The death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash this week occurred during one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s most challenging periods. Raisi, a prominent figure in the political elite, held substantial sway over Iran’s domestic policies. He was also central to Iran’s recent moves to improve relations with
Article
Int’l community urged to end impunity for violence against healthcare in conflicts
Governments and international agencies must do more to end impunity for violence against healthcare, campaigners have urged, as a new report shows that attacks on healthcare during conflicts reached a new high last year. The report from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), an umbrella organisation of health and human
What does the recognition of Palestine by Norway, Ireland, Spain mean for Middle East
Norway, Ireland and Spain have all announced plans to recognise the state of Palestine on May 28. The move has drawn harsh criticism from Israel, which has withdrawn its ambassadors from the three countries. Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian prime minister, said: “There cannot be peace in the Middle East if
US supports the ICC only when it suits American interests
This week, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) applied for arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, in connection with the ongoing war in Gaza. The reaction of the United States, Israel’s main backer, was swift. President Joe
Democracy, civic space and fundamental freedoms under attack
During the Forus network’s General Assembly which took place in Gaborone, Botswana, civil society organisations from across 65 countries highlighted the challenges facing them globally in an increasingly polarised and crisis-hit world. Participants discussed strategic foresight, policy demands and capacity strengthening – scanning the horizon for emerging and chronic issues affecting
Govt to formalize fire mitigation plans for Sundarbans as burning risk rises
The Bangladesh government is drafting guidelines to tackle the rising incidence of fires in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, as intensifying human activity raises the risk of burning in the region. “We have already decided to formulate an SOP [standard operating procedure] which will act as a guideline for
ICC war crimes charges a milestone but falls far below expectations
The ICC Prosecutor’s applications for arrest warrants regarding the Situation in Palestine represent a milestone. But they are of little credit to Prosecutor Karim Khan. It’s abundantly clear that Khan has been sitting on this file for years, hoping it would simply disappear. Two matters forced his hand. First, his indictments
ICC move to seek warrants for war crimes in Gaza triggers a backlash from US
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to seek warrants on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has triggered a strong backlash both from the Biden administration and a group of pro-Israeli Senators in the US Congress. The names in the ICC arrest warrants also include Yahya
Iranian President Raisi’s death leaves Tehran mourning loss of regime loyalist
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed when his helicopter crashed on May 19, 2024 in a mountainous border region, was a consummate loyalist whose passing will be a severe blow to the country’s conservative leadership. The discovery of wreckage and bodies followed an overnight search operation hampered by weather and
Afghan women struggle with soaring mental health issues
Afghanistan is grappling with a growing crisis of mental illness, particularly among its women, as highlighted in a United Nations report. Officials from the mental health department at Herat regional hospital have observed a concerning uptick in the number of women afflicted by psychological disorders in the province. According to these