Ukraine wakes to more violence as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters fifth year

“Four years ago, people in Europe woke up in another world because generations like mine have always had the privilege to live a life in peace,” Ms. Baerbock told journalists in Geneva. “But this changed four years ago with the full invasion [by] Russia, of the neighbouring country of Ukraine.” Echoing the UN Secretary-General’s assessment that the […]

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Organized crime and poor regulation to blame for toxic pollution threat

In a new report on the underground global scourge that conservative estimates say generates up to $18 billion in illicit profits annually, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted that all regions of the world have been drawn in, although little data is available outside Europe.  Globally, legal waste management was worth $1.2 trillion […]

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EU check reveals misleading sales practices online

  The European Commission and consumer protection authorities have discovered that some online discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales were misleading, thanks to the latest sweep.  Sweeps are screenings that are coordinated by the Commission and carried out simultaneously by national enforcement authorities. Authorities from 23 EU countries, as well as Iceland and Norway, […]

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UN calls for fair play in the global race for critical minerals

Despite geopolitical upheavals, the shift from a fossil-fuel-based global economy to one driven by clean electrification remains on track.  According to the International Energy Agency (an autonomous international agency that is not part of the UN system), lithium demand grew by nearly 30 per cent in 2024, and nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths by […]

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EU releases additional €2 million in humanitarian aid for the Cuban population

In view of the worsening humanitarian conditions in Cuba, the European Commission has released an additional €2 million in humanitarian aid. This funding will contribute to provide logistics support to humanitarian partners delivering urgent relief to the most vulnerable, due to the current energy crisis and related difficulties on the distribution of food and drinking […]

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Dire fertiliser shortage a lurking threat due to Hormuz crisis

At the centre of it lies the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints – which carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil, along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers, according to a recent UN report. To better understand the implications of this disruption, and the findings […]

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MIDDLE EAST LIVE 2 April: Civilian impact deepens as UN chief says ‘we must find a peaceful way out’ before region is engulfed by war

Deadly new strikes reported across the Middle East overnight and Thursday rattled energy markets and pushed crude oil prices up to $107 in early trading. Hopes dwindled of a quick end to the conflict as President Trump spoke of another “two to three weeks” of attacks, alongside “ongoing” discussions with Tehran. Civilians across the region […]

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Developing countries are being priced out, in struggle for affordable finance

A credit rating is an assessment of how likely a borrower, such as a government, is to repay its debt on time and in full. For sovereign states, ratings influence how much countries pay to borrow in international markets: the lower the rating, the higher the perceived risk and usually the higher the interest costs. […]

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