Global Issues
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https://www.globalissues.org - a website, since 1998, looking at inter-related global issues 🌍 Follow @globalissues.org on BlueSky to see daily world news from Inter Press Service and United Nations as well as personal commentary on various issues.
Great post by @annpettifor.bsky.social noting essential survival commodities have become instruments of financial speculation inflating prices, triggering hunger worldwide, stripping democratic control over own food systems 1/4
Ann Pettifor@annpettifor.bsky.social · 2w agoMy latest post....https://open.substack.com/pub/annpettifor/p/the-globalisation-of-markets-and?r=nle0&utm_medium=ios
ESCAP's 2026 survey shows decarbonisation costs and benefits fall unevenly across Asia-Pacific economies Fossil fuel dependent countries face higher costs, job losses, risk of prolonged unemployment unless government plans reskilling and diversification #GreenTransition #ClimatePolicy #AsiaPacific
Green transition: Pay the Least, Benefit the Most
BANGKOK, Thailand, August 5 (IPS) - Inaction and maintaining the status quo of fossil fuel dependence carry significant costs. The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, for instance, caused enormous losses to the global economy, with many Asia-Pacific countries bearing disproportionately larger adverse impacts. Had these economies had a more diversified energy mix, they would have benefited from such resilience under current circumstances.
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Biodiversity loss isn't abstract for Africa, it's failed harvests and empty fishing waters "because of massive government subsidies for fossil fuels and private industrial spending around the world, biodiversity loss outpaces efforts to protect it" UNEP warned #Biodiversity #Africa #ClimateJustice
Africans bear the brunt of biodiversity loss
For millions across Africa and the developing world, the biodiversity crisis is not an abstract problem – it’s the soil that no longer yields bountiful harvests and the fish that no longer return to coastal waters.
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Israeli attacks on homes and classrooms continue despite the October ceasefire, OCHA warns, leaving Gaza still unsafe for civilians "Ceasefire" or truce in name only. It hasn't ended the danger facing families and children sheltering in classrooms #Gaza #Ceasefire #OCHA
Gaza ‘unsafe for civilians’ as Israeli attacks hit homes and classrooms
Gaza remains unsafe for civilians as Israeli attacks continue, including on schools and canvas classrooms, despite the October Israel-Hamas ceasefire that ended two years of war, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Tuesday.
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Nearly four years into Russia's invasion, children keep dying in places that should be safe: playgrounds, beaches, homes UNICEF demands protection for Ukraine's youngest victims as both sides escalate strikes deep into each other's territory #Ukraine #ChildRights #UNICEF
‘A playground, a beach, a home’: UNICEF demands end to child deaths in Russia-Ukraine war
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, with both sides stepping up airstrikes and drone attacks in recent weeks deep inside each other's territory, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed on Tuesday for greater protection for the war’s youngest victims.
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Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the vulnerability of global trade to a single maritime chokepoint, with early data showing sharp falls in exports of energy, fertilizers and industrial products #Hormuz #GlobalTrade #Energy
Strait of Hormuz disruption hits energy, fertilizer and industrial trade
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the vulnerability of global trade to a single maritime chokepoint, with early data showing sharp falls in exports of energy, fertilizers and industrial products.
globalissues.org
No approved vaccine exists yet for the Bundibugyo Ebola species driving DRC's largest recorded outbreak WHO says trial results are months away, leaving responders to fight rising deaths and cases now without the tool that ended prior Ebola outbreaks elsewhere #Ebola #DRC #GlobalHealth
New Ebola vaccine trial launches as outbreak spreads in DR Congo
Results may be months away, but efforts are advancing towards enhanced treatment and the world’s first vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday as deaths and cases rise in the largest ever outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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60k migrants crossed into Spain's Ceuta enclave after Moroccan border forces mysteriously vanished from their posts Analysts call it "migration blackmail," with Israel and US benefiting, to attack PM Sanchez's govt over its stance on Gaza + refusal to host US operations against Iran
Are US and Israel benefitting from 'migration blackmail' against Spain?
