Defence`s Feeds

The Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) are organising a joint public hearing with the title: “Cyber-defence and cybersecurity”, which will take place on 29 January 2026.
The hearing will highlight the interplay between civil and military ecosystems, while emphasising on dual use technologies, cybersecurity and cyber-defence, as well as the crucial role of public-private partnerships and industrial policies in reinforcing Europe's resilience.
Location : ANTALL 4Q2
Programme
Poster
Presentation-OSW
Presentation-ECCC
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) are organising a joint public hearing with the title: “Cyber-defence and cybersecurity”, which will take place on 29 January 2026.
The hearing will highlight the interplay between civil and military ecosystems, while emphasising on dual use technologies, cybersecurity and cyber-defence, as well as the crucial role of public-private partnerships and industrial policies in reinforcing Europe's resilience.
Location : ANTALL 4Q2
Programme
Poster
Presentation-OSW
Presentation-ECCC
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

For generations, communities in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) have viewed girls through the lens of marriage, with some being married at 11 in exchange for livestock or soon after secondary school, denying them opportunity for further education and skills training. However, in West Pokot, a community deeply rooted in traditions, something extraordinary is […]

EMPFEHLUNG zu dem Entwurf eines Beschlusses des Rates über den Abschluss des Abkommens zwischen der Europäischen Union und Kanada zur Festlegung der Bedingungen für die Beteiligung von kanadischen Rechtsträgern und Gütern mit Ursprung in Kanada an Beschaffungen im Rahmen des SAFE-Instruments
Ausschuss für Industrie, Forschung und Energie
Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung
Borys Budka, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Credit: Africa Center for Strategic Studies

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
MOSCOW, May 18 2026 (IPS)

Under the auspices of the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Russian-African Club, in late April, held its IV International Forum of Journalists from Russia and Africa, which marked another historical milestone. According to an established annual tradition, discussions were focused on aspects of the media, its structure, current performance, information contents, and challenges as well as future perspectives.

The shared common purpose was also to critically review whether the media, both in Africa and in the Russian Federation, have played its role in strengthening bilateral relations, and promoted the important goals set out during the first and second Russia-Africa summits. Why Media?

As largely expected, there were in-depth discussions. There were also controversies over the dynamics of media performance, with prominent participating experts raising narratives and criticisms, in the context of the forum’s theme: “Mass Media of Russia and Africa: The Role in Strengthening Friendship and Solidarity among the Peoples of the World.”

Elena Vartanova, dean of the Faculty of Journalism at Moscow State University, pointed to the fact that the media has to build diverse partnerships between Russia and Africa, further emphasized the importance of intercultural dialogue in creating a unified information space amid the complex global transformations of the modern world.

Yaroslav Skvortsov, dean of the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO, spoke about his recent unique trip to South Africa, noting that South Africa and the continent as a whole remain a “media blind spot” for Russian media, just as Russia receives very little coverage for African audiences.

The expert emphasized the need for serious, thoughtful, and in-depth reporting work in this area. The necessity to explore more opportunities in building strong ties, deepening the understanding of geopolitical developments, while fostering dialogue among the continent’s public.

Underlining Reasons

The media performance gap between Russia and Africa stems from overwhelming dominance of Western media outlets, a little of direct African reporting in Russia (including a lack of accredited African journalists), and limited institutional investment. These are some of the reasons highlighted during the discussions by an African studies journalist and columnist for the ITAR-TASS Analytical Center, Oleg Osipov, Timur Shafir, Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia and Head of the International Department of the Union of Journalists of Russia, and Louis Gowend, chairman of the Commission for Relations with African Diaspora and the Media of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University, and president of the African Business Club.

Oleg Osipov, unreservedly, expressed concern about information deficit in Russian and African journalism, emphasized the urgent need to expand the network of Russian correspondent offices across the African continent, as well as getting a few experienced African media practitioners to Russia. This is especially important in today’s reality, as geopolitics heightens in the world.

Assessing current global trends, Russia needs to expand its presence in all spheres, and the media space is a crucial component of this process, the Russian expert believes. But for Timur Shafir, the thoughts were on the fact that it was especially important now to find common grounds in the mutual perceptions of the peoples and cultures of Russia and Africa through media communication.

In addition, he further emphasized that the media landscape is currently undergoing significant transformations, with technologies, audiences, and means of communication changing. Therefore, journalism is currently an area of particular responsibility and professional integrity, and direct dialogue between journalists in Russia and Africa has become crucial now.

Search for New Approach

The IV International Forum of Journalists from Russia and Africa, was considered as the new dawn, turning a new chapter with suggestion and paving the path for improving media performance in both regions. The participants offered a deafening applause to this position. The speakers expressed confidence that the Forum will serve as a starting point for many new joint initiatives.

According to Louis Gowend, the RusAfroMedia media platform—an information resource, which was created by the Moscow State University RA Club in 2022, for instance has to undergo serious facelifting, by strengthening cooperation and to improve the image of Russia-Africa cooperation.

This platform provides all the conditions for a free and frank exchange of opinions, relevant useful information, and the promotion of initiatives in all areas of cooperation between Russia and Africa. The speaker expressed concern over the fact that Russian journalists are much less active on the RusAfroMedia platform than their African counterparts and urged those present to make greater use of this resource.

In his contribution, Alexander Berdnikov, executive secretary of the Russian-African Club, distinctively noted that, at a time when new development trends are unfolding in the world, journalism and the entire media sphere are literally becoming a battlefield for information wars and special operations.

The speaker reminded that the Forum, being held ahead of the Third Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 2026, indicates how crucial for participants to develop solutions and initiatives for cooperation in journalism between Russia and Africa, and which will form the basis for practical recommendations in preparation for the forthcoming African leaders’ Summit.

