ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN-INDIA: Indians Warn Europe Of Bio-piracy Dangers

An Indian delegation, in Europe to express Third World concerns about a planned European Union directive on life patents, now fears the directive might be allowed to slip through on account of European politicians' "apathy".

ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN-UNITED STATES: World Suffers Environmental Stress

The world today is warmer, more urban, economically richer and environmentally poorer than ever before, according to the latest report from Worldwatch Institute.

ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN-ARGENTINA: Logging, Global Warming Behind the Floods

Few in Argentina, in the grips of severe flooding which has claimed 17 lives, remember the long-time warnings of environmentalists and meteorologists of the risks presented by clear logging and global warming.

ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN-INDONESIA: Wakeup Call to Mine Shareholders

Environmentalists and human rights activists, have taken their fight against a U.S. multinational mining company operating in Indonesia to its investors and shareholders.

ENERGY-NEPAL: Wanted Small Power Projects

Nepal's Water Ministry has suddenly become the champion of small hydropower and irrigation projects after years of confrontation with environmentalists over multi- million dollar dam projects.

ECONOMY-GHANA: Local Investors Turn to the Stock Market

For a long time, Ghanaians watched the stock market from the sidelines. But now, they have jumped on the stock market bandwagon and, according to analysts, their activities are helping to push the market to greater heights.

DEVELOPMENT: In Amazon Region, Progress Comes at High Price

Teachers and parents of children in a hamlet in the Amazonian rain forest of Peru had to postpone indefinitely the start of school this year because they had no money to buy textbooks or notebooks. In another village, more than 5,000 tons of jute is awaiting a buyer because the cost of the plant imported from India or Pakistan is cheaper than the local rate.

ENVIRONMENT-BRAZIL: Sao Paulo’s Great Open-Air Sewer

Part of the 2,400 kms long Tiete river, that links Sao Paulo with MERCOSUR through the Tiete-Parana system, is in danger of becoming one of the the world's longest open-air sewers, say environmentalists.

RIGHTS-AMERICAS: Democracy Brings Change of Uniform for Impunity

Democracy has not brought the Americas a reduction in impunity when it comes to human rights violations. But the biggest violators no longer wear a military but a police uniform, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) warned Friday.

ECONOMY-ASIA: As Indonesia Burns, Neighbours Stabilise Somewhat

East Asia's economies appear to be headed for some stability 10 months after a financial crisis first swept through the region, except for increasingly volatile Indonesia, economic experts say.

HEALTH-JAPAN: Trouble in Smokers’ Paradise

Japan may still be a smokers' paradise, but its fledgling anti-tobacco lobby is determined to wage legal battle against big tobacco firms, be they local or foreign producers.

AFGHANISTAN: Peace Hopes Revive, Taliban Lift Food Blockade

The Taliban's decision to lift a food blockade on rival-controlled areas in Afghanistan this week has raised hopes for the revival of stalled peace talks in Afghanistan.

ECONOMY-SIERRA LEONE: Donors Come To Town

Several large donor missions and assessment teams are currently in Sierra Leone to see how the international community can help the returned civilian government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah rebuild the war-torn country.

POLITICS-AFRICA: Mobutu Officers Finally Find A Home

Four top military officers in the former Zairean government of the late Mobutu Sese Seko have finally found a place of asylum after shuffling through a number of countries for about a year.

SUDAN: Radical Islamic Groups Reject Proposed Constitution

A radical Islamic group here has rejected Sudan's proposed constitution which it says has placed Islamic laws on equal footing with customary laws, and has permitted non- Muslims to hold top political posts in the country.

ECONOMY-ZIMBABWE: Black Economic Empowerment Under Threat?

When an icon of the Zimbabwean Black economic empowerment movement fell off the wall and had a great fall recently, analysts began to speculate that other up and coming Black businesses would find it hard to pick up the pieces.

TECHNOLOGY-MIDDLE EAST/MAGHREB: Readying For The Year 2000

Jan. 1, 2000 could be a sad Saturday for the world. Experts warn of a potential computer collapse that could wreak havoc unless trained experts get to work now to weed out the 'millenium bugs' in their systems.

ENVIRONMENT/RIGHTS-RUSSIA: Secret Police Up To Old KGB Tricks

Environmentalist Alexander Nikitin is now facing physical intimidation from agents of the Russian security forces (FSB) as he awaits a seventh set of charges for treason.

RIGHTS-LABOUR: Clothing Industry’s Failures Under Attack Again

Widespread violations of the rights of workers in the garment and sportswear industry have been condemned here by the self-styled 'Permanent People's Tribunal', a panel of experts in the field of international law.

TRADE: Divisions Between US-Latam on Labor, Environment

Deep divisions between the United States and Latin America regarding the effect global trade has on social issues emerged this week at a conference of hundreds of diplomats and corporate executives in Washington.

MEDIA-CARIBBEAN: Spin Doctors At Work Doing Damage Control

All hands are reportedly on deck as the Trinidad and Tobago Public Communications Ministry goes to work to repair damage sustained by the government following the recent expulsion of a Barbadian journalist who lived and worked here for five years.