By Samir Ramzy, Researcher, Helwan University
US president Donald Trump’s advisor on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, announced in February 2026 that Washington and three Middle East states – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (collectively known as the Quad) – were close to finalising a detailed initiative aimed at ending Sudan’s war. The plan resembled the roadmap shared by the Quad in September 2025.
According…
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Angus Taylor has all the on-paper qualifications to be opposition leader. But there are big questions over how well he could do the job, when a miracle worker is needed to lift the struggling Liberal Party from its existential crisis.
Taylor’s political story so far is regarded by many observers and not a few colleagues as one of unfulfilled promise.
If he wins the leadership, he would take over with the party at its lowest, considered to have no prospect of victory at the 2028 election. The first realistic chance for Taylor, now 59, of becoming prime minister would be…
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By Garbi Schmidt, Professor of Cultural Encounter Studies and a member of the inter-institutional research group on migration, Roskilde University
Few countries talk about “ghettos” the way Denmark does. For more than a decade, the term has shaped national debates about migration, integration and who truly belongs.
What began as a policy tool to identify struggling neighbourhoods has evolved into a social experiment in how to manage so-called “parallel societies”. These are predominantly…
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By Claire Charlton, Leader of Australian Right Whale Research Program, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University
For decades, southern right whales have been celebrated as one of conservation’s success stories.
Once driven to the brink of extinction by commercial whaling, southern right whales slowly returned to Australian coastlines through the late 20th century. Their recovery reflected the power of international protection, marine sanctuaries and long-term science working together.
But our new research shows this success story is changing. We drew on more than 30 years of continuous shore-based monitoring of…
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By Amnesty International
The Special Criminal Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic is at serious risk of closure in 2026, potentially depriving thousands of victims and survivors of war crimes and crimes against humanity of justice and reparations, Amnesty International said today. The organization is calling on states to make urgent financial contributions to the court to […] The post CAR: Special Criminal Court at serious risk of closure in 2026 due to lack of funding appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Hannah Joyce Banks, Lecturer in Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast
Master clown and French theatre guru Philippe Gaulier has died at 82. His influence will live on in generations of artists from New Zealand.
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image The port in Tangier, Morocco, July 7, 2024. © 2024 Wilfrid Esteve/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images (Beirut) – At least 50 Moroccan companies and hundreds of their workers have not been compensated for at least US$5 million worth of renovation and maintenance work at a palace in Tangier owned by a Saudi prince, Human Rights Watch said today.Moroccan company representatives said that their efforts to get compensation have been futile despite repeated assurances by Saudi companies and palace representatives that they will provide payment. It remains unclear which entities…
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By Laura
Since 2012, Mali has been in security turmoil with the emergence and expansion of several radical non-State armed groups. This situation disproportionately affects the civilian population, especially women and girls.
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By Amnesty International
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard will attend the Munich Security Conference from 13 to 15 February, where she will be available for interview and will call on world leaders and senior officials to collectively resist the predatory attacks on international law that are severely undermining global security. “It’s already clear that 2026 will be […] The post Munich Security Conference: Amnesty chief warns attacks on international law are undermining global security appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Amnesty International
Responding to a Hong Kong court’s conviction of the father of US-based pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok under the city’s Article 23 law, Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas spokesperson Joey Siu said: “This conviction is the first time a family member of a ‘wanted’ pro-democracy activist living abroad has been convicted under Hong Kong’s national security […] The post Hong Kong: Conviction of ‘wanted’ activist’s father a ‘disturbing escalation’ appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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