May 1998

AMERICAS: Cuba, Absent Protagonist at OAS Assembly

Cuba will be the only country from the Americas missing at the coming 28th assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Venezuela. But its very absence will predominate over a large part of the debate among the 34 foreign ministers.

POPULATION-GUYANA: Living Under the Threat of a Race War

By IPS Correspondents

Enough is enough, at least that is how businessman Peter DeGroot feels about the tension between the races which has been simmering for a long time and which he says has now reached boiling point.

EDUCATION-LATAM: ECLAC Criticises “Magic Potion” Concept

By IPS Correspondents

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) cast aspersions on the regional governments' view of education as a sort of "magic potion" to cure social equity.

ENVIRONMENT: Task Force to Strengthen U.N. Activities

By IPS Correspondents

New proposals to reform and strengthen United Nations activities in the environmental and human settlement sectors will tabled in Geneva next month, according to the executive director of the U.N. environment programme (UNEP), Klaus Toepfer.

TRADE-MERCOSUR: Brazil Sounds out WTO on Automobile Tariff Plan

By Gustavo Capdevila

Brazil's car industry put feelers out in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for possible obstacles to its plans to become one of the leading world vehicle producers.

NICARAGUA: Suspension of Ortega’s Immunity, an Acid Test

By IPS Correspondents

The main obstacle standing in the way of the rape charges against former Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega will be the legislature, which must consider whether to suspend the immunity he enjoys as a parliamentary deputy, say activists who support Zoilamerica Narvaez.

INDONESIA: Economy Flounders, But No Quick Help from IMF

By IPS Correspondents

A semblance of normalcy seems to have returned to the streets of the Indonesian capital, where fatigue- clad soldiers are retreating and commuters are once again jostling for public transport.

/CORRECTED REPEAT//INDONESIA: Economy Flounders, But No Quick Help from IMF

By IPS Correspondents

A semblance of normalcy seems to have returned to the streets of the Indonesian capital, where fatigue- clad soldiers are retreating and commuters are once again jostling for public transport.

POLITICS-EAST AFRICA: Kampala And Khartoum Try To Mend Fences

By Moyiga Nduru

Uganda and Sudan, both long-time sworn enemies, have resorted to talks in an attempt to prevent a simmering tension between them from turning into a full-blown war and to patch up old wounds.

AGRICULTURE: Big Water Project Revived in Brazil

By Mario Osava

The severe drought in northeast Brazil, that caused near riots by 10,000 hungry citizens has forced officials to dust off plans to divert the waters of the Sao Francisco river to irrigate parched farmlands.

POLITICS-BURMA: Lessons in Revolution for Indonesia

By IPS Correspondents

Indonesia's pro-democracy movement, which forced the resignation of President Suharto, has evoked an acute sense of deja vu in military-ruled Burma.

DEVELOPMENT: Microcredit Boosters Optimistic Before Review

By Farhan Haq

Supporters of a campaign to provide small loans to 100 million of the world's poorest families by the year 2005 were confident Wednesday of reaching their goal after hundreds of groups submitted action plans to meet that target.

YEMEN/UNITED STATES: Washington Sweet Talks Sana’a

By IPS Correspondents

The United States has begun taking a lot of interest in Yemen in recent months. Middle East diplomats and other observers are intrigued as to why, exactly.

BANGLADESH: Bloody Turf Battles Cripple Campuses

By IPS Correspondents

The crackle of gun fire has become quite common in Bangladesh's politicised university campuses where clashing groups of students fight turf battles with unlicensed firearms.

POLITICS-NIGERIA: Concern About the Future Unties More Tongues

By IPS Correspondents

Concern over the future of Nigeria's transition to democracy has been leading personalities from an increasingly broad spectrum in the West African nation to speak out against military rule.

HEALTH-INDIA: HIV/AIDS Prompts Scramble for Aid

By IPS Correspondents

The promise of a 200 million dollar World Bank package to fight the galloping spread of HIV/AIDS in India has prompted non-government organisations (NGOs) to scramble for a piece of the action.

ECONOMY-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Forging Ahead With New Partners

By IPS Correspondents

While Southern African leaders ran through the usual list of calls for debt relief and political stability during their recent economic summit, a new spirit emerged as leaders recognised the need to work more closely with the private sector and labour.