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December 1, 2025 Peace and security

The number of civilian deaths and injuries from mines and explosive remnants of war has risen to its highest level in four years, according to a Landmine Monitor report presented in Geneva on Monday.

In 2024, 6,279 casualties from this type of weapon were recorded worldwide. Children in countries affected by armed conflict are particularly vulnerable.

"In 2024, 90 percent of casualties were civilians," noted Lauren Percy, the report's lead analyst. "Almost half of all casualties were children… In Afghanistan, 77 percent—more than three-quarters—were children, and that's appalling."

The presentation of the report in Geneva was organized by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines with the support of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

The Convention is under threat

The report's authors warn that the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is facing its most serious crisis in decades.

"Several countries are taking steps that genuinely threaten the viability of the convention," said disarmament expert Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan.

Five European countries – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – are preparing to legally withdraw from the convention, citing changed security conditions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory in 2022.

Ukraine, according to Moser-Puangsuwan, claims it can "suspend" certain convention obligations during the war. The report's authors consider such a move legally untenable. The report also cites indications of Ukraine's use of mines in 2024–2025, when explosive devices were allegedly dropped by drones.

Expanding pollution

Anti-personnel mines remain a serious problem in at least 57 countries and territories, including 32 states parties to the treaty. Seven countries remain heavily contaminated with remnants of war: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Turkey, and Ukraine.

On a positive note, Oman completed demining in 2025, becoming the first state party to do so since 2020. More than half of the countries have reduced contamination through site surveys and cleanup.

"Despite progress, the goal of completing mine clearance by 2025 remains elusive. Now, 2030 becomes a potential finish line," said senior researcher and report co-author Catherine Atkins.

Funding crisis

Lack of funding is already undermining mine action programs around the world.

"In 2025, the US froze funding for the sector," recalled analyst Ruth Bottomley. "This move halted some programs and completely closed others, demonstrating the vulnerability of a system dependent on a few large donors."

Mine clearance projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Colombia, Tajikistan, and Zimbabwe have already been closed. Victim assistance programs have also suffered: international support in this sector has been cut by 23 percent, and the healthcare systems of Ukraine and Palestine are struggling to cope with the rising number of amputations.

Experts warn that without restored funding, increased political will, and adherence to previous commitments, contamination of territories with hazardous remnants of war will grow faster than humanitarian organizations can respond.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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December 1, 2025 Healthcare

A new report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) shows how cuts in international funding are destroying support systems for people living with HIV worldwide. This is particularly acute in Tajikistan.

Takhmina Khaidarova's story is in many ways illustrative in this context. She contracted HIV from her husband, a migrant worker working in Russia. After his death, Takhmina was disowned by her own family.

"Before that, I didn't even know HIV existed in Tajikistan," she admits. Today, thanks to the Tajik Network of Women Living with HIV, Tahmina helps others cope with the isolation she experienced. However, such examples may soon become rare.

Recent freezes and cuts in international aid threaten to shut down programs run by community organizations. The Spin-Plus Foundation, which works with at-risk individuals and people who inject drugs, is already feeling the effects. "People who need ongoing support—social, human, and advisory—are being left without it," says the foundation's director, Pulod Jamolov. Staff cuts and branch closures have become a reality.

Tajikistan, despite economic growth in recent years, is the poorest country in the region: a third of its GDP comes from remittances from migrant workers. Approximately 60 percent of the national HIV response plan is funded by international donors. Until January 2025, 20 percent of these funds came from the US-based PEPFAR initiative.

Social and structural barriers in Tajikistan exacerbate the situation: a weak healthcare system, restrictive laws, gender inequality, and long-entrenched norms fuel stigma and discrimination. Nearly 97 percent of women living with HIV conceal their status even from family members, and 64 percent face discrimination, including from healthcare workers.

Authorities estimate that a 10–20 percent reduction in HIV funding in Tajikistan could lead to a 135 percent increase in new infections and a five percent increase in mortality, erasing years of progress.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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December 1, 2025 Peace and security

The 22nd meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, opens in Geneva this week. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on states party to the treaty to reaffirm their commitment to a world free of these deadly weapons.

The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of serious challenges to the Ottawa Convention, a key international instrument for humanitarian disarmament. A number of recent events—including the withdrawal of individual countries from the treaty and declarations of suspension of obligations (which are not provided for in the document)—underscore the need to renew commitments and reaffirm the treaty's fundamental principles.

