Feed aggregator

Negotiations with MEPs on the proposal to combat the spread of online child sexual abuse material can start after countries ditch controversial mandatory detection orders

Le chantre Félix Didolanvi alias “Pêcheur”, est décédé mardi 25 novembre 2025 dans sa 92ᵉ année.

Deuil au sein de l'Église du Christianisme céleste du Bénin. Le vénérable Suprême Évangéliste Félix Didolanvi s'en est allé. Son décès a été annoncé ce mardi. Félix Didolanvi est une figure emblématique du Gospel béninois. « Il a consacré sa vie au service du Seigneur à travers la musique sacrée. (…) Son départ laisse un grand vide, mais son héritage, lui, demeure : un engagement sans faille, un amour profond pour la louange, et une empreinte indélébile dans l'histoire musicale de notre église », écrit le président Chargé Paroissial d'Akpakpa Centre dans une publication sur Facebook.

A.A.A

Au terme des travaux du 7e Sommet UA-UE tenu à Luanda, les deux institutions continentales ont salué leur partenariat stratégique et pris de nombreux engagements. A travers le communiqué final publié au terme de deux jours d'échanges et de rencontres, les 80 délégations présentes à ce rendez-vous ont réitéré leur volonté commune de soutenir et de promouvoir le multilatéralisme, seule option pour éviter le chaos.

Fin du 7e Sommet UA-UE. Les pays ont insisté au cours des assises sur le multilatéralisme pour permettre des avancées conjointes, une convergence stratégique et un renforcement de la coopération, au service d'une gouvernance mondiale et d'un système financier plus efficaces, s'appuyant sur les progrès réalisés cette année au G20 et à la Conférence sur le financement du développement, pour promouvoir un nouveau paradigme financier, dépassant un modèle d'aide au développement désormais obsolète. Selon le communiqué final publié ce mardi 25 novembre 2025 au terme des deux jours d'échanges et de rencontres, outre l'évolution vers un modèle de partenariat fondé sur la co-propriété et le co-investissement, la Fondation Afrique-Europe se félicite de l'accent mis dans la Déclaration sur plusieurs piliers essentiels déjà portés par son Groupe de Haut Niveau et son rapport 2025, notamment, le renforcement de la lutte contre les flux financiers illicites (FFI) ; la libération du potentiel de l'économie bleue ; la promotion de l'industrialisation et l'intégration des chaînes de valeur ; l'amélioration de la résilience des systèmes de santé ; et du rôle de la culture dans le partenariat Afrique-Europe.

Renforcer la lutte contre les flux financiers illicites (FFI)
Ces flux représentent en moyenne une perte annuelle de 90 milliards de dollars pour l'Afrique, autant de ressources qui pourraient être investies dans le développement mais qui affaiblissent au contraire le potentiel économique et les finances publiques. Le 7ᵉ Sommet réaffirme un engagement commun à intensifier l'action contre « les flux financiers illicites, l'évasion fiscale, la criminalité organisée, la fraude et la corruption, ainsi que le financement du terrorisme », et en faveur de la coopération sur l'optimisation fiscale. Selon le State of Africa-Europe 2025 Report, la rétention de ces fonds sur le continent aurait pu accroître le stock de capital africain de plus de 60% et relever le PIB par habitant de 15%. La Déclaration souligne également que la mobilisation des ressources domestiques constitue le pendant indispensable à ces efforts, et un impératif partagé pour renforcer la résilience à long terme.

