Euro Area Business Cycle Network, European Central Bank and Federal Reserve Board.
This is the 14th edition of the biennial conference series organised by the Euro Area Business Cycle Network, the ECB, and the Federal Reserve Board. The conference promotes the discussion of innovative research on theoretical and empirical macroeconomic issues with relevance for monetary policy.
Live @ 12:30pm Monday (NZ Time) – A View from Afar podcast. Series 06, Episode 04 – In this episode, political scientist and former Pentagon Analyst Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will deep-dive into: The PRC/USA Summit, Geopolitics, Institutional Lag, Industrial Resilience.
Geopolitics is shifting, new alliances are forming, and co-operation between unlikely nations are paving the way for a different world.
So what is the power behind such shifts?
How are man-made conflicts impacting on progress?
And what of the consequences of climate change?
With such powerful and destructive headwinds, how can we all adapt and progress?
How is it possible?
Let’s deep dive into these issues with Paul and take the conversation to a deeper level of understanding.
Paul and Selwyn invite you to subscribe, like, and click notifications in the YouTube link so that you don’t miss another live episode.
Remember, if you are joining us live , you can comment and lodge questions but remember we may include your comments and questions in our programmes.
Also, we encourage you to join us via YouTube, as on YouTube live interaction is especially efficient. See you there.
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.
Together we can shape a better future where everyone receives fair and equal treatment.
At the ECB we are raising the pride flag to stand with the LGBT+ community and reaffirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion in Europe and across the world.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
The FBI joins the country in recognizing National Police Week and honoring law enforcement officers across the nation—including our own agents—who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
More at: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/police-week-2026
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00:14 – How AI is getting new medicines to market: New #medicines are critical to fight disease, but there is a bottleneck in getting them to market. Benjamine Liu, CEO of Formation Bio, says a pinch point lies in knowledge work, patient recruitment and data handling – all areas where #AI can help, let companies run trials more efficiently, reducing the risk of a costly failure, and making savings that will eventually reach the patient. Here, he explains how.
03:37 – Building a space station from scratch: US company Vast aims to launch the world’s first commercial space station in early 2027. Its first crew will dock a few weeks later. The new space station is being designed with the crew’s needs in mind throughout, explains CEO Max Haot – from next-generation sleeping facilities to fast internet access.
06:09 – Africa’s digital exclusion: Kate Kallot, CEO of Amini, which builds data infrastructure in the Global South, explains why #Africa must defend its data sovereignty in the new global digital economy, and gives some practical steps governments can take.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.
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Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, U.S. Marshals Director Gadyaces Serralta, and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announce details on the DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force Summer Surge, ahead of America 250 events in Washington, DC. Federal resources will be surged as part of the ongoing coordinated public safety effort across the Nation’s capital.
Following her visit to Havana, the Director of the United Nations humanitarian office, Edem Wosornu, said Cuba faces “an increasingly complex situation” with a “cumulative, impact of climate shocks, hurricane, drought, economic contraction, and prolonged energy shortages due to measures placed on the country.”
Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone said that there has been progress towards accountability and sustained international and regional engagement, while unresolved tensions, economic hardship, and repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty persist.
The Deputy Special Envoy briefed the Council today (15 May) on the situation in Syria via video link.
He started by highlighting the developments in the fight against impunity. On 10 May, Atef Najib appeared in court on trial for crimes committed at the outset of the revolution in Daraa in 2011. Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad and others are being tried in absentia in the same case.
Cordone explained, “the charges include the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations, arbitrary detention, torture, including of children, and killings in custody. The indictment invokes both Syrian and international law, as incorporated into the Syrian legal system by the Constitutional Declaration.”
“It is a commendable effort to situate accountability within a broader legal framework which reflects Syria’s international human rights commitments,” the Deputy Special Envoy added.
Cordone also emphasized that how Syria addresses these crimes “will serve as a key test of the country’s commitment to justice and the rule of law,” adding that “ensuring due process will be essential to building public trust, holding individual perpetrators to account, not their community. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and any confessions should be delivered in court.”
He expressed the UN’s support efforts to “ensure that all judicial proceedings are conducted in line with fair trial standards, including the fundamental right to legal representation,” adding “we also trust that these proceedings can disclose the full truth surrounding the crimes – one of the central demands of survivors.”
The Deputy Special Envoy pointed out that Suweida faces persistent political and security instability, with weekly demonstrations over demands for the release of detainees, the return of displaced persons, and greater local autonomy.
“Rivalries among Druze factions inside Suweida continue. While around 20,000 displaced persons have returned, more than 150,000 remain displaced. Efforts are ongoing to address key rehabilitation and educational challenges,” he said.
Cordone also stated that the UN remains “deeply” concerned by ongoing presence and military activities of the Israel Defense Forces east of the ceasefire line, in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
He reiterated the call on Israel to “cease violations and adhere to the 1974 agreement,” and called on Israel to “clarify the fate of detained Syrians and release all those held in breach of international law.”
For his part, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, told the Council that humanitarian needs remain enormous in the country. About two-thirds of the population – 15.6 million people – most of them women, girls and children, will require help this year.
However, the OCHA chief said, “current funding levels mean we will reach only about half of them. Large-scale returns are a sign of positive change, but they are also increasing pressure on already limited services, housing, livelihoods and infrastructure.”
Fletcher also said, “the prolonged closure of the Straits of Hormuz means that the cost of food and fuel is rising, with immediate consequences for communities already on the edge.”
He said, “diesel is up around 17 percent, the cost of electricity by several hundred percent in some areas. Subsidized bread prices remain unchanged – but loaves are 12 percent smaller.”
The Under-Secretary-General thanked all those donors who are stepping up to support the hyperprioritised Syrian appeal, led by the US (with $160m), the EU (63m) and Japan (42m), reiterating that his Office is ready to receive support from other countries in the world.
Fletcher concluded by presenting three asks to the Council, “Back the mission: fund the prioritised plan to remove remaining humanitarian needs. Two: back the transition by rebuilding infrastructure, economic opportunity, and hope. And three: stay the course.”
For his role, Syrian Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi criticized Israel, “every time you talk about recovery, Israel launches a new attack. Every time we talk about the protection of civilians, Isreal attacks Syrians and their livelihoods. Every time we talk about stability, Israel through its acts of aggression against Syria, proves that it is the biggest hurdle in front of achieving stability in Syria. Every time we reaffirm our commitment to diplomacy brokered by the US, and we thank them for their efforts, we see that Israel continues with its attacks. Every time we commit to international law and to 1974 agreement, Israel violated it.”
