Headlines

Russian influence is replacing French influence in several Central African nations, amid the alarming growth of radical Islamist movements.

Lagos, Apr.25 (DPnet).– In Mali, West Africa, armed groups have launched one of the largest coordinated attacks seen in recent years, targeting multiple cities across the country. The rebel forces include Islamist militants linked to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, along with Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and Boko Haram terrorists affiliated with ISIL (ISIS).

The attacks have affected the capital, Bamako, as well as at least three other locations  –Sevare, Kidal and Gao– with heavy gunfire and explosions reported around government buildings and major military installations, signaling a highly organized offensive.

Randomly selected to represent the population in terms of age, gender, level of education, and place of residence, 45 citizens of Kyiv’s Obolon district are working together to develop recommendations for local authorities on how to support veterans, veteran women, and their families.

Kyiv, Apr. 20 (DPnet).– The first session of the Citizens' Assembly took place in the Obolon District on 18-19 April. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen local democracy during wartime, organized with the support of the Council of Europe.

The session commenced with remarks from Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (online), alongside Vitalii Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv; Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine; and Kyrylo Fesyk, Head of the Obolon District State Administration. They underscored the critical need for citizen engagement in crafting inclusive and effective local policies, especially in the vital area of supporting veterans and their families. Their collective insights highlight that an active citizen voice is essential for driving meaningful change in Ukrainian communities.

Tegucigalpa, Apr. 20 (DPnet).– For many small-scal farmers in Central America, a good harvest is never a guarantee of a good living. Many toll in their fields without the business training to turn their had work into a stable income.

That began to change through a new partnership led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) focused on strengthening farmers' organizationmal, business and financial skills – which empowerss groups to transition from subsistence farming to successful enterprises. In the department of Choluteca, in southern Honduras, hundreds of rural women have turned crops into a source of personal income, resilience, and opportunity for their families.

These stories of women producers, workers, and leaders show that women’s economic empowerment drives rural development, reduces labor vulnerability, and creates role models for future generations.

Miami, Mar. 7 (DPnet).- The Shield of the Americas summit was held in Doral, a district in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where a large Venezuelan community resides.

The summit has forged a powerful regional coalition of Latin American countries committed to collaborating with the United States on decisive ideological and political initiatives that will bolster the security of the Western Hemisphere, as highlighted by the White House. The Shield of the Americas initiative will be guided in part by President Donald Trump’s assertive foreign policy approach, termed the "Donroe Doctrine," a modern interpretation of the historic "Monroe Doctrine." This initiative aims to unite steadfast allies in the Western Hemisphere who share a vision for pan-American progress while actively cultivating and strengthening new partnerships. These alliances will focus on critical objectives, primarily enhancing counter-terrorism efforts in the region and undertaking robust operations to dismantle drug cartels.

Twelve Latin American countries have joined the initiative of President Trump and his Secretary of State, of which eleven presidents and a prime minister were present, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Chilean President-elect José Antonio Kast, Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa, Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele Ortez, and Honduran president Nasry "Tito" Asfura. Also present were the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the presidents of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic.