Human Rights Watch, along with more than 3,700 nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations across the United States, signed an open letter condemning the Trump administration’s recent attacks on civil society. The signatories—representing groups that protect the environment, voting rights, labor rights, human rights, and public welfare—united in response to a September 25 presidential memorandum that targeted… [Read More]
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Death Penalty in Tunisia: Social Media Posts Lead to Capital Punishment
A Tunisian court sentenced 51-year-old Saber Ben Chouchane to death for peaceful Facebook posts, marking the first known death sentence for nonviolent expression in Tunisia. Although he received a presidential pardon days later following widespread public outrage, the ruling represents an alarming escalation in Tunisia’s crackdown on free speech. Human Rights Watch urged authorities to… [Read More]
Bangladesh Implements Stricter Measures Under Anti-Terrorism Legislation
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is increasingly using the recently amended Anti-Terrorism Act to arrest alleged supporters of the ousted Awami League government, according to Human Rights Watch. The organization urged the United Nations human rights team in Bangladesh to intervene for the release of those arbitrarily detained and to ensure… [Read More]
Adapting Aquatic Food Systems to Climate Change: Lessons from Timor-Leste’s Seaweed Farms
In Timor-Leste, climate change is placing severe stress on aquatic food systems, with floods, cyclones, droughts, and deforestation threatening the livelihoods of fishing and fish farming communities. Even minor shocks can push households below subsistence levels, highlighting the urgent need for locally appropriate adaptation measures. The IkanAdapt project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and… [Read More]
Fish Consumption in Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific: How Much is Too Much?
The diets of the wealthiest 30% of the global population are responsible for over 70% of the environmental pressures from food systems, yet only 1% of people currently live within a safe and just space. Achieving a just transition requires high-income populations to shift toward diets with lower environmental impact, while ensuring that the majority… [Read More]
How Solar-Dried Fish Transformed Premalata’s Livelihood in Odisha
Premalata Behera, a 40-year-old member of the Maa Women Self Help Group, hails from Dalimbapur, a coastal fishing village in Odisha, India. Her community has relied on the dried fish trade for generations, but Premalata and her fellow group members faced persistent challenges in running their businesses. Traditional open-air sun drying left fish vulnerable to… [Read More]
Building an Inclusive Blue Economy: Aquaculture Opportunities for Women and Youth in Kenya
WorldFish, through the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) project, is investigating how aquaculture, particularly Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), can create sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in Kenya’s coastal counties of Kilifi, Kwale, and Mombasa. Despite living near abundant marine resources, women and young people often face exclusion from stable employment, while traditional sectors such as… [Read More]
AI for Growth: New Support for U.S. Small Business Innovation and Training
Small businesses play a vital role in communities and are increasingly embracing technology to drive growth and efficiency. Over half of small business leaders recognize AI tools as critical to their operations, with businesses like Chicago-based Heritage Bikes & Coffee leveraging AI platforms such as Gemini and NotebookLM for tasks ranging from cost estimation to… [Read More]
The Coconut Sector Reinvented: How AI is Driving Circular Economy Solutions
In the Philippines, where coconut palms shape both landscapes and livelihoods, a transformative initiative is underway to modernize the coconut sector using artificial intelligence (AI) and circular economy principles. Announced at the World Coconut Congress 2025 in Manila by the International Labour Organization (ILO), this vision aims to make coconut farming a driver of inclusive,… [Read More]
Golo Mori Coffee Culture: A Key to Forest and Komodo Dragon Conservation
Golo Mori, a scenic village in southern Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, is renowned for its rich coffee traditions. Nestled amid rolling hills and coastal winds, the village blends culture and nature, producing coffee through rituals passed down for generations. Visitors to Golo Mori experience the rhythmic pounding of coffee beans by local… [Read More]
From Sun to Socket: Decentralized Solar Transforms Rural Life in Mauritania
make an informative summary paragraph wise excluding all the sub headings bullet points and internal links: Millions of sunny hours do not help if the lights still don’t come on. In Mauritania, national access to electricity is about 52 percent, in rural areas it falls to just 6 percent. That gap shapes community’ lives day… [Read More]
Building Resilient Cities: Climate-Ready Health Systems for Extreme Heat in Asia-Pacific
