European Union

Precipitous drop comes after massive stockpiling ahead of climate measure

Retailers accuse France of undermining EU single-market rules by enforcing national law abroad

Hungarians will vote in legislative elections on 12 April. Polls suggest Orbán's Fidesz party is trailing opposition leader Peter Magyar's TISZA

The EU's stance is dividing its own capitals and poorer countries

"The new measures announced today include crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday

Since taking office in May, a coalition led by conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz has deployed more police at the borders

La brigade mobile de contrôle économique et de la répression des fraudes (BMCRF) met en vente des bouteilles de gaz butane saisies pour pratique illicite de prix.

Cette opération se déroule dans ses locaux conformément au communiqué officiel du 13 février 2026.

C'est l'annonce faite sur sa page Facebook ce lundi 16 février 2026. Cette décision est en application, selon elle, des dispositions de l'arrêté n°02-045/MCPEA/SG du 03 juin 2002, fixant les taux des consignes des bouteilles de gaz butane, ces bouteilles vides sont cédées aux prix réglementés suivants :
– 13 500 F CFA pour la bouteille de 6 kg
– 16 500 F CFA pour la bouteille de 12 kg

Cette initiative vise à mettre ces bouteilles à la disposition des marketeurs afin de prévenir toute rupture sur le marché et garantir un approvisionnement régulier des ménages.

Ainsi, les ménages qui souhaitent échanger leurs bouteilles vides contre des bouteilles chargées peuvent également se rendre directement dans les locaux de la BMCRF pour effectuer l'opération. Elle rappelle par ailleurs que cette action s'inscrit dans sa mission de lutte contre les pratiques frauduleuses et de protection du consommateur. Tout en garantissant une concurrence saine et loyale.

Pour toute information, veuillez contacter les numéros suivants : 80 00 11 84 /80 00 11 85/ 80 00 11 86

Lefaso.net
Source : SCRP/BMCRF

Ukraine, Arctiv, destruction

Albania's defence minister argues his country is key for EU security

Le dialogue social se poursuit activement pour parvenir à des solutions constructives, dans le respect de notre institution, de nos collaborateurs et de la qualité de service que nous nous engageons à vous offrir.
Pour vos opérations courantes, L'AGENCE CENTRALE, sise au projet ZACA près de la base aérienne, reste ouverte.

Par ailleurs, nos Distributeurs Automatiques de Billets (DAB), ainsi que nos produits digitaux demeurent pleinement accessibles 24h/24 et 7j/7.
BOA-BURKINA FASO présente ses excuses pour les désagréments que cette situation pourrait occasionner et vous remercie de votre compréhension.

La Direction Générale

An email sent to lawmakers, seen by Euractiv, shows the Parliament worried about how much data goes to AI companies

La Météo Burkina alerte sur une importante nappe de poussière couvrant le Nord du Mali et du Niger, avec une évolution progressive vers le Burkina Faso ce 16 février 2026.

Un temps qui s'observera dans les prochaines 24 à 72 heures avec une progression graduelle de la poussière vers l'ensemble du territoire.

A cela s'ajoutent par ailleurs une dégradation progressive des visibilités, une mauvaise qualité de l'air dans plusieurs localités due à la poussière, ainsi qu'une atmosphère plus brumeuse.

Lefaso.net

Source : Page Facebook de la Météo/ Burkina

Le Ghana a demandé à la Russie d'extrader l'homme, accusé d'avoir enregistré des rapports sexuels sans consentement.

Europe’s competitiveness depends on a strong pipeline of professional accountants, yet the demand for skills in areas such as sustainability reporting, green finance, cyber‑crime and AI is growing faster than the supply of qualified professionals. ACCA is launching a Europe‐wide conversation on how to attract, develop and retain the accounting talent our economies urgently need. Learn more […]

The EU is urging sweeping reforms to stamp out corruption as part of its demands for Ukrainian membership to the bloc

In the latest newsletter of the Elders, Helen Clark reflects on Davos, President Trump’s Board of Peace, and the urgency of pushing back against “might is right.”

By Helen Clark
WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Feb 16 2026 (IPS)

2026 has begun on a deeply troubling note. International law, long regarded as the backbone of global peace and security, is being challenged in ever more brazen ways. Core principles of sovereignty and restraint are being flagrantly breached.

I have recently returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, where President Trump unveiled his new Board of Peace. The UN Security Council had originally endorsed such a board to oversee the administration of Gaza ad interim. There, despite the declared ceasefire, the humanitarian situation remains critical and Palestinian civilians are still being killed by the occupying military on a near-daily basis.

But what was unveiled at Davos suggests something more worrying. There is not a single mention of Gaza in the charter of the announced board. It appeared to be positioned as an alternative to the UN Security Council.

