This article is published in association with United Nations. As COP29 climate talks in Baku enter their final week, the UN climate chief told negotiators on Monday to “cut the theatrics,” get down to business and hammer out a new finance deal to compensate countries for climate-driven damages and pay for a clean-energy transition. “We can’t […]‘Cut the theatrics’: UN climate chief tells COP29 negotiators to focus on solutions as talks enter final week
November 19, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As COP29 climate talks in Baku enter their final week, the UN climate chief told negotiators on Monday to “cut the theatrics,” get down to business and hammer out a new finance deal to compensate countries for climate-driven damages and pay for a clean-energy transition. “We can’t […]G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration
November 19, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The leaders of the G20 met in Rio de Janeiro on 18-19 November, 2024, to address major global challenges and crises and promote strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. In the city that is the birthplace of the Sustainable Development Agenda, leaders reaffirmed their […]EBRD partners with ProCredit Bank to boost MSME lending in Albania
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is increasing access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) in Albania through a partnership with ProCredit Bank Albania. The Bank is lending up to €6 million under the SME Reboot Programme, helping local firms to […]UN chief condemns Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the latest Russian drone and missile attack against the power grid and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, his Spokesperson said on Sunday. The large-scale strikes occurred overnight and reportedly caused severe damage, power outages and civilian casualties. “Attacks on energy […]EBRD and EU help MSMEs go green in Kosovo
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is scaling up green economy investments in Kosovo in cooperation with the European Union (EU) and Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo (RBKO). The EBRD will provide financing of up to €5 million to RBKO for on-lending to micro, small and […]Finland: Hospital in Helsinki gets €100 million EIB loan
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €100 million for the development in Finland of the Laakso hospital complex in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The loan to the Laakso Joint Hospital project marks the initial installment of up to €480 million in EIB financing that has […]Will COP29 deliver the trillions needed to tackle the man-made climate crisis?
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The latest round of UN climate negotiations, COP29, opened this past Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, following a year that broke multiple extreme heat records and saw widespread climate-driven chaos – from wildfires to destructive floods and hurricanes – hit nearly every corner of the world. A major […]G7 Leaders´ Statement on Enduring support for Ukraine
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes. We stand in solidarity contributing to its fight for sovereignty, freedom, independence, territorial integrity and its reconstruction. We recognize, too, the impact of […]European Commission and South Africa launch the Scaling up Renewables in Africa campaign
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today in Rio de Janeiro, on the eve of the G20 Summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the global campaign ‘Scaling up Renewables in Africa’ during Global Citizen NOW. COP28 had set the ambitious target […]Crisis Care: Ensuring Safety for Medical Professionals in Armed Conflicts
November 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Anika Tabassum Totini, a dedicated fourth-year medical student from Bangladesh. 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 the […]November infringements package: key decisions
November 15, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Overview by policy area In its regular package of infringement decisions, the European Commission pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law. These decisions, covering various sectors and EU policy areas, aim to ensure the proper […]Gaza: Israeli war tactics condemned as aid still blocked from reaching north
November 15, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Intense Israeli military operations have continued in Gaza as UN humanitarians reported that multiple attempts to deliver lifesaving aid to besieged areas in the north of the enclave had been either “denied or impeded”. An update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said that in the […]Belgium: De Watergroep agrees €350 million EIB loan for sustainability investments in Flemish water distribution network
November 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank will support De Watergroep in rehabilitating and expanding its network of water supply infrastructure. Watergroep signed a €200 million loan today, as a first part of a €350 million lending availability for the coming five years. The EIB loan will fund nearly […]Parliament pays homage to the victims of the floods in Spain
November 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. President Metsola opened the 13-14 November plenary session in Brussels with a minute of silence for the victims of the flood tragedy in Spain. Following the devastating floods that swept through towns in Valencia and other regions in Spain two weeks ago and have […]Iran: Civic space shrinks as executions rise, warns independent rights expert
November 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Civic space in the Islamic Republic of Iran is shrinking, as human rights defenders and journalists continue to be targeted and charged for “vaguely defined national security offences”, Mai Sato, the independent UN expert on the human rights situation in the country has said. Speaking to UN […]COP29: Energy transition must not trigger a ‘stampede of greed’ that crushes the poor
November 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Climate talks at COP29 in Baku on Wednesday turned to the pressing issue of how to manage the demand for minerals essential to producing electric vehicles and solar panels without triggering a “stampede of greed” that exploits local communities and crushes the poor. “We are here to […]Commission proposes a single digital declaration portal to reduce administrative burden for posting workers
