cat

Bangladesh is entering a critical reform phase ahead of its scheduled graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which highlights significant governance, fiscal, and institutional challenges that could affect the country’s long-term economic stability. In its report titled “Bangladesh at a Crossroads of… [Read More]

Bangladesh Bank has launched a Tk 600 billion refinancing and support package aimed at revitalizing the country’s slowing private-sector economy, boosting employment, and restoring industrial and agricultural activity. The central bank introduced the stimulus programme on Saturday, describing it as a key part of the government’s broader economic recovery agenda. Officials said the initiative is… [Read More]

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new policy permitting Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines engaged in international operations to place their foreign currency account balances into interest-bearing or profit-generating renewable term deposits. The central bank issued a circular on Sunday outlining the new facility, which allows Authorized Dealer (AD) banks to convert eligible foreign currency account… [Read More]

StrainX Bioworks, a synthetic biology startup based in India, has secured $13 million (₹124 crore) in funding as it emerges from stealth mode, marking one of the largest early‑stage investments in the country’s biotech sector. The round was co‑led by Prime Venture Partners and Leo Capital, with participation from Good Startup, Sparrow Capital, Sun Icon Ventures, Dholakia Ventures, and WindT (IIT Delhi) Angels. Founded by Akshay Mittal and Alok Malaviya, both… [Read More]

Foreign loan disbursement to Bangladesh declined sharply by almost 19% in the first nine months of the 2025–26 fiscal year, reflecting a slowdown in external financing amid ongoing political and economic instability. According to the Economic Relations Division (ERD), development partners and international lending agencies disbursed $3.89 billion in loans and grants between July and… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $1.4 billion in financing to Bangladesh to support four major development projects aimed at strengthening economic governance, social protection systems, and infrastructure expansion across the country. The financing agreement was formally signed between Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance and the ADB during a bilateral… [Read More]

Vietnam’s “Bright Future” Fund has received more than $84.6 million in donations to support disadvantaged cancer patients, marking a significant boost in national efforts to improve access to treatment and care for vulnerable groups. The funding, equivalent to over VNĐ2.23 trillion, was pledged during a charity art and fundraising programme held in Ho Chi Minh… [Read More]

  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised serious concerns over increasing violence affecting healthcare systems across Latin America and the Caribbean, warning that seeking medical care is becoming dangerous in several conflict-affected regions. According to the ICRC, attacks, threats, and intimidation against healthcare workers are becoming more frequent in countries such… [Read More]

London-based startup Spaceflux has successfully raised £5.4 million (€6.2 million) in seed funding, co-led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), Foresight Group, and Blackfinch Ventures, with additional backing from Seraphim Space. Founded in 2022, Spaceflux is building a global telescope network and pioneering AI-driven space situational awareness (SSA) technologies to track satellites… [Read More]

Malaysia’s Securities Commission (SC) has launched a new Social Exchange platform aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in charitable fundraising and social impact financing. The initiative is designed to strengthen governance in the non-profit sector while enabling clearer tracking of how donated funds are used. Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong said the platform… [Read More]

The UK Government has announced a £30 million investment aimed at restoring and expanding wildlife habitats across England’s most cherished natural landscapes, including National Parks, National Landscapes, and the Broads. The initiative is part of a broader national strategy to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030 and reverse long-term biodiversity decline. The funding… [Read More]

Developed countries have exceeded the USD 100 billion annual climate finance target for the third consecutive year, providing and mobilising USD 132.8 billion in 2023 and USD 136.7 billion in 2024, according to the latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The findings confirm that the long-standing UN climate finance goal,… [Read More]

City officials in Paterson, New Jersey, have requested $5 million in federal funding to renovate and expand the Riverside Vets Senior Citizen Community Center on Fifth Avenue — the city’s only dedicated recreation space for older residents. The proposed upgrades include installing an elevator, modernizing bathrooms and the kitchen, and refurbishing the lower level to accommodate more programs and… [Read More]

The Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP) has announced a strategic partnership with fintech company DASH to develop a new white-label investment platform called the Foundation Adviser Wrap. The move marks the association’s return to the platform space, aiming to strengthen adviser independence and improve governance standards in the financial advice sector. The initiative… [Read More]

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $15 million in emergency funding to support the ongoing Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as health authorities work to contain the Bundibugyo strain outbreak across affected regions. The funding aims to strengthen rapid response efforts through key international health institutions already active… [Read More]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has opened its 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, with a strong focus on addressing Africa’s widening $400 billion development financing shortfall amid global economic fragmentation. More than 3,000 delegates from the Bank’s 81 member countries are expected to attend the sessions from May 25 to 29, marking the 61st AfDB Annual… [Read More]

A newly identified Ebola variant has been declared in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising urgent concerns about the safety of vulnerable populations, particularly children, amid an already fragile humanitarian situation. Health authorities have reported outbreaks in the health zones of Bunia, Mongwalu, and Rwampara, with initial figures indicating… [Read More]

The UK Government has announced a £30 million investment to restore and create wildlife-rich habitats across England’s most valued natural landscapes, marking a major step toward its goal of protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030. The funding, introduced under the new Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund, will support large-scale nature restoration projects across National Parks,… [Read More]

India’s startup ecosystem is experiencing a significant shift as women-led startups secured record venture capital funding in the first half of 2026. The surge highlights growing investor confidence in female founders across sectors such as fintech, health-tech, sustainability, and e-commerce, marking one of the strongest periods of growth for women entrepreneurs in the country. Industry… [Read More]

Space simulation epic Star Citizen has officially surpassed $1 billion in total funding, marking one of the most extraordinary milestones in gaming history. The achievement coincides with the release of a new $5,000 virtual spaceship, the Anvil Odin, which players cannot yet fly in‑game. Developer Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) confirmed the record via its public funding tracker, which showed… [Read More]

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for urgent global action to contain Ebola outbreaks and strengthen pandemic preparedness systems, warning that the world remains vulnerable to rapidly spreading infectious diseases. His remarks came at the conclusion of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where health leaders… [Read More]

New Zealand’s Government has announced a major Budget 2026 initiative designed to help businesses transition away from natural gas while protecting jobs and easing pressure on the country’s declining gas supply. The Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme will enable up to $1.2 billion in bank lending for eligible businesses looking to reduce or eliminate their… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) have launched a new initiative called the Compliance Edge Lab 2026–27, aimed at strengthening responsible business practices across Viet Nam’s rapidly growing electronics sector. The programme was officially announced in Ha Noi on 22 May 2026 and is designed to… [Read More]