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601338

More than 20 representatives from Kyrgyzstan’s environmental, health, academic, civil society and sectoral planning institutions learned about Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) at a training workshop in Bishkek organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in close co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek from 6 to 7 November.

SEA is a key tool for integrating environmental and health considerations into strategic planning and for ensuring transparent, forward-looking decision-making. The workshop helped participants to deepen their understanding of the SEA Protocol under the Espoo Convention, as well as the current status of SEA system development in the country.

The first day brought together environmental and health authorities, civil society specialists, EIA experts and academics. They explored the roles of key institutions in the SEA process, practiced identifying when draft strategic documents require SEA, and reviewed regional examples from Europe and Central Asia that demonstrated how SEA supports sustainable development.

The second day focused on sectoral planning authorities, whose role is central to applying SEA in sectors such as energy, transport, water and regional development. Through discussions and group exercises, participants examined how SEA can enhance the quality, inclusiveness and long-term impact of strategic planning.

“Strategic Environmental Assessment helps us plan development in a way that takes environmental and social impacts into account. It makes decision-making more transparent and sustainable. I am confident that our exchange of knowledge and experience will be an important step toward a more responsible approach to planning in Kyrgyzstan,” said Meer Kulumbaev, Head of the State Environmental Expertise Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The training workshop was part of the OSCE project, “Strengthening National and Regional Capacities and Co-operation on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Central Asia – Phase II”. The project is funded by the Advisory Assistance Programme of the German Federal Environment Ministry, under the supervision of the German Environment Agency.

Sustainable palm oil is part of the solution, but EUDR uncertainty threatens smallholders and markets, say producers

An interview with Joanna Lillis on the contrasts between "new" and "old" Uzbekistan.

General Plenary Session of Leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 30. Credit: Ueslei Marcelino/COP3

By James Alix Michel
VICTORIA, Nov 12 2025 (IPS)

COP30 Brazil, though shadowed by the absence of many world leaders, remains a pivotal milestone in the global fight against climate change, tasked with building on the Paris Agreement’s momentum. Yet the glaring lack of commitment, coupled with withdrawals from the accord, casts a grim shadow over the future. The planet continues to warm, and scientists warn that current targets may not prevent a catastrophic temperature spike. While the summit’s focus on implementation not just new promises—is a welcome shift, it’s clear: words alone won’t cool the Earth.

James Alix Michel

Brazil’s leadership in championing nature-based solutions, like safeguarding the Amazon rainforest, is a beacon of hope. The conference ignited critical discussions on climate finance, adaptation, and resilience for vulnerable nations. The Baku-to-Belem Roadmap’s goal of mobilizing $1.3 trillion annually for developing countries is ambitious but necessary. Yet challenges loom large: wealthy nations’ apathy, geopolitical fractures, and the lingering impact of the U.S. withdrawal from Paris. COP30’s success hinges on action.

The Stakes Are Dire

The IPCC warns: we’re on track for 2.5–3°C warming by 2100 if pledges are not met. This spells ruin: crippling droughts, unlivable cities, mass migration, and ecosystems collapsing. The Amazon, a vital carbon sink, is nearing a ‘tipping point’ of irreversible dieback. Island nations face existential threats. The climate crisis is not a distant threat—it’s here.

Why COP30 Matters

1. Implementation Over Pledges: Past summits yielded lofty goals, but delivery has lagged. COP30 must hold nations accountable. No more empty vows.

2. Climate Finance: Developing countries need predictable funding, not charity. The $100 billion/year promise remains unfulfilled. Wealthy nations must pay their share.

3. Adaptation and Resilience: Frontline communities in Africa, Small Island States, and the Global South can’t wait. Funding for early warnings, flood defenses, and drought-resistant crops isn’t a favor; it’s justice.

4. Global Unity: Geopolitics must not derail progress. The world needs cooperation, not competition.

The Human Cost:

Millions already suffer. Cyclones, wildfires, famine, mass migration, and sea-level rise. This isn’t ‘someday’; it’s now. Indigenous groups, youth activists, and scientists plead: stop debating. Act.

Yet amid the urgency, COP30 saw glimmers. Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pushed for Amazon protection. African nations demanded reparations for historical emissions. The Global South called for “Equity first.”

The Road Ahead: COP31 and Beyond.

Future summits must:

• • Enforce transparency: Track emissions cuts, not just promises.
  • Prioritize loss & damage: Compensate those already paying the price.
  • Work towards ending fossil fuels: No new coal projects.
  • Empower youth: Include communities, not just politicians.

A Call to Leaders: Pledges Aren’t Leadership

When leaders make commitments, they bind their nations to honor them. Empty promises are not leadership. The world isn’t a battleground for wars—it’s our only home. We’re all in this together. No more excuses. Action isn’t optional.

The clock ticks. The Amazon burns. The oceans rise. We need solutions. And we know what the solutions are. Now we need action.

Let’s choose life. For the planet and for ourselves.

James Alix Michel, Former President Republic of Seychelles, Member Club de Madrid, Founder James Michel Foundation.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Takaichi’s remarks stirred a firestorm, but her later clarifications highlight the limits on Japan’s involvement in a Taiwan crisis.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Im Mittelpunkt des aktuellen Konflikts steht die Frage, wer bei der Entwicklung des Kampfjets FCAS die Führungsrolle übernehmen soll.

