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Le nouveau président du Conseil européen, António Costa, a rencontré le Premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer à Londres jeudi 12 décembre, et l’a invité à un sommet informel de l’Union européenne (UE) le 3 février.

Une délégation béninoise séjourne depuis ce vendredi matin à Lagos au Nigeria dans le cadre de la Coupe du Monde Junior d'Epée. La compétition se déroule du 14 au 15 décembre 2024.

La délégation béninoise pour la Coupe du Monde Junior d'Epée est composée de six athlètes. Un kinésithérapeute et un médecin accompagnent l'équipe.
Pour cette compétition, les responsables de la Fédération Béninoise d'Escrime et du ministère des sports ont mis les bouchées double pour une bonne préparation des athlètes béninois.

L'objectif pour le Bénin au cours de la compétition est d'atteindre tout au moins le podium tant dans les compétitions individuelles que d'équipe.

J.S

La commissaire à l’Égalité, la Préparation et la Gestion des crises, Hadja Lahbib, a annoncé qu’elle souhaitait s’occuper de la santé reproductive dans le cadre d’une stratégie plus large sur le genre, mais n’a pas clarifié la division du travail avec le commissaire à la Santé.

Jacques Ayadji, le Directeur des transports terrestres et aériens, a fait le point de sa rencontre avec les représentants de Yango, la plateforme de transport suspendue au Bénin.

La poursuite des activités de Yango en dépit de la décision de suspension qui leur avait été signifiée est l'un des sujets abordés avec les représentants de la plateforme de transport, le mercredi 11 décembre 2024. Selon les responsables de Yango, la difficulté à mettre leur application hors ligne est due au fait que cette plateforme est utilisée dans plusieurs pays à travers le monde, et pas seulement au Bénin.

Le Directeur des transports terrestres et aériens, a exprimé l'incompréhension des autorités béninoises face à ce non-respect de la décision. « Nous comprenons mais (...) il n' est pas question que l'autorité de l'Etat soit bafouée », a indiqué Jacques Ayadji. Il a signifié aux représentants que même si l'application n'est pas hors ligne, la plateforme de transport doit cesser de proposer des courses. « C'est un point fondamental sur lequel nous allons les observer et prendre d'autres sanctions », a expliqué le Directeur des transports terrestres et aériens.

Mesures à mettre en place pour une reprise conforme aux normes en vigueur au Bénin

Lors de la rencontre, les représentants de Yango ont précisé que leur société n'était pas directement impliquée dans le transport, mais qu'elle agissait comme une plateforme mettant à disposition des sociétés de transport locales. Cependant, cette explication a soulevé des questions sur la régularité de la situation fiscale et administrative de l'entreprise au Bénin. Jacques Ayadji dit avoir expliqué aux représentants de Yango que même si leur partenaire est une société régulièrement constituée au Bénin, celle-ci « n'a pas fait de formalités au niveau du Ministère pour exercer une telle activité ».

Ce n'est pas une posture de l'État pour interdire l'activité. « On veut que l'activité soit faite dans les règles de l'art et des règlementations en vigueur » , a martelé le Directeur des transports terrestres et aériens.
M. M.

Rwanda is bidding to host a Formula 1 grand prix, the country's President Paul Kagame says.

Rwanda is bidding to host a Formula 1 grand prix, the country's President Paul Kagame says.

Összehangolt akcióban csípték el a tetteseket, akik hónapokon keresztül lopkodtak műszaki berendezéseket Ácson és környékén. A lopási kár 6 187 082 forint, a rongálási kár pedig 1 063 000 forint. Kilenc személyt vettek őrizetbe, közülük két személyt előzetes letartóztatásba helyeztek.

Written by Clare Ferguson with Gemma Patterson.

The final plenary session of 2024 takes place in Strasbourg from 16 December. For the first time, Kaja Kallas will attend as High Representative, and there is a full agenda of foreign policy issues on which Members will want to hear from her, in particular the recent collapse of the Syrian dictatorship, and the crackdown on pro-European demonstrators in Georgia. Members will also debate preparation for the year’s final European Council on 19 December 2024.

The first highlight is the award of the Sakharov Prize on Tuesday lunchtime. The prize celebrates those who defend fundamental freedoms and human rights, in often very difficult circumstances. This year, President Roberta Metsola is expected to award the prize to María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, leaders of Venezuela’s democratic opposition, recognised by Parliament as the Venezuelan people’s democratically chosen leaders, contrary to the oppressive regime of Nicolás Maduro.

It has been a year of change at the top of the EU institutions and on Tuesday Members are expected to elect the next Ombudsman, to hold the office for the 2024-2029 term. Six candidates from across the EU are in the running, including human rights experts, former judges, and regional ombudsmen. Under the current incumbent, Emily O’Reilly, the role of the European Ombudsman has seen important changes, with a new statute in place. The previous evening, Parliament is set to debate a Committee on Petitions (PETI) report that proposes Members approve the European Ombudsman’s 2023 activity report. The report highlights key issues, including transparency, accountability, and ethical concerns. The 2023 Ombudsman’s report notes 393 complaint-based inquiries were opened and that the Ombudsman tackled systemic issues through five own-initiative inquiries, further cementing the role in promoting good administration.

