News headlines
UN chief launches major humanitarian appeal from war-torn Lebanon
- UN News

In a solidarity visit to the war-ravaged capital of Lebanon, the UN chief on Friday announced a flash humanitarian appeal of $308.3 million to support civilians there, after ongoing Israeli strikes countering rocket launches from Hezbollah left around 816,000 Lebanese internally displaced, a figure that looks set to rise.
Middle East war: Women in Lebanon forced to give birth on roadside
- UN News

As the UN Secretary-General touched down in Beirut on Friday in solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN agencies highlighted the dangers for civilians and particularly pregnant women and migrant workers, amid ongoing airstrikes and rocket fire between Hezbollah fighters and Israel.
MIDDLE EAST LIVE 13 March: Displacement and civilian casualties mount across region
- UN News

Escalating hostilities across the Middle East continue to drive civilian casualties, mass displacement and mounting humanitarian needs. Fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border has intensified, while millions across the region face growing risks from disrupted health services, overcrowded shelters and strained aid operations. UN agencies warn that children and vulnerable families are bearing the brunt as the conflict deepens and regional stability remains under severe pressure. Stay with us for live updates from across the UN system. App users can follow coverage here.
Public Flogging in Afghanistan Strips Women of Dignity
- Inter Press Service

KABUL, March 12 (IPS) - In the bone-chilling Afghanistan winter, a woman was dragged into a public square early this year and publicly lashed for a crime she may or not have committed. According to the ruling handed by the Taliban Supreme Court, the woman and the male culprit who was jointly accused of extra-marital affair received 30 lashes each and a one-year suspended prison sentence. The sentence was carried out in the presence of several local officials and residents in a province whose name is left out to protect the victim.
One in Four Migratory Species Under Threat, But Conservation Efforts Can Reap Rewards
- Inter Press Service

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan & SHRINGAR, India, March 12 (IPS) - Global wildlife is facing a deepening crisis as the latest United Nations assessment warns that nearly half of the world’s migratory species are in decline due to human activity, habitat destruction, and climate change.
The Implausible Regime Change in Iran and How the War Affects the World
- Inter Press Service

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 12 (IPS) - The US/Israeli war on Iran might be like messing with a hornets’ nest, spreading fear and chaos all around. The Israeli government claimed that the war was a “preventive” measure to address an immediate threat of Iran constructing a nuclear bomb. However, this war has obviously been meticulously planned over a long period of time and it now seemed to be the right time to put this plan into action.
The Most Appropriate Response to Falling Birthrates? Embrace Them
- Inter Press Service

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, USA, March 12 (IPS) - As birthrates continue to decline in many industrialized countries, anxious governments are running out of schemes to keep women procreating.
Venezuela’s repressive State apparatus ‘intact’ despite leadership change
- UN News

Venezuela’s repressive State apparatus remains operational despite the seizure of former President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces on 3 January, according to independent UN human rights investigators.
Aid operations strained across Middle East: WFP seeks $200 million to sustain food assistance
- UN News

Rising food prices, growing displacement and disruptions to global supply routes are placing millions of people across the Middle East at greater risk of hunger, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), which warns that the humanitarian system is struggling to keep pace with expanding needs.
World News in Brief: Deadly drone attacks in Sudan, violence against women in the spotlight, more clashes in DR Congo
- UN News

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Thursday he was appalled by the devastating impact on civilians of increasing drone attacks in Sudan, amid reports that more than 200 civilians have been killed by drones since 4 March alone, in the Kordofan region and White Nile state.

