World Jul 02 Scottish oil town hopes to be Europe's green energy capital with transition to renewables A major issue in Britain’s general election is the cost of living crisis, caused by spiking inflation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That has put pressure on the country’s pledge, written into law, to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Nation Jun 20 How Scotch whisky producers are aiming to go carbon neutral The UK became the first country to set a deadline to become a carbon-neutral economy with zero emissions of greenhouse gasses. Britain’s target is 2050. Scotland’s is even earlier, by 2045. Fred de Sam Lazaro looks at the effort of…
World May 01 Agriculture school creates climate-aware approach to help small farmers feed Africa Africa faces challenges as varied as its vast landmass. But one that’s shared by all 54 countries is how to feed a population of 1.2 billion that’s expected to double by 2050. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on one attempt…
World Apr 30 How an African university is connecting doctors to patients in remote communities Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 25 percent of all disease in the world, yet it has just three percent of the healthcare workforce. There are not enough medical and nursing schools and many of the continent’s graduates are recruited to…
World Apr 09 Rwanda marks 30 years of reconciliation after genocide, but major challenges remain Rwanda is holding observances to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide in that East African nation that took one million lives. Rwanda has won praise for rebuilding efforts, but democratic backsliding and conflict just outside its borders have raised…
Nation Apr 08 Minneapolis becomes frontline in fight over fair pay for rideshare drivers The latest battle over fair pay for rideshare drivers is taking place in Minneapolis, where Uber and Lyft have threatened to leave the city over a new ordinance that sets minimum wages for drivers. As special correspondent Fred de Sam…
World Mar 01 Nobel Peace Prize winner defends reputation against corruption charges in Bangladesh Nearly a half-century after its birth from a bloody civil war, Bangladesh has made significant strides in reducing poverty. One of the best-known architects of this progress is Muhammad Yunus, who popularized the concept of microfinance. However, Yunus has run…
Nation Feb 21 App connects drivers with lawyers to de-escalate police interactions during traffic stops The murder of George Floyd thrust Minnesota into the center of the debate over police misconduct. As Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, one effort coming out of that painful period hopes to make traffic stops safer. It’s part of the…
Nation Feb 08 St. Paul makes history as 1st major U.S. city to elect all-female city council In the last election, the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, did something it had never done before: elect an all-female city council. The state’s capital became one of the largest American cities to hold that distinction. Special correspondent Fred de…
Arts Jan 29 Minneapolis chamber group performs music written by Polish prisoners at Auschwitz Observances were held across the world over the weekend for the annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Fred de Sam Lazaro has the story of one effort to preserve and honor the music performed by prisoners in orchestras that were a…