Tension has occurred in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have accused Qatar of supporting Islamist terrorist groups including ISIS, al-Qaeda and The Muslim Brotherhood. They believe such action impinges on their security and stability. Diplomatic links have been closed, Qatari citizens living in
In Saudi Arabia, women have limited independence to make decisions. Under the guardianship system operated in the country, women require the consent of a male adult, usually their father or husband to travel, marry, work or carry out tasks outside the home. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the
Demonstrations in Al-Hoceima, part of Morocco’s neglected Rif region on the Mediterranean coast, have continued for over six months. In October 2016, a fish seller, Mouhcine Fikri, was crushed to death in a rubbish truck as he attempted to retrieve his fish. The Police had thrown it away as Fikri
New allegations of obstructing justice and corruption have been made against the President of Brazil. In a report issued in May 2017 by the Brazilian Attorney-General, an investigation has been ordered into the behaviour of President Temer. An audio recorded conversation appears to have evidence of President Temer ensuring Eduardo Cunha,
Protest action from those opposing the Law and Justice Party shows no sign of stopping. In Warsaw on 6 May 2017, tens of thousands of people marched to show their disapproval of the Law and Justice Party strengthening of their central power and limiting by regulating the power of democracy.
On the 16th of April 2017, the people of Turkey voted by a very small margin to approve a new draft constitution to make their country a presidential republic. Only 51.3% supported the move while 48.75% including those from Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and the Kurdish people living in Southeast Turkey
Eye-searing tear gas, rubber bullets, and swinging police batons greeted protestors opposed to President Maduro in Venezuela at the end of March 2017. Extraordinary political events had occurred, the most extreme being the Supreme Court’s announcement on 29 March 2017, stating its intent to take over legislative powers from the
Refusal by some separatist groups to attend the national unity conference hosted by the Malian government is the latest obstacle for peace. Failure by the government to enforce law and order has meant that armed violence and ethnic conflict have persisted, especially in northern Mali. A Peace Accord signed in
Taiwan and China’s precarious relationship continues to be bruised by incidents of spying. Zhou Hongxu has been arrested for attempting to recruit spies within the Taiwanese government using business interests and education as ruses. Zhou came from China to Taiwan on a student exchange program and graduated from National Chengchi
Why is the African continent, specifically Somalia, undergoing another famine? What can organizations such as NGOs, the UN and others do to help with this crisis?
Protection for those fleeing conflict appears to be a very low priority in the United Kingdom (UK) today. On February 8, 2017, the Conservative government quietly announced that it would accept 350 children into the UK under the Unaccompanied Child Refugee Programme. The Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill announced that “…this
The conflict between the indigenous people of the Nicaraguan Caribbean coast, the Miskito people, and the Mestizo settlers has intensified because the Nicaraguan government has failed to take action. Physical violence and death are now commonplace. According to The New York Times, many of the Miskito people have left their
The South African government has called for calm following a wave of xenophobic violence in the country, claiming the unrest is against criminal activity. President Jacob Zuma remarked that many migrants living in South Africa were law abiding and had contributed in a positive way to the economy. He also
Tension and escalated fighting have once again risen on the outskirts of Donetsk. Separatist forces from the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic, backed by Russia and the Ukraine government blame each other for the surge in military fighting. Many inhabitants of this area have already fled to other parts
Controversy surrounds the European Union’s (EU), latest plan to deal with the African migration to Europe crisis. Mr. Tusk, President of the European Council announced the European summit had “..reached [an] agreement on [the] immediate operational issues that should help [to] reduce the number of irregular migrants and save lives…”
Displaced Iraqi people continue to face hunger pains as food rations are cut. The World Food Programme, (WFP), which manages emergency food aid has reduced food rations by 50% to 1.4million displaced Iraqis. This organization aims to provide emergency food at half a kilogram, per person, per day, but has
Weeks of tension in Gambia since December 2016 have ended. Military and civil strife over the transitioning of power to the newly elected Gambian President has been averted. Adama Barrow, the President-elect, finally received the mantle of leadership from the former President Yahya Jammeh on 21 January 2017. Accompanied by
Deep lying tensions between Serbia and Kosovo erupted recently. A train, the first direct link between Serbia and northern Kosovo since 2008, was denied access to Kosovo causing Serbian authorities to stop the train before it reached the Kosovo border. Painted in nationalistic colours, emblazoned with the patriotic phrase “Kosovo
Controversy exists around the twenty-one Chibok school girls who, in October 2016, were released from Boko Haram’s control into the care of the Nigerian government. Brokered by Red Cross negotiators, the “lucky” twenty-one are now adults and are kept apart from their parents by government officials who appear to be
Human Rights Watch informed us of the destruction of 430 buildings across three villages in the Rakhine state of Myanmar between 22 October and 10 November 2016. Such violations, along with starvation are causing the Rohingya people to flee Myanmar in search of safety and acceptance. The United Nations High Commissioner
