In 2024, over 2.2 million households in Italy, representing 8.4% of the nation’s families, were living in conditions of absolute poverty, according to data from Istat reported by ANSA. These households encompassed a total of 5.7 million individuals, meaning that 9.8% of Italy’s population was affected by absolute poverty, slightly up from 9.7% in 2023…. [Read More]
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UNGA President Highlights India’s Poverty Reduction Through Smartphone Use
Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, praised India’s digitalization initiatives for their role in driving development and reducing poverty. He highlighted that over the past five to six years, smartphones have enabled 800 million people in India to escape poverty by facilitating easy access to financial services and accelerating… [Read More]
Promoting Health Equity: Health as a Human Right
The Council of Europe recently held a conference on the protection of health, highlighting its extensive work in healthcare across Europe. The organisation emphasised that health is a fundamental human right and showcased initiatives ranging from the ethical use of artificial intelligence in medical treatment to ensuring the quality of medicines and addressing medical disinformation,… [Read More]
Human Rights Body Highlights Belgium’s Declining Legal Protections
The Federal Institute for Human Rights (IFDH) has raised alarms over an “insidious and worrying” decline in the rule of law in Belgium, highlighting growing concerns about the country’s commitment to fundamental democratic principles. In its latest report, presented to members of parliament and the federal government at the start of the parliamentary session, the… [Read More]
UN Expert Urges Justice and Human Dignity for Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
GENEVA – The recent halt of the military assault in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and some detained Palestinians offers a rare moment of hope amid widespread suffering. However, the UN Special Rapporteur Bernard Duhaime emphasized that sustainable peace must be anchored in justice, inclusivity, and accountability, and must uphold the Palestinian people’s… [Read More]
Serbia’s Economic Growth Must Respect Human Rights and the Environment, Say UN Experts
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights has emphasized that Serbia’s economic development must be closely aligned with the protection of human rights. Experts Lyra Jakulevičienė and Robert McCorquodale acknowledged Serbia’s legal framework and efforts to meet EU standards on environmental protection and labor rights, but noted that implementation remains inconsistent and weak,… [Read More]
Voting Rights Under Scrutiny in High-Stakes US Supreme Court Case
On October 15, the U.S. Supreme Court will rehear Louisiana v. Callais, a case with far-reaching implications for Black voters’ ability to achieve equal representation in Congress. The central question is whether creating majority-Black districts, a measure designed to comply with the Voting Rights Act, constitutes unconstitutional racial discrimination. In 2022, Louisiana lawmakers drew a… [Read More]
Mexico’s Supreme Court Decision: A Step Forward, Yet Incomplete
On October 13, Martha García, a young disability activist and student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, learned that the Supreme Court planned to change a legal precedent that could weaken the rights of people with disabilities to participate in the democratic process. In response, she and other activists organized a demonstration outside the… [Read More]
European Union Expands Support for UNHCR Winter Programs to Aid Ukrainians Impacted by Conflict
As Ukraine faces its fourth winter amid full-scale war, the European Union (EU) has announced an additional €12 million in support to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to provide life-saving winter assistance to 359,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict. The funding targets primarily families and individuals living near the frontline or… [Read More]
One Country One Priority Product Gains Momentum at WFF 2025 Special Event
At the World Food Forum 2025 in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a high-level event to accelerate the implementation of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative, a flagship program designed to strengthen the value chains of crops, forestry, fishery, and livestock products. Since its launch in… [Read More]
Healthy Nature, Resilient Food Systems: UN Awards Innovative World Restoration Flagships
The United Nations (UN) has announced four new World Restoration Flagships under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, recognizing large-scale initiatives that restore degraded ecosystems, support food security, and improve community livelihoods. The awards, presented at a high-level side event during the World Food Forum in Rome ahead of World Food Day, are led by… [Read More]
Canada Announces Emergency Assistance to Support Philippines Disaster Relief Efforts
In recent weeks, the Philippines has been hit by multiple natural disasters, including a tropical cyclone and earthquakes, causing loss of life and significant damage to homes and infrastructure. These events have severely impacted local communities and disrupted economic activities, prompting urgent humanitarian needs. In response, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State (International… [Read More]
