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Schock-Moment für Fans von Loredana: Die Schweizer Rapperin verschwand bei ihrem Konzert im deutschen Frankfurt kurz von der Bühne. Grund: Sie hatte eine Panikattacke.

Die Pensionskassen-Reform hat es durchs Parlament geschafft. Doch das Referendum ist bereits angekündigt. Für die Linke ein «Geschenk» mitten im Wahljahr.

The research-based infrastructure of the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), based at DIW Berlin, is one of the largest and longest-running multidisciplinary panel studies in the world, currently surveying about 30,000 people in nearly 15,000 households each year. SOEP claims to capture social change and is thus confronted with ever new and diverse topics and tasks. Its data collection and generation follows the concept of the survey or data life cycle.

We are hiring for the following position, to start as soon as possible:

Post-Doctoral Position in Wellbeing (f/m/nonbinary). Full-time at 39 hours per week, part-time possible.

We are looking for a post-doctoral research associate with a strong interest in research on wellbeing and living standard to join us in April 2023. The candidate is expected to be involved in the research activities of the SOEP division “Applied Panel Analysis”, in particular to support ongoing and initiate new research projects. Furthermore, the candidate is responsible for SOEP’s survey modules about wellbeing. We are especially interested in candidates with a strong background in micro-econometrics, and applied (micro) theory.

Christian Constantin war lange auf Tauchstation. Erst spielte er Trainer. Parallel dazu suchte er einen neuen ebensolchen. Zuletzt drehte er für seine Gala in der Karibik. Jetzt ist er zurück. Kämpferisch wie eh und je.

Bulgarien zeigte sich ernsthaft besorgt über den Angriff auf sein Kultur- und Informationszentrum in Skopje. Das bulgarische Außenministerium erklärte, der Angriff habe inmitten einer laufenden "anti-bulgarischen Kampagne" in Nordmazedonien stattgefunden.

Vanuatu in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin. March 2023. Credit: UNICEF/Sheenal Sharma

By Sudip Ranjan Basu, Juan Rodrigo and Alexey Kravchenko
BANGKOK, Thailand, Mar 17 2023 (IPS)

The impacts of the climate crisis are acutely felt in the Pacific region. In recent years, the region has been hit by devastating climate events, which cause widespread destruction and significant loss of lives and livelihoods across countries.

These events are a grim reminder of the increasingly severe climate events that are becoming the norm as a result of the changing regional climate patterns in the Pacific small island developing States (PSIDS).

To address climate catastrophes, there is a heightened need in adopting environmentally sustainable practices, including through international trade. In fact, climate-smart trade policies involve incorporating climate concerns into their trade policies.

Climate-smart trade policies are poised to play a catalytic role in enabling the PSIDS to access goods and services that can mitigate climate change. This approach can facilitate the shift towards a more environmentally friendly trade practice.

Harnessing technology for climate-smart strategies

With the growing scale of digitalization of trade processes, there are emerging opportunities to make trade more efficient, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions. However, the digitalization of trade itself can contribute to GHG emissions and so, it’s crucial to ensure a balance between the benefits and drawbacks of digital trade.

To mitigate these impacts, governments are increasingly adopting “climate-smart” trade policies, as highlighted in ESCAP’s 2021 Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report, prepared in collaboration with UNCTAD and UNEP.

Governments have been implementing measures such as tariff reductions on renewable energy technologies, digital goods and other less polluting items. In the Pacific, climate smart initiatives such as the Agreement on Trade and Sustainability aims to reduce barriers on the trade of environmental goods as well as eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and encouraging voluntary eco-labelling programs and mechanisms.

At the national level, Samoa suspended import duties on renewable energy materials and Papua New Guinea reduced tariffs on solar equipment imports.

In addition, the digitization of cross-border trade procedures leads to faster clearance times, more transparency and reduced bureaucracy. Implementing digital trade facilitation has the potential for increased competitiveness and reduced GHG emissions.

