Inter Press Service News Agency
The story underneath
Global Affairs | Africa | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Latin America | Mideast & Mediterranean | North America | Development | Civil Society | Environment | Human Rights | Health | Population | Arts & Entertainment
Tuesday, March 16, 2010   00:11 GMT    
Latest News
MIDEAST: U.S.-Israeli Tensions Escalating Quickly
By Jim Lobe*
WASHINGTON, Mar 15 (IPS) - The crisis touched off by last week's announcement of Israel's plans to build 1,600 new homes for Jews in Arab East Jerusalem during a high-profile visit by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden appears to be escalating rapidly.
MORE >>

DISARMAMENT: Despite Recession, Global Arms Race Spirals
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 15 (IPS) - The global financial crisis has not deterred some of the world's developed and developing nations from bolstering their military arsenals with expensive new weapons systems, including sophisticated fighter planes, combat helicopters, submarines, armoured vehicles and air defence systems.
MORE >>

Q&A: Wanted in Latin America: Responsible Credit
By Daniela Estrada interviews JUAN TRÍMBOLI of Consumers International
SANTIAGO, Mar 15 (IPS) - Improving access to financial services and achieving "responsible credit" require ongoing dialogue on the part of companies, states and consumers, Juan Trímboli, regional coordinator of the Consumers International office in Latin America and the Caribbean, told IPS.
MORE >>

POLITICS: Policy Battle over Afghan Peace Talks Intensifies
Analysis by Gareth Porter*
WASHINGTON, Mar 15 (IPS) - The struggle within the Barack Obama administration over Afghanistan policy entered a new phase when the president suggested at a meeting of his "war cabinet" Friday that it might be time to start negotiations with the Taliban, according to a report in the New York Times Saturday.
MORE >>

MALAWI: Rural Communities Jointly Care for Orphans
By Claire Ngozo
LILONGWE, Mar 15 (IPS) - At the age of 66, village headman Kamwala of Dedza district in central Malawi is starting to feel the effects of ageing. He gets tired easily and needs frequent naps but says he cannot afford this luxury. He and his wife are caregivers to a one-year-old orphan.
MORE >>

DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Rapid Population Growth Threatens Development
By Susan Anyangu-Amu
NAIROBI, Mar 15 (IPS) - Margaret Atieno, a 38-year-old mother of six, says she wanted to avoid her last pregnancy. But consistent stock-outs of contraceptive devices at her health care centre in rural Siaya, western Kenya, gave her no choice but to fall pregnant once again, albeit the fact that she did not want another child.
MORE >>

MIDEAST: An Unlikely Collision Takes Place
Analysis by Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler
JERUSALEM, Mar 15 (IPS) - In the middle of last week, it seemed that the old cliché about the light at the end of the dark Middle East tunnel was being confirmed: the U.S. had successfully cajoled both Israel and the Palestinian Authority into beginning to talk again.
MORE >>

ENVIRONMENT-INDIA: All Eyes on Forest Protection Body
By Keya Acharya
KOTAGIRI, NILGIRI MOUNTAINS, India, Mar 15 (IPS) - Seemingly unstoppable development has made a mockery of the protected status of this southern Indian region, which houses vast biodiversity and some of the finest examples of moist deciduous and tropical forests.
MORE >>

HEALTH-UGANDA: EU Supports Law Threatening Access to Medicines
By Wambi Michael
KAMPALA, Mar 15 (IPS) - The European Union (EU) is funding the drafting of Uganda’s controversial Counterfeit Goods Bill, a proposed law that has caused an outcry as it threatens access to life-saving generic medicines in this low income East African country. Some 90 percent of medicines used in Uganda’s health-care system are imported, of which about 93 percent are generics.
MORE >>

CULTURE: Poor Patronage Killing Arab Cinema
By Mohammed Omer
ROTTERDAM, Mar 15 (IPS) - Arab cinema, which had a promising presence at international film festivals during the 1990s, may now be going through a declining phase for lack of patronage.
MORE >>

Global Affairs
DISARMAMENT: Despite Recession, Global Arms Race Spirals
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS - The global financial crisis has not deterred some of the world's developed and developing nations from bolstering their military arsenals with expensive new weapons systems, including sophisticated fighter planes, combat helicopters, submarines, armoured vehicles and air defence systems.
MORE >>
 		 
