Urban October 2025 is a global initiative that highlights the central role of cities in addressing today’s crises and shaping tomorrow’s solutions. The month-long observance brings together stakeholders to explore innovative approaches to urban challenges, focusing on building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities. Urban October begins with World Habitat Day on 6 October and concludes… [Read More]
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Iloilo Province and UNDP Transform Post-Election Waste into Sustainable Solutions
The Iloilo Provincial Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines and supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation, has launched the Weave Out Waste (WOW) Limpyo Iloilo program. This initiative transforms post-election waste from the Limpyo Eleksyon 2025 into marketable consumer products, demonstrating a practical application of circular economy principles. The program builds… [Read More]
Indonesia Unveils 16.23 Trillion Rupiah Stimulus to Drive Growth and Support Workers
Indonesia has unveiled a 16.23 trillion rupiah (S$1.3 billion) stimulus package aimed at countering slowing economic growth and supporting households and businesses. The package, announced by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, includes eight programmes focused on strengthening social protection, creating jobs, and accelerating growth in strategic sectors. The government also plans infrastructure projects… [Read More]
Crane Venture Partners Unveils $135M APAC I Fund to Boost Regional Startups
Crane Venture Partners has announced the launch of Crane APAC I, a new $135 million fund dedicated to supporting early-stage founders in India, Singapore, and Australia. With this fund, the firm now manages $450 million in assets across Europe and Asia-Pacific, strengthened by its expanded partnership with MassMutual Ventures (MMV). The initiative reflects Crane’s belief… [Read More]
EBRD Launches US$ 634 Million Programme to Build Greener Financial Systems
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a new programme, “Greening financial systems: delivering climate finance for all”, with a total expected value of US$ 634 million. The initiative will be implemented in 13 countries across the EBRD regions, including Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, North… [Read More]
EBRD and BII Provide $100 Million to MHP to Strengthen Ukraine’s Food Security
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), together with British International Investment (BII), has announced a financing package of up to US$100 million for Ukraine’s leading agribusiness producer, MHP. Of this, the EBRD will provide US$80 million, while BII will contribute US$20 million. The financing aims to strengthen food security and resilience in wartime… [Read More]
EBRD Promotes Sustainable Infrastructure in Egypt Through Public-Private Partnerships
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Finance and with support from the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, has launched the €10 million Egypt Project Preparation Facility (EPPF). The initiative is designed to encourage greater private-sector participation in Egypt’s infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships (PPPs),… [Read More]
EBRD and EU Launch Green Investment Initiative in the West Bank
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has launched the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in the West Bank to accelerate the shift toward a greener and more sustainable economy. The programme is designed to strengthen private-sector and residential investments in small-scale renewable energy as well as… [Read More]
European Commission Unveils Strategy to Boost Research and Technology Infrastructures
The European Commission has unveiled a new strategy to strengthen research and technology infrastructures across Europe, aimed at boosting the continent’s leadership in scientific excellence and technological innovation. Recognizing the need to stay competitive in the global race for research and innovation, the strategy focuses on making infrastructures more integrated, accessible, and impactful for a… [Read More]
Global Initiative Boosts Low-Methane, Climate-Resilient Livestock for Africa’s Farmers
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with support from the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub, has launched a three-year, US$3.35 million initiative called Accelerating Reduced Emissions in Indigenous Breeds in Africa. As part of the Global Methane Genetics Initiative, the project will use advanced science and the genetic potential of indigenous cattle… [Read More]
EU Supports WFP Food and Cash Assistance for Ukraine’s Frontline Communities
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a €14.7 million contribution from the European Union to support food and cash assistance for people living in Ukraine’s frontline areas. The funding will also sustain essential logistics services for humanitarian organizations operating in the country. According to WFP Deputy Country Director in Ukraine Nanna Skau,… [Read More]
6,000 People to Gain Irish Citizenship in Two-Day Ceremony at Dublin’s Convention Centre
