Weaponizing Migration

This is The World Today [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvb3FqcG44OXVjdC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weaponizing Migration [Formerly DailyChatter - Why are we changing our name?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvd3E4bW8ybnc1eC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOWtseTBjdHhvay8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNDJzeGR6ODhlai8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbTdxMjEwMmZtcC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdzRpbGh6cHl2cC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) GlobalPost is an exclusive benefit for subscribers of The Charlotte Observer The Largest Daily Newsletter Devoted to World News Weaponizing Migration THE WORLD TODAY — Friday, September 6, 2024 Weaponizing Migration Weaponizing Migration Need to Know Weaponizing Migration [Nicaragua](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcW16YmRlZGdyNC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) In Senegal, Haiti, India, China, and Libya, the hot new ticket is Nicaragua. Famed for its beaches, volcanos and rainforests, citizens of dozens of countries are attracted by a different lure: It’s become a major gateway to the United States. “In Senegal, it’s all over the streets – everyone’s talking about Nicaragua, Nicaragua, Nicaragua,” Gueva Ba, 40, of the capital Dakar, [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbzZnNGlmbXF1aC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Associated Press. Ba paid about $10,000 to get to Nicaragua in July 2023, where he then made his way to the US border with Mexico. After crossing it, he was caught, detained and deported a few months later, along with 131 other Senegalese who had also tried their luck. Ba, like many of the tens of thousands of migrants now trying to use this route, had already tried to make it to Europe 11 times by boat from Morocco across the Mediterranean. But with Nicaragua, he knew he had a special advantage; not only did he not need a visa to land there, but more importantly, Nicaragua is actively encouraging such migration as a way to punish the US for sanctions against the repressive regime of President Daniel Ortega, in power for 28 of the past 45 years, [say](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOHIzc2VxOGFhMC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) US officials. “The Ortega government knows they have few important policy tools at hand to confront the United States … so they have armed migration as a way to attack,” [said](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMXRiM3c4ODEwZi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Manuel Orozco, director of the migration at the Inter-American Dialogue, in an interview with NPR. “This is definitely a concrete example of weaponizing migration as a foreign policy.” Beyond a tit-for-tat for sanctions, Nicaragua’s government, led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), is making millions of dollars with its business of human trafficking, imposing arbitrary entry fees on the migrant arrivals that can be as much as $200 per person, as well as thousands of dollars in landing and departure fees imposed on the charters, [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZWc4aHhyZng1bS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) El País. And those prices are going up – arrivals from Africa now will be charged more than [$1,100](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYTdhdTByNWQwcy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to land in Nicaragua. US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols said he was “concerned” about the “dramatic” increase in flights to Nicaragua to promote migration. “No one should profit from the desperation of vulnerable migrants – not smugglers, private companies, public officials or governments,” he [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveGxobGd2ZGo1di8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) on X. The US [slapped](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNWE4YTdlcHdyeC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) new sanctions on Nicaragua in May over the migration issue. The numbers tell the story. Between May 2023 and May 2024, more than 1,000 flights with migrants from countries such as Libya, Morocco, Uzbekistan, India, and Tajikistan landed in the Nicaraguan capital Managua, while in a six-month period between June to November 2023, about 500 flights, mostly from Haiti and Cuba, landed there, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaTV1bmIwdDZwci8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Inter-American Dialogue. At the same time, while arrests for illegal crossings on the US-Mexico border topped 6.4 million between January 2021 and January 2024 (before [falling steeply](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbnRycG5zZ3c2aS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) later in 2024), Mexicans accounted for only about one-quarter of those arrested, the rest coming from more than 100 countries, wrote the think tank. From July to December 2023 there were more than 20,200 arrests of just Senegalese migrants for crossing the border illegally, 10 times the figure for arrests in the same period in 2022. “Migration flows to the United States have more than doubled to over eight million people annually from 2020 and 2023,” the organization wrote, adding that Nicaragua is [responsible](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsva29pbGZvNjF3YS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) for at least 10 percent of all migration that has arrived at the Mexico-US border. The charters first began in 2021, when the Nicaraguan government opened the doors of the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, relaxed visa requirements for African nationals and welcomed the first migrant arrivals from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Curacao, and Haiti. Today, passengers now fly from countries in South America, North Africa and Central Asia, to the country on their way to the US to avoid the dangerous crossing at the Darien Gap at the Colombian-Panamanian border, the World [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ2E1Y2RicW92MC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). The Senegalese and others became part of a surge in migration at the southern border, made up for the first time of people from countries such as Mauritania, Ghana, Tajikistan and Bangladesh, who usually head towards Europe. They were able to coordinate the trip because of travel agents, smugglers and the information that [comes](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYzNvbWFveXQ5ei8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) from social media and apps like WhatsApp, and pay for the trip with electronic payments. Meanwhile, Nicaragua itself has been increasingly contributing to the flows headed toward the US border over the past few years, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvb2VkejR4c2lmdS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Migration Policy Institute. It