The Ontario government is investing an additional $30 million to support businesses, workers, and communities dependent on the province’s forest sector. This funding will focus on building and maintaining forestry access roads and providing immediate assistance to sawmills in finding new markets for their woodchips. These measures aim to strengthen the forestry sector, create jobs,… [Read More]
Ireland’s Marine Institute Launches Innovative Digital Mapping Tool for Schools and Researchers
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has announced the launch of the Marine Institute’s new Explorers Digital Marine Maps platform, featuring the educational module ‘Our Ocean Our Future – Marine Spatial Planning for Kids’. This interactive resource is designed to make complex marine data accessible and engaging for students, teachers, and educators, helping… [Read More]
World Rabies Day 2025: Minister Heydon Urges Continued Vigilance Against Rabies
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, marked World Rabies Day by emphasizing the ongoing importance of vigilance against rabies. Observed annually on 28 September, the day raises awareness about rabies prevention and the need to maintain control measures. Although Ireland has been free from rabies since 1903, the country remains at… [Read More]
Health Minister Hails Move to Remove Tobacco and Nicotine Products from Vending Machines
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has welcomed the upcoming ban on the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products through self-service and vending machines, effective from September 29, 2025. This measure, part of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, aims to reduce the availability of harmful products and… [Read More]
Tánaiste Applauds Launch of Emergency Coalition to Secure Palestinian Authority Finances
Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed Ireland’s participation alongside Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom in launching the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority. The coalition was created in response to the unprecedented financial crisis facing the Palestinian Authority (PA), aiming to stabilize its… [Read More]
Canada Boosts Global Forest Management and Restoration Initiatives
On September 26, 2025, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, announced an investment of over $1.44 million to support 10 projects under Natural Resources Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program, implemented through the International Model Forest Network. The funding aims to strengthen sustainable forest management, restore degraded ecosystems, and enhance local… [Read More]
Time Running Out for Families in Syrian Camps with Terrorist Ties, Says UN
The humanitarian and security situation in northeastern Syria has reached a critical point, with over 30,000 people, including suspected foreign terrorist fighters and their families, held in Al-Hol camp and surrounding sites. Most detainees are women, and about 60 percent are children under 18, many of them under 12. Among the population, approximately 8,500 are… [Read More]
Advancing Cooperative Data: ILO Introduces Information Guide and Pilot Findings
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released two new publications aimed at improving the measurement of cooperatives globally: Measuring Cooperatives (Second Edition) and Implementing the ILO Guidelines Concerning Statistics of Cooperatives: Insights from Five Countries. Both publications draw on pilot studies conducted in Costa Rica, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Türkiye, and the United Republic… [Read More]
Valuing Unpaid Domestic and Care Work in the Republic of Moldova: A Path to Equality
By including unpaid domestic and care work in national and international statistics, policymakers can better understand its real value and contribution to economies and societies. Historically, this work—largely carried out by women and girls—was systematically undervalued in official statistics due to the design of national labour force surveys. Recognizing this gap, a breakthrough came in… [Read More]
Kazakhstan Tripartite Constituents Engaged by ILO on Workplace Violence and Harassment
The International Labour Organization (ILO) organized a training on “Addressing and preventing violence and harassment in the world of work” in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 22 to 24 September 2025. The event gathered 28 labour inspectors, ministry representatives, social partners, and occupational safety and health experts to enhance understanding of the Violence and Harassment Convention (No…. [Read More]
UN Assembly Sees Strong Support for Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
World leaders have expressed strong support for the first United Nations global political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, which aims to address these issues in an integrated manner. The declaration, finalized after a five-month intergovernmental negotiation process, is scheduled for consideration and final approval at the 80th session of the UN General… [Read More]
Countries Honored for Leading Actions to Combat Obesity Worldwide
