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Invité dans l'émission ‘'90 mn pour convaincre'' de la radio nationale ce Dimanche 20 Mai 2018, l'ancien ministre de la décentralisation et de la gouvernance locale, Raphaël Edou a déclaré qu'il ne faut pas dire que les communes ne gèrent pas bien. Pour lui, il est de la responsabilité de l'Etat de veiller à la bonne gouvernance des fonds publics au niveau des communes. « Il faut transférer les ressources tel que c'est prévu et veiller sur la bonne gestion. Cela veut dire que les indicateurs de gestion sont mis en place avec des mécanismes de suivi rigoureux », a précisé l'ancien ministre. Pour lui, aujourd'hui, on ne peut pas affirmer que les maires, les élus gèrent pas bien les ressources, mais font des efforts. Se référant à l'esprit et à la définition même de la décentralisation, il a affirmé que c'est « le lieu par excellence pour tout citoyen de participer aux actions publiques locales ». A ce niveau, poursuit-il, nous sommes tous dans la mal gouvernance. Selon Raphaël Edou, ce que le gouvernement devrait faire, c'est de prendre tous les cas de mal gouvernance, d'afficher tous les tableaux et d'ouvrir le débat. « Quand vous faites des ciblages et vous n'ouvrez pas le débat à tout le monde, là, on ne peut pas comprendre », a-t-il renchéri.

Le responsable des plaidoyers de l'Associations nationale des communes du Bénin Ancb, Stanislas Hounkanlin, invité lui aussi dans l'émission, a martelé que les textes ont prévu la mise en place d'un fonds pour financer un peu le fonctionnement des communes. Une volonté qui s'est matérialisée selon lui, à travers la création du Fadec qui est aujourd'hui la seule structure financière pour drainer les ressources vers les communes même si à la date d'aujourd'hui, toutes les attentes des communes ne sont pas encore comblées. En 2018, c'est moins de 5% voire 4% des recettes budgétaires de l'Etat qui ont été envoyées vers les communes, a informé Stanislas Hounkanrin alors que selon les différentes études réalisées au niveau de l'Ancb pour voir la proportionnalité des charges qui incombent aux communes et les ressources nécessaires pour la mise en œuvre de ces compétences sont estimées au-delà de 10%. Dans la sous-région, en l'occurrence dans l'espace Uemoa, poursuit le responsable des plaidoyers de l'Ancb, c'est indiqué qu'il fallait mettre au moins 15% des recettes budgétaires de l'Etat à la disposition des communes pour leur permettre d'avoir suffisamment de ressources pour mettre en œuvre les compétences.
L'ancien préfet des départements du Zou et des Collines, Armand Maurice Nouatin, a déploré les écarts de comportement, les écarts de langage de certains maires qui se croient tout permis et se croyaient tout permis du fait de leur élection à la tête d'une commune. Regrettant ces écarts, il a souligné qu'il fallait quelque part ne pas en tenir compte. Pour lui, la tutelle a des principes et se conçoit selon la loi, en deux grandes fonctions à savoir, une fonction d'assistance et de conseil à la commune, de soutien des actions de la commune et d'harmonisation de ces actions avec celles de l'Etat, et un rôle de contrôle de la légalité des actes pris par le maire. La tutelle en principe ne devrait pas servir de bâton pour frapper le maire, a rappelé l'ancien préfet.

F. Aubin AHEHEHINNOU

Arrivée du Président de la République S.E.M Patrice Talon ce samedi 20 mai 2017 à Riyad (Arabie Saoudite) sur invitation de Sa majesté le Roi Salmane Ben Abdelaziz Al Saoud , pour prendre part au Sommet islamo-arabo-americain qui est prévu pour démarrer demain dimanche 21 mai 2017.

La délégation conduite par le Président de la République est entre autre composée du Ministre des Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération Monsieur Aurélien Agbenonci et du Ministre d'État chargé du Plan et du Développement, Monsieur Abdoulaye Bio Tchané.

Le Président de la République S.E.M Patrice Talon a été accueilli à son arrivée à riyad par le Prince muhammad bin Abdelraman , député-maire de la ville de riyad.

This report is for the media and the general public.

At 11:04 on 20 May, two SMM patrols consisting of ten members and four armoured vehicles positioned themselves about 20m south of a checkpoint of the armed formations inside the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) on its southern edge. All patrol members were outside the vehicles, five of whom were speaking with two unarmed members of the armed formations, and saw an additional five to eight members of the armed formations (one armed with an assault rifle (AK-type), the remainder unarmed) walking around the checkpoint inside the disengagement area. At 11:06, the patrol members heard an undetermined explosion 300-500m north (assessed as inside the disengagement area). (The SMM had previously observed an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) about 10m north-west of the abovementioned checkpoint inside the disengagement area. See SMM Daily Report 3 May 2018.)

Both patrols immediately left the area and returned safely to their bases in Sievierodonetsk (government-controlled, 74km north-west of Luhansk) and Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), respectively. 

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With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for patients getting treatment abroad.

Do you suffer from a medical condition that cannot be treated in your home country, or you have to wait too long for treatment? You might be interested to know whether you can access other EU countries’ health systems and if your home insurance will cover at least a part of the costs of getting treatment abroad.

