Global Issues

UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (IPS) - The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which began October 2023, has claimed the lives of more than 73,600 Palestinians and about 1,195 Israelis. But there are widespread charges, accusing Israel of war crimes, genocide, torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. Read the full story, “Torture and Physical Abuse of Children in Gaza Declared War Crimes”, on globalissues.org →

NEW JERSEY, USA, March 26 (IPS) - Who benefits from a war of choice against Iran? The immediate political winners may include President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But if the war continues for a longer period, the political consequences for both Trump and Netanyahu could be uncertain. However, the most consistent beneficiaries are defense contractors, defense manufacturers and military lobbyists, who profit regardless of the outcome. Read the full story, “Iran War: Winners and Losers”, on globalissues.org →

LONDON, March 25 (IPS) - Less than six months after Nepal’s Generation Z rose up in protest, the country has a new prime minister. A 35-year-old former rapper who soundtracked the protests swept to power in a landslide in the 5 March election. Read the full story, “Nepal’s Gen Z Electoral Revolution”, on globalissues.org →

UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (IPS) - Professor Kaveh Madani of Iran has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize laureate. The award will be formally presented by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in August during World Water Week in Stockholm. Read the full story, “EXCLUSIVE: Water Laureate Kaveh Madani on Arrest, Exile and Fight for Science”, on globalissues.org →

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 25 (IPS) - Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits member states from using threats or force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Violating international law, the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. The ostensible reason for this unprovoked aggression was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Read the full story, “A World Order in Crisis: War, Power, and Resistance”, on globalissues.org →

It’s day 26 of war in the Middle East. Ongoing strikes in Israel and Iran have included intensifying Israeli attacks against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while some 2,000 US troops are reportedly about to mobilize to the region. Meanwhile, Iran has told the UN maritime agency that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to “non-hostile” ships not associated with the US and Israel. In Geneva, a rare urgent debate on the crisis is also getting under way at the Human Rights Council. Stay with us for live updates from across the UN system. UN News app users can follow coverage here.Read the full story, “MIDDLE EAST LIVE 25 March: All eyes on Strait of Hormuz, Human Rights Council meets”, on globalissues.org →

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the immediate release of the 118 UN staff currently detained worldwide as attacks against the United Nations increase with 179 personnel arrested or detained last year alone.Read the full story, “UN chief calls for immediate release of 118 detained UN staff”, on globalissues.org →

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the escalating Gulf war is “out of control”, urging all sides to step back from the brink and allow diplomacy to prevail, as he announced the appointment of a senior envoy to spearhead peace efforts.Read the full story, “Gulf war ‘out of control’, Guterres warns, as UN appoints envoy to push for peace”, on globalissues.org →

Applause erupted in the UN General Assembly Hall on Wednesday as Member States adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity. Read the full story, “UN resolution urges reparations for slavery’s ‘historical wrongs’”, on globalissues.org →

The number of children and young people out of school worldwide has climbed for the seventh consecutive year, reaching 273 million, according to a new report from the UN education agency, UNESCO. Read the full story, “World News in Brief: 273 million out of school, deadly attacks on Ukraine, migratory species in danger”, on globalissues.org →