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Expert proposes sovereignty-safe alternative to EU telecoms consolidation plan

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 07:00

Operators need to accept they are slowly "dying" as connectivity is becoming a commodity, Genna said.

The post Expert proposes sovereignty-safe alternative to EU telecoms consolidation plan appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Tech Pro Brief – a telecoms third way, Big Tech and the payment service regulation, new Digital Decade targets

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 07:00

Euractiv's Pro newsletter covering all things Tech, brought to you by Chris Powers, Théophane Hartmann, and Jacob Wulff Wold.

The post Tech Pro Brief – a telecoms third way, Big Tech and the payment service regulation, new Digital Decade targets appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

In Zimbabwe, Women Are Leading the Battle Against Climate Change

Africa - INTER PRESS SERVICE - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 07:00

Some farmers buy seed at discounted prices during a seed fair in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Credit: Farai Shawn Matiashe/IPS

By Farai Shawn Matiashe
MAFAURE, Zimbabwe, Dec 11 2024 (IPS)

When Susan Chinyengetere started to focus on farming in her home village in south-eastern Zimbabwe, she wondered if she could earn a living and raise her children.

With climate catastrophes ravaging the country, her hesitation on rain-fed agriculture worsened. But two years later, the 32-year-old mother of two from Mafaure village in Masvingo, about 295 km from the capital Harare, is now a champion in farming.

Armed with early maturity and drought-resistant crop varieties like orange maize, cowpeas and lab-lab for livestock feed, Chinyengetere has a good harvest despite prolonged droughts across Zimbabwe.

“There was a drought last farming season, but I managed to get enough food to feed my family until next season,” she says. “I even sold leftovers to the local market.”

Brutal Drought Ravaging Crops

Zimbabwe, a landlocked country, relies on rain-fed agriculture. But over the years, rain patterns have been erratic, threatening the entire agriculture sector. The Southern African nation has been hit by one climate disaster after another. If there are no violent cyclones, severe floods or devastating droughts are ravaging the country.

From 2023 to 2024, a brutal El Niño drought—the strongest on record—plummeted the entire country.

Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia were also not spared by the same El Niño drought. There was crop failure in more than 80 percent of the country, according to the government.

Some farmers have been left with little or no food, and sources of livelihood in rural areas have been affected. Zimbabwe may be reaching a tipping point for rain-fed agriculture.

Farmers in Masvingo are growing orange maize, which has high vitamins amid climate change. Credit: Farai Shawn Matiashe/IPS

But woman farmers like Chinyengetere have their little secret as to how they are becoming resilient and adapting to the effects of climate change. She is part of Ukama Ustawi, an Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa by CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. The farmers are subdivided into small groups of at most 15.

“I use zero tillage when I plant orange maize on my land spanning 40 m by 90 m. The idea is not to disturb the soil,” says Chinyengetere. “I was used to white maize. When I joined this project, I planted yellow maize for the first time.”

Zero tillage is an agricultural technique where farmers sow seeds directly into the soil without disturbing it. It is part of conservation agriculture that is becoming popular in Zimbabwe after it was upscaled across the country by the government. Chinyengetere prefers the technique because it has less labour than tillage farming.

“Even when I am alone and my children are at school, I can still sow the whole field,” she says.

In Masvingo, men are also providing solutions to climate change through the Ukama Ustawi initiative, though women are the majority.

Anton Mutasa from Zindere village in Masvingo says he has been able to feed his family because of climate-smart agriculture. “I grow orange maize, cowpeas, and lab-lab. To conserve water, prevent soil erosion and allow water to infiltrate, I spread some mulch around the plants,” says the 55-year-old father of six.

“This is vital, particularly during the dry season. I also rotate the crops to improve soil fertility. For instance, if I grew cowpeas on this part of land last season, this season I will make sure I grow oranges.”

Climate change affects women differently

Both men and women are affected by climate change. But for women, it hits harder because of the preexisting inequalities. They suffer because of the entrenched societal roles and limited access to resources.

