From 1 to 4 December 2025, UNIMED organised a four-day training in Cairo, Egypt, under the YHELD project – Yemeni Higher Education Leading to Development of International Relations Offices. The training brought together 16 participants from eight Yemeni partner universities, including Rectors, Vice-Presidents responsible for international relations, and Heads or staff of International Relations Offices,… [Read More]
Council Invests £1 Million to Support Fermanagh and Omagh Villages
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has awarded £1 million to eight community and voluntary organisations across the District to enhance local infrastructure and facilities. This funding represents the first year of the Council’s five-year, £5 million Strategic Capital Projects Grant Programme, which aims to support community-led capital developments that deliver long-term, sustainable benefits for rural… [Read More]
UK Government Invests £180M to Secure Critical Infrastructure
The UK government has announced a £180 million investment to expand the National Timing Centre (NTC), enhancing the country’s resilience against disruptions to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). These systems provide critical timing signals for mobile networks, online banking, transport, emergency services, and other national infrastructure but are vulnerable to jamming, cyberattacks, and technical failures…. [Read More]
Japan Donates €200,000 to Boost OPCW Activities
The Government of Japan has contributed nearly €200,000 to two trust funds of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): the Trust Fund for Syria Missions and the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X in support of Ukraine. Part of this funding will support OPCW activities in Syria, including verifying the… [Read More]
National Lottery Grants Funding to ‘Lifeline’ Charity for Vital Programs
A North Devon charity, Sunrise Diversity, has been awarded £499,980 over five years from the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) to continue providing English language lessons and community support. The funding will allow the charity to maintain its inclusive services and recruit four new team members, strengthening its outreach and support programmes. Ana Lodge, CEO… [Read More]
FAO Champions Land and Territory Reform Globally
At the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean advanced a comprehensive agenda focused on equitable land and water access, agrarian justice, and sustainable, inclusive rural development. The event, held from 24 to 28 February… [Read More]
Moldova Draws Partners to Boost Agrifood Investment
Ministers, senior officials, and private investors from across the European Union gathered in Chișinău on 5 March 2026 for the Agrifood Partnership Investment Forum, organized by the Republic of Moldova with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The high-level event brought together over 200 participants, including public- and private-sector… [Read More]
Global Food Prices Rise in February as FAO Index Rebounds
In February 2026, the FAO Food Price Index rose for the first time in five months, averaging 125.3 points, up 0.9 percent from January, though still 1.0 percent below its level a year earlier. The increase was driven by higher prices for wheat, most vegetable oils, and several meat types, which outweighed declines in cheese… [Read More]
Strengthening Seed Systems and Early Warning in Four African Countries
A regional initiative to strengthen seed systems and food crisis preparedness in Burundi, Comoros, Somalia, and South Sudan has made significant progress in building resilience and improving local food security. The project, titled Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response to Food Crisis (SEPAREF), was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)… [Read More]
African Big Ocean States Advance Agrifood Systems Transformation
African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have taken a significant step toward transforming their agrifood systems and attracting new investments following a three-day solutions and investment forum held in São Tomé and Príncipe. The event brought together ministers, parliamentarians, investors, development partners, and representatives from the African SIDS Interregional Technical Network (ITN) to move beyond… [Read More]
Bhutan Completes Stakeholder Consultation on NAPHS
From 3–5 March 2026, Bhutan held a landmark consultation workshop in Paro to finalize its National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). The three-day meeting brought together senior officials from ministries, government departments, development partners, and civil society to strengthen the country’s preparedness, response, resilience, and risk management in line with the International Health Regulations… [Read More]
PAHO Urges Stronger Action to Ensure Safe Motherhood in the Americas
On International Women’s Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) called for accelerated efforts to reduce maternal mortality and ensure that all women in the Americas have access to essential health services, medicines, and technologies for safe motherhood. Despite progress over recent decades, thousands of women still die each year from preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related… [Read More]
Sudan Declares Official End to Cholera Outbreak
Sudan officially declared the end of its cholera outbreak on 3 March 2026, following 48 consecutive days without any reported cases, exceeding the two full incubation periods required to confirm the outbreak’s conclusion. The last reported case occurred on 14 January 2026. The outbreak, first detected in Kassala State in late July 2024, spread to… [Read More]
Afghanistan’s Radio Begum Creates Safe Space for Women
Radio Begum offers a rare public space for women in Afghanistan, where restrictive laws make it difficult for women to move freely in the city. Station founder Hamida Aman explained that female journalists must navigate complex restrictions just to reach the studio, where they prepare and broadcast their programs. Despite these challenges, the station continues… [Read More]
Middle East Crisis Forces 700,000 People to Flee in Lebanon
Nearly 700,000 people, including around 200,000 children, have been displaced in Lebanon due to the recent escalation of conflict, adding to tens of thousands already uprooted from earlier crises, according to UNICEF. The displacement follows a weekend of intensifying military activity, including Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iranian targets, counter-strikes by Iranian forces in Israel,… [Read More]
World News: Myanmar Airstrikes, South Sudan Violence, Afghan Women’s Rights
Fresh military airstrikes in Myanmar’s central Magway region have worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, killing more than 25 people and injuring 20 others. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ongoing conflict, repeated disasters, and economic decline continue to exacerbate the crisis. In 2025, aid reached 6.3 million people,… [Read More]
Rising Risks in Combating Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
A United Nations independent expert has warned that new and evolving challenges are increasing the risks of child sexual abuse and exploitation worldwide. While progress has been made in strengthening international cooperation, adopting more victim-centred approaches, and involving the private sector, the scale and severity of abuse against children remain deeply concerning. According to the… [Read More]
Afghanistan Crisis Worsens as Conflict Erupts in Middle East
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worsening as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East creates additional economic and political pressures on the country. According to Georgette Gagnon, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, rising commodity prices and growing instability are placing further strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy. Trade routes through… [Read More]
Canada Government Improves Access to Reproductive Health Services
The Government of Canada has announced new efforts to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and resources across the country. The initiative aims to ensure that Canadians can access safe, accurate, and stigma-free care, particularly for people who often face barriers in the healthcare system. These barriers are commonly experienced by marginalized groups,… [Read More]
Nearly €130M Allocated for Home Improvements for Older and Disabled People
The Irish government has announced €129.5 million in funding for Housing Adaptation Grants aimed at supporting older people and people with disabilities to improve their homes and live independently. The announcement was made by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne, along with Minister of State for Older Persons Kieran O’Donnell and Minister… [Read More]
Ireland Launches €2M Transport Fund for Learners with Disabilities
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills Marian Harkin have launched a new €2 million Transport Fund for Learners with Intellectual Disabilities. The initiative aims to improve access to further education and training by helping learners with intellectual… [Read More]
New Caribbean Program Aims to Align Agricultural Trade Standards
A new regional initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural trade in the Caribbean has been launched following an inception meeting organised by the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA). The initiative forms part of a Caribbean Development Bank-funded project designed to strengthen the framework for intra-regional trade in agricultural products and improve the regulatory… [Read More]
UN Adopts New Global Framework to Improve Disaster Statistics
The 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission has endorsed the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF), marking the first global agreement aimed at improving how disaster-related data is defined, collected and used within national statistical systems. The framework creates a shared statistical structure that brings together National Statistical Offices, disaster management agencies and other… [Read More]
