The week of May 18–24, 2026 highlighted a surge of activity across India’s automotive sector, with companies pursuing partnerships, securing funding, and expanding capacity to prepare for the next growth cycle. Honda Cars India signaled its intent to forge new partnerships in the country, aiming for scale, cost competitiveness, and stronger product offerings in a… [Read More]

Synthetic biology startup StrainX Bioworks has secured $13 million in fresh funding from Prime Venture Partners and Leo Capital, marking a major milestone in its mission to revolutionize precision fermentation and bio‑manufacturing. The Bengaluru‑based company plans to use the capital to scale manufacturing, expand research and development, and accelerate global commercialization of its sustainable biological… [Read More]

Lebanon has officially launched its first public intercity electric bus service linking Jbeil and Beirut, marking a major step toward more sustainable and modern public transport. The initiative comes at a time when the country continues to face rising fuel prices, economic pressures, and increasing demand for reliable and affordable mobility solutions. The project is… [Read More]

Home salon services platform Yes Madam has secured its maiden funding of ₹50 crore in a Series A round led by Info Edge, valuing the company at ₹750 crore. The investment marks a major milestone for the Noida-based startup, which connects customers with trained beauty and wellness professionals for at-home services. According to filings with… [Read More]

The New Zealand Government has announced an additional $79 million in funding to intensify the battle against wilding pines across the country, with Mid Dome in Northern Southland among the key areas set to benefit. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard confirmed the funding extension on Sunday, marking a significant step forward in tackling one of New… [Read More]

Travel-fintech startup Scapia has raised $63 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst, with participation from existing investors Peak XV Partners and Z47. The latest investment comes roughly a year after the company’s previous $40 million Series B round. Founded by Anil Goteti, Scapia operates at the intersection of travel and financial services,… [Read More]

Foundation has raised $6.4 million in a funding round led by Fulgur Ventures, with participation from Arche Capital, to accelerate its expansion beyond bitcoin self-custody hardware into AI agent authorization and broader digital identity security systems. The company, Foundation, said the new capital will support its move from building hardware wallets for bitcoin storage toward… [Read More]

Developed nations have successfully exceeded their annual $100 billion climate finance commitment for the third consecutive year. According to the latest data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), wealthy countries mobilized and provided a record $132.8 billion in climate finance to developing nations in 2023, a figure that climbed even higher… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has announced a $24 million investment to appoint and renew 42 Canada CIFAR AI Chairs, reinforcing its long-term strategy to strengthen artificial intelligence research and talent development across the country. The funding expands the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs programme to a total of 143 positions, distributed across Canada’s three national AI… [Read More]

Bengaluru-based travel fintech company Scapia has raised $63 million in a new funding round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Peak XV Partners and Z47, as it looks to scale its AI-powered travel and financial services platform across India. Founded in 2022 by Anil Goteti, Scapia operates a travel-focused fintech ecosystem that integrates credit… [Read More]

London-based beauty and wellness technology company Fresha has raised $80 million in new funding from investment funds managed by KKR, pushing its valuation beyond $1 billion and cementing its status as a unicorn in the sector. Founded in 2015 by William Zeqiri and Nicholas Miller, Fresha operates an AI-powered marketplace and business management platform used… [Read More]

Burkina Faso’s Council of Ministers has officially adopted a decree creating a landmark sovereign mining investment fund, named the Fonds souverain minier d’investissements du Burkina Faso (FSMIB), or “Siniyan-Sigui”. Operating as a dedicated public investment account, the fund is designed to transform surplus mining wealth into long-term national development, with its first capital deployments scheduled… [Read More]

The UK government and the BPI have officially opened applications for the highly anticipated 25th edition of the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS). This landmark round allows small-to-medium-sized, independent UK music companies to apply for crucial financial backing to expand the international commercial profiles of their artists. The registration and submission window opens at 12:00… [Read More]

More than £380,000 has been awarded to 16 environmental projects aimed at improving water quality across Northern Ireland, with the majority of initiatives focused on the Lough Neagh catchment area, the government has announced. The funding is being delivered through the Water Quality Improvement Strand of the Environment Fund and follows an open competition earlier… [Read More]

The Shapiro Administration has underscored the importance of expanding Pennsylvania’s innovation economy during a visit to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s biomanufacturing facility in Dauphin County, while outlining new funding proposals in the state’s 2026–27 budget. State officials highlighted the role of life sciences, robotics, technology, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture in driving long-term economic growth. Governor Josh… [Read More]

D-Wave Quantum Inc. has signed a Letter of Intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce for up to $100 million in funding under the CHIPS and Science Act, aimed at accelerating the development of advanced quantum computing technologies and strengthening U.S. leadership in the sector. Under the proposed arrangement, the funding would support D-Wave’s superconducting… [Read More]

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, May 21, 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has launched an emergency response to a rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where health authorities report at least 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases. One death and two confirmed cases have also been… [Read More]

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a $1.5 billion funding commitment to establish a new programme aimed at creating independent research laboratories designed to tackle major scientific challenges using unconventional approaches. The initiative, known as NSF X-Labs, will distribute funding over the next decade and is intended to support research models that operate… [Read More]

Gaza is experiencing a rapidly deepening public health crisis as collapsing sanitation systems, extreme overcrowding, and worsening environmental conditions leave civilians increasingly exposed to disease, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). In displacement camps and temporary shelters, families are reporting rising cases of skin infections, lice infestations, dehydration, and heat-related illness as temperatures surge…. [Read More]

Young environmental enthusiasts across the UK have a unique opportunity to kickstart their future careers. The Field Studies Council (FSC) has officially opened applications for this year’s Young Darwin Scholarship. This national initiative is specifically designed to equip young individuals with real-world, hands-on environmental skills that bridge the gap between passion and professional expertise. Since… [Read More]

AI hardware startup Hark has raised more than $700 million in a new Series A funding round, valuing the company at $6 billion, according to reports. The round was led by Parkway Venture Capital and attracted participation from major technology and semiconductor investors, including Nvidia, AMD Ventures, Intel Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, Salesforce Ventures and several… [Read More]

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has announced $648 million in new grant funding to strengthen firefighting and emergency response capacity across the country. The funding supports three major programmes—the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), and Fire Prevention and… [Read More]

Colorado’s childcare sector is receiving a vital financial boost to address a growing affordability crisis that is impacting both local families and businesses. The newly established Child Care Access Alliance has announced a $140,000 funding initiative that will be distributed across seven local chambers of commerce. These targeted grants are designed to assess the unique… [Read More]