EU rules on cross-border healthcare could come to your aid in such a situation. They grant patients the right to benefit from planned medical treatment, such as specialist consultation, surgery or treatment for a specific medical condition, in another EU country on the same terms and at the same cost as people who live in that country. While some countries may have restrictions in place for access to treatment for organisational reasons, these should not discriminate against patients coming from another EU country.

© satyrenko / Fotolia

And what about the issue of reimbursement? If the treatment is covered by your insurance, but is not available at all, or not in time, in your home country, your health insurer is obliged to reimburse your expenses up to the level of costs you would have normally incurred in your home country.

National Contact Points for planned medical treatment, either in your home country or in the country where the treatment is available, will help you identify the health provider offering the treatment you need. Your home National Contact Point also provides information about reimbursement options and about whether you need to ask for prior authorisation.

Further information

• European Commission Directorate General for Health website: https://ec.europa.eu/health/cross_border_care/overview_en
• European Commission Your Europe portal https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/planned-healthcare/get-more-info/index_en.htm
• Network of National Contact Points https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/cross_border_care/docs/cbhc_ncp_en.pdf

By WAM
DUBAI, May 20 2018 (WAM)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, is intensifying its efforts to support the overwhelming number of families torn apart by war and violence and who are struggling to provide for their families. The agency today launched its global campaign #HandinHand to raise awareness around the pressing need of refugee families, particularly women and children, for vital support and cash assistance.

"We invite every person observing the Holy Month around the globe to stand #HandinHand with refugee families, so together we make sure that no refugee is left behind in their time of greatest need"
Houssam Chahine, Head of Private Sector Partnerships for UNHCR in the MENA region

In line with these efforts, UNHCR has kicked off a visual campaign that will air across the globe throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan. “Projections of Hope” aims to connect families throughout the region with the reality of the daily struggles of refugees during the Holy Month.

Commenting on the announcement, Houssam Chahine, Head of Private Sector Partnerships for UNHCR in the MENA region, said, “We invite every person observing the Holy Month around the globe to stand #HandinHand with refugee families, so together we make sure that no refugee is left behind in their time of greatest need, and we are counting on your donations and good deeds to make this happen… 22.5 million refugees worldwide require our support, the most vulnerable of which are Syrian and Rohingya families of women and children.”

#HandinHand also highlights, through real-time visuals on its social media channels, how donations translate to direct aid and monthly cash assistance to the most vulnerable refugee families.

“As conflict continues to escalate around the world, we ask for your help to support refugees in need this Ramadan. We are present on the ground to provide these families with vital support such as shelter, healthcare, clean water, and monthly cash assistance so we keep families together and protect children from potential child labour and exploitation,” Chahine said.

UNHCR recently unveiled its global Zakat platform, which provides a trusted and efficient route to fulfil Zakat obligations and ensures 100 percent of funds go directly to the neediest refugee families in Jordan and Lebanon. The organisation has adopted a digital-only approach to paying Zakat, ensuring security, efficiency, transparency and complete peace of mind. The new platform can be accessed at zakat.unhcr.org.

 

WAM/Rola Alghoul/MOHD AAMIR

The post UNHCR launches global #HandinHand campaign appeared first on Inter Press Service.

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for people in an emergency situation.

Hopefully it will never happen to you, but many people find themselves in emergency situations while travelling abroad, because they have a car accident, need medical assistance or fall victim to a crime, for instance. The EU has set up an emergency phone number to enable you to get help quickly: 112. You can dial it anywhere in Europe for free to summon the local police, ambulance or fire brigade to your immediate assistance.

Meanwhile, since March 2018, all new cars have to comply with EU legislation and be equipped with the eCall on-board emergency call system. The system will be activated by sensors if you have a serious car accident and will automatically call the 112 number, communicating your car’s location, the time and the direction of travel, even if you are unconscious or unable to call. You can also trigger it manually by pushing a button in the car, for instance if you witness a serious accident. It is estimated that the system could save up to 2 500 lives a year.

© vchalup / Fotolia

If you fall sick while travelling in Europe, EU legislation gives you the same right to state-provided healthcare as people insured in the country concerned, and if you carry the European Health Insurance Card, you can avoid paying upfront in most EU countries.

Another example of EU provision for people in emergency situations is the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which supplies coordinated assistance to victims of natural and man-made disasters. This can include health assistance from the European Medical Corps, who send doctors and medical equipment in response to emergencies in and outside the EU.

Further information

• European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications, networks, content and technology https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/policies/emergency-and-support-lines
• European Commission’s Directorate General for mobility and transport, https://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/its/road/action_plan/ecall_en
• European Commission’s European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, http://ec.europa.eu/echo/what/civil-protection/mechanism_en

Le Secrétaire général de l’ONU, António Guterres, a déclaré samedi suivre de près l'évolution de la situation au Sahara occidental et a mis en garde contre toute action susceptible de modifier le statu quo.

A scene from the film Rafiki, which was banned in Kenya. Photo courtesy of the Cannes press office.

By A. D. McKenzie
CANNES, France, May 19 2018 (IPS)

The usual big-name directors were absent this year from the Cannes Film Festival in southern France, creating space for cutting-edge films from Asia, Africa, small European states, and the Middle East.

