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Kenya’s Ruto Signals Support for Expanded U.N. Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti

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Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed openness to transitioning Kenya’s anti-gang mission in Haiti into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation. During his visit to Port-au-Prince on Saturday, Ruto evaluated the progress of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, in which Kenya plays a leading role, aiming to curb Haiti’s rampant gang violence.

The MSS mission, first approved by the U.N. Security Council for a 12-month term, is set to expire in early October. A draft resolution, led by the United States and Ecuador, proposes extending the MSS mission by another year and transitioning it into a formal U.N. peacekeeping operation. The Council is scheduled to vote on the renewal by September 30.

 

“We have absolutely no problem if the U.N. Security Council decides to transition this into a fully U.N. peacekeeping mission,” Ruto said, signaling Kenya’s willingness to continue its efforts in stabilizing Haiti.

Kenya has already deployed approximately 400 police officers out of the planned 1,000, but the mission has faced criticism over delays in manpower and equipment. Gang violence continues to ravage the country, with 700,000 people internally displaced.

Ruto’s visit coincided with growing concerns from U.N. experts about Haiti’s worsening security situation, as armed groups with political ties expand their control over key territories.

GCC Moves Toward Unified Economic Citizenship and Industrial Cooperation

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The GCC is moving towards a unified definition of Gulf national products to establish “Gulf economic citizenship” and enhance industrial cooperation at a recent meeting in Doha.

This initiative aligns with the 2001 Economic Agreement, promoting equal treatment for GCC nationals across member states. The move aims to foster economic integration and sustainable development, advancing the region’s industrial sector and overall economic unity.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is advancing towards a unified definition of Gulf national products, aiming to establish “Gulf economic citizenship” and strengthen the region’s industrial sector. At the fifth extraordinary meeting of the Undersecretaries of Ministry of Industry from the Gulf countries, held in Doha, officials discussed the Importance of cooperation and alignment on this definition. Mohamed bin Hassan al-Malki, Undersecretary of Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that this step would foster collaboration among GCC nations, enhancing economic sectors and achieving shared goals. Khalid bin Ali al-Sunaidi from the GCC Secretariat highlighted the opportunity this presents for supporting collective Gulf efforts.

The discussion centered on the application of Gulf National Product Standards and included recommendations on localization percentages and incentives to promote balanced competition. This initiative aligns with Article 3 of the GCC’s 2001 Economic Agreement, which calls for equal treatment of GCC nationals in all member states across economic fields, advancing the goal of economic integration and sustainable development within the region.

Xenophobia And the Peace of Europe

The recent surge in racially and xenophobically motivated violence instigated against immigrants in the United Kingdom has made headlines around the world. The start of August has not been kind to the UK, as attacks on people of South Asian ethnicity orchestrated by far-right groups have left several injured. It was reported by BBC on the 29th of July, a mass stabbing at Southport resulted in the death of three little girls aged between six to nine and injured ten others. The salt on the wounds was added by a fabricated website article arguing that a Muslim immigrant was the prime suspect. Following such a claim, riots broke out in the UK targeting people of color and those of other ethnicities. According to the latest issued Eurobarometer, a means to measure public opinion of Europe there has been an increase in Xenophobic sentiments in Europe.

Xenophobia is a new term for a mass majority of audience in Pakistan. There are different ways of defining xenophobia. The most common definition is made by breaking the word into its two Greek counterparts, xenos meaning stranger, and phobia meaning fear, consequently, it translates into fear of strangers. It is important to understand the distinction between xenophobia and racism. The former is the hatred of people from another country regardless of their race and color and the latter is the belief in the supremacy of one’s race and can exist in the same country as well. Whether we define it one way or another, the real weightage must be given to the fact that it remains a formidable challenge for the policymakers in Europe to contemplate its causes and consequences and if not managed delicately would erode the long-lasting peace of Europe.

