South Africa Government: Deputy President Mashatile engages in Frank Dialogue on the Future of B-BBEE in South Africa.

Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neuwO-iYXYg

IPC Report #Mali – Acute malnutrition remains high despite slight improvements

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Acute malnutrition in Mali remains critically high. Between Nov 2025 and Oct 2026, 1.12 million children and 91,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are expected to be affected — including 227,000 severe cases.
Right now, 18 areas are in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious). But conditions are likely to worsen from June–October 2026, with 32 areas expected to deteriorate — especially in Ménaka Region, Kayes Region, Koulikoro Region, Mopti Region, Tombouctou Region, and Gao Region.

Read more: https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1161026/?iso3=MLI

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7tu4vZ-PcC4

Ukraine, South Sudan & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (26 February 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Ukraine
South Sudan
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Migrants
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)

UKRAINE

The UN continues to condemn the attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Such attacks, wherever they occur, violate international humanitarian law and are unacceptable, unjustifiable and must stop immediately.

From the ground, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that overnight, a large-scale drone and missile attack, combined with front-line hostilities, resulted in civilian casualties and damaged homes and critical infrastructure across the country.

Hostilities resulted in dozens of residential buildings damaged in Kyiv, as well as in Kirovohradska, Kyivska, and Vinnytska oblasts. In the Odesa region, some 40,000 families were left without electricity, and in the Poltava region, damage to gas facilities disrupted power supply for around 20,000 families and businesses. The Ministry of Energy reported additional outages in several eastern and southern regions, continuing a pattern of winter attacks on energy systems.

UN humanitarian partners on the ground provided materials for basicrepairs as well as first aid.

Last month, authorities and our partners said nearly 7,000 people were evacuated from front-line areas in eastern Ukraine.

SOUTH SUDAN

On South Sudan, the UN has seen the violence spiraling across the country, and in particular an incident last weekend involving the brutal killing of civilians in Ayod County, Jonglei State. The UN understands that an investigation is underway.

The UN reiterates that violence against civilians is unacceptable. Civilians must be protected at all times. The UN calls again on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

As Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, witnessed in South Sudan earlier this week, the humanitarian situation in the country is rapidly deteriorating, driven by renewed clashes, soaring civilian displacement due to insecurity and constraints on humanitarian access.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ramiz Alakbarov, today wrapped up his two-day visit to Gaza Strip. Before leaving Gaza, he joined a medical evacuation mission at the Rafah crossing, where the UN and its partners help patients and their caregivers go to Egypt for urgent medical treatment. He also visited a reception centre in Rafah supporting people who are returning to Gaza.

Mr. Alakbarov spent the last two days in Gaza meeting with our partners, visiting humanitarian facilities supported by ourselves as well as others, and assessing gaps and challenges in the response.

Meanwhile, UN partners leading on water, sanitation and hygiene services tell us that, in the last few months, they have delivered 17,000 hygiene kits to children and their families.

Hundreds of water tanks have been installed near tents since the ceasefire took hold. This makes it easier for people to find access to clean water. While needs remain immense, our humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to scale up assistance under what remains very challenging circumstances.

On food security, UN partners report that, this month, families in Gaza have on average had two meals a day, compared to one meal a day in July of 2025. While this marks a modest improvement, many families tell us our colleagues that they are struggling to afford food and other essential goods. To help put food on the table, in January, humanitarians provided cash assistance to three quarters of a million people in Gaza.   

And on shelter, this month, UN partners say that they have provided tents, tarpaulins and other supplies to more than 27,000 displaced families.

Additionally, today, in the city of Bani Suhaila in Khan Younis, more than 400 vulnerable families living in this area received food and other essential supplies.

Aid workers are also distributing emergency shelter material, consisting mainly of salvaged timber and metal pallets, in Khan Younis and Gaza city. The material is being used to build housing units that can endure harsh weather conditions which are continuing. Most families across Gaza live in unsafe structures, as hundreds of thousands of housing units have now been damaged since October 2023.

The UN once again appeals for the lifting of restrictions on the entry of construction materials into Gaza Strip, so families can move toward safe and sustainable housing solutions.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doiAGN2mDN4

ICC ICC concludes confirmation of charges hearing in Duterte case

Source: International Criminal Court (video statements)

Today, 27 February 2026, the confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte concluded before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC), composed of Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Presiding judge), and Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.

The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is for the judges to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the suspect committed each of the crimes charged. If the charges are confirmed, in full or in part, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.

After hearing the oral submissions of the Prosecutor, the Common Legal Representatives of the Victims and the Defence, the judges heard their respective closing statements. The hearing on the confirmation of charges took place in the absence of the suspect following the Chamber granting Mr Duterte’s request to waive his right to attend the hearing.

The judges will now start their deliberations. In accordance with Regulation 53 of the Regulations of the Court, the Pre-Trial Chamber shall deliver its written decision within 60 days of the date on which the confirmation hearing ends. The Pre-Trial Chamber may then:

– confirm those charges for which the Chamber has determined that there is sufficient evidence, and commit the suspect to trial before a Trial Chamber;

– decline to confirm those charges for which it has determined that there is insufficient evidence and stop the proceedings against Mr Duterte;

– adjourn the hearing and request the Prosecutor to provide further evidence, to conduct further investigations or to amend any charge for which the evidence submitted appears to establish a crime other than the one charged was committed.

The Defence and the Prosecutor cannot directly appeal this decision. However they can request authorisation from the Pre-Trial Chamber to appeal it.

Background: Mr Duterte is suspected of the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder, allegedly committed on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ campaign. Following a request of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, the warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by the Chamber as “Secret” on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as “Public” on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the ICC.

The initial appearance of Mr Duterte took place on 14 March 2025. On 8 September 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber I postponed the confirmation hearing, initially scheduled to start on 23 September 2025, to adjudicate the Defence’s Adjournment Request concerning Mr Duterte’s fitness to participate in the proceedings. On 26 January 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I found Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings and scheduled the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing for 23 February 2026.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBYbQhM8sQ