Most of these films put the focus squarely on stories about outsiders, highlighting issues of exclusion, disability, racism and gender inequality (including in the film industry). The result was a festival with some of the most engaging movies in the last five years, alongside the trademark glitz.

The winners in the two main categories of the event, which ran from May 8 to 19, exemplified the concentration on the underdog. Manbiki Kazoku (Shoplifters) by Japanese director Kore-Eda Hirokazu won the Palme d’Or top prize, from among 21 films, while Gräns (Border), by Iranian-born Danish director Ali Abbasi, was awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize, beating 17 other movies. The latter category recognizes films that stand out for their originality, and many critics agreed Gräns was remarkable.

“We feel that out of 2,000 films considered by the Festival, the 18 we saw in Un Certain Regard, from Argentina to China, were all in their own way winners,” stated the jury, headed by Puerto-Rican actor Benicio Del Toro.

“We were extremely impressed by the high quality of the work presented, but in the end we were the most moved by … five films” (including Gräns), the jury added

Full of suspense, Abbasi’s movie tells the story of a “strange-looking” female customs officer who has a gift for spotting, or sniffing out, travellers trying to hide their contraband and other secrets, and it takes viewers on her journey to discover who she really is.

We see her experiencing verbal abuse from some travellers, and we slowly discover the exploitation she and people like her have suffered, while also learning about her origins, and seeing her fall in love and deal with appalling crime.

Based on a short story by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist, and with superb acting, the film combines romance, dark humour and the paranormal to deliver a subtle message about the treatment of people who are different and society’s behaviour towards those most vulnerable, among other subjects.

A second film that won a major award in the Un Certain Regard category also dealt with “difference” and the acceptance of one’s individuality. Girl by Belgian director Lukas Dhont is a first feature about a boy who dreams of becoming a ballerina, exploring the journey of a trans-teen with a passion for dance. Victor Polster, the 15-year-old actor who plays the title role with poignant credibility, won the best actor award, while Girl also won the competition’s Caméra d’Or prize for best first film.

A scene from the film Girl. Photo courtesy of the Cannes press office.

However, Rafiki (Friend), a movie that some critics expected to receive a prize, had to be satisfied with the extended standing ovation it received from viewers at the festival. The film – about love between two young women – is banned in Kenya, despite being the first Kenyan film selected for screening at the festival.

Director Wanuri Kahui said she was moved by the appreciation the film received, telling reporters that people are eager to watch a “joyful” and “modern” African movie, away from the stereotypical images of poverty and disaster.

Regarding the ban, she tweeted in April: “I am incredibly sorry to announce that our film RAFIKI has been banned in Kenya. We believe adult Kenyans are mature and discerning enough to watch local content but their right has been denied.”

Apart from the Palme d’Or winner (about a family of shoplifters), the films that generated widespread buzz in the main competition included Arabic-language Yomeddine, directed by Cairo-born A.B. Shawky, and featuring a leper in Egypt, and BlacKkKlansman, by African-American director Spike Lee, which won the Grand Prix, the second highest honour at the festival.

A scene from the film Yomeddine. Photo courtesy of the Cannes press office.

Yomeddine stood out for its choice of subject and for portraying and employing persons with disabilities. Viewer and British actor Adam Lannon called the film “beautiful and brilliant”, adding that it was “excellent” to see “actors with disabilities working on screen”.

The film’s main character, Beshay, is a man cured of leprosy, but he has never left the leper colony where he has been placed by his family since childhood. When his wife dies, he sets out in search of his roots, with his loyal donkey. He is soon joined by an orphan boy named Obama, whom he has been protecting, although he would rather have been alone.

What follows is an uplifting road movie across Egypt, with a series of tear-jerking encounters on the way and echoes of “Don Quixote”. Shawky’s first feature has some flaws in that certain elements seem too predictable, but he scores overall with his appeal for humanity and inclusion.

The director Spike Lee on the set of his film BlacKkKlansman. Photo courtesy of the Cannes press office.

For Spike Lee, anger at racism comes across clearly in his latest film, which is the story of a real-life African-American policeman who managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan in Colorado. Lee incorporated recent events in the United States in the movie, particularly the killing of Heather Heyer as she protested a white-supremacist gathering in Charlottesville.

At his main Cannes press conference, Lee slammed the current U.S. administration, in a speech full of expletives. “We have a guy in the White House … who in a defining moment … was given the chance to say we’re about love and not hate, and that (expletive deleted) did not denounce the Klan,” he told journalists.

Gender issues were also raised at the festival, with the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements never far from movie-watchers’ consciousness, as is the global scarcity of female directors. Only one film directed by a woman (The Piano by Jane Campion) has ever won the Palme d’Or, and women have long been underrepresented at the directorial level.

During the event, 82 women working in the movie sector took over the famous red-carpeted stairs to protest that inequality. Their number was an indication that since the Cannes festival officially began in 1946, following World War II, just 82 movies by women directors have been selected for competition. In contrast, 1,645 films by male directors have been chosen.

