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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the 20-year prison sentence imposed on Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, following his conviction under Hong Kong’s national security-related laws. On 15 December 2025, the High Court found Mr. Lai guilty of conspiracy to publish seditious material… [Read More]

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a boat carrying migrants overturned in the frigid waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, north of the Libyan town of Zuwara, last Friday. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly accidents involving vulnerable people who are often exploited by smuggling gangs that have thrived… [Read More]

Venezuela’s legislature has unanimously passed the first reading of a proposed amnesty law aimed at promoting peace, democratic coexistence, and national reconciliation as the country enters a new political era following the recent removal of former President Nicolás Maduro. The draft law is seen by supporters as an opportunity to provide justice and alleviate the… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently conducted a five-day training course on the laboratory diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for central and regional laboratory specialists in Tajikistan. The training was organized under the Committee for Food Security of the Government of Tajikistan and is part of a broader FAO regional… [Read More]

California’s Net Zero emission goals, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and other state leaders, face a fundamental limitation: wind turbines and solar panels generate electricity only. While renewable electricity is critical, hydrocarbons remain essential for physical mobility, powering sectors such as trucking, mining, construction, aviation, maritime trade, and military operations. Liquid fuels provide unmatched energy… [Read More]

To address Southern Africa’s food, land, and water inequalities, it is essential to first listen to local communities and resolve the conflicts that divide them. Effective solutions require cooperation among diverse actors, meaningful participation from indigenous communities, and strong governance systems. These key themes were highlighted during a panel discussion at the annual Science Forum… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group and Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie (BIAT) have signed a $50 million Trade Finance Guarantee Facility to strengthen trade finance and support Tunisia’s private sector. The agreement, signed at BIAT’s headquarters in Tunis, aims to bolster the activities of Tunisian businesses, create jobs, and improve access to essential goods by… [Read More]

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has launched national frameworks for financial inclusion and sustainable finance, alongside a new entity to manage the country’s payment infrastructure. These initiatives aim to strengthen the financial ecosystem and support socio-economic development. The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) is designed to create a more financially inclusive environment and is structured… [Read More]

In South Sudan, more than 450,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition as violent clashes in Jonglei state have caused mass displacement and disrupted critical health and nutrition services, UNICEF warned. Since the beginning of 2026, fighting in Jonglei has displaced at least 250,000 people, particularly in the northern and central areas of the… [Read More]

In 2026 alone, an estimated 4.5 million girls, many under the age of five, are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM). Currently, over 230 million girls and women live with the consequences of this harmful practice. On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, UN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ending FGM… [Read More]

Just weeks into 2026, the impact of violence and conflict on children across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is already severe. Children in the region have been killed, injured, displaced, arrested, and denied access to education and essential services as ongoing conflicts continue to disrupt their lives, often irreparably. In Syria, renewed clashes… [Read More]

Researchers are exploring new potential treatments targeting the enzyme PTP1B, which may play a role in memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study suggests that limiting the activity of this enzyme could help slow cognitive decline in the neurodegenerative disorder, which progressively impairs memory and thinking. Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in… [Read More]

According to The Guardian, UK ministers plan to reduce climate finance for developing countries from £11.6 billion over the past five years to £9 billion in the next five, which, when adjusted for inflation, represents an approximate 40% cut in spending power since 2021. At the UN COP29 Summit in 2024, nearly 200 nations, including… [Read More]

The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) will launch a $15 million Protection Practitioners Care Fund from 1 February 2026 to support social service agencies (SSAs) in creating more supportive work environments. The fund was first announced by the Minister for Social Services Integration, Mr Desmond Lee, in Parliament on 5 November 2025. Protection practitioners… [Read More]

APEC economies have called for stronger policy coordination and practical cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, as artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies rapidly transform the Asia-Pacific region’s economic landscape. The emphasis was on leveraging technological advances while addressing shared challenges such as digital inequality, sustainability, and responsible technology governance. Chen Jiachang, Vice Minister of… [Read More]

Applications are now open for fully funded STEM scholarships for the 2026 academic year, offering a unique opportunity for women interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The scholarships target women from eligible countries, including India and other South Asian nations, with the goal of supporting advanced studies and fostering careers in fields where women… [Read More]

The Commonwealth has launched its first-ever Global Sport and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Baseline and Initial Impact Report at Canada House, London. The report establishes a baseline for measuring how physical education, physical activity, and sport (PEPAS) contribute to achieving the SDGs. Its findings reveal progress across Commonwealth countries, with Jamaica emerging as a global… [Read More]

In Juba, South Sudan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended all activities in Baliet County following multiple attacks on its river convoy in Upper Nile State. Between January 30 and February 1, a 12-boat convoy carrying over 1,500 metric tons of essential food and non-food items for partners was attacked and looted… [Read More]

Female genital mutilation (FGM) continues to violate the rights of women and girls, causing lasting physical and psychological harm. Yet progress is being made through community-driven initiatives, mentoring, safe spaces, and survivor-led advocacy. Over the past decade, the global prevalence of FGM among girls has dropped from one in two to one in three, though… [Read More]

For decades, kidnapping was a weapon of war in Colombia, used by both guerrilla groups and criminal mafias, with over 50,000 abductions recorded between 1990 and 2018. Victims were reduced to hostages, moved between camps, and treated as bargaining tools. Today, many of these survivors are playing a central role in redefining justice and peace… [Read More]

Save the Children is responding urgently to the impacts of Winter Storm Fern, which left hundreds of thousands of families in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee without power amid freezing conditions. The nonprofit’s emergency response team and local staff are providing critical funding assistance to help families cover immediate needs, including food, water, heating supplies, and… [Read More]

Save the Children and its advocacy arm, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), have welcomed the congressional passage of full-year appropriations for the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and key foreign assistance accounts through the end of fiscal year 2026. The approval of these funds underscores the national priority of supporting children’s… [Read More]

In Sudan, the hunger crisis is worsening, with two additional areas—Um Baru and Kernoi—now classified at famine levels of malnutrition, according to Save the Children. Global acute malnutrition rates in these localities have reached nearly 53% and 34%, respectively, and access limitations make it difficult to assess the full extent of the crisis in surrounding… [Read More]