This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank’s international partnerships and development arm, EIB Global, has signed a €2 million top-up to the outstanding €10 million loan to Bank Respublika, reinforcing the European Union’s commitment to expanding access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Azerbaijan. The additional […]EIB Global increases support for Azerbaijani MSMEs with additional financing for Bank Respublika
March 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank’s international partnerships and development arm, EIB Global, has signed a €2 million top-up to the outstanding €10 million loan to Bank Respublika, reinforcing the European Union’s commitment to expanding access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Azerbaijan. The additional […]EU to invest €330 million to accelerate fusion energy and support nuclear technologies and skills
March 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has taken a decisive step in the development of nuclear technologies with the adoption of the Work Programme for the 2026 and 2027 Euratom Research and Training Programme. By covering nuclear research and innovation, the Programme offers complementary funding to […]Middle East war risks pushing 45 million more people into acute hunger
March 18, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The Middle East war could cause the worst disruption to lifesaving humanitarian work since COVID, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday, as the UN chief again demanded an end to the widening conflict. “The Secretary-General asserts once more that the war in the Middle […]EIB commits €40 million to Speedinvest to empower Africa’s next tech champions and deepen Europe-African innovation ties
March 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. African technology startups will receive a financing boost through a €40 million commitment from EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), to the first Africa-focused investment vehicle from leading European venture capital firm Speedinvest. The investment strengthens EU–Africa ties, supports digital transformation, […]Iran crisis: Schoolgirls killed, thousands displaced and aid compromised
March 4, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. On the fourth day of Israeli and United States airstrikes against Iran and amid growing violence and instability in the Middle East, the UN urgently called for protection of civilians and warned of growing displacement and humanitarian needs. UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani also recalled […]Iran strikes ‘squandered a chance for diplomacy’: Guterres
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. “Everything must be done” to prevent wider escalation of war across the Middle East following joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran, and retaliatory action from Tehran targeting multiple countries in the region, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Saturday. António Guterres described the day’s events as […]Deadly bombing of Iran primary school ‘a grave violation of humanitarian law’: UNESCO
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN education agency, UNESCO, says that the bombing of a primary school during the US and Israeli military attacks on Iran on Saturday constitutes a grave violation of humanitarian law. The missiles reportedly destroyed a girl’s primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing around 150 and […]Attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes ‘undermine international peace and security’
March 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the heads of UN agencies have condemned Saturday’s joint Israeli and US attacks on Iran and the Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel and the Gulf Regions. The attack on Iran reportedly targeted military sites as well as the leadership of the Iranian […]World News in Brief: Arab economies rise, rights experts call for police reform in India, Ukraine school closures, Myanmar airstrikes
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A new UN report forecasts that the Arab region is seeing a gradual economic recovery despite continuing geopolitical uncertainties. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Wednesday reported that regional growth is projected to pick up from 2.9 per cent last year to 3.7 per cent […]Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities
February 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council. Cyprus holds the presidency of the Council until the end of June 2026. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take […]EIB Group supports heating points in Ukraine amid energy instability
February 13, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continue to disrupt electricity supply across the country. During prolonged outages and freezing temperatures, heating points – known in Ukraine as “Points of Invincibility” – play a critical role, offering warm and safe spaces where people can stay during blackouts, […]Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities
January 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council. Cyprus holds the presidency of the Council until the end of June 2026. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take […]Access to Healthcare: is it too much to ask?
