Category: World

  An EU law has come into force that will enable the setting of ecodesign requirements and information for almost all categories of physical goods that come onto the EU market. The new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation builds on the existing Ecodesign Directive, which currently only covers energy-related products. It aims to significantly improve the […]

Donald Trump’s choice of Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his running mate in the presidential election has reignited European fears of American abandonment. Vance is known for his opposition to aid for Ukraine and his almost singular focus on China as the defining security challenge for the United States. If Trump wins in November, Vance […]

July is the month we celebrate our nation’s independence, but it can also be the month you celebrate your Financial Independence Day! Make this a time to review your current financial planning – including a financially secure retirement. Whether you’re early in your career or have been working for many years, it is important to […]

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena on July 17, 2024 to reaffirm the vital importance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship to the shared security and prosperity of our peoples.  The Secretary congratulated Foreign Secretary Bárcena on her appointment as Mexico’s Environment […]

Frank Täufer, a scientific assistant at Campus Wiesengut – the University of Bonn’s ecological teaching and research farm – asked a group of visiting 8-year-olds to speculate on why the rye plants in his field were all different heights. He was surprised by their insightful range of responses.  Some of the children suggested that the […]

The demonstrations erupted two weeks ago, and students have been clashing with their pro-government counterparts and the police in the capital, Dhaka, and other cities.  The Bangladeshi Government closed all public and private universities after the protests turned deadly on Tuesday, with six people killed and scores injured, according to media reports. Writing on social […]

Biological invasions are the main cause of biodiversity loss, but they can also have serious social and economic repercussions. In Europe, over 13,000 non-native (or “alien”) species have an established presence, around 1,500 of which are invasive species that have a negative impact on their surroundings. Species of particular concern are the brown rat, raccoon, […]

In an alert, Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan, said that heavy fighting between Sudan’s rival militaries had made access to El Fasher “completely impossible”, as the country’s warring parties continue to hold talks in Geneva. The latest warning about the emergency comes 15 months since heavy conflict erupted between rival militaries in Sudan […]

The Department is pleased to announce that Alex Barrasso, a Foreign Service Officer, has been named a CAREERS and the disABLED Magazine 2024 Employee of the Year for empowering employees with disabilities; developing our next generation of leaders; and promoting accessibility, inclusion, and diversity.  Mr. Barrasso is the Director of the Iran Regional Presence Office in Dubai.  He served as Senior Advisor for DEIA in the Bureau of International Narcotics and […]

In the province of Almería in southeastern Spain, farmers grow an estimated 2.5 to 3.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables every year in what has become known as Almeria’s sea of greenhouses. In this region, greenhouses stretch as far as the eye can see, covering an area of over 40 000 hectares (400 square kilometres).  It’s […]