Brazil Can Boost Growth by Bringing More Women into the Labor Force

BrazilThis article is published in association with IMF. Priority reforms include improving childcare, recalibrating social transfers, and closing wage gaps When Brazil’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in November 2025—the lowest in a quarter century—it punctuated an impressive turnaround from the pandemic. Yet, while men’s participation in the labor market has returned to its pre-COVID […]

Parliament’s proposals to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2035 

Parliament’s proposals to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2035 This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, Parliament called for more funding and coordination to combat poverty and social exclusion in the EU. MEPs want the Commission to recognise poverty as a violation of human dignity in its upcoming anti-poverty strategy and want to see it work urgently to […]

MEPs stress the importance of independent central banks in times of heightened tension

MEPs stress the importance of independent central banks in times of heightened tensionThis article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted its annual review of the European Central Bank’s policies and its recommendations for 2026. The vote followed a debate with ECB President Lagarde on Monday. The adopted text says the European Central Bank’s (ECB) independence is essential for it to […]

European Commission issues €11 billion in its 2nd syndicated transaction of 2026

European Commission issues €11 billion in its 2nd syndicated transaction of 2026This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today raised €11 billion of EU-Bonds in its 2nd syndicated transaction for 2026. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €6 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 13 December 2032 and a €5 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 12 October 2045. The […]

EU-US trade legislation: MEPs to resume work on Turnberry proposals 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s International Trade Committee and standing rapporteur for the US, has issued the following statement regarding the EU-US trade deal. Following a Wednesday afternoon meeting of the committee’s shadow rapporteurs (i.e. political group representatives responsible for work on the legislation […]

EU survey: rising concerns push demand for more European action

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, citizens are increasingly anxious about their future and want the EU to act with unity and ambition. The results of the European Parliament’s latest Eurobarometer survey, published on Wednesday, show that global developments instil a sense of […]

EU-US trade legislation: MEPs to resume work on Turnberry proposals

Statement by the European Commission on the U.S. decision to impose travel restrictions on certain EU individualsThis article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s International Trade Committee and standing rapporteur for the US, has issued the following statement regarding the EU-US trade deal. Following a Wednesday afternoon meeting of the committee’s shadow rapporteurs (i.e. political group representatives responsible for work on the legislation […]

Commission annual report on Single Market and competitiveness calls for joint action in light of unprecedented challenges

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted the 2026 Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report, the sixth in an annual series, evaluating the functioning of the Single Market and assessing the conditions for businesses to innovate, grow, and compete while delivering sustainable prosperity for European citizens. […]

EU and Viet Nam upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union and Viet Nam have agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthening ties in areas such as trade, energy, climate and security. This marks an important step forward after 35 years of working together. The EU and Viet […]

The EU’s ambitions cannot be delivered on the cheap

This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee.This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) warns that a weak long-term EU budget would undermine competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture and democracy. In a set of eight newly adopted opinions, the Committee calls for a stronger, fairer and future-proof multiannual financial framework […]

Towards 2030: A Joint European Union-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. This Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, endorsed at the 16th EU-India Summit held on 27 January 2026 in New Delhi, aims to further reinforce the strategic partnership by broadening, deepening and better coordinating EU-India cooperation to deliver mutually beneficial, concrete and transformative outcomes for […]

16th EU-India Summit: advancing our Strategic Partnership across trade and defence

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union and India are holding their 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, opening a whole new chapter in the EU-India Strategic Partnership. The successful conclusion of an EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the launch of an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership […]

World enters era of ‘global water bankruptcy’

UN News/Alban Mendes de Leon MINUSCA troops survey Central African Republic’s open border with Sudan. Villagers move back and forth freely – by foot, on the back of a donkey, or with cattle. Armed men cross, too.This article is published in association with United Nations. The world has moved beyond a water crisis and into a state of global water bankruptcy, says a new flagship report released on Tuesday by UN researchers. For decades, scientists, policymakers and the media warned of a “global water crisis,” implying temporary shock – followed by recovery.  […]

EBRD invests record €16.8 billion in 2025

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD.This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested a record €16.8 billion across its regions in 2025 and signed its first projects in sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. The Bank financed 640 projects over the course of the year, with 75 per cent of investments in […]

EBRD secures capital increase with strong shareholder backing

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has secured almost 95 per cent of its €4 billion general capital increase. The capital increase was approved by the EBRD’s Board of Governors in 2023 and increased the Bank’s capital base to €34 billion. All the Bank’s […]

As Korea Ages, Fiscal Reforms Can Help Safeguard Government Finances

SeoulThis article is published in association with IMF. Thoughtful policy changes can help ensure spending pressures remain contained, while creating space to care for elderly people and respond to economic shocks  Korea’s population is aging faster than almost any other country. That’s because people live longer than in most other countries, while the birth rate is […]

Member States continued focus on EU key priorities amid reduced spending in 2024, State aid Scoreboard shows

