While there are fewer Sikh activists and bodies talking about peace or taking sides in the Israel-Palestine war which is endangering world peace, the stand of the Global Sikh Council in making an appeal for an immediate truce in the Israel-Palestine conflict during its recently held annual general meeting convened online is likely to reverberate among the Diaspora Sikh communities and even through international humanitarian corridors
Representatives of Sikh organizations and activists from across 31 countries, during the recent Global Sikh Council digital summit, passed a resolution imploring the United Nations Security Council to spearhead efforts for a ceasefire in the Gaza region. This call comes amidst escalating tensions that have seen numerous civilian casualties, including women and children. The Global Sikh Council’s voice adds a significant moral weight to the global outcry for peace and humanitarian aid in this beleaguered zone.
Echoing the council’s commitment to global humanitarian causes, transcending geographic and cultural boundaries, she stated, “Our heart goes out to those suffering in this conflict. It’s high time for a peaceful resolution, and the UN must step in with both aid and diplomacy.”
The Global Sikh Council resolved that “The reports of deaths and injuries to thousands of women and children are deeply distressing. While every nation has the right to safeguard its country from any foreign aggression killing innocent women and children is a crime against humanity. Global Sikh Council calls upon the world leaders and the United Nations to put an end to this misery of the people in Gaza and work for a peaceful settlement.”
Lady Singh of Wimbledon, Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur -wife of the illustrious Lord Singh of Wimbledon Indarjit Singh and President of the Global Sikh Council, delivered a resolute message, condemning the air strikes ravaging Gaza.
Namur, the city of festivals: a rich program throughout the year
Namur, the capital of Wallonia in Belgium, is a city that vibrates to the rhythm of festivals throughout the year. Whether you’re passionate about music, cinema, theater or the visual arts, you’re sure to find an event you enjoy in this dynamic city.
One of the most emblematic festivals in Namur is undoubtedly the Festival International du Film Francophone. Every year, in September, this festival attracts film buffs from all over the world who come to discover the latest productions of French-speaking cinema. Competitions, outdoor screenings and meetings with directors make this event an unmissable event for all cinema lovers.
In summer, the city of Namur transforms into a real musical scene with the Namur Music Festival. For several weeks, internationally renowned artists perform in emblematic places in the city such as the citadel or the royal theater. From jazz to classical music to rock, there is something for all tastes and ears.
Visual arts lovers will not be left out in Namur. The International Comic Strip Festival takes over the city every year in January. Exhibitions, meetings with authors and signings are on the program for this event which highlights the ninth art. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover new talents and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of comics.
But Namur is not limited to cultural festivals. The city also hosts renowned sporting events. The Grand Prix de Wallonie, a professional cycling race, attracts international riders and thousands of spectators each year. The streets of Namur are transformed into a demanding and spectacular course for this competition which is part of the International Cycling Union calendar.
In December, Namur is adorned with its most beautiful lights to host the Illuminations Festival. For several weeks, the city is transformed into a real fairy tale with magical illuminations, street shows and activities for the whole family. It’s a magical time when young and old can immerse themselves in the warm atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations.
Namur is therefore a city with no shortage of activities throughout the year. Whether you are a fan of arts, music, cinema or sport, you will find a festival in Namur that will meet your expectations. In addition to these events, the city also offers many tourist attractions such as the citadel, the Saint-Aubin cathedral and the Namurois Museum of Ancient Arts.
If you are planning to visit Namur, it is advisable to find out in advance about the festivals that will take place during your stay. Hotels and restaurants are often busy during these times, so it is best to book in advance. Additionally, some events require tickets to be purchased in advance, so it is important to plan accordingly.
Namur, the city of festivals, is a true paradise for lovers of culture and entertainment. Whether you are attracted by cinema, music, visual arts or sport, you will certainly find what you are looking for in this city full of life. So don’t hesitate any longer, come discover Namur and let yourself be carried away by the magic of its festivals throughout the year.