Preserving Traditional Practice

Lyubov Sakhno, head of the Protocol and African Section of the TASS International Relations Department, represented Russia’s oldest news agency and spoke about ITAR-TASS’s consistent efforts to provide African media with foreign-language news feeds. But then, Russian media expansion faces limited budget constraints.

According to her, over 400 media outlets in Africa use these resources. She also discussed the organization’s media forum, which traditionally takes place on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit.

Sergey Grachev, deputy director of the Media Research and Analysis Directorate at Rossiya Segodnya International News Agency, agreed with his colleagues that today we are facing unprecedented pressure from Western media. African media, most often, depends on Western sources, which Russian officials argue creates a “vacuum” filled by biased or hostile information.

Despite this, Russian media projects in Africa continue to develop, presenting analytical models of Sputnik’s presence on social media, where it broadcasts in 33 foreign languages.

Editor-in-chief of the African Initiative news agency, Buinta Bembeeva, noted in her discussions that Africa has become noticeably, and more prominent in Russian news in recent years. The speaker discussed the African Initiative’s experience in Africa. The agency is noticeably represented in many African countries through cooperation agreements with local media outlets.

The agency also collaborates with bloggers and organizes a journalism school for young African journalists. This close, on-the-ground, direct collaboration with African media outlets is key to achieving full-scale journalistic activity.

Contributions from Nigerian Academics

Professor Babatunde Joseph, Kaduna State University, spoke about using strengthened strategic communications to strengthen partnerships and unite the cultures of African countries. He agreed with his Russian colleagues on the need to expand the presence of Russian news agencies in Africa and African media in Russia. The expert cited the example of a well-known British radio station that broadcasts in five languages in Nigeria alone: Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin English (called “Najin” there), and plain English. “This is a successful strategy,” the professor was forced to note.

Professor Mohammad Bashir Ali, Kaduna State University (Nigeria), leading the Nigerian delegation to the Forum, discussed at length, the traditional role of media in promoting economic and entrepreneurial cooperation between Russia and Africa. Despite the multiple challenges posed by the complex international environment in both Africa and Russia, there is enormous potential for opportunity in this area. He concluded that greater consolidation in the media sphere is essential.

Professors Yushau Ibrahim Ango and Ayodele Babatunde, both from Kaduna State University, presented a working paper entitled “African Creative Industries and Media Systems in the Context of Digitalization,” analyzing the impact of digital media on entrepreneurship in the Nigerian economy.

The paper, however, concluded that reliance on digital platforms introduces new vulnerabilities, including algorithmic unpredictability, into the economy. This paper contributed to entrepreneurship and media research by theorizing digital platforms as entrepreneurial infrastructure, which has implications for policy, platform governance, and understanding how media shapes economic life in the African context.

Concluding Remarks

Hafiz Basi, chairman of the Youth Projects Commission of the Russian-African Club, seriously echoed the opinion in closing remarks, stating that it is time to change outdated stereotypes that portray Russia and Africa through Soviet political clichés. “We need journalism that brings people together, not further distances,” Hafiz Basi emphasized. He also noted that the lack of accredited African journalists in Russia remains a pressing issue.

Meanwhile, African media outlets write about Russia primarily in political terms, failing to reveal the true depth of Russian culture and the soul of the Russian people. In his opinion, the Russia-Africa Journalists Forum, once more, demonstrated its importance, which discusses the most pressing issues, prospects, and strategies for strengthening media cooperation between Russia and Africa.

This is in reality, important during the time of rapid geopolitical changes, in response to the aggressive rhetoric of Western countries and their satellites, public diplomacy, soft power, and peacekeeping journalism which are becoming increasingly relevant careful analysis and take effective measures in building a solid foundation for Russian-African dialogue.

Kester Kenn Klomegah focuses on current geopolitical changes, foreign relations and economic development-related questions in Africa with external countries. Most of his well-resourced articles are reprinted in several reputable foreign media.

IPS UN Bureau

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

  

 

Credit: The African Development Bank Group
 
Excerpts from remarks by Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), at the Africa Forward Summit, Nairobi, May 11-12.

By Kristalina Georgieva
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18 2026 (IPS)

It is very appropriate that this Africa Forward Summit is being held in Kenya. Two weeks ago, a Kenyan marathon runner, Sabastian Sawe, did what had been considered impossible: by running a marathon in under two hours! What we have set ourselves here is also a marathon—and we must show the same resilience and perseverance that Mr. Sawe did.

Because Africa is not just another region. It is the future; it is where the world will acquire its next growth engine.

And it must do so in a more complex and uncertain global environment, when imbalances are growing yet again. Export-led economies reduce the space for Africa to integrate into global supply chains. At the other end, countries with large deficits absorb a disproportionately large share of financial resources, limiting the availability of capital for the rest of the world.

But the most dramatic imbalance is in demographics—between aging and youthful societies, with capital mostly in the first group and growth potential in the second.

What should the countries of Africa do to build resilience against a world of more frequent shocks and secure the bright future that this continent so richly deserves?

Kristalina Georgieva

First, make better use of their own savings for growth enhancing investments—today we heard President Ruto talk of $4 trillion in domestic assets that Africa is underutilizing. But even more important: African countries must become more attractive to the world’s savings—to the $126 trillion in global equities, $145 trillion in fixed income—which today flow mostly to advanced and more-established emerging market economies and are hesitant to go where the population growth is fastest.

This requires action at home and stepped-up support from Africa’s partners.

At home, building economic and social resilience must be grounded in strong institutions and sound policies, creating the conditions for private sector-led growth. From credible macroeconomic policy to decisive steps against corruption and reforms to slash red tape, countries need to work to win investors’ trust.

Africa also has to speed up trade and economic integration. Just eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers in line with the continental free trade area can increase income per capita by more than 10 percent—with more purchasing power the continent becomes more competitive.

