Category: English

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

by Father John Mi Shen*Jakarta (Fides News Agency) – The XII Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 20 to 26 July 2026, brought together more than 120 participants, including bishops from across Asia, representatives of the Holy See, theologians, religious, and lay collaborators, for a week of prayer, discernment, and dialogue on the future of the Church in Asia.Guided by the theme, “Synodal Conversion and the Mission to Be Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia,” inspired by the Gospel of John (1:50), the Assembly reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to walking together in communion, participation, and mission amid the continent’s rich cultural, religious, and social diversity.Throughout the week, participants engaged in Eucharistic celebrations, theological reflections, keynote addresses, regional consultations, and “Conversation in the Spirit,” discerning how the local Churches can respond more effectively to contemporary pastoral realities. Particular attention was given to strengthening synodal leadership, fostering dialogue with other religions and cultures, accompanying young people, caring for creation, promoting justice and peace, and embracing the opportunities and challenges presented by the digital age and artificial intelligence.The Assembly was enriched by the presence of Cardinal Oswald Gracias as the Holy Father’s Special Envoy, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the FABC, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Mario Greck, Msgr. Tomáš Halík, Dr. Choong Pui Yee, and numerous Church leaders whose reflections helped shape the common discernment of the Asian Churches. A message from Pope Leo XIV further encouraged participants to remain faithful witnesses of hope and communion.One of the significant outcomes of the Assembly was the approval of its Final Message and the Vademecum on Synodality in Asia, (understood as the Implementation Framework), offering pastoral directions for the Churches in Asia as they continue to deepen synodal conversion and missionary outreach in the years ahead.The closing Eucharist at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, followed by a symbolic visit through Jakarta’s Friendship Tunnel to the Istiqlal Mosque, reflected the Assembly’s vision of building bridges—not only within the Church but also with people of other religions, cultures, and traditions, embodying Asia’s longstanding vocation to dialogue and peaceful coexistence.Reflecting on the Assembly, I would describe it as “a moment for the Churches of Asia to listen to one another, discern together, and renew our shared missionary commitment.” He noted that through the collaborative coverage of Radio Veritas Asia and its media partners, the voices and hopes emerging from the Assembly were shared with Catholics throughout Asia, strengthening communion among the local Churches and making the fruits of the synodal journey accessible to the wider People of God. (Fides News Agency) (27/7/2026)* Executive Secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication
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Source: European Union 2

Nearly half a tonne of cocaine, dropped in open water for smaller boats to scoop up before it reached European shores, was seized after 14 countries spent a month targeting drug traffickers at sea in Operation White Sea VI, co-led by Frontex.

Source: European Union 2

Source: European Parliament

REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards the extension of its scope to downstream goods and anti-circumvention measures
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Mohammed Chahim

Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP

Source: EuroStat – European Statistics

European Commission Press release Brussels, 27 Jul 2026 New guidance from the European Commission shows how State aid rules allow EU Member States to provide social support and social investment. This guidance assists Member States in designing State aid measures for social support and social investment, as set out in the Clean Industrial Deal.

Source: Government of Italy (English)

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26 Luglio 2026

Italian-style condominio theatres have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage.

For centuries, these historical, architectural and cultural gems have enriched the identity of the villages and towns of Central Italy, making it unique.

This recognition consolidates Italy’s top ranking on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This leading position makes us proud and drives us to do even more, and better. Italy is a cultural superpower and we will continue to do our part, every day, to safeguard, protect and enhance a heritage that is the envy of the entire world. 

Thank you to everyone who believed in this challenge right from the outset and who made it possible to succeed.

[Courtesy translation]

Source: The Holy See

Video Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the Halleluya Festival 2026 in Fortaleza, Brazil, 26.07.2026
The following is the text of the Video Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to participants in the Halleluya Festival 2026 underway in Fortaleza, Brazil, from 22 to 26 July 2026:

