Global Development
In an increasingly globalized world, international development efforts aim to improve living conditions, equity, and human rights around the world. Our global development section tracks this globalization and reports on specific equitable and sustainable development initiatives.
Mongolia signs historic climate finance deal to protect grasslands
Mongolia's government and a coalition of partners signed a pioneering nature financing deal, marking a watershed moment in environmental protection. This historic agreement seeks to protect 35.6 million acres of the country's pristine lands and rivers, including the world's last vast swath of Read More...
Thailand advances LGBTQIA+ rights
Thailand is on the verge of making history by becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to officially recognize non-heterosexual unions and the second Asian country after Taiwan. With overwhelming support, the draft amendment known as the Marriage Equality Bill is gaining traction, indicating a Read More...
Canada's landmark move toward free contraception
On Saturday, March 30th, in a historic step toward improving women's health, Canada unveiled a breakthrough effort to provide free contraception to all women of reproductive age. During a press conference in Toronto, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized the government's commitment to Read More...
Rowing against the current: Botswana’s women safari guides inspire and empower
In the calm of Botswana's Okavango Delta, where the morning sun creates a golden glow on the water's surface, an amazing metamorphosis is occurring. Women are taking the lead in changing an industry that was formerly thought of as a man's domain: guiding tourists through beautiful waterways. The Read More...
Brazil's inventive response: using Wolbachia mosquitoes to combat dengue outbreaks
As Brazil deals with a steady increase in dengue fever incidence, novel strategies to control the spread of this viral disease are emerging. With climate change and mutating virus subtypes worsening the situation, health officials are employing novel strategies to curb the stream of infections. One Read More...
Europe raises the bar: MEPs approve the world's first comprehensive AI legislation
In a historic move, the European Parliament approved the world's first comprehensive framework for regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Driven by concerns about prejudice, privacy violations, and societal hazards, the AI Act represents a crucial step toward managing the rapidly increasing AI Read More...
France sets a global precedent, guaranteeing abortion as constitutional right
French parliamentarians passed a historic bill to include abortion rights in the country's constitution, demonstrating strong support for women's reproductive rights. France is now the only country that specifically guarantees a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy. President Emmanuel Macron Read More...
The European Parliament passes incredible bill that criminalizes ecosystem destruction
In a historic act, the European Union has criminalized serious incidents of environmental degradation, setting a global precedent. This innovative law, dubbed "comparable to ecocide," seeks to address ecosystem degradation, illicit logging, and habitat loss through enhanced penalties and prison Read More...
Germany takes a green step: legalizing cannabis use sparks debate and solutions
Germany's parliament, backed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, enacted legislation legalizing cannabis for personal use. This judgment places Germany within a narrow group of countries that have adopted partial legalization, granting individuals and voluntary associations specific rights to Read More...
Greece is the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage
Greece, the birthplace of democracy and ancient traditions, has defied a longstanding norm by becoming the first Christian Orthodox country to legalize same-sex marriage. In a watershed event, the Athens parliament voted decisively in favor of a historic change, generating a mix of excitement and Read More...