Belarus
If there was ever any question as to whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would back his Belarusian counterpart over the grounding of a Ryanair plane to arrest a journalist it was answered today. In a very public show of support, President Alexander Lukashenko was invited to the Russian city of Sochi for talks. Take a look at this remarkable exchange tweeted by Reuters. The incident involving the Bolivian president, to which Putin refers, happened in 2013 when then President Evo Morales’ jet was grounded in Austria after a tip-off that US whistleblower Edward Snowden might be on board. Here is the Reuters clip:
Ethiopia
I have to mention Ethiopia again today. The situation there is desperate and, while the US has ramped up pressure on its ally with sanctions, there is no near end in sight. The Associated Press today published this heartbreaking piece on the rampant sexual violence taking place. Warning: It is a very tough read.
Argentina
A light one to end today. When William “Bill” Shakespeare became the first man in the UK to receive a COVID-19 vaccine back in December of last year his name prompted a lot of fun online. So, when he died this week of an unrelated illness, it was reported widely. One Argentinian presenter, though, was a little confused. Noelia Novillo told her audience that "one of the most important writers in the English language - for me the master" had died. Whoops.
More from BBC here.