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- Global Voices
North Macedonia’s independence should not be commemorated by glorifying war criminals
Ahead of its independence anniversary, North Macedonia faces scrutiny regarding official praise for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić. Analysts warn that these government connections harm interethnic trust, undermine the rule of law, and damage the nation's European Union integration efforts by disregarding victims.
- Mongabay
Indigenous knowledge helps reveal the ties between reefs and mangroves
Bardi Jawi and Oorany Rangers in Australia collaborated with scientists to study ecological links between coral reefs and mangrove habitats. Integrating Indigenous knowledge with scientific research enhances marine conservation strategies and highlights the critical role of traditional land stewards in protecting coastal ecosystems.
- Global Voices
What does folklore have to say? It helps uncover untold facets of Indigenous stories overlooked for generations
Documenting oral traditions helps preserve overlooked Indigenous histories and cultural wisdom. A writer in Nepal captured ancestral Tharu folklore following the death of a relative. This grassroots effort highlights the importance of archiving endangered community narratives for future generations.
- Global Voices
The people who live in cities must have a say in how they are shaped: Notes from the Common City Conference
Rapid urban expansion across Africa frequently marginalizes impoverished populations through forced displacements and the demolition of informal communities without public consultation. Experts at the Common City Conference emphasized that inclusive municipal planning is essential to ensure residents participate directly in shaping urban development.
- UN NewsEnvironment & Climate
Central Park adapts to climate change while helping New York stay cool
Manhattan's Central Park is implementing climate adaptation strategies to combat urban heat and rising temperatures in New York City. This initiative serves as a model for urban resilience, helping densely populated areas mitigate extreme weather and protect public health against the escalating impacts of global environmental change.
- UN News
As wildfires spread north, UN agencies race to help Europe adapt
United Nations agencies are assisting traditionally cooler European nations in preparing for escalating wildfire risks driven by rising global temperatures. These collaborative efforts focus on climate adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable regions from unprecedented blazes as the geographic threat of destructive fires expands northward.
- Mongabay
Why are they killing this beautiful fish?
In Honduras, local divers are actively combating the spread of invasive lionfish through hunting tournaments and culinary initiatives. This venomous species poses a severe threat to Caribbean marine ecosystems by disrupting native fish populations and damaging coral reefs, prompting community-led efforts to control its population.
- Mongabay
Urban water quality pose challenges to low-income communities in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital
Low-income settlements in Colombo, Sri Lanka, face severe drinking water quality issues. Despite having municipal pipe connections, residents struggle with unsafe domestic supplies. This contamination threatens public health and exacerbates vulnerabilities in marginalized urban communities.
- Global Voices
In turbulent times, football brings Haiti hope
Amid severe security turmoil and widespread displacement across Haiti, football persists as a crucial source of national resilience. Despite profound disruptions impacting all areas of society, the sport continues to offer hope to the population during a deeply challenging humanitarian crisis.
- Mongabay
Comparing green space for urban cooling, study
A recent study in Guildford investigates how natural elements like forests, grasslands, and water bodies can form cooler microclimates within cities. The research aims to help urban planners utilize these features to mitigate dangerous temperatures and protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat events.
- Global Voices
Maternity leave is expanding in Bangladesh, but garment workers still struggle for childcare
Bangladesh extended maternity leave for female employees to 120 days in April 2026. However, female garment laborers returning to demanding daily shifts continue to face severe childcare shortages. This gap highlights ongoing hurdles for working mothers in the nation's vital textile industry.
- Inter Press Service
UN Declares International Day to Eliminate Child Marriage
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution establishing November 27 as the annual International Day to Eliminate Child Marriage. The new observance aims to increase global awareness and drive action against the persistent practice.
- Mongabay
Brazil’s Senate passes rare earth minerals regulation, paving the way for boosted exploration
Brazil’s Senate passed legislation establishing a formal framework and tax incentives for critical mineral exploration. Awaiting presidential approval, the measure aims to develop the nation's substantial rare earth reserves for domestic processing.
