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Die Bestätigungsanhörungen im EU-Parlament geraten ins Stocken, da politische Spannungen und strategische Abwägungen die Kandidatur von Raffaele Fitto belasten. Die Sozialdemokraten drängen auf eine Herabstufung seiner Position, während sich die Fraktionen auf eine harte Befragung vorbereiten.

Donald Trump megválasztott amerikai elnök csapata egyértelműen elhatárolódott Bryan Lanza republikánus stratégától, aki azt állította, hogy egy jövőbeli Trump-adminisztráció nem helyezné előtérbe az Ukrajnától elcsatolt területek visszaszerzését. Lanza, aki korábban Trump kampánycsapatában dolgozott, a BBC-nek adott interjúban azt mondta, hogy a béketárgyalások fókuszában az Ukrajnával való megegyezés állna, nem pedig az elvesztett területek visszaszerzése.

Lanza kijelentései szerint, ha Volodimir Zelenszkij ukrán elnök „csak a Krím visszaszerzésével hajlandó tárgyalni,” akkor szerinte „nem gondolja komolyan a békét.” Trump hivatalos csapata azonban gyorsan reagált: közölték, hogy Lanza már nem tagja a kampánystábnak és nem képviseli Trump hivatalos álláspontját.

A kampányidőszakban Trump többször ígéretet tett arra, hogy „egy napon belül” véget vetne az ukrajnai konfliktusnak, bár részleteket nem közölt arról, hogyan érné ezt el.

A csatolt területek kérdése Oroszország 2014-ben csatolta el a Krím félszigetet, majd 2022-ben négy további ukrajnai régió – Donyeck, Luhanszk, Herszon és Zaporizzsja – annektálását is bejelentette, bár ezek felett a teljes katonai irányítást sosem gyakorolta. Zelenszkij álláspontja világos: az orosz csapatok teljes kivonulása és az elcsatolt területek visszaadása nélkül nem lehet valódi béke.

Moszkva részéről nyitottság mutatkozik a Trump által felvetett béketerv hallgatólagos tárgyalására, melyet Szergej Rjabkov külügyminiszter-helyettes is megerősített, mondván, hogy „zárt csatornákon keresztül” folytatnak egyeztetéseket Washingtonnal. Rjabkov ugyanakkor megjegyezte, hogy Moszkva kizárólag olyan javaslatokra kíváncsi, amelyek elősegíthetik a konfliktus megoldását, és nem támogatják további segélyek küldését Kijev számára.

Andrij Szibiha ukrán külügyminiszter szintén kész együttműködni egy esetleges Trump-adminisztrációval. „Ukrajna nyitott a tárgyalásra” – jelentette ki Szibiha, emlékeztetve arra, hogy Zelenszkij volt az elsők között, aki üdvözölte Trump megválasztását.

Trump bírálja Ukrajna katonai támogatását Trump régóta bírálja az Ukrajnának nyújtott amerikai katonai segélyeket, és kijelentette: ha visszatér a Fehér Házba, akár le is állíthatja a támogatást. Egy korábbi kampányeseményen azt mondta, hogy Washington túl sok pénzt áldoz az ukrán háborús erőfeszítésekre, és megígérte, hogy „rendet tesz” ebben az ügyben.

A Biden-kormányzat ugyanakkor megerősítette, hogy Trump hivatalba lépése előtt még megérkezik Kijevbe egy 6 milliárd dolláros, már beígért katonai támogatási csomag. Az amerikai külügyminisztérium adatai szerint a háború kezdete óta az Egyesült Államok 64 milliárd dollár értékben biztosított katonai segítséget Ukrajnának.

The post Trump stábja elhatárolódik egy republikánus tanácsadó ukrajnai béketervéről appeared first on Biztonságpiac.

SARAJEVO, 12 November 2024 — OSCE Chair-in-Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, concluded his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday, reaffirming the OSCE's unwavering commitment to supporting the country and highlighting the added value of the OSCE’s wide field presence on the ground.

“This visit underscores our strong partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Chair-in-Office Ian Borg. “The OSCE remains committed to supporting the country’s reform priorities, from strengthening the rule of law and combating corruption to advancing media freedom and addressing gender-based violence.”

In Sarajevo, Chair-in-Office Ian Borg met with Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković, and the Collegium of both Parliamentary Assembly Houses.

