International


Colombia: Colombian Government Gives in to Agriculture Subsidies

Jun 10, 2016 | Julian Villabona, PanAm Post

Since May 29, agrarian unemployment in Colombia has become a problem again similar to the spike of 2013. Rural and indigenous community members took to the…


When the State Wilts Away

Jun 9, 2016 | Lois Parshley, Bloomberg Businessweek

In weak nations, environmental stress can tip society into catastrophe. Venezuela was unraveling even before Hugo Chávez died in 2013. The situation has only gotten worse…


Myanmar: New Commission Formed to Investigate Alleged Gems Association Embezzlement

Jun 9, 2016 | Htet Nain Zaw, The Irrawaddy

A new investigation commission will be formed to look into the Myanmar Gems Traders Association’s financial scandal, involving allegations of more than US$100 million that…


Myanmar: Hunting Endangered Animals in the Jungles of Myanmar

Jun 9, 2016 | Katie Arnold, Al Jazeera

The Asiatic black bear, characterised by the white crescent that adorns its chest, is a globally threatened species that roams a vast territory stretching from…


Climate Change: NATO Secretary General: “Climate Change is Also a Security Threat”

Jun 9, 2016 | Shiloh Fetzek, The Center for Climate & Security

In advance of the NATO Summit Warsaw in July, the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg sat down for an interview with POLITICO Europe. When…


Myanmar: Team Investigating Missing Gem Funds Submits Report to Myanmar Government

Jun 9, 2016 | Radio Free Asia

A team investigating the disappearance of nearly U.S. $100 million in funds belonging to a gem association submitted its findings on Wednesday to Myanmar's minister…


Colombia: Colombia Rural Strike Stands Strong as Police Repression Mounts [Photos]

Jun 9, 2016 | teleSUR

Tens of thousands of peasants, rural workers, and Indigenous people in Colombia have been fighting against massive land inequality and privatization decrees, as well as…


Côte d’Ivoire: Ivory Coast Land Disputes Threaten New Violence as War Refugees Return

Jun 9, 2016 | Joe Bavier, Reuters

A post-war economic recovery has made Ivory Coast the darling of investors in Africa. But as refugees from the war trickle back - around 16,000…


India/Pakistan/Kashmir: Kashmir: A Water War in the Making?

Jun 9, 2016 | Baba Umar, The Diplomat

Today Pakistan and India are locked in a bitter water conflict. Though diplomatic exertions have prevented a major escalation, both countries are entangled in legal…


Nigeria: Nigeria Delta Avengers Say Oil Rich Region Could Break Away

Jun 9, 2016 | TV360Nigeria

A Nigerian militant group, which has claimed a string of attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, said on Thursday the region might break…


China/Japan/East China Sea: A First: Chinese Naval Vessel Enters Senkaku Contiguous Zone in East China Sea

Jun 9, 2016 | Ankit Panda, Diplomat

Early on Thursday, a Chinese Navy frigate entered the contiguous zone adjacent to the 12 nautical mile Japanese territorial sea around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands…


DRC: Congo Mining Sector Sheds 3000 Direct Jobs since Last Year- Chamber

Jun 8, 2016 | Aaron Ross, Reuters

Democratic Republic of Congo's mining sector has lost at least 3,000 direct and 10,000 subcontractor jobs since commodity prices began to tumble last year, the…


Rwanda: "Feminine" Virtues Blamed for Unequal Land Rights in Rwanda, Research Shows

Jun 8, 2016 | Anna Pujol-Mazzini, Thomson Reuters Foundation

Female "silence and submissiveness" continue to be valued feminine traits in Rwanda, stopping women from taking advantage of equal land and property laws, researchers said.


