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Athletics-Asher-Smith confident Griffith Joyner’s 100m record can be broken

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith believes that Florence Griffith Joyner’s long-standing 100m world record could be in danger this season due to considerable advancements in spike and track technology. Griffith Joyner’s controversial mark has stood for 34 years after the American ran 10.49 seconds at the 1988 Olympic trials. She also set the 200m world record […]

Federal election live stream: Watch Channel 7’s state-of-the-art poll coverage with Mark Riley and Nat Barr

The live broadcast from 7NEWS has kicked off, with state-of-the-art technology bringing viewers the most cutting edge election night coverage in history.

Thermophotovoltaic cells top 40 percent efficiency

Two-junction devices could be integrated into renewable energy systems for low-cost thermal grid storage The post Thermophotovoltaic cells top 40 percent efficiency appeared first on Physics World.

BOE อาจไม่ได้เป็นผู้ผลิตจอ iPhone 14 หลังบริษัทเล่นไม่ซื่อ

Apple กำลังหาผู้ผลิตหน้าจอ OLED เพิ่มจากเดิมเนื่องจากสามารถใช้เป็นข้อต่อรองในการลดต้นทุนการผลิตลงได้ อย่างไรก็ตาม ดีลผู้ผลิตหน้าจอรายล่าสุดอย่าง BOE อาจจบลงไม่สวยซะอย่างนั้น ก่อนหน้านี้มีรายงานว่า BOE ถูกจ… ข่าว: BOE อาจไม่ได้เป็นผู้ผลิตจอ iPhone 14 หลังบริษัทเล่นไม่ซื่อ มีที่มาจาก: แอพดิสคัส.

‘Board wrongfully terminated me’: Singapore firm Zilingo's Indian-origin ex-CEO

Zilingo, which is a Singapore-based fashion technology startup, said on Friday that it had sacked Ankiti Bose following an independent forensic audit into complaints of serious financial irregularities.

IBSD Imphal Recruitment 2022 – 03 PA, RA & Technical Assistant Vacancy, Job Openings

IBSD Imphal is recruiting for the post of 03 PA, RA & Technical Assistant. Apply Now !

TVS Motor unveils new iQube electric scooter

Bengaluru: Two-and-three wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor has unveiled a new iQube electric scooter in three avatars that comes loaded with several interesting features. With a starting price of Rs 98,564, the new TVS iQube series offers a choice of three variants — iQube ST, TVS iQube S and TVS iQube — in 11 colours and […]

Togo looks like West Africa’s new frontier of violent extremism

The threat of violent extremism across West Africa has been on the rise in recent times. Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province have been active in the Lake Chad Basin region. Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin , the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and Ansarul Islam in the Sahel . The implications for the peace and security of the sub-region have never been more pronounced. The activities of these groups have led to the deaths of thousands and displaced many others across parts of West Africa. The result is a worsening humanitarian crisis . Togo, despite its proximity to countries affected by violent extremism, is one West African country that has experienced relative peace and security, until recently. On May 10 and 11 jihadists attacked a Togolese military outpost and killed eight Togolese soldiers. The incident was only a few kilometres away from neighbouring Burkina Faso, which struggles with incessant attacks from violent extremist organisations . The African Union condemned the attack and called on neighbouring states to redouble their efforts against terrorism in the region. No group has claimed responsibility yet for the latest attack, but the Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium, one of the world’s largest databases of terrorists and terrorist groups, points a finger at Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin. The group is backed by al-Qaida and operates in the Sahel region . It is not the first time Togo has experienced an attack of this nature on security forces. The first was in November 2021, when a security post in a northern village was attacked . The question is why these attacks have begun and what they imply for peace and security in the region. Having closely monitored the conflict and security dynamics of West Africa for over a decade, I am convinced the attacks have to do with the need of violent extremist organisations to establish a presence in Togo as part of a broader recruitment drive. Furthermore, the underlying socio-economic conditions in Togo make it a prime target for extremist activities. Togo bears the hallmarks of a fragile state in which violent extremism could thrive. Some of the warning signs for countries being vulnerable to violent extremism are high rates of poverty, inequality, illiteracy, unemployment, corruption, weak institutions and poor governance. Togo has a population of just over 8.5 million . Its gross domestic product stood at US$7.5 billion in 2020 . That of its immediate neighbour, Ghana, with a population of 32 million , was US$72.3 billion . Over 50% of Togo’s population live below the poverty line of US$1.25 per day. It is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world as measured by the Human Development Index which is based indicators such as life expectancy, education and per capita income. In 2019, Togo’s index score was about 0.15, positioning it 167th out of 189 countries . In 2021, the life expectancy at birth in Togo was 61.49 years and about 40% of its citizens are illiterate. These rates are similar to Burkina Faso, a country which struggles with violent extremism, where the life expectancy at birth was 61.6% and illiteracy was 58.8% . Togo has the conditions for extremism to take root. Poverty contributes to violent extremism as it can provide a way, for those that are desperate, out of economic hardship. Recruits are often provided with an income and protection. When people are not educated, they’re more vulnerable to exploitation and ideological manipulation. Furthermore, low human capital development reinforces societal cleavages created as a result of years of neglect and poor governance, leading to marginalisation. This creates feelings of abandonment and resentment, a potential driver of violent extremism once allowed to fester and left unchecked. Togo’s indicators tell us that it’s falling behind. This has also resulted in a heightened state of frustration among its citizens, most of which is directed at the state’s authoritarian rule . These grievances have been expressed through street protests . A previous attempt at infiltrating Togo in the same place as the latest attacks, could signal a coordinated effort by violent extremist organisations to exploit these local grievances. Togo joins the ranks of other countries in the region that have experienced terrorism attacks by violent extremist organisations. These include Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Read more: Mapping the contours of Jihadist groups in the Sahel Peace and security across the region is further threatened by the recent decision of the Malian junta to withdraw from the G5 Sahel force. The force, which is expected to contribute to peace, has suffered some operational hindrances owing to a lack of funds. Mali’s withdrawal could trigger other Sahelian states to opt out to suit their own strategic interests. Though the affected states in West Africa have commenced a regional response to the threat of violent extremism, such as Operation Koudanlgou 4 Zone 2 , its sustainability remains uncertain due to insufficient funding. The same can be said of the Accra Initiative , which was launched in 2017 by Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo in response to violent extremism and transnational organised crime. Most of the countries in the region are poor. They have operational funding challenges and insufficiently equipped military forces. They lack smart technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions at the borderlands. Read more: Enablers of political extremism: a checklist for West African countries By establishing a presence in Togo, extremist groups stand to gain by recruiting foot soldiers. Being in northern Togo also puts them close to Burkina Faso, enabling cross-border collaborations and attacks with other violent extremists operating in the area. The more violent extremist organisations are able to demonstrate their viciousness, the more international attention they attract, that gives them a negotiating edge, as well as financial and logistical support from their parent organisation – in this case Al-Qaida. West African states must act quickly and decisively to avert instability across the sub-region from violent extremism. Given the constraints highlighted above, they must prioritise efforts aimed at addressing the underlying socio-economic triggers of violent extremism, in addition to fundamentally improving relations between the state and society.

Changing colours of Jharkhand's government schools: BJP alleges 'political message'

In 2014, when JMM was in power, the colour of the buildings was changed to bright pink with doors and windows in golden brown