PRESS SUMMARIES-17 October 2013 National News Debate on Tanzania’s EAC woes gathers momentum Dar es Salaam. Different views continue to be aired over the raging debate whether Tanzania was being isolated in the new cooperation championed by five East African Community (EAC) member countries. There have been divergent viewpoints following what independent commentators and political analysts say is a not-so-clear intention towards Tanzania following meetings held by the “Coalition of the Willing” that encompasses Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and lately Burundi. The initiatives that are outside the EAC framework have invited more scrutiny this week with the meeting in Kampala over the fast-tracking of a political federation among the four countries. Dr Lwaitama who currently chairs the ‘Vision of East Africa Forum’, a body aimed at promoting regional integration, said it was not uncommon for countries to forge ahead in matters they felt could hasten the unity and development of their people. He also noted that all the EAC nations share a common historical background, geographical position and social interaction that defined why they all should pursue a shared destiny. (The Citizen, Mwananchi, Nipashe, ITV, ET al) Empower farmers to double food production, Africa told Tanzania as is the case with other African countries has great potential to double its food production if it empowers farmers with good quality inputs and embraces modern farming methods including genetic modification of crops. This was said by Vice President for DuPont Pioneer’s Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa commercial business group, Daniel Jacobi, when speaking to The Guardian in an exclusive interview as a team of international journalists visited the Johnston Beaver Creek Campus, one of DuPont Pioneer Research Centers in Iowa, USA yesterday. Jacobi mentioned other factors crucial for African farmers to improve production and on top of that list is government’s help to access loans and local and international markets. He also advised that farmers form cooperatives to strengthen their bargaining power. Jacobi noted that at the moment, Africa’s food productivity is very low, despite having approximately 20 percent of the world’s maize acreage, about 35 million hectares (86 million acres). On average maize yield in Africa is below two tonnes per hectare, significantly lower the United States which is about 10 tonnes per hectare this is with exception to South Africa’s 4 tons per hectare. (The Guardian) World Bank study urges businesses to do more to save oceans Businesses have been urged by the World Bank to be more active to save depleted fish stocks and prevent irreversible damage to the oceans, reports Reuters. The report – backed by 21 experts — said policies for protecting the oceans from over-fishing, pollution and climate change were often ineffective and fragmented. The study suggests more partnerships between the public and the private sector, to protect ecosystems that are the main source of protein for a billion people, particularly in the developing world. “It is vital to have the CEOs of major seafood companies around the table,” Over Hoegh-Guldberg, chair of the panel and director of the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland in Australia, told Reuters. He said better management was needed as well as a platform to swap ideas and develop technologies as a global community. “The same problems that are occurring for coral reefs in Thailand are occurring in Tanzania,” Hoegh-Guldberg added. The 29-page report provides an outline for action for a group of 140 nations who have signed up to seek solutions to the problems. (The Citizen, Daily News et al) International News Obama signs bill to end partial shutdown, stave off debt ceiling crisis President Barack Obama signed a bill that ends the 16-day partial government shutdown and raises the debt ceiling, the White House said early Thursday morning. Weeks of bitter political fighting gave way to a frenzied night in Washington as Congress passed the bill that would prevent the country from crashing into the debt ceiling. Lawmakers worked precariously close to the midnight debt ceiling deadline amid warnings the government could run out of money to pay its bills if it didnt raise the debt ceiling. Federal workers should expect to return to work Thursday morning, the director of the Office of Management and Budget said. Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell said employees should check the Office of Personnel Managements website for updates. Yosemite National Park said it was already resuming operations Wednesday night. The debt cushion now extends through February 7, with current spending levels being authorized through January 15. (CNN, Al Jazeera, et al)
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 06:22:58 +0000
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