Analysts accuse Morocco of unleashing undocumented migrants into Ceuta. Many note how Tel Aviv and Washington are seizing the moment with particular zeal.
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Funding shortfalls have forced WFP to cut food aid in Afghanistan just as hunger is getting worse Parents are left feeding babies weak tea and bread as they have nothing else to give 14 million Afghans face acute hunger, but only 1 in 9 receive WFP food assistance #Afghanistan #HungerCrisis #WFP
Afghanistan hunger crisis intensifies as millions left without food aid
Afghanistan’s dire hunger crisis now affects 14 million people including babies fed on little more than weak tea and bread by their despairing and dirt-poor parents.
globalissues.org
Kashmir's sacred ice stalagmite (Amarnath cave shrine) melted within days this year - fastest on record A loss for Hindus but also threatens thousands of Muslim families (guides, porters, traders) whose entire yearly income depends on pilgrims traveling to see it #Kashmir #ClimateChange #Himalayas
Climate Change Makes Sacred Ice Vanish in Kashmir, Locals Fear Loss of Livelihoods
SRINAGAR, India, August 4 (IPS) - Every summer, before dawn breaks over the Himalayas, Bashir Ahmad leads his horses onto the narrow mountain trail that winds toward the Amarnath cave shrine. For decades, the annual Hindu pilgrimage has been the most important season of the year for his family. The money earned over two months pays for food, school fees, winter supplies, and the upkeep of his animals through the long snowbound months.
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Important context often forgotten Decades of Western-led domination of WTO rules constrained Global South industrialisation and gutted tariff revenues poorer nations relied on The US then paralysed WTO dispute settlement itself when it stopped serving US interests #GlobalTrade #WTO #GlobalSouth
Trade Liberalisation Never Lifted All Boats
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, August 4 (IPS) - President Trump has blamed trade liberalisation advocated by globalists for US deindustrialisation. Instead, his own weaponisation of economic policies, instruments and institutions purport to ‘make America great again’ (MAGA).
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IMF's own account credits Milei government policy and Argentine perseverance for fiscal surpluses, falling inflation, poverty reduction No mention of who bore the cost of austerity or whether gains reach those still below the poverty line #Argentina #IMF #Economy
After Restoring Stability, Argentina Needs to Turn Hard-Won Gains into Lasting Prosperity
WASHINGTON DC, August 4 (IPS) - My first meeting in Buenos Aires began with an unexpected gift. Economy Minister Luis Caputo presented me with an Argentine national team jersey bearing my name and the number 10—Lionel Messi’s iconic number.
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Riyadh builds a 14-country Red Sea defense alliance as US-Iran tensions swing between canceled strikes and supposed talks Notably absent: UAE and Oman, despite sharing the same security stakes, as US naval resources stretch thin across the region #RedSea #SaudiArabia #MiddleEast
Saudi Arabia Forms Multinational Red Sea Defence Alliance as U.S.-Iran War Threatens Global Shipping
UNITED NATIONS, August 3 (IPS) - As the United States and Iran continue to escalate with military strikes across both fronts, the conflict took a new turn with Saudi Arabia becoming militarily involved on July 29, following coordinated airstrikes with U.S. Central Command according to the Saudi Ministry of Defence.
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ISA meeting ended without adopting a deep sea Mining Code leaving environmental safeguards unresolved Meanwhile mining continues Nauru Ocean Resources Inc's contract extended regardless while US bypasses the ISA entirely to issue its own Pacific seabed permits #DeepSeaMining #OceanGovernance #ISA
“Kingston’s Disappointment Should Not Extinguish Our Hope for the Deep Ocean”
VICTORIA, Seychelles, August 3 (IPS) - Earlier this year, I called publicly for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, arguing that it is not a rejection of progress, but a commitment to sound science.