- MongabayEnvironment & Climate
Marine conservation collides with mining in Indonesia’s biodiversity-rich Moramo Bay
Mining permits overlap and border a marine conservation zone in Indonesia's Southeast Sulawesi province, threatening a critically depleted humphead wrasse population. The protected area was established specifically to safeguard this vulnerable species. Government surveys highlight the conflict between industrial extraction and biodiversity preservation in these ecologically sensitive coastal waters.
- Inter Press ServiceHumanitarian & Emergency
Africa’s Rangelands Are the Frontline of Resilience – COP17 Showed Why
East African rangelands across Kenya and Tanzania sustain regional livelihoods, biodiversity, and water security. Recent discussions at the seventeenth UNCCD conference highlighted these vital ecosystems as essential natural assets for climate resilience. Protecting these landscapes is critical for safeguarding regional stability and environmental health.
- Inter Press Service
Nepalese Experts, Victims Contemplate the Future After the Flood
Following severe flooding along the Trishuli River in Nepal, local experts and survivors are assessing the long-term impacts on vulnerable communities and infrastructure. The disaster, which devastated families working near the Trishuli Hydropower Project, highlights urgent safety concerns regarding river management and regional climate vulnerabilities that threaten local livelihoods.
- Inter Press ServiceHealth & Medical
WHO Announces New Ebola Vaccine Guidelines for the DRC
The World Health Organization has issued updated immunization guidelines for the Democratic Republic of Congo as the country confronts its most severe Ebola crisis on record. With fatalities surpassing 3,000, these updated protocols aim to curb transmission and improve public health responses in the hardest-hit provinces.
- Mongabay
As Indonesia’s wildfires rage, haze spreads farther across Southeast Asia
Severe wildfires in Indonesia have generated dense smoke that has drifted across Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines. This widespread haze has significantly degraded air quality in major urban centers, prompting public health concerns across the region.
- UN News
UN aims to raise nearly $50 million for Nepal flood response
The United Nations and humanitarian partners have launched a $49.6 million appeal to support vulnerable populations in Nepal. This funding aims to deliver critical relief supplies to over 84,000 individuals impacted by severe flooding, addressing urgent humanitarian needs following the recent disaster.
- UN NewsMigration & Refugees
West Bank: UN rights report warns of forcible displacement from three refugee camps
A recent UN human rights report states that Israeli security forces displaced all residents from three West Bank refugee camps early last year and blocked their return. The agency warns that these actions violate international law and constitute unlawful forced displacement, heightening humanitarian concerns in the occupied territory.
- UN News
UN tells the world: Stop making Africa look small
The United General Assembly adopted a resolution urging global stakeholders to abandon inaccurate geographic representations that minimize Africa's true landmass. The initiative targets educational institutions, governments, and technology firms. Proponents aim to correct persistent cartographic biases that distort the continent's actual scale relative to other global regions.
- UN NewsHealth & Medical
Repeated attacks on humanitarian warehouses put vital medical aid at risk in Ukraine: WHO
An overnight airstrike in the Kyiv region severely damaged a primary World Health Organization storage facility. The facility housed critical medical supplies intended for humanitarian distribution across Ukraine. Repeated strikes on such logistics hubs increasingly jeopardize the delivery of life-saving healthcare assistance.
- Mongabay
Illegal gold mining continues in Indonesia’s Aceh despite government crackdown pledge
Despite recent official pledges by Indonesian authorities to eradicate illegal gold mining in Aceh, local residents report that heavy machinery and supply chains remain active in the province's forested river areas. The persistent unauthorized operations undermine environmental enforcement efforts and threaten local ecosystems, highlighting ongoing challenges in regulating natural resource extraction in the region.
- MongabayGovernance & Rule of Law
South Korea’s ‘sea women’ seek justice after marine habitat devastated by harbor work
In Guman-ri, South Korea, elderly female free-divers known as *haenyeo* are seeking legal redress following the destruction of their traditional fishing grounds by local harbor construction. The marine habitat degradation has severely impacted their livelihoods, threatening an iconic cultural heritage recognized for sustainable small-scale harvesting.
