THE NERVE
Today, governments can get away with anything…
Apr 10, 2026
There used to be some sense that killing a reporter would mean serious consequences. Now that understanding has vanished, writes the BBC’s world affairs editor
In the last few years, the world has taken a clear turn for the worse. We’ve seen Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel’s takeover of Gaza and its incursion into southern Lebanon, and the war against Iran. Our quaint post-1945 belief that the world was subject to international law has pretty much evaporated. If you are the leader of a country that is sufficiently powerful, you can get away with anything: from the deliberate targeting of civilians to the destruction of national infrastructure.