Led by the five women on this year’s competition jury, including jury president Cate Blanchett and American director Ava Duvernay, the protest coincided with the screening of Les Filles du Soleil (Girls of the Sun), a movie by French director Eva Husson about a group of female fighters in Kurdistan.

This was just one of several protest events. A few days later, black women working in the French film industry also denounced the lack of quality roles. Sixteen women who have contributed to a book titled Noire n’est pas mon metier (Being black is not my profession) made their voices heard on the red carpet.

“We’re here to denounce a system that has gone on too long,” said Senegalese-born French actress Aïssa Maïga, who described how black actresses tended to be cast only in certain roles.

Among the three women directors in the main competition, Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki took home the biggest award – the Prix du Jury for Capharnaüm, about a boy who sues his parents for bringing him into the world.

In a moving speech, Labaki called for everyone to do more to protect children and ensure their education. “A loveless childhood is the root of all suffering in the world,” she said.

By the time the festival wrapped up with a performance from singers Sting and Shaggy on May 19 (the same day as the Royal Wedding in England), it seemed that both filmmakers and the public were yearning for lasting change, and different stories.

Follow A. McKenzie on Twitter: @mckenzie_ale

The post “Outsiders” in Focus at French Film Fest appeared first on Inter Press Service.

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed fresh damage caused by shelling in residential areas in Luhansk city, Sakhanka and Svitlodarsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near all three disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Shevchenko.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Vidrodzhennia and Klynove. The Mission facilitated access to assess damage to the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna and to a water pipeline in Obozne. In Kyiv and Kharkiv, the Mission monitored gatherings marking the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars. 

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including about 250 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period(about 900 explosions). Most of the ceasefire violations were recorded in the area west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk).

On the evening and night of 17-18 May, while in Horlivka, the SMM heard about 140 undetermined explosions (including about 40 assessed as artillery fire and about 60 assessed as tank fire) as well as bursts and shots of anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm), heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-7km at westerly directions. The following afternoon, while in the same location, the SMM heard about 30 explosions (including one assessed as artillery fire and three assessed as tank fire), all 3-5km south-west.

On the evening and night of 17-18 May, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 3-5km south-east and about 20 undetermined explosions 5-10km south-west and south-south-west, as well as about 80 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south-east. The following day, the SMM recorded two undetermined explosions 8-10km south-west and four undetermined explosions 4-7km south-east and east-south-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 80), compared with the previous reporting period(15 explosions).

The SMM saw fresh damage caused by shelling in residential areas of Luhansk city, Svitlodarsk and Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM saw a 10-15cm wide-hole in the ceiling of a two-storey shed 10m west of a house at 26 Vyshneva Street in Luhansk city, and another 40-50cm hole in the shed’s west-facing wall at ground level. The SMM assessed that the shed had been struck by a projectile fired from an easterly direction.                                                                                      

On the grounds of School No. 11 at66a Molodizhnyi Boulevard in Svitlodarsk, the SMM observed a 55cm-deep crater 15m west of the school building and fresh shrapnel scarring to a tree 9m north-west of the crater. 

In Sakhanka, the SMM assessed seven fresh impact sites. At 14 Konstytutsii Street, the SMM observed two fresh craters: one in a garden 15m south of a single-family house and the other 15m south-east of the house. About 10m north of the second crater, the SMM observed shrapnel fragments embedded in the wooden wall of a nearby shed. The SMM assessed the damage to have been caused by an 82mm mortar round. About 10m west of a house at 18 Konstytutsii Street, the SMM saw a bent metal fence post and several holes through the fence’s chain-links. The SMM assessed the holes to have been caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from a south-westerly direction. About 5m west of the house, in a garden, the SMM saw another fresh crater and two shattered west-facing windows. The SMM assessed the crater to have been caused by an 82mm mortar round. North of the house, the SMM saw two more fresh impact sites – one on a road and the other on a piece of farming equipment – the first of which it assessed as caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from an undetermined direction, the second from a 122mm artillery round fired from a south-westerly direction. Lastly, the SMM saw that the lower half of the north-west-facing corner of a house at 20 Konstytutsii Street had been destroyed, with fragments of brick and masonry scattered about; the lower half of a nearby doorframe was also destroyed. The SMM assessed the damage to have been caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from a south-westerly direction. Seven residents of the village told the SMM that shelling had occurred between 09:30 and 11:00 on 17 May and had caused only property damage. 

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.* 

In the early morning of 9 May, the SMM camera in Petrivske recorded three projectiles in flight from east to west, 5-10km south and assessed as outside the disengagement area.

