PassBlue

05/11/2026

Trump announced the US would welcome Afrikaner “refugees” in an executive order issued on Feb. 7, 2025. During which, he condemned South Africa’s decision to bring a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and accused it, among other things, of “developing nuclear arrangements with Iran.” But just over a year into the program, with nearly 6,500 South Africans having arrived, cracks are appearing as some of the “refugees” have decided to go back home — where they supposedly face intolerable racist persecution and even genocide.
https://passblue.com/2026/05/10/cracks-are-showing-in-trumps-special-refugee-program-for-afrikaners/

05/10/2026

Read the recap that gets you set for Monday: This Week @ UN, all the important news from around the organization.
https://passblue.com/2026/05/08/un-may-8-peacekeepers-vulnerable-in-lebanon-low-risk-of-hantavirus-global-outbreak-lots-more/

05/09/2026

This Week @ UN for May 8

New UN refugee chief in Mexico; China succeeds without trying; rewriting global anti-torture rules.

Plus: Peacekeepers stay put in Lebanon; ceasefires by Russia & Ukraine; Ted Turner, $1 billion benefactor; global hantavirus risk; eastern DR Congo’s resurging violence; UN eatery price hikes.

Read now:

[UN: May 8] Peacekeepers Vulnerable in Lebanon, 'Low Risk' of Hantavirus Global Outbreak & Lots More - PassBlue

05/08/2026

Via The Grist:
Trump is trying to kill a carbon tax on global shipping. He may not succeed.
The U.S. has threatened countries that support the tax with visa restrictions, tariffs, and port fees. But a slim majority of U.N. nations are still backing it.

The U.S. has threatened countries supporting the tax with visa restrictions, tariffs, and port fees. A slim majority of nations still back it.

05/07/2026

If you haven't read it yet, check out the latest Security Council Presidency column which focuses on China's agenda while helming the council in May.
https://passblue.com/2026/05/04/how-china-is-winning-at-the-un-without-even-trying/

05/07/2026

PassBlue and 1 for 8 Billion joined with 14 expert NGOs to parse the recent UN dialogues with the Secretary-General candidates. Read each policy brief in the Campaign Tracker.

SG Candidates Home Page - PassBlue

05/06/2026

Pictured: Families of 41 victims of the Yezidi genocide in Qani, Hardan and Kocho villages finally laid their remains to rest, 2024.

In the latest Worldviews, Alice Edwards, a UN human rights specialist, writes that a new survivors of torture charter has been written by “people who have experienced this most violent of crimes” to demand that the world help them recover.
https://passblue.com/2026/05/05/survivors-of-torture-rewrite-the-rules-banning-it/

05/05/2026

Read the latest Security Council Presidency column, examining China's agenda as it leads the Council in May.

Over the last 15 months, the Trump administration has cut funding to several UN agencies, withdrawn from numerous international bodies and treaties, made token payments toward its mandated dues and pushed consistently for narrower, cheaper peacekeeping mandates.

Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, had said that China is already the “de facto” No. 1 contributor to the UN regular budget and had no interest in replacing the United States. Read more:

How China Is Winning at the UN Without Even Trying - PassBlue

05/05/2026

Security Council Presidency - As chair of the Security Council in May, China will highlight the topic of upholding the UN Charter and strengthening the international system as its signature debate. Cong surprised reporters by saying that China would be “happy to see” a female secretary-general selected this year for the upcoming five-year term.

Pictured: Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, leaving his media briefing on May 1 at New York City headquarters.
Read more about the May UNSC President: https://passblue.com/2026/05/04/how-china-is-winning-at-the-un-without-even-trying/

05/04/2026

Last year, the Trump administration slashed funding to a wide range of UN entities, including the Refugee Agency (UNHCR), forcing it to pull back its operations in Mexico, among other offices. Until the cuts, the Mexican base had received 86 percent of its funding from the US.

https://passblue.com/2026/05/03/the-un-refugee-agencys-new-boss-in-mexico-has-her-work-cut-out-for-her/

05/02/2026

Read This Week @ UN for all the important news from around the UN:
https://passblue.com/2026/05/01/un-may-1-the-high-stakes-nuclear-treaty-gets-reviewed-silencing-women-journalists-lots-more/