CONGO – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi is not taking part in regionally brokered talks aimed at ending the rebel assault on the key eastern city of Goma, state media has reported. Kenyan leader William Ruto had invited Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to a virtual summit, as corpses lay on the streets of Goma following heavy fighting. Neighbouring Rwanda is accused of backing the M23 rebel group, which has taken over much of the city, including its airport. About 280 Romanian mercenaries who were fighting on the side of DR Congo’s army had surrendered to M23, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) said on X. Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told the BBC that Rwanda would take part in the summit, but did not say whether Kagame would attend. The UN says there is extensive evidence that Rwanda is backing the M23 but Rwanda denies giving the rebels direct military support. (BBC)

RUSSIA – Ukraine says its forces successfully hit an oil refinery in the Russian town of Kstovo, around 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Four drones hit a Lukoil company depot, Ukrainian media said, adding that the facility suffered significant damage. Regional governor Gleb Nikitin said that drone debris had fallen over the industrial zone, and that no casualties had been reported at the scene.

Separately, the governor of the region of Smolensk, Vasily Anokhin, said on Telegram that a “massive” drone attack against “civilian infrastructure” had occurred in his region, although no casualties were immediately reported. Anokhin said one of the drones had been shot down when attempting to hit a nuclear power facility. The BBC has not been able to verify this information independently. A mother and her toddler were killed in the border region of Belgorod, which has come under frequent attack from Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. (BBC)

USA – US President Donald Trump has offered federal workers the option to resign and receive pay for eight months, in a major effort to shrink and reform the US government. In an email, his administration has asked almost all government employees to decide by 6 February whether they want to be part of a “deferred resignation” programme that will mean them leaving their jobs no later than the end of September. Those who received the email have voiced confusion about what the deal would mean in practice. The website of the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) gives an outline of the plans, stating on an FAQs page that those who accept the deal are “not expected to work”, except in rare cases.

It also says anyone who decides to quit will be exempt for the remainder of their contracts from Trump’s requirement that they work in the office rather than at home. Senior Trump officials told US media that the plan could save the government up to $100bn (£80bn). Delivering the offer, a message from the OPM, the government’s HR agency, highlighted planned reforms including a requirement that most employees work in their offices five days a week. Since returning to the White House last week, Trump has already declared the end of Covid-era home working practices. (BBC)

Seoul, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a facility that produces nuclear material and called for bolstering the country’s nuclear capability, state media reported Wednesday, as it ramps up pressure on the United States following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Kim’s visit suggests a continued emphasis on an expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, though Trump has said he’s willing to talk to Kim again to revive diplomacy. Many analysts view North Korean weapons moves as part of a strategy to win diplomatic talks with Washington that could result in aid and political concessions. The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute.

It didn’t say where those facilities are located, but North Korean photos of Kim’s visit indicated that he likely visited a uranium-enrichment facility that he went to last September. That visit was North Korea’s first disclosure of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one to visiting American scholars in 2010.

During the latest visit, Kim praised scientists and others for “producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and in strengthening the nuclear shield of the country. ”On Sunday, North Korea said it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed “the toughest” response to what it called the escalation of US-South Korean military drills.

North Korea views US military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their drills are defensive in nature. In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. The start of Trump’s second term raises prospects for the revival of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Trump met Kim three times during his first term. The Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 fell apart due to wrangling over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea. During a Fox News interview broadcast Thursday, Trump called Kim “a smart guy” and “not a religious zealot.” Asked whether he will reach out to Kim again, Trump replied, “I will, yeah. Many experts say Kim likely thinks he has greater bargaining power than in his earlier round of diplomacy with Trump because of his country’s enlarged nuclear arsenal and deepening military ties with Russia.  (CNN)

The Guyana Elections Commission GECOM on Tuesday said that the use of biometrics at the place of polls for the upcoming General and Regional Elections requires a legislative framework failing which it would be unconstitutional. In a statement GECOM inter alia explained that a lack of legislative framework to support the use of such technology during a national election is one of the main reasons why biometrics will not be used.

In the lengthy press release, the commission said that it has taken note of the constant publication of opposing perspectives in the media over the past week, over Chairperson of Commission, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh’s decision not to allow the use of biometrics at this year’s elections due to the unrealistic timelines for implementing the system. According to GECOM, the discussion on the introduction of biometrics is centered on a motion circulated by Commissioner Vincent Alexander on November 22, 2023.

GECOM said the motion for the introduction of such technology was premised on allegations of voter impersonation at places of poll and that such a feature could serve as an additional mechanism for enhancing the system of identifying voters on Election Day. Subsequently, GECOM explained that the issue became a prominent agenda item at the statutory meetings of the Commission and it was during those deliberations that the Chief Election Officer CEO,  Mr. Vishnu Persaud, was tasked with undertaking a feasibility study on the introduction of electronic fingerprinting at registration and biometric fingerprint identification of voters on Election Day.

The feasibility study undertaken by the CEO presented several case studies on the use of biometrics fingerprinting in other countries, and highlighted multiple technical, legislative and administrative concerns. However, according to the Commission, it has been noted that there are multiple reports in the public sphere that appear to be examining such an important matter in isolation by only attributing prominence to the benefits of the use of biometrics without due consideration of the legal hurdle and the challenges that can be experienced. As such, GECOM said while the CEO’s feasibility study acknowledged the benefits of biometric fingerprint identification, there were several challenges highlighted. Among the benefits highlighted includes a high level of security, as biometrics are unique to each individual, making it difficult for fraudulent activities such as impersonation or multiple voting to occur. The use of biometrics also offers a more accurate method of voter identification compared to traditional methods like ID cards or signatures, thereby reducing the chances of errors in the electoral process, guarding against electoral fraud. It also ensures the integrity of the voting process and the use of biometric fingerprints can streamline the voter identification process, leading to faster and more efficient voting. However, there are also several challenges to be addressed ranging from technical in which the reliability and accuracy of biometric systems have been questioned due to factors such as poor network connectivity, power outages, hardware malfunctions, and software glitches. These technical issues have led to delays in the voting process and raised concerns about the effectiveness of using biometrics for voter identification. Inclusivity issues were also raised regarding the use of biometric fingerprint identification for voting. Certain segments of the population, such as the elderly, manual labourers, or individuals with disabilities, may face difficulties in having their fingerprints accurately scanned due to factors like worn-out fingerprints or physical impairments.

GECOM said this raises concerns about disenfranchisement and unequal access to voting rights. Legal and ethical concern particularly since questions have been raised about the legality of collecting and storing biometric data on a massive scale without robust data protection laws in place. There are also additionally ethical dilemmas that could arise concerning consent, transparency, and accountability in handling voter biometrics. Further, the Commission said that “Remote areas often lacked the necessary infrastructure to support biometric technology, making it difficult to ensure universal access to this voting method. Limited access to electricity and internet connectivity in some areas hindered the effectiveness of the system.   (Kaieteur News)

Photo: The headquarters of the Guyana Elections Commission located in Kingston, Georgetown Introducing biometrics.