Libérer le potentiel de l'économie bleue
Pratiquement absente du Sommet de 2022, l'économie bleue figure désormais dans la Déclaration de cette année, qui engage les pays à « promouvoir le développement d'une économie bleue durable ». Le State of Africa-Europe 2025 Report rappelle son poids croissant : dans l'UE, elle génère environ 890 milliards d'euros de chiffre d'affaires annuel ; en Afrique, près de 300 milliards de dollars, avec une projection à 576 milliards d'ici 2063, et soutient 50 millions d'emplois. Situé au carrefour du commerce, de la sécurité, de la résilience climatique, de la biodiversité et de la transformation économique, ce secteur constitue un levier stratégique pour optimiser l'allocation des ressources - une priorité de la Fondation Afrique-Europe, qui accompagne la création d'un « Hub africano-européen de la finance et de l'innovation pour l'océan », lancé lors du Blue Africa Summit.

Promouvoir l'industrialisation et l'intégration des chaînes de valeur
Le Sommet s'engage à « soutenir tous les pays africains dans leurs efforts de développement, d'industrialisation, de diversification des exportations et d'intégration aux marchés régionaux » en promouvant « le développement durable des chaînes de valeur », notamment dans les minéraux critiques et stratégiques. Cette coopération est essentielle pour montrer qu'il est possible de concilier développement et climat : en alignant investissements dans les infrastructures, l'accès à l'énergie, les minéraux de transition et l'économie bleue, l'Afrique et l'Europe peuvent bâtir une industrie verte compétitive. Les coopérations pilotes sur l'hydrogène, l'ammoniac ou encore l'acier, le ciment et l'aluminium verts illustrent ce potentiel de partenariats « gagnant-gagnant ».

Améliorer la résilience des systèmes de santé
Pilier historique du partenariat, l'investissement dans les capacités de fabrication africaines - pour garantir souveraineté et sécurité sanitaire - demeure l'un des exemples les plus concrets de transformation des engagements UA-UE en actions. La Déclaration réaffirme le soutien au « développement de la production locale de produits de santé en Afrique » et souligne l'importance de « financements de santé prévisibles, domestiques, innovants et mixtes ». Après l'annonce en janvier 2025 de la suppression de 83% des contrats de santé de l'USAID (soit un déficit de 5,7 milliards de dollars), le rapport met en avant le Compact d'Accra comme une feuille de route essentielle pour passer de la dépendance à la souveraineté sanitaire.

Reconnaître le rôle de la culture dans le partenariat Afrique-Europe
La Déclaration souligne l'importance du secteur culturel pour renforcer « la solidarité, la paix, le dialogue ouvert et inclusif ». Le rapport 2025 identifie également la culture et les industries créatives comme des moteurs de transformation économique - notamment grâce à la révolution numérique - et comme un pilier d'un nouveau modèle de partenariat, particulièrement prometteur pour la jeunesse.
Les différentes délégations à Luanda ont estimé que pour que l'Afrique et l'Europe intensifient concrètement leur action, il est désormais essentiel de se concentrer sur la mise en œuvre des décisions du Sommet, au niveau granulaire des projets, stratégies et investissements, dans une logique de leadership partagé réelle.

F. A. A.

Le couperet attendu depuis des mois est tombé. La raffinerie NIS de Pančevo, la seule de Serbie, à quelques kilomètres de Belgrade, est presque à l'arrêt depuis mardi 25 novembre, privée d'approvisionnement en pétrole brut à la suite des sanctions des Etats-Unis contre la Russie.

- Articles / Serbie, Relations internationales, Une - Diaporama, Une - Diaporama - En premier, Énergie Balkans, Russie Balkans

Le couperet attendu depuis des mois est tombé. La raffinerie NIS de Pančevo, la seule de Serbie, à quelques kilomètres de Belgrade, est presque à l'arrêt depuis mardi 25 novembre, privée d'approvisionnement en pétrole brut à la suite des sanctions des Etats-Unis contre la Russie.

- Articles / Serbie, Relations internationales, Une - Diaporama, Une - Diaporama - En premier, Énergie Balkans, Russie Balkans

Des réfugiés ont livré à la BBC un témoignage poignant des atrocités commises par les forces paramilitaires russes.

