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Prag zeigt starke Vorbehalte gegenüber einer möglichen Entsendung tschechischer Truppen für eine künftige Friedensmission in der Ukraine. Verteidigungsministerin Jana Černochová nannte die aktuelle Debatte über eine tschechische Beteiligung als „sehr verfrüht“.

Der schwedische Ministerpräsident Ulf Kristersson sei "nicht überzeugt" von den Gesprächen zwischen Russland und den USA in Riad. Man dürfe sie nicht überinterpretieren. 

À la Une : l'Europe et l'Ukraine sous le choc après les propos virulents de Donald Trump, Boïko Borissov s’aligne sur le discours de Donald Trump et soutient des élections présidentielles en Ukraine, la République tchèque prudente sur une mission de maintien de la paix en Ukraine.

Der wahrscheinliche Wahlsieg von Friedrich Merz am Sonntag lässt in Paris die Hoffnung aufleben, dass das deutsch-französische Tandem unter seiner Kanzlerschaft neuen Schwung erhält – nach drei ernüchternden Jahren unter Olaf Scholz.

Le « buycott » porte ses fruits. Mardi, le gouvernement de Macédoine du Nord a décidé de limiter la marge brute à 10 % en moyenne sur plus de 1000 produits alimentaires de base et d'hygiène. La mesure devrait rester en vigueur jusqu'à fin avril.

- Le fil de l'Info / Dossier - Macédoine, Macédoine du Nord, Economie, Radio Slobodna Evropa

Die neue „Vision“ der EU-Kommission für Landwirtschaft und Lebensmittel versucht es vielen Akteuren gleichzeitig recht zu machen. Interessensverbände, NGOs und Landwirte kritisierten den am Mittwoch vorgestellten Entwurf als zu vage und sehen Forderungen ignoriert. 

Le commissaire européen au Budget, Piotr Serafin, et le ministre polonais des Affaires européennes, Adam Szłapka, ont qualifié de « choquante » la décision de l’Office européen de lutte antifraude selon laquelle la Pologne doit restituer 90 millions d’euros pour des violations commises lors de la livraison de générateurs à l’Ukraine.

The Slovak government has been in crisis since autumn, witnessing defections from coalition partners.

Après une période de tensions diplomatiques, les relations économiques entre l’Algérie et l’Espagne connaissent un nouvel essor. Depuis début 2024, les deux pays ont signé […]

L’article Après la crise, place aux affaires : Alger et Madrid scellent de nouveaux partenariats est apparu en premier sur .

The United Nations’ 2024 Summit of the Future Interactive Dialogue on Strengthening Inclusive Innovation and Bridging Digital Divides. Credit: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 20 2025 (IPS)

In the western world, numerous studies over the past two decades have shown that the rise of social media in popularity has been linked to negative mental health symptoms, especially among young people. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and TikTok have been criticized for fostering competitive and toxic environments, which contribute to higher rates of anxiety, cyber-bullying, depression, disordered eating, and low self-esteem. While the use of social media in the Global South has skyrocketed in the late 2010s, the ramifications on people in those regions has received much less coverage in mainstream media.

As of 2024, approximately 5.2 billion people around the world use social media, which is over 63 percent of the global population. This marks a significant increase from the number of global social media users in 2015, with just over 2 billion people.

The rise in popularity of social media in the Global South has been attributed to relatively rapid growths in development, particularly in Asian and African countries. Technological advancements and socio-economic progress has facilitated the rise of social media platforms and increased connectivity.

It is estimated that roughly 60 percent of the world’s social media users are in the Global South. However, studies on trends in psychological well-being in these areas in relation to social media usage is extremely limited as the vast majority of research focuses on the Global North.

Pew Research Center conducted a study in 2024 in which populations from eight countries in the Global South were surveyed on their social media habits. Around 73 percent of the sample population use WhatsApp and 62 percent use Facebook, with fewer people using TikTok (36 percent) and Instagram (29 percent). Additionally, there were higher rates of social media usage among younger people, more educated people, and those with higher incomes.