In the early morning of 18 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded a burst of heavy machine-gun fire fired in a southerly direction 4.5-8km south-south-west and 14 explosions assessed as impacts (including 12 assessed as impacts of artillery rounds) 4-7km south-south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day on 18 May, positioned in the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions of mortar rounds and two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2km south-south-east, as well as one undetermined mortar round explosion 7-10km south, all assessed as outside the disengagement area. The same day, positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM observed a calm situation.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted eight self-propelled howitzers (three 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, and five 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near Vidrodzhennia (66km north-east of Donetsk) on 17 May. On 18 May, the SMM saw an anti-tank guided missile system (9P148 Konkurs, 135mm) near Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites on 18 May, the SMM observed nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1) near Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, government-controlled, 65km south-west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk) and a possible armoured personnel carrier near Vidrodzhennia on 17 May. The same day, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) near Prychepylivka as well as an IFV (BMP-1) and two probable IFVs near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk). On 18 May, the SMM saw an IFV (BTR-4) in Novobakhmutivka (28km north-west of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP-1) being transported on a flatbed near Svitlodarsk and two IFVs (BMP-2) near Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to observe unexploded ordnance (UXO). On 18 May, the SMM saw an 82mm mortar round protruding from the pavement approximately 300m south-east of an armed formation checkpoint on road T-0513 at the northern edge of Horlivka.                                                                                                                                      

The SMM facilitated the access of Voda Donbassa water company representatives and others to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) to assess damage. On 18 May, representatives of Voda Donbassa told the SMM that the DFS had been shut down due to damage to its electrical infrastructure from shelling during the night of 17 April (see SMM Daily Report 18 May 2018); the SMM facilitated access for workers of the local electrical company to assess the damage to the DFS’ power station. According to the representatives, there were no Voda Donbassa workers at the station besides a security guard. The representatives also told the SMM that shutting down the station has left Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk) without water and led to cuts in available drinking water in Donetsk and Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk). Positioned in areas near the DFS, the SMM heard undetermined explosions as well as small-arms fire (see ceasefire violation table below), despite explicit security guarantees. 

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair works to high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk) and the water pipeline in Obozne (non-government-controlled, 18km north of Luhansk). 

At Sofiivska Square in Kyiv, the SMM saw around 500 people – some of whom were holding Crimean Tatar flags with black ribbons and Ukrainian national flags – commemorating the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars. The SMM saw around 100 National Guard members around the square; those entering the event were required to pass through a metal detector. The SMM saw the Ukrainian President address the crowd, saying that there is a need to amend the Ukrainian Constitution to ensure the rights of Crimean Tatars. The event ended without incident. SMM observed 30 people gathered in front of the Regional State Administration building at 64 Sumska Street in Kharkiv listening to speeches about the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars and the current situation in Crimea in commemoration of the same event. The SMM did not observe police present.

On 18 May in Odessa, SMM observed that red paint had been applied over the inscription on a monument at Kulykove Pole (“To the fighters who died for the power of the Soviets in Odessa. From the labourers of Odessa. 1960.”) and the words “Occupiers” and “Invaders” in Ukrainian had been written on the monument. 

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance, and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co‑ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (see SMM Daily Report 18 May 2018). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• At a compound near Shevchenko (government-controlled, 19km north-west of Mariupol), a soldier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces told the SMM it could not enter without special permission from his unit commander.

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO: 

• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[3]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM by phone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.4
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. An armed member of the armed formations positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.
• The SMM did not travel across the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) due to the presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC. [3]

[1]Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report. The SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka was not operational during the reporting period.

[2]This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[3]The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC have withdrawn from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.

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J'ai rencontré l'autre jour Guillaume Vassault-Houlière, patron de Yes We hack (site), et j'en suis sorti enthousiaste. Voici en effet une société française de Bug bounty. Selon Wikipedia : "Un bug bounty est un programme proposé par de nombreux sites web et développeurs de logiciel qui permet à des personnes de recevoir reconnaissance et compensation après avoir reporté des bugs, surtout ceux concernant des exploits et des vulnérabilités. Ces programmes permettent aux développeurs de découvrir et de corriger des bugs avant que le grand public en soit informé, évitant ainsi des abus".

Cliquez pour lire la suite

Or, ces programmes sont habituellement lancés par de grandes sociétés, notamment les GAFA. Là, il s'agit d'avoir une communauté de hackers (chapeau blanc) sélectionnés et qui offrent des services à différentes entreprises.

D'accord, me direz-vous, mais pourquoi cet enthousiasme ?

Parce qu'il me paraît annonciateur du changement de paradigme de la cybersécurité.

Il se trouve que je conduis depuis deux ans un gros programme de transformation digitale et que je constate à quel point il entre en contradiction avec la cyber traditionnelle et son paradigme, celui du château fort.

Prenons justement cette image : pour protéger la place (devenue forte), on a installé murailles, échauguettes, créneaux, escarpes et contrescarpes, patrouilles et sentinelles (firewall, antivirus, SOC, défense dans la profondeur...). On est passé de la motte féodale au château-fort, de la citadelle de Vauban à la ligne Serré de Rivière (1885), dernière forteresse physique construite en France. Et puis on a abandonné ces fortifications. Parce qu'on a inventé l'arme à feu, la mobilité (la manœuvre), le couple char-avion et la dissuasion nucléaire. Bref, la logique de forteresse a eu du sens stratégique (je reste un admirateur de la poliorcétique) mais finalement, on est passé à autre chose. Cela étant, en Afghanistan ou dans la BSS, dans les FOB, on met toujours du bastion wall autour des garnisons, tout comme les Romains le faisaient en leur temps.

Autrement dit, une approche stratégique peut être désuète mais conserver des vertus tactiques. Ou encore : ne pas jeter le bébé avec l'eau du bain. Bref, je ne suis pas dire qu'il faut mettre à la poubelle toutes nos bonnes pratiques de cybersécurité. Mais...

