#Regional cooperation

[pebblegalaxy]

Taliban's Chitral River Dam: Unraveling Regional Water Security and Relations in South and Central Asia

Taliban's Chitral River Dam: Unraveling Regional Water Security and Relations in South and Central Asia #TalibanDam #WaterSecurity #Geopolitics #ChitralRiver #KunarRiver #Diplomacy #RegionalRelations #SouthAsia #CentralAsia #IndusWatersTreaty #Taliban

The very essence of South Asia and Central Asia’s water security pivots on the lifeblood provided by transboundary rivers such as the Indus, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Amu Darya. These vital arteries sustain the lives, livelihoods, and ecological equilibrium of millions across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.…

[dayofcombattingsandandduststorms]

Manage and mitigate the effects of sand and dust storms.

Stressing the need for global and regional cooperation to manage and mitigate the effects of sand and dust storms, the General Assembly today adopted by consensus a resolution establishing 12 July as International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, to be observed annually.

[eeitonline]

Breaking the Mold: Diversifying the Economic Landscape of the Black Sea Region by Eastern European Institute for Trade

The Black Sea region, encompassing countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, has long been characterized by an overdependence on traditional industries, including agriculture, mining, and energy production (Ketenci, 2015; EBRD, 2019). However, for these countries to achieve sustainable economic growth and mitigate risks associated with external shocks, economic diversification is imperative (World Bank, 2017). This article explores the potential avenues for diversification in the Black Sea region, the role of innovation and digital transformation, and the importance of regional cooperation and integration.

A key driver of economic diversification in the Black Sea region is the development of high-value sectors, such as technology, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing (Ciaschi & Treisman, 2018; EBRD, 2019). Investing in research and development (R&D), as well as fostering innovation ecosystems, can facilitate the transition to a knowledge-based economy and enhance competitiveness on the global stage (Ciaschi & Treisman, 2018; Isik et al., 2018).

Digital transformation presents significant opportunities for the Black Sea countries to diversify their economies and unlock new sources of growth. By leveraging emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data analytics, businesses can enhance productivity, drive innovation, and create new industries and jobs (World Bank, 2017; Ciaschi & Treisman, 2018). Furthermore, the digital economy can promote financial inclusion and facilitate access to markets for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (EBRD, 2019).

Regional cooperation and integration are critical in promoting economic diversification in the Black Sea region. By deepening economic ties, countries can capitalize on synergies, enhance cross-border investments, and foster knowledge sharing (Ketenci, 2015; World Bank, 2017). Engagement with the European Union (EU) through initiatives such as the Black Sea Synergy and the Eastern Partnership can also provide valuable support in terms of technical assistance and funding for regional projects (Ketenci, 2015; Börzel & Lebanidze, 2017).

In conclusion, diversifying the economic landscape of the Black Sea region is essential for sustainable growth and resilience. By fostering innovation, embracing digital transformation, and strengthening regional cooperation, countries in the area can break the mold and unlock new avenues for economic development.

References:

Börzel, T. A., & Lebanidze, B. (2017). European Neighborhood Policy at the Crossroads: Evaluating the Past to Shape the Future. European Policy Analysis, 3(1), 1–19.

Ciaschi, R., & Treisman, D. (2018). Diversifying the Black Sea Region Economy: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Black Sea Studies, 16(1), 1–28.

EBRD (2019). Transition Report 2019–20: Better Governance, Better Economies. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Isik, C., Dogru, T., & Turk, E. S. (2018). A nexus of linear and non-linear relationships between tourism demand, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth: Theory and evidence. International Journal of Tourism Research, 20(1), 38–49.

Ketenci, N. (2015). Economic integration in the Black Sea Region: an analysis in trade, tourism, and foreign direct investment. East European Politics, 31(4), 437–456.

World Bank (2017). World Development Report 2017: Governance and the Law. World Bank.

Read more at Eastern European Institute for Trade.

[bobcat-pie]

Estimating Twisted Wonderland's Circumference ONCE AND FOR ALL

howdy. In this post, I once attempted to figure out the circumference of Twisted wonderland. Instead, I failed, and just went mad collecting screenshots of random spheres that weren't/might be globes modeling the planet.

that's not important. What IS important is the rant about the map that we DO have that followed. y'see, it looks like this.

Tilted. Cropped. Incomplete. Utterly infuriating. Anyway, we're gonna be working with my SUPERIOR map projection for this theory post.

yeah it's literally just tilted so that North points straight up. There's almost no way to really tell what latitude location is or how large it is compared to the rest of the world... EXCEPT...

...FOR THE CLIMATES.

it's pretty easy to label the middle section as "temperate," since summers are hot, winters are snowy, and every other season is pretty comfortable.