A international conference entitled “ Iranian nuclear power: realities and prospects for sanctions” was organised in Paris on November 21st 2023 from 6h30 till 8 p.m at the Paris School of Business with the presence of high level experts ,journalists, researchers and students .
The debate was introduced by Professor Frédéric Encel who started by mentioning that We approach a very controversial issue today given the international situation regarding iran because we rarely speak about Iran and its economic policy both internal and external through the sanctions. I would like to remind you that January 1st 2007, the Islamic Republic of Iran was sanctioned internationally and I would like to focus on this level because all the members of the UN Security Council validated these sanctions not only Washington, Paris London but also Moscow and Pekin and then they continued to maintain these sanctions even though some countries like China help through economic aid and oil contracts.
He added that president Ahmadi Nijad at that time just handed a document which was not accepted by the UN council and after this deadline rejected by Iran, the international community took a series of sanctions against The Islamic Republic of Iran. The support of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Bachar Alassad’s regime needs a lot of economic and technological abilities.
Hamdam Mostafavi, Editor in Chief at the Express France highlighted that It has been more than 20 years since she has been working on the Iranian regime and the economic sanctions.
Are the sanctions responsible for the terror attacks of the regime and working in the black market? Did they push them to be close to China and Russia and support terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas? Do they stop the regime from the repression of its own population? We think that the sanctions are counter-productive and we know that they affect heavily the Iranian population. Iran stopped its nuclear program and the economic sanctions were lifted to allow the country to have economic relief.
Another important element in the development of the nuclear power by the Iranian regime is the scientific research made by scientists.
It is sufficient to prevent Iran from supporting military groups in the Middle East like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. The sanctions have a few effects on the economy of the Iranian regime which created another system to finance its militia and support it as well as arm its military groups.
Heloise Hayet, a researcher at IFRI, mentioned that Iran uses proxies to make war on the neighboring countries. The nuclear program in iran was stopped by a UN resolution 2231. This resolution obliges Iran not to develop ballistic missiles for the sake of creating a nuclear weapon. More importantly, this resolution ends the 18th of October 2023 but nobody speaks about it because we were focusing on another conflict in the Middle East in which iran was implicated too. France, UK and Europe decided to maintain this agreement regarding the development of ballistic missiles. However, Russian and Chinese sanctions are over which means that Iran could send ballistic missiles to Russia and vice versa which was the case in the war on Ukraine.
Emmanuel razavi, a reporter at Paris Match magazine, expert in Iran started his speech by focusing on the fact that Iran is a state which sponsors terrorism. Iran finances its proxies mainly Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. There is a definition of a terrorist organization and this fits into the context of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis which take hostages and do targeted terrorist attacks. Razavi made reports for Paris Match on the Houthis in Yemen and the Iranian revolution. Iran has institutionalized a parallel economy. The sanctions have a few effects on the economy of the Iranian regime which created another system to finance its militia and support as well as arm its military groups. Some arms are given by the Iranian regime to the Houthis in Yemen but some arms are given to Isis according to intelligence services mainly French and American. This business is not only serving Iran’s proxies but also other terrorist groups such as Isis and other organizations which are not necessarily Shia but also Sunni such as Hamas.
Khater Abou Diab,Dr in international relations, evoked the difficult situation in the Middle East due to Iran implication in instability in the region. It is a difficult moment to speak about the situation in the Middle East but Iran is implicated and it is even the one which profits from this chaos. They always try to negotiate the sanctions.what is important is how the West manages the sanctions on Iran.Why is Iran so strong despite all the sanctions? The strength of the Iranian regime comes from its islamist ideology and its proxies, its militia including the Houthi, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Bachar Alassad’s regime, both Shia and Sunni groups with an extension to Africa. In France, there was a presidential candidate in the North of France which supports Hamas and financed by Iran .Iran is everywhere and that is why speaking about sanctions touches upon the human rights, the nuclear program and financing terrorism.
