The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has signed debt financing agreements for the Villeta Green Fertilizer Project, developed by ATOME PLC, which will establish one of the world’s first commercial-scale clean hydrogen-based fertilizer plants in Paraguay. The project aims to transform the country’s abundant renewable energy into higher value-added industrial… [Read More]

Ukraine’s Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling recognizing a same-sex couple, diplomat Zorian Kis and his partner Tymur Levchuk, as a de facto family, marking a major step forward for equality. The decision upholds a lower court ruling and sets an important precedent for other courts in the country. Despite this judicial progress, legislation… [Read More]

In a rural district in Malawi, a community outreach program is raising awareness about violence against people with albinism. Organizers gather residents at a Local Trading Center, encouraging understanding of albinism and the protection of rights, while checking that participants grasp the messages. Despite the positive feedback, these sessions tend to be passive, with limited… [Read More]

Ecuador is failing to comply with an Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling designed to protect the Tagaeri and Taromenane Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation within Yasuní National Park. The court determined that oil extraction in the area, particularly in Block 43, generates environmental pollution and increases the risk of forced contact, exposing these… [Read More]

Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, and his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government face a critical moment to strengthen human rights protections, according to a joint letter from nine rights organizations. Rahman assumed office after a decisive victory in the February 2026 elections, which followed the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in… [Read More]

Amnesty International has raised serious concerns that Bangladesh could face heightened human rights risks unless Meta takes prompt and effective action to address harmful content on its Facebook platform. Ahead of the 12 February parliamentary elections, Amnesty and other observers noted a surge in misleading and inflammatory content online, some originating from outside Bangladesh, particularly… [Read More]

Kazakhstan’s proposed new Constitution has raised serious concerns over human rights and the rule of law ahead of a referendum scheduled for 15 March, Amnesty International warned. The draft reflects a consolidation of presidential power and a rollback of fundamental freedoms, with limited public consultation or input from independent civil society. The draft Constitution would… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced advanced preparations for a major Asia-Pacific regional conference aimed at accelerating agrifood systems transformation across 46 countries. The FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC38) will be hosted by the Government of Brunei Darussalam at The Empire Hotel from 20 to… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced that advanced preparations are underway for the 38th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC38), scheduled to take place from 20 to 24 April 2026 at The Empire Hotel in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The conference will bring together Ministers… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced that advanced preparations are underway for the 38th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC38), scheduled to take place from 20 to 24 April 2026 at The Empire Hotel in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The conference will bring together Ministers… [Read More]

The increasing use of plastics in agriculture across Asia and the Pacific is raising significant environmental concerns. Plastics such as mulch films, seedling trays, irrigation pipes, and greenhouse covers are widely used to increase yields, conserve water, and reduce post-harvest losses. However, improper disposal and limited recycling infrastructure have led to rising microplastic contamination in… [Read More]

The Villeta Green H₂ Fertiliser Plant, developed by ATOME PLC in Paraguay, is set to produce around 260,000 tonnes per year of low-carbon calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) using green hydrogen generated from Paraguay’s fully renewable electricity system. The project aims to decarbonise a hard-to-abate sector while contributing to food security, sustainable agriculture, and regional fertiliser… [Read More]

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is placing pregnant women at extreme risk, with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warning that 11,600 pregnant women have been affected by the escalating conflict and around 4,000 are expected to give birth over the next three months. Many of these women have been displaced from their homes, cut off… [Read More]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has launched a major humanitarian appeal during a solidarity visit to Lebanon, calling for urgent international support as the country faces the devastating effects of the ongoing Middle East crisis. Speaking in Beirut, he said that solidarity with the people of Lebanon must go beyond words and be matched with immediate… [Read More]

Outgoing UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has warned that Myanmar is at a critical turning point and urged governments not to abandon the country’s civilians as conflict, repression, and humanitarian suffering continue to intensify. Presenting his final report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he said the current global political climate is making… [Read More]

The United Nations has strongly condemned a recent series of antisemitic attacks targeting synagogues in several countries, warning that such incidents threaten the safety of religious communities and undermine shared human values. The attacks included a powerful explosion outside a historic synagogue in Liège, Belgium, significant shootings at three synagogues in Canada, an attack in… [Read More]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an additional USD 2 million in emergency funds to support health systems in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria as the wider Middle East crisis intensifies. The funding comes as strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran continue, alongside counterstrikes by Tehran across the Gulf and the broader… [Read More]

Small businesses play a critical role in Saskatchewan’s economy, but starting a new business often comes with major challenges such as understanding the market, creating a strong business plan, securing financing, obtaining the right licences, and managing early-stage risks. To help address these barriers, the Government of Canada has announced CAD 910,000 in funding through… [Read More]

Canada has announced more than CAD 14.3 million in funding to support arts, culture, official languages, and Indigenous languages organizations across the Yukon, reinforcing the important role the cultural sector plays in building vibrant, inclusive, and resilient communities in the North. The announcement was made by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and… [Read More]

In western Serbia, a growing network of farmers, producers, and local communities is helping reshape food production and strengthen sustainable local food systems through the country’s first biodistrict in the Kolubara District. The initiative has created a collaborative platform where organic producers, institutions, and communities work together to promote environmentally friendly agriculture and improve how… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched an urgent appeal for USD 19 million to expand its emergency response in Lebanon, where nearly one million people have been displaced following a sharp escalation of hostilities since 2 March 2026. The agency warned that the crisis is worsening rapidly, with families in urgent need of… [Read More]

Ethiopia is strengthening its national Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system through intensive training for 35 assessors in Bahir Dar, Amhara region, under the ILO Global Skills Programme with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NoRAD). The initiative is designed to build institutional capacity for implementing the National RPL Framework and Policy, enabling… [Read More]

Agriculture remains central to Albania’s rural economy, but many rural communities continue to face challenges such as digital exclusion, limited access to technology, and changing labour market demands. To address these issues, the Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation in Albania (DART) project is combining digital innovation with skills development and institutional support to help rural… [Read More]