Estonia has achieved remarkable progress in reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, making it one of ten WHO European Region Member States to reach the 2025 NCD Global Monitoring Framework target of a 25% reduction in premature mortality. Despite being a small country with limited resources, Estonia’s commitment to… [Read More]
WHO
Promoting Health Through Sports: WHO Launches New Guide for Clubs and Communities
WHO/Europe has launched a new guidance tool aimed at promoting health through sports by supporting sports clubs, managers, and decision-makers to integrate health promotion into the core of their activities. While sport is widely recognized for its physical, mental, and social benefits, participation alone does not automatically ensure improved health outcomes, as risks such as… [Read More]
UNGA: PAHO Joins Global Call for Action at High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health
On 25 September, global leaders will convene at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York for the Fourth High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Mental Health and Wellbeing. The meeting aims to adopt a Political Declaration to accelerate global efforts to reduce the… [Read More]
Slowing Progress on NCDs and Mental Health: WHO Calls for Affordable Interventions
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report titled “Saving Lives, Spending Less”, highlighting that an additional investment of just US$3 per person annually in combating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) could generate economic benefits of up to US$1 trillion by 2030. The report also analyzes country-level progress in reducing NCD mortality between 2010 and 2019…. [Read More]
Lesotho Strengthens One Health Collaboration Through National Bridging Workshop
Lesotho has taken significant steps to strengthen coordination between human, animal, and environmental health sectors through a three-day National Bridging Workshop held in Maseru District. The workshop, organized by the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Food Security, and Environment in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the… [Read More]
WHO Raises Alarm Over Rising Suicide Rates in Eswatini
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concern over the rising number of suicides in Eswatini, urging urgent and coordinated action to save lives. The Kingdom of Eswatini ranks second globally in suicide rates, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Speaking ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day in Mbabane, WHO Eswatini Representative Dr. Susan Tembo… [Read More]
Democratic Republic of the Congo Accelerates Response to End Ebola Outbreak
The response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is accelerating, with intensified measures aimed at breaking the chain of transmission. Since the declaration of the outbreak on 4 September 2025, major progress has been achieved in detection, treatment, vaccination, and contact tracing. Monitoring of confirmed case contacts has risen… [Read More]
Modern Laboratory Enhances Côte d’Ivoire’s Fight Against Polio
Côte d’Ivoire has taken an important step in strengthening its fight against poliovirus with the launch of an upgraded laboratory in Abidjan. The facility, based at the Institut Pasteur of Côte d’Ivoire, is designed to improve the detection and timely response to polio cases, ensuring children are better protected from the debilitating disease. The new… [Read More]
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Strategic Partnership Empowers Youth with Careers and Opportunities
Jim Bowman, Chairperson of the New Jersey Advisory Board for Think Big for Kids, recognized the need for a strong alliance to advance the organization’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty for teens and young adults. Drawing on his long-standing commitment to the nonprofit, Bowman turned to the Association for Corporate Growth New Jersey… [Read More]
Mobile Health Teams Provide Lifeline for Gender-Based Violence Survivors in Hebron
Ayat, a 29-year-old mother of four who is expecting another child, lives in Deir Al Shams, a rural village in southern Hebron where health services are scarce and social connections for women are limited. For her and others in the community, even a simple doctor’s visit requires costly travel to the city. With the recent… [Read More]
Zanzibar Sets Sail for Inclusive Growth: New UN-Backed Programmes Tackle Climate Change and Empower Communities
Zanzibar has launched two groundbreaking joint programmes designed to drive inclusive growth, women’s economic empowerment, and climate resilience across the northern regions of Unguja and Pemba. Spearheaded by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, the United Nations, and key development partners, these initiatives aim to uplift vulnerable communities while advancing the country’s blue economy and Sustainable… [Read More]
EU Moves to Fund Ukraine with Frozen Russian Assets, Bypassing Hungary’s Veto
The European Union is weighing a proposal to create a “reparation loan” for Ukraine, secured by frozen Russian assets, in an effort to bolster Kyiv’s wartime finances while sidestepping Hungary’s repeated vetoes. Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow, has consistently opposed sanctions on Russia and blocked Ukraine’s EU accession talks, testing the bloc’s unity… [Read More]
