WORLD - The African Mirror

Feb

03

2026

By PETER DRAPER, MANDAR OAK, and NATHAN HOWARD GRAY

What the ‘mother of all deals’ between India and the EU means for global trade

WORLD

THE “mother of all deals”: that’s how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the new free trade agreement between the European Union and India, announced on Tuesday after about two decades of negotiations. The deal will affect a combined population of 2 billion people across economies, representing about a quarter of global GDP. Speaking in New Delhi, von der Leyen characterised the agreement as a “tale of two giants” who “choose partnership, in a true win-win fashion”. So, what have both sides agreed to – and why does it matter so much for global trade? What has been…

Feb

03

2026

By RILEY SPARKS

Médecins Sans Frontières decides not to give staff names to Israel after all

WORLD

MÉDECINS Sans Frontières says it will not send a list of names of staff operating in the occupied Palestinian territories to the Israeli authorities. News that MSF was considering the move to satisfy part of a new Israeli law that aims to restrict aid work leaked on 24 January, stirring controversy and criticism. This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Riley Sparks Aid workers say the new law, which mandates the registration of international NGOs working with Palestinians and bans those who don’t comply, aims to silence advocacy and manipulate the aid response – part of a broader…

Feb

02

2026

By KERRY BROWN

Why Xi purged China’s top military general

WORLD

ZHANG Youxia, a top military general and vice-chairman of the body in overall command of China’s military forces, was removed from office on January 23. His departure means all but one of the seven members of the central military commission (CMC), which is chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping, have lost their positions in the last three years. Xi has an established record of purging senior officials. Back at the dawn of his tenure as head of the Chinese Communist Party in the early 2010s, there was a series of high-level fallings. Bo Xilai, a fellow Politburo member who was…

Jan

31

2026

By FARAH N. JAN

US military action in Iran risks igniting a regional and global nuclear cascade

WORLD

THE United States is seemingly moving toward a potential strike on Iran. On Jan. 28, 2026, President Donald Trump sharply intensified his threats to the Islamic Republic, suggesting that if Tehran did not agree to a set of demands, he could mount an attack “with speed and violence.” To underline the threat, the Pentagon moved aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln – along with destroyers, bombers and fighter jets – to positions within striking distance of the country. Foremost among the various demands the U.S. administration has put before Iran’s leader is a permanent end to the country’s uranium enrichment program.…

Jan

31

2026

By JOANNA DREBY and EUNJU LEE

There are long-lasting, negative effects for children like Liam Ramos who are detained, or watch their parents be deported

WORLD

WHEN Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old boy who is an asylum seeker, in Minneapolis on Jan. 20, 2026, the photos quickly became a flash point in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement activity. In one image, a man wearing a black uniform holds onto a grey and red Spider-Man backpack that the worried-looking young boy, wearing a blue bunny hat with floppy ears, has on his back. Meanwhile, ICE and Customs and Border Patrol operations near schools have become increasingly common over the past year, spreading from Texas to Maine. While some parents in…

Jan

31

2026

By The African Mirror

Actor Theo James witnesses Syria’s humanitarian crisis as millions require aid despite mass returns

WORLD

DAMASCUS – British actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James delivered a sobering assessment of Syria's humanitarian situation this week, warning that the crisis persists despite political changes, as he observed widespread destruction and struggling communities during visits to Damascus, Zabadani and Eastern Ghouta. "I am hopeful for the future after meeting with Syrians who chose to return to their homes – though for many people, not much is left of their homes," James said following his visit to meet refugees who have returned since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government. "At the same time, I have seen that…

Jan

30

2026

By AMANDA BECKER

Fear, faith and preparation as ICE closes in on an Ohio community

WORLD

CHURCH-SUPERVISED hubs to house and care for children separated from their parents. Phone chains to activate citizen networks if federal immigration agents are spotted in the community. Volunteers to deliver food to hungry neighbours from their own cars instead of food pantry trucks. Training on what to do if agents breach one of the churches planning to provide sanctuary to immigrant families. This story was originally reported by

Jan

30

2026

By RASHA ABOU JALAL

In Gaza today, death does not need a missile. Rain alone is enough

WORLD

SINCE the last time I wrote for The New Humanitarian in November, the world has been busy with Christmas and New Year's celebrations, and a news cycle jolting from one crisis to another. But in Gaza, there were no lights, no decorated trees, no festive tables, and no distraction from our daily struggles. There is only a heavy winter, an exhausted city, and people trying to survive atop layers of rubble. Our lives are completely occupied with basic questions: How do we get through the coming night? How do we protect our children from the cold? And how do we…

Jan

30

2026

By AMIN SAIKAL

With Iran weakened, Trump’s end goal may now be regime change. It’s an incredibly risky gamble

WORLD

THE United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran are once again on the brink of a major confrontation. This would have terrible ramifications for both countries, the region and the world. All signs point in this direction, but the two sides also have an off-ramp: the possibility of reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and other disputed issues. The Iranian regime has never been so besieged both internally and externally. It has just faced yet another widespread protest movement demanding the government’s ouster, while dealing with the threat of military action by the US, supported by its ally,…

Jan

29

2026

By The African Mirror

From Chanel bags to prison bars: South Korea’s uncompromising stand against corruption

WORLD

THE20-month prison sentence handed down to former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday represents far more than the fall of one woman from grace. It marks another decisive chapter in South Korea's relentless campaign to prove that power—no matter how elevated—offers no immunity from justice. As Kim sat quietly in Seoul Central District Court, wearing a dark suit and face mask, the symbolism was unmistakable. The woman who once inhabited the Blue House, accepting luxury Chanel handbags and diamond jewellery, now faces the stark reality of a prison cell. The court's message rang clear: in modern South…