Development
'Existing and resisting': Black quilombo communities fight for land, rights in Brazil
Monday is Black Consciousness Day in Brazil. It falls on day of death of Zumbi dos Palmares, the leader of Palmares Quilombo, a community of runaway slaves and their descendants, in 1695. There are still thousands of quilombos across Brazil, and many continue to fight for their land and their rights.
Zimbabwe's stone sculptors struggle to keep carving
Why corals in American Samoa are thriving despite warmer oceans
Accreditors approve historic shortened bachelor’s degrees in the US
Delhi is rolling out the welcome mat as leaders arrive for the G20 summit in India
But critics say that India has turned the G20 into a marketing campaign for itself — and for Prime Minister Narendra Modi — ahead of general elections next year. The summit will also be a test for India as it seeks to establish itself as a rising power and as a voice for the global south.
‘This is not a peaceful country’: Violence and poverty soar in Costa Rica
Costa Rica sells its image as a “green paradise,” with ample nature reserves and no standing military. But many say this reputation is more myth than reality as violence, poverty and unemployment is on the rise.
Salmon are returning to Europe's Rhine River, but a key barrier remains
European countries that border the Rhine River are working together to restore an old migration route, but manmade structures present a major hurdle.
Despite lack of govt loans for college in Cambodia, these students are making it work
Most Cambodians live in rural areas, with many struggling to make a living on small farms. Even with low public school tuition fees, sending a child to college is nearly impossible. Those who want a higher education must be resourceful.
Denmark pays students to go to college. But free education does have a price.
Borrowers in the US and the UK rack up the highest debt in the world. In Denmark, tuition is free and students are given grants to pay for things like food and housing. Hardly anyone takes out loans, but free education comes with a price.
Barcelona gets bombarded by selfie-taking tourists
Spain’s on the rebound with tourism after huge losses during the pandemic. Those in the tourism business are relieved. But visitors are back with a vengeance and they’re not always well-behaved, irking locals who miss the quieter days.
Demise of ‘Crooked House’ pub is cautionary tale about loss of British heritage
The mysterious demolition of a lopsided 18th-century pub in England has infuriated the local community and raised questions about the loss of British heritage and the demise of the country’s famous pub culture.
Colombian activists try to shame city government into fixing broken sidewalks — by painting them pink
In Colombia's capital city Bogotá, pedestrians need to watch out for loose slabs of pavement they can trip over, or wobbly tiles that get their feet wet or splash dirty water on their pants. But some activists have started trying to shame the city into making repairs more quickly by covering the broken spots with pink paint and black Xs.
Indian women do less paid work. It’s bad news for the economy.
Across the world, higher economic growth has seen a rise in women’s employment, according to the United Nations. But India is bucking that trend, where educated women are working less in paid positions.
Flooding from Ukraine’s ‘Hero River’ may be a silver lining of war
In order to prevent Russian troops from advancing toward Kyiv, Ukrainian forces destroyed a dam on the Irpin River early on in the war. The flooding, as it turned out, created new wetland areas. Some conservationists hope to see the wetlands stay. Even residents whose cellars remain flooded are glad the water came and the Russian troops did not.