England's Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy on Tuesday, 2025-07-XX, has been impacted by defender Jess Carter's recent experience with racial abuse. The team is rallying around Carter while simultaneously addressing defensive vulnerabilities exposed in earlier matches against France and Sweden. Manager Sarina Wiegman faces selection dilemmas, including whether to start Carter and who will fill defensive positions, with players like Esme Morgan pushing for starting roles. Captain Leah Williamson, initially doubtful due to an ankle injury, has recovered and is available for the match.

Despite England's recent wins over Sweden and their overall record against Italy (seven wins in their last ten games), Wiegman is wary of complacency, emphasizing the need for a strong performance. Italy, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1997, poses a significant challenge, having scored in every match thus far. England's players acknowledge the defensive improvements needed, particularly against Italy’s pace and aggressive style of play.

Italy’s recent rise in women's football and their strong attacking player, Cristiana Girelli (three goals in the tournament), add further complexity. While England aims for a third successive major tournament final, the team acknowledges the challenges ahead and the need for a solid defensive performance to secure victory.

Impact Statement: The outcome of the match will determine England's progression to the Euro 2025 final and impact their chances of retaining their European title. The incident of racial abuse highlights ongoing challenges in women's football.

A new report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), and the International Drought Resilience Alliance details the widespread and devastating effects of drought from 2023 to 2025. The report highlights the crisis as "a slow-moving global catastrophe," with 90 million people facing acute hunger in Eastern and Southern Africa, where some areas experienced the worst drought on record. Specific impacts include failed maize and wheat crops in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi; 43,000 drought-related deaths in Somalia in 2022 alone; and a 70% year-on-year drop in Zimbabwe's 2024 corn crop, leading to doubled maize prices and 9,000 cattle deaths.

Zambia suffered a severe energy crisis due to drastically reduced water levels in the Zambezi River, impacting the Kariba Dam's hydroelectric power generation and leading to widespread blackouts. The drought's effects extended beyond Africa, impacting Spain's olive crop (50% drop), triggering sinkholes in Türkiye due to groundwater depletion, causing mass fish deaths in the Amazon Basin, and reducing Panama Canal transit by over one-third, disrupting global trade and impacting markets worldwide.

The report recommends stronger early warning systems, real-time drought monitoring, nature-based solutions (watershed restoration, indigenous crops), resilient infrastructure (off-grid energy, alternative water supplies), and global cooperation, especially for transboundary river basins and trade routes.

Impact Statement: The global drought crisis has caused widespread food insecurity, energy shortages, economic disruption, and significant loss of life, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation and adaptation strategies to mitigate future impacts.

A UN report, discussed at the General Assembly on Monday, highlights the significant underdevelopment of digital innovation and technology across Africa. In 2024, only 34% of women and 45% of men used the internet, compared to global averages of 65% and 70% respectively. Furthermore, 98% of African children under 18 lack basic STEM skills due to underinvestment in education. This digital divide disproportionately affects marginalized groups, hindering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The report emphasizes the need for investment in STEM education and digital infrastructure to harness the potential of Africa's burgeoning youth population, projected to exceed 850 million by 2050. However, challenges remain, including insecure employment for three-fourths of young Africans and limited access to social protection (19% in Africa vs. 53% globally in 2023). The report advocates for a people-centered approach that promotes digital innovation alongside decent work, rights, and intellectual property, emphasizing the importance of African-led solutions and multilateral cooperation.

Speakers stressed the need for regional cooperation and multilateral support, recognizing that no single nation can bridge the digital divide alone. The report urges a shift from "business-as-usual" to support systemic transformation to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Impact Statement: The report's findings underscore the urgent need for increased investment and collaboration to address Africa's digital divide and unlock its potential for sustainable development.

More than 93,000 Syrians have been displaced from Sweida, and neighboring areas due to escalating sectarian violence, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on 2024-MM-DD. Most displaced persons are staying with local communities or in reception centers, with additional shelters opened in Dar’a governorate. Infrastructure damage is widespread, impacting hospitals, water supplies, electricity, and food access.

A first aid convoy from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, carrying supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and other partners, reached Sweida on 2024-MM-DD. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher called this a necessary but insufficient first step. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is working to gain access to Sweida to deliver further aid when security allows. The UN is urging all parties to protect civilians and allow free movement for those seeking safety and medical assistance.

Impact Statement: The ongoing violence and displacement in Sweida, Syria, create a significant humanitarian crisis requiring substantial and sustained international aid.

The UN Secretary-General expressed deep concern over Israeli airstrikes on Hudaydah Port in Yemen on Monday, July 24, 2023, while a UN mission was patrolling. These strikes follow continued Houthi missile and drone attacks against Israel. The UN called on all parties to respect international law and cease military actions. Separately, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with over 1,300 cholera cases reported in Tawila, North Darfur State, in one week ending July 23, 2023. Flooding and displacement are compounding the crisis, particularly impacting those returning to their communities in White Nile and Kassala states. OCHA called for increased international support. In Ukraine, attacks over the weekend and into Monday, July 24, 2023, killed over 20 civilians and injured more than 100, impacting Kyiv, western regions, and frontline areas. Damage included homes, schools, and a health facility. Humanitarian organizations are providing assistance.

Impact Statement: The escalating conflict in Yemen, the deepening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, and continued violence in Ukraine demand urgent international attention and aid.

Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, professor of infectious diseases at University College London, warned at a UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting in New York (date not specified) that another pandemic is inevitable, emphasizing that the global healthcare system's siloed nature hinders effective prevention. He stressed that infectious diseases disregard borders, necessitating agile, cross-border health policies and robust partnerships. Lok Bahadur Thapa, ECOSOC vice president, highlighted the need to reimagine cooperation for achieving the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the 17th SDG focused on global partnerships. A significant annual financing gap exceeding $4 trillion hinders progress toward these goals.