Video Message of the Holy Father
Dear young people,
It is with great joy that I take part, albeit from a distance, in the Halleluya Festival 2026, an initiative which, year after year, through music, praise and worship, has touched the hearts of so many people, bearing good fruit for evangelization: confessions, conversions, and priestly and religious vocations.
Today, I would like to say once again how good it is to be with young people. Your enthusiasm is infectious and awakens in all of us a renewed apostolic zeal. During my recent journeys and at the Jubilee of Youth, I saw that each one of you possesses a missionary vigour that is essential for transforming this world, which is in such great need of the Gospel. Never lose this missionary zeal!
Indeed, it is this fervour that the Lord expects of all the baptized in proclaiming the Good News. In our day, there are still many people who need to know that it is Jesus who answers their deepest longings, revealing to human beings the truth about themselves. Therefore, proclaim with courage that a life without Christ is a life without grace! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6); it is He who gives meaning to existence and to all things. This is the faith that moves us and that is worth sharing with those we love and with those who need it most.
It is possible, however, that as time goes by, the enthusiasm experienced during the Festival may wane. To keep the flame of faith alight and to bear witness to the Resurrection to our friends and to those we meet, we must stay in God’s presence through prayer. An authentic relationship with the Lord requires constancy, perseverance and the steadfast certainty that the Heavenly Father never abandons us; on the contrary, He comes to meet us in His Son. Therefore, do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away; He gives everything (cf. Benedict XVI, Holy Mass at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry, 24 April 2005). Those who entrust themselves to the Saviour receive a hundredfold (cf. Mk 10:29–30) and always emerge victorious. In sport, we see the joy of those who win, but also the sadness of those who lose. With Christ, we always triumph (cf. Rom 8:37)! The saints bear witness to this very fact.
Let us be inspired by the example of Saint Carlo Acutis: he shows us how to keep Christ at the centre at all times, even when using technology. Taking him as a model, I advise you to use social media and artificial intelligence well, employing these tools in a moderate and disciplined way, as they can plunge us into an unreal world, in which the ephemeral, mere appearances and deception end up taking the place of true values and what really matters.
Dear young people, let the Holy Spirit rekindle within you a greater love, capable of transforming your youth into a force for evangelization, making each of you a living stone in the building of the “city of peace” for which we yearn so much, or, as Saint Augustine said, the City of God present in the midst of the city of men. Praying to God that He may strengthen you in your trials and help you to live out your call to holiness faithfully, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to all the participants and organizers of the Halleluya Festival.
May God be with you always!

Source: European Central Bank

27 July 2026

• Euro area net saving was broadly unchanged at €902 billion in four quarters to first quarter of 2026, compared with €900 billion one quarter earlier
• Household debt-to-income ratio stood broadly unchanged at 81.0% in first quarter of 2026
• NFCs’ debt-to-GDP ratio (consolidated measure) decreased to 65.6% in first quarter of 2026 from 67.1% one year earlier

Total euro area economy

Euro area net saving was broadly unchanged at €902 billion (7.0% of euro area net disposable income) in the four quarters to the first quarter of 2026 compared with €900 billion in the four quarters to the previous quarter. Euro area net non-financial investment decreased to €629 billion (4.9% of euro area net disposable income), due to lower net investment by non-financial corporations and financial corporations (see Chart 1 and Table 1 in the Annex).

Euro area net lending to the rest of the world increased to €307 billion (from €296 billion previously), reflecting the decreased net non-financial investment and broadly unchanged net saving. Households’ net lending increased from €591 billion to €688 billion (5.3% of net disposable income)^[1], and that of non-financial corporations increased from €92 billion to €113 billion (0.9% of net disposable income). Financial corporations’ net lending decreased from €86 billion to -€1 billion. General government net borrowing increased, contributing more negatively (-€493 billion, -3.8% of net disposable income) to euro area net lending.

Chart 1

Euro area saving, investment and net lending to the rest of the world

(EUR billions, four-quarter sums)

Data for euro area saving, investment and net lending to the rest of the world (Chart 1)

Households

The annual growth rate of household financial investment increased to 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026, from 2.6% in the previous quarter. Among its components, investment in pension schemes (5.5%, from 2.8%)^[2], in life insurance (2.8%, from 2.6%), and in debt securities (3.5%, from 3.2%) all grew at higher rates. Investment in shares and other equity grew at a broadly unchanged rate of 2.0%. By contrast, investment in currency and deposits increased at a lower rate (2.9%, from 3.1%).

Households were overall net buyers of debt securities, investing mainly in securities issued by the general government, while selling those issued by MFIs (see Table 1 below and Table 2.2. in the Annex). Households were overall net sellers of listed shares, selling predominantly shares issued by non-financial corporations, while buying shares issued by the rest of the world (i.e. by non-euro area residents), other financial institutions, and insurance corporations. Households also continued to be net purchasers of both non-money market investment fund shares and money market fund shares.

Data for financial investment and financing of households (Table 1)

The household debt-to-income ratio^[3] stood broadly unchanged at 81.0% in the first quarter of 2026. The household debt-to-GDP ratio decreased to 50.3% in the first quarter of 2026 from 50.6% in the first quarter of 2025 (see Chart 2).

Data for debt ratios of households and NFCs (Chart 2)

Non-financial corporations

Financing of non-financial corporations increased at an unchanged annual rate of 1.4% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the previous quarter (see Table 2 below). Financing via loans from all creditors (2.3%), in particular loans granted by MFIs (2.9%), increased at unchanged rates (see Table 3.2 in the Annex). Intra-sector loans (which include loans between NFCs within the same group) accelerated (2.8%, after 2.4%), while loans from other financial institutions decelerated (1.3%, after 2.1%). Net issuance of shares and other equity grew at an unchanged rate (0.7%), while net issuance of debt securities (4.0%, after 3.2%) and financing via trade credit and advances (4.2%, after 4.0) grew at higher rates.

