The National Railway Infrastructure Company of Bulgaria and the World Bank have signed a Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) Agreement aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and governance of Bulgaria’s railway infrastructure. This partnership represents a major step toward modernizing the rail sector and supporting the country’s broader economic and employment goals. Under the… [Read More]
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Driving Philippine Economic Growth: Investment and Reforms Key to Job Creation
The Philippine economy experienced a slowdown in 2025 due to domestic shocks, weaker investment, and soft global demand, though a modest recovery is projected for 2026–2027, supported by resilient consumption and easing inflation, according to the World Bank’s latest Philippines Economic Update. The report emphasizes that sustaining growth in the coming years will require stronger… [Read More]
Driving Malawi’s Economic Growth: Public Finance Reforms and Strong Governance Needed
Malawi has the potential to restore confidence in its public finances, protect vulnerable populations, and attract private capital investment to support the ambitions of “Malawi Vision 2063” through a credible reform package focused on fiscal consolidation, according to a recent Public Finance Review report by the World Bank Group. The report, titled Restoring Stability, Rebuilding… [Read More]
Amnesty International Empowers Investigators and Activists with New AI Accountability Toolkit
Amnesty International has launched an Algorithmic Accountability toolkit to empower rights defenders, activists, and communities to investigate and hold accountable AI and automated decision-making systems (ADMs) that impact human rights. The toolkit draws on Amnesty’s investigations, campaigns, media work, and advocacy across countries including Denmark, Sweden, Serbia, France, India, the United Kingdom, the United States,… [Read More]
Online Harms Won’t End with Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children
Australia has introduced a new law prohibiting children and young people under 16 from using social media, prompting criticism from digital rights experts. Damini Satija, Programme Director at Amnesty Tech, described the ban as an “ineffective quick fix” that does not reflect the realities of a generation that lives both online and offline. She emphasized… [Read More]
Amnesty International Campaign 2025: How Letter-Writing Can Make a Global Impact
Amnesty International has launched its annual Write for Rights campaign on Human Rights Day, 10 December, to support victims of human rights violations and demonstrate the power of collective action. This year, the campaign highlights individuals whose rights have been violated across the globe, including Indigenous land defenders in Norway, a photojournalist imprisoned in Myanmar,… [Read More]
Over $3 Million Awarded by Gilead Foundation for Metastatic Breast Cancer Care
Gilead Foundation has announced over $3 million in new grants to support people affected by metastatic breast cancer (mBC), addressing critical gaps in education, care delivery, and support services. This funding builds on more than $21 million committed since 2021 and aligns with Gilead Sciences’ broader mission to improve access to breast cancer education and… [Read More]
Disability Rights at Risk: Armenia Court Decision Criticized
Armenia’s appeals court on November 19 weakened protections against disability-based discrimination, limiting legal safeguards for people undergoing disability assessments. The court overturned a lower court ruling and determined that discrimination “on the basis of disability” only applies to individuals already formally recognized as having a disability. This leaves those applying for disability status—arguably the most… [Read More]
Japanese Espionage Legislation Must Uphold Fundamental Rights
During a parliamentary session on November 26, 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) government would soon consider drafting new legislation aimed at “spy prevention.” While the government framed the initiative as a measure to strengthen national security, critics have raised concerns that such a law could threaten free… [Read More]
Climate Solutions in Technology: Meet the Innovators Driving Change
ClimaTech Connect is a European programme supporting start-ups with networking, mentoring, training, and financing opportunities, focusing on digital solutions that address climate change. The initiative has already supported 35 early-stage innovators across the EU, with four winning teams receiving grants of up to €25,000. Data centres, which power global digital activity, consume enormous amounts of… [Read More]
A Human Rights Day Call to End Gender-Based Violence Globally
International Human Rights Day is a moment to reflect on the commitments made to uphold the rights and dignity of all people, acknowledge progress, and recognize injustices that still demand urgent attention. Among the most pressing of these issues is female genital mutilation (FGM/C), a harmful practice affecting 230 million girls and women worldwide, violating… [Read More]
How Women Human Rights Defenders Are Driving Climate Action
Across the globe, women environmental defenders play a pivotal role in advancing climate justice, protecting forests and ecosystems, challenging extractive industries, and advocating for policies that prioritize people and the planet. Their leadership, however, comes with significant risks, including heightened exposure to digital violence, discrimination, and limited access to justice, funding, and decision-making spaces. These… [Read More]