However, PSIDS have the lowest implementation rate of trade facilitation measures, with limited adoption of paperless trade measures. Only five out of the twelve PSIDS have ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, with only Vanuatu having implemented an electronic single window system.

In particular, the implementation of the system in Vanuatu resulted in considerable environmental gains and has led to a 95 per cent decrease in the use of paper, which is equivalent to a reduction of at least 5,827 kg of CO2 emissions and a decrease of 86 per cent in trips between the customs department and the Biosecurity administration.

Furthermore, other Pacific Island States can emulate Tuvalu’s move by joining “The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific“. This United Nations treaty aims to boost digital trade facilitation measures, thereby hastening trade transaction efficiencies, ultimately reducing emissions, and fostering trade growth.

Preparing the regulatory frameworks

Despite these efforts, only a few countries with the PSIDS have created trade strategies that reflect environmental concerns and climate-smart policies. Tuvalu is an exception, as they, with the help of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for Trade Related Assistance for the Least Developed Countries and ESCAP, have incorporated “climate-smart” elements into their national trade development strategy.

The situation is further complicated by persistent digital divides in the region, with low internet penetration rates and high costs of fixed and mobile broadband in many of the smaller PSIDS. The high cost of energy consumption in the telecommunications sector is also a major concern, with energy usage accounting for 20 to 40 percent of telecommunications operating expenses.

As PSIDS work to improve broadband coverage and access, ensuring energy efficiency in the telecommunications sector will become increasingly important for advancing climate-smart and digital trade.

Despite the potential benefits of implementing digital trade facilitation in the Pacific, the implementation rate of trade facilitation measures in PSIDS remains the lowest among other regions, at only 40.1 per cent. There are also considerable policy gaps in the PSIDS in areas related to e-transactions laws, consumer protection, privacy data protection and cybersecurity.

By putting in place these regulations, consumers, producers, and traders can engage in online transactions, while securing sustainable digital trade environment.

Advancing climate-smart and digital trade

Advancing climate-smart and digital trade is crucial for PSIDS. To support this development aspiration, the following policy actions need to be prioritized:

• implement digital & energy policies to democratize digital service access.
• remove tariffs on climate-friendly goods/services including renewable energy & IoT tech.
• develop regulation for cross-border paperless trade and updating their regulatory framework for fostering digital trade.
• reducing reliance on fossil fuels and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, including those in the fisheries sector.
• green logistics and transportation sectors with reduced costs and zero-emission vessels
• invest in human resources for climate-smart and digital trade.
• integrate climate smart provisions on their trade agreements.

These measures can enhance the PSIDS’ digital and energy infrastructure, competitiveness, efficiency, reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and also be complemented with nature-based solutions, such as riparian zone restoration to enhance carbon sequestration and to mitigate the impact of tidal surges

Readers will find further details and policy recommendations in the report which is now available on the ESCAP website.

Sudip Ranjan Basu is Deputy Head and Senior Economic Affairs Officer; Juan Rodrigo is ESCAP Consultant and Alexey Kravchenko is Economic Affairs Officer.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Die Playoff-Serien der Lidl Unihockey Prime League sind im vollen Gange. Am 15. April kommt es in Kloten zum Superfinal der Männer und Frauen. Die Blick-Community darf den Most Popular Player der Saison wählen. Überreicht wird der Preis an der Award Night im April.

Die Playoff-Serien der Lidl Unihockey Prime League sind im vollen Gange. Am 15. April kommt es in Kloten zum Superfinal der Frauen und Männer. Die Blick-Community darf den Most Popular Player der Saison wählen. Überreicht wird der Preis an der Award Night im April.

Der chinesische Präsident Xi Jinping will vor dem Hintergrund des Krieges in der Ukraine nach Russland reisen.

Der ehemalige spanische Kommunistenführer Ramón Tamames wird in Kürze den Misstrauensantrag der rechtsextremen Partei VOX gegen Premierminister Pedro Sánchez einreichen, der das Land seiner Meinung nach in eine "absorbierende Autokratie" verwandelt hat.