And Africa must deal decisively with the burden of debt. Restructure or reprofile when debt is unsustainable; avoid non-productive borrowing; and shift the balance from debt to equity as much and as quickly as possible. For this, it is paramount to develop deeper, more diversified capital markets.

Under France’s G7 presidency we have made the issue of global imbalances a priority for our work. Africa benefits when the Fund advocates for fair treatment. To reflect our firm belief in Africa’s growth potential, we have also pursued multiple reforms to expand our support for the continent.

First, we put our money where our mouth is. We have vastly expanded our concessional lending for Africa, from $8 billion pre-COVID to $36 billion today. Thanks to the SDR channeling of $109 billion, which President Macron and leaders from Africa championed, we can deploy substantially more concessional lending. To put it simply, thanks to the SDR channeling we can do more as ODA does less.

And we make sure our financing unlocks support from our development partners and helps attract private funding.

Second, we reformed how we do our programs—as a genuine partnership with our members. We don’t just talk the talk on country ownership; we walk the walk—we listen, we adapt, we show flexibility when warranted.

There are many good examples across Africa of homegrown reform programs that we support, of countries maturing in their policy choices—Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Zambia, to name a few.

And yes, good policies pay off. Closing half the gap vis-à-vis emerging market economies in areas like regulation and governance can raise sub-Saharan Africa’s output by up to 20 percent within a decade.

Third, we pursue reforms of the international debt architecture, with our efforts extending to the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, our new debt playbook for country authorities, the London Alliance, and proactive use of our good offices to help forge consensus.

Lastly, at the IMF we are delivering more voice and representation for Africa in our governance and resource allocation. We have established a third African chair at our Board and a strong focus on the continent in our work.

Our members are committed to addressing underrepresentation in the 17th quota review. And we work with regional institutions—the African Union, the African Development Bank, the Economic Commission for Africa—to ensure their deep local knowledge helps us better serve our members.

In this world of rapid transformations and repetitive exogenous shocks, there is much that individual countries cannot control. But you can, as they say here in Kenya, keep your own house “spick and span.”

You control your policies, you define your future, and your value proposition—which we will help amplify to the relevant audiences, the rating agencies included.

With the people of Africa in the front seat and we, as partners, firmly with them, I am confident that this continent will achieve its golden destiny.

IPS UN Bureau

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

  

 

The region must build its own security, not buy it.

Das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda bietet Ihnen ein unvergessliches Urlaubserlebnis direkt am malerischen Gardasee. Eine ideale Wahl für Wassersportbegeisterte, die moderne Zimmer mit spektakulärem Seeblick und Balkon schätzen. Genießen Sie kulinarische Köstlichkeiten im hauseigenen Gourmet-Restaurant, das sich auf mediterrane Küche spezialisiert hat.

Für Ihre Entspannung sorgt der umfangreiche Wellnessbereich mit erstklassigem Spa-Angebot. Beheizte Außenpools laden zum ganzjährigen Schwimmen ein, und Fahrräder können bequem gemietet werden, um die reizvolle Umgebung zu erkunden. In perfekter Lage bietet das Hotel auch optimale Voraussetzungen für kulturelle Erlebnisse und ausgedehnte Shopping-Touren. Zudem warten zahlreiche familienfreundliche Angebote und Aktivitäten darauf, von Groß und Klein entdeckt zu werden.

Das Wichtigste in Kürze

• Hotel Europa Riva del Garda: Perfekte Lage am Gardasee für Wassersportarten wie Segeln und Windsurfen.
• Moderne Zimmer mit spektakulärem Seeblick und privaten Balkonen für unvergessliche Momente.
• Erstklassiges Gourmet-Restaurant mit köstlicher mediterraner Küche und hervorragenden Weinen.
• Wellnessbereich und Spa mit Sauna, Dampfbad, Massagen und beheizten Außenpools.
• Familienfreundliche Angebote und Fahrradverleih zur Erkundung der malerischen Umgebung.

Direkt am Gardasee gelegen, optimal für Wassersport

Direkt am Gardasee gelegen, ist das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda der ideale Ort für Wassersportliebhaber. Die hervorragende Lage bietet Ihnen die Möglichkeit, zahlreiche Aktivitäten wie Segeln, Windsurfen und Kajakfahren direkt vor der Haustür zu genießen. Der See ist bekannt für seine konstanten Winde, die perfekte Bedingungen für diese Sportarten schaffen. Besonders hervorzuheben sind die professionellen Wassersportschulen in der Umgebung, die sowohl Anfängern als auch Fortgeschrittenen eine ideale Betreuung bieten. Freuen Sie sich auf einen unvergesslichen Aufenthalt im Hotel Europa Riva del Garda, wo Abenteuer und Entspannung perfekt ineinander übergehen.

Ergänzende Artikel: Länderkarte Europa: Grenzen und Staaten

Moderne Zimmer mit Seeblick und Balkon

Hotel Europa Riva del Garda: Ihr Urlaubsdomizil

Genießen Sie die modernen Zimmer des Hotel Europa Riva del Garda, die einen atemberaubenden Seeblick bieten. Viele dieser Zimmer verfügen über einen privaten Balkon, auf dem Sie sich entspannen und den Panoramablick auf den Gardasee genießen können.

Das Leben ist zu kurz für irgendwann. – Marc Aurel

Gourmet-Restaurant mit mediterraner Küche genießen

Im Gourmet-Restaurant des Hotel Europa Riva del Garda können Sie die einzigartige mediterrane Küche in einer entspannten Atmosphäre genießen. Die Gäste werden mit frisch zubereiteten Gerichten und exquisiten Weinen verwöhnt, was ein unvergessliches kulinarisches Erlebnis verspricht.

