This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has joined the world in mourning the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday in Vatican City aged 88. The pontiff – born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina – was elected in March 2013. He was the […]UN chief hails Pope Francis as ‘a transcendent voice for peace’
April 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has joined the world in mourning the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday in Vatican City aged 88. The pontiff – born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina – was elected in March 2013. He was the […]Haiti ‘awash’ with guns leaving population ‘absolutely terrified’
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Hundreds of thousands of guns are being used by gangs to exert control and spread terror in Haiti, according to the UN’s designated expert on the human rights situation in the Caribbean country. The island nation has suffered from a series of humanitarian, economic, political and security […]Myanmar: Thousands remain in crisis weeks after deadly earthquakes
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Thousands of families in Myanmar remain without shelter, water or medical care three weeks after deadly earthquakes struck the country, as frequent aftershocks compound the suffering of communities already battered by conflict and poverty. The earthquakes – which hit central Myanmar on 28 March – killed at […]Libya’s fragile transition plagued by deepening economic and political divides
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Libya’s prolonged political transition is facing renewed strain, with mounting economic pressures and tensions between rival governments threatening the calm that has held since the 2020 ceasefire. Nearly 15 years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi and the emergence of rival administrations in 2014, the country remains […]Sudan: No respite for civilians amid unrelenting war and aid access barriers
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As Sudan’s civil war grinds on, millions of civilians remain trapped in a relentless cycle of displacement, hunger and violence, while relief efforts are stifled by insecurity and bureaucratic hurdles. Into its third year, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has […]Record hunger in Haiti amid rising needs
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Escalating armed violence, displacement, economic turmoil and disruptions to local food production are fueling hunger in Haiti and leaving millions at risk, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday. The UN agency is sounding the alarm following the release of the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification […]UN chief urges ‘utmost restraint’ amid escalating violence in Yemen
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Secretary-General has expressed grave concern over US airstrikes in and around Yemen’s port of Ra’s Isa this week, which reportedly resulted in scores of civilian casualties. At least five humanitarian workers were said to be among those injured, and significant damage was reported to port […]Gaza: Alongside conflict, an information war is still happening, warns UNRWA chief
April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Amid reported Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip into Thursday that killed at least 23 people, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, issued an urgent call to “get international media into Gaza” to cover the conflict, in addition to those reporters trapped in […]Rise in violence against civilians in South Sudan
April 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The number of civilians in South Sudan harmed by conventional parties to the conflict and other armed groups increased by 51 per cent in 2024, the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) said on Thursday. The finding comes in its latest brief on violence against civilians, which also […]Gaza: Alongside conflict, an information war is still happening, warns UNRWA chief
April 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Amid reported Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip into Thursday that killed at least 23 people, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, issued an urgent call to “get international media into Gaza” to cover the conflict, in addition to those reporters trapped in […]Global growth on recessionary path amid trade tensions and uncertainty
April 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The world economy is on a recessionary trajectory as global growth is expected to slow to 2.3 per cent this year due to escalating trade tensions and uncertainty, the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, said in a new report published on Wednesday. The projection is below […]How to Build Public Support for Energy Subsidy and Pension Reforms
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Era Dabla-Norris, Davide Furceri, Mauricio Soto Many countries struggle with low economic growth and high debt and will need bold fiscal actions to restore their finances. Two significant areas for potential savings are energy subsidies and pension systems. However, reforms in both areas can be unpopular with the public. Public […]South Sudan on the brink as peace deal falters, UN warns
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. South Sudan stands at a dangerous crossroads as rising political tensions threaten to derail a fragile peace deal, amid growing fears of renewed conflict in the world’s youngest nation, already buckling under a deepening humanitarian crisis. Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan, […]Haiti crisis could impact regional and global stability
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Escalating violence and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in and around El Fasher in Sudan continue to be of grave concern, the United Nations said on Wednesday. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and former ally the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is in its third year and […]Humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in El Fasher, Sudan
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Escalating violence and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in and around El Fasher in Sudan continue to be of grave concern, the United Nations said on Wednesday. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and former ally the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is in its third year and […]Countries finalize historic pandemic agreement after three years of negotiations
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In the early hours of Wednesday morning in Geneva, countries finalized a draft global agreement aimed at improving how the world prepares for and responds to pandemics, marking a historic step that will be submitted to the World Health Assembly in May for adoption. Developed after over […]Security Council urged to support eastern DR Congo peace initiatives
