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In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group provided €1.7 billion in new financing in Austria, targeting key sectors crucial for the country’s sustainable future, including clean energy, industrial innovation, digitalization, and affordable housing. These investments are part of broader efforts by the EIB to support Austria’s transition to a greener, more competitive, and socially… [Read More]

GENEVA – The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, has called on Member States to pursue a decisive shift in how the world responds to displacement, urging a move from long-term humanitarian aid dependency toward sustainable solutions. In his first briefing since taking office, Salih outlined a comprehensive reform agenda for UNHCR aimed at… [Read More]

The Ministry of Health of Guyana, with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the European Union (EU), launched a regional workshop in Georgetown from 2–4 February 2026 to strengthen regulatory systems for medicines and health technologies across the Caribbean. Funded by the EU and implemented by Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency, the… [Read More]

From 26 to 30 January 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) held the III Regional Workshop on Progress in Estimating the Health Burden of Influenza and the Impact of Influenza Vaccination Programs in Brasilia, Brazil. Organized by PAHO’s Special Program on Comprehensive Immunization (CIM) and the Infectious Hazards Management Unit (IHM) of the Health… [Read More]

The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, is undertaking an official visit to Reykjavik this week to reinforce the long-standing partnership between IOM and the Government of Iceland. With Iceland implementing its first comprehensive migration policy, discussions are focusing on national and Nordic migration trends as well as broader international… [Read More]

Fifty-three migrants, including two babies, are dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel overturned north of Zuwara on 6 February, with only two Nigerian women rescued during a search-and-rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities. One survivor… [Read More]

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is working to enhance the resilience and value of Lesotho’s wool and mohair industry, supporting strategies to help the sector withstand future economic shocks. Wool and mohair have long been central to Lesotho’s economy, accounting for 60 per cent of agricultural exports and supporting over a quarter of the rural… [Read More]

Amnesty International has released a series of survivor testimonies highlighting the devastating effects of Russia’s sustained attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The reports document civilians enduring freezing winter conditions without heat, electricity, or running water, reflecting widespread disruption to essential services across the country. Many Ukrainians described living for weeks with intermittent or no electricity,… [Read More]

The UK government and Great British Energy have launched the Local Power Plan, pledging up to £1 billion to fund community-owned clean energy projects across the country. This marks the largest public investment in community energy in UK history, aimed at enabling communities to generate and control their own energy while creating local wealth and… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Training Foundation (ETF) have formalized a closer partnership to help countries enhance skills systems, vocational education, apprenticeships, and employment policies. The cooperation agreement, signed on 9 February by Pilvi Torsti, Director of the ETF, and Sangheon Lee, Director of the ILO Employment Policy Department, aims to strengthen… [Read More]

The UK government has launched a new campaign, ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’, to help parents discuss harmful online content with their children and provide practical guidance for immediate use. The campaign addresses the risks of body-shaming, ragebait, misogynistic material, and misinformation on social media, supporting parents in setting safety controls and initiating difficult… [Read More]

Heavy rainfall since Saturday caused widespread flooding in Idleb and northern Latakia, Syria, damaging around 1,800 tents and destroying at least 150 in camps for displaced families. A local hospital suspended operations, with patients evacuated and mobile medical teams deployed. Authorities opened additional shelters to accommodate affected families, while humanitarian partners worked to relocate displaced… [Read More]

Recent measures in the West Bank are expected to facilitate the expansion of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land, increasing Israel’s control in the territory, according to media reports. The UN Secretary-General warned that these developments are eroding the prospects for a negotiated two-State solution and called on Israel to reverse the measures. He reiterated that… [Read More]

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). He informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 12 January, citing the need to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force after 27 years of supporting… [Read More]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned Member States at the Human Rights Council in Geneva that Sudan faces even worse violence unless immediate action is taken, calling for the extension of the arms embargo from Darfur to cover the entire country. The conflict has involved nearly three years of fighting between Sudan’s… [Read More]

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the 20-year prison sentence imposed on Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, following his conviction under Hong Kong’s national security-related laws. On 15 December 2025, the High Court found Mr. Lai guilty of conspiracy to publish seditious material… [Read More]

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a boat carrying migrants overturned in the frigid waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, north of the Libyan town of Zuwara, last Friday. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly accidents involving vulnerable people who are often exploited by smuggling gangs that have thrived… [Read More]

Venezuela’s legislature has unanimously passed the first reading of a proposed amnesty law aimed at promoting peace, democratic coexistence, and national reconciliation as the country enters a new political era following the recent removal of former President Nicolás Maduro. The draft law is seen by supporters as an opportunity to provide justice and alleviate the… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently conducted a five-day training course on the laboratory diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for central and regional laboratory specialists in Tajikistan. The training was organized under the Committee for Food Security of the Government of Tajikistan and is part of a broader FAO regional… [Read More]

California’s Net Zero emission goals, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and other state leaders, face a fundamental limitation: wind turbines and solar panels generate electricity only. While renewable electricity is critical, hydrocarbons remain essential for physical mobility, powering sectors such as trucking, mining, construction, aviation, maritime trade, and military operations. Liquid fuels provide unmatched energy… [Read More]

To address Southern Africa’s food, land, and water inequalities, it is essential to first listen to local communities and resolve the conflicts that divide them. Effective solutions require cooperation among diverse actors, meaningful participation from indigenous communities, and strong governance systems. These key themes were highlighted during a panel discussion at the annual Science Forum… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group and Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie (BIAT) have signed a $50 million Trade Finance Guarantee Facility to strengthen trade finance and support Tunisia’s private sector. The agreement, signed at BIAT’s headquarters in Tunis, aims to bolster the activities of Tunisian businesses, create jobs, and improve access to essential goods by… [Read More]

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has launched national frameworks for financial inclusion and sustainable finance, alongside a new entity to manage the country’s payment infrastructure. These initiatives aim to strengthen the financial ecosystem and support socio-economic development. The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) is designed to create a more financially inclusive environment and is structured… [Read More]