Belarus released 25 political prisoners following negotiations with President Trump's special envoy John Coale, who met with authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The US lifted some sanctions in return, continuing a series of prisoner-for-sanctions deals since Trump's second term began.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced the country will no longer hold elections, with parliament moving to implement the plan. The move extends his nearly 20-year authoritarian rule and has drawn international condemnation.
The Taliban has issued a directive banning smartphones for all government officials and civil servants in Afghanistan, with violators facing confiscation, device destruction, and potential imprisonment. The order, attributed to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, has prompted government employees to switch off their devices, while analysts warn it could precede broader restrictions on the general population.
