On 6 October 2025, the EU and Denmark co-organised a Senior officials meeting (SOM) on the Sahel and Lake Chad. The objective of the meeting, which was held in hybrid format from Dakar (Senegal) and hosted 164 participants was twofold: to validate a shared diagnosis of issues at stake in the region (Benin, Burkina Faso, […]
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Torrential rain, storm surges, and landslides caused by the hurricane have left a trail of destruction across the region, with homes flattened, roads and bridges washed away, and vast areas still without power or Internet access and other telecommunications. The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said that aid supplies are on the way and that […]
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When a hurricane strikes, the first images we see are of roofs ripped off, trees uprooted and streets turned into rivers. But the psychological toll is just as real, and it often lasts far longer than the physical damage. In countries such as Jamaica, each storm hits communities that are already vulnerable, disrupting sleep, hope […]
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The figure represents a two-thirds increase in displacement over the past five years, with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger at the epicentre of overlapping humanitarian emergencies. “Across the central Sahel, people are being driven from their homes by violence, insecurity, and the devastating effects of climate change,” said Abdouraouf Gnon-Kondé, Regional Director for West and […]
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 31 October 2025, affirming a shared commitment to building a constructive and stable bilateral relationship grounded in strategic mutual interests. Diplomatic Engagement at APEC Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Xi Jinping met in Gyeongju, South Korea, on the sidelines […]
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Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN human rights office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN human rights office (OHCHR). Speaking from Nairobi to journalists in […]
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Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has reviewed the 127th Infantry Battalion ahead of their deployment to Lebanon, marking one of Ireland’s final contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as the mission approaches its planned conclusion in 2026. Ministerial Review at Custume Barracks On 31 October 2025, Tánaiste Simon Harris […]
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Chatham House has launched a new Critical Minerals Initiative to address the geopolitical, economic, and sustainability challenges shaping global mineral supply chains amid rising demand for energy transition and digital technologies. Strategic Focus on Mineral Security On 28 October 2025, Chatham House announced the creation of its Critical Minerals Initiative, a major research workstream housed […]
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Minister Timmy Dooley has concluded a successful seafood and agri-food trade mission to China, reinforcing Ireland’s commercial ties and expanding market access for Irish exports in Asia’s largest agri-food economy. Strategic Engagement in Beijing Minister of State for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, wrapped up a multi-day trade mission to China on 31 October 2025, conducted in […]
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Agriculture in Europe is faced with a major challenge, an ageing population. And yet, young farmers are key to the EU’s food security and to lively rural areas. To address this, the Commission has presented a strategy for generational renewal in agriculture. It aims to support young farmers and attract more people to farming. […]
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