WORLD - The African Mirror

May

27

2025

The Great Presidential Face-Push of Hanoi

WORLD

PICTURE this: the sultry evening air of Hanoi, red carpets unfurled like royal tongues, dignitaries lined up in their finest diplomatic regalia, cameras poised to capture the majesty of a French presidential arrival. The stage was set for Emmanuel Macron's grand entrance into Vietnam—the first French president to grace these shores in nearly a decade. What could possibly go wrong? Enter Brigitte Macron, stage left, with the comedic timing of a seasoned vaudevillian and the mischievous glint of a woman who's clearly had enough of presidential pomp for one trans-Pacific flight. As Air France One's doors swung open like the…

May

26

2025

By RASHA ABOU JALAL

To be a mother or journalist? My struggle amid Israel’s unrelenting violence in Gaza

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Rasha Abou Jalal I am a Palestinian mother and journalist, 36 years old. I write these words from the heart of hunger and fear in the devastated Gaza Strip. Since this war began on 7 October 2023, we have not lived like human beings. All we do is try to survive, day by day, hour by hour. Nothing is certain – not food, not water, not safety. Even tomorrow is not guaranteed. Since Israel launched its new military operation earlier this week, whatever hopes we still had of this war ending…

May

26

2025

By AMANDA BECKER

How Trump’s ‘one, big, beautiful’ tax bill could impact programs for women and children

WORLD

This story was originally reported by Amanda Becker of The 19th. Meet Amanda and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy. REPUBLICANS in the U.S. House of Representatives approved a sweeping package early Thursday morning that contains what advocates call “historic” cuts to government health insurance and nutrition programs that serve lower-income Americans. President Donald Trump wanted “one, big, beautiful bill”, and GOP Speaker Mike Johnson pushed to get the package through the House before the Memorial Day recess. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to undergo significant changes. The proposal approved…

May

26

2025

By The African Mirror

UNHCR fears extreme desperation led to deaths of 427 Rohingya at sea

WORLD

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is gravely concerned about reports of two boat tragedies off the coast of Myanmar earlier this month, with estimates that 427 Rohingya perished at sea. This would be the deadliest tragedy at sea involving Rohingya refugees attempting to find safety this year. Nearly 1 out of 5 people attempting perilous sea movements in this region have been reported as dead or missing so far in 2025, making the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal waters amongst the deadliest in the world. Details are still being confirmed, but reports suggest that some 514 Rohingya were travelling…

May

24

2025

By FERNANDO PIZARRO

The top Democrats leading the fight against Trump’s agenda

WORLD

THE first five months of Donald Trump’s second presidency have been brutal for the Democratic party, which has been almost completely unable to stop his aggressive agenda. In March, CNN polling showed the favourability rating for the Democrats at just 29% – a record low in CNN polls dating back to 1992. The problem with the Democratic party “isn’t a lack of talent”, says Federico de Jesús, a Democratic strategist and spokesman for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, whom I interviewed for this story. It is a “problem of vision and strategy”, he argues. “A lot of people, in theory,…

May

24

2025

By The African Mirror

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis

WORLD

MILLIONS of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said. Wrapping up a visit to the country, Edem Wosornu, who heads operations and advocacy for the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA), said that she could “feel the momentum for change” on the ground after years of suffering and hardship under the Assad regime ended with its overthrow last December. But formidable challenges remain as 16.5 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance and protection, and needs are “staggering”. Speaking from Gaziantep, a humanitarian hub in Türkiye just…

May

24

2025

By The African Mirror

Haitian refugee finds safety and stability in Mexico City

WORLD

IT'S 9 o'clock at night when Giovanni Rotschild gets in a truck to start his night shift as a delivery assistant in Mexico City. Three years ago, his night shifts looked very different – he was a nurse in Haiti, caring for patients in a packed emergency room. Giovanni was forced to flee Haiti in 2022 after receiving threats against his life and amid a dire humanitarian crisis caused by insecurity and escalating human rights violations. Armed groups had taken control of several neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince, the capital, where Giovanni lived. Fearing for his life, he made the heartbreaking decision…

May

23

2025

By The African Mirror

Five years after George Floyd’s death, activists say the promise of change remains unfulfilled

WORLD

This story was originally reported by Alexis Wray, Eden Turner and Sabreen Dawud of The 19th. Meet Alexis, Eden and Sabreen and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy. THE fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death is approaching, a time that many remember as a “racial reckoning” that heightened the world’s attention on police brutality and its deadly impact on Black people. Activists, leaders and community members believed five years ago that the country would point to this moment as the one that brought lasting change toward racial equity. Now, the majority of Americans say that moment…

May

23

2025

By CATHERINE STRONG

Politics, protest and some seriously inappropriate songs: who gets censored at Eurovision, and who doesn’t?

WORLD

AS always, Eurovision 2025 was full of glitter, costume reveals, divas, spectacle and, of course, controversy. From ongoing calls to ban Israel from participating, to one song that had to be edited since it was too inappropriate, here’s what you may have missed from this year’s contest. A milkshake meltdown For Australian viewers, the final may have been a bit of a letdown because, for the second year in a row, our contestant failed to get past the semis. Go-Jo’s Milkshake Man seemed like a strong offering, with its daft and suggestive lyrics, huge energy and oversized blender prop –…

May

23

2025

By WILL WORLEY

Myanmar in-depth: Slow earthquake response underlines need to overhaul long-flawed international aid efforts

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Will Worley A brutal and coercive regime is the main obstacle to an effective response to Myanmar’s earthquake disaster, say aid workers and human rights activists, pointing to uniquely complex conditions that necessitate working with some non-state armed groups. Critics have long attacked the UN – and other international aid actors – for working only with the permission of the junta, delivering aid mainly within territory it controls. With the 28 March earthquake disaster crossing the front lines of the civil war, leaving millions affected on both sides, they argue that…