Global Issues

LONDON, January 16 (IPS) - “The ‘spirit of dialogue’, the theme for this year’s meeting in Davos, which begins January 19, has been painfully and increasingly absent from international affairs of late. President Trump’s first year back in office has seen the United States withdraw from multilateral bodies, bully other states and relentlessly attack the principles and institutions that underpin the international justice system. Read the full story, “Davos: Meaningful Dialogue Requires a Collective Stand Against Military, Economic and Diplomatic Bullying”, on globalissues.org →

YANGON, Myanmar, and CHIANGMAI, Thailand , January 16 (IPS) - Held incommunicado in grim prison conditions for nearly five years, Aung San Suu Kyi quite possibly does not even know that this week the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opened a landmark case charging Myanmar with committing genocide against its Rohingya minority a decade ago. Read the full story, “Jailed by the Generals She Defended as ICJ Opens Genocide Case Against Myanmar”, on globalissues.org →

UNITED NATIONS, January 15 (IPS) - On January 12, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), opened landmark hearings in a case brought by the Republic of The Gambia, alleging that Myanmar’s military committed acts of brutal genocide against the Rohingya minority during its 2017 crackdown. Described by the United Nations (UN) as a case “years in the making,” the ICJ will spend the next three weeks reviewing evidence and testimony from both sides to determine whether the Myanmar military violated the Genocide Convention. Read the full story, “ICJ Begins Proceedings for Rohingya Genocide Allegations Case Against Myanmar”, on globalissues.org →

NEW YORK, January 15 (IPS) - Unlike ever before, Iran’s Islamic regime is facing a revolt led by a generation that has lost its fear. Young and old, men and women, students and workers, are flooding the streets across the country. Read the full story, “The Iranian Military Is the Only Institution Capable of Catalyzing the Downfall of the Regime”, on globalissues.org →

NAIROBI, January 15 (IPS) - President Donald Trump has escalated efforts to further distance the United States from international organizations and entities focused on climate, the environment, and energy. This strategy is in step with his administration’s established approach to undermine and redirect funds and international cooperation away from climate and clean energy programs. Read the full story, “What Next? United States Exits Key Entities, Vital Climate Treaties in Major Retreat from Global Cooperation”, on globalissues.org →

The UN Security Council is meeting in New York in emergency session on Iran, amid escalating concern over reports that hundreds have been killed during weeks of nationwide anti-government protests. The meeting was requested by the United States. Demonstrations that began in late December, fuelled by soaring inflation, rising food prices and the collapse of the national currency, triggered a deadly and widespread crackdown with thousands injured and detained, according to numerous firsthand accounts. The UN has called for independent investigations into all killings and warned against the possible use of the death penalty against protesters. Follow live coverage below, and UN News app users can go here.Read the full story, “Security Council LIVE: UN raises alarm over deadly Iran protests and ‘possible military strikes’”, on globalissues.org →

Fighting the harsh winter storms in Gaza, Amina stays awake at night, hitting the canvas of the tent above her head to prevent it from collapsing under the pooled water.Read the full story, “In Gaza, 800,000 people now live in dangerous locations prone to flooding”, on globalissues.org →

In his final annual address outlining his priorities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is “brimming with conflict, impunity, inequality and unpredictability” – even as international cooperation is fraying at the moment it is most needed.Read the full story, “UN chief warns of a world in chaos as impunity and unpredictability spreads”, on globalissues.org →

As nationwide protests in Iran appear to ease after nearly three weeks of unrest and bloodshed, a senior UN official called on Thursday for action to prevent further escalation. Read the full story, “Iran: UN urges ‘maximum restraint’ to avert more death, wider escalation”, on globalissues.org →

Almost two decades in the making, an international agreement to protect marine life in international waters and the seabed is due to come into force on Saturday, marking a major step forward in efforts to ensure the health of ocean ecosystems for decades to come.Read the full story, “Game-changing international marine protection treaty comes into force”, on globalissues.org →