March 2026
Politico: U.N. investigator for Palestine territories spoke out about Gaza. Now she can't use a credit card — 30 March 2026 (LINK)
— Against a campaign to discredit and silence Francesca Albanese with U.S. sanctions on 9 July 2025 the unpaid U.N. expert's only real weapon (aside from the symbolic authority of her office) was her voice. That's a point her family will take up in a court in the District of Columbia on Wednesday as they challenge the sanctions on free-speech grounds. Albanese is unable to bring suit herself under U.N. rules. Not only has the U.S. blocked them from their property, but banks have frozen Albanese's accounts. Transactions involving her are stopped because intermediaries, such as Stripe, are American. Her health insurance has halted payments. Hotels have canceled bookings in her name. She lives as a "financial outcast," she said. She hides her identity, surviving on cash and the goodwill of friends and family. "If I were alone, I would be utterly, utterly screwed," she said.
— She had to tell her researchers at Columbia University, which provided her U.N. office with student assistants, that continuing to work with her would place them in legal jeopardy. Georgetown closed her email account. ("Institutions are prohibited by federal law from affiliating with individuals subject to U.S. sanctions," said a Georgetown spokesperson.)
New UN Task Force aims to ease trade flow through Strait of Hormuz restoring the flow of fertilizer and humanitarian goods — 27 March 2026 (LINK)
UN human rights chief calls on US to conclude probe into Iran school strike and publish findings — 27 March 2026 (LINK)
— The attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh school on the first day of the war last month consisted of two missile strikes in quick succession that killed at least 168 people, including about 110 children, Iranian officials have said. US media have reported that American military investigators believe its own forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally.
Radical feminist may soon head United Nations: former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet but a Congressional letter is asking the U.S. to veto the nomination — 27 March 2026 (LINK)
Russian attack on World Heritage sites in Lviv: damage to 17th-century church and archive building — 24 March 2026 (LINK)
WMO State of Climate report confirms 2015-2025 hottest 11 years on record: Earth's energy imbalance is highest in sixty five-year record — 23 March 2026 (LINK)
As the Iran war entered its fourth week, the International Energy Agency said the reduction of global oil supply from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was larger than the loss caused by the oil shocks of the 1970s — 23 March 2026 (LINK)
More than 40 Middle East energy assets in 9 countries 'severely damaged,' IEA chief says — 23 March 2026 (LINK)
UN chief says he is working with Trump's Board of Peace, but challenges need for it outside of Gaza mandate — 21 March 2026 (LINK) Politico interview — (LINK)
— "Everything else now is a personal project of President Trump, in which he has full control of everything," he says. "This is not the effective way to address the dramatic problems that we have now. We need to be clear about international law, to be clear about the values of the Charter of the United Nations. That is essential in any peace initiative."
Strike on Sudan hospital kills at least 64 and wounds 89 more, WHO reports — 20 March 2026 (LINK)
— Victims of army drone attack on East Darfur health facility included children and medical personnel.
War can't entirely eliminate Iran's nuclear programme, the U.N. atomic energy chief says: "The material will still be there and the enrichment capacities will be there, perhaps some infrastructure will still be there" — 19 March 2026 (LINK)
— Health authorities have reported about 1,300 killed in Iran, 968 in Lebanon and 16 in Israel since the war began on Feb. 28. U.S. Central Command has said 13 U.S. service members have been killed and eight severely injured. Several Gulf Arab countries have also reported lower fatalities.
War-driven energy price spikes highlight value of renewables: UN climate chief — 16 March 2026 (LINK)
UN report says Israeli 2025 air strike on Iran prison is a war crime — 16 March 2026 (LINK)
Michelle Bachelet, running for UN chief, says a renewed commitment to global cooperation can save humanity — 15 March 2026 (LINK)
Trump's 'racist hate speech' and migration crackdowns violate human rights, UN's committee on the elimination of racial discrimination (CERD) says — 13 March 2026 (LINK)
US defends Israel against South Africa's allegation of genocide filed to top UN court: Iceland and the Netherlands back the arguments against Israel — (LINK) ground.news: 38 media reports — 13 March 2026 (LINK)
'Groundbreaking' UN agreement on justice for women to include those in prison for first time — 13 March 2026 (LINK)
UN: Venezuela's repressive State apparatus 'intact' despite leadership change — 12 March 2026 (LINK)
UN LIVE: International Women's Day and CSW70 at the United Nations — Focus on "Rights, Justice, Action" — 9 March 2026 (LINK)
Will UN plans to transform the way it works 'throw equality under the bus'? — (LINK)
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway on International Women's Day — 9 March 2026 (LINK)
CSW70 outlines official work plan for two-week session in New York 9-16 March — 4 March 2026 (LINK)
— On Wednesday, March 11th, the round table will focus on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all older women, and on Thursday, March 12th, there will be a high-level meeting on violence against women and girls. The CSW70 discussion will continue on Friday, March 13th, where a platform will be provided for voluntary presentations by Member States on the review theme: women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. On the second week of CSW70, the sessions will start with an interactive expert panel on the priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices.
UN calls for fair play in the global race for critical minerals — 5 March 2026 (LINK)
— According to the International Energy Agency (an autonomous international agency that is not part of the UN system), lithium demand grew by nearly 30 per cent in 2024, and nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths by 6–8 per cent. The growth of EVs, batteries and renewables is driving a major surge in demand for critical minerals.
Melania Trump chairs UN Security Council meeting on children in conflict amid Iran strikes — 2 March 2026 (LINK)
— BBC: Her remarks centred around the role of education for children in "advancing tolerance and world peace". It is the first time the spouse of any world leader has presided over the meeting
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