Agrégateur de flux

Kicsi az esélye annak, hogy az év végén esedékes tartományi választások után a VMSZ a demokratákkal folytassa az együttműködést, nyilatkozta Pásztor István, a Vajdasági Magyar Szövetség elnöke a Kurirnak, hozzátéve, a választásokat még nem írták ki, így korai lenne a részletekről beszélni.

D’après Amnesty International, les faits se sont déroulés les 2 et 3 août dans l’enclave musulmane PK5 de Bangui, la capitale centrafricaine.

Photo Credit: U.S. Army Africa

Skepticism over vaccines isn’t just an American problem anymore.

As Africa celebrates one year of being polio free, renewed controversy over the polio vaccination efforts in Kenya may threaten to push back that milestone.

Last week, the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops announced its intention to boycott the World Health Organization’s (WHO) polio vaccination campaign until authorities verify the vaccine will have no sterilization effects. Those skeptical of the vaccine’s effect on fertility claim it may be laced with sterilizing elements — namely beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), a chemical produced during pregnancy that is claimed to be used to sterilize women — and demanded the drug be tested independently.

The Catholic Church in Kenya’s skepticism of vaccines is nothing new. In 1995, the WHO proposed a similar campaign to vaccinate against tetanus. Kenya’s Catholic bishops protested, citing concerns over the presence of beta-hCG, and the WHO gave up on the campaign.

Nearly two decades later, the debate over the WHO and UNICEF’s joint vaccine program came to the fore yet again. The program sought to inoculate newborns against a severe form of tetanus by targeting women of reproductive age (15–49). In a statement released in November 2014, the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya and the Kenya Conference of Catholic bishops asserted they now have proof these vaccinations contained beta-hCG.

Public health officials have responded to these accusations by raising two points. Even if beta-hCG is there in trace amounts — which it shouldn’t be — the bishop’s own report has found it’s not at levels high enough to cause permanent damage a woman’s reproductive health. As James Elder, a spokesman for UNICEF, told the Washington Post in November 2014, its presence would be a result of “extremely rare contamination,” not some secret depopulation program.

Alternatively, these tests could have come up with a false positive. In a 1995 article detailing the tetanus vaccine controversy, the authors noted that the testing mechanisms being used by hospital laboratories were insufficient. Many used pregnancy tests, which do test for hCG in women but are inappropriate for testing a vaccine. The combination of certain chemicals in the tetanus vaccine make it highly likely these results were simply false positives.

The recent controversy over the polio vaccine, then, is just an extension of a much longer debate between large multi-national organizations and national authorities. The Kenyan bishops’ skepticism, at its core, isn’t an issue with Catholic writ large.

Today, what debate there is in the church at the institutional level is over whether it is or is not moral to vaccinate one’s self or one’s family with vaccines consisting of stem cells. Even here, church officials note, “the burden of this important battle cannot and must not fall on innocent children and on the health situation of the population — especially with regard to pregnant women.” In the case of Kenya, the burden the bishops are asking their parishioners to take falls squarely on that demographic.

Indeed, the Kenyan church’s position points more to concerns over the activities of these large, seemingly opaque multinational institutions, such as the WHO and UNICEF. The church’s boycott may be misguided and misinformed, but their actions seem to be rooted in a desire for more transparency and better protection of the country’s citizens. Given the country’s recent struggles with corruption and security, it’s easy to see where those broader concerns may be coming from. Still, whatever the deeper reasons for their objections, keeping a new generation of Kenyans polio-free is definitely in the church’s best interests.

Canada made an agreement recently to adopt the radar technology behind the Iron Dome anti-aircraft missile system. In an agreement between ELTA Systems, Rheinmetall and the Canadian Government, a version of the radar behind the Iron Dome will be produced in Canada in cooperation with companies from Israel and Germany. Delivery of the Iron Dome to Canadian forces is set to begin in 2017.

With Russia’s increased investment in defense in its Arctic region, Canada hopes to use their new Iron Dome-inspired system to manage any possible threats in the north. Despite minimal threats to Canada coming from aircraft and ballistic missiles, the Canadian defense system will replace an almost non-existent air defense capability that had eroded after the removal of Canada’s ADATS system a few years ago.