Iris Faronkhondeh, Doctor in Indian and Iranian studies in Paris 3 University, highlighted the influence of Iran in using hostages policy and persecuting opposition leaders is complicated. How can we deal with such a regime. we cannot have a deal with a criminal state unless there is a regime change. The Iranian population suffers from poverty and marginalization. However, the regime has a lot of financial means that it uses to finance its militia and create instability in the region and create nuclear weapons. The tunnels of the Hamas are also constructed thanks to the Iranian regime help and there are links in terms of the techniques used by the regime and those used by Hamas.
The debate ended with a series of questions by the students who were intrested in getting answers from the experts regarding stability security and nuclear program in iran as well as its impact on the region and on the EU in particular regarding the fight against terrorism and the rise of extremism.
The resort will host skiers for three months of the year, and during the established time tourists will be able to practice water sports and mountain biking
As part of Saudi Arabia’s impressive project to build the city of Neom – the “city of the future” – a ski resort worth 461 billion euros will also be built. The new project is located in Tabuk province. The winter resort will be called Troyena and will be a mixture of dizzying real and virtual architecture, an artificial lake and mesmerizing views.
The idea of skiing the slopes of Neom in Saudi Arabia sounds absurd – yet Clark Williams, who manages marketing and communications for Neom, tells Euronews Travel that it’s easier than you think.
People are like, wait a minute, does it snow in Saudi Arabia?” Williams says. “The truth is we only need -3 degrees Celsius to create snow in Neom and we can do that for three months of the year.”
In the mountains near Neom, the temperature naturally drops below 0 degrees in winter.
“In our snowmaking, we’re going to use as many sustainable resources as possible, whether that’s solar or wind,” explains Williams. “We will also use water from our desalination plant, which is a cutting-edge solution, and we will try to collect as much water as possible from melting snow.”
In addition to a skiing experience, the resort will also offer the opportunity to practice all kinds of water sports thanks to an artificial lake that will be built. Other sports options include cycling.
Troena promises everything that tourists could find in a normal mountain village.
The concept behind the ski village is to take what you would see in a classic mountain village and put it in one building,” says Williams.
This includes restaurants and even a luxury wellness spa for those who need a break from the track.
The ski resort will include several hotels that will immediately be able to receive visitors when the centre opens in late 2026 or early 2027.
“That’s pretty soon when you consider that we’re creating a whole new landscape there, with streets, bars, restaurants and hotels all rolled into one village.”
The “City of the Future” project
Troena is only one of the four main parts of Neom. As part of the grandiose “city of the future” project is the creation of the luxury island of Sindala in the Red Sea – the first destination to open in 2024. The creation of a futuristic, floating industrial metropolis is also planned, as well as a 170-kilometre city, which will eventually accommodate up to 9 million residents.
“Neom is one of the mega projects that were announced as part of the Saudi crown prince’s vision for 2030,” said Niall Gibbons, Neom’s head of tourism. “It is the size of Belgium and will welcome approximately 3.5 million tourists by 2030.”
Neom will initially focus on domestic tourism and later expand to international visitors, with 60 per cent of people coming from outside Saudi Arabia by 2030, according to Gibbons.
Illustrative Photo by Volker Meyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-yellow-jacket-and-red-riding-on-snow-ski-3714137/
MODENA, EMILIA-ROMAGNA, ITALY, November 23, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Modena, Italy, is a city that beautifully blends the allure of history, with the advancements of the era. It holds the title of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site due, to its collection of structures and museums that proudly exhibit renowned masterpieces originating from the 16th century. Additionally, Modena has gained fame as Italy’s point for automobile production. Being the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari, Modena has a strong association with automobiles, embodying a culture of precision and speed.
In October, the Church of Scientology Mission of Modena celebrated its 42nd anniversary, being one of Italy’s most prominent Scientology Missions and on October 29, hundreds of Scientologists and guests gathered with the Mission’s executives and staff to commemorate the inauguration of their new headquarters.
The Mission was embraced by local businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders.
