Commissioner Lahbib visits Ukraine to reiterate EU support

While Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving more than one million people without electricity and water, the European Union remains firmly at Ukraine’s side to help its people endure another winter under attack. Today, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, is in Ukraine to reaffirm that Europe’s support is constant, […]

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Proposed amnesty law offers political prisoners in Venezuela an ‘opportunity’

The amnesty is aimed at promoting peace, democratic coexistence and national reconciliation as the South American country enters a new era following the seizure of former President Nicolas Maduro by the United States.  It passed unanimously on 5 February by Venezuelan legislators in the first of two readings. The amnesty “offers an opportunity to provide […]

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UN calls for release of Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai following 20-year sentence

High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk deplored the sentence imposed on Mr. Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, following his conviction on charges brought under security-related laws in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. On 15 December 2025, the High Court found Mr. Lai guilty of conspiracy […]

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In Bahrain; work, dignity and the quiet rise of home-grown enterprise

Their experiences underline a broader message: inclusive economic growth depends on opening space for those too often excluded, including people with disabilities, youth and home-based innovators. Entrepreneur by necessity For Shaymaa Saeed, a young Egyptian crochet designer and handicrafts artist with a disability, entrepreneurship was not a lifestyle choice but a necessity. Health challenges prevented […]

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In Sudan, sick and starving children ‘wasting away’

As heavy fighting continues between former allies the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and their allies, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said that in parts of North Darfur more than half of all children are acutely malnourished. The warning follows the release of new data from the IPC, a UN-backed global food […]

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Have your say on the EU’s post-2030 climate policy framework

The Commission has launched two open public consultations and calls for evidence for the preparation of the EU climate policy framework for the period after 2030, focusing on the role of national climate targets and flexibilities and on the possible use of international credits. These consultations will play a critical role in shaping the preparation […]

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EU allocates over €123 million in humanitarian aid for Latin America and Caribbean in 2026

In a year of shrinking global aid, the EU is choosing solidarity, delivering life-saving aid and standing by international humanitarian law. This year, it will provide €123,3 million in humanitarian aid to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Part of this aid will also bolster disaster […]

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Are pets good for kids’ mental health? Type of animal and duration of bond could make all the difference

Questions like “will getting a pet benefit our child’s mental health?” are increasingly common and pertinent. In Spain, for instance, more than half of all households now have one or more pets. Attachment is the name for the emotional bond between a developing child and the caregiver who provides them with security and comfort. This […]

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International Outcry Follows Jimmy Lai Landmark 20 Years Jail Sentence

HONG KONG — The sentencing of pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison has ignited a firestorm of international disapproval, with world leaders and human rights advocates labeling the verdict a definitive blow to judicial independence. The 78-year-old founder of Apple Daily was convicted under the National Security Law, a move critics maintain […]

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‘Deepfake abuse is abuse,’ UNICEF warns

“The harm from deepfake abuse is real and urgent,” the UN agency said in a statement. “Children cannot wait for the law to catch up.” At least 1.2 million youngsters have disclosed having had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year, according to a study across 11 countries conducted by the UN […]

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