global development

The World

The joy of cooking — with cow dung

Kenyan scientist Joseph Lentunyoi explains how the daily manure output of just one cow can be converted into hours of cooking gas.

The joy of cooking — with cow dung
Nuku Island is in the southern part of Tonga.

Here's how a tiny Pacific island got better Internet than the US

Here's how a tiny Pacific island got better Internet than the US

Kenyan communities succeed in managing scarce water, where aid projects once foundered

Kenyan communities succeed in managing scarce water, where aid projects once foundered

Why campaigners want you to wear your clothes #insideout today

Why campaigners want you to wear your clothes #insideout today

Julia Cooke shows us a Cuba where a younger generation navigates through stagnation and change

Julia Cooke shows us a Cuba where a younger generation navigates through stagnation and change

As the World Cup nears, Brazilian youth take to the streets

Brazil will host the World Cup this summer and, in 2016, the Olympics. And for Brazil's young adults, that makes this the perfect time to protest their country's lack of opportunities and crumbling infrastructure.

As the World Cup nears, Brazilian youth take to the streets
Moscow's pedestrian underpasses technically have ramps, but you wouldn't want to go down them in a wheelchair. Some of them are pitched at a 45 degree angle.

Russians are turning out like never before for Paralympians in Sochi

It's somewhat surprising that Russians are turning out in such numbers to see the Paralympics in Sochi. Even five years ago, that probably wouldn't have been the case, a disability rights advocate says. Russia's disabled have to be "everyday paralympians" just to get around.

Russians are turning out like never before for Paralympians in Sochi
Garden Grows

Who knew a gourd could unlock a better future for rural Indian girls

The latest film by Academy Award winner Megan Mylan shows what can happen if you make even a tiny investment in a young women.

Who knew a gourd could unlock a better future for rural Indian girls

In Brazil, indigenous tribes are still struggling to protect the rainforest — and their culture

Brazil is rushing ahead with big economic development plans. It will host the soccer World Cup later this year, and the Olympics two years later. But all that progress is challenging the traditions — even the way of life — of the country's indigenous people.

In Brazil, indigenous tribes are still struggling to protect the rainforest — and their culture
Israeli Bedouin

In Israel, the once nomadic Bedouin are reluctant to move

The Bedouin in Israel are no longer nomads. In fact, Israel's government is having trouble convincing them to move. Israel wants to use the land where they now live and has been offering to move them into towns with paved streets and modern conveniences.

In Israel, the once nomadic Bedouin are reluctant to move
An image from : Vander Caballero's video game called "Papa & Yo."

A Colombian's hit video game is about a different sort of violence — alcoholism

The award-winning video game Papo & Yo was inspired by a childhood in Colombia and a rough family life. It's exciting, unpredictable and has moved many of its players.

A Colombian's hit video game is about a different sort of violence — alcoholism

Iran and US agree, but on what exactly we're not sure

The news over the weekend was of an agreement between leaders of six world powers and Iran over that country's nuclear program — but what the agreement really says isn't really, well, agreed. Still, there was no shortage of strong feelings about the deal. Plus, a Canadian town has developed a system for dealing with polar bear visits to town. That and more, in today's Global Scan.

Iran and US agree, but on what exactly we're not sure
The elegant lobby at the El Rancho is open to the air.

Does Haiti really need luxury hotels?

As Port-au-Prince continues its slow pace of reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake, some prominent new buildings have already gone up: high-end hotels.

Does Haiti really need luxury hotels?
A generation ago, privately-owned vehicles were rare in China. Nowadays, cities like Beijing are looking for ways to curb the public's reliance on private cars.

If you want to drive in Beijing, you have to win the lottery — literally

Beijing, with 21 million people, has some of the worst air pollution and traffic congestion in the world. Residents agree that something must be done, but don't ask them to get rid of their beloved cars.

If you want to drive in Beijing, you have to win the lottery — literally
A girl walks along a street in Beijing. China has announced reforms to the policy of allowing most families to have only one child.

China loosens its one-child policy in the face of a disturbing population trend

The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party announced wide-ranging reforms this week, from liberalizing markets to ending forced labor camps to altering one of the most well-known social engineering policies in the world – the one-child policy. But when it comes to children, the step is a small one.

China loosens its one-child policy in the face of a disturbing population trend