Worldwide
A UN report has revealed record levels of methamphetamine and synthetic drug production in East and Southeast Asia, primarily sourced from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Historically known for opium and heroin…
Iran: five days of mourning for president
23 May 2024
On 21 May Iran began five days of national mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi, as it grappled with the news of his sudden death at a time of heightened regional tensions and domestic uncertainty. Raisi, foreign…
On 20 May, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced plans to seek arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers, and also for three senior Hamas officials. Hamas is charged with atrocities on 7 October…
Myanmar: growing resistance to the junta
23 May 2024
On a scorching day in Karenni state, from a hilltop overlooking an army base, former army captain Nay Myo Zin uses loudspeakers to address soldiers loyal to Myanmar's ruling military aiming to persuade them to defect,…
South Africa: has the ANC lost its way?
23 May 2024
For years, the African National Congress (ANC) stood as a beacon of hope in South Africa, dedicated to ending white minority rule and championing democracy and equality. Revered under Nelson Mandela, the ANC's transformation from a…
Luis Abinader has been re-elected for a second term, clinching victory in the first round. The hugely popular president vowed unity and impartial leadership as he declared victory on 19 May, having secured a sufficiently wide…