By Abderrahim Ouarghidi* MARRAKECH (IDN) – The Moroccan proverb ‘New things have a charm and old ones should be preserved’ has wide applicability in current Moroccan agricultural practices and attitudes toward conventional and local crop varieties. The revealing adage is part of the Moroccan identity and way of life. Moroccan people are committed to establishing […]
Families in Asia-Pacific Could Benefit Much More from Growing Remittances
By Krishan Dutta KUALA LUMPUR (IDN) – Around US$6 trillion in remittances are expected to be sent to developing countries by 2030: over half of these flows will arrive in the Asia Pacific regions, very often in small towns and villages, says a new report. Remittances to the Asia-Pacific region amounted to US$ 256 billion […]
Conference Calls for Action on Access to Justice for Children in Africa
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | ADDIS ABABA (IDN) – The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child obliges all members of the world body to respect and ensure the rights of each child “within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind”. While some progress has been made to fulfil the objectives set out […]
Trump Apparently Met His Match in Nigerian President Buhari
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Try as he might, President Trump couldn’t land a deal with Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari at their tête-à-tête in Washington end of April 2018. Deploying his usual tough talk on trade, the U.S. president was shooting for a deal that would open the doors to […]
Inequality on the Rise in Asia-Pacific – UNESCAP Reports
By Rita Joshi BERLIN | BANGKOK (IDN-INPS) – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved by the United Nations in September 2015, pledged to “leave no one behind”. But two years since the Agenda began to be implemented, inequality in Asia and the Pacific is on the rise. This is affirmed by a study launched […]
Access to End-Use Technologies Key to Catalysing Development in Africa
By Joshua Masinde NAIROBI (IDN) – Productive use of energy holds the key to livelihood transformation in Africa’s rural areas. Small industries could improve their production processes and efficiency if they had better access to electricity and technologies. Without electricity, rural micro-enterprises make do with labour intensive and time-consuming manual tools, and often pass up […]
Cheers For Zimbabwe’s Musical ‘Lion’ Returning From Exile
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | HARARE (IDN) – Welcome home Mukanya! After 14 long years in the U.S. state of Oregon, singer, composer and bandleader Thomas Mapfumo has come home to Zimbabwe. His recent performance, for some 20,000 ticket holders at the open-air Glamis Arena, only slowed down as the sun […]
Remark About South African ‘White Privilege’ Sparks Debate
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Members of the opposition Democratic Alliance are reportedly squabbling over a casual remark by the head of the party, Mmusi Maimane, who observed that white privilege and black poverty were critical issues that needed to be addressed. “I firmly stand by comments I made on […]
The Buzz About India Planning To Capture The Commonwealth
Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran* NEW DELHI (IDN) – Indians who think that we have outdone Britain in all things British – such as the English language, cricket and the Westminster model and that only the Commonwealth remains to be captured – should think again. Since the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held from April […]
A Ugandan Brings Home The Value Of Neglected Minerals
By Prossy Nandudu KAMPALA (ACP-IDN) – With the African population expected to increase by roughly 50 percent over the next 18 years to over 1.8 billion in 2035, demands for mineral resources will also climb sharply to meet the need for additional housing units, roads, energy and other urban infrastructure using development minerals, averred Dr […]