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Saturday, September 12, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Arabs Rise for Rights
U.S.: Obama’s Claim of Libya War Powers Widely Disputed
President Barack Obama’s claim that U.S. military operations against Libya should not be subject to the War Powers Act and do not require Congressional approval is drawing heavy fire from friends and foes alike.Turkey Recalibrating Regional Role
As thousands of Syrian refugees pour over the Turkish border, the just re- elected government in Ankara is confronting the limits of its "no problems" policy toward its neighbours.SYRIA: Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies as Security Council Remains Idle
When reports of protests and subsequent civilian deaths as security forces fired on protestors began filtering in from the southern Syrian city of Dera‘a in March, many wondered what turn events would take in both Syria and the international community in the wake of earlier uprisings during the ‘Arab Spring’.U.S.: Neoconservatives Losing Hold Over Republican Foreign Policy
Nearly ten years after seizing control of Republican foreign policy, neo- conservatives and other hawks appear to be losing it.AU Concerned With One-Sided Interpretation of Libya Resolution
Like Russia, China, India and Brazil, the African nations seem to be getting increasingly wary of the consequences of the Western powers’ military strikes in Libya - the oil rich North African country currently embroiled in violent political upheaval.YEMEN: U.S. Escalates War Against Al-Qaeda
Increasingly worried that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is taking advantage of the growing political chaos in Yemen, the administration of President Barack Obama has tasked the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to use drone missiles to strike at suspected AQAP militants.Four Months into Uprising, Syria Still Plagued by Unknowns
Journalists, analysts, and policymakers have struggled to separate truth from fiction as the political situation in Syria steadily deteriorates. The lack of accurate, credible information has mired the Syrian situation beneath a fog of war that has complicated the world's understanding of the regime, its opposition, and the realities behind the uprising's latest developments.IRAN: Protests Mark Two-Year Anniversary of Contentious Polls
A silent protest through the streets of Tehran under the watchful eyes of a heavy security presence marked the second anniversary of Iran's June 2009 contested polls Sunday, amid a growing rift between Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and among different conservative wings preparing to compete in the March 2012 Parliamentary elections.Moussa Seeks to Calm Arab Countries ‘Privately’
Leaving his position as secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa is now a "private citizen" as he prepares to contest the Egyptian presidential election. And as a private citizen there is little he can do officially to fight government crackdown on citizens across parts of the Arab world, he tells IPS in an interview.BAHRAIN: Tribunal-Issued Death Sentences Cause Outcry
Democracy advocates in the United States are troubled by the pending execution of two men who took part in anti-government protests in Bahrain.OP-ED: The War in Libya: The African Union’s Mistake of Policy and Principle
Africa's handling of the Libyan crisis at the United Nations has been timorous and confusing, but it presents an opportunity as well as a challenge for the continental body on how it defines its future strategic interests.
As Britain Sees a Needy Child
The British Home Office has ruled that a severely disabled five-year-old girl should be returned to Algeria. The ruling demonstrates just how tough some European governments are getting on immigration.Russia, China Shield Syria from Possible U.N. Sanctions
A resolution inspired by Western nations critical of civilian killings in politically-beleaguered Syria is facing threats from two veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council: Russia and China.SYRIA: Outrage over Boy’s Alleged Torture Death
Video footage has emerged showing the body of a Syrian boy reportedly tortured to death after his arrest in April following a government crackdown on pro-democracy protests in the country.
EGYPT: Gaza Crossing Lets Trickle Through
Egypt's border with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip was reopened to Palestinian travellers Wednesday after a series of squabbles over operational procedures had temporarily brought cross-border traffic to a halt.U.S.: Military Attack on Iran Recedes, but Tensions Remain High
The likelihood of a U.S. or Israeli military attack on Iran's nuclear installations seems miniscule during the remaining months of the Barack Obama administration's first term.
MIDEAST: Promised Crossing Denied
Many hoping to find free movement between Egypt and Gaza have found the border gates at the Rafah crossing closed. Egyptian officials closed the gates on Saturday, according to Palestinian officials.BAHRAIN: Planned Talks Bring Hope for Peace
A national dialogue with no preconditions could bring the situation in Bahrain back to normal after a military crackdown that followed months of unrest.Solid Growth Forecast for Global South, But Threats Loom
While most of the developing world should enjoy solid economic growth through 2013, several factors could upset such a scenario, according to the latest Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report released by the World Bank here Tuesday.Governments and Powers-That-Be Fear the Internet
The global reach of the internet, and its ability to transmit information in real time and mobilise populations, creates fear among governments and the powerful, says Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
U.N. Chief Seeks Second Five-Year Term from 2012
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who completes his five- year term by the end of this year, offered himself "for consideration" for a second five-year term as chief administrative officer of the world body.« Previous Page — Next Page »
The Arab Spring has changed the Arab seasons that have followed; it had to. The struggle continues in Syria; in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and in countries that did not change that dramatically, such as Bahrain and Yemen, the political world, and the tone of society itself has changed. IPS has not left these countries with the headlines that accompanied cataclysmic changes. We continue to track changes closely, always keeping in our sights first the rights of peoples, and then reporting changes from fresh, newsy and human perspective.
Middle East & North Africa