Future Farmer Initiative in PEI Aims to Build Sustainable Careers for Young Farmers
The Government of Prince Edward Island, in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, has launched the revamped Future Farmer Program 2.0 to support new and emerging farmers in establishing profitable and sustainable farm businesses. The program provides mentorship, project funding, and training to help participants set business goals and strengthen essential planning, management, and technical… [Read More]
$60 Million Investment by Ontario to Strengthen Skilled Trades Apprenticeships
The Ontario government has announced a $64.2 million investment over the next three years to expand in-class apprenticeship training, aiming to help more apprentices across the province gain the skills needed for rewarding careers in the skilled trades. This initiative is part of the broader strategy to support Ontario’s $200 billion infrastructure plan, including highways,… [Read More]
Violence in Haiti Drives 1.4 Million People to Flee Homes, Displacement at Historic High
The displacement crisis in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 1.4 million people forced from their homes in 2025, marking a 36 per cent increase since the end of 2024, according to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) latest Displacement Tracking Matrix report. IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti, Grégoire Goodstein, emphasized the… [Read More]
Jamaican Employers Push for Policy Changes to Boost Workforce Skills and Competitiveness
The Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), is actively advancing national skills policy through data-driven research, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. In 2024, JEF published a landmark study, Curricula Alignment and Workforce Readiness: Assessing Jamaica’s Education and Training Systems for Labour Market Demands, introducing the Curricula Mismatch Index (CMI) to… [Read More]
Boat Departures of Rohingya Refugees from Bangladesh Triple in Early 2025, With Dozens of Children Affected
The number of Rohingya refugees leaving Bangladesh by boat in the first half of 2025 has tripled compared to the same period last year, reflecting deteriorating conditions in Cox’s Bazar camps, according to Save the Children. Between January and June, around 1,088 refugees undertook dangerous sea journeys, including at least 87 children, compared to 364… [Read More]
UN and Tajikistan Showcase Green Investments and Food Security Initiatives at Dushanbe Forum
A side-event conference themed “Improve Nutrition by Leveraging Investments for Nutrition-Sensitive Food System Interventions in Tajikistan” was held in Dushanbe on 13 October 2025 as part of the Dushanbe International Investment Forum. The event focused on nutrition-sensitive food systems, sustainable agriculture, and green investment, highlighting strategies to combat malnutrition while promoting climate-resilient and inclusive agricultural… [Read More]
Islamic Relief USA Donates US$25 Million to WFP for Gaza Food Assistance and Global Hunger Relief
The World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a US$25 million commitment from Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) to support global hunger reduction efforts through a five-year partnership with World Food Program USA. The first US$5 million, already authorized, will immediately assist WFP’s rapidly scaling operations in Gaza following the ceasefire, providing hot meals and other essential,… [Read More]
WFP Flags Urgent Food Aid Gaps in Six Critical Programs
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning that six of its most critical humanitarian operations are facing severe food aid pipeline breaks by the end of the year, putting millions of vulnerable people at heightened risk. According to WFP’s new report, A Lifeline at Risk, cuts to food assistance could… [Read More]
Mongolia and EIB Global Join Forces to Accelerate Clean Energy Projects with €1 Billion Support
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Mongolia to accelerate the country’s green transition and diversify its energy mix. The partnership, announced at the Mongolia-EU Business and Investment Forum in Ulaanbaatar, could unlock up to €1 billion in investment for renewable energy,… [Read More]
EIB Group Expands Global Financing Ambitions with €10 Billion Annual Target
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has approved strategic orientations for EIB Global, its international partnerships and development arm, aimed at addressing global challenges while amplifying Europe’s influence in a shifting geopolitical landscape. The plan focuses on supporting high-impact projects in over 130 countries, aligning investments with local needs and EU priorities, and promoting win-win… [Read More]
India to Receive INR 5,200 Crore from EIB Global for Water, Transport, and Green Energy Initiatives
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, has announced three major financing packages to strengthen its partnership with India, supporting clean water, sustainable urban mobility, and climate action. These investments, totaling over INR 5,200 crore, demonstrate EIB Global’s commitment to India’s national development priorities while advancing the EU Global Gateway strategy. The… [Read More]
