This article is published in association with United Nations. The choice of the tenth UN Secretary-General, who will take office in January 2027, could shape global diplomacy, the response to crises across the world and the direction of the multilateral system for the next decade. Why it matters The major questions going into the process which is […]Gender, geography and powerbroking in play in race for next UN chief
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The choice of the tenth UN Secretary-General, who will take office in January 2027, could shape global diplomacy, the response to crises across the world and the direction of the multilateral system for the next decade. Why it matters The major questions going into the process which is […]Why lower fertility does not have to mean economic decline
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Why lower fertility does not have to mean economic declineEU presents first Action Plan under the Pact for the Mediterranean
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission outlined to representatives from EU Member States and the Southern Mediterranean the first set of key initiatives, in the form of an Action Plan, to advance the implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean. The Pact was developed through an […]Commission awards €180 million tender for sovereign cloud to four European providers
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission is strengthening the European Union’s digital sovereignty by awarding a tender that allows EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies (Union entities) to procure sovereign cloud services for up to €180 million over 6 years. The four awarded providers are European companies: […]Commission statement on technical meetings with the incoming Hungarian Government
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On 17 and 18 April, a European Commission high-level delegation held technical meetings in Budapest with senior representatives from the incoming Hungarian Government. This was organised following contacts between President von der Leyen and Prime Minister-Designate Peter Magyar, and commitment on both sides to […]World News in Brief: Myanmar amnesty, rising needs in Afghanistan, another power loss at Ukraine nuclear plant
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Authorities in Myanmar released the country’s ousted president from prison on Friday, along with some 4,000 other people, as part of an amnesty to mark the traditional New Year festival. President Win Myint had been in jail since February 2021 when the military overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected […]More than 38,000 women and girls killed in Gaza war, UN gender equality agency reports
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The war in Gaza has inflicted a far higher toll on women and girls than in previous conflicts in the Palestinian enclave, with more than 38,000 killed by Israeli air bombardment and land military operations since Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel sparked the war in October 2023, […]New food alert platform helps humanitarians combat hunger
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) released its next-generation platform on Thursday known as HungerMap Live, a digital monitoring and intelligence site that integrates food security data with predictive modelling to help fight hunger in more than 50 countries. Bringing together data from more than 300 analysts and […]Deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainians ‘simply trying to live their lives’ must stop, says senior UN official
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The latest wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians in Dnipro, Kyiv and Odesa, which killed and injured scores of civilians, was roundly condemned by Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country. Standing in front of a bombed-out residential building in the city of Dnipro […]Second meeting of Special Panel to advise President von der Leyen on child online safety
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Special Panel on child online safety advising President von der Leyen on child online safety, convened for a second meeting. Today’s meeting focused on current EU rules and initiatives to protect minors online, shared by experts advising Member States, as well as international approaches, such as Australia’s social […]Over 10 million workers trained under the Pact for Skills
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Over 10 million people, including 3.9 million in 2025 alone, have benefited from upskilling initiatives under the Pact for Skills since its launch in 2020, according to the European Commission annual survey. Launched in November 2020, the Pact for Skills supports skills-related partnerships that address Europe’s skills needs and advance the […]Commission opens in-depth investigation into Romanian State aid to support refurbishment of Cernavoda 1 nuclear reactor
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether public support that Romania plans to grant for the refurbishment and lifetime extension of Unit 1 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant is in line with EU State aid rules. The Commission’s investigation […]Commission approves Bulgarian, German and Slovenian State aid schemes providing temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive companies
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved State aid schemes to provide temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive companies in Bulgaria, Germany and Slovenia in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. Through the condition to reinvest a significant share of the aid received in […]Commission proposes measures to Google on sharing search engine data with third parties under Digital Markets Act
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has sent preliminary findings to Google outlining proposed measures to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Under these proposed measures, Google should allow third party search engines to access search data, such as ranking, query, click and view data, on fair, […]The Epstein files: Rights experts demand accountability, call for probe into trafficking allegations
April 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN independent human rights experts called on Thursday for justice and accountability for young women and girls who were trafficked systematically as part of allegations contained in the so-called Epstein files. The Human Rights Council-appointed experts also issued a general warning over the “continuing violence of patriarchal power systems” revealed […]EIB joins Water Forward coalition to accelerate global water security
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) today joined Water Forward, a new global coalition bringing together multilateral development banks, governments, private investors and philanthropic partners to tackle the accelerating global water crisis. Announced at the World Bank Group–IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, the EIB’s participation includes a […]Youth shape the road to 2030, call for urgent action on sustainable development
