Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris TD, along with Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond TD, have announced over €4.6 million in grants to support Irish diaspora organisations in the US and Canada. The funding, distributed through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), will assist 145 organisations in… [Read More]
Archives for 2025
Ontario Invests $5 Million+ to Safeguard Forest Sector Jobs in Northern Ontario
The Ontario government is investing over $5 million to support workers and businesses in the forest sector in Northern Ontario, focusing on repairing key regional infrastructure and adopting new technology to modernize operations. This initiative aims to boost productivity, create new jobs, and open opportunities for revenue generation from underused wood and forest biomass, contributing… [Read More]
Ontario Commits $12M+ to Upgrade and Expand Community Centres in Eastern Ontario
The Ontario government is investing $12.2 million to enhance community infrastructure and support jobs in eastern Ontario. This funding will help construct the new Russell Township Recreation Complex and revitalize three other community centres in the region. These initiatives are part of the $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF), a provincewide program… [Read More]
Ontario Commits $8.7M to Strengthen Worker Safety in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario
The Ontario government has announced an investment of over $8.7 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to support more than 1,500 jobseekers in Ottawa and eastern Ontario. The funding aims to prepare workers for high-demand sectors such as construction, manufacturing, skilled trades, and automotive, while also equipping them with the skills needed… [Read More]
Israel’s Strategy in Gaza and Occupied Palestinian Territory Raises UN Genocide Concerns
A new report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, reveals that the Israeli government is pursuing a strategy to establish permanent control over the Gaza Strip while ensuring a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank and within Israel. The Commission investigated land… [Read More]
Belarus: UN Experts Condemn Disappearance of Mikalai Statkevich Following Attempted Deportation
A group of UN independent experts has strongly condemned the attempted deportation and subsequent disappearance of Mikalai Statkevich, a 69-year-old prominent opposition politician in Belarus. The experts expressed serious concern that Statkevich may be a victim of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, urging Belarus to provide information about his fate, whereabouts, and state of health…. [Read More]
UN Experts Urge Suspension of Israel from International Football Amid Palestinian Genocide Allegations
UN human rights experts have urged FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel’s national football team from international competitions as a response to the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory. The experts referenced the United Nations Commission of Inquiry’s conclusion that Israel is committing genocide, as well as the International Court of Justice’s Interim Order… [Read More]
UN Experts Warn of Nicaragua’s Escalating Repression Beyond Its Borders
A new report by the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua reveals that the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo is expanding its repression beyond national borders, targeting Nicaraguan citizens in exile. The report, presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, details how thousands of Nicaraguans who fled the country—many after… [Read More]
Child Malnutrition in Conflict Zones Remains High as Global Hunger Goals Stall
An analysis by Save the Children ahead of the United Nations General Assembly reveals that child malnutrition in conflict-affected countries remains alarmingly high, undermining global progress toward ending hunger. In 20 conflict-affected countries, more than one in three children under five—approximately 44 million—are stunted, a figure that has not improved since the adoption of the… [Read More]
IOM Chief Urges Stronger Global Cooperation on Migration at UN General Assembly
As world leaders gather in New York for the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is emphasizing the need for stronger international dialogue and collective action to harness migration as a driver of development and prosperity. IOM Director General Amy Pope stressed that… [Read More]
Persistent Inequalities Slow Global Social Justice Progress, Warns ILO Report
A new International Labour Organization (ILO) report highlights that, despite significant advances in education, poverty reduction, and productivity over the past three decades, entrenched inequalities, declining trust in institutions, and slow progress in key areas continue to hinder social justice worldwide. The study, The State of Social Justice: A Work in Progress, published ahead of… [Read More]
Global Social Justice Efforts Hampered by Inequality, Says New ILO Report
