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London — June 2, 2026 — A breakthrough study has identified a previously unknown species of bacteria strongly associated with noma, a devastating gangrenous disease of the mouth and face that primarily affects malnourished children in sub-Saharan Africa. The discovery could pave the way for earlier diagnosis, improved treatments, and a deeper understanding of one of the… [Read More]

Abidjan, June 2026 – Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts to transform its diaspora into a stronger source of investment for the national economy. The government announced that it will hold investment roadshows in Milan on June 6 and Paris on June 26–27, aimed at strengthening ties with Ivorians abroad and channeling more remittance flows into… [Read More]

London — June 2, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has unveiled its new Gender Equality and Human Capital (GEHC) Strategy for the period 2026–2030, setting ambitious priorities to boost growth, resilience, and equality of opportunity across its regions. The strategy focuses on four impact areas: expanding access to skills and sustainable livelihoods,… [Read More]

Istanbul — June 3, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its forecast for Türkiye’s economy, projecting growth of 3.5% in 2026 and 4.0% in 2027, both revised down from earlier estimates. The adjustment reflects less favourable external conditions, including rising energy imports, persistent inflationary pressures, and potential spillovers from the Middle… [Read More]

Warsaw — June 3, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects Poland’s economy to expand by 3.5% in 2026, before moderating to 2.8% in 2027, according to its latest Regional Economic Prospects report. The outlook has been revised down by 0.2 percentage points compared with February 2026, reflecting global headwinds including higher energy… [Read More]

Kyiv — June 3, 2026 — Ukraine’s economy continues to show resilience despite the ongoing war, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) forecasting 2.2% growth in 2026, rising to 4.0% in 2027 if reconstruction begins. The latest Regional Economic Prospects report highlights that while wartime pressures weigh heavily on output, macroeconomic stability is being… [Read More]

Riga — June 3, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has forecast that economic growth in the Baltic states will moderate in 2026 as the impact of the Middle East-related energy shock weighs on output. According to the Bank’s latest Regional Economic Prospects report, GDP is expected to grow by 2.1% in Estonia,… [Read More]

London — June 3, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its 2026 growth forecast for its regions to 3.1%, down from 3.4% in 2025, citing the impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Bank’s latest Regional Economic Prospects report, titled Strai(gh)t talk, highlights rising oil and gas prices,… [Read More]

Astana — June 3, 2026 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has projected that Central Asia and Mongolia will record the highest growth rates among its regions in 2026 and 2027. According to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report, economies in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are expected to grow by… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has forecast that economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will slow to 4.7% in 2026, down from 5.2% in 2025, before recovering slightly to 4.8% in 2027. The slowdown is attributed to higher energy costs, trade disruptions, and weaker investment linked to conflict in the Middle East,… [Read More]

Brazzaville/Brussels/Copenhagen — June 2, 2026 — The European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have stepped up joint efforts to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, reinforcing surveillance, infection prevention, community engagement, and essential health services. The EU has allocated €15 million in humanitarian funding, including… [Read More]

Shahdagh, Azerbaijan — June 3, 2026 — For the first time in nearly a century, Caucasian bison are roaming the forests of the Caucasus Mountains. Once hunted to extinction in 1927, these great herbivores are being reintroduced through a national rewilding programme led by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, WWF Azerbaijan, and the International… [Read More]

Nairobi — June 2, 2026 — More than 50 cities worldwide have committed to confronting one of the deadliest climate risks: extreme heat. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), together with the City of Paris, launched the 50@50 activation on Heat Action Day, ahead of World Environment Day, to strengthen urban resilience against rising temperatures. Cities including… [Read More]

Venture Global, Inc. has announced a $2.25 billion senior notes offering, a move that underscores its rapid growth and strategic refinancing efforts. The company plans to use proceeds to redeem its existing 8.125% notes due 2028, replacing them with longer‑dated debt maturing in 2034 and 2036. This reduces near‑term refinancing risk and could lower borrowing… [Read More]

Dublin — June 3, 2026 — Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary TD has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA), with a major extension to include children aged 2 and 3 for the first time. The scheme provides a once-off payment to help families with the cost of school… [Read More]

Monaghan — June 3, 2026 — Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD has announced the 2026–2027 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), with €20 million available to support outdoor recreation projects across Ireland. The scheme, now in its tenth year, has already invested over €150 million in more than 2,000 projects, enhancing… [Read More]

Geneva/Nairobi — June 1, 2026 — The race to contain the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has intensified, with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announcing urgent acceleration of three investigational vaccine candidates. At the same time, Kenya’s High Court has halted a controversial US plan to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia. CEPI will invest… [Read More]

Geneva — June 2, 2026 — The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a stark warning that El Niño conditions will drive extreme weather events over the next few months, with above‑average global temperatures expected until at least August. The WMO update indicates an 80% likelihood of El Niño during June–August and a 90% probability of continuation… [Read More]

Beirut — June 2, 2026 — The ongoing crisis in Lebanon is taking a devastating toll on women and girls, with escalating violence and displacement undermining access to essential health and protection services, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned. Recent airstrikes damaged a UNFPA-supported primary healthcare centre and a women’s safe space in southern Lebanon,… [Read More]

Brussels — June 2, 2026 — The European Parliament and Council have concluded negotiations on new EU return rules, sparking alarm among humanitarian organizations. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has warned that the framework’s punitive approach risks undermining fundamental rights and fails to ensure safe and dignified returns for rejected asylum seekers. The new rules aim to… [Read More]

Jakarta — June 2, 2026 — Indonesia’s vast geography and cultural diversity continue to shape the delivery of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services, creating both opportunities and challenges. A new joint external review led by the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, IPAS, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), highlights… [Read More]

New York — June 2, 2026 — The United Nations (UN) has presented new reports to Member States highlighting significant progress in global development during 2025, despite mounting challenges such as rising debt, climate shocks, conflicts, and declining financing. According to the reports, UN support helped deliver food assistance to 121 million people, return 27 million children… [Read More]

Wellington — June 2, 2026 — The New Zealand Government has endorsed a new National Pest Management Plan for TB, aiming to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from both livestock and possums by 2040. The plan, announced by Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard, is being implemented in partnership with the beef, dairy, and deer industries. Possums, identified as the… [Read More]