Indonesian wildlife threatened by poaching
Illegal wildlife trade in western Indonesia has put a heavy toll on wildlife. Indonesia is struggling to take on a multi-million-dollar industry that is stripping the country's vast forests of endangered species for enormous profit by selling them to buyers all around the world.
Tiger skins, pangolin carcasses and rare caged primates are openly sold at the heart of Indonesia's capital markets, which is the most brazen and visible aspect of a thriving illegal wildlife trade.
However, with widespread corruption and authorities overwhelmed, police and forestry officials have barely made a dent. On the other, criminals punished with meager penalties by the courts have repeatedly proved that even successful raids are not a strong deterrent.
As it is well known that illegal wildlife trade in markets is the result of wild poaching, stopping the illegal trade in the markets would reduce the poaching itself. But authorities are often under-resourced, corrupt or either unaware of the problem. In such a situation, who will stop this illegal trade, is not difficult to answer.
Maternal mortality rises in Nepal
The maternal death rate is too high in Nepal. And this is so because at least 60% girls in Nepal get married before 18 years of age. This results in complications during child birth, leading to the high maternal and child deaths.
Though legally, marriage is allowed after 18 years of age with parental consent and after 20 years, if the boy and girl choose to marry on their own, but the existing laws are failing to curb the evil tradition. And in the Terai region of Nepal, child marriage between 7 to 18 years old is still in practice.
The maternal mortality rate in Nepal at present is 281 per every 100,000 live births and the child mortality rate is 48 per 1,000 live births. Lack of maternal care hospitals, safe motherhood methods, and awareness about the contraceptives further add to the numbers.
There is a stern need for awareness about legal rights and campaign against social ills to control this shocking tradition.
South African dream of clean governance
Although big problems like arms deal, drugs... receive most media attention, however, the corruption like bribing gone reported but are damaging society as a whole, if left unchecked.
The abuse of entrusted power for private benefits is a practice that many South Africans continue to associate with the powerful and the politicians and bureaucrats here are the best examples. The kickbacks paid to officials by opportunistic business people keen to access government funds to build houses, schools and deliver services at local and provincial level.
Corruption results in a lack of public confidence in democratic processes, it benefits elites, slows economic growth and deepens economic inequality as money continues to trickle up. These incidents go unreported as victims even are aware of their perceived 'complicity' and worry that reporting might implicate them. In such a situation, clean governance remains a distant dream and public needs to believe that their actions will result in speedy investigations.
Property prices take a dip in Denmark
This summer Monocle Magazine pointed at Copenhagen as the best city in the world to live in. Important parameters were the proximity to the airport and the chance to get drunk at any time of the day.
After years, in which the prices for real estate in Denmark only knew one direction - i.e. up - and the media were filled with stories about how rich Danish property owners were becoming by the minute this year the tide turned, and the price for a flat in the city that once was called the Athens of the North has gone down with approximately 10%, economists expect it to go down even more!
House prices have not fallen as much yet. But it is only a matter of time when they will catch up. It is not only the value of other people's property that has dropped - one's own has not fared too well, either, especially, where flats are concerned.
The segment of the market that has been hit worst, however, is that of summer cottages, where the average sales period is seven months, with sellers willing to lower their prices further.
Therefore, if you are looking for a pied à Terre in the best city to live in: watch and wait. With a bit of patience you may find a bargain.
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