The News Review:

- Chad: Former President Will Be Tried in Senegal Says ICC Registrar
- Gambia: Country Scores Points in Human Development Index
- allAfrica.com: MyAfrica – People
- West Africa: Gates Foundation UN Team Up for Women
- Africa: Climate Change Affecting Fish Stocks

Chad: Former President Will Be Tried in Senegal Says ICC Registrar
AllAfrica.com – Feb 26, 2008
This was disclosed a few days after a mission of experts commissioned by the European Union submitted its report after a visit to Dakar. The mission was commissioned at the request of Senegal to seek support of the European Union in the trial of Habre. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_Inset” );"It is not an international trial" affirmed the French magistrate.

Gambia: Country Scores Points in Human Development Index
AllAfrica.com – Feb 26, 2008
The Gambia performed better than many others in Africa including the sub region. The Gambia beats Senegal Nigeria and Sierra Leone as for the Human Development Index value and performed better than countries such as Bangladesh CÙte d’Ivoire or the Barbados in the Human Poverty Index. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_Inset” );Since 1990 the UNDP’s Human Development Report has published the human development Index (HDI) looks beyond GDP to a broader definition of well-being od the citizenry of each nation. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy) being educated (measured by adult literacy and enrollment at the primary secondary and tertiary level) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity PPP income). The index is not in any sense a comprehensive measure of human development. It does not for example include important indicators such as gender or income inequality and more difficult to measure indicators like respect for human rights and political freedoms… What it does provide is a broadened prism for viewing human progress and the complex relationship between income and well-being. The HDI for The Gambia is 0. 502 which gives the country a rank of 155th out of 177 countries with the life expectancy at 58. 8 years just behind Ghana (59. Japan came first on life expectancy at 82.

allAfrica.com: MyAfrica – People
AllAfrica.com – Feb 26, 2008
Born in Dakar Senegal in 1921 M’Bow grew up in a small town where he learned traditional farming and animal tending skills. M’Bow volunteered for the French army and served in France and North Africa during World War II. In 1947 he passed the Baccalaureat and entered the Sorbonne University in Paris. He graduated in 1951 with a License ?Lettres degree in geography. M’Bow began working for UNESC in 1953 with the literacy program “Le Service de l’Education de Base… ” Back home in 1957 M’Bow assumed the post of minister of national education and culture in the first indigenous Senegalese government to handle internal affairs. In 1958 M’Bow clashed with L?old Senghor another nationalist leader and Senegal’s future president over the issue of transition to independence. M’Bow supported immediate and complete independence for Senegal while Senghor and a majority of Senegalese favored continued affiliation with the French community. In 1966 M’Bow became a member of UNESC’s executive board and twice–in 1966 and 1968–he served as head delegate of the Senegalese mission to UNESC. In 1970 M’Bow became assistant director general for education of UNESC. Four years later at age 53 M’Bow became UNESC’s director general succeeding R? Maheu. M’Bow was the first Black African to head a United Nations support organization.

West Africa: Gates Foundation UN Team Up for Women
AllAfrica.com – Feb 26, 2008
As part of the enterprise projects UNDP and its extensive network of local non-governmental organisations (NGs) will back the women’s groups with literacy and management training and support. Relevant LinksWest AfricaFood Agriculture and Rural IssuesInternational rganizations and AfricaNigeriaSustainable DevelopmentWomen and GenderThe benefits of the MFP have already been proven in parts of West Africa the agency said. Sakho of Batantinty explained that before the platform was introduced in her village she rarely earned more than 25000 CFA ($55) from processing and selling shea butter from nuts. "With the platform I easily earn 100000 CFA ($220) at the end of the harvest. The yield is high because the time is there. The platform has improved my life.

Africa: Climate Change Affecting Fish Stocks
AllAfrica.com – Feb 26, 2008
The high catches that currently allow exports may become a thing of the past and a high dependence on fish for protein could threaten the health of many thousands as catches shrink. Low capacity to adapt to change due to their comparatively small or weak economies and low human development indices could set back development in countries like Angola Congo Mauritania Mali Niger Senegal and Sierra Leone. In African countries like Ghana Namibia Senegal and Uganda the fisheries sector contributes over six percent of gross domestic product. Rift Valley countries such as Malawi Mozambique and Uganda and Asian river-dependent fishery nations including Bangladesh Cambodia and Pakistan are also vulnerable. Impact on freshwater fisheriesIn the short term climate change is expected to affect freshwater fisheries through changes in water temperature nutrient levels and lower dry-season water levels. Dry-season flow rates in rivers are predicted to decline in south Asia and in most African river basins leading to reduced fish yields according to the FA. In the longer term larger changes in river flows are anticipated as glaciers melt reducing their capacity to sustain regular and controlled water flows.