Dima Al-Khatib, director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), underscored the crucial role of transformative partnerships involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. Experts like Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of Health at the UN Development Programme (UNDP), advocate for prioritizing preventive care over reactive medicine, citing cost-effectiveness and holistic health system support. Tony Ott, a professor of agricultural sciences at Pennsylvania State University, emphasized that health is not a downstream issue but a starting point for overall development. Dr. Abubakar highlighted the vulnerability of migrants and displaced people, with 123.2 million forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of 2024, emphasizing the need for cross-border access to essential health services. He stressed that all health policies must be culturally appropriate and community-centered.

Impact Statement: The warning of an impending pandemic underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and investment in preventive healthcare, particularly addressing the health disparities faced by vulnerable populations.

The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Monday, 2024-07-29, that deadly floods across the globe, from the Himalayas to Texas, expose critical failures in early warning systems. The organization linked the increased frequency and intensity of these events to rapid urbanization, land-use changes, and a warming climate. WMO Director of Hydrology, Water, and Cryosphere, Stefan Uhlenbrook, stated that while flash floods are not new, their frequency and intensity are rising due to these factors. Each degree Celsius of warming increases the air's water vapor capacity by about 7%, increasing extreme rainfall risks. Glacier-related flood hazards are also intensifying due to enhanced ice melt.

These floods have caused widespread devastation and loss of life. In July 2024 alone, South Asia, East Asia, and the United States experienced numerous deadly flood events. India and Pakistan suffered heavy monsoon rains, while South Korea saw record-breaking downpours (2024-07-16 to 2024-07-20), resulting in casualties and evacuations. Southern China faced flash flood and landslide alerts following Typhoon Wipha. Texas experienced a devastating flash flood (2024-07-03/04), resulting in over 100 deaths and many missing. Nepal also saw a glacial lake outburst flood (2024-07-07) in Rasuwa district, causing significant damage and loss of life. The WMO noted that glacial-origin floods in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region are occurring far more frequently than in the past.

The WMO is working to improve flood forecasting through a global initiative and real-time guidance platform used in over 70 countries. A 2022 World Bank study estimated that 1.81 billion people are directly exposed to 1-in-100-year flood events, with the majority residing in low- and middle-income countries. The UN's Early Warnings for All initiative aims to provide everyone with early warning systems by 2027.

Impact Statement: The increasing frequency and intensity of floods globally underscore the urgent need for improved early warning systems and climate change mitigation efforts.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed deep alarm over the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where essential lifelines are failing, according to his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, on 2023-10-16. Dozens of Palestinians were killed the previous day while seeking food aid. Mr. Dujarric strongly condemned the violence targeting civilians attempting to obtain food, stating that civilians "must be protected and respected, and they must never be targeted." He emphasized Israel's obligation to facilitate UN and other humanitarian aid delivery. The UN reported damage to two of its guesthouses in Deir Al-Balah following a new evacuation order that worsened displacement and hampered aid distribution. More than a dozen people, including children, reportedly died of hunger in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza health agencies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that roughly 88% of Gaza is under displacement orders or within displacement zones. The new UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ramiz Alakbarov, also called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the lifting of access restrictions to Gaza. He stressed the need for humanitarian organizations to utilize traditional aid delivery systems, currently hampered by violence.

Impact Statement: The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands urgent international intervention to prevent further suffering and loss of life. The UN's call for a ceasefire and unrestricted aid access is critical to addressing the immediate needs of the population.

A senior UN World Food Programme (WFP) official, Ross Smith, reported on Monday, 2023-10-23, that the hunger crisis in Gaza has drastically worsened, with one-third of the population going without food for multiple days. This follows a deadly incident on Sunday, 2023-10-22, where dozens of civilians were killed and injured while waiting for food aid. Mr. Smith described the incident as a "greatest tragedies" for WFP operations and stressed its avoidability. WFP assessments indicate that a quarter of Gaza's 2.1 million population faces famine-like conditions, with almost 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Mr. Smith stated that food and humanitarian aid are the only immediate solutions, highlighting the need for minimum operating conditions including safe crossings, proper internal routing, daily entry of over 100 aid trucks, and the absence of armed actors near distribution points. He emphasized that while agreements exist in principle, adherence in practice is lacking. A ceasefire is also critical for effective aid delivery, with WFP capable of supplying Gaza's population for two months with existing stockpiles if these conditions are met. During an earlier ceasefire, over 200 trucks of aid were delivered daily, a figure that has since dropped to less than 10 percent of the required amount.

Impact Statement: The escalating hunger crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by violence and logistical constraints, threatens a humanitarian catastrophe requiring immediate international action to ensure aid delivery and a lasting ceasefire.

Khadija Manoun, Badriya Barawi, and Hiyam Zayed, three mothers from Gaza, represent the devastating impact of the nearly two-year-long conflict on families. They have been displaced multiple times, losing their homes and possessions, and now struggle with hunger and lack of basic necessities. Manoun, who lost her fully furnished home, now lives in a rubble-strewn corner, while Barawi, suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, collapses from hunger, and Zayed and her eight daughters survive on lentil soup without bread. The women describe the loss of their homes, the hardships they face daily, and the despair caused by the ongoing conflict.

Over two million Palestinians in Gaza, living in approximately 15% of the Strip's area due to widespread destruction, face dire conditions. International organizations warn of catastrophic consequences, including significant threats to children's health, disease outbreaks, and societal breakdown, amid the absence of any clear path to a political or humanitarian solution.

Impact Statement: The ongoing conflict in Gaza has created a humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, food insecurity, and severe health risks, especially for children.