Transport remains Europe’s most persistent climate challenge. While rail offers a low-emission alternative for moving people and goods, Europe’s continued reliance on road transport is keeping greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions high, according to a report published today by the European Environment Agency.
Elder Gilbert-Newest Apostle-Meets the Media
“There’s a mix of trepidation and joy, two feelings that don’t usually coincide,” said Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as he settles into his new role in the second-highest governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Downloadable B-roll & SOTs
Elder Gilbert, the Church’s education commissioner, was called to fill a vacancy in the Quorum on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, following the recent passing of President Jeffrey R. Holland. He was ordained on Thursday, February 12, by President Dallin H. Oaks and the other members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Gilbert, 55, said he has received more than 1,000 text messages on his phone since his new calling was announced.
Elder Gilbert Talks to Journalists
Members of the news media had their first opportunity to speak with Elder Gilbert on Friday, February 13, in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square.
Elder Gilbert says he is already receiving spiritual inspiration from the Lord during the first two days of his service as an Apostle.
“I feel the mantle strengthening me,” he said. “It is sometimes described as a burden and a weight, but it’s also a protection and a shield and a strength.”
“[The Lord has] planted feelings in my heart already in these last two days, feelings to get up and send a message to someone or to make a call in the middle of such a busy moment,” Elder Gilbert said. “I think the Lord’s telling me to keep reaching out to the one, and especially to the one who struggles.”
“I feel a measure of His love, concern and empathy for those He is worried about, and I have a feeling if the last two days are anything like the future service I’ll be asked to give, that ministering to the one will be a big part of that,” the Apostle said.
Elder Gilbert said his wife, Christine, has also given him the confidence to move forward in this calling and in other pivotal moments in his life.
“Her confidence [and] conviction anchored me and pushed me to be who the Lord needed me to be,” he said.
Among the hundreds of messages the Gilberts received about this new role was one from a former inner-city youth they had once served in Boston, who is now a father of five.
Elder Gilbert said, “He called her, not me. And he said,’ Christine, I just wanted you to know this wouldn’t have happened without you.’ And he’s right. What a tender expression of that last night for both of us.”
Sister Gilbert said she also receives inspiration from her husband. The two are the parents of eight children.
“He’s a builder of people and has been a builder of me for 32 years now and has made me a better version of myself by being with him,” she said. “He’s such a joyful, happy person, so positive and enthusiastic.”
Elder Gilbert said he has much to learn in his calling as an Apostle.
“We teach that education is a religious responsibility. And if that’s true, involve the Lord in your learning, and he’ll take you places you never thought possible,” he added.
Education has been an integral part of his life. He taught at Harvard and served as president of Brigham Young University–Idaho. He was also the inaugural president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide, the global online offering.
He continued, “God loves us. He loves all His children. And He wants us to serve in the kingdom and grow in our testimonies. And to do that, He needs us to be able to provide for our temporal self-reliance, even as we’re building our spiritual self-reliance.”
Elder Gilbert is humbled and excited to serve in his new role as the Church’s newest Apostle.
“What an opportunity it is to wear out my life in service of the Lord Jesus Christ and in testifying of Him to all the world,” Elder Gilbert said. “Jesus Christ lives, that through Him we can find peace and joy, that in a chaotic, polarized, conflicted world we can find peace and comfort in the Savior Jesus Christ.”
Data from one billion phones reveals hidden divide in coping with heatwaves
A new study tracking the movements of one billion mobile phone devices has exposed how wealth and age
Ukraine ‘Four Years of Resistance’ films at EESC in Brussels
A two-day programme of documentary and feature-film screenings, expert panels, and filmmakers’ testimonies will take place at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels on 24–25 February 2026, bringing Ukrainian civil society and European partners together to reflect on resilience and sustain public attention on the war.
