This article is published in association with United Nations. As the Iran-US war continues, the key question remains unanswered about how shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will be managed in future – although the UN has reiterated that charging tolls for safe passage runs contrary to international law. Addressing the UN Security Council on Thursday, […]Stranded seafarers remain trapped as Hormuz shipping stalls
July 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As the Iran-US war continues, the key question remains unanswered about how shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will be managed in future – although the UN has reiterated that charging tolls for safe passage runs contrary to international law. Addressing the UN Security Council on Thursday, […]Climate Change, Food Insecurity, and Anemia Risk in Women of Reproductive Age: A Socio-Environmental Perspective
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Valéria Cerqueira Pinto, a medical student. 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 topic, nor The European […]Housing – The EU needs a bolder strategy for construction
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. The EESC continues to push for an end to Europe’s housing crisis. In a new opinion, it argues that, to achieve more affordable housing, the EU needs a number of urgent measures, including: a better strategy for land use and rural […]Deadly Afghanistan floods kill at least 26 as aid agencies race to reach survivors
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Flash floods have killed at least 26 people across eastern Afghanistan, including 23 in the mountainous province of Nuristan, where homes, markets and roads were swept away and search teams continued looking for people reported missing. The flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall on 20 July, also claimed […]Commission greenlights Sweden’s payment request for €1.47 billion under NextGenerationEU
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission positively assessed Sweden’s second payment request for €1.47 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This is an important step in the delivery of the reforms and investments included in this payment request, which aim to support the green transition, a better functioning of the labour and housing markets, as well as […]Commission fines Google €890 million for breaches of the Digital Markets Act
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission took two decisions finding non-compliance by Google with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for self-preferencing its own services on Google Search, and for putting in place restrictions on businesses to direct consumers to alternative, often cheaper, purchase channels on Google […]Nicaragua continues to weaken political freedoms, UN warns
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Wednesday condemned new threats from Nicaragua’s co-president Daniel Ortega to hinder civil rights and prevent dissenting individuals and groups from participating in elections. Mr. Ortega said on Sunday that the country would no longer hold elections, which were scheduled […]From lithium to nickel: How the UN is helping countries make the most of critical minerals
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The world’s shift to clean energy is driving huge demand for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper. Digging them out of the ground may be the most straightforward part of the process. Around the world, the United Nations is helping countries make sure these […]Commission approves Paramount’s acquisition of Warner, subject to conditions
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition by Paramount Skydance Corporation (‘Paramount‘) of Warner Bros. Discovery (‘Warner‘). The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by Paramount. Paramount and Warner are both active in the […]World News in Brief: Aid for Ukraine, drone attacks in Sudan, DR Congo deaths, neurological disorders in the Americas
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN partners launched the Winter Response Plan to help 2.1 million people in Ukraine survive another cold season as the country grapples with the on-going Russian invasion. Tweet URL The UN’s office in Ukraine announced on Wednesday that its partners are seeking $358.4 million to provide heating assistance, shelter […]Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed merger between Saipem and Subsea7
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed merger between Saipem and Subsea7 to become “Saipem7”. The Commission is concerned that the proposed concentration may significantly impact effective competition in some offshore engineering and construction […]Commission concludes eligibility checks for two European Citizens’ Initiatives on digital identity and age-verification, and on migration and asylum
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission concluded the eligibility checks for the registration requests of two European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) entitled: ‘Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification‘ and ‘Save Europe Act‘. The Commission registered the initiative ‘Stop Killing The Internet: No […]European Pillar of Social Rights: a renewed commitment to protect and empower EU’s citizens
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights. It confirms that the Pillar remains the EU’s social shield and compass for fairness in an age of fast transformation, for a Europe that protects and empowers citizens. The Communication […]Critical minerals: The hidden resources powering the clean energy future
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Why are critical minerals suddenly at the centre of global politics? The story in 60 seconds Every electric vehicle, wind turbine, solar panel, smart phone; they all depend on minerals extracted from the earth. As countries accelerate the transition to clean (non-fossil fuel) energy, demand for minerals […]‘Business as usual is a business of death’: UN adopts road safety pledge over US objection
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN General Assembly closed its first ever High-level Meeting on road safety on Tuesday by adopting a sweeping new declaration aimed at halving road deaths by 2030 – over the sole objection of the United States. The Progress Declaration passed by a recorded vote of 162 […]World News in Brief: Sexual violence in DR Congo, deaths in Ukraine and Russia, crime in Southeast Asia
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
World News in Brief: Sexual violence in DR Congo, deaths in Ukraine and Russia, crime in Southeast AsiaEU-China relations: Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to visit Beijing and Shanghai
