Displaced mothers and children at a malnutrition treatment center in Chuil, Jonglei State, South Sudan. Credit: WFP/Gabriela Vivacqua By Oritro KarimUNITED NATIONS, May 1 2026 – In 2026, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan has taken a considerable turn for the worse, with widespread food shortages, ongoing disruptions to food production systems, and rising rates of malnutrition affecting...

By Farhana Haque RahmanTORONTO, Canada, May 1 2026 – Press freedom is on the retreat across much of the world. As documented by recent global surveys authored by the UN and media institutes, the erosion of an independent, fearless and diversified press is a trend that has worsened for well over a decade. Farhana Haque Rahman Its corrosive course has run in tandem with the weakening of democracies...

Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe By Thalif DeenUNITED NATIONS, May 1 2026 – A longstanding rule bars international civil servants from publicly taking a political stand against member states (or even participating in political demonstrations outside the UN). And more importantly, the rules also forbid UN staffers from campaigning for– or against– candidates for secretary general, including...