Despite the ceasefire announced on 17 April, Lebanon remains in the grip of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Ongoing Israeli airstrikes, shelling, demolitions, evacuation orders, and restrictions on movement continue to drive repeated displacement and intensify humanitarian needs. UNHCR stresses that civilians in the south and parts of the Bekaa Valley live with the same fear… [Read More]

Eight hospitals across Guyana have been officially certified as Baby‑Friendly under the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF’s Baby‑Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), marking a major milestone in maternal and child health. The certification ensures that mothers receive consistent, evidence‑based support to initiate and sustain breastfeeding from birth. The achievement was celebrated in Georgetown, where PAHO’s… [Read More]

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through its Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), has launched a new call for proposals aimed at mobilizing remittances and investments from the Senegalese diaspora in Italy to support rural development in Senegal. This initiative is part of the Diaspora RemitInvest programme, financed by Italian cooperation via the Italian… [Read More]

Violence erupted across Mali on 25 and 26 April, with Islamist and separatist rebels launching large‑scale attacks on multiple cities, including the capital Bamako. The clashes resulted in heavy civilian casualties and mass displacement. Fighting has continued in central regions between Malian security forces and armed groups such as the Tuareg‑led Azawad Liberation Front and… [Read More]

In Lebanon, civilians continue to live in fear despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, with UNHCR reporting that at least 380 people have been killed since mid‑April. Many displaced families attempting to return to their homes in Nabatieh and Tyre have found them destroyed, forcing them back into collective shelters with little hope of… [Read More]

A new analysis by the World Resources Institute, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, reveals that early investments in climate-related health solutions can generate significant economic and social returns in low- and middle-income countries. The study finds that for every $1 invested in climate health preparedness, communities can gain between $4 and $68 in benefits, highlighting… [Read More]

Around 850,000 Sudanese refugees are now living in Egypt after fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has entered its fourth year. Many, like Nawal, a widow caring for six children, struggle to meet basic needs such as food and healthcare. UNHCR provides support through registration, refugee status determination, protection services, health, education, psychological assistance,… [Read More]

For over a decade, UNESCO and the United Nations Satellite Centre have collaborated to monitor and protect cultural and natural heritage threatened by conflicts and disasters. Formalized through a 2015 agreement, the partnership has evolved from limited assessments in countries like Iraq and Syria into a global, systematic operation with rapid response capabilities supported by… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has released the World Migration Report 2026, underscoring how safe and regular migration pathways shape economies, societies, and communities worldwide. The report warns that restricting legal migration channels increases risks for migrants, raises costs for States, and reduces the broader benefits migration can provide. Migration continues to play a… [Read More]

The UN has issued a stark warning about the risks of a “digital pandemic,” urging Member States to work together to prevent cascading failures across critical systems. The concern stems from both natural and human‑made disruptions, including solar storms, extreme weather, and space debris, which could simultaneously impact sectors such as finance, healthcare, transport, energy,… [Read More]

A new ILO report highlights the urgent need for governments to make lifelong learning a central pillar of economic and social policy as digitalization, artificial intelligence, the green transition, and demographic shifts reshape global labour markets. The report warns that without stronger investment in inclusive learning systems, these transformations risk widening inequalities both within and… [Read More]

The World Bank Group has released its Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for The Gambia, highlighting jobs, livelihoods, and economic opportunity as central to the country’s development agenda. The report warns that rising environmental pressures are already affecting productivity, agriculture, and infrastructure, and stresses the need for targeted resilience investments to protect jobs and… [Read More]

The Royal Government of Bhutan and the World Bank have signed financing agreements worth $515 million for the 1,125 MW Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project, which will become Bhutan’s largest hydropower project and a cornerstone of its 13th Five‑Year Plan. Developed under a public‑private partnership, the project will supply clean electricity, boost economic growth, and reinforce… [Read More]

The World Bank Group has announced a new six‑year Regional Partnership Framework (RPF) with nine Pacific Island countries—Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu—to support country‑led priorities for jobs, resilience, and economic growth. The partnership, running from FY2026 to FY2031, comes at a time of global volatility and aims to strengthen… [Read More]

A high‑level meeting in Accra on May 4th brought together ministers of health and finance from Western and Central Africa, alongside development partners, civil society, private sector representatives, and youth leaders, to advance the region’s health, nutrition, and population agenda. The World Bank Group launched its new regional health strategy, Fit to Prosper: Investing in… [Read More]

A new study by Zero Carbon Analytics has found that scaling up solar power could help the Philippines avoid about US$28 million in coal and gas imports by 2030. This would ease the impact of Middle East‑driven energy price spikes on a country already struggling with staggered fuel price hikes. The report estimates that meeting… [Read More]

Rising input costs are forcing farmers to rethink fertilizer use, leading to reduced application rates in many cases. However, this shift is also driving a broader transformation in agriculture, where the focus is moving from simply applying nutrients to maximizing their efficiency and economic return. The concept of Return on Fertilizer Investment (ROFI) is gaining… [Read More]

India has withdrawn its bid to host COP33 in 2028, signaling a shift in its climate diplomacy priorities amid growing finance gaps, geopolitical tensions, and rising expectations in global climate negotiations. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change confirmed the decision to the UNFCCC, ending India’s earlier ambition announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi… [Read More]

The government of Ontario has introduced new legislation to implement HST relief on eligible new homes, aiming to reduce costs for homebuyers and stimulate housing development. The proposed measure, developed in partnership with the federal government, is expected to provide significant financial relief while supporting economic growth and job creation in the province’s construction sector…. [Read More]

Rural Minds has launched a new educational webpage, “Tardive Dyskinesia: What You Need to Know,” to mark Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month. Supported by Neurocrine Biosciences and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the initiative aims to raise awareness of tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder linked to antipsychotic medications that causes… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank Group strengthened its commitment to addressing housing challenges in Germany by hosting a major housing roadshow in Berlin. The event brought together government officials, housing developers, financial institutions, and industry stakeholders to identify practical solutions for increasing the supply of affordable homes. Discussions focused on overcoming barriers such as rising construction… [Read More]

Dr. Rob Johansson, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis at the American Sugar Alliance (ASA), testified before the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on the severe impact that foreign overcapacity and subsidized over‑quota sugar imports have had on American sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers, as well as the workers who process these crops. He urged USTR to… [Read More]

The Government of Ontario has announced a $480,000 investment to expand inclusive and affordable sport opportunities for girls across the province. The funding will support “The Next Play Program,” led by Canadian Women & Sport, aiming to engage nearly 3,500 girls by equipping community sport organizations with the tools and resources needed to nurture young… [Read More]