U.N. condemns North Korea

Investigators from the United Nations Commission of Inquiry accused the North Korean government, including Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un, of repeated crimes against humanity in a 372-page report filed on Feb. 17. In the report, investigators allege that the North Korean government is guilty of murder, starvation, abduction, rape and forced infanticide, among other crimes. The report cites testimonies from North Koreans who have defected to the United States, South Korea and Japan. The head of the Commission said that the crimes committed by the government are “strikingly similar” to those committed by Nazi Germany in World War II, and that Kim could face charges before the International Criminal Court.

Venezuela expels U.S. diplomats

Amidst political unrest and widespread protests against the Venezuelan government that have resulted in the deaths of four people, Venezuelan officials announced on Feb. 17 that three United States diplomats had 48 hours to leave the country. The Venezuelan government has accused the United States of encouraging protests against the government and of plotting to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro. Leopoldo López, the de facto leader of opposition to the government, turned himself in to security forces after disappearing from the public eye for several days.

Four killed in Thai protests

Three protestors and a police officer were killed after clashes between security forces and an estimated 6,000 protestors on Feb. 18 in Bangkok, Thailand. The opposition, which has been active for months, accuses Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of corruption and demands that she step down from power.