Collated by Peter Hulm
April 2026
4 vying to be the next U.N. chief try to set themselves apart as race heats up — 26 April 2026 (LINK)
For every generation, vaccines work and they have saved over 150 million lives: WHO. World Immunization Week runs from 24 to 30 April — 24 April 2026 (LINK)
Long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace bullying and harassment killing 840,000 people a year, ILO report finds: report "introduces an innovative approach structured around three interrelated levels to better understand the factors that shape the psychosocial working environment" — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
Swiss greenhouse-gas emissions down by 27% since 1990 — 17 April 2026 (LINK)
— The steepest decline has come from buildings, where emissions are down by 47% over the period, largely reflecting the rapid spread of heat pumps. Industry has also cut emissions substantially, to 8.9m tonnes—around a third below 1990 levels. For the first time, Switzerland has included negative emissions in its official inventory, albeit on a tiny scale—just 705 tonnes of CO2. Switzerland appears to be the first country to include negative emissions under the Paris Agreement.
2026 United Nations Chinese Language Day celebrated at Palais des Nations in Geneva — 17 April 2026 (LINK)
— The event drew some 400 participants, notably officials from international organizations and diplomats from over 30 countries such as Georgia, Laos, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Europe has six weeks of jet fuel left caused by 'dire strait' crisis, IEA chief warns — 16 April 2026 (LINK)
UNCTAD: Developing countries launch first-ever Borrowers' Platform, "a breakthrough in global finance" — 15 April 2026 (LINK)
— "Today, 54 countries — home to 3.4 billion people — spend more on debt servicing than on health or education. [...] First outlined in the Sevilla Commitment adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2025, the initiative creates a permanent space for collaboration among developing countries. Through peer learning, technical support and knowledge sharing, the platform aims to strengthen debt management practices and improve coordination on sovereign debt issues."
On Wednesday, at an event in Washington DC to launch the group, UN Secretary-General António Guterres – whose Expert Group on Debt proposed the idea for the Platform in 2025 — described the initiative as a "breakthrough in global financing," comparable to long-established groups for creditor countries, such as the Paris Club, the London Club and the Institute of International Finance. — (LINK)
North Korea boosting ability to manufacture nuclear arms, IAEA chief warns — (LINK) ground.news: 34 media reports — 15 April 2026 (LINK)
Canada, U.K. and 8 other nations condemn killings of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon — (LINK) ground.news: 27 media reports — 14 April 2026 (LINK)
— Preliminary UN findings attributed one peacekeeper death to an Israeli tank projectile and two deaths to an improvised explosive device most likely placed by Hezbollah, clarifying responsibility for the killings. Joint Statement — (LINK)
Iran war triggered 'most severe oil supply shock in history', International Energy Agency says — (LINK) ground.news: 34 media reports — 14 April 2026 (LINK)
Global economy at risk of recession if Iran war persists, warns IMF — 14 April 2026 (LINK)
— In its World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said in a worst case scenario — where oil, gas and food prices spike and remain high this year and next — global growth could fall below 2% in 2026.
— "This would mean a close call for a global recession which has happened only four times since 1980," it said, the most recent being during the Covid pandemic.
Joint Statement by the Heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank Group: "it will take time for global supplies of key commodities to move back towards their pre-conflict levels — and fuel and fertilizer prices may remain high for a prolonged period given the damage to infrastructure" — 13 April 2026 (LINK)
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called on Israel to withdraw a forced evacuation order affecting two main hospitals in the Beirut area, as the Lebanese health system struggles to treat casualties of Israeli attacks — 10 April 2026 (LINK)
Over 80 migrants are missing from a boat that capsized with about 120 people departing from Tajoura, Libya, IMO says — (LINK) ground.news: 19 media reports — 7 April 2026 (LINK)
— The IOM said Tuesday that at least 990 deaths have been recorded so far this year, marking the deadliest start since 2014. In the Central Mediterranean alone, 765 deaths represent a 150% increase over the same period last year.
Vatican aid convoy to southern Lebanese town, with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon escorting the three-truck delivery, forced back by bombardment — (LINK) ground.news: 8 media reports — 7 April 2026 (LINK)
Preliminary UN probe blames Israel and likely Hezbollah for deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last month — (LINK) ground.news: 12 media reports — 7 April 2026 (LINK)
UN80 Initiative enters 'delivery phase', as Member States review progress on key work areas: UN — 6 April 2026 (LINK)
— Top officials updated Member States Monday on selected proposals under the UN80 reform initiative, including an initial assessment of a possible merger between gender equality agency, UN Women, and the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, as well as updates on the technology and data tracks.
Aid groups warn Iran war is hindering food and medicine from reaching millions: up to a 20% cost increase forcing organizations to reroute vessels around Africa, adding weeks to delivery times. Save the Children International faces a 10-day delay and about 25% higher costs delivering supplies, while the International Rescue Committee has $130,000 worth of pharmaceuticals for Sudan stranded in Dubai. The World Food Program warns an additional 45 million people may face acute hunger if tensions persist — (LINK) ground.news: 42 media reports — 5 April 2026 (LINK)
Israeli forces destroy 17 UN peacekeeper cameras in Lebanon main headquarters in the coastal town of Naqura within 24 hours: UN — (LINK) ground.news: 19 media reports — 4 April 2026 (LINK)
World food price rise set to continue if Iran war lasts, FAO says: Food Price Index rose 2.4% in March, reaching its highest level since September last year — (LINK) ground.news: 63 media reports — 3 April 2026 (LINK)
— Vegetable oil prices increased 5.1% in March, marking a third consecutive monthly rise, while sugar prices jumped 7.2% to their highest level since October 2025.
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