The article discusses the impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on women, highlighting the patriarchal violence exacerbated by war and societal norms. It describes the plight of refugees in Masis, Armenia, and the trauma experienced by women and children due to domestic violence linked to the conflict. The piece includes interviews with activists and experts who address the increase in domestic violence, the societal expectations placed on women, and the normalization of violence due to war. It also touches on gender-selective abortions and the marginalization of women in politics. The article concludes with the efforts of the Feminist Peace Collective to unite women across borders against patriarchal oppression.

The Netherlands is set to hold early parliamentary elections following the collapse of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition over family reunification for refugees. Rutte, with the longest tenure in Dutch history, and D66 leader Sigrid Kaag have resigned amid threats and harassment. The VVD, now led by Dilan Yeşilgöz, faces competition from new and existing parties, including Pieter Omtzigt's NSC, a joint campaign by GroenLinks and PvdA led by Frans Timmermans, and Geert Wilders' far-right PVV. Polls show a close race among these parties, with notable decline for D66 and varying support for PVV. The BBB, led by Caroline van der Plas, has lost visibility despite previous success. Discussions on potential coalitions and the softening of PVV's stance are ongoing, with many voters still undecided ahead of the elections.

Teak, a highly prized hardwood, is increasingly popular among the mega-rich for yacht decks, despite EU sanctions against illegal timber trade following Myanmar's military coup. The European Timber Regulation aims to prevent illegal timber sales in the EU, but lacks a pan-European procedure, leading to illegal timber entering through countries like Italy, Croatia, and Greece. The Environmental Investigation Agency and Thünen Institute in Germany are investigating and testing timber origins, but face challenges due to mixed stockpiles and indistinguishable borders. Jeff Bezos's new mega-yacht by Oceanco and Germany's military training ship renovation have been linked to potentially illegal teak. Solutions include listing teak under CITES and using technology for logging area monitoring, while the EU is developing a supply chain law to curb illegal timber imports.

The Netherlands is focusing on green hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels, with the government being legally mandated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country is hosting discussions on hydrogen strategies and launching projects like the Amsterdam hydrogen hub and the world's largest wind park by Vattenfall. Tata Steel plans to switch from coal to hydrogen by 2050, and Shell has opened hydrogen refueling stations. Public transport in Groningen is also adopting hydrogen, and Schiphol Airport aims to be emission-free by 2030.

In the upcoming Dutch parliamentary elections, over half of the listed 37 parties are new, with a record number of female candidates. The conservative-liberal Volkspartei (VVD) leads the polls, but is expected to lose seats, followed by the right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV). Newcomers with a chance for seats include the right-conservative JA21, pro-EU Volt, 'citizen-democratic' Code Oranje, and left-leaning BIJ1. The high number of female candidates has highlighted issues of sexism and online harassment, with a study showing at least one in ten tweets directed at female politicians contained hate or sexism. Key targets of such harassment include D66's Sigrid Kaag and BIJ1's Sylvana Simons, with Groenlinks' Kauthar Bouchallikht facing additional racism and Islamophobia.

In the center of Amsterdam, near Rembrandtplein and the flower market, there is a variety of dining options including an Argentine steakhouse and the fast-food chain Febo. Febo's concept features glass compartments filled with snacks like cheeseburgers and 'Frikandeln', with items labeled in Dutch and English. The article describes the experience of different groups of tourists interacting with the Febo system, including payment methods and reactions to trying the food, such as a hot 'Krokette'.

Southeast Asian countries, particularly Cambodia and Laos, continue to suffer from the deadly legacy of US bombings during the Vietnam War, with millions of unexploded ordnances still buried in the ground. These explosives, often resembling toys, cause numerous casualties, particularly among children. Despite decades of demining efforts, the region remains heavily contaminated. Organizations like APOPO have introduced innovative methods such as using trained rats for mine detection, significantly improving the efficiency and safety of demining operations. The article also discusses the ongoing challenges and the international support for clearing mines, including financial aid from the US during Obama's presidency and the controversial reversal of a landmine ban by the Trump administration.

The responsibility of UN troops for the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia remains controversial. Initiatives are calling for the voices of the victims to be heard. On July 11, 1995, Dutch UN unit Dutchbat, led by Thom Karremans, was overpowered by Ratko Mladić's forces, resulting in the Dutch handing over 25,000 refugees to the Bosnian-Serb military. Dutchbat soldiers, feeling abandoned by the UN and their own country, face ongoing criticism. The 25th anniversary of the genocide brings these issues back to the forefront, with public remembrance and calls for more attention in Dutch history education. Campaigns like 'Srebrenica is Dutch history' by Dutch citizens with Bosnian roots seek to establish a national monument in The Hague and increase the topic's presence in history lessons.

Myrthe van der Houwen, a 19-year-old student from Enschede, Netherlands, experiences sexual harassment as a daily occurrence and has initiated an online petition to raise awareness and compel local authorities to take action. Despite the police's inaction, her petition has gained significant traction with over 16,700 signatures in three weeks. She has been invited by the local administration to present her concerns and is scheduled to meet with the mayor. The article discusses the challenges in addressing sexual harassment, the potential exacerbation of the issue during the COVID-19 crisis, and the societal and legal obstacles to combating it.

Couchsurfing, a network with 14 million members, connects people offering a free couch with those seeking accommodation. However, the platform's low barrier to entry and lack of mandatory identity verification have led to safety concerns, particularly after incidents of assault on women and gay men. Despite a safety team, Couchsurfing's response to such incidents is criticized for being insufficient. The article contrasts Couchsurfing's approach with Airbnb and Uber, which have more robust safety checks and features. The piece also discusses the misuse of Couchsurfing by some men to target women, and the importance of users taking personal safety precautions.

La Plantation, a pepper plantation in Bosjheng, Cambodia, is committed to ecological farming and development aid. Founded by Nathalie Chaboche and Guy Porré in 2013, the plantation employs locals and supports regional schools through the project 'Les Écoles de La Plantation'. The initiative provides financial aid, workshops, and scholarships to improve educational access and quality, addressing challenges such as poverty, long commutes, and high dropout rates. Despite government efforts to improve education, issues like inadequate facilities, teacher absenteeism, and corruption persist. The plantation's school is a beacon of hope, offering children a chance at education in a country still recovering from the Khmer Rouge's legacy.

In the Netherlands, abortion is legal under certain conditions, but the COVID-19 crisis is hindering access to abortion clinics, leaving many women without practical options. A petition initiated by Women on Waves and Bureau Clara Wichmann seeks to change this by allowing abortion pills to be sent by mail, accompanied by tele-counseling. The court in The Hague rejected this proposal, citing the continued operation of abortion clinics and the desire to maintain quality standards. The political youth organization DWARS is raising awareness and demanding a swift, bureaucratic-free solution. The social-democratic politician Lilianne Ploumen has publicly questioned the Health Minister Hugo de Jonge about considering a solution similar to the UK, where abortion pills can be taken at home up to the 10th week of pregnancy without a clinic visit. The minister has not yet responded.