Lawsuit challenges Trump’s ICC sanctions regime
25/9/2026: Sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court imposed by the Trump administration will be the subject of legal action by human rights experts and organisations from around the world. They will assert that the sanctions illegally undermine access to justice for victims of serious international crimes.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Ethiopia’s foretold war arrives
25/9/2026: There are worrying signs of a return to war in Tigray and northern Ethiopia as a diverse coalition of the country’s ethnic-based opposition movements announced their intention to oust the federal government. With several conflicts already disrupting the region and the international community distracted by war in the Middle East, hopes for effective mediation are slim.
Source: African Arguments
What to watch at the UN General Assembly
21/9/2026: The UN General Assembly will try to focus attention on multilateralism in a me-first era, respect for international law, the climate crisis, and the governance of artificial intelligence. But those with power and the loudest voices may still set the agenda.
Source: The New Humanitarian
Lives could be saved in next pandemic if vaccines are shared more fairly
21/9/2026: Researchers modelling a hypothetical global outbreak of flu found that 2.7 million additional lives could be saved through distribution based on population size, rather than purchasing power. However, in high-income countries, that solidarity-based approach would result in extra deaths.
Source: The Guardian
Ebola: DR Congo outbreak is not slowing, MSF warns
18/9/2026: Doctors Without Borders has warned against premature optimism after DRC's government and the World Health Organization had both reported slowing transmission in some places. No effective treatment for the Bundibugyo variant has been found and it may be spreading into new areas. Almost 3,500 people have died.
Source: DW
Progress update on development goals as 2030 deadline approaches
18/9/2026: Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals is slow and uneven, with only 36% of the targets on track or making moderate progress. Despite a $4 trillion annual financing gap, official development assistance fell by a record 23% in 2025. Even with this shortfall, some governments are translating commitments into beneficial policies.
Source: UN News
What is UNGA, and why does it matter for global development?
17/9/2026: The UN General Assembly is the only UN body with universal representation, granting all 193 member states an equal vote, making it the official policymaking organ of the UN. More about about the General Assembly and why it matters for global development.
Source: Devex
Gender equality woefully off track, new UN report reveals
17/9/2026: Not a single indicator on the Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality is on track to be met by 2030, according to a progress report. Amid broadening cuts to funding for development aid, programmes addressing gender inequality are amongst the hardest hit, with such funding falling to its lowest level since 2021.
Source: UN News
Architects of Iran’s suppression of 2022 protests must face international justice
16/9/2026: A report by Amnesty International finds that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their bloody suppression of the 2022 Woman Life Freedom uprising. Its in-depth investigation identifies 87 officials who should be accountable.
Source: Amnesty International
Yemen’s latest escalation pushes millions deeper into crisis
15/9/2026: While the reasons behind the new offensive are murky and complex, the impact on Yemen’s most vulnerable civilians has been clear and direct. The UN reports that 125,000 people have been newly displaced in just two weeks and the numbers are rising quickly. This is a country where 15-16 million people are already expected to need food aid through September.
Source: The New Humanitarian