cat

The European cardiovascular and cancer health communities have issued a joint appeal to EU Heads of State and Government, urging them to prioritize sustained investment in healthcare ahead of the European Council Summit on 23–24 April 2026. The statement, supported by the European Alliance on Cardiovascular Health and the European Cancer Organisation, emphasizes the need… [Read More]

The state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India has experienced significant environmental degradation over the past few decades, with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of its forest cover lost due to intensive agricultural expansion. This has contributed to declining soil quality, reduced groundwater levels, and a loss of agroecological biodiversity, making farming increasingly difficult… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) supported a capacity-building workshop in Lima titled “From barriers to talent: Including persons with disabilities in SERVIR,” aimed at strengthening inclusive employment practices within Peru’s civil service system. The training brought together 50 technical staff from the National Civil Service Authority (SERVIR) to enhance their ability to promote disability inclusion… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new Belize Early Childhood Development and Female Empowerment Project aimed at expanding access to quality early childhood education while improving women’s employment opportunities. The initiative is designed to address key social and economic gaps by strengthening childcare systems and supporting workforce participation among women. Belize… [Read More]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Libya’s Ministry of Transportation have completed a three-day workshop to establish a roadmap for implementing a strategic transport sector study. The initiative is designed to support Libya’s broader economic recovery by improving the efficiency, coordination, and performance of the country’s transport system. The workshop was held from 15 to… [Read More]

The European Commission has activated a crisis mechanism under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to support fishers, aquaculture producers, processors, and retailers affected by the economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. The decision applies retroactively from 28 February 2026 and aims to cushion the severe disruption caused by rising… [Read More]

GrainCorp has announced funding for 26 community organisations through its latest Community Grants program, supporting initiatives focused on education, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and youth development. The funding is designed to help local, often volunteer-led groups continue delivering essential services and strengthening community connections across regional and rural areas. Community Engagement Manager Kyle Docherty said… [Read More]

Auckland Council is investing an additional $286,106 in arts and culture across Tāmaki Makaurau through its latest round of Regional Arts and Culture grants. Approved by the Community Committee on 16 April, the funding will support 14 creative projects with grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, enabling a wide range of activities including dance, music,… [Read More]

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update released by Haiti’s National Food Security Coordination (CNSA) shows a worsening food security crisis, with 5.83 million people—about 52 percent of the population—experiencing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). This represents an increase of 130,000 people compared to the previous assessment in September 2025,… [Read More]

Food loss and waste often happen quietly across the food value chain, beginning long before food reaches consumers. In warehouses, fields, processing units, retail stores, and food service operations, edible food is lost due to bruising, delays, strict quality standards, forecasting errors, and storage limitations. These small inefficiencies accumulate at each stage, resulting in significant… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, showcased scalable nuclear science–based solutions to accelerate agrifood systems transformation in Africa during a special event at the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. The initiative emphasized how proven scientific… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed a collaboration agreement with the Ghana Food Movement (GFM) to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems. The partnership aims to highlight traditional food practices in Ghana while supporting sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and improved nutrition outcomes. Through its advocacy work, the Ghana Food… [Read More]

The WHO Regional Office for Africa and the African Union Commission have reaffirmed their partnership to strengthen coordinated action against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect over one billion people globally, with Africa bearing around 35 percent of the burden. The renewed commitment was highlighted during the 2026 NTD Programme Managers Meeting held in Lilongwe,… [Read More]

A joint mission led by WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA in The Gambia’s Central River Region focused on strengthening national health systems by engaging directly with frontline health workers. Conducted from 8–10 April as part of preparations for a UN joint programme on maternal and child health, the mission aimed to better understand real-world service delivery… [Read More]

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have signed a new Co-Financing Framework Agreement in Washington D.C. during the World Bank Group–IMF Spring Meetings. The agreement strengthens their long-standing partnership and establishes a structured framework for jointly financing development programmes aimed at transforming rural economies and improving food… [Read More]

Belarusian authorities are increasingly using broadly defined “extremism” laws to suppress dissent, including targeting individuals and organisations operating from exile. Human rights groups warn that these laws are being applied in a systematic and politically motivated manner to criminalize a wide range of peaceful activities, from academic engagement to civil society work. One of the… [Read More]

Human Rights Watch has urged the Indian government to withdraw proposed 2026 amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, warning that they would significantly expand executive control over online content and weaken privacy and free expression. The draft rules are currently open for public consultation and are seen as… [Read More]

The ongoing war in Gaza Strip has taken a devastating toll on women and girls, with more than 38,000 নিহত since October 2023, according to UN Women. The conflict, which began after the Hamas-led attacks in Israel, has resulted in unprecedented levels of casualties among women and girls compared to previous conflicts in the enclave…. [Read More]

Six weeks after conflict erupted in the Middle East, its economic impact is being felt far beyond the region, with Caribbean nations facing rising food prices and deepening vulnerability. According to analysis supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), the crisis—particularly disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz—has triggered one of the most significant global… [Read More]

Amid escalating conflict across parts of the Middle East, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has moved to safeguard cultural landmarks at risk of destruction. Since the war began on 28 February, several sites of major historical and cultural importance in Israel, Iran, and Lebanon have reportedly come under attack, raising global… [Read More]

French authorities have refused to grant an entry visa to Shawan Jabarin, the director of Al-Haq, a prominent Palestinian human rights organisation based in the occupied West Bank. He was scheduled to travel to France to participate in a session of the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee in Strasbourg alongside other Palestinian civil society representatives…. [Read More]

More than half of the population in Haiti continues to struggle with severe food insecurity, with 5.8 million people—around 52 percent—facing crisis levels or worse. Among them, over 1.8 million are experiencing emergency conditions, meaning they are exhausting their last resources and cannot meet even basic food needs. The update, released by the World Food… [Read More]

Authorities in Myanmar have released former president Win Myint along with around 4,000 prisoners as part of an amnesty marking the traditional New Year festival. Win Myint had been detained since the Myanmar military coup 2021, when the military overthrew the elected government, triggering widespread protests and ongoing armed resistance. However, key political figures, including… [Read More]