Chair-in-Office Borg visited the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, meeting with Head of Mission Brian Aggeler and Mission staff, commending their dedication and professionalism in carrying out the Mission’s mandate.

With its decades of experience and tailor-made programmes, the OSCE and its Mission remain a trusted partner in and for Bosnia and Herzegovina, facilitating and supporting dialogue as well as fostering resilience at both institutional and community levels across the country. Through partnerships with local and national stakeholders, the OSCE aims to strengthen social cohesion, build trust among communities, and support democratic governance.

At an event marking the 30th anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s signing of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, Deputy Prime Minister Borg emphasized the Code’s enduring role in promoting transparency, predictability, and trust among participating States.

“We urge political leaders to move beyond divisive narratives and engage in constructive, result-oriented dialogue to generate tangible progress for all citizens. Compromise is not a sign of weakness, but a hallmark of responsible, forward-looking leadership,”  said Chair-in-Office Borg.

Chair-in-Office Borg travelled to Konjic to visit an area affected by recent flooding, conveying condolences for the loss of life. He met with officials of Konjic and Jablanica as well as representatives of civil society organizations recognizing their important role in both immediate disaster response and long-term recovery. In addition to supporting country’s disaster risk reduction efforts and strengthening its resilience, the OSCE provided immediate humanitarian assistance to help mitigate the impact of the devastating floods.

During his visit, CiO Borg also met with the OSCE Troika and members of the International Community in Sarajevo, emphasizing the importance of a co-ordinated approach to fostering progress, security, and political stability in BiH.

Ils ont quitté leur Bosnie natale ou sont nés à l'étranger et ont décidé de revenir. Que ce soit pour redécouvrir leurs racines ou participer à la reconstruction de leur pays, le phénomène est récent et prend de l'ampleur ces dernières années. Portraits croisés des revenants de la diaspora.

- Articles / Une - Diaporama, Courrier des Balkans, Bosnie-Herzégovine, Populations, minorités et migrations, Une - Diaporama - En premier

Ils ont quitté leur Bosnie natale ou sont nés à l'étranger et ont décidé de revenir. Que ce soit pour redécouvrir leurs racines ou participer à la reconstruction de leur pays, le phénomène est récent et prend de l'ampleur ces dernières années. Portraits croisés des revenants de la diaspora.

- Articles / Une - Diaporama, Courrier des Balkans, Bosnie-Herzégovine, Populations, minorités et migrations, Une - Diaporama - En premier

Boïko Borissov, leader du GERB, plus grand parti bulgare, et vainqueur des récentes élections, a déclaré lundi 11 novembre qu’il devrait maintenant diriger le nouveau gouvernement bulgare, citant ses bonnes relations avec le président américain Donald Trump, récemment réélu.

Le Parti populaire espagnol (Partido Popular, PP), parti de droite espagnol, s’est allié au Parti populaire européen (PPE) pour entraver le plus possible l’audition de la future commissaire espagnole Teresa Ribera devant le Parlement européen ce mardi 12 novembre.

Nearly 200 nations agreed a number of crucial ground rules for setting a market in motion after nearly a decade of complex discussions.

Tuesday, 12 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Tuesday, 12 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Tuesday, 12 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Tuesday, 12 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Der polnische Ministerpräsident Donald Tusk warnte die Bürger eindringlich davor, dass die Unabhängigkeit des Landes heute unsicherer sei als je zuvor. Anlass war der nationale Unabhängigkeitstag am Montag (11. November).

Mountain range in Mt. Everest region in Nepal; loss of snow and glacier melting in the region impacting people living in the region and downstream communities. Photo: Tanka Dhakal/IPS

By Tanka Dhakal
BAKU, Nov 12 2024 (IPS)

Scientists warn of vastly higher impacts on billions of people’s livelihood and cost to the global economy by the accelerating losses in the world’s snow and ice regions, aka the cryosphere.

Over 50 leading cryosphere scientists released an annual report on the status of the world’s ice stores on Tuesday (November 12) at the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku. An updated report on the world’s ice warns of “drastically higher costs without immediate emissions reductions.” 

The State of the Cryosphere Report 2024 titled Lost Ice, Global Damage, coordinated by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), says that current climate commitments are nowhere near to avoid irreversible consequences for billions of people from global ice loss.