Women are primarily responsible for cooking for the family and fetching water, particularly in rural areas. This places them on the frontlines of climate change because food and water become scarce during extreme weather events like drought.

Another farmer, Tendai Marange, from Machengere village in Masvingo, says less labour farming techniques allow women to continue their role as women. “I am expected to do house chores, but at the same time I want to go to the farm. This technique saves me time,” says the 47-year-old mother of three.

Farmers networking during a seed fair in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Credit: Farai Shawn Matiashe/IPS

Chinyengetere says she is inspiring other women. “I feel empowered. I am occupied. The fact that I am bringing income and food for the family brings happiness to my marriage,” she says. “I even doubted myself. I thought, as a woman, I am a child-bearing machine.”

Once Chinyengetere and Marange’s projects are successful, they will share what they learned with others in Zimbabwe and beyond the borders.

“I am contributing solutions to climate change. Women are often at the receiving end of climate change. But my case is different; I am leading from the front,” says Chinyengetere.

Over 1 million farmers have been reached with different agriculture initiatives. At least 140,000 use the technologies that were promoted under Ukama Ustawi in Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, according to Christian Thierfelder, a principal cropping systems agronomist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), one of the research centres working with CGIAR.

About 60 percent of those were women. More than 45 percent were youth.

Thierfelder says as part of Ukama Ustawi in Zimbabwe, they work in 30 communities, where they have trials on drought-resistant crops.

He says Ukama Ustawi’s primary aim is to shift farmers’ behavior and perceptions, moving away from conventional maize-only farming systems towards diversified maize-based systems under conservation agriculture principles. “This involves promoting practices like crop rotation, intercropping, and sustainable soil management, all of which are essential for improving resilience to climate variability and boosting long-term productivity,” Thierfelder says.

Many farmers across the country lost their livestock due to lack of feed after grazing lands were depleted and outbreaks of diseases precipitated by the El Niño drought. Ukama Ustawi is working to change this by fostering livestock feeding systems with green manure cover crops and forage grasses.

“I lost my cattle in the previous droughts before joining Ukama Ustawi. I had no feed and diseases worsened the situation. I am now using lab-lab to make feed for my goats,” says Marange.

Networking

Ukama is a Shona word that translates to relationship. Marange says the groups provide networking opportunities. “We are a family. We share tips and ideas on conservation farming,” she says.

Since 2020, CIMMYT has been organizing seed and mechanization fairs where farmers access high-quality seeds and equipment they would otherwise struggle to access. “It is cheap to buy seeds at the fairs. It is usually cheap. We get discounts,” says Marange.

Thierfelder says Ukama Ustawi recognizes the importance of integrating a variety of crops, such as legumes, cowpeas, groundnuts, and small grains, into maize-dominated systems to achieve both ecological and economic sustainability.

“Seed fairs play a pivotal role in advancing this mission by providing farmers access to a diverse range of seeds, including drought-tolerant maize and other complementary crops that support diversification,” he says.

Thierfelder says plans are underway to upscale the Ukama Ustawi initiative to reach approximately more than 20 million farmers around the world with their technologies. “This is meant to be scaled up because those have reached a scaling readiness level and that is very high,” he says.

For Chinyengetere, the dream is to see more women leading the battle against climate change. “It is tough to convince young women to do farming under this extreme weather. Climate change is pushing them away into other dangerous activities like illegal mining,” she says.

Note: This story was produced with support from CGIAR and MESHA.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


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Human Rights Watch urges EU action against Poland’s illegal pushbacks

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:58

HRW reported 87 people died near the border between September 2021 and October 2024.

The post Human Rights Watch urges EU action against Poland’s illegal pushbacks appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Portugal only EU country where gender equality at work has worsened

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:57

However, Portugal is "catching up with other member states".

The post Portugal only EU country where gender equality at work has worsened appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Zelenskyy urges allies for 10-12 more Patriot systems to fully protect Ukraine skies

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:54

The President urged allies to use frozen Russian funds to pay for more Patriots as Ukraine braces for another winter of Russian attacks on its devastated power system.

