div class="content user-select-text" tabindex="0" aria-description="" aria-label="Sent by Copilot: **EU Allocates €1.3 Million to WHO Europe for Nurse Retention** The European Union has signed a €1.3 million agreement with the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO Europe) to help retain nurses and make the profession more attractive. Funded by the EU4Health programme, this 36-month initiative will focus on countries with significant nurse shortages. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, highlighted the importance of nurses, stating, "Nurses are the backbone of our health systems and are critical in ensuring that patients receive high-quality, professional care when they need it." The funding will support recruitment action plans, mentoring programmes, workforce impact assessments, and training opportunities. These efforts aim to address structural shortages, improve nurse wellbeing, and leverage digital transformation in healthcare. The initiative will be tailored to national and sub-national needs through cooperation with Member States, nurses' organisations, and social partners. --- Would you like more details on any specific aspect of this initiative?" div class="content user-select-text" tabindex="0" aria-description="" aria-label="Sent by Copilot: **Turkey Seeks BRICS Membership to Expand Global Influence** Turkey has formally applied to join the BRICS group of emerging-market nations, aiming to enhance its global influence and establish new ties beyond its traditional Western allies. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration views the geopolitical center of gravity as shifting away from developed economies. This diplomatic push reflects Turkey's aspirations to cultivate relationships in a multipolar world while maintaining its commitments as a key NATO member. Frustrated by the lack of progress in its bid to join the European Union, Turkey submitted its BRICS application months ago. The move also stems from rifts with NATO members after Turkey maintained close ties with Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan emphasized the importance of balancing relations with both the East and the West, stating, "Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious, and effective country if it improves its relations with the East and the West simultaneously." The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, recently expanded to include Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Further enlargement, potentially including Turkey, may be discussed at a summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24. BRICS positions itself as an alternative to Western-dominated institutions like the World Bank and IMF, offering new members access to financing and broader political and trading relationships. Turkey believes BRICS membership could enhance economic cooperation with Russia and China and position it as a trade conduit between the EU and Asia. Despite this, Turkey continues efforts to rejuvenate EU membership talks, which remain a strategic target. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighted the importance of BRICS in diversifying global economic approaches and identities. --- Would you like more details on any specific aspect of Turkey's BRICS application or its broader diplomatic efforts?" The UK construction sector continued its recovery in August 2024, with the S&P Global UK Construction PMI registering at 53.6. While this is a decrease from July's 26-month high of 55.3, it still indicates solid growth in overall construction activity. Robust new order growth and improved economic conditions supported the sector's expansion. Commercial activity led the way with an index of 53.7, though growth slowed to its lowest pace since March. Residential construction saw a notable acceleration, reaching its fastest growth since September 2022, driven by lower borrowing costs and improving market conditions. Civil engineering activity expanded more slowly, reflecting weaker performance compared to July. Employment numbers stagnated as firms delayed filling vacancies due to cost concerns, while subcontractor usage decreased for the first time since January. Purchasing price inflation eased, with input buying expanding solidly amid rising workloads. Suppliers' delivery times improved on average, despite some reports of constrained haulage capacity. Tim Moore, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, highlighted the sector's resilience and the positive outlook for future activity. However, he noted concerns about slower growth in civil engineering and infrastructure spending. Despite these challenges, business optimism remains strong, with 50% of firms expecting increased output over the next year. Attribution: S&P Global Subediting: M. S. Salama