- Mongabay
Study analyzes danger of parasites to Bengal tigers in South Asia
Researchers across South Asia assessed the health risks that parasitic infections pose to Bengal tigers throughout their native range. While roundworms currently present minimal danger to the endangered big cats, scientists emphasize the importance of monitoring these pathogens. Understanding such health threats supports broader wildlife conservation and species management efforts in the region.
- Mongabay
Genetic road map offers hope for threatened Visayan spotted deer
Scientists have sequenced the first draft genome of the critically endangered Visayan spotted deer in the Philippines. Decimated by habitat loss and hunting, the species now survives on a fraction of its former range. This genetic breakthrough provides conservationists with essential data to improve breeding strategies and prevent extinction.
- Inter Press Service
Between the Reef and the StarsA reflection on humanity’s twin longings.
An Inter Press Service commentary examines humanity's relationship with the natural world, urging modern society to recognize itself as a temporary guest rather than a master of the environment. The piece emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with ecological rhythms to foster sustainable global development and environmental preservation.
- Global Voices
Cameroon’s indomitable Lionesses football team finally shatter WAFCON glass ceiling
Cameroon's women's national football team won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Malawi 3–0. This victory marks the squad's first continental championship after three previous final losses. The achievement highlights the team's sustained competitiveness and contributes to the ongoing advancement of women's sports across the continent.
- MongabayHealth & Medical
Ebola outbreak underscores food insecurity crisis in DRC
A recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed over 3,000 individuals, coinciding with a severe food insecurity crisis affecting approximately 26 million residents. This dual emergency highlights the urgent need for integrated humanitarian interventions to address concurrent health and nutrition threats in the region.
- Devpolicy BlogEnvironment & Climate
Concentric constitutionalism: environmental law in PNG
Papua New Guinea Justice Vergil Narokobi proposes "concentric constitutionalism" as an alternative to granting legal personhood to nature. Drawing on the Melanesian Way and the national constitution, the framework balances individuals, families, communities, the environment, and the state in an interconnected system.
- Mongabay
Key tree species boost Amazon forest restoration, new study shows
A recent study reveals that long-term Amazon forest recovery depends on slow-growing tree species successfully replacing early pioneer plants. Without this biological transition, regenerating tropical ecosystems risk failure, threatening regional biodiversity and climate mitigation efforts in South America.
- Mongabay
Cherokee youth win legal rights for waterway in first all-female U.S. effort
The tribal council of the Cherokee Nation has unanimously passed a resolution granting legal rights to a local waterway. Spearheaded by a youth-led coalition, the initiative establishes a novel framework for environmental protection within the United States, allowing the ecosystem to be legally represented in safeguarding its natural resources.
- Mongabay
A ‘lost’ Philippine pigeon reappears after 20 years — but its forest is disappearing
A camera trap on Mindoro Island has captured the first confirmed image of the critically endangered Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon in twenty years. This rediscovery of the rare bird highlights ongoing conservation concerns, as its primary rainforest habitat continues to face severe degradation and loss.
- MongabayHealth & Medical
Trading food for medicine and crossing the river by zip line are part of life in Nepal flood zone
Flood survivors in Nepal residing in temporary displacement camps face acute shortages of cash and essential medicines despite government food distributions. These supply gaps are severely compounding hardships for vulnerable populations who lost their homes and personal belongings to the recent severe weather.
- MongabayEnvironment & Climate
South Africa’s new gold rush: Big promises, closed books in new carbon frontier
An investigative series examines spekboom restoration projects in South Africa that aim to generate carbon offsets. The reporting highlights concerns regarding transparency and corporate promises within the emerging carbon market. These findings matter for international development professionals evaluating the accountability of nature-based climate solutions.
- MongabayEnergy & Infrastructure
On renewable energy, it’s time to debunk the ‘transition minerals’ narrative (commentary)
A recent commentary challenges the mainstream green energy narrative, arguing against projections that global mineral production must increase fivefold. The author contends that massively scaling up extractive industries to support renewable infrastructure is fundamentally flawed, raising critical concerns for international development and environmental sustainability efforts.
