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Micheal Martin's trip comes against the backdrop of trade tensions between China and the European Union, of which Ireland will assume the rotating presidency in July

In today's edition: Dates, people and files to watch

Le YIRSOBA de Bonam,
La grande famille SEDOGO à Bonam , Boulsa et Ouagadougou.
La grande famille KOUDOUGOU et KARGOUGOU à Bonam, Roantinga, Boulsa, Pouytenga et Ouagadougou.

Les familles alliées, KORMODO, ZABRE, BIKIENGA, SAWADOGO, BAKAYOKO, DIOP, AKOLO, DIABRI, KABORE, GUENGANE, SANOU, BILABEGA, BADINI, KOUDOUGOU, KPIELÈ-SOMDA, KAGAMBEGA, YERBANGA, RAPADMNABA, OUANGRAWA, NARE, BILGO, TIENDREBEOGO et KOMBAMTANGA à Ouagadougou, Bonam, Boala, Fada N'Gourma, Kaya, Sabou, Tenkodogo, Pouytenga et Bobo-Dioulasso.

Très touchés par les nombreuses marques de sympathie, d'affection et de soutiens multiformes qui leur ont été témoignés, vous remercient pour vos soutiens et de votre amitié suite au rappel à Dieu le lundi 30 juin 2025, suivi de l'inhumation à Bonam/Boulsa le samedi 05 juillet 2025 de leur épouse, mère, sœur, tante, belle-mère, grand-mère, et arrière-grand-mère, Mme SEDOGO née KOUDOUGOU Bangba Denise.

Ils vous expriment leur reconnaissance et leur profonde gratitude et vous informent par la même occasion qu'une veillée suivie d'une messe seront organisées pour le repos de son âme, respectivement le samedi 17 janvier à 20 h et le dimanche 18 janvier 2026 à l'église Maria Ghorretti de Boulsa à partir de 08h.

Que par la miséricorde de Dieu, Maman SEDOGO/KOUDOUGOU Bangba Denise repose en paix !
JEAN 12, 24-26 « Si le grain de blé tombé en terre ne meurt pas, il reste seul ; mais s'il meurt, il porte beaucoup de fruits ».

Les grandes familles PAHIMA, ZONGNABA, GOUMBRI, ZOMBRE, SEBGO, MOULMA, BAGAGNAN, KOUMTOUBRE et les familles alliées à Ouargaye, Lalgaye, Pihitenga, Ouagadougou, Pouytenga, Koupéla, Tenkodogo, Bobo-Dioulasso, France, Etats-Unis, Gabon renouvellent leurs très sincères remerciements à tous ceux et celles qui ont exprimé leur compassion et leur soutien lors du rappel à Dieu, le 24 février 2025, de leur regrettée fille, sœur, épouse, tante, cousine, mère, grand-mère et arrière-grand-mère :
PAHIMA née GOUMBRI Lebendé Micheline

Elles vous convient aux funérailles chrétiennes pour le repos de son âme selon le programme suivant :

• Jeudi 15 janvier 2026 : bénédiction de la tombe à 10 heures au domicile familial à Tampouy

• Vendredi 16 janvier 2026 : veillée de prière à 20 heures à la Paroisse Saint Jean Marie Vianney de Tampouy

• Samedi 17 janvier 2026 : messe à 08 heures à la Paroisse Saint Jean Marie Vianney de Tampouy
« J'ai combattu le bon combat, j'ai achevé la course, j'ai gardé la foi » 2 Timothée 4 :7-8

In today's edition: Cybersecurity, sovereignty, AI and child protection

« Je suis la résurrection et la vie. Celui qui croit en moi vivra, quand bien même il serait mort. » (Jean 11, 25)

05 janvier 2015 – 05 janvier 2026

Voilà onze (11) ans qu'il a plu au Seigneur de rappeler à Lui son fidèle serviteur,
NASSOURI Sougoudia Claude, Administrateur civil à la retraite.

En ce triste anniversaire de décès, la grande famille NASSOURI et alliés prient toutes celles et tous ceux qui l'ont connu, côtoyé et aimé d'avoir une pensée pieuse pour lui et de prier pour le repos de son âme.

Une messe sera dite à son intention ce lundi 5 janvier 2026 à 18h30, à l'église Saint Jean XXIII de la Salle.

Que par la miséricorde de Dieu , l'âme de notre cher père repose en paix.

Union de prières

Delcy Rodríguez, proche alliée du dirigeant vénézuélien Nicolás Maduro, actuellement emprisonné, a été nommée présidente par intérim.