Entspannen im Wellnessbereich und Spa

Das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda bietet zahlreiche Möglichkeiten zur Entspannung im Wellnessbereich und Spa. Hier können Sie in der Sauna oder im Dampfbad relaxen, während aromatische Düfte für Wohlbefinden sorgen. Genießen Sie eine wohltuende Massage oder eine der zahlreichen Schönheitsbehandlungen, die von erfahrenen Therapeuten angeboten werden. Der Bereich umfasst zudem einen Ruhebereich mit bequemen Liegen, wo Sie bei sanfter Musik den Blick auf den Gardasee schweifen lassen können. Erholen und regenerieren stehen hier im Mittelpunkt – ein perfekter Rückzugsort vom Alltag.

Siehe auch: Hays Travel Europa: Ihr Reiseprofi

.table-responsiv {width: 100%;padding: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;overflow-y: hidden;border: 1px solid #DDD;overflow-x: auto;min-height: 0.01%;} Annehmlichkeiten Details Verfügbarkeit Wassersport Segeln, Windsurfen, Kajakfahren Ganzjährig Zimmer Moderne Zimmer mit Seeblick und Balkon Disponibel Wellness & Spa Sauna, Dampfbad, Massagen, Schönheitsbehandlungen Ganzjährig Ganzjährig offene beheizte Außenpools

Ganzjährig offene beheizte Außenpools – Hotel Europa Riva del Garda: Ihr Urlaubsdomizil

Genießen Sie das ganze Jahr über die wohltuende Wärme unserer beheizten Außenpools. Die Pools bieten Ihnen eine herrliche Aussicht auf den Gardasee und lassen Sie in jeder Jahreszeit vollständig entspannen.

Auch interessant: Die schönsten Weihnachtsmärkte in Europa

Fahrradverleih für Erkundungen in die Umgebung

Das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda bietet einen Fahrradverleih für alle Gäste, die die malerische Umgebung erkunden möchten. Nutzen Sie die Gelegenheit, um die wunderschönen Landschaften rund um den Gardasee auf zwei Rädern zu entdecken.

Perfekte Lage für Kultur und Shopping

Das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda überzeugt durch seine hervorragende Lage, die es Ihnen ermöglicht, sich ins pulsierende Kultur- und Shoppingleben des Ortes zu stürzen. Genießen Sie die Nähe zu historischen Sehenswürdigkeiten und interessanten Museen. Gleichzeitig bieten zahlreiche Boutiquen und Märkte ein breites Sortiment an lokalen und internationalen Produkten.

Familienfreundliche Angebote und Aktivitäten

Das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda bietet zahlreiche familienfreundliche Angebote und Aktivitäten. Kinder können sich im speziellen Kinderpool vergnügen, während die Eltern im Wellnessbereich entspannen. Der nahe gelegene Spielplatz und betreute Aktivitäten garantieren Spaß für die ganze Familie.

FAQ: Antworten auf häufig gestellte Fragen Gibt es Parkmöglichkeiten am Hotel? Ja, das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda bietet seinen Gästen kostenfreie Parkmöglichkeiten direkt am Hotel. Es gibt sowohl Parkplätze im Freien als auch eine Tiefgarage. Ist das Hotel haustierfreundlich? Ja, das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda heißt auch Ihre vierbeinigen Freunde willkommen. Bitte informieren Sie das Hotel im Voraus, wenn Sie mit Haustieren anreisen möchten. Bietet das Hotel einen Shuttleservice vom/unseren Flughafen an? Ja, das Hotel bietet auf Anfrage einen Shuttleservice von und zu den nächstgelegenen Flughäfen an. Bitte wenden Sie sich im Voraus an die Rezeption, um diesen Service zu buchen. Gibt es barrierefreie Zimmer im Hotel? Ja, das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda verfügt über barrierefreie Zimmer, die speziell auf die Bedürfnisse von Gästen mit eingeschränkter Mobilität ausgelegt sind. Bitte geben Sie bei der Buchung an, dass Sie ein barrierefreies Zimmer benötigen. Welche Sprachen werden im Hotel gesprochen? Die Mitarbeiter des Hotels sprechen mehrere Sprachen, darunter Deutsch, Englisch, Italienisch und Französisch, um den internationalen Gästen einen angenehmen Aufenthalt zu ermöglichen. Gibt es WLAN im Hotel? Ja, das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda bietet kostenfreies WLAN in allen Zimmern und öffentlichen Bereichen des Hotels. Gibt es Konferenzräume für Geschäftsreisende? Ja, das Hotel Europa Riva del Garda verfügt über mehrere Konferenzräume, die mit modernster Technologie ausgestattet sind und sich ideal für Geschäftsveranstaltungen, Tagungen und Konferenzen eignen.

Der Beitrag Hotel Europa Riva del Garda: Ihr Urlaubsdomizil erschien zuerst auf Neurope.eu - News aus Europa.

Elle a récemment fait sensation au MET Gala et en couverture de Vogue. À seulement 24 ans, Tyla est déjà l’une des plus grandes artistes de la scène musicale mondiale. Son titre Water a dépassé les 9 milliards de vues sur TikTok. Qui est cette icône de la musique sud-africaine ?

Le Nigeria a confirmé samedi la mort d'un chef de l'organisation État islamique lors de la deuxième opération en cinq mois lancée avec les forces américaines par Donald Trump dans ce pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest en proie à des violences jihadistes. Le point avec le correspondant de France 24 à Abuja, Moïse Gomis.

How U.S. concessions are quietly becoming Chinese influence.

Une nouvelle épidémie d'Ebola a été déclarée vendredi en République démocratique du Congo (RD Congo), l'Ouganda voisin déclarant également dans la soirée l'état d'épidémie après un décès causé par le virus enregistré sur son territoire. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, virologue et co-découvreur du virus Ebola, était l'invité de l'antenne de France 24 ce samedi 16 mai.

