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I wrote a piece on the CSTO and the Warsaw Pact for Russia Matters. Here’s a preview. You can read the whole article here.

This month 65 years ago, the Soviet Union announced the formation of the Warsaw Pact. For the next three and a half decades, the pact remained the security alliance of the Communist world, designed to counter NATO in Europe, before becoming defunct in 1991. Almost immediately, however, post-Soviet Russia laid out a new collective defense organization. Officially known as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), that post-Soviet pact has proved to be no match for the Warsaw Pact. Neither CSTO nor the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the other collective security pact of which Russia is a member, pose a real threat to the U.S. and its allies above and beyond the threat posed by their individual member states.

The Warsaw Pact was formally founded on May 14, 1955, as Moscow’s answer to the integration of West Germany into NATO. Its members included the Soviet Union and its East European satellite states: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Albania was initially a member, but withdrew in the 1960s after siding with China during the Sino-Soviet split. The pact obligated member states to mutual defense, allowed for member states to station troops on each other’s territory and set up a unified military command under Soviet control. During the 35 years of its existence, the pact only undertook one operation as an organization—the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, though Hungary’s withdrawal from the pact in 1956 was one of the proximate causes of the Soviet invasion of that country. Both of these actions were practical applications of the Brezhnev Doctrine, which justified intervention in any socialist state if socialist rule was considered to be under external or internal threat. The pact’s dissolution in July 1991 was a key signal that the Soviet Union’s hold on Eastern Europe had been broken and that the Cold War was truly over.

After the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union, leaders of several of the newly independent states signed a new collective security treaty. Although the treaty was signed in 1992, no practical actions were taken until the early 2000s, when six states formed a new organization on its basis, imaginatively called the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Through this new organization, the member states sought to enhance the existing treaty’s mutual security commitments to develop a standing organization that enhanced security cooperation through regular exercises, while aspiring to further integration including an eventual joint command structure. However, the organization was largely moribund for several years after its founding. Although it became more active in the last decade, organizing regular and increasingly frequent military exercises since 2012, it still does little more than provide a venue for cooperation among the military forces of its member states.

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L’équipe d’experts médicaux chinois de lutte contre le covid-19, arrivée à Alger le 14 mai, a dévoilé, ce mercredi, son rapport sur la situation épidémiologique relative au coronavirus en Algérie. Le responsable de cette équipe médiale, qui est composée de 20 experts, a fait savoir que la situation épidémiologique est « stable » et « maîtrisée ». « La situation […]

L’article Coronavirus : Ce qu’a dit l’équipe médicale chinoise sur la situation en Algérie est apparu en premier sur .

Die US-Regierung hat ein Ende der Ausnahmegenehmigungen für iranische Atomanlagen angekündigt. Betroffen seien der Reaktor Arak und der Forschungsreaktor in Teheran, teilte US-Aussenminister Mike Pompeo am Mittwoch mit.

Wegen schlechter Wetterbedingungen ist der bemannte Raumflugtest zweier US-Astronauten zur Internationalen Raumstation ISS verschoben worden. Rund eine Viertelstunde vor dem geplanten Start wurde der Test am Mittwoch vorerst abgesagt.

Le chercheur français, Didier Raoult, a publié, ce mercredi, une nouvelle étude scientifique pour défendre le traitement du Coronavirus (Covid-19) à l’hydroxychloroquine. Cette nouvelle étude a été publiée sur le site de L’IHU Méditerranée Infection (l’Institut hospitalo-universitaire en maladies infectieuses de Marseille). L’étude a analysé des données de 3737 patients atteins du Coronavirus admis à […]

L’article Chloroquine : Didier Raoult publie une nouvelle étude est apparu en premier sur .

Wegen der unsicheren Wirtschaftslage stellen viele Schweizer Firmen keine Leute mehr ein. Nicht so das Start-up Juice Technology. Drei bis sechs neue Gesichter pro Monat braucht die Firma. Doch der Chef klagt: «Die Bewerber fehlen uns.»

Die Freude darüber, nach wochenlangem Lockdown wieder in der Sonnenstube zu sein, hält in Mergoscia TI nicht lange an. Die Gemeinde hat radikal die schon raren Parkplätze zusammengestrichen und lässt auch gleich Bussen verteilen.

Für ihren Job ist Mona Vetsch viel rumgekommen, nicht nur wegen Corona geniesst sie privat ihr neu entdecktes Glück.

Le Conseil fédéral a annoncé les nouvelles mesures prévues dans le cadre du déconfinement progressif. Les frontières devraient être ouvertes dès le 15 juin pour les pays voisins. L’Espace Schengen en juillet.

Familles, loisirs, sport, culture: le Conseil fédéral assouplit tout et dit comment il compte garder la situation sous contrôle.