601554

What do a police officer, a prosecutor, a judge and a defence lawyer have in common? They all have a duty to protect human rights.

But how is this done in practice: during investigations, when questioning suspects or taking testimony from witnesses?

These were the questions addressed by participants in the workshop “Ensuring Procedural Safeguards and the Protection of the Rights of Individuals in Criminal Proceedings”, organized on 11–12 November in Tashkent by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Centre for Development and Justice (CDJI).

Representatives of law enforcement, the judiciary, and the defence bar learned international best practices and engaged in discussions on how to make criminal proceedings more fair, transparent and humane.

The training was delivered by international experts from the Centre for Development and Justice (CDJI), from such countries as Spain, the Netherlands and the UK.

They provided an overview of constitutional safeguards and the so-called Miranda Rights – the rights of individuals to know the charges against them, to remain silent and to have access to a lawyer during detention. These rules originated in the United States following the 1966 case of Ernesto Miranda and have since become a symbol of fair treatment for suspects. Participants discussed how such safeguards can be applied in the context of criminal proceedings in Uzbekistan, ensuring that every detainee clearly understands his/her rights and can fully exercise them.

British expert – a former police officer and trainer in international interviewing standards – introduced participants to the P.E.A.C.E. model, a modern, ethical and evidence-based approach to conducting interviews without coercion or pressure.

Through practical exercises, participants honed their interviewing skills, emphasizing trust, respect and transparency. Special attention was given to international standards such as the Mendez Principles, which help prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment.

Discussions highlighted the fact that respect for human rights begins in everyday practice: in how an investigator asks questions, how a prosecutor evaluates evidence and how a judge makes decisions. At the conclusion of the training, participants noted that the knowledge gained would help make criminal proceedings in Uzbekistan even more fair and firmly rooted in adherence to the rule of law and protection of human dignity

WHO’s Andrew Black warns tobacco industry influence over governments is worsening

Il est un domaine intellectuel où l'excellence française, jamais égalée, fait toujours tomber des records : l'autopromotion. Chaque mercredi paraît le JDNews, un magazine du groupe Bolloré offert le week-end aux acheteurs du Journal du dimanche. Le 1er octobre dernier, la direction de la (…) / France, Médias

La ministre des Armées, Catherine Vautrin, a ravivé cette semaine les tensions autour du projet franco-allemand de système de combat aérien du futur (SCAF), déclarant mardi 11 novembre que l’Allemagne n’avait pas la capacité de fabriquer seule un avion de combat.

The post SCAF : la ministre des Armées doute de la capacité de l’Allemagne à concevoir un avion de combat appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Speaking before Nigeria face Gabon in African play-offs for the World Cup, Alex Iwobi says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was his "big brother" at Arsenal.

“Formalism” is dragging down China’s education sector. Will new policies help?

A coordinated EU ‘brain plan’ would unite fragmented initiatives, align funding and policy, boost scientific progress and patient outcomes, say brain experts

601296 Communication and Media Relations Section

Over 100 experts shared good practices and technical expertise at the Ninth Annual Passenger Data Seminar held at the Hofburg in Vienna on 6 to 7 November. The event was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and its Countering Terrorist Travel Programme.

The two-day event brought together national authorities, international organizations and the private sector to discuss the implementation of Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems. This year’s seminar focused on the practical functioning of Passenger Information Units, the European Union’s API and PNR framework, and the importance of ensuring data protection and privacy compliance in line with international standards.

Participants discussed the responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve efficiency while safeguarding fundamental rights. Through interactive sessions and case-based discussions, they also exchanged views on legislative, operational and technical aspects of using passenger data for border management and travel security.

The Passenger Data Seminar helps to support OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in developing and strengthening national passenger data systems. It also provides an opportunity to build partnerships and foster co-operation between governments, the private sector and international organizations in advancing secure and efficient border management.

This event was the seventh consecutive joint seminar organized by the OSCE and the UNOCT, together with its partners across international organizations, regional networks and the private sector. It is a key output of the OSCE-UNOCT Biennial Action plan for 2024-2025 and part of regional and international collaboration around implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant Security Council resolutions.

La ville d’Oran s’apprête à accueillir, dès lundi prochain, la première édition des Olympiades nationales des métiers. Organisé par le ministère de la Formation et […]

L’article Oran accueille les premières Olympiades nationales des métiers : la jeunesse algérienne à l’honneur est apparu en premier sur .

The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 3 December and Thursday, 4 December 2025, in Brussels.
DROI meetings - 2025
DROI meetings - 2026
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Le Président de la République, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a répondu favorablement à une requête émanant du Président de la République fédérale d’Allemagne, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, concernant l’écrivain […]

L’article URGENT. Tebboune accorde la grâce présidentielle à Sansal suite à la demande de son homologue allemand est apparu en premier sur .

Le commissaire à la Justice, Micheal McGrath, dirigera le « Centre européen pour la résilience démocratique » proposé dans le cadre du Bouclier européen pour la démocratie visant à lutter contre la désinformation étrangère, a annoncé mercredi 12 novembre la Commission.

The post Le commissaire à la Justice dirigera le futur centre européen de lutte contre la désinformation appeared first on Euractiv FR.