Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new mathematical formula to calculate
NIST Researchers Develop More Accurate Formula for Measuring Particle Concentration
The ESAs note greater effort from financial market participants in their disclosure of principal adverse impacts
The Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) today published their fourth annual Report on the extent of voluntary disclosure of principal adverse impacts (PAIs) under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The ESAs have observed a steady improvement in the quality of the PAI voluntary disclosures at both entity and product level.
Similar to previous years, the ESAs surveyed National Competent Authorities and conducted staff-level analysis of publicly available PAI statements from the asset management, insurance and occupational pension sectors and of a sample of financial products’ PAI disclosures.
The 2025 Report notes an effort from financial market participants to publish more complete information in compliance with SFDR disclosure requirements, with a general improvement in the quality of information provided.
In line with previous years, the findings also confirm that financial market participants within larger multinational groups tend to provide more detailed disclosure, while smaller entities often combine general ESG or marketing information with their SFDR disclosures.
Surveyed National Competent Authorities affirmed that some financial market participants have taken onboard the good practices included in the previous reports and have improved their disclosures.
Additionally, the 2025 Report also includes recommendations for National Competent Authorities to support their supervision of PAI disclosures and for the European Commission to consider ahead of the forthcoming review of the SFDR.
Background and Legal basis
PAIs are the most significant negative impacts of investments on the environment and people. When a financial market participant considers principal adverse impacts, it means that it should seek to reduce the negative impact of the companies they invest in.
Under Article 18 of the SFDR, the ESAs s must take stock of the extent of voluntary disclosures at entity and product level and publish a Report on an annual basis by 10 September.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decisions (CFSP) 2025/1096 and Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2025/1095 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decisions concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria.
World News in Brief: The UN chief condemns Russian attacks against Ukraine, the Gaza crisis continues, protecting civilians in Dr Congo
Secretary General António Guterres said He marked a “new escalation” of the conflict.
The authorities have reported more than 80 civilian victims, including a national worker of the non -governmental organization (NGO) and her two -month -old son in kyiv.
The other affected cities included Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih and Kherson. Energy infrastructure has also been affected, causing temporary power outages and breakdowns in advance on winter, repair teams working to restore services.
“Civilians and civil infrastructure attacks violate international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and have to end immediately, “UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday at the regular conference in New York.
“The secretary general reiterates his call to a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as the first step towards a just, complete and lasting peace in Ukraine, which fully maintains the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in accordance with the veracity of Ukraine Charter of the United NationsInternational law and relevant United Nations resolutions, “he added.
Meanwhile, humanitarian support continues. On September 5, United Nations agencies and partners delivered medical kits and hygiene supplies to around 1,000 people in several villages in Donetsk, marking the tenth convoy in the region this year.
People are looking for food in community cuisine in the west of the city of Gaza.
Gaza: Civil toll continues to climb
Gaza civilians continue to cope with deaths, trips and famine as hostilities continue, with UN agencies warning that the window to prevent widespread famine closes.
According to local health authorities, some 67 people have been killed and 320 injured in the last 24 hours, said Dujarric, adding that since the end of the ceasefire in mid-March, nearly 12,000 people have died in the midst of trips and repeated attacks.
“We continue to condemn all the murders of civilians,” he said.
The humanitarian situation remains disastrous. The United Nations Coordination Office, OchhaUrgent needs noted of food, water and shelter.
“Our colleagues remind us that more than 80% Gaza is either under travel orders or in militarized areas,” added Dujarric.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has reported that more than 100 people, including a quarter of children, died from malnutrition since the famine was confirmed to the governor of Gaza.
Humanitarian operations remain strongly limited.
Only 11 of the 24 coordinated missions were led on Sunday, including crossing fuel collection, while others have been refused or canceled. The humanitarian workers were able to distribute water in the north of Gaza and collect food expeditions from Kerem Shalom, Karem Abu Salem and Zikim Crossings.
The United Nations Peace Soldiers in Dr Congo continue to protect the population from the “serious danger”
Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflicts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to be protected against the “serious danger” by the United Nations soldiers, according to the head of the United Nations.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix spoke at the end of a mission in the DRC, where he visited the troubled regions of Ituri and northern Kivu.