L'agriculture reste un pilier de l'économie du Kosovo, mais le secteur est peu attractif, avec de très petites propriétés et des aides publiques qui arrivent au compte-goutte. Premier volet d'une série de reportages dans la région de Suharekë.

- Articles / Kosovo, Economie, Courrier des Balkans, Agriculture

L'agriculture reste un pilier de l'économie du Kosovo, mais le secteur est peu attractif, avec de très petites propriétés et des aides publiques qui arrivent au compte-goutte. Premier volet d'une série de reportages dans la région de Suharekë.

- Articles / Kosovo, Economie, Courrier des Balkans, Agriculture

Les Familles DAO, DOYE et alliées de même que les Famille BAKO, TRAORE et Alliées,

Vous traduisent leurs sincères remerciements et leur profonde gratitude pour les nombreuses marques d'amitié, de compassion et les soutiens multiformes (spirituel, moral, matériel et financier) manifestés lors du rappel à Dieu le 12 Décembre 2025, de l'inhumation le 24 Décembre 2025 et du Doua le 25 Décembre 2025 de leur fils, époux, frère, neveu DAO Dramane Ismaël.

Votre présence bienveillante à leurs côtés lors de cette douloureuse épreuve leur a apporté force, consolation et réconfort.

Nos remerciements et notre infinie reconnaissance vont à l'endroit :

– Des parents, amis, voisins du quartier et connaissances venues de divers horizons.

– Au groupe Orange.

– A la Famille SANKARA depuis Abidjan.

Que Dieu le tout puissant vous le rende au centuple.

Plus Hygge conscripts, Canada SAFE, and Danes to the rescue

Written by Polona Car.

The Cybersecurity Act (CSA) came into force in 2019 as part of the EU’s efforts to build strong cybersecurity. Since its introduction, the EU cybersecurity regulatory framework has become more complex in response to the rise in cyber-attacks. New EU rules, as well as changes in the geopolitical context, have impacted the CSA, and the regulation is currently under review. Although stakeholders are aligned on most issues, significant differences remain, notably in addressing non-technical risks relating to the security of the information and communications technology (ICT) supply chain.

The Cybersecurity Act in short

Regulation (EU) 2019/881 (the CSA) formalised the role of the European Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA), giving it a permanent mandate, resources and tasks, including operational ones. It also established a voluntary EU cybersecurity certification framework (ECCF) for ICT products, services and processes. The ECCF aims to set up and maintain specific certification schemes, allowing companies operating in the EU to use the certificates recognised across all Member States. In January 2025, a targeted amendment to the CSA was adopted, to enable the future adoption of European certification schemes for ‘managed security services’ covering areas such as incident response, penetration testing, security audits and consultancy. The CSA requires an evaluation and review every five years. Postponed several times, this is now expected on 14 January 2026.

Evolving context

Since the CSA entered into force, cyber-attacks have been on the rise. This has prompted new EU cybersecurity laws to address the growing number and complexity of cyber threats. As a result, ENISA’s roles and responsibilities have expanded. For example, ENISA supports implementation of the Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2) by providing technical guidelines, facilitating information sharing, and enhancing coordination between Member States. Similarly, ENISA supports implementation and enforcement of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) by providing technical expertise, developing a single reporting platform for vulnerability and incident reporting, and supporting cybersecurity certification schemes.

As regards certification, implementation of the ECCF has been challenging. So far, only one EU certification scheme has been adopted – the European cybersecurity scheme on common criteria (EUCC), dedicated to certifying ICT products. All other schemes (cloud services – EUCS, 5G, digital identity wallets and managed security services) are still under development. Additionally, there are concerns whether the ECCF effectively addresses non-technical supply-chain cybersecurity risks such as geopolitical dependencies. Questions have also been raised about how voluntary certification frameworks will align with the CRA, which establishes a presumption of conformity (in Article 27) for products certified under a recognised European scheme such as the EUCC.

The proposal for a revised CSA therefore aims to address both ENISA’s growing responsibilities and ECCF implementation. During the consultation, the Commission also gathered views on ICT supply chain security challenges and the simplification of cybersecurity rules, such as how to streamline reporting obligations.

CSA review: Points of convergence among stakeholders

The replies to the call for evidence for the CSA review have shown broad agreement that the CSA should be revised on the following issues: (i) streamline cybersecurity measures; (ii) enhance cyber resilience; and (iii) simplify the EU regulatory landscape. The review is seen as an opportunity to reduce administrative burden and compliance costs. A significant convergence point is the need to harmonise definitions and reporting requirements across major EU acts – such as NIS2, CRA and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – and establish a single EU incident notification platform. Such a platform has now been put forward in the proposal for a ‘digital omnibus’ regulation.