Entre 1954 et 1962, l'armée française a déplacé de force dans des camps de regroupements plus de 2 millions de paysans algériens du djebel et des Hauts plateaux. Environ 200 000 personnes y ont trouvé la mort. Dans "Une tragédie occultée de la guerre d'Algérie", la journaliste Lorraine Rossignol livre une enquête sur ces camps de la honte passés sous silence en France comme en Algérie.

Donald Trump a annoncé, vendredi, que les forces des États-Unis et du Nigeria avaient tué un chef de l'organisation État islamique (EI), basé dans ce pays d'Afrique en proie à des violences jihadistes.

À Madagascar, après plusieurs reports successifs, les concertations nationales sur la refondation du pays débuteront finalement le 3 juin. Une annonce faite ce mercredi par le président de la Refondation, le colonel Michaël Randrianirina, lors de sa visite officielle au Congo, au retour du sommet Africa Forward de Nairobi. Cette annonce intervient dans un contexte tendu : un député vient de saisir la Haute Cour constitutionnelle pour demander la destitution du chef de l’État.

A conversation with Orville Schell.

Humoriste, autrice, chroniqueuse radio, romancière et désormais actrice au cinéma… Roukiata Ouedraogo est l’invitée du Journal de l’Afrique sur France 24. Née à Fada N’Gourma au Burkina Faso et arrivée en France à 20 ans, elle a transformé son parcours migratoire, son accent et ses contradictions identitaires en une œuvre profondément humaine, drôle et engagée. À l’affiche de Black Tax au Studio Raspail à Paris jusqu’au 27 juin 2026, elle met en scène deux personnages aux trajectoires inversées : un Burkinabè qui rêve d’Europe et un Afrodescendant qui veut “retourner au pays”. Une réflexion sur la famille, les injonctions sociales, la diaspora et l’appartenance.

Im Herzen Europas gibt es eine faszinierende Vielfalt an Schlangenarten, die oft wenig Beachtung finden. Zu den beeindruckendsten gehören zweifellos die Europäische Wassernattern, welche in verschiedenen Lebensräumen wie Sümpfen, Seen und Flüssen zu Hause sind. Während einige dieser Arten für den Menschen relativ harmlos sind, bergen andere ernstzunehmendes Gefahrenpotenzial durch ihr Gift.

Es ist interessant zu wissen, dass nicht alle Wasserbewohner gleich gefährlich sind. Einige nutzen Ihre Gifte hauptsächlich zur Jagd auf Ihre Beute, während Sie Menschen kaum Schaden zufügen können. Doch es gibt auch Arten unter den europäischen Wassernattern, die mit ihrem neurotoxischen oder starken Gift durchaus ernste Auswirkungen haben könnten. Diese Einführung erläutert die wichtigsten Fakten und bietet einen Überblick über die bemerkenswertesten Vertreter dieser Schlangefamilie.

Das Wichtigste in Kürze

• Europäische Wassernattern: Vielfalt an Schlangenarten in feuchten Lebensräumen.
• Ringelnatter ist harmlos für Menschen, jagt Amphibien und Fische.
• Würfelnatter besitzt starke Neurotoxine, bevorzugt Flussauen und Sümpfe.
• Vipernatter: blitzschnelle Angriffe und gefährliches neurotoxisches Gift.
• Einige Wassernattern, wie Würfelnatter und Vipernatter, stehen unter Naturschutz.

Ringelnatter: Harmlos für Menschen, giftig für Beute

Die Ringelnatter ist für Menschen harmlos und gilt als ungiftig. Ihr Biss stellt keine Gefahr dar. Hingegen ist Sie für Ihre Beute, vor allem Amphibien und Fische, äußerst gefährlich.

Mehr dazu: Hays Travel Europa: Ihr Reiseprofi

Würfelnatter: Starke Neurotoxine, bevorzugt feuchte Lebensräume

Europäische Wassernattern: Die gefährlichsten Arten

Die Würfelnatter ist bekannt für Ihre starken Neurotoxine, die Sie zu einem effektiven Raubtier machen. Sie bevorzugt feuchte Lebensräume wie Flussauen und Sümpfe, wo Sie leicht auf Beute stößt. Ihre Jagdmethoden sind besonders faszinierend: Mit ihren scharfen Sinnen und schnellen Reflexen fängt Sie kleine Amphibien und Fische.

„Die Natur ist unerbittlich und unveränderlich, und es ist für den Menschen die größte Torheit, gegen Ihre Gesetze zu kämpfen.“ – Charles Darwin

Vipernatter: Blitzschneller Angriff, neurotoxisches Gift

Die Vipernatter beeindruckt durch ihren blitzschnellen Angriff und ihr neurotoxisches Gift. Diese Kombination macht Sie zu einer besonders effektiven Jägerin in ihrem natürlichen Lebensraum. Während Ihre Schnelligkeit es ihr ermöglicht, Beute nahezu mühelos zu überwältigen, sorgt das Gift dafür, dass die Beutetiere rasch immobilisiert werden.

Barrenringelnatter: Toxische Beißkraft, jagt Amphibien

Die Barrenringelnatter zeichnet sich durch Ihre besonders toxische Beißkraft aus und bevorzugt es, Amphibien wie Frösche und Molche zu jagen. Durch das injizierte Gift wird die Beute rasch immobilisiert, was der Schlangenart ermöglicht, effizient zu fressen. Man trifft diese Natter häufig in Feuchtgebieten an, welche reich an ihren bevorzugten Beutetieren sind.