The logic behind Canada’s need for an Iron Dome-like system sheds light on what NATO anticipates will be international security concerns abroad in the near future. The system may serve as a starting point for a low-cost NATO-wide system that could deter Russian aircraft and missile systems in Eastern European countries concerned with rebel movements near Russia’s border. The Iron Dome also allows for an easing of tensions and reduction of causalities in many cases, so it’s as much of a political tool as it is a technological instrument. The system also allows for the targeting of other missiles and mortars, possibly giving it the ability to knock down missiles like those from the

There is a slight possibility that an Iron Dome-type system will find its way to countries in the Middle East that are at odds with Iran but would not purchase defense technology from Israel directly. Balancing the Russia’s S-300 in Iran with a system like the Iron Dome may contribute to reducing the use of ballistic missile technology from both sides, keeping the conflict limited to alternative military systems. Besides the S-300, the Iron Dome is likely one of the best systems for targeting medium-range threats.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The overall situation at and around Donetsk airport remained tense. The SMM observed a significant increase in ceasefire violations in areas east and north of Mariupol, particularly in the wider area of Starohnativka.

The situation continues to be volatile at and around the destroyed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk airport (9km north-west of Donetsk). Between 13:00 and 18:00hrs, the SMM, from its position at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation post at Donetsk railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk) heard a total of 14 explosions consistent with mortar or artillery impacts, two incidents of sporadic small arms fire and one airburst 2-7km north, north-east, west and north-west of its position.

The security situation remains calm in Mariupol, however there was a significant increase in ceasefire violations in areas east and north of the city, particularly in the area of government-controlled Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk). The SMM followed up on reports from a “DPR” member on heavy shelling on 9 August in and around “DPR”-controlled Styla (34km south of Donetsk). In “DPR”-controlled Starobesheve (32km south-east of Donetsk), a representative of the city hospital told the SMM that three “DPR” members had been killed and an unspecified number of civilians had been wounded in the shelling. The SMM also monitored the situation near “DPR”-controlled Styla and observed no military activity, but it could not enter the village due to security concerns. In government-controlled Mykolaivka (39km south-south-west of Donetsk) between 14:40 and 15:25hrs, the SMM heard a total of 11 explosions including two explosions assessed as incoming 82mm mortar rounds and a few bursts of small-arms and light-weapons (SALW) including heavy machine gun (HMG) and grenade launcher fire 2km north and 2-3km east of the village.

A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC headquarters in Soledar informed the SMM of the attack in Starohnativka with heavy weapons over the reporting period. According to the interlocutor, 400 armed persons attacked Ukrainian Armed Forces positions and in response the Ukrainian Armed Forces was forced to use heavy weapons prohibited according to Minsk.

In government-controlled Dzerzhynsk (58km north of Donetsk) the SMM visited three sites shelled on 8 August, based on a report from a Ukrainian Armed Forces representative at the JCCC in Dzerzhynsk. The SMM conducted crater analysis and concluded that they had been caused by 152mm calibre artillery from a south-south-easterly direction. Between 10:35 and 10:55hrs, the SMM heard four incoming mortar rounds and two bursts of machine-gun fire.

In government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), at 08:00hrs, the SMM heard sporadic SALW fire 4km north-east of its position, consistent with the direction of “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol). Later at 09:58hrs, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion in the area of Shyrokyne. The SMM visited government-controlled Lebedynske (16km east of Mariupol), where the resident in the village informed the SMM of shelling on 9 August. The SMM analysed three out of ten craters at the outskirts of the village and concluded that they were caused by 120mm mortars fired from an easterly direction. Between 14:28 and 15:11hrs the SMM heard a total of 22 explosions east of its position and a round of heavy-machine gun (HMG) fire and one burst of a 33mm anti-aircraft gun. In government-controlled Vodiane (24km north of Mariupol), at 17:05hrs, the SMM heard sounds consistent with SALW fire in the distance to the east of its position.

In government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten explosions of artillery north of its location.

In government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) the SMM followed up on information from a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer about alleged shelling on 9 August. At two sites, the SMM analyzed a total of eight craters and assessed them to have been caused by artillery gun (122mm) fire originating from the east and north-east.

In government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC showed the SMM a crater which he said was a result of shelling during the night of 8 August. The SMM analyzed the crater and assessed it to have been caused by 120mm mortar from a south-westerly direction.

The SMM revisited two Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area whose locations comply with the respective withdrawal lines. At the first area the SMM observed that all previously recorded weapons were again missing as during the previous visit on 24 July (see SMM Daily Report 24 July). At the second area, 17 howitzers were missing and the serial numbers of one of the present 11 howitzers did not match the number recorded during last SMM visit (see SMM Daily Report 24 July). The SMM also revisited two “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas, whose locations comply with the respective withdrawal lines. At the first “DPR” area, the SMM verified that all previously registered weapons were present. At the second “DPR” area six previously registered self-propelled howitzers 122mm (Gvozdika) were missing.

The SMM observed the following weapons in areas that are non-compliant with the Minsk withdrawal lines: in a government-controlled area, one main battle tank (MBT), and one tank (T-64, 125mm calibre).