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US strikes hit oil-producing provinces, killing at least 60 civilians and injuring 670 in a month, including a 2 year old in Qeshm Guterres warns of widening regional war without renewed diplomacy, yet talks/deal hints from Trump are as unreliable as ever #Iran #UnitedNations #MiddleEast
U.S.-Iran War Escalates Amid Growing Fears of Regional Instability and Rises In Arbitrary Executions
UNITED NATIONS, August 3 (IPS) - Over the past several weeks, the humanitarian landscape in the Middle East has deteriorated significantly, exacerbated by escalating security concerns and serious human rights violations. In late July, the United Nations (UN) highlighted a sharp uptick in hostilities between the United States and Iran, alongside growing concerns over wider regional instability.
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New Ebola treatment centres open in eastern DRC as confirmed cases climb sharply in the country's largest ever outbreak Progress on response infrastructure, but the scale of transmission underscores how much there is still to do As of 30 July, 3,605 confirmed cases, 1,587 deaths #DRC #Ebola
DR Congo: New centre opens at heart of record Ebola outbreak
New UN-backed centres will serve eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as confirmed Ebola cases continued to climb sharply over the weekend in the largest ever outbreak of the highly contagious disease in the country.
globalissues.org
Global breastfeeding rates are rising, yet millions of mothers still lack paid leave, workplace support, and health services needed to breastfeed safely, UN warns Progress, but more still to be achieved #GlobalHealth #Breastfeeding #UN
Mothers still lack support to breastfeed, UN warns
Breastfeeding rates are rising worldwide, but millions of mothers and families still lack the services and protection they need to feed their babies safely, the UN has warned.
globalissues.org
AI from WFP now helps predict which Somali communities face worst hunger risk, speeding aid delivery amid deepening crisis “It helps us to prioritise with stronger evidence,” Mr. Renk from WFP said. “But in itself, it doesn’t make the shortage of support acceptable.” #Somalia #Hunger #AI
In Somalia, AI is helping deliver food to hungry families
Amid a deepening hunger crisis in Somalia, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to deliver aid to the people who need it most.
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Israeli forces killed over 24 Palestinians in Gaza, violated Lebanese airspace 100+ times over the weekend, UN agencies and peacekeepers report Israeli airstrikes, shelling, shooting continues in Gaza Strip Med supplies destroyed Settler violence continues in West Bank #Gaza #Lebanon #Ceasefire
Israel violates Lebanese airspace, kills over two dozen in Gaza in weekend strikes
Israeli forces reportedly killed more than two dozen Palestinians in Gaza and violated Lebanese airspace more than 100 times over the weekend despite ongoing ceasefire agreements, UN agencies and peacekeepers said on Monday.
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Drone strikes in Sudan are killing civilians and blocking aid from reaching those trapped in conflict zones, OCHA warns. As attacks continue unchecked, humanitarian access shrinks just when displaced communities need it most #Sudan #HumanitarianAid #OCHA
Drone strikes threaten civilians and aid operations in Sudan
Drone strikes are posing deadly risks to civilians in Sudan and hampering humanitarian efforts to reach them as attacks continue to affect conflict-hit areas, the UN aid coordination office OCHA said on Monday.
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Community-led campaigns, survivor testimony and religious rulings have driven real declines, halving FGM rates in some countries But funding for that grassroots work is drying up as anti-rights movements push back, risking hard-won gains built over decades #FGM #GenderBasedViolence #WomensRights
Female Genital Mutilation: Winning the Argument, Losing the Funding
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, August 3 (IPS) - Last August, a one-month-old girl in The Gambia bled to death after being subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice that had been illegal in the country since 2015. FGM is a human rights violation, whatever the appeals to faith or tradition made in its defence, but now the Gambian Supreme Court is being asked to strike the country’s ban down. This is the second attempt in two years to make FGM legal again.
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Caribbean leaders can't control the global shocks driving up food, fuel and freight costs, so they're betting on regional fixes instead, ferry links, farm production, renewable energy #CARICOM #ClimateResilience #Caribbean
Accepting What It Cannot Control, CARICOM Focuses on What It Can
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia , August 3 (IPS) - From wars that drive up fuel prices to supply chain disruptions, inflation and increasingly frequent climate disasters, Caribbean leaders say many of the forces shaping the region’s future lie beyond their control.
