Top Stories of the Day | Wednesday: Gaza, Central African Republic, Waste, Land Ownership

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

February 25, 2026 UN

The main news of the day in the UN and around the world: the visit of the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process to the Gaza Strip, a Security Council meeting on the Central African Republic, a report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime on the illegal trade in waste, and the global problem of land alienation.

Ramiz Alakbarov's visit to Gaza

The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process began a two-day visit to the Gaza Strip. In Deir al-Balah, Ramiz Alakbarov discussed humanitarian access to the enclave with representatives of UN agencies and partner organizations. He also visited a landfill and a rubble processing site where waste is being transported due to restrictions on access to the main landfills. Tomorrow, the Deputy Special Coordinator will travel to the field hospital in Al-Mawasi, where patients are being assisted to travel to Egypt for treatment. Since the ceasefire, more than 740 patients have been evacuated from there. Another 18,500 people, including 4,000 children, urgently need to be evacuated to receive specialized care.

Security Council meeting on the Central African Republic

The largest elections in the history of the Central African Republic – presidential, parliamentary, regional, and municipal – were held in a calm and generally safe environment. at a briefing at the UN Security Council Valentina Rugwabiza, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and head of the UN mission in the country, announced on Wednesday that the vote took place in December 2025. "The Central African Republic has reached an important milestone in strengthening the peace process and state authority," the Special Representative said. The UN mission supported the country's authorities through mediation efforts, as well as technical, logistical, and operational support.

Illegal waste trade

The illegal waste trade generates up to $18 billion in profits annually, according to experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, who analyzed illegal waste flows worldwide. In a report released Wednesday by the Office The study found that illegal waste trafficking leads to environmental pollution and harms human health. The authors concluded that this activity is poorly regulated: gaps in legislation and limited law enforcement capabilities allow criminals to reap large profits while remaining unpunished.

The global problem of land ownership

Despite global progress in strengthening land tenure laws, more than a billion people worldwide—nearly one in four adults—fear they could lose all or part of their land and housing rights within the next five years, according to a UN-backed report. Over the past two decades, governments have adopted national and international frameworks on issues such as land policy in Africa and the responsible governance of land, fisheries, and forests, leading to land reform efforts in more than 70 countries. However, according to the report's authors, 1.1 billion people feel "insecure" because they believe it is likely or very likely that they will lose their property in the coming years.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.