On 8 August, at Kulykove Pole in Odessa, the SMM monitored the weekly demonstration and commemoration of victims of 2 May 2014 events attended by 50 anti-Maidan activists, mostly middle aged to elderly women and the counter-demonstration attended by 15 pro-Maidan activists, mostly men of different ages. Seventy police officers formed a line around the anti-Maidan group, separating them from the pro-Maidan group. There were verbal exchanges but no physical contact between the groups and the gatherings ended peacefully.

On 8 August, in Kyiv the SMM monitored a public protest on Independence Square (the Maidan). The gathering consisted of approximately 20 middle-aged males and females who were holding Ukrainian, Georgian and Chechen flags and displaying banners expressing their concerns about Russian policies in Ukraine and in Chechnya. No police officers were present. The gathering ended peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations, including the presence – and lack of information on the whereabouts – of mines, and damaged infrastructure. The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. Self-imposed restrictions on movement into high-risk areas have impinged on SMM patrolling activities, particularly in areas not controlled by the government. Most areas along the Ukraine-Russian Federation international border, particularly those controlled by the “LPR”, have ordinarily been placed off limits to the SMM. 

Denied access:

-   The SMM was prevented from passing a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk).The SMM left the checkpoint due to nervous signalling of a soldier.

-   At a checkpoint near government-controlled Troitske (Popasna area) (69km north-west of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM passage.

Delay:

-   At a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Donetskyi (40km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM was allowed to proceed after 20 minutes, having made a call to the relevant “LPR” member.

For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

Related Stories

• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 9 August 2015
• Spot Report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): OSCE vehicles in Donetsk city damaged by fire
• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 7 August 2015

Das Verbot der Todesstrafe gehört zum Kern des europäischen Verständnisses von Menschenrechten und ist eine der Prioritäten auswärtiger Menschenrechtspolitik. Seit mehreren Jahrzehnten weist der globale Trend in Richtung universelle Abschaffung der Todesstrafe. In Asien bleibt sie allerdings weitverbreitet und in letzter Zeit sind die asiatischen Demokratien Indien, Indonesien, Pakistan und Taiwan wieder dazu übergegangen, Menschen hinzurichten. Fördern ließe sich die Abschaffung durch Unterstützung lokaler zivilgesellschaftlicher und politischer Akteure, die sich gegen die Todesstrafe engagieren, sowie durch Seminare mit Richtern und Staatsanwälten über das Thema. Ein Schwerpunkt der Menschenrechtspolitik sollte auf Indien, Südkorea und Taiwan liegen, da dort die Chancen für eine Abschaffung am besten sind.

BELGRADE, 11 August 2015 - The current escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine is alarming and against the spirit of the Minsk Agreements, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić said today following reports of fighting in several areas in the Donetsk region. He reminded all sides of their responsibility to adhere to the ceasefire and prevent further civilian casualties.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) today reported that there was a significant increase of ceasefire violations yesterday in areas east and north of Mariupol. The area in and around Starohnativka is of particular concern at the moment.

SMM monitors were again fired upon this afternoon in eastern Ukraine.

“Security and freedom of movement is crucial for the SMM to fulfill its mandate,” said Dačić. “Once again, I strongly condemn any incidents or actions that hamper the SMM’s work,” he said. Inviolability of SMM property should be fully ensured, Dačić stated, and condemned the incident in which four armoured SMM vehicles were destroyed in a fire in Donetsk on Sunday.

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• All sides in eastern Ukraine must ensure safety and freedom of movement of SMM monitors, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dačić
• Today's agreement on withdrawal of weapons gives boost to the whole process, says OSCE CiO Dacic after meeting with the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk
• No alternative to Minsk Agreements, says CiO Dačić during visit to OSCE operations in Kyiv

A montenegrói nyelv és írás hivatalos használatba vételéről nyújtott be hivatalos kérelmet Verbász községnek a Montenegrói Nemzeti Tanács.

Le 1er août 2015, sur la base aérienne de Niamey au Niger, a eu lieu une relève d’avion ravitailleur de type C135 et de son équipage.

