insert_link Africa M23 seizes key mining town in the DRC A town at the heart of mining coltan, a key ingredient in making mobile phones, has been seized in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by rebel forces, their spokesperson Willy Ngoma has said. The BBC reports that Rubaya fell into the hands of M23 fighters on Tuesday following heavy clashes with government troops. The DRC’s government has not yet commented, but a civil society activist confirmed that M23 had captured […] todayMay 2, 2024 16
insert_link World Israel hits back at Iran: How domestic politics is determining Israeli actions By James Horncastle, Simon Fraser University Israel has carried out a missile strike on Iran in retaliation for a recent barrage of missiles and drones launched by the Iranians towards Israeli soil. Notably, Israel’s strike against Iran appears to have been more symbolic than substantive. Nevertheless, the overnight Israeli strike is the latest escalation in tensions between the two countries. The hostilities boiled over after Israel’s April […] todayApril 22, 2024 41
insert_link World Ukraine is losing the war and the west faces a stark choice: help now or face a resurgent and aggressive Russia By Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham and Tetyana Malyarenko, National University Odesa Law Academy Ukraine is now experiencing a level of existential threat comparable only to the situation immediately after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. But in contrast to then, improvements are unlikely – at least not soon. Not only have conditions along the frontline significantly worsened, according to the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, […] todayApril 18, 2024 31
insert_link World Shadow war no more: Hostilities between Israel and Iran have strayed into direct warfare – is there any going back? Israel’s air defense system intercepted nearly all missiles fired from Iran on April 13, 2024. AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg By Javed Ali, University of Michigan For decades, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a “shadow war.” Falling short of direct military confrontation, this conflict has been characterized by war through other means – through proxies, cyber attacks, economic sanctions and fiery rhetoric. Events over the last few […] todayApril 15, 2024 17
insert_link Local Navigating risk in Sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and opportunities By Horst Simon, Business Risk Officer, Capricorn Group Sub-Saharan Africa, home to diverse cultures, abundant resources, and dynamic economies, is a region of immense potential. However, amidst its promise lies a landscape fraught with risks that demand attention and initiative-taking strategies. From political instability and security threats to environmental vulnerabilities and health crises, Sub-Saharan Africa grapples with multifaceted challenges that require concerted efforts from governments, businesses, and […] todayApril 15, 2024 11
insert_link World Israel accused of using AI to target thousands in Gaza, as killer algorithms outpace international law By Natasha Karner, RMIT University The Israeli army used a new artificial intelligence (AI) system to generate lists of tens of thousands of human targets for potential airstrikes in Gaza, according to a report published last week. The report comes from the nonprofit outlet +972 Magazine, which is run by Israeli and Palestinian journalists. The report cites interviews with six unnamed sources in Israeli intelligence. The sources claim the […] todayApril 12, 2024 7
insert_link World Gazans mark ‘saddest’ Eid with little to celebrate or eat Gazans did their best to celebrate the end of Ramadan in the driving rain on Wednesday, as the war raged on with 14 killed, including children, in a strike on their home, the Hamas-run territory's health ministry said. The Israeli military said it struck several targets on the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, with a jet hitting a rocket launch site and troops killing a "terrorist […] todayApril 10, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Why children are prime targets of armed groups in northern Nigeria Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images Hakeem Onapajo, Nile University of Nigeria Due to growing insecurity, Nigeria is gradually becoming one of the most dangerous places to live. The 2020 Global Terrorism Index identified the country as the third most affected by terrorism. There was a sharp increase in Boko Haram’s targeting of civilians by 25%, and killings by herdsmen increased by 26%, compared with the previous year. The two countries […] todayApril 2, 2024 12
insert_link World Starvation is a weapon of war: Gazans are paying the price By Ateqah Khaki, The Conversation; Husein Haveliwala, The Conversation, and Vinita Srivastava, The Conversation On Monday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war and provoking famine in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations, which are some of the strongest words we have heard from a western power about the situation in Gaza since October. The EU statement comes on the heels […] todayApril 2, 2024 30