Mr. Alessandro Crotti, an entrepreneur in the renewable energy industry, discovered Scientology two years ago while being introduced to the innovative administrative technology created by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Crotti has stated that he “applied the acquired skills to enhance both production and distribution situations, as well as to cultivate better relationships with others”. He also expressed how this knowledge has enabled him “to confront challenges with increased clarity and confidence”.
Mr. Andrea Ferrarini, president of the civil protection group Radio Club Contea Nord of Bondeno, collaborated with Modena’s Scientology Volunteer Ministers during the 2012 earthquake in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. He expressed his “appreciation for their assistance during the devastating aftermath”.
Mr. Benito Toschi, the founder of the local ANFASS chapter, spoke about the various projects supported by the Scientology Mission “for the benefit of individuals with disabilities”.
The final speaker, Ms. Simona Scattolin, represented the municipality of Forlì, located approximately 70 miles from Modena. In the months of May and June, the entire region was affected by floods, causing extensive damage to homes and businesses in Forlì. Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology in Modena provided “valuable assistance to families in Forlì, assisting them in the challenging process of clearing their homes and businesses from mud, salvaging whatever was possible, and properly disposing of water-damaged flooring, walls, and furniture” said one the staff from the Mission.
Ms. Scattolin presented a plaque to congratulate the Mission for its 42nd anniversary and their new place of worship and community, expressing sincere gratitude to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers for their exceptional and unwavering assistance to the city of Forlì.
The staff joined Mission Executive Director Simona Gorzanelli in opening the Mission and invited guests to tour. As in every new church that opens, said Ivan Arjona, representative of Scientology to the European institutions and the UN “the staff encourage newcomers to visit our public information centre and discover more about what Scientology provides to help each person individually, but also what is a greater goal, to help the community to flourish and prosper”.
Modena Mission is fully equipped to offer a comprehensive range of introductory Scientology services. “These services encompass highly sought-after Life Improvement Courses, which provide practical solutions to common everyday challenges. Participants can gain valuable insights on improving their marriage, effectively raising children, enhancing personal motivation, and setting and achieving goals, among other topics” Arjona stated.
The new Mission offers seminars on various topics, including personal efficiency.
The Hubbard Dianetics Seminar is based on Mr Hubbard’s watershed work Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, the bestselling book that reveals the source of one’s nightmares, unreasonable fears and irrational behaviour—the reactive mind—and how to conquer it.
The Mission also offers spiritual counselling, known as “auditing,” and the Purification Program, created by Mr Hubbard to liberate individuals from the harm drugs and toxins cause them spiritually and mentally.
A bottle of the world’s most expensive whiskey was sold for the equivalent of 2.5 million EUR at an auction in London few days ago, breaking the previous record from 2019, AFP reported, citing auction house Sotheby’s.
A 750 ml bottle of Macallan from 1926 was bought for £2,187,500 (€2.5 million EUR). Scotch whisky, distilled in 1926, was bottled 60 years later after aging in oak casks and acquiring a dark color. The bottle label, one of 12 in total, is by Italian artist Valerio Adami.
The lot was valued by Sotheby’s at between £750,000 and £1.2 million. It is one of only 40 bottles of the type produced by the Scottish distillery. A 700ml bottle of the same whiskey sold for nearly £1.5m in 2019. It’s the same liquid but with a different label, said Johnny Foyle, head of whiskey at Sotheby’s, when the lot was unveiled last month.
Hamas and Israel have agreed to release 50 hostages in exchange for a four-day truce. It is not yet known who will be freed.
The agreement reached on November 21 stipulates that 50 hostages could be released during a four-day truce. The agreement ratified by the Israeli government remains fragile. The slightest skirmish could jeopardize it.
The first hostages will not leave Gaza until November 23. In Israel, many families are regaining hope, but remain anxious.
The international community welcomes the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas. US President Joe Biden said he was “extraordinarily satisfied” with the imminent release of hostages kidnapped in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, under an agreement to which Israel gave the green light on Wednesday. The agreement provides for the release of 50 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a truce in the Gaza Strip. A spokesman for the UN Secretary-General described the agreement as “an important step forward”, but said that “much remains to be done”.