Auch interessant: Die schönsten Weihnachtsmärkte in Europa

.table-responsiv {width: 100%;padding: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;overflow-y: hidden;border: 1px solid #DDD;overflow-x: auto;min-height: 0.01%;} Art Merkmale Gefährlichkeit für Menschen Ringelnatter Ungiftig für Menschen, jagt Amphibien und Fische Harmlos Würfelnatter Starke Neurotoxine, bevorzugt feuchte Lebensräume Gefährlich Vipernatter Blitzschneller Angriff, neurotoxisches Gift Sehr gefährlich Glattnatter: Tiergifte für Jagd genutzt, menschlicher Kontakt selten

Glattnatter: Tiergifte für Jagd genutzt, menschlicher Kontakt selten – Europäische Wassernattern: Die gefährlichsten Arten

Die Glattnatter nutzt Tiergifte für die Jagd, wobei der menschliche Kontakt meistens selten ist. Diese Nattern setzen ihr Gift hauptsächlich zur Beutejagd ein.

Zum Weiterlesen: Bilderberg Europa Hotel Scheveningen: Ihr Traumhotel

Schwarzbauch-Würfelnatter: Tarnfarben, giftig für Fische

Die Schwarzbauch-Würfelnatter zeichnet sich durch Ihre Tarnfarben aus, die ihr helfen, in ihrem natürlichen Lebensraum unentdeckt zu bleiben. Diese Europäische Wassernattern-Art ist besonders auf Fische als Beute spezialisiert und nutzt hierfür ihr Gift, welches gezielt für aquatische Beutetiere wirksam ist.

Osteuropäische Würfelnatter: Potent für aquatische Beute, harmlose Bisse

Die osteuropäische Würfelnatter ist bekannt für Ihre Effektivität bei der Jagd auf aquatische Beute wie Fisch und Amphibien. Diese Nattern besitzen ein Gift, das besonders potent für Fische ist. Allerdings sind Ihre Bisse für den Menschen harmlos. Ihre Fähigkeit, in feuchten Lebensräumen zu überleben, macht Sie besonders interessant.

Strauchnatter: Blitzschnelle Angriffe, giftige Zähne

Die Strauchnatter ist bekannt für Ihre blitzschnellen Angriffe. Diese Natternart verfügt über giftige Zähne, die Sie effektiv bei der Jagd einsetzt. Sie zählt zu den gefährlicheren europäischen Wassernattern, obwohl direkte Begegnungen mit Menschen selten vorkommen.

FAQ: Antworten auf häufig gestellte Fragen Was ist der Unterschied zwischen neurotoxischem und hämatotoxischem Gift? Neurotoxisches Gift wirkt vornehmlich auf das Nervensystem und kann Lähmungen oder sogar den Tod verursachen, während hämatotoxisches Gift das Blut und Gewebe angreift, was zu Schwellungen, Gewebszerstörung und Blutgerinnungsstörungen führen kann. Gibt es in Europa auch ungiftige Wasserschlangen? Ja, in Europa gibt es auch ungiftige Wasserschlangen, wie zum Beispiel die Ringelnatter. Diese Schlangenart ist für den Menschen harmlos und jagt hauptsächlich Amphibien und Fische. Wie kann man sich vor einem Schlangenbiss schützen? Um sich vor einem Schlangenbiss zu schützen, sollte man beim Wandern in natürlichen Lebensräumen stets achtsam sein, hohe Stiefel tragen und niemals einfach in unübersichtliche Gebüsche greifen. Es ist auch ratsam, auf bekannten Wegen zu bleiben und Vorsicht walten zu lassen, wenn man wassernah unterwegs ist. Wie gefährlich ist ein Biss der Vipernatter für Haustiere? Ein Biss der Vipernatter kann für Haustiere gefährlich sein, da das neurotoxische Gift schnell wirkt und schwere Symptome verursachen kann. Bei einem Schlangenbiss an einem Haustier sollte man sofort einen Tierarzt aufsuchen. Was sollte man tun, wenn man von einer giftigen Schlange gebissen wird? Wenn man von einer giftigen Schlange gebissen wird, sollte man so schnell wie möglich medizinische Hilfe in Anspruch nehmen. Es ist wichtig, die Bewegung zu minimieren, um die Verbreitung des Giftes zu verlangsamen und die betroffene Gegend ruhig zu stellen. Man sollte den Biss nicht aussaugen oder abbinden. Welche europäischen Wassernattern stehen unter Naturschutz? Viele europäische Wassernattern stehen unter Naturschutz, um Ihre Populationen zu erhalten und ihren Lebensraum zu schützen. Dazu gehören beispielsweise die Würfelnatter und die Vipernatter, die in einigen Regionen als gefährdet gelten.

Der Beitrag Europäische Wassernattern: Die gefährlichsten Arten erschien zuerst auf Neurope.eu - News aus Europa.

By CIVICUS
May 15 2026 (IPS)

 
CIVICUS discusses the rising trend of social media bans for children with Marie-Ève Nadeau, Head of International Affairs of the 5Rights Foundation, an organisation that promotes children’s rights in the digital environment.

Marie-Ève Nadeau

Four countries have banned children from accessing social media, five more have passed laws awaiting implementation and around 40 more are considering bans. What Australia began when it banned under-16s from 10 social media platforms is rapidly becoming a global trend. Children need protection from the documented harms caused by early and heavy social media use, but whether bans offer effective protection is a live question for policymakers worldwide.

Are social media bans an effective way of protecting children?

Today, one in three internet users is a child, and digital technologies increasingly mediate all aspects of their lives, from the classroom to the playground, from their first friendships to how they see themselves. As evidence of harms and risks mounts, lawmakers around the world are racing to impose age limits on children’s access to social media. The instinct to act is right, but the current direction risks missing the point.

The real issue is the conditions children face when online. Children are growing up in a digital environment designed without their distinct rights, needs and vulnerabilities in mind. This is a deliberate choice. Tech companies’ business models prioritise commercial gain over children’s safety and wellbeing, deliberately embedding persuasive design, relentless engagement loops and extractive data practices by default. Fixing this requires more than blocking children’s access.

