As Gaza endures nearly two years of conflict, with the latest Israeli ground offensive in the north, global attention is turning to the United Nations. On September 22, world leaders will convene at UN Headquarters in New York for a summit, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at reviving the long-stalled two-State solution—one Israeli,… [Read More]
Australia
Canada Joins Global Effort to Protect Humanitarian Workers
Canada has officially endorsed the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, an initiative led by Australia, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding those delivering life-saving aid in conflict zones. Humanitarian workers are increasingly targeted during armed conflicts, placing their lives at risk and affecting the delivery of essential assistance. In 2024 alone, 383 humanitarian workers… [Read More]
Ivanhoe Mines Engages Sovereign Funds Following Qatar Investment, Says Friedland
Ivanhoe Mines is actively engaging with sovereign wealth funds to attract investments that would support its expansion in copper and other critical minerals, Co-Chairman Robert Friedland told Reuters. The company recently announced a $500 million investment from Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, aimed at developing and sustainably supplying minerals essential for the global energy transition and… [Read More]
Bezos Earth Fund Invests $37.5M to Boost Pacific-Led Ocean Protection Efforts
The Bezos Earth Fund has announced $37.5 million in grants to support Pacific Island nations and territories in safeguarding over 835,000 square miles (2.16 million km²) of ocean across 12 countries. This funding is part of a broader effort to implement national and regional marine protection plans aligned with the Pacific’s shared vision of sustainably… [Read More]
Crane Venture Partners Unveils $135M APAC I Fund to Boost Regional Startups
Crane Venture Partners has announced the launch of Crane APAC I, a new $135 million fund dedicated to supporting early-stage founders in India, Singapore, and Australia. With this fund, the firm now manages $450 million in assets across Europe and Asia-Pacific, strengthened by its expanded partnership with MassMutual Ventures (MMV). The initiative reflects Crane’s belief… [Read More]
US Awards $500 Million Grant to Expand Green Iron Production and Reduce Emissions
The Australian government has released guidelines for the National Development Stream of the Green Iron Investment Fund, providing eligible businesses with an early opportunity to prepare their applications. The program offers $500 million in grant funding to support the growth of a domestic green iron industry, aiming to position Australia as a leader in sustainable… [Read More]
Mastercard Integrates with Oracle to Streamline Business Payments
Mastercard has launched a new embedded virtual card payment solution in Australia, with Westpac as the first commercial issuer to offer it to clients using Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). This integration combines Mastercard’s virtual card technology with Oracle’s B2B platform to create a seamless and secure payment experience fully embedded within the… [Read More]
World Bank Raises AUD 1.5 Billion Through Dual Sustainable Bond Tap
The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA, Moody’s/S&P) has successfully raised AUD 1.5 billion by reopening its August 2028 and February 2035 Sustainable Development Bonds. The taps added AUD 800 million to the 3-year line and AUD 700 million to the 10-year line, bringing their outstanding amounts to AUD 1.7 billion… [Read More]
Funding Open for New Touring Exhibitions Across Australia
Round 21 of the Visions of Australia Program is now open for applications, offering arts and cultural organisations the opportunity to bring touring exhibitions to regional and remote communities across Australia. The program, which provides approximately $2.8 million in funding annually across two rounds, aims to expand access to arts and culture, helping communities engage… [Read More]
Australian Government Launches Funding for Arts at Regional and Remote Festivals
Festivals Australia provides approximately $1.4 million in funding each year through two rounds to support arts-driven projects that engage people in regional and remote Australia. The program aims to strengthen community connections, foster local talent, and ensure access to meaningful cultural experiences for audiences outside major urban centres. The initiative recognises the vital role regional… [Read More]
Green Investments Partnership Secures US$510M in First Close under Singapore’s FAST-P Initiative
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced that the Green Investments Partnership (GIP), a blended finance fund under Singapore’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P) initiative, has achieved its first close with US$510 million in committed capital. This funding, contributed by a mix of global and regional private, public, and philanthropic institutions, will be deployed into… [Read More]
Controversial $400M Nauru Deal and Deportation Bill Raise Corruption and Community Concerns
Tonight’s hearing on the Government’s Anti-Fairness and Deportation Bill has sparked widespread concern over transparency and fairness, as only Home Affairs officials are allowed to provide evidence. Human rights organisations, legal experts, and frontline community groups—those directly supporting people affected by Labor’s secret $400 million Nauru deal—have been excluded. The Senate-established hearing, scheduled for just… [Read More]
