Global Issues

  CIVICUS discusses Kazakhstan’s anti-LGBTQI+ bill with Temirlan Baimash, activist and co-founder of QUEER KZ youth initiative, a Kazakhstani LGBTQI+ organisation. Read the full story, “‘This Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill Can Still Be Blocked – but Only With Sustained International Pressure’”, on globalissues.org →

As 2026 begins, residents of the Gaza Strip are confronting life in displacement camps and among the ruins of destroyed neighbourhoods – facing deep uncertainty after months of war and devastation.Read the full story, “New year dawns amid rubble and resolve in Gaza”, on globalissues.org →

A sixth child has died in Gaza this month as the enclave’s people continue to endure dire living conditions linked to freezing rains and the Israel-Hamas war, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced. The development comes as aid agencies urged Israeli authorities to reconsider revoking the licences of dozens of humanitarian partners that provide assistance across the devastated enclave from 1 January.Read the full story, “Another child dies in extreme conditions in Gaza: UNICEF”, on globalissues.org →

Recent attacks across Ukraine have killed civilians, damaged critical infrastructure and cut heating and power supplies for millions, UN humanitarians report, as temperatures drop below freezing.Read the full story, “Ukraine: Attacks disrupt heating as temperatures plunge”, on globalissues.org →

Voting proceeded largely as planned in the Central African Republic’s first-ever combined presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections, and ballot counting is now complete, the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) said on Wednesday, with results expected to be announced on 5 January.Read the full story, “Results expected 5 January after landmark elections in Central African Republic”, on globalissues.org →

Up-to-date vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe COVID-19 illness, new research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows, even as the pandemic has officially ended.Read the full story, “WHO research shows COVID vaccines still crucial in preventing severe illness”, on globalissues.org →

From eliminating deadly infections to expanding access to lifesaving vaccines, 2025 delivered meaningful progress for global health, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), offering cautious optimism at the close of a year marked by both breakthroughs and strain.Read the full story, “Health advances marked 2025 as wars and funding cuts strained systems”, on globalissues.org →

The UN Secretary-General has condemned amendments adopted by Israel’s Knesset to a law aimed at ceasing the operations of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA), saying the measures must be immediately repealed.Read the full story, “UN chief condemns Israeli amendments targeting UNRWA operations”, on globalissues.org →

LONDON, December 30 (IPS) - Satellite images show corpses piled high in El Fasher, North Darfur, awaiting mass burial or cremation as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia tries to cover up the scale of its crimes. Up to 150,000 El Fasher residents remain missing from the city, seized by the RSF in November. The lowest estimate is that 60,000 are dead. The Arab militia has ethnically cleansed the city of its non-Arab residents. The slaughter is the latest horrific episode in the war between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces, sparked by a power battle between military leaders in April 2023. Read the full story, “Sudan’s Crisis: Mass Killings Continue While the World Looks Away”, on globalissues.org →

The General Assembly has approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for the United Nations for 2026, following weeks of intensive negotiations and one of the Organization’s most important reform initiatives, UN80.Read the full story, “General Assembly approves $3.45 billion UN regular budget for 2026”, on globalissues.org →