In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
monthly, year 25th, number 336 – 10th October 2025
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
Shuangdeng signs strategic MOUs with Pakistani Partners to support green energy and communication development
September 8, 2025 - On September 4, the 2nd China–Pakistan B2B Investment Summit was held in Beijing. (…) The two sides held in-depth discussions on new opportunities for China–Pakistan economic and trade cooperation, further strengthening the foundation for a closer China–Pakistan community with a shared future. As a long-standing participant in China–Pakistan economic cooperation, Shuangdeng Co., Ltd. was invited to fully participate in the summit. The partnerships will focus on Pakistan’s energy transition needs, deepening cooperation in communication energy storage, residential energy storage, and related areas, while leveraging innovative technologies to strengthen local communication infrastructure and upgrade household electricity access, further supporting Pakistan’s green energy transition. (…)
https://www.energytrend.com/news/20250908-50115.html
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
Indonesia pushes for South-South cooperation on palm oil sustainability standards
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
September 7, 2025 - In Indonesia, Euroactiv reported that Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno recently announced a new push to develop palm oil standards through Global South cooperation organizations – specifically the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and others), CPAPC (the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries) and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (…) Indonesia and Malaysia, the world’s two largest palm oil producers, have rolled out a number of public policies to make their palm oil industries more sustainable. Both governments are relying on mandatory certification schemes and stronger environmental safeguard (…)
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
Towards sustainable urbanization in India
August 30, 2025 – (…) What are the Key Drivers shaping the course of urbanization in India?
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News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
WFP welcomes pledges by over 40 governments to expand national school meals programmes
September 19 -2025, Fortaleza, Brazill – As the 2nd School Meals Coalition Global Summit concludes, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes pledges by over 40 governments made in the last two years to expand their national school meal programmes, bringing the world closer to ensuring every child receives a nutritious meal in school by 2030.Hosted under the high patronage of His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, and co-chaired with France and Finland, the School Meals Coalition Global Summit showcased the rapid growth of the School Meals Coalition. Launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that caused extensive disruption to education worldwide including children’s access to school meals, the Coalition has become one of the fastest-growing multilateral platforms.Looking ahead, the Coalition aims to reach 150 million more children by 2030, aligning with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Through its role as Secretariat, WFP will support governments with data, technical expertise, and evidence to launch, scale, and sustain programmes over time, reducing reliance on aid while ensuring that every child receives a healthy, nutritious meal. WFP extends its deep gratitude to the Government of Brazil for hosting this pivotal Summit and for its longstanding commitment to advancing school meals. WFP also acknowledges the steadfast leadership of the Coalition’s co-chairs, France and Finland, whose vision and coordination have been instrumental in driving global momentum and ensuring inclusive, government-led progress.
News related with SDGs number 1-No Poverty and number 2-Zero Hunger
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the Heart of Regional Cooperation between West and Central Africa Strengthening capacities and peer learning on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
September 17, 2025- On June 17 and 18, 2025, Saly, located on Senegal’s central coastline, hosted a meeting of West and Central African francophone countries to strengthen capacities and encourage peer learning on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). As emphasized by the representative of the UNESCO National Commission for the Republic of Senegal during the opening session, “education for sustainable development (ESD), a key component of SDG 4, is a driver for transformation and change as it aims to equip children, youth, and adults with the knowledge, values, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for choosing sustainable lifestyles, but above all, to support member states.” [...]
One of the key messages of the workshop was the importance of contextualizing the ESD approach based on national characteristics and local challenges. For example, in West and Central Africa, issues related to poverty, social inequalities, food insecurity, and environmental degradation are particularly pressing. Education must therefore play a central role in raising awareness and educating citizens about sustainable development challenges and empowering them to take action in their communities.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
International Literacy Day: a right still denied to too many
September 8, 2025- Reading a message, writing a sentence, doing a quick calculation. Gestures that for many of us are taken for granted but that for 754 million people in the world represent a daily challenge. On 8 September 2025, on International Literacy Day, we are called to reflect on this uncomfortable reality: too many adults still do not possess the basic skills necessary to deal with everyday life. This day reminds us that the right to education is not yet guaranteed for everyone and that there is still much to be done to bridge this gap.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
KPMG and Cometa launch mentoring programme for underprivileged youth in Italy
August 29, 2025 - In a landmark initiative bridging the gap between education and employment, KPMG has partnered with leading Como-based vocational and social inclusion centre Cometa to deliver a comprehensive mentoring programme aimed at equipping young migrants for successful entry into the workforce in Italy. This Global Skills Academy (GSA)-KPMG mentoring programme was piloted by Cometa in early 2025 with a small, diverse cohort of individuals from migrant backgrounds. The compact design was co-created as a 10-hour journey which blends individual and group sessions to address the unique needs of participants. The programme includes one-on-one meetings focused on CV writing, personal branding, interview preparation and mock interviews, job search strategies, building self-awareness, and identifying transferable skills. The pilot phase was comprised of 13 mentoring pathways, resulting in the creation of 13 CVs, 40 job applications, 7 participants attending interviews, and 3 securing job contracts, with one enrolling in further training. The programme is now scaling up to reach more participants with ongoing feedback mechanisms to refine meeting frequency, session length, and follow-up support. This initiative demonstrates the impact of public-private collaboration in fostering employability, resilience, and social inclusion for young people facing barriers to work.