Der nordkoreanische Machthaber Kim Jong-un hat seine Teilnahme an der chinesischen Gedenkfeier zum 70. Jahrestag des Sieges im Zweiten Weltkrieg im September 2015 abgesagt. Da er schon seine Reise zu den Moskauer Festlichkeiten im Mai nicht angetreten hatte, lässt das erste Treffen mit Chinas Präsident Xi Jinping weiter auf sich warten, und das, obwohl dieser schon zwei Jahre im Amt ist. Offenbar haben die chinesisch-nordkoreanischen Beziehungen, die sich seit dem dritten Nukleartest vom 12. Februar 2013 kontinuierlich verschlechterten, einen historischen Tiefpunkt erreicht. Irritiert sind viele chinesische Beobachter zudem von den brutalen innenpolitischen Säuberungen in Nordkorea. So wurde im Dezember 2013 der langjährige China-Verbindungsmann Jang Song-thaek binnen drei Tagen seines Amtes enthoben und zum Tode verurteilt. Verteidigungsminister Hyon Yong-chol wurde im April 2015 abgesetzt und hingerichtet – ein Schicksal, das auch zahlreiche andere Vertreter der nordkoreanischen Führungselite ereilte. Diese Ereignisse wurden vom chinesischen Außenministerium eher vorsichtig als »innenpolitische Angelegenheiten Nordkoreas« bezeichnet oder oftmals – selbst bei direkter Nachfrage – nicht weiter kommentiert. Chinesische Wissenschaftler hingegen äußern in Fachzeitschriften zurückhaltende Kritik an Chinas Nordkoreapolitik. Der Blick in diese Medien macht deutlich, dass viele Experten eine härtere Linie in der chinesischen Außenpolitik gegenüber Nordkorea befürworten.

Un jihadiste proche de Mokhtar Belmokhtar, du groupe islamiste Al Marabitoune, a revendiqué mardi l'attaque d'un hôtel de Sévaré, dans le centre du Mali, qui a fait au moins 13 morts vendredi.

En juillet 2015, le colonel Olivier a pris la relève du capitaine de vaisseau Yann, devenant ainsi le numéro 2 des opérations du CJTF-OIR1. Ils nous expliquent le quotidien du NR, le représentant national français au Koweït pour l’opération Chammal et adjoint opération à l’état-major de la coalition pour l’opération Inherent Resolve.

VIENNA, 11 August 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the recent killing of journalist Rasim Aliyev in Azerbaijan, following a letter she wrote to the President of Azerbaijan, calling on the authorities to ensure journalists’ safety and reverse the rapidly deteriorating media freedom situation in the country.

According to reports, Aliyev, a freelance reporter and chairman of the media monitoring group the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety in Azerbaijan, was brutally beaten by a group of people in Baku on 8 August. He suffered multiple injuries and died in hospital on 9 August.

“This latest tragic incident once again proves it is high time that the authorities heed the warnings of international organizations and the calls of civil society to engage in meaningful dialogue and stop denying the seriousness of the situation,” Mijatović wrote in a letter today to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

The Representative noted President Aliyev’s condemnation of the act and his calling for an investigation. Mijatović said she raised the issue of intimidation and imprisonment of journalists and members of the media in Azerbaijan numerous times during the past year, including the issue of impunity from prosecution of assailants.

“Unfortunately, almost nothing has been done,” Mijatović wrote in her letter to the President. “The latest tragic death of Rasim Aliyev is the ultimate reminder to all of us that the vicious circle has to be broken and something has to be done.”

More than ten members of the media, including journalists, bloggers and social media activists, are in prison or in pre-trial detention today in Azerbaijan. They include:

• Khadija Ismayilova, a reporter for Radio Azadliq, on charges of inciting a person to commit suicide, illegal business dealings and abuse of power;
• Rasul Jafarov, a free expression and free media advocate and human rights defender, on charges of embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, abuse of power;
• Seymur Hazi, a columnist for the newspaper Azadliq, on a charge of hooliganism;
• Omar Mamedov and Abdul Abilov, bloggers, on charges of illegal storage and sale of drugs;
• Parviz Hashimli, a journalist, on charges of smuggling and illegal storage and sale of firearms;
• Nijat Aliyev, editor-in-chief of the azadxeber.az news website, on various charges, including drug possession and inciting hatred;
• Rashad Ramazanov, an independent blogger, on charges of illegal storage and sale of drugs.

The Representative also pointed to the fact that the perpetrators are still at large in the cases of Elmar Huseynov, the founder and editor of the independent weekly news magazine Monitor who was killed in 2005, and Rafiq Taghi, writer and newspaper columnist who died after being stabbed by an attacker in 2011.

The Representative reiterated her offer to assist Azerbaijan in much-needed improvements to media freedom and safety of journalists.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

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Un centre spécialisé dans le sprint existe en Côte d'Ivoire, à Yamoussoukro. Le pays compte bien y former une nouvelle génération de champions ivoiriens. Reportage.

Viele Medien hatten die Geschichte schon weitergereicht, als Journalisten mit besseren Dubai-Kenntnissen auffiel, dass der Vorfall sich 1996 ereignet…

A mai napon, 2015. augusztus 11-én, kedden helyi idő szerint 9 óra 38 perckor lezuhant az Amerikai Légierő egyik F-16-osa Németországban, Creussen település (Bajorország) közelében. A vadászbombázó egy erdőbe zuhant, pilótája katapultált, könnyebb sérülésekkel kórházba szállították.