Brussels will host a two-day international event titled “Four Years of Resistance” on 24–25 February 2026 at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the EU’s advisory body that serves as a bridge to organised civil society. The meeting is convened by the civil society organisation vzw Ukraine EU and is presented as a space for dialogue and solidarity, using cinema as the entry point for wider discussion.
According to the organisers’ published invitation, the programme combines screenings of documentaries and feature films with panel discussions involving researchers, experts, and civil-society representatives, as well as first-hand accounts from directors and producers about how the films were made.
What is planned
- Dates: 24–25 February 2026
- Venue: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Jacques Delors building, Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99–101, 1040 Brussels (European Quarter)
- Format: Film screenings, panel discussions, and filmmaker testimonies
Programme highlights
The organisers list several “landmark films” centred on Ukrainian resistance, including Cyborgs, Mariupol: Chronicle of Hell, Peaceful 21, and Small People Who Started a Big War, alongside additional titles.
As outlined in the published schedule, Day 1 includes a screening of Cyborgs followed by remarks from director Akhtem Seitablaiev, and a later screening of Mariupol: Chronicle of Hell, before a panel discussion on “achievements and losses.” Day 2 features a panel on “the phenomenon of Ukrainian resilience,” a book presentation by physician and veteran Yevhen Dubrovskyi, and a screening of Peaceful 21.
Why this matters
The dates align with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022—a milestone increasingly marked in European institutions and civil society. By pairing films with expert panels and testimony from filmmakers, the organisers aim to keep attention on civilian experience, the documentation of events, and the role of cultural work in sustaining international engagement.
How to attend
Registration is handled via an online form: Register here.
Venue information: The EESC’s headquarters are in the Jacques Delors (JDE) building at Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99–101, 1040 Brussels. Practical directions are available via the EESC’s visitor guidance page: How to get to the EESC.
Partners
The invitation lists the following event partners:
- European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Brussels
- European Association of Ukrainian Women
- Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
- “Crimean Khata Media”
- “TRO — Media”
- “Ukrainians of Ghent”
- Popular science publication “Ambassador”
- NGO “Democratic Youth Initiatives”
- NGO “International Diplomatic Alliance”
- Ukrainian Civil Society Hub
Related reading
For context on the Brussels venue and its role in EU public life, see The European Times’ coverage of the EESC here: EESC coverage and analysis.
World News in Brief: Deadly strikes in Sudan, health systems in South Sudan near the brink, Guterres calls for unity ahead of Ramadan.
Over the past week, North Kordofan state recorded more than a dozen attacks in and around the towns of El Obeid, Bara, Rahad and Um Rawaba.
In South Kordofan, suspected drone strikes hit health facilities in the state capital, Kadugli, and in Kuweik town, reportedly killing four medical workers, injuring more than 20 people.
Concerns over the conflict continue to deepen after a report today from the UN Human Rights Office revealed the “sustained” and “systematic attacks” to civilians in the neighbouring Darfur region in late 2025 that may “amount to crimes against humanity”.
Growing humanitarian concerns
“The violence is triggering a new wave of displacement, with reports of many fleeing homes, in need food, health care and protection,” warned the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric on Friday.
While the humanitarian situation in Dilling and Kadugli continues to deteriorate, he emphasised that “rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access is essential for us to scale up our response.”
Commercial vehicles, telecommunications infrastructure and key transport routes have been affected the drone strikes, disrupting humanitarian movements and supply chains.
Mr. Dujarric called for “the protection of humanitarian infrastructure, in line with international humanitarian law” and urged for more funding through UN aid coordination office OCHA to support displaced families across Sudan.
Violence pushes South Sudan’s health system to the brink
Since late December 2025, a devasting escalation of violence has swept across northern and central parts of South Sudan, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) said on Friday.
In Jonglei state alone, at least 280,000 people have been displaced – the majority being women and children.
“They fled with nothing. They are sleeping in displacement camps left over from the not-so-distant civil war – camps where there are barely any services. Others are out in the open, in remote locations, with nothing at all,” said UNICEF’s representative in South Sudan, Obia Acheng.
