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A controversy over a helmet decorated with pictures of twenty athletes killed in the war in Ukraine is raging: Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych wanted to commemorate his colleagues with this gesture, and has now been disqualified from the Winter Olympics for violating its Charter. European commentators question whether this was a wise decision by the IOC.

« L'Inde a un rôle à jouer dans notre sécurité commune, et je suis fier des perspectives qui s'ouvrent pour renforcer nos relations en matière de défense », a déclaré le ministre grec Nikos Dendias.

The post La Grèce envisage une coopération en matière de défense avec l’Inde appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Dans le cadre de la lutte incessante contre la criminalité organisée et le trafic de stupéfiants, les unités du Groupement territorial de la Gendarmerie nationale […]

L’article Coup de filet impressionnant à El Bayadh : voilà ce que la Gendarmerie nationale a découvert est apparu en premier sur .

À quelques jours du début du ramadan, les autorités algériennes se veulent rassurantes. L’ensemble du dispositif mis en place vise à garantir aux citoyens un […]

L’article L’Algérie se prépare pour le Ramadan 2026 : l’UGCAA rassure les citoyens est apparu en premier sur .

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the army will work with the police to fight organised crime and illegal mining.

Depuis l'effondrement mortel de l'auvent de la gare de Novi Sad, le 1er novembre 2024, la Serbie se soulève contre la corruption meurtrière du régime du président Vučić et pour le respect de l'État de droit. Cette exigence de justice menée par les étudiants a gagné tout le pays. Suivez les dernières informations en temps réel et en accès libre.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, Vucic, Serbie, Politique, Société, Gratuit

Depuis l'effondrement mortel de l'auvent de la gare de Novi Sad, le 1er novembre 2024, la Serbie se soulève contre la corruption meurtrière du régime du président Vučić et pour le respect de l'État de droit. Cette exigence de justice menée par les étudiants a gagné tout le pays. Suivez les dernières informations en temps réel et en accès libre.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, Vucic, Serbie, Politique, Société, Gratuit

Blessing Muzarabani claims a superb 4-17 as Zimbabwe held their nerve to stun Australia with a thrilling 23-run win in the T20 World Cup.

« Vous pouvez continuer à fumer de la marijuana et reconnaître 70 genres. C'est votre affaire », a rétorqué Robert Fico.

The post Le premier ministre slovaque fustige la menace néerlandaise concernant le financement de l’UE appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Le marché algérien revient au centre des préoccupations du patronat français. Après des mois de crispations diplomatiques entre la France et l’Algérie, les milieux d’affaires […]

L’article Le marché algérien échappe-t-il à la France ? Le Medef convoque son Conseil face à la crise est apparu en premier sur .

Five former UN Secretaries-Generals
 
United Nations Faces Crisis Amid Global Retreat on Rights and Democracy

By Widad Franco
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 13 2026 (IPS)

United Nations member countries will select a new UN secretary-general this year to succeed António Guterres in January 2027. The change in leadership comes at a time when human rights and democracy, as well as the international organizations created to uphold those principles and provide lifesaving assistance, are under unprecedented attack.

So far member countries have formally nominated only two candidates: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi from Argentina.

The threats to the global human rights system demand a courageous leader at the UN who will put human rights at the heart of its agenda. Yet the selection process gives veto power over any candidate to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

But human rights are clearly not a priority for China, Russia, or the United States.

Human Rights Watch and others have long documented attempts by China and Russia to defund and undermine the UN’s human rights pillar. More recently, the United States, which played a key role in creating the UN and its human rights architecture in 1945, has rejected and defunded dozens of UN programs promoting rights and humanitarian assistance.

The Trump administration has also withheld billions of dollars in UN dues, which has been a major factor in the organization’s crippling financial crisis. While Washington recently announced an initial payment toward its arrears, its actions have nonetheless seriously affected the UN’s ability to do its work.

US President Donald Trump has also been trying to sideline the UN by establishing a “Board of Peace,” modeled after the Security Council, with himself as chairman for life. Invited leaders include serial rights abusers from China, Belarus, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia, along with two men—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin—facing International Criminal Court warrants.

The UN needs a leader willing to stand up to major powers and abusive governments to defend victims of abuses and marginalized communities, and aggressively support accountability for serious crimes.

As member states nominate additional candidates, they should put forward a diverse pool, especially women and others with proven track records on human rights, and ensure a competitive and transparent process that places an exceptional individual committed to human rights atop the UN.

Widad Franco is UN Advocate, Human Rights Watch

IPS UN Bureau

 

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