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Despite numerous regional and international diplomatic initiatives, the security situation remains critical in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Security Council heard on Wednesday. In a briefing to ambassadors, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia called for increased coordination of peace […]List of dangerous products notified in Commission’s Safety Gate 2024 sets the path for increased consumer protection
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has unveiled its annual report on Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. The report presents an overview of dangerous products notified in the Safety Gate in 2024. 4,137 alerts were notified last year – the highest […]Commission rolls out plan to boost circular and efficient products in the EU
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted the 2025-2030 working plan for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulation. The plan provides a list of products that should be prioritised to introduce ecodesign requirements and energy labelling over the next five years. This will foster sustainable, repairable, […]Commission welcomes significant step towards Pandemic Agreement
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes the preliminary consensus on the Pandemic Agreement which was reached today, in Geneva, by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, underscoring the continuing strength of international cooperation and solidarity for global heath. After three years of intensive negotiations the agreement reached marks a significant […]Commission proposes to frontload elements of the Pact on Migration and Asylum as well as a first EU list of safe countries of origin
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission is proposing to accelerate the implementation of certain aspects of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted last year and due to enter into application in June 2026. The Commission is proposing to frontload two key elements of the Asylum Procedure Regulation with […]Gaza faces deepening crisis as aid stocks dwindle
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
The United Nations on Wednesday warned that escalating hostilities and access constraints in Gaza are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands and depriving civilians of shelter, food and medicine. More than 500,000 people are reported to have been newly displaced since 18 March, many of them uprooted multiple times due to […]EBRD extends risk cover to Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine to enable EUR 100 million for energy investments
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is further supporting energy security in Ukraine by extending an unfunded portfolio-risk-sharing facility to Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine (RBU), to enable EUR 100 million worth of energy investments. Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine joins Ukrgasbank, Privatbank and Oschadbank to participate in […]EBRD and FATEN support Palestinian MSMEs and women-led businesses
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is extending a financing package of US$ 3 million (€2.9 million) to Palestine for Credit and Development (FATEN), the largest microfinance institution in the West Bank and Gaza. The package will include a US$ 2 million loan for on-lending […]EBRD and EU support the digitalisation of SMEs in Kosovo
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing €3 million to ProCredit Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina to on-lend to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for investments in digital and automation technology. The loan is being made under the European Union (EU) supported Go […]EBRD boosts digital transformation of SMEs
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €25 million loan to Türkiye’s DenizBank, which will on-lend to Turkish manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for investments in their digital transformation. The loan comes under the EBRD’s Digital Transformation Financing Facility (DTFF), which […]EBRD provides working capital loan to UzCarlsberg
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a working capital loan of up to US$ 6 million (€5.7 million) to UzCarlsberg, boosting the company’s operational efficiency and contributing to higher food safety standards in Uzbekistan. UzCarlsberg, which has been a client of the […]Ukraine: Odesa Oblast improves emergency services with safety centre expansion, thanks to EU bank support
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. A second building has been added to the Citizen Safety Centre in Avangard, Odesa Oblast, increasing the emergency response capacity in a region regularly targeted by Russian shelling and located on key transport routes. The centre plays a vital role in firefighting, emergency response and public […]Israeli strike on hospital ‘further cripples’ Gaza’s fragile health system
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. An Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday has further jeopardized already limited access to lifesaving medical care in the war-torn enclave. Several staff members, including two nurses, were injured in the strike on the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in Khan Younis according to Gaza’s […]EU and Member States pledge over €522 million to address Sudan crisis
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. To help address the difficult humanitarian situation in Sudan, the European Commission and Member States have pledged €522 million in aid for 2025 at the High-level Conference for Sudan, co-hosted in London today by the Commission alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the […]Commission takes action to simplify the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission is providing further simplifications and reducing the administrative burden to facilitate the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). In this context, it has published new guidance documents in view of the Regulation’s entry into application at the end of this […]Commission invests €86 million to improve climate resilience and water security
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission invests €86 million in new Strategic Integrated Projects focusing onimproving water quality and availability, cleaning up polluted rivers, improving fire and flood protection, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This funding will support projects awarded as part of the 2023 calls for […]Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue to kill civilians, UN rights office warns
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Israeli military operations in Lebanon have continued to claim civilian lives and destroy vital infrastructure, the UN human rights office warned on Tuesday, raising alarm over mounting violations since a ceasefire agreement took effect last November. At least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in […]