ARC Awards $18.4 Million to Fund 16 New Indigenous-Led Research Projects
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced $18.4 million in funding for 16 new projects under its Discovery Indigenous scheme. This initiative is dedicated to supporting research led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, while also building capacity among higher degree students and early career researchers from Indigenous communities. The newly funded projects will… [Read More]
$20 Million Boost for Pest Control and Biosecurity in Western Queensland
Western Queensland graziers and farmers are set to benefit from a $20 million funding boost to combat invasive pests and weeds that have emerged following severe floods earlier this year. This investment forms part of a larger $45.75 million primary industry recovery package, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery… [Read More]
Harnessing Africa’s Digital Economy for Growth, Integration, and Shared Prosperity
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of Africa’s economy but continue to struggle with limited access to finance, markets, and digital solutions. Strengthening their ability to adopt and leverage digital tools has become a shared priority for African governments, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and eTrade for all… [Read More]
CommBank’s Can4Cancer Campaign Reaches $20 Million Fundraising Milestone
Over the past decade, Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) employees have dedicated themselves to walking, cycling, running, and swimming thousands of kilometres to raise funds for cancer research. Now in its 11th year, the Can4Cancer initiative has surpassed a major milestone, raising more than $20 million for Tour de Cure. These funds have supported 189 cancer projects… [Read More]
ADB and Sun Pacific Energy Partner on $2.8M Solar Expansion in Samoa
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sun Pacific Energy Ltd (SPEL) have signed a $2.8 million (approximately AU$4.3 million) loan to expand renewable energy generation in Samoa. The financing will support the upgrade and expansion of SPEL’s Upolu Solar Farm, originally partly funded by ADB in 2017, through the installation of higher-efficiency solar panels. The… [Read More]
Australian Innovative Businesses to Receive $28.7 Million from Industry Growth Program
The Australian Government is strengthening support for startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the Industry Growth Program, designed to help innovative businesses overcome challenges in bringing their ideas to market. Recognizing the vital role SMEs and startups play in driving economic growth, the program offers tailored advisory services and matched funding grants to… [Read More]
Laos Releases 130 Million Lab-Grown Mosquitoes to Combat Dengue Surge
More than 130 million lab-grown mosquitoes carrying a naturally occurring bacteria called Wolbachia are being released in Vientiane, Laos, to help reduce the spread of deadly viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The initiative comes after global dengue cases surged to a record 14.4 million in 2024, more than double the previous… [Read More]
Medical Research Future Fund: Empowering Researchers to Address Australia’s Top Health Priorities
Between 2022 and 2024, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) invested $1.38 billion in new health and medical research projects across Australia. This investment was distributed through 578 competitive grants focused on a variety of priority areas such as First Nations health, clinical trials, regional, rural and remote health, public health, health services, and consumer-led… [Read More]
U.S. Government Cuts $7 Billion from Solar Energy Funding
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to cancel $7 billion in federal grants designated for the “Solar for All” initiative, a Biden-era program designed to expand solar power access to low- and moderate-income households across the United States. The initiative aimed to install solar panels for nearly 900,000 homes, particularly benefiting renters and those… [Read More]
$25 Million Grant Fuels Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Research at Garvan
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research has been awarded a historic $25 million grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) through its inaugural Collaborative Research Accelerator (CRA) initiative. This five-year investment will support the institute’s ambitious ‘AllClear’ program, a large-scale national and international collaboration led by Associate Professor Christine Chaffer and Professor Peter Croucher…. [Read More]
World Bank Launches Initiatives to Boost Jobs and Economic Resilience in the Pacific
World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, recently concluded a week-long visit to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, where she focused on advancing new strategies for job creation, economic resilience, and delivering faster, more effective development outcomes in the Pacific region. The visit aimed to strengthen partnerships and bring global expertise closer to… [Read More]