has deported hundreds of its own nationals, while the [deepening](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMGZlZ3hza2dtZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) repression in the country has led to thousands more deciding to head north. “Nicaragua is caught in a spiral of violence marked by the persecution of all forms of political opposition, whether real or perceived, both domestically and abroad,” [said](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYjN5YXBjNTZ2bS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Jan Simon, the chair of a United Nations human rights group that accused the Nicaraguan regime led by Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, of “crimes against humanity.” A former police special forces officer, going only by the name Edwin, was ordered to shoot protesters during mass anti-government demonstrations in 2018. Instead, he fled, before being captured, imprisoned, raped, and severely tortured. These days, he lives in exile in Costa Rica, making ends meet with odd jobs while waiting for asylum in the US. He worries about Nicaraguan officials finding him. “There were moments of desperation when I thought: ‘It would have been better if I stayed … killed all those people,” he [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbHg1eHRlcW9zMS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Washington Post. “But I didn’t go into the police to kill people.” [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvczVzeG82N21oaS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weaponizing Migration ~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZGFqOXByN2xiOS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ The World Briefly Seizing the Moment Seizing the Moment [India](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvN200d2NhcGhpcy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) India and Singapore agreed Thursday to strengthen their partnership in developing and manufacturing semiconductors and digital technologies, a collaboration that analysts say is part of a broader effort to tap into new opportunities created by the US-China trade war that has disrupted global chip supply chains, Bloomberg [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOXNmbmsydnB4aS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). The two countries signed a series of deals during a two-day visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the city-state. These memorandums of understanding included cooperation in key areas, such as semiconductors, skills development and healthcare. Officials of both countries said the agreements are aimed at developing talent in chip design and manufacturing, while encouraging Singaporean tech investments in India, especially in emerging areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. This partnership can also help both nations overcome “common challenges,” such as climate change, aging populations and public health, they added. The agreements come as Singapore, India, and Malaysia emerge as beneficiaries of the prolonged US-China trade war and its impact on the global chip market in which sales are projected to reach $588 billion this year. Both China and Western nations are racing to establish independent supply chains to mitigate geopolitical risks, creating new business opportunities. Singapore accounts for 10 percent of the world’s chip production and 20 percent of global semiconductor equipment production, making it a valuable partner for India as it grows its own semiconductor manufacturing base, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNmtxYXozOHVpZi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to CNBC. India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, but its gross domestic product per capita lags behind developed economies, such as the US and China. Observers noted that Modi’s visit underscored his ambition to elevate India’s position in the global semiconductor market and digital technology sector. They added that Singapore can provide expertise to help India, which is building its semiconductor capabilities with a $21-billion plan, fast-tracking its development. Apple and other tech giants are already investing in Singapore’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, while India has made strides in attracting investments, with companies like Foxconn and Micron Technology set to bolster India’s semiconductor production by 2025. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveGFlOWR2YjJjYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) A Disturbing Pattern A Disturbing Pattern [Kenya](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveGx5MDdqenMwNC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei died in a Kenyan hospital Thursday, days after being allegedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, an attack that highlighted concerns about domestic violence targeting female athletes and the issue of femicide in the country, the New York Times [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYnhpdWd1bzAzYy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Cheptegei sustained burns over 80 percent of her body after Dickson Ndiema allegedly poured gasoline on her and set her on fire during a property dispute earlier this week. She was rushed to a hospital in the city of Eldoret in the country’s west. Doctors treated her in intensive care but she later succumbed to multiple organ failure. Ndiema – who suffered burns to 30 percent of his body in the attack – is being treated at the same hospital and will face murder charges once he recovers, according to police. Cheptegei was a celebrated long-distance runner, who had competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month. She also held the Ugandan marathon record with a personal best of 2:22:47, achieved at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, revealed that he had reported Ndiema’s intimidating behavior to police prior to the attack, but felt authorities had ignored his concerns. World Athletics – the international governing body for the sport – expressed shock and sorrow over her death and called the need for urgent action to protect female athletes from abuse. The case also sparked outrage from women’s rights groups over the issue of violence against women in Kenya and other African nations. Advocates also pointed out that successful female athletes, in particular, are often targeted by partners seeking control over their wealth and assets, the Associated Press [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZG8wbHBtY3p1Ni8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). In 2021, [Agnes Jebet Tirop](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZW1tZnd6b2xsdi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~), a Kenyan world record holder, was stabbed to death by her husband. About a year later, Bahrain-based runner [Damaris Muthee Mutua](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOTJwMnY4cjVrYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) was strangled by her partner. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvd3FvcGc0cTdjdS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weaponizing Migration Weaponizing Migration ~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYml1eWZtdHc5OS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ Whodunnit? Whodunnit? [Norway](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYzY2a3V5dnJyMS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) A beloved beluga whale named Hvaldimir, believed to be a former Russian spy, was found dead in a Norwegian harbor earlier this week, prompting calls for a criminal investigation after conservation groups alleged he was shot dead, Newsweek [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZDNhMHA5OHZtaS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thursday. The lifeless body of Hvaldimir, a 14-foot, 2,700-pound cetacean, was found floating on Norway’s southwestern coast Saturday. The cause of his death has not yet been determined and authorities are still conducting an autopsy on the animal’s body. But on Wednesday, conservation groups OneWhale and NOAH filed a police report, claiming there was “compelling evidence suggesting that Hvaldimir’s death was caused by intentional human-inflicted injury.” The preliminary evidence cited by the organizations included photos showing blood streaks and holes in the whale’s body. Ballistics experts reviewing the images supported the theory of foul play, they added. Police have acknowledged the report from OneWhale and NOAH and are determining whether an investigation is warranted. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute also emphasized they would involve authorities if evidence of suspicious activity is found. The whale first appeared off the coast of Norway in 2019, wearing a harness labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg” and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera. This prompted speculation that he had been trained by the Russian military, earning him the nickname “spy whale.” Known for its highly social and interactive behavior, the animal quickly captured the hearts of the locals and tourists. His name is a combination of the Norwegian word for whale “hval” and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was approximately 15 years old at the time of his death, relatively young for a beluga, which can live up to 70 years in the wild. Hvaldimir became a symbol of ongoing discussions about animal welfare and the risks marine animals face due to human exploitation and political entanglements. The whale’s death occurred amid efforts to relocate him to safer waters in northern Norway, a plan opposed by another nonprofit, Marine Mind, which found his body over the weekend. The organization’s CEO Sebastian Strand [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOXZ5bGR0eTY3bC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) NBC News that some injuries might have been caused by sea birds but refrained from speculating on the cause of death until autopsy results are available. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZHg3cHE1bWpsby8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weekly Quiz Weekly World Quiz In this little traveled corner of Europe, what is special and unique about the Vjosa River flowing between Albania and Greece? [It’s Europe’s widest river](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvenI5MDc5ajN4NC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [It’s one of Europe’s last truly wild rivers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdjBiYW9jbDN1bi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [It houses a unique species of river dolphins](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvemQ2MzUwMGNyYS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [It’s the most polluted river in the continent](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZzNjdmNuZGNpby8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Powered by [Typeform](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvanNmaGZ2eDgxMy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) ~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNmM3NjEybmk4dS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ The Lilliputians Discoveries The Lilliputians There once was a species of human-like people, roaming around Flores Island in present-day Indonesia, who were no taller than 3.5 feet. Scientists have dubbed them “hobbits” after the small characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel, “The Lord of the Rings.” Fossils found 21 years ago allowed researchers to determine that they lived around 60,000 years ago. Now, after examining other bones found in 2013, scientists have learned about even earlier ‘hobbits’ and also their ancestry, detailed in a new [study](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaWg1ZHlkazVnOC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Archeologists found teeth and a fragment of an upper arm bone at Flores’ Mata Menge site, a few miles away from the cave where the 2003 fossils were found. They date back 700,000 years. “Teeth have lots of goofy little grooves and peaks that seem to probably serve some purpose, but also seem to be very species-specific,” Stony Brook University’s Susan Larson, who was not involved in the study, [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcDhmaWNkamFhNi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The teeth confirmed a theory that the hobbits descended from Homo erectus, the first hominin species known to have lived outside of Africa. H. erectus who landed on Flores Island eventually became smaller, probably because of the food supply on the island. “Perhaps, there was no need to be large-bodied, which requires more food and takes longer to grow and breed,” lead author Yousuke Kaifu from the University of Tokyo [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYmNqbjVpdXI3ci8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) CNN. One discovery baffled the scientists: Among the fossils, they found a 3.5-inch upper arm bone. “It is the smallest adult human arm bone ever,” co-author Gerrit van der Bergh from the University of Wollongong [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvamVhMzh4eDA3cC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0VwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) NBC News. After a decade of research, they estimated that the owner of this bone was a few inches shorter than the 60,000-year-old bone. Why did the Flores Island hobbits, derived from much taller H. erectus, become smaller and then grow again? “This is what we’re still trying to get our head round,” archeologist Adam Brumm told ABC. “It could just be some natural size variation within the population. It could be a male and female thing”. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRovVc9P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYnNqbmptNmd0by8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD02N3l4d2xyczF0JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPtLaZmaZcIxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thank you for reading or listening to GlobalPost. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated. 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