Hamas reacts to the “humanitarian truce“: “The provisions of this agreement have been formulated in accordance with the vision of resistance and determination, which aim to serve our people and strengthen their tenacity in the face of aggression”. “We confirm that our hands will remain on the trigger and that our triumphant battalions will remain on the alert”, warned the Palestinian Islamist organization.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at 8.15pm, a few hours after the agreement was announced, about the ongoing diplomatic efforts to free the hostages and the difficult decisions he had to make. He also repeatedly paid tribute to his armed forces, while insisting that the war would continue: “Citizens of Israel, I want to be very clear tonight, this war continues, this war continues, we will continue this war in order to achieve all our objectives. The return of the hostages, annihilating Hamas” and making sure that after Hamas, there won’t be a government of terrorists paying to educate children.”
The UN chief said on Monday that in the current conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Gaza, with thousands of children killed in the past few weeks, the world is witnessing a level of violence unprecedented during his time as Secretary-General.
In reply to a question at apress conference dealing with the latest emissions report, Secretary-General António Guterres said that in all the reports issued during his tenure, on children in conflict, it was clear that the current war in Gaza has seen thousands of child deaths – compared with hundreds, in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
Without entering into discussing the accuracy of the figures released by the health ministry in Gaza, which are regarded by UN agencies as reliable, he said that “what is clear is that we have had in a few weeks thousands of children killed.”
WHO – Children walk through a temporary camp in southern Gaza.
Latest reports from health authorities indicate that more than 13,000 civilians in total have died in the enclave since the 7 October terror attacks by Hamas, and subsequent Israeli offensive.
“This is what matters. We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since I have been Secretary-General.”
Opportunity out of tragedy
Also addressing how the region can move forward once the fighting stops, the UN chief said that it was “important to be able to transform this tragedy into an opportunity.”
“For that to be possible, it is essential that after the war we move in a determined, irreversible way to a two-State solution“, he told correspondents.
“It means also that after the war – and this is my opinion – I believe it to be important after the war to have a strengthened Palestinian Authority to assume responsibilities in Gaza.”
He said a humanitarian ceasefire was a crucial first step, along with unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, “the liberation of hostages” and an end to violations of international humanitarian law and protection of civilians.
He said the Palestinian Authority which administers the West Bank, and which was forced out of Gaza in 2006 by Hamas, could clearly not assume control while Israeli tanks remain, meaning there must be a “transition period”.
Gaza: ‘Thousands of children killed’ within a few weeks, says UN’s Guterres 4
UN protectorate, no solution
“I do not think that a UN protectorate in Gaza is a solution. I think we need a multi-stakeholder approach in which different countries, different entities, will cooperate. For Israel, of course, the US is the main guarantor of its security. For Palestinians, the neighbouring and Arab countries of the region are essential”, Mr. Guterres said.
“So everybody needs to come together to make the conditions for a transition, allowing for a strengthened Palestinian Authority, to assume responsibility in Gaza and then, based on that, to finally move…in a determined and irreversible way to a two-State solution based on the principles that have been largely established by the international community and which I have time and time again outlined.”
‘Unliveable’
Meanwhile, in Gaza a tweet by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA on Monday, described the situation in shelters as “unliveable”. It said that Gazans had “no options”, echoing repeated warnings from UN humanitarians nowhere is safe for civilians in Gaza.
31 out of 36 premature babies were safely evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital in #Gaza city through a mission by @UN and @PalestineRCS.
Since Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel on 7 October that claimed around 1,200 lives with nearly 240 hostages captured, hundreds of thousands of Gazans have fled south, following an evacuation directive from the Israeli military.
Astonishing exodus
Satellite images of the exodus showed a mass of people moving across a landscape of shattered buildings, while photographs taken at ground level showed families carrying their belonging on foot and a woman dragging two babies in car seats behind her.
