EBRD boosts affordable and social housing with Slovenská sporiteľňa bank

EBRD boosts affordable and social housing with Slovenská sporiteľňa bank

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the growth of the Slovak Republic’s capital markets and its transition to a greener, more inclusive economy with a €43 million investment in a €750 million covered bond issuance by Slovenská sporiteľňa bank (SLSP) – the […]

EBRD invests record €654 million in the Baltic states 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 €654 million in the Baltic states in 2025, surpassing the previous high of €540 million set in 2024. This figure was driven by record delivery in Latvia and Lithuania, and consistently strong performance in Estonia. […]

Invisible highways: The vast network of undersea cables powering our connectivity

Photo courtesy of ASN Red buoy markers mark the path of a submarine cable being laid in the ocean. The Second International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit will take place on 2–3 February 2026 in Porto, Portugal.

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Every day, we send countless emails, take part in video calls, use search engines and streaming services, while seamlessly banking online. The exchange of data in the blink of an eye has become a given in much of the world – and yet we rarely pause […]

Sweden: Hemsö secures €200 million EIB loan for energy-efficient social infrastructure

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €200 million long-term loan with Hemsö Fastigheter, Sweden’s leading developer and owner of properties for public use, to support the construction and renovation of energy-efficient social infrastructure across Sweden, Finland and Germany. The financing will support nine development […]

Belgium: EIB Group 2025 figures, €2.6 bn in financing for social infrastructure, innovation, and the green transition

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank Group, consisting of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and its subsidiary, the European Investment Fund (EIF), again recorded a high level of activity in Belgium in 2025. The EIB Group put its financial power behind key issues, such as social and affordable […]

Global health systems ‘at risk’ as funding cuts bite, warns WHO

WHO/P. Virot The flag of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) flies at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that cuts to international aid and persistent funding gaps are undermining the global health system. This is occurring as the risk from pandemics, drug-resistant infections and fragile health services are on the rise, said the WHO Director-General. Addressing […]

UN peacekeeping patrols suspended along Lebanon-Israel Blue Line

© UNIFIL UNIFIL peacekeepers on patrol along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon.

This article is published in association with United Nations. UN peacekeepers temporarily suspended patrols and other activities along parts of the ‘Blue Line’ in southern Lebanon after the Israeli military said it would release what it described as a non-toxic chemical substance near the frontier, the UN said on Monday. The incident took place north of […]

Gaza: Limited Rafah crossing reopening sparks hope – but also ‘massive trepidation’

UN News An injured child waits in the courtyard of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis.

This article is published in association with United Nations. The reopening of the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday after more than a year is being met with both optimism and fear, a senior official with the UN agency that assists the Palestinian people, UNRWA, has said.  The sole border point with Egypt is a […]

From Cape Town to London, Deo Kato runs to challenge racism and reclaim the migration narrative

© Courtesy of Deo Kato Running across continents, Deo retraced humanity’s earliest migration routes, using movement as a way to spark conversations about belonging, identity, and shared origins.

This article is published in association with United Nations. Step by step, mile by mile, Deo Kato ran his way across a continent — and beyond. After a year and a half on the road, the Ugandan British runner and campaigner has become the first person to run from Cape Town to London. The 8,262-mile journey […]

Violence roiling Nigeria extends beyond religious lines, amid a deepening humanitarian crisis

© UNICEF Niger/Islamane Abdou Aid is distributed to displaced families who fled violence in Nigeria and have settled in Niger.

This article is published in association with United Nations. When the United States ordered airstrikes on Christmas Day against Islamist militants in northern Nigeria, officials in Washington said the action was aimed at protecting Christians facing threats of violence.  The strikes thrust Nigeria’s long-running sectarian bloodshed into the global spotlight – and revived claims that a […]

Choose peace over chaos, Guterres urges as he sets out final-year priorities

UN Photo/Mark Garten Secretary-General António Guterres (seated at right) speaks to reporters at a press conference at the UN Headquarters, in New York. (file)

This article is published in association with United Nations. With global tensions rising and “reckless actions” triggering dangerous consequences, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday called for renewed efforts on peace, justice and sustainable development as he outlined his priorities for 2026 – the final year of his tenure. 2026 “is already shaping up to be […]

Connecting Europe Facility – EESC calls for strong increase in funding for energy and transport

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. According to an opinion adopted at the January plenary, the EU key funding instrument should be reinforced with EUR 20 billion to make the implementation of cross-border investments in energy and transport a reality. This is essential to urgently strengthen the […]

Reaching a child in Darfur is ‘hard-won and fragile’, says UNICEF

© UNICEF/Mohammed Jamal A child stands in front of a makeshift tent in a refugee camp in Tawila, North Darfur, following displacement due to ongoing conflict.

