One year after the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, African leaders and partners have reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts to protect children from violence. Convening for a three-day ARISE Africa meeting hosted by WHO Africa, UNICEF, and partner organizations, ministers, UN agencies, civil society groups, youth networks, and… [Read More]
WHO
Ethiopia Investigates Suspected Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Outbreak as WHO Deploys Emergency Teams
Ethiopia is investigating a suspected outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fever in the South Ethiopia Region, prompting health authorities to intensify their response efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the government by deploying an initial emergency team and delivering vital medical supplies to help determine the cause of the infection and prevent further spread…. [Read More]
Benin Releases Its First National Health Sector Report, Marking a Decade of Progress and Future Priorities
Benin has published its first national report on the state of the health sector, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen evidence-based health governance. Presented on Tuesday in Cotonou, the report was developed by the Health Sector Regulatory Authority (ARS) with support from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization… [Read More]
UN Backs Ethiopia’s Emergency Response to Potentially Deadly Virus Outbreak
Suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases have emerged in the South Ethiopia Region, with eight potential infections reported so far. Laboratory testing is underway to determine the exact cause of the outbreak, and health workers are among those infected, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Viral haemorrhagic fevers are severe, epidemic-prone diseases caused by various… [Read More]
UK Government Teams Up with The King’s Trust and Idris Elba to Expand Creative Industry Pathways for Youth
The government has announced a £500,000 investment to expand Creative Futures, a programme delivered by The King’s Trust in partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation. The initiative aims to break down barriers that prevent young people from entering creative fields such as music, theatre, media and visual arts. In its first year, more than 100… [Read More]
Nationwide Launch of Youth Diversion Projects Marks Major Child Justice Reform
The Government has announced that Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are now fully operational across Ireland, ensuring that any young person at risk of criminal behaviour can access youth justice services regardless of where they live. This milestone aligns with commitments in the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy 2021–2027. The national rollout was… [Read More]
African Development Bank Clears $310 Million Financing to Support MSMEs, Women Entrepreneurs and Agribusiness Growth in South Africa
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $310 million financial package for FirstRand Bank to expand lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa. The support places strong emphasis on women-led businesses and agribusinesses, aiming to enhance access to capital for groups that traditionally face significant financing barriers. As one of Africa’s… [Read More]
$211.4 Million AfDB Investment Set to Transform Agriculture and Employment in Eastern Angola
The African Development Bank Group has approved a financing package worth $211.4 million to strengthen agricultural production and expand employment opportunities in eastern Angola. The initiative, known as the Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, aims to turn the region into a major food hub for Angola and neighbouring countries by capitalizing on its… [Read More]
Human Trafficking in Romania: Need for Better Legislation, Prevention, and Protection for Vulnerable Groups
Romanian authorities have made important strides in combating human trafficking, yet further measures are needed to protect vulnerable populations, identify and assist victims, and hold perpetrators accountable, according to a new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). The evaluation examines Romania’s actions since 2021,… [Read More]
Taliban in Afghanistan Could Face Fresh Sanctions, Says Australia
The Australian government is moving to amend its sanctions regulations to enhance accountability for Taliban officials and others responsible for serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan, according to Human Rights Watch. The proposed changes to the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations will introduce criteria specific to Afghanistan, allowing Australia to impose targeted sanctions and travel bans on… [Read More]
WHO Confirms Egypt Has Eliminated Trachoma as a Public Health Problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, becoming the seventh country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to reach this milestone. Globally, Egypt’s achievement brings the total number of countries that have eliminated trachoma as a public health issue to 27. This landmark accomplishment… [Read More]
Global TB Fight at Risk Amid Funding Challenges, Experts Warn
