Ukrainians stress that a peace agreement must include justice
11/3/2025: After three years of bloodshed, the people of Ukraine are in limbo as peace negotiations to end the war, instigated by US President Donald Trump, remain unpredictable. Efforts so far have been plagued by disinformation, undiplomatic behavior, and erratic political signals.
Source: Inter Press Service
USAID cuts could create untreatable tuberculosis bug
10/3/2025: Dangerous new forms of tuberculosis for which there is no treatment could emerge as a result of cuts in US support to poorer countries which has historically provided between $200 million and $250 million a year for TB. In 2023, there were 10.8m new cases and 1.25 million deaths from the disease.
Source: The Guardian
Tensions undermine second phase of Gaza ceasefire
10/3/2025: The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire has enabled conditions for health, education and nutrition in Gaza to improve. Humanitarian progress is now impeded by the inability of all parties to secure agreement to Phase 2.
Source: Inter Press Service
Is the world ready for a woman at helm of the UN?
10/3/2025: In closed-door negotiations at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the US has proposed that a provision encouraging states to nominate qualified female candidates for the post of UN Secretary-General should be watered down. The current head of the UN has warned of an aggressive backlash against gender equality – threatening hard-won progress on women’s human rights.
Source: Devex
Gavi delays $9 billion replenishment event
10/3/2025: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has pushed back its high-level replenishment summit by three months. An already rough fundraising environment has become exponentially worse as the Trump administration has rapidly dismantled USAID. However, there are signs that the US government sees the importance of Gavi’s work.
Source: Devex
US Energy Secretary will support African energy needs, not climate
7/3/2025: Christopher Wright, the US Energy Secretary, said the US will support African nations in developing any type of energy they choose and set aside "paternalistic" practices and climate change demands. According to Wright, climate change is not among the top ten global problems.
Source: Devex
The G20: how it works and why it matters
7/3/2025: The US seems intent on undermining the existing world order, raising concerns about mechanisms for global cooperation, such as the G20. The G20 tends to work well as a cooperative forum when the world is confronting an economic crisis but less well when confronted with other types of crises such as the COVID pandemic.
Source: The Conversation
Up to one million Syrians plan to return home in desperation
7/3/2025: As of January, more than 3.4 million internally displaced persons were still in the northwest of Syria and a significant proportion are planning to return to their homes in the near future, placing additional strain on already overstretched basic services and infrastructure. Former frontline areas in the Idleb and Aleppo governorates are the primary intended destinations.
Source: UN News
Israel again blocks Gaza aid, further risking lives
5/3/2025: Since March 2 the Israeli government has again blocked all aid entering Gaza, including fuel, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. Supplies of food and water are at imminent risk. Israel as a warring party has an obligation to facilitate humanitarian aid, ceasefire or not, according to Human Rights Watch.
Source: Human Rights Watch
It’s time for a woman to be UN Secretary-General
5/3/2025: As the UN prepares to host the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York, the UN itself remains stuck in a cycle of male dominance. There is no real collective effort to break the all-male stronghold at the highest leadership level. The 1 for 8 Billion Civicus campaign calls on UN member States to nominate feminist women candidates for the appointment of the next Secretary-General.
Source: Inter Press Service