There is consensus that ENISA’s mandate should be clarified and strengthened to reflect the agency’s growing operational responsibilities under new EU rules such as NIS2 and CRA. Stakeholders note that this expansion should be matched by adequate financial resources and staffing in order to ensure the agency’s effectiveness. The view is that ENISA should serve as a central technical coordinator, to promote consistency and harmonise implementation of EU cybersecurity laws across the Member States, thereby reducing regulatory divergence. This echoes the Council conclusions of December 2024 on a stronger EU Agency for Cybersecurity. Poland went as far as calling for a separate law for ENISA, to separate this item from potential controversy around the EUCS discussions.

Stakeholders widely acknowledge that the process for developing and adopting certification schemes is too slow and opaque. They highlight that a more agile, transparent and inclusive process with clearer timelines is urgently needed. Furthermore, stakeholders underline that certification schemes should be based on and align with international standards in order to ensure global interoperability, maximise acceptance, and reduce compliance costs for companies operating internationally. The prevailing view is that certification schemes should also be leveraged as a recognised means of demonstrating conformity or compliance with security requirements stemming from other major EU legislative acts, including NIS2, CRA and the AI Act.

Potential challenges

Disagreements revolve around the specific content and scope of certification schemes, particularly regarding sovereignty and the legal limits of ENISA’s influence. The most contentious point is the inclusion of sovereignty requirements in certification schemes such as the EUCS. This issue divides stakeholders into those advocating measures to protect European digital autonomy (e.g. both data localisation and corporate headquarters based in the EU) and those prioritising open markets and technical neutrality. Pro‑sovereignty advocates, and stakeholders supporting ‘cloud by Europe‘ models (i.e. entirely EU-based cloud service providers, not controlled by non-EU stakeholders), argue that these measures are crucial to protecting sensitive data and reinforcing EU strategic autonomy. By contrast, major tech companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon and Google, argue that non-technical criteria are subjective and do not improve cybersecurity outcomes, potentially restricting market access and innovation. At Member State level, too, positions are divided, with some countries expressing concern over sovereignty requirements, and others advocating in their favour.

On the nature of certification, the majority view is that it should remain mostly voluntary, to maintain flexibility and innovation. However, mandatory certification in critical sectors where high-security assurance is essential was also proposed. In addition, ENISA’s regulatory power has sparked debate. Some stakeholders, including Amazon, oppose granting ENISA the authority to issue binding opinions or regulatory guidance, arguing that its role should remain technical and advisory.

It remains to be seen to what extent the Commission will consider stakeholders’ views. The CSA review will also need to fit into the simplification of cybersecurity-related incident reporting obligations, which are part of the ‘digital omnibus’ proposal published on 19 November 2025.

Read this ‘At a Glance note’ on ‘Cybersecurity Act review: What to expect‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Deutschlands niedrige Geburtenrate ist kein individuelles Problem. Es genügt nicht, höhere Einkommen für Eltern zu fordern. Es braucht eine radikale Gleichstellung. , Deutschland steht vor einer seiner größten gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Herausforderungen: dem demografischen Wandel. Die Geburtenrate liegt seit Jahrzehnten deutlich unter der Reproduktionsrate. In Deutschland beträgt sie aktuell 1,35 Kinder pro Frau – zu wenig, um die Bevölkerung stabil ...

By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 5 2026 (IPS)

The statistics are staggering: while military spending keeps skyrocketing, Official Development Assistance (ODA)– from the rich to some of the world’s poorer nations– has been declining drastically.

According to a Fact Sheet released by the UN last week, the $2.7 trillion allocated in just one year (2024) to global military spending amounted to $334 for every person on the planet; the size of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of all African countries; more than half the GDP of all Latin American countries; 750 times the 2024 UN regular budget; and almost 13 times the amount of ODA provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2024

Over 100 countries increased their military budgets, with the top ten spenders alone accounting for 73% of the total. Despite making up about a quarter of the UN’s Member States and nearly 20% of the world’s population, African nations collectively account for less than 2% of global military spending.

If the current trend continues, warns UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterre, military spending could increase to $3.5 trillion by 2030 and exceed $4.7 trillion, potentially climbing to $6.6 trillion, by 2035. A $6.6 trillion spending is equivalent to almost five times the level at the end of the cold war, six times the lowest global level (1998), and two and a half times the level spent in 2024 ($2.7 trillion).