Die Europäische Kommission hat am Donnerstag (16. März) ihren Net-Zero Industry Act vorgelegt, der vorsieht, dass die EU mindestens 40 Prozent der Technologien, die sie zur Erreichung ihrer Klima- und Energieziele bis 2030 benötigt, im eigenen Land produziert.

Carlos Alcaraz setzt sich im Viertelfinal von Indian Wells gegen Félix Auger-Aliassime durch. Er greift damit wieder nach der Weltnummer 1.

Der Nationalbank-Kredit hilft der Credit Suisse fürs Erste über die Runden. Experten bezweifeln aber, dass die Bank damit aus dem Schneider sei.

Der französische Präsident Macron hat sich auf ein riskantes Spiel eingelassen – und könnten verlieren. Der Wetteinsatz ist dabei nichts Geringeres als das Fortbestehen der Regierung unter Premierministerin Elisabeth Borne. Eigentlich sollte gestern die französische Nationalversammlung über Macrons heftig umstrittenes...

Azonnali hatállyal megtiltotta a brit kormány a kínai ByteDance tulajdonában álló TikTok alkalmazás használatát a minisztériumok és más kormányintézmények munkatársainak hivatali informatikai eszközein.

Oliver Dowden, a kormány munkáját összehangoló kabinetiroda miniszteri rangú vezetője a londoni alsóházban tartott tájékoztatásában elmondta: nemrégiben kiberbiztonsági szakértőket kért fel annak megvizsgálására, hogy egyes „külső előállítású” alkalmazások használata milyen kockázatokat jelent a kormányzati tisztviselők mobileszközeinek biztonságára. A vizsgálat középpontjában a TikTok videómegosztó alkalmazás telepítése és használata állt.

Dowden kijelentette: a vizsgálat lezárult, azzal a következtetéssel, hogy kockázatokat jelenthet, ha „érzékeny” kormányzati információk „bizonyos platformokon” hozzáférhetővé válnak. A miniszter szerint a közösségi médiafelületeken használatos alkalmazások köztudomásúlag hatalmas mennyiségű adatot gyűjtenek és tárolnak a felhasználókról, a velük kapcsolatban lévő más felhasználókról, a felhasznált online tartalmakról, sőt arról is, hogy az egyes használók hol tartózkodnak.

Ezek az adatok kormányzati használatban lévő eszközökön „érzékenynek” minősülhetnek, a brit kormány ezért csütörtöki hatállyal elrendelte, hogy hivatali használatú eszközökre csak olyan külső előállítású alkalmazások tölthetők le, amelyeket a kormányzat előzetesen jóváhagyott. Ennek alapján csütörtöktől tilos a TikTok letöltése a kormánytisztviselők által hivatali célokra használt eszközökre – mondta alsóházi tájékoztatóján a kabinetiroda vezetője.

Dowden hangsúlyozta: a tilalom nem terjed ki a kormánytisztviselők magántulajdonú mobileszközeire és a lakosság által használt eszközökre. Hozzátette ugyanakkor: a brit kormány azt kéri, hogy mindenki óvatosan mozogjon az online térben és tanulmányozza a közösségimédia-platformok adatkezelési gyakorlatát, mielőtt ezeket letöltené és használná. Ez a hozzáállás „hasznos a kiberhigiénia szempontjából” — fogalmazott a miniszter.

A TikTok használatát az elmúlt hetekben az amerikai, a kanadai és a belga kormány, valamint az Európai Bizottság is korlátozta állami tisztviselők részére. A TikTok működtetője ugyanakkor rendszeresen tagadja, hogy az alkalmazáson tárolt adatokat hozzáférhetővé tenné a kínai kormány számára.

