Armed groups launched coordinated attacks across Mali on April 25, 2026, targeting military positions nationwide including in the capital, Bamako.The Mali Army confirmed ongoing fighting as security forces engaged to repel the attackers.Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported near the Kati military base, a key installation outside Bamako, and around Modibo Keïta International Airport.Soldiers have blocked roads in these areas amid the clashes.Gunmen also took control of neighborhoods in the northeastern city of Kidal, with exchanges of gunfire reported.Additional attacks occurred in Gao in the northeast and Sevare in central Mali.The US Embassy in Mali advised its citizens to shelter... [Continue Reading]
Chinese artist Gao Zhen was arrested in Beijing in mid-2024 on charges of insulting revolutionary heroes and martyrs due to his sculptures satirizing Mao Zedong.Gao, who emigrated to the United States in 2022, was detained at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing while visiting with his family.Authorities seized his artworks and prevented his wife and seven-year-old son from leaving China.Last month, Gao faced a secretive trial with limited media coverage on suspicion of insulting revered revolutionary figures, a charge that could result in up to three years in prison.Local media reports at the time described him as a "so-called... [Continue Reading]