According to a 2021 report written by Zahra Takhshid and published by Vanderbilt University, titled Regulating Social Media in the Global South, policy makers in the Global South have found it difficult to establish regulations due to social media platforms being hubs for connection, commerce, self-expression, business, and political discourse. Additionally, social media platforms accumulate vast amounts of private data on a daily basis, which is an issue that the Global North has been fighting for the past two decades. However, much of the Global South lacks the proper infrastructures to protect users and regulate harmful content.

Many countries have responded to these concerns by restricting or banning the use of certain platforms, which has further blurred analytics on the psychological impact of digital technologies. In 2024, Access Now, a digital rights organization, reported internet or social media shutdowns in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius and Equatorial Guinea. These shutdowns usually coincided with pivotal events such as elections, when digital privacy is crucial.

According to Access Now, a nation that has issued restrictions on internet usage or certain platforms are more than likely to do it again. These shutdowns have dangerous implications for the citizens in these countries.

Felicia Anthonio, Access Now’s campaign manager, informed reporters that unfettered access to information, especially in times of crisis, are crucial. “It not only disrupts the flow of information, it also makes it impossible for people to access information in a timely manner. When we are talking about crisis situations, information can be like a lifeline, and disrupting access could be about life and death in conflict situations,” said Anthonio.

Additionally, blocking social media has extensive implications surrounding commerce. In Iran around 73.6 percent of adults use social media, with Meta-owned platforms like Facebook and Instagram having a large presence there, even as U.S. sanctions do not allow the platforms to run legally.

Instagram has fostered a budding online economy in Iran, with many small businesses having built successful brands due to the popularity of the platform. However, U.S. sanctions prevent Iranian users from seeing advertisements. Influencers replace advertisements in Iran, which has led to rampant misinformation being spread to consumers.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandates that all social media influencers must indicate if they were paid by a brand for online promotions. A similar mandate exists in the United Kingdom, known as the Advertising Standard Authority (ASA). However Iran, and several other countries in the Global South, lacks the legal frameworks to protect consumers from misinformation and brand manipulation from influencers. The lack of regulations has also exacerbated Iran’s gambling crisis.

There have also been reports of online misinformation in advertisements in Iran. According to the Vanderbilt University report, Instagram advertisements have contributed to higher rates of mental health issues surrounding body image as well as an overall increase in the nationwide desire for cosmetic procedures.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) in Iran stated that certain advertisements that promote the efficacy of certain cosmetic treatments are prohibited and must be approved by the Iranian Medical Council. However, these posts remain frequent due to a lack of oversight from social media platforms and the governments in many countries in the Global South.

“There is increasing evidence that shows that increased exposure to social media is related to mental health problems, eating disorders and many other issues that condition and distract social media users, and particularly girls, from education which affects their academic achievement,” said senior policy analyst from the Global Education Monitor (GEM) report team Anna D’Addio.

Despite these conditions not being widely reported on in the Global South, it can be deduced that adolescents in these areas face similar challenges. Due to limited protections, young people in these regions are confronted with a vast array of harmful content that can promote unhealthy behaviors and stunt their personal progress.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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A HUN-REN Földfizikai és Űrtudományi Kutatóintézet Kövesligethy Radó Szeizmológiai Obszervatóriumának közleménye szerint 2025. február 19-én 22:09-kor 1,7-es magnitúdójú földrengés keletkezett Magyarországon, Pér térségében, 14 km-es mélységben. A lakosság az epicentrum közelében érezhette a rengést, a szeizmológiai obszervatórium két jelzést kapott Pérről, károkról azonban nem érkezett bejelentés a katasztrófavédelemhez.

Les responsables tchèques ont exprimé de fortes réserves quant à la perspective d’un déploiement de troupes tchèques dans le cadre d’une future mission de maintien de la paix en Ukraine.

