A new £121.8 million funding package has been approved to accelerate the transformation of Quayside West at Forth Yards in central Newcastle. The investment will support essential remediation, groundworks, and infrastructure to overcome long-standing barriers that have left this prime riverside site derelict for decades despite its proximity to Newcastle Central Station and the city… [Read More]
cat
Council Awards $500,000 to Support 42 Local Not-for-Profit Organizations
Sutherland Shire Council has awarded $500,000 in grants and subsidies to 42 local not-for-profit organisations through its Annual Community Grants and Subsidies Program. The initiative highlights the council’s ongoing commitment to assisting those most in need across the community. This year saw record demand, with 83 applications totaling more than $1 million in requests, underlining… [Read More]
IDB Lab Invests $1.5M in Aviva to Boost Financial Inclusion in Mexico
IDB Lab, the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, has announced a $1.5 million investment in Aviva, a Mexican fintech startup founded in 2022. Aviva uses AI-powered kiosks to expand access to financial services among underserved communities across Mexico, marking IDB Lab’s first venture-debt operation in Latin America. The investment… [Read More]
UK Supports Mindanao Solar Plant to Deliver Clean Energy to 82,000 Filipino Families
A major renewable energy project in the Philippines has begun construction, marking a significant step forward in the country’s clean energy transition. A UK-backed 99-megawatt solar power plant in Tantangan, South Cotabato represents a ₱4.49 billion investment that will provide electricity to more than 82,000 households while helping cut annual carbon emissions by 66,000 tonnes…. [Read More]
Ken Dodd Happiness Centre Project Shelved Due to Funding Shortfall
A multi-million-pound project to create a “happiness centre” in honour of Liverpool comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd has been cancelled after failing to secure funding. The £15 million centre, planned for construction next to the Royal Court Theatre, was approved by Liverpool Council last year. It was envisioned as a cultural landmark, showcasing Sir Ken’s… [Read More]
Mpox in Malawi: How Community Action Successfully Beat the Outbreak
Mpox, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2024, has continued to pose challenges in several African countries, including Malawi. The country reported its first case on 16 April 2025, followed by an outbreak declaration a day later. By mid-July, 59 confirmed cases had been recorded, mostly in Lilongwe and Mangochi districts…. [Read More]
Marubeni Expands Pharmaceutical Business in Africa to Strengthen Strategic Platform
Marubeni Corporation has expanded its pharmaceutical business in Africa by completing an investment in Phillips Healthcare Corporation (Phillips Pharma) on August 4, 2025, making it a Marubeni equity-method affiliate. This investment builds on Marubeni’s prior healthcare initiatives, such as its contribution to a new antimalarial drug development program in Africa and participation in the AAIC… [Read More]
World Leaders Called to #ActForHumanity as Global Crises Escalate
On this World Humanitarian Day, tribute is paid to the countless humanitarians who risk—and too often lose—their lives while helping others. Women leaders and local responders, who stand at the frontlines of crises, face double threats: targeted both for their work and for who they are. This commemoration honours those killed in service and salutes… [Read More]
World News in Brief: Gaza Aid Crisis, Deadly Floods in South Asia, and Somalia Drought Worsened by Funding Cuts
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, with alarming levels of acute malnutrition being reported. Despite ongoing efforts, only 47 percent of the daily target food supplies are reaching those in need. The agency stressed that a ceasefire is essential to allow… [Read More]
WHO Confirms Rubella Eliminated as a Public Health Problem in Nepal
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a highly contagious viral infection that poses serious risks for pregnant women, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects. However, it is preventable through safe and cost-effective vaccines. Nepal has now eliminated rubella as a public health problem, marking a major milestone in protecting maternal and child health. The… [Read More]
First Person: Scaling Up Humanitarian Aid in Haiti Cannot Wait
Women and girls are bearing the heaviest burden of Haiti’s deepening humanitarian crisis. Gender-based violence (GBV), including gang rape, is widespread, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and is further aggravated by dire conditions in displacement camps. Recent funding cuts have forced the closure of centres providing sexual and reproductive health services and GBV support, leaving… [Read More]
UNESCO Awards €240k to Safeguard World Heritage Sites Across the Country
Ireland has launched the Pilot World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund, awarding nearly €240,000 to conserve, protect, and promote key World Heritage properties and Tentative List sites across the country. The initiative, announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD,… [Read More]
