International
Timor-Leste: Oil Plan Stalled as East Timor President Vetoes State Budget
Jan 23, 2019
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Oki Raimundos, Associated Press
East Timor's president has vetoed the government's budget, possibly jeopardizing plans to develop the Greater Sunrise oil and gas field, seen by leading East Timorese…
Afghanistan: 'The Snow Leopard Project' Puts Spotlight on Afghanistan's Wildlife
Jan 23, 2019
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Barabara J. King, NPR
In the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, there is a "green, leafy oasis" called Shahr-e Naw Park — a place that briefly became a staging ground…
Liberia: Liberia’s Community Forestry becoming a Front for Deforestation: Report
Jan 23, 2019
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Ashoka Mukpo, Mongabay
A report released by Global Witness late last year alleges that Liberia’s forestry laws are being “hijacked” by logging companies. These logging companies can potentially…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Disagreement over KRG Share Prevents Iraq from Voting on Budget
Jan 22, 2019
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Rudaw
Due to lack of an agreement over the share of the Kurdistan Region’s share of Iraq’s budget for 2019, the parliament in Baghdad won’t vote…
South Sudan: South Sudan Starts Repairs, Pumping Oil from Wells Damaged in the Civil War: Minister
Jan 21, 2019
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Katharine Houreld and Denis Dumo, Reuters
South Sudan has begun to repair and pump oil from wells damaged in the civil war and will ramp up production by the end of…
Myanmar: Amended Land Law Could Criminalise Millions, Obstruct Peace Talks
Jan 21, 2019
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John Liu, Myanmar Times
With less than two months before the newly amended Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management (VFV) Law goes into force, millions in ethnic rural areas…
Myanmar: Internal Peace, International Pressure and China’s Stance on Myitsone
Jan 21, 2019
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Hsan Moe Tun, Eleven Myanmar
In recent days, there was a hullabaloo among the public on the suspended Myitsone Dam project after the statement issued by the Chinese embassy in…
Gaza: Ticking Time Bomb: The Water Crisis Which Threatens Chances for Peace in the Middle East
Jan 20, 2019
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Bel Trew, Independent
Climate change and crumbling infrastructure are causing water shortages in Gaza, which could soon make the enclave uninhabitable.
Afghanistan/Turkey: Turkey to Become Main Market for Afghanistan’s Saffron
Jan 20, 2019
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TOLOnews
Turkey which reportedly needs up to 300 tons of saffron a year will turn into a major customer of Afghanistan’s saffron, said Ali Arghon Chin, of…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Black Gold: Afrin’s Olive Trees Thrive in Erbil
Jan 19, 2019
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Dilbixwîn Dara, Rudaw
The Kurdistan Region is growing its olive groves using trees and expertise imported from Afrin. Afrin is famous for its olive trees. The oil is…
Colombia: African Descent Families Occupy Mine to Demand Rights
Jan 18, 2019
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Richard Solly, Independent Catholic News
On Wednesday, 16 January 2019, 50 people from the community of Roche staged a non-violent occupation of part of the vast Cerrejon coal mine -…
Timor-Leste: East Timor Approves Use of Petroleum Fund for Sunrise Acquisition
Jan 18, 2019
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Rick Wilkinson, Oil & Gas Journal
East Timor President Fransisco Guterres has approved a decree allowing use of the country’s petroleum fund for the $650-million acquisition of the Royal Dutch Shell…
Climate Change: ‘Conflict and Climate Nexus’ Unpacked at Nairobi High-Level Round Table
Jan 18, 2019
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Julie Arrighi, Climate Centre
The first of a 2019 series of high-level round tables on the interconnected vulnerabilities and impacts of climate and conflict was held in the Kenyan…
Conflict Minerals: International Project Launched to Use Blockchain to Track DRC Cobalt
Jan 18, 2019
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Mining Technology
US-based automobile manufacturer Ford, US technology major IBM, South Korean cathode manufacturer LG Chem and China-based Huayou Cobalt have teamed up to launch a blockchain…
Nigeria: Farmers-Herders Conflicts: Buhari, Atiku Campaign Manifestos Lack Solutions
Jan 18, 2019
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Hassan Adebayo, Premium Times
Nigeria may continue to walk a violent tightrope as measures towards addressing the country’s farmers-herdsmen conflict, considered a threat to national survival, are not in…
DRC: Cellphones Are Still Endangering Gorillas, but Recycling Old Ones Can Help
Jan 17, 2019
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Tina Deines, Mongabay
You probably use it every day and don’t think once about gorillas. In today’s world, it’s almost impossible to get by without a mobile phone,…
Iraq: Iraqi Christians Are Target of Land Grab
Jan 17, 2019
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Geoffrey P. Johnston, Kingston Whig-Standard
Despite the defeat of Islamic State forces on the battlefields of northern Iraq in 2017 and the advance of democracy in a country once ruled…
Myanmar: Kachin’s Plantation Curse
Jan 17, 2019
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Hein Ko Soe and Ben Dunant, Frontier
Illegally grown tissue culture bananas are making quick profits for some, but are also fuelling land conflict and environmental degradation.
