As Mauritania is experiencing first-hand the consequences of the aggravation of the situation in Central Sahel, with an increase in the number of refugees and returnees crossing the border from Mali since the end of 2023, the Commission will provide €4 million in initial humanitarian aid for 2025. This brings total EU humanitarian assistance in Mauritania […]
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In a pivotal address to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of strengthening European defence capabilities amid growing global security concerns. Reflecting on the words of Alcide de Gasperi, she reminded lawmakers that the task of securing peace through strength remains as relevant today as it was seven […]
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Bangladesh from March 13-16, marking his second visit since taking office. The visit comes at a critical time, as Bangladesh continues to host over one million Rohingya refugees, and tensions over their repatriation remain unresolved. The Rohingya crisis, which began in 2017 when thousands fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State due […]
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Bulgaria has awarded Alstom a €448 million contract to supply 35 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), marking a significant step forward for the country’s railway modernization efforts. The contract, part of Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, also includes 15 years of fleet maintenance. Following a lengthy tender process and a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court, […]
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In the rural fishing camps of Zambia, where drought and aid cuts have worsened food insecurity, an alarming trend has emerged: women are increasingly forced into “sex-for-fish” arrangements with fishermen. This exploitative practice, which involves women trading sex for access to fish, is being driven by both the devastating impact of climate change and the […]
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The UK government is set to invest £1.8 billion ($2.33 billion) into energy efficiency upgrades for 170,000 low-income households through the Warm Homes Plan. This initiative, aimed at combating high energy bills and reducing carbon emissions, will provide essential home improvements like insulation, solar panels, double glazing, and heat pumps. The funding will be distributed […]
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A recent case study by Dragos, a cybersecurity firm specializing in industrial control systems (ICS), reveals that Volt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group, infiltrated the US electric grid for over 300 days. The breach, which targeted the Littleton Electric Light and Water Department (LELWD) in Massachusetts, was discovered in November 2023, though the hackers […]
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In a new report, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, who’s the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on violence against children, said that traffickers are quick to exploit technological advancements – and people in emergencies. She said that children – mainly girls – are increasingly vulnerable, as poverty, food insecurity, humanitarian crises and conflict lead to displacement […]
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During two-days in Johannesburg, Ms. Mohammed attended the G20 Finance Ministers meeting and the ‘Finance in Common’ Summit of National Development Banks. She also spent a day in Cape Town at a meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. She represented Secretary-General António Guterres at both stops and in her remarks in […]
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The transition to a net-zero economy in the European Union (EU) is an ambitious and transformative undertaking, requiring substantial investments. While estimates on the exact cost vary, two major sources—McKinsey and PwC—offer valuable insights into the scale of these investments and the potential returns. Global and European Investment Requirements Key Areas of Investment and Expected […]
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