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In today's edition: Mercosur, Biotech Act, NGTs

In Pakistan, journalism is a risky profession—and the danger only intensifies if you’re a woman, young, and a freelancer, says 30-year-old Saba Chaudhry, a journalist from a village near Narowal, in Punjab province. “You have to be careful about what you write and who might read it—you can become the target of a malicious campaign […]

Le JNIM continue d'imposer le blocus sur le carburant et tente d'isoler la capitale malienne, plongeant le pays dans l'impasse. Avec des experts, la BBC analyse la stratégie de ce groupe et les facteurs qui favorisent la progression de ses opérations.

Le JNIM continue d'imposer le blocus sur le carburant et tente d'isoler la capitale malienne, plongeant le pays dans l'impasse. Avec des experts, la BBC analyse la stratégie de ce groupe et les facteurs qui favorisent la progression de ses opérations.

In today’s edition: Brussels narrows its shortlist to replace DG Competition chief Olivier Guersent, EU countries weigh expanding Frontex’s remit to drone defence and infrastructure protection, and France’s climbdown clears the way for a 2040 climate deal ahead of COP30

Les États membres de l’UE souhaitent renforcer les compétences de l’Agence européenne de garde-frontières et de garde-côtes (Frontex) afin de mieux faire face aux menaces émergentes, notamment celles liées aux drones.

The post EXCLUSIF : Les Vingt-Sept envisagent d’élargir les pouvoirs de Frontex pour lutter contre les menaces liées aux drones appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Les élections locales ont tourné à la démonstration de force pour le VMRO-DPMNE. Le parti de droite, déjà majoritaire au Parlement, contrôle désormais la quasi-totalité des municipalités. Dans le même temps, la gauche traditionnelle s'effondre, au profit de nouvelles voix contestataires.

- Articles / Une - Diaporama - En premier, Politique Macédoine, Courrier des Balkans, Une - Diaporama, Macédoine du Nord, Politique

Les élections locales ont tourné à la démonstration de force pour le VMRO-DPMNE. Le parti de droite, déjà majoritaire au Parlement, contrôle désormais la quasi-totalité des municipalités. Dans le même temps, la gauche traditionnelle s'effondre, au profit de nouvelles voix contestataires.

- Articles / Une - Diaporama - En premier, Politique Macédoine, Courrier des Balkans, Une - Diaporama, Macédoine du Nord, Politique

Led by Andrej Babiš, the new Czech coalition is aligning closer with Hungary and Slovakia, pledging constitutional protection for the crown, state control of energy, and a hardline stance on asylum

Many experts warn that the healthcare system will be overwhelmed if the current system remains in place

Without stronger enforcement, the EU will remain stuck in a familiar cycle: announce, applaud, then watch as targets adapt

Industry claims an EU digital ticketing plan could hand power to online giants, like in the hotel sector

Last week, agriculture ministers already rebuked the Commission’s plan to maintain the enforcement date for most companies this year

Without drones, troops face a 'deadly cocktail of drone attacks', NATO transformation official warns

The final decision on who will run the Commission’s powerful competition directorate will be overshadowed by strained EU–US relations

Left-wing MEPs will table a motion asking the EU Court of Justice to rule on whether the deal complies with EU law

A potential political agreement is primed for Wednesday, two people familiar with the negotiations confirmed

Yannis Natsis says patients may face higher co-payments as public health budgets come under strain

Parliamentarians from the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Forum of Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FAPPD) met in Cairo. Credit: APDA

By Hisham Allam
CAIRO, Nov 3 2025 (IPS)

Inclusive legislation, empowered youth, and anti-violence policies are inseparable aspects of sustainable development and were the key messages at a conference of the Inter-Regional Meeting of Asian and Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development held in Cairo on October 24, 2025.

The forum spotlighted urgent regional collaboration on sexual and reproductive health, youth inclusion, gender-based violence, and sustainable development. The gathering underlined the pressing need for legislative reform and multi-sector engagement to tackle complex social challenges amid shifting demographics and development imperatives.

The meeting, jointly organized by the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Forum of Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FAPPD), with close collaboration from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the support of the Japan Trust Fund (JTF) and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), convened a high-profile roster of leaders and experts.

Key figures included Dr. Abdel Hadi al-Qasby, member of the Egyptian Senate and chair of the meeting; Dr. Mohamed Al-Samadi, Secretary General of the FAPPD; Professor Takemi Keizo, former Japanese Health Minister and Chair of APDA; and Dominic Allen, Deputy Regional Director for UNFPA Arab States Office.

Sessions homed in on strengthening sexual and reproductive health (SRH) as a cornerstone of social and economic progress, with UNFPA’s Dr. Hala Youssef highlighting SRH’s role in boosting productivity and well-being.

“Healthy individuals contribute to a more productive economy,” she said. The forum candidly addressed the region’s demographic challenges, barriers in access to care, and declining donor funding that threaten gains in maternal health and family planning.

Youth empowerment emerged as a strategic priority throughout the forum, with policymakers acknowledging that the region’s overwhelming majority under 30 must be engaged as active partners in shaping their future, rather than passive recipients of policy decisions.

Dr. Rida Shibli, former member of the Jordanian Senate, underscored this shift in mindset, stating, “Youth are partners, not just beneficiaries,” and advocating for structured, inclusive platforms that effectively empower young people to influence policy.

Tunisia’s progressive reforms—featuring the establishment of youth councils and vocational training programs—were highlighted as leading examples of meaningful youth engagement fostering both opportunity and participation.

The forum’s candid discussion on gender-based violence (GBV) underscored its pressing public health implications.

Mohamed Abou Nar, Chief Programs and Impact Officer at Pathfinder International, warned that despite the existence of comprehensive legal protections, enforcement remains inconsistent and inadequate.

He declared, “GBV is a public health emergency,” emphasizing the need to implement survivor-centered health services and legal reforms grounded in robust community involvement and multisectoral collaboration.

Hibo Ali Houssein, MP from Djibouti, reflected on the tension between progressive laws and enduring cultural norms that limit justice access for GBV survivors, while Bahrain’s Dr. Mohammed Ali called for legislative alignment to optimize private sector contributions, stating, “The private sector must provide capital, spark innovation, and create jobs within frameworks mandating sustainability.”

Country-specific achievements illustrated the forum’s depth. Cambodia is swiftly moving towards graduating from Least Developed Country status by 2027, with economic and regional partnerships propelling its long path to upper-middle-income status.

MP Chandara Khut stated plainly, “Peace has brought stability, which in turn nurtures development and growth.”

Sarah Elago, the representative from the Philippines, made a clear call on funding for adolescent pregnancy and maternal health, stating that “development is measured by dignity, equality, well-being, and everyday experiences of women, youth, and the people—not merely by numbers.”

The delegates called on parliamentarians, governments, and partners to convert dialogue into concrete action, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and regional solidarity as key drivers toward shared goals.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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