Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to drive significant economic and social progress, but without careful management, it could also widen development gaps between countries, a new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns. Titled The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries, the report highlights that uneven starting points… [Read More]
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UN Pledges $4 Million in Emergency Support for Hurricane Melissa Recovery in Jamaica
Four weeks after Hurricane Melissa devastated several western Jamaican communities, the United Nations has mobilized an additional US$4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to scale up life-saving relief efforts. The funding will support emergency food aid, safe water distribution, health services, and shelter assistance across the hardest-hit parishes. UN Resident Coordinator… [Read More]
Ecuador Modernizes Public Procurement with $22.95 Million IDB Loan
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $22.95 million loan to strengthen Ecuador’s National Public Procurement Service (SERCOP) and modernize the National Public Procurement System (SNCP). The initiative aims to improve the quality, efficiency, and transparency of procurement processes, enhancing the impact of public spending across the country. The project adopts a comprehensive approach,… [Read More]
Human Rights Watch Warns Trump Immigration Policies Undermine Public Safety
A new report from Human Rights Watch highlights how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies are undercutting public safety by discouraging crime victims from coming forward. The 50-page report, “‘We Need U’: How the U Visa Builds Trust, Counters Fear, and Promotes Community Safety,” finds that aggressive deportation tactics and new ICE guidance—allowing arrests in… [Read More]
Vietnam Urged to End Abuse of Political Prisoner Trinh Ba Tu
Since October 31, Vietnamese political prisoner Trinh Ba Tu has been held in near-total isolation in a dark cell, denied visitors and even natural light. Guards only open the door twice a day to deliver meals, making this brief contact the only human interaction he receives. The harsh treatment followed Trinh’s complaint about moldy and… [Read More]
UNESCO Engages Caribbean Women on AI Fairness and Online Safety
The UNESCO Office for the Caribbean recently hosted a regional online focus group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) fairness and online safety, bringing together 18 women from across the region to discuss how emerging technologies shape their digital experiences, rights, and safety. The session is part of UNESCO’s wider commitment to advancing gender equality and ensuring… [Read More]
Spain Boosts UNDP Partnership with $7.5 Million to Advance Global Sustainable Development
The Government of Spain has renewed and significantly strengthened its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through a USD 7.5 million (EUR 6.5 million) contribution in core resources for 2025. This marks a tenfold increase in Spain’s core funding over the past three years, reflecting a deepening commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation…. [Read More]
Japan-UNESCO Partnership Preserves Documentary Heritage at Risk Worldwide
The UNESCO-Japan Funds-in-Trust is making significant strides in protecting documentary heritage at risk through the Memory of the World Global Initiative. Between 2024 and 2025, more than ten projects were selected from over 190 submissions, advancing preservation, digitization, and capacity-building efforts for vulnerable collections in regions affected by conflict, climate pressures, and other threats to… [Read More]
EBRD Drives Romania’s Green Energy Expansion with €192 Million Solar Deal
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is bolstering Romania’s energy security by arranging a €192 million financing package for three new solar power plants developed by Nofar Energy, with a combined capacity of 531 MW in south-eastern Romania. The EBRD will provide €64 million for its own account, while the remaining €128 million… [Read More]
UK Unites Overseas Territories Behind Ambitious Biodiversity Strategy
For the first time, the UK government and all 14 of its Overseas Territories have come together to launch a joint strategy aimed at safeguarding some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife hotspots. The new Biodiversity Strategy, unveiled on 28th November, sets an ambitious framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across territories spanning from… [Read More]
EU Agri-Food Days 2025: Shaping the Future of Europe’s Food and Agriculture
The 2025 edition of the EU Agri-Food Days is set to take place from 15 to 17 December in Brussels, bringing together key stakeholders to explore the theme “Securing Europe’s Food and Agriculture.” Now in its third edition, the three-day event will gather farmers, policymakers, academics, civil society representatives, and industry leaders to discuss the… [Read More]
Foodbanks Face Uncertain Future Without Ongoing Government Support
