A record 907 aid workers were killed, injured, or kidnapped in 2025, with 350 deaths reported. The UN attributes the surge in violence to armed drone proliferation, noting Gaza and Sudan as the most dangerous conflict zones for humanitarian personnel.
Sally McManus is stepping down as the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions after nearly a decade, having shaped worker-friendly legislation under three prime ministers.
Morning briefing covering an FBI probe into Chinese espionage via a fake Brisbane consultancy, Sally McManus's departure from the ACTU, Logie award winners, and global news updates.
Hong Kong's Observatory was criticized for not raising Typhoon Prapiroon's storm warning above No 3, despite 200km/h winds causing chaos, endangering workers, and stranding thousands. A meteorologist called for an update to the outdated storm classification system.
Residents of Nethy Bridge, evacuated due to a large wildfire in Cairngorms National Park, can return home after the immediate threat was neutralized by firefighting efforts.
Seven American aid workers from Samaritan's Purse are quarantining at a new US-built isolation facility in Kenya, following US travel restrictions for those returning from Ebola-affected areas. The facility's construction has faced significant opposition and a court-ordered suspension in Kenya.
Aid agencies and MPs are urging the UK government to amend a new national security bill, warning it could criminalize legitimate humanitarian work in conflict zones. Despite some concessions, concerns remain that the legislation poses legal risks to aid workers operating in dangerous global environments.
Doctors and aid workers in Venezuela fear a deepening medical crisis following twin earthquakes, citing untreated injuries, potential infectious disease outbreaks due to poor sanitation and infrastructure damage, and a healthcare system strained by economic woes and emigration.
Venezuela faces a deepening health crisis post-earthquakes, with fears of untreated injuries, infectious diseases, and a collapsed healthcare system. Displaced citizens in crowded shelters lack clean water and sanitation, exacerbating the risk of outbreaks. International aid is arriving, but the scale of damage is immense.
Pauline Hanson revisited her long-standing anti-multiculturalism stance, now targeting 'radical Islam' and non-English speakers. She also attacked climate change policies, proposed defunding public broadcasters, and discussed abortion limits, while facing criticism over her 'champion of workers' image.
Donald Trump signed an executive order making it easier to fire thousands of senior federal workers, stripping job protections from about 8,000 employees deemed to be "influencing" government policy. Labor union leaders argue this move is a step backward to the "spoils system."
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading, with over 1,000 cases and 223 suspected deaths. Misinformation on social media hinders containment efforts, while reduced funding for organizations like the International Rescue Committee limits public health messaging. The US states it responded rapidly and funding levels remain unaffected.
Two Italian aid workers returning from Uganda, who were hospitalized in Milan with fever and other symptoms, have tested negative for Ebola, malaria, and common respiratory viruses. The current hypothesis is a bacterial gastrointestinal infection, with both individuals testing positive for Shigella.
An interim warning from the UK's Pensions Commission highlights that 15 million Britons aren't saving enough for retirement. Issues include low-paid and self-employed workers, gender and ethnic pension gaps, and risks from pensioner freedoms.
Hong Kong's statutory minimum wage will rise to HK$43.10 per hour from Friday, a HK$1 (2.38%) increase that marks the second adjustment under a new annual review formula introduced in 2024. Human resources experts say the increase is unlikely to significantly boost low-paid workers' incomes but should help preserve purchasing power and ease labour tensions.
Meta has terminated its contract with Nairobi-based outsourcing company Sama, resulting in over 1,000 Kenyan workers being abruptly laid off. The workers, primarily involved in content moderation and AI training, were given just six days' notice. This follows last month's revelations that some workers were asked to view private content filmed using Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. Activists have condemned the layoffs as exposing the precarious nature of tech jobs in the global south.