After analyzing most recent cryosphere science, scientists underscore that the costs of loss and damage if our current level of emissions continues—leading towards a rise of 3°C or more—will be even more extreme, with many regions experiencing sea-level rise or water resource loss well beyond adaptation limits in this century. Reports say mitigation also becomes more costly due to feedback from thawing permafrost emissions and loss of sea ice.

For the first time, the report notes a growing scientific consensus that melting Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets may be slowing important ocean currents at both poles, with potentially dire consequences for a much colder northern Europe and greater sea-level rise along the U.S. East Coast.

Cryosphere scientists (ICCI) stress that only definitive and rapid measures to reduce emissions can avert the worst loss and damage impacts of ice and snow loss and cut the ultimate costs to vulnerable nations and high emitters alike.

“The drastic changes we are seeing in the cryosphere while mountain and downstream regions all over the planet are suffering floods, droughts, and landslides provide the most compelling arguments we could have for immediate climate action,” said Regine Hock, an IPCC author and glaciologist. “The cryosphere can’t wait. It must be put at the top of the global climate agenda.”

To underscore the situation, scientists gave an example of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is currently losing 30 million tons of ice per hour, “something I never thought I would see in my lifetime,” said IPCC scientist Dr. Rob DeConto. “If climate pledges are not taken seriously, global temperature rise may exceed 3°C, with Antarctic ice loss potentially causing sea levels to rise much faster than we think.”

Cryosphere scientists are pleading for urgent climate action to avoid catastrophe for coastal cities and downstream communities in the mountain regions.

Dr. James Kirkham, an author on the report, said, “We are not talking about the distant future; the impacts of cryosphere loss are already felt by millions. But the speed of action we take today decides the size and speed of the challenge to which future generations will need to adapt. The impacts of cryosphere loss will only become greater with every hour that leaders delay action now.”

Impact is not only limited to coastal or ice sheet regions but also impacts the day-to-day livelihood of Himalayan regions too.

“There is a very clear connection between changes in the cryosphere in high mountain regions and downstream impacts,” climate scientist Dr. Miriam Jackson said. “Some of these are related to hazards, including thawing of permafrost (frozen ground) and floods that originate in glacial lakes, commonly called GLOFs—glacier lake outburst floods.”

In Asia, the frequency of GLOFs is expected to triple by century’s end without substantial emission reductions. Jackson added, “Glaciers are continuing to shrink, affecting and changing water runoff. Snow cover and number of snow-covered days are also showing decreasing trends, affecting people who depend on meltwater runoff for irrigation.”

A change in water resources will affect agriculture and probably lead to higher food prices.

To avoid multilayered impacts, urgent climate responses and emissions cuts are necessary.

“Whilst some devastating losses and impacts are now locked in,” Kirkham said, “how bad the intensity and severity of cryosphere impacts will continue to grow in the future is still very much to be decided based on the policy decisions we will make in the coming five or so years.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Ein Gericht in Rom hat das Auslagerungsprogramm für Migranten zwischen Italien und Albanien erneut gestoppt. Die Überstellung von sieben weiteren Asylbewerbern wurde gestoppt, wodurch insgesamt 19 Überführungen seit Mitte Oktober ausgesetzt wurden. 

The controls are set to last six months, part of a wider crackdown on migration proposed by the right-wing coalition led by the anti-Muslim nationalist PVV party of Geert Wilders.

Smog near the Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in Faisalabad, a city about 120 km from Lahore and the third most populous city after Karachi and Lahore. Credits: Khalid Mahmood/Wiki & handout.

By Zofeen Ebrahim
KARACHI, Pakistan, Nov 12 2024 (IPS)

“It’s been horrible; I’ve been sick on and off for the last 10 days,” said 29-year-old asthmatic Natasha Sohail, who teaches A-Level students at three private schools in Lahore. Last week, her condition worsened with a vertigo attack and fever.

Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and capital of Punjab province, with a population of nearly 14 million, remains shrouded in a thick grey haze, which Sohail describes as smelling of “burning wood.”

It also has the distinction of being the world leader in the poor air quality index (AQI), with some neighborhoods touching over 1200 on the air quality index. The AQI measures the level of fine particles (PM2.5), larger particles (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) in the air. An AQI of 151 to 200 is classified as “unhealthy,” 201 to 300 as “very unhealthy,” and more than 300 as “hazardous.”

