National:

The notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín Guzmán, better known as El Chapo, was convicted by a U.S. jury on Feb. 12 on 10 criminal counts. El Chapo led the Sinaloa Cartel, which controls about half of Mexico’s drug trade. The cartel brings in profits of around $3 billion each year through smuggling cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin. El Chapo has previously been imprisoned twice but has escaped both times. His sentence hearing is scheduled for June 25, but El Chapo likely faces a life sentence.

Former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence agent Monica Elfriede Witt leaked classified American information to Iran. Witt served in the Air Force from 1997 to 2008, where she was exposed to the sensitive information. In 2013, she abandoned America and moved to Iran, where she both divulged top-secret information to sabotage the United States, and assisted in creating target packages against U.S. government agents. Witt has since been charged with espionage.

International:

The Australian Parliament has eased up laws regarding asylum seekers on Feb. 13. Since 2001, the Australian government has maintained strict policies when dealing with asylum seekers. When asylum seekers attempt to enter Australia, they are diverted to detention centers on various Pacific Islands. After the recent approval of this law, asylum seekers can come to the country for medical treatment.

French tourist Michel Desclaux was arrested in Myanmar last week for using a drone in a restricted area of the country. Use of drones is illegal in many areas of the capital city, Naypyidaw, as well as other areas of Myanmar. Additionally, bringing drones into the country is illegal, of which Desclaux is also guilty. Desclaux now faces up to three years in prison due to his violation of these restrictions.