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Digital systems are increasingly shaping how people access essential services such as healthcare, education, and financial inclusion, making it critical that these technologies are designed to be safe, inclusive, and rights-respecting from the outset. The recent Annual Members Meeting of the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) in Brazil highlighted how countries are leveraging open, interoperable… [Read More]

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has formalized a new three-year partnership with Ferrero International S.A. to support public health initiatives across the Americas, with a focus on improving the health and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and families living in vulnerable conditions. This collaboration builds on a shared commitment to advancing public health through ethical,… [Read More]

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a vital part of the global community, representing 20% of UN members and stewarding vast ocean territories rich in biodiversity. They face heightened vulnerability to climate change, extreme weather events, and economic shocks, making tailored support essential. The UK maintains deep connections with SIDS through the Commonwealth, Overseas Territories,… [Read More]

Across Europe, 52 cities have been piloting innovative approaches to achieve climate neutrality, testing ways to cut emissions, implement new financing models, and turn abstract climate goals into practical, local action. Over two years, the cities engaged more than 184,000 citizens, trained over 1,400 public officers, created 256 new jobs, launched 40 follow-up projects, and… [Read More]

Poland has made significant progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures, according to a follow-up report by the Council of Europe’s MONEYVAL Committee. The evaluation highlights improvements in Poland’s technical compliance with FATF standards, particularly regarding non-profit organisations (Recommendation 8) and the use of new technologies (Recommendation 15), supported by recent EU… [Read More]

The United States has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Renewable Energy Agency following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, placing IRENA among 66 international organisations targeted for withdrawal. The decision affects bodies largely involved in climate, labour and migration-related work and includes institutions such as the International Solar Alliance and… [Read More]

The Government of Belgium has announced a multiannual contribution of €30 million to the United Nations Development Programme’s core resources for the period 2025–2028, reinforcing its position as one of UNDP’s top core donors. This flexible funding will enable UNDP to respond quickly to crises while supporting long-term development planning, at a time when global… [Read More]

The Mayor of London has launched a new £2.2 million programme aimed at helping low-income families across the capital access financial support they are entitled to but not currently receiving. Delivered through the Family Financial Resilience Partnership, the initiative brings together 12 London boroughs, London Citizens Advice and the London Legal Support Trust to provide… [Read More]

Haiti is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises as armed gangs tighten their grip on the country, driving escalating violence, hunger and mass displacement. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, political instability and economic hardship created a power vacuum that gangs have exploited, with armed groups now controlling most… [Read More]

Community-led green projects across the North East and Moray are set to benefit from £1 million in funding through the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund. Following an online public vote held in late 2025, residents in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray helped decide which local eco-friendly initiatives would receive support, ensuring that investment reflected… [Read More]

Five organisations dedicated to promoting inclusion and strengthening local communities have been selected as recipients of the €1.5 million Connected Communities Fund. The three-year fund was established by Mason Hayes & Curran and Rethink Ireland, with matched funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht through the Dormant Accounts Fund, to… [Read More]

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai has announced a $300,000 donation to support girls’ education in Gaza and other conflict-affected regions. The funding will be channeled through the Malala Fund and directed toward areas facing severe educational disruptions due to ongoing crises. The donation will specifically support education initiatives in Gaza,… [Read More]

On his first official visit as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih called for stronger global support to help refugees secure durable solutions and rebuild their lives. Speaking in Nairobi after visiting Kakuma municipality in northern Kenya, he acknowledged Kenya’s long-standing generosity in hosting refugees and praised policies that allow refugees to work,… [Read More]

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar organized a ceremony at the Asia World Port Terminal in Yangon Port, Ahlon Township, to donate 500 tonnes of rice, equivalent to 10,000 bags, to people affected by a cyclone in Sri Lanka. The event was attended by key officials, including Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein,… [Read More]

Human rights organizations in Russia are facing unprecedented financial pressures, with banks linked to the government blocking access to domestic donations. These measures are forcing NGOs to shut down despite having committed no crimes. Online payment platforms have cut off services to these groups without explanation, leaving them unable to receive their primary source of… [Read More]

Ravishankar Dakoju, a longtime Rotary member, announced that he and his wife, Paola Dakoju, would donate approximately US$50 million (4.5 billion Indian rupees) to The Rotary Foundation. The pledge was made during Rotary’s International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, on 13 January. Declaring that “giving is a duty,” Dakoju emphasized that the majority of their wealth… [Read More]

In 2025, Saudi authorities executed at least 356 people, setting a new national record for the highest number of executions in a single year since monitoring began. This follows a similar surge in 2024, when 345 people were executed, marking two consecutive years of escalating capital punishment in the country. Human Rights Watch called on… [Read More]

The Hungarian government is failing to uphold the rights of older people to social security and an adequate standard of living, including access to sufficient food, medicine, and energy. Sharp inflation in 2022 and 2023 exposed longstanding structural weaknesses in the pension and social security system, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to address rising… [Read More]

Amnesty International has expressed concern over prosecutors in South Korea seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol following his imposition of martial law in December 2024. Chiara Sangiorgio of Amnesty International emphasized that while no one is above the law, pursuing the death penalty represents a step backward for human rights. She… [Read More]

Amnesty International has responded to a new OHCHR report highlighting the ongoing failure of the Sri Lankan government to ensure accountability for conflict-related sexual violence. The report reveals that such violence, particularly against the Tamil community, was deliberate, widespread, and systemic, and that some acts may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. It also… [Read More]

Sidaction and Aidsfonds have once again joined forces to advance HIV cure research, announcing funding for four new interdisciplinary projects focused on understanding viral persistence, ethical challenges in clinical research, and innovative therapeutic approaches. This initiative follows a joint 2025 call for proposals, reinforcing both organizations’ commitment to scientific progress and public health. The first… [Read More]

Commuters across the Brussels metro are being invited to consider the tangible impact of global health investment through a new awareness campaign. The initiative highlights that a commitment of €800 million from the European Commission to the Global Fund could save up to 1.2 million lives—roughly equal to the entire population of Brussels. The campaign… [Read More]

A team of researchers from Penn State University and Warwick University has been awarded $1.6 million through the Belmont Forum’s Collaborative Research Action project, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The international project, led by Penn State, will investigate how building design, infrastructure,… [Read More]