The UN and the broader humanitarian system are being forced to imagine their approach to aid as traditional models reliant on major Western donors have proven unsustainable, write Allison Lombardo of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Stewart Patrick of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as they call for urgent reform efforts to address unprecedented budget shortfalls and operational crises. Empowering local actors, experimenting with new funding mechanisms and leveraging private sector engagement can help address longstanding inefficiencies, reduce bureaucracy and ensure the humanitarian system is more resilient and responsive to current global challenges, the authors advise.

Israel has reopened the Allenby crossing with Jordan, allowing trucks to cross into the West Bank for the first time since September. The reopening comes with new security measures, including more stringent screening for drivers and a dedicated security force at the terminal. Aid and commercial cargo bound for Gaza can now use this key transit point, though it remains unclear whether the first trucks carried humanitarian supplies or commercial goods. The move has been welcomed by US officials and coincides with ongoing efforts to increase humanitarian access to Gaza.

Global civic space has sharply deteriorated -- 83 countries now routinely deny freedoms, up from 67 in 2020, the People Power Under Attack report from CIVICUS reveals. Only about 7% of the world's population now lives in nations where civic space is free or relatively free -- a 50% drop from last year. The erosion of civic space is not limited to traditionally authoritarian states, as notable downgrades have occurred in established democracies like the US, France and Germany, signaling a worldwide crisis for civic engagement and democratic participation.

The World Inequality Report 2026 reveals that fewer than 60,000 individuals -- or 0.001% of the global population -- control three times more wealth than the poorest half of humanity. The highest-earning 10% make more than the remaining 90% combined, and own 75% of global wealth. The report calls for urgent action to address inequality, suggesting measures such as a global tax on the ultra-wealthy and increased public investment in health and education.

Nonprofit leaders are increasingly facing tech fatigue as an array of tools and platforms fail to deliver on promises of efficiency, writes Wayne Elsey, CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Elsey suggests organizations conduct a tech audit to identify essential tools and eliminate redundancies, involve staff in the process and foster a culture of clarity over complexity to ensure technology supports their mission.

Nonprofit boards can bolster governance and respond to investigations by meeting regularly, approving transactions outside of ordinary business, maintaining documentation and ensuring some directors are independent, William Klimon and Patrick Sternal write. Nonprofits should also be cautious when dealing with related entities, ensuring transactions are fair and well documented to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

Digital violence against women is increasingly translating into real-world danger, according to a study by UN Women in which 41% of respondents reported offline assaults, harassment or abuse directly connected to online attacks. These real-world incidents -- ranging from stalking and swatting to physical and sexual assault -- have more than doubled in the past five years, UN Women warns, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protections.

The Trump administration is weighing a proposal to levy terrorism-related sanctions against the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides aid, health care and education to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, insiders say. While the scope of the proposed sanctions is unclear, experts warn such a move would hurt aid delivery efforts in Gaza.