Photo: UNIS Vienna/Lilia Jiménez-Ertl
Nowrooz is the most important holiday in Persian culture, and it marks the beginning of the new year. This ancient holiday has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in Persian history and tradition. Nowrooz is celebrated on the spring equinox, which falls on March 20th or 21st, depending on the year. In 2023, Nowrooz falls on March 20th, and Persians around the world are preparing to welcome the new year with open arms.
Twenty years after the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein, the oil-rich country remains deeply scarred by the conflict and, while closer to the United States, far from the liberal democracy Washington had envisioned. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
On the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, it is essential to reflect on the 20 lies that led to one of the most disastrous foreign policy decisions in American history. In 2013, author and journalist Glenn Greenwald compiled a list of the "20 lies about the Iraq War," which remains just as relevant today.
The first lie on the list was that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
ARIS MESSINIS AFP via Getty Images
Seven years ago, the European Union and Turkey signed a refugee deal where Turkey agreed to prevent asylum seekers from entering Europe, and in return, the EU promised to pay Turkey billions of euros. The Netherlands, which held the presidency of the EU Council at the time of the agreement, is responsible for the subsequent human rights violations that occurred in Greek refugee camps, according to Amnesty International, Dutch peace organization PAX, Defence for Children, and the Dutch aid organization Boat Refugee Foundation.
The International Criminal Court on March 17, 2023 announced it had issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for the "unlawful deportation" of Ukrainian children. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan launched an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine just days after Russia's invasion. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
"Well, I think it's justified," US president Joe Biden said of news that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian president Vladimir Putin and "children's rights commissioner" Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova over their actions in Ukraine. "[The ICC's jurisdiction is] not recognized internationally by us, either. But I think it makes a very strong point."
A French riot policeman throws a tear gas round during clashes on the sidelines of demonstrations as part of a nationwide day of strikes and protests called by unions over the proposed pensions overhaul, in Paris on March 11, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
Amnesty International and Omega Research Foundation have released a report titled "My Eye Exploded," which highlights the misuse of less lethal weapons by law enforcement agencies during peaceful protests. The report, which is based on research conducted over the past five years in 30 different countries, reveals that the use of less lethal weapons, such as rubber bullets, has become more frequent and widespread, resulting in permanent injuries and deaths.
IOM is working to ensure health care for the Rohingya refugees with 45 health facilities in Rohingya camps – where more than 100,000 beneficiaries get medical consultations every month on average. Photo: IOM
The Rohingya refugee crisis, which began in 2017, is entering its sixth year in 2023, and the needs of the refugees have only increased. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is appealing for USD 125 million to support 1.4 million Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. The needs of the Rohingya refugees are immense, and meeting them is entirely dependent on continued support until they can return to Myanmar safely and with dignity.
A woman getting drinkable water in Basateen, Yemen. Photo: © European Union/ECHO
Statement by Erin Hutchinson, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Yemen Country Director, on the outcome of the international pledging conference for Yemen:
“The international community today showed it has abandoned Yemen at this crucial crossroads, with a mere quarter of the amount needed to support the millions of Yemenis who require urgent assistance. This is woefully inadequate and gives the signal that some humans are less valuable than others.
Afghan burqa-clad women walk along a street in Fayzabad district of Badakhshan province on February 5, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
As Afghanistan continues to face the worst humanitarian crisis amid ongoing political chaos, the United Nations (UN) warned that two-thirds of Afghans are facing severe hunger and are in urgent need of aid, with six million facing the risk of famine, TOLOnews reported on Monday.
With at least 6 million people facing the risk of famine in Afghanistan due to a reeling economic crisis, the deputy executive director of UNICEF, Omar Abid urged the international community not to forget the basic rights of women and children in Afghanistan, as well as to assist them.
© MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli authorities must dismantle the system of apartheid which is causing so much suffering and bloodshed, Amnesty International said today. Since the organization launched a major campaign against apartheid one year ago, Israeli forces have killed almost 220 Palestinians*, including 35 in January 2023 alone. Unlawful killings help maintain Israel’s apartheid system and constitute crimes against humanity, as do other serious and ongoing violations by Israeli authorities such as administrative detention and forcible transfer.