- Mongabay
Planned Bolivia-Brazil highway threatens Chiquitania dry forest
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has initiated technical assessments for a new roadway linking San Ignacio de Velasco to Mato Grosso, Brazil. The proposed infrastructure project runs through the ecologically sensitive Chiquitania dry forest. Conservationists warn the development risks causing severe environmental degradation and accelerating deforestation in the region.
- Mongabay
Repeal of U.S. Roadless Rule could threaten drinking water for 25 million people
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed rescinding protections that limit road construction in national forest backcountry areas. If enacted, lifting these restrictions could enable increased logging activities in these watersheds. This potential policy shift threatens the primary drinking water sources for approximately 25 million residents across the United States.
- MongabayProtection & Human Rights
From seizure to sentence: Weak prosecution leaves tigers vulnerable to trafficking in Southeast Asia: Report
A recent report by the Guardian Centre for Conservation Research reveals that over half of tiger-related arrests and seizures in Southeast Asia fail to result in convictions. This high rate of impunity weakens regional anti-trafficking efforts, leaving endangered wild tiger populations increasingly vulnerable to illegal poaching and illicit trade networks.
- Mongabay
Development banks are backing problematic mineral projects, report finds
A report by the International Accountability Project reveals that international financial institutions have funded numerous transition mineral projects linked to environmental and human rights harms. Analyzing 77 global investments approved between 2023 and 2025, the findings highlight critical risks in the mineral supply chain that threaten vulnerable communities.
- The Guardian — Global development
A sun goddess, hundreds of devotees – and polluted water: the Nigerian festival threatened by gold mining
Nigeria’s annual Osun Osogbo festival faces environmental threats as toxic heavy metals from gold mining contaminate the sacred Osun River. The centuries-old cultural event draws international devotees for traditional worship and healing rituals, making the water pollution a critical concern for public health and cultural preservation.
- UN NewsEducation
General Assembly backs creation of new UN learning institute under UN80 reforms
The UN General Assembly has consolidated two educational and training entities into a single new institute as part of ongoing organizational reforms. This unified body aims to enhance capacity-building assistance for member governments and internal personnel alike.
- UN News
Lebanon–Israel tensions escalate as Gaza sees major aid delivery
UN peacekeepers report a significant security deterioration along the Lebanon-Israel border, noting increased Israeli military presence that breaches Security Council mandates. This escalation raises regional stability concerns for humanitarian personnel operating in the area, even as aid deliveries increase in Gaza.
- UN News
Security Council LIVE: Addressing the legacy of Syria’s chemical weapons
The UN Security Council convened Thursday following reports that Syria’s former government possessed unreported nuclear material and an undisclosed chemical arsenal discovered in May. Officials briefed members on these proliferation concerns to determine necessary next steps for accountability and regional security.
- UN News
Gloria Steinem: A voice for women, to the very end
Renowned feminist icon and journalist Gloria Steinem passed away at her New York residence at age 92. Her decades of advocacy fundamentally shaped global women's rights movements.
- UN News
External involvement fuelling Sudan war, new report finds
A UN human rights report indicates that foreign recruitment and outside backing are driving the ongoing conflict in Sudan between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Investigators emphasize the urgent need for accountability as hostilities persist.
- UN News
One in five children in 21 nations faced tech-facilitated sexual abuse: UNICEF
A UNICEF report reveals that approximately 20 million adolescents across 21 nations have experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation. The findings highlight an escalating digital threat to minors, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced online protection measures and regulatory frameworks within the global humanitarian and development sectors.
- UN News
El Niño is surging. Months of extreme heat could follow
Driven by warm Pacific waters, the intensifying El Niño climate cycle is projected to last through February 2027. Forecasters anticipate prolonged extreme global heat. This sustained weather pattern threatens vulnerable populations worldwide, increasing humanitarian risks for food security, health, and livelihoods across multiple regions.
- UN News
Nepal floods leave 22,000 children without safe water: UNICEF
Flash floods along Nepal's Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river basin have left at least 22,000 children without access to safe drinking water. Over a week after the disaster, UNICEF reports an urgent need for hygiene and sanitation interventions. Humanitarian response efforts are critical to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks among the affected population.