Age restrictions are not new, yet their effectiveness remains inconclusive. Banning children from specific services while leaving the underlying system untouched lets tech companies off the hook for recommender systems that push harmful content, persuasive design that keeps children compulsively engaged and data practices that exploit their attention for profit. Used in isolation, bans create an illusion of protection while the same harmful design practices continue unchallenged. Children are pushed towards other unregulated environments, such as AI chatbots, gaming platforms and educational technology services, where they face equivalent risks with even less scrutiny.

What do these bans mean for children’s rights to expression and information?

Children’s rights are interdependent and indivisible, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 25 makes clear that all children’s rights apply fully in the digital environment. This includes the right to protection from harm, but also to the rights of access to information, expression and participation. In practice, tech companies have made these rights conditional on the commercial surveillance, exploitation and manipulation of children, eroding their privacy, safety, critical thinking and agency.

Age-based bans that restrict access without addressing underlying design practices create a false choice between freedom and safety. Children need both protection from harm and meaningful access to expression, information and participation. Restricting access without reforming the systems that embed risk fails to uphold the full range of children’s rights.

Who is most harmed by these bans, and what gaps do they create?

Children’s rights apply until the age of 18, yet proposed restrictions often only cover children under 16 and a narrow set of high-risk services. This creates gaps. Children above the age threshold, and those who circumvent poorly implemented restrictions, end up in unregulated spaces outside the scope of bans.

Bans can also entrench inequality. Children are not a homogeneous group, and those facing intersecting vulnerabilities linked to disability, gender, political opinion, race, religion or ethnic, national or social origin may heavily rely on digital spaces for expression, identity safety and support.

At the same time, engagement-based platform design often rewards and amplifies divisive and harmful content, for example on gender-based violence, heightening risks for excluded communities. Blanket bans do not create safer spaces, nor eliminate these harms. Instead, they displace them to less visible, less regulated and even less accountable spaces. Effective protection must ensure children can exercise their rights and have safe spaces of support and community.

How does age verification work, and what does it mean for children’s privacy?

Tech companies routinely invest heavily in targeting advertising and personalising content yet fail to apply the same rigour to protecting children. Age assurance, an umbrella term for both age estimation and age verification solutions, allows companies to recognise the presence of children and act accordingly. It must be lawful, rights-respecting and proportionate to risk. Data collection should be limited to what’s strictly necessary to establish age, and used only for that purpose.

Global privacy regulators found that 24 per cent of services lack any age assurance mechanism and 90 per cent of those relying on self-declaration are easily bypassed. Yet robust solutions exist. Australia’s age assurance technology trial demonstrates that privacy-preserving age verification can confirm age without exposing identity. Technical standards, such as the 2089.1-2024 Standard for Online Age Verification published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, show that independently audited frameworks, like those used in product safety or pharmaceuticals, are both feasible and necessary to ensure age assurance systems are secure, proportionate and compliant.

For low-risk services appropriate for all users, there should be no requirement to establish age. Where services or functionalities present risk to children, companies should address or mitigate specific high-risk features rather than gatekeeping entire services.

What should governments demand from platforms to protect children?

Age restrictions have become part of a global playbook, notably in data protection regimes like the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which sets 13 as the threshold for consent to data collection. Poor implementation and enforcement of COPPA and similar laws have allowed tech companies to hide behind obscure disclaimers while failing to meaningfully restrict access and profiting from embedding risk into children’s digital experiences.

There’s another way forward. The priority should be holding tech companies accountable, not banning children from the digital world. That means banning exploitative practices, regulating risky features such as addictive design, manipulative recommender systems and extractive data practices, and requiring privacy, safety and age-appropriate design as the baseline.

It also means shifting to systemic risk management: companies should be legally required to anticipate, assess and mitigate how their products expose children to risk. This baseline already exists in other high-risk sectors such as aviation, food safety and medicine, where products must demonstrate safety before reaching the market.

A growing global consensus points to a clear path forward: embedding age-appropriate design, requiring child rights impact assessments, mandating privacy and safety by design and default, establishing effective enforcement mechanisms and ensuring independent auditing. Over 55 leading organisations and experts from all continents have endorsed the 10 best-practice principles developed by the 5Rights Foundation.

CIVICUS interviews a wide range of civil society activists, experts and leaders to gather diverse perspectives on civil society action and current issues for publication on its CIVICUS Lens platform. The views expressed in interviews are the interviewees’ and do not necessarily reflect those of CIVICUS. Publication does not imply endorsement of interviewees or the organisations they represent.

GET IN TOUCH
Website
BlueSky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Spotify
Twitter
Marie-Ève Nadeau/BlueSky
Marie-Ève Nadeau/LinkedIn

SEE ALSO
Child social media bans: a growing global problem CIVICUS Lens 05.May.2026
Technology: Innovation without accountability CIVICUS | State Of Civil Society Report 2026
North Macedonia: ‘The solution cannot be to cut children off social media, but to make it safer’ CIVICUS Lens | Interview with Goran Rizaov 23.Apr.2026

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

  

 

Farmers in Bangladesh. Credit: Heifer International
 
As conflict in the Middle East disrupts critical fuel and fertilizer supply routes, smallholder farmers across Asia are once again caught in the crossfire of global shocks. This piece argues that repeated crises are exposing a deeper structural flaw in agri-food systems—Overdependence on External Inputs. It presents a compelling case for regenerative agriculture as a pathway to resilient food systems in Asia.

By Neena Joshi
UTTAR PRADESH, India, May 15 2026 (IPS)

The latest shock to global food systems, triggered by conflict in the Middle East and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, has once again exposed a fragile truth: the world’s food systems remain highly vulnerable to external shocks.

