BRAZIL: Report Challenges Rio Slum Evictions

The debate surrounding the evacuation decree for eight "favelas" or slums in this Brazilian city, ordered by the Rio municipal government citing the danger of landslides, has taken a new course with the release of a study that undermines the official argument.

KYRGYZSTAN: Agenda Seen Behind ‘Ethnic’ Clashes

While local and international media reports of the May 19 clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan dwelt on rivalries between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities, the two ethnic groups were seen to be united against forces loyal to ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Ecobreves – CHILE: Massive Bird Die-Off

The deaths of some 700 sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) along the cost of Cobquecura, 434 kilometers south of the Chilean capital, has prompted the authorities to open a legal investigation.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Ex-Foreign Minister Accused of Environmental Crime

Honduran justice authorities are investigating former foreign minister and retired colonel César Elvir Sierra for the destruction of more than 1,000 pine trees in La Tigra mountain nature reserve, the main "lungs" of the nation's capital.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Purified Water, No Energy Wasted

A technique developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo's school of agriculture could help Brazilians obtain purified water at low cost and using less energy.

TRADE-NEPAL: Himalayan Nation’s Garment Industry in Tatters

These days, First Vice-President of the Garment Association (GAN) of Nepal Udaya Raj Pandey is mostly seen at the National Campus rather than the GAN office that he once frequented almost every day.

FRANCE: Burqa Ban May Prove Counter-Productive

France is likely to have a law banning the burqa by autumn of this year, but human rights groups say that such legislation would be discriminatory, counter-productive and also difficult to enforce.

BIODIVERSITY: Saving the Planet Can Be Fun

Saving the planet from environmental catastrophe is undoubtedly very important, but one of the reasons many people are not doing their bit could be that being green does not seem much fun.

Slide Show: International Day for Biodiversity / 22 May 2010

The loss of biodiversity is widespread, and it is worrying; there are all sorts of alarming numbers about.

URUGUAY: Job Training Moves “Trans” Off Streets to Better Future

Ruler in hand, Fabiana draws lines with a pencil on orange cardboard, occasionally pushing her curly hair away from her eyes. Next to her, Fernanda fashions a colourful cardboard box, a prototype for what their cooperative will ultimately produce in large quantities.

BIODIVERSITY: Not Just About Tigers and Pandas

When people talk about biodiversity loss, discussion often centres on the tragedy of animals like the tiger and the panda being in danger of extinction.

MALAYSIA: Encroaching Forest, Oil Palm Plantations Alarm Villagers

A increasing number of natives in Sarawak state in north Borneo are alarmed at encroaching forest and oil palm plantations, which are taking over their native customary land and destroying their traditional lifestyles and biodiversity.

Malawi Gays Had No Chance


Rejecting the argument that the arrest and trial of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga amounted to a violation of their rights to freedom of conscience and expression as protected by Malawi's constitution, Blantyre chief resident magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa sentenced the two men to 14 years hard labour for "unnatural acts" and "gross indecency".

Bank Cornered over Financing Israeli Settlements

New evidence has been uncovered to show that Dexia, a major Belgian-French bank, is still financing Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories despite official assurances that such loans have ceased.

MALAWI: “Commotion About Anti-Counterfeit Bill Is Unnecessary”

The Malawian government intends to pass a new bill against counterfeit goods by October which will also cover medicines. This step is being taken despite fears that such a law may cause more stock-outs in a country that is already riddled with drug shortages in medical facilities.

Haitian Group Honoured for AIDS Work, Earthquake Aid

A non-profit group founded in Haiti nearly three decades ago to fight what was then a mysterious killer disease later identified as AIDS has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health.

Fight Over Arizona’s Migrant Law Heads to the Courts

The controversy over Arizona's new immigration law heated up further Monday when a powerful coalition of civil rights and immigration advocates asked a U.S. federal court to find the new law unconstitutional and issue an injunction against its taking effect.

Malawi Gay Couple Found Guilty of Love

On May 18, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, the two men arrested in December after their traditional engagement party, were convicted of "unnatural acts" and "gross indecency" under colonial-era laws that remain in Malawi's penal code.

Advantage GM in Europe

Leading biotechnology companies have been granted privileged access to the European Union's policy makers as part of their efforts to speed up the approval of new genetically modified (GM) crops.

PAKISTAN: TB-Afflicted Women Struggle to Overcome Social Stigma

Abdul Wahid’s wife had been unwell for two years, showing symptoms of a chronic infectious disease such as prolonged coughing, before she finally decided to see a doctor.

Oil Sands Riskier than Gulf Spill, Say Investor Groups

As the oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico destroys habitat and livelihoods, the extraction of oil from Canadian oil sands deposits is having a similar impact on fragile ecosystems and communities deep in the North American interior.