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The bail of Pakistani lawyers and human rights defenders Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha was recently canceled, accompanied by an order for their immediate arrest in a case linked to alleged “anti-state” tweets. Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Babu Ram Pant, condemned the proceedings as a misuse of the justice system…. [Read More]

Since the start of his second term on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump significantly reduced U.S. foreign aid, beginning with a stop-work order that halted spending on programs ranging from tropical disease treatment in Mali to nutrition support in Nepal. By July 1, USAID had effectively ceased to exist, with 83% of its programs… [Read More]

Recent cuts to official development assistance (ODA) have dramatically altered the global health funding landscape. The UK reduced its ODA by 40%, while the United States has almost entirely ended its foreign assistance, and several European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, have also implemented significant reductions. These changes have left affected countries with… [Read More]

The Ontario government is investing an additional $700 million to help 127 municipalities and First Nations communities upgrade and expand aging water infrastructure across the province. This funding comes from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP), which was increased to $4 billion last year to accelerate home construction and support community development. The new investment… [Read More]

The Government of Canada is committed to creating inclusive workplaces where all Canadians have equal opportunities and barrier-free environments to contribute and thrive. Ensuring accessibility in workplaces and communities is a key part of building a stronger, more inclusive workforce. Minister Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has announced the next steps for allocating unused spectrum through the Access Licensing Framework, aimed at improving connectivity in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Ensuring reliable and affordable cellular and Internet access in these areas is a key part of building a strong and connected Canada. The new access licensing process… [Read More]

The United Kingdom and Ukraine marked the first anniversary of their historic 100 Year Partnership with a series of new initiatives aimed at boosting security, prosperity, and long-term resilience in both countries. As part of the celebrations, the UK announced an additional £20 million to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, following intensifying Russian attacks on the… [Read More]

A total of 1,000 places are available to Taiwanese youth under the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme, continuing the structure used in previous years. Of these, 800 places will be allocated through the first ballot in February, while the remaining 200 places will be offered in a second ballot scheduled for the summer. Successful applicants who… [Read More]

The Republic of Moldova has inaugurated the new headquarters of its Passenger Information Unit in Chișinău, marking a significant step in strengthening national security and preventing cross-border crimes such as human trafficking and terrorist travel. Supported by the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme, the initiative enhances Moldova’s ability… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has released its 2026 Crisis Response Plans, outlining 32 prioritized country and regional strategies to address the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies through evidence-based and people-centered action. The plans set out how IOM will respond to rising global displacement and migration-related needs with targeted, coordinated interventions across crisis settings…. [Read More]

The capacity of Thai trade unions to promote safer and healthier workplaces is being strengthened through a new initiative supported by the International Labour Organization and the Government of Japan. A two-day workshop held in Bangkok in January 2026 brought together Occupational Safety and Health focal points from trade unions under the International Trade Union… [Read More]

A new assessment by the International Labour Organization, carried out in close collaboration with Nepal’s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, finds that while Employment Service Centres now have nationwide coverage, they are not yet functioning as modern Public Employment Services. The report notes that there is a significant gap between policy ambitions and… [Read More]

The Tripartite Consultative Labour Council has recommended that Zambia ratify International Labour Organization Convention No. 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards), marking an important milestone in the country’s push to modernise its pension system and strengthen social protection. The recommendation reflects a growing commitment to expand social security coverage, particularly for workers in the informal… [Read More]

The UN World Food Programme has warned that cuts to humanitarian aid are pushing millions of people in West and Central Africa deeper into hunger, based on the latest analysis from the Cadre Harmonisé food security framework. The assessment projects that more than three million people will face emergency levels of food insecurity this year,… [Read More]

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said that Sudanese civil society leaders not only understand the scale of the country’s crisis but also see a path toward solutions, following discussions with more than 40 representatives in Dongola, the capital of Sudan’s Northern State. He stressed that meaningful progress will require a coordinated, all-out effort from… [Read More]

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, briefed journalists via video link from Jeddah after an extensive visit to the Middle East, noting a rise in dangerous incidents affecting UN peacekeepers. He emphasized that despite increasingly challenging conditions, UN missions are continuing to fulfill their mandates. Regarding the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Mr…. [Read More]

Global electricity demand is growing at an unprecedented pace, with projections indicating an increase of over 10,000 terawatt-hours by 2035, roughly equivalent to the current total consumption of all advanced economies. A major driver of this surge is artificial intelligence (AI), which relies heavily on data centers. A medium-sized data center consumes as much electricity… [Read More]

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains far from over, according to Olga Cherevko of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). She highlighted that the lives of Palestinians continue to be shaped by displacement, trauma, uncertainty, and deprivation. Severe recurring storms have worsened conditions, destroying homes and belongings, and putting children at… [Read More]

Following a five-day mission to Sudan, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk briefed journalists in Nairobi, describing the situation as “a chronicle of cruelty unfolding before our very eyes.” He urged all actors with influence, including regional powers and those profiting from the conflict, to take immediate action to end the war between the Sudanese… [Read More]

At the conclusion of a mission to Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, the Regional Directors of UNHCR, WFP, and UNICEF pledged to strengthen their collaboration to support Syrian refugees, both those wishing to return home and those still hosted in neighboring countries. During the visit, the directors met with governments, donors, and families to assess needs,… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that without urgent resources, millions of vulnerable people in West and Central Africa are facing another devastating year. During the June–August 2026 lean season, 55 million people are projected to endure crisis levels of hunger or worse, with over 13 million children expected to suffer from malnutrition…. [Read More]

On 16 January 2026, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Food Programme (WFP) launched the School Meals Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at reaching an additional 100 million children with nutritious school meals by 2030. The program starts with over USD 80… [Read More]

As political, business, and technology leaders convene at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is issuing a call to action: invest knowledge, resources, and capabilities to combat global hunger. The agency emphasizes that addressing hunger is not just a moral imperative but also critical for stabilizing economies and revitalizing… [Read More]