KARACHI, Pakistan, January 8 (IPS) - As 2026 dawns, women in Pakistan are left grappling with a stark reality: rape and marital rape continue to be misinterpreted by judges in the country’s highest courts.

Read the full story, “Consent Ignored, Convictions Rare: Pakistan’s Courts Under Fire”, on globalissues.org →

Progress continues to be made towards eliminating remnants of the chemical weapons programme in Syria that was developed under the Assad regime, the UN Security Council heard on Thursday.

Read the full story, “Syria signals renewed cooperation on chemical weapons destruction”, on globalissues.org →

Several parts of Ukraine were hit by a new wave of Russian strikes between Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Read the full story, “Ukraine: New strikes disrupt basic services for millions”, on globalissues.org →

UN Secretary-General António Guterres continues to be gravely alarmed by escalating hostilities in Aleppo, Syria, and mounting reports of civilian casualties, his Spokesperson said on Thursday.

Read the full story, “World News in Brief: Fighting intensifies in Syria’s Aleppo and South Sudan’s Jonglei state, acute hunger in Niger”, on globalissues.org →

Despite harsh winter conditions and continuing access constraints, the UN and partners are maintaining large-scale humanitarian operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, with a focus on shelter, water, health and education.

Read the full story, “Aid continues despite winter hardship in Gaza and West Bank, UN says”, on globalissues.org →