Month: September 2017

Mainstreaming migration for poverty reduction –in diverse country contexts

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I recently visited a number of countries on a monitoring mission for the joint IOM-UNDP Global Project on Mainstreaming Migration in National Development Strategies. Funded by Switzerland, this project is implemented in eight countries (Bangladesh, Ecuador, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Morocco, Serbia and Tunisia) and provides some successful examples of how migration and development intertwine. As a development organization, our role is to ensure that development issues such as governance, economic opportunities, conflict prevention, climate change adaptation, environmental management are embedded in the short, medium and long term support provided to migrants,…

A Costly Victory Angela Merkel won the elections, but right-wing populists are spoiling the party.

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Angela Merkel has won a fourth term as chancellor. Yet her grand coalition got badly drubbed. Most worryingly, the huge success of the right-wing AfD reveals a country deeply split. t’s still the same country, with Angela Merkel confirmed as chancellor for another four years – a stable, liberal, prosperous place. And yet, so much has changed overnight. For the first time since the early years of the then West German republic, a far-right party has entered the Bundestag, and in force. With its support particularly strong in the eastern…

Kuwait leads Arab region in food security; Bahrain ranked 6th

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Kuwait ranked first in Arab countries and 26th in the world on Economist Intelligence of Food Security for 2017. The 2017 Global Food Security Index provides a worldwide perspective on which countries are most and least vulnerable to food insecurity and how resource risks increase vulnerability. The global indicator, annually published by the Economist magazine, ranked Bahrain 6th in the Arab region and 37th in the world. Sultanate of Oman is ranked 2nd, followed by Qatar(3rd), Saudi(4th) and the United Arab Emirates(5th). The top ten Arab countries also included Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt and…

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the Arab Region: Where Do We Stand?

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Women’s empowerment and gender equality should remain a central objective of the world community. The recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) includes specific provisions to member States of the United Nations – notably through SDG 5 – to commit to enhancing gender equality and to give women a stronger voice in the fight for equality. The Preamble of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls for “equal rights” to be enjoyed by “men and women”: 69 years later, gender equality has not only been recognised for what it is:…

First stage of UN-sponsored Libyan peace plan launched amid optimism

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After four years of political and security crises in Libya, the first stage of a UN-sponsored peace plan has been launched amid optimism by warring parties. The first UN-sponsored dialogue was held in Tunisia on Tuesday, which aims to introduce amendments to the current political agreement. The meeting is the first step of an action plan proposed by Ghassan Salame, the UN envoy to Libya, which includes amending the original peace agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference among all Libyan political factions, adopting a constitution, and finally electing a president…

Food from Around the World: Ethnic Groceries in Corvallis

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You will not find a shortage of grocery stores in Corvallis. There are the traditional spots, like WinCo, Safeway, and Fred Meyer – all of which have their merits.  If you’re looking for some great local and organic options, look no further than the First Alternative Co-op with convenient locations on both the north and south sides of Corvallis. We even have a Trader Joe’s, Natural Grocers, and Market of Choice.  But for those of you who are new to town, we thought we’d highlight some alternative grocery stores that…

UK holidaymakers set to pay for making Spain their favourite getaway

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Spain is the top destination for British tourists but increased demand is straining resources and prices may rise by up to 10% for 2018 holidays With a record 18 million people visiting last year, Spain is by far the most popular foreign destination for UK holidaymakers. But as the country “fills up” with tourists – picking a package deal to the Costa del Sol or the Balearics over Tunisia, Egypt or Turkey – prices look set to increase. Much of the rise in visitor numbers has been caused by ongoing security concerns…

Tunisia: State recovers more than 90% of agricultural lands used illegally

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 In an interview with news website, Leaders, the Tunisian minister of State domains and Land Affairs, Mabrouk Korchid (picture), revealed that most of the arable lands used without deeds have been recovered by the State. “Presently, more than 90% of the arable lands used illegally have been recovered in order to be re-integrated in the economic chain, according to well-defined standards. Since I have arrived at the ministry of State domains and Land Affairs, we have focused on a fundamental approach which consists in recovering the State’s properties, while respecting laws…

Concordia students attend Nobel Peace Prize Forum

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On Sept. 15 and 16, 11 Concordia students attended the 29th Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Among them were this year’s Peace Scholars, Grace Hoffa and Katie Beedy, and last year’s Peace Scholar, Andie Palagi. The students were joined by Dr. Ken Foster, associate professor of political science and director of the global studies program. Each year, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum brings world leaders and Nobel laureates together with students and members of the community for a series of lectures and breakout sessions centered on…

Libya lists more than 830 wanted jihadists

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The Libyan attorney general said Thursday that arrest warrants have been issued for more than 830 suspected members of the Islamic State jihadist group in the North African country. Fifty other warrants will be delivered to Interpol for IS suspects abroad, Siddiq al-Sour told a news conference, adding that the list was compiled after questioning of suspected IS members in several Libyan towns. IS fighters have redeployed in the south of the country since the jihadist group was evicted from its bastion of Sirte on the Mediterranean coast last December…