For the past eight years, Sohail has relied on anti-wheezing drugs and inhalers. At home, there are four air purifiers to help her breathe cleaner air.

She’s not alone.

These two photos were taken at the same place; the clear blue sky was taken in September 2023 and the sepia skies in November 2024. Courtesy: Zaeema Naeem

“The hospitals are crowded with tens of thousands of patients suffering from respiratory and heart diseases being treated at hospitals and clinics over the last two weeks,” said Dr Ashraf Nizami, president of the Pakistan Medical Association’s Lahore chapter. “The psychological toll the poor air is taking on people remains under the radar,” he added.

Punjab’s senior minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, revealing the government’s anti-smog action plan, informed journalists that Lahore endured 275 days of unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) levels over the past year, with temperatures rising by 2.3 degrees.

After Lahore’s AQI exceeded 1,000 last week, authorities closed all primary and secondary schools. Punjab’s Secretary for Environment, Raja Jahangir Anwar, warned the closure could continue if air quality doesn’t improve. “Young children are vulnerable, and we want to avoid an emergency,” he said, adding that online learning, as during the COVID pandemic, can be adopted again.

Source: Analysis by CREA. Data source for Lahore AQI is Airnow

 

Source: Analysis by CREA. Data source for Lahore AQI is Airnow

 

Source: Analysis by CREA. Data source for Lahore AQI is Airnow

 

Living in a world of air purifiers

Aliya Khan, 37, a mother of two boys—aged five and one, with the older one suffering from asthma—had installed four imported air purifiers in her home four years ago, each costing Rs 31,000 (about USD 370). They bought a fifth this year at Rs 60,000 (about USD 710). “It cost us a fortune, but that’s not all; the filters must be replaced every year, which costs Rs 10,000 per machine,” she said.

The private school her five-year-old attends lacks air purifiers in classrooms, leaving parents with no choice but to pool together and buy one for their child’s classroom.

Khan, a development consultant, says air purifiers work best if the home is packed tightly to keep the air from outside entering. “Our windows and doors are poorly insulated, where we live with elderly parents and two hyperactive kids and home staff that keep coming in and going out—the air purifiers struggle to maintain their effectiveness.”

Smog Brings Business for Some

Business picks up for 37-year-old Hassan Zaidi as soon as Lahore is covered in smog. He’s currently fulfilling an order for “hundreds of air purifiers” for a foreign school in Lahore.

A computer engineer with a passion for product design, Zaidi started building air purifiers in 2019 for his family after his baby daughter developed a cough. He purchased an imported air purifier, took it apart, and quickly realized that with the right materials, it was no “rocket science” to build one himself.

He claimed, “Mine work better, look better, and cost just Rs 25,000 (USD 296).” These air purifiers restart automatically after power outages, are nearly silent, and are easy to repair. The filter costs Rs 2,400 (USD 28) and needs replacing each season. Each unit is good for a 500 sq ft room if fully sealed.

Authorities Take action

Stubble burning in India and Pakistan. The blue line is the border between the two countries. Pakistan (left) and India (on the right).

Anwar said the government has introduced several measures to reduce emissions and improve air quality, adopting a “whole-of-government” approach with all departments working together for the first time.

Authorities have already banned barbecuing food without filters and use of motorized rickshaws.

The government distributed 1,000 subsidized super-seeders to farmers as an alternative to burning rice stubble and took legal action against over 400 farmers who violated the burning ban. “This carrot and stick approach will be very effective,” endorsed Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, the executive director of the Islamabad-based think tank, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

Anwar said superseeders will convert residue into mulch, improving production and speeding sowing. Penalizing a few farmers will deter others from breaking the law.

Another measure involved demolishing over 600 of the 11,000 smoke-emitting brick kilns that hadn’t switched to zigzag technology, including 200 in and around Lahore.

Terming brick kilns the “low hanging fruit,” Dr Parvez Hassan, senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and president of the Pakistan Environmental Law Association, who, in 2003 and again in 2018, was appointed the chairperson of the Lahore Clean Air Commission and the Smog Commission by the Lahore High Court to come up with the smog policy, did not approve the “arbitrary decision of dismantling” of the kilns. In his view, supporting the kiln owners with “available concessional financing for conversion to zig-zag technology” would be a more effective way.