First Workers Receive Compensation Under Bangladesh’s Groundbreaking Employment Injury Scheme
Bangladesh has begun delivering long-awaited compensation to workers and families affected by workplace accidents in its export processing zones (EPZs), marking a historic step in strengthening social security for the country’s export-oriented industries. The first beneficiaries of the pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS)—two families of deceased workers and one worker with a permanent disability—have officially… [Read More]
Bank of Agriculture Launches $1 Billion Financing Programme to Support Farmers
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has partnered with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to mobilize up to $1 billion in financing aimed at supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain in Nigeria. The agreement was finalized during the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Algeria, highlighting a strategic effort to enhance productivity,… [Read More]
Global Change Award 2026: Nominations Now Open for Innovators Worldwide
The Global Change Award (GCA) 2026, launched by the H&M Foundation, is now accepting nominations for early-stage ideas aimed at reshaping the textile industry toward a net-zero future. This annual innovation challenge supports bold changemakers who seek to transform how fashion is made, used, and valued. Program Director Annie Lindmark highlights that each year brings… [Read More]
Advancing Health, Human Rights, and Sustainability in Global Drug Policies
At the launch of the third UNDP Discussion Paper on drug policy and development, Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, highlighted the critical need to view drug policy through a development lens. He emphasized that drug issues are scarcely represented in the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable… [Read More]
Rockefeller Foundation Launches $50M Initiative Backed by Global Support for International Cooperation
The Rockefeller Foundation has released the findings of a landmark global poll revealing widespread but fragile support for international cooperation. Conducted across 34 countries, the survey of 36,405 adults highlights the desire for nations to work together in addressing shared threats, despite growing nationalist rhetoric and declining development aid. Alongside these findings, the Foundation launched… [Read More]
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Officially Enters into Force
On 15 September, the World Trade Organization (WTO) marked a historic moment with the entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This agreement aims to curb billions of dollars in annual subsidies that fuel overfishing and contribute to the depletion of marine resources, addressing one of the most pressing global environmental and… [Read More]
Afghanistan Faces ‘Perfect Storm’ of Crises, UN Issues Urgent Warning
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of overlapping crises, according to the UN’s outgoing envoy, Roza Otunbayeva, who addressed the Security Council on Wednesday. While armed conflict has declined since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the humanitarian, economic, and human rights situations have deteriorated sharply. Otunbayeva warned that decisions driven by ideology rather than pragmatism… [Read More]
Afghanistan Marks Four Years of Girls’ Secondary Education Ban
For millions of girls in Afghanistan, it has now been four years since the de facto authorities imposed a ban on secondary education, part of a broader roll-back of women’s rights since the Taliban regained control of Kabul. Many girls, including Fatima Amiri, have been directly affected by violence and threats aimed at keeping them… [Read More]
World News in Brief: Migrant Medics, UN Top Innovators, Nigeria Rights Update, Sunscreen as Essential Medicine
A new UN health agency report reveals that in Europe in 2023, six out of ten medics were trained outside the region, with an even higher proportion for nurses. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that many western and northern European countries have become heavily dependent on foreign health workers, creating strain on the countries… [Read More]
Promoting Equal Pay in the Workplace Through Skills and Rights Awareness
Pay discrimination remains a major factor contributing to the gender pay gap, affecting many industries where employees performing similar work may receive different wages based on gender or other factors unrelated to job performance. This persistent inequality highlights the need for interventions that combine skills development with awareness of workplace rights. In İstanbul, Türkiye, Syrian… [Read More]
ScaleUp Africa Youth Innovation Challenge Shines at Africa Food Systems Forum
Youth-owned agribusinesses in Africa face numerous structural challenges that hinder their growth and resilience. These challenges include limited access to affordable finance, insecure land tenure, and weak market linkages, which often prevent them from scaling beyond subsistence. Climate variability and environmental degradation further increase the risks for young entrepreneurs, many of whom operate on thin… [Read More]