The Arab League meeting room in Cairo. (Alyssa Bernstein/Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0) Source: Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.

By Alon Ben-Meir
NEW YORK, Feb 20 2025 (IPS)

When the Arab states convene an emergency session in Egypt to address Trump’s/Netanyahu’s plans to take over Gaza and exile the Palestinians, they must warn Trump that acting on this plan will usher in a catastrophic conflagration that could engulf the entire Middle East.

Regardless of how geo-strategically important the relationship is between the Arab states and the US, the former must demonstrate unanimous resolve to oppose Trump’s and Netanyahu’s disastrous plans to take over Gaza and exile the Indigenous Palestinians.

Given Egypt’s desire to convey the urgency and the far-reaching implications of the Arab summit on March 4 in Cairo, it’s possible that both heads of state and foreign ministers will be in attendance.

They should make it clear that their countries will spare no effort or resources to prevent the US and Israel from acting in defiance of international laws, norms, and conduct, and that such violations will precipitate ominous geostrategic harm to both Israel and the US.

The partnership between the US and the Arab states has endured for many decades because it has mutually served their strategic, economic, and security interests. The Gulf states, Jordan, and Egypt in particular have provided strategic intelligence and air, naval, and ground military bases and ensured energy security.

Moreover, the US-Arab partnerships have been crucial over many years in coordinating and combating terrorism and violent extremism, stemming the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and promoting regional stability. All this led to maintaining American influence in the region and countering the growing presence of rival powers, especially Russia and China.

To be sure, the relationship has never been a one-way street. But leave it to Trump to throw his weight around as if the Arab states survive only at the mercy of the US’ charitable contributions. He ignores the fact that the regional geostrategic environment has dramatically changed over the past two decades.

The Arab states have choices, and the perception that they depend solely on the US for economic and military aid is mistaken. They can resist being pushed around should they choose to because they know their strength and indispensable role and importance to the US.

Moreover, the Arab states should understand Trump’s character: he is a bully and always tests the outer limits of his power. He bluffs, lies, and connives but is deterred only when sternly confronted and realizes that what he might lose outweighs any potential benefits.

Although he knows how implausible his brazen idea is to take over Gaza, he still tests the water on the remote chance that his opponents would cave in. At the first sign of Egypt and Jordan’s firm resistance to his barefaced idea, he walked back on his threat to withhold foreign aid if they didn’t agree to take in substantial numbers of Palestinians.

The fact that he ventured such an absurd idea –to take Arab land as if it were his property and to hell with its inhabitants – is extremely troubling. The Arab states should disabuse him of the notion that he can now or at any time in the future take any unilateral actions that have such a devastating effect on their national security interests.

The Arab League’s decision to convene an emergency session in Cairo is critical in and of itself in that it conveys an urgency to stop Trump in his tracks, unequivocally adopt actionable measures, demonstrate unanimity and resolve, and issue a stern warning.

Replace US aid to Jordan and Egypt

Although Trump previously floated the idea of cutting foreign aid to Egypt and Jordan if they refused to absorb Palestinians en masse, in his meeting last week with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Trump reversed his position, stating that “we contribute a lot of money to Jordan and Egypt by the way—a lot to both. But I don’t have to threaten that, I think we’re above that.”

Nevertheless, in the summit’s final communique, Arab states should announce that they are ready to make up for any aid lost should Trump act on his threat. The total annual aid the US provides to Egypt and Jordan is $3.2 billion, a drop in the bucket compared to the Gulf states’ foreign reserve funds, which is over $700 billion.

This will send a clear message to Trump that Egypt and Jordan do not exist at the mercy of the US, and his tactics of coercion are shameless and will not work.

Disrupting global oil supplies

The Gulf states have served US economic interests by ensuring stable oil supplies. Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer, has been crucial in maintaining the free flow of oil to global markets and controlling oil production, which directly impacts the gasoline prices Americans pay at the pump.