He further added that it was well known that the transport (oil), cement and textile sectors were the bigger polluters, but they were very influential. “Power in Pakistan has always meant being above the law,” he said and that the “general lack of political will and effective capability to monitor compliance” also act as roadblocks. “No country in the world has succeeded in good environmental policies unless it has first built a capacity to implement! The journey must begin with capacity building!”

However, Anwar said action has been taken with visits to 15,000 industrial units, sealing 64 mills and demolishing 152 factories.

Anwar stated that 43 percent of air pollution in the province is caused by unfit vehicles, with transporters equally responsible. He shared that Lahore has 1.3 million cars and 4.5 million two-wheelers, with 1,800 motorcycles added daily. He also mentioned that the traffic police have been ordered to impound vehicles without fitness certificates. Last month, a fine of Rs 16.09 million was imposed on over 24,000 substandard vehicles across the province.

“Getting a vehicle fitness certificate in Pakistan is as easy as a blind person getting a license to drive!” said a petroleum expert who requested anonymity. “We need to clean the fuel, scrap old vehicles, and make vehicle emissions testing mandatory,” he added.

Imran Khalid, a climate governance expert, emphasized that improving fuel quality alone isn’t enough; vehicles and engines also need upgrades to fully benefit from better fuel. He noted that while Euro 5 fuel is available in Pakistan, it’s not widely accessible, and Euro 6 is the standard in India. He added, “I haven’t seen any survey on how many cars in Pakistan have Euro 5 compliant engines.”

The petroleum expert urged the government to approve the refinery upgrade policy, which has been delayed for two years, adding that upgrades will take up to five years.

Despite various actions, people in Lahore remain unconvinced, calling them too little, too late.

“The measures announced by the government should have been operationalized at least six months before the smog season and the 24/7 enforcement of these priorities should be rigorously monitored by a dedicated team with support of the public through awareness campaigns,” pointed out advocate Hassan.

Nizami called for year-round efforts against air pollution, questioning why no one is held accountable for cutting millions of trees for unplanned housing while the focus remains on controlling stubble burning.

Anwar defended the smog plan, stating it’s been in progress since April and required public cooperation, including staying indoors and wearing masks. Punjab’s senior minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, warned that failure to wear masks could lead to a complete city lockdown.

“I don’t see the plan working as the air quality is getting from bad to worse,” said Sohail.

Nizami criticized the government for making a lot of noise but taking little action. “It’s shameful how they’ve shifted health responsibilities to the private sector,” he said.

Sohail suggested cloud seeding for artificial rain, noting its positive impact last year. Nizami also supported using artificial rain to clear the haze.

Anwar explained that cloud seeding required the right clouds and humidity. He added that the meteorological office predicts favorable weather for it between November 11 and 13.

Climate diplomacy

While 70 percent of smog in Lahore is locally generated, nearly 30 percent comes from India. Manoj Kumar, a scientist with the Finnish Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, noted that the Indo-Gangetic Plain formed an “interconnected air shed,” affecting air quality, but local sources played a major role in Lahore’s pollution levels.

The chief minister is keen to start talks with her Indian counterpart. “Maryam Nawaz will soon send a letter to the Chief Minister of Indian Punjab, expressing her willingness to visit India and invite him to Pakistan,” said Anwar.

Kumar praised the Punjab chief minister’s initiative, emphasizing that long-term, coordinated efforts between both countries could lead to improved air quality through a unified approach. But the efforts should not stop at the Punjab regions alone, as the air shed is shared and goes beyond India.

Anwar said Pakistan is considering hosting a “regional climate conference in Lahore soon.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Den spanischen Konservativen ist es gelungen, die Fraktion der Europäischen Volkspartei (EVP) für ihr Anliegen zu gewinnen: die Anhörung der designierten spanischen Kommissarin Teresa Ribera aufgrund ihres Handelns bei der Flutkatastrophe in Spanien zu erschweren.

L’objectif de l’OTAN de consacrer 2 % du PIB en dépenses militaires n’est plus suffisant dans la situation actuelle, selon les déclarations de la ministre allemande des Affaires étrangères, Annalena Baerbock, lundi 11 novembre.

Tuesday’s hold-ups might give the Socialists more leverage as they fear a tough voting stance on Fitto could spark backlash against Ribera, who is last in line to be grilled this afternoon.