Tom Levitt

A 19‑year‑old in Grimsby seeks stable employment while running a mascot hire business and pursuing wrestling ambitions, reflecting limited job opportunities facing young people in coastal towns.

A young Yemeni man recounts a series of life-threatening experiences during his country’s civil war and his flight across multiple countries to escape conscription by Houthi forces. After surviving an explosion that killed three friends, pressure to join the militia, threats of deportation in Egypt, a dangerous sea crossing from Turkey to Greece, and gunfire from smugglers in France, he ultimately reached the UK, where he says he has felt safety and kindness for the first time in years. He reflects on his loss of home and hopes for a stable future.

Violent attacks and intimidation against dissidents living in the UK have increased, with Iran, China, Russia, India and Pakistan accused of targeting critics through assaults, surveillance and threats. Victims describe inadequate responses from UK authorities and growing fear within diaspora communities. Experts argue that the UK lacks a coherent strategy despite new national security laws. Iranian activists report extensive intimidation, while Pakistani and Hong Kong dissidents highlight threats and harassment. Critics accuse the UK government of failing to confront foreign regimes effectively, while officials insist threats are taken seriously and risks mitigated with police and intelligence support.

High unemployment, limited opportunities and reduced public services make securing work challenging for young people in Grimsby, particularly those with disabilities. Nineteen-year-old Cohen persistently applies for jobs while running a small mascot business, volunteering and completing a placement at Morrisons. Local supporters highlight the need for better guidance and meaningful opportunities for young residents. Despite setbacks, Cohen remains determined to find stable employment and stay in his hometown, reflecting broader struggles faced by coastal communities in England.

Iranian journalists in London report escalating threats, intimidation and physical attacks they attribute to the Iranian regime, including attempted arson, kidnapping threats and the stabbing of a TV presenter. Families of BBC Persian staff in Iran have been threatened with severe charges, heightening fears among reporters. Experts say attacks are often carried out by diaspora actors aligned with Tehran’s narratives. Journalists describe severe trauma from covering violent repression in Iran and say current UK protections are insufficient despite rising risks.

A woman in northern Afghanistan was denied a divorce after a Taliban judge dismissed her claims of severe domestic abuse, citing new laws that permit husbands to beat wives as long as the violence does not cause visible injuries. The Taliban’s criminal code requires women to prove such harm in court and limits penalties for offenders to brief imprisonment. Human rights advocates, including Shaharzad Akbar, Malala Yousafzai and UN officials, warn that the legal framework enables widespread domestic violence and reinforces gender apartheid. The woman, forced to return to her husband, reports worsening abuse under conditions that deny Afghan women meaningful legal protection.

Interpol’s forensic DNA unit is working with European police forces to identify murdered or suspiciously deceased women whose names have remained unknown for decades. The effort, highlighted by the identification of Rita Roberts 31 years after her death, reveals longstanding gaps in cross‑border data sharing. Cases such as Angelique Hendrix and an unidentified young woman found in Saint‑Denis underscore how migrants and socially isolated women are especially vulnerable to dying in anonymity. Investigators urge more countries to reopen cold cases and systematically share data to help families find answers and restore dignity to victims.

A young Egyptian man, Essam al‑Shazly, was executed in Saudi Arabia amid a record rise in capital punishment, despite claims from his mother that he was coerced into smuggling and forced to confess. His case reflects broader concerns over the treatment of impoverished foreign nationals sentenced to death for non‑violent drug offenses, often after trials described by rights groups as flawed and involving torture. After his final appeal failed, he was taken from a notorious prison wing in Tabuk and executed without his family being notified of the burial location. Rights advocates highlight systemic issues in Saudi Arabia’s judicial practices, while officials defend harsh penalties for drug crimes.

A runner was withdrawn from the Montane Winter Spine Challenger South ultramarathon after receiving death threats tied to her fundraising for Afghan women and girls through her InspiredMinds! foundation. Organizers, security experts and police determined the risks had escalated, disabling her tracking device and removing her at a checkpoint. Porter expressed disappointment but supported the decision and said she remains committed to future races. Organizers emphasized participant safety and stated there was no broader threat to others on the course.

Profiles of individuals confronting adversity highlight efforts to bridge Indigenous and Western medicine in Brazil, oppose Iran’s execution campaign, challenge sexism in Ugandan politics, secure aid amid peril in Gaza, fight China’s persecution of Uyghurs, steer youth away from gang violence in South Sudan, and continue community health work in South Africa despite funding cuts. Each story reflects resilience against systemic political, social, or humanitarian pressures.

