Headlines reflecting the release of Belarussian political prisoners. Graphic: IPS By Ed HoltBRATISLAVA, Oct 7 2025 – As Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko continues to pardon political prisoners in an apparently increasingly successful attempt to improve diplomatic relations with the US, rights groups have warned the international community must not let itself be ‘tricked’ into...

By CIVICUSOct 7 2025 –   CIVICUS discusses recent protests that led to a change of government in Nepal with Dikpal Khatri Chhetri, co-founder of Youth in Federal Discourse (YFD). YFD is a youth-led organisation that advocates for democracy, civic engagement and young people’s empowerment. Dikpal Khatri Chhetri In September, Nepal’s government blocked 26 social media platforms, sparking...

More women must have a role in shaping peace agreements, security reforms and post-conflict recovery plans, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council October 6. Credit: UN News By Sima BahousUNITED NATIONS, Oct 7 2025 – We meet on the eve of the twenty-fifth anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325—a milestone born of the multilateral system’s conviction...

By Jomo Kwame Sundaram and K Kuhaneetha BaiJOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Oct 7 2025 – The World Bank’s 1981 Berg Report provided the blueprint for structural adjustment, including economic liberalisation in Africa. Urging trade liberalisation, it promised growth from its supposed comparative advantage in agriculture. Jomo Kwame Sundaram Berg promises Accelerated Development in Sub-Saharan...

Addressing the urban food insecurity crisis will require vision, coordinated actions and strategies, and sustained commitment from city governments, academia, the private sector, and NGOs. Credit: Shutterstock By Esther NgumbiURBANA, Illinois, US, Oct 7 2025 – Millions of people in the United States and around the world continue to face food insecurity, meaning they cannot access safe and...