The Palestinians’ right of return challenges not only international law itself, but more so the political will of UN member states to act in the face of blatant racism and forced dispossession. A reply to Ahmed Badawi’s “Palestine: seize the initiative”.
A rethinking by Israeli historians enlarges understanding of the bitter events of 1948, including the Palestinian "nakba" (catastrophe). It thus creates a foundation for addressing their consequences in the present, says Avi Shlaim.
China launches crackdown in Xinjiang region. Iran urged to accept nuclear proposals. Karadzic attends trial for first time. Fiji lashes out at Australia and New Zealand. All this and more in today's update.
The trial of the Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is a test of justice and accountability over terrible crimes. But the trend of events in Bosnia itself also demands the international community’s urgent attention, says Martin Shaw.
The United States faces mounting problems in the three leading conflict-zones of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. The escape-route lies not in military escalation but in a change of thinking. (This article was first published on 29 October 2009)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai wins tarnished election. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton sparks criticism for praise of Israeli concessions. Suicide bombing kills dozens in Rawalpindi. South Sudan leader calls for independence. UN chides Congolese army for civilian massacres. All this and more
Iran seeks alterations to an international agreement over its nuclear programme. The political stand off in Honduras appears to have been solved by an agreement between Manuel Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti. Presidential hopeful Abdullah Abdullah withdraws his candidacy from the Afghanistan elector
Day one of the trial of Radovan Karadzic and the defendant refuses to appear. Daniel Jones asks what this means for justice for the former Yugoslavia and considers the cost of allowing high profile defendants to represent themselves
Eight boats in the hands of Somali pirates following spate of hijackings. Zimbabwe calls UN human rights experts a gatecrasher. US officials seek resolution prior to Honduran elections. Venezuela accuses Colombia of US-backed espionage. India will withdraw troops from Jammu. All this and more in t
A powerful bomb blast in Peshawar leaves ninety dead, hundreds wounded. Six UN employees killed in Kabul. Guinea’s September massacre pre-planned according to Human Rights Watch. The political crisis deepens in Zimbabwe. The Hague hears how Karadzic ‘ordered’ ethnic cleansing. All this and more in
The international intervention in Afghanistan is beset by problems. But it can still be put right if the strategy is “civilianised” and “Afghanised” under United Nations leadership, say Pierre Schori & Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh.
The danger of security agencies and violent groups using “incapacitatant” chemical agents to disable armed or civilian adversaries has grown since the Moscow theatre siege of 2002. There is urgent need and imminent opportunity for regulation, says Michael Crowley.