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Refugee scholarship programme marks milestone towards gender equity amid declining resources
August 4, 2025- Geneva – The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) higher education scholarship programme for refugees reported the highest proportion of women enrolled in a single year in over 30 years, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today. Since it was established in 1992, DAFI has supported more than 27,200 refugee students across 59 refugee-hosting countries thanks to the long-standing commitment of the Government of Germany, as well as funding from the Government of Denmark and numerous private partners and foundations. In 2024, women accounted for 45% of all DAFI scholars, up from 42% in 2023. Notably, 60% of newly awarded scholarships went to women, a sharp increase from 40% the previous year. This progress is the result of targeted outreach and support initiatives, particularly in countries with historical gender disparities in education.In Ethiopia, for example, female enrolment rose by 14%, with women comprising over 75% of new scholars. This was made possible through enhanced academic tutoring, tailored outreach and financial aid programmes for girls in secondary school. In Pakistan, a bridging programme helps girls complete secondary education and transition to university.
News related with SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
Multilateral development banks hit record $137B in climate finance to drive sustainable development
September 9, 2025 - Global climate finance by multilateral development banks (MDBs) increased 10% last year, reaching a record $137 billion, with the majority directed to low- and middle-income economies. MDBs including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the year-on-year increase in a report published Sept. 9. (…)
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum - The top 5 energy technology trends of 2025
September 8, 2025 – (…) Here are the key trends shaping energy technology investment in 2025:
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
Mozambique embraces a $6 billion hydroelectric project
September 8, 2025 - Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest countries by per capita income, aims to connect all of its 33 million mostly rural citizens to electricity by 2030, largely through renewable energy from hydroelectric, solar and other sources. (…)
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Ethiopia's multi-billion-dollar dam promises economic boost
September 5, 2025 - Ethiopia's mega-dam on the Nile, being inaugurated on Tuesday, is expected to provide a huge boost to the economy and double electricity production in a country where nearly half the population lacks power. - Megastructure - The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is touted as the largest hydroelectric facility in Africa. The $4-billion megastructure stretches nearly two kilometers (…)
https://www.inoreader.com/article/3a9c6e77742bf8fe-markets-mainly-rise-on-us-rate-cut-hopes
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Dignity in the Lens: Going beyond stereotypes, reframing the image of indigenous peoples in media- Revitalizing indigenous languages ensures that people can make informed decisions about their daily lives and participate in democracy and development without having to sacrifice their identity
September 18, 2025 -In the sprawling landscapes of Tanzania, from the savannas of the Hadzabe to the plains of the Maasai, ancient cultures are facing a modern challenge: their stories are being told without them. Media coverage of indigenous communities—including the Hadzabe, Barbaig/Datoga, and Maasai—is too often riddled with stereotypes and oversimplification. Instead of acting as a platform for their voices, the media frequently reduces these groups to mockeries - sensationalized, marginalized, or even ridiculed as relics of the past.These harmful narratives are amplified by the rapid growth of digital media, where unverified and dehumanizing content can circulate unchecked. The result is a distorted public understanding that erodes dignity and perpetuates exclusion. This misrepresentation isn't just a matter of image; it has real-world consequences, contributing to a lack of understanding of the pressing challenges these communities face, from land encroachment and climate change to a lack of access to essential services.
As this reality persists, Awaichi Mawalla of Savvy FM reminds us of the power of media to amplify indigenous voices. [...]This connection between language and a community's well-being is direct and powerful. Access to lifesaving information is often a matter of language. During a public health crisis or a natural disaster, information about emergency procedures, health warnings, or where to find aid must be communicated in a language people can understand immediately. Without this, indigenous communities are often the last to receive critical updates, making them more vulnerable to harm.[...]
