International


Liberia: Traditional Chiefs Want More Land Awareness Trainings

Sep 3, 2019 | Marcus Malayea, Observer

Participants and traditional chiefs, who attended the just-ended three-day ‘intensive’ workshop creating awareness on “public land and its inventory” in Gbarnga Bong County have appealed…


Liberia: US$150M Earmarked for Forest Sector

Sep 3, 2019 | Ishmael F. Menkor, Observer

About US$150 million has been earmarked by the Norwegian Government as funds to Liberia to REDD+ for the implementation of the Liberian Forest Sector. According…


East and Southern Africa: Climate Change Dissproportionately Affects Women and Young Girls - and Here's Why

Sep 2, 2019 | Derick Nyasulu, UNFPA

“It is essential that we understand the relationship between the effects of climate change and the persistence of violence against women,” she said.

Unless recurrent climate-related…


Liberia: Minister Sirleaf Resolves Conflicts in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties

Sep 2, 2019 | FrontPage Africa

Calm has returned to concession districts in two southeastern counties as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Honorable Varney A. Sirleaf over the weekend resolved two…


Myanmar: Mine Runoff Adds to Controversy over Chinese-backed Nickel Mine in Myanmar

Aug 30, 2019 | Radio Free Asia

The Chinese-backed operators of a controversial nickel mine embroiled in a longstanding dispute with villagers in northwestern Myanmar’s Sagaing region over accusations of shortchanging them…


Myanmar: Police Arrest 9 of 21 Kayah Farmers Accused of Trespassing by Myanmar Military

Aug 29, 2019 | Htet Khaung Lin, Irrawaddy

Police have arrested nine of 21 local farmers whom the Myanmar military accuses of trespassing on a cantonment, according to the Karenni State Farmers’ Union.…


South Sudan: South Sudan Probes High Number of Birth Defects in Oil Regions

Aug 28, 2019 | Okech Francis, Bloomberg

South Sudan is investigating an increase in the number of infants born with deformities in crude-producing regions and whether the cases are linked to pollution,…


Afghanistan: Kabul’s Iron Woman Champions Afghanistan’s Mineral Resources

Aug 28, 2019 | Matthieu Aikins

As a female politician in a country where many women still struggle for basic rights, Nargis Nehan is used to standing out. In December 2017,…


Myanmar: Fake Deeds Cause Land Buyers Headaches in Mandalay

Aug 28, 2019 | Khin Su Wai, Myanmar Times

Some empty land on Thaik Pan street in Chan Mya Tharsi township, Mandalay Region, is fenced off, and a sign gives the owner’s name and warns…


Timor-Leste: Why Tiny Timor-Leste Is Defying Global Energy Giants

Aug 28, 2019 | Dan Murtaugh, Bloomberg

When Timor-Leste became a country in 2002, it did so with a built-in advantage: the Bayu-Undan oil and gas field. It’s generated billions of dollars…


Fake-Branded Bars Slip Dirty Gold into World Markets

Aug 28, 2019 | Peter Hobson, Reuters

A forgery crisis is quietly roiling the world’s gold industry. Gold bars fraudulently stamped with the logos of major refineries are being inserted into the…


Climate Change: From Yemen to South Sudan, Climate and Water Stress Seen Worsening Conflict

Aug 28, 2019 | Adela Suliman, Reuters

Social and political tensions fueled by climate change have yet to translate into international military confrontations, but local conflicts are heating up due to pressures…


Myanmar: Ensuring Access to Land and Resolving Disputes Part of an Inclusive Peace

Aug 27, 2019 | Joint Peace Fund

Land allocation and confiscation remain hugely important issues to be resolved for 70% of Myanmar’s population, whose livelihoods are based around agriculture and related activities.…


Africa: Enhancing Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Gender and Climate Change Linkages to Build Climate - Resilient Communities

Aug 27, 2019 | Julitta Onabajo, Benoit Kalasa, and Shoko Arakaki, UNFPA

Twenty-five years ago, world leaders acknowledged the threats of climate change at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). In the Programme of Action,…