Comprehending the causes of xenophobia remains a puzzling case for scholars. Biologists, sociologists, psychologists, and economists shed different light on it. The biological basis for xenophobia is provided by the behavior of infants towards strangers even at the age of three months showing extreme fear of them. The evolutionary history of homo sapiens tells the existence of humans living in small groups of hunters and gathers with little to no contact with strangers. In the modern era of the nation-state system immigration is seen as stemming identity crisis, where it is hard for a nation to believe in the patriotism of people who either do not resemble their color or language. In times of stress, immigrants become a scapegoat. It is common for us to blame our inadequacy on others. For example, in a time of economic stress rather than blaming poor economic policies, immigrants are seen as a burden. History, as written in our books, points out that xenophobia is not unique to Europe.

Journeying from ancient to modern history we come across various shades of Xenophobia and racism in different cultures. In ancient Egypt, a different nomenclature was devised for strangers where Egyptians considered themselves modern. Similarly, in ancient Greek culture, the hub of knowledge and civilization regarded foreigners as barbarians and dangerous. Arabs used to call people who speak different languages as mute underscoring their pride in the Arabic language. During the teething years of America, African slaves were considered highly alienated . Nazis in Germany exceeded all the limits and even tried to produce scientific shreds of evidence proving Jews, and Blacks as lower and worthless races. For most of history, however, the world has been mostly euro-centric.

Although, with a gloomy past Europe of today has enjoyed a significant period of peace in the post-Cold World War era.  Europe of past was extensively divided; it saw the rise and fall of many different empires and has remained in a state of war that intensified the differences and created an unknown perceived fear of other groups. Whether, it was the Peloponnesian Wars, the eighty-year war, the thirty-year war, WW-I or WW-II the past of Europe has been nothing short of a chaotic jungle. However, all of it was changed with the inception of the European Union (EU) which converted this jungle of lawlessness into a zoo of more coordinated nations. Even in the contemporary age, it is the most peaceful region of the world with free movement of masses and produce. But this peace is under extreme pressure as the demographics have been altered significantly.

Simply put, Europe cannot prosper without immigrants. Naturally, the land of Europe has been fueled by workers and resources from the global south. This natural divide was also the paramount cause of colonization and imperialism where powerful and literate Europeans harvested cheap raw materials and labor from the global south and turned Europe into a world factory. But now the world is changing especially due to globalization. The birth rate in Europe is notably low compared to Asia which is severely overpopulated. The average birth rate in Europe is 1.46 lives birth per woman. It is as high as 3.3 in Pakistan. Also, a major portion of the European population is aging with little to no capability to turn the wheel of the industry. Just for a comparison the median age in Europe is 44.5 and that of Asia is 32.1 years. Therefore, they need young labor from Asia and other continents. However, every coming year is seeing a decline in the acceptance rate.

The problem is that many European states lack the tradition of cultural assimilation. There is also a rise in the popularity of right-wing political parties in Europe. In Italy, Finland, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia the parties in power are right winged. Brexit in 2022 was a significant blow to the union of Europe as well. The rhetoric of anti-immigration in Europe is becoming a pain for the policymakers.

Policymakers are subjected to a hard task but not an impossible one. They have to make sure that Europe continues to derive power from workers of the south and the same time ensure these immigrants their due rights and protection. The contrasting condition can be a final nail on the coffin taking the peace and success of Europe six feet under the ground.

5 days of Portugal Deadly Wildfires

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Lisbon- Europe is currently suffering from Climate Catastrophe. Where Central Europe struck with deadly floods,  at other side of Europe Portugal is in state of emergency due to uncontrollable wildfire that have caused a great damage to infrastructure, wildlife and residents in Aveiro district. The wildfire started on 14 September and now it had been out of authorities control. Thousands of firefighters are struggling to manage the fire spread in northern Portugal.

“We are well aware that these difficult hours are not over yet,” Montenegro told the nation in a televised address. “We have to continue to give everything we have and ask for help from our partners and friends so that we can reinforce the protection of our people and property.” Neighbors Italy, France, Morocco and Spain had provided aid to Portugal with water bombing aircrafts.

European Forest Fire Information Service(EFFIS) revealed that more than 450 square miles of Portugal area had been burned. The government of Portugal had arrested 13 people, suspected of causing the fire turned in to wildfire. There intentions are unclear whether this act was criminal or just negligence that erupted the disaster.

