Italian legal scholar and UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since May 2021
Four US-based rights organisations have filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging last year’s executive order that authorised US sanctions on International Criminal Court judges, prosecutors and groups that cooperate with the court. The complaint has argued the measures have forced them to curtail work, violated constitutional rights and unlawfully interfered with international justice.
Palestinian and Israeli sources report a sharp rise in West Bank violence. Dozens of settler attacks have targeted towns including Masafer Yatta, Jenin, Qusra and Hebron, with Palestinians injured, property damaged and several homes besieged. The violence coincides with increased Israeli military operations and ongoing clashes.
The US Treasury has designated Palestine Action as a specially designated global terrorist organisation and has frozen any assets in the United States, banning Americans and US entities from dealing with it. The move follows the UKproscription in July 2025 and comes alongside US sanctions on other far-left networks and an Italy-based digital collective.
The UN General Assembly has endorsed a non-binding move to shift from the Mercator projection to the Equal Earth map to better reflect continental sizes. The vote saw 164 members in favour with the United States abstaining or opposing; several countries express concerns about disputed territories and implications for regional shading.
The UN General Assembly has voted 164–1 to encourage use of equal-area map projections, led by Togo and backed by the African Union. The non-binding resolution recommends the Equal Earth projection for schools, governments and tech companies. The United States cast the sole vote against; six states abstained.
Ed Sheeran has returned to the stage in Philadelphia and has addressed the controversy after promoter Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from remaining US dates following his onstage 'Free Palestine' remarks. Four supporting acts have withdrawn in solidarity, ticket sales have softened and some venues warned they would cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
UN experts warn that removing rubble in Gaza threatens evidence of alleged crimes. More than 10,000 people remain buried; recovery is hindered by access limits and equipment shortages. Calls for independent oversight intensify as international scrutiny grows.
The IAEA has terminated its nearly two‑decade investigation into Syria's undeclared nuclear activities after inspectors visited sites in Deir ez‑Zor and a previously undisclosed location. Inspectors have uncovered a near‑complete reactor, a fuel‑fabrication plant and about 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal; the material is now under IAEA containment and surveillance measures.
Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after venues objected to his onstage calls for Free Palestine. Messina Touring Group says the move follows discussions with stakeholders and could affect hundreds of thousands of fans. The tour will resume in Philadelphia on Sept. 19 with Sheeran continuing as the headlining act.
Pro-Palestine remarks have sparked a wave of artist withdrawals from Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour. Macklemore has been dropped by promoters, prompting fellow acts to withdraw; Sheeran blames promoters, while venue owners cite concerns over antisemitism and hate speech. The tour resumes with an unsettled lineup and ticketing questions.
Serbia has inaugurated a drone-plants facility built with an Israeli partner. The project aims to produce combat drones for Serbia and other countries, with about 100 workers, and to expand with at least three more factories across Serbia. Details on location and partner names remain confidential, but Elbit Systems is identified by prior reporting. The move occurs ahead of Serbia’s October elections as Belgrade strengthens military ties with Israel and other partners.
The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court as the court faces sweeping U.S. financial sanctions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The prize recognizes the ICC's work while the United States has banned transactions with the court, frozen ICC assets in U.S. jurisdictions and given U.S. companies six months to wind down business.
The General Assembly has allocated 47 seats on the UN Human Rights Council to regional groups, with all regions submitting the same number of candidates for a three‑year term. Contested races have been avoided for a second year, drawing criticism from rights groups about genuine accountability.