Europe has relearned a hard truth - deterrence is expensive. War on its eastern flank and instability to the south have forced governments to promise more kit, stockpiles and industrial capacity. But pledges do not build factories. They need financing that turns commitments into production, fast.

The law adopted on Tuesday is designed to strengthen the EU defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp up defence manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The law adopted on Tuesday is designed to strengthen the EU defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp up defence manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Nigerians at a newspaper stand with headlines reflecting the Trump versus Nigeria saga. Credit: Promise Eze/IPS

By Promise Eze
ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov 26 2025 (IPS)

Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the US have continued to sour after US President Donald Trump threatened ‘military’ intervention over what some American lawmakers have called  “Christian genocide” in Africa’s most populous country.

In a series of posts on his social media platform on October 31, Trump accused the Nigerian government of ignoring the killing of Christians by “radical Islamists.” He warned that Washington would suspend all aid to Nigeria and would go into the “disgraced” country “guns-a-blazing” if Abuja failed to respond.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.

He went on to declare Nigeria a “country of particular concern” for alleged violations of religious freedom, instructing the US Department of War to prepare for “possible action” and warning that any strike would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”

Trump’s remarks follow years of lobbying by American evangelical groups and conservative lawmakers who accuse the Nigerian government of complicity in attacks on Christians in the country.

This is not the first time Trump has accused an African country of genocide. Earlier this year, he claimed that South Africa was committing genocide against white farmers.

Recently, the US stayed away from the G20 summit in South Africa, apparently because of these widely disputed claims that white people are being targeted in the country.

Disputed Narratives

According to an organization that claims to track persecuted Christians, Open Doors International, Nigeria remains one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a Christian, ranking seventh on its 2025 World Watch List of nations where believers face the most persecution.

A report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law estimated that jihadist groups killed more than 7,000 Christians and abducted 7,800 others in 2025 alone. The organization asserts that since 2009, they have killed over 125,000 Christians, destroyed 19,000 churches, and displaced more than 1,100 communities.

Open Doors’ data suggests that Christians in northern Nigeria are 6.5 times more likely to be killed and five times more likely to be abducted than Muslims.

However, the Nigerian authorities have rejected claims of a state-sponsored Christian genocide, insisting that both Christians and Muslims suffer from extremist violence.

Analysts caution that portraying Nigeria’s insecurity as purely religious oversimplifies a crisis rooted in political and economic failure.

With its 230 million citizens divided almost evenly between Christians and Muslims, the country faces multiple overlapping threats, from Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency and farmer-herder conflicts to ethnic rivalries and separatist agitations in the southeast.

While Christians are among those targeted, researchers note that many victims of armed groups are Muslims living in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north, where most attacks are not driven solely by religion.

Data from the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) show that between January 2020 and September 2025, 20,409 civilians were killed in 11,862 attacks across Nigeria. Of these, only 385 incidents were explicitly linked to victims’ Christian identity, resulting in 317 deaths, while 196 attacks targeted Muslims, leaving 417 dead.

“Trump’s comment has certainly drawn global attention to the problem of insecurity in Nigeria, but it also raises questions about foreign influence and national sovereignty,” said Oludare Ogunlana, Professor of National Security at Collin College in Texas. “What I’ve observed is that many who present themselves as experts on African or global security often lack a nuanced understanding of Nigeria’s realities.”

He described Trump’s claims as misguided, stressing that Nigeria’s insecurity is multifaceted and should not be given a religious coloring.

“If you examine the situation closely, it is not a religious war. It reflects systemic governance failures, economic inequality, and weak law enforcement,” he said. “Citizens of all faiths—Christians, Muslims, atheists, and traditional believers—have suffered from kidnapping, organized crime, and other forms of violence. These criminal activities emerge from disparities in wealth and control over resources, resulting in loss of life across communities.”

Religious Tensions

Trump’s remarks have already inflamed tensions at home and analysts have cautioned that framing Nigeria’s insecurity as a religious conflict risks deepening divisions.

