New anti-terror laws Draconian, Indian activists say by Praful Bidwai NEW DELHI — Following the late November terror attacks in Mumbai, India has passed two tough laws that human rights activists see as potentially eroding the country's federal structure and limiting fundamental liberties. Parliament — meeting under the shadow of the November 26-29 attacks on India's commercial hub that resulted in close to 200 deaths — approved the legislations on Dec. 18 with no considered debate and the ruling United Progressive Alliance of Prime Min... MORE >>

North Korea still defies nuclear inspections by Antoaneta Bezlova BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — China has failed to coax North Korea to sign an agreement to verify its secretive nuclear activities. Multilateral talks to get its old ally to give up its nuclear program in return for more aid and better diplomatic standing have failed. Diplomats said the imminent departure of the Bush administration and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's poor health were probably among factors that precluded progress in the Dec. 8-11 round of six-party talks that also involved Russ... MORE >>

U.N. chief says going green can solve problems by Ramesh Jaura POZNAN, Poland (IPS/GIN) —U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a new green deal that would work for all nations, rich and poor, in the face of both climate change and the global economic crisis. Addressing the high-level segment of the gathering of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that kicked off Dec. 11, Ban pleaded for "global solidarity on climate change. He said the current crises of climate change and in the global economy present... MORE >>

EU bank accused of financing destruction by David Cronin BRUSSELS, Belgium (IPS/GIN) — The European Union (EU) is financing ecologically and socially destructive projects in Africa, officials reported at a conference in Brussels on Dec. 2. Officially, the Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank (EIB) is committed to using the $67 billion it releases each year to pursue policies that protect the environment and alleviate hardship. But evidence gathered from projects this EU body has financed in Africa indicates that its loans are having the ... MORE >>

U.S. court clears Chevron in Nigerian suit  (GIN) — A U.S. court has cleared oil giant Chevron of complicity in a deadly hostage incident in Nigeria, ending a 10-year struggle by Nigerian survivors of the event. Chevron was sued by Larry Bowoto and other members of “Concerned Ilaje Citizens,” who testified that soldiers and police shot unarmed residents of the Ilaje community when they staged a nonviolent sit-in on Chevron's offshore platform. They claimed that Chevron was liable for damages because it paid, fed... MORE >>

Conga President Kaila's link to 'brutal repression' by Special to the NNPA from GIN (GIN) — The executions of some 500 in northwest and southern Democratic Republic of Congo were linked by a leading human-rights group to the government of Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila. ''At least 500'' suspected political opponents have been killed in the last two years, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a just-published report. ''About 1,000 more'' have been detained since the July 2006 elections and possibly tortured, HRW said. Kabila himself set the ton... MORE >>

Mumbai attack shows security forces' faults by Indranil Banerjie NEW DELHI (IPS/GIN) — Over 24 hours after a group of armed men mounted a series of deadly coordinated attacks on Mumbai, it has become painfully apparent that India is woefully unprepared for terrorist attacks of this type. As exchanges of gunfire between Indian security forces and the terrorists, who had seized control of two of the city's finest luxury hotels and a building owned by a Jewish family, continued through Nov. 27, Indian security experts were unanimous in criticizing the f... MORE >>

Ending abuse of women by Joyce Mulama ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (IPS/GIN) — A continental meeting here Nov. 19-21 to review progress toward gender equality in Africa focused particularly on the need to end violence against women. Participants in the sixth African Development Forum in Ethiopia's capital took their leaders to task over failure to implement international declarations made to end violence against women. "There is much talk and signing of these things, and less action," said Botha Mbuyiselo of Sonk... MORE >>

Hamas, Fatah torture opponents in prison by Cherrie Heywood RAMALLAH, West Bank (IPS/GIN) — Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas refused to release 400 Hamas prisoners held in the West Bank, causing talks between rival political factions to collapse before they began. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, demanded their release as a precondition for attending the talks with Fatah that were to take place in Cairo under Egyptian mediation. Earlier this month, Hamas released 80 Fatah political prisoners from Gaza's jails and demanded ... MORE >>

China's Tibet, Taiwan talks get different reactions by Antoaneta Bezlova BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — Chinese negotiators last week discussed Tibet's quest for genuine autonomy with the Dalai Lama's representatives and also advanced establishing economic rapprochement with Taiwan. Beijing has been seeking reunification with Taiwan for as long as Tibet has pursued a promised right to self-determination, but the two negotiations got very different treatments in the state-sanctioned Chinese press. The Taiwan talks, which sought to build foundations for closer eng... MORE >>

Governments still don't do enough about poverty, experts say by Zahira Kharsany JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (IPS/GIN) — Anti-poverty activists are saying governments must listen to the more than 116 million people in 131 countries across the world who participated in the global “Stand Up and Take Action” campaign that became the biggest mass mobilization on a single issue. The activists criticized the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor continues to increase, while governments have refused to make poverty alleviation a priority. ... MORE >>

Experts predict a change in Cuba-U.S. relations fueled by oil discovery by Patricia Grogg HAVANA, Cuba, — The discovery of a significant oilfield in Cuban waters could persuade the United States to modify its policy toward the island nation, experts say. The experts were also warning that the possibility could also entail risks. “When there are important economic interests at play, in terms of market and resources that are strategic for Washington, the ideological components that have driven U.S. Cuba policy come tumbling down,” Cuban academic and r... MORE >>

Afghan jounalist to serve 20 years for blasphemy by Zainab Mineeia WASHINGTON — International human rights groups have called on Afghan authorities to free Afghan journalist Perwiz Kambakhsh, who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for blasphemy. Kambakhsh, 24, a journalism student at Balkh University and a reporter for the newspaper Jahan-e-Naw (New World), was arrested on Oct. 27, 2007, and accused of "blasphemy and distribution of texts defamatory of Islam." Afghan authorities claimed that Kambakhsh downloaded material from the... MORE >>

Market crises may help jungle, but not for long by Mario Osava RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (IPS/GIN) — The global economic slowdown resulting from the U.S. financial crisis could bring some short-term benefits for the environment, but the overall effect may be negative. A decline in global demand for farm products and the ensuing drop in prices, especially in the case of beef and soy, would ease pressure on the Amazon jungle, said Paulo Barreto, a researcher at the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (IMAZON). The expansion of cattle-r... MORE >>

Zimbabwe to host COMESA Summit by Stanley Kwenda HARARE, Zimbabwe (IPS/GIN) — Zimbabwe's government has announced that it will host the 13th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) summit. Originally scheduled for May, the summit was canceled at the last minute after state-sponsored violence engulfed the country following President Robert Mugabe's loss to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a first-round presidential election in March. The violence also forced Tsvangirai to pull out of the second round presidential v... MORE >>

Anti-poverty leader citews West's shortfalls by Zahira Kharsany JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (IPS/GIN) — Since 2005, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) has mobilized millions of people to demand an end to poverty and inequality. Last year, 43.7 million people took part in the "Stand Up" campaign's events around the world on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty; this year, the goal was for 67 million people to not just stand up but to take action against inequality Oct. 17 to 19. IPS (Inter Press Service) ... MORE >>

Toxic milk scandal leaves Chinese feeling cheated by Antoaneta Bezlova BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — The poisoned milk scandal — possibly the worst crisis of its type in modern Chinese history — has dealt a devastating blow to the public's trust in its government's benevolence. Generations have been brought up to believe in the Confucian credo that real governments exist to promote the people's welfare. But in the tainted-milk scandal, which was the result not of poor product safety but of deliberate adulteration of milk with harmful chemicals to maximiz... MORE >>

Activists show Japan's death row to world by Catherine Makino TOKYO (IPS/GIN) — Japan's death-row inmates participated in this year's World Day Against the Death Penalty by answering 14 survey questions from Forum 90, a civic organization opposed to capital punishment, which in turn published their responses Oct. 10 on its Japanese Web site. The World Day is focusing on Asia this year and calling for an end to executions in 14 Asian countries. Japan's death row inmates wrote of their suffering in solitary confinement, said Akiko Takada, an ... MORE >>

Malaysia's anti-terror law protests increase by Baradan Kuppusamy KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (IPS/GIN) — Public opposition is mounting against Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA), a colonial relic that gives police unchallenged discretion to arrest and detain anyone indefinitely without trial. Multiethnic Malaysia is one of the few countries that have such a law, and the reason given for its continuance is maintenance of interethnic peace — an argument that has lately become untenable. Many Malaysians support the ISA, but last month's arre... MORE >>

Hurricanes destroy crops, leave people jittery by Patricia Grogg HAVANA, (IPS/GIN) — In Cuba the shockwaves left by hurricanes Gustav and Ike will prevent any peace of mind for people in the most affected areas and in the whole country for a long time to come. Cubans are asking themselves if the worst is really over. "The hurricane season lasts through November,” said Georgina Fernández anxiously. “If another one strikes, what will become of us?" she asked. Fernández lives in Havana but has relatives ... MORE >>

Violence harms kids by Mel Frykberg RAMALLAH, West Bank (IPS/GIN) — Palestinian children continue to be victims of indiscriminate violence, due to the Israeli occupation and Palestinian infighting in the occupied territories. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed concern in its August report for the inadequate protection afforded Palestinian children. "In July, a 10-year-old Palestinian boy … was shot in the head with live ammunition and killed by the Israeli border poli... MORE >>

Dissident Cuban groups form integration committee by Patricia Grogg, Tieramerica HAVANA (IPS/GIN) — Dissident groups in Cuba are attempting to spark a debate on racism to promote "full integration" of all Cuban citizens. To eradicate discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity or skin color, a committee "without ideological affiliation or political goals" has just been formed to promote actions and initiatives to guarantee "a voice and a forum" for Cubans of African descent, "with the responsible support" of all Cubans who are ... MORE >>

