Author: Solomon Alaka

💡 Minister Foley Announces Over €1 Million in Funding for Assistive Technology Projects Supporting Disabled People

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Dublin, 15 August 2025 — Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley TD, has announced a funding allocation of more than €1 million to support digital and assistive technology projects for people with disabilities. The funding will be delivered under the next phase of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive […]

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World News in Brief: Cholera strikes Sudan and beyond, humanitarian needs grown for returning Afghans, rising insecurity in DR Congo

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on World News in Brief: Cholera strikes Sudan and beyond, humanitarian needs grown for returning Afghans, rising insecurity in DR Congo

So far this year, cholera has killed more than 4,300 people across 31 countries. These figures are underestimates and there is particular concern for those impacted by war in Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Yemen.   In Sudan, the disease has already claimed over 1,000 lives since 1 January. It […]

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World News in Brief: Shipwreck off Italy kills at least 27, anniversary of Taliban takeover, Peru amnesty law

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on World News in Brief: Shipwreck off Italy kills at least 27, anniversary of Taliban takeover, Peru amnesty law

UNHCR is supporting at least 60 survivors who have been brought ashore, but the Italian coast guard warned more bodies could still be recovered.   According to local news reports, the passengers were travelling from Libya in the hopes of reaching Italy. Migrants and refugees heading to Italy from the African coast often use leaky […]

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From Access to Agency: The Next Chapter in Women’s Financial Inclusion

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on From Access to Agency: The Next Chapter in Women’s Financial Inclusion

Gender gaps in access to financial services are narrowing— according to the World Bank’s newly published Findex 2025 dataset, the share of women with accounts has climbed to 77%, just four percentage points behind men, globally. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the gender gap stands at five percentage points (78% of men vs. 73% […]

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Trapped in Gaza: Palestinians with disabilities cannot reach aid

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But for an increasing number of Palestinians, including those who cannot hear the orders or whose mobility is impaired, following these orders may be impossible. Yet, failure to do so, could cost them their lives.   “In a normal situation, people with disabilities suffer the most. And in wartime, of course, the situation is heightened […]

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Minister Calleary Approves €1.96 Million Package for Language Assistants Scheme

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on Minister Calleary Approves €1.96 Million Package for Language Assistants Scheme

Dublin, 15 August 2025 — Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced a €1.964 million funding package to extend the Language Assistants Scheme for the 2025/2026 school year. The package includes a 10% pay increase for language assistants, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to the promotion and preservation of […]

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📰 Ireland: Minister O’Donovan Announces €10 Million Investment in Public Interest Journalism

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on 📰 Ireland: Minister O’Donovan Announces €10 Million Investment in Public Interest Journalism

Dublin, 15 August 2025 — Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has announced a €10 million funding allocation to support public interest journalism in Ireland. The funding will be administered by CoimisiĂşn na Meán and aims to strengthen media coverage of local governance, judicial proceedings, and underreported news topics. đź’¶ Funding Breakdown The […]

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🌧️ Flash Floods Devastate India and Pakistan, Over 280 Dead and Dozens Missing

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New Delhi/Islamabad — August 15, 2025Torrential monsoon rains have triggered catastrophic flash floods across northern India and Pakistan, claiming the lives of more than 280 people and leaving scores missing. The disaster has caused widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land, with damages estimated in the millions. 🚨 Human Toll and Rescue Operations Emergency […]

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⚖️ U.S. Court Reschedules Citgo Auction Following Elliott’s $8.82 Billion Bid

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on ⚖️ U.S. Court Reschedules Citgo Auction Following Elliott’s $8.82 Billion Bid

Wilmington, Delaware — August 15, 2025A federal court in Delaware has rescheduled the long-awaited auction of Citgo Petroleum, the U.S.-based refining arm held by Venezuela, after a last-minute bid from a unit of activist investor Elliott Investment Management reshaped the competitive landscape. The $8.82 billion offer surpasses a prior $8.45 billion proposal from global energy […]

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Africa Continental Brief: Business, Climate, Politics & Security Developments– August 2025

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on Africa Continental Brief: Business, Climate, Politics & Security Developments– August 2025

Business & Macro 🇰🇪 Kenya’s KCB Group Posts Profit GrowthKenya’s leading financial institution, KCB Group, reported a 7% year-on-year rise in its pretax profit for the first half of 2025, reaching $317 million. The growth reflects continued resilience in the banking sector, underpinned by digital transformation and expanded regional operations. 🇹🇿 Tanzania Revives $3 Billion […]

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