In 2024, Asia and the Pacific experienced record-breaking heat, with temperatures in parts of South and Southeast Asia reaching 53°C. Between December 2024 and February 2025, six of the eleven global cities experiencing prolonged extreme heat were located in this region, highlighting the reality of climate change and its intensifying impacts on urban populations. This… [Read More]
$3.2 Million Funding Secured by UNDP for Afghanistan’s Climate and Health Programs
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has secured a $3.2 million investment from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s Climate and Health Catalytic Fund. This funding will strengthen Afghanistan’s response to the health impacts of climate change, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons and returnees, benefiting over… [Read More]
EU-Guatemala Collaboration Aims to Boost Investments for Sustainable Development in Petén
The Global Gateway initiative, More Sustainable Petén, is designed to support economic growth in Petén while ensuring the protection of the environment and the responsible use of natural resources. The program seeks to promote sustainable development in the region, balancing economic opportunities with ecological preservation. Funded and implemented by Team Europe—which includes the European Union,… [Read More]
Commission Launches Dual AI Strategies to Boost European Industry and Scientific Innovation
The European Commission has unveiled two new strategies to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Europe, aiming to position the EU at the forefront of AI-driven industry and scientific research. The Apply AI Strategy focuses on expanding the use of AI in key industries and the public sector, while the AI in Science… [Read More]
Free to Love, Free to Be: EU Launches 2026–2030 LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy
Over the past five years, social acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people has grown across the European Union, with approximately 75% of people expressing comfort in having gay, lesbian, or bisexual colleagues. Despite this progress, LGBTIQ+ individuals continue to face high levels of hate, violence, and discrimination, with around one in three reporting experiences of discrimination in… [Read More]
October 2025 Infringement Package: Key Energy Decisions and EU Actions
The European Commission regularly issues infringement decisions to ensure that EU Member States comply with their obligations under EU law, protecting the interests of citizens and businesses across the Union. These decisions cover various sectors, including energy, and aim to promote the proper application of EU regulations and directives. In October 2025, the Commission issued… [Read More]
EU and Iraq Collaborate to Boost Women’s Role in Counter-Terrorism Intelligence
The European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) recently hosted an activity at the Joint Coordination Center focusing on operational intelligence tools, including human intelligence (HUMINT), open-source intelligence (OSINT), and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), for investigations involving foreign terrorist fighters. The training was designed to strengthen Iraq’s law enforcement capacity while upholding human rights and… [Read More]
Controversial Italian Legislation Targets Burqa and Mosque Finances
Italy’s ruling Brothers of Italy party has proposed legislation that seeks to ban the burqa and niqab in public spaces as part of a broader effort against what it calls “cultural separatism” linked to Islam. The law would prohibit face-covering garments in public areas including schools, universities, shops, and offices, with fines ranging from 300… [Read More]
Government Under Threat: Timor-Leste Minister Raises Organised Crime Alarm
Two decades after gaining independence, Timor-Leste remains a nation of contrasts. While it has established a functioning democracy and is set to join the ASEAN regional bloc later this month, deep economic challenges and persistent poverty continue to affect the country. Amid these developments, Agio Pereira, a senior minister overseeing the national intelligence agency, has… [Read More]
From US Tariffs to Argentina’s Financial Crisis: Top 5 Topics at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are preparing for their annual meetings next week, a gathering that carries particular significance this year as the United States continues to play an active role in these Bretton Woods institutions despite withdrawing from several other international agreements. The meetings will address five key issues that encompass… [Read More]
Boosting Sustainability: Ontario Commits $10M to Forest Sector Innovation
The Ontario government is investing $10 million through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program to help Daiken North America upgrade its laminated board production line at its Huntsville facility. This investment will enable the company to bring a first-of-its-kind wood panel product to market, create jobs, and boost productivity, while supporting the province’s plan… [Read More]
Ontario Invests $41M in Cutting-Edge Agricultural Research Facilities
The Ontario government is investing over $41 million over the next four years to build and revitalize Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) infrastructure. This funding is aimed at strengthening Ontario-led innovation, providing farmers with access to advanced solutions, and helping the province’s agri-food sector remain resilient and competitive in the global market. The initiative… [Read More]