July 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A delegation from Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Chair David McAllister, will be in China on 21-23 July for high-level meetings with the Chinese authorities. Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical uncertainty and mounting economic and trade tensions, the eight-member delegation will […]Questions and answers on a set of recommendations to implement the EU Methane Regulation
July 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. What is the Commission recommending to Member States to implement the EU Methane Regulation? The European Commission has adopted two recommendations (one on compliance solutions and one on penalties) to help Member States and industry implement effectively the EU Methane Regulation, a key tool […]Ukraine: Deadly Russian attacks severely damage aid warehouses
July 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Russian attacks and drone strikes killed at least two children and injured dozens more across Ukraine over recent days while severely damaging three critical aid warehouses, UN agencies reported on Monday. The UN aid coordination agency, OCHA, said attacks over the past days killed and injured dozens […]Commission fines AliExpress €550 million for breaching the Digital Services Act
July 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission endorsed Latvia’s Social Climate Plan — the third national plan approved under the new Social Climate Fund. Using carbon pricing revenues, the Fund ensures a fair and inclusive clean transition for vulnerable citizens and businesses. The Latvian Social Climate Plan will […]Commission publishes guidelines on transparency obligations for providers and deployers of certain AI systems
July 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission published guidelines to assist providers and deployers of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in meeting the AI Act’s transparency obligations, which start to apply on 2 August 2026. Transparency obligations will help people recognise when they are interacting with AI or […]US-Iran war: UN chief calls for new diplomatic push following attacks on civilian areas
July 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Secretary-General remains deeply concerned by the continuing deadly military escalation between Iran and the United States, his spokesperson said on Friday as attacks destroyed key civilian and military infrastructure across the Gulf region. “He is particularly concerned about attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and […]Better enforcement of rules needed for a safer social media and online environment
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Companies should guarantee that the use of social media and the digital environment is safe, particularly for children and young people, MEPs say. To protect minors from the impact of social media, MEPs want EU legislation better enforced and implemented. In a report adopted […]EU defence innovation: deal with Council on new AGILE programme
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The draft law aims to respond to the new security environment shaped by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, where fast and low-cost defence innovation cycles are critical. On Wednesday, MEPs and the Irish Presidency of the Council reached a provisional political agreement on […]Organic products: MEPs back measures to support EU production
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new measures seek to protect EU organic food production from unfair external competition and increase consumer trust. On Tuesday, the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee adopted by 37 votes in favour, 4 against and 8 abstentions, its position on the proposed update of […]Commission greenlights Estonia’s fourth payment request for €135.5 million under NextGenerationEU
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission positively assessed Estonia’s fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This payment request reflects significant progress across a wide range of reforms aimed at driving positive change for citizens and businesses in Estonia, […]Peacekeepers step up support as families return to south Lebanon
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. With violence in south Lebanon significantly decreased since mid-June, UN peacekeepers there have returned to core functions such as protecting humanitarian aid and restoring critical infrastructure as families continue to return home. “The welcome reduction in violence allows our peacekeepers to do more of what we are […]Commission approves €300 million Irish State aid scheme for temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive companies
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €300 million Irish scheme to provide temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive companies in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. Through the condition to reinvest a significant share of the aid received in decarbonisation measures, […]Commission proposes €6.5 million to support almost two thousand dismissed workers in Belgium and Spain
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €6.5 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 1,928 workers following dismissals by hypermarket Cora in Belgium and in the car sector in Spain. Commission supports 1,257 dismissed workers in Belgium […]Commission approves €41 million Greek State aid for agricultural companies facing increased fertiliser prices
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €41 million Greek aid scheme to support agricultural companies facing increased fertiliser 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 […]EU law on nitrates pollution remains effective, with scope for smarter implementation
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission today published the first comprehensive evaluation of the Nitrates Directive since its adoption in 1991. Covering more than 30 years of implementation, the evaluation shows that EU rules remain effective to protect Europe’s waters from agricultural nitrate pollution. It also identifies […]Commission takes action to ensure complete and timely transposition of EU directives
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission is taking action against several EU Member States that have failed to notify the Commission of measures they have adopted to transpose EU Directives into their national laws. The deadline to transpose these Directives has expired recently. The Commission is sending […]EU and India strengthen strategic partnership with third Trade and Technology Council
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union and India held the third meeting of their Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels, reaffirming the TTC as a central platform for cooperation on trade, technology and security. Underlining the growing ambition of the EU-India strategic partnership, both sides […]
