The European Parliament has voted in favour of a new negotiating position on the EU Return Regulation, a move Amnesty International says significantly expands the bloc’s punitive detention and deportation framework. According to Amnesty, the agreement was pushed through quickly by political groups supporting tougher anti-migration policies, without sufficient scrutiny or meaningful assessment of its… [Read More]
Landmark US Ruling Pressures YouTube and Meta on Online Safety
A US jury has delivered a landmark verdict finding Meta and YouTube liable for designing social media platforms in ways that harm children and young people. Amnesty International described the ruling as a major turning point in acknowledging the dangers posed by platform designs that prioritize user engagement over wellbeing. The case focused on how… [Read More]
Minister Anand Announces New Canada Sanctions Against Iran
Canada has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirming additional measures under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. The sanctions target five individuals and four entities linked to Iranian procurement networks involved in producing and supplying advanced technology that supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According… [Read More]
Canada Announces $738.9M for First Nations Health and Governance
The Government of Canada has announced $738.9 million in new investments over five years to strengthen health services, governance, and emergency management for First Nations communities across the country. The funding was announced by Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty at the Spring Chiefs Assembly of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and is intended to improve access… [Read More]
Canada Supports Black Entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) has announced $780,000 in funding for the Saskatoon Black Business Network Inc. (SBBN) to support Black entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan through a new Black entrepreneurship advancement program. Announced on March 26, 2026, in Saskatoon, the investment aims to address systemic barriers that Black entrepreneurs often face in accessing financing, mentorship, and… [Read More]
Canada Boosts Housing Supply to Improve Affordability
Canada’s government has announced new measures aimed at increasing housing supply and making homes more affordable, as part of a broader effort to strengthen the economy amid global uncertainty. With housing affordability worsening and new home sales in major cities falling below historical levels, the government says urgent action is needed to reduce costs, cut… [Read More]
Nutrition North Canada Strengthens Northern Food Security
Nutrition North Canada is a key Government of Canada program designed to strengthen food security and food sovereignty in isolated northern communities by making nutritious food and essential goods more affordable and accessible. Working with Northerners, Indigenous Peoples, and partner organizations, the program supports a broad range of initiatives that not only lower food costs… [Read More]
Canada Funds 9 Indigenous Projects to Boost Northern Food Security
The Government of Canada has announced more than $2 million in funding for nine Indigenous-led projects under the second phase of Nutrition North Canada’s Food Security Research Grant. Announced on March 26, 2026, by Minister Rebecca Chartrand, the funding will support research focused on food security and food access inequality in isolated northern communities. The… [Read More]
UK Launches £70M Fund to Tackle Building Safety Skills Shortage
The UK government has announced £70 million in new funding to address shortages in building safety professions, with the aim of strengthening the workforce needed to deliver 1.5 million new homes safely. The investment is designed to expand capacity in building control and fire engineering, two sectors facing significant shortages of qualified professionals. These workforce… [Read More]
Ireland Launches €25 Million Community Centre Fund
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has announced a fourth round of funding under Ireland’s Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), with the 2026 round focused on refurbishment and upgrade works for existing community centres across the country. The new €25 million fund builds on earlier CCIF rounds in 2022 and… [Read More]
World News Brief: Cuba, Haiti, Djibouti Tragedies
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Cuban hospitals are struggling to maintain emergency and intensive care services, with thousands of surgeries postponed due to power shortages affecting medical equipment. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that health must be protected from geopolitical pressures, energy blockades, and outages. The crisis follows Hurricane Melissa… [Read More]
UN Warns Ukraine Conflict Intensifying as Risks Grow
During the first two months of 2026, 60 per cent of all civilian casualties in Ukraine occurred in frontline regions, with nearly half of those killed being older adults, according to Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif. She reported to the Human Rights Council in Geneva that the primary cause of death and… [Read More]