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Daud Khan and Thomas McMahon argue chatbots are engineered for "engagement farming," using sycophantic responses to build dependency and profit This same design risks deepening inequality Regulation alone won't fix a business model built on exploiting human vulnerability #AI #DigitalEthics
Who picks up the tab for AI’s unbridled genius?
ROME, August 3 (IPS) - For the last few years, Artificial intelligence has been making increasingly intrusive demands for our attention. It burst onto the scene like a child prodigy, enthralling us with feats of brilliance. With consummate ease, it removed drudgery from our tasks and began helping us achieve our personal and workplace objectives.
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Repatriation deals since 2017 keep failing because they move people without fixing underlying cause: Myanmar denies Rohingya citizenship, rights, and safety in Rakhine - a battlefield now too No outside actor has leverage and will to force a rights-based change #Rohingya #Myanmar #Bangladesh
Rohingya Repatriation: A Roadmap Without a Road
VANCOUVER B.C., Canada, August 3 (IPS) - The Rohingya crisis remains one of the most enduring humanitarian and political failures in South and Southeast Asia. Since the 2017 mass expulsion from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Bangladesh has hosted more than one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, while Myanmar has failed to create conditions for safe return. What began as an emergency response has hardened into protracted displacement marked by statelessness, insecurity, aid dependency, and diplomatic fatigue. Repatriation is repeatedly presented as the preferred durable solution, yet every major attempt has failed because the core political question remains unresolved: the Rohingya cannot safely return to a state that denies them citizenship, protection, and equal belonging.
globalissues.org
Almost every city in the world needs to urgently understand the need to get really good at planning and designing for shade. #UrbanHeat
Bryn Davidson - Lanefab@lanefab.com · 3d agoA friend’s recent photo of civic shading in Malaga
Sofia responded to a Facebook job ad only to find herself trapped and exploited far from home The scheme exploited economic hardship leaving her with few safe options Her escape was only due to a stranger's chance intervention, not system protections #HumanTrafficking #MigrantRights
Trapped by a Facebook job advert, freed by a stranger in a taxi
Sofia* was 27, raising her seven-year-old son alone in Venezuela, and running out of options. For years she had distributed personal hygiene products door to door, but as her customers’ finances collapsed, so did her income.
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The WMO warns El Nino will strengthen August through October Above-normal temps expected worldwide Wetter conditions expected in some places while drought risk increases in others Fossil fuels “fanning the flames of this crisis” #ElNino #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather
Strong El Niño ahead, UN weather agency warns
As much of the world faces grapples with above normal temperatures and major rainfall changes, the UN Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday that El Niño, a powerful climate pattern shaping global weather, will intensify starting next month.
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Wildfire smoke travels far, carrying fine particles linked to heart disease, respiratory illness and premature death, WHO warns Risk extends well past visibly burning areas, making exposure a hidden, widespread public health threat #WHO #WildfireSmoke #PublicHealth
Wildfire smoke poses hidden health threat
Wildfires are often associated with the destruction they leave behind, but the smoke they produce can pose a serious health threat far beyond the fire zone, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
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In classrooms, maternity wards, hospital corridors and local communities across Ukraine, people are rebuilding their lives despite the ongoing war. UN is helping rehab, retrain and more. #Ukraine #WarRecovery #HumanitarianAid
Recovery in Ukraine, one life at a time
In classrooms, maternity wards, hospital corridors and local communities across Ukraine, people are rebuilding their lives despite the ongoing war.
globalissues.org
In classrooms, maternity wards, hospital corridors and local communities across Ukraine, people are rebuilding their lives despite the ongoing war. UN is helping rehab, retrain and more. #Ukraine #WarRecovery #HumanitarianAid
Recovery in Ukraine, one life at a time
In classrooms, maternity wards, hospital corridors and local communities across Ukraine, people are rebuilding their lives despite the ongoing war.
globalissues.org