Sudan: Window is closing to prevent wider escalation in El Obeid

© UNDP/Giles Clarke A woman sells vegetables in a camp for displaced people in Kassala, Sudan.This article is published in association with United Nations. A senior United Nations official warned on Friday that the opportunity to prevent a major escalation in the Sudanese city of El Obeid is “rapidly narrowing” as fighting intensifies in and around the North Kordofan state capital. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the […]

Commission approves €402 million Spanish State aid for road transport companies facing increased fuel prices

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 approved a €402 million Spanish State aid scheme to support road transport companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis. The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 […]

Climate Change and Women’s Health in the Brazilian Amazon: A Local Perspective

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Maria Vitória is a 20-year-old medical student at Faculdade Metropolitana de Manaus (FAMETRO), currently in her fifth semester, in Brazil. 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 […]

Venezuela quake disaster: UN urges collective effort to help victims

© UNICEF/Gustavo Vera A view of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.This article is published in association with United Nations. UN teams scrambled on Thursday in support of the international response to the devastating double earthquake disaster in Venezuela, where buildings lie flattened and people are likely still trapped in the capital, Caracas, and beyond.  At least 164 people have been confirmed dead and 971 were injured […]

Commission welcomes political agreement on criminal law rules to fight child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse online: support for extending voluntary rules until August 2027 This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes today’s political agreement with the European Parliament and Council on the Directive updating the criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. Worrisome trends like the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated abuse material make today’s agreement even more timely. […]

EU allocates over €56 million in emergency support to farmers in Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia, and Slovenia

EU-Mercosur: MEPs demand a legal opinion on its conformity with the EU treatiesThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, Member States endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to mobilise over €56 million from the agricultural reserve. Farmers from Portugal will receive €30 million, Romania €14.8 million, Cyprus €4.6 million, Croatia €4.4 million, and Slovenia €2.8 million. These funds will support farmers affected by […]

EU-Moldova Summit in Brussels marks a new milestone on path to EU membership

EU announces €153 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and MoldovaThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the second EU-Moldova Summit marked another step forward in EU–Republic of Moldova relations and underscored the country’s remarkable progress on its EU path. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of Moldova […]

Sudan: Security Council warns of mass atrocity risk in El Obeid

© UNOCHA/Mohamed Elgoni The conflict in Sudan is forcing millions of people to flee their homes for temporary shelters.This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Security Council has expressed alarm over reports of substantial military reinforcements by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) around El Obeid in Sudan, warning of the risk of a potential ground offensive on the city. In a statement on Saturday, Council members voiced concern over the […]

Libya’s political process regains momentum, but window for action is narrowing, UN envoy warns

This article is published in association with United Nations. Libya has been mired in political dysfunction since the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, which shattered State institutions and triggered recurring struggles over legitimacy and power.  The country’s current stalemate pits the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in the capital Tripoli against eastern-based authorities backed […]

‘Europe for Culture, Culture for Europe’: European institutions commit to placing culture at the heart of EU policy

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 the sidelines of the European Council today in Brussels, the President of the European Commission, the President of the Parliament and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union  signed a […]

Commission greenlights Bulgaria’s fourth payment request under NextGenerationEU

European Commission issues €11 billion in its 2nd syndicated transaction of 2026This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission greenlighted Bulgaria’s fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The Commission found that Bulgaria has satisfactorily completed 23 out of 26 milestones and targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. The reforms and investments tied to this payment request […]

US makes $1 billion contribution to UN child rights and food agencies

© WFP/Htet Oo Linn Families in Myanmar have been hit hard by rising prices, with the most vulnerable struggling to meet their daily needs.This article is published in association with United Nations. Two United Nations agencies have together welcomed more than $1 billion in assistance from the United States to support their operations targeting millions of children and hungry families in more than 40 countries. This week the US State Department announced a more than $800 million contribution to the […]

Commission approves €1 billion Slovak State aid scheme to support cleantech manufacturing capacity