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Officer converts old train car into 'Hospital on Wheels' to bring healthcare to remote India
September 13, 2025 -In the heart of central India, amidst the rhythmic clatter of trains, a tale of ingenuity and compassion unfolds. Ity Pandey, the railway manager at Bhusuwal Junction, transforms an old train carriage into a mobile hospital, aptly named "Rudra," bringing essential healthcare to over 25,000 railway workers and their families spread across remote landscapes. This rolling clinic, adorned with white and flowers, symbolizes a lifeline-bridging distances that once isolated people from timely medical care. "I conceived the idea of a 'hospital on wheels' because we wanted to provide medical aid to our injured employees," Pandey shares, illuminating a profound dedication to fellow workers. As Rudra traverses the tracks, it carries not just medical equipment, but a testament to the resilience of human spirit and the pursuit of a healthier, interconnected India. Themes of accessibility and innovation prevail, illustrating how impactful solutions arise from seeing beyond limitations. […]
https://www.dailygood.org/news/?nid=9177
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Elders lead cultural burns in Barrington Tops to help rare orchid
September 3, 2025 - On a crisp winter morning, Warrimay elder Michelle Perry quietly wanders across a scorched, snow-grass plain. A few wallabies in the New South Wales Barrington Tops watch her from a distance. All you can hear is the faint chirping of birds hidden in the trees and the trickle of a nearby freshwater creek. The area, traditionally known as the Biyan Biyan Plain, is home to the rare veined doubletail orchid, also known as Bularr-Gulga Watuun in Gathang, the language of the Birrbay, Guringay and Warrimay people. The vulnerable species has been declining due to threats posed by feral horses and pigs, invasive weeds and poaching. (…) The area, traditionally known as the Biyan Biyan Plain, is home to the rare veined doubletail orchid, also known as Bularr-Gulga Watuun in Gathang, the language of the Birrbay, Guringay and Warrimay people. The vulnerable species has been declining due to threats posed by feral horses and pigs, invasive weeds and poaching. A white and purple orchid. The endangered veined doubletail orchid, or Bularr-Gulga Watuun. (Supplied: DCCEEW) When senior threatened species officer Luke Foster, from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), first started working with the flowers a decade ago he would find a few dozen on the plain. (…)
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Rice, two curries and dal: The Indian cafes where you can pay in rubbish
Garbage cafes are springing up across India. The BBC visits the city of Ambikapur to find out how much impact they can really have on plastic – and people.
September 2025 - Every day, hungry people arrive at this cafe in Ambikapur, a city in the state of Chhattisgarh in central India, in the hope of getting a hot meal. But they don't pay for their food with money – instead, they hand over bundles of plastic such as old carrier bags, food wrappers and water bottles. [...] People can trade a kilogram (2.2lb) of plastic waste for a full meal that includes rice, two vegetable curries, dal, roti, salad and pickles, says Vinod Kumar Patel, who runs the cafe on behalf of the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation (AMC), the public body which manages the city's infrastructure and services. "For half a kilogram of plastic, they get breakfast like samosas or vada pav." [...] The idea was simple: to encourage low-income people, especially the homeless and ragpickers (those who collect rags and waste for a living), to collect plastic waste from streets and landfills, and give them hot meals in return.
News related with SDGs number 1-No Poverty and number 2-Zero Hunger
World Economic Forum – White Papers - Physical AI: powering the New Age of industrial operations
September 4, 2025 - Industrial operations are at a pivotal moment, shaped by rising complexity and workforce shortages, and further amplified by global uncertainties. This white paper – Physical AI: Powering the New Age of Industrial Operations – explores how advances in industrial robotics are redefining automation and creating new opportunities for resilience and growth. (…) Yet scaling intelligent robotics requires more than technology. The paper highlights the need to embed a new physical AI technology stack, forge ecosystem partnerships and invest in workforce transformation. (…) – PDF to download on the website.
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Boeing accelerates spacecraft production with 3D-printed solar panel structures
Sept 11, 2025 - Boeing has introduced a 3D-printed solar array substrate design that cuts composite build times by as much as six months for a typical solar wing assembly, representing up to a 50 percent faster production cycle compared with current methods. The company has already completed engineering tests on flight-ready hardware and is moving through standard qualification steps ahead of operational missions”.
