Global Issues News Headlines for “United Nations on Development Issues”

Unexpected Ally Stepping Up Against Sexual Assault in Kenyan Slums: Landlord Standfirst

2026-04-10T07:56:11-07:00

BELLINGHAM, Washington USA, April 10 (IPS) - Trigger warning: This article discusses child rape. Their quiet latent power comes from being ever-present eyes and ears on the ground. As they move around their compounds, collecting rent and checking on anywhere from 10 to 20 houses occupied by as many as 200 people, they see and hear things.

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Nations pledge $3.9bn to Global Environment Facility as Race to Meet 2030 Goals Tightens

2026-04-09T19:09:51-07:00

SAINT LUCIA, April 9 (IPS) - With just four years left to meet a series of global environmental targets, governments are committing to shore up one of the world’s main environmental funds, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with a $3.9 billion pledge.

Read the full story, “Nations pledge $3.9bn to Global Environment Facility as Race to Meet 2030 Goals Tightens”, on globalissues.org →

Humanitarian Response in Lebanon ‘Under Significant Strain’ after Wednesday Airstrikes

2026-04-09T09:33:59-07:00

UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (IPS) - On April 8, Israeli military forces launched the deadliest series of airstrikes on Lebanon since hostilities escalated in early March, resulting in the deaths of at least 254 civilians. This latest incident threatens to further complicate humanitarian efforts in Lebanon that are already under immense pressure.

Read the full story, “Humanitarian Response in Lebanon ‘Under Significant Strain’ after Wednesday Airstrikes”, on globalissues.org →

The Race Is On: Who Will Be the Next UN Secretary General?

2026-04-08T04:54:45-07:00

APEX, North Carolina / SAN FRANCISCO, California, April 8 (IPS) - Let the race begin! April 1st was the deadline for candidates to be nominated for Secretary-General. Was it a coincidence that the deadline was April Fool’s Day? Judging by the quality of the official candidates, we suspect so.

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Tackling Political Exclusion is Central to Saving Democracy

2026-04-06T07:53:58-07:00

BRIGHTON, UK, April 6 (IPS) - Urgent steps need to be taken to rebuild the relationship between citizens and state to stem the decline of democracy globally. Experts point to inequality and political exclusion as two of the biggest drivers for democratic backsliding, with the exclusion of citizens from a role in policy and decision-making spaces leading to ‘hollow citizenship’.

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US Aims at Heavy Staff & Budgetary Cuts, Seeks to Launch Cost-Saving Artificial Intelligence at UN meetings

2026-04-06T07:41:09-07:00

UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (IPS) - The US has spelled out in detail its own concept of what a restructured United Nations should look like: after drastic reductions in staff, cutting down its budget, avoiding duplication in mandates, slashing peacekeeping operations worldwide and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) for translations and interpretations in six languages.

Read the full story, “US Aims at Heavy Staff & Budgetary Cuts, Seeks to Launch Cost-Saving Artificial Intelligence at UN meetings”, on globalissues.org →

UN80 Initiative enters ‘delivery phase’, as Member States review progress on key work areas

2026-04-06T05:00:00-07:00

Top officials updated Member States Monday on selected proposals under the UN80 reform initiative, including an initial assessment of a possible merger between gender equality agency, UN Women, and the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, as well as updates on the technology and data tracks.

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Iran War: What African Countries Can do to Get Through the Crisis and Emerge in a Better Place

2026-04-03T07:28:04-07:00

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 3 (IPS) - By Easter 2026 it was still not clear when – or how – the war initiated by Israel and the US against Iran would end. But what was already clear was that it would harm Africa in a number of ways.

Read the full story, “Iran War: What African Countries Can do to Get Through the Crisis and Emerge in a Better Place”, on globalissues.org →

UN80: UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Mandate Review

2026-04-02T12:55:15-07:00

UNITED NATIONS, April 2 (IPS) - UN Member States made progress toward the UN80 initiative by adopting a resolution that would implement a mandate review, which is set to pave the way to strengthen the process of mandate creation and implementation.

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MC14 Exposed US Heavy Hand at the WTO; Developing Countries Need Each Other

2026-04-02T05:27:22-07:00

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, April 2 (IPS) - The WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), which took place from 26 to 30 March 2026 in Cameroon, was reported as a collapse resulting from the stand-off between Brazil and the United States on the extension of the e-commerce moratorium. This is one screen shot of a bigger unfolding story where the US is attempting to enforce its will on the organization, while some are resisting.

Read the full story, “MC14 Exposed US Heavy Hand at the WTO; Developing Countries Need Each Other”, on globalissues.org →