For Asia, especially South Asia, where agriculture underpins millions of livelihoods, the consequences are immediate and severe. Rising fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, and limited access to fertilizers are pushing already fragile systems to the brink.

The Strait of Hormuz is not just a geopolitical chokepoint; it is a lifeline for fuel and agricultural inputs across Asia. A significant share of fertilizers and their raw materials, including natural gas, transit through or originate from this route.

For countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where agriculture employs between 38 and over 60 percent of the workforce, this dependency creates systemic risk. When supply chains falter, the effects cascade quickly: input costs rise, planting cycles are disrupted, and farmer incomes shrink.

Solar panels installed in a farm in Bangladesh. Credit: Heifer International

Even if shipping routes reopen, recovery will be slow

Damage to energy infrastructure and continued geopolitical uncertainty mean price volatility and supply constraints can persist for months. For smallholder farmers, this creates a dual crisis. Exporting produce becomes difficult due to logistical bottlenecks, while fuel shortages hamper domestic distribution. At the same time, the next cropping cycle looms, with essential fertilizers either unavailable or unaffordable.

This is not an isolated disruption. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine, global shocks are becoming more frequent and interconnected. Each crisis compounds the last, pushing smallholder farmers, the backbone of global food production, into deeper uncertainty. The question is no longer whether disruptions will occur, but how prepared our systems are to withstand them.

At the heart of the problem is overdependence on external, input-intensive systems, chemical fertilizers, fossil fuels, and long, fragile supply chains. Reducing this dependence is central to building resilience.

Regenerative Agriculture and Renewable Energy Offer a Compelling Pathway Forward.

At its core, regenerative agriculture restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, improves water retention, and reduces reliance on synthetic inputs. Practices such as crop diversification, organic soil enrichment, reduced tillage, and integrated pest management shift farming from an extractive to a restorative model.

By rebuilding natural soil fertility, these approaches reduce dependence on external inputs. Instead of relying heavily on urea in rice cultivation, regenerative systems promote nutrient cycling and biological nitrogen fixation through legumes, alongside the use of compost and manure to strengthen soil organic matter and ensure a steady, natural nutrient supply.

Integrating renewable energy further strengthens resilience. Solar-powered irrigation replaces fuel-based inputs with clean, reliable energy, lowering operational costs and improving water-use efficiency—especially critical during periods of disruption.

The evidence base for these approaches is both growing and compelling. In Bangladesh, multiple studies show that solar irrigation consistently outperforms diesel systems, delivering higher returns, improving food security, and reducing irrigation costs by 20–50 percent, while significantly boosting profitability (Rana, 2021; Buisson, 2024; Sunny, 2023; Sarker, 2025).

Research also shows that bio-based inputs like compost, biochar, and green manure can partially replace synthetic fertilizers, often without yield loss, while improving soil health (Naher, 2021; Ferdous, 2023; Behera, 2025).

Regenerative Agriculture is Not Just an Environmental Solution—It is an Economic One

By reducing dependence on volatile external inputs such as chemical fertilizers and fossil fuels, regenerative agriculture shields farmers from global price shocks while improving long-term productivity and profits.

Emerging evidence from Nepal and India reinforces this trend: while yields generally remain stable, reduced input costs significantly increase farm profitability (Magar, 2022; Dhakal, 2022; Berger, 2025).

A broader analysis by the Observer Research Foundation (2025) finds that although yields may dip slightly during transition, most cases report higher yields over time, alongside improved income stability driven by lower input dependence.

Similar trends are being observed globally, reinforcing that regenerative approaches can deliver both resilience and profitability across diverse farming systems (link).

Importantly, these outcomes are already visible on the ground in South Asia. Through programs led by Heifer International, smallholder farmers are adopting regenerative and climate-smart practices that reduce costs, improve yields, and strengthen resilience.

In Bangladesh’s Jashore district, for instance, women farmers organized into cooperatives have reduced irrigation costs, improved productivity, and strengthened market access through solar irrigation, organic soil management, and collective action.

As one farmer, Shirin Akter, shares: “Adopting climate-smart practices and pooling resources through my cooperative allowed me to grow diverse crops. When drought hit, I still had harvests to sell, and my cooperative helped me recover quickly.”

For farmers like Shirin, these shifts are transformative, turning vulnerability into resilience through diversified systems, lower input dependence, and stronger collective support. Similar models in Nepal show how regenerative, community-based approaches can reduce resource pressure while improving incomes.

Scaling this Transition Requires Action Beyond the Farm

To transition to a resilient and sustainable food system, a multi-stakeholder approach is essential. Policymakers should realign incentives to support sustainable practices and reduce dependence on imported inputs. Financial institutions and insurers should recognize the lower risk profiles of regenerative systems.

Businesses must embed sustainability into core decisions, prioritizing sourcing from farmers adopting regenerative practices and building longer-term, stable supply relationships. At the same time, marketing teams can shape consumer demand by communicating the value of sustainably produced food. Together, these shifts can align supply chains and markets in support of more resilient food systems.

The stakes are high. The World Food Programme warns that roughly 45 million more people could be pushed into hunger if current disruptions persist, adding to the 318 million people already food insecure.

We cannot continue rebuilding fragile food systems after every shock. We must redesign them. Regenerative agriculture offers a pathway to reduce dependence on volatile external inputs, restore ecological balance, and build resilience where it matters most—at the farm level.

To replenish what has been used up is not just an environmental necessity—it is the foundation of more secure, equitable, and resilient food systems across Asia.

Neena Joshi is the Senior Vice President for Asia Programs at Heifer International. With over 20 years of experience, she leads initiatives to build inclusive, sustainable agrifood systems and empower smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, across Asia.

IPS UN Bureau

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');