Mr. Lacroix stressed that hundreds of thousands of Congolese, including displaced people, are counting on the United Nations peacekeeping mission, Monusco For daily protection, especially in the regions of Fataki and Beni, in northern Kivu, where joint operations with the Congolese armed forces continue against armed groups.
The disastrous situation continues
The security situation in the eastern DRC remains disastrous, despite diplomatic efforts to provide lasting peace to the country.
The DRC is currently faced with one of the most acute humanitarian emergencies in the world, with increasing food insecurity and 5.9 million Congolese currently in internal.
“People are protected here by our colleagues from Monusco, and they receive humanitarian support and protection,” said Lacroix, adding that the UN remains determined to support government efforts to peace and stability in the country.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Bacteria rewire digestive systems to turn plant waste into power
For years, scientists have marveled at bacteria’s ability to digest the seemingly indigestible, including carbon from lignin, the
Afghanistan quake: ‘Communities are struggling with basic survival’
Briefing correspondents in New York via video link, Shannon O’Hara spoke from Jalalabad on the conditions in Afghanistan just days after the magnitude 6 earthquake and its devastating aftershocks.
“We saw families whose lives had been shattered just within a few minutes,” the head of strategy for OCHA in Afghanistan said.
Left with nothing
“The earthquake had destroyed their homes, their farms and their livelihoods, leaving them with absolutely nothing.”
OCHA has managed to reach 49 damaged villages in the Nangarhar, Kunar and nearby affected provinces in eastern Afghanistan.
As humanitarian workers struggle to reach more regions, current reports show that nearly 40,000 people have been impacted by the earthquake, while over 5,000 homes have been destroyed.
Aid workers face challenges
“Even before the earthquake, these villages were difficult to reach,” said Ms. O’Hara. “Now, with the earthquake, it takes extraordinary effort to get there.”
A narrow, one-way road on the mountainside which was “blocked by large rocks from landslides and many vehicles trying to get up and down the valley” is the only way to get to affected areas from Jalalabad, said Ms. O’Hara.
A 100-kilometre drive took Ms. O’Hara and her team more than six and a half hours. To reach victims, first response teams have to drive – and often travel for hours on foot.
‘The heaviest burden’
Emergency responders are prioritising aid to women, children, and locals with disabilities.
“In Afghanistan, in recent years, women and girls have been pushed to the very margins of society and survival,” said Ms. O’Hara. “We know from previous earthquakes and other crises that women and girls always bear the heaviest burden.”
A estimate from UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, shows that 11,600 pregnant women have been affected by the destruction – in a country that already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in region.
OCHA is working to ensure that “that women are represented in health teams and more women aid workers are supporting distributions, along with nutrition, psychosocial and other counseling services,” said Ms. O’Hara.
Alarming potential for disease outbreak
The natural catastrophe has resulted in families living without clean water and sanitation in tents or “under open skies, exposed to rain and cold,” said Ms. O’Hara.
“With cholera endemic in the region and initial assessments indicating that 92 per cent of these communities are practicing open defecation, the potential for a cholera outbreak is alarming,” she continued.
While UN agencies are distributing meals and sanitation kits, efforts need to be scaled up.
“The affected communities are struggling with basic survival,” she stressed.
Urgent action needed
So far, 43,000 victims have received ready-to-eat meals and UN agencies are also providing tents, blankets and sanitation kits to assist families. But humanitarian efforts risk being disrupted if heavy rain floods IDP sites or if potential aftershocks bring more landslides. Snow from the approaching winter season is also expected to block vital roads.
“If we don’t act now, these communities may not survive the coming winter,” said Ms. O’Hara. “Additional funding is urgently needed.”
OCHA has already released $10 million for life-saving supplies and an emergency response plan is currently being finalized.
“Without immediate support the weeks ahead risk compounding this tragedy with preventable disease outbreaks, further displacement and additional loss of life.”
Food aid is delivered to people affected by the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
Fresh supplies land in Kabul
A new consignment of more than 35 metric tonnes of life-saving medical supplies landed in Kabul on Monday, to enhance the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency response.
WHO has now prepositioned and delivered nearly 80 metric tonnes of emergency health supplies to the country since the disaster.
The newly arrived cargo, mobilised through WHO’s logistics hub in Dubai, includes trauma and emergency surgery kits, primary health care kits, noncommunicable disease kits and essential medicines.
