Which countries are obsolete

In Tanzania, an SMS-based application has been developed that makes the birth registration process more efficient, cost-effective and accessible for parents. In October , Zipline, a combination high-tech startup drone manufacturer, logistics service provider and public health-care system consultant, began using drones to deliver medical supplies to remote health clinics in Rwanda.

We also know how important technology is to breaking down barriers to financial inclusion. One successful example concerns mobile money, which has spread rapidly in LDCs. Agriculture, a mainstay of so many LDC economies—and incidentally, of so many women living and working in LDCs—has greatly benefited from digital technologies. Mobile phones help increase not just the growing and harvesting of food but also price-setting.

The Pink Phone project in Cambodia is a good example. The initiative helps women farmers exchange expertise and access resources, purchase land and thus sell more produce. In Senegal, Mlouma—a virtual platform—provides farmers and, importantly, investors with real-time information on prices, location and availability of produce via a website or mobile phone. The latest developments in transport technology have already had a major impact, transforming the way people commute, create jobs and do business.

The light rail system that went into operation in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, in has totally transformed urban mobility. It is the first light rail and rapid transit system in Eastern and sub-Saharan Africa.

In this context, it also bears mentioning that Ethiopian Airlines now operates a state-of-the art Boeing Dreamliner. These are just a few examples, but they all demonstrate that it is possible for LDCs to keep abreast of the latest advances in innovative technology. They show what public-private sector partnering and South-South cooperation can achieve, and prove that technology is not an end in itself but a valuable enabler on the path towards achieving sustainable and inclusive development for everyone.

We must avoid a head-long rush for the latest and greatest, which could result in marginalization and leave the poorest countries behind. The development of conflict-sensitive approaches highlights how sustainable development can be made more effective through a consideration of peace and security.

He immediately proclaimed himself king, and that title has been handed down through the generations — even though the dominion has never been legally recognized. Some are lucky enough to spot a Pinna nobilis , a rare giant clam.

Tavolara is now part of a protected Italian national marine reserve, with other sections of the island zoned for military use and owned by NATO. As far as countries go, the United States isn't very old.

Less than years ago, Texas wasn't even a state. The Republic of Texas was originally part of Mexico. It declared independence during the Texas Revolution in Although Mexico didn't take the new country seriously, but the U. The citizens of Texas weren't called Texans, but Texians. Their exact border was disputed for years, with Texas claiming that the Rio Grande was its southern border. In the end, it didn't matter much.

Texas only remained an independent nation for about a decade. On Dec. Texas's border dispute became Uncle Sam's problem, sparking the Mexican-American War the following year. Tibet is a region in East Asia that covered a large segment of the Tibetan Plateau. It's considered the homeland of the Tibetan people, along with several other ethnic groups.

The Sherpas, who are known for guiding Western hikers through the perils of Mount Everest, still live in the region. Perched amid the Himalayas, Tibet is the highest settled area on Earth with an average elevation of 14, feet. From the seventh century on, Tibet was an independent nation. In , however, it was invaded by China.

The country was occupied and incorporated into the People's Republic of China. Although Tibet attempted to rebel, their government was formally abolished in It's now known as the Xizang Autonomous Region of China. There's still some measure of political discord in the area, with reports of Tibetan activists being subjected to torture and uncalled-for arrests.

Today, Tibet's dominant religion of Buddhism influences the culture and art of the region. If you ever visit the area formerly known as Tibet, you'll probably have a chance to try yak meat and butter tea, two of their most popular dishes.

Tripoli, the capital of present-day Libya, takes its name from what was once an independent republic with a long, messy history. Bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Steppes of Ghibla, the Jebel mountain range and the desert of Giofra, Tripolitania covered an area of around miles.

The Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs and many others had a go at controlling Tripolatinia before the Ottomans claimed it as part of their Empire in the 16th century. In , the local governor Ahmad Karamanli was recognized as a hereditary pasha, a title inherited by birth, and his dynasty ruled until around After the Italo-Turkish War broke out, the territory was handed over to Italy in The Italians wanted more territory and encouraged Italian nationals to migrate.

By , Tripolitania was no longer a separate state. It became part of the Italian colony of Libya, with Tripoli as its center. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, better known as the Soviet Union, was a powerful socialist state that took up a large portion of Europe and Asia for nearly 70 years. It first formed in , and it quickly became the most powerful communist country on the planet.

Considered a global superpower, the USSR had the largest military in the world and the second-largest economy. It was responsible for numerous advances in science and technology, particularly in space travel, and was noted as one of the five nuclear weapons states. It was so large and powerful that it was sometimes called the "Soviet Empire. Not many people know that, for a brief time between and , the U.

After a series of land-grant battles in the early s, the people living in the Vermont territory declared their independence and established the Vermont Republic. They issued their own currency, initiated and paid for their own militia, ran their own postal service, and drafted a constitution.

All adult males, not just the upper class and property-owning ones, were granted the right to vote, and slavery was abolished. After 14 years as a separate country, Vermont was granted entry into the Union of states. It was the first actual state to enter the U.

Yugoslavia is commonly associated with communist dictator Josip Tito, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in and a brutal civil war in the s. What fewer people know is that, at one time, Yugoslavia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The region has, in fact, gone through many iterations, including the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes starting in , and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia beginning in Yugoslavia was relatively stable under the iron grip of communist and revolutionary statesman Josip Broz Tito, but ethnic tensions simmered.

When Tito died in , there was no one to stamp out the fire and a civil war broke out, with repercussions that are still being felt today. By only Serbia and Montenegro remained in what was called "the third Yugoslavia.

In , the name Yugoslavia was ditched, and the region became the country of Serbia and Montenegro. Finally, in — just 13 years ago — Serbia and Montenegro became independent countries, which they remain today. Both are relatively safe to visit Montenegro especially and are excellent spots for history lovers to travel to.

In the s, the Portuguese converted it to Christianity, which remained the dominant religion until the Muslims of Oman pushed back in the 17th century. Is there a more appropriate alternative to third world? In truth, trying to categorize nations will never be entirely accurate. Every nation has its own culture and way of life. However, if we must refer to them using categories, there are plenty of alternatives to use that should become a part of our vernacular.

The United Nations UN holds a conference every ten years on the world's underdeveloped countries. The World Trade Organization WTO has created an Integrated Framework of Action to integrate these countries into the global economy by assisting with trade and market access with the hopes of encouraging economic growth and development.

The most underdeveloped countries in the world are referred to as the least developed countries or LDCs. On the other hand, a developed country is one with a well-developed economy and is technologically advanced.