insert_link Africa Benin arrests five Nigeriens in escalating diplomatic standoff Benin authorities have arrested five Nigeriens at a port where Niger loads oil for export, sharply escalating a growing diplomatic dispute between the two West African nations. Five Nigerien nationals were arrested at the port of Seme-Kpodji on Wednesday evening after "entering the site without disclosing their identity", according to a statement from Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at CRIET, Benin's court for financial crimes […] todayJune 7, 2024 7
insert_link World Can Iran avoid a political crisis after its president’s death? By Ali Mamouri, Deakin University 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 its rivals in the region. Given his sizeable influence, […] todayMay 21, 2024 13
insert_link World Is the UN Failing in Gaza? In Gaza, access to water is so restricted that in Khan Younis, a city in the south of the enclave, 600 people are said to be sharing one toilet. The United Nations remains the main lifeline in the Palestinian territory since the Israeli-Hamas war began, but could the organization be doing more to end the war? UNRWA By Dawn Clancy As the war on Gaza enters its seventh […] todayMay 7, 2024 23
insert_link World EU expected to announce new sanctions on Iran The European Union is expected to announce fresh sanctions against Iran after the bloc's foreign and defence ministers wrap up a meeting in Luxembourg. The U.S. and U.K. have already unveiled new sanctions on Tehran, in response to the missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory earlier this month. From Brussels, Giles Gibson has the details. todayApril 23, 2024 12
insert_link World Vladimir Putin’s gold strategy explains why sanctions against Russia have failed By Robert Huish, Dalhousie University There are more than 16,000 sanctions imposed against Russia. Yet the Russian economy and war machine grew by 3.6 per cent in 2023 and is projected to grow another 2.6 per cent in 2024. Nearly six per cent of Russia’s gross domestic product goes towards military spending. At a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scrambling to acquire arms, funds and […] todayMarch 19, 2024 8
insert_link World UNRWA’s Money Woes May Be Easing as Some Donors Return, but US Is Unlikely Numerous donors are returning to fund UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works agency for Palestinians, reacting to preliminary results from a UN probe into Israeli accusations that agency staff participated in the Oct. 7 massacre. But it appears the United States will not be directing contributions to the organization this year. UNRWA is the main operation delivering food to Gaza, above. UNRWA/INSTAGRAM After weeks of deepening financial straits amid […] todayMarch 15, 2024 4
insert_link Videos Hackers expose how Russia skirts sanctions for its weapons Despite tight sanctions, Western parts are being used in Russia’s battlefield weapons. CBC’s Ben Makuch meets with Ukrainian hackers who reveal that one arms maker is after Canadian technology and how a complex web of intermediaries make it possible. todayMarch 7, 2024 3
insert_link World Free movement in west Africa: three countries leaving Ecowas could face migration hurdles By Franzisca Zanker, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute; Amanda Bisong, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Leonie Jegen, University of Amsterdam For Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, a recent decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has thrown up questions about how they will navigate regional mobility in future. Ecowas covers a variety of sectors, but migration is a major one. The bloc’s protocols since 1979 […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 5
insert_link Africa Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger want to leave Ecowas. A political scientist explains the fallout By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have sent Ecowas, west Africa’s main political union of 15 countries, a formal notice of their withdrawal from the bloc. The three countries are governed by military rulers who have overthrown democratically elected leaders since 2021. The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo asked political scientist Olayinka Ajala about the implications of the withdrawal. Why are Mali, Benin […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 3
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