Mais donc ? Donc, yes we hack peut enthousiasmer tout d'abord par son modèle économique (une plateforme, des contrats juridiquement béton , etc.). Et vraiment, je les en félicite. Mais là n'est pas le plus important : ils ont juste inventé une plasticité de cybersécurité qui me semble parfaitement adaptée aux conditions de la transformation digitale en cours, 4ème vague de la révolution informatique que nous vivons depuis 35 ans.

En effet, celle-ci est caractérisée par son ultra décentralisation, sa mobilité, son rythme. Quand les grands éditeurs de logiciels mettent en ligne des mises à jour toutes les dix heures, quel est le sens d'un audit de sécurité à la papa ? Voici en quoi les bugs bounty répondent au sujet : permanence, décentralisation, réactivité, agilité. En cela, ils ouvrent la voie à une autre approche cyber. Et ça, c'est une sacrément bonne nouvelle.

O. Kempf

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for small farmers.

Most of the farms in the EU are small, although the term includes a wide diversity of operations. Although small farms produce only a portion of the total EU agricultural output, their contribution in creating rural employment, supporting rural societies and landscapes, and ensuring that traditional and local production continues, makes them a cornerstone of European agriculture.

© ronedya / Fotolia

Because small farms are generally run by the family, who often consume what is produced themselves, they have few assets and few opportunities to innovate. They generally have very little bargaining power in the food supply chain. However, many small farmers are flexible enough to diversify their farm activities, or take on another job to increase their income.

As a small farmer, the EU recognises your important role and grants smallholdings a simplified scheme that cuts the administrative burden for accessing EU direct payments. This scheme is implemented in more than half of the EU countries, including those where small farms outnumber large ones. EU rural development policy also benefits small farmers by financing rural investments that improve the quality of life in the countryside, diversify rural economies, and offer services in remote areas that are important to the many elderly and female farmers among smallholders.

Further information

• EPRS publication on ‘Small farms’, europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/stspotlight/2014/140794/LDM_STS(2014)140794_REV1_EN.pdf
• European Commission fiche on ‘The Small Farmers Scheme’, ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/direct-support/direct-payments/docs/small-farmers-scheme_en.pdf
• European Commission brief on ‘What is a small farm?’, www.ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/rural-area-economics/briefs/pdf/02_en.pdf

A sunken ship after it was salvaged in the Sundarbans last year. Credit: Naimul Haq/IPS

By Naimul Haq
DHAKA, Bangladesh, May 19 2018 (IPS)

Toxic chemical pollution in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is threatening thousands of marine and forest species and has environmentalists deeply concerned about the future of this World Heritage Site.

Repeated mishaps have already dumped toxic materials like sulfur, hydrocarbons, chorine, magnesium, potassium, arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, vanadium, beryllium, barium, cadmium, chromium, selenium, radium and many more into the waters. They’re killing plankton – a microscopic organism critical for the survival of marine life inside the wild forest."Obviously, such cargo accidents involving shipment of toxic heavy metals inside the Sundarbans would have irreversible impacts on this unique and compact ecosystem." --Sharif Jamil

Scientific studies warn the sudden drastic fall in the plankton population may affect the entire food chain in the Sundarbans in the near future, starving the life in the rivers and in the forest.

The latest incident involved the sinking of a coal-loaded cargo ship on April 14 deep inside the forest, popularly known as the home of the endangered Royal Bengal Tigers, once again outraging environmentalists.

Despite strong opposition by leading environmental organizations vowing to protect the biodiversity in the Sundarbans, which measure about 10,000 square kilometers of forest facing the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh in South Asia, policy makers have largely ignored conservation laws that prioritise protecting the wildlife in the forest.

Critics say influential businessmen backed by politicians are more interested in building industries on cheap land around the forest that lie close to the sea for effortless import of the substances causing the environmental damage.

Divers from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have traced the latest sunken vessel lying some 30 feet deep underwater, but they have not been able to salvage the ship.

It is the third to have capsized in less than two years in the ecologically sensitive region, some of which remains untouched by human habitation.

The deadliest accident occurred on Dec. 9, 2014. Amid low visibility, an oil tanker collided with a cargo vessel, spilling over 350,000 liters of crude oil into the Shela River, one of the many tributaries that crisscross the forest – home to rare wildlife species like the Bengal Tiger and Irrawaddy dolphin.

Then, in May 2017, a cargo ship carrying about 500 metric tons of fertilizer sank in the Bhola River in the Sundarbans. In October the same year, a coal-laden vessel carrying an almost equal weight of coal sunk into the meandering shallow Pashur River.

Each time toxic materials pollute the rivers, the government comes up with a consoling statement claiming that the coal has ‘safe’ levels of sulfur and mercury which are the main concern of the environmentalists.

Outraged by official inaction, many leading conservationists expressed their grievances at this “green-washing.”

Sharif Jamil, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon or BAPA, told IPS, “I feel ashamed to know that such a scientifically untrue and dishonest statement of one cargo owner (safe level of sulfur and mercury) was endorsed by our government in their reports and acts which significantly damages the credibility of the government and questions the competency of the concerned authorities.”

