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Quel est l’impact d’une incertitude politique prolongée sur l’économie ? La réponse dépend des circonstances et les cas de la France et de la Belgique ne sont pas « pleinement comparables », juge l’économiste d’ING Philippe Ledent auprès de l’AFP.

Die spanische Volkspartei Partido Popular forderte eine sofortige Entschuldigung von linken Parteien und vor allem der Regierung. Diese hatten sie als ausländerfeindlich und rassistisch, im Zusammenhang mit Abschiebevorschlägen von illegalen Einwanderern, bezeichnet.

Die französische Gesundheitsinnovationsagentur (AIS) plant, 170 Millionen Euro in Innovationen zu investieren. Dies soll die präventive Versorgung in acht Bereichen verbessern, darunter Kinder- und psychische Gesundheit sowie chronische und seltene Krankheiten.

SARAJEVO, 30 August 2024 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 6 October local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following an official invitation from the national authorities and a needs assessment mission conducted in May this year.

The mission is headed by Corien Jonker and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Sarajevo and 20 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 6 September. ODIHR also plans to request 300 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day. 

The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all key aspects of the elections, including the campaign both offline and online, the work of the election administration at all levels, election legislation and its implementation, respect for fundamental freedoms, the work of the public and private media, and the resolution of election disputes. Observers will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of the national authorities and political parties, as well as civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

An interim report will be published some two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

The ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina operate independently under their separate mandates. For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in the country, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/bih

Media contacts:

Ivan Godarsky, Media Analyst: ivan.godarsky@odihr.ba  or  +387 67 130 0879

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Le concours international aura lieu en mai prochain dans la ville rhénane. La Ville et le canton de Genève partagent leur déception suite à la décision du comité de la SSR.

Die am DIW Berlin angesiedelte forschungsbasierte Infrastruktureinrichtung Sozio-oekonomisches Panel (SOEP) sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine studentische Hilfskraft (w/m/div) (für 10 Wochenstunden).

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed meets with Fatime Boukar Kossei, Minister of Social Action, National Solidarity and Humanitarian Affairs of the Republic of Chad to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has been aggravated by heavy rainfall. Credit: Loey Felipe/UN Photo

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 30 2024 (IPS)

Since June of this year, Chad has been facing an extended period of heavy rainfall. Major flooding has triggered the onset of a significant humanitarian crisis, as all aspects of Chadian life, including health, food production, and community, have been negatively impacted. Additionally, response plans are severely compromised due to high levels of hostility taking place in neighboring nations.

Major floods have resulted in at least 145 deaths as well as an overall disruption of life. Severe flooding resulted in thousands of people losing their homes and all of their belongings. The UN briefing held on August 28, 2024, detailed the significant physical toll that flooding has had on Chad.

“All of Chad’s 23 provinces are now affected by floods following heavy rains that started earlier in the summer, in June. According to local authorities, 145 people have lost their lives. More than 960,000 people have been impacted, with some 70,000 homes destroyed,” says Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General.

Additionally, it has been reported that certain regions have been more adversely affected than others, with some areas only accessible by canoe. Flooding has also led to the collapse of critical infrastructure, including bridges, roads, and buildings.

It is important to note that Chad’s economy is critically dependent on agriculture. Approximately 80 percent of the workforce is employed through jobs in farming and raising livestock, with crops accounting for about a quarter of the nation’s GDP.

Recent flooding has decimated arable land and made conditions for growing crops nearly impossible. This has led to Chad’s preexisting issues in food insecurity and famine to greatly worsen.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA) states, “The floods also severely impacted agriculture, with more than 250,000 hectares flooded and 30,000 heads of livestock washed away. With Chad’s malnutrition rates at a nine-year high, this will only aggravate an already dire food security situation.”

OCHA adds that prior to the floods that started this summer, Chadian authorities had declared a “national food security and nutrition emergency.” This indicates that a significant percentage of the population faces a risk of starvation and malnutrition.

“More than 964,000 people or 166,000 households, are affected by these floods as of August 25, 2024. There are 145 people dead, more than 251,000 hectares of fields submerged, more than 70,000 houses destroyed, and 29,000 heads of cattle swept away,” OCHA says.

Additionally, the World Food Programme (WFP) projects that approximately 3.4 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity for the lean season, which is happening right now. 2024 boasts the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded for Chad, seeing a 240 percent increase since 2020.

In addition to widespread food insecurity, major flooding has raised concerns over the transmission of waterborne diseases.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states, “Four provinces and seven districts have been affected by a hepatitis E epidemic, which has a particularly high mortality rate amongst pregnant women. As of 15 July, there have been a cumulative total of 3,296 cases. 10 deaths have been confirmed, of which five were pregnant women.”

Additionally, flooding has worsened access to clean drinking water, leading to an increase in the contraction of cholera and diarrhea. Furthermore, flooding is also linked to a decrease in hygiene, leading to increased cases of malaria, meningitis, and respiratory illnesses.