Several Muslim groups have condemned Trump’s comments as an attack on Islam and an attempt to demonize Nigeria’s Muslim population. They argue that Trump, who has long enjoyed support from evangelical Christians, is ill-suited to address the complexities of Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north.

Days after Trump’s comments, members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria marched through Kano to protest the threat of US military action. Chanting “Death to America” and burning the US flag, demonstrators carried placards reading “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria” and “America wants to control our resources.”

Northern states like Kano have a long history of bloody religious riots, and observers warn that renewed rhetoric could deepen sectarian divides in a region where relations between the two faiths remain fragile.

Christian and non-Muslim groups, on the other hand, maintain that persecution is real. They cite reports noting that more than 300 Nigerians have been killed over alleged blasphemy since 1999, with few perpetrators prosecuted. They call out government officials who support religious extremism and enforce shariah law on non-Muslims.

“It is an honor to be called an Islamic extremist,” wrote Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, in a since-deleted post on X. Ahmad has previously called for the death penalty for blasphemy.

Deborah Eli Yusuf, a peace advocate with Jugaad Foundation for Peace and Nation Building, expressed concern that ongoing arguments could spill into real-world violence, making tensions difficult to contain.

She told IPS that the government should collaborate with stakeholders to maintain peace.

“This is an opportunity for the government to take the lead in facilitating honest interfaith conversations and dialogues that can lead to mutually agreeable resolutions. The government is best positioned to organize discussions that bring together critical stakeholders, including both religious and traditional leaders.

“Many of these conflicts also intersect with ethnic divisions, which further complicate the situation. The conversations happening now present a chance to address these divides. If left unchecked, rising tensions could deepen fragmentation in a country already divided along tribal, ethnic, and class lines,” she said.

Abba Yakubu Yusuf, Coordinator of the Reves Africa Foundation, believes that while Nigeria faces various forms of violent conflict orchestrated by multiple armed groups, it is misleading for the government to deny that Christians are being specifically targeted by some for their faith. He argues that acknowledging this reality is the first step toward finding solutions.

“Since as far back as 2009, the killings in southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and parts of Kano states have been largely religiously motivated,” he claimed. “There was a massacre in Plateau state that saw an entire village wiped out with no survivors. In the northeast, while attacks target Muslims, there are exceptions. In southern Borno, for example, a largely Christian population has suffered the most. Overall, I would say there is a genocide occurring in Nigeria, and we should not lie to ourselves.”

Yusuf warned that continued denial by the government of systematic attacks on Christians, without addressing the root causes, could have serious consequences for the country’s economy.

“We need investors to come to our country, but they are hesitant. This creates a climate of fear and threatens economic growth,” he said.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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');  

In today's edition: Digital decade, EU boosts DSA enforcement, Poland probes Apple ATT

South Africa hand India their heaviest defeat by runs to complete a compelling 2-0 series sweep in Guwahati on Wednesday.

South Africa hand India their heaviest defeat by runs to complete a compelling 2-0 series sweep in Guwahati on Wednesday.

In today's edition: Tobacco, health workforce, toy-safety rules.

Die am DIW Berlin angesiedelte forschungsbasierte Infrastruktureinrichtung Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) ist eine der größten und am längsten laufenden multidisziplinären Panelstudien weltweit, für die derzeit jährlich etwa 30.000 Menschen in knapp 15.000 Haushalten befragt werden. Das SOEP hat den Anspruch den gesellschaftlichen Wandel zu erfassen und steht somit immer neuen und vielfältigen Themen- und Aufgabenfelder gegenüber. Seine Datenerhebung und -generierung folgt dem Konzept des Survey bzw. Data Life Cycle.