Civil Protection official André Fernandes says  “We are still at high risk for forest fires over the next 48 hours.” Means wildfire would inflect more damage till it is completely under control.

Tokayev Sparks Debate with Bold “Invincible” Russia Comment

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Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has recently made some remarks regarding Russia. Delivering his speech at an international forum, Tokayev referred to Russia as “invincible,” the words that triggered thoughtful reactions of the political experts and diplomats. Speaking in the context of Kazakhstan’s strategic partnership with Russia, his comment has triggered a great deal of interpretations about the geopolitical choice of Kazakhstan while the geopolitical landscape is going through crucial changes.

 “Russia is an invincible country,” said Tokayev, emphasizing the need for Kazakhstan’s further cooperation with the Northern neighbor. The statement was made at a time when Russia is subjected to more international sanctions, mainly because of the Ukraine crisis. Though the words of Tokayev have been perceived by some as an indication that Kazakhstan remains the ally of Russia, the others have pointed out the intentions behind them as a part of diplomacy. “Kazakhstan, for instance, has been very keen in its foreign policy approach,” stated Mr. Rustam Bekmyrzaev, who is a political analyst. These words by Tokaev can be viewed as a signal to Moscow, while the West also knows that Kazakhstan prefers stability in its region.

Kazakhstan has a long border with Russia, and currently Russia and Kazakhstan have strong cooperation in terms of economic and security integration. Kazakhstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and CSTO. But Kazakhstan also intends to preserve friendly relations with the western countries, especially after Russian alleged intrusion in Ukraine.

UAE’s AI Company G42 and Nvidia Partnership

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G42, a UAE-based AI company, is partnering with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia to develop AI solutions for improving global weather forecasting, with plans to establish a climate tech lab in Abu Dhabi.

Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in G42 and the formation of AI centers in Abu Dhabi. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed will meet President Biden to discuss security and technology cooperation, especially in AI development.

The collaboration aims to aligns with the UAE’s goal of diversifying its economy beyond oil by investing heavily in AI. In the collaborations between UAE companies and U.S. firms, including a $1.5 billion investment by Microsoft in G42 and the creation of AI centers in Abu Dhabi. Another investment involves MGX joining Microsoft and BlackRock in a $30 billion fund focused on AI infrastructure. However, there is concern in Washington that the UAE could become a channel for advanced U.S. AI technology to reach China, led the U.S. to impose restrictions on AI chip exports to the region last year. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s upcoming visit to Washington to meet U.S. President Joe

Biden and discuss Middle East regional security issues as well as advanced technology and AI development, the White House said. He is also set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris as well as business executives, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE’s, main focus of the visit would be economy and cooperation in fields such as AI.

Ukraine Strikes Major Russian Military Arsenal

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In a bold move, Ukrainian forces targeted a critical military site deep within Russia, sparking explosions and causing widespread damage.

Thirteen people have been injured in the Tver region after a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire in the town of Toropets. The attack, which occurred early Wednesday morning, hit an ammunitions depot reportedly housing fuel tanks, artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other explosives.

Footage circulating online shows massive detonations and a large column of smoke covering the sky. Local authorities ordered a partial evacuation, preparing buses for residents, though the regional governor later reassured people that infrastructure was back to normal.

The scale of the attack is significant, as Ukrainian forces have been seeking to strike such targets with western-supplied missiles, though the absence of approval from the U.S. and U.K. has forced Ukraine to rely on domestically produced drones. Ukrainian sources suggest that the targeted arsenal was valued at nearly £30 million ($39 million) and stored Russian munitions alongside North Korean missiles, although these claims remain unverified.

The strike has not only disrupted a key supply point for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has also been detected from space by NASA due to the heat generated from the explosions. A minor earthquake was also reported in the surrounding region, highlighting the magnitude of the blast.

This latest drone attack, following months of intensified operations by Kyiv, signals Ukraine’s growing confidence in its long-range capabilities. Strikes like these send a powerful message to Moscow and the West—that Ukraine can and will target Russian military infrastructure while minimizing the risk of a wider escalation.

For Ukraine, this success brings not just strategic gains but also a morale boost, illustrating the ability to defend itself beyond its borders as the war grinds on.

Second Wave of Explosions Rocks Lebanon, Killing 20 and Injuring Hundreds

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Following a second wave of bombings in Lebanon that targeted communication devices by Hezbollah and general public of Lebanon, including paramedics, security firms and scientists.  Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 20 people have died and over 450 have been injured. The blasts on Wednesday struck strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, compounding the chaos from a similar attack a day earlier.

The devices, believed to be walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, paramedics, security firms and others detonated in public areas causing public panic and chaos. “There was a car that exploded just behind us. Chaos is everywhere,” reported Ali Hashem, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Tyre. Hezbollah’s media office confirmed that its communications systems were targeted, raising suspicions of Israeli involvement.

The explosions came as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared the beginning of a “new phase in the war,” although he did not directly address the blasts. The attacks on Lebanon’s devices have heightened fears of a broader conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

The blasts occurred during funerals for some of the victims of Tuesday’s attack, adding to the already volatile situation. One Hezbollah official described the incident as the “biggest security breach in the group’s history.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for “maximum restraint” as Lebanon braces for further escalation.

Sources: BBC, The NewYork Times, Reuters, AP, Al-Jazeera

The Impact of Political Instability on Human Security: A Case Study of Syria

The political flimsiness stays a problem that guarantees human weakness inside the political system, particularly concerning the financial difficulties of any locale. In this regard, the contention happening in Syria gives a reasonable contextual investigation on the snappish blows of political shakiness to human security. Beginning around 2011, the hour of the Middle Easterner Spring, Syria has been going through fierce confusion cum developing into a mind boggling disaster area with serious human security outcomes. In this paper, a study follows on the different impacts of political unsteadiness on human security, with Syria as a perspective to place into point of view the bigger ramifications in the cutting edge world.

Grasping Human Security

Human security contrasts from public safety in that it takes a viewpoint not in light of the state as a unit, but rather calls for center around the security of people. It tends to be ordered into monetary, food, wellbeing, ecological, individual, local area, and political security. The political shakiness of a nation undermines that multitude of human protections, respects sufferings of a high greatness, and uproots individuals. This paper endeavors to take a gander at the beginning of precariousness in Syria, whose results are being seen in the entire world.

The disturbance in Syria was set off not long after the Bedouin Spring, a rush of hostile to government fights that cleared the Center East in 2011. Serene fights broke out the nation over, requesting vote based changes and further opportunities. Nonetheless, the absolutely heartless move made by the public authority to smother each indication of dispute upped the ante and in the long run drove the country into full-scale nationwide conflict. Then government powers, numerous resistance gatherings, and even others like ISIS radicals began to battle for their portion and transformed the country into a war zone.

Influence on Human Security

1.Economic Security

The impact of political shakiness on Syria’s economy has been exceptionally negative. Before the contention, the Syrian economy was moderately steady and banked principally on farming, industry, and the travel industry. Nonetheless, the continuous battling has brought about the obliteration of foundation, organizations, and markets. The Syrian pound has devalued gigantically, and costs have expanded. The joblessness rate has expanded hugely. On the opposite side, the Unified Countries Financial and Social Commission for Western Asia has assessed that now, north of 80% of the Syrian populace lives underneath the neediness line. This monetary breakdown stripped huge number of individuals of essential financial security.

  1. Food Security

The conflict has terribly upset farming creation and food supply chains, prompting food uncertainty. Individuals escaped the viciousness, leaving ranchers working in the fields unharvested, and the annihilation of foundation additionally hampered food dispersion. As indicated by the WFP, roughly 12.4 million Syrians are presently food shaky, and a large number of Syrians are currently at outrageous gamble of craving and unhealthiness. The scant food and powerlessness to convey compassionate help associations in areas of contention raise the chance of a philanthropic fiasco.

  1. Health Security

 Wellbeing framework has been pulverized in Syria because of the contention, with clinics and clinical offices explicitly becoming focuses of the savagery. As per the World Wellbeing Association, the greater part of Syria’s medical clinics have been harmed or obliterated. Additionally, the infections that have been dispensed with, like polio and measles, have returned due to non-accessibility to clinical consideration, clean water, and sterilization. Besides, the development of Coronavirus has made more strain on these scant wellbeing assets and has corrupted the wellbeing emergency circumstance in the country.

