Norway: crown princess’s son on trial for rape
The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, who is the son of crown princess Mette-Marit, has opened in Oslo, drawing national attention. The court heard emotional testimony from the first woman who alleges she was raped at a party in 2018, describing fragmented memory and distress at being drawn into a long-delayed legal process. Borg Høiby faces 38 charges, including four counts of rape, which he denies, maintaining that all encounters were consensual. The alleged incidents occurred after initial consent, with prosecutors arguing that the women were later incapacitated and unable to resist. Although he is not a member of the royal family, the case has intensified pressure on the palace, particularly regarding past links between the crown princess and Jeffrey Epstein. Strict reporting restrictions are in place as the court weighs evidence, credibility and responsibility, in a case that has stirred debate about power, consent, justice and public trust.
Greece: smugglers blamed for fifteen deaths after speedboat collision
The deaths of fifteen Afghan and Moroccan migrants after a speedboat collision on 3 February with a coastguard boat have raised troubling questions about accountability at sea. The Greek authorities were quick to blame smugglers, saying the migrant vessel ignored warnings and manoeuvred dangerously. Yet critics urge caution, pointing to past incidents where official explanations later unravelled. In 2023, hundreds of migrants died when the fishing boat Adriana sank, initially described as unavoidable, before survivors alleged coastguard involvement. Years later, senior officers now face prosecution. In the current case, no testimonies from survivors have yet been made public and no independent video evidence has been released, so that there is uncertainty about what truly happened in the darkness. Greece remains a major entry route into Europe, while its government pursues a tough deterrence policy praised by some voters but condemned by human rights groups. The tragedy highlights the ongoing human cost of migration and the need for truth, transparency and compassion.
Gaza: humiliation and trauma after Rafah crossing reopens
When the Rafah border crossing was reopened on 2 February, Palestinian women returning to Gaza have described a journey marked by fear, humiliation and deep emotional trauma. Of around fifty people expecting to cross from Egypt on one day, only twelve - three women and nine children - were ultimately allowed through. Several women reported being separated from their children, blindfolded, handcuffed and interrogated for hours by Israeli forces who control entry at the crossing. One woman said she was threatened with detention and pressured psychologically, despite explaining she only wished to return home and see her children. Basic belongings, food and water were confiscated, adding to the exhaustion of an already gruelling journey. Meanwhile, critically ill patients seeking medical treatment abroad were largely denied passage, leaving tens of thousands waiting inside Gaza. There are also reports that Israel is pressurising NGOs working in Gaza: see
Sudan: Yvette Cooper accuses the international community of failing vulnerable women
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that the world is ‘looking away’ from the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan, urging global action to protect women and children. Visiting the Sudan–Chad border, she said the international community was failing Sudanese women, many of whom have suffered sexual violence since fighting erupted in 2023 between the army and the RSF. At the overcrowded refugee camp in Adré, most arrivals were women and children who had fled extreme brutality. More than twelve million people have been displaced, with millions crossing borders in search of safety. The UK has pledged new funding to support survivors, alongside partners including War Child, represented on the visit by Carey Mulligan. Calls are growing for stronger international pressure to end violence, halt the flow of arms, and pursue accountability. Meanwhile, the army claims to have broken through a blockade by RSF of the important town of Kadugli: see