Liberia: Nationwide Ground Survey Could Resolve Many Land Conflicts

Aug 27, 2019 | Sampson David, Bush Chicken

Amid conflicts between multiple counties within Liberia over boundary divisions, a cartographer at the Liberia Land Authority is calling for a nationwide ground survey of…


Afghanistan: Tackling Corruption in Mining: Gov't Signs Agreement with Afghan-German Cooperation

Aug 27, 2019 | Wadsam

Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Nargis Nehan, signed the implementation agreement for the next phase of the program for promoting good governance in Afghanistan's…


South Sudan: South Sudan to Assess Pollution in Oil-Producing Areas

Aug 27, 2019 | John Adukata, East African

South Sudan authorities plan to send a team of environmental experts to assess the scale of damage caused by pollution in oil-producing areas. The environmental…


Afghanistan: Tackling Corruption in Mining: Gov't Signs Agreement with Afghan-German Cooperation

Aug 27, 2019 | Wadsam

Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Nargis Nehan, signed the implementation agreement for the next phase of the program for promoting good governance in Afghanistan's…


Myanmar: Supply, Distribution of Water in Yangon to Be Privatised: Mayor

Aug 26, 2019 | Myanmar Times

The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) will invite the private sector to take over the supply and distribution of water in Yangon, Mayor U Maung…


Myanmar: Subsistence Gem Mining to Be Allowed in Mogok after New Rules Issued

Aug 26, 2019 | Kyaw Ko Ko, Myanmar Times

Subsistence gem mining will be allowed in Mandalay Region’s Mogok, which produces rubies and other precious stones, after new rules are issued, said U Myo Thit,…


Malaysia: Malaysia Hopes to Pay for Military Equipment with Palm Oil

Aug 26, 2019 | Joseph Sipalan, Reuters

Malaysia is in talks with at last six countries on the possibility of using palm oil to pay for arms, as Southeast Asia’s third-biggest economy…


Sierra Leone: No Pot of Gold as China Mines Sierra Leone

Aug 26, 2019 | Nellie Peyton and Richmond Tholley, Reuters

When the Chinese gold miners came to Masumbiri town in northern Sierra Leone, everyone lined up for jobs. But 18 months into the multi-million dollar…


Liberia: River Cess and Sinoe Sign Resolution to Resolve Land Dispute

Aug 26, 2019 | Bush Chicken, Sampson David

After an intensive three-day dialogue, Sinoe and River Cess have signed a resolution aimed at settling a longstanding border land dispute between the two counties.…


United States: A Climate-Gender Wave Election? The Power of the 19th Amendment

Aug 25, 2019 | Joan Michelson, Forbes

We commemorate the 99th year of women voting in the midst of an historic presidential election season – for the country, for women and for the…


Afghanistan: MoMP Poised to Open Key Mines to Private Bids

Aug 24, 2019 | Pajhwok Afghan News

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) is all set to initiate bidding process for private investment on several key mining projects, an official said…


Liberia: World Bank Breaks Ground for Forestry Authority Regional Office

Aug 23, 2019 | FrontPage Africa

Khwima Nthara, World Bank Liberia Country Manager has broken grounds for the regional office of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) aimed at decentralizing and strengthening…


South Sudan: South Sudan Makes Minor Oil Discovery, First Since Independence

Aug 22, 2019 | Denis Dumo, Reuters

South Sudan has made a small oil discovery in Northern Upper Nile State, its first since independence in 2011 when exploration was interrupted by war…


DRC: DRC Mining Risks Worsen as Artisanal Cobalt Miners Turn to Copper

Aug 22, 2019 | David Whitehouse, Africa Report

Artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been turning to copper following the slump in cobalt prices. That means security risks…


DRC: The Complexities of Military Involvement in Mining

Aug 22, 2019 | Patrick Kingsland, Mine Magazine

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the military has deployed hundreds of troops to protect a copper and cobalt mine from illegal mining, while in…


Myanmar: Locals Say Officials Took Bribes, Freed Illegal Loggers in W. Myanmar

Aug 22, 2019 | Htet Naing Zaw, Irrawaddy

Lower House lawmaker U Myint Wai, of Rakhine State’s Gwa Township, accused forest department staff and police of setting free illegal loggers arrested in his…