Over the course of today and tomorrow, approximately 6,000 people will be granted Irish citizenship at the Convention Centre Dublin. Six ceremonies will take place over the two days, attended by Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, and Ministers of State Robert Troy and Neale Richmond. Applicants from more… [Read More]
Kresge Foundation Pledges $180M to Revitalize Detroit Neighborhoods, Announces New Headquarters
The Kresge Foundation has announced a landmark $180 million investment in Detroit neighborhoods, underscoring its long-term commitment to community-led development. This announcement coincides with the foundation’s plan to relocate its headquarters from Troy to the Marygrove Conservancy Campus in Northwest Detroit. Over more than a decade, Kresge has invested significantly in improving neighborhood quality of… [Read More]
Hong Kong Rejects Same-Sex Partnerships Bill, Sparking Concerns Over LGBTI Rights
Hong Kong’s legislature recently rejected a bill that sought to establish a legal framework for registering same-sex partnerships, prompting criticism from human rights advocates. Amnesty International’s Nadia Rahman highlighted that the authorities failed to address the systemic inequalities faced by same-sex couples, noting that the rejected bill represented only a minimal step forward and applied… [Read More]
Orillia Declares Food Insecurity Emergency Amid Rising Struggles for Families
Orillia City Council has declared a household food insecurity emergency after data revealed that nearly a third of households in the region are struggling to afford groceries. According to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, about 30.7 percent of households in Simcoe County, including Orillia, are facing food insecurity. The council’s motion highlighted that Orillia… [Read More]
Iran’s Middle-Class Youth Face Rising Poverty Amid Economic Crisis
A recent report by the state-run daily Shargh highlights the accelerating financial collapse of Iran’s middle class, particularly among educated young people. Despite working multiple jobs, many find themselves slipping into poverty, with once-modest comforts like travel, dining out, and small savings now out of reach. These “poor middle class” Iranians describe a cycle of… [Read More]
Global Action Plan to End Food Poverty by 2026: Strategies and Goals
North East Lincolnshire Council is set to develop an action plan to tackle food poverty, with the plan now expected in early 2026 due to delays since its initial proposal in March 2023. Councillor Nicola Aisthorpe highlighted that the three-year delay has prolonged hardships for residents facing food insecurity. To inform the forthcoming plan, the… [Read More]
India Leads Global Decline in Child Poverty, Millions Still at Risk
Over the past decade, South Asia has achieved significant progress in reducing extreme child poverty, yet broader economic vulnerability remains widespread. According to a joint World Bank and UNICEF report titled “Ten Years of Progress and Challenges: Insights into Global Child Poverty,” while extreme child poverty in the region fell from around 25 percent in… [Read More]
Global Child Poverty: Ten Years of Progress and Persistent Challenges
Over the past decade, there has been slow but steady progress in reducing extreme child poverty worldwide. Despite this, children remain disproportionately affected, representing over half of the global population living on less than $3.00 per day, even though they account for only 30 percent of the total population. A new joint analysis by the… [Read More]
Pacific Delegation Attends 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters to Tackle Gender-Based Violence
A Pacific delegation comprising government and civil society representatives will participate in the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) in Sydney, Australia, from 15-18 September 2025. The event is the largest global gathering of grassroots organisations and frontline workers dedicated to ending gender-based violence (GBV). The delegation highlights the Pacific region’s strong commitment to… [Read More]
Global Universities Sever Ties with Israeli Institutions Amid Gaza Crisis
Universities and academic institutions worldwide are increasingly severing ties with Israeli institutions in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in nearly 65,000 Palestinian deaths, most of them civilians. The scale of destruction has been compared to a man-made famine, with UN-backed assessments confirming widespread devastation across the territory. Several universities in… [Read More]
Switzerland Climate Protest: 1,000 Demonstrators Rally in Bern for Climate Justice
Around 1,000 people took to the streets of Bern on Saturday afternoon to demand climate justice, highlighting the deep social and ecological consequences of the climate crisis. Demonstrators emphasized that the current economic system exacerbates inequality through colonial and patriarchal structures and warned that natural disasters will displace millions of people worldwide. They stressed that… [Read More]
IFC Anchors $75M Investment in CFE Fibra E to Boost Mexico’s Electric Infrastructure
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has announced a US$75 million investment in the inaugural bond issuance of CFE Fibra E, a financial trust supported by Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). This initiative aims to mobilize private capital to strengthen and expand the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure. Structured under the… [Read More]