The Commission today presented the Automotive Package to support the sector's efforts in the transition to clean mobility. It sets an ambitious yet pragmatic policy framework to ensure 2050 climate neutrality and strategic independence while providing more flexibility to manufacturers. It also responds to calls by EU industry to simplify rules. The automotive sector has been key to Europe's industrial strength for decades, sustaining millions of jobs and driving technological innovation. As the world is changing, the car industry is transforming through new technologies and actors. Today's package maintains a strong market signal for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) while giving the industry more flexibility to achieve CO2 targets, and supports vehicles and batteries made in the European Union. The corporate vehicles initiative will support the uptake of zero- and low-emission vehicles. The automotive omnibus enhances competitiveness by saving costs, expected to be approximately €706 million per year, and cutting red tape, while providing greater investment certainty. Commission President von der Leyen said: “Innovation. Clean mobility. Competitiveness. This year, these were top priorities in our intense dialogues with automotive sector, civil society organisations and stakeholders. And today, we are addressing them all together. As technology rapidly transforms mobility and geopolitics reshapes global competition, Europe remains at the forefront of the global clean transition.” Staying the course towards clean mobility with pragmatism The Commission presents a package that addresses both supply and demand of the automotive sector's transition: on the supply side, it presents a review of the existing CO2 emission standards for cars and vans and a targeted amendment to those for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). On the demand side, it proposes an initiative to decarbonise corporate vehicles with binding national targets for zero- and low-emission vehicles. The CO2 standards now provide further flexibilities to support the industry and enhance technological neutrality, while providing predictability to manufacturers and maintaining clear market signal towards electrification. From 2035 onwards, carmakers will need to comply with a 90% tailpipe emissions reduction target, while the remaining 10% emissions will need to be compensated through the use of low-carbon steel Made in the Union, or from e-fuels and biofuels. This will allow for plug-in hybrids (PHEV), range extenders, mild hybrids, and internal combustion engine vehicles to still play a role beyond 2035, in addition to full electric (EVs) and hydrogen vehicles. Prior to 2035, car manufacturers will be able to benefit from “super credits” for small affordable electric cars made in the European Union. This will incentivise the deployment on the market of more small EV models. For the 2030 target for cars and vans, additional flexibility is introduced by allowing “banking & borrowing” for 2030-2032. An additional flexibility is granted for the vans segment, where the electric vehicle uptake has been structurally more difficult, with a reduction of the 2030 CO2 vans target from 50% to 40%. The Commission is also proposing a targeted amendment to the CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles with a flexibility easing the compliance with the 2030 targets. Regarding corporate vehicles, mandatory targets are set at the Member State level to support the zero- and low-emission vehicle uptake by large companies. Having more zero- and low-emission vehicles on the market, both first- and second-hand markets – will benefit all customers. As companies' cars cover higher yearly mileages, it also means more emission reductions. It will also make zero- or low- emissions and “Made in the EU” a pre-requisite for vehicles benefitting from public financial support. Strengthening Europe's own battery industry With €1.8 billion, the Battery Booster will accelerate the development of a fully EU-made battery value chain. As part of the Battery Booster, €1.5 billion will support European battery cell producers through interest-free loans. Additional targeted policy measures will support investments, create a European battery value chain and foster innovation and coordination across Member States. These measures will enhance the cost competitiveness of the sector, secure upstream supply chains and support sustainable and resilient production in the EU, contributing to the derisking from dominant global market players. Less red tape and stronger enabling conditions for the transition The Automotive Omnibus will ease administrative burden and cut costs for European manufacturers, boosting their global competitiveness, and freeing up resources for decarbonisation. Businesses are expected to save approximately €706 million per year, bringing the administrative savings thanks to all omnibuses and simplification initiatives the Commission has presented so far to around €14.3 billion per year. Among other things, it proposes to reduce the number of secondary legislation that will be adopted in the upcoming years and to streamline testing for new passenger vans and trucks. This will reduce costs while maintaining highest environmental and safety standards. The roll-out of electric vans in domestic transport is supported by measures that place them on an equal footing with internal combustion vans regarding drivers' rest times and rules. The Omnibus also introduces a new vehicle category under the Small Affordable Cars initiative, covering electric vehicles up to 4.2 meters in length. This will enable Member States and local authorities to develop targeted incentives, stimulating demand for small EVs made in the EU. The Commission is also updating and harmonising car labelling rules, for customers to have complete information about the cars' emissions when making purchases. Background Today's proposals build on the Automotive Action Plan, and input from industry and key stakeholders gathered during the Strategic Dialogue under President von der Leyen's leadership since January 2025. In January 2025, President von der Leyen launched a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry, bringing together industry representatives, social partners, Member States, regions and civil society. Three Dialogue meetings have taken place to date, providing a platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities the sector faces. For more information Questions and answers Factsheet - Taking action for a clean and competitive European automotive sector Factsheet – Revision of the CO2 standards and Corportate vehicles Proposal Automotive Package – webpage (all proposals will be available) Automotive Action Plan – webpage Clean Industrial Deal Net-Zero Industry ActThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €1 billion Slovak scheme to support clean technology (cleantech) manufacturing capacity in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the […]

Triple climate threats affect nearly half the world’s children

© UNICEF/Sukhum Preechapanich Children in Thailand are enduring extremely hot temperatures and drought. (file)This article is published in association with United Nations. Drought, extreme heat and heatwaves are the most prevalent trio of hazards endangering millions of children globally, warned a newly released climate report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). About 1.1 billion children now face at least three overlapping climate hazards, threatening their health, education and survival, […]

Navigating crises and delivering results with the EU Budget in 2025

EU long-term budget: MEPs want a 10% increase to support EU priorities This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the College of Commissioners adopted the Annual Management and Performance Report for 2025 (AMPR). The AMPR highlights the key role the EU budget played in navigating multiple crises that year and shows that it continued to deliver for European citizens. The EU budget […]

EU and Brazil deepen ties through Digital 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 Brazil will sign a Digital Partnership in Brasilia today, bringing their digital cooperation to a new strategic level. Building on more than two decades of close collaboration, the partnership will strengthen EU-Brazil cooperation on shared digital priorities, including data governance, […]

Commission presents first-ever EU strategies for islands and coastal communities

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 two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities, setting out for the first time a coordinated European approach to support both types of territories and unlock their long-term potential. The two initiatives introduce a […]