Among the invited members of the Board of Peace are two indicted by the International Criminal Court. There is a $1 billion price tag for permanent membership of the Board. This is not a proper way to run international affairs. A Board of Peace should remain wholly and urgently focused on the continued crisis in Gaza as provided for in the Security Council’s time-limited mandate.

The framing of the Board of Peace is just one more challenge to a multilateral system whose legitimacy was already being questioned for many reasons.

The UN Charter is in its 81st year. The structures it established, particularly the Security Council, still reflect the world of 1945 rather than that of 2026. The abuse of the veto by permanent members – particularly when this shields violations of international law – has also been profoundly damaging to its credibility.

This has been evident, for example, in repeated use of the veto by Russia to block resolutions on Ukraine and by the USA to block resolutions on Israel-Palestine. Reform of the Security Council is both necessary and overdue. It has been achieved before – with meaningful change in 1965, and it must be achieved again.

At the Munich Security Conference last week, we engaged with decision-makers on how best to navigate a changing world order. I agree with Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada that recent developments signal a serious rupture of the international order we have known. Countries of all sizes must act together to reject a world governed by raw power, and to safeguard a future grounded in international law.

The Elders will speak out against any attempt to override international law with a doctrine of “might is right”. We will reaffirm and defend an international order rooted in shared values and principles.

This is a moment of choice. Either the international community allows the values that have long underpinned global cooperation to erode through division and sabotage, or it comes together to defend and renew them.

Helen Clark is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008 and was the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 2009 to 2017

Source: The Elders’ monthly newsletter.

The Elders is an international non-governmental organisation of public figures noted as senior statesmen, peace activists and human rights advocates, who were brought together by former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in 2007.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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"Anyone who talks about it needs to act accordingly in their own country," said Johann Wadephul

Son Excellence le NABA KOUTOU de MOGTEDO,
Le TANSOABA de TANSOBTENGA,

Les grandes familles KABORE, DIPAMA, OUEDRAOGO, TAPSOBA, TIENDREBEOGO, KAFANDO, ZANGRE, SAWADOGO, BONKOUNGOU à Mogtédo, Tansobtenga, Meguet, Ouagadougou, Koubri, New York, Yamoussoukro et Paris,

Monsieur DIPAMA Paul, ses frères et sœurs TIENDREBEOGO Ruth, Marcel, Samuel, Lazare, David, Daniel, OUANDAOGO Naomie, Benjamin et leur famille.
Monsieur OUEDRAOGO Saïdou, ses frères et sœurs Boubacar, Salamata, Zalissa, Kadyguetou, Nata, Asseta, Safiatou, et Korotimi
Tapsoba Wemba à Mogtedo (Bagrin)
EL HADJI BONTOGO Séni et famille
Monsieur KABORE Sambo et famille
Les Veuves DIPAMA Marie, KAFANDO Marie, OUEDRAOGO Ruth, OUEDRAOGO Ramata à Ouagadougou.
Monsieur TAPSOBA Halidou et sœurs

Les familles alliées YANKINE et LENGANI à Kadpugu, Tangare et Garango
La famille de feu YANKINE Abel à Dapoya,

Les familles alliées TAPSOBA, ZOUNGRANA et OUBDA,

Les enfants :
Madame KABORE Gisèle à Ouagadougou,
Madame TAPSOBA Lydie, Épouse de Wendingoudi TAPSOBA à Ouagadougou,
Mme ZOUNGRANA Tatiana épouse de Gustave ZOUNGRANA en Italie,
Madame OUBDA Sonia épouse de Madi OUBDA en Espagne,
Mademoiselle KABORE Julie à Ouagadougou,

Les petits enfants :
BAMOGO Junior Noel Christian au Canada,
TAPSOBA Cedric et Césaire à Ouagadougou,
ZOUNGRANA Sem Andy, Raphael Franck, Sephora Roxane et Chanel Stella à Ouagadougou,
OUBDA Angelo et Delchrist Nolan à Ouagadougou,
TASSEMBEDO Elsa Alya à Ouagadougou,

Ont la profonde douleur de vous faire part du rappel à Dieu le dimanche 15 février 2026 au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire YALGADO OUEDRAOGO à Ouagadougou, de leur épouse, fille, grande sœur, tante, belle-mère, mère et grand- mère

KABORE née YANKINE Marie Philoté à l'âge de 71 ans.