“Obviously, such cargo accidents involving shipment of toxic heavy metals inside the Sundarbans would have irreversible impacts on this unique and compact ecosystem,” he said.

Jamil criticized the state agency responsible for protecting the environment, saying, “The department of environment or DoE has responsibility to monitor and control the pollution by ensuring punishment to the polluters. We have not witnessed any action from DoE so far, in this case particularly.”

While coal may not be as environmentally destructive as crude oil spill, the commercial shipping path across the Sundarbans has a long track record of disasters.

Professor Abdullah Harun, who teaches environmental science at the University of Khulna, told IPS, “The cargo ship disasters are proving to be catastrophic and destructive for the wildlife in the Sundarbans. We have already performed a series of studies titled ‘Impact of Oil Spillage on the Environment of Sundarbans’.

“Laboratory tests showed startling results as the toxic levels in many dead species and water samples were found way beyond our imagination. The most alarming is the loss of phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity and populations. Both these are known to play vital role in the food chain of the aquatic environment.”

Professor Harun fears that the embryos of oil-coated Sundari seeds, decomposed as a result of the spillage across 350 square km of land, will not be germinating. Sundari trees make up the mangrove forest and it has specialised roots which emerge above ground and help in gaseous exchange.

He said, “A primary producer of the aquatic ecosystems, source of food and nutrient of the many aquatic animals, has been affected by the oil spill in 2014. The aquatic population will be decreased and long-term impacts on aquatic lives like loss of breeding capacity, habitat loss, injury of respiratory organs, hearts and skins will occur.”

He said, “Our team of scientists tested for the fish larvae population. Before the 2014 disaster we found about 6,000 larvae in a litre of water collected from rivers in the Sundarbans. After the disaster we carried out the same test but found less than half (2,500 fish larvae) in the same amount of water. This is just one species I am talking about. Isn’t it alarming enough?”

Following the latest incident, the government imposed a ban on cargo ships using the narrow channels of the Pashur River where most of the vessels sail. But there are fears that the ban will only be a temporary measure as seen in the past. After the December 2014 oil spill, a similar ban on commercial cargo was lifted soon after.

These ‘ban games’ on cargo vessels will not solve the underlying problems in the Sundarbans. Several hundred activists recently marched towards the mangrove forest in Bagerhat to protest plans to build a coal-based power plant near the Sundarbans near Rampal. The activists called on the government to stop construction of the proposed 1.3-gigawatt Rampal Power Plant, which is located about 14-km upstream of the forest.

Environmentalists are also worried about rapid industrialization near the Sundarbans. The Department of Environment (DoE) has identified 190 commercial and industrial plants operating within 10 kilometres of the forest.

It has labeled ‘red’ 24 of these establishments as they are dangerously close to the world heritage site and polluting the soil, water and air of the world’s largest mangrove forest.

Eminent environmentalist Professor Ainun Nishat, told IPS, “My main worries are whether the main concerns for safety of the wildlife in the forest is being overlooked.”

Professor Nishat said, “If we allow movement of vessels to carry shipments through the forest then I like to question a few things like, where does the coal come from? What do we do with the fly ash from cement and other materials? How and where do we dispose of the waste and do we have the cooling waters for safety?”

“What we need is a strategic impact assessment before any such industrial plant is established so that we can be safe before we repeat such mishaps,” said Nishat.

Statistics from the Mongla (sea) Port Authority show that navigation in the Sundarbans waterways has increased 236 percent in the last seven years. This means vessel-based regular pollution may continue to impact the world’s largest mangrove habitat’s health even if disasters like the Sundarbans oil spill can be prevented.

Increasing volume of shipping and navigation indicates growing industrialisation in the Sundarbans Impact Zone and the Sundarbans Ecologically Critical Area, which in turn will increase the land-based source of pollution if not managed.

The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which hosts range of animals and fish like fishing cats, leopard cats, macaques, wild boar, fox, jungle cat, flying fox, pangolin, chital, sawfish, butter fish, electric rays, silver carp, starfish, common carp, horseshoe crabs, prawn, shrimps, Gangetic dolphins, skipping frogs, common toads and tree frogs.

There are over 260 species of birds, including openbill storks, black-capped kingfishers, black-headed ibis, water hens, coots, pheasant-tailed jacanas, pariah kites, brahminy kite, marsh harriers, swamp partridges and red junglefowl.

Related Articles

• Saving the Sundarbans – The foreign aid conundrum
• Integrated Farming: The Only Way to Survive a Rising Sea
• Preserving Mangroves Provides Protection and Food Security

The post Shipping and Industry Threaten Famed Home of the Bengal Tiger appeared first on Inter Press Service.

L’UE consacre de plus en plus de fonds à l’externalisation de ses frontières. Une politique qui a pour conséquence la subvention de certains gouvernements autoritaires, à l’image du Soudan.  

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for film makers.

If you go to the cinema more than twice a year, you are already doing better than the average European. If so, you must have noticed that American productions make up three quarters of the films on offer. This situation is disconcerting, not least because US-based companies produced ‘just’ 789 feature films in 2016, for instance – compared to 1 740 European productions in the same period…

© Sunny studio / Fotolia

The strong US presence in the EU film market explains why public support is provided to assist European cinema in gaining a competitive edge. Since 2013, state aid rules allow the level of support to film production, distribution and promotion to reach 50 %, and up to 60 %in the case of co-productions funded by more than one EU country. By contrast, there are no limits on aid for script writing or film-project development, or for difficult audiovisual works, as defined by each EU country.

