This study aims to investigate what influences local workers over the age of 40 to work and stay employed in oil palm plantations. 414 individuals participated in a face-to-face interview that provided the study’s primary source of data. Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to analyse the given data. The study revealed that factors influencing local workers over the age of 40 years to leave or continue working in oil palm plantations can be classified as income factors, internal factors and external factors. The income factor was the most significant factor as the percentage variance explained by the factor was 26.792% and Cronbach Alpha was high at 0.870. Therefore, the study suggested that the oil palm plantation managements pay more attention to income elements such as basic salary, wage rate paid to the workers and allowance given to the workers since these elements contribute to the monthly total income received by the workers and in turn be able to attract more local workers to work and remain in the plantations.

This article explores ethnomedicine or traditional medication written in palm-leaf manuscripts in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Most of the manuscripts in Lombok are written on palm leaf or lontar. One genre of palm-leaf manuscripts is USADA or traditional medication. These USADA manuscripts, serving as guides for traditional healers (dukun and balian), contain valuable information on diseases, treatments, herbal remedies, and incantations. The study reveals that ethnomedicine remains a relevant and respected practice in Lombok, often considered on par with modern medicine. Many residents rely on traditional healers for healthcare, particularly for minor illnesses. The research also highlights the living nature of the manuscript tradition, with continued recitation, copying, and teaching of these texts to younger generations. However, challenges persist in preserving these manuscripts and promoting wider appreciation for this unique cultural heritage.

This study investigates the link between debt and political alignment in international relations between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and African nations. Using recorded roll-call votes on United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions, we explore whether PRC investment in sovereign debt influences the voting behaviour of loan recipient countries. We compile voting data for African countries from 2000 to 2020 to calculate an annual voting affinity score as a proxy for political alignment. Concurrently, data on Chinese public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) loans to African governments are collected. A Two-Stage Least-Squares analysis is employed, using the ratio of Chinese PPG debt to GDP as an instrument to address endogeneity. Results reveal a negative impact of Chinese lending on African political support, while trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and Chinese GDP positively influence political alignment. In high debt-risk African countries, interest rates have a negative impact, whereas loan maturity shows a positive effect. These findings suggest that Chinese loans, particularly under commercial terms, may have strained bilateral relations due to debt sustainability concerns. Nevertheless, the positive impacts of trade and FDI may enhance international relations, highlighting the limitations of China’s loan diplomacy in fostering long-term strategic alignment in Africa.

This study investigates the roles of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in constructing permanent housing for disaster-affected communities in Cianjur Regency following the November 2022 earthquake. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research utilizes in-depth interviews and field observations involving local governments, NGOs, and disaster survivors. The findings highlight the government’s central role in policy formulation, budget allocation, and coordination of housing development, while NGOs contribute through community empowerment, logistical support, and ensuring participatory planning. Challenges in collaboration, such as differing objectives and resource constraints, underscore the need for enhanced synergy. The study concludes that effective partnerships among the government, NGOs, and the community can expedite the development of sustainable, safe housing tailored to local needs. Emphasis on community empowerment and integrated resource management enhances resilience to future disasters. Success hinges on strong coordination, proactive challenge management, and inclusive stakeholder engagement throughout the recovery process.

This study uses a Time-Varying Parameter Stochastic Volatility Vector Autoregression (TVP-SV-VAR) model to conduct an empirical analysis of the dynamic effects of China’s stock market volatility on the agricultural loan market and its channels. The results show that the relationship between stock market and agricultural loan market volatility is time varying and is always positive. The investor sentiment is a major conduit through which the effect takes place. This time-varying effect and transmission mechanism are most apparent between 2011 and 2017 and have since waned and stabilized. These have significant implications for the stable and orderly development of the agricultural loan market, highlighting the importance of the sound financial market system and timely policy, better market monitoring and early warning system and the formation of a mature and sound agricultural credit mechanism.

The objective of this article is to examine the provision of temporary exhibitions and events by Slovak museums and galleries, and to highlight their significance in the context of selected performances of these cultural attractions in the tourism sector. The article employs a secondary data analysis of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and annual reports from 105 museums and 10 galleries in 2017, as well as 99 museums and 15 galleries in 2022. Correlation and regression analyses were employed to assess the dependence of variables. The results of the analysis confirm a direct, moderate dependence between the number of temporary exhibitions and events and the total number of visitors in museums and galleries. Additionally, the examination demonstrated that the exhibited activity has not had a positive effect on the revenues of museums and galleries. However, with an increasing number of events, their revenues from their own activities grew. The average revenues from one event were found to be higher in museums than in galleries.