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Back to school: the importance of educating for happiness
September 15, 2025- With the start of the new school year, a crucial theme emerges: education for happiness. Identifying happiness as the ultimate goal of education is not just an abstract ideal, but a concrete necessity. This approach emphasizes the importance of an educational path that embraces fundamental values such as awareness, autonomy, responsibility and reciprocity.
https://www.b-hop.it/evolver/rientro-a-scuola-limportanza-di-educare-alla-felicita/
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Trying to be consistent is a difficult job, but someone will have to do it
September 10, 2025- Being completely consistent with one's beliefs about environmental protection and protection of others is an almost impossible challenge in today's society. Every day, all of us, to a greater or lesser extent, find ourselves making compromises due to a system in which we are immersed since birth and which inevitably influences our choices. This complex context makes it difficult to maintain absolute consistency, but it should not discourage us from continuing to make conscious and sustainable choices.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Building a common sense of citizenship in Europe
September 1, 2025 - In an era in which indifference to the mechanisms of democracy is increasingly widespread, Global Citizenship Education projects represent a crucial opportunity to defend shared values and promote critical thinking. These projects, through decisive stages and the involvement of different realities, aim to build a common sense of citizenship in Europe, strengthening the active and conscious participation of citizens.
https://altreconomia.it/il-percorso-per-costruire-un-senso-comune-di-cittadinanza-in-europa/
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Living better and longer: the "into the blue" project inspired by the blue zones starts
20 August 2025 - Sardinia, where living over 100 years is customary, is classified as one of the five Blue Zones in the world, areas with the highest concentration of centenarians. From this region comes "Into the Blue", a project that aims to spread the secrets of longevity through immersive experiences, daily practices, authentic relationships and a deep connection with the land and traditions.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
From the Finnish model to Italian cities: a new milestone for road safety
August 2025- Helsinki has reached an extraordinary milestone: a full year without fatal road accidents. This result is not the result of chance, but of an innovative approach to urban mobility that puts safety first. In Italy, too, attention to road safety is growing. Several cities are adopting new strategies to reduce accidents and improve safety on the roads. What are the main measures introduced in Italy to protect motorists and pedestrians?
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Rules, regulations and environment
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Powering up: how Ethiopia is becoming an unlikely leader in the electric vehicle revolution
September 12, 2025 – (…) Until recently, electric vehicles were almost unheard of in Ethiopia. But last year it became the first country to ban imports of combustion engine vehicles. Now, EVs are a common sight in the capital. The most prevalent brand is China’s BYD, which recently overtook Tesla as the world’s largest EV maker, although western vehicles are also popular. Roughly 115,000 EVs now ply Ethiopia’s roads, out of a total of 1.5m cars in the country, according to the transport ministry. It wants to increase the number to 500,000 by 2030. (…)
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
Expanding solar power in rural & working-class communities
(by Jake Richardson)
September 11, 2025 – Reactivate, American Farmland Trust, and Edelen Renewables Community Solar recently announced a new partnership: Farmers Powering Communities (FPC). The mission of Farmers Powering Communities is: “Bringing together those working to feed the planet with those working to power America.” The goal is to install 500 MW of community solar power in five years. Community solar power has many benefits and it provides a flexible option for some people in the event homeowners can’t afford their own solar power systems or utilities are not going to develop their own solar power systems. (…)
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/09/11/expanding-solar-power-in-rural-working-class-communities/
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Norwegian Hydrogen, GreenIron sign strategic agreement to scale fossil-free metal production
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
August 21, 2025 - In Norway, Norwegian Hydrogen AS and GreenIron H2 AB have expanded a previous collaboration, signing a strategic agreement to co-locate and build green hydrogen production plants and direct reduction furnaces at additional locations. (…) GreenIron’s patented technology uses green hydrogen to reduce metal oxides without generating CO2 emissions, enabling truly fossil-free metal production. (…) The collaboration also creates opportunities for wider hydrogen use in surrounding industries, further accelerating the green transition in the region (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Which Regions Are Leading in Smart City Investments and Why?
(by Best Anton)
August 21, 2025 - The Smart Cities Market is rapidly evolving as governments, technology providers, and urban planners work together to address the challenges of urbanization, sustainability, and resource efficiency. With the global population increasingly concentrated in urban areas, smart city initiatives are becoming a critical investment priority. However, not all regions are progressing at the same pace. Some have emerged as clear leaders in funding, policy adoption, and technological innovation. This blog highlights which regions are leading in smart city investments and explores the reasons behind their dominance. (…)
https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/panorama/which-regions-are-leading-in-smart-city-20250821/
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”