Although Global Witness’ 2024 report on international violence against environmental land defenders reported a fewer number of killings and disappearances than years prior, closely observing these ongoing trends is pertinent to protecting human rights and our environment. Breaking down this report, particularly the nations and subgroups in which defenders are most commonly targeted, allows us to obtain a greater understanding of proper policy drafting and implementation moving forwards.

Withering relations, market vulnerability, and growing external pressure have forced Turkmenistan to choose between continued isolation and long-term economic decline or opening up to the world. Turkmenistan has historically maintained itself isolated through authoritarian control, self-sufficiency, and abundant natural gas to fund its endeavors. However, its eroding alliance with China and previous economic crisis have propelled Turkmenistan to diversify its trading partners and sources of income.

This article examines the evolving political, military, and strategic alliance in the Middle East through the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Under this security and defense pact, both nations agree to treat any act of aggression against one as an act against both.

The European Union has been a key contributor to Ukraine’s defense since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022. Hoping to ensure Ukraine’s stability, the EU has developed a post-war plan to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and put it on the path towards EU accession. However, shifting geopolitical dynamics risk making the continued support and post-war stabilization of Ukraine more challenging.

In South Sudan, hunger has been turned into a weapon. As the nation reels from repeated conflict, President Salva Kiir’s government stands accused of using starvation to crush opposition and assert power. Aid routes are blocked, crops destroyed, and millions are left on the brink of famine– all due to this man-made crisis.

For years, the Central African Republic has been afflicted by war between armed groups and the government. Although peace agreements from this summer hint at change, the nation continues to struggle with rebel groups selling blood diamonds to finance their activities. In retaliation against such groups, the CAR was forbidden from exporting diamonds in a decision that ultimately caused more problems than it solved.

For centuries, Russians lived under rulers who demanded obedience, from the Mongol Yoke to the iron grip of serfdom and the Church’s calls for humility. These forces taught generations that survival meant submission. Even now, traces of that legacy endure, shaping a culture where authority is feared, accepted, and rarely challenged.

China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) extends beyond economic infrastructure, functioning as a tool of digital statecraft that shapes connectivity and norms. By linking investments in 5G, cloud computing, and standards with political narratives, Beijing fosters dependencies and promotes a model of cyber sovereignty. Responses from Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia reveal both the appeal and risks of the DSR, highlighting the contested and strategic nature of cyberspace today.

Próspera, Honduras is a Zone for Employment and Economic Development, aimed at attracting investment and helping develop the nation. Since its creation, it has been governed by a U.S.-based company, Honduras Próspera Inc., which has implemented low tax rates, with aims to become a haven for deregulated business. In recent years, the zone has been criticized for undermining the sovereignty of the Honduran state, and the two are locked in a legal battle to determine the constitutionality of these special zones.

Although Global Witness’ 2024 report on international violence against environmental land defenders reported a fewer number of killings and disappearances than years prior, closely observing these ongoing trends is pertinent to protecting human rights and our environment. Breaking down this report, particularly the nations and subgroups in which defenders are most commonly targeted, allows us to obtain a greater understanding of proper policy drafting and implementation moving forwards.

Withering relations, market vulnerability, and growing external pressure have forced Turkmenistan to choose between continued isolation and long-term economic decline or opening up to the world. Turkmenistan has historically maintained itself isolated through authoritarian control, self-sufficiency, and abundant natural gas to fund its endeavors. However, its eroding alliance with China and previous economic crisis have propelled Turkmenistan to diversify its trading partners and sources of income.

This article examines the evolving political, military, and strategic alliance in the Middle East through the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Under this security and defense pact, both nations agree to treat any act of aggression against one as an act against both.

The European Union has been a key contributor to Ukraine’s defense since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022. Hoping to ensure Ukraine’s stability, the EU has developed a post-war plan to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and put it on the path towards EU accession. However, shifting geopolitical dynamics risk making the continued support and post-war stabilization of Ukraine more challenging.

In South Sudan, hunger has been turned into a weapon. As the nation reels from repeated conflict, President Salva Kiir’s government stands accused of using starvation to crush opposition and assert power. Aid routes are blocked, crops destroyed, and millions are left on the brink of famine– all due to this man-made crisis.

For years, the Central African Republic has been afflicted by war between armed groups and the government. Although peace agreements from this summer hint at change, the nation continues to struggle with rebel groups selling blood diamonds to finance their activities. In retaliation against such groups, the CAR was forbidden from exporting diamonds in a decision that ultimately caused more problems than it solved.

For centuries, Russians lived under rulers who demanded obedience, from the Mongol Yoke to the iron grip of serfdom and the Church’s calls for humility. These forces taught generations that survival meant submission. Even now, traces of that legacy endure, shaping a culture where authority is feared, accepted, and rarely challenged.

China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) extends beyond economic infrastructure, functioning as a tool of digital statecraft that shapes connectivity and norms. By linking investments in 5G, cloud computing, and standards with political narratives, Beijing fosters dependencies and promotes a model of cyber sovereignty. Responses from Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia reveal both the appeal and risks of the DSR, highlighting the contested and strategic nature of cyberspace today.

Próspera, Honduras is a Zone for Employment and Economic Development, aimed at attracting investment and helping develop the nation. Since its creation, it has been governed by a U.S.-based company, Honduras Próspera Inc., which has implemented low tax rates, with aims to become a haven for deregulated business. In recent years, the zone has been criticized for undermining the sovereignty of the Honduran state, and the two are locked in a legal battle to determine the constitutionality of these special zones.