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The European Commission has welcomed the adoption of the EU’s 20th sanctions package against Russia, reaffirming the bloc’s continued support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Moscow to engage in meaningful negotiations. The measures are intended to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort, particularly by targeting key revenue sources, financial systems, and mechanisms… [Read More]

Portugal has secured a major boost in European research funding, with six nationally coordinated proposals selected under the latest Teaming for Excellence call. The initiative will bring in €81 million in EU support to establish or upgrade centres of research excellence across the country. In total, the call received 64 proposals from EU Member States… [Read More]

Deloitte has launched the Asia Pacific Health Institute in Singapore to advance equitable healthcare access across the region by leveraging technology and innovation. Alongside the launch, it released a report titled Access amplified: technology solutions for improving healthcare access in Asia Pacific, which highlights how digital health tools and policy reforms can help address growing… [Read More]

In Dakar, 15-year-old Boubacar Barry’s return to school highlights how access to assistive technologies can transform lives. After nearly nine years of severe mobility limitations that kept him out of school and socially isolated, he has regained independence and confidence following the provision of a prosthesis. His experience reflects a broader challenge in Senegal, where… [Read More]

Xe Pian National Park in Champasak province, southern Laos, is among Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse protected areas, home to elephants, gibbons, deer and other wildlife. It became the site of an early forest carbon initiative, the Xe Pian REDD+ project, designed to reduce emissions from deforestation and generate carbon finance while also supporting local livelihoods…. [Read More]

The digitalisation of Indonesia’s social protection programme (perlinsos) in Banyuwangi, East Java, demonstrates how digital public infrastructure (DPI) can significantly transform public service delivery. Early trials show that processes which previously took between 75 and 200 days can now be completed in just minutes to a few hours, highlighting a major leap in administrative efficiency… [Read More]

Kazakhstan has announced its Just Energy Transition Investment Platform (QaJET) at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana, positioning it as a central pillar of its climate action, economic resilience, and long-term development strategy. The initiative reflects the country’s ambition to accelerate its clean energy transition by deploying 10 GW of new renewable energy capacity… [Read More]

The first wave of mandatory sustainability reports in Australia has now been published and audited, offering organisations preparing for upcoming cycles a clearer understanding of what practical compliance looks like under the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards. Early reporting experience, combined with audit feedback and implementation insights shared by Moore Australia and Pangolin Associates, shows that… [Read More]

The Union Budget of India for 2026–27 proposes the creation of a Rs. 10,000 crore growth fund for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Building on this, researchers Chakraborty and Singh argue that India should strengthen its MSME financing ecosystem by establishing guarantee institutions in partnership with the private sector and adopting modern credit-scoring-based lending… [Read More]

Climate finance is a critical requirement for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, with global needs estimated at around US$7.4 trillion annually. To effectively implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), countries must first understand their total climate finance requirements and identify how to mobilize funding from both domestic and international, public and private sources. In… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has announced a major investment of over $54 million through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) to support more than 2,600 community-based projects across over 400 communities nationwide. The initiative is aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors by helping them remain active, engaged, and socially connected amid… [Read More]

As the world marks Girls in ICT Day, attention is often placed on expanding digital access for girls. In northern Kenya, however, the focus has already shifted from access alone to active participation, where young women are using technology not just to learn, but to solve real community challenges. In Garissa County, 60 young women… [Read More]

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced three new grant opportunities aimed at improving health outcomes in rural communities as part of its Rural Health Transformation Program. The initiatives focus on prevention and wellness through school- and community-based projects, with applications open from April 22 to May 22, 2026. The funding is designed… [Read More]

The Ministry of University and Research in Italy has launched the PRIN Hybrid 2026 call for proposals, introducing €56.6 million in funding to support multidisciplinary research projects that combine humanities, social sciences, and new technologies. The initiative is part of the country’s Three-Year Research Plan and reflects a growing emphasis on integrating humanistic knowledge with… [Read More]

Corporate law is increasingly shaping venture capital (VC) policy debates around the world, from recent reforms in the United States to proposals for a new corporate framework in the European Union. However, developments in Latin America have received far less attention, despite offering valuable insights. New research tracking corporate law changes across multiple jurisdictions highlights… [Read More]

An ILO Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) project aimed at improving livelihoods and strengthening social cohesion between internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities was completed in peri-urban Bamako in March 2026. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the one-year initiative focused on creating decent work opportunities while improving local infrastructure through labour-intensive… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Banda Aceh City Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Banda Aceh to strengthen the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) ecosystem and support the city’s Perfume City Programme. The initiative focuses on developing Banda Aceh’s signature commodity, patchouli, which has long been recognised as one of… [Read More]

For decades, global ideas of philanthropy have largely been shaped by Western traditions, where giving is often associated with wealthy individuals donating money to support social causes. In this framework, generosity is measured financially and treated as a separate act from everyday life. However, the concept of adɔyɛ within the Akan people of Ghana offers… [Read More]

The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) has priced a $120 million Spekboom Restoration Outcome Bond to support large-scale ecosystem restoration and job creation in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Maturing in 2040, the bond is the World Bank’s longest-dated outcome bond and offers investors full principal protection, with returns linked to both a… [Read More]

Rising costs of innovative medicines are creating major affordability and access challenges worldwide, particularly in the United States where drug prices remain significantly higher than in other high-income nations. While these therapies—especially in areas like oncology, rare diseases, and gene treatments—offer significant clinical benefits, they are placing increasing financial pressure on public programs, insurers, and… [Read More]

A UN aid mission led by UNICEF has reported widespread devastation and urgent humanitarian needs in southern Lebanon, particularly in the town of Tebnine. Upon reaching a major hospital in the area, UNICEF spokesperson Christophe Boulierac described scenes of near-total destruction, noting that streets surrounding the facility had been completely flattened compared to just two… [Read More]

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved US$225 million in grant financing from the International Development Association to help Syria restore essential public services in its water and health sectors. The funding will support two new projects aimed at improving living conditions for around 4.5 million people across the country by strengthening access… [Read More]

UN human rights chief Volker Türk has called on Mexican authorities to step up efforts to end impunity, safeguard journalists and human rights defenders, and address the country’s ongoing crisis of disappearances. Speaking at the end of an official visit to Mexico, he warned that violence remains a major concern, particularly for women defenders and… [Read More]