These supplies will be dispatched to health facilities and mobile health teams in the hardest-hit areas, following the ongoing needs assessments.
Afghanistan Quake: “Communities are struggling with basic survival”
Information correspondents in New York via the video link, Shannon O’hara spoke of Jalalabad on the conditions in Afghanistan only a few days after the earthquake of magnitude 6 and its devastating replicas.
“We have seen families whose life had been broken just in a few minutes”, the head of the strategy for Ochha in Afghanistan said.
Left with nothing
“The earthquake had destroyed their houses, their farms and their livelihoods, leaving them absolutely nothing.”
The OCHA has managed to reach 49 damaged villages in the Nangarhar, Kunar and the provinces affected nearby in eastern Afghanistan.
While humanitarian workers find it difficult to reach more regions, current reports Show that nearly 40,000 people were affected by the earthquake, while more than 5,000 houses were destroyed.
Humanitarian workers face challenges
“Even before the earthquake, these villages were difficult to reach,” said Ms. O’Hara. “Now, with the earthquake, you need extraordinary efforts to get there. »»
A narrow one -way road on the side of the mountain which was “blocked by large rocks of landslides and many vehicles trying to go up and down the valley” is the only way to go to the affected areas of Jalalabad, said Ms. O’Hara.
A 100 -kilometer journey took Ms. O’Hara and her team for more than six and a half hours. To reach the victims, the first response teams must drive – and often move for hours on foot.
‘The heaviest burden’
Emergency speakers favor help for women, children and disabled residents.
“In Afghanistan, in recent years, women and girls have been pushed to the very margins of society and survival,” said Ms. O’Hara. “We know with previous earthquakes and other crises that women and girls always wear the heaviest burden.”
An estimate of the UN reproductive health agency, Unfpashows that 11,600 pregnant women were affected by destruction – in a country that already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region.
The OCHA endeavors to ensure that “that women are represented in health teams and that more assistants support distribution, as well as nutrition, psychosocial and other services,” said Ms. O’Hara.
Alarming potential for the disease epidemic
The natural disaster led families to live without clean water and sanitation in tents or “under an open sky, exposed to rain and cold,” said Ms. O’Hara.
“With endemic cholera in the region and the initial assessments indicating that 92% of these communities practice free-being defecation, the potential of a cholera epidemic is alarming,” she continued.
While United Nations agencies distribute meals and sanitation kits, efforts must be put on the scale.
“The affected communities are struggling with basic survival,” she said.
Urgent action required
So far, 43,000 victims have received ready to eat meals and United Nations agencies also provide tents, covers and sanitation kits to help families. But humanitarian efforts are likely to be disrupted if the heavy rains flood the sites of PDIs or if the potential aftershocks bring more landslides. The snow of the approaching winter season should also block vital roads.
“If we do not act now, these communities may not survive the coming winter,” said Ms. O’Hara. “Additional funding is urgent. »»
OCHA has already published $ 10 million for vital supplies and an emergency intervention plan is currently being finalized.
“Without immediate support, the coming weeks risk this tragedy with epidemics of avoidable diseases, additional trips and additional lifestyles.”
Food aid is delivered to people affected by the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
Fresh Supplies Terre in Kabul
A new dispatch of more than 35 metric tonnes of vital medical supplies landed in Kabul Monday, to improve the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency response.
Which has now preposed and delivered nearly 80 metric tonnes of emergency health supplies to the country since the disaster.
The newly arrived cargo, mobilized through the WHO Logistics Center in Dubai, includes surgery kits in trauma and in the event of an emergency, primary health care kits, non -transmitted disease kits and essential drugs.
These supplies will be dispatched to health establishments and mobile health teams in the hardest affected areas, following the evaluations under way of needs.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Guterres firmly condemns the terrorist attack in Jerusalem
UN Secretary General António Guterres strongly sentenced the terrorist attack, said his spokesperson in a declaration.
“He transmits his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a complete and rapid recovery to those who have been injured,” he said.
The incident took place in a highly frequented intersection in Ramot, located Monday morning in the northern outskirts of Jerusalem.
Shooting waiting for the bus
The armed men would have opened fire on the passengers while waiting to get on the buses. Video sequences of the scene have shown that several buses had been widely affected during the assault.