Saudi Arabia can threaten to substantially reduce oil production, which would almost immediately raise gasoline prices. This would aggravate the inflationary trend in the US, which Trump wants badly to arrest.

Threaten to reconsider major arms deals

Although the Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan are equipped with US military hardware, they can readily suspend further procurement of US weapons, which would translate to financial losses to US arms manufacturers.

Between 2018 and 2022, the US facilitated arms sales in the region to the tune of $35 billion, including $18 billion to Saudi Arabia, $6 billion to the UAE, $5 billion to Egypt, $3 billion to Kuwait, and $2 billion to Jordan. None of these countries are currently involved in military conflicts and can hold off on further procurements to make their position clear to Trump.

Sanctioning Israel

The first to salivate over Trump’s sickening idea of a Palestinian expulsion was Netanyahu and his fascist government. It is a dream come true. They praised Trump for his “ingenious” idea. For them, exiling Gaza’s population would not only allow Israel to resettle Gaza, but it would also open the door for annexing most of the West Bank and forcing countless Palestinians to leave, thereby realizing their dream of greater Israel.

The signatories to the Abraham Accords—the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco—should warn Israel that they will rescind the normalization of relations with Israel if they make any attempt to exile the Palestinians. Egypt and Jordan should recall their ambassadors from Israel and Saudi Arabia should reiterate that under no circumstances would it normalize relations with Israel.

Introducing UN Resolutions

Algeria, which is currently on the UNSC, should introduce a resolution to the UNSC to prohibit the US from removing the Palestinians from Gaza. Although the US will certainly veto it, the debate over Trump’s insane idea will further intensify international outrage.

From there, the Arab League should call on the UNGA to convene a vote on a similar resolution condemning Trump’s proposal. It is certain that, with the exceptions of the US and Israel, nearly every country will vote for it. Although UNGA resolutions are not binding, the message will not be lost, even on Trump.

In conjunction with the above measures, the Arab states must also advance their own plans for Gaza in the context of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By offering valid plans to reconstruct Gaza, they deprive Trump and Netanyahu of proceeding with their perilous plan.

Offer a comprehensive Arab-led reconstruction plan

Given the widespread destruction, the Arab states should agree to allocate an initial $20 billion for Gaza reconstruction, of the estimated $50-80 billion needed. The US, which aided Netanyahu in destroying Gaza, must also provide a substantial amount. The donor countries should invite other countries to bid for various projects, including the dire need for schools, healthcare clinics, and hospitals.

Establishing a Palestinian unity government

The Arab states must take whatever steps necessary to help establish a unity government between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority: one that accepts Israel’s right to exist, renounces violence, and is ready to negotiate peace based on a two-state solution. Although Israel vehemently rejects negotiating with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas, there will be no peace unless Hamas is an integral part of any new Palestinian government.

Netanyahu’s insistence that Hamas can be eradicated is an illusion. After 15 months of horrific losses and destruction, Hamas is still standing. Israel is negotiating with Hamas, albeit indirectly, and if it could not eradicate it in 15 months, it will not be able to eradicate it in 15 years. Hamas’s willingness to relinquish administrative responsibilities but remain a military force outside of the government will not be accepted by the Arab states and Israel.

Whether Hamas chooses to play a relevant role in a new government or not, it must disarm. Having successfully changed the dynamic of the conflict, however, and forced the Arab states to insist on a two-state solution, there is a good chance that Hamas will accept being a partner in any future Palestinian government and take credit for their historic achievement.

Participate in a Multinational Force

The Arab states should be prepared to participate in a multinational force to maintain security and ensure the complete demilitarization of Gaza. Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, which have a vested interest in finding a permanent solution, should lead a force that will include foreign countries, to be agreed upon by the US and these Arab states.