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting an estimated 10.7 million people in 2024, according to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025. Despite notable progress in diagnosis, treatment, and innovation, persistent challenges in funding and equitable access to care threaten to reverse gains in the… [Read More]
Pivotal and Lever for Change Reveal 80+ Winners of $250 Million Global Women’s Health Initiative
Pivotal and Lever for Change have announced over 80 organizations as recipients of funding through Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global initiative aimed at improving women’s mental and physical health worldwide. Each award ranges from $1 million to $5 million, supporting organizations that deliver health solutions for women across all stages of life…. [Read More]
Federal Government Boosts Funding to End Veteran Homelessness Across Canada
In response to growing global economic uncertainty, the Government of Canada unveiled Budget 2025: Canada Strong, a strategic plan to transform the nation’s economy into one that is more self-sufficient, resilient, and less reliant on a single trade partner. The budget aims to enable $1 trillion in investments over the next five years, with a… [Read More]
Building Resilience in the Pacific Through Fair and Inclusive Wage Systems
A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Massey Business School, highlights that effective minimum wage systems are crucial for reducing working poverty, advancing social justice, and enhancing economic resilience across Pacific Island Countries. The report, titled “Minimum Wage Systems and Wage-Setting Practices in the Pacific Island Countries,” offers a… [Read More]
Standing Strong: How One Community in Brazil is Adapting to Climate Change and Rising Tides
In the small coastal community of Vila do Pesqueiro, Brazil, life once revolved around the sea. Ivanil and her husband fished, planted crops, and raised animals on a patch of land they lovingly called paradise. But one night, everything changed. A violent storm brought thunder, lightning, and relentless rain that battered their small homes, forcing… [Read More]
Global Tuberculosis Cases Drop for the First Time Since the Pandemic
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, global tuberculosis (TB) cases are showing a downward trend. The latest report highlights important progress in reducing the disease’s burden, but also warns that these gains are at risk due to severe funding shortfalls that could reverse years of hard-won progress. According to the World… [Read More]
New FAO-WFP Report Highlights Rising Risk of Acute Food Insecurity in 16 Crisis Hotspots
A new joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that acute food insecurity is rapidly worsening in 16 global hunger hotspots, putting millions at risk of famine. The report highlights that time is running out to prevent widespread starvation as conflict,… [Read More]
Republic of Korea Donates Rice to Aid Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh, Welcomed by Government and WFP
The Government of Bangladesh, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) jointly held a handover ceremony in Chattogram to mark Korea’s latest rice donation in support of the Rohingya humanitarian response. The event, held at WFP’s Alongkar Warehouse, was attended by key representatives including Md. Mostafizur Rahman,… [Read More]
Trapped in Haiti’s Prisons: Addressing Overcrowding and Justice Reform
Haiti is facing a severe humanitarian, political, and security crisis, exacerbated by gang violence, entrenched poverty, and a series of natural disasters, including Hurricane Melissa. The country’s justice system is struggling to function effectively under these pressures, with cases delayed and 82 per cent of prisoners held in pre-trial detention. Many detainees are living in… [Read More]
South Sudan at a Crossroads: Key Developments and Why They Matter
The peace process in South Sudan is approaching a critical juncture, with core commitments under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement stalling or reversing. The agreement, designed to prevent a return to civil war, is under strain as its power-sharing and security provisions weaken. Political competition ahead of the December 2026 elections threatens to spark renewed… [Read More]
Post-Election Turmoil in Tanzania: Reports of Mass Killings and Detentions
On 29 October, widespread protests erupted in Tanzania against the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, quickly turning violent and resulting in multiple deaths. UN human rights chief Volker Türk reported harrowing accounts of families desperately searching for missing relatives, visiting police stations and hospitals in hopes of locating them. Further reports indicate that security… [Read More]
2026 Photography Residency “People, Land, Memories” – Call for Applications
The Delegation of the European Union to Jordan, in partnership with the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts under the Factory Platform – Jordan Art Residency & Studios (JARS) Program, is inviting emerging photographers from Jordan and EU Member States to apply for the “People, Land, Memories” photography residency. This seven-day creative programme, taking place… [Read More]
