Stories about Development
The second scramble for Africa: The EU’s Global Gateway Strategy
The EU is looking to offer an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). But will it's Global Gateway Strategy be a boon for the continent or perpetuate colonial patterns?
China's impact on the Rogun Dam Project in Tajikistan
Tajikistan's Rogun Dam Project is one of the most ambitious hydroelectric projects in the world. Do the ballooning costs, environmental concerns, and human rights abuses outweigh the potential benefits?
Understanding lingering poverty and malnutrition in the aftermath of Sri Lanka's economic crisis
" ... [D]espite economic expansion, poverty and vulnerability levels are elevated, food insecurity is widespread, and health outcomes have deteriorated."
European investments in Morocco: Renewable energy at the expense of human rights?
Displacement, labor rights violations, and a lack of meaningful community involvement highlight the need for a more equitable approach to renewable energy development.
Warraq Island: A case of Egyptian working-class fighting displacement
Residents are pushing back against government pressure to vacate their homes, as the state moves forward with plans to convert the Nile island into an upscale urban development.
Starlink resists making changes in identifying users in Brazil's Amazon region
In Brazil, Starlink antennas have become instruments “for conducting environmental crimes,” yet the company is resisting calls to add increased security measures that might curb illegal mining and prospecting.
Taiwan’s presence in Somaliland: Interview with Ambassador Allen Lou
Taiwan and Somaliland, two unrecognized states, form a unique diplomatic partnership based on democratic values, countering China's influence in Africa through sustainable development initiatives and mutual recognition of sovereignty.
Terrorist threats loom ahead of SCO summit in Pakistan
The increase in terrorist attacks since 2013 is linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) perceiving China as a colonial force.
A Chinese mining company relocated a whole Peruvian town. Now, they are struggling to survive
In 2013, a Chinese mining company forcibly relocated a community of 5,000+ people in Peru. Ten years later, the community is living in poverty and the company has failed to honor its promises.
The ongoing destruction of Cairo's historic cemeteries: A 1000-year legacy under threat
The removal of Bab Al-Nasr Cemetery for a parking garage is a decision that prioritizes short-term tourism profits over the long-term preservation of a world heritage site.
Jamaica needs a new prison, but rehabilitation is a must
"There is the perennial issue of corruption in the prisons, which confronts us time and again but is continuously papered over."
Seeking independence from Chinese exports, Brazil enters bid to explore rare earths
Rare earths are essential for the green energy transition, however, they are also difficult to mine and harmful to the environment, leading to the “rare earth paradox.”
Japan-born Nepali children struggle to ‘be Nepali’
Japan has become a key destination for Nepali migrant families, but their children must adapt to Japanese education, facing difficulties transitioning back to Nepalese education upon returning home.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley lays global issues bare in a stunning speech at the UN
The climate crisis. Neocolonialism. Reparations. Inequity. War. Justice. Peace. Was there anything Prime Minister Mia Mottley didn't cover in her address to the United Nations' General Assembly?
The impact of China's fishing policies on West Africa
Climate pressure and overfishing have reduced domestic fish output in China, forcing Chinese fishing vessels into overseas waters. Fishermen in West Africa are paying the price.
Indigenous People defend traditional farming in northern Thailand
"We make a living. We follow the system laid down by our ancestors. What rotational farming fields were like 300 years ago, the fields are the same as back then."
Mapping the shrinking forests in the Terai region of Nepal
Nepal’s forest cover has doubled in 25 years, but illegal logging is thinning the southern jungles.
Fueling China's EV expansion: The green revolution and its environmental demands in Central Asia
China is looking to increase its electric vehicle exports in Central Asia, however, the region's coal-based energy grid and increasing EV-related mining projects could stunt the benefits of this green vehicle transition.
Why aren't Caribbean artists better funded?
A series of recent, sizeable grants from a US-based arts and humanities foundation has regional artists hoping that this endorsement will inspire regional financial investors to follow suit.
How can Moldova unite the country amid Russian pressure?
The report’s authors called on Western partners to support Moldova’s struggling independent media and encourage the creation of trustworthy Russian-language media outlets
Twenty-five new cases of whooping cough in a week in North Macedonia, mostly unvaccinated babies affected
“It's essential to remember the lives at stake, especially our little ones. Vaccines against pertussis have proven to be safe and effective, and every action we take today shapes the health of tomorrow."
