International


Afghanistan: Introducing Safaroma, a Movement and a Brand to Empower Afghan Women with Saffron

May 26, 2017 | Digital Journal

When it comes to Afghanistan, the public knows about war, crime, and the opium drug trade (most of the world’s deadliest drug comes from Afghanistan).…


Myanmar: Concerns over Seized Lands Hamper Agro Plan

May 25, 2017 | Nay Aung, Myanmar Times

Concerns have been raised on the implementation of the Agricultural Development Strategy and Investment Plan (Third Draft). The adviser to the Magwe Region Farmers’ Union,…


Liberia: Violent Land Dispute in Maryland

May 25, 2017 | New Dawn

The land in question is occupied with palms belonging to one Dr. James Elliott, a Marylander, whocurrently resides in the United States of America.YookudiCommissioner Nathaniel…


Land Grabbing: CED Launches Platform to Denounce Land Grabs in Africa

May 25, 2017 | Ecofin Agency

After the global call to indigenous populations to fight for their rights to land, the Centre or Environment and Development (CED) which is based in…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Kurdistan Oil Exports Not Subject to OPEC Reduction Agreement

May 25, 2017 | Rudaw

Kurdistan Region oil exports are not subject to OPEC’s renewed reduction targets, Iraq’s oil minister stated, adding, however, that he hopes they will be included.…


Sudan: Sudan Oil Revenue Drops to Record Lows

May 25, 2017 | Middle East Monitor

Sudan’s daily oil production revenue has sunk to its lowest level since the secession of South Sudan almost six years ago, the minister of petroleum…


Myanmar: More Than 290 Gem Blocks Due to Expire in June

May 25, 2017 | Eleven

Exploration activities in 291 gem blocks in Lonekhin, Hpakant, Mongshu, Moegok, Mohnyin and Nantyarseik will be discontinued in June, a source of the Ministry of…


Myanmar: Myanmar Peace Talks Must Address Natural Resource Management

May 24, 2017 | Global Witness

On the eve of national peace talks in Myanmar, civil society groups  from across the country today released a statement calling for a new approach…


Climate Change: NATO Countries Worry Trump Will undo Climate Progress, Drafts Show

May 24, 2017 | Nicholas Kusnetz, Inside Climate News

NATO's member countries published a series of draft reports this week highlighting the economic and security risks posed by climate change, and encouraging nations to…


Myanmar: Drilling for a Dream in Myanmar

May 24, 2017 | Adam Dean, New York Times

Nga Naung Mone is one of three oil fields near the town of Minhla, in south central Myanmar, and the largest by far. The others,…


Afghanistan: USAID Hosts Women’s Agriculture Credit Shura to Improve Lives and Livelihoods of Afghan Women Farmers

May 24, 2017 | USAID

One of the most difficult challenges for women farmers and agriculture-related business owners in Afghanistan is the access to credit for their agriculture operations, and…


Afghanistan: Death to Land Grabbers: Protestors

May 24, 2017 | Afghanistan Times

A large number of Logar residents on Wednesday took out to the streets to give vent to their anger against the evil practice of land…


Afghanistan: Afghanistan's Beautiful 'Green Zone' Offers Emeralds, Peace

May 23, 2017 | Fox News, Hollie McKay

It has been dubbed Afghanistan's Green Zone: A pocket of paradise amid the bloody, conflict-ravaged country -- both a hidden gem and full of gems.…


Cambodia/Myanmar/Vietnam: Land Disputes Cloud Fast-Developing Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar

May 22, 2017 | Straits Times

In countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, where weak legal systems are often accompanied by land tenures that are insecure, or difficult to obtain, tens…


Malawi/Mozambique: Water Wars Worry Lake Chiuta Fishers

May 22, 2017 | James Chavula, The Nation

Malawian fishers on Lake Chiuta have lamented frequent armed attacks from their Mozambican neighbours despite efforts to end the conflict. The communities surrounding the 200-square-kilometre…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Boundary between Iraq, Kurdish Territory Divides Communities

