State of emergency declared after unrest worsens and thousands of prisoners break out of jail. Haiti’s director of National Police has warned the capital is at war. Port-au-Prince has been overrun by gangs. A state of emergency has been declared after gang members attacked two prisons over the weekend – freeing several thousand prisoners. The … Read more
Pakistan is about to hold another poll as the opposition complains of unprecedented political repression. As Pakistan prepares for general elections, they are being overshadowed by concerns about fairness and political unrest. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is in jail after being convicted on corruption charges and is barred from the vote. Khan’s rival, Nawaz … Read more
Hindus in Malaysia have marked the festival of Thaipusam, one of the most important in their religious calendar, displaying their devotion in a mass procession with some piercing their bodies with hooks and skewers. Authorities said they were expecting as many as two million people – devotees and tourists – at the Batu Caves temple … Read more
Bitter divisions erupt between ministers on post-war plans for Gaza. Israel’s far-right coalition government is at war, not just in Gaza but with itself. Ministers are fighting about a possible inquiry into the army’s pre-October 7 role – and proposals to expel all Palestinians from Gaza. So, how fragile is Israel’s government? And what would … Read more
Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sits in an F-16 fighter jet. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Ukraine is betting on the powerful F-16 fighter jet to give them a leg-up in the war against Russia. The F-16 Fighting Falcon can hit … Read more
Electoral authorities announce results of voting by diaspora in the US, Canada, South Africa, Belgium and France. Democratic Republic of the Congo has begun to announce the results of general elections marred by chaotic organisation and credibility concerns. Electoral authorities on Friday announced the results of voting by diaspora Congolese in South Africa, the United … Read more
Thousands of Palestinians are held in Israeli jails and the number is increasing daily. Hamas has always made the freedom of Palestinian prisoners one of the conditions for the release of Israeli and foreign captives. And it’s one of the terms of the truce that is set to begin on Friday. An estimated 7,800 Palestinians … Read more
The Balfour Declaration opened the door to the founding of Israel, and its impact is still felt across the Middle East today. In November 1917, Britain’s Balfour Declaration opened the door to the founding of Israel 30 years later. And it has had a major impact on the Middle East. The British government issued a … Read more
“This war in Gaza is one of the most brutal wars I’ve ever experienced. It’s the first time I feel so terrified,” says Muhammad Qndeel, a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza. For the last week, Close Up has been filming the Palestinian photojournalist as he documents the impact of Israel’s assault on Gaza. “They’re bombing houses, … Read more