The northern parts of the Coral Sea can be determined as arctic or near-arctic, because Azul and the tweels don't bother being there during the winter due to the ice covering the water's surface. The furthest south that winter sea ice extends on earth is the coast of Hokkaido, Japan, at 43 degrees north.

Last but not least, as Sunset Savanna is based on the setting of the lion king, that makes it a tropical savanna. The most northern tropical savanna on earth is the Terai–Duar savanna at the base of the Himalayas in India, at 27 degrees north.

Therefore, this whole (VERY inexact) area I marked on this map that holds the temperate zone is around 16 degrees of Twisted Wonderland's latitude, possibly more.

Now, we don't exactly have a giant perfect ruler that we can use for reference. but we DO have the next best thing: Sage's Island!

And 16 degrees of Twisted Wonderland's latitude seems to beeee…

22 Sage's Islands long!

So this lil island is about 0.727 degrees long.

Now, I'm none too confident in my island-length-guessing ability. So i gotta say Sage's Island is like... maybe 3 miles long, north to south.

Soooo... 3 miles is 0.727 degrees in Twisted Wonderland.

That means 1 degree is 4.126 miles.

And that means the full 360 degrees of Twisted Wonderland's circumference is... drumroll please...

...

1,485.36 miles/2390.46 kilometers.

Give or take, I mean. I'm not a scientist. I don't even play Twisted Wonderland.

PLEASE understand that is a TINY amount. Earth's circumference is 40,075.017 km. PLUTO has a circumference of 7,231 km. Twisted wonderland is smaller than Pluto.

We were ROBBED of Yuu being capable of jumping 50 feet in the air due to the weaker gravity.

[wingedjewels]

Cooper's Hawk by Lee Greengrass Via Flickr: Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland, CA

[postcard-from-the-past]

Cooper from the Brittany region of France

French vintage postcard

[lovelyz-diary]

181109 Lovelyz Yoo Jiae at Korea-Russia Regional Cooperation Forum Celebration Concert‬ © 시작하는사랑 do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[lem-argentum]

where would you go on a date/hangout with each of your mains (in the worlds of rune factory and ffxv respectively)? and would they choose different places than you to bring you to?

!! I LOVE THIS QUESTION THANK YOU READER :’) <333

meg would prefer more peaceful places i think!! they work in a restaurant with lots of noise and we’d both like to get away from that, we’re on the same page for the most part <3 selphia has a lake we’re both fond of, and rf4 is kind of limited in terms of monsterless areas but the areas outside yokmir forest would be lovely for walks too c: there are also seasonal-themed ponds around that i think we’d love going to!! <33

doug is a harder one because he likes to be active, so we’d definitely end up farther from town than meg & i would ever go together, and he’s also reckless, so i think most of these “dates” would actually end up being dungeon adventures ehefmj <3 in the rf universe i consider us both to be good at combat and good at working together, so we’d enjoy it, but STILL <33 if it were completely up to me i’d take him to the observatory or along autumn road :>!!! <33

for prom!!!!! there’s this city called altissia, it’s on the sea and it’s very pretty at night and prom has lines about how romantic it is; he’d definitely bring me there at some point (and it is canon in my selfship universe that does happen) <3 otherwise there’s this region called duscae, it’s very verdant and one of my favorite places to be in, whenever the group’s there i think the two of us’d go on morning walks a lot.. <3

[townpostin]

GST Collections In Jamshedpur Set To Break Records

CGST Commissioner Reports 7.3% Increase In Kolhan Region Revenue Officials aim for 15% growth in the coming year through improved compliance and streamlined procedures. JAMSHEDPUR – The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in Jamshedpur is on track to surpass previous records, with the Kolhan region reporting Rs 7690.38 crore for the 2023-2024 financial year. CGST Commissioner Binod Kumar…

[internationaldayofargania]

Promote the Argan tree as a pillar of a rich heritage and an ancestral source of resilient and sustainable development.

Local communities make oil and other products from argan trees, farm on the land around the trees, and rear goats who scale the short trees and eat argan nuts. United Nations on International Day of Argania.

[culturaldiversityday]

Closing ceremony - 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

Under the theme "Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity".

Moderator:

Prof. Mike Hardy, Founding Director of the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University

Speakers:

H.E. Mr. Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan

H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO

Ms. Nihal Saad, UNAOC Director

Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of UN Tourism

Related Sites and Documents

6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue website Baku Process Home Page

Watch the (Closing Ceremony) 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.!

The 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, 1-3 May, under the title "Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity".