Kína londoni nagykövetségének szóvivőjének reagálása
A TikTok hivatali használatának betiltásáról hozott brit kormánydöntés mögött nem tények, hanem politikai indíttatások állnak. Az illetékes szerint a határozat megingatja a nemzetközi közösség által a brit üzleti környezetbe vetett bizalmat, és végső soron Nagy-Britannia saját érdekeinek árt. „Arra biztatjuk Nagy-Britanniát, hogy tartsa tiszteletben a tényeket, tartsa magát a piacgazdaság szabályaihoz, óvakodjon a nemzetbiztonság koncepciójának túlterjeszkedő értelmezésétől, biztosítson igazságos, átlátható, diszkriminációtól mentes üzleti környezetet a külföldi vállalatoknak” — fogalmazott Kína londoni nagykövetségének szóvivője.

 

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Hollywood a rendu célèbre Cosa Nostra, la mafia sicilienne, mais l'Italie abrite d'autres organisations criminelles, dont la "quatrième mafia", établie dans les Pouilles (sud), la plus jeune et désormais la plus violente.

Written by Marcin Grajewski.

Ukraine and its Western allies say Moscow is waging an unprovoked war of conquest that has destroyed Ukrainian cities, killed thousands of people and forced millions more to flee their homes. As Russian troops push forward in waves with a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, Russia and Ukraine are locked in the bloodiest infantry battle in Europe since World War II.

Ukraine has been urging its allies in the EU and the US to increase the delivery of weapons as it is running out of artillery shells. However, the West’s weapon production capacities are limited. Tanks and aircraft in particular will be crucial to ward off Russian attacks and, possibly, retake Ukrainian territory occupied by Moscow, says Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Think-tank analysts also ponder wider issues, such as the impact of the war on efforts to combat climate change, fiscal and other policies, as well as the post-war global order and Ukraine’s reconstruction.

This note gathers links to the recent publications and commentaries from many international think tanks on Russia’s war on Ukraine. Earlier analyses of the war can be found in a previous edition of the ‘What Think Tanks are Thinking’ series.

Premature peace with Putin would be disastrous for international security
Atlantic Council, March 2023

One year in ten numbers
Bruegel, March 2023

Is Russia’s war on Ukraine a global war?
Carnegie Europe, March 2023

After a year of arms deliveries to Ukraine, the EU needs to step up and speed up
Centre for European Policy Studies, March 2023

Europe needs both fiscal and energy solidarity
Centre for European Reform, March 2023

How Russia’s war on Ukraine is threatening climate security
Chatham House, March 2023

Ukraine needs to pursue victory without sacrificing its democratic future
Council on Foreign Relations, March 2023

The astonishing endurance of unity on Ukraine
Council on Foreign Relations, March 2023

Putin ist mächtig wie nie – doch der Krieg beschleunigt den Zerfall seines Imperiums
German Council on Foreign Relations, March 2023

Is realism policy relevant? Evidence from Ukraine and Taiwan
Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, March 2023

What has the war on Ukraine revealed about Russia’s non-strategic missiles?
Institute for International Strategic Studies, March 2023

Quelles garanties de sécurité européennes possibles pour l’Ukraine?
Institut Jacques Delors, March 2023

The war against Ukraine and Russia’s Position in Europe’s security order
Istituto Affari Internazionali, March 2023

Military situation in Ukraine as of 10 March 2023
Polish Institute of International Affairs, March 2023

Wagner Group transforms in the wake of the war in Ukraine
Polish Institute of International Affairs, March 2023

Much of the Global South is on Ukraine’s side
Peterson Institute for International Relations, March 2023

The next reform of Russia’s armed forces: Is it a new threat or just for appearances?
Polish Institute of International Affairs, March 2023

What will Putin do next?
Rand Corporation, March 2023

One year since Russia invaded Ukraine
Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, February 2023

Arms control is in limbo until Russia’s war in Ukraine ends
Brooking Institution, February 2023

One year into the Ukraine war: What does the public think about American involvement in the world
Brooking Institution, February 2023

Are sanctions against Russia working?
Bruegel, February 2023

After Russia’s war against Ukraine: What kind of world order?
Carnegie Europe, February 2023