By External Source
May 27 2020 (IPS)

Between 2002 and 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) faced the first pandemic of the globalized 21st century, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Under the leadership of Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland and through epidemiological, clinical, and logistical coordination, the WHO facilitated a strong and ultimately successful response to the outbreak. Today, the WHO is facing the coronavirus pandemic in an even more globalized and urbanized world, further complicating response and coordination efforts. What similarities do these two pandemics share, and what lessons in leadership might we be able to learn from the past?

The post LIVE STREAM: Former Norwegian Prime Minister Brundtland on Pandemic Leadership appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Excerpt:

Chicago Council on Global Affairs

 

Gro Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway; Former Director-General, World Health Organization. Moderated by Catherine Bertini.

The post LIVE STREAM: Former Norwegian Prime Minister Brundtland on Pandemic Leadership appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Eine ehemalige Mitarbeiterin erhebt happige Vorwürfe gegen Gottfried Locher. Jetzt tritt er als Präsident der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz zurück.

Smart textiles are a new generation of innovative material offering very interesting multifunctional properties such as being integrable into uniforms and platforms. They therefore have drawn the attention of the defence sector.   

Against this backdrop, EDA has incorporated smart textiles into the so-called Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of its capability technology group (’CapTech’) devoted to Materials & Structures, and a specific Technology Building Block (TBB) was set up for them. Furthermore, other EDA CapTechs, such as those dealing with CBRN, Human Factors and Ground Systems, have taken initiatives related to smart textiles.  
 

STILE project 

In January 2019, EDA launched a project on “Smart TextILEs in defence: looking at the soldiers of the future” with two participating Member States, Spain and Portugal. The practical implementation of this project, called STILE, was assigned to a consortium led by the Spanish research institute AITEX, in collaboration with two Portuguese organisations, CITEVE and INEGI. 

The objective of STILE is to lay the foundation for a future ‘European Multifunctional Smart Textile’ for defence able to respond to a certain number of requirements in terms of functionality, integration, comfort and weight. More precisely, it was aimed to define a roadmap for developing a system offering several functionalities in a textile substrate, and to come up with a proof of concept that integrates various functionalities with state-of-the-art technologies.
 

Preliminary results  

The initial analysis undertaken under the project confirmed that Europe lacks multifunctional smart textile capabilities in defence. Hence the importance for the STILE project to produce a proof of concept of multifunctional smart textiles able to integrate in a single model all the afore-mentioned features and requirements.  

Preliminary results of the project give already an overview of the current R&T development and technology needs as well as the challenges laying ahead to overcome those needs. The methodology used was based on the technical knowledge of the consortium members and the collection of data coming from multiple sources, including a technology foresight workshop on smart textile technologies organised at EDA, a survey done among the Agency’s ‘Materials’ CapTech experts as well as various meetings with experts.
 

Roadmap 

A medium to long-term technology roadmap was established with a set of actions required to develop an innovative smart textile for future defence applications, including the incorporation of modern design and development methodology by the textile industry. For this purpose, two simulation models were developed to evaluate the main concepts regarding the thermal protection capacity of the garment and the thermal signature under different ambient conditions.  
 

Proof of concept 

As a first step of the roadmap, a multifunctional smart textile prototype - the first of this type and quality in Europe - was produced with the following functions (each of them tested):  

• signature management: the textile has multispectral camouflage in both static and moving positions 

• CBR threats monitoring: the smart textile detects the presence of hazardous agents (e.g. H2S, NO2, Cl2) and provides warning to the soldier 

• improved mobility, using various textile structures as well as seamless technology in body mapping concept 

• flame retardancy, water and dirt repellence and anti-mosquito solutions 

• physiological monitoring: the smart textile measures the heart rate and provide info to the soldier 

• temperature regulation (cooling and heating): the smart textile is able to control the body temperature through monitoring of the ambient temperature 

• communication: the smart textile provides all parameters, such as the heart rate, to the soldier via an app in the smartphone, embedded in the system. In addition, the data can be transferred to the operating centre, if needed. 
   

Testing in the field 

From June 2020 onwards, the STILE prototype will be further tested in the field to make sure that it fulfills the stringent military requirements. At the end of the project (expected in May 2021) an exhibition centre will be organized to reveal the fully tested STILE model to the European defence and dual use community, reaching out the potential users in the European Ministries of Defence. 

Nous sommes heureux de vous dévoiler les programmes phares du mois de juin, spécial Afrique, de la chaîne Museum TV, la première télé 100 % Art ! Suite aux reports de la Biennale de Dakar et de la saison Africa 2020, Museum TV se propose de mettre en avant le continent africain riche d’art et […]

L’article MUSEUM TV, la première télé 100% art : le mois de juin sous le signe de l’art africain est apparu en premier sur Afrik.com.