In a video message to the meeting participants, the Secretary-General expressed deep concern about the erosion of humanitarian norms aimed at protecting civilians from indiscriminate weapons. He called for both increased membership of the Convention and increased commitment among existing signatories.

The danger of anti-personnel mines remains

"Anti-personnel mines are among the most brutal and indiscriminate weapons. They continue to kill and maim people long after conflicts have ended. Four out of every five victims are civilians, often children," the UN chief noted.

Those injured by mines face long-term health consequences, as well as social isolation and financial hardship due to loss of ability to work. Contamination by these munitions hinders the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as recovery and economic development efforts.

The need for a new impetus

Over the quarter-century of the Convention's operation, the number of casualties has dropped significantly, millions of stockpiled mines have been destroyed, vast areas have been cleared, and a number of countries have declared themselves "mine-free." Today, 166 states—more than three-quarters of the UN's members—are parties to the treaty. The recent accession of the Marshall Islands and Tonga confirms the relevance of the Convention's goals.

Through his campaign on humanitarian disarmament and mine action, led by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the UN Mine Action Service, with the support of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action, the Secretary-General calls for urgent strengthening of international humanitarian law, the development of partnerships in this area, and ensuring that the commitments made by States bring real benefits to people.

The Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the Convention provides an opportunity to reaffirm its goals and give new impetus to efforts to end the use of anti-personnel mines worldwide.

“We must reaffirm our commitment to protecting human lives, upholding international law, and restoring hope to communities still living with the threat of mines,” the UN Secretary-General stressed.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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November 29, 2025 Peace and security

Last night, Kyiv and the surrounding areas were subjected to a massive attack. Civilians were killed and more than a dozen were injured, including a child.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also reports that homes and public infrastructure have been damaged in many areas.

There is no electricity in some areas of Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Several other areas are experiencing problems with the water supply.

"Emergency services responded to multiple fires and damage to buildings across the city," OCHA said in a statement on Platform X.

Humanitarian organizations are providing medical assistance, essential supplies, and emergency repair materials to affected families.

“Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets,” OCHA emphasizes.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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November 28, 2025 Economic development

Zarnigor Yakubova has lived side by side with bees for almost her entire life. She grew up in a small mountain village in the Bostanlyk district of Uzbekistan, and as a child, she helped her father tend the family apiary. By helping around the house, Zarnigor acquired a valuable skill that would prove useful later in life.

Zarnigor enjoyed learning, and was especially good at languages. She always imagined her life would be connected to education, and planned to become a teacher.

But fate decreed otherwise. She was forced to divorce while pregnant. At the same time, her mother became gravely ill and required constant care. There was no work for Zarnigor in the village, nor any support, and she had to figure out how to support her family on her own.

"In our village, traditional values are strong. Women are blamed for divorce. No one will say it to your face, but that's what everyone thinks," she shares. "Rumors spread quickly, and there's no help to be found. But I didn't sit idly by."

Considering that her studies had to be postponed, and she had little choice, Zarnigor took up a long-familiar craft – beekeeping.

"I remember the day he [my father] first collected 10 or 15 kilograms of honey. He bought us a small wooden heart as a gift. At that moment, I realized how valuable his work was."

At first, Zarnigor tried to run a family apiary, but progress was slow, largely due to outdated equipment. The Zarnigor family used large boilers to melt wax, a method that not only didn't ensure the purity of the product but also increased the risk of bee diseases.

Five surrounding beekeeping farms shared a single honey extractor, forcing them to patiently wait their turn, sometimes even traveling considerable distances. When the bees became ill, there was no way to determine the cause and take timely action. Disease outbreaks ruined entire honey harvest seasons, and with each setback, both productivity and profitability declined.

© FAO / U. Isaev

In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) invited Zarnigor to participate in the "Leaving No One Behind" project, supported by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project aims to empower rural women economically by providing access to agricultural knowledge and equipment, as well as networking with other farmers.

Zarnigor became one of 48 residents of the Bostanlyk district who received assistance as part of the project.

A training course led by experts and participation in a regional beekeeping festival allowed Zarnigor to reach a qualitatively new level. Participants learned practical methods for improving the quality of hive cleaning, identifying early signs of disease, and more effective methods for raising and maintaining bee colonies. They also learned strategies for feeding bees with sugar syrup in early spring, when the bees are weakened after wintering, as well as approaches to increasing apiary profitability and generating a stable income from beekeeping.