January 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Khalil Al Bilani is a 5th-year medical student at Saint George’s University of Beirut. 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 not necessarily reflect […]Germany: €500 million for flood protection and climate adaptation
January 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB), headquartered in Luxembourg, is granting the two regional water management associations Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband (EGLV) a total of €500 million in promotional loans for climate adaptation and flood protection projects in the Emscher-Lippe region. The loan agreements were signed on Friday, […]Commission greenlights Portugal’s eighth payment request for €1.1 billion under NextGenerationEU
January 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission positively assessed Portugal’s eighth payment request for €1.1 billion, of which €828.8 million in grants and €286 million in loans, under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This is an important step in the delivery of the reforms and […]Prison breaks and renewed clashes raise alarm in northeast Syria
January 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The United Nations continues to monitor developments in northeast Syria following clashes between government troops and the Kurdish-led SDF militia during which scores of detained ISIL militants reportedly escaped from prison. Secretary-General António Guterres is following the continuing violence “with great concern,” Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Tuesday in New York. The Secretary-General called for […]Mozambique floods heighten disease, malnutrition risks – UN agencies
January 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Catastrophic flooding across Mozambique is devastating lives and livelihoods, sharply increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and malnutrition, while also forcing dangerous wildlife – including crocodiles – into flooded urban areas, the UN warned on Tuesday. The head of aid coordination office, OCHA, in the country, Paola […]‘A torture that never stops’: Sri Lanka failing survivors of conflict sexual violence, UN says
January 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Conflict-related sexual violence in Sri Lanka remains largely unaddressed more than 15 years after the end of the civil war, with survivors still denied justice, recognition and reparations, according to a new report by the UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Tuesday. It concludes that a legacy […]Human Rights Council elects Indonesian candidate President for 2026
January 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Human Rights Council – the world’s principal defender of vulnerable people worldwide – has elected an Indonesian diplomat to be President for 2026 in a first for the country. Under Council rules, presidents are appointed to serve for one year by the body’s 47 Member […]A woman dies from cervical cancer every two minutes, UN says
January 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A flood of questions drowned Jeanette in thought after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Would she be unable to conceive a child? Would she have to enter menopause at the early age of 31? “I felt betrayed by my body,” she told the World Health Organization […]Invisible War: One Health Against Antibiotic Resistance
December 19, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for European Sting by Ms. Patricia Fotso is a third-year medical student at the Faculty of Medicine of Douala, Cameroon. 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 […]Lebanon: UN peacekeepers warn of ‘clear violations’ following latest Israeli airstrikes
December 7, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Israeli airstrikes took place within the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) area of operations, the mission said in a statement issued on Friday. The strikes come as the Lebanese Armed Forces continue operations to control unauthorised weapons and infrastructure in south Lebanon a year after a cessation […]Cold, displaced and in darkness, Ukrainian civilians brace for another winter of war
December 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As Ukraine enters its fourth winter under full-scale invasion, millions of civilians face renewed hardship from relentless attacks, widespread power outages and freezing temperatures that are straining an already exhausted population. Ongoing strikes on energy infrastructure have left entire communities uncertain whether they will have heat, electricity […]WHO backs wider use of weight-loss medicines, calling obesity a chronic disease
December 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first guideline on the use of a new class of weight-loss medicines, marking a significant shift in global health policy as obesity rates continue to rise. The guidance focuses on GLP-1 therapies – medicines such as liraglutide, semaglutide and […]EU launches plan to strengthen preparedness for cross-border health crises
December 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union is boosting its health preparedness architecture through the new Union prevention, preparedness and response plan for health crises. It will provide policymakers, crisis managers, and stakeholders with practical tools, such as exchanging information, expertise and technical assistance when a crisis […]Leaders’ statement on Ukraine
November 24, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The statement was adopted by: President of the European Council, António Costa, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, President of France, Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia […]Belém COP30 delivers climate finance boost and a pledge to plan fossil fuel transition
November 23, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In a pivotal outcome at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, countries agreed on a sweeping package to scale up climate finance and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement – but without a clear commitment to move away from fossil fuels. “A new economy is rising, while the old […]World News in Brief: Violence against Haitian women, WHO alert over support for survivors worldwide, Youth Activist Summit marks hope over hate
November 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Between January and September, over 7,400 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were reported in Haiti – an average of about 27 per day, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. “Sexual violence made up just over half of the cases, (about 3,700) and with nearly two thirds of […]Commission presents strategy to transform and digitalise justice systems across the EU
November 20, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission presented the Digital Justice package 2030, an initiative to modernise justice systems across the EU and ensure that justice professionals are equipped with tools fit for the digital age. This strategic roadmap aims to accelerate the digitalisation of justice systems […]EU Talent Pool: deal on facilitating international recruitment in shortage occupations
November 20, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A political agreement has been reached today to set up the EU Talent Pool, a digital platform to make it easier to recruit third-country nationals for work in the EU. On Tuesday afternoon, negotiators from the Civil Liberties Committee reached an agreement with the […]‘Decisive battle’: Guterres calls for youth power in fight to phase out fossil fuels
November 19, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A page feels like it’s turning. After years of debate, the long-awaited roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels may finally be written into the official decisions of COP30. On Tuesday in Belém, ministers from Colombia, Germany, Kenya, the Marshall Islands, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom and several […]Restoring dignity to Gaza: the cleanup begins
November 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A large-scale campaign under the slogan “We Will Rebuild Gaza” was launched on Saturday in Gaza City, with the participation of local organisations and United Nations agencies, in an effort to begin cleaning operations and removing debris left by the war. Dozens of participants — including UN […]Commission greenlights Finland’s third payment request for €244.9 million under NextGenerationEU
November 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission positively assessed Finland’s third payment request of €244.9 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. Following its assessment of the payment request, the Commission found that Finland has satisfactorily completed 16 milestones and 6 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision for the third instalment. The reforms and […]