James E. Jennings, PhD, President, Conscience International, told IPS while the world was celebrating a Happy New Year January 1, those who have read global military budgets for 2026 can only weep.

The recently released UN fact sheet on worldwide spending for weapons and military expenses reveals a fearful future for humanity in the coming decades. “That’s because of the vast disparity between our lust for power and dominance as opposed to our lack of concern for the growing millions of people living in abject poverty,” he said.

Such conditions, he pointed out, guarantee that children who lack clean water and sanitation will suffer from easily curable diseases and have little access to education. “There is a direct connection between buying airplanes, tanks, and bombs, and taking food out of the mouths of babies. Even a tiny percentage of the money spent annually on arms would alleviate world hunger in just a few years.”

Another way of understanding the issue is the global distribution of wealth, disadvantaging the Global South. Health, especially children’s health, is primary. It could be radically transformed by vaccinations and medicines that are readily available and cheap compared to military equipment and technology.

Education is the top prize that can transform lives and societies but is unavailable to many people in the world’s neediest countries. What is most worrisome to those who are paying attention is the fact that military expenditures are rising. Where that will lead if the trend continues is dreadful to contemplate, declared Dr Jennings.

Meanwhile, the UN Fact Sheet says:

Less than 4% ($93 billion) of $2.7 trillion is needed annually to end world hunger by 2030.

· A little over 10% ($285 billion) of $2.7 trillion could fully vaccinate every child.
· $5 trillion could fund 12 years of quality education of every child in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
· Spending $1 billion on the military creates 11,200 jobs, but the same amount creates 26,700 jobs in education, 17,200 in healthcare or 16,800 in clean energy.
· Reinvesting 15% ($387 billion) of the $2.7 trillion is more than enough to cover the annual costs of climate change adaptation in developing countries.
· Each dollar spent on the military generates over twice the greenhouse gas emissions of a dollar invested in civilian sectors.

The 38-membe OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) points out that ODA is currently on “a significant decline”, with major donor countries like the U.S., France, Germany, and the UK cutting aid budgets, leading to projected drops of 9-17% in 2025 after a 9% fall in 2024, impacting the poorest nations and vital services like health.

This marks a sharp reversal after years of growth, driven by domestic spending (like refugee costs) and shifting priorities.

Alice Slater, who serves on the Boards of World BEYOND War and the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and a UN NGO Representative for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, told IPS the UN’s Fact Sheet, starkly illuminating last year’s record high of $2.7 trillion in military expenditures, caused a cascade of devastating consequences to human well-being, the environment, possibilities for avoiding climate collapse, as well as blows to employment, ending hunger and poverty, providing health care, education, and other ills, due to a lack of adequate funding support.

The Fact Sheet, she said, does an admirable job of illustrating the shocking maldistribution of States massive military expenditures and what that money could buy in many instances, such as to end hunger and malnutrition, provide clean water and sanitation, education, environmental remediation, and so much more.

In a message to world leaders last week, Guterres said: ·“As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act?”

Today, the scale of human suffering is staggering – over one-quarter of humanity lives in areas affected by conflict. More than 200 million people globally need humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million people have been forcibly displaced, fleeing war, crises, disasters or persecution.

“As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words: global military spending has soared to $2.7 trillion, growing by almost 10 per cent.”

Yet, as humanitarian crises around the world intensify, global military spending is projected to more than double – from $2.7 trillion in 2024 to an astonishing $6.6 trillion by 2035 – if current trends persist. Data shows that $2.7 trillion is thirteen times the amount of all global development aid combined and is equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of the continent of Africa.

“On this New Year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight. A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars. Peace must prevail,” urged Guterres.

In September 2025, the Secretary-General, as requested by UN Member States in the 2024 Pact for the Future, launched a report that revealed a stark imbalance in global spending. Called The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future, the report examines the difficult trade-offs presented by the increasing global military spending, making a powerful case for investing in peace and in people’s futures:

“It’s clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice,” says Guterres. “In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain.”

“This New Year, let’s rise together: For justice. For humanity. For peace.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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In Monday's edition: Venezuela, comms advisers, roaming

A wave of EU legislation will target cloud services, chips and networks and step up Europe’s push to curb dependence on US technology

Telecom operators warn that expanding the bloc’s surcharge-free mobile phone roaming area should not be decoupled from accession