HEALTH: U.S. AIDS Fund Flat-Lining, Groups Complain
By Sananda Sahoo
WASHINGTON - The debate between those who favour investment in AIDS treatment and those who favour investment in its prevention came to the forefront Thursday at a U.S House of Representatives hearing on U.S. investments in HIV/AIDS in Africa.
MORE >>
 		 
RIGHTS: Gender Confab Marked by Political Uncertainties
By Thalif Deen and Anna Shen*
UNITED NATIONS - When a two-week meeting on gender empowerment concluded at U.N. headquarters Friday, there were several lingering questions crying out for answers.
MORE >>
 		 
BIODIVERSITY: Lucrative Shark Trade Under Scrutiny
By Matthew Berger
WASHINGTON - As climate change transforms the acidity and oxygen levels of the world's waters with devastating effects for some marine species, others are facing an even more immediate threat from human consumption.
MORE >>
 		 
RIGHTS: U.S. Concerned Over Curbs on NGOs, Press, Internet
By Jim Lobe*
WASHINGTON - Releasing its annual report on the state of human rights around the world, the U.S. State Department Thursday said it was increasingly concerned about curbs imposed by foreign governments on civil society groups, the press, and Internet use.
MORE >>
 		 
MDGs
DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Rapid Population Growth Threatens Development
By Susan Anyangu-Amu
NAIROBI - Margaret Atieno, a 38-year-old mother of six, says she wanted to avoid her last pregnancy. But consistent stock-outs of contraceptive devices at her health care centre in rural Siaya, western Kenya, gave her no choice but to fall pregnant once again, albeit the fact that she did not want another child.
MORE >>
 		 
HEALTH: U.S. AIDS Fund Flat-Lining, Groups Complain
By Sananda Sahoo
WASHINGTON - The debate between those who favour investment in AIDS treatment and those who favour investment in its prevention came to the forefront Thursday at a U.S House of Representatives hearing on U.S. investments in HIV/AIDS in Africa.
MORE >>
 		 
RIGHTS: Gender Confab Marked by Political Uncertainties
By Thalif Deen and Anna Shen*
UNITED NATIONS - When a two-week meeting on gender empowerment concluded at U.N. headquarters Friday, there were several lingering questions crying out for answers.
MORE >>
 		 
DEVELOPMENT-CAMEROON: Are Women the Magic Bullet for "Electoral Apathy"?
By Mohamadou Houmfa
YAOUNDE - A support network for women's political participation, is challenging head-on what it calls "electoral apathy", after noting a growing trend in electoral abstention.
MORE >>
 		 
EGYPT: Population Growth Overtakes Literacy Rise
By Cam McGrath
LUXOR - Literacy programmes are teaching millions of Egyptians to read, but are struggling to keep up with the country's high population growth.
MORE >>
 		 
Environment
ENVIRONMENT-INDIA: All Eyes on Forest Protection Body
By Keya Acharya
KOTAGIRI, NILGIRI MOUNTAINS, India - Seemingly unstoppable development has made a mockery of the protected status of this southern Indian region, which houses vast biodiversity and some of the finest examples of moist deciduous and tropical forests.
MORE >>
 		 
ENVIRONMENT-INDIA: Law on Forest Rights Fails to Deliver
By Manipadma Jena
BHUBANESWAR, India - A four-year-old landmark law that was supposed to bring profound changes in the lives of India’s tribal and forest-dwelling peoples has failed to deliver on that promise.
MORE >>
 		 
BIODIVERSITY: Lucrative Shark Trade Under Scrutiny
By Matthew Berger
WASHINGTON - As climate change transforms the acidity and oxygen levels of the world's waters with devastating effects for some marine species, others are facing an even more immediate threat from human consumption.
MORE >>
 		 
INDONESIA: Waste Composting Project Blazes Cleaner Path
By Kanis Dursin
JAKARTA - Battling the pain from a boil on his left thigh, 45-year-old Inggit Tukino pulled his two-wheeled cart through the overcrowded alleys of a slum in Rawabebek, Penjaringan hamlet in here North Jakarta.
MORE >>
 		 