NFCs’ debt-to-GDP ratio (consolidated measure) decreased to 65.6% in the first quarter of 2026, from 67.1% in the first quarter of 2025. The broader non-consolidated debt measure decreased to 136.5%, from 137.9% over the same period (see Chart 2).

Data for financing and financial investment of NFCs (Table 2)

For queries, please use the statistical information request form.

Notes:

• These data come from a second release of quarterly euro area sector accounts for the first quarter of 2026 by the ECB and Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This release incorporates revisions and completed data for all sectors compared with the first release on “Euro area households and non-financial corporations” of 3 July 2026.
• This statistical release incorporates revisions to the data since the first quarter of 2013, reflecting, amongst others, the inclusion of Bulgaria in the euro area aggregates for this period.
• The euro area and national financial accounts data of NFCs and households are available in an interactive dashboard.
• The debt-to-GDP (or debt-to-income) ratios are calculated as the outstanding amount of debt in the reference quarter divided by the sum of GDP (or income) in the four quarters to the reference quarter. The ratio of non-financial transactions (e.g. savings) as a percentage of income or GDP is calculated as the sum of the four quarters to the reference quarter for both numerator and denominator.
• The annual growth rate of non-financial transactions and of outstanding assets and liabilities (stocks) is calculated as the percentage change between the value for a given quarter and that value recorded four quarters earlier. The annual growth rates used for financial transactions refer to the total value of transactions during the year in relation to the outstanding stock a year before.
• Hyperlinks in the main body of the statistical release lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.
• The ECB publishes experimental Distributional Wealth Accounts (DWA) which provide additional breakdowns for the household sector. The release of results for 2026 Q1 will take place on 24 August 2026.

Source: European Union 2

Want to be a voice for Girls Go STEM in your country? 

Since 2020, Girls Go STEM has equipped more than 78 000 girls aged 14 to 19 across Europe with digital, green and entrepreneurial skills through a free online learning platform available in 27 languages. The Student Ambassadors Programme invites girls who have completed the learning programme to represent the initiative in their country for a one year mandate.

What ambassadors will do

• Represent Girls Go STEM at events organised by the European Commission, the EIT Community and partner organisations
• Receive monthly mentoring from professionals in STEM and entrepreneurship
• Take part in exclusive leadership and communication workshops
• Help promote the annual Girls Go STEM Student Challenge and other opportunities
• Be featured in official Girls Go STEM and EIT Community communications

Who can apply

• Girls aged 14 to 19, based in Europe
• Who have completed the Girls Go STEM learning programme
• Ready to make their voice heard and inspire other girls

As a Girls Go STEM Ambassador, you will spend a year collaborating closely with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Community, representing the programme at in-person and online events and helping more girls across Europe discover it.

Alongside these opportunities, you will strengthen your leadership and communication skills through various activities and tailored mentorship, contributing to both your personal and professional growth.

During their mandate, ambassadors are expected to dedicate around 4 hours per month to their role and attend one or two in-person events or workshops in a European country.

Source: European Union 2

Discover how you can make an impact, connect with fellow educators, and grow professionally!

Since 2020, Girls Go STEM has equipped more than 78 000 girls aged 14 to 19 across Europe with digital, green and entrepreneurial skills through a free online learning platform available in 27 languages. The Teacher Ambassadors Programme is a year long opportunity for secondary and iVET school teachers to work closely with the EIT Community.

What ambassadors will do

• Represent Girls Go STEM at events across Europe, with travel costs fully covered
• Become a certified Girls Go STEM trainer
• Help build and support national networks of Girls Go STEM teachers
• Contribute feedback and ideas that help shape the programme

Who can apply

• Secondary or iVET school teachers
• Already using the Circular Learning Space
• Confident communicating in English and supported by their school to take part

The Teacher Ambassadors Programme is a unique, year-long opportunity for passionate teachers to collaborate closely with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Community and play a key role in advancing education across Europe.

In particular, we are calling all educators who have already used the Circular Learning Space, the platform hosting the courses of the Girls Go STEM programme, to become Teacher Ambassadors and help spread the word about it.

Ambassadors will represent Girls Go STEM at events, help foster a vibrant teacher community, contribute to peer training, and improve the initiative through their fresh ideas. They will also get the chance to enhance their leadership and teaching skills with tailored professional development workshops.

During their mandate, ambassadors are expected to dedicate around 4 hours per month to their role and attend at least one in-person event in a European country with travel expenses fully covered by Girls Go STEM.

Apply here