8 April 2025: Global executions hit their highest figure since 2015, as over 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024, said Amnesty International today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty.

Dr Mathew George, Katarina Djokic, Zain Hussain , Pieter D. Wezeman and Siemon T. Wezeman March 2025 Stockholm SIPRI

Our latest research brief, The 1%: Doing Business With Proxy Military Companies, authored by Associate Researcher Robin van der Lugt, examines how these entities — termed 'proxy military companies' — have reshaped warfare, international law, and global stability. Unlike conventional PMSCs, these groups are not independent security contractors operating in competitive markets.

Following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, a coordinated effort involving local volunteers, affected communities, civil society organisations, and both local and international humanitarian workers has been initiated to assist millions of individuals impacted by the disaster.