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In January 2025, the US government abruptly paused all foreign assistance, disrupting the delivery of life-saving HIV medicines and prevention services to millions of people. A UNAIDS report warns that without urgent action, there could be an additional six million new HIV infections and four million AIDS-related deaths by 2029. In response, The Global Fund… [Read More]

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant scheme has awarded Peter Mac more than $7.5 million to support five innovative cancer research projects. These grants are highly competitive and aim to fund research that addresses specific questions, promoting breakthroughs in understanding and treating cancer. Acting Executive Director of Cancer Research, Professor Jayesh… [Read More]

The humanitarian system is currently facing unprecedented pressure, driven by protracted crises, climate-related shocks, and limited resources. These challenges are testing not only the sector’s capacity to respond but also how actors work together. In this context, strategic partnerships are essential mechanisms to adapt, innovate, and deliver more coordinated, accountable, and locally led humanitarian responses…. [Read More]

Conflict-related sexual violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surged, while support for survivors has dramatically declined. Armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and the Congolese military, are using sexual violence as a weapon of war, exploiting ethnic tensions, abductions, and attacks on civilians. Survivors face extreme challenges,… [Read More]

The Trump administration has announced plans to withdraw the United States from over 60 international organizations, conventions, and treaties, including key climate institutions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This decision is part of a broader retreat from international climate engagement, framed… [Read More]

Children are disproportionately affected by crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, and slavery, often in the context of widespread or systematic attacks on civilian populations. These atrocities can inflict physical and psychological harm that is more severe and long-lasting than for adults, affecting their development and wellbeing throughout their lives. Unlike war crimes or… [Read More]

Since January 8, 2026, Iranian authorities have escalated a deadly crackdown on protesters, with credible reports indicating large-scale killings carried out across the country. In response, the government imposed a nationwide internet blackout, severely restricting communications and making it extremely difficult to verify reports of unlawful killings and other human rights violations. Despite these restrictions,… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB), through its development arm EIB Global, has announced $150 million in financing for the Obelisk solar photovoltaic project in Egypt, marking the inauguration of the first phase of the plant in Qena Governorate. The event was attended by senior Egyptian officials, European Union representatives, and the project developer Scatec, highlighting… [Read More]

Investing at the intersection of gender and nature offers a significant opportunity for development finance institutions (DFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to generate both financial returns and meaningful development impacts. Women play a crucial role in advancing sustainability, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, water management, and energy, where they contribute to preserving… [Read More]

India has launched a major new funding initiative to accelerate the production of green hydrogen from biomass and other alternative feedstocks, with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council announcing support under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The programme makes available INR 100 crore to back pilot-scale demonstration projects, reflecting India’s push to diversify hydrogen production… [Read More]

Economists and UN partners are advancing the “Beyond GDP” initiative, arguing that global policymaking relies too heavily on Gross Domestic Product as the primary measure of progress, despite its inability to capture human wellbeing, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Backed by UNCTAD and other UN bodies, the initiative reflects warnings from the UN Secretary-General that… [Read More]

Hearings have begun at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, marking the start of the merits phase in the landmark case brought by Gambia against Myanmar over alleged violations of the Genocide Convention. After years of preliminary legal arguments, the Court will now examine the substance of the case, with judges scheduled over… [Read More]

United Nations officials warn that the beginning of 2026 has brought renewed fighting and devastation to Ukraine, with no pause in hostilities and worsening conditions for civilians. As winter temperatures plunge far below freezing, intensified Russian attacks are causing widespread destruction, killing and injuring civilians while cutting millions of people off from electricity, heating, and… [Read More]

Ongoing rainstorms in Gaza are worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation, with fragile shelters being damaged or destroyed and large numbers of displaced people left exposed to cold and harsh weather. According to the United Nations, recent storms have battered makeshift tents, leaving thousands without adequate protection and further compounding the vulnerability of families already… [Read More]

Investing in Canada’s energy future is positioned as both a national priority and a major economic opportunity, as global markets transition toward lower-carbon and more diversified energy systems. Strengthening electricity grids is essential to ensuring energy security, affordability, and reliability for Canadians, particularly during periods of peak demand such as winter months, while also supporting… [Read More]

The United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States has opened a new round of grant applications as demand for support continues to exceed available funding, reflecting the growing pressures faced by families living in poverty across the region. During its last fully competitive grant cycle in 2024, the organization awarded approximately $850,000 to 35 local programs,… [Read More]

Bill Gates has transferred $7.9 billion to a nonprofit controlled by Melinda Gates, according to recent tax filings, marking one of the largest single charitable transfers ever recorded. The donation, completed in late 2024, dramatically expands the scale of Melinda Gates’ independent philanthropy and immediately positions her organization among the most highly capitalized private charitable… [Read More]

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $23 million in funding to strengthen labor law enforcement in Mexico and ensure that trade between the two countries benefits American workers and businesses. Of the total funding, $15.4 million was awarded to Partners of the Americas and $8 million to Creative Associates International. These grants… [Read More]

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $22 million funding initiative aimed at strengthening critical mineral supply chains and reducing reliance on abusive labor practices abroad, particularly in China. The funding, distributed through four cooperative agreements, targets the elimination of labor exploitation in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where key minerals such… [Read More]

Yemen’s experience demonstrates that the private sector can serve as a stabilizing force in fragile states, providing a critical engine of growth and supporting the population amid conflict and instability. Over the past decade, private sector innovation in Yemen has helped maintain livelihoods and foster hope, even in regions where public institutions struggle or fail…. [Read More]

Educators and students in Palestine navigate classrooms shaped by war, displacement, and chronic uncertainty, carrying complex emotions that can transform into acts of care and resistance. Understanding these emotions in detail is essential to supporting both teaching and learning in such challenging contexts. Since January 2024, researchers have collaborated with the dean and professors at… [Read More]

Ghana, a West African country with a population of approximately 34 million, faces escalating climate-related challenges that threaten its economy, infrastructure, and citizens’ livelihoods. Floods, droughts, wildfires, and pests have increasingly affected both urban and rural areas. With around 40 percent of the economy reliant on agriculture and a large informal sector, extreme weather events… [Read More]

Over the past five years, Saudi Arabia has transformed its rural advisory services (RAS) through digital innovation, participatory learning, and targeted support to agricultural value chains. These efforts have enhanced livelihoods, strengthened resilience, and expanded opportunities for women and youth across rural communities, making RAS a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s sustainable agriculture agenda. Digitalization has… [Read More]