ILO Welcomes Malaysia’s First National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights to Advance Decent Work
Malaysia has adopted its first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR), reinforcing its commitment to eliminating forced labour, promoting fair recruitment, and protecting labour rights in business practices. The International Labour Organization (ILO) welcomed this milestone, highlighting that the inclusion of a labour pillar demonstrates Malaysia’s strong dedication to international labour standards… [Read More]
ILO Launches New Occupational Safety and Health Guide for Agriculture in Jordan
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with Jordan’s Ministries of Labour and Agriculture, has launched the final Arabic version of the “Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health in the Agriculture Sector.” The new guide is a major step toward improving workplace safety, reducing risks, and promoting decent work for Jordan’s agricultural workforce, which operates… [Read More]
WHO Urges Africa to Cut Reliance on Imported Medicines at Regional GMP Training Workshop
Africa must prioritize self-reliance in pharmaceuticals by strengthening local medicine production that meets global quality standards, urged Dr. Owen Laws Kaluwa, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, during a keynote address at a regional training workshop on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in Addis Ababa. He stressed that Africa’s continued dependence on imported medicines poses major health security… [Read More]
Somalia Faces Disease Outbreak as Funding Cuts Leave 300,000 Without Safe Water
Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have been cut off from safe water in recent months due to severe humanitarian funding shortfalls, leaving entire communities at risk of deadly disease outbreaks, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). With water, sanitation, and hygiene services collapsing, preventable diseases such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea are spreading… [Read More]
500 Global and UNDP Launch Innovation Programs to Strengthen Africa’s Startup Ecosystem
On August 18, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, 500 Global, one of the world’s leading venture capital firms, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the launch of three joint founder programs to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem. The initiative, hosted in Nairobi, is designed to support startups at various stages of growth, offering tailored acceleration… [Read More]
Africa’s Climate Change Challenges: Calls for Fair Fossil Fuel Phase-Out and Increased Climate Finance
Nearly 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, while close to one billion rely on traditional biofuels for cooking. Despite contributing less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions over the last 170 years, Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. Accelerating the transition to renewable energy is therefore a… [Read More]
World Water Week 2025: Global Conference on Water, Climate, and Sustainability
World Water Week 2025 will be held from August 24 to 28 in Stockholm, Sweden, with the option for global participants to join online. This year’s theme, “Water for Climate Action,” emphasizes the crucial role of water in addressing climate change and building sustainable futures. The event is organized annually by the Stockholm International Water… [Read More]
Africa-Japan Higher Education Partnership Matchmaking Seminar to Strengthen Academic Collaboration
Since 2018, the World Bank has supported Africa-Japan higher education partnerships through initiatives such as the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) program and the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund. These programs focus on improving the quality of scientific research and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa while… [Read More]
Ohio Invests $7.1M in Career Pathways to Prepare Students for High-Demand Jobs
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, along with Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin, announced a $7.1 million investment to strengthen career-connected learning and planning across the state. The funding, launched through the Career Pathway Support Networks Request for Applications, will be implemented over two years and is designed to help students explore… [Read More]
UNICEF Calls for Urgent Support as Violence in As-Sweida Deepens Crisis for Children and Families
Violence in Syria’s As-Sweida Governorate throughout July and into early August has had a devastating impact on children and families. At least 22 children were killed and 21 others injured, while five health centres were struck, two physicians lost their lives, and ambulances were obstructed or attacked. Vital infrastructure such as water, electricity, and fuel… [Read More]
UK Government Boosts Pharmacy Funding to Fight Obesity Epidemic
The UK government has launched a new £85 million programme to expand access to weight management care through pharmacies and online platforms, aiming to reduce the burden on GP services and improve patient safety. The initiative provides up to £50 million in government funding, with an additional £35 million in grants from pharmaceutical company Lilly,… [Read More]
