THE TWIN TOWER ILLUSION: How "Petronas Narcissism" Built a Nation on the Broken Backs of Sabah and Sarawak

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE FAÇADE OF UNITY For decades, the narrative of Malaysia has been carefully curated by the Federal centre in Putrajaya. It is a narrative of rapid modernization, "Asian Tigers," and towering skyscrapers that scrape the clouds. But as we stand in the shadow of the Petronas Twin Towers,

What happened to Cynthia's dream in South Africa?

The BBC's Fergal Keane returns to South Africa to follow up on a woman's story that stuck with him for over 30 years.

“Work from home” and “make a difference” “helping build better AI”! – dba Plan B

African Development Bank chief criticizes opaque loans tied to Africa's natural resources

The head of the African Development Bank is calling for an end to loans given in exchange for oil or critical minerals used in smartphones and electric car batteries. Such deals have left some African countries in financial crisis and have helped China control the extraction of critical minerals, such as cobalt, in Congo. Akinwumi Adesina said in an interview with The Associated Press that these arrangements come with a litany of problems, pointing to uneven negotiations where lenders typically dictate terms to cash-strapped African nations. He says a lack of transparency and potential for corruption also help create fertile ground for exploitation. At least 11 African countries have taken loans secured with their natural resources since the 2000s.