MUSIC-CUBA: Hip Hop Sidelined but Still Rapping

Cuban hip hop music is past its peak, and is struggling to survive in a context where it lacks performance venues, receives only weak institutional support, and has to compete with more commercial music styles alien to the critical discourse that the movement has promoted since its origins.

POLITICS: U.S. City Takes Stand Against War With Iran

As thousands of Iranians in northern California celebrated the Persian tradition of "Chaharshanbeh Souri" on Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council adopted a resolution opposing the use of military force against Iran and urging that Congress attach an amendment barring such action to the Pentagon's 93-billion-dollar supplemental funding request.

MEXICO: Capital Joins Global Trend Towards Same-Sex Unions

Some 250 gay and lesbian couples flocked to the civil registry in Mexico City to apply for the legalisation of their relationship as soon as a new law on domestic partnerships went into effect Friday.

LATIN AMERICA: Direct Democracy – Progress and Pitfalls

Constitutional mechanisms of direct democracy became widespread in Latin America in the 1990s. But sometimes they are used cynically, sporadically and perversely, experts say.

BOLIVIA: Living Outside of the Dike

"If you haven't seen what has happened to our houses, get in the canoe; it's safe, you won't fall in. Go and visit the barrio," says a woman in this north-central Bolivian city, and four teenagers invite this IPS reporter to climb on board for a tour.

ARGENTINA: Recruiting Celebs Against Trafficking in Women

In order to rouse public indignation against trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation, popular Uruguayan actress and singer Natalia Oreiro, who lives in Argentina, launched a campaign Wednesday in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

PERU: Setting the Drug Lords Free

Releasing alleged or convicted drug traffickers from prison is becoming common practice in the Peruvian justice system.

MEXICO-US: Not Even Host Enthusiastic About ‘Lame Duck’ Bush

Mexican President Felipe Calderón met President George W. Bush Tuesday with complaints about U.S. migration and drug trafficking policies, after noting, through his press office, that the U.S. leader is in a period of declining popularity.

ARGENTINA: Digital Library for the Blind

Armed with a computer and their passion for literature, a group of blind people in Argentina have created the first digital library for Spanish-speaking people who are visually impaired. It already has some 20,000 volumes and over 3,000 subscribers in 40 countries.

BRAZIL-US: Social Activist Declined Invitation to Meet Bush

Rodrigo Baggio, founder of one of the best social inclusion projects in Brazil, which has spread to eight other countries, turned down an invitation to meet President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Sao Paulo.

MALAYSIA: State to Run City Buses as Privatisation Fails

A state-owned bus company is set to take over public transport in this traffic-clogged northern state