Governor Ganduje pardons 500 prisoners

California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has successfully fended off an attempt to topple him in a recall election. Republicans had tried to unseat him over his policies on immigration, COVID-19 and crime.

Dr. Habiba Sarabi is one of four women who took part in the negotiations with the Taliban in Doha at the end of 2020. She is also the first woman to have ruled an Afghan province, that of Bamiyan. Sarabi, who was in Doha when the Taliban took power, spoke to us from the Turkish city of Izmir, where she now lives. She called the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan "a big mistake", branding the US pullout "irresponsible".

Relatives of prisoners in an Ecuadorian jail where gang clashes left over a hundred dead speak of their fears for their loved ones. "It's very painful," said the mother of one prisoner outside the jail, "I don't know if my son is well or not."

At least four were killed in the attack on the governor's convoy. Both he and the environment minister, who was also in the vehicle, survived.

A charge has been filed against New York's former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The disgraced politician stepped down after facing allegations of serial sexual harassment.

In a major setback for US President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, Glenn Youngkin is poised to become the first Republican to win statewide office in Virginia since 2009.

Drug trafficking gangs went on a killing spree in the same Ecuadorean prison where 119 people died in September. Ecuador plans to release some prisoners at the overcrowded facility.

As the world observes International Human Rights Day, Cameroon has come under heavy criticism for the detention of hundreds of opposition political prisoners.

Governor Andy Beshear said there could be 80 or more people dead, as many people remain missing after a series of severe storms ripped through the state over the weekend. Thousands remain without heat or water.

A district attorney said criminal charges would not be pressed against Andrew Cuomo — although investigations showed that the alleged conduct "did occur."

Myanmar says it's released more than 5,000 political prisoners as part of an amnesty for people arrested during pro-democracy protests in recent months. But critics of the ruling military junta say it is just a way to ease tensions with ASEAN.

Myanmar's military junta announced that it will pardon hundreds of prisoners, including 42 foreigners, as the country marks the Buddhist new year. But political prisoners are reportedly not included.