On 25 September, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (UNIATF) recognized 12 countries and seven non-State actors for pioneering innovative and multisectoral approaches to tackling obesity. Their strategies ranged from fiscal policies such as sugar taxes to nationwide school meal programs… [Read More]
Promoting Workplace Inclusion: ILO Advances Sign Language Accessibility
The International Labour Organization (ILO) participated in an interactive talk show titled “Voices in Signs: Uniting for Inclusion and Sustainability” in Jakarta, Indonesia, to commemorate International Sign Language Day. Organized by state-owned enterprise Pertamina, the event brought together speakers from Pertamina, the National Commissioner on Disability, and the Indonesian Sign Language Centre (Pusbisindo). Representing the… [Read More]
Government of Bangladesh Works to Curb Migrant Worker Recruitment Abuses
Bangladesh is working to align its labour migration governance with international standards, including ILO conventions and the 2019 General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment, to counter worker exploitation and sustain the country’s second largest foreign exchange source. The 2025 edition of Labour Migration in Asia: Fair Recruitment, Training, and Development notes progress in… [Read More]
How Digital Innovations Are Strengthening Social Protection in Laos
The Lao Social Security Office (LSSO) has shared progress on a new mobile application designed to expand social protection delivery, with the update presented during a technical workshop supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The app is intended to improve access to information and services for both LSSO members and the general public, with… [Read More]
First Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work Convened by Singapore and ILO
More than 150 policymakers, statisticians, social partners, platform operators, and researchers from over 20 countries gathered in Singapore on 29 September for the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work. Hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the conference marked a key step in global knowledge exchange aimed at addressing… [Read More]
Mozambique Study Reveals How Aspirations and Gender Norms Shape Girls and Women
The research note A Girl Can Dream: Analyzing Aspirations, Gender Norms, and Influencers Among Girls and Women in Mozambique explores the hopes and ambitions of adolescent girls and young women in Mozambique. It examines the barriers they face in pursuing their dreams, including social norms and relationships that shape their life choices, and provides insights… [Read More]
Central African Republic Focuses on National Wealth for Sustainable Growth
After two years of weak growth, the Central African Republic is showing signs of a moderate economic recovery, with growth estimated at 1.5% in 2024, according to a recent World Bank report. This improvement is driven by stable agricultural production, progress in agribusiness, and sustained performance in tertiary activities, supported by enhanced energy supply toward… [Read More]
WHO Sets Influenza Vaccine Guidelines for 2026 Southern Hemisphere Season
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced its recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2026 influenza season in the southern hemisphere. The announcement followed a four-day consultation involving experts reviewing surveillance data and other relevant information to guide vaccine formulation. Regular updates to influenza vaccine composition are essential due to the… [Read More]
Sex Life Impacts Are Key Factor in Contraceptive Discontinuation, Study Shows
A new study conducted by the World Health Organization, the UN Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), and The Pleasure Project reveals that about one in 20 people who discontinue contraception while still needing it do so due to perceived negative impacts on their sex lives. The systematic review, titled The Sex Effect: The prevalence… [Read More]
Angola Advocates for Newborn and Child Safety as Core Health System Priority
Rossana Francisco lost her mother, a nurse, when she was just nine years old, an experience that inspired her to dedicate her life to caring for others. Now 26, Rossana is completing her nursing degree at the Private University of Angola (UPRA) and is currently interning in the gynecology and obstetrics department at Luanda General… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Supports Batumi–Sarpi Highway Development in Georgia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $360 million loan to enhance Georgia’s road infrastructure and regional connectivity. The funding will support the upgrade of the final critical section of Georgia’s East–West Highway, providing a climate-resilient connection to the country’s border with Türkiye at Sarpi and strengthening Georgia’s capacity to manage its road infrastructure… [Read More]
UN Address: China’s Premier Li Calls for Global Solidarity and Economic Growth
China’s Premier Li Keqiang addressed the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing that solidarity benefits all, while division undermines global progress. He warned that unilateralism and protectionism threaten the international order built over decades, and stated that humanity is once again at a crossroads. Reflecting on the defeat of fascism and the founding of the UN… [Read More]