New Zealand’s largest foodbanks are warning of widespread closures if the government does not provide ongoing funding beyond next year. Organisations including The Salvation Army, Auckland City Mission, and the New Zealand Food Network have so far relied on one-off grants running until mid-2026 but are urging the government to commit to sustainable funding. Sonya… [Read More]
Southeast Asia Faces Deadly Cyclones and Record Rainfall as UN Warns of Rising Extreme Weather
Southeast Asia is reeling from devastating back-to-back tropical storms and unprecedented rainfall, which have claimed hundreds of lives and displaced millions, UN agencies reported Tuesday. Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam are among the hardest-hit nations, facing widespread flooding, landslides, and community disruption. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted that the combination… [Read More]
UN Mission in Iraq Concludes After Two Decades, Pledges Continued Support
The recent parliamentary elections in Iraq mark a historic milestone and the conclusion of more than two decades of UN presence in the country. The Security Council heard Tuesday from Mohammed Al Hassan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, who briefed members for the last time as the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) prepares… [Read More]
FAO Urges Stronger Plant Health Measures to Secure Global Food Supply
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for intensified action on plant health and innovation to safeguard the future of the global food supply, warning that rising risks from pests and diseases threaten the foundation of food security. The call came at the opening of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Global Workshop on… [Read More]
Early Health Action Shields Families from Flood-Related Diseases in Adamawa State
In Adamawa State, north-east Nigeria, proactive health preparedness during the 2025 rainy season protected thousands of vulnerable people from preventable disease outbreaks in flood-prone areas. Coordinated by the Adamawa State Ministry of Health (SMOH) with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), health teams were deployed ahead of peak flooding in seven high-risk local… [Read More]
São Tomé and Príncipe: Vaccination as a Lifeline for Children and Communities
At the maternal and child health centre in Agua Grande, the bustling capital of São Tomé and Príncipe, it’s vaccination day. By 9 a.m., mothers cradle their babies on crowded benches while fathers watch over older children, health booklets quietly exchanging hands amid conversations. In nearby rooms, nurses prepare vaccines, call families one by one,… [Read More]
Polio Programme Expertise Helps End Ebola Outbreak in DRC
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak, thanks in large part to the infrastructure and expertise of the national polio eradication programme. In close coordination with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) deployed a multidisciplinary team of seven polio experts to Kasai Province… [Read More]
EU and Ukraine Launch €3.3 Million BRAVE1 Grant to Boost Defence Tech Innovation
Ukraine and the European Union have jointly launched the €3.3 million BRAVE1 grant programme under the EU4UA Defence Tech initiative, aiming to accelerate the development of advanced defence technologies. The first round of grants will focus on high-speed interceptors and radar systems, with each award offering up to €150,000—double the standard Brave1 grant amount. First… [Read More]
EU Boosts Flood Relief in Pakistan with Additional €3 Million Aid
The European Union is stepping up support for communities affected by Pakistan’s devastating floods, releasing an additional €3 million in emergency assistance. The funding, targeted at the hardest-hit areas of Punjab, will provide cash support to vulnerable households, helping them meet urgent needs and begin the process of rebuilding their lives. This new allocation complements… [Read More]
Ontario Secures $24M Investment for Canada’s First Non-GMO Soymilk Powder Plant
The Ontario government is celebrating a nearly $24 million investment by Alinova Canada Inc. to establish Canada’s first non-GMO soymilk powder processing facility in Morrisburg. The project is expected to create 15 well-paying jobs and strengthen Ontario’s position in agri-food processing and innovation. “Alinova Canada’s investment is a vote of confidence in our province’s manufacturing… [Read More]
Saskatchewan Boosts Tourism and Performing Arts with $670K Federal Investment
The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, today announced federal support for five performing arts and tourism initiatives across Saskatchewan, totaling $670,000. The funding, provided through PrairiesCan under the Prairies Performing Arts Initiative (PPAI) and the Tourism Growth Program (TGP), aims to strengthen… [Read More]
UK Co-Launches Global ‘All In’ Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls
A major international coalition, co-founded by the United Kingdom alongside the Ford Foundation and Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, has been launched to tackle violence against women and girls worldwide. Announced on 2 December 2025 during the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the initiative—named ‘All In’—will bring together pioneering women leaders, experts, and influencers to… [Read More]