In conclusion, it is worth reminding ourselves that Hamas’ savagery and Israel’s retaliatory war have dramatically changed the very nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All recent developments have demonstrated that it will be impossible to return to the conditions that existed before October 7, 2023.

Regardless of how insurmountable the difficulties that lay ahead, the Arab states have a unique historic opportunity to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict first by initiating and participating in a process of reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians, culminating with a two-state solution with airtight security arrangements, involving Israel, the Palestinians, Jordan, and the US.

The world will be watching. Will the Arab states muster the courage and rise to the historic occasion when they convene on March 4 in Cairo, take charge, stop Trump and Netanyahu’s deadly and morally bankrupt idea of exiling the Palestinians from Gaza, reach a historic breakthrough, and avoid a looming catastrophe?

These are not ordinary times. Let this serve as a warning. If Trump and Netanyahu have it their way, they will destroy Israel as we know it and set the Middle East ablaze on an unprecedented scale.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Excerpt:

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.

Suite et fin des barrages de la Ligue des Champions dans la soirée de ce mercredi 19 février 2025. Le géant Manchester City est tombé devant le Real Madrid de Kylian Mbappé au Santiago Bernabéu (3-1 ; 6-3 au cumul).

Au Santiago Bernabéu ce mercredi, le champion d'Europe en titre n'a pas tremblé. Largement dominateur, le Real Madrid a logiquement écrasé Manchester City (3-1) lors du barrage retour de la Ligue des Champions. Vainqueurs (3-2) à l'aller, les Merengue sont ainsi qualifiés pour les 8es de finale.

Dès les premières minutes de la partie, les Madrilènes calmaient les espoirs des Citizens : sur une longue ouverture d'Asencio, Mbappé profitait d'une mauvaise lecture de Dias avant d'ajuster Ederson d'un joli lob (1-0, 4e).

Étouffés, les Sky Blues se montraient incapables de se révolter. À force de subir, City craquait avec un décalage de Rodrygo pour Mbappé, auteur d'un doublé d'une frappe placée après un crochet dévastateur sur Gvardiol (2-0, 34e). Au retour des vestiaires, Kylian Mbappé s'offrait bel et bien un triplé sur une frappe à l'entrée de la surface (3-0, 61e).

Dans les ultimes minutes, Gonzalez, après un coup-franc de Marmoush sur la barre, sauvait tout de même l'honneur (3-1, 90+2e). Le Real validait ensuite ce large succès pour se qualifier en 8es.

Les résultats de ce mercredi :

Dortmund vs Sporting, 0-0
Real Madrid vs Manchester City, 3-1
PSG vs Brest, 7-0
PSG Eindhoven vs Juventus, 3-1

J.S

In today's edition of the Capitals, read about Spain’s Sánchez who slams Trump’s Gaza expulsion plan as ‘immoral’, Polish government 'shock' by EU’s anti-fraud office’s ruling on Ukraine aid generators, and so much more.

L’ancien Premier ministre bulgare Boïko Borissov, actuellement à la tête du plus grand parti de la coalition tripartite au pouvoir, le GERB (Parti populaire européen), a récemment affiné sa communication politique pour l’aligner sur les messages géopolitiques de l’administration Trump.  

A Goré, une localité de l'arrondissement de Tasso, dans la commune de Nikki, un éleveur a perdu 12 bœufs ce mercredi 19 février 2025. Les animaux auraient ingurgité des pommes de cajou imprégnées de substance toxique.

Mercredi noir pour un éleveur à Goré, une localité de l'arrondissement de Tasso, dans la commune de Nikki. Faisant paître ses troupeaux de bœufs ce mercredi 19 février 2025, 12 bêtes s'écroulent sous son regard et meurent. Le drame selon nos sources, s'est produit après que les animaux qui ont consommé des pommes de cajou imprégnées de raticide sont allés s'abreuver dans un marécage. Informés de l'incident, les autorités locales et les agents vétérinaires se sont dépêchés sur les lieux pour constater les dégâts. La consommation de la viande issue de cette intoxication a été interdite à la population. Une enquête est ouverte.

