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Les messages publiés sur les réseaux sociaux par Elon Musk en soutien à l’homme politique extrémiste roumain Călin Georgescu peuvent être considérés comme « une forme d’ingérence dans les élections internes d’un autre État », estime le ministre roumain des Affaires étrangères, Emil Hurezeanu.

Le parti prorusse bulgare Vazrazhdane a vandalisé le bureau de l’Union européenne (UE) à Sofia lors de sa manifestation contre l’éventuelle adhésion du pays à la zone euro, suscitant de vives réactions de la part d’Ursula von der Leyen et de tous les partis parlementaires.

Drei Jahre nach der russischen Invasion, beginnt sich der schlimmste Albtraum der Ukraine zu verwirklichen. Das Versprechen des Westens, Kyjiw „so lange wie nötig“ zu unterstützen, ist immer schwieriger zu halten.

Dans un message publié sur sa plateforme X, le milliardaire américain et proche de Donald Trump, Elon Musk, a prédit la victoire du parti espagnol d’extrême droite Vox aux prochaines élections nationales, mais les récents sondages indiquent un scénario contraire.

A model for multilateralism, Antarctica is bound by the Antarctic Treaty consisting of 57 nations devoted to peace and science. It is also the largest freshwater reservoir on our planet. Antarctica doesn't have a capital city because it's a continent, not a country. Credit: UNDP/Raja Venkatapathy

By Raja Venkatapathy Mani
ANTARCTICA, Feb 24 2025 (IPS)

It was 7:30 a.m. I got ready the fastest I could, adrenaline kicking in, curiosity and excitement peaking. I rushed out of my cabin, opened the big exit door, and there in front of me was the first visual of the majestic white continent – Antarctica.

It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of the climate crisis, but this frozen ecosystem is experiencing some of the most dramatic consequences from global heating.

The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to highlight the critical role glaciers, snow and ice play in the climate system as well as the far-reaching impacts of rapid glacier melting.

Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest place in the world. When you set foot on land, it feels like stepping onto a frozen wonderland unlike anything else. Imagine standing on ice sheets as thick as 4 kilometres, feeling the chill of the wind flowing from the Polar Plateau. Holding 90 percent of the world’s surface freshwater, Antarctica is the largest freshwater reservoir on our planet, a frozen lifeline at the bottom of the world.

Apart from scientists who live in research stations, there are no permanent humans or human settlements. With average temperature around -50°C to -60°C in the winter, the harsh conditions make survival extremely difficult.

After spending a week in Antarctica, here’s what I learned about Earth’s last great wilderness.

Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest place in the world. Credit: UNDP/Raja Venkatapathy

Critical habitat for rare wildlife

It’s not just the captivating landscapes. Antarctica is home to a range of extraordinary wildlife that live here in these challenging conditions. It is a place where nature’s wonders come to life in the most extreme conditions.

The penguins waddling on their highways, seals lounging on the icy shores and majestic whales diving in the icy waters are all part of a thriving ecosystem. These creatures and many others migrate to Antarctica to feast on krill, tiny sea creatures that are found in the nutrient-rich waters.

Wildlife such as penguins rely on the ice for breeding, with their colonies found across the region. Ice also serves as a feeding ground, a place for regulating body temperatures while providing resting and moulting grounds for birds.

The continent is also the world’s largest natural laboratory, where ground-breaking research is being undertaken on climate change, geology, ecology and biodiversity. This helps us to understand the earth systems including how it might have looked millions of years ago, analyse current changes, and predict and prepare for potential future changes.

Antarctica is carbon negative, which means it absorbs more carbon than it produces. However global emissions threaten its balance. The weather patterns here are quite erratic. On one day, it was so warm that I had to remove multiple layers of clothing. As someone who had only heard about the extreme cold, I never imagined that I would experience one of the warmest days ever in the coldest place on Earth.

Despite being so remote from human interaction, Antarctica faces one of the greatest threats from climate change. The 2023 State of the Global Climate report revealed that Antarctic sea ice loss is accelerating in dangerous ways. And glaciers likely lost more ice than ever before in 2023, which will have dramatic consequences for all of us no matter where we live.

Credit: UNDP/Raja Venkatapathy

What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica

Antarctica’s gigantic ice sheets reflect a significant amount of sunlight back into space, which helps keep our planet cool. But the coldest place on the planet is today one of the fastest-warming regions. Even small increases in temperature can have significant effects on its ice sheets, glaciers and ecosystems.

More than 40 percent of Antarctica’s ice shelves have shrunk in the past 25 years. Warmer temperatures contribute to the melting of ice shelves that could lead to sea level rise affecting small island nations and coastal communities.

Antarctica’s cold waters play a crucial role in driving ocean currents, including the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a powerful ocean current that flows clockwise around Antarctica, connecting the world’s major seas. The warming of the ocean will alter these currents, which help to determine global weather patterns, impacting fisheries, agriculture and climate systems.

