标签： Asia

The international community is mourning the passing of Leila Shahid, the groundbreaking Palestinian diplomat who shattered glass ceilings throughout her remarkable career. She died at age 76 on Wednesday at her residence in Lecques, southern France, as confirmed by her family to Le Monde newspaper.

Born in Beirut in 1949 to parents exiled from Akka and Jerusalem during the 1948 Nakba, Shahid’s life became intertwined with the Palestinian cause from its earliest days. Her academic journey at the American University of Beirut proved formative, bringing her into contact with Yasser Arafat, the future Palestinian leader who would become a close associate.

Shahid’s professional path began with humanitarian work in Lebanese refugee camps before she embarked on her historic diplomatic career. In 1989, she achieved the distinction of becoming the first female representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) internationally, initially serving as envoy to Ireland before assuming representation to the Netherlands and Denmark in the early 1990s.

Her most significant diplomatic posting came as Palestinian ambassador to France from 1994 to 2005, a role that established her as one of the most prominent Palestinian voices in the Francophone world. She subsequently represented Palestine before the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg until her retirement in 2015.

Colleagues and world leaders have expressed profound grief at her passing. Palestinian Ambassador to France Hala Abou-Hassira described it as ‘a tremendous loss for Palestine, and for the world that believes in justice.’ Majed Bamya, deputy Palestinian envoy at the UN, celebrated her as ‘Palestine personified in the Francophone world,’ noting her celebrity status among the public.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the tragic timing of her death amid ongoing violence, noting she ‘leaves us while the State of Israel perpetuates the excessive violence and disregard of international law that Leila witnessed, fought against and brought to the attention of the international community.’

Shahid remained politically engaged throughout her retirement, recently praising France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood in a September interview with France24 as ‘very important’ and ‘not only symbolic.’ She was married to Moroccan writer Mohamed Berrada and divided her time between Beirut and Lecques in her later years.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has formally declined to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his upcoming confirmation of charges hearing scheduled from February 23-27, 2026. The controversial leader stated his absence constitutes a strategic component of his defense team’s challenge against the sufficiency of prosecution evidence.

In an official waiver signed by Duterte and submitted through his legal representatives, the ex-president explicitly rejected participating via communications technology from outside the courtroom. Duterte simultaneously leveled serious allegations against current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accusing him of ‘facilitating kidnapping’ by arranging special charter flights to transport him to The Netherlands for trial proceedings.

The ICC has acknowledged receipt of Duterte’s request and indicated it will deliberate on the matter before issuing a public announcement prior to the February 23 session commencement.

Human rights attorneys, particularly members of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), have condemned Duterte’s decision as demonstrating profound cowardice. NUPL President Ephraim Cortez characterized the repeated avoidance of court appearances as behavior unbecoming of a former national leader, contrasting Duterte’s conduct with the defiant courtroom demeanor historically displayed by figures like Saddam Hussein and Nicholas Maduro.

Cortez further asserted that without the protection of his customary security detail and insulatory barriers, Duterte appears incapable of mustering the courage to confront his accusers directly. This marks not the first instance of the former president refusing physical appearance before the ICC, having previously avoided hearings concerning his potential temporary release from the Scheveningen District detention facility in March 2025.

In an unprecedented development for the British monarchy, Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested Thursday by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest, which occurred on the royal’s 66th birthday, centers on allegations that the Duke of York transmitted confidential government documents to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.

The investigation gained momentum following the release of over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents by US authorities, which reportedly contained evidence suggesting Andrew had forwarded official trip reports about Vietnam, Singapore, and other destinations to Epstein in 2010. The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic formally reported these allegations to police, triggering the criminal investigation.

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright confirmed the investigation, stating: ‘Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.’

King Charles III responded with a carefully worded statement expressing ‘deepest concern’ while emphasizing that ‘the law must take its course.’ The monarch pledged the royal family’s ‘full and wholehearted support and cooperation’ with authorities, marking a significant departure from historical royal responses to scandals.

The arrest represents the most severe constitutional crisis of Charles’ reign and marks the first time a senior royal has been detained in this manner. Police conducted simultaneous operations, with unmarked vehicles and plain-clothed officers descending on Andrew’s current residence at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, while another team searched his former home in Berkshire.

Legal experts note that misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and must be tried in Crown Court, reserved for the most serious criminal offenses. Thames Valley Police emphasized the ‘particular complexities’ of investigating this common law offense, which lacks specific statutory legislation.

This development follows Andrew’s 2022 settlement of a civil lawsuit in the United States with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. The current investigation, however, focuses solely on the alleged document transfers rather than sexual misconduct allegations.

The former prince has been stripped of all royal titles and military honors since October, following escalating revelations about his relationship with Epstein. Buckingham Palace has previously stated its readiness to support any police investigation, expressing ‘profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light.’

Human rights advocates have formally requested the London Metropolitan Police to launch a criminal investigation into Elbit Systems UK Ltd, citing the company’s alleged involvement in Gaza conflict atrocities. The Public Interest Law Centre, supported by Campaign Against Arms Trade, submitted a comprehensive legal complaint to the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (SO15).

The legal action targets four current and former British directors of the Israeli-owned defense contractor for potential complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. The complaint argues that corporate officials could face charges for aiding and abetting international law violations through their supply chain operations.

Elbit Systems Ltd, headquartered in Israel, has served as a primary weapons and technology supplier during Gaza hostilities that commenced in October 2023. The UK subsidiary represents a critical component of the company’s international distribution network, according to legal representatives.

The complaint was filed on behalf of a Palestinian UK resident whose family remains in Gaza, highlighting the personal connection to the alleged crimes. The Public Interest Law Centre’s statement emphasized that the Metropolitan Police’s response would demonstrate the practical validity of international justice legislation, stating: ‘Whether the Met chooses to investigate this complaint will show whether the ICC Act 2001 is worth the paper it’s written on.’

The legal challenge emerges alongside new research published in The Lancet Global Health indicating conflict fatalities may significantly exceed official estimates. The Gaza Mortality Survey documented approximately 75,200 violent deaths between October 2023 and January 2025—approximately 35% higher than Palestinian health ministry figures. The study corroborated that 56% of casualties were women, children, and elderly individuals.

Elbit Systems, employing 20,000 staff with $2 billion annual revenue, frequently faces activism from pro-Palestinian groups in Britain. Recent legal developments saw prosecutors drop aggravated burglary charges against Palestine Action activists who targeted an Elbit facility near Bristol in August 2024.