Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, visited Integrated College Dungannon on 4 September to observe how integrated education in Northern Ireland promotes reconciliation and strengthens communities. During the visit, he engaged with pupils and teachers, toured the school, and planted an acorn tree in celebration of the college’s 30th anniversary. Established in… [Read More]
Guinea-Bissau Launches New Guidelines to Reduce Maternal Mortality
Guinea-Bissau has taken a significant step to reduce maternal mortality by launching its first-ever national guidelines for maternal health, aimed at improving care before, during, and after childbirth. Developed by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, the framework seeks to curb maternal deaths, which currently stand at… [Read More]
UN Expresses Readiness to Support Nepal After Deadly Protests Over Social Media Ban
Protests erupted in Nepal after the government blocked more than 20 social media platforms, including WhatsApp, X, Facebook, and YouTube, for failing to register with the authorities. Demonstrations turned violent in the capital, Kathmandu, where police reportedly used tear gas and opened fire on protesters attempting to storm the parliament complex. Curfews have been imposed… [Read More]
North Shields Community Projects Win Small Grants to Mark 800th Anniversary
Twelve community projects in North Shields have been awarded over £11,500 in small grants to celebrate the town’s 800th anniversary in creative and inclusive ways. These initiatives are part of the wider North Shields 800 celebrations, which aim to bring people together through heritage, arts, and community events that honour the town’s past, present, and… [Read More]
DigiKen Inception Workshop Trains Trainers to Advance Digital Inclusion in Kenya
From 1 to 3 September, DigiKen-Digital Platforms Kenya convened partners and trainers to set the stage for rolling out transformative digital literacy training across the country. The 36-month initiative is led by UNESCO, in partnership with UNCDF, UN Women, and UNEP, under the guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya and the Ministry of… [Read More]
IDB Commits $2.5 Billion and Launches Rapid Response Task Force for Security in Latin America and Caribbean
At the Regional Security and Justice Summit in Buenos Aires, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced a historic commitment of $2.5 billion in loans over the next three years to strengthen citizen security in Latin America and the Caribbean. The funding will focus on community protection, institutional strengthening, and efforts to curb illicit financing, marking… [Read More]
What India Must Do to Build Climate-Resilient Cities
India’s cities will play a defining role in shaping the nation’s future. Within just five years, urban centers are expected to generate more than 70 percent of new jobs, and in 25 years, the urban population is projected to approach one billion. Some Indian megacities will grow larger than entire countries, underscoring the urgent need… [Read More]
World Bank Group Partners with Sri Lanka to Enhance Agriculture, Rural Jobs, and Climate Resilience
More than 380,000 people in Sri Lanka are set to benefit from a new US$100 million partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank Group. The initiative, known as the Integrated “Rurban” Development and Climate Resilience Project, aims to strengthen rural livelihoods, create jobs, and build climate resilience in the country’s agri-food… [Read More]
Experts Urge Investment-Ready African Climate Action to Influence Global Negotiations
The 13th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XIII), held from 5 to 7 September, concluded with a strong call for a coherent, evidence-based, and investment-ready African climate agenda. Bringing together more than 250 policymakers, negotiators, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth leaders, the event reaffirmed CCDA’s role as Africa’s premier platform linking… [Read More]
African Development Institute Hosts High-Level Policy Dialogue for Transition States at Nigerian Economic Society 2025 Conference
The African Development Institute (ADI) of the African Development Bank Group will host a high-level policy dialogue on “Driving Africa’s Economic Transformation in Transition States: The Role of Capacity Development and Knowledge Management” during the 66th Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Annual Conference, taking place from 8 to 11 September 2025 at the NAF Conference Centre… [Read More]
US Tightens Visa Rules, Creating New Hurdles for Indian Students and Visitors
The United States has introduced new visa regulations that significantly complicate the application process for Indian students and visitors. Effective immediately, the Department of State (DoS) directive mandates that non-immigrant visas, including those for students (F1), visitors (B1/B2), and employment (H-1B, O-1), can only be applied for in the applicant’s country of citizenship or residence…. [Read More]
Itana Digital Economic Zone Opens Doors for Innovators: Apply Now!
