The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has joined calls from European and U.S. officials pressing Russia to answer “serious questions” (Reuters) about the poisoning of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia (DW) to comply with an investigation to be led by a UN-backed chemical weapons watchdog.
 
The German government said Wednesday that Navalny had been poisoned by a Soviet-era nerve agent (Al Jazeera). European Union and German officials have suggested sanctions. German politicians have also urged (FT) the cancellation of an oil-pipeline project with Russia. The Kremlin has denied involvement but said it would launch a probe (Bloomberg) if provided evidence of the poisoning. Navalny remains in serious condition, though the German hospital treating him said he will likely survive.

UN human rights experts expressed concerns (SCMP) in a letter sent to Beijing earlier this week about the national security law imposed on Hong Kong. They said the law poses a risk to fundamental freedoms and called for an independent review.
 
On The President’s Inbox podcast, CFR’s James M. Lindsay and Victoria Tin-bor Hui discuss Hong Kong under China’s national security law.
 
New Zealand: The country temporarily halted cattle exports (New Zealand Herald) after a ship that originated in New Zealand sank near Japan. Two of the ship’s more than forty crew members were found, but one was later pronounced dead (NYT).

The Afghan government has released (TOLO) all but seven of the five thousand prisoners requested by the Taliban to be freed as a precondition for intra-Afghan peace talks. Unnamed sources told TOLO that Taliban negotiators arrived in Doha, Qatar, for discussions, and the Afghan government delegation is expected to travel there today.
 
CFR’s Center for Preventive Action explains the Afghan peace negotiations.
 
Sri Lanka: An India-bound oil tanker’s main engine room exploded (CNN), killing a crew member and setting the ship ablaze. Sri Lanka’s navy said it was monitoring for a potential oil spill but the fire had not yet affected the oil on board.

Lebanon’s army found 4.35 tons of ammonium nitrate (Al-Monitor), the chemical that caused an August explosion that killed nearly two hundred people and devastated Beirut, near the city’s port. Additionally, an effort is ongoing to unearth a possible survivor from rubble after a heartbeat was detected.
 
Palestinian territories: Rival Palestinian factions met to discuss (Al Jazeera) ways to prevent Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank. They also denounced the normalization of Israel-United Arab Emirates relations.

President Alpha Conde filed papers to run (Nation) for a third term. Earlier this year, Conde spearheaded a new constitution that reset presidential term limits, allowing him to extend his time in office. Conde’s anticipated rerunning had fueled months of protests, and demonstrators clashed with police (Africanews) over the filing. 
 
CFR’s Michelle Gavin looks at Guinea’s constitutional referendum and Conde’s bid for a third term.
 
Democratic Republic of Congo: Hundreds of protesters in the city of Bukavu called on authorities (RFI) to protect Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege. Mukwege, a physician who openly criticizes human rights abuses, has received death threats.

A court in Slovakia acquitted (NYT) business mogul Marian Kocner of ordering the 2018 murder of journalist Jan Kuciak. Kuciak and his fiancée’s killings had triggered mass protests (Politico) and led to the then prime minister’s resignation.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness claimed victory (Miami Herald) and the main opposition leader conceded after preliminary results showed Holness’ Jamaica Labour Party roundly winning the country’s general election.
 
Colombia: Officials said they had detained (WSJ) four Venezuelans accused of aiding a botched attempt to unseat Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in May.

Seven police officers have been suspended (CNN) in Rochester, New York, over the March arrest of Daniel Prude, a Black man who stopped breathing during the encounter and later died. His family’s attorneys released bodycam footage on Wednesday showing officers placing a hood over Prude’s head and pushing his face into the ground. His death, ruled a homicide by medical examiners, was the latest in a series of police brutality cases against Black people that have spurred protests against systemic racism.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at what police are like in other countries.