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Washington — May 20, 2026 — The United States has pledged $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Cuba, but with strict conditions: the Cuban government and military will not be allowed to manage distribution. Instead, only faith‑based and humanitarian organizations such as Caritas and Protestant networks will deliver the aid. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the… [Read More]

New York — June 1, 2026 — The United Nations has warned of the growing risks of escalation in the war in Ukraine, following a drone strike that entered Romanian airspace and injured two civilians in Galaţi. The incident prompted Romania to call an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, underscoring fears of spillover into neighboring… [Read More]

London — June 1, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has unveiled its inaugural Economic Governance Strategy, a cornerstone of its new Strategic and Capital Framework for 2026–2030. The initiative places economic governance alongside the transition to a green economy and human capital as the Bank’s three priority areas. The strategy aims to… [Read More]

Tashkent — June 1, 2026 — On International Children’s Day, Uzbekistan’s health reforms in childhood cancer care are being recognized as a model of how strong political commitment and international cooperation can transform lives. By joining the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) and the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, the country is… [Read More]

Johannesburg — June 2, 2026 — Across Africa, bicycles are finally getting lanes of their own. Cities from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa are investing in cycling infrastructure to ease traffic congestion, reduce pollution, and make notoriously dangerous roads safer. In April, transport and energy ministers endorsed the Pan‑African Action Plan for Active Mobility, a continent‑wide blueprint co‑led… [Read More]

Dublin — June 1, 2026 — The Department of Social Protection has confirmed that more than 147,000 carers across Ireland will receive the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000 per care recipient this week. The payments, valued at approximately €336 million, will be issued on Thursday, June 4, directly to carers’ nominated post offices or bank accounts…. [Read More]

Budapest — June 1, 2026 — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has highlighted practical, scalable bioeconomy approaches in agriculture during a virtual event held on May 28. The session marked the launch of the publication Case studies promoting bioeconomy through agricultural practices in Europe and Central Asia, featuring examples of sustainable and… [Read More]

Accra — June 2, 2026 — Ghana’s Parliament has passed one of the world’s most sweeping anti‑LGBTQ laws, introducing prison terms for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was approved late Friday, despite only 32 of 276 Members of Parliament being present — raising questions about… [Read More]

Geneva — June 1, 2026 — A coalition of human rights experts and organizations has submitted recommendations to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), highlighting urgent measures to protect women and children in conflict and post‑conflict situations. The submission, authored by representatives from the Global Survivors Fund, Human Rights Watch, Columbia University’s School… [Read More]

Bikoro Territory — June 1, 2026 — What began as an urgent appeal in January has become a life‑changing reality for 5,780 residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thanks to the support of Bread and Water for Africa®, six new wells have been completed in underserved communities of Bikoro Territory, bringing reliable access to clean,… [Read More]

Abidjan — May 30, 2026 — Agriculture’s contribution to Africa’s GDP dropped to 17% in 2025, down from 18% in 2020, according to the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Annual Development Effectiveness Review 2026. The decline reflects persistent structural challenges, including low investment, inadequate rural infrastructure, climate shocks, and security crises disrupting food systems across regions such as… [Read More]

Cairo — May 31, 2026 — Africa produced 34.2 million tons of potatoes in 2024, representing about 9% of global output, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Marking the International Day of the Potato on May 30, six countries stand out as the continent’s leading producers, each surpassing 2 million tons. Egypt led the way… [Read More]

Yaoundé — May 29, 2026 — Cameroon has mobilized nearly CFA1.9 trillion in realised investments and created more than 16,000 direct jobs under its investment incentive programme, according to updated figures released by the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA). The mid‑term assessment covered 156 companies approved between 2014 and 2024. In total, 453 firms received approval during the… [Read More]

Yaoundé — May 30, 2026 — Cameroon’s new military footwear factory, the Central Master Shoemaker Workshop, has reached 60% completion, according to Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo during an inspection visit on May 28. The facility, located at the Joint Services Technical Training Centre (CFTA) in Ekounou, Yaoundé, is designed to produce shoes, boots, and other footwear… [Read More]

Cotonou — June 1, 2026 — Benin has made significant strides in expanding its road infrastructure, adding 3,000 kilometers of paved roads and 1,400 kilometers of rural tracks over the past decade. This marks a major improvement from 2016, when the country’s paved road coverage stood at just 2,684 kilometers, according to the National Institute of Statistics… [Read More]

Johannesburg — June 1, 2026 — Copper has dominated Africa’s critical mineral investment landscape over the past decade, accounting for more than 90% of growth in new project spending, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Investment 2026 report. Investment in greenfield critical mineral projects — those developed on previously unused sites — more than… [Read More]

Nairobi — June 1, 2026 — Kenya is in talks with Portugal to strengthen cooperation in agricultural irrigation infrastructure, a move that could accelerate the country’s ambitious National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP). The discussions, held on May 29 between Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho Kimani and Portuguese Ambassador Paulo Neves Pocinho, focused on technical and… [Read More]

This week in Africa, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has surpassed 1,000 cases, drawing strong condemnation from the Africa CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) against travel restrictions imposed by 15 countries. Leaders argue that bans hinder containment efforts, with WHO raising the DRC’s risk level to “very… [Read More]

Sydney — May 29, 2026 — A groundbreaking study has shed new light on why autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis disproportionately affect women. Researchers in Australia analysed more than 1.25 million immune cells from 982 people, uncovering genetic differences that make female immune systems more prone to inflammation. The findings, published in The American… [Read More]

Kharkiv Oblast — May 29, 2026 — In war‑affected communities across Ukraine, damaged homes and broken heating systems have left families struggling to endure harsh winters. With support from the European Union, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has provided cash assistance, repairs, and follow‑up support to help households in Kharkiv Oblast stay warm. For Valentyna and Volodymyr… [Read More]

Ulaanbaatar — May 29, 2026 — Agriculture remains the backbone of Mongolia’s economy, supporting nearly a third of the workforce and shaping rural livelihoods. Yet the sector faces mounting challenges from climate change, land degradation, and productivity constraints. To address these, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF)… [Read More]

Lusaka, June 2026 – Development practitioners often cite “government ownership” as the key to reform success. But the Zambia Devolution Support Program (ZDSP) has revealed a deeper dimension: not just design ownership, where governments shape objectives, but organizational ownership, where institutions restructure their operations to make reforms part of their core business. Funded through the World… [Read More]

Maseru, May 27, 2026 – The World Bank has approved a $50 million credit through the International Development Association (IDA) to improve electricity access for nearly 147,000 people and businesses in Lesotho. The project, known as ASCENT‑Lesotho, will extend the national grid to urban, suburban, and rural areas while deploying off‑grid solar systems in remote mountain communities…. [Read More]