4.Personal Security

 The continuous clash represents a steady danger to individual security. This implies that Syrian regular people are barraged, took shots at, abducted, and experience different types of viciousness consistently. The Syrian Observatory for Common freedoms assessed that in excess of 500,000 individuals had been killed since the ascent of contention, while numerous others were injured. A persistent condition of uncertainty has engraved injury and a few mental impacts on the greater part, particularly kids, who have spent quite a bit of their lives in the dread of war.

  1. Local area and Political Security

Assuming the conflict has done anything, it is to terribly enrapture the Syrian culture on partisan, ethnic, political, and different grounds. The commitment of various unfamiliar powers and non-state entertainers made the circumstance very difficult to escape the mess in which different gatherings fight over power. This condition of discontinuity brought down local area trust and social fortitude among the individuals, bringing about patterns of viciousness and vengeance. It is evident that there is an absence of political security confirmed by the way that the focal government has a smidgen in its grasp, with harmony talks having happened a few times, just to end war .

6. Environmental Security

The idea of the contention has not left the climate of Syria unaffected. Infrastructural annihilation prompted water asset contamination and tainting. In addition, the touchy weapons broadly caused land debasement which further convoluted reconstructing of livelihoods for some networks. The ecological harm from the contention presents long haul ramifications for Syria’s recuperation and manageability.

More extensive Ramifications for the Contemporary World

The instance of Syria highlights the general results of political precariousness on human security in the contemporary world. Most frequently, political unsteadiness plunges into clash, which sires compassionate emergencies that spill across borders. Moreover, the emergency in Syria has led to one of the biggest evacuee issues of ongoing times, with numerous large number of outcasts disappearing to adjoining or further nations. This tremendous uprooting has placed significant strain on facilitating nations, bringing about monetary, social, and political tensions.

In addition, the enormous number of worldwide entertainers engaged with the Syrian clash underlines how provincial unsteadiness has results that can be worldwide and influence international elements, taking care of new struggles.

Conclusion

The instance of Syria shows how political insecurity can turn into a serious danger to human security, creating horrendous effects on people and networks. The creating, extended war has pounded large number of Syrians’ monetary, food, wellbeing, individual, local area, and ecological security. Beating such difficulties requests that compromise and helpful guide redressal by the global local area remain inseparable with the quest for economical improvement in the midst of blended districts. The emergency in Syria makes it the most pessimistic scenario in point for why a comprehensive perspective on security should be affected, by which human prosperity is brought to the closer view of worldwide endeavors to fabricate an additional steady and secure world.

Kazakhstan Takes Lead in Saving the Aral Sea

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Kazakhstan has become a crucial player in one of the largest environmental initiatives the world is witnessing, having recently headed the IFAS. This program is meant for solving the problems connected with the depletion of the Aral Sea which can be considered the first step of the actions aimed at solving the ecological crisis that has seized Central Asia for decades. Formerly the fourth largest landlocked sea, the Aral Sea reduced its size in the 1960s when water was being diverted for irrigation from the Soviet Union’s agriculture purposes. The result was disastrous, transforming the province into one of the globally well-known ecological calamities. Large portions of the sea disappeared, and this led to dust storms that contained salt and toxic chemicals that ravaged the local economy while people living near the sea suffered from serious health complications.

It is quite interesting that Kazakhstan has received a presidency of the IFAS at quite an appropriate time. President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during the inauguration message, said, “This is why the further development of our region depends on today’s actions.” To their credit, the country has already demonstrated leadership by starting the process of the “Northern Aral Sea,” which is already in the process of partial restoration of the northern part of the sea through the construction of barriers and water control. Thus, when Kazakhstan chairs the IFAS, it will have to intensify its activities regarding cooperation with neighboring countries like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. All these nations share the waters and have been trying to manage the effects of this disaster and avoid the deterioration of the environment. The current innovations concern themselves with the other effects of climate change, over-irrigation, and farming processes.

Source: The Times of Central Asia, Eurasianet