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Radio Begum offers a rare public space for women in Afghanistan, where restrictive laws make it difficult for women to move freely in the city. Station founder Hamida Aman explained that female journalists must navigate complex restrictions just to reach the studio, where they prepare and broadcast their programs. Despite these challenges, the station continues… [Read More]

Nearly 700,000 people, including around 200,000 children, have been displaced in Lebanon due to the recent escalation of conflict, adding to tens of thousands already uprooted from earlier crises, according to UNICEF. The displacement follows a weekend of intensifying military activity, including Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iranian targets, counter-strikes by Iranian forces in Israel,… [Read More]

Fresh military airstrikes in Myanmar’s central Magway region have worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, killing more than 25 people and injuring 20 others. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ongoing conflict, repeated disasters, and economic decline continue to exacerbate the crisis. In 2025, aid reached 6.3 million people,… [Read More]

A United Nations independent expert has warned that new and evolving challenges are increasing the risks of child sexual abuse and exploitation worldwide. While progress has been made in strengthening international cooperation, adopting more victim-centred approaches, and involving the private sector, the scale and severity of abuse against children remain deeply concerning. According to the… [Read More]

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worsening as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East creates additional economic and political pressures on the country. According to Georgette Gagnon, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, rising commodity prices and growing instability are placing further strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy. Trade routes through… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has announced new efforts to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and resources across the country. The initiative aims to ensure that Canadians can access safe, accurate, and stigma-free care, particularly for people who often face barriers in the healthcare system. These barriers are commonly experienced by marginalized groups,… [Read More]

The Irish government has announced €129.5 million in funding for Housing Adaptation Grants aimed at supporting older people and people with disabilities to improve their homes and live independently. The announcement was made by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne, along with Minister of State for Older Persons Kieran O’Donnell and Minister… [Read More]

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills Marian Harkin have launched a new €2 million Transport Fund for Learners with Intellectual Disabilities. The initiative aims to improve access to further education and training by helping learners with intellectual… [Read More]

A new regional initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural trade in the Caribbean has been launched following an inception meeting organised by the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA). The initiative forms part of a Caribbean Development Bank-funded project designed to strengthen the framework for intra-regional trade in agricultural products and improve the regulatory… [Read More]

The 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission has endorsed the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF), marking the first global agreement aimed at improving how disaster-related data is defined, collected and used within national statistical systems. The framework creates a shared statistical structure that brings together National Statistical Offices, disaster management agencies and other… [Read More]

A new initiative aimed at eliminating cervical cancer across the Pacific has received a funding boost of NZ$5.1 million (US$3 million). The programme is led by Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health at the University of Auckland in collaboration with regional partners. The funding, provided through the Matariki Fund… [Read More]

Escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have forced more than 700,000 people to flee their homes across Lebanon, creating a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has issued an emergency Watchlist alert, warning that the renewed conflict is already triggering widespread displacement and placing immense pressure on families, host communities and humanitarian… [Read More]

Ten pilot schools in Thailand’s Buriram and Si Sa Ket provinces have introduced Smart Classrooms as part of the UNESCO–Huawei Technology-enabled Open Schools for All (TEOSA) initiative, marking a significant step toward advancing digital education in the country. The programme is led by the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok in partnership with Thailand’s Ministry of… [Read More]

A behavioural study conducted by GlobalGiving UK in collaboration with Professor Hanna Zagefka from Royal Holloway, University of London surveyed more than 2,000 participants in the UK and Germany to examine how awareness of government aid cuts influences public attitudes toward generosity and charitable giving. The research found that when government aid reductions were mentioned… [Read More]

The federal government of Pakistan is implementing several initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s social protection system, expanding economic opportunities and supporting marginalized communities. Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, highlighted these efforts while presiding over a meeting with civil society organisations in Islamabad to review the progress of… [Read More]

Akron Community Foundation’s board of directors has announced quarterly grants totaling $4.4 million, along with $695,500 in competitive education grants approved by the foundation’s Community Investment Committee. A total of 37 nonprofit organizations received education-related funding aimed at supporting programs that strengthen learning opportunities, youth development and early childhood education in the community. One of… [Read More]

At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, discussions about the future of artificial intelligence, connectivity, and digital transformation highlighted the growing importance of digital public infrastructure (DPI). While many presentations focused on emerging technologies such as AI-powered devices and advanced computing, policymakers increasingly focused on how digital systems that support public services are evolving… [Read More]

Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, has launched the new Reconciliation Fund Strategy for 2026–2029 during an event in Belfast attended by civil society and cross-community organisations. The Reconciliation Fund provides grants to community groups working to strengthen relationships between traditions in Northern Ireland, promote cooperation between North and South, and foster… [Read More]

A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that violence and harassment in the workplace remain widespread in parts of West Africa. According to the study, 65 percent of workers in Senegal and 58 percent in Côte d’Ivoire report having experienced violence or harassment at work, while 43 percent of workers in Burkina… [Read More]

Japan and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a new food assistance agreement worth JPY 200 million (approximately US$1.32 million) to support food and nutrition programmes in Guinea-Bissau. The agreement, signed by the Embassy of Japan in Dakar and WFP, will help sustain critical nutrition and school feeding initiatives aimed at vulnerable… [Read More]

Across Asia and the Pacific, climate change is intensifying existing social and economic inequalities, particularly for women. Often described as a “threat multiplier,” climate change worsens vulnerabilities during disasters, where women face additional challenges due to restricted mobility, heavy unpaid care responsibilities, and limited access to land, credit, and financial resources. These barriers reduce their… [Read More]

UK-based AI infrastructure company Nscale has raised $2 billion in a Series C funding round, marking the largest investment round in European history. The funding values the company at $14.6 billion and was led by Aker ASA and 8090 Industries, with participation from major technology and investment firms including Nvidia, Dell, Citadel, and Nokia. The… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that millions of displaced and migrant women and girls around the world continue to lack access to safe and adequate shelter, increasing their exposure to violence, exploitation, and exclusion from essential services. Marking International Women’s Day, the organisation urged governments and partners to increase investment in gender-responsive… [Read More]