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Significant progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but the overall state of Europe’s environment is not good, especially its nature which continues to face degradation, overexploitation and biodiversity loss. The impacts of accelerating climate change are also an urgent challenge, according to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) most comprehensive, […]
Ms Mohammed was speaking at the world leaders’ meeting on women, co-hosted by China and UN Womenwhich aims to revive the spirit of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women – at which the Beijing Declaration was adopted – and to advance gender equality and women’s development globally.
“Women’s rights are human rights” said » the deputy head of the UN, recalling the positive atmosphere of the 1995 conference and the impact of the Declaration which “opened the way to progress”, and thanking China for hosting the event, as well as the Member States who “kept this flame alive”.
Despite the progress made over the past 30 years, the pace of change has been slow: a report released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in September warned that none of the gender equality goals are on track, with an estimated 708 million women excluded from the labor market due to unpaid care work. And 351 million women and girls risk being trapped in extreme poverty in 2030.
“We are only five years away from the deadline of our 2030 project. Sustainable Development Goals“, said Ms. Mohammed. “It’s late. We are running out of time to keep the promise we made thirty years ago.
Beijing’s roadmap to equality
The deputy UN chief recalled that the Declaration is a road map that has resonated in all major UN frameworks since its adoption, including the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Pact for the Future.
The agreement, she continued, shows that women’s empowerment – including safety and the rights to education, health care and full political participation – must be at the heart of the design of national visions and plans: “In every negotiating room, in every budget we write and in every policy we design, gender equality must be our organizing principle. »
There is a financial imperative to advance gender equality, as Ms Mohammed highlighted in her speech: UN studies show that by ensuring women and girls gain quality education and digital skills, 30 million people could be lifted out of extreme poverty and some $1.5 trillion could be injected into the global economy in just five years.
The deputy UN chief concluded by emphasizing the need to increase the number of women in leadership positions. “We have proof,” she said, “that where women lead, we see more lasting peace, more profitable businesses and more inclusive policies. »
EU companies stay committed to the green transition, with 92% pursuing measures to reduce emissions and lower energy bills.
International trade customs and tariffs are concerning firms, especially in the US.
Share of EU businesses using generative AI is 37% versus 36% in US, latest EIB investment survey shows.
European businesses are firmly staying the course, investing in the green and digital transitions, and showing resilience in the face of a volatile global landscape, according to the latest annual European Investment Bank Investment Survey(EIBIS).
The survey, which covers more than 12,000 EU firms and over 800 US companies polled between April-July 2025, shows that more than nine in 10 EU companies – 92% – are investing directly in measures to cut emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The EIB Group released the results today in Washington, DC during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
Geopolitical and trade tensions are slowing investment on both sides of the Atlantic, with US tariffs having a stronger impact on American firms, according to the 2025 EIBIS. Investment by EU companies is showing resilience, with 86% continuing to invest – albeit more cautiously than in past years as a result of greater political, regulatory and economic uncertainties.
“While uncertainty weighs heavily on firms, they are so far weathering the shock,” said EIB’s Chief Economist Debora Revoltella. “There is a clear commitment to invest in digitalisation and green initiatives, which are crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the evolving global market. The focus on the green transition is evident, with a considerable portion of investment directed towards sustainable practices.”
Generative AI deployment in the EU
Companies in Europe are adopting advanced forms of artificial intelligence (AI) at broadly the same pace as their US counterparts, according to the survey. The share of firms in the European Union deploying generative AI is 37% compared with 36% of businesses in the US.
European companies can further exploit the benefits of AI by using it in a broader range of activities. European firms lag their US counterparts in deploying AI in the areas of customer service, internal processes, marketing and human resources, according to the survey. In addition, 81% of US businesses that use AI do so in more than two activities compared with 55% of European companies.
Investment challenges and opportunities
The 2025 EIBIS also shows that investment challenges in Europe remain. For example, 83% of EU firms cited uncertainty and 79% of them identified a shortage of skilled labour as major investment barriers. In addition, energy costs are an impediment for 75% of European businesses – signalling the importance of accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, as a driver of EU competitiveness.
Looking ahead, EU firms continue to prioritise replacement investments over capacity expansion, with 26% planning to expand operations in the next three years, versus 37% of U.S. firms with similar intentions.
The share of finance-constrained firms has slightly decreased as compared to past years. Policy support, in the form of grants or finance on favourable conditions, reaches some 16% of European firms that invest. Notably, 61% of policy support in the EU is targeted to specific policy objectives (41% supporting the green transition, 29% for innovation).
Companies on both side of the Atlantic are increasingly worried about recent changes in customs and tariffs, with 77% of US firms perceiving them as a major obstacle (vs 48% in the EU).