Investigations reveal nearly 300 attacks on maternity care facilities, staff and pregnant women across major conflict zones including Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, with at least 119 direct strikes on hospitals and delivery wards. Healthcare workers have been killed, kidnapped or arrested, and maternity infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of women without safe access to care. Rights groups warn that the pattern of violence constitutes reproductive violence and contributes to broader humanitarian crises, while experts highlight a culture of impunity and the collapse of protections under the Geneva conventions. These attacks have resulted in preventable deaths, forced births in unsafe conditions and long-term threats to population health and recovery in war‑affected regions.

Foreign nationals, mostly Egyptian migrants, have been executed in large numbers in Saudi Arabia for non‑violent drug offences amid allegations of forced confessions, torture, and unfair trials. Families describe receiving final calls or no notice at all as inmates are taken from Tabuk prison’s so‑called death wing for execution. Despite a brief moratorium that raised hopes of reform, executions surged after its lifting, with 25 of 33 Egyptians on the ward killed within a year. Relatives recount desperation, lack of legal representation, and deteriorating mental health among prisoners, while human rights groups warn that many were likely innocent or coerced into drug trafficking.

Uyghur couple Zeynure and Idris Hasan fled China for Turkey, but Idris was arrested in Morocco after China issued an Interpol red notice. Despite warnings from her family in Xinjiang and pressure from Chinese authorities, Zeynure launched public campaigns and sought international help to stop his extradition. Human rights groups, the UN and the US eventually intervened, leading Morocco to release Idris in February 2025. After years of imprisonment and diplomatic tension, the family was reunited in Canada in September 2025, highlighting China’s use of global influence to target Uyghurs abroad and the risks faced by those attempting to resist.

An Algerian family suffers devastating losses after two sisters attempt an irregular sea crossing to Spain, leading to one dying during the journey and the other taking her own life after being traumatised by exploitative individuals involved in the search for missing migrants. Limited institutional support left the family vulnerable to scammers and delays in body identification, while the children and surviving mother now face life without their parents or daughters.

A Leeds-based Hong Kong activist, Chloe Cheung, became the target of a HK$1m bounty issued by Hong Kong authorities for her pro-democracy advocacy. After moving to the UK in 2020, she became active in speaking out against Beijing’s increasing control over Hong Kong, drawing official retaliation, online abuse, surveillance, and fears for her safety. The crackdown follows Beijing’s erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and rising transnational repression, including previous incidents of violence against dissidents abroad. Cheung remains determined to speak out despite limiting her future opportunities and heightening personal risks, while Hong Kong authorities label her a national security threat.

Saudi authorities are accused of imposing widespread and punitive travel bans on political and women’s rights activists, including Loujain al-Hathloul and Maryam al-Otaibi, as a means of suppressing dissent. Human rights group ALQST reports at least 20 individuals face court-imposed or unofficial restrictions, often extending to family members. Activists say the bans silence critics while allowing former prisoners to appear publicly free despite continued self-censorship. Saudi officials maintain that only legally established restrictions are in place, denying broader prohibitions beyond formal judgments.

Nearly 600 people, mostly foreign nationals, have been executed in Saudi Arabia for non‑violent drug offences over the past decade, with rates rising sharply after a temporary moratorium ended. Amnesty International reports widespread unfair trials, lack of legal access, exploitation of migrants, and allegations of torture used to extract confessions. Researchers warn that limited international scrutiny, regional conflict, and Saudi geopolitical influence have enabled the continuation of large‑scale executions and urge global pressure to halt the practice.

Young people in England’s coastal towns describe deprivation, isolation, limited services and a lack of opportunities, with new research linking these conditions to higher levels of mental distress. Many report stigma, deteriorating high streets, weak transport links and scarce employment prospects. Local studies highlight the impact of geographic isolation and underinvestment, contributing to youth out‑migration. Initiatives led by councils, charities and youth workers offer support by fostering identity development, creativity and community engagement. Despite systemic challenges, some young people express optimism as local cultural and youth programmes help them build confidence and envision better futures.

Investigation finds that most military dogs used by Israel’s Oketz unit, including those involved in attacks on Palestinian civilians, are sourced from European companies, primarily in Germany and the Netherlands. Human rights groups report a growing number of dog attacks since the Gaza war began, including severe injuries and deaths. Experts describe the weaponisation of dogs as unethical, while legal analysts argue that exporters may be complicit in rights violations. European regulatory gaps allow canine exports without oversight, and Israel maintains that dogs are used only for operational necessity under international law.

BBC Persian journalists in London report escalating intimidation by the Iranian government, with relatives in Iran subjected to interrogations, threats of job loss, imprisonment, and asset seizure. The BBC describes the targeting as a sharp escalation in transnational repression aimed at pressuring journalists to quit or return to Iran. Staff describe severe psychological strain, while BBC leadership plans to file a new complaint with the UN Human Rights Council amid continued concerns about threats to journalists and their families.