F. A. A.

Les sociétés CENTRE TECHNIQUE DE PLOMBERIE SANITAIRE (CTPS) et INDUSTRIE BENINOISE DES PLASTIQUES (IBP) ont attrait, le 16 février 2023, la Bank Of Africa (BOA) BENIN SA devant le Tribunal de Commerce de Cotonou. Elles réclament la restitution des intérêts débiteurs indûment perçus par la banque entre 2010 et 2020.

CTPS et IBP réclament respectivement la restitution de 96.682.387 FCFA et 107.470.558 FCFA au titre des intérêts débiteurs perçus en trop. Elles demandent également la compensation des manquements de la BOA en termes de rentabilisation des dépôts.

Les deux sociétés développent que chacune d'elles a bénéficié, au cours de la période 2010-2020, de divers concours bancaires dont concours en compte courant auprès de la BOA , incluant des prêts sous forme de découvert en compte courant, avec des montants de 150 millions de FCFA pour chacune d'elles.
En plus de ces prêts, la BOA exigeait des garanties sous forme de dépôts mensuels de 5 millions de FCFA, destinés à constituer des Dépôts à Terme (DAT). Ces sommes ont été prélevées chaque mois pendant la période en question.

Les deux sociétés estiment que ces dépôts mensuels, qui ne faisaient pas partie d'un compte épargne classique, auraient dû être rémunérés, conformément aux engagements de la banque. Cependant, elles affirment que la BOA n'a pas toujours rémunéré ces fonds de manière régulière, ce qui les a privées de l'opportunité de faire fructifier leurs fonds. De plus, elles soutiennent que les intérêts débiteurs qu'elles ont dû payer ont été excessifs et injustifiés.

En réaction, la BOA BENIN SA affirme que les dépôts mensuels n'étaient pas destinés à être rémunérés, car ils ne constituaient pas des comptes épargne mais des garanties pour les prêts. Elle soutient que les contrats de crédit signés avec CTPS et IBP ne mentionnaient aucune rémunération spécifique pour ces dépôts. De plus, la banque précise qu'aucune erreur de calcul n'a été commise dans les prélèvements effectués.
La BOA demande que le tribunal autorise la compensation des montants en trop perçus et débiteurs entre les deux sociétés, tout en réclamant des dommages-intérêts à hauteur de 20 millions pour ce qu'elle considère comme une action abusive et dilatoire portant atteinte à son image et à sa crédibilité.

Le tribunal a estimé que les Dépôts à Terme (DAT) ne pouvaient être rémunérés, puisqu'ils ne faisaient pas partie d'un produit d'épargne. En conséquence, il a rejeté la demande de rémunération des dépôts par la BOA.

En revanche, selon le jugement rendu le 30 janvier 2025, la société BOA BENIN SA est condamnée à « payer à la société CENTRE TECHNIQUE DE PLOMBERIE SANITAIRE (CTPS) la somme de francs CFA un million trente-quatre mille treize (1.034.013) au titre des trop perçus d'intérêts débiteurs en compte courant » et « à la société INDUSTRIE BENINOISE DES PLASTIQUES (IBP) la somme de francs CFA sept cent cinquante et un mille deux cent soixante-quinze (751.275) au titre des trop perçus d'intérêts débiteurs en compte courant ».
M. M.

Robert Fico (Smer) kormányfő üdvözölte a kormánypártok elnökeinek szerdai (2. 19.) megállapodását. Szerinte ez lehetőséget ad neki, hogy a koalíciós szerződés alapján tárgyaljon az SNS-ből és a Hlas-ból távozó parlamenti képviselőkkel az együttműködésről. Ezt a Facebookon jelentette ki Fico szerdán délután.

The statements come in response to US pressure to allow the candidacy of pro-Russian and anti-EU politician.