Africa: Another Nobel for Anglocentric Neoliberal Institutional Economics

[ad_1] Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — New institutional economics (NIE) has received another so-called Nobel prize, ostensibly for again claiming that good institutions and democratic governance ensure growth, development, equity and democracy. Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson (AJR) are well known for their influential cliometric work. AJR have elaborated earlier laureate Douglass North's claim that property rights have been crucial to growth and development. But the trio ignore North's more nuanced later arguments. For AJR, 'good institutions' were transplanted […]

October 23, 2024 1

Africa

Africa: Svalbard Global Seed Vault Deposit Bolsters Food Security Amid Crises

[ad_1] Longyearbyen, Svalbard — The Svalbard Global Seed Vault received yesterday a deposit of more than 30,000 new seed samples from 23 depositors across 21 countries, including seven international genebanks. This marks the largest number of depositors since the Seed Vault received samples from a record-breaking 35 genebanks in 2020, underscoring the urgent global effort to conserve crop diversity in the face of escalating climate change, conflict, and other crises. The deposit includes first-time contributions from genebanks in Bangladesh, Bolivia, […]

October 23, 2024 2

News

South Africa: Siya and Rachel Kolisi End Their Marriage – South African News Briefs – October 23, 2024

[ad_1] Springbok Rugby Player Siya Kolisi and Wife Rachel Announce Separation Siya Kolisi, a prominent Springbok rugby player, and his wife Rachel have jointly announced their decision to end their marriage, reports IOL. In their official social media platforms, they said the decision was made with "love, respect, and mutual understanding" as they believe it is the best way forward. "Although our relationship as a couple is changing, we remain close friends and committed co-parents, ensuring our children continue […]

October 23, 2024 2

Africa

Africa: 33 Out of 54 African Countries Not Making Progress – Report

[ad_1] The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has released the 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), the latest iteration of the biennial dataset assessing governance performance and trends. The index indicates that 33 54 African countries are not progressing in good governance. The report covers 10 years - 2014-2023--and was collected from 49 independent sources, with some data commissioned by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The IIAG is based on 322 variables clustered in 96 indicators, organised under 16 sub-categories and four […]

October 23, 2024 2

Africa

Africa: Civilian Support for Military Coups Isn’t a Bug – It’s a Feature

[ad_1] In September 2024, authorities in Benin detained the country's former sports minister and a prominent businessman for allegedly plotting a coup against the West African nation's president, Patrice Talon. Had a putsch materialized, Benin would have joined a growing list of African countries to have experienced a military coup over the past four years. Dubbed an "epidemic of coup d'états" by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the resurgence of military takeovers has left many observers perplexed. For one, the […]

October 23, 2024 2

Africa

Africa: Freedom House Researcher Explains How Free Freedom Is On the Net

[ad_1] Washington — Global internet freedom has declined for the 14th straight year, according to Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2024 report. VOA's Philip Alexiou spoke with Elizabeth Sutterlin, a researcher at the advocacy group, on October 21. Sutterlin outlined the various tactics used to crack down on online publishing, including imprisonment and violence. The interview centers on how these issues impact Africa. It has been edited for brevity and clarity. Elizabeth Sutterlin: This continuing decline in global Internet […]

October 23, 2024 1

Africa

Africa: Spain Sees Opportunity in African Migrant Influx, Bucking EU Trend

[ad_1] Jerez De La Frontera and London — As many European Union countries call for the bloc to clamp down on migration amid a surge in support for right-wing political parties, Spain is bucking the trend and insists Europe's aging population needs controlled migration to boost its economy. The Spanish government said there is a need for young workers amid what it called a 'demographic winter' on the continent, and said the EU must take this into account as it […]

October 23, 2024 2

News

Gambia: GFF Domestic League Commences Next Month

[ad_1] The 2024-2025 Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Domestic League season is set to begin next month following the conclusion of the GFF Club Management Meeting at the National Technical Training Centre in Old Yundum on Saturday. The country's league clubs are currently preparing themselves physically fit ahead of the commencement of the new league campaign. Hawks, Hart FC and Gambian Dutch Lions all gained promotion to the country's Elite League following their sterling performance in the Second Division League last […]

October 23, 2024 1

Africa

Africa: AU Ends First Africa Skills Week in Accra

[ad_1] Stakeholders and partners from all over Africa recently converged in the Ghanaian capital of Accra for the first-ever Africa Skills Week (ASW) hosted by the Government of Ghana and organised by the African Union (AU). The five-days, which event brought together policymakers, practitioners, employers, development partners, civil society organisations and the youth, discussed policy priorities, challenges and opportunities in skills development. Other strategic partners that supported the initiative included International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNESCO, UNHCR, German Cooperation implemented by […]

October 23, 2024 2

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