Declining ice will also mean habitat loss for Antarctica’s wildlife, which will affect their breeding and survival. This will disrupt the ocean’s food chain, affecting fish stocks that people rely on for food and jobs. Additionally, penguins play a role in storing carbon, so their decline will contribute to accelerating climate change, and in turn to more extreme weather events worldwide.

Basically, what happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica; the impacts will be felt worldwide.

As I stood on the glacier learning about the ice dating back millions of years, the history of the place reminded me that our time as humans is very limited, but the planet lives on. It is our responsibility, and it is only fair, that we leave the Earth how we inherited from our ancestors – if not better.

A model for multilateralism

Geographically, geologically, biologically and politically, Antarctica is a unique place. Nobody owns Antarctica; it is bound by the Antarctic Treaty consisting of 57 nations devoted to peace and science. It is one of the finest showcases of why international cooperation is essential. All the countries work here together for the cause of science and for the common good of our beautiful planet.

The discovery of a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica galvanized global concern and action. Imagine the ozone layer as a filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation, which could potentially increase the prevalence of skin cancer and cataracts, reduce agricultural productivity and threaten marine ecosystems.

When nations came together to address this concern, it led to the adoption of the Montreal Protocol, a global agreement to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances that were commonly used in products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers and aerosols. UNEP data finds that we are now on the path to recovery, with the ozone layer expected to heal by 2066.

This success story is an important lesson of what countries can do when they work together to confront a global crisis. The story of Antarctica is a reminder that we are yet again being put to test with the growing climate crisis. It is the defining challenge humanity faces, and what we do and don’t do will determine our future.

Now more than ever we have to join together and work as one team to end our reliance on fossil fuels, reduce our emissions and limit global average temperature rise to 1.5°C.

As I stood on the glacier learning about the ice dating back millions of years, the history of the place reminded me that our time as humans is very limited, but the planet lives on. It is our responsibility, and it is only fair, that we leave the Earth how we inherited from our ancestors – if not better.

Raja Venkatapathy Mani is Digital Communications Analyst, UN Development Programme (UNDP)

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Ce dimanche 23 février 2025, une altercation entre deux individus a dégénéré occasionnant la mort de six personnes. Le drame a lieu à Banézi, une localité située dans l'arrondissement de Basso, commune de Kalalé.

Des morts à Kalalé ce dimanche 23 février 2025 des suites d'un affrontement entre deux communautés. Selon Gbassi FM, une radio locale rapportée par plusieurs sources, tout est parti d'une altercation entre deux individus. L'un poignarde son vis-à-vis qui décède sous le coup.
Le drame va provoquer la vengeance au sein de la communauté de la victime. Au cours des affrontements, plusieurs personnes ont été tuées. Le bilan selon les mêmes sources, a fait au moins six morts, malgré l'intervention des forces de l'ordre. Outre les pertes en vies humaines, plusieurs cabanes ont été incendiées.
Un soupçon de vol serait à l'origine de l'altercation entre les deux individus.

F. A. A.

Une rencontre entre le chef de l'Etat Patrice Talon et le comité de pilotage du fichier électorale est annoncée pour ce lundi 24 février 2025.

Les membres du comité de pilotage du fichier électoral au cabinet du président de la République ce lundi 24 février 2025. L'audit du fichier électoral, préoccupation soulevée par les partis de l'opposition depuis quelques mois, sera le principal sujet de discussion.
Mercredi 19 février en Conseil des ministres, le gouvernement a autorisé le décaissement de la somme de 159.436.200 francs CFA, correspondant au budget à lui soumis par ledit comité.
En dépit de l'opposition des partis soutenant ses actions, notamment l'Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UPR) et le Bloc Républicain (BR), et les Forces cauris pour un Bénin émergent (FCBE), un parti de l'opposition, Patrice Talon a marqué son accord à l'initiative d'audit du fichier électoral voulu par l'opposition radicale à son régime. L'audit, apprend-on, va durer 45 jours et sera réalisé par 04 experts internationaux.

F. A. A.

Samedi, lors de la Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) à Washington, la Première ministre italienne Giorgia Meloni est revenue sur la récente rhétorique anti-européenne de Donald Trump. Selon elle, le président américain ne tournera pas le dos à l’Europe.

Die CDU/CSU hat bei den Bundestagswahlen am Sonntag einen klaren Sieg errungen und läutet damit einen bedeutenden politischen Wandel ein. Für den CDU-Parteivorsitzenden, Friedrich Merz, ist damit der Weg frei.

Le centre droit allemand mené par Friedrich Merz de la CDU a remporté une nette victoire aux élections législatives, annonçant un changement politique majeur dans le plus grand pays d’Europe.

Credit: United Nations

By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 24 2025 (IPS)

The UN’s human rights agenda is in danger of faltering since the Geneva-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) is planning to “restructure” the office, under the moniker OHCHR 2.0.

