海角大神

Can institutions reform themselves? It鈥檚 a question being tested in the midst of war. The Palestinian Authority has launched an ambitious plan to democratize and provide for Gaza鈥檚 future, but its leadership is deeply distrusted by the Palestinian people.

鈥� Trump campaign hack:聽U.S. intelligence says Iran is likely behind the attack, casting the cyber intrusion as part of an effort by Tehran to interfere in American politics and to undermine faith in democratic institutions.聽
鈥� Corporal punishment in schools: The governor of Illinois signed a law this month that will ban physical punishment in private schools while reiterating a prohibition on the practice in public schools.

Read these news briefs.

After pro-Palestinian encampments disrupted college campuses this spring, many predicted major clashes at the Democratic National Convention 鈥� a repeat of 1968鈥檚 DNC. But so far, the protests in Chicago have been smaller than expected.

Venezuela鈥檚 government and opposition have both claimed victory in the July 28 presidential election. But it鈥檚 a woman whose name wasn鈥檛 even on the ballot who may be stealing the show.

Intense scrutiny of veteran politicians has prodded America toward greater awareness of how unchallenged ageism affects everyone, not just presidential candidates.

In our progress roundup, the meaning of community expands in senior living spaces when they are intentionally designed to be inviting to the public. And in Oaxaca, Mexico, women farmers who work for the benefit of the group are bringing an Indigenous practice to modern use.

Sometimes the worst wars start to end with the quiet acquiescence of their combatants. That may be the case now in Sudan where civilians have endured 16 months of a violent civil war.

Last week, talks to end the war began in Switzerland, but only one of the two warring factions showed up. By the weekend, however, each side had taken a critical step. The armed group attending the talks agreed to enable the delivery of emergency aid to parts of the East African country where hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of starvation. About the same time, and seemingly independently, the other faction opened a vital border crossing for the same purpose.

The mutual acknowledgment of the need to protect innocent life may have opened a door to solving one of the world鈥檚 gravest crises. The two sides, led by rival generals who once conspired to overthrow Sudan鈥檚 last civilian government, have now sent delegations for talks in Cairo on Tuesday 鈥� even as diplomacy continues in Geneva.

鈥淭hese constructive decisions by both parties will enable the entry of aid needed to stop the famine, address food insecurity and respond to immense humanitarian needs,鈥� international mediators in Geneva said in a joint statement.

The Cairo meeting is now 鈥渁 crucial step in rebuilding trust and finding common ground between the warring parties,鈥� the Arabian Post editorial board observed. 鈥淭his latest effort could pave the way for a more stable and peaceful Sudan.鈥�

International humanitarian law is anchored by the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires that in warfare, 鈥減ersons taking no active part in the hostilities ... shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.鈥� Recent trends in conflict resolution, the International Committee of the Red Cross noted, have shown that protecting innocent civilians from harm 鈥渃an have an impact on the success of peace negotiations and agreements, as well as on the chances for post-conflict reconciliation.鈥�

Humanitarian gestures, the ICRC observed, helped the Colombian government build trust with guerrilla factions and strengthen compliance with a 2016 peace accord. More recently, two armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a mutual pledge in March to respect and protect civilians caught in the vast African country鈥檚 fragmented wars. The agreement followed training courses led by international humanitarian experts. As the leaders of one of the factions told The Associated Press, 鈥淣ow, we feel 鈥� we can see 鈥� there鈥檚 a change on the ground, and so we can鈥檛 let ourselves do whatever we want anymore.鈥�

Since the outbreak of the civil war in Sudan in April 2023, humanitarian aid workers and international peace groups have sought to reduce the use of sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers, and starvation as tools of war by educating armed groups in humanitarian law. Such efforts reinforce that harming civilians should not be dismissed as 鈥渕ere unintended consequences of war,鈥� said Christina Markus Lassen, Denmark鈥檚 representative to the United Nations Security Council, in a debate on Sudan in May.

Cultivating empathy among belligerents has opened new corridors for much-needed aid to Sudan鈥檚 distressed population. Its more enduring effect may be a lasting peace forged by a deeper valuing of innocence.