[eeitonline]

Unlocking Capital: Overcoming the Challenge of Limited Access in the Black Sea Region by Eastern European Institute for Trade

by Eastern European Institute for Trade

Limited access to capital is a significant impediment to the growth of businesses and economies in the Black Sea region. The availability of financial resources is crucial for the establishment, expansion, and modernization of enterprises, as well as for the development of new industries and the fostering of innovation (Havrylchyk, 2018). This article examines the factors contributing to the challenge of limited access to capital in the Black Sea region, and explores potential strategies for overcoming this obstacle, drawing on lessons from regional and international experiences (Beck et al., 2014; Kutan & Vukšić, 2017).

The banking sector is the primary source of financing for businesses in the Black Sea region, but it often falls short in meeting their capital needs. High levels of non-performing loans, underdeveloped capital markets, and inadequate financial infrastructure are among the factors constraining the capacity of banks to extend credit to the private sector (Havrylchyk, 2018). Additionally, risk aversion and conservative lending practices, partly driven by the legacy of past financial crises, further limit the availability of bank financing for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (Beck et al., 2014).

Limited access to capital in the Black Sea region can also be attributed to the underdeveloped nature of alternative financing channels. Venture capital and private equity markets, which play a critical role in financing innovative and high-growth enterprises, are relatively nascent in the region (Kutan & Vukšić, 2017). Similarly, the region’s capital markets, including stock and bond markets, are often characterized by low levels of liquidity, limited investor base, and a lack of sophisticated financial instruments, which hampers their ability to channel resources to the private sector (Havrylchyk, 2018).

To address the challenge of limited access to capital in the Black Sea region, a multipronged approach is required. First, the banking sector needs to be strengthened through reforms aimed at improving its financial health, risk management practices, and regulatory environment (Beck et al., 2014). These reforms should include measures to reduce non-performing loans, enhance supervisory frameworks, and promote competition and innovation within the sector (Havrylchyk, 2018).

Second, alternative financing channels should be developed and diversified to provide businesses with a wider range of funding options. This includes fostering the growth of venture capital and private equity markets, as well as encouraging the development of innovative financing instruments, such as crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending platforms (Kutan & Vukšić, 2017). Additionally, efforts should be made to deepen and integrate the region’s capital markets, with a view to enhancing their efficiency and attractiveness to both domestic and foreign investors (Havrylchyk, 2018).

Finally, regional cooperation and integration can play a pivotal role in unlocking capital for businesses in the Black Sea region. Initiatives such as the European Union’s (EU) investment programs, and the involvement of international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), can facilitate access to capital by providing financing, technical assistance, and capacity building support (Beck et al., 2014).

In conclusion, overcoming the challenge of limited access to capital is crucial for the growth and competitiveness of businesses in the Black Sea region. By implementing targeted reforms, diversifying financing channels, and promoting regional cooperation, the region can unlock capital and unleash its full economic potential.

References:

Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Singer, D. (2014). Is Small Beautiful? Financial Structure, Size and Access to Finance. World Development, 52, 19–33.

Havrylchyk, O. (2018). Foreign Banks, Financial Crises, and Macroeconomic Fluctuations in the Black Sea Region. Comparative Economic Studies, 60(3), 386–410.

Kutan, A. M., & Vukšić, G. (2017). Financial Integration, Housing Markets, and Economic Policy Uncertainty in the Black Sea Region. Comparative Economic Studies, 59(4), 491–517.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). (2021). EBRD in the Black Sea Region. Sourced from https://www.ebrd.com/where-we-are/black-sea.html

International Finance Corporation (IFC). (2021). IFC in Europe and Central Asia. Sourced from https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/region__ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/europe+and+central+asia

Read more at European Institute for Trade.

[tmarshconnors]

Iran launches drones at Israel

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, reports emerge of Iran launching a barrage of drones towards Israel, further intensifying the volatile situation in the region. The incident has triggered widespread concern and condemnation from global leaders, raising fears of a potential escalation in hostilities.

The drone attack represents a dangerous escalation in Iran's ongoing confrontations with Israel and its allies. Such actions not only threaten the security and stability of the region but also undermine efforts for peaceful resolution and dialogue.

In response to the attack, Israel is likely to deploy its advanced defence systems and may retaliate, raising the specter of further violence and instability. The international community must urgently engage to de-escalate tensions and prevent a dangerous spiral of conflict.

Efforts to address the root causes of the tensions between Iran and Israel, including regional rivalries and geopolitical ambitions, remain essential for long-term peace and stability. Diplomatic channels must be utilised to find peaceful solutions to the underlying issues driving these conflicts.

As the situation continues to unfold, it is imperative for all parties involved to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue over confrontation. The consequences of further escalation are grave, with the potential to destabilize the entire region and inflict untold suffering on innocent civilians.

[kyreniacommentator]

TRNC represented at ECO Regional Planning Council Meeting

The 34th Regional Planning Council Meeting of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation (ECO) was held in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on 22-25 January, 2024. Continue reading TRNC represented at ECO Regional Planning Council Meeting