Member States continued focus on EU key priorities amid reduced spending in 2024, State aid Scoreboard showsThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. EU Member States spent 90% of their State aid in 2024 to support EU priorities, according to the European Commission’s 2025 State aid Scoreboard, published today. While overall spending dropped to €168.23 billion in 2024 from €203.35 billion in 2023, Member States channeled more […]

Global employment stable but decent jobs in short supply

© UNICEF/Fouad Choufany A young unemployed man receives job training in Lebanon.This article is published in association with United Nations. Global unemployment remains stable, but progress toward decent work has stalled, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which warns that young people continue to struggle in a job market which risks being further undermined by AI and trade policy uncertainty. According to […]

Commission presents a financial support package for Ukraine for 2026–2027

EIB Group supports heating points in Ukraine amid energy instabilityThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted a set of legislative proposals to secure continuous financial support to Ukraine in 2026 and 2027. This marks a significant milestone in the EU’s strong support for the country’s defence against Russia’s war of aggression. The legislative package consists […]

European Commission issues €11 billion in its 1st syndicated transaction of 2026

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today raised €11 billion of EU-Bonds in its 1st syndicated transaction for 2026. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a new €6 billion EU-Bond maturing on 12 July 2029 and a €5 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 12 October 2055. The 3-year bond was […]

‘Beyond GDP’ economists push for clearer metrics on wellbeing, sustainability

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. Top finance experts are meeting at UN Geneva this week to push for a radical shake up in the way economic growth is gauged, in response to concerns that GDP measurements provide little insight about progress on key sustainability targets that are vital to our survival. Backed […]

Global economy shows signs of steady but subdued growth

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. The global economy has shown resilience amid turbulence during the past year, including shifting trade policies – yet growth remains subdued and far below pre-pandemic levels, the UN said in a landmark report published on Thursday.  The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 predicts that global economic output will grow by 2.7 […]

Bulgaria joins euro area from 1 January

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria will adopt the euro as its currency, marking an important milestone for the country, for the history of the euro, and for the EU as a whole. This follows a period of intensive preparation and effort by Bulgaria to […]

UN, US sign $2 billion humanitarian funding agreement for 17 crisis-hit countries

UN, US sign $2 billion humanitarian funding agreement for 17 crisis-hit countriesThis article is published in association with United Nations. The United Nations and the United States on Monday formalized an agreement under which the US committed $2 billion in humanitarian assistance for global relief programmes, a move the UN’s top relief official hailed as a landmark commitment to saving lives amid escalating humanitarian needs worldwide. Speaking […]

One health, one fight: confronting antibiotic resistance before it becomes a cancer

Isaac Aidoo Erzuah is a third-year medical student and research assistant at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.This article was exclusively written for European Sting by Mr. Isaac Aidoo Erzuah, a third-year medical student and research assistant at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do […]

Deal on new measures to boost citizens’ investments in financial markets 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament has struck an informal deal with Council on new rules to help retail clients invest in quality financial products and protect them from misleading or biased information. On Thursday morning, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on a series of changes to several EU […]

Commission to issue €90 billion in EU-Bonds in the first half of 2026

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has announced its intention to issue up to €90 billion of EU-Bonds in the first half of 2026, bringing outstanding EU-Bonds close to €800 billion by the end of June 2026. The proceeds will be used to fund loans to EU […]

Circular economy: deal on new EU rules for the automotive sector 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Early on Friday morning, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new EU circularity rules to cover the entire vehicle lifecycle, from design to final end-of-life treatment. Improved vehicle design and use of recycled materials According to the agreed draft, all new vehicles […]

Prevention, investment and reform in healthcare bring economic prosperity

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. A new report published as part of the State of Health in the EU shows Europe urgently needs innovative and resilient health systems to improve healthcare and boost competitiveness. With pressing challenges such as ageing populations and non-communicable diseases, EU Member States are now […]

EU becomes major Green Bond issuer

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. he EU has become one of the largest issuers of green bonds in the world, according to the 2025 edition of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) Green Bonds Annual Allocation and Impact Report, published yesterday. It shows that, a total of €78.5 billion worth of NextGenerationEU […]

Commission announces strategic approach to strengthen Europe’s economic security

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission and the High Representative presented a Joint Communication on strengthening Economic Security. It outlines concrete steps to reinforce the EU’s strength and resilience in the face of growing external economic threats, while retaining our openness and commitment to international trade […]

World News in Brief: Global economy ‘on the brink’, ending slavery, Latin America jobs update

World News in Brief: Global economy ‘on the brink’, ending slavery, Latin America jobs updateThis article is published in association with United Nations. Global economic growth will slow to 2.6 per cent in 2025, down from 2.9 per cent in 2024, as global trade and investment face growing pressure from financial volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, according to a new report by the UN Trade and Development body (UNCTAD).  Shifts in […]

Commission presents new Bioeconomy Strategy to drive green growth, competitiveness and resilience across Europe

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission adopted a new Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, charting a way forward to build a clean, competitive and resilient European economy. By using renewable biological resources from land and sea and providing alternatives to critical raw materials, […]
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