WORLD - The African Mirror

Jun

30

2025

Israeli bombing exposes critical shortages in Iran’s healthcare system

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Ali Farzadeh EARLY in the 12-day exchange of missiles between Iran and Israel, Jalal, an ophthalmologist based in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province – some 650 kilometres southwest of Tehran – received unexpected orders. Like hundreds of others, he was summoned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to reinforce the capital’s overstretched hospitals. Though the ceasefire was announced on 23 June, Jalal was still in Tehran days later, tending to war casualties. “Iranians were fleeing Tehran because of the bombardment, while the Revolutionary Guard was recruiting hundreds of us from across the…

Jun

28

2025

By The African Mirror

Gaza: Health system crumbles amid renewed obstacles to aid delivery

WORLD

THE first meagre midweek delivery of urgently needed medical goods to enter Gaza in months will provide scant relief to the enclave’s people, who continue to be shot and killed as they search for food, the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) said. “Definitely, people get shot,” said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. “They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries, for sure.” The WHO official’s comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah. More…

Jun

28

2025

By The African Mirror

Myanmar military escalates violence despite earthquake ceasefire, UN Human Rights Chief says

WORLD

MYANMAR’S military has dramatically escalated its attacks on civilians despite announcing ceasefires following a devastating March earthquake, killing more than 500 people and injuring over 1,000 in recent months, the UN Human Rights Chief warned. Volker Türk told the UN Human Rights Council that instead of allowing humanitarian aid to reach earthquake victims, Myanmar’s military “doubled down on violence and restricted access even further” in a systematic campaign that has targeted schools, religious sites and other protected locations. “In many cases, airstrikes or artillery hit schools, religious sites and other protected locations,” Türk said during the 59th session of the…

Jun

27

2025

By CALEB H. WHEELER

Bombing Iran: has the UN charter failed?

WORLD

THE recent US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites has prompted renewed questions about whether the UN charter’s prohibition on the use of force is meaningful. Considered one of the keystones of international law, Article 2(4) of the charter specifically forbids member states from using force – or threatening to do so – against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, or “in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations”. A significant amount of commentary exists about what the prohibition entails. This tries to clarify ambiguities around the terms “force”, “threats of force”, “territorial integrity”…

Jun

27

2025

By GRACE PANETTA

Zohran Mamdani pulled off a political upset running on affordability

WORLD

This story was originally reported by Grace Panetta of The 19th. Meet Grace and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy. ASSEMBLYMAN Zohran Mamdani has pulled off a stunning political upset, running a successful primary campaign for New York City mayor on a platform of making the city more affordable for working people and families through major investments in the city’s social safety net. Three-term former Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded to Mamdani in the Democratic primary Tuesday night, not even waiting for the tabulation of ranked-choice votes. Mamdani will be on the ballot in November, as will…

Jun

27

2025

By The African Mirror

Myanmar: More than 6,800 people killed since the coup began

WORLD

VIOLENCE in Myanmar is spiralling as the military junta increases its attacks on monasteries, schools and camps sheltering people uprooted by the civil war, a top independent human rights investigator warned. In an update on the grave situation in the Southeast Asian nation, Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews said that more than 6,800 people have been killed since generals seized power in a coup in February 2021. Today, Myanmar’s military – the Tatmadaw – has lost considerable territory, soldiers and facilities to resistance fighters, the independent rights expert maintained. Armed with support from allies outside the country, the generals have resorted…

Jun

26

2025

By The African Mirror

Trump claims U.S. strikes obliterated Iran’s nuclear sites, contradicted by intelligence reports showing only minor setback

WORLD

U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities completely destroyed the sites, comparing the impact to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II and claiming the strikes "ended the war" between Iran and Israel. He maintained that the nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were "completely demolished" and that the affected areas are "under rock" and "demolished," asserting the strikes caused total obliteration. However, this position conflicts with an initial intelligence assessment from the Pentagon's Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which found that the strikes did not destroy the core…

Jun

26

2025

By Manfred Zwecker

UN Refugee Agency estimates 2.5 million people need resettlement

WORLD

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimates that 2.5 million refugees worldwide will need to be resettled next year, according to the Projected Global Resettlement Needs report released this morning. While the figure remains high, annual resettlement needs have decreased for next year – down from 2.9 million in 2025, even as the global number of refugees continues to grow. This is mainly due to the changed situation in Syria, which has allowed for voluntary returns. We are seeing some people pull out of resettlement processes in favour of plans to go home to rebuild. For 2026, the largest refugee populations that will…

Jun

26

2025

By ISSOUF BINATÉ

Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa – what’s behind its bid for soft power

WORLD

TURKEY is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties. Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in West Africa, breaks down how Ankara is…

Jun

25

2025

By ALI MAMOURI

Will the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel hold? One factor could be crucial to it sticking

WORLD

AFTER 12 days of war, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran that would bring to an end the most dramatic, direct conflict between the two nations in decades. Israel and Iran both agreed to adhere to the ceasefire, though they said they would respond with force to any breach. If the ceasefire holds – a big if – the key question will be whether this signals the start of lasting peace, or merely a brief pause before renewed conflict. As contemporary war studies show, peace tends to endure under one of two conditions: either the…