Heavy flooding has also caused a significant increase in displacement levels. Due to the floods destroying thousands of homes across the country, many families have been forced to take refuge in schools and displacement camps.

”An estimated 1,778,138 people have been forcibly displaced in Chad, with the country hosting 1,388,104 refugees,” states the UNFPA.

Floods in Chad have also greatly obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid due to high water levels in towns and villages obstructing the use of aid trucks. Additionally, pre-existing instabilities in national security have been exacerbated as armed conflict to the east of Chad prevents humanitarian aid from accessing those in need.

The Sudanese Civil War has led to armed groups pushing millions of civilians out of Sudan. Sudanese authorities have impeded aid through the Adre border crossing, which is the most efficient path for aid trucks to take through to Chad.

Dujarric adds, “Response capacity is already severely strained in Chad by the ongoing crisis in the country’s east, where large numbers of Sudanese refugees have fled to escape conflict in neighboring Sudan.”.

Currently, the UNFPA is supporting 73 healthcare facilities and is delivering supplies to help expecting mothers and families in the region. The WFP is also distributing food and nutritional supplements to families that have been most affected by hunger. In addition, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is helping aid workers reach remote areas that were thought to be inaccessible due to flooding.

Furthermore, the UN has launched the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for Chad, which seeks USD 1.1 billion. However, it is only 35 percent funded as of the date of publication.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Depuis la chute du régime d’Ali Bongo Ondimba le 30 août 2023, le Gabon traverse une période de transition cruciale qui soulève autant d’espoirs que d’interrogations. Sous la direction du Comité pour la Transition et la Restauration des Institutions (CTRI), dirigé par le Général Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, le pays s’est engagé dans une transition militaire qui doit le mener vers une nouvelle ère politique.

Depuis la chute du régime d’Ali Bongo Ondimba le 30 août 2023, le Gabon traverse une période de transition cruciale qui soulève autant d’espoirs que d’interrogations. Sous la direction du Comité pour la Transition et la Restauration des Institutions (CTRI), dirigé par le Général Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, le pays s’est engagé dans une transition militaire qui doit le mener vers une nouvelle ère politique.

Sein Auswärtstreffer in Trabzon beschert dem FC St. Gallen rund drei Millionen für den Einzug in die Conference League. Und auch auf dem Transfermarkt wird Isaac Schmidt die grün-weisse Kasse klingeln lassen.

Die Stadt Luzern will das Gebäude an der Zürichstrasse 34 ab August 2025 total sanieren. Das Restaurant Hopfenkranz sowie die restlichen Mieterinnen und Mieter müssen ausziehen.

Die Jungfraubahn-Gruppe hat im ersten Halbjahr 2024 mehr Gäste auf das Jungfraujoch befördert. Den Rekordgewinn aus dem Vorjahr konnte das Unternehmen aber nicht übertreffen.

Die Zürcher Kantonalbank hat im ersten Semester 2024 den Rekordgewinn aus dem Vorjahr nicht ganz halten können. Insbesondere der Erfolg aus dem Zinsgeschäft sowie das Handelsergebnis waren rückläufig.

The current global mpox public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, is yet another reminder that neglecting a public health emergency in one part of the world can, and does, have consequences for everyone.

Die Bankkartenherausgeberin Viseca hat im ersten Halbjahr 2024 den Umsatz und Gewinn gesteigert. Auch der Kartenbestand konnte leicht erhöht werden. Für die zweite Jahreshälfte ist das Unternehmen zuversichtlich.

Nur eine von zehn im Mittelmeer heimischen Arten hat vor 5,5 Millionen Jahren die Trennung von Mittelmeer und Atlantik überlebt. Ein internationales Forschungsteam mit Beteiligung des Naturhistorischen Museums Basel hat diesen Artenverlust erstmals quantifiziert.

Die Schwyzer Kantonalbank (SZKB) hat im ersten Halbjahr 2024 weniger verdient. Die Bank spürte vor allem den Druck auf das Zinsdifferenzgeschäft durch die Leitzinssenkungen der Nationalbank.

Bei einer Auffahrkollision zwischen zwei Autos auf der N1R in Hunzenschwil AG sind am Donnerstagabend drei Personen verletzt worden. Ein 54-jähriger Lenker war im stockenden Feierabendverkehr wegen Unaufmerksamkeit auf ein Auto aufgefahren.

Drei Monate nach Nemos fulminantem Sieg am Eurovision Song Contest im schwedischen Malmö wird heute bekannt gegeben, wo der grösste Musikanlass der Welt im kommenden Jahr ausgetragen wird. Basel oder Genf?

L’Union européenne ne reconnaît pas de « légitimité démocratique » au président vénézuélien Nicolás Maduro après sa réélection en juillet, a annoncé jeudi 29 août le chef de la diplomatie européenne, Josep Borrell.