ENVIRONMENT: EU Move Against Illegal Timber ‘Toothless’

A European Union blueprint for curbing import of illegal wood has been branded "toothless" by green activists.

POLITICS-US: Much Ado About ACORN

As Election Day in the United States draws nigh, attacks from Sen. John McCain's campaign and its Republican supporters have focused attention on the activities of a national low- and moderate-income advocacy group, accusing it of everything from engaging in widespread, systematic voter fraud to causing the U.S.-turned-global financial crisis.

OIL SANDS-PART 2: "Where I Come From Is Ground Zero"

The wheels of the Caterpillar 797B, the world's largest truck, are always going round and round at Shell Canada's Albian Sands mine.

ECONOMY-JAPAN: Hurting From Global Recession

Japan’s economy, on an upward trend for several years, has been hit badly by the global credit crisis. As Tokyo stock prices posted its second largest drop on record, anxiety spread of a global recession.

ZIMBABWE: Time To Do The Right Thing

At least 5,000 people are expected to gather in Chitungwiza today to demand improved access to water, sanitation and health services as part of the Stand Up, Take Action Against Poverty campaign.

CARIBBEAN: Trade Pact Signed Amid Uncertain Future

The Caribbean region officially launched a new trade regime with Europe Wednesday with the signing of a controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that one supporter said "marks, in a sense, the economic adulthood of the Caribbean".

EUROPE: The Appetite Is for Money

Faced with the prospect that a number of banks could collapse, European Union governments have this week approved a rescue plan worth more than 1,800 billion euros (2,460 billion dollars). Faced with a food crisis which has seen a major leap in the numbers of people suffering from hunger, the EU's policy makers are mulling over a proposal to give 1 billion euros to farmers in poor countries.

OIL SANDS-PART 1: Showdown at Ft. McMoney

The sun rises in a bright, red line over flat land, small lakes, boreal forest and peat bogs as our small double engine plane bumps through early morning turbulence between Edmonton and Ft. McMurray, Canada.

HEALTH-ZIMBABWE: Activists Say Cholera Due to Failed Leadership

"In my nine years as a nurse, I have never been so devastated. You know how discouraging it is to see people dying before your eyes. And you know very well there is nothing you can do to help them."

INDIA/PAKISTAN: Picking Up The Peace Threads

India and Pakistan are trying to revitalise their mutual dialogue and pick up the threads of the peace process they launched in early 2004. This may be the last such effort before the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demits office by May next, if not sooner.

Island paradise short on equality

WORLD FOOD DAY: Eating Less, Paying More

Despite wall-to-wall media coverage of the financial crisis rocking the U.S. and, increasingly, other financial systems around the world, a crisis with a larger scope is brewing with little attention.

CLIMATE CHANGE: EU Members Changing Their Mind

Plans by the European Union to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by one-fifth encountered serious difficulties this week as some of the bloc's governments deemed the measures too costly.

WORLD FOOD DAY: Zambia's Women Farmers Demand Policy Changes

Zambia's tens of thousands of peasant farmers are crucial to the country's food security, yet they have little voice in agricultural policy. Cecilia Violet Makota is one of the rare exceptions.

RIGHTS-EGYPT: New Family Laws: A Success Story?

It was a love story of sorts and one that led to marriage. But 18 months later Nayrouz filed for divorce, making her part of a growing number of Egyptian women who are leaving their marriages. One in three marriages in this highly traditional and predominantly Muslim society fails within its first year, according to government figures.

OBAMA MOVES TOWARDS THE PRESIDENCY

Barack Obama seems to have reached the threshold of the White House, writes Joaquin Roy, \'\'Jean Monnet\'\' professor and Director of the European Union Centre of the University of Miami. In this article, Roy writes that McCain and Palin\'s appeal to traditional values, which has attracted a significant number of voters, was directed at a country that no longer exists and has lost one war and is performing disastrously in two others. As for Obama, the explosion of the economic crisis has played to his favour. To borrow a phrase: it\'s not ideology. It\'s the economy, stupid - once again. The latest polls show that McCain can count on 143 electoral votes from the traditionally Republican states, plus about 15 more, making a total of only 158. Obama will enter the November 4 election assured of 211 electoral votes, and has a good chance of winning 66 more in states leaning toward the Democrats, which would give him a total of 277. This would represent a sound defeat for the Republicans. And it would not be surprising if Obama swept the popular vote as well. Given this landscape, Obama has little to do other than wait calmly for the vote. As long as he doesn\'t wink at Palin and his wife Michelle stays out of the limelight, the race is over. Obama has only to prepare his acceptance speech.

SÃO TOMe AND PRINCIPE: A Retro Approach to Politics?

It is lonely at the top – especially when you are one of only two women among 53 men at the National Assembly.

HEALTH-AFRICA: Time for Joint Action on HIV/AIDS and Violence

The war against HIV/AIDS, it is emerging, will not be won unless sexual and gender-based violence is tackled.

CANADA: Conservatives Win Minority Govt Amid Larger Battle

While Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives will continue ruling Canada as a minority government, they are several steps closer to a coveted parliamentary majority after Tuesday's general election.

ENVIRONMENT: Going Beyond Climate Change

While the financial mayhem continues to draw the headlines, the cost of persistent biodiversity loss has yet to be established. But it is believed to be bigger than that of the meltdown, and in many cases also irreparable.

POLITICS-FIJI: West Unmoved by Court Support For Coup

A landmark Fiji High Court decision upholding the powers assumed by the country’s president after a military coup in December 2006 has come as a boost for coup leader and interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.