Pakistan's Taliban tweaks media coverage by Ashfaq Yusufzai PESHAWAR, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) — The Pakistani government has frozen the bank accounts of Taliban factions in the North-West Frontier Province but has been unable to diminish the factions' presence in the media. Taliban representatives regularly call up the mainly Urdu-language media for free publicity. After the freeze was ordered Aug. 25, Tehrik-i-Taliban of Pakistan spokesman Mohammad Omar telephoned journalists to say the government's decision would not harm their interests, but rathe... MORE >>

Two Argentine generals face life for murder by Marcela Valente BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (IPS/GIN) — Retired Argentine Gen. Antonio Domingo Bussi, 82, has been sentenced to life in prison for a crime against humanity. A federal court in Tucumán province, where Bussi was stationed during the 1976-1983 dictatorship, found him guilty of torturing and killing provincial Sen. Guillermo Vargas Aignasse, who was abducted from his home on March 24, 1976. The prosecution called for Bussi to serve his sentence in prison, and the victim's widow an... MORE >>

As gold medals pile up, China dreams of outdoing U.S. by Antoaneta Bezlova   BEIJING, (IPS/GIN) — Chinese onlookers had hoped that the nation's athletes would shine on their home turf, but the scope of China's medal bonanza has far surpassed expectations and left many viewers amazed.  China pushed its sporting boundaries to the limit, bagging 45 golds by the end of Aug. 20 and closing up on its closest rival, the U.S., in the overall race, 83-81. With every gold taken home and with each raising of the Chinese flag at the award ceremonies, the euphori... MORE >>

Mideast joins race for renewable power by Meena Janardhan DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (IPS/GIN) — As the world scrambles to develop renewable energy resources, the oil-rich Gulf countries that benefit from high prices on fossil fuels are making sure they don't get left behind. According to the "Renewables Global Status Report 2007," the share of fossil fuels in the global final energy consumption in 2006 stood at 79 percent as the share of renewable energy resources climbed to 18 percent. A report by the Dubai-based Gulf Rese... MORE >>

Iran's leaders dismiss U.S. claims about Shiite militias by Omid Memarian UNITED NATIONS (IPS/GIN) — U.S. officials have once again failed to provide solid evidence of Iran allegedly providing lethal weapons to Shiite militias, raising questions about the actual level of Iran's meddling in Iraq. On Aug. 6, Alejandro Daniel Wolff, deputy permanent U.S. representative to the U.N., accused Tehran of funneling lethal weapons into Iraq. Iran called the allegations "absurd" and said making false claims had become "routine practice" by the U.S.... MORE >>

Xinjiang insurgents learn new tactics in Pakistan by Antoaneta Bezlova BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — China's elimination of insurgencies in its Western province of Xinjiang may have pushed a possible separatist movement across the border into Pakistan and Afghanistan, exposing it to greater influences by terrorist groups in those countries. With the Olympics well under way in Beijing, the province of Xinjiang has endured a spate of deadly attacks on government establishments and security personnel. Three violent incidents over the last 10 days have been inter... MORE >>

Faced with power outages, Iraqis turn to Iran by Ahmed Ali and Dahr Jamail BAQUBA, Iraq (IPS/GIN) — The electricity crisis drags on in Baquba, as summer temperatures climb to 55 degrees Celsius and a drought continues. The average house in Baquba, the capital of Diyala province north of Baghdad, has less than 12 hours of electricity a day. Lack of fans and air coolers can put people's health and businesses at risk. "Generators are not dependable," said Salman Taha, who owns a mechanics workshop. Bad as it is, the situation has been improving o... MORE >>

German court ruling renews push for smoking ban by Julio Godoy BERLIN (IPS/GIN) — A German constitutional court's ruling against a partial ban on smoking has led to calls for a new nationwide ban. The court recently ruled that the present ban violates the rights of small bar owners, who cannot build separate rooms for smokers, and ordered lawmakers to amend the ban by the end of next year. In the meantime, the court ruled that it will not apply to bars with less than 75 square meters of space. The present ban was passed last year by the fede... MORE >>

U.N. report: Mediation better, cheaper than peacekeeping by Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS/GIN) - Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan proved that conflict prevention is more cost-effective than peacekeeping earlier this year by spending only $208,000 on his mediation efforts to end the post-election ethnic rioting in Kenya. His mediation forestalled a civil war and averted a major bloodbath in Kenya. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a recent report by the U.S.-based RAND Corp. had indicated a 40 percent decline in the number of military conflicts w... MORE >>

Norway's oil fund pursues social responsibility by Tarjei Kidd Olsen OSLO, Norway (IPS/GIN) —Norway's oil fund has become the world's second largest sovereign wealth fund, under the leadership of an ethical investments council that has kicked out major companies such as Wal-Mart, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. The oil fund, officially known as the Government Pension Fund, is worth an estimated $390 billion. The fund invests some of the huge profits from Norway's oil and gas sector in companies worldwide, in anticipation of increased pension costs and a fut... MORE >>