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As we confront increasingly complex and interconnected crises – from climate change to the AI revolution – the leadership and voices of young people have never been more vital, says the UN. Young leaders, innovators and advocates from around the world are gathering at UN Headquarters in […]‘Sudan is an atrocities laboratory’, UN aid chief tells Berlin conference
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Foreign ministers from across the world met in Berlin on Wednesday to show support for Sudan, where a fourth year of brutal warfare has begun as humanitarian needs deepen. Countries reportedly pledged over $1 billion at the third International Conference for Sudan co-hosted by Germany, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France, and the United […]European Union and United Kingdom take decisive step towards Erasmus+ association in 2027
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union and the United Kingdom have enabled the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. The UK’s association to Erasmus+ will place UK learners, staff, education institutions and organisations on the same footing as those in EU Member States and other third […]EU and Member States pledge over €811 million in response to crisis in Sudan
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, as Sudanese citizens continue to suffer the world’s most severe humanitarian emergency, the European Union, together with Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the African Union, co-hosted the Third International Sudan Conference in Berlin. As the Sudan war enters its fourth year, the […]Commission sends Meta fresh charge sheet on possible interim measures to reverse exclusion of third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has sent a Supplementary Statement of Objections to Meta setting out the Commission’s intention to order Meta to reinstate third-party AI assistants’ access to WhatsApp under the same conditions as before its policy change of 15 October 2025. This is despite modifications announced by […]Middle East conflict chokes end of supply chain as lights go out in the Pacific
April 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. For Pacific Island countries, the Middle East crisis is not a distant geopolitical event. It is already showing up in higher fuel prices, electricity uncertainty and fears that communities sitting at the far end of global supply chains could be pushed into deeper economic insecurity. “We are […]EIB lends €100 million to Finnish company Orion Pharma for new cancer and pain treatments
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €100 million to Finnish pharmaceutical company Orion Pharma to develop new treatments for cancer, pain and other serious conditions with few treatment options. The financing will support Orion Pharma’s research and development activities across its European centres, covering personnel […]World failing Sudan as war enters a fourth year, UN relief chief warns
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Sudan remains the world’ s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis, UN agencies and partners said on Tuesday, calling for an end to the war between rival militaries on the eve of the three-year mark. “This grim and chastening anniversary marks another year when the world has failed […]‘Now is the moment to invest’: Syria needs global backing, says UN expert
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Syria has made “remarkable progress” on transitional justice within the past year, raising hopes for accountability and recovery after more than a decade of civil conflict. While the determination of Syrians to rebuild their country following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024 has been widely […]Commission approves €1.3 billion German State aid scheme for rewetting of farmed peatlands
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €1.3 billion German scheme to support landowners and land managers of drained peatlands that commit to rewet their land. The scheme aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing carbon storage in peatlands. […]Autism Spectrum Disorder in Global Health: From Awareness to Inclusive Care
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Ashunchung Chelsea Ayuk Takang, a medical student at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea. She 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 not […]Improved protection for workers against their exposure to chemicals
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, the Employment and Social Affairs committee adopted its position on new provisions improving EU standards to protect workers from exposure to dangerous substances. With 45 votes in favour, no votes against, and 10 abstentions, Employment and Social Affairs Committee MEPs approved the […]Commission consults Member States on proposal for a Temporary Crisis Framework
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission is gathering the views of Member States on a draft proposal for a State aid Temporary Crisis Framework to support the EU economy in the context of the Middle East crisis, as announced on 13 April 2026 by President Ursula von […]Commission issues €9 billion in its fourth syndicated transaction of 2026
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has raised €9 billion of EU-Bonds in its 4th syndicated transaction for 2026. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €3 billion tap of the 3-year EU-Bond, maturing on 12 July 2029, and a €6 billion new 20-year EU-Bond, maturing on 12 October […]‘Time for diplomacy over escalation’ in Middle East war: Guterres
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As the war in the Middle East continues, the United Nations Secretary-General issued a passionate call for “serious negotiations” between the US and Iran to resume, warning that respect for international law “is being trampled” underfoot. Addressing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York outside the Security […]European Union support for the UN ‘more vital than ever’, Security Council hears
April 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
A senior United Nations official on Monday hailed the European Union (EU) as “a major economic and diplomatic actor and a strong advocate of multilateralism.” UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Khaled Khiari was speaking during the Security Council’s annual debate on cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of peace and security. “In an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment, sustained […]Commission approves Clarios’ acquisition of three lead recycling plants from Ecobat in Germany and Austria
April 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition by Clarios of three secondary recycling lead smelters, operated by Ecobat in Germany (Braubach and Freiberg) and Austria (Arnoldstein). The Commission concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in the European Economic Area […]
