Haiti

Russia's U.N. ambassador on Monday dismissed U.S. and European Union descriptions of its presidency of the Security Council this month as an April Fool's joke and announced a meeting to be chaired by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on defending the principles of the U.N. Charter, which Moscow is widely accused of breaking by invading Ukraine.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Thursday that the rule of law is at grave risk of becoming "the rule of lawlessness," pointing to a host of unlawful actions across the globe from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and coups in Africa's Sahel region to North Korea's illegal nuclear weapons program and Afghanistan's unprecedented attacks on women's and girls' rights.

Türkiye has won its first ever Amputee Football World Cup after defeating Angola 4-1 in a final match in Istanbul.

After the first half ended 1-1, with Ömer Güleryüz scoring Türkiye's goal, Rahmi Özcan netted from the penalty spot and then scored the third, taking full control over the match.

Serkan Dereli added the finishing touch, while Angola's goal came from Heno Adao.

The United Nations Security Council was evaluating options including the immediate activation of foreign troops to help free Haiti from the grip of gangs that has caused a scarcity of fuel, water and other basic supplies.

Haiti's government has agreed to request the help of international troops as gangs and protesters paralyze the country and supplies of water, fuel and basic goods dwindle, according to a document published Friday.

Haitian authorities are postponing the start of the school year by one month, as the Caribbean nation grapples with an economic crisis that has caused a fuel shortage and soaring prices.

The Ministry of National Education released a statement announcing that "the start of the school year for the 2022-2023 academic year is now set for Monday, Oct. 3, 2022" instead of Sept. 5.

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was reportedly tortured before he was killed by a group of hired assassins

Five Turkish citizens who were kidnapped by a Haitian gang last month have been released, a source close to the case said on June 15.

Details on the circumstances of their release the day before were not available, but the men - aged between 20 and 26 - are in apparent good physical health, the source said.    

US President Joe Biden has nominated Kenneth Merten as new US ambassador to Bulgaria. This is stated in a statement by the White House.

Merten (b. 1961) is a career diplomat. Until recently, he was a Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Haiti. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Global Talent Management.

The XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing begin on February 4 with the opening ceremony, which will take place at 14:00 p.m. Bulgarian time. The games in the Chinese capital will last until February 20.