POLITICS-US: Housing Fund Seen as Grassroots Victory

Advocates are calling a new national trust fund to preserve, rehabilitate and build affordable housing, including public housing, a major grassroots victory and key step in addressing the needs of low-income people in the United States.

BRAZIL: Producing Guitars and Luthiers in the Rainforest

Cuban instrument-maker or luthier Raúl Lage came for six months, but has already spent seven and a half years in Manaus, the city in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. "The project is really fantastic," he says, explaining why he plans to renew his work contract again in September.

MEXICO: Anti-Crime Pledges – This Time with Teeth?

In response to the growing public outcry over Mexico’s soaring crime rates, the president, state governors, lawmakers and judges agreed to a broad new anti-crime plan, characterised by a number of old promises, but also by one novel aspect: precise timeframes, targets and follow-up mechanisms.

KENYA: Gathering Storm of Expectations in Nairobi Slum

For the first time in its 60 years of existence, there is a ray of hope for the one million inhabitants of Kibera, one of the world's most densely-populated slums. After spending most of his life on opposition benches - or in prison - as a champion of the poor, the member of parliament for this desperately poor constituency is now the prime minister of Kenya.

CULTURE-CHINA: Love a Peking Duck

Is the Peking duck winning the contest? The jury is out on which Chinese specialty is going to be crowned as the Beijing Olympics’ most favorite local product.

DEVELOPMENT-UGANDA: Looming Problems With Kampala's Water

The water supply for two million residents of the Ugandan capital Kampala is threatened by a combination of ill-planned urbanisation and changing rainfall patterns.

MEDIA-LATIN AMERICA: Behind-the-Scenes Censorship

A study carried out in seven countries of Latin America found a "growing trend" in the region of subtle, largely invisible government interference with the media and journalistic independence.

PARAGUAY: Concerns, Tension Rise with Water Level in Yacyreta Dam

Hundreds of people living in the Paraguayan border city of Encarnación are worried about flooding as the result of a rise in water level in the Yacyretá hydroelectric dam, an issue that is also causing tension between Paraguay and Argentina.

CUBA: Putting Their Houses in Order

In Cuba, when talk turns to the housing problem, the personal anecdotes that pour out are as large in number as the country's housing deficit, accumulated over years during which building efforts have not kept up with the need, while the existing houses and buildings continue to crumble.

ENVIRONMENT-GERMANY: Fleeing Famine, Bees Seek Asylum in Cities

For German bees, the countryside is no longer what it used to be. They are fleeing insecticides and genetically modified crops to take refuge in cities.

DEVELOPMENT-SOMALIA: Finding Water in Mogadishu

Pipes, reservoirs and water treatment plants in south and central Somalia have been extensively vandalised in the years since the collapse of Siad Barre's government in 1991. In the long absence of central authority, Mogadishu's residents have devised their own informal water distribution systems, but there are many shortcomings.

SOUTH AMERICA: Architecture Students Visit 50 Cities in 40 Days

A group of advanced architecture students and graduates from Argentina will tour more than 50 cities in their own country, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay to discover common characteristics in the architectural heritage of the Mercosur (Southern Common Market) countries.

BRAZIL: Spreading the Cultural Tentacles of Inclusion

"Negro F" tells how the Manos Grafite (roughly, "Graphite Hands") group started. In 1996, he and his friend Alex were walking along a street in the outskirts of the capital of the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, when they were struck by the colours and forms painted on the walls.

CHINA: All the World's Stage

All the world is a stage and for a few mesmerising hours on Friday night that stage was China’s. Doubts over China as Olympic host faded away, at least temporarily, as the organisers delivered a fitting tribute to the mystery and sophistication of Chinese civilisation.

PERU: President Turns Blind Eye to Price Rises

"War on the people by the oil producing companies and countries" is to blame for today’s soaring food prices and for the fact that poor people in Peru are not benefiting from the economic growth, said Peruvian President Alan García.

CHINA: Pledges on Rights, Environment Unmet – Critics

The party is all set. Firework fountains of red peonies and yellow dragons are ready to light up the skies for China’s biggest revelry ever.

ENVIRONMENT-US: New Push to Clean Toxic Hotspot

Two New York City Congressional representatives are calling for Newtown Creek, one of the country's most polluted waterways, to be tested for the high levels of toxic chemicals that would qualify it for Superfund clean-up.

BRAZIL: Controversy Over DWI Law Despite Reduced Deaths

Although Brazil’s tough new drunk driving law has been applauded for cutting traffic deaths in its first month, and is bringing about a change in habits, it continues to face opposition by restaurant and bar owners who will challenge it as unconstitutional in order to get it revoked or at least limit its effects.

CHILE: Declaring War on Pigeons

The cities of the world are ideal habitat for the proliferation of the pigeon, or rock dove, a picturesque species that actually poses health and environmental risks.

POLITICS-ARGENTINA: Cristina At A Crossroads

Following a major parliamentary defeat, the Argentine government is pondering whether to accept the reversal and negotiate with farmers’ associations, or to pursue its export tax policy that these organisations have rejected. Experts say this would put government institutional stability at risk.

DEVELOPMENT: U.S. Sliding By Nearly Every Measure

The United States is "woefully behind" other developed countries when it comes to providing opportunities and choices - the very essence of the so-called "American Dream" - according to a new analysis ranking the quality of life in the country.