Children were believed to make up 53 percent of those displaced.
“These children face killing and maiming. Recruitment into armed groups. Separation from their families. Gender-based violence. And profound psychological distress that will mark them for years,” Mr. Acheng emphasised.
Delivering for children
South Sudan’s health system is on the verge of collapse, with 11 health facilities attacked or looted since fighting intensified and many nutrition centres forced to close, UNICEF said.
Cholera cases have surged to 479 nationwide, with treatment centres overwhelmed and resources running low.
Around 825,000 children across Jonglei, Unity, and Eastern Equatoria states are now at risk of acute malnutrition — conditions that make children 12 times more likely to die without treatment.
Pregnant and nursing mothers are increasingly cut off from care, and humanitarian infrastructure is under assault.
Despite these grim numbers, UNICEF continues to run primary healthcare, nutrition, water and sanitation, and child protection programmes across the country.
The UN Security Council also issued a statement expressing grave concern about the escalating violence in Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria, and throughout South Sudan.
Members strongly called on all parties to de-escalate and immediately cease renewed hostilities and to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue.
Children in Gaza hold lanterns to celebrate the advent of Ramadan. (file)
UN chief calls for unity and compassion ahead of Ramadan
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged people worldwide to embrace the spirit of peace, compassion and solidarity as Muslims prepare to observe the holy month of Ramadan.
“For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a sacred period of reflection and prayer. Ramadan also represents a noble vision of hope and peace.” Mr. Guterres said in a message ahead of the start on Tuesday.
He noted, however, that for many — from Afghanistan to Yemen, Gaza, and Sudan — this vision of hope and unity remained distant amid conflict, hunger, and displacement.
The UN chief called on the global community to bridge divides, deliver aid to those in need, and uphold human rights and dignity for all.
“May this Holy Month inspire us to work as one to build a more peaceful, generous and just world for all people,” he said.
Syrian transition gains ground with Kurdish deal, but violence and humanitarian tensions persist
Addressing ambassadors for the first time as Deputy Special Envoy, Claudio Cordone highlighted the January 30 ceasefire and integration agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a potentially transformative development. The agreement provides for gradual military and administrative integration of northeastern Syria and includes […]
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
World news in brief: Deadly strikes in Sudan, health systems in South Sudan on the brink, Guterres calls for unity before Ramadan.
Over the past week, North Kordofan state has recorded more than a dozen attacks in and around the towns of El Obeid, Bara, Rahad and Um Rawaba. In Southern Kordofan, suspected drone strikes hit health facilities in the state capital Kadugli and the town of Kuweik, killing […]
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Madagascar: ‘Overwhelming’ destruction, surging needs after back-to-back cyclones – WFP
Speaking to reporters from Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, WFP Country Director Tania Goossens said some 400,000 people are facing acute humanitarian needs after the island was hit by back-to-back cyclones in the space of three weeks.
Ms. Goossens recently returned from a mission to the port city Toamasina (also known as Tamatave), the country’s second largest urban centre, where Gezani made landfall on Tuesday evening with wind gusts of up to 250 kilometres per hour.
“The scale of the destruction is really overwhelming,” Ms. Goossens insisted.
Nearly 40 deaths
She said that according to the authorities, 80 per cent of the city has suffered damage and that it is “running on roughly five per cent electricity at the moment.”
“There’s no water and one of WFP’s warehouses and our office was also completely destroyed during the cyclone,” she added.
Assessments are ongoing but to date the authorities report 38 deaths and 374 people injured.
Families left with nothing
The UN food agency official said that many families have left their homes and that there was “severe” damage to buildings, businesses, schools and the city’s hospital.
“During my visit, I saw families trying to recover the little that was left of their home,” she recounted. “Many are spending the night in homes where the roofs have been torn off.”
Uprooted trees and debris across the city are blocking streets, Ms. Goossens said, and fuel is difficult to come by.