Afghan internally-displaced boy walks outside his during a cold winter day at the Nahr-e Shah-e- district of Balkh Province, near Mazar-i-Sharif. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
Amid reeling economic crisis and political turmoil, the sufferings of Afghan children have gone worse as the World Food Programme underlined that an estimated 875,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2023 in Afghanistan, TOLOnews reported on Friday.
The WFP report also stated that 2.3 million children as well as 840,000 women are also at the verge of suffering from moderate acute malnutrition.
LEHTIKUVA / AFP
Climate change increases migration worldwide. Over the past 30 years, however, this effect has been considerably reduced as climate change weakens economic growth in the countries of the Global South. This is the research result of a team from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research comparing the observed migration flows to a scenario without the effects of climate change.
Afghan internally-displaced people sit outside their tent during a cold winter day at Nahr-e Shah-e- district of Balkh Province, near Mazar-i-Sharif. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
As Afghanistan continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis under the Taliban regime, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in a report said there is a very real risk of systemic collapse and humanitarian catastrophe in the country as the citizens are grappling with hunger, poor economy, lack of basic amenities, all at once.
According to the report, 6 million people will experience food insecurity at an emergency level by 2023, putting 17 million people at risk of severe hunger, Afghan news agency TOLOnews reported.
Photo: Christian Jepsen/NRC
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) calls on the Taliban authorities to halt further evictions of internally displaced people (IDPs) from settlements across Afghanistan, until they have found sustainable alternatives.
"In the midst of another harsh Afghan winter approximately twenty thousand displaced people have been evicted from their homes in Badghis province by Taliban authorities.
Photo: REUTERS / Ints Kalnins
Photo: WFP/Arete. A family eat a meal at their home in Mazar, Afghanistan.
Photo: UNIS Vienna/Lilia Jiménez-Ertl
Nowrooz is the most important holiday in Persian culture, and it marks the beginning of the new year. This ancient holiday has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in Persian history and tradition. Nowrooz is celebrated on the spring equinox, which falls on March 20th or 21st, depending on the year. In 2023, Nowrooz falls on March 20th, and Persians around the world are preparing to welcome the new year with open arms.
Twenty years after the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein, the oil-rich country remains deeply scarred by the conflict and, while closer to the United States, far from the liberal democracy Washington had envisioned. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
On the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, it is essential to reflect on the 20 lies that led to one of the most disastrous foreign policy decisions in American history. In 2013, author and journalist Glenn Greenwald compiled a list of the "20 lies about the Iraq War," which remains just as relevant today.
The first lie on the list was that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
ARIS MESSINIS AFP via Getty Images
Seven years ago, the European Union and Turkey signed a refugee deal where Turkey agreed to prevent asylum seekers from entering Europe, and in return, the EU promised to pay Turkey billions of euros. The Netherlands, which held the presidency of the EU Council at the time of the agreement, is responsible for the subsequent human rights violations that occurred in Greek refugee camps, according to Amnesty International, Dutch peace organization PAX, Defence for Children, and the Dutch aid organization Boat Refugee Foundation.
A French riot policeman throws a tear gas round during clashes on the sidelines of demonstrations as part of a nationwide day of strikes and protests called by unions over the proposed pensions overhaul, in Paris on March 11, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
Amnesty International and Omega Research Foundation have released a report titled "My Eye Exploded," which highlights the misuse of less lethal weapons by law enforcement agencies during peaceful protests. The report, which is based on research conducted over the past five years in 30 different countries, reveals that the use of less lethal weapons, such as rubber bullets, has become more frequent and widespread, resulting in permanent injuries and deaths.
IOM is working to ensure health care for the Rohingya refugees with 45 health facilities in Rohingya camps – where more than 100,000 beneficiaries get medical consultations every month on average. Photo: IOM
The Rohingya refugee crisis, which began in 2017, is entering its sixth year in 2023, and the needs of the refugees have only increased. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is appealing for USD 125 million to support 1.4 million Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. The needs of the Rohingya refugees are immense, and meeting them is entirely dependent on continued support until they can return to Myanmar safely and with dignity.