- MongabayEnvironment & Climate
Mexico-Brazil oil deal raises concern for ecosystems and energy transition
Brazil’s Petrobras and Mexico’s Pemex recently formed a state petrochemical partnership. Environmentalists worry the agreement will lock both countries into long-term fossil fuel extraction. Observers warn the pact threatens Gulf ecosystems, risks coastal displacement, and undermines ongoing energy transition goals.
- Mongabay
Andean condors: From fear to coexistence
In a rural Colombian community, former residents who once perceived Andean condors as livestock threats are now spearheading local conservation initiatives. Led by local community members, these grassroots protection efforts are successfully reversing negative perceptions and helping preserve vulnerable vulture populations in the region.
- Inter Press Service
Strengthen Africa’s Seed Systems El Niño Threat Becomes Reality Again
Frequent climate disasters across Africa have driven governments to promote climate-smart agriculture, such as drought-resistant maize, millet, and sorghum. However, adoption rates for these resilient crops are declining. Strengthening regional seed systems is essential to help farmers survive intensifying dry seasons driven by recurring El Niño events.
- Mongabay
During Nepal floods, decentralized, community-based warning saved lives
During recent floods in Nepal, a decentralized, community-driven alert system successfully prevented casualties at a local school. Rapid telephone communication enabled the head teacher to evacuate 900 students just minutes before floodwaters inundated the campus, demonstrating the critical value of localized early-warning networks in disaster-prone regions.
- Mongabay
Vietnam seizes 1.2 tons of ivory, plus big cat bones, hidden in timber shipment
Vietnamese customs officials at Quy Nhon Port intercepted over a metric ton of elephant ivory and big-cat remains originating from the Republic of Congo in early August. The illicit cargo, discovered within a timber container, highlights ongoing trafficking vulnerabilities in the region's supply chains and threatens endangered species conservation efforts.
- Mongabay
West Africa’s plan to save its vultures struggles to take flight
Surveys conducted in Togo between 2021 and 2025 reveal severe population declines among critically endangered hooded vultures near abattoirs. Driven by habitat loss and heavy persecution for traditional practices, this crisis threatens regional conservation efforts aimed at protecting West Africa's vulnerable scavenging bird populations.
- Inter Press Service
UNICEF Report Underscores Rising Rates of Tech-Facilitated Sexual Abuse Targeting Children
A recent UNICEF study reveals that twenty percent of surveyed minors experienced online sexual exploitation or abuse within a one-year period. The findings highlight escalating digital safety risks for youth globally, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced child protection measures as internet integration deepens.
- Inter Press ServiceFood Security & Nutrition
Africa Has the Answers to Its Food Security Challenges. What It Needs Is the Architecture to Act on Them
At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, agricultural experts emphasized that the continent already possesses the necessary farming solutions to achieve food security. However, realizing this potential requires establishing robust financial frameworks, strategic partnerships, and delivery mechanisms to scale up proven innovations successfully.
- MongabayAgriculture & Rural Development
Women farmers in Sumatra find a gentler way to keep elephants at bay
In Sumatra, Indonesia, a women-led farming collective near Tesso Nilo National Park has implemented non-violent methods to deter wild elephants. Amid severe habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion, this community-driven approach successfully mitigates human-wildlife conflict and protects local crops in areas heavily impacted by shrinking forest boundaries.
- MongabayEnergy & Infrastructure
Beetle larvae trick bees into feeding and sheltering them by smelling like flowers, study finds
Recent research reveals that European black oil beetle larvae produce floral scents to deceive bees into carrying them to their nests. Once inside the burrows, the larvae consume the hosts' eggs and pollen. This newly discovered chemical mimicry provides unique insights into parasitical survival strategies within insect ecosystems.
- Global VoicesHealth & Medical
Indigenous plants offer Ghanaians an alternative to costly Western medicine
In Ghana, where the majority of residents rely on traditional healthcare, citizens are increasingly utilizing local plants as a substitute for expensive pharmaceutical imports. This reliance on indigenous remedies helps communities bypass high costs and improves healthcare accessibility amidst economic pressures.
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