Cuba, Burkina Faso, Syria.

Today's three stories you should know.

Jan 26, 2022

Cuba

Cuban authorities have said they are prosecuting 790 people for involvement in anti-government street protests last year. In a statement, the public prosecutors office said the defendants were charged with “acts of vandalism, which [were] attempted against authorities, persons and property, and severe disruptions of public order.” The statement said 710 people have already been referred to trials and that 172 have so far been convicted. Sentencing details were not released. The protests, over food, medicine and electricity shortages and the country’s Covid response, were largely peaceful. Rights groups have slammed the prosecutions as unfair and extreme.

Burkina Faso

A very fluid situation in Burkina Faso a day after democratically-elected President Roch Kabore was toppled in a military coup. Kabore became the focus of street protests that erupted over anger at the government’s failure to defeat rebels linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda. The African Union and the UN have condemned the coup.

Syria

Most ISIS fighters involved in an attempt to free thousands of the group’s members from a prison in Syria have now surrendered after nearly six days of fierce fighting. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which controls the part of northeast Syria in which the prison is located, said another 250 surrendered after 300 handed themselves over on Monday. A few dozen are believed to be still hiding in the prison.