Twenty passengers, including six Britons, remain in intensive care after a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow encountered severe turbulence. Singapore's prime minister has promised a thorough investigation following the death of 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen, who suffered a suspected heart attack. A total of 79 passengers and six crew members were injured. The turbulence occurred over Myanmar's Irrawaddy Basin, causing the plane to drop 6,000 feet. The airline’s CEO apologised for the traumatic experience.
Gove addresses antisemitism in the UK
23 May 2024
Michael Gove has addressed the rise in antisemitism in Britain, warning it signals broader societal dangers. In his speech, Gove likened the situation to historical instances where countries becoming unsafe for Jews indicated a descent into darkness, referencing Nazi Germany and others. He criticised the display of anti-Jewish symbols at pro-Palestine marches and called for stricter measures against such displays of hatred. Gove urged the House of Lords to pass a bill preventing public bodies from boycotting Israeli-linked businesses. His comments follow a record 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023.
Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has struggled with endemic corruption, a battle seen as crucial for its war against Russia. Transparency International now ranks it 104th out of 180 countries, its highest position since 2006. Recent developments have been the arrests of supreme court head Vsevolod Knyazev, agriculture minister Mykola Solsky, and SBU officer Artem Shylo, though all deny wrongdoing and are out on bail. A pivotal development was the 2015 launch of Prozorro, a digital platform which reduced corruption in government procurement, saving nearly $6 billion in four years. With substantial Western aid flowing in, ensuring proper control is critical. Corruption has not only drained resources but also hindered foreign aid and military recruitment (many Ukrainians have bribed their way out of the country to avoid conscription). Last year, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed regional conscription officials amid bribery scandals.
Three European countries recognise Palestine
23 May 2024
The leaders of Norway, Ireland, and Spain have announced that their countries will recognise Palestine as a state on 28 May to promote peace in the Middle East, Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Store said that there can be no peace in the region without recognition. Ireland’s prime minister Simon Harris and Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez made similar announcements, with Sanchez condemning Israeli policies in Gaza. Harris expressed confidence that more countries would follow suit, and stressed Ireland's support for Israel's secure existence. Harris said that Ireland was unequivocal in recognising Israel’s right to exist securely and in peace with its neighbours, adding: ‘Let me also be clear, Hamas is not the Palestinian people. A two-state solution is the only way out of the generational cycles of violence, retaliation, and resentment.’ Israel’s immediate response was to recall its envoys from the three countries.
Iran: five days of mourning for president
23 May 2024
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 minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others were killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of the country on 19 May. The shock incident wiped out two of the country's key political figures, raising questions about what the future might be after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Thousands of mourners gathered for the first funeral event; the next day, declared a national holiday, a funeral was held in Tehran, with high-ranking foreign dignitaries attending. Funerals were held in two more cities on 23 May, and Raisi will be laid to rest in his hometown Mashhad on 24 May. However, many Iranians have celebrated the president’s death, with fireworks set off in several cities and people dancing in the streets. Raisi’s hardline administration was characterised by brutal punishments and a harsh crackdown on female dress codes. See
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 and mistreatment of hostages, while Israel is accused of the starvation of Gaza's civilians. Khan, known for his conservative approach, has said that he has not seen compelling evidence that Israeli courts were probing alleged violations of international law). There have been predictable responses from supporters of both sides, but there is a long history of war crime charges facilitating peace by marginalising hardliners. That might help to advance the frustratingly stalled ceasefire negotiations. Within Israel, whose officials’ conduct in Gaza has increasingly made it a pariah state in the minds of many worldwide, the proposed charges will strengthen the movement for a leadership change. Far from an impediment to a ceasefire, Khan’s actions could be a spur.
Myanmar: growing resistance to the junta
23 May 2024
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, claiming that the regime's fall is imminent. The country is at a critical juncture, with the junta’s brutal repression being challenged by ethnic groups and a new generation of insurgents. Over the past seven months, the resistance has made significant gains, capturing up to two-thirds of the country. Since the 2021 coup, which ousted the elected civilian government and imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi, tens of thousands, including many children, have been killed, and 2.5 million displaced. This is an under-reported conflict, not only because of the world’s focus on Ukraine and Gaza, but also because there is no press freedom and foreign journalists are rarely admitted to the country.
South Africa: has the ANC lost its way?
23 May 2024
For years, the African National Congress (ANC) stood as a beacon of hope in South Africa, dedicated to ending white minority rule and championing democracy and equality. Revered under Nelson Mandela, the ANC's transformation from a liberation movement to a ruling political party brought high expectations. However, thirty years later, many South Africans feel disillusioned, believing it has failed to fulfil its promises. Former president Jacob Zuma, ousted in 2017 due to corruption allegations, has returned with a new party, uMkhonto weSizwe, criticising his successor Cyril Ramaphosa, but his disqualification from a parliamentary run due to a criminal conviction has heightened political tensions. The 29 May elections see the ANC struggling to maintain its majority and possibly facing having to form a coalition government - which would mark the most significant political shift since the end of apartheid in 1994.