In an update on Sunday, Tom White, Director of UNRWA Affairs, told US network ABC that 13 UNRWA sites where people had been “sheltering under the UN flag” had been “directly hit” since 7 October, while “countless other shelters” had suffered “collateral damage” – many of them in the south of Gaza, where civilians had been told to flee.
Dozens killed in shelters
Mr. White said that 73 people had been killed in UNRWA shelters to date, “a large proportion of them in the south”.
“The reality is the Gazans have got nowhere to go for safety and they are all exposed to the threat of fighting and particularly airstrikes,” the UNRWA official said.
According to the UN agency, more than 880,000 internally displaced have sought shelter in 154 UNRWA installations across all five of Gaza’s governorates. Out of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, 1.7 million are now displaced.
To date, 104 UNRWA staff have been killed along with at least 11,000 people in Gaza according to health authorities.
“Houses have been hit all across the Gaza Strip,” said UNWRA’s Mr. White, who said that people’s main concern was, “If they’re in the north or in the south, are they safe?”
“Elections are the only path and the only imperative to restore democratic institutions in Haiti. Only democracy and the rule of law can form the basis from which Haiti can progress towards development and growth,” she said.
The envoy, who also heads the UN Office in Haiti, BINUH, underlined the “enormous significance” of the Council’s recent resolution authorizing the deployment of a multinational support mission to assist the national police, and welcomed another on an arms embargo.
The rampant gang violence – mainly affecting the capital, Port-au-Prince – is another shock to Haiti, where nearly half the population, roughly five million people, needs humanitarian aid. In recent years, the Caribbean nation has been hit by a cholera epidemic, earthquakes and cyclones, as well as the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
Ms. Salvador reported that major crimes are rising sharply and reaching new record highs. Incidents include the broad daylight kidnapping last week of the head of the High Transitional Council – the body tasked with preparing the long-overdue elections – by gang members dressed as police officers.
“Killings, sexual violence, including collective rape and mutilation, continue to be used by gangs every day and in the context of ineffective service support for victims, or a robust justice response,” she said.
Activities by vigilante groups have added further complexity to the security crisis. BINUH has registered the lynching of nearly 400 alleged gang members by the so-called ‘Bwa Kale’ movement between late April and the end of September.
Path to the polls
Meanwhile, Ms. Salvador has continued engagement towards “a path to elections to fully re-establish democratic institutions and the rule of law.” Although inter-Haitian consultations have resumed under the auspices of regional bloc CARICOM, she was concerned that “efforts towards elections are not moving at a desired pace.”
She stressed that re-establishing control by the Haitian National Police is a prerequisite for holding a credible and inclusive vote, and the deployment of the multinational force brings hope that that things will improve.
“The Haitian National Police can only achieve lasting results when public security is restored, and the State resumes its functions, especially in disadvantaged neighbourhoods prone to gang activity,” she said.
Child recruitment and sexual violence
Roughly two million people in Haiti live in areas under the control of armed groups, who are expanding their operations, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in her briefing to the Council.
Catherine Russell reported that children are being injured or killed in the crossfire, even on their way to school. Others are being forcibly recruited into gangs or joining them out of sheer desperation, while women and girls are facing extreme levels of gender-based and sexual violence.
Rape ‘now commonplace’
Ms. Russell visited Haiti last June where she met a pregnant 11-year-old at a centre for survivors of sexual violence. Five men had abducted the girl last year while she was walking on a street, and three took turns raping her.
“Several women at the centre spoke of armed men breaking in, raping them – in one case, in front of her children – and then setting their homes on fire. In some areas, such horrific abuses and crimes are now commonplace,” said Ms. Russell.
Food and nutrition crisis
Armed groups have also strangled major routes from the capital to the rest of Haiti, where most of the population resides, destroying livelihoods and restricting access to essential services.
Ms. Russell said this “life-threatening mix of conditions” has caused a food security and nutrition crisis that is deepening, with more than 115,000 children suffering from severe wasting – a 30 per cent increase over last year.
Nearly a quarter of all children in Haiti are chronically malnourished, and the ongoing cholera outbreak is further putting young lives at risk.