Programme des obsèques :

LUNDI 16 FEVRIER 2026
16 H LEVEE DU CORPS AU CHU YALGADO POUR LE DOMICILE
19 H VEILLEE ET SOIREE D'HOMMAGE
MARDI 17 FEVRIER 2026
07 H 30 LEVEE DU CORPS AU DOMICILE POUR L'EGLISE EVANGELIQUE DE
TANGHIN BARRAGE
08 H CULTE D'ACTION DE GRACE SUIVI DE L'HUNIMATION
AUX CIMETIERES DE TOUDWEOGO

« J'ai combattu le bon combat, j'ai achevé la course, j'ai gardé la foi. »
2 Timothée 4 :7

A female merchant in Bangkok using her phone as part of her business. Digital technology is a key accelerator of trade growth. Credit: Pexels/Faheem Ahamad

By Witada Anukoonwattaka, Yann Duval, Nikita Shahu and Niccolo Sainati
BANGKOK, Thailand, Feb 16 2026 (IPS)

Trade in the Asia-Pacific region has moved into a new strategic reality. The latest Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends (APTIT) highlights that rapid technological change and a strategic reconfiguration of supply chains are reshaping how economies in the region trade and compete.

Rather than pursuing cost efficiency alone, firms and governments are increasingly prioritizing supply chain resilience, diversification and digital readiness. These forces are altering export performance, changing the geography of trade, and accelerating the rise of digitally driven goods and services across the region

Digital-led trade growth

Export performance reflected this adjustment. Regional export growth slowed sharply from 7.9% in 2024 to 3.3% in 2025 (Figure 1). Additionally, persistent price compression, driven by weak global demand, excess supply and falling commodity prices, pushed the region’s share of global exports down to 39%, extending a decline underway since 2021.

Across subregions, gaps widened. Growth is increasingly concentrated among economies able to capitalize on digital opportunities. South-East Asia and East and North-East Asia outperformed in merchandise trade, supported by their expanding roles in semiconductors, AI-related hardware and advanced digital equipment.

By contrast, exports contracted in South and South-West Asia, where traditional industries remain the backbone of export structures.

A similar pattern emerged in services. In 2025, services exports rose by 5.4%, led overwhelmingly by digitally deliverable services such as ICT, telecommunications, computer services, and business and financial services. These are the functions that enable multinode production, data flows and the coordination of increasingly complex supply networks.

Traditional services such as travel and transport continued to grow but at a slower pace. East and North-East Asia again led regional services’ export expansion.

A shifting geography of trade

The geography of trade is also evolving. For goods, geopolitical risk mitigation is playing a larger role in determining trade routes and partners. Intraregional merchandise trade remains significant with 53% exports and 56% imports, but its share edged down in 2025 as businesses diversified toward extra-regional markets.

Export shares to the European Union and the rest of the world increased, while the United States became a rising destination for most subregions, with the exception of those most directly affected by geopolitical tensions.

Services trade remains more global, with only about 21% of services exports occurring within the region. However, ESCAP analyses point to gradually strengthening intraregional linkages. South-East Asia, for instance, has been redirecting a growing share of its services exports toward East and North-East Asia, reflecting that intra-regional demand for digital coordination functions is increasing within the services trade networks.

Outlook for 2026: Slower growth, higher uncertainty

Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 remains cautious. Merchandise export volume growth is projected at around 0.6%. Developed economies’ exports are expected to contract by about 1.5% due to their exposure to high-tech supply chains under geopolitical strain and weaker demand in major markets.

Developing Asian economies may show more resilience, but outcomes will hinge on China’s performance and the strength of global technological demand.

Services trade is expected to remain comparatively steady. Digitally deliverable services, especially ICT, computer and business services are likely to continue driving growth. Travel and transport may see gradual improvement, but several risk factors, including policy and regulatory uncertainty in digital trade, climate-related disruptions and increasing compliance burdens for MSMEs, cloud the outlook.

A structural shift, not a temporary distortion

Together, these developments point to a structural transformation in the region’s trade rather than a temporary cycle. On the goods side, firms are reengineering supply chains to build resilience by diversifying markets, relocating stages of production and increasing the share of intermediate goods destined for assembly closer to end markets in the European Union and the United States.

Yet this transition remains delicate: volumes have slowed, margins are compressed, and the region’s global export share continues to slip.

On the services side, digitalization is reshaping growth patterns. The strong growth of ICT, communications, computer and business services reflects the expanding role in supplying digital services, such as data management, logistics platforms and remote business services that keep modern supply chains running

For Asia and the Pacific, particularly its developing economies, future gains will depend on pairing digital transformation with practical resilience strategies. ESCAP’s analyses drawing on RDTII and RIVA point to areas that deserve policymakers’ attention: persistent digital trade regulatory complexity and increasingly dense value chain connections that allow disruptions to spread widely.

These trends underscore the importance of strengthening digital trade cooperation, as well as building resilient logistics and trade facilitation systems to keep intermediate goods moving reliably along supply chains. In this context, increasing participation by countries in the regional UN treaty on facilitation of cross-border paperless trade is a welcome development.

Witada Anukoonwattaka is Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP; Yann Duval is Chief, Trade Policy and Facilitation Section, ESCAP, Nikita Shahu is Consultant, ESCAP, Niccolo Sainati is Intern, ESCAP.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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