"I learned how to separate wax from honey and identify pests simply by observing the hive. I also learned how to care for bees starved after a long winter," says Zarnigor.

As part of the project, her family also received their own wax melter and honey extractor. All these innovations and new knowledge save time, reduce the risk of disease, and give Zarnigor the opportunity to manage her apiary independently.

After acquiring basic equipment and useful knowledge, Zarnigor was able to start her own beekeeping business. Her apiary now comprises 40 hives, and Zarnigor sells homemade honey, wax, royal jelly, and propolis directly to her customers.

© FAO / U. Isaev

Zarnigor with his father and son at the family apiary.

She also helps her father use modern tools. To promote their honey products, they started a blog where they share their family history.

“I had no idea how much we were losing until I learned how to do it right,” Zarnigor admits.

In Uzbekistan, beekeeping is traditionally considered a male occupation. Until recently, Zarnigor didn't know a single female beekeeper. "We all thought it was a man's job. We thought it was too hard and too dangerous for a woman," she shares.

Zarnigor's example helps defy this stereotype and change established village attitudes. Several women who also attended the training course are now setting up their own apiaries, while others turn to Zarnigor for advice.

The income from selling honey and tutoring, which she does in her spare time, helps her achieve her next important goal: Zarnigor is saving up for her own home: "Small, but my own. That's very important to me."

The project isn't limited to technical assistance—it also fostered informal connections among rural women. Participants formed a group to stay in touch after the training, and now share ideas and support each other: "We not only discuss equipment and give each other advice, but also encourage each other and share our successes. Together, we can do anything."

All this helps Zarnigor focus on the future. She hopes to open a signature honey shop and raise her son, instilling in him the same values that guide her work: "I want him to grow up to be a valuable member of society, to care for others, but also to remember his roots and appreciate the legacy we've created."

At first, beekeeping was simply a way for Zarnigor to survive difficult times. Today, it's a successful business that not only feeds her family but also expands the boundaries of what's possible for other women, inspiring them to build successful farms and achieve economic independence.

"I've survived universal condemnation, the illness of a close family member, poverty, and isolation. But none of this has broken me. I'm building a future for myself and my son, relying solely on bees and my own strength—and on the belief that I can achieve more."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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November 28, 2025 Peace and security

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Friday it was "appalled by the brazen killing" of two Palestinians by Israeli border police in the West Bank, suggesting the incident may amount to an "extrajudicial execution."

The shooting occurred Thursday in Jenin and was apparently captured on television, Directorate spokesman Jeremy Lawrence told reporters in Geneva. He said an internal investigation was announced following the incident, but the statements by a senior Israeli official attempting to deflect responsibility from security forces "raise serious concerns about the credibility of any future investigations or probes conducted by entities that are not fully independent of the government."

Rising murder rates

Lawrence noted that the number of killings of Palestinians by Israeli security forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank is rapidly increasing, without those responsible being held accountable.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Israeli forces and settlers have killed 1,030 Palestinians there since October 7, 2023, including 233 children.

"Impunity for the unlawful use of force by the Israeli military, as well as the ever-increasing violence by settlers, must end," Lawrence emphasized. He called for independent, prompt, and effective investigations and for all perpetrators to be held accountable.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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November 28, 2025 Economic development

The proportion of overexploited fish species in the Mediterranean and Black Seas has fallen to its lowest level in ten years. However, threats to the sustainability of these waters' resources remain, according to a report released today by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Aquaculture – the commercial breeding and cultivation of aquatic organisms – is rapidly expanding and becoming the main source of marine bioresources in the region.

Since 2013, General Commission member countries have adopted 11 management plans, established 11 closed fishing zones, and initiated 18 research programs and pilot projects. However, 52 percent of assessed stocks remain overexploited. This is an improvement from 87 percent ten years ago, but still too high for the sustainability of marine ecosystems, experts note.

At the same time, demand for seafood in the region will grow due to population growth and changing consumer preferences. To maintain current per capita consumption levels, production must increase by 14–29 percent by 2050, the report's authors emphasize.

Stocks are being restored

The 2025 report "State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries"—the most comprehensive to date—covers 120 marine species in the region. It shows that close cooperation and science-based management are already yielding results. In ten years, fishing pressure has been halved, and a number of key stocks have begun to recover.

