Germany Elects First Black Ministers
In a historic move this week, Germany elected its first two black Members of Parliament. Karamba Diaby and Charles Huber, both of Senegalese origin, were elected into the Social Democrat Party and the ruling Christian Democratic Party respectively. Mr Diaby, 51, described his election into the German Parliament as being 'of historical importance'. Nearly one in five of Germany's 80 million population are immigrants. However, less than six per cent of Germany's MPs are from minority groups.
China to Rent Five Per cent of Ukraine
According to a report, Ukraine
has agreed a deal to rent five per cent of its land to China. Under the 50-year
plan, China would eventually control three million hectares, which represents
nine per cent of Ukraine's arable land. The farmland in the eastern
Dnipropetrovsk region would be cultivated principally for growing crops and
raising pigs. Ukraine's leading agricultural company, KSG Agro, however denied
reports that it had sold land to the Chinese, saying it had only reached
agreement for the Chinese to modernise 3,000 hectares and "may in the
future gradually expand to cover more areas".
 |
| Charles Huber (left) and Karamba Diaby first black MPs elected in Germany |
China to Rent Five Per cent of Ukraine
China consumes about one-fifth
of the world's food supplies, but is home to just nine per cent of the world's
farmland.
Zimbabwe: Elephants poisoned by Cyanide
In Zimbabwe, more than 80 elephants have been
killed for their ivory by poachers who used cyanide to poison a water hole in
country's largest game park.
Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi
confirmed the toll on Tuesday after touring Hwange National Park. Nine
poachers were arrested after rangers tracked them to a cache of ivory hidden in
the park. There has been a rise in the killing of elephants and rhinos in parts
of Africa in recent years, mostly to feed demand for horns and tusks in Asia.
According to a UN report, thousands of people in Libya remain locked up in militia
prisons, outside of state control, more than two years after the revolution. The report
says many are suffering torture and mistreatment and calls the situation
“unacceptable”.
It estimates the number of conflict-related detainees is around 8,000, some held in facilities only "nominally" under the authority of the justice or defence ministries, and the rest by “armed brigades not affiliated with the State in any form.” Libya’s
Justice Minister Salah Marghani, in response to the report said even though the circumstance are challenging they are still pushing to improve the situation.
Cambodia's PM Extends 28 year reign
Cambodia's parliament has approved a
new five-year term for Prime Minister Hun Sen,who has been in power since 1985. Official results show the ruling Cambodia People's Party won 68 seats while the opposition, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), won 55 seats.
The opposition have accused the ruling party of widespread fraud and called for an independent inquiry. The government has so far rejected the opposition's demand.
1 in 5 are immigrants? In the next decade, it would have doubled? Tripled? I had no idea ...
ReplyDeleteAs for those killing elephants, let's hope these evil doers were not spied by the surviving elephants. Elephants can remember o ... What an unnecessary waste!
Thanks for your comment, Relentless Builder. About Germany, I actually did not consider it in that light. But sometimes I do wonder if, in the future, we will still have homogenous countries as we know them.
DeleteCongratulations to the first two black ministers in Germany. I agree it is an act of historical significance, especially in the land that gave birth to the Nazi party and the killing of Jews during the holocaust. Does that mean that the immigrant black population have not just increased in number, but in power as well?
ReplyDeleteI have always admired elephants. I still cannot see the logic behind poaching. Desperate times require desperate measures.Either a fine should be placed on all purchasers of ivory, or the killers should be paid so as not to kill but rather protect the animals.
Well, I hope the black minister are not just filling in the diversity quota. After all, they also voted in their first Muslim MP. Either way, progress is being made.
ReplyDeleteI know. It's sad when people do not think through the implications of their actions. I don't know if I can attribute such criminal activities known as poaching to poverty or to sheer greed.
Thanks for your comment.