Worldwide
East / Southeast Asia: huge increase in synthetic drugs
A UN report has revealed record levels of methamphetamine and synthetic drug production in East and Southeast Asia, primarily sourced from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Historically known for opium and heroin…
Iran: five days of mourning for president
On 21 May Iran began five days of national mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi, as it grappled with the news of his sudden death at a time of heightened regional tensions and domestic uncertainty. Raisi, foreign…
Israel / Hamas leaders: ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants
On 20 May, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced plans to seek arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers, and also for three senior Hamas officials. Hamas is charged with atrocities on 7 October…
Myanmar: growing resistance to the junta
On a scorching day in Karenni state, from a hilltop overlooking an army base, former army captain Nay Myo Zin uses loudspeakers to address soldiers loyal to Myanmar's ruling military aiming to persuade them to defect,…