Upside potential is associated with increased efforts in terms of European integration and simplification. More specifically 62% of European firms perceive the internal EU market as fragmented, while the cost of bureaucracy is estimated at some 2% of turnover for Small and Medium-Sized companies (SMEs).
Further details from the 2025 EIB Investment Survey are available here.
Background information
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, it finances investments that pursue EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund, signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impactprojects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
Around half of EIB financing in the European Union goes to cohesion regions, where per capita income is below the EU average, while almost 60% of annual EIB Group investments support climate action and environmental sustainability.
About the report
The EIB Group Survey on Investment, which has been carried out since 2016, is a unique annual survey of some 12,000 firms. Data for the latest edition was collected in mid-2025 from companies in all EU Member States. The survey also includes a sample of businesses in the United States. The survey collects data on company characteristics and performance, past investment activities and future plans, sources of finance, financing hurdles and other business challenges such as climate change, digitalisation and international trade.
The allocation, announced Monday by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, will support the immediate scale-up of aid operations in the Gaza Strip, including food, water, health care and shelter for civilians affected by two years of conflict.
This follows a $9 million allocation last week to ensure fuel supplies to hospitals and essential services, bringing the recent total DEER Gaza funding to $20 million.
The announcement comes as the ceasefire brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt continues to hold, alongside the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, offering what the UN secretary-general described as “a fragile hope of calm after months of devastation.”
Urgent scaling is needed
The UN and its partners are rapidly scaling up operations across Gaza as access improves, providing lifesaving aid to areas that have been cut off for months. However, a massive increase in funding is needed in the face of overwhelming needs.
Mr Fletcher warned that without further contributions to CERF, essential aid could not continue to reach the people who need it.
Speaking from Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, on the eve of a summit on Gaza, he said the UN’s stepped-up humanitarian aid was underway in what he called “a moment of precarious hope” for many.
“This is a moment of opportunity, but also a moment that requires determined patience, creativity and sustained generosity,” he said.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN teams have now secured Israeli approval for 190,000 tonnes of aid, cooking gas entering Gaza for the first time since March and more food, tents and medical supplies arriving daily.
THE alert follows the release of the latest analysis of the Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC), which reveals that a record number of people in the Caribbean country are experiencing acute levels of hunger.
“Half of Haiti suffers from hunger”, PAM said executive director Cindy McCain in a tweet.
“While 5.7 million people face severe hunger, child malnutrition has doubled in just two years,” she added.
Today, 14 percent of children under five are malnourished, up from 7 percent, with some regions recording even higher rates.
The UN agency stressed that armed violence, economic decline, persistent inflation and low agricultural production are fueling Haiti’s deepening crisis.
“The WFP has reached a record number of 2.2 million Haitians, but it is not enough. We urgently need resources to support families in need,” said Ms. McCain.
Over the next 12 months, the agency will need $139 million to help Haiti’s most vulnerable people, as the crisis remains severely underfunded.
Sudan: UN condemns repeated attacks against civilians in El Fasher
At least 57 civilians were killed Friday and Saturday by drone attacks in El Fasher, Sudan.
At a press briefing on Monday, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq echoed statement by the country’s humanitarian coordinator, Denise Brown, in which she “condemned in the strongest possible terms the repeated and deliberate attacks on civilians in the besieged town of El-Fasher.”
In her statement, Ms. Brown stressed that “hospitals, shelters and places of refuge must not be targeted” and reiterated her call for “respect for international humanitarian law and an immediate end to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
The attacks were reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the parties to the conflict in Sudan, and hit a place where displaced people had sought refuge.
Haq added that in recent days, the UN has seen reports from local community leaders of new civilian casualties in an alleged drone strike in an area controlled by the RSF.
“We and our humanitarian partners remain committed to supporting the people of El Fasher and all those affected by the conflict in Sudan, but the humanitarian community needs safe and unhindered access,” he said. said.
“Civilians must be protected and, above all, the Sudanese people need the violence to stop. »
Maldives is the first country to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B
The Maldives has become the first country to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Monday, hailing the development as a historic public health achievement.
The island nation, located in the Indian Ocean, has already eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis and this HIV milestone is proof of its commitment to providing healthcare for all, the UN agency said.
“The Maldives has shown that with strong political will and sustained investment in maternal and child health, it is possible to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of these deadly diseases and the suffering they cause,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Mother-to-child transmission leads to infections that affect millions of people worldwide.
In Southeast Asia alone, more than 8,000 infants will be born with congenital syphilis in 2024, the WHO said.
Around 25,000 HIV-positive pregnant women have required treatment to prevent transmission to their babies, while hepatitis B continues to affect more than 42 million people in the region.
WHO said it would support the Maldives in its efforts to advance maternal, child and adolescent health.
Ahead of World Food Daycelebrated each year on October 16, their stories reflect a global movement toward healthier and more equitable agri-food systems.
