Global Issues

CARACAS, Apr 25 (IPS) - Reduced to a marginal oil producer over the past decade, Venezuela has suffered another blow as United States president Donald Trump ordered punitive measures to blockade and further restrict the country’s oil exports.Read the full story, “Venezuela's Oil trapped in Hurricane Trump's Onslaught”, on globalissues.org →

KABUL, Apr 25 (IPS) - The author is an Afghanistan-based female journalist, trained with Finnish support before the Taliban take-over. Her identity is withheld for security reasons“Even if our murals don't change much, they will surely leave a mark - at least on the mind of one Taliban member who sees them.” These words from Afghan women activists reflect the bold and creative tactics they continue to use in their resistance against the Taliban's oppressive regime.Read the full story, “Purple Saturdays Movement: Afghan Women Fight for Rights, Justice, and Freedom”, on globalissues.org →

HARARE, Apr 25 (IPS) - Across Africa, giving is not just an act of charity; it’s a deep-rooted tradition embedded in culture, community, and mutual care. The concept of giving has evolved through generations, often taking on forms that are as diverse as the continent itself.Read the full story, “African Giving Practices: Understanding a Tradition of Generosity and Community Support”, on globalissues.org →

GENEVA, Apr 25 (IPS) - As the G20 Health Working Group convened in KwaZulu-Natal under South Africa’s presidency earlier this year, a central question echoed across plenaries: How can we accelerate universal health coverage (UHC) in an increasingly unequal world?Read the full story, “Reclaiming Equity: Why G20 Must Center Women, Children & Adolescents in the UHC Agenda”, on globalissues.org →

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 25 (IPS) - The US State Department, in a wide-ranging political re-structuring of its policies, will eliminate 132 domestic offices, lay-off about 700 federal workers and reduce diplomatic missions overseas.The proposed changes will also include terminating some of the funding for the United Nations and its agencies, budgetary cuts to the 32-member military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and revamping 20 other international organizations, including the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Read the full story, “US Plans at Restructuring May Include World Bank, IMF & UN Agencies”, on globalissues.org →

SRINAGAR, Apr 25 (IPS) - Abdul Majeed Mir strolls leisurely among the purple crocus flower rows in Pampore's saffron fields as the morning mist hovers low over them. His family has been growing this valuable spice, called "red gold," for many generations, but now his hands go through the harvest mechanically. There is a noticeable lack of the typical commotion of tourists haggling over saffron packets.Read the full story, “Kashmir Reels After Pahalgam Attack, Fear Long Term Impacts on Livelihoods”, on globalissues.org →

With humanitarian aid in decline, the international community must shift its focus from short-term relief efforts to inclusive policies that support both refugees and host communities.Read the full story, “From border control to belonging: How host communities gain from empowering refugees”, on globalissues.org →

One month since Myanmar’s earthquake disaster, tens of thousands of survivors still live in makeshift tents with little to protect them from pre-monsoon storms and mosquitoes.Read the full story, “Destitution and disease stalk Myanmar’s quake survivors”, on globalissues.org →

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday that killed at least 26 tourists and left many more injured, calling for accountability and international cooperation to bring the perpetrators to justice.Read the full story, “UN Security Council condemns Jammu and Kashmir terror attack”, on globalissues.org →

The situation in western Sudan is “shocking” and people in the capital, Khartoum face “absolutely devastating” conditions according to a senior UN official in the African country.Read the full story, “Sudan situation ‘absolutely devastating’ as UN ramps up food aid”, on globalissues.org →