But this proposal, if implemented, would result in the abolition of the Special Procedures Branch, established by the Human Rights Council (HRC), to report and advise on human rights from thematic and country-specific perspectives.

The question remains whether or not the HRC will give its blessings to the proposed restructuring. Currently, there are more than 46 thematic mandates and 14 country-specific mandates.

The Special Rapporteurs (who are also designated “independent UN human rights experts”) cover a wide range of thematic issues, including investigations into extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, racism and xenophobia, human rights in the Palestinian territories, right to freedom of opinion and expression, rights of the indigenous peoples, violence against women, human rights of immigrants, among others.

https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council/current-and-former-mandate-holders-existing-mandates

Ian Richards, an economist at the Geneva-based UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and former President of the Coordinating Committee of International Staff Unions and Associations, told IPS the staff of the Special Procedures Branch play an essential role in supporting the work of the special rapporteurs.

He said former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan described their work as the jewel in the crown of the UN human rights system.

“We know that some of their recent work has created pushback. There is a belief is that they are being penalized for this”.

“The High Commissioner for Human Rights “hasn’t accepted to meet with the staff union to discuss this, which is unusual. We hope he will change his mind,” said Richards.

Some of the Special Rapporteurs have been vociferously critical of member states, including Israel, on war crimes charges in Gaza, and also countries in the Middle East and South-east Asia, like Singapore and Saudi Arabia, for continuing to enforce the death penalty.

In a press release last week, two Special Rapporteurs said Singapore must urgently halt the execution of Malaysian national Pannir Selvam Pranthaman for drug trafficking.

“We have repeatedly** called on Singapore to halt executions for drug offences which are illegal under international human rights law on several grounds,” the experts said.

“We reiterate that under international law, only crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing meet the threshold for the death penalty,” the experts said. “Mandatory death sentences are inherently over-inclusive and inevitably violate human rights law.”

“There is no evidence that the death penalty does more than any other punishment to curb or prevent drug trafficking,” they said.

The experts warned that the rate of execution notices for drug-related offences in Singapore was “highly alarming”. They noted that eight people have already been executed on these charges since 1 October 2024, a period of just four and a half months.

Speaking off-the-record, a UN source told IPS the staff of the Special Procedures Branch fear the “re-structuring” is being done in order to reduce the effectiveness and voice of the Special Rapporteurs. And the High Commissioner’s refusal to consult with the union may be evidence of this, he said.

“As you may be aware, the special rapporteurs, and one in particular, have been vocal on the issue of Gaza, which has generated complaints from a number of member states to the High Commissioner. To seek a second term, he needs their support”.

According to the UN, Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.

Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN.

Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

The Office of the High Commissioner is being funded by the UN regular budget and voluntary contributions.

But UN Special Rapporteurs are not paid a salary by the United Nations. They receive funding primarily through logistical and personnel support from the Office of the High Commissioner.

They often also receive additional funding from private foundations and NGOs like the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations, which can raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to the source of funding.

Special procedures cover all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social as well as issues relating to specific groups. Special procedures mandate-holders are either an individual (called a Special Rapporteur (SR) or Independent Expert (IE)) or a Working Group (WG) of five members, according to the UN.

As part of their mandates, special procedures examine, advise and publicly report on human rights issues and situations. They conduct thematic studies and convene expert consultations, contribute to the development of international human rights standards, engage in advocacy and provide advice for technical cooperation.

Upon the invitation from Governments, they visit particular countries or territories in order to monitor the situation on the ground. Special procedures also act on individual cases and concerns of a broader, structural nature by sending communications to States and other entities in which they bring alleged violations or abuses to their attention.

Finally, they raise public awareness of a specific topic through press releases or other public statements. Special procedures report annually to the Human Rights Council; the majority of the mandates also report annually to the General Assembly

In 2024, OHCHR received a total of US$268.9 million in voluntary contributions. As in previous years, the overwhelming majority of voluntary contributions came from Member States and International organizations including the European Commission and UN partners.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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In today’s edition of The Capitals, find out more about Macron’s trip to Washington for a last-ditch EU pitch, the vandalism of EU offices in Sofia by Bulgaria’s pro-Russian party, and so much more.

The attack on the EU offices was described as "absolutely unacceptable" by Bulgaria's largest party, GERB.

The minister's reaction comes after Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration was pressuring Romania to accept Georgescu's candidacy.

The opposition criticised Fico for choosing to attend CPAC instead of meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

And the week ahead 24 Feb - 2 March

If the EU wants to be taken seriously on the world stage, it must become stronger economically and militarily, Fiala said.

The two only spoke for 10 minutes.

It remains to be seen whether the EU's strategy will stand up to Trump's seduction tactics. Especially as the US market remains the largest in the world.

Portuguese footwear exports to the US have virtually doubled in the last five years and have grown by 25% in the last three.