November 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission has proposed to establish a single digital declaration portal for companies providing services and temporarily sending workers to another Member State, known as ‘posted workers’. The EU Single Market counts 5 million posted workers. One of the main administrative barriers faced […]Medical professionals on the frontier: ensuring safety in armed conflicts
November 14, 2024 by 1 Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Abdourraouf Yougouda is a final-year medical student with a passion for global health advocacy. 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 […]COP29: Guterres urges countries to ‘get serious’ on loss and damage funding
November 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Tuesday for countries to step up contributions to a financial mechanism to assist developing countries affected by climate change. Mr. Guterres made the appeal in remarks to a high-level dialogue on loss and damage funding during the COP29 UN climate change […]Poland: EIB extends over €200 million to ORLEN Group to advance energy transition
November 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and ORLEN Group, Poland’s largest energy company, signed a PLN 900 million loan agreement for projects supporting energy transition. The funds will be used to invest in strengthening and expanding the power grid of Energa, a distribution system operator majority owned by ORLEN. […]How Property Taxes Can Help Low-Income Countries to Develop
November 12, 2024 by 1 Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. The world’s governments must raise an additional $3 trillion to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth goals this decade. The cost in emerging markets equals 4 percent of gross domestic product—and 16 percent for low-income countries. How can countries finance such staggering price tags? Large cities such as […]At COP29, EIB Group to strengthen international partnerships for global climate action
November 12, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. European Investment Bank (EIB) Group President Nadia Calviño will participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November 2024. Together with fellow heads of multilateral development banks (MDBs) as well as government and business leaders, President […]Gaza: Possible atrocity crimes unfold, new UN report warns
November 11, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. There must be “due reckoning” for horrific violations and possible atrocity crimes in Gaza, the UN human rights chief said on Friday following the release of a new report outlining actions taken by Israeli forces during the ongoing war with Hamas. The report details the horrific reality […]Displacement crisis reaches 123 million, amid ongoing conflicts
November 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has called for “urgent international support” as the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reaches 123 million, with ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, Sudan and other areas driving further displacement. In a statement to the Third Committee of the General […]Adapt or perish: UN calls for urgent action at COP29 climate summit
November 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Come hell or high water, nations must urgently scale up climate adaptation efforts, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned Thursday, starting with a commitment to boost adaptation financing at the upcoming COP29 summit. In its Adaptation Gap Report 2024: Come Hell and High Water, UNEP warned that […]Ukraine’s nuclear security situation ‘highly challenging’, warns UN atomic watchdog
November 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine caused by the ongoing Russian invasion, the head of the UN atomic energy agency (IAEA) said that safety at the country’s largest nuclear power plant “remains a deep source of concern”. Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) – which is also […]Czech tech company Y Soft secures €30 Million EIB support for research advances
November 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is offering Y Soft Corporation, a multinational software and electronic hardware company based in the Czech Republic, financing of €30 million (757 million Czech korunas) to advance a range of office-management technologies including robotics and sensors. The EIB support takes the […]Suffering continues for civilians in Gaza and Lebanon
November 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The month-long Israeli siege in northern Gaza has left civilians on the brink of disaster, preventing them from accessing the essentials for their survival, including water, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday. Aid workers are being forced to work in unsafe conditions, as insecurity and restrictions by Israeli forces prevent them from reaching people in need, […]Intolerable conditions in northern Gaza ‘beyond imagination’
November 6, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory appealed on Tuesday for an end to the war and suffering in Gaza during his first visit to the area since Israel launched its latest military operation in the north a month ago. Muhannad Hadi spoke to UN […]EBRD invests in Estonian e-commerce search innovator Miros
November 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), through its venture capital arm EBRD Venture Capital, is supporting the growth of Miros as part of a €6 million pre-series A extension round. The round was led by EBRD Venture Capital and Tera Ventures alongside existing investors […]Aid restrictions and dismantling UNRWA will compound Gazans’ suffering
November 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Aid entering Gaza reached a new low in October, the head of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA said on Monday, highlighting the continued need for its lifesaving work even as Israel moves to end its activities. The Israeli Parliament, known as the Knesset, recently approved two laws […]EIB Group showcases progress of European Tech Champions Initiative boosting European scale-ups at event in Madrid
November 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The EIB Group outlined the progress of the European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI) – the fund of funds promoted by the European Union and participating EU Member States to foster the growth of cutting-edge technology startups with high growth potential (scale-ups) – today in Madrid. This […]First EBRD portfolio risk sharing facility to support Moldovan bank
November 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending an unfunded portfolio risk-sharing facility to Moldova’s OTP Bank to unlock €30 million of new finance for Moldova’s business sector, with a focus on agriculture and trade. This is the first such facility signed in Moldova, building on EBRD […]
