Armenia, a long-standing Russian ally, is hosting two significant European summits in Yerevan. This comes as Russia, irked by Armenia's deepening ties with the EU, has banned Armenian mineral water imports and dismissed the country's EU membership aspirations as incompatible with existing Eurasian Economic Union commitments.
The Gambia has appointed British barrister Martin Hackett as its first special prosecutor to address widespread human rights abuses committed during Yahya Jammeh's 22-year rule. This move signifies a crucial step towards domestic accountability following recommendations from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.
Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, has announced the suspension of a requirement for men under 45 to seek approval for extended stays abroad, a measure introduced with the new Military Service Modernisation Act. The controversial regulation, intended as a precautionary step amid heightened European security concerns, will not be enforced while military service remains voluntary.
