military response

Saudi Arabia

• Crown Prince says will develop nuclear bomb in Iran does

Senegal

• 8 killed in military helicopter crash
• Government closes schools linked to Turkish cleric in exile

Sierra Leone

• Former coup leader wins first round of presidential election

Slovakia

• Prime Minister Fico resigns to ease political crisis
• Interior Minister resigns after protests over journalists murder
• Deputy PM says he is a candidate to lead new government
• Police detain Italian businessman named by murdered reporter

Slovenia

• Prime Minister Cerar resigns after Supreme Court annuls investment referendum
• Schools close as teachers strike for wage hikes
• Slovenia sets early elections for May

Somalia

• Rival clans secure peace deal 

South Africa

• Former President Zuma charged with corruption over state arms deal worth billions

South Sudan

• President fires Finance minister and blacklisted general

Spain

• Retireees protest across Spain to demand pension hike

Sri Lanka

• Authorities lift state of emergency

Syria

• Turkish backed forces capture Kurdish town of Afrin
• Government airstrikes kill at least 46 civilians in Eastern Ghouta
• Government airstrikes kill 12 members of rebel group in Eastern Ghouta
• Turkish airstrikes kill 5 near Afrin
• At least 22 killed in Turkish shelling on Kurdish held town in Northern Syria

Uganda

• Flight attendant dies after fall from plane in Entebbe airport

Ukraine

• Prosecutor accuses former war hero of plotting parliament attack

United Kingdom

• Prime Minister May expels 23 Russian diplomats over spy poisoning
• Former spy poisoning looks to be ‘state-sponsored’ 

United States of America

• Helicopter crash in Iraq kills 7 soldiers
• President Trump fires Secretary of State, taps CIA director to replace him
• U.S. hits Russians with sanctions for election meddling, cyber attacks
• President signs U.S.-Taiwan travel bill angering China
• At least 6 dead in Florida university bridge collapse

Yemen

• ISIS car bomb kills 3 in Aden
• 7 killed in military kitchen bomb attack in Aden

Zimbabwe

• Former leader Mugabe calls his ouster a coup, wants to return
• Elections to take place in July
• State-owned distributor gives farmers 6 months to clear electricity bills

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