Learn more about FAOIt is #FoodHeroes working together for better food and a better future.
“From the zucchini harvest I got 50 kg. I sold half of it to pay for my children’s schooling and I used the other half to improve our diet at home.”
In Mizilo, in southeastern Madagascar, Rasoaniaviana Clarette has become a transformative leader. Once a housewife, she now runs a women-led farm school that fights child malnutrition through climate-resilient agriculture. She and 24 women adopted modern techniques to grow nutritious crops like moringa and pumpkin, increasing yields, diversifying diets and strengthening food security. His leadership inspires hope and resilience in a region long plagued by hunger and poor nutrition.
“Before, nothing grew here because there was no water, but we dug a well, installed irrigation, and now the land is fertile again. »
In the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan, Mederbek Mirzayev is relaunching the cultivation of vines on abandoned Soviet-era agricultural land. In 2025, he mobilized villagers to plant grapes and apricots. Despite initial skepticism, the cooperative now cultivates two hectares and plans to expand. Their success inspires others to reclaim unused land, strengthening organic farming and community resilience in a region once considered unfarmable.
“The camel is one of the most beautiful animals we have. In the age of nomadic travel, they were used to carry heavy loads and endured thirst and hardships that other animals could not endure.”
In the arid village of Boutidouma, Mauritania, camel milk, known as laban, is a nutritional lifesaver. Fatima Mohammed Zayed Al-Muslimin, mother of five children and founder of the Tidouma cooperative, revolutionized local dairy production. Since 2019, training has enabled milk processing that extends shelf life from one to 21 days, reducing waste and improving market access. The cooperative empowers rural women, diversifies diets and strengthens food security. She now dreams of becoming a large-scale dairy factory.
“I had no experience in farming, just a dream. Now, on Sundays, while most people are relaxing, I adjust the pH levels and recalibrate the sensors!”
On the Caribbean island archipelago of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Richard Paris is reshaping local agriculture with “Paris’ Leafy Greens,” a hydroponic lettuce company supplying fresh produce. A former architect and hotel manager, Paris built the islands’ first large-scale hydroponic greenhouse in 2019. His crisp, sustainable lettuce quickly gained popularity. After the training, he increased yields by 40 percent using smart sensors. Now expanding with a second greenhouse, Paris aims to reduce imports and build a sustainable agricultural legacy.
“Chefs can be catalysts for change. By celebrating seasonality, respecting producers and designing for zero waste, they can help build resilient food systems and inspire diners to do the same.”
Michelin-starred chef Cristina Bowerman, based in Rome, Italy, is a leading figure in sustainable gastronomy. It combines culinary innovation and advocacy to combat food loss and waste. Through initiatives such as “Adopt a Farmer” and the Chef’s Manifesto, it promotes responsible sourcing and zero waste cooking. She also mentors future chefs and advocates for food as a tool for climate action, nutrition and dignity in global agri-food systems.
For Mr. Kassis, housing is not a privilege, it is a question of survival. “We resist,” he said, “by simply existing on the ground. The occupation is not just the tank and the soldier. It restricts not only your movements, but also your thoughts, your plans, your aspirations and your vision.”
Basic services also bear the brunt of the occupation. “Our wells are located in Area C of the West Bank, where security is controlled by Israel. This is where Israeli settlements are located and settlers are attacking these water sources, threatening the supply which is already the lowest in the world per capita. At the same time, settlers are taking advantage of the swimming pools.”
To adapt, Ramallah has invested in wastewater treatment and irrigation projects, using recycled water to green the city. “When you see green, you see hope. And when you see hope, you run after hope.”
A recently installed gate in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.
For families, the burden is heavy. “We are a young company,” explains Kassis. “More than 65 percent of Ramallah’s population is under 40 years old. Half are teenagers or children. Their parents, he says, want them to live freely and experience life, but they fear harassment and arbitrary detention.
“There are thousands of prisoners. Every day, people are detained without a court order and kept in prison for six months, which can be renewed. The idea is to kill our spirit.” Nevertheless, he insists, resilience continues: “Look at Gaza. Look at the children who are smiling. For me, that’s resilience. These people, they choose life despite everything.”
As mayor, he believes that resilience must be maintained at the grassroots: through education, green spaces and pride in the territory. “We built it through years of hard work and education so that children would cherish life, cherish the beauty of the city, love the land, belong to the land. These are things that we do, that are part of our DNA in the municipality.”
Roadblocks separating the entrance to Ramallah from the northern West Bank.
A way forward
The UN has long supported a two-state solution as a framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security. Key issues that remain to be resolved include borders, settlements, the status of Jerusalem, refugees and security arrangements.
Until this vision is realized, Kassis says, Ramallah residents will continue to hold out hope: one house, one family, one tree at a time.