The post Zelenskyy urges allies for 10-12 more Patriot systems to fully protect Ukraine skies appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Italy behind on Recovery Fund spending as 2026 deadline approaches

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:53

Misani said Fitto "has left Italy with a heavy legacy."

The post Italy behind on Recovery Fund spending as 2026 deadline approaches appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

EPP to call to ‘avoid penalties’ for carmakers but stick to 2025 CO2 targets

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:48

Changes to CO2 rules for carmakers should "avoid legal challenges,” the draft EPP position paper says.

The post EPP to call to ‘avoid penalties’ for carmakers but stick to 2025 CO2 targets appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Dutch police arrest three after blast that killed six in The Hague

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:42

Police are exploring "all avenues" that could have led to the incident, with the arrests suggesting a potential criminal motive.

The post Dutch police arrest three after blast that killed six in The Hague appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

German election frontrunner goes on charm offensive in Eastern Europe

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:30

Merz took aim at Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s mixed relations with Eastern European allies during trips to Kyiv and Warsaw.

The post German election frontrunner goes on charm offensive in Eastern Europe appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Brexit deal survives Northern Ireland Assembly vote after heated debate

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:09

Unionist politicians said the deal circumvented the Good Friday Agreement's provisions for cross-community voting.

The post Brexit deal survives Northern Ireland Assembly vote after heated debate appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

The competing regional powers in the way of Syria’s new government

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 06:00

In this episode, host Giada Santana breaks down the rivaling interests shaping the future of Syria with Middle East expert Chris Phillips and Russian reporter Iuliia Akhmedova.

The post The competing regional powers in the way of Syria’s new government appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Centrists agree competency carve-out on new Parliament committees

Euractiv.com - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 05:52

Conference of Presidents should approve mandates on Wednesday, with a plenary vote scheduled next week.

The post Centrists agree competency carve-out on new Parliament committees appeared first on Euractiv.

Categories: European Union

Pentagon Grounded V-22 | GA Tapped For Italian Reaper Sustainment | Australia Test-Fires Tomahawk

Defense Industry Daily - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 05:00
Americas The Pentagon has once again grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. This comes after a worrying incident at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on November 20, where a CV-22 Osprey experienced a near-crash shortly after takeoff. Initial investigations suggest that weakened metal components in a critical part may have been a contributing factor. The decision to pause all Osprey flights came as a recommendation from Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command, which oversees the Osprey program for the military. This incident bears a striking resemblance to a fatal crash off the coast of Japan in November of the previous year. In that crash, eight Air Force Special Operations Command personnel lost their lives when similar weakened metal components caused the Osprey’s transmission to fail catastrophically in mid-flight. Saab has snagged a noteworthy contract, worth $48 million, to supply its cutting-edge Giraffe 4A radar systems to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Deliveries of these mobile, multi-function radar systems are expected to commence in 2027 with BAE Systems Technical Solutions & Services Inc. serving as the prime contractor for this award. The Giraffe 4A is set to play a crucial […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Justice à Genève: Le difficile parcours judiciaire des victimes de viol

24heures.ch - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 05:00
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Categories: Swiss News

Vague de froid en Algérie : baisse des températures dans plusieurs régions ce 11 décembre

Algérie 360 - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 01:33

Le mois de décembre marque une transition vers des températures hivernales avec un climat froid et pluvieux. Ce mercredi 11 décembre, une baisse notable du […]

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Categories: Afrique

More jobs and no 'nuisance taxes' - Ghanaians' great expectations

BBC Africa - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 01:19
John Mahama was elected on his pledges to solve the economic crisis but won't find it easy, analysts say.
Categories: Africa

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BBC Africa - Wed, 12/11/2024 - 01:19
John Mahama was elected on his pledges to solve the economic crisis but won't find it easy, analysts say.
Categories: Africa

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