Germans love Obama-for now BERLIN (IPS/GIN) — The extraordinary enthusiasm with which Germans greeted U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama in Berlin July 24 may have concealed a fear: Once the presidency of George W. Bush ends, Germans might be forced to close ranks with the U.S. and go back to playing the role of military junior partner of a superpower at war. But that was not immediately obvious through Obama's only public speech during his European tour this week in Berlin before some 200,000 German... MORE >>

U.S. - Iran detente viewed with caution DUBAI, UAE (IPS/GIN) — The turnaround in Washington-Tehran ties is being viewed with relief on the one hand and anxiety and anger on the other by various parts of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc. In a major policy shift by Washington, a senior U.S. State Department official attended the July 19 Iran-European Union talks in Geneva to discuss a package of incentives offered by world powers to first suspend and then permanently end Tehran's nuclear enrichment. Mor... MORE >>

Nelson Mandela celebrates 90th birthday in style by Bobbi Booker - Special to the NNPA from the Phildelphia Tribune (NNPA) — Mandela looked frail. He leaned on a cane as his wife helped him onto a London stage that was brightly illuminated for his upcoming 90th birthday. Pop culture news and political events prior to this special showcase had threatened to overshadow the honoree. But his brief speech — and the thunderous applause it garnered — made it clear that Nelson Mandela is still revered. &quo... MORE >>

Death penalty opposition KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (IPS/GIN) — Lawyers and opposition legislators are among a growing number  expressing concern over the drawn-out suffering of those on death row in Malaysia. Historically, many have supported execution as a punishment for nonlethal crimes such as drug trafficking, rape, and possession of firearms in this conservative country. In the latest widely reported case, which was held up by critics as an example of how a death sentence often results in decades ... MORE >>

Taliban trains more girls as suicide bombers PESHAWAR, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) — "I was able to save my daughter from becoming a suicide bomber," said Jamilur Rehman, a Pakistani schoolteacher whose 13-year-old daughter was taken away by a Taliban group. "She had been lured by her teacher at the religious school," Rehman added, explaining that his daughter was then trained as a suicide bomber in North Waziristan, a lawless border area. Rehman said his daughter, Sameena, took religious lessons in a seminary in... MORE >>

Islamic scholars disagree over abortion rights KARACHI, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) — A debate over the acceptability of abortions within Islam is raging in Pakistan, where thousands of women terminate their pregnancies every year. A 2004 study carried out over a two-year period by the Population Council of Pakistan showed that, at the time, 29 in 1,000 Pakistani women of reproductive age sought to terminate their pregnancies, and an estimated 890,000 abortions were occurring in Pakistan annually. Even liberal Islamic scholars such as... MORE >>

Sarkozy pushes punitive immigration laws PARIS, (IPS/GIN) — The French government, which assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union July 1, is trying to expand its tough policy against immigration and asylum to the entire European bloc. Before he assumed the European presidency, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was already campaigning for a "European Pact on Immigration and Asylum" that would harmonize countries' policies in both areas. The pact was officially presented to the EU July 7 and 8.... MORE >>

Singh refuses to give up on nuclear deal with U.S. NEW DELHI (IPS/GIN) — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has plunged his Congress Party and the country's ruling United Progressive Alliance government into a grave crisis by staking his personal reputation to the clinching of a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the U.S. Hanging in the balance is not only the survival of the government, but also the ability of the United Progressive Alliance to face an early national election amid adverse circumstances. The party is facin... MORE >>

Drug production soars in Afghanistan, Colombia  UNITED NATIONS (IPS/GIN) — Drug producers in Afghanistan and Colombia have recently increased the global supply of drugs, thereby threatening a recent stabilization in the world's illicit drug market. According to the U.N.'s World Drug Report 2008, released June 26, Afghanistan had a record opium harvest in 2007 that resulted in the doubling of the world's illegal opium production since 2005, and Colombia had an increase of 27 percent in coca cultivation in 2007. The report said m... MORE >>

Israeli air force trains for potential Iran attack JERUSALEM (IPS/GIN)— The New York Times reported June 21-22 that the Israeli air force had recently conducted what appeared to be a rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Over 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets, as well as helicopters and refueling tankers, took part in the exercise over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in early June, the report said. The exercise covered 1,400 kilometers, approximately the distance between Israel and the uranium enrichment plant ... MORE >>

Karzai's threat of war called alarming PESHAWAR, (IPS/GIN) —Afghan President Hamid Karzai's threat to send troops across the border to crush pro-Taliban forces, which sparked angry protests in Pakistan's border areas this week, has led to calls for restraint from moderate politicians in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). "Pakhtun blood is being shed on both sides of the border," observed Afrasiab Khattak, president of the NWFP's ruling Awami National Party (ANP). Describing the situation as &quo... MORE >>

