Human Rights Watch has issued a warning that Ethiopia’s proposed amendments to its civil society law pose a severe threat to civic freedom and democratic accountability. Marketed as regulatory reform, the draft legislation would consolidate authoritarian control while eliminating independent civic voices, obstructing public scrutiny, and suppressing electoral accountability ahead of the 2026 national elections…. [Read More]
$1M Funding Secured to Improve Coastal Walkways and Accessibility
The City of Newcastle is set to improve pedestrian and cycling access along a popular beachside precinct with significant infrastructure upgrades. The projects, located near Bar Beach and King Edward Park, will introduce new shared path connections and enhanced crossing facilities to increase safety for all users. Each project has received $500,000 in funding through… [Read More]
White Rock Invests in Infrastructure Upgrades to Improve Stormwater Management
The City of White Rock is set to enhance stormwater management and protect local waterways through the Marine Drive Stormwater Improvements project, supported by a combined investment of more than $9.86 million from federal, provincial, and municipal governments. The project targets drainage upgrades along Marine Drive between Stayte Road and Finlay Street, including the installation… [Read More]
Indonesia Calls on EU to Lift Biodiesel Countervailing Duty Following WTO Ruling
Indonesia’s trade ministry has called on the European Union to remove countervailing duties on biodiesel imports following a favorable ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO supported several of Indonesia’s key claims in its complaint, which argued that the EU’s duties violated international trade rules. Trade Minister Budi Santoso emphasized that the EU… [Read More]
ADB and Sun Pacific Energy Partner on $2.8M Solar Expansion in Samoa
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sun Pacific Energy Ltd (SPEL) have signed a $2.8 million (approximately AU$4.3 million) loan to expand renewable energy generation in Samoa. The financing will support the upgrade and expansion of SPEL’s Upolu Solar Farm, originally partly funded by ADB in 2017, through the installation of higher-efficiency solar panels. The… [Read More]
ADB and GSA Partner to Launch Green Data Center in Thailand
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and GSA Data Center 01 Company Limited (GSA) have signed a local currency green loan of THB 900 million (approximately $26.8 million) to finance the development, construction, and operation of a 25.6-megawatt colocation green data center in Samut Prakan province, Thailand. The facility is designed to be highly energy-efficient, targeting… [Read More]
Qatar Charity Launches “Keep Doing Good” Campaign to Support Humanitarian Initiatives
Qatar Charity has launched the “Keep Doing Good” campaign, a values-driven initiative designed to promote the importance of consistent charitable giving and habitual acts of kindness. The campaign emphasizes that charity should be a regular part of daily life, regardless of the size of the contribution or the occasion, encouraging people not to wait for… [Read More]
Qatar Charity Launches Relief Plan for Flood-Affected Communities in Pakistan
Qatar Charity is actively preparing its emergency relief response as severe monsoon floods continue to devastate Pakistan, targeting support for the hardest-hit communities. The organization plans to provide vulnerable households with dry food supplies, essential non-food items, and temporary shelter through tents, helping families manage displacement, food insecurity, and the loss of basic necessities. The… [Read More]
Pakistan Faces Global Aid Cuts: How the Social Sector is Adapting
The abrupt suspension of foreign aid by the Trump administration, including funding through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), dealt a significant blow to Pakistan’s social sector, causing many organizations to halt projects, lay off staff, and scale back operations. Announced in January 2025 under the “America First” policy, the freeze compounded an already… [Read More]
Aid Freeze by Donor Agencies Deepens Humanitarian Crisis in Nigeria
The recent massive cuts in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from traditional donor countries are already having significant repercussions for Nigeria and other developing nations. These reductions are constraining fiscal space and undermining critical programs, including emergency hunger relief in Nigeria’s northeast. Shortly after his second inauguration on January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered… [Read More]
Highland Park Allocates $2M in State Funds for Sheridan Road Sidewalk Amid Tree Removal Debate
The Highland Park City Council has unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement to use state funds for constructing a new sidewalk along a half-mile stretch of Sheridan Road near Rosewood Beach. The project, first presented to the council in 2016, aims to address long-standing safety concerns and is now scheduled to begin in 2026. The sidewalk… [Read More]
EU Provides €10 Million to Safeguard Afghan Children on the Move