EDUCATION-URUGUAY: Gardens of Knowledge
By Silvana Silveira
MONTEVIDEO - "Nature is wise, and if we take the time to observe it, we can learn so much" is the underlying philosophy of a number of innovative programmes being carried out in Uruguayan schools that are using gardens as a teaching resource, explained Edith Moraes, director of the national Primary Education Board.
MORE >>
 		 
Human Rights
Q&A: Wanted in Latin America: Responsible Credit
By Daniela Estrada interviews JUAN TRÍMBOLI of Consumers International
SANTIAGO - Improving access to financial services and achieving "responsible credit" require ongoing dialogue on the part of companies, states and consumers, Juan Trímboli, regional coordinator of the Consumers International office in Latin America and the Caribbean, told IPS.
MORE >>
 		 
POLITICS: Policy Battle over Afghan Peace Talks Intensifies
Analysis by Gareth Porter*
WASHINGTON - The struggle within the Barack Obama administration over Afghanistan policy entered a new phase when the president suggested at a meeting of his "war cabinet" Friday that it might be time to start negotiations with the Taliban, according to a report in the New York Times Saturday.
MORE >>
 		 
MALAWI: Rural Communities Jointly Care for Orphans
By Claire Ngozo
LILONGWE - At the age of 66, village headman Kamwala of Dedza district in central Malawi is starting to feel the effects of ageing. He gets tired easily and needs frequent naps but says he cannot afford this luxury. He and his wife are caregivers to a one-year-old orphan.
MORE >>
 		 
DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Rapid Population Growth Threatens Development
By Susan Anyangu-Amu
NAIROBI - Margaret Atieno, a 38-year-old mother of six, says she wanted to avoid her last pregnancy. But consistent stock-outs of contraceptive devices at her health care centre in rural Siaya, western Kenya, gave her no choice but to fall pregnant once again, albeit the fact that she did not want another child.
MORE >>
 		 
MIDEAST: An Unlikely Collision Takes Place
Analysis by Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler
JERUSALEM - In the middle of last week, it seemed that the old cliché about the light at the end of the dark Middle East tunnel was being confirmed: the U.S. had successfully cajoled both Israel and the Palestinian Authority into beginning to talk again.
MORE >>
 		 
Health
MALAWI: Rural Communities Jointly Care for Orphans
By Claire Ngozo
LILONGWE - At the age of 66, village headman Kamwala of Dedza district in central Malawi is starting to feel the effects of ageing. He gets tired easily and needs frequent naps but says he cannot afford this luxury. He and his wife are caregivers to a one-year-old orphan.
MORE >>
 		 
DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Rapid Population Growth Threatens Development
By Susan Anyangu-Amu
NAIROBI - Margaret Atieno, a 38-year-old mother of six, says she wanted to avoid her last pregnancy. But consistent stock-outs of contraceptive devices at her health care centre in rural Siaya, western Kenya, gave her no choice but to fall pregnant once again, albeit the fact that she did not want another child.
MORE >>
 		 
HEALTH-UGANDA: EU Supports Law Threatening Access to Medicines
By Wambi Michael
KAMPALA - The European Union (EU) is funding the drafting of Uganda’s controversial Counterfeit Goods Bill, a proposed law that has caused an outcry as it threatens access to life-saving generic medicines in this low income East African country. Some 90 percent of medicines used in Uganda’s health-care system are imported, of which about 93 percent are generics.
MORE >>
 		 
MALAYSIA: Creation of Commercial Hospital Wings a Mistake -Critics
By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian government scheme to create commercial ‘private wings’ in major government hospitals has come under fire from critics, who say it will add to the burden of people who need public healthcare the most.
MORE >>
 		 
HEALTH: U.S. AIDS Fund Flat-Lining, Groups Complain
By Sananda Sahoo
WASHINGTON - The debate between those who favour investment in AIDS treatment and those who favour investment in its prevention came to the forefront Thursday at a U.S House of Representatives hearing on U.S. investments in HIV/AIDS in Africa.
MORE >>
 		 
Global Affairs | Africa | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Latin America | Mideast & Mediterranean | North America | Development | Civil Society | Environment | Human Rights | Health | Population | Arts & Entertainment
Contact Us | About Us | Subscription | News in RSS | Email News | Mobile | Text Only
Copyright © 2010 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved.