Global Issues

SAN FRANCISCO, USA, February 12 (IPS) - The most recent agreement limiting U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals, New START, expired on February 5, and prospects for any kind of follow-on agreement are very uncertain. Read the full story, “After New START, Accelerated Nuclear Arms Racing?”, on globalissues.org →

UNITED NATIONS, February 12 (IPS) - When the nuclear Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the US and Russia expired last week, it ended a historic era— but triggered widespread speculation about the future. Read the full story, “As Landmark Treaty Expires, No Binding Limits on US-Russia Nuclear Arsenals”, on globalissues.org →

Africa has never lacked agricultural strategies. Since the launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in 2003, governments have pledged repeatedly to spend at least 10 per cent of public budgets on agriculture and to raise productivity through better investment and coordination. The African Union reaffirmed this target in subsequent declarations, such as Malabo in 2014 and the Kampala CAADP Strategy (2026-2035). Read the full story, “Africa’s Food Systems Will Not Transform Without Parliamentary Accountability”, on globalissues.org →

UNITED NATIONS, February 11 (IPS) - Since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October of last year, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have notably improved — but aid agencies warn that progress is extremely fragile. Acute shortages of lifesaving medical care and psychosocial support persist, hunger remains widespread, with conditional cash assistance as the primary barrier preventing full-scale food insecurity, while Israeli attacks continue to undermine stability and humanitarian efforts. Read the full story, “Fragile Progress in Gaza Humanitarian Response Undermined by Rampant Insecurity”, on globalissues.org →

BANGKOK, Thailand, February 11 (IPS) - The COVID-19 pandemic reminded everyone how important care work is to daily life. When schools closed and hospitals filled up, often it was women and girls who stepped up at home. Their contributions made a big difference, yet these responsibilities often go unseen and unrewarded. Read the full story, “A Pathway to Gender Equality in ASEAN”, on globalissues.org →

NAIROBI, February 11 (IPS) - The global aid system is crumbling amidst chronic underinvestment in rural areas, posing a systemic threat to food systems everywhere. Read the full story, “Bridging the Capital Gap: Strategic Public-Private Partnerships Invest in Young Agri-entrepreneurs”, on globalissues.org →

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Wednesday for Israel to rescind recent measures to expand control over Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank. Read the full story, “West Bank: UN rights chief warns against deepening Israeli control over Palestinian land”, on globalissues.org →

A UN humanitarian convoy reached frontline communities in Ukraine’s Dnipro region on Wednesday, delivering critical medical and hygiene supplies as fighting continues to take a heavy toll on civilians and infrastructure across the country.Read the full story, “Ukraine: UN aid convoy reaches frontlines in Dnipro”, on globalissues.org →

Escalating aerial attacks in Sudan are killing children, damaging schools and striking United Nations facilities, placing civilians and humanitarian workers at growing risk, the UN warned on Wednesday. Read the full story, “Civilians and aid operations under fire as Sudan airstrikes intensify”, on globalissues.org →

The UN Secretary-General has expressed his sorrow over Tuesday’s deadly shooting at a school in rural Canada that left at least eight dead and 25 wounded.Read the full story, “World News in Brief: School shooting in Canada, cholera outbreak in DR Congo, evacuations in Gaza”, on globalissues.org →