The European Union (EU) has committed €10 million to UNICEF to support Afghan children on the move, particularly those returning from neighbouring countries. This funding marks the launch of Phase 3 of the Afghan Children on the Move initiative, bringing the EU’s total investment since 2018 to €38 million. The partnership aims to provide immediate… [Read More]
Severe Floods in Cape Verde Leave Thousands Devastated
On the night of 10-11 August 2025, Cape Verde experienced unprecedented devastation as extreme overnight rainfall, driven by Tropical Storm Erin, swept across the archipelago. Torrential rains transformed streets into torrents, triggered landslides, and severely damaged essential infrastructure. The sudden disaster claimed at least nine lives and affected approximately 119,000 people, prompting the government to… [Read More]
Empowering Women, Feeding Communities: Cameroon’s Agricultural Success Story
In the remote village of Kartoua, located in Cameroon’s Far North region, women are transforming food insecurity into community resilience through a locally led cereal bank. The initiative, driven by the Soubota Common Initiative Group (GIC), has empowered women to turn seasonal vulnerability into a sustainable strategy for survival and solidarity. The village, part of… [Read More]
South Africans Face HIV Medication Shortages Following U.S. Aid Cuts
The sudden announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to cut foreign aid has left South Africa’s most vulnerable populations struggling to access HIV services. In Johannesburg, nonprofit clinics providing free HIV treatment were forced to close within 24 hours, affecting tens of thousands of people who relied on these services for life-saving medication. While some… [Read More]
Cambodia Prepares Next Generation of Skilled Workers for ASEAN Skills Competition
Cambodia’s next generation of construction professionals has gained international exposure and advanced technical skills ahead of the ASEAN Skills Competition, thanks to intensive training supported by the ILO/China Partnership Programme. Five trainees and students completed a two-week wall and floor tiling programme at China’s Zhejiang Construction Technician College (ZCTC) from 30 July to 9 August… [Read More]
Jobs and Livelihoods Key to Building Resilience in Africa
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) called for stronger action on job creation, skills development, and local capacity building as essential strategies for strengthening resilience in Africa. Their appeal was made during a high-level side event at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9)… [Read More]
ILO Mission Strengthens Efforts to Eliminate Child Labour in Türkiye’s Black Sea Seasonal Agriculture
A high-level delegation from the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with Türkiye’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS), provincial authorities, and private sector donors, conducted a three-day mission in Ordu and Samsun to advance efforts to eliminate child labour in seasonal agriculture. The mission focused on promoting sustainable solutions for children’s education and… [Read More]
ILO-China Partnership on Skills Development Boosts Emerging Industry Needs in Cambodia
A new milestone in Cambodia-China skills collaboration was achieved with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening Cambodia’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system to meet the evolving needs of emerging industries. Supported by the ILO/China Partnership Programme on Skills Development, the agreement was signed on 30 July 2025… [Read More]
TICAD9: IFAD and Japan Collaborate with Private Sector to End Poverty, Hunger, and Malnutrition
Mobilizing the private sector is crucial to ending hunger, malnutrition, and poverty in Africa, where more than one in five people go hungry, as emphasized by Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and Alvaro Lario, President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference… [Read More]
Yawkey Foundation Awards $2 Million Grant to McLean’s New Child & Adolescent Campus Project
McLean Hospital has received a $2 million grant from the Yawkey Foundation to support the construction of a new state-of-the-art academic and residential campus for children and adolescents. This initiative, fully funded through donations, represents the most ambitious fundraising effort in McLean’s history. The campus is designed to provide comprehensive clinical, educational, and recreational facilities,… [Read More]
DHHS Receives $4.6 Million Grant to Support Community Re-Entry Programs for Adults and Youth
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received nearly $4.6 million in federal grant funding to support the State’s Community Re-Entry and Youth Re-Entry programs over the next four years. The funding will help ensure continuity of health care for incarcerated adults and committed youth eligible for Medicaid as they transition… [Read More]
Canada Reaffirms Support for a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine
Canada has reinforced its unwavering support for Ukraine as Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv on the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Canada, the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty in 1991, has maintained consistent backing for the country as it faces Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion. The visit underscored Canada’s commitment to defending democracy,… [Read More]
