Acumen has announced that its Hardest-to-Reach Initiative has successfully reached its target raise of $250 million in blended capital, marking a major milestone in efforts to expand clean energy access across sub-Saharan Africa. The achievement includes the final close of H2R Amplify, the initiative’s scale-focused debt fund, which closed at $180 million with additional grant… [Read More]
US–AU Partnership Launches Group to Drive Trade and Infrastructure
The United States and the African Union have jointly announced the launch of a Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group, marking a significant step in strengthening U.S.–Africa economic relations. The initiative was agreed during a meeting in Addis Ababa between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,… [Read More]
How Global Partnerships Are Creating Decent Jobs Across Nigeria, Honduras, and the Philippines
The article connects decent job creation with trade readiness, showing how inclusive agricultural systems improve both livelihoods and market competitiveness. When farmers, especially women and youth, gain access to training, finance, and markets, they not only increase income but also produce higher-quality goods that meet international standards. This integration of development and trade supports Canadian… [Read More]
Pakistan Intensifies Crackdown on Free Speech and Civil Society: HRW
Pakistani authorities intensified their suppression of free expression, political opposition, and civil society throughout 2025 by relying on vague and overbroad laws, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. The organization warned that these measures violate Pakistan’s international human rights obligations and have created a climate of fear for journalists, activists, and independent… [Read More]
Human Rights Watch Urges Accountability After Nepal Protest Violence
Nepal experienced widespread unrest and political upheaval in 2025 after police killed at least 19 protesters during demonstrations against corruption, inequality, and a proposed social media ban, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. The September protests, marked by disorder and arson, ultimately led to the collapse of the government. An interim government,… [Read More]
Human Rights Watch Warns Thailand Failing to End Repression
Thailand’s government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has failed to meaningfully improve the country’s human rights situation, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. Despite expectations that a new administration would reverse years of repression following military rule, longstanding abuses have continued, raising concerns ahead of the national election scheduled for February 8,… [Read More]
HRW Flags Human Rights Decline Across European Union
European Union institutions and member states are failing to uphold human rights in ways that undermine democracy, the rule of law, and rights protections both within the bloc and internationally, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. The report argues that inconsistent commitment to human rights has weakened the EU’s core values and… [Read More]
Human Rights Watch Criticises UK Rights Record Under Labour
The UK Labour government repeatedly undermined human rights during its first full year in power in 2025, according to Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2026. The report presents a critical assessment of the government’s domestic and foreign policies, concluding that they contributed to democratic backsliding, restrictions on civil liberties, and a failure to protect vulnerable… [Read More]
HRW: Civilians Face Escalating Attacks and War Crimes in Ukraine
Civilians in Ukraine continued to face grave conflict-related abuses in 2025, as increasingly targeted and indiscriminate Russian attacks led to rising civilian deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. The report found that millions of Ukrainians remain displaced inside the country and abroad, many struggling to access essential… [Read More]
HRW Warns of Ongoing Human Rights Abuses and Impunity in Southern Africa
Southern African governments committed serious human rights violations throughout 2025, reinforcing cycles of abuse and impunity, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. The organization urged regional bodies to press governments to respect human rights and ensure accountability for violations. According to the report, security forces in Angola, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe used… [Read More]
WTO Members Share New Agriculture Proposals Ahead of MC14
WTO members have exchanged two new negotiating submissions on food and agriculture as efforts intensify to reach a compromise ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, scheduled for March. The submissions, presented by Indonesia and the African Group, were discussed during a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on 30… [Read More]
Free Press Awards 2025 Celebrate Resilience and Courage in Journalism
Free Press Unlimited has announced the winners of the Free Press Awards 2025, recognising two journalists whose work exemplifies courage, resilience and commitment to the public interest under extreme pressure. AlMigdad Hassan from Sudan received the Newcomer of the Year – Hans Verploeg Award, while Azerbaijani journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva was honoured with the Most Resilient… [Read More]
WHO Says Four in Ten Cancer Cases Worldwide Are Preventable
Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis by the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer. Released ahead of World Cancer Day, the study estimates that 37 per cent of all new cancer cases in 2022, representing about 7.1 million cases,… [Read More]
PAHO Calls for Faster Action to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in the Americas
On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the Pan American Health Organization has urged countries in the Americas to accelerate efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, warning that progress is currently too slow to meet global targets. With only five years remaining, PAHO emphasized that despite gains in vaccination, gaps in screening and treatment… [Read More]
Amnesty Condemns US Use of Force in Venezuela, Calls for Accountability
Amnesty International has condemned the 3 January United States military attack on Venezuela, describing it as an unlawful use of force under the UN Charter and a serious threat to the rules-based international order. The organization warned that the operation constitutes an act of aggression that endangers civilians, weakens international law, and risks encouraging similar… [Read More]
Agrihoods: How Nature-Based Neighbourhoods Could Shape Future Cities
Cities now house more than half of the world’s population and account for around 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making urban design a central challenge in addressing the climate crisis. In Brazil, urban planners are experimenting with a new model of development known as the “agrihood,” which aims to significantly reduce the… [Read More]
Ireland Announces New Research Awards and European Research Participation
Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, alongside Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Noel Grealish, has announced funding for multiple international research projects and confirmed Irish participation in two new European research initiatives. The announcements underline Ireland’s continued commitment to strengthening research collaboration and innovation at both European and global… [Read More]
Ontario Invests $2M in Business Succession Planning to Support Entrepreneurs
The Ontario government is investing nearly $2 million to establish the province’s first dedicated business succession planning services hub, aimed at helping entrepreneurs prepare for smooth ownership transitions. The initiative, known as Succession Ontario, is designed to support business owners in selling, buying, or transferring businesses while protecting good-paying jobs and strengthening local communities across… [Read More]
NAC 2026-2027 Arts Funding Opportunities for South African Practitioners
The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) has announced its Annual Project Funding Call for the 2026-2027 financial year, inviting applications from individual arts practitioners, registered arts organisations, and community art centres. Each applicant, whether an individual or organisation, may submit only one proposal for consideration. The call is open to practitioners in craft,… [Read More]
Pacific Nations Engage with EU to Expand iEPA Benefits and Boost Economic Resilience
The European Union and Fiji co-chaired a meeting of iEPA Parties, bringing together Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Solomon Islands, alongside Pacific observer countries pursuing accession, including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The participation of these countries highlighted the… [Read More]
The Role of African Women in Shaping Peace Processes and Conflict Resolution
In Sudan’s ongoing conflict, women have played a pivotal role in grassroots peacebuilding, yet their participation in formal negotiations has been repeatedly marginalized. Despite their leadership during the 2018–19 revolution and ongoing community mobilization through platforms like the Peace for Sudan Platform, women were excluded from the Jeddah ceasefire talks in 2023, highlighting persistent patterns… [Read More]
Ghana Banks Face Rising Non-Performing Loans Amid Global Trade and Security Pressures
The 2026 Industry Outlook from the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) highlights that Ghana’s banking sector continues to face significant external risks, particularly from global trade disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and regional insecurity. While domestic macroeconomic conditions have shown signs of stabilisation, vulnerabilities originating outside the country remain substantial, affecting financial institutions’ risk appetite, credit conditions,… [Read More]
Transforming Remittances into Investments: Ghana’s Push for Sustainable Development
Ghana is aiming to transform diaspora remittances into long-term investment as easing inflation and regulatory reforms enhance its appeal to foreign and diaspora investors. The Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom hosted a high-level business breakfast to mobilize diaspora capital and strengthen strategic partnerships supporting sustainable investment in the country. Under the theme “Harnessing… [Read More]