Empowering Women and Youth Against Online Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a widespread and urgent issue worldwide, fueled by inequality, silence, and systemic underinvestment. Globally, nearly one in three women—approximately 736 million—have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with little progress over the past decade. In Turkmenistan, 12% of women aged 18–59 report experiencing violence from a spouse or partner,… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Afghanistan: How Awaaz Brings Back Essential Services
In western Afghanistan, a woman named Fatima (name changed for confidentiality) experienced both relief and loss when she received urgent cash assistance in March 2025. The support, totaling approximately 14,700 AFN ($200), provided a critical lifeline for her and other vulnerable families struggling under economic pressures. However, within a day, two self-appointed community leaders forcibly… [Read More]
Key Actions by Slovakia’s Government on Media, NGOs, and Rule of Law
Slovakia’s parliament has recently approved the elimination of the country’s whistleblower protection office, a move by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s leftist-nationalist government that has raised concerns about the state of the rule of law in the EU member country. Critics argue that these measures, while framed as improving accountability and correcting previous government abuses, are… [Read More]
Child Poverty Strategy and Food Security: Will It Deliver Results?
The UK Government’s newly-published Child Poverty Strategy consolidates a range of measures aimed at supporting children and families facing food insecurity, combining previously announced initiatives with the continuation of existing policies. The strategy places nutritional safety nets at its core, showing potential to improve conditions for the 15% of households with children currently experiencing food… [Read More]
The Lost Opportunities of Ukraine’s Post-War Reconstruction
The annual ReBuild Ukraine 2025 fair in Warsaw highlighted a critical gap in the readiness of many Ukrainian cities and towns to access investment and drive their own recovery. Despite a strong international presence of investors, donors, and technology providers, fewer than 100 hromadas attended—less than 10% of Ukraine’s total—and even those present often lacked… [Read More]
New IUCN Platform Strengthens Knowledge on Latin America’s Savannahs and Grasslands
Quito, Ecuador, 9 December 2025 – The IUCN Forest and Grasslands Team, together with IUCN’s South America Regional Office, has launched a new regional Knowledge Platform for Grasslands and Savannahs. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration, learning, and action across Latin America’s critical grassland and savannah ecosystems, integrating diverse experiences and tools to support sustainable… [Read More]
Improving Mental Health Services for Children and Young People: Proposed Measures for Better Access
The Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, and UNICEF held a conference in Bucharest on December 9, 2025, to present the results of the project “Romania for Every Child. Emotional Balance”, implemented between 2023 and 2025. The event brought together policymakers, experts, NGOs, and children, highlighting a multisectoral approach… [Read More]
WFP Receives Australian Aid to Assist Communities Devastated by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has intensified its emergency response in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, supported by a AUD 1.5 million contribution from the Government of Australia. This funding allows WFP to provide life-saving fortified food and cash assistance to families most affected by the disaster. The first airlift of fortified biscuits… [Read More]
$400 Million ADB Loan to Boost Business Environment and Competitiveness in the Philippines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million policy-based loan to support government reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business and positioning the Philippines as a leading investment destination in Asia and the Pacific. The Business Environment Strengthening with Technology Program (BEST) Subprogram 1 focuses on private sector development reforms that… [Read More]
Boosting Productivity in Indonesia: ADB Invests in Human Capital Development
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to support Indonesia’s human capital development reforms in education, skills development, health, and social protection systems. This funding represents the third subprogram of the Boosting Productivity through Human Capital Development Program, which focuses on institutionalizing reforms initiated under the previous two subprograms approved… [Read More]
$60 Million ADB Loan to Boost Malaysia’s Paper Recycling and Circular Economy Initiatives
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Jingxing Holdings Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Jingxing Paper Joint Stock Co., Ltd., have signed a $60 million financing package to expand Jingxing’s advanced wastepaper recycling and packaging paper facility in Selangor, Malaysia. The loan will support the installation of a state-of-the-art recycling and packaging paper line… [Read More]
