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The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched the 24th Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) in Ottawa, Canada, marking the first time the regional campaign has been inaugurated in the country. The initiative is being held alongside Canada’s National Immunization Awareness Week and emphasizes the urgent need to close immunization gaps across the region,… [Read More]

A rural livestock collection center near Ecuador’s border reported dead wild birds, initially appearing as a routine animal health alert. Within days, the situation escalated in a simulation scenario into a complex multi-sector outbreak involving influenza A(H5N1) detected across multiple species, including dairy cattle, poultry, dogs, and even severe human cases involving a mother and… [Read More]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has completed Exercise Polaris II, a two-day global simulation designed to test countries’ readiness for responding to a large-scale disease outbreak. The exercise, held on 22–23 April, was based on a fictional bacterial outbreak and brought together 26 countries and territories, around 600 health emergency experts, and more than 25… [Read More]

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban has warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in the Central Sahel following a recent visit to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. He described the region as one of both strong potential and severe vulnerability, where insecurity, climate shocks, and economic instability continue to disrupt the lives of millions of… [Read More]

A UN aid truck operated by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) carrying emergency shelter supplies was attacked by a drone while passing through Umm Drisaya in Sudan’s North Darfur state. Although the driver survived, the entire shipment was destroyed in the fire. The vehicle was en route to Tawila, where around 700,000 displaced people have… [Read More]

UNICEF has warned that Afghanistan is facing a deepening crisis that could lead to the loss of around 25,000 women teachers and health workers, further weakening already fragile education and healthcare systems. The agency says the restrictions on women’s education and employment are not only limiting opportunities for women but are also depriving children of… [Read More]

A launch workshop has concluded in Nairobi for the Kenya National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Program (NUWSSP), a Bank-financed national initiative aimed at improving urban water and sanitation services across the country. Held from 8 to 10 April, the workshop marked the beginning of implementation planning for a programme expected to benefit millions of… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group, together with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has concluded a joint multi-country mission aimed at mobilising financing for the Abidjan–Lagos Highway. The project is a major regional infrastructure initiative designed to connect Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria through a 1,028-km transport corridor that is expected… [Read More]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is supporting Mauritania’s efforts to develop a green hydrogen sector through initiatives under the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, including the Africa Energy Transition Catalyst and the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program. A high-level workshop held in Nouakchott on 14–15 April 2026 brought together stakeholders to validate and finalise… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, together with the Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), has invested in Prado XII, a residential mortgage-backed securitisation fund originated by Unión de Créditos Inmobiliarios (UCI). The operation aims to support energy efficiency improvements in housing across Spain and Portugal, including the renovation of existing homes and the acquisition of… [Read More]

Siti Mahfudzoh, a graduate in comparative religion and former feminist Muslim activist in Jakarta, faced growing challenges in her professional and personal life. After working as a reporter and editor, she experienced workplace discrimination, being passed over for promotion despite strong performance, and earning below minimum wage. The situation, combined with heavy workloads and systemic… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has launched a €20 million portfolio risk-sharing facility with ProCredit Bank d.d. in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The initiative is designed to improve access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which are considered the backbone of the country’s… [Read More]

Nearly 60 per cent of the 375,825 people displaced in South Sudan since the beginning of 2026 are women and girls, highlighting the disproportionate impact of escalating violence on vulnerable populations. According to UN data, this translates to an average of about 104 women and girls being displaced every hour, with the highest concentration of… [Read More]

The Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2026 highlights a growing global challenge, with an estimated annual financing gap of nearly $4 trillion needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. While development ambitions continue to rise, governments are facing tightening fiscal conditions, slowing investment flows, and increasing climate-related risks that make it harder to meet these… [Read More]

The Co-op store in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, located on Front Street, has reopened following a four-week investment programme aimed at transforming the outlet and improving the shopping experience for the local community and visitors. The store operates daily from 7am to 10pm and supports 14 local jobs, with additional seasonal recruitment expected during the summer period. As… [Read More]

The Asda Foundation has published its 2025 Impact Report, revealing that it awarded more than £3.2 million in grants over the past year to support thousands of grassroots organisations across the UK. The funding has been directed toward strengthening local communities and addressing some of the most pressing social challenges at a community level. For… [Read More]

Nearly £800,000 has been awarded across Scotland through the Recovery and Resilience Programme, a £5 million initiative delivered by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) and funded by Foundation Scotland. The programme aims to strengthen the long-term resilience of development trusts by helping them move beyond day-to-day operational challenges and build stronger organisational foundations for sustainable… [Read More]

The Ethereum market saw a quick reaction after the Ethereum Foundation unstaked approximately $48.9 million worth of ETH. In a highly volatile environment, traders tended to interpret the move as potential selling pressure rather than focusing on possible operational or liquidity management reasons behind it. This reaction was further intensified by the Foundation’s earlier sale… [Read More]

The Asda Foundation has published its 2025 Impact Report, revealing that it awarded over £3.2 million in grants last year to support 2,326 grassroots organisations across the UK. Over its 37-year history, the Foundation has now distributed more than £60 million to charities and community groups working to strengthen local communities. The funding supported a… [Read More]

Donnalee Lozeau, director of New Hampshire’s GO-NORTH rural health initiative, has said the state’s approach to managing hundreds of millions in federal funding will focus on long-term investment rather than short-term fixes. Speaking at a public health meeting in Concord, she emphasized that the goal is not simply to spend money, but to strategically invest… [Read More]

The Volkswagen Foundation has announced that its reviewers will continue to be eligible for a 10,000 euro grant through a lottery-based system for at least the next three years. No separate application is required, as participation is automatic once an individual undertakes the role of reviewer. The initiative is designed to recognise the essential contributions… [Read More]

India and New Zealand have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded in just nine months and described as a “once-in-a-generation” pact. The agreement was steered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, with key contributions from trade ministers on both sides. It is being seen as a major… [Read More]

Latin America is currently facing a period of deep uncertainty marked by rising inequality, shrinking civic space, and the rollback of hard-won social rights. Authoritarian narratives and political polarization are further weakening democratic participation, while reduced international funding is threatening the survival of many civil society organizations working on human rights, democracy, and environmental protection…. [Read More]