The Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy programme has officially extended its operations to Malaysia, aiming to strengthen labour rights and promote safe migration within the fishing, seafood processing, and aquaculture sectors. Implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and funded by the European Union (EU),… [Read More]
Building Resilience in the Pacific Through Fair and Inclusive Wage Systems
A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Massey Business School, highlights that effective minimum wage systems are crucial for reducing working poverty, advancing social justice, and enhancing economic resilience across Pacific Island Countries. The report, titled “Minimum Wage Systems and Wage-Setting Practices in the Pacific Island Countries,” offers a… [Read More]
Tragic Shipwreck Highlights Global Call for Safe and Legal Migration Pathways
A tragic shipwreck off the coast of Libya has once again underscored the urgent need for safer migration routes. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 49 migrants and refugees departed from Zuwara in northwest Libya around 3 a.m. on 3 November aboard a rubber boat. Roughly six hours into their journey, the vessel… [Read More]
Standing Strong: How One Community in Brazil is Adapting to Climate Change and Rising Tides
In the small coastal community of Vila do Pesqueiro, Brazil, life once revolved around the sea. Ivanil and her husband fished, planted crops, and raised animals on a patch of land they lovingly called paradise. But one night, everything changed. A violent storm brought thunder, lightning, and relentless rain that battered their small homes, forcing… [Read More]
Endangered Mountain Vipers and Iguanas Highlight Urgent Action at Key Wildlife Meeting
More than 30 species, including the Ethiopian mountain viper, Galapagos iguana, and Brazil’s Pernambuco tree—highly valued by violin bow-makers—are being considered for special protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Convention, which regulates the international trade of wild animals and plants, stresses the importance of… [Read More]
Global Tuberculosis Cases Drop for the First Time Since the Pandemic
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, global tuberculosis (TB) cases are showing a downward trend. The latest report highlights important progress in reducing the disease’s burden, but also warns that these gains are at risk due to severe funding shortfalls that could reverse years of hard-won progress. According to the World… [Read More]
Powering a Greener Future: How Smart Investments Are Driving Climate Action and Sustainability
In North Macedonia, the Green Finance Facility (GFF), supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund, is demonstrating how strategic investment can drive measurable progress toward sustainability. By turning every dollar invested into US$12.65 in private investment and development benefits, the initiative highlights how innovative financing can mobilize markets and accelerate the clean energy transition. Through… [Read More]
Clean Water for Dumai: Indonesia’s Journey Toward Sustainable Water Access
In the coastal city of Dumai, Indonesia, access to clean water was once a daily struggle. Residents like Dede Handayani, a mother of two, spent up to US$64 a month buying water from vendors while relying on well water for washing and gardening. Local businesses also struggled to maintain hygiene, and the municipal water utility,… [Read More]
How Climate Change is Affecting Human Health Worldwide
Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest global health emergencies of the century, threatening the well-being of populations across all regions. Its impacts are widespread, affecting every community, though the most severe consequences fall on vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, marginalized communities, displaced persons, and people with pre-existing health conditions… [Read More]
Ecuador Strengthens Financial Access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises to Drive Economic Growth
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of Ecuador’s economy, accounting for 99 percent of firms and around 60 percent of formal employment, or approximately 1.8 million jobs. However, MSMEs have long struggled with limited access to financing, compounded by political instability and recurring crises such as energy shortages. Ecuador’s financial system faces… [Read More]
New FAO-WFP Report Highlights Rising Risk of Acute Food Insecurity in 16 Crisis Hotspots
A new joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that acute food insecurity is rapidly worsening in 16 global hunger hotspots, putting millions at risk of famine. The report highlights that time is running out to prevent widespread starvation as conflict,… [Read More]
Republic of Korea Donates Rice to Aid Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh, Welcomed by Government and WFP
The Government of Bangladesh, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) jointly held a handover ceremony in Chattogram to mark Korea’s latest rice donation in support of the Rohingya humanitarian response. The event, held at WFP’s Alongkar Warehouse, was attended by key representatives including Md. Mostafizur Rahman,… [Read More]