This article is published in association with United Nations. Reaching a single child in Sudan’s Darfur region can take days of negotiations, security clearances and travel across sandy roads that cut through shifting frontlines, UNICEF warned Friday – as children live “on the brink” of survival. Briefing journalists in Geneva on Friday, Eva Hinds, the UN […]

UN watchdog warns Ukraine war remains world’s biggest threat to nuclear safety

This article is published in association with United Nations.

This article is published in association with United Nations. e war in Ukraine remains the world’s biggest threat to nuclear safety as a fifth year of combat looms, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog warned on Friday, citing continued risks to power supplies at nuclear sites vulnerable to fighting nearby. Addressing the International Atomic Energy […]

Myanmar crisis deepens five years after coup, as military ballot entrenches repression

Unsplash/Alexander Schimmeck A street in downtown Yangon, Myanmar. (file photo)

This article is published in association with United Nations. Five years after Myanmar’s military seized power and jailed the country’s elected leaders, the United Nations says the country’s crisis has only deepened, marked by escalating violence, mass displacement and a military-controlled election that UN officials warn has further entrenched repression rather than restored civilian rule. The […]

Mental Health of Disabled Veterans In An Inclusive Health System: Invisible Problems

Mahammad Huseynaliyev is a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Military Medicine at Azerbaijan Medical University.

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Mahammad Huseynaliyev, a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Military Medicine at Azerbaijan Medical University. 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 […]

€2 billion in EIB Group financing backed Sweden’s green transition and innovation in 2025

The City of Stockholm, Stockholm Exergi, the Port of Gothenburg, Sandvik, PulPac and ECAPS were among the actors in Sweden granted EU financing in 2025 through the EIB Group Total financing amounted to around SEK 21.8 billion (€2.06 billion), with 56% supporting the green transition Investments focused on climate action, sustainable transport, innovation and competitiveness across the Swedish economy In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), which together form the EIB Group, provided financing to Swedish municipalities and companies across a wide range of sectors, from large-scale climate infrastructure to innovative growth companies. The funding supported renewable energy, carbon capture, sustainable transport, industrial innovation and access to growth capital for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises. The total financing amounted to around SEK 21.8 billion (€2.06 billion) and the support helped mobilise total investments in Sweden of about €7.6 billion – equivalent to 1.3% of GDP or €711 per person. Among the year’s key projects was financing for Stockholm Exergi, supporting the development of a large-scale bioenergy carbon capture and storage plant connected to Stockholm’s district heating system. The EIB also supported a major expansion of the Stockholm metro system, increasing capacity and improving sustainable urban mobility, as well as investments in the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden’s largest port, to strengthen logistics capacity and reduce emissions from maritime transport. Support for Swedish industry and innovation included financing for companies such as engineering group Sandvik and health and hygiene company Essity, backing research and development activities, and venture debt loans to high-growth technology firms. This included ECAPS in Stockholm, a Swedish space and defence technology company developing advanced propulsion systems for satellites and spacecraft, and PulPac in Gothenburg, which is scaling dry moulded fibre technology as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. “The EIB Group’s strong engagement in Sweden reflects the country’s leadership in climate action and innovation,” said Karl Nehammer, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank. “By supporting projects ranging from carbon capture and sustainable transport to cutting-edge industrial and space technologies, we help strengthen Europe’s competitiveness while delivering tangible benefits for citizens.” The European Investment Fund, which focuses on equity investments and guarantees for smaller businesses, mobilised an estimated SEK 3.37 billion (€319 million) in investments for Swedish companies in 2025. This support expanded access to growth capital for startups and scaleups through investments in venture capital and growth equity funds, as well as guarantees for lending to small and medium-sized enterprises. Please note: The figures provided in this press release are approximate and subject to exchange rates. For more information: EIB Group activity in Sweden 2025. Background information The EIB Group The European Investment Bank (ElB) Group is the long-term financing institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion of new financing for over 870 high-impact projects in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. All projects financed by the EIB Group are aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement. High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), which together form the EIB Group, provided financing to Swedish municipalities and companies across a wide range of sectors, from large-scale climate infrastructure to innovative growth companies. The funding supported renewable energy, carbon […]

Can workers compete with machines and stay relevant in the AI era?

