The men who spent the war demanding control of the Strait of Hormuz have returned to demanding control of women's clothing. As the fighting subsides, Iran's hardliners are pressing to revive a hijab law the state itself suspended for fear of new protests.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - On Aug. 20, 1998, the United States launched 13 cruise missiles at Sudan’s al-Shifa Pharmaceutical Factory, destroying the country’s largest source of domestically produced medicine during a period of severe famine.
Munich [Germany], August 21 (ANI): Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified China, together with Russia and Iran, as major actors involved in transnational repression, warning that individuals who flee authoritarian countries may continue to face surveillance, threats and intimidation after arriving in Germany.
Poland summons Israeli envoy over dropped probe into killing of WCK aid workers Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it summoned the Israeli ambassador to Warsaw after Tel Aviv's decision to close its investigation into an attack on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid convoy in Gaza two years ago. In early April, 2024, seven foreign aid workers, including Polish national Damian Sobol, were killed in an Israeli strike. The ministry conveyed its disappointment over the decision, and denounced the latest steps taken, demanding that the circumstances of the killings must be "fully clarified".
Responding to the convictions of activists who organized Tiananmen vigils in Hong Kong, Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas spokesperson Fernando Cheung said: “This dismaying verdict underlines how Hong Kong’s National Security Law is being used to punish people for peacefully remembering one of the darkest chapters in recent Chinese history. “For decades, Hong Kong was the […] The post Hong Kong: ‘Dismaying’ Tiananmen convictions part of campaign to erase Chinese history appeared first on Amnesty International .
Four out of every five families in Gaza face 'critical or catastrophic' hunger levels, UN warns The spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, warned that 94 percent of Gaza's over 2. 1 million population are in need of shelter and basic household assistance. Dujarric also indicated that more than four out of five families face "critical or catastrophic" levels of hunger in their shelters - which lack fuel, energy and essential household items.
Authorities and forces affiliated with Hamas in the occupied Gaza Strip must put an end to extrajudicial executions of suspected collaborators with Israel, carried out in the absence of any judicial proceedings, Amnesty International said today. Last month alone, security officials in Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, publicly announced the summary execution of one […] The post Palestine: Hamas must stamp out extrajudicial executions and ensure justice for victims appeared first on Amnesty International .
Nearly everyone in Gaza in need of shelter aid, NRC says An estimated 1. 98 million Palestinians in Gaza, 94 per cent of the population, need shelter and basic household assistance, according to a new report by the Shelter Cluster, led by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Jan Egeland, Secretary General of NRC, said in a post on X that only 10 percent of families reported receiving shelter aid in the month before the assessment and stocks of shelter materials and basic household assistance are nearly depleted in the Strip.
In photos: Funeral of 17-year-old Palestinian killed by Israel in March Palestinians held a funeral on Thursday for 17-year-old Salim Sami Salim Fuqaha, whose body Israeli authorities had withheld since he was killed on 16 March, in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Messages sent to Iran International after the death of its 37-year-old presenter Farahnaz Espad have mixed personal tributes with reflections on exile, repression and hopes for political change among Iranians at home and abroad.
Opinion: Amid genocide in Gaza, why must Palestinian journalists uphold the illusion of neutrality? On 20 June 2026, the Israeli army killed Al Jazeera Mubasher cameraman Ahmed Wishah in a drone strike, less than two and a half months after the killing of his brother, Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Mohammed Wishah, who was targeted by the same army on 8 April. After Mohammed's death, Ahmed appeared on Al Jazeera pleading: "Let Mohammed be the last journalist Israel kills.
Responding to the reported fatal shooting of opposition party member and former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation in Kabulonga, Lusaka on 14 August, and the arrest of at least three other opposition members, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said: “The reported killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya is […] The post Zambia: Authorities must investigate fatal shooting of former minister and end post-election crackdown appeared first on Amnesty International .
Three years after Ecuadorians voted overwhelmingly to protect Yasuní National Park from oil extraction in one of the most significant environmental referendums in Latin American history, the authorities have yet to fully implement the result of the vote. At the same time, members of the YASunidos collective are facing disproportionate financial penalties for their participation […] The post Ecuador: Three Years After the Yasuní Referendum, Sanctions Against Its Defenders Highlight the Deterioration of Civic Space appeared first on Amnesty International .
Exclusive: UK condemns 'abhorrent' Ben Gvir comments on killing Palestinians The British government has condemned recent remarks made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling for the killing of "30-40" Palestinians in Gaza every night as "abhorrent" and "dehumanising", in comments to Middle East Eye. Ben Gvir said earlier this week that "I think we should carry out targeted assassinations in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night," adding "not just those who pose an immediate threat. "There are people there who are not worthy of life.
British activist Anas al-Tikriti questions UAE surveillance operation Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 16:17 The veteran activist said the police refused to tell him who threatened his life ten years ago Anas al-Tikriti was served with an Osman notice by the London Metropolitan Police - a notice given to individuals whose life is at imminent risk (screengrab) Off It was a cold winter morning when British police knocked on Anas al-Tikriti’s family home in London. The veteran anti-war activist was abroad when one of his sons called telling him officers were looking for him. Baffled by the situation, he dismissed the call.
British activist Anas Altikriti questions UAE surveillance operation Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 16:17 The veteran activist said the police refused to tell him who threatened his life ten years ago Anas Altikriti was served with an Osman notice by the London Metropolitan Police - a notice given to individuals whose life is at imminent risk (Screengrab) Off It was a cold winter morning when British police knocked on Anas Altikriti's family home in London. The veteran anti-war activist was abroad when one of his sons called telling him officers were looking for him. Baffled by the situation, he dismissed the call.
‘We are starving’: Palestinians besieged by settlers in West Bank homes run out of food Palestinians trapped in their homes by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Qusra are running out of food as the siege enters its 12th day. Aisha Hassan, who is sheltering in one of three surrounded homes south of Nablus with her mother and brother, said they were “starving”. Israeli soldiers arrived last week, ostensibly to remove the settlers, but have since effectively contributed to the siege by blocking food deliveries to the families.
‘We are starving’: Palestinians besieged by settlers in West Bank homes run out of food Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 14:04 Around 15 people, including children, are trapped in Qusra as Israel restricts food and settlers maintain siege for 12th day Ruqaya Hassan and her daughters watch from the houses they are trapped in by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Qusra, on 18 August 2026 (Ammar Awad/Reuters) Off Palestinians trapped in their homes by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Qusra are running out of food as the siege enters its 12th day. Aisha Hassan, who is sheltering in one of three surrounded homes south of Nablus with her mother and brother, said they were “starving”. Israeli soldiers arrived last week, ostensibly to remove the settlers, but have since effectively contributed to the siege by blocking food deliveries to the families.
Exclusive: UK condemns 'abhorrent' Ben Gvir comments on killing Palestinians Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 13:25 Foreign Office tells MEE: 'Dehumanising language and calls for violence from an Israeli government minister are unacceptable' Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband speaks during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference in Pasay, Metro Manila on 22 July (AFP) Off The British government has condemned recent remarks made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling for the killing of "30-40" Palestinians in Gaza every night as "abhorrent" and "dehumanising", in comments to Middle East Eye. Ben Gvir said earlier this week that "I think we should carry out targeted assassinations in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night," adding "not just those who pose an immediate threat. "There are people there who are not worthy of life.
The Israeli military has confirmed for the first time that it opened fire on a car carrying five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed along with six relatives in Gaza in 2024.