Creative Europe – the EU programme supporting the cultural and creative sectors until 2020 – will dedicate more than €800 million to cinema. In addition, €210 million has been made available since 2016 for a new financial guarantee facility, which should make it easier for small companies to access bank loans.

Helping overcome distribution barriers for European films is one of the goals of the European Parliament’s LUX Prize, awarded annually since 2007. The winner does not receive a direct grant. Instead, the three films in the final stage of the competition are subtitled in the 24 official EU languages and are screened in more than 40 cities and at 18 festivals, allowing many Europeans to see them.

Further information

• EPRS publication on ‘2015 – A record year for European cinema’, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2016/593514/EPRS_ATA%282016%29593514_EN.pdf
• Official website of Cineuropa – the best of European cinema, http://www.cineuropa.org/
• Official website of the International network of cinemas for the circulation of European films, https://www.europa-cinemas.org/en/
• EPRS publication on ‘LUX Prize: Ten years of support for EU cinema’, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2016/593521/EPRS_ATA%282016%29593521_EN.pdf

The brewing crisis in Nigeria's Zamfara State has the potential to become as deadly as the Boko Haram conflict.

The brewing crisis in Nigeria's Zamfara State has the potential to become as deadly as the Boko Haram conflict.

KYIV, 18 May 2018 – The deteriorating security situation in the wider area around the Donetsk Filtration Station poses a threat to the facility, its workers and monitoring officers of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), said the SMM’s Chief Monitor Ertugrul Apakan today.

In a letter he addressed to the signatories of the Minsk agreements on 15 May, he had noted how he was following the developments with great concern. He said that despite the sides having provided explicit security guarantees – essentially promises not to fire in the wider area around the Donetsk Filtration Station – there has been continuous violence. He warned that the use of multiple launch rocket systems, recorded by the SMM on Tuesday evening, marked a sharp escalation.

The Chief Monitor said that without full adherence to the ceasefire, the SMM will need to reconfigure its operations at the Donetsk Filtration Station. 

The Mission has been facilitating access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa water company employees for several weeks to keep the station operational. More than 300,000 people on both sides of the contact line depend on the Donetsk Filtration Station for drinking water. 

“These ceasefire violations must stop immediately,” said Apakan. 

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Die EU hat erste konkrete Maßnahmen zur Rettung des Atomabkommens mit dem Iran auf den Weg gebracht – mit einem über 20 Jahre alten Gesetz.

On Thursday, May 24th, IPI together with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations are cohosting a policy forum entitled “The Primacy of Politics and the Protection of Civilians in UN Peacekeeping Operations.” This policy forum will explore the perceived and actual tensions between the pursuit of political solutions and the protection of civilians in peacekeeping contexts. The event will follow the 2018 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians organized by Poland (#United4Civilians).

Remarks will begin at 1:15pm EST*

This event is the first as part of IPI’s recently launched Protection of Civilians Project. While the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) stressed the “primacy of politics,” UN peacekeeping missions are often mandated to protect civilians in challenging environments where the peace process has stalled and political solutions seem out of reach. In these contexts, protecting local populations from physical violence may appear to be an operational imperative for the mission and a priority over engagement in protracted and uncertain political processes.

This policy forum will provide an opportunity to discuss situations where there is a risk of competition between the primacy of politics and the centrality of protection, as well as where they are complementary and mutually reinforcing. While the two objectives are hardly mutually exclusive, in practice pursuing both can raise challenging questions. In South Sudan, Darfur, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN mission’s political role may seem elusive, and its protection goals may appear to detract from its political effectiveness. The political stance of UN missions intervening in support of host states may also be an important limitation for peacekeepers mandated to protect civilians from all threats of physical violence—including from host-state forces.

In these situations, where civilians are clearly at risk, how should peace operations reconcile political strategies and the protection of civilians? In the absence of viable political processes at the strategic level, what political measures and strategies can be used in parallel with military operations to protect civilians on the ground?

Opening Remarks:
H.E. Mr. Karel J. G. van Oosterom, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations

Speakers:
Mr. Ralph Mamiya, Consultant; formerly Protection of Civilians Team Leader, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Sébastien Lapierre, Chief, Policy and Best Practices Service, UN Department of Peacekeeping operations
Ms. Daniela Kroslak, Leader, Darfur Integrated Operational Team, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Ms. Chloé Marnay-Baszanger, Chief, Peace Mission Support Section, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms. Alison Giffen, Director, Center for Civilians in Conflict

Moderator:
Dr. Namie Di Razza, Research Fellow, International Peace Institute

*If you are not logged into Facebook, times are shown in PST.

Convoqué par l’OMS, le Comité d’urgence du règlement sanitaire international (RSI) a conclu vendredi que l’épidémie d’Ébola en RDC ne constitue pas pour le moment une urgence de santé publique de portée internationale. Le Comité met toutefois en garde contre le risque élevé de propagation.