Le bilan quotidien des contaminations au coronavirus a encore enregistré une hausse, ce mercredi, passant à 8857 cas confirmés au Covid-19 depuis le début de la pandémie. Lors des dernières 24 heures, 160 nouvelles contaminations au Covid-19 dont 6 décès ont été enregistrés en Algérie, selon le ministère de la santé. Pour les guérisons, le […]

L’article Bilan Coronavirus du 27 mai : Les cas confirmés par wilaya est apparu en premier sur .

Le gouvernement béninois a décidé ce mercredi en conseil des ministres de la mise en place d'un nouveau mode de règlement des factures de consommation d'eau potable et d'électricité des établissements scolaires publics.

Le paiement des factures d'eau portable et d'électricité est dorénavant confié aux collectivités territoriales s'agissant des écoles maternelles et primaires, puis aux chefs d'établissements pour ce qui est des établissements d'enseignement secondaire.
Selon le Conseil des ministres, « le nouveau mode de règlement desdites factures participe de la volonté du gouvernement de trouver une solution durable à l'approvisionnement en eau potable et à la fourniture d'énergie électrique des établissements scolaires ». Cela permettra « d'éviter des situations de défaut de paiement dont la conséquence est la résiliation des abonnements ou la suspension de la fourniture d'eau potable ou d'électricité ».
Pour ce nouveau mode de règlement, « la part des ressources réservées au paiement des factures d'électricité et d'eau dans la subvention de l'Etat allouée aux écoles sera désormais transférée aux communes qui en assureront la responsabilité ».
« En cas de défaut de paiement par une autorité communale malgré la mise à disposition des ressources, amputation sera faite sur les ressources du Fonds d'Appui au Développement des Communes (FADeC) allouées à cette commune », informe le Conseil des ministres.
En ce qui concerne l'enseignement secondaire, les ressources seront directement versées dans le compte des établissements scolaires. « Le non-paiement, par un chef d'établissement, malgré la mise à disposition de ressources, sera considéré comme un manque de performance », précise le compte rendu de la séance.
A.A.A

Le gouvernement a décidé ce mercredi 27 mai 2020 en Conseil des ministres, de la mise en œuvre d'un cadre de souscription de police d'assurance maladie au profit du personnel des structures de l'Etat.

Selon le compte rendu du Conseil des ministres, il existe actuellement une multiplicité de polices d'assurance souscrites par les structures de l'Etat au profit de leurs agents. Ce qui a pour conséquence une disparité des clauses, et qui ne garantit ni une gestion optimale, ni un suivi rigoureux des contrats.
Le nouveau cadre approuvé, vise à favoriser une meilleure gestion des relations entre l'Etat et les assureurs et ses agents. Il définit également le champ et les conditions de souscriptions des polices d'assurance au profit des structures publiques.
Le cadre adopté permettra aussi d'inclure dans les contrats d'assurance du personnel des structures d'Etat, des clauses uniformes relatives aux garanties, aux barèmes de remboursement et à l'ajustement des primes. Ces dispositions visent également à harmoniser et à améliorer les conditions de conclusion et de mise en œuvre des clauses des contrats maladie.

F. A. A.

On May 27th, the government of Sweden and IPI co-organized their first annual ministerial level discussion on women, peace and leadership. Ministers of the governments of France, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, and Tunisia, as well as a former minister from Yemen met to discuss opportunities for supporting women’s participation in peacebuilding during this time of a global pandemic. Together with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and representatives from civil society, participants committed to continue in their efforts to support women’s rights and women’s full and effective participation in all peace efforts.

In the virtual roundtable, conducted under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution, discussants pointed out that crisis responses often pushed gender considerations to the side, but that maintaining focus on the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda and supporting women’s participation in peacebuilding was critical. Central to the discussion was the concern that restrictions imposed as part of the pandemic response placed a particular burden on women. Speakers identified the need for responses to the COVID-19 crisis that addressed women’s protection and security, as the majority of healthcare workers are women, and because women faced a heightened risk of gender-based violence and limited access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Participants agreed that the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) should be marked by a clear commitment to include women in peace and security efforts at all levels. Speakers encouraged the international community to sustain the ambition of this anniversary year into 2021 and beyond.

The discussion concluded with recommendations for state and multilateral leadership on WPS, including to support the UN secretary-general’s recent call for global ceasefire, along with the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative. Participants underscored the need to lead by example and include women in national peace processes, as well as to ensure international actors consult with and implement ideas from women in decision-making processes.

IPI Non-resident Senior Adviser Sarah Taylor was the moderator. IPI Vice President Adam Lupel provided opening remarks. This event is part of a larger project on women, peace, and leadership under IPI’s Women, Peace and Security program.

This ministerial-level discussion will inform the planning of this year’s High-Level Women, Peace, and Leadership Symposium, organized by IPI and the government of Sweden, that will take place around the time of the opening of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2020.

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Der dritte Lockerungsschritt aus dem Corona-Lockdown kommt früher und geht weiter, als der Bundesrat angekündigt hatte. Zum Glück! Wir bekommen ein Stück Normalität zurück.