Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on dissent and activists

Russian authorities have outlawed Amnesty International as an “undesirable organization,” a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organizations a criminal offense. The decision by the Russian Prosecutor General’s office, announced on Monday in an online statement, is the latest in the unrelenting crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists and activists that intensified to unprecedented levels after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. The designation means the international human rights group must stop any work in Russia and it subjects those who cooperate with it or support it to prosecution, including if anyone shares Amnesty International’s reports on social media.

After US cuts funding, WHO chief defends $2.1B budget request

GENEVA (AP) — Stripped of U.S. funding, the World Health Organization chief has appealed to member countries to support its “extremely modest” request for a $2.1 billion annual budget. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the point by putting that sum into perspective next to outlays for ad campaigns for tobacco or the cost of war. He told the WHO’s annual assembly on Monday that $2.1 billion is the equivalent of global military expenditure every 8 hours, or the price of one stealth bomber. WHO has presented a budget for the next two years that is 22% less than originally planned, largely in response to U.S. and other Western funding cuts.

Israel says it will allow ‘basic’ aid into Gaza after nearly 3 months of blockade

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says it will allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza after a nearly three-month blockade. Sunday’s announcement comes days after global experts warned of famine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a “starvation crisis” in Gaza would jeopardize Israel’s new military offensive there. He says his Cabinet has approved a decision to allow in a “basic” amount of food. There are no immediate details. Israel in early March cut off all food, medicine and other supplies to the territory of over 2 million people to pressure Hamas over ceasefire terms.

The UK and the EU hail a new chapter as they sign fresh deals 5 years after Brexit

LONDON (AP) — Britain and the European Union have hailed a new chapter in their relationship. They have signed fresh agreements on defense cooperation and easing trade flows at their first formal summit since Brexit. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deals will slash red tape, grow the British economy and reset relations with the 27-nation trade bloc. The EU is the U.K.’s largest trading partner. But the British government says the U.K. has seen a 21% drop in exports since Brexit because of more onerous paperwork and other non-tariff barriers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the talks a “historic moment” that benefits both sides.