May 22, 2017 | Balint Szlanko, Associated Press

Since 2014, Iraq’s Kurds have expanded the territory they control by about half at the expense of Iraq. The status of some of these areas,…


Myanmar: Committee Will Probe Khamti Jade Mine Conflict

May 20, 2017 | Aung Ko Oo, Mizzima

An inquiry has been launched to look in to the conflicts that happened on May 17 between the local police force and jade scavengers in…


Colombia: Major Politicians in Colombia Accused of Illegal Land Grabbing

May 20, 2017 | Michelle Begue, CGTN

Former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe Velez has been accused of accumulating land meant for less fortunate farmers.The Comptroller General’s report, which compiled evidence from 2013…


Liberia: CFMB, CFDC Union Want Lawmakers Pass Land Rights Bill

May 19, 2017 | Robin Dopoe, Liberian Observer

The continued delay by lawmakers to pass into law the 2014 Land Rights Bill, which calls for the protection of community land, among other things,…


South Sudan: NGO Blames Water Pollution in S.Sudan on Oil Company

May 19, 2017 | Daniel Pelz, Detusche Welle

Drinking water around an oil-producing area in South Sudan is heavily polluted. A German NGO puts the blame on Malaysian oil company Petronas. It has…


Sudan/South Sudan: S. Sudan Calls for Pushing Sudan on Resolving Abyei Issue

May 19, 2017 | Xinhua

South Sudan on Friday called on the UN to push Sudan on quickly resolving the issues on the status of the contested oil-rich Abyei region…


Myanmar: Report: Burma Rapidly Losing Forest Cover

May 19, 2017 | Irrawaddy

Satellite imagery indicates that intact forest cover in Burma has declined rapidly over the last decade, according to a study. A countrywide analysis of Landsat…


Myanmar: Mandalay Division Govt Takes Tough Line on Illegal Logging

May 19, 2017 | Myat Pyae Phyo, Irrawaddy

Mandalay Division government will crack down on illegal logging in the area, said division minister for planning and finance U Myat Thu. The divisional government…


Colombia: Rebel Road Expansion Brings Deforestation to Remote Colombian Amazon

May 19, 2017 | Taran Volckhausen, Mongabay

Encouraged by the Colombian peace process promising infrastructure advancement across the country, local citizens and municipal governments of Miraflores and Guaviare have started construction to expand…


Morrocco/Western Sahara: Morocco Phosphate Ship Held in Panama over Western Sahara challenge: Officials

May 18, 2017 | Patrick Markey, Reuters

Panama authorities have detained a Moroccan phosphate shipment from the disputed territory of Western Sahara after the Polisario independence movement claimed the cargo had been…


Myanmar: Screening Cancelled of Film Showing Army’s Role in Jade Trade

May 17, 2017 | Irrawaddy

The screening of a new documentary showing Burma’s jade industry as a driving force behind the country’s armed conflict was cancelled on Wednesday after Park…


Myanmar: Myanmar's Extensive Forests Are Declining Rapidly Due to Political and Economic Change

May 17, 2017 | Phys.org

Due to its long political and economic isolation, Myanmar has retained much of its original forest cover but much of the intact forest is unprotected…


China/Vietnam/South China Sea: China Deploys Anti-Diver Rocket Launchers to Man-Made Island in South China Sea: Report

May 17, 2017 | Jesse Johnson, Japan Times

China has deployed anti-frogmen rocket launchers intended to fend off Vietnamese intrusions on one of its man-made islands in the contested South China Sea, Chinese…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraqi official: Kurdish Black Forces at North Oil Company Seek ‘Political’ Gains

May 17, 2017 | Rudaw

Iraq’s oil ministry has stated that the Black Force units deployed to the Kirkuk’s state-run oil company in early March are seeking “political” gains and…


Nigeria: The Water Wars in Northeast Nigeria

May 17, 2017 | Ahmad Salkida, Sahara Reporters

In northern parts of Borno and Yobe, the raging water scarcity has led to the creation of new "water culture." The Lake Chad region is…