The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced that the United States and Mexico will participate in a virtual meeting on April 13, 2026, to review their measles elimination status. This meeting comes in the wake of measles outbreaks reported in the United States starting January 20, 2025, and in Mexico beginning February 1, 2025…. [Read More]

The Government of Kenya has officially launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026–2030, a five-year strategy developed with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to accelerate prevention, early detection, and treatment of cervical cancer. The plan is designed to strengthen national health systems, improve service coverage, and reduce the burden of this… [Read More]

Global food systems are deeply implicated in today’s interconnected crises, driving ecological degradation, climate change, declining public health, and persistent food insecurity. The dominant industrial model, focused on intensification, global trade, and economic growth, has become a major contributor to these crises. Recent research shows food systems are a leading factor in breaching seven of… [Read More]

The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council is urged to use its January 19 ambassadorial-level meeting to address the escalating human rights abuses and urgent protection needs in South Sudan. The meeting follows an assessment by the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, which evaluated the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement…. [Read More]

Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s proposed counterterrorism legislation, warning that it mirrors many of the abusive provisions of the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and risks enabling similar rights violations. The bill, officially titled the Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA), was published by the Ministry of Justice… [Read More]

Amnesty International has raised serious concerns following videos that appear to show mass releases and escape attempts from scamming compounds across Cambodia. Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director, warned that thousands of individuals, likely victims of human trafficking and torture, are now stranded without support and at risk of being re-trafficked. She called on… [Read More]

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]