DR Congo Violence Escalates as UN Pledges Ongoing Support
Despite ongoing volatility in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO remains committed to its mandate of protecting civilians and supporting stabilization efforts. Deputy Special Representative Vivian van de Perre emphasized that peacekeepers continue full operations in Ituri and North Kivu while focusing on ceasefire-related activities in South Kivu, amid intensifying… [Read More]
Ontario Advances Accessible Communities for All
The Ontario government is investing $2.25 million to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in community spaces across the province through the second round of the Enhancing Access to Spaces for Everyone (EASE) Grant. The program provides up to $60,000 for small capital projects that improve accessibility and support active, healthy lifestyles for people with disabilities and… [Read More]
The Future of Renewable Energy Is Female-Led
The global transition to clean energy is not only a technological shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and hydrogen, but also a transformation that depends on who leads, invests in, and benefits from these systems. Women play a critical role in ensuring this transition is inclusive, innovative, and sustainable…. [Read More]
Cameroon Launches CONVERGEFOOD Programme to Transform Food Systems
The Government of Cameroon, with support from the Joint SDG Fund and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, officially launched the CONVERGEFOOD Joint Programme on 25 March 2026 to accelerate food systems transformation. The initiative aims to strengthen agricultural value chains, expand access to finance, and connect smallholder farmers and agri-enterprises to inclusive markets, particularly… [Read More]
Brazil and IOM Celebrate 10 Years of Migrant Integration
Brazil and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) marked ten years of partnership on 26 March 2026, highlighting efforts to support migrant integration and access to work and services. IOM Director General Amy Pope visited Brazil, including the northern border state of Roraima, to observe Operation Welcome (Operação Acolhida), a coordinated initiative that assists migrants… [Read More]
Sustainable Cotton Farming Training for Uzbek Farmers
A two-day practical seminar for farmers was held on 24–25 March 2026 in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, bringing together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to strengthen knowledge on labour standards, sustainable cotton production, and farm management. Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Rise for Impact Project, the seminar aimed to equip farmers with practical tools… [Read More]
“Mosaics of Work” Photo Contest: Showcase the Art of Everyday Labor
Launched on 26 March 2026, the photo contest “Mosaics of Work – Những mảnh ghép trong thế giới việc làm” is part of the activities marking National Youth Day in Viet Nam and the World Day for Safety and Health at Work (SafeDay 2026). Running until 28 April 2026, the initiative is co-organized by the… [Read More]
Ethiopia’s Textile Industry to Get Climate Resilience Boost from ILO
The International Labour Organization (ILO), with support from the Government of Japan, has launched a new initiative to transform Ethiopia’s textile, garment, and leather sector by enhancing productivity, climate resilience, and workplace safety across 40 factories in Hawassa, Addis Ababa, Adama, Dukem, and Kombolcha. The project, implemented under the ONE ILO Siraye Programme, combines enterprise-level… [Read More]
ADB Warns Asia-Pacific Growth at Risk Amid Middle East Disruptions
The conflict in the Middle East could reduce economic growth in developing Asia and the Pacific by up to 1.3 percentage points and increase inflation by 3.2 percentage points over 2026–2027 if energy market disruptions persist for more than a year, according to research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The regional economies are affected… [Read More]
Mauritania Boosts Private Sector Financing with AfDB Support
The African Development Bank Group is intensifying its support for Mauritania’s private sector, aiming to channel more resources into private sector-led investment, strengthen cooperation with local and regional banks, and back projects that generate jobs and value. During a workshop co-organized with the Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania (APIM) on 26 March, Malinne Blomberg, Deputy… [Read More]
New EU Strategy Targets Increasing Wildfire Threats
The European Commission has launched a new integrated strategy to tackle the rising threat of wildfires, which are becoming larger, more frequent, and more destructive across the continent. The strategy takes a holistic approach, addressing prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, and aims to enhance Europe’s resilience, protect citizens, safeguard infrastructure, and preserve cultural heritage. It… [Read More]