Investor-State dispute settlement, used to resolve disputes in international investment agreements, has long been criticised for its opacity. The 2014 United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Mauritius Convention addresses the transparency issue by mandating public access to proceedings and documents, bolstering legitimacy and public trust. While the rules apply to post-2014 agreements, the convention would extend their scope to earlier treaties. The EU sees the convention as a key step toward modernising the process. The Committee on International Trade (INTA) recommends Parliament give consent to the EU’s conclusion of the convention, with a debate on conclusion of the Mauritius Convention set for Monday evening.

Romania recently annulled its presidential elections due to foreign interference linked to disinformation campaigns. Intelligence reports revealed thousands of accounts, many associated with foreign influence, amplifying political messaging. Following a Commission statement on the situation in Romania on Tuesday afternoon, Parliament plans to debate measures to ensure that online platforms conform to the rules under the Digital Services Act, as well as strengthen EU resilience against election interference.

Parliament is also set to debate EU priorities on gender equality on Thursday. Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) has prepared a draft recommendation urging the EU to lead by example on addressing gender-based violence, ensuring healthcare access, promoting gender equality in decision-making, and applying gender mainstreaming across policies, ahead of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The session will mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted by 189 countries in 1995, which provides a global roadmap for gender equality.

On Thursday morning, Parliament is scheduled to debate the need to update the EU’s 2021-2030 disability rights strategy, to focus on new initiatives for 2025-2030. While progress has been made on accessibility, employment, and inclusion through flagship action like the Disability Employment Package and the AccessibleEU resource centre, challenges remain for disability rights in areas including poverty, education, housing, and healthcare.

Climate-related disasters are recurring increasingly often in Europe. To speed up the EU’s support for those affected, Members are set to debate the RESTORE regional emergency support proposal on Monday evening. The proposal seeks to allow EU countries to re-programme up to €17.7 billion from EU cohesion policy funds for disaster relief and reconstruction. This includes financing reconstruction work by up to 100 %, with 30 % pre-financing to allow funds to be made available immediately.

Following a statement from the European Commission on Wednesday afternoon, Members are expected to debate measures to improve working conditions and mental wellbeing for farmers and agricultural workers. Farmers face significantly higher risks at work than in other sectors, with fatality rates at 233 % above average and elevated stress leading to higher suicide rates. Parliament has already called for improved working conditions in the sector, particularly for those working in remote regions.

Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right long championed by Parliament, but water scarcity, microplastics and other contaminants persist in the EU. Updated EU rules under the Drinking Water Directive aim to enhance water quality, monitor emerging substances, and improve access for vulnerable groups, with stricter per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) limits taking effect by 2026. Members are expected to debate the right to clean drinking water on Monday.

• Laureates of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, fighting for democracy in Venezuela
• Election of the European Ombudsman
• Mis- and disinformation on social media and related risks to election integrity
• Updating the European strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities
• Improving EU farmers’ and agricultural workers’ working conditions and mental well-being
• Activities of the European Ombudsman: 2023 annual report
• Right to clean drinking water in the EU
• Regional emergency support for reconstruction 
• EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women 
• EU conclusion of the UN Mauritius Convention 

Die erzwungene Rückführung syrischer Flüchtlinge in Europa ist vorerst ausgeschlossen, erklärte der neue EU-Kommissar für Inneres und Migration, Magnus Brunner. Gleichzeitig hob er die Bedeutung freiwilliger Rückkehrprogramme hervor, die durch finanzielle Anreize unterstützt werden sollen.

Péntek reggel kigyulladt egy családi ház Ószombaton, a Szenicei járásban. Szerencsére senki sem sérült meg.

WARSAW, 13 December 2024 – The human rights situation in Ukraine has continued to worsen amid increased aerial attacks that include systematic strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure, as well as intensified hostilities on the front line, leading to a surge in civilian casualties. Meanwhile, arbitrary detention, torture and coercion continued in areas of the country under Russian occupation, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its latest report on violations of international law in Ukraine.

ODIHR has been monitoring human rights in the context of the war in Ukraine since February 2022, and today’s report on violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law builds on the Office’s previous findings. The report is based on interviews with 94 survivors and witnesses interviewed by ODIHR in the second half of 2024, in addition to remote monitoring and information supplied by the Russian Federation and Ukraine as well as civil society organizations. Overall, ODIHR has carried out almost 500 interviews since its monitoring began in 2022.

The long-term detention of large numbers of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian authorities is of grave concern, with several thousand people missing and believed to be arbitrarily detained both in occupied areas of Ukraine and in the Russian Federation. Widespread reports of torture and inhuman conditions in detention facilities operated by the Russian authorities in occupied territories of Ukraine and in the Russian Federation have fuelled additional fears for the safety of detainees.