Afghanistan: Afghan Security Forces Deploy to Prevent Illegal Mining

Jun 8, 2016 | Rahim Faiez, Associated Press

Afghan authorities are deploying security forces to ensure that insurgents fighting to overthrow the government do not benefit from illegal mining, an official said on…


Myanmar: Forest Dept Replants Trees in Shan State

Jun 7, 2016 | Maung Zaw, Myanmar Times

More than 100,000 trees will be planted in northern Shan State by mid-June to mark World Environment Day, forestry officials said. Kyaukme district forest department’s…


Afghanistan: Afghanistan, Turkish Company Sign MoU for Extension of Kajaki Hydropower Dam

Jun 7, 2016 | Khaama Press

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Water of Afghanistan and a Turkish company for the extension of Kajaki…


Myanmar: Kyaukphyu Farmers Refuse Pipeline Compensation

Jun 7, 2016 | Su Phyo Win, Myanmar Times

Holdout farmers are threatening to sue the Southeast Asia Gas Pipeline Company unless they receive the compensation they demand for damage caused by a pipeline…


Iraq: Iraq is Pumping Oil at Record Pace Despite Chaos

Jun 7, 2016 | Matt Egan, CNN

Iraq is pumping more oil than ever before, even as ISIS-fueled chaos grips parts of the Middle Eastern country. Iraq, which relies on oil to…


Myanmar: Fragrant Oil, Rare Fungi, Big Bucks

Jun 7, 2016 | Ann Wang, Frontier

The remote northern town of Putao is poised to reap rich rewards from a project that capitalises on the production of a prized raw ingredient…


Colombia: In Colombia, Abundant Water Brings No Security

Jun 7, 2016 | Stratfor

The country is just as vulnerable as those that have much less water.


Myanmar: Myanmar Targets Closure of Notorious Wildlife Trade Hub on Chinese Border

Jun 7, 2016 | Agence France-Presse

Myanmar authorities plan to shut down a notorious border town where exotic animal parts are sold openly, an official said on Tuesday, as Southeast Asia…


China: We Have No Fear of Trouble': China Talks Tough over South China Sea

Jun 6, 2016 | Tim Hume, CNN

A senior Chinese admiral strongly defended his country's activities in the South China Sea Sunday, restating Beijing's sovereignty in the region and warning it "had…


Afghanistan: Illegal Mining of Lapis Lazuli Fuels Taliban's Rise in Afghan Province

Jun 6, 2016 | Joe Boone, The Guardian

Struggle for control of mines producing blue stone is claiming lives in Afghanistan’s once peaceful province of Badakhshan.

 


Afghanistan: Blood Lapis: How Mining Funds Afghanistan’s Violence

Jun 6, 2016 | Megan Alpert, Foreign Policy

In northern Afghanistan, a man ties a 200-pound chunk of lapis lazuli to his back and hauls it down a mountain that is too steep…


Afghanistan: India Out to Damage Pakistan’s Water Interests on Kabul River

Jun 5, 2016 | Khalid Mustafa, The News

Afghanistan’s authorities with the help of Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of…


Afghanistan: Greed, Corruption and Danger: A Tarnished Afghan Gem Trade

Jun 5, 2016 | Mujib Masal, New York Times

The local people called the militia’s takeover of the giant lapis mine in northeastern Badakhshan Province a white coup — easy and bloodless. Perhaps, but…


Afghanistan’s First-Ever Environmental Short Films Contest Held for World Environment Day

Jun 5, 2016 | UNDP

Filmmakers, actors and writers from across Afghanistan today received awards in the country’s first-ever Environmental Short Films Contest, organized by the United Nations Development Programme…


Iraq: As Iraq Repays Debt, Lukoil Pledges to Unlock Investment

Jun 3, 2016 | Dmitry Zhdannikov, Reuters

Iraq has positively surprised oil majors by starting quickly to repay accumulated debts, the head of Russia's Lukoil said, pledging more investment to allow OPEC's…


South Sudan: IMF Warns of Further Deteriorating Economy in South Sudan

Jun 3, 2016 | Sudan Tribute

The world’s economic centre house - the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in New York - has warned of further deteriorating economic situation in South…


Japan: Japan Protests Chinese Gas Rig Construction in East China Sea

Jun 3, 2016 | Ryutaro Abe, The Asahi Simbun

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida lodged a protest with the Chinese Embassy on June 2 after the ministry confirmed that China is constructing drilling towers in…