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.

This article is published in association with United Nations. AI looks set to be transformative for us all, but it also brings a real risk of job losses and widening social and economic divides. UN experts are focusing on how to manage that transition, to ensure the benefits of the technology outweigh the threats. Whether you […]

South Sudan: ‘All the conditions for a human catastrophe are present’

WFP Children in Fangak county, Jonglei State eat a cooked meal of sorghum. WFP provides food rations to food insecure families containing sorghum, oil, salt, peas and maize (January 2022).

This article is published in association with United Nations. Military tensions in South Sudan are “rapidly expanding” between Government forces and opposition militia as fighting continues in restive Jonglei state. Briefing journalists based at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, Anita Kiki Gbeho, Officer in Charge of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said […]

World News in Brief: Syria ceasefire welcomed, ‘Olympic truce’, Ukraine’s freezing children

© UNICEF/Oleksii Fili Children's toys are covered in snow outside a residential building in Kyiv during prolonged winter power and heating outages.

This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has welcomed a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian Government and the mainly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), urging all parties to seize the moment to protect civilians and prevent further violations in the country’s northeast.  “We welcome efforts to bring stability […]

Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

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 […]

Commission decides to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union over failure to close and rehabilitate landfills 

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 Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with its obligations on the landfill of waste under the Treaty of Accession for Romania and the Landfill Directive (Directive 1999/31/EC as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/850). […]

EU allocates €63 million in response to the crisis in Myanmar and its impact on neighbouring countries

EU allocates €63 million in response to the crisis in Myanmar and its impact on neighbouring countries

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has allocated €63 million in humanitarian aid to help populations affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar, as well as to support Rohingya refugees living in neighbouring countries, in particular in Bangladesh. This funding, announced as the conflict triggered by […]

The Commission decides to refer Spain and Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Delegated Directive as regards the adjustments of the size criteria for micro, small, medium-sized and large undertakings or groups

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 Spain and Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Delegated Directive as regards the adjustments of the size criteria for micro, small, medium-sized and large undertakings or groups (Delegated […]

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. […]

Violence roiling Nigeria extends beyond religious lines, amid a deepening humanitarian crisis

© UNICEF Niger/Islamane Abdou Aid is distributed to displaced families who fled violence in Nigeria and have settled in Niger.

This article is published in association with United Nations. When the United States ordered airstrikes on Christmas Day against Islamist militants in northern Nigeria, officials in Washington said the action was aimed at protecting Christians facing threats of violence.  The strikes thrust Nigeria’s long-running sectarian bloodshed into the global spotlight – and revived claims that a […]

UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by escalation of violence in South Sudan

© WFP/Gabriela Vivacqua Sacks of split peas are transported to Jonglei State via the White Nile River in South Sudan.

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The world’s youngest country, South Sudan, is facing continued instability and violence as military escalation looms, following reports earlier this week that a senior army commander had called on troops to inflict indiscriminate violence against civilians in Jonglei state. The tensions are concentrated in […]

Commission presents a five-year strategy on migration

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 Commission is presenting the first European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy.Itsets out the EU’s political objectives on asylum and migration and will serve as a compass with concrete priorities for the next five years. The EU has opened a new chapter on […]

Access to Healthcare: is it too much to ask?

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Frank Shao is a Tanzanian medical student. 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 IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

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 […]

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 […]

Commission registers European Citizens’ Initiative on phasing out EU imports from Russia and Belarus

Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative on phasing out EU imports from Russia and Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has registered a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), entitled ‘Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU’. The initiative invites the Commission “to propose firm, immediate measures to end the EU’s remaining import dependencies on […]

EU announces €153 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Moldova

EU announces €153 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Moldova

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission is announcing €153 million in emergency aid to Ukraine and refugee-hosting Moldova, as millions Ukrainians face freezing temperatures without power under sustained Russian bombardment of energy infrastructure. Responding to the urgent needs, the EU is allocating an initial €145 million in […]

Breaking Barriers: Why Inclusive Healthcare for Disabled Patients Can No Longer Wait

Aytac Mammadova is a third-year Public Health student at Azerbaijan Medical University

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Frank Shao is a Tanzanian medical student. 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 IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The […]

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