The West’s race against time in supporting Ukraine
Carnegie Europe, February 2023

One year of war: Russia’s imperial maximalism versus Ukraine’s resistance
Centre for Eastern Studies, February 2023

New Ukraine: A breakthrough at great cost
Centre for Eastern Studies, February 2023

A multi-speed mobilisation: NATO’s eastern flank one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Centre for Eastern Studies, February 2023

A year of war in Europe: The balance sheet
Centre for European Reform, February 2023

Envisioning a multilayered security blanket for Ukraine
Centre for Strategic and International Studies, February 2023

Nuclear stability for all put at risk by Putin’s speech
Chatham House, February 2023

One year on, how can the war on Ukraine end?
Chatham House, February 2023

Un an après l’agression russe, les enjeux de la reconstruction de l’Ukraine
Confrontations Europe, February 2023

How much aid has the U.S. sent Ukraine?
Council on Foreign Relations, February 2023

Why the war will continue
Council on Foreign Relations via Project Syndicate, February 2023

Captivated by war: The Russian people in the face of the Ukraine war, mobilization, and tactical defeat
Egmont, February 2023

From buffer to frontier: Ukraine and the EU
Egmont, February 2023

United West, divided from the rest: Global public opinion one year into Russia’s war on Ukraine
European Council on Foreign Relations, February 2023

Repair, replace, reimburse: Sustaining a European tank coalition for Ukraine
European Council on Foreign Relations, February 2023

The second year of Russia’s war: Scenarios for the Ukraine conflict in 2023
European Council on Foreign Relations, February 2023

Russia’s defeat in Ukraine must be the top transatlantic priority
European Policy Centre, February 2023

What now for the future of Ukraine’s healthcare system?
European Policy Centre, February 2023

Russia’s regime transformation and the invasion of Ukraine: From a failed blitzkrieg to war as the new normal
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, February 2023

A brutal war has robbed Ukraine’s children of an entire year of their lives
Friends of Europe, February 2023

What have we learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
Friends of Europe, February 2023

A turning point for EU trade policy after the Russian aggression?
German Council on Foreign Relations, February 2023

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to have global policy repercussions: The one-year mark
German Marshall Fund, February 2023

Hard work for 2023: Supporting Ukraine to win the war against Russia
GLOBSEC, February 2023

Un Tribunal spécial pour l’Ukraine: Défis, dangers et opportunités pour la justice pénale internationale
Groupe de Recherche et d’Information sur la Paix et la Sécurité, February 2023

Russia’s war on Ukraine: One year on
Institute for International Strategic Studies, February 2023

Guerre en Ukraine: Révélatrice de ruptures dans le secteur spatial?
Institut français des relations internationales, February 2023

The war against Ukraine and its lessons for NATO militaries: Food for thought
Istituto Affari Internazionali, February 2023

A year in: Turning the tide in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine
Open Societies Foundation, February 2023

The EU should fast-track negotiations for Ukraine’s membership
Peterson Institute for International Economics, February 2023

Why the war in Ukraine goes on, despite expert forecasts
Razumkov Centre, February 2023

Cross-border movements compared: Migration from and to Ukraine in historical comparison with other conflict-induced situations
Wilfried Martens Centre, February 2023

Read this briefing on ‘The latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Das Vertrauen in die Credit Suisse ist auch trotz der Finanzspritze der SNB noch nicht zurück. Die Kundschaft bleibt skeptisch. Ob und wann die Grossbank das Vertrauen zurückgewinnen kann, schätzt Ökonom und Banken-Experte Klaus Wellershoff ein.

France has a "very strong" interest" in "metal diplomacy" and will push for a very ambitious EU Raw Materials Act at a meeting next week that will see foreign ambassadors and industrialists discuss the EU's and France's strategy on the matter.

Looking for better conditions, doctors and nurses from eastern and southern Europe are moving to the West, leaving many member states with significant staff shortages.