AfDB Approves $71.55 Million Project to Generate 28,000 Jobs for Ghanaian Women and Youth
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $71.55 million grant to Ghana to fund a new four-year programme (2026–2029) designed to create jobs and enhance social cohesion among women and youth, particularly in the country’s northern regions. The initiative aims to train 28,000 individuals and generate 22,000 direct jobs along with… [Read More]
AfDB Grants $100 Million to Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund to Boost Green Infrastructure
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $100 million loan to the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) to strengthen sustainable infrastructure development across Africa. The financing aims to attract greater private sector investment and support projects in renewable energy, digital connectivity, transportation, and other critical sectors that foster inclusive growth and climate… [Read More]
El Fasher Crisis: Women Struggle with Hunger, Rape, and Violence Amid Sudan War
Women in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, are enduring extreme suffering amid the ongoing conflict, according to UN Women Regional Director Anna Mutavati. Many have faced starvation, displacement, rape, and bombardment, while pregnant women have been forced to give birth in the streets after maternity hospitals were looted or destroyed. The… [Read More]
Trapped in Haiti’s Prisons: Addressing Overcrowding and Justice Reform
Haiti is facing a severe humanitarian, political, and security crisis, exacerbated by gang violence, entrenched poverty, and a series of natural disasters, including Hurricane Melissa. The country’s justice system is struggling to function effectively under these pressures, with cases delayed and 82 per cent of prisoners held in pre-trial detention. Many detainees are living in… [Read More]
Sanctions Against the ICC: Threats to the Worldwide Fight Against Impunity
During a recent assembly discussing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) annual report, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock addressed the challenges posed by United States sanctions imposed on ICC judges and prosecutors earlier this year. These sanctions followed the court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister and former Defence Minister for alleged war crimes… [Read More]
Global Push at COP30: Sustainable Cooling and AI Innovation to Combat Heat
At COP30, the intersection of technology, climate action, and sustainable development is taking centre stage, with a strong focus on both artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable cooling solutions. AI is already helping farmers predict droughts, manage crops, and plan irrigation more efficiently, offering real-time data-driven insights that can improve food security. However, the environmental cost… [Read More]
South Sudan at a Crossroads: Key Developments and Why They Matter
The peace process in South Sudan is approaching a critical juncture, with core commitments under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement stalling or reversing. The agreement, designed to prevent a return to civil war, is under strain as its power-sharing and security provisions weaken. Political competition ahead of the December 2026 elections threatens to spark renewed… [Read More]
Post-Election Turmoil in Tanzania: Reports of Mass Killings and Detentions
On 29 October, widespread protests erupted in Tanzania against the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, quickly turning violent and resulting in multiple deaths. UN human rights chief Volker Türk reported harrowing accounts of families desperately searching for missing relatives, visiting police stations and hospitals in hopes of locating them. Further reports indicate that security… [Read More]
Caribbean Faces Growing Damage as Hurricane Melissa Relief Operations Expand
In Cuba, Hurricane Melissa has left over 54,000 people displaced, including 7,500 in official shelters, with damage now far exceeding initial estimates. More than 600 health facilities and 90,000 homes have been affected. UN agencies are actively supporting the national response, assisting around 140,000 people in shelters and community kitchens, while distributing agricultural tools and… [Read More]
Brazil’s Bahia to Benefit from €300 Million EIB-Neoenergia Green Investment in Power Grid
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank Group, and Neoenergia have signed a €300 million loan to support the modernization and expansion of the electricity distribution network in Bahia, Brazil. Serving more than six million customers across 415 municipalities, Neoenergia Coelba will use the financing to upgrade infrastructure, invest in automation equipment,… [Read More]
$300 Million CESCE-Backed Loan for Panama Power Grid Modernisation by EIB and Naturgy
EIB Global, the international partnerships and development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Naturgy Energy Group have signed a $300 million CESCE-guaranteed loan to modernise and expand Panama’s power grid. The agreement, the largest loan EIB has signed for a private company in Central America, aims to improve the reliability and efficiency of… [Read More]