Die ausgeschriebene Stelle ist Teil des Projekts „RDCnet“. Ziel des RDCnet ist es, den Zugang zu sensiblen Forschungsdaten für Wissenschaftler*innen zu erleichtern und so datengetriebene Forschung nachhaltig zu fördern. Das Projekt ist in das tragende Konsortium KonsortSWD eingebettet, das als Teil der NFDI die Infrastruktur für Sozial-, Verhaltens-, Bildungs- und Wirtschaftsdaten in Deutschland weiterentwickelt. Im Sinne der FAIR-Prinzipien arbeitet KonsortSWD unter anderem daran, die Forschungsdatenlandschaft zu verbessern und den Austausch von Daten über Disziplinen und Institutionen hinweg zu stärken.

Zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt suchen wir eine*n

Softwareentwickler*in (Full-Stack) (w/m/div) (Vollzeit/Teilzeit)

A plenary session during the Global Development Conference by the Global Development Network (GDN) in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on October 28. Credit: Athar Parvaiz/IPS

By Athar Parvaiz
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France, Nov 26 2025 (IPS)

Weeks after an international conference on inclusive and people-centric digital transformation organized by the Global Development Network (GDN) here, a new narrative is unfolding about the need for digital innovations to serve people first and narrow inequalities rather than widening them.

Earlier this week, amidst a landmark G20 Summit on African soil, world leaders converged on digital innovations as a force for inclusive growth, urging ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance to bridge global divides. Despite the absence of the U.S. the declaration recommitted to “responsible artificial intelligence innovation,” open-source ecosystems, and AI readiness for developing nations.

In the AI focused session, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a digital “technology that is human-centric, global and open-source instead of merely finance-centric, national, and exclusive.” He proposed a Global AI Compact emphasizing transparency, human oversight, and safeguards against misuse, announcing India’s AI Impact Summit in February 2026, themed Sarvajanam Hitaya, Sarvajanam Sukhaya (or Welfare for All).

Host President Cyril Ramaphosa from South Africa highlighted AI’s role in Africa’s industrialization, endorsing the “AI for Africa” initiative to implement the African Union’s AI Strategy and a Technology Policy Assistance Facility for national policies.

Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka warned, “We cannot let AI create new inequalities where benefits are captured by a handful of people or companies,” advocating fair partnerships to avoid past industrial imbalances.

UAE’s Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri unveiled a USD 1 billion “AI for Development Initiative” for African AI in education, healthcare, and climate, stating it would “bridge gaps and ensure technology serves the continent’s needs.” Canadian PM Mark Carney said that the “world can move on without the United States,” noting participants represent three-quarters of the global population and GDP for legitimate AI consensus.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese echoed calls for ethical AI to foster skills for one million Africans, while the IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva urged policies for AI readiness.

“Skills development, enabling infrastructure… and taxation that favors innovation without favoring machines over people,” Georgieva said.

These voices lend much-required support to efforts being made by organizations such as the Global Development Network (GDN) for a global south-led pivot toward equitable digital transformation, prioritizing open innovation over monopolies.

Stopping widening inequalities

Late last month, GDN organized a three-day conference, “Inclusive Digital Transformation: Social Impacts and Technological Innovations,” which drew participants, including researchers, activists and technologists from the Global South and North, to explore how technology can drive equitable development.

GDN President Jean-Louis Arcand opened the three-day gathering by emphasizing its mission: amplifying voices from developing regions and fostering policy-relevant research. “Why should development discussions always happen in Washington, D.C., New York, or Paris?” Arcand asked, highlighting Clermont-Ferrand’s symbolic choice as a venue to decentralize global dialogues.

“In the digital era, inclusion means building capacity in the Global South to shape technologies that address local realities, not just adopt imported solutions,” he emphasized.

According to a standout presentation by Shu (Grace) Tian, Principal Economist, Asia Development Bank (ADB), over the past five years, mobile coverage in developing Asia has expanded by about 156 percent, reflecting significant progress across the region. In terms of mobile internet use, Tian said that penetration has grown by 5 percent during the same period, and overall data speeds have increased nearly fourfold, now reaching around 2.2 billion people across the region.

