The modern railway network turns 200 this month and is currently one of the greenest forms of transport. But unless focus shifts from profits to people, Britain won’t benefit from it, argue ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT

GEORGE PADMORE played a central role in developing and building transnational African liberation communities of resistance.
Born Malcolm Nurse in Trinidad in June 1903, he changed his name, as did many (particularly communist) activists of the time, as cover from identification while involved in clandestine activities.
As a university activist student in the United States in the 1920s, Padmore joined the Communist Party and quickly rose in its ranks.
Padmore became one of the leading African activists within the Communist International — known as the Comintern.

ROGER McKENZIE argues that the BRI represents a choice between treating humans as commodities or as equals — an essential project when, aside from China’s efforts, hundreds of millions worldwide are trapped in poverty

The colonial mindset behind the governance of the UN is the reason for its inertia when it comes to conflict resolution, argues ROGER McKENZIE – but can China’s Global Governance Initiative point in a new direction of global equality?

As the Alliance of Sahel States and southern African nations advance pan-African goals, the African Union must listen and learn rather than parroting the Western line on these positive developments, writes ROGER McKENZIE