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]
WHO
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]
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]
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]
Youth as Drivers of Change: World Leaders Emphasize ‘Extraordinary Power of Ordinary People
At the United Nations General Assembly, world leaders highlighted the central role of young people in addressing the world’s most urgent challenges. They emphasized that today’s generation holds remarkable promise, despite the barriers millions of children and youth face in accessing education, healthcare, and political participation. Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly and one… [Read More]
Indonesia Set to Receive Dubois Collection from the Netherlands
The Netherlands has announced plans to return more than 28,000 fossils from the Dubois collection to Indonesia, following a formal request by Indonesian authorities. The collection, currently held at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, includes key fossils such as a skullcap, a molar, and a femur attributed to Homo erectus, an important species in… [Read More]
India and EU Launch Ideathon to Combat Marine Plastic Litter
The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched as a joint initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, with support from the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies. The… [Read More]
New Wave of Displacement Hits Northern Communities Amid Escalating Conflict
In northern Mozambique, a fresh wave of coordinated attacks by armed groups in September has forced hundreds of families to flee their homes, with many arriving in the districts of Mueda, Nangade, and Montepuez. However, these areas are already struggling after eight years of conflict, making it difficult to provide adequate support for the relentless… [Read More]
UK Commits Additional £6 Million to Somalia Security Support Facility Trust Fund
The United Kingdom has announced an additional contribution of £6 million (over $8 million USD) to the Somali Security Forces (SSF) Trust Fund, administered by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). This funding will provide vital non-lethal logistical support, including food rations, fuel, communication equipment, tentage, and life-saving medical evacuation services for Somali… [Read More]
la Caixa” Foundation and UNHCR Strengthen Efforts for Maternal and Child Health
The ”la Caixa” Foundation and UNHCR have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership to support refugee communities in Ethiopia, one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries. As part of this renewed collaboration, the ”la Caixa” Foundation will continue its support for the Moments of Motherhood (MOM) Project, a flagship initiative that has significantly improved health outcomes for refugee… [Read More]
Breaking Barriers to Financing Digital Inclusion: Join the Global Conversation
Nearly one-third of the global population has never accessed the internet, with rural and marginalized urban communities, particularly in the Global South, being the most affected. Groups facing systemic barriers, including women, Indigenous peoples, and low-income populations, are disproportionately excluded, highlighting the urgent need for equitable digital access. Despite sufficient resources existing to close these… [Read More]
Audrey Azoulay Advocates for Unhindered Access to Education for Girls in Science and Technology
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and Professor Peng Liyuan, Special Envoy of the Organization, marked the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, supported by China. During her visit, Azoulay will also sign agreements to establish a new UNESCO Institute in Shanghai focused on science and technology education, a field where… [Read More]
World Maritime Day 2025: Advancing Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection at Sea
The theme for World Maritime Day 2025, “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity,” underscores the critical importance of maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. This year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) highlights the UK’s ongoing commitment to these priorities, reflecting the central role of shipping in global trade and marine conservation. Over the past… [Read More]
£214 Million Boost for Welsh Communities to Enhance Neighbourhoods and Restore Local Pride
The UK Government has launched a £214 million Pride in Place programme to empower Welsh communities to transform their local areas, enhance neighbourhoods, and restore pride. This funding allows residents to decide how money is spent, enabling them to clean up streets, tackle anti-social behaviour, and save valued local facilities such as pubs and libraries…. [Read More]
150th Anniversary: Carlsberg Foundation Pledges DKK 150 Million to Advance Research Centres
The Carlsberg Foundation is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026 by awarding DKK 150 million in funding for interdisciplinary research centres, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to advancing Danish basic research. Established by brewer J.C. Jacobsen on 25 September 1876, the foundation was created to channel part of the brewery’s resources into scientific progress… [Read More]
How Contraceptives Empower Women’s Health and Socioeconomic Status
A new evidence brief from the United Nations’ Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the transformative impact of contraceptive use on women’s health and socioeconomic outcomes. Drawing on six systematic reviews, the report consolidates evidence showing that modern contraception not only reduces health risks but also strengthens women’s… [Read More]
Leading Health Funders Pledge to Strengthen Clinical Trials Worldwide
Several of the world’s leading medical research funders have signed a joint statement committing to strengthen clinical trial systems globally, following WHO standards. The agreement aims to integrate clinical trials into sustainable national infrastructures, enhance trial design, ensure diverse and representative participant populations, and embed best practices in transparency, data management, and public engagement. This… [Read More]
Strengthening Health Systems in Africa: WHO and China Join Forces
In Addis Ababa on 23 September 2025, Professor Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative a.i. to Ethiopia and the African Union, met with H.E. Ambassador Jiang Feng, Head of Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the AU, to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between WHO and China in advancing public health across Africa and explore deeper… [Read More]
Inaugural Sierra Leone Workshop Strengthens Death Certification and ICD-11 Adoption
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), concluded Sierra Leone’s inaugural two-day workshop of the death reporting sub-committee on 25 September 2025. This meeting brought together health professionals, civil registration experts, academia, and partners to initiate efforts aimed at institutionalizing the Medical… [Read More]
BFA and WHO Collaborate to Strengthen Health Systems in Angola
Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have formalized a strategic partnership to support Angola’s national response to the ongoing cholera outbreak, which has affected thousands of families across the country. The agreement, signed in Luanda, includes BFA’s contribution of 30 million kwanzas to purchase essential medical supplies such as rehydration… [Read More]
Start Your Business Programme: Helping Indonesian Workers Build Retirement Independence
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI)-ASEAN Trade Union Confederation (ATUC), is supporting Indonesian workers in preparing for retirement through entrepreneurship training. Many workers face uncertainty about their financial security as they approach retirement, with savings or social protection schemes often insufficient to ensure a stable… [Read More]
