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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]

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has announced new support from the Weiss Asset Management Foundation, which is investing nearly US$1 million to strengthen cost-efficiency in malnutrition treatment. The funding will support the Malnutrition Optimization to Scale Treatment (MOST) initiative, led by IRC through the Dioptra Consortium, at a time when humanitarian budgets are shrinking and… [Read More]

This year, the William T. Grant Foundation, joined by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bezos Family Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, and Spencer Foundation, awarded $2.6 million in Institutional Challenge Grants to four university–community partnerships. Each grantee receives $650,000 over three years, with the option of continuation funding, to strengthen collaborative research aimed at reducing inequality… [Read More]

In 2025, the Grundfos Jubilee Foundation received a DKK 5 million donation to mark the 50th anniversary of the Poul Due Jensen Foundation. This was followed in 2026 by an additional DKK 13 million, bringing the Jubilee Foundation’s total available grant funding to DKK 18 million until 2035. This significant increase means the foundation can… [Read More]

Your analysis of Zambia’s digital ID integration debate highlights a critical tension: the promise of efficiency versus the risk of eroding trust. The research paper you reference makes the case for linking INRIS with tax administration to boost revenue, drawing on examples from Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya. But as you point out, the evidence… [Read More]

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s annual Prize for Humanity awards €1 million to individuals and organisations driving extraordinary climate action, with unrestricted funding and minimal reporting requirements. Launched in 2019, the prize reflects the foundation’s commitment to sustainability and equity, highlighting achievements that benefit both people and nature. Over six years, it has surfaced transformative work… [Read More]

UK startup Naturbeads has secured a €4.1 million EU grant to build a new factory in Puglia, Italy, producing cellulose-based alternatives to microplastics. The funding comes from the European Structural Fund and will support both facility construction and R&D as the company moves toward full commercialisation over the next two years. Naturbeads, spun out of… [Read More]

UNESCO’s latest report underscores the extraordinary role of its designated sites in protecting both people and nature. While global wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970, those within UNESCO‑protected areas have remained comparatively stable, demonstrating their effectiveness in safeguarding biodiversity. The report, People and Nature in UNESCO‑Designated Sites: Global and Local Contributions, is the… [Read More]