insert_link World India and Canada expel diplomats as ties worsen India and Canada have expelled each other's six diplomats as ties worsen over the murder of a Sikh leader in Canada last year. It comes after Canada said it asked the Indian government to waive the diplomatic immunity of some officials who have been named as persons of interest in the murder investigation. today15 October, 2024
insert_link World Iran accuses US of aiding Israel in Haniyeh strike Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has blamed America for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, claiming it could not have happened without US authorisation and intelligence support. Haniyeh was killed by a strike in Tehran yesterday, which has been blamed on Israel. Here is Iravani speaking at the UN Security Council. The UNSC’s emergency meeting on Wednesday came as Iran and Hamas – […] today1 August, 2024
insert_link Africa West Africa is changing: five essential reads on breakaways from Ecowas By Adejuwon Soyinka, The Conversation The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been in the news lately – mostly for the wrong reasons. The bloc is facing its biggest crisis since it was formed in 1975. Three of its 15 countries – Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali – have broken away and formed an alternative grouping, the Alliance of Sahel States. While […] today10 July, 2024
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 […] today7 June, 2024
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, […] today21 May, 2024
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 […] today7 May, 2024
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. today23 April, 2024
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 […] today19 March, 2024
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 […] today15 March, 2024