A new International Labour Organization (ILO) report highlights that despite major gains in education, poverty reduction, and productivity over the past three decades, entrenched inequalities, declining trust in institutions, and slow progress in critical areas continue to hinder social justice worldwide. The study, The State of Social Justice: A Work in Progress, published ahead of… [Read More]
Asia-Pacific Advances Agenda to Ensure Living Wages for Workers
A regional dialogue organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 23–26 September 2025, highlighted the potential for achieving living wages across Asia and the Pacific through systematic approaches grounded in social dialogue and evidence-based wage systems. The event, held under the Global Coalition for Social Justice, brought together participants from… [Read More]
Darfur Cholera Vaccination Begins Amid Sudan Conflict
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a cholera outbreak in Sudan, which began in July 2024 in Kassala, has now spread to all 18 states. Over 113,600 cases have been recorded, with more than 3,000 deaths, reflecting a concerning case fatality rate of 2.7 percent. The outbreak has surged in areas including White Nile… [Read More]
Gaza and Nicaragua Human Rights Updates, WHO Hypertension Alert, and US Autism Claim Controversy
In Gaza, damaged facilities include nine schools and two health centres sheltering over 11,000 people, with at least five displaced individuals injured. UNRWA’s operations in Gaza City have been severely reduced after the closure of its only functioning health centre north of central Gaza. The UN humanitarian office, OCHA, has reported rising displacement and nearly… [Read More]
US President Trump Criticizes UN, NATO, and Calls Climate Change a ‘Hoax
US President Donald Trump sharply criticized the United Nations, questioning its effectiveness and describing its actions as “empty words” that fail to solve conflicts. He suggested that, rather than awards like the Nobel Peace Prize, the true measure of success is saving millions of lives. On Iran, Trump called the country “the world’s number one… [Read More]
Climate Summit 2025: Paving the Way to COP30
The UN Climate Summit, held on 24 September 2025 at UN Headquarters, is designed as a targeted high-level launchpad for COP30. Unlike the extensive negotiations of a full UN climate conference, this summit brings together Heads of State, government leaders, businesses, and civil society to present concrete pledges and new national climate plans, emphasizing actionable… [Read More]
Uruguay’s Energy Transition: Driving Investment for a Cleaner, Fairer Future
In Montevideo’s bustling port, trucks are beginning to run on cleaner power, while across Uruguay, engineers are testing the country’s first autonomous charging station for heavy vehicles and laying the foundations for a pilot green hydrogen plant. These initiatives signal a significant transformation in how Uruguay is powering its future, reflecting the country’s commitment to… [Read More]
New Philippine Legislation Enables Early Disaster Response to Safeguard Communities
The Government of the Philippines has enacted the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Bill, a landmark measure that institutionalizes anticipatory action within the country’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework. Developed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) with technical support from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other partners, the bill… [Read More]
Octave Capital and Katapult Ocean Launch $75 Million Fund to Support Ocean Ventures in Asia
Octave Capital and Katapult Ocean have launched the USD 75 million (EUR 63 million) Asia Ocean Fund, an impact investment fund aimed at supporting the development of Asia’s ocean sector. The fund was established through a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations, with a focus on deploying capital to ventures that restore ocean health,… [Read More]
EU Funding Sustains Humanitarian Air Service Operations in Afghanistan
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan has received a EUR 4 million (US$4.6 million) contribution from the European Union to support the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS). This funding will ensure UNHAS continues its operations, providing a critical link for the safe transport of aid workers and delivery of essential relief… [Read More]
Independent Evaluation Urges ADB to Boost Collaboration and Local Partnerships for Urban Livability
An evaluation by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department has concluded that while the bank has contributed significantly to urban livability across Asia and the Pacific, greater progress will depend on stronger cross-sectoral collaboration, enhanced staff capacity, and deeper engagement with local governments. The review, covering ADB’s livable cities portfolio from 2017 to… [Read More]
ADB Invests in Fosun United Health Insurance to Expand Healthcare Coverage in China
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has made its first direct equity investment in the insurance sector by committing CNY 270 million ($37.3 million) to Fosun United Health Insurance Company Limited (FUHI). The investment, approved by regulators, is part of a joint effort with the International Finance Corporation and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, both of which contributed… [Read More]
