Retreat from US global leadership on trade?
2/9/2025: President Trump's so-called "pocket rescission" appears to signal a gradual withdrawal from various multilateral bodies, including the World Trade Organization. Some observers believe that US withdrawal from international organizations could pave the way for a more meaningful global governance.
Source: Third World Network
Sudan: UN should extend arms embargo
29/8/2025: Human Rights Watch calls on the UN Security Council to renew and expand the arms embargo on Darfur to cover the whole of Sudan and impose sanctions against the warring parties’ leadership. UN officials have warned that civilians trapped in areas in North Darfur and the Kordofan region face starvation.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Trump seeks to undo Congress commitment to $5 billion aid
29/8/2025: The White House has announced its intention to cancel roughly $5 billion in US foreign aid that Congress already approved in previous fiscal years. This controversial measure, known as a “pocket rescission,” has not been attempted since 1977.
Source: Devex
The funding crisis can be an opportunity for global education
29/8/2025: Global aid for education is expected to fall by one-quarter by 2027, at a time when over 250 million children are out of school. This could be an opportunity for governments of low income countries to prioritize education as a core investment, and allocate adequate resources.
Source: Devex
Afghan journalism under siege
28/8/2025: Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed a wide range of media restrictions, including a ban on women appearing on state-run television and radio, prohibitions on covering protests or interviews critical of the government. Most Afghan women journalists have fled the country.
Source: Inter Press Service
Was the attack on Gaza’s Nasser hospital a war crime?
27/8/2025: There has been widespread international outrage at Israel’s attacks on Nasser hospital in northern Gaza, on August 25. The second attack on the same location, minutes after the first, killed five journalists and several medical staff treating people injured. Journalists are marked out for special protection under the Geneva Conventions.
Source: The Conversation
What’s the future of women’s participation in peacekeeping
26/8/2025: In the 25 years since UN Security Council Resolution 1325 mandated the women peace and security agenda, peace operations have advanced women’s inclusion and promoted gender-sensitivity. But persistent gaps remain visible and they demand urgent attention as global conflicts intensify.
Source: PassBlue
1 in 4 people globally still lack access to safe drinking water
26/8/2025: The latest annual report by the UN's Joint Monitoring Programme finds that 106 million people drink directly from untreated surface sources. The 2030 targets relating to the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation appear increasingly out of reach.
Source: World Health Organization
Thailand grants work rights to long-term refugees from Myanmar
26/8/2025: A new resolution by the Thai Government will allow long-staying refugees from Myanmar to work legally in the country. Thailand’s move could set a regional precedent for sustainable, rights-based refugee policies.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Hunger monitor calls for immediate response as famine confirmed in Gaza
22/8/2025: The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Classification System has confirmed that famine exists in the Gaza Strip. Over half a million people are facing catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death. Through September conditions are expected to further worsen with famine projected to expand to a further 641,000 people.
Source: The New Humanitarian