EU to mobilise up to €25 billion for renewable energy and clean technology by 2035 through Pact for the Mediterranean initiative

Connecting Europe Facility – EESC calls for strong increase in funding for energy and transportThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union launches the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation (T-MED) – a flagship initiative under the Pact for the Mediterranean. T-MED aims to accelerate the development of renewable energy, hydrogen, clean technology manufacturing and modern electricity networks across the Mediterranean […]

One Europe, One Market: from strategy to delivery – EESC, CoR and EP discuss the EU’s new roadmap for a truly unified market

EU long-term budget: MEPs want a 10% increase to support EU priorities This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. Insufficient enforcement of common EU rules, threats to consumer confidence, excessive complexity for SMEs and a loss of competitiveness in the digital sector are among the greatest challenges facing the Single Market. The EU has a duty to protect it in […]

Bulgarian businesses to get €340 million financing boost under new agreement between EIB Group and Allianz Bank Bulgaria

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. A range of Bulgarian businesses will be eligible for around €340 million in financing under a new agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and Allianz Bank Bulgaria. The accord enables Allianz Bank Bulgaria to increase loans for Bulgarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as […]

World News in Brief: Millions displaced in South Sudan, global meat supply quadruples, Middle East crisis deepens global hunger

© UNOCHA/Adedeji Ademigbuji Children displaced by the recent violence in Jonglei State, South Sudan, sit outside a church, home to thousands of displaced people.This article is published in association with United Nations. Months of fighting and insecurity have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei State, triggering “one of the most severe conflict-related displacement emergencies in recent years”, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.  Tweet URL Fighting between the […]

Humanity’s future depends on protecting the rapidly changing ocean

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the planetand regulates climate, sustains biodiversity, and supports economies and cultures worldwide. It’s the foundation of life on Earth. However, it has been under duress for some time and going forward faces multiple threats which not only gravely […]

Five things you need to know about ocean plastics

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is published in association with United Nations. From surgical gloves to water bottles, shopping bags and chewing gum, every part of our daily lives includes plastic. They epitomise convenience – their durability makes our dependence on them inextricable, but it also stifles the environment. Once plastics are released into the marine environment, large pieces choke wildlife […]

Commission endorses Lithuania’s €884 million Social Climate Plan to support vulnerable households and small enterprises in the clean transition

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 approved Lithuania’s Social Climate Plan – the second national plan approved under the new Social Climate Fund, which uses revenues from carbon pricing to ensure a fair and inclusive clean transition for vulnerable communities and businesses. The Lithuanian Social Climate Plan will […]

Commission approves €23 billion Italian State aid scheme to support renewable electricity production

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €23 billion Italian State aid scheme to support electricity production from renewable energy sources, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy and reaching the […]

EU-Western Balkans Summit highlights enlargement as a strategic investment in Europe’s peace, stability and 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, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola joined leaders from Member States and the six Western Balkan partners at the EU-Western Balkans Summit. The Summit was […]

Commission decides to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive regarding peat cutting projects  

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 decided to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU). Under the Directive, Member States are required to carry out an […]

EU-Moldova Investment Conference announces up to €641 million in strategic investments

EU announces €153 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and MoldovaThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. At the EU-Moldova Investment Conference, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos announced investment plans and project initiatives worth up to €641 million in coordination with international financial institutions, private sector partners and public stakeholders. The initiatives will support strategic sectors, including energy, digital infrastructure, […]

Yemen: Hunger crisis deepens as funding cuts leave millions without support

© UNICEF/Mohanad Waqqas An 18-month-old girl suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a displaced camp in Lahj, Yemen.This article is published in association with United Nations. Nearly half of the population in Government-controlled areas of Yemen are facing high levels of acute food insecurity with the crisis set to deepen further if international aid cuts continue, according to the latest analysis by the leading UN-backed global food security platform. Around five million people – or […]

Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people each year; children most at risk: WHO

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. Unsafe food causes an estimated 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year worldwide, highlighting the often-overlooked toll of contaminated food on health, development and fragile economies, according to new data from the UN health agency. The new insights released on Wednesday ahead of next week’s […]

Eurobarometer shows continued public support for biodiversity protection across Europe

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Published at the start of the EU Green Week, the Special Eurobarometer survey on biodiversity shows continued support among Europeans for biodiversity and nature protection, despite economic and geopolitical challenges. Over 90% of all Europeans view protecting biodiversity and nature as essential for health, […]

Climate Change Is a Women’s Health Crisis—Future Doctors Must Act

Juliana Ribeiro is a fourth-year Brazilian medical studentThis article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Cecilia Petio, a medical student at the University of Bologna, Italy. 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 necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on […]

UN urges world not to forget Rohingya refugees as aid cuts threaten vital support

© UNICEF/Ilvy Njiokiktjien A two-year-old girl suffering from malnutrition is fed by her mother at their shelter in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.This article is published in association with United Nations. As the world approaches nine years since the mass displacement of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has appealed to the international community not to abandon the 1.2 million refugees living in the country, most of them in camps in Cox’s Bazar. […]
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