cat

United Nations agencies, experts and stakeholders gathered in Pristina to discuss climate risks facing Kosovo’s agricultural sector and identify strategies to strengthen climate resilience and rural livelihoods. The event was organized under the project “Promoting Rural Women’s Empowerment in Kosovo,” funded by the Austrian Development Agency and jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $116 million financing package with Acwa to support the development of a 300‑megawatt wind power plant in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region. The project, known as Bash 2, will accelerate the country’s renewable energy transition and builds on the earlier Bash Wind Power Project cofinanced by ADB in 2023…. [Read More]

Governor Wes Moore has approved Maryland’s 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan, a major housing initiative designed to guide more than $300 million in investments for affordable housing development across the state. The plan, developed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, outlines how state funding and federal tax credits will be allocated to support… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its Asian Development Policy Report 2026 at the Annual Meeting in Samarkand, highlighting how greater specialization in global production has driven growth, job creation, and poverty reduction across Asia and the Pacific over the past 25 years. The report, Global Value Chains and Inclusive Development, shows that the… [Read More]

WHO, in collaboration with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), FIND and the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has launched an updated version of the Genomics Costing Tool (GCT 2.0) to help countries better understand the costs of establishing, expanding and maintaining genomic surveillance systems. The tool is designed to support sustainable planning… [Read More]

Ireland has taken significant steps to improve equitable access to assistive technology following the publication of a new Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C) conducted jointly by the Government of Ireland and WHO/Europe. The assessment offers the most detailed evaluation so far of Ireland’s ability to provide assistive technologies such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, walking canes,… [Read More]

Across South Africa’s sugarcane-producing regions, small-scale farmers are playing an increasingly important role in advancing sustainable agriculture and supporting the country’s transition toward a greener economy. In Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, farmers, technical experts, United Nations agencies and industry stakeholders gathered for a workshop led by the United Nations in South Africa, with technical support from United… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has increased its investment in Sarytogan Graphite Limited, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company developing one of the world’s largest known high-grade graphite deposits in Kazakhstan. Through a follow-on equity investment of AUD 1.4 million, the EBRD has raised its ownership stake in the company to 18.4 per cent,… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is supporting the expansion of Poland’s agrifood processing industry through a €13.5 million loan to LeciForce, a producer of premium sunflower lecithin products used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. The financing will support the construction of a modern manufacturing facility in Lublin, marking the first plant… [Read More]

New Zealand has introduced the Conservation Amendment Bill, marking the most significant reform of conservation legislation in nearly four decades. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka explained that the Bill modernises how conservation land is managed, aiming to reduce red tape, speed up approvals, and reinvest revenue directly into biodiversity protection and visitor infrastructure. Tourism and Hospitality… [Read More]

Montenegro’s agricultural sector is witnessing a transformation through Naše Voće, the country’s largest apple orchard, developed by brothers Miloš and Milan Golubović under the Veletex Group. Located in the Župa Nikšićka region, the 44-hectare orchard contains around 125,000 apple saplings and represents a major investment in modern farming techniques and local agribusiness development. The project… [Read More]

New Zealand has announced a new round of sanctions targeting malicious cyber actors and others supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed that 20 individuals and entities have been designated, including those enabling Russian cybercrime, spreading anti‑Ukraine propaganda, and supporting the Kremlin’s hybrid warfare tactics. The sanctions also target an alternative payment… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced sanctions against Turkish nationals Nihat Demiroğlu and Ahmet Yalçın Yazici, along with an entity under their joint control, following investigations into corruption and collusion linked to EBRD-financed infrastructure projects in Serbia and Ukraine. The projects involved the construction and rehabilitation of solid waste management systems and… [Read More]

The New Zealand Government has announced an investment of up to $7.1 million to upgrade six of the country’s Great Rides cycle trails, aiming to strengthen regional tourism, improve safety, and support conservation outcomes. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston highlighted that the cycle trails are one of New Zealand’s most successful regional tourism assets,… [Read More]

New Zealand has launched a new prevention initiative called Little Matters to help parents and caregivers protect children from sexual harm. Associate Minister for ACC Nicola Grigg explained that the programme shifts responsibility away from children and emphasizes the vital role of adults in creating safe environments and building healthy relationships. Little Matters outlines ten… [Read More]

New Zealand is moving to permanently close loopholes in its overseas adoption laws with the introduction of the Overseas Adoptions Legislation Bill. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced that the Bill replaces last year’s temporary suspension with a stronger, enduring system designed to put child safety first. She emphasized that while many international adoptions placed… [Read More]

Costa Rica’s transformation of agri‑food systems has moved from theory to practice, with cantons such as Buenos Aires and Guatuso demonstrating how integrated, nutrition‑sensitive approaches can improve diets, strengthen local economies, and advance the right to adequate food. These territories, rich in agricultural potential and cultural heritage, face persistent challenges including malnutrition and food insecurity,… [Read More]

At the Kabwata Orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia, 106 orphaned and abandoned children and youth have found a safe and nurturing home. With grant support from Bread and Water for Africa®, the orphanage provides holistic care, including shelter, nutritious meals, medical services, education, and psychosocial support. The program is designed not only to stabilize immediate needs… [Read More]

Gabon has signed investment agreements worth more than 775 billion CFA francs ($1.38 billion) with five private partners to strengthen its poultry sector and reduce reliance on imported chicken. The deals, concluded on May 4 under the Emergency Operational Plan for the Poultry Sector (POUFA), aim to build an integrated poultry value chain covering feed… [Read More]

In Bhutan, dietary insufficiency and affordability remain pressing challenges, with 86 percent of citizens not consuming enough fruits and vegetables and 27 percent of households unable to afford nutrient‑adequate diets. To address these issues, the World Food Programme (WFP) deepened its support in 2025, focusing on strengthening food systems, nutrition, and emergency preparedness through partnerships… [Read More]

UNESCO is intensifying efforts to protect cultural heritage and sustain cultural life in the Middle East and neighbouring regions as hostilities continue to pose risks. In Iran, where World Heritage properties, museums, and cultural institutions face heightened threats, UNESCO has been actively monitoring damage since February 2026. Satellite analysis and field reports have confirmed harm… [Read More]

Tanzania has taken a significant step toward modernizing its education system for the digital age. With support from UNESCO and funding from the Republic of Korea through the KFIT III Project, the country has strengthened the digital teaching capacity of ICT trainers nationwide. A Training of Trainers program held in Dar es Salaam in April… [Read More]

Smiths, the global industrial engineering company, has announced the third round of grants from its charitable foundation, awarding £1.3 million to 13 charities worldwide in 2026. Since its inception three years ago, the foundation has distributed nearly £3 million across 16 countries, supporting causes aligned with its values in STEM education, environmental sustainability, and community… [Read More]