The attackers were identified by the authorities as two Palestinians of the occupied West Bank. They were killed by a soldier and a civilian who were on the scene.
A Spanish national was one of the victims, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The shooting took place in the context of the current war in Gaza which killed more than 63,000 Palestinians and injured more than 161,000 others, according to local health authorities.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Leadership of Women crucial for UN reinvention at 80, explains the former president of the assembly
Tuesday, Annalena Baerbock of Germany will become the first European woman to occupy the post and only the fifth president of the history of the assembly.
On the eve of the inauguration of Baerbock, UN News spoke with one of his predecessors. María Fernanda Espinosa, former Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs of the Ecuador, led the 2018 to 2019 assembly as the first woman in Latin America and the Caribbean to do so.
Hard work and qualified diplomacy
Espinosa describes The General Assembly As a “laboratory of international law”, noting that the role of the president requires “hard work, good diplomacy and the ability to carry out fair negotiations”.
The last woman to preside over the assembly said that she sees Annalena Baerbock all the qualities necessary for a “brilliant performance” as the next president. She stressed that the German chief took office at a time of “deep structural change within the institution, partly linked to financial challenges”.
Espinosa thinks that Baerbock will play an “absolutely central” role in the implementation of reforms within the framework of the UN80 process, as well as the advanced commitments linked to The Pact for the futureadopted in 2024.
For Espinosa, the own story of the UN proves that it is “an irreplaceable organization, a humanity cannot happen – but which must nevertheless be reinvented”.
Annalena Baerbock, elected president of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly, is aimed at journalists after her election.
“Why not a woman as secretary general?”
While welcoming the election of the fifth president of the Assembly in New York, Espinosa said that this restructuring also offered the opportunity to rethink leadership styles and finally consider a woman for the post of secretary general. The next appointment is expected in 2026.
“The real question is: why not?” She asked, stressing that a woman could bring qualities such as “strong management and a construction of bridges”. She added that a woman secretary general would also represent an act of “historic justice”, after 80 years of male leadership at the helm of the UN.
The former Ecuadorian diplomat recognized one of the largest challenges in the United Nations: the gap between the resolutions adopted in the General Assembly and their translation in national policies and regulations. That, she said, prevents multilateral decisions from producing tangible improvements in people’s lives.
To remedy this, she called for a “more inclusive and network multilateralism”, in which citizens are informed, committed and capable of monitoring international decisions taken.
Build a consensus behind the scenes
Espinosa stressed that “most of the presidency works are taking place behind the scenes”, dealing with divisions and forging consensus.
She noted that the new president will be more and more confronted with the responsibilities related to peace and security, as well as sustainable development.
Espinosa recalled that the very first resolution adopted by the General Assembly concerned the discovery of atomic energy, stressing the need to adapt to a new force which could be exploited for peaceful purposes, but also “terrible effects”.
She underlined the moments of definition of her own presidency, including the difficult negotiations which led to the adoption of the first Global compact for migration in 2018.
The diplomat also expressed his pride in internal advances, such as the decision to eliminate single -use plastics in the UN, recognizing the damage they cause to human health and ecosystems.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
ECR MEPs call for urgent appointment of EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief
On the occasion of the United Nations International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, ECR MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen (Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience) and Carlo Fidanza (Vice-Chair of the Intergroup) urged the European Commission to immediately reappoint the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU, a position left vacant since December 2024.
Bert-Jan Ruissen said:
“This is a day for reflection, but also for action. The Commission must urgently fill the post of EU Special Envoy and make every cooperation agreement with third countries conditional on their commitment to
respecting freedom of belief.”
Carlo Fidanza said:
“Today, we remember all those who are still persecuted — and all too often killed — for their faith. Millions of people worldwide, many of them Christians, are being violated, executed or murdered simply for refusing to submit to political totalitarianism, religious nationalism or Islamist extremism.”
Criticizing the delay despite Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s written pledge on 5 May 2025 to renew the position, Bert-Jan Ruissen stressed:
“We welcome President von der Leyen’s commitment, but what we need now is concrete action. The longer this post remains vacant, the more the EU’s credibility suffers in its efforts to stand up for freedom of belief.”
Carlo Fidanza concluded:
“Every day without a Special Envoy is a missed opportunity to defend those suffering for their faith. Europe must show that it takes its promises seriously – words are not enough.”