Tian said that these advances are yielding tangible benefits. For example, in Indonesia, digitally prepared firms weathered the 2020 lockdowns with far fewer losses, proving digital readiness as a form of economic resilience.

However, despite these benefits, the speaker cautioned that digital transformation can also widen inequality if not managed inclusively. “Factors such as demographics, education, income, skills, and digital literacy can exacerbate social divides. Furthermore, automation and digitalization may displace certain types of jobs, creating new labor market disruptions.”

Highlighting the potential AI holds in disaster mitigation and the developmental path, some presenters sparked excitement, such as AI-based remote sensing for predicting disasters like floods and droughts, empowering smallholder farmers to adapt proactively. African and South Asian practitioners showcased offline AI-enabled learning tools for remote villages, demonstrating that inclusion doesn’t require high-end connectivity, proving technology can reach the most excluded.

Yet, the discussions during the conference didn’t shy away from challenges, framing them as opportunities for deliberate action. Speakers noted persistent divides, such as 40 percent of Malaysians lacking basic digital skills, even as rural-urban gaps endure in countries like India and cybersecurity vulnerabilities threaten progress.

Nandan Nilekani, in a recorded address, stressed that technology succeeds only when it serves “the most excluded citizen,” reducing leakages in service delivery and fostering transparency.

Lack of quality data in low-income countries

All AI systems depend on large volumes of high-quality data, said Johannes Jutting, Executive Head, PARIS21 Secretariat, OECD and Honorary Professor, University of Passau. “This data feeds the algorithms and trains the models. If you do not have good data, you cannot expect good AI solutions for your problems. And many low-income countries simply lack quality data,” Jutting told IPS.

“By quality data, I mean data that is accurate, timely, interoperable, accessible, and open, which we often refer to as the FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.”

But in many developing countries, he said, state-generated data does not meet these standards. “If you visit the websites of some national statistical offices, you find incomplete datasets, outdated information, or limited accessibility. This is a major barrier. You see it across many low-income African countries, small island states, and lower-income Asian countries such as Nepal and others facing similar constraints,” Jutting said.

The good news, he said, is that AI itself can help. Even in these contexts, AI can be used to clean, structure, and make existing data more usable, according to Jutting. “In that sense, it’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, countries without strong data systems risk being left further behind. On the other hand, AI can also help them overcome some of the very data challenges that have held them back.”

Jutting emphasized that while the gap is real, there are also possibilities for AI to support these countries “provided the right investments and governance frameworks are put in place” on a priority basis.

Agreed ADB’s chief economist, Albert Park: “Future digital realities hinge on the policies we set today.” To ensure no one is left behind, Park told IPS News, building digital capacity is crucial, especially for improving public service delivery.

“With enough technical support and empowerment at the local level, once countries have reasonable connectivity, a whole range of AI applications will ensure rapid progress and help correct failures,” Park said.

As Arcand noted, the GDN’s focus aligns with evolving global priorities, including the World Bank’s Digital Vice Presidency. The converging themes — from GDN’s warnings against divides to world leaders’ call for equitable AI during the G20 conference-signal a turning point towards a combined effort for a digital future where prosperity is shared, innovation thrives, and no one is left behind.

Note: The reporting and research for this story was supported by Global Development Network

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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');  

Das Konjunkturbarometer des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) hat sich im November leicht erholt und steht bei 92,9 Punkten. Im Oktober war der vorherige Aufwärtstrend noch durch ein Absacken auf 91,1 Punkte unterbrochen worden. Der Wert rückt somit wieder etwas näher an die ...

Plus the Omnibus, the ESA Summit, and RESourceEU

In today's edition: EDUR, Morocco, MRLs

Un nouveau rapport de l'ONU indique qu'une femme ou une fille est tuée toutes les 10 minutes par une personne de son entourage quelque part dans le monde.