Former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has been dodging the International Criminal Court since July 2008 when a warrant for his arrest was first issued. Even though the fallen strongman stands accused of crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes in Darfur, Yousif Mansour Ahmed Abdalla AlZarouni writes that Sudan is not likely to hand al-Bashir over to the international court any time soon.
Elsewhere, incumbent Narendra Modi won India’s recently concluded election by a sizeable margin, partially on the back of his reputation for keeping the country secure. But the self-styled “watchman’s” previous term as prime minister was a mixed bag when it came to dealing with national security – and some major challenges lie ahead. Ian Hall assesses the biggest risks.
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Sudan’s former president, Omar al-Bashir.
EPA Images
Yousif Mansour Ahmed Abdalla AlZarouni, Brunel University London
The African Union and its member states are creating their own interpretation of immunity which will protect its heads of state from courts abroad.
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He’s won again: Narendra Modi.
EPA Images
Ian Hall, Griffith University
Despite branding himself India's 'watchman', Modi has a mixed record when it comes to keeping India secure.
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Politics + Society
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Tim Lindsey, University of Melbourne
While the riots in Jakarta have been brought under control, the deeper religious tensions that have polarised Indonesia will present a major challenge for Jokowi’s second term.
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Chrissie Gale, University of Strathclyde ; Jennifer Davidson, University of Strathclyde ; Nigel Cantwell, University of Strathclyde
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the human rights of child migrants rarely follow them when they cross borders.
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Environment + Energy
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Sung-Young Kim, Macquarie University; Elizabeth Thurbon, UNSW; Hao Tan, University of Newcastle; John Mathews, Macquarie University
China is rapidly greening its economy, but that doesn't mean authoritarian governments are best placed to handle climate change.
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Jen Allan, Cardiff University
Poorer countries can now refuse shipments of plastic waste and slow the build-up of pollution on their shores.
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Science + Technology
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Glenn Hyndes, Edith Cowan University
Some animals, such as ghost shrimps can even cope with water that is saltier than normal seawater. It's all down to evolution.
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Brooke Simmons, Lancaster University
Gravity exists because the universe is full of 'stuff' – here's how it came to be.
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Arts & Culture
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Evelyn Alsultany, University of Southern California
While the 2019 'Aladdin' is a big improvement from the 1992 version, it still recycles some old tropes.
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