Although the violence is also compromising humanitarian workers on the ground, Ms. Russell said UNICEF and partners continue to deliver in Haiti. Last week they were able to secure the safe release of nearly 60 children held by armed groups occupying a school in Port-au-Prince.
She said the multinational support mission will play a critical role in improving security and urged the force to give special care and attention to the protection of children, women, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Illicit weapon flows
The gang violence being enabled by “sophisticated firearms” that are being brought into Haiti illegally, Gada Waly, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) told the Council.
Demand is linked to criminal groups needing to enforce the lucrative trade in illegal drugs, as the country remains a transit destination primarily for cocaine and cannabis.
“Halting the flow of illicit firearms into Haiti and establishing a robust regulatory framework for firearms are imperative steps for the Haitian authorities to assert control and re-establish normalcy,” she said.
By land and sea
Ms. Wady urged the international community to support Haiti in achieving these aims, in parallel to the deployment of the multinational support mission.
The latest UNODC report has identified four major sea and land routes for illicit flows of firearms and ammunition into Haiti, which are mainly coming from the United States, including via direct shipment in containers to Port-au-Prince.
Weapons are also sent from the US to northern regions and transported overland to coastal cities and onward to docks controlled by gangs or traffickers before eventually landing in the capital.
Another land route is through two border crossings with the Dominican Republic, used mainly for trafficking ammunition. The final route is via Cap-Haitien, a city on the north coast, where smaller quantities of weapons are hidden in the personal items of people crossing the border by car or on foot.
National and European partners tested their crisis plans and possible responses to potential EU cybersecurity incidents affecting the elections.
The exercise is part of the measures being implemented by the European Union to ensure free and fair elections in June 2024. It took place in the European Parliament and was organised by the European Parliament’s services, the European Commission and the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). The drill allowed participants to exchange experiences and best practices, and will help them enhance their capacity to respond to cybersecurity incidents as well as to contribute to the update of existing guidelines and good practices on the cybersecurity of technology used in the election process.
European Parliament Vice-President Dita Charanzová underlined that “European democracy and the European Elections in particular, are faced with serious hybrid threats ranging from cyberattacks and other cyber-enabled incidents to disinformation and information manipulation. Today’s exercise, in which the European Parliament played a key coordinating role, allowed us to test and strengthen our capacity to react to these hybrid threats. It also served to underline that Member States and EU institutions are already working on the basis of well-established structures, networks and collaborations that will serve to secure free and fair European Elections in June 2024.”
Representatives from national electoral and cybersecurity authorities, together with observers from the European Parliament, the European Commission, CERT-EU and the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), participated in the second edition of the exercise. While the main responsibility for protecting the integrity of the elections lies with EU Member States, this exercise helped fine-tune their common preparedness when facing potential cyber and other hybrid threats and their ability to swiftly develop and maintain situational awareness at national and EU level if a serious cybersecurity incident were to occur.
All is in place to ensure that European citizens can trust the EU electoral process. Risks to elections can take various forms from information manipulation and disinformation to cyber-attacks that compromise infrastructures.
Based on various scenarios featuring potential cyber-enabled threats and incidents, the exercise allowed participants to:
Deepen their knowledge of the level of critical aspects of European elections, including an assessment of the level of awareness among other stakeholders (e.g. political parties, electoral campaign organisations and suppliers of relevant IT equipment);
Enhance cooperation between relevant authorities at national level (including elections authorities and other relevant bodies and agencies, such as cybersecurity authorities, Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), authorities dealing with disinformation issues, cybercrime units, etc.) as well as at EU level, such as the Commission services in charge of enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA);
Verify existing EU Member States’ capacity to adequately assess the risks related to the cybersecurity of European elections, promptly develop situational awareness and co-ordinate communication to the public;
Test existing crisis management plans as well as relevant procedures to prevent, detect, manage and respond to cybersecurity attacks and hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns;
Identify all other potential gaps as well as adequate risk mitigation measures which should be implemented ahead of the European Parliament elections.