The Itana Digital Economic Zone (IDEZ) has officially launched its call for applications, inviting founders, businesses, and professionals to join its burgeoning ecosystem. This initiative aims to foster innovation and growth within a supportive and regulated environment, offering unique advantages to those looking to establish or expand their digital ventures. Key Takeaways Opportunity: IDEZ is… [Read More]
US Sanctions Palestinian Human Rights Groups, Sparking International Condemnation
The United States has imposed sanctions on three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations: Al-Haq, Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The sanctions, enacted under Executive Order 14203, target these groups for their cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes. This move… [Read More]
Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee Advocates for Evidence-Based Solutions to Global Poverty
Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee recently shared insights on tackling global poverty, emphasizing the need to challenge misconceptions about impoverished individuals and highlighting the importance of evidence-driven policies. Speaking at Harvard Chan School, Banerjee, a pioneer in development economics, discussed innovative approaches to poverty alleviation and the crucial role of research in informing effective interventions. Key… [Read More]
Tanzania Launches STOSAR II Project with €10 Million EU Funding to Boost Agriculture, Food Safety, and Market Access in SADC
The Government of Tanzania, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the European Union (EU), has officially launched the second phase of the Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) project. Funded by the EU through the Development Smart Innovation… [Read More]
African Faith Leaders Release Addis Ababa Faith Declaration on Climate Justice Ahead of Africa Climate Summit 2 and COP30
Ahead of the 2nd Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, African faith leaders have come together to issue the Addis Ababa Faith Declaration on Climate Justice, calling for urgent, equitable, and inclusive climate action grounded in justice, peace, and care for the environment. This declaration is the result of months of interfaith consultations and collaborative… [Read More]
Burkina Faso Approves $220 Million Loan to Rehabilitate Highways and Boost Trade
Burkina Faso’s government has approved a loan of 187.83 million euros (approximately $220 million) from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to fund a series of vital road rehabilitation projects. This loan will be supplemented by a national contribution of 25.81 million euros (140.1 billion CFA francs) to support the overall funding of the infrastructure improvements…. [Read More]
Mozambique Launches $6 Billion Electricity Project, Southern Africa’s Largest in 50 Years
Mozambique is embarking on an ambitious $6 billion electricity project—the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric plant—which is set to become the largest power project in southern Africa in the past 50 years. Supported by the World Bank and private sector players, the 1,500 MW plant is expected to begin operations in 2031 and aims to significantly boost… [Read More]
Alibaba Leads $100 Million Funding Round in Chinese Humanoid Robot Startup
Chinese humanoid robot startup X Square Robot announced it has secured approximately $100 million in a funding round led by Alibaba Cloud. The Shenzhen-based company, founded less than two years ago in December 2023, has now completed its eighth financing round. This latest investment brings the startup’s total funding to around 2 billion yuan (approximately… [Read More]
WHO’s Sixth Virtual cGMP Training Marathon Launches to Strengthen Global Local Production Capacity
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of the sixth edition of its Virtual cGMP Training Marathon, organized by the Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit under the leadership of Dr. Jicui Dong. Scheduled from 9 September to 2 October 2025, this year’s program is themed “Building Blocks for Sustained Excellence” and aims… [Read More]
PAHO Launches Caribbean Award to Celebrate Leadership Against Superbugs
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new regional honor—the Suzan McLennon-Miguel Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Leadership Award—to recognize outstanding efforts in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major and growing global health threat often described as the “silent pandemic.” The award commemorates the legacy of the late Dr. Suzan McLennon-Miguel, a distinguished Jamaican… [Read More]
FAO Zimbabwe Equips Field Teams with GIS Skills to Enhance Anticipatory Action
In an effort to improve disaster preparedness and anticipatory action in Zimbabwe, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently conducted a hands-on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training session. Held in Bulawayo, the workshop equipped field officers, enumerators, and technical staff with practical skills in hazard geotagging, focusing on collecting and analyzing… [Read More]
DKT International Doubles FP2030 Commitment to $2 Billion by 2030 Amid Donor Funding Declines
DKT International, a leading global provider of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) products and services, has announced it is doubling its financial commitment to the Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) partnership. The organization now pledges $2 billion in support by 2030, up from its initial $1 billion commitment made in 2021. This renewed pledge comes amidst… [Read More]
