Category: World

The recent Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks, respectively in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, remind us that the next health crisis is never far away. They also illustrate the World Health Organization’s key role in global coordination and the importance of international cooperation for more […]

Last Thursday, the Secretary-General warned this Council of the risks of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. He warned of a war getting out of control, of miscalculation, and of escalation with unknown and unintended consequences. Then on Friday, a Russian drone hit a residential building in Galati, Romania, amid an overnight attack on Ukraine, injuring […]

  The international humanitarian system is under severe pressure, following the outbreak of conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high in 2026 with 239 million people in need of assistance. Disastrous humanitarian situations coupled with severe funding cuts mean re-prioritising how aid is delivered. To answer the challenges ahead, the European Commission will adapt its way of working to maximise the effectiveness and impact of EU humanitarian aid around […]

The scientists have demonstrated a practical route to dramatically boosting the intensity of high-power laser light for the first time. The results, published in Nature, could unlock the path towards creating the most intense light ever produced in a laboratory. This could open the door to experiments that probe the fundamental laws of physics by […]

The UK supported Ukraine in calling for today’s meeting.  Colleagues, last Friday, Russia asked the Council to meet following an alleged incident in occupied Luhansk, which UN briefers said they had not been able to verify because Russia refuses access to Ukrainian territory which it occupies.  The very next day, Russia launched one of its […]

  New rules to improve the energy performance of buildings across the EU come into effect on 30 May 2026. They aim to support EU countries in modernising their building stock to save energy, reduce bills, and achieve a zero-emission and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. Why is the EU doing this? Buildings are the […]

Being admitted to a mental health unit can be one of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life. They often arrive in the midst of a crisis, and are fearful, confused and anxious. But in these situations, one thing can profoundly affect their experience: the relationship established with the nurses who attend them, especially […]

The study, published in ‘Nature’, was led by scientists at The Pirbright Institute. It brought together researchers from: the University of Cambridge the University of York the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme National Museums of Kenya It was funded primarily through the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) alongside Kenya’s National Research Fund. The […]

As climate change makes extreme weather events more intense and frequent, “uninsurable areas” are becoming increasingly common. They are a clear demonstration that insurance – the mechanism through which modern societies deal with all kinds of risk – is structurally underprepared for this new climate era. Uninsurable areas refer to places where property insurance has […]

A New Jersey man was arrested yesterday and charged with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury. Brendan John Geier, 26, of Madison, New Jersey, was charged by complaint today and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais. “Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. […]