From 2013 to 2023, marine mortality from fishing activities decreased sharply, and the biomass of commercially important species increased by 25 percent thanks to strengthened science-based management measures. The report documents significant progress for a number of key species. For example, red mullet and deep-sea red shrimp have demonstrated a steady decline in fishing mortality.

Species under specialized management plans recover faster. For example, the European sole in the Adriatic has shown a 42 percent reduction in mortality and a 64 percent increase in biomass since 2019. The Black Sea turbot has shown an 86 percent reduction in mortality and a 310 percent increase in biomass since 2013.

Meanwhile, sardines continue to be overexploited. European hake, despite a 38 percent reduction in fishing mortality since 2015, is showing only modest signs of recovery.

Aquaculture as a growth driver

For the first time, the report includes a detailed analysis of the state of aquaculture in the region. Including freshwater species, the sector generates nearly 3 million tons of production and $9.3 billion in revenue. Marine and brackishwater aquaculture generates $5.2 billion and supports 113,000 jobs.

Marine and brackishwater aquaculture accounts for over 45 percent of aquatic bioresources, reaching 940,000 tonnes of production in 2023. Combined, fisheries, aquaculture, and associated value chains generated 2.06 million tonnes of production, $21.5 billion in revenue, and 1.17 million jobs in the region in 2023.

Only 11 species account for 99 percent of production, of which 34.5 percent is sea bream and 29.7 percent is sea bass. Eight countries produce 95.5 percent of the total output, with Turkey (400,000 tonnes), Egypt (147,000 tonnes), and Greece (139,000 tonnes) leading the way.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

November 28, 2025 Economic development

The proportion of overexploited fish species in the Mediterranean and Black Seas has fallen to its lowest level in ten years. However, threats to the sustainability of these waters' resources remain, according to a report published today by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Aquaculture – the commercial breeding and cultivation of aquatic organisms – is rapidly expanding and is becoming the main source of marine bioresources in the region.

Since 2013, General Commission member countries have adopted 11 management plans, established 11 closed fishing zones, and initiated 18 research programs and pilot projects. However, 52 percent of assessed stocks remain overexploited. This is an improvement from 87 percent ten years ago, but still too high for the sustainability of marine ecosystems, experts note.

At the same time, demand for seafood in the region will grow due to population growth and changing consumer preferences. To maintain current per capita consumption levels, production must increase by 14–29 percent by 2050, the report's authors emphasize.

Stocks are being restored

The 2025 report "State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries"—the most comprehensive to date—covers 120 marine species in the region. It shows that close cooperation and science-based management are already yielding results. In ten years, fishing pressure has been halved, and a number of key stocks have begun to recover.

From 2013 to 2023, marine mortality from fishing activities decreased sharply, and the biomass of commercially important species increased by 25 percent thanks to strengthened science-based management measures. The report documents significant progress for a number of key species. For example, red mullet and deep-sea red shrimp have demonstrated a steady decline in fishing mortality.

Species under specialized management plans recover faster. For example, the European sole in the Adriatic has shown a 42 percent reduction in mortality and a 64 percent increase in biomass since 2019. The Black Sea turbot has shown an 86 percent reduction in mortality and a 310 percent increase in biomass since 2013.

Meanwhile, sardines continue to be overexploited. European hake, despite a 38% reduction in fishing mortality since 2015, is showing only modest signs of recovery.

Aquaculture as a growth driver

For the first time, the report includes a detailed analysis of the state of aquaculture in the region. Including freshwater species, the sector generates nearly 3 million tonnes of production and $9.3 billion in revenue. Marine and brackishwater aquaculture generates $5.2 billion and employs 113,000 people.

Marine and brackishwater aquaculture accounts for over 45 percent of aquatic bioresources, reaching 940,000 tonnes of production in 2023. Combined, fisheries, aquaculture, and associated value chains generated 2.06 million tonnes of production, $21.5 billion in revenue, and 1.17 million jobs in the region in 2023.

Only 11 species account for 99 percent of production, of which 34.5 percent is sea bream and 29.7 percent is sea bass. Eight countries produce 95.5 percent of the total output, with Turkey (400,000 tonnes), Egypt (147,000 tonnes), and Greece (139,000 tonnes) leading the way.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.