From five grams of toothpaste to 10 millilitres of cooking oil, many Nigerians struggling with soaring prices now buy their basic necessities in small quantities packed in tiny plastic bags to be consumed on the same day. Consumer brands behind this "sachetisation of the economy" see it as a creative innovation, allowing consumption for all Nigerians, the majority of whom live on less than $2 a day. But critics see the development as an economic and ecological aberration, even as Africa's largest economy struggles with the inflationary fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine. In the streets of Lagos, the vibrant economic capital of Africa's most populous country, small sachets are now part of the decor: they colour its streets, packing the wood and tin shops found on the corner of most streets. Sitting on a stool, Ibrahim Atahire has been running his small grocery store for 30 years in a busy area of Obalende, a popular district of the megalopolis. "At my place, you can buy … [Read more...] about From coffee to toothpaste, Nigerians buy small as hardships bite
Dairy farmers milk
Cambodian PM scraps development project threatening wildlife sanctuary
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday cancelled a controversial satellite-city development around a wildlife sanctuary and zoo near the capital following growing online appeals to halt the project. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday cancelled a controversial satellite-city development around a wildlife sanctuary and zoo near the capital following growing online appeals to halt the project. - AFP pic Conservationists and locals began voicing their concerns and objections when the development plan around the Phnom Tamao zoo and wildlife rescue centre came to light several months ago. Developers last week started razing privatised areas around the more than 2,000-hectare Phnom Tamao forest area, an hour drive from capital Phnom Penh, and home to many rare and endangered wildlife including sambar deer at the zoo. Officials defended the development saying the area's land was too sandy for trees and wild pigs destroyed farmers' crops. But on Sunday … [Read more...] about Cambodian PM scraps development project threatening wildlife sanctuary
☀️ Morning digest August 8
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Terminal S8 on Cau Giay street of the Nhon-Hanoi Station urban railway. (Photo: VNA) - Elevated sections of the urban railway from Nhon to Hanoi Station must be completed before December 31, 2022 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at a meeting with contractors and leaders of concerned ministries and Hanoi on August 7. Read full story - Ngoc Linh ginseng deserves the "National treasure" title, and it is necessary to strongly promote the role of this treasure in improving people's livelihoods, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said when attending a workshop seeking ways to developing this kind of ginseng into a national brand in the central province of Quang Nam on August 6. Read full story - Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao has pledged to make more contributions to the progress and development of international law, for peace, … [Read more...] about ☀️ Morning digest August 8