Climate Change: Security Council Eyes Warming's Effect on Stability
Jan 17, 2019
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Jean Chemnick, E&E News
The 193 countries of the United Nations will have a chance this month to weigh in on how — and if — the Security Council…
Rwanda: Blockchain App for Miners in Rwanda Ensures the Minerals in Your iPhone Are Conflict-Free
Jan 17, 2019
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Madeline Bennett, Diginomica
Sustainability and traceability are two of the biggest pressure areas for manufacturers. Consumers, partners and regulators are casting ever more scrutiny on the ethical and…
Liberia: Liberia Gets $25m World Bank Credit for Smallholder Agriculture Transformation
Jan 17, 2019
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APA News
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $25 million for the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness…
Liberia: From the Field: Liberia Boosts Efforts to Guard against Rising Seas
Jan 16, 2019
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UN
With rising sea levels due to climate change already affecting coastal communities in Liberia, there are fears that densely populated parts of the capital Monrovia…
Conflict Minerals: IBM, Ford, LG Chem Lead Blockchain Coalition for Ethically Sourced Minerals
Jan 16, 2019
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Dean Takahashi, Venture Beat
A coalition of companies led by IBM will use blockchain technology to ensure that the supply chain for minerals will be ethically sourced. The coalition…
DRC: Ford and IBM Use Blockchain to Combat Child Labour in Congo
Jan 16, 2019
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Ben Chapman, Independent
Ford, IBM and LG have joined forces to use blockckain to prevent child labour being used to mine minerals essential for making smartphones and electric cars. The…
Afghanistan: Durrani Breaks Ground on Saffron Institute in Herat
Jan 16, 2019
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Storai Karimi, Pajhwok Afghan News
Agriculture Minister Nasir Ahmad Durrani on Wednesday laid the foundation of ‘Saffron Institute’ in Herat province, saying Turkey was interested in production and processing of…
Afghanistan: Snow Fall Brings Severe Risk to Displaced Afghans
Jan 16, 2019
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Norwegian Refugee Council
This year’s first snow has fallen in the centre and northeastern parts of Afghanistan. More snow and temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius…
Conflict Minerals: Ford Motor Company Launches Blockchain Pilot on IBM Platform to Ensure Ethical Sourcing of Cobalt
Jan 16, 2019
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Rachel Wolfson, Forbes
Understanding the true potential of blockchain technology only becomes clear when it’s applied to solving a real-world, global problem. To ensure the responsible sourcing of…
Jordan/Iraq: Jordan, Iraq Agree to Finalize Basra-Aqaba Oil Pipeline
Jan 15, 2019
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Al Bawaba
King Abdullah of Jordan visited Iraq on Monday to activate security agreements between the two countries and finalize an oil pipeline project from Basra to…
Liberia: Sinoe Community Conserving Its Forest but Gets No Support
Jan 15, 2019
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James Harding Giahyue, FrontPage Africa
When Nitrian obtained a community forest status in 2011—one of the first to do following a new law seeking to give communities their shares of…
Myanmar: Establishment of Land Bank under Way
Jan 15, 2019
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Eleven Myanmar
Efforts are being made to set up a land bank in order to solve land use problems, said Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and…