You are invited to join us for Global Crisis Watch 329, on Thursday, April 17th at 16:00 BST / 11:00 EDT.
The highlighted topics will include:
Deadliest 2025 Strike Hits Ukraine Days After Trump Envoy Meets Putin
On Sunday, April 13th, Russian ballistic missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing at least 35 people and injuring 117 in the deadliest single attack of the year. The double missile strike hit a bustling central area during the late morning, targeting a university building and a busy street just 200 metres apart. Ukrainian officials say the second missile likely carried cluster munitions, designed to detonate mid-air for maximum human casualties.
Among the dead were children, civil servants and cultural workers, including an artist from the Sumy National Theatre’s orchestra. More than 20 buildings, including residential complexes, shops and a district court, were damaged in the blasts. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “terrorism,” urging a stronger international response and insisting that “talks never stopped ballistic missiles and bombs.”
The Kremlin denied civilian targeting, claiming the missiles aimed at military personnel present in the area. But footage of destroyed homes and a blown-out trolleybus with bodies inside painted a starkly different picture. One local woman, stepping through the rubble of her apartment, asked, “Where is the military base here?”
The strike came just two days after Donald Trump’s foreign envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Russia. Trump later described the strike as “a mistake,” but also blamed Zelenskyy and Biden for “starting a war they couldn’t win.” His comments drew widespread criticism for downplaying Russian aggression and echoing Kremlin narratives.
As Russian forces advance toward Sumy from nearby Kursk and Ukraine warns of artillery shortages ahead of an anticipated Russian offensive in May, the attack drew attention to Moscow’s escalating agression and deepened concern that the Kremlin is stalling diplomacy to gain more ground.
Harvard Defies Trump Administration, Leading to Funding Freezes at Top US Universities
The Trump administration has announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contract funding for Harvard University after it rejected federal demands for sweeping institutional changes. These demands include eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, banning masks at campus protests, and overhauling merit-based hiring, admissions and faculty governance.
Harvard President Alan M. Garber stated the university would not surrender its independence or constitutional rights, arguing that the government’s directives violate academic freedom. Harvard’s resistance stands in sharp contrast to a growing number of peer institutions that have yielded under pressure – most notably Columbia University.
Earlier this month, Columbia agreed to an extensive list of conditions to begin negotiations over the restoration of $400 million in stripped federal funding. In an unsettling concession, the university accepted nearly all of the Trump administration’s nine demands, including a ban on mask-wearing during protests, the hiring of 36 arrest-authorized campus security officers, the appointment of a new senior vice provost to oversee Middle East and regional studies and a review of admissions to ensure what the administration termed “unbiased” processes. Columbia also pledged to uphold “greater institutional neutrality,” signaling a significant shift in how it engages with political issues.
While some universities, like Columbia, have capitulated to federal demands – agreeing to comprehensive policy changes in exchange for potential restoration of funding – Harvard has drawn a clear line, refusing to compromise its academic freedom or institutional autonomy. The university’s defiance has set it apart as a rare beacon of resistance in an environment where other institutions are increasingly surrendering to political pressures.
The Trump administration has justified these measures as part of a broader campaign to combat antisemitism on college campuses, particularly in the aftermath of Israel-Hamas-related protests. Officials argue the funding freezes are necessary to enforce federal civil rights protections, while critics see them as politically motivated overreach.
Harvard’s stance has instigated legal action, with faculty filing a lawsuit against the federal government to block the funding cuts. As other universities succumb to political pressure at the expense of academic and administrative autonomy, Harvard has emerged as a rare outlier – defending not only its institutional values but the broader principle of academic freedom. The ongoing deadlock highlights a deepening conflict between federal authority and the independence of higher education.
El Salvador Faces International Criticism Over Detained Venezuelans’ Legal Rights
El Salvador is facing international scrutiny after denying access to over 200 Venezuelans detained in the country’s largest prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center. These detainees were deported from the United States in March as part of an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration. The lawyers representing these detainees, who have filed habeas corpus petitions, claim they have been unable to visit, communicate or even confirm the whereabouts of their clients. The Salvadoran government has not provided a list of detainees or their conditions, and authorities have not responded to requests for information from both families and legal representatives.
Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the violation of the detainees’ rights. The organization is calling for the Salvadoran government to release the legal basis for the detention, reveal the identities and locations of those held and allow them contact with the outside world. Despite petitions filed by private attorneys, none have received responses from El Salvador’s Supreme Court, highlighting the ongoing issue of an independent judiciary under President Nayib Bukele’s administration. Bukele’s government has been accused of undermining the judicial system by replacing key legal officials with loyalists since taking power in 2019.
Critics of the Salvadoran government’s actions highlight the broader crackdown on crime, which has led to the detention of 2% of the adult population. While the crackdown has reduced the homicide rate, it has also led to widespread accusations of arbitrary detention, torture and violations of constitutional rights, including due process. Human rights organizations continue to demand accountability, as the government’s refusal to address these legal petitions leaves families and lawyers in the dark.
Ecuador’s Election Results Challenged by Leftist Rival as Noboa Claims Historic Victory
Ecuador’s presidential election saw conservative Daniel Noboa declared the winner on Sunday, with preliminary results showing a commanding lead. The National Electoral Council reported that Noboa secured a victory with over 55% of the vote, leading left-wing rival Luisa González by more than 1 million votes. González, a protégé of former President Rafael Correa, disputed the results, claiming fraud and demanding a recount, though no evidence was presented to support her claims.
Noboa’s victory was marked by a growing consensus that he had won, as prominent members of González’s Citizens’ Revolution party acknowledged his success, including mayors and prefects. The government deployed 45,000 troops on election day to ensure security amid concerns over violent crime and potential voter intimidation from criminal groups. With Ecuador grappling with unprecedented levels of violence and a drug-fueled crisis, Noboa’s primary focus has been on tackling crime and boosting the country’s economy. His government has pursued military collaboration with the United States and proposed lifting the constitutional ban on foreign military bases to combat organized crime.
González, in contrast, has emphasized social reforms, proposing high social spending to assist the nation’s poorest and opposing foreign military intervention. Despite her calls for a recount, as of Monday, the vote count had remained largely unchanged, with only a small fraction of ballots left to be tallied.
The election is a critical moment for Ecuador as it faces its ongoing security challenges, with Noboa’s stance on crime-fighting and economic recovery drawing both domestic and international attention. Meanwhile, the debate over the election’s legitimacy highlights deep political divides within the country.
Plus, all the stories that are catching our attention wherever we live in the world. Feel free to join us and add your voice to the conversation.
