NAIROBI, Apr 19 (IPS) - Kirinyaga University may have just breathed new life into Kenya’s ailing cotton industry as varsity dons develop a portable cotton ginnery. Read the full story, “Portable Ginnery Could Revive Kenyas Ailing Cotton Industry”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Following reports of alleged Israeli strikes inside Iran near a nuclear power station early Friday, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a new appeal to all parties to “stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East”. Read the full story, “Retaliatory spiral in Middle East must end, says UN chief after strikes on Iran”, on globalissues.org ..read more

The UN’s top human rights official on Friday raised alarm over the escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state between junta and opposition forces, amid reports of the military regime forcing members of the minority Muslim Rohingya community to join their ranks. Read the full story, “Myanmar: Rohingyas in firing line as Rakhine conflict intensifies”, on globalissues.org ..read more

APEX, North Carolina / DUBLIN, Ireland, Apr 18 (IPS) - Is the rough-and-tumble of leading the UN General Assembly a good preparation for the top UN job? Maria Fernanda Espinosa served as President of the UN General Assembly from 2018-2019, garnering votes from 128 out of 193 member states. With her victory, she became only the fourth woman—and the first from Latin America—to run this important UN body. Read the full story, “Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 4”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Long before artificial intelligence, UN staff brainstormed and developed innovative solutions in the Organization's day-to-day affairs, so this #ThrowbackThursday we are taking you behind the scenes for a peek at some almost forgotten retro mid-20th century cutting-edge tech at UN Headquarters ahead of World Creativity and Innovation Day, marked annually on 21 April. Read the full story, “Stories from the UN Archive: Retro cutting-edge tech at the UN”, on globalissues.org ..read more

UN independent human rights experts on Thursday raised alarm over the “systematic destruction” of the Palestinian education system in the Gaza Strip, as Israel’s military operation continues unabated. Read the full story, “Gaza: UN experts decry ‘systemic obliteration’ of education system”, on globalissues.org ..read more

UN human rights chief Volker Türk this week met survivors of massacres in eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who told him they are desperate for peace. Read the full story, “World News in Brief: Rights chief Türk urges peace in DR Congo, Haiti aid update, food insecurity in Timor Leste”, on globalissues.org ..read more

The Security Council rejected Palestine’s request for UN membership on Thursday, with the United States casting a veto. Read the full story, “US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership”, on globalissues.org ..read more

The President of the UN General Assembly on Thursday underscored the critical need for resilient infrastructure if the world is the reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline. Read the full story, “Assembly President calls for massive investment in sustainable infrastructure”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Renewable energy, if supported by governments, can “truly change the landscape” in terms of achieving equitable access to affordable and clean energy, but only if those governments can move from “commitment to action”; That’s according to the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Read the full story, “Renewable energy transforming the landscape”, on globalissues.org ..read more