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US classified documents scandal

Former Vice President Mike Pence is the latest high-ranking politician to be put into the spotlight for the discovery of documents marked as classified at his Indiana residence. Pence’s representative turned the classified records over to the FBI last week. The representative said, "a small number of records were accidentally boxed and transported to his home as he left office in 2021." It is not clear what information the documents contain. The discovery comes in the wake of similar revelations about classified material discovered in President Joe Biden's private office and also the Florida residence of former president Donald Trump. Records from each administration are supposed to be turned over to the legal custody of the US National Archives during a presidential transition period. It is unlawful to knowingly remove or retain classified material. 

Pompeo Saudi visit

In a new book, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has staunchly defended Saudi Arabia in the case of the murder of dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi. He gloats about travelling to Riyadh just days after the internationally-condemned killing in October 2018. Pompeo cast doubt on whether Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was a genuine journalist at all. He claimed Khashoggi was instead an activist. He says in the book that the "grotesque butchery was all too routine in West Asia". He didn’t contest Saudi Arabia’s responsibility. This as US intelligence has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman personally ordered the killing. In his book, Pompeo says bin Salman was a reformist and historic figure. He says there should instead have been more scrutiny of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who criticized Saudi Arabia over the killing.

Peru political turmoil

Peru’s president has called for a "national truce" to end weeks of unrest against the backdrop of demands for her resignation and fresh elections. President Boluarte said she will not back down from the path of dialogue, peace and unity. The Peruvian head of state ruled out resignation but said she has no intention for remaining in power. Boluarte said weeks of deadly protests have resulted in more than 1.3 billion dollars in damage. The protests in Peru began in December after then President Pedro Castillo was arrested and replaced by his Vice President Dina Boluarte. Protesters also want Castillo released. Some 50 people have been killed during the disturbances.

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