The ICC sentence against Al-Mahdi for destroying ancient artifacts at Timbuktu sends the right message that the international community will not tolerate the destruction of heritage sites.
Encounters with Western countries continue to colour political discourses, including on gender in turbulent Syria. But women’s influence is more diverse and powerful than what is portrayed.
World powers including Russia, the US and Turkey all have a stake in the Syrian conflict – but the networks they rely on for influence are constantly in flux.
Under proposed changes, the war crime offence of murder, in a non-international armed conflict, would not apply to collateral civilian deaths resulting from an otherwise lawful attack.
The US has met its goal for resettling Syrian refugees in 2016, and will aim to take in 110,000 more in 2017. A migration expert examines whether fears of their arrival are well founded.
Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University