All the Ukrainian former prisoners of war interviewed by ODIHR reported severe and routine torture during their internment, supporting ODIHR’s analysis that the torture of both prisoners of war and civilians by the Russian Federation is both widespread and systematic. The proliferation of material disseminated online depicting the torture or execution of Ukrainian POWs suggests this practice may have increased further. ODIHR also found further evidence of ongoing conflict-related sexual violence carried out by the Russian authorities.

ODIHR emphasises that these acts are grave violations of the laws of war and international human rights law, and may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. All parties to an armed conflict must act in line with international humanitarian and human rights law, which explicitly ban indiscriminate attacks against civilians and protect the civilian population against violence and inhumane treatment. The violations that have characterised the war in Ukraine are irreconcilable with the OSCE’s founding principle of respect for human rights as a precondition for the security of the entire region.  

Die NATO bereitet sich auf eine Erhöhung der Verteidigungsausgaben vor. Generalsekretär Mark Rutte fordert die Mitglieder auf, das derzeitige Zwei-Prozent-Ziel des Bruttoinlandsprodukts zu übertreffen.

204 orvos nyújtotta be a felmondását a zsolnai kórházban az aktuális adatok szerint, közölte Zuzana Fialová, a kórház szóvivője. (tasr)

In Somalia, water infrastructure projects are building climate resilience and reducing emissions by using solar panels to provide energy. A new report calls for recognizing and establishing a nexus between the water, energy and food sectors in the Horn of Africa. Credit: UNDP/Tobin Jones

By Naureen Hossain
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 13 2024 (IPS)

The Horn of Africa holds the resources and potential for lasting development and resilience. The countries in the subregion and development partners need to come together to invest in regional cooperation and resource management.

On December 12, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the first-ever Human Development Report on the Horn of Africa subregion, which includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.

Horn of Africa Human Development Report 2024: Enhancing Prospects for Human Development through regional Integration, explores the key challenges that the eight countries and the subregion are experiencing in

In the Arab states and the African region, low productivity in economic activity will only continue in a “vicious cycle,” one that perpetuates poverty for the population. Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for the Arab States, remarked that the countries in the subregion have been taking what he described as a “siloed approach” to state affairs, even as its neighbors are dealing with the same issues. This is evident in how the region engages with the water and food sectors.

The report calls for recognizing and establishing a nexus between the water, energy and food sectors. Over 50 percent of the population across the Horn of Africa experience moderate to severe food insecurity and only 56 percent have access to electricity. Less than 56 percent have access to clean drinking water, yet the report indicates that this is not a consistent experience among the countries, given their geographical locations.

Conflict and disasters have also been persistent factors that have limited development in the Horn of Africa, as over 23.4 million people have been displaced in the wake of major conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and internal conflicts like in Ethiopia.

The report presents three priorities that will help to accelerate human development and build resilience: build on increasing intra-regional trade, enhance collaboration in the water, energy and food sectors, and promote governance and peace.

The region could see a GDP increase of 3.9 percent by 2030 through liberalizing trade and reducing tariffs. The African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement would also boost trade were it fully implemented; the countries in the ACFTA need to ratify the agreement for them to benefit. Regional integration through collaboration on resource management can help foster sustainable growth and climate resilience, as the report suggests. This could be seen in improved access to electricity and shared food value systems. This could be valuable in a subregion that holds a high share of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro and yet faces significant energy gaps.

“What we’ve attempted to do with this report is see if we can begin to see a shift in the narrative on this region,” said Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa. In working towards integration in economic and political relations, she argued, partnerships need to be established within the subregion that is built on finding commonalities and shared purposes. Changing the narrative is key towards achieving sustainable development.

At the report’s launch, Eziakonwa remarked that certain demographics needed to be brought into the fold when discussing development, requiring a re-examination of the narratives associated with them. Young people make up a significant percentage of the population across the region, yet they have been characterized as the problem rather than the solution. Involving young people and recognizing the skills and perspectives they can bring to the table is critical, which will involve expanding socio-economic opportunities for the youth population that are not employed or in education. Investing in women’s participation in the development sector is also needed, for they have been largely left out of decision-making spaces and policy discussions.

Through this report, UNDP is calling on governments and development partners to invest in infrastructure and policy frameworks that build up human development and resilience in the Horn of Africa.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Csütörtökön meggyilkoltak egy 51 éves férfit Csatán, a Lévai járásban. A rendőrség őrizetbe vett egy 44 éves férfit.

Les ministres des États membres adopteront vendredi 13 décembre une position sur une nouvelle directive visant à établir des règles minimales pour lutter contre le trafic de migrants, tandis que les ONG s’inquiètent d’une éventuelle criminalisation de ces personnes.

Nagyszabású támadás érte Ukrajnát pénteken, két rakéta szelte át Kárpátalja légterét. Károkról vagy áldozatokról nem érkezett információ, írja a karpatalja.ma.

Das slowakische Parlament hat ein Gesetz verabschiedet, das Ärzte unter Androhung von bis zu einem Jahr Gefängnis zur Arbeit zwingt. Beschäftigte im Gesundheitswesen und die Opposition fordern Präsident Peter Pellegrini nun auf, sein Veto gegen dieses Gesetz einzulegen.