The US nonprofit sector is facing a severe employment crisis due to federal budget cuts, the closure of USAID and reduced philanthropic funding, threatening the sector's ability to serve communities. A survey by Aparna Rae reveals significant organizational instability, with 50% of job losses due to layoffs and 19% from budget cuts. The situation is exacerbated by a paradox in which experienced professionals are seen as overqualified for available roles, leading to a brain drain as many consider leaving the sector.

Vision loss is the world's top unmet disability. Nonprofit GoodVision is creating sustainable vision care infrastructure around the globe at an ROI of 1:28, the highest of any global health intervention.

The conflict in Gaza has destroyed over 123,000 buildings and damaged an additional 75,000, figures that represent 81% of all structures in the territory. The devastation has generated an estimated 68 million tons of rubble -- enough to cover Manhattan with over 200 pounds of debris per square foot. The debris is intermixed with hazardous materials, unexploded ordnance and human remains, compounding the scale and complexity of the cleanup effort.

Since April 2023, airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces have killed at least 1,700 civilians and injured over 1,100 as bombs repeatedly targeted residential neighborhoods, markets, schools and displacement camps, a report by The Sudan Witness Project reveals. The group analyzed 384 airstrikes, highlighting that these attacks often hit crowded civilian areas, causing major casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The project's findings suggest that the SAF's use of unguided bombs in populated areas shows inadequate measures to avoid civilian harm.

The July 2025 shutdown of USAID resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in support for humanitarian efforts and the disappearance of the world's largest database of development evaluations. DevelopMetrics has used AI to analyze the agency's archive, uncovering key lessons, including the importance of bringing delivery closer to households, practicing skills in real-world settings, designing for scale, co-creating with local communities and strengthening the middle layer of implementation.

A UN committee has issued a critical report regarding New Zealand's record on racial discrimination, warning that government policies are at high risk of weakening Maori rights and entrenching disparities. The report highlights concerns about the disestablishment of the Maori Health Authority, cuts to Maori services and the minimization of the Treaty of Waitangi in schools and governance.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing its most severe cholera epidemic in 25 years, recording nearly 2,000 deaths and more than 64,000 cases since January, UNICEF warns. The outbreak, exacerbated by conflict and lack of clean water access, affects 17 of 26 provinces. UNICEF is appealing for funding to support its response efforts, as the government's cholera elimination plan remains severely underfunded.

Despite $1.9 billion in recent pledges, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative faces a $440 million shortfall through 2029, primarily due to reduced foreign aid from major donors like the UK, Germany and the US. The initiative recently announced a 30% budget reduction for next year, and experts warn that without fully closing the gap, children remain at risk and eradication efforts could stall.

The UN's 2026 aid appeals reveal stark disparities in how crises are prioritized. While responses for places like Gaza, Ukraine and Nigeria have over 80% of their needs included in the top funding tier, countries like Afghanistan, Somalia and Venezuela see less than half prioritized. Regional crises in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, along with several others, are also notably deprioritized. This uneven prioritization means that less than 60% of people identified as in need are targeted for aid in 2026, leaving millions excluded from emergency support.