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The U.S. Senate has confirmed New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland as interior secretary. It makes her the first Native American to lead a cabinet department. Democrats and tribal groups are praising Haaland's confirmation as historic. For the first time, a Native American will lead the powerful department where decisions on relations with the nearly 600 federally-recognized tribes are made. The Department of the Interior also oversees a host of other issues, including energy development on public lands and waters, national parks and endangered species.
In a message posted on his Instagram account, Kremlin critic and Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny is being held in a prison camp in Russia's Vladimir region northeast of Moscow. That is known for its strict control of inmates. Navalny's precise location had been unknown after his legal team said last week that he had been moved from his previous location. On Monday, Navalny confirmed he was fine and being held at the IK-2 corrective penal colony in the town of Pokrov, about 100 kilometers east of Moscow. Navalny, who is 44, is one of President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critics. He was jailed earlier this year for parole violations in a decision that the West has condemned as politically motivated. He is due to serve out a two-and-a-half year sentence and is only able to communicate with the outside world via his lawyers.
Haitian rights activists, a former ambassador to the country and civil society groups are pressing the United States government to drop its support for a plan by Haiti's president to hold a referendum and elections at a time of rising violence and kidnappings in the country. Two members of Haitian civil society, a former U.S. ambassador to Haiti and the leader of a Haitian American nongovernmental organization working on immigration issues, testified before American lawmakers Friday, saying no elections can be held because the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council lacks credibility and gang violence is rising. The panel urged officials not to support Haitian President Jovenel Moise's plan to hold a constitutional referendum in June, followed by legislative and presidential elections in September and November of this year.
Oscar nominations were announced Monday and history has been made in the best director category. For the first time, two women were nominated in the same year. Chloe Zhao for "Nomadland" and Emerald Fennell for "Promising Young Woman."Zhao is also the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for best director. The other three best director nominees are David Fincher for "Mank," Lee Isaac Chung for "Minari," and Thomas Vinterberg for "Another Round." Via remote, I'm Marissa Melton, VOA news.