“Families are telling us that they have lost everything,” she stressed. “Many are sheltering in damaged homes or temporary sites and uncertain about how they can access their next meal.”
Rising needs
In addition to the urgent need for food Ms. Goossens highlighted humanitarians’ concerns about water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, as a lack of clean water and damaged infrastructure raise the risk of disease outbreaks.
She also mentioned “rising protection concerns for vulnerable groups” such as women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Mobilising support
In anticipation of the shock WFP and partners have been providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable households allowing them to purchase some food and better prepare before the storm struck.
The UN food agency is now mobilising its “last food stocks,” which will be distributed in coordination with national disaster relief teams, Ms. Goossens explained.
However, the needs on the ground exceed WFP’s capacity and the agency is calling for urgent donor support.
The latest disaster “comes on top of an already very critical food security situation,” Ms. Goossens said, as already before the back-to-back cyclones 1.57 million people across the country were food insecure, including 84,000 facing emergency levels of hunger, according to the latest data from the IPC, a UN-backed global food security monitoring system.
“We’re also in the peak of the lean season here in Madagascar and funding shortfalls remain alarming… Our lean season response as well as cyclone response faces a $18 million gap over the next six months,” the WFP official warned.
“We will need… sustained support over the coming months to help people recover, to rebuild and strengthen their resilience against further shocks,” she added. “In fact, we are in at the start of the cyclone season. So, we are also concerned that this is only just the beginning.”
Dimitar Borumov and the series “Hidden from the Economy”
Dimitar Borumov, a political economist based in The Hague, joins The European Epoch as author of Series – Hidden from the Economy, a new contribution that examines what the standard economic debate often neglects: from care and social reproduction to the environment-economy relationship. From Leiden to The Hague: a political economy perspective Borumov […]
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Dimitar Borumov and the series “Hidden from the Economy”
Dimitar Borumov, a political economist based in The Hague, is joining The European Times as the author of Series – Hidden from the Economy, a new contribution that examines what standard economic debate often overlooks—from care and social reproduction to the environment–economy relationship.
From Leiden to The Hague: a political economy lens
Borumov holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies (BA) at Leiden University, where he specialised in the Politics and Economics of the Middle East. He later completed the International Relations (MA), specialisation Global Political Economy, also at Leiden University. Across his academic work, he focused on three broad areas: economies in transition; the political economy of care and social reproduction; and critiques of modern capitalism—especially at the intersection of environment and economy.
What “Hidden from the Economy” sets out to do
In his opening pieces, Borumov argues that many forces that sustain economic life are treated as “external” until they can be priced, traded, or exploited. His first article, The Economy beyond the Orthodox Understanding, introduces the logic he wants to challenge: “no money – no importance.” His follow-up, The Environment-Economy Nexus – a Historical Perspective, traces how environmental exploitation shifted over centuries—from survival to extraction and, eventually, to the imperatives of market expansion.
For readers, the promise of the series is both practical and political: to connect everyday realities—care work, ecological limits, uneven development—to the big questions shaping Europe’s debates on sustainability, inequality, and economic resilience.
Teaching, environmental awareness, and dialogue
Outside publishing, Borumov works in education—both formal and informal—on environmental awareness and on the relationship between ecology and economy. He also teaches Bulgarian History, Geography and Economy at the Bulgarian school “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” in The Hague, which has been referenced in official communications by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands context.
He is additionally involved in interfaith and civic dialogue as a youth leader with BRIDGES – Eastern European Forum for Dialogue, a cooperation circle of the United Religions Initiative.
A guiding principle: start with the roots
Borumov summarises his approach to public problems in a simple maxim:
“In order to address a problem as good as possible, we need to understand the roots of it; only then can we devise sustainable solutions.”
That method—diagnosis before slogans—fits the intent of The European Times: to make complex public debates readable, grounded, and accountable to lived realities.
