News

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…

Authorities and Courts Complicit in Eroding Rule of Law in Kachin State

Jun 6, 2016 | Vani Sathisan and Sean Bain

Illegal large-scale land grabbing, harassment of landowners by government and business officials, and a lack of access to justice were the central complaints heard by…

Hunger in Shangri-La: Causes and Consequences of Food Insecurity in the World’s Mountains

Jun 6, 2016 | Andrew Taber

Over the past decade, the number of undernourished people around the world has declined by around 167 million, to just under 800 million people. However,…

Liberia: Campaign Leader

Jun 6, 2016 | Global Witness

This role will involve developing and leading campaign strategies and messages for Global Witness’s campaigns, organise and lead both desk and field based investigations on…

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…

The Environmental Impact of the Refugee Crisis

Jun 4, 2016 | Anna Stockmore

Media outlets have largely ignored the environmental impacts of the refugee crisis in the Middle East. However, with the current influx of 2.1 Million Syrian…

Blog: Jordan Grapples With The Environmental Consequences Of Its Refugee Crisis

Jun 4, 2016 | Doug Weir

The massive flow of refugees fleeing the violence and atrocities of the Syrian conflict is creating huge political and logistical challenges for neighbouring countries. Amidst…

Cambodia: Regional Initiative Lead for Wildlife and Wildlife Crime

Jun 4, 2016 | World Wildlife Fund for Nature

The Greater Mekong region is one of the biologically richest places on the planet; its varied natural resources support the livelihoods and well-being of millions…

Liberia: Agronomist

Jun 4, 2016 | ArcelorMIttal

ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) and IDH’s cooperation in the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP), as part of the IDH Liberia Smallholder Production and Forest Protection program, is…

Mali: Director of Park and Zoo

Jun 4, 2016 | Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which was founded in 1988, is registered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a private, non-denominational, philanthropic foundation. It is…

Kurdistan Financial Crisis: Replacing Oil with Agriculture for Prosperity and Independence

Jun 4, 2016 | Glenn Field, Rudaw

In the midst of Iraqi Kurdistan’s economic crisis, the region is in desperate need of alternative sources for revenue other than their oil and gas…

Over 1,200 Companies File Conflict Minerals Reports with the SEC

Jun 3, 2016 | Enough Team

Enough Project has been tracking the SEC conflict minerals reports since they began rolling in. Among the things they are looking at is who is…

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…

Myanmar: Minister Promises to Ban Timber Trade

Jun 3, 2016 | Eleven Myanmar

Ohn Win, minister for natural resources and environmental conservation, says he is working to stop timber extraction completely this financial year.