IMF politics leavae legacy of hunder and insecurity CAPE TOWN, South Africa, (IPS/GIN) — People across Africa have taken to the streets in recent months to protest the rising cost of food. In response, their various governments have reacted swiftly and brutally. They have deployed security forces armed with shields, batons, tear gas, rifles and even machine guns against the protesters. As a result, hundreds of people have been killed. The reason why millions of people are struggling to afford food is because of huge social ... MORE >>

Polluters must bear costs of climate change by Newton Sibanda JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The 12th African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) ended five days of deliberation June 12 with calls for developed world polluters to pay poor African countries for the devastating impact of global warming. "Climate change is the defining human development and security issue of our generation," said Ewah Eleri, director of the Inter... MORE >>

Iraq birth defects spike by — Ali al-Fadhily and FALLUJAH, Iraq — Babies born in Fallujah are showing deformities and illness on a scale never seen before, doctors and residents say. The spike in child deformities and deaths occurred after "special weaponry" was used in the two massive bombing campaigns in Fallujah in 2004. After first denying it, the Pentagon admitted in November 2005 that white phosphorous, a restricted incendiary weapon, had been used a year earlier in Fallujah. Depleted uranium munitions, which co... MORE >>

War takes toll on animals FALLUJAH, Iraq (IPS/GIN) — Iraq's human death toll makes it easy to forget that farm animals, too, struggle to survive in this destabilized country. "Animals find it very hard to stay alive now," said Dr. Sammy Hashim, a veterinarian. "No one ... seems to care even for human beings under the occupation. Good drinking water, good feed, vet care, and medicines [for animals] are all unavailable … When we complain, the government … say[s] humans are first priority." "We were brought up to treat an... MORE >>

Bestseller evades censors BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — Millions of Chinese have bought "Wolf Totem," a whodunit that won the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize last fall. Its author's identity remained a mystery for much of four years, while the book broke sales records at home and attracted attention from foreign publishers. Until the book's English-language debut with Penguin this year, few interviews with the author had appeared. But even as his real name, Lu Jiamin, has come to light, the mystery surrounding the book has not... MORE >>

Five million children die every year in Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa (IPS/GIN) — Over 10 million children around the world die before their fifth birthday every year, according to a UNICEF report, "The State of Africa's Children 2008," presented May 28 at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The report looks at the successes and failures of governments regarding the health and survival of the children of Africa and is complementary to a broader UNICEF report on the health of the world's children. Although Afri... MORE >>

East Timor president criticized for pardons DILI, East Timor (IPS/GIN) — East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta has pardoned those involved in the violent incidents of 1999 and 2006, throwing a shadow over the fledgling country's justice system and efforts at reconciliation with Indonesia. On May 20, East Timor's sixth anniversary of independence, Horta used his presidential prerogative to "grant pardons and commute sentences after consultation with the government." In all, 94 listed prisoners were given full or partial pardon. Critics ha... MORE >>

Media reports stir up public's fear of Muslims PRAGUE, Czech Republic, (IPS/GIN) — Attitudes toward Muslims in the Czech Republic worsened following the Sept. 11 attacks, and media agencies have since played on Czechs' fears of terrorism to rally support for pro-U.S. foreign policy. In particular, the U.S. proposal to protect the West from alleged Middle Eastern missile threats by extending its missile defense system to the Czech Republic and Poland has been accompanied by media reports on the imminent dangers of Islamic terrorism. A recent... MORE >>

GM foods are the problem, not the solution, activists say BONN, Germany, (IPS/GIN) - Some leaders have suggested that the use of genetically modified crops could help to solve the global food crisis, but others have responded that such a move could hurt both human health and the environment. More than 3,000 delegates from 147 countries met for the U.N. conference on biosafety in Bonn, Germany and debated the tradeoffs associated with using genetically modified crops. The conference has sought to ensure the safe use of modern biotechnology. Feeding th... MORE >>

Biotech firms lobby against environmental rules BONN, Germany, (IPS/GIN) —Major multinational corporations are increasingly running public relations campaigns to come off as ethical and ecological, but they are simultaneously disregarding herbal property rights and resisting international regulations intended to protect the environment. This became evident at the fourth meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which opened in Bonn May 12. Major biochemical companies are either trying to boycott tougher international regu... MORE >>

Israeli siege leads to soaring anemia in Gaza newborns GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, (IPS/GIN) — The Israeli siege of Gaza that has restricted access to food, water, and medicine is beginning to cause serious problems for newborn babies and pregnant mothers. "Many babies are born suffering from anemia that they have inherited from their mothers," said Dr. Salah al-Rantisi, head of the women's health department at the Palestinian ministry of health in Gaza. The mothers are becoming anemic because they do not get enough nutrition during pregnancy due to the ... MORE >>

Most Israelis expect war in five years JERUSALEM (IPS/GIN) — Israelis are deeply pessimistic about peace prospects with their neighbors. As Israel marks its 60th anniversary, 75 percent believe they will be at war again within five years. According to the April issue of Tel Aviv University's monthly War and Peace Index, 70 percent of Israel’s Jewish public does not expect an agreement with the Palestinians, and 66 percent expressed similar thoughts about a deal with Syria. Some 75 percent of the Jewish public said they thought Israe... MORE >>

Human rights group threatens to sue Chevron BANGKOK, Thailand (IPS/GIN) — A nonprofit group is warning the U.S. energy giant Chevron to clean up its act in Burma or face legal proceedings, in which the multinational firm's links to human rights violations could be exposed. There has been little relief for villagers living in the Yadana pipeline region in southern Burma since the Chevron Corp. became a partner to this natural gas venture in 2005, according to a report released April 29 by the Washington-based group EarthRights Internationa... MORE >>

U.S.: Pressure mounts for reassessment of strategy in Pakistan WASHINGTON, (IPS/GIN) -- Congressional investigators from the United States are increasingly warning that the greatest threat to the U.S. is developing in the tribal areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. As a result, appeals for the Bush administration to reassess its "global war on terror" and Pakistan's place in it are gaining momentum. ... MORE >>

U.N. Security Council makes little headway in talks on Iran BEIJING, (IPS/GIN) -- Tehran's defiant position on its nuclear program has prevented the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany from making any significant progress in their talks this week on Iran. The talks were hosted by China in the financial hub of Shanghai on April 16, and they trailed Iranian President Ahmadinejad's announcement that his country had tested a new advanced centrifuge and started to install 6,000 new centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enric... MORE >>

Gaza: Thousands mourn for cameraman slain by Israeli missile GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, (IPS/GIN) -- Fadel Shana, a cameraman for the Reuters news agency, was killed April 16 while filming Israeli tanks as they fired missiles in Gaza. It was the 23-year-old cameraman's job to go to the scene of Israeli bombings. Shana had also been injured in August 2006 in the north of the Gaza Strip during an Israeli missile attack. This time, though, he wasn't lucky enough to survive. A barrage of metal shrapnel pierced his body as a tank missile landed close to him. Af... MORE >>

Sri Lanka's garment traders fear EU may cut duty concessions COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (IPS/GIN) — Members of Sri Lanka's garment industry are worried that the duty-free access to European markets that they now enjoy will soon be cut, due to alleged human rights violations related to the country's ethnic conflict. European Union (EU) trade concessions, known as GSP+, are ending this year and will come up for review in October. Already the EU has indicated that continuing the GSP+ depends on how well the Sri Lankan government is seen to be implementing 27 intern... MORE >>

Clashes belie U.S. claims about troop surge success BAGHDAD (IPS/GIN) — Recent clashes between members of Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army, the largest militia in the country, and members of the Iraqi government forces have offered yet more proof that the U.S. war in Iraq has been a massive failure. "Mehdi army militias controlled all Shia and mixed parts of Baghdad in no time," said a Baghdad police colonel on March 25, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Iraqi army and police forces as well as Badr and Dawa militias suddenly disappeared from the ... MORE >>

Afghanistan surveys reveal disillusionment with Karzai, NATO  Hamid Karzai KABUL, Afghanistan (IPS/GIN) — The Shahr-e-now park in the center of Kabul has seen better days. "It used to be really beautiful, back during the early '90s," Kabul resident Torialay said. "But after the Mujahi... MORE >>

New biosafety rules pave way for transgenic crops MEXICO CITY (IPS/GIN) — Mexico is set to clear the way for legal cultivation of transgenic crops, despite resistance from environmentalists and several small farmer associations. The rules for the 2005 Biosafety Law on Genetically Modified Organisms were published March 20, and by the end of this year a national biosafety system and special guidelines for the experimental sowing of transgenic maize will be in place. Some scientists and the government say this was appropriate and necessary to ens... MORE >>

Abortion limitations sought in Italy ROME (IPS/GIN) — Female scientists, intellectuals, and professionals in Italy are fighting for abortion rights in the face of an effort by center-right politicians and Catholic doctors associations to ban all abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy. Italy's abortion rights law allows abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and until the 24th if the mother's life is at risk or if the fetus is seriously malformed. But opponents of the law say it should be restricted, in light of medical ad... MORE >>

Fanaticism compounds violence Gaza women endure GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  (IPS/GIN) — Mahasen Darduna, 30, has sat day and night by her son's hospital bed for a whole week. The 9-year-old was hit by an Israeli missile while playing football on a field at the Jabaliya refugee camp. But she must also slip away often to see her other five children, whom she has moved to her mother-in-law's house in the hope that they will be safer there. In the same hospital room, Umm Ali Faraj looks after her 7-year-old son, who suffered a cracked skull in a bom... MORE >>

Bhutto murder suspect arrested - or protected Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) — The arrest of top militant leader Qari Saifullah Akhtar may have brought Pakistani intelligence agencies closer to discovering a conspiracy behind the Dec... MORE >>

Pakistani intelligence official admits election manipulation ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) — A former top official of Pakistan's shadowy but powerful Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has called for its political cell to be shut down for its involvement in forging unnatural alliances contrary to public interests. Ehtesham Zamir, a major general in the Pakistan army who also headed the ISI political cell, confessed to manipulating the 2002 general election at the behest of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Zamir told a daily newspaper, The News, that Mu... MORE >>

Feminist supermodel feared dead (GIN) — Described as Yves Saint Laurent's "muse," Katoucha Niane was the first French supermodel from Guinea, West Africa, and an outspoken activist against female circumcision. She disappeared earlier this month and is feared dead. On Feb. 1, according to official reports, Niane was returning from a party to her houseboat on the Seine River, near the Alexander III bridge in Paris, when she went missing. Her purse was found outside the door to her boat. Detectives believe the mother of three lo... MORE >>

Indonesian Supreme Court delays Bali bombers' execution MELBOURNE, Australia (IPS/GIN) — The three Islamist militants sentenced to death for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings have won an execution delay, but it is likely to be temporary. Amrozi, Ali Ghufron, and Imam Samudra were sentenced to death in 2003 for their roles in the 2002 bombings in Bali that left 202 people dead. Eighty-eight Australians on holiday were among the victims. The bombers' execution date was set in 2006 but has been delayed by appeals. On Jan. 2, the three militants off... MORE >>

Guantanamo prisoner may die without care KARACHI, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) — Pakistani Saifullah Paracha, who suffers from a serious heart condition and who has been incarcerated in the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo, Cuba, since September 2004 may die unless provided special care, his lawyer says. "The government of Pakistan cannot sit by and allow this to continue," said Zachary Katznelson, senior counsel with Reprieve, a British legal rights group, over e-mail. "I am gravely concerned that unless Mr. Paracha is given heart treatment i... MORE >>

Namibian government may offer water subsidies to poor WINDHOEK, Namibia (IPS/GIN) - The Namibian government is finally taking steps to address the countrywide problem of access to water, after having been accused for years of making this vital resource unaffordable for the poor. In an attempt to meet the eight millennium development goals set by world leaders at a special United Nations General Assembly meeting in 2000, the Namibian government is considering the viability of including water subsidies for poorer families in a new development plan, s... MORE >>

New report: Black children doing better than ever, but still trail White children in quality of life Special to the NNPA from The Louisiana Weekly LOUISIANA (NNPA) — Black children are doing better than ever, but they still have a long way to go before closing the racial-ethnic gap in quality of life, according to a report released last month by the Foundation for Child Development (FCD. The report was the first ever to analyze and compare trends in the well-being of Black, White, and Hispanic children over a span of nearly two decades. According to the report, all children experienced ove... MORE >>

For El Salvadoran workers, DR-CAFTA no benefit AN SALVADOR, El Salvador (IPS/GIN) — A free trade agreement signed nearly two years ago by El Salvador and the U.S. has failed to yield the instant benefits Salvadoran leaders had promised. They had proclaimed that the pact would instantly create thousands of jobs. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) with the United States was supposed to enable El Salvador to increase its exports to the U.S. market and attract foreign investment. However, economists consulted ... MORE >>

Kataib fighters win Iraqis' gratitude BAQUBA, Iraq (IPS/GIN) — New military operations in Diyala province north of Baghdad have escalated the conflict that has been brewing between U.S.-backed Sunni fighters and Iraq's army and police forces. The U.S. military commenced a large military operation Jan. 8 in the volatile Diyala province. Seven U.S. battalions led an offensive to push out fighters affiliated with "al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia" from the area. In the current operation, U.S., Iraqi, and local fighters have faced no serious re... MORE >>

Mideast academics see U.S. foreign policy shifts CAIRO, Egypt (IPS/GIN) — Notable political reorientations involving Iran, the Gulf states, Egypt, and Lebanon have taken place in recent months, and experts say the changes reflect a shift in Washington's regional strategy. "U.S. policies in the region are either in retreat or undergoing re-examination," said Ayman Abelaziz Salaama, an international law professor at Cairo University. "Washington's project for a new Middle East, launched in 2001 with the aim of redrawing the region to suit U.S. i... MORE >>

Election fraud charges leave Kenya unstable GIN)— Unsettled fraud charges continue to divide Kenya, creating the prospect of dangerous political upheaval. Defeated opposition leader Raila Odinga has turned down an offer to meet with President Mwai Kibaki to end the violence that has taken some 500 lives across the east African state. But Odinga has welcomed intervention by African leaders, including President John Kufuor of Ghana, chair of the African Union, who hope to bring the two feuding leaders together. ''We want to engage in the n... MORE >>

Boycott of child-picked cotton sought MOSCOW (IPS/GIN) — Activists have called for an immediate boycott of Uzbek cotton produced by forced child labor. In other places, child labor is often caused by poverty, but in Uzbekistan, activists say, it is due to central government coercion. "[In] the Soviet Union, forced labor was accompanied by some care for the health of children, the quality of their nutrition, and development of the rural social infrastructure," said Nadejda Atayeva, president of the Paris-based group Human Rights in ... MORE >>

Civil rights leaders see 2008 as year of movement 'beyond freedom' to equality by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Leaving what could be described as the most intense year for civil rights activism since before the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. nearly 40 years ago, civil rights leaders vowed this week to move into 2008 with the vigor to go beyond the freedoms gained in the 1960s to the equality that is yet to be achieved. "On Dr. King's birthday 40 years ago, he spoke on the triple evils of racism, capitalism, and militarism," the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. told... MORE >>

Violence scales back campaigns PESHAWAR, Pakistan (IPS/GIN) —One day before she was killed by gunfire near Pakistan's capital, Benazir Bhutto held an election rally in Peshawar, in the North Western Frontier Province. But despite her mass appeal as two-time prime minister and leader of Pakistan's most popular party, the rally Dec. 26 was sparsely attended. Memories of the bloody attack on a mosque in the North Western Frontier Province's Charsadda district on the festival of Eid al Adha a week earlier were fresh in people's m... MORE >>

Art piece invites public to reveal torturers SANTIAGO, Chile (IPS/GIN) —Chilean artist Iván Navarro has installed a giant word-search puzzle in a Santiago art gallery, inviting viewers to search for the names of 332 agents who allegedly tortured and murdered opponents of General Augusto Pinochet. Navarro, 35, is showing the installation, titled "Where Are They?,"  until Jan. 31. Before entering the exhibit, each visitor is given a booklet and a flashlight. The booklet gives information about Pinochet's 300-plus civilian and military coll... MORE >>

Global justice movements are on the rise, scholar says   Claudia CiobanuBERLIN (IPS/GIN) — Social movements are responsible for some of the most important transformations taking place lately in our societies, according to professor Dieter Rucht from the Berlin Center for Social Sciences. Rucht, t... MORE >>

British journalist reports from inside Nazareth By A. David Dahmer “What impresses me are the many people who rise above it and say, ‘There’s no point in giving this hatred back,’ says Jonathan Cook, a British journalist who lives among Palestinians in the ghettos of Nazareth, Israel. “Palestinians are so ready to forgive. The problem is, they don’t feel that on the other side there is any desire for peace or justice.” Cook was in Madison recently giving a talk on “Democracy in Israel and Modern Zionism” as part of a... MORE >>

Interview with Ali Abunimah: Author points to a different plan for Mid East peace By A. David Dahmer Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. With that in mind, Palestinian American author and activist Ali Abunimah has set out to present a thought-provoking approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that contradicts the model that has failed for decades. His new book, One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse, calls for the abandonment of the two-state a... MORE >>

Gaza journalist faces death daily to do his job By A. David Dahmer In a very violent and chaotic area of the world, words and photos are Mohammed Omer's weapon against injustice, destruction, hate, starvation, and oppression. "But carrying a camera is like carrying a gun in that area," says Omer, the Gaza correspondent for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA). "Many journalists have been injured and killed in the Gaza Strip. Carrying a camera in Gaza makes you a target for Israeli soldiers, ... MORE >>

News at a Glance Challenges 2007: In today’s Iraq, “we expect death every minuteBAGHDAD (IPS/GIN) — Despite promises from Iraqi and U.S. leaders that Iraqis' lives would improve in 2006, the year was the worst in living memory, bringing violence, fragmentation, and a disintegrating economy.The promise of a year ago was that through an elected parliament and a unity government, Iraqis would find peace and start rebuilding a country torn apart by the U.S.-backed U.N. sanct... MORE >>

Abortions, birth rate fall in Cuba HAVANA (IPS/GIN) — The abortion rate in Cuba has fallen slightly, but not enough to represent a major change, according to a recently released study, “Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy and Contraception: Two Methods of Fertility Control” by biostatistics expert Miriam Gran of over 4,000 women. Published this year, the study, which is being circulated among government officials and specialists, included 1,806 women who decided to terminate their pregnancies and 2,442 who did not. ... MORE >>

With Saddam, Taliban gone, Iran’s strength increases WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) — The George W. Bush administration is courting Arab monarchies with the same proposal it offered them 15 years ago, after the first Gulf War — purchase U.S. weaponry for billions, and Washington will protect you against your Persian nemesis. But today, the Arab monarchies are less than enthusiastic about putting their security solely in the hands of an increasingly unpopular United States. With China’s dependence on Gulf energy increasing and the inevitable rise of Ir... MORE >>