Farhan Haq

CINEMA-USA: ‘Liar Liar’ Strikes a Familiar Chord

You can't help wondering at the state of the nation and its politicians when the most popular film on the screens across the United States today is about a lawyer who is forced to stop lying!

ENVIRONMENT-CANADA: Greenpeace Scolds British Columbia Forest Claims

By Farhan Haq

Canada's federal and provincial governments are spending millions of dollars to tout recent changes in forestry rules, but they are not actually practising what they preach, the environmental group Greenpeace says.

/IPS ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN/ UNITED NATIONS: Trade Unions Want More Say in Environmental Affairs

By Farhan Haq

Workers and their trade unions must have a greater voice in determining environmental and health conditions in the workplace, say labour leaders from around the world.

DISARMAMENT: Activists See Few Concrete Results from Nuclear Talks

By Farhan Haq

Nuclear activists greeted the conclusion of a two-week review of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) here with a mixture of relief and dismay: relief that nations discussed relevant nuclear issues, and dismay that they did little about them.

KOREA-U.S.: Koreas Seem Close to Four-Party Peace Talks

By Farhan Haq

The unfinished four-decade war between North and South Korea has moved closer than ever to possible peace talks involving the United States and China.

HONG KONG-U.S.: Democratic Leader’s Visit Puts White House on the Spot

By Jim Lobe and Farhan Haq

Hong Kong Democratic Party leader Martin Lee's hastily arranged meeting later this week with U.S. President Bill Clinton comes at a critical moment in Sino-U.S. relations.

LABOUR-ENVIRONMENT: Trade Unions Want More Say in Environmental Affairs

By Farhan Haq

Workers and their trade unions must have a greater voice in determining environmental and health conditions in the workplace, say labour leaders from around the world.

/IPS ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN/ UNITED NATIONS: Diplomats Voice Optimism As Earth Summit Anniversary Nears

By Farhan Haq

U.N. diplomats are upbeat that they can devise concrete proposals on the environment in time for the fifth anniversary of the Rio de Janeiro 'Earth Summit' in June.

U.S.-LABOUR: White House Panel on Sweatshops Doesn’t Please Everyone

By Farhan Haq

After months of haggling, a special White House task force on sweatshops, combining business and labour groups, is set to deliver recommendations on working conditions abroad, but some groups are already unhappy with its proposals.

DISARMAMENT: U.S. Lagging on Treaties Could Hurt Nuclear Progress

By Farhan Haq

U.S. delays in ratifying weapons treaties are sending disturbing signals to other nations that Washington may not be able to commit itself to reducing its nuclear arsenal, nuclear experts say.

ENVIRONMENT: Diplomats Voice Optimism as Earth Summit Anniversary Nears

By Farhan Haq

U.N. diplomats are upbeat that they can devise concrete proposals on the environment in time for the fifth anniversary of the Rio de Janeiro 'Earth Summit' in June.

UNITED STATES: Hamas Chief Prepares to Leave, but Remains Detained

By Farhan Haq

The U.S. detention of Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzook, which has lasted nearly two years, is winding down, but his lawyers say there is still no clear end in sight to what they call a "Lewis Carroll meets Franz Kafka tragedy."

/IPS ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN/ DISARMAMENT: U.N. Meet Wil Test Nuclear Commitments, Groups Say

By Farhan Haq

A two-week meeting to review the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will be a key test of how nations intend to fulfill the treaty's obligations, disarmament groups say -- yet there is no guarantee that the talks will succeed.

LABOUR-U.S.: Groups Ponder New Campaigns for Independent Monitoring

By Farhan Haq

Pleased by the growth of consumer boycotts to support better working conditions overseas, U.S. labour rights groups believe the time is ripe to push corporations to embrace independent oversight of their foreign operations.

MIDEAST: U.N. Dispute on Israeli Settlements Muddles U.S. Role

By Farhan Haq

For the United Nations, a dispute between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) over settlement activity around Jerusalem has become the one issue that will not go away.

UNITED STATES: Confusion Spreads as New Immigration Laws Take Effect

By Farhan Haq

For a few hours on April 1, even most immigration experts were at a loss to explain whether new U.S. immigration laws were in force or not.

PHOTOGRAPHY: US Galleries Honour Manuel Alvarez Bravo

By Farhan Haq

After nearly a century of establishing himself as one of the world's most perceptive photographers, Mexico's Manuel Alvarez Bravo is enjoying a widespread display of his work at top galleries in New York.

UNITED STATES: U.S. Ruling Leads To Dispute Over Indian Land

By Farhan Haq

Forced expulsions have played a major role in American Indian history. This time, one Indian tribe is poised to begin evictions of members of another next week because of a land dispute in Arizona.

UNITED STATES: Confusion Over New Laws Prompts Rush to the Altar /REPEATING/

By Farhan Haq

Donna Watkins' proposal for marriage from her year-long boyfriend, Zachary, came with a deadline: April 1, the date on which many undocumented immigrants in the United States believe they could face penalties if they are not naturalised citizens.

UNITED STATES: Confusion Over New Laws Prompts Rush to the Altar

By Farhan Haq

Donna Watson's proposal for marriage from her year-long boyfriend, Zachary, came with a deadline: April 1, the date on which many undocumented immigrants in the United States believe they could face penalties if they are not naturalised citizens.

DEVELOPMENT-ENVIRONMENT: Cut Billions in Subsidies, Report Says

By Farhan Haq

Government subsidies in everything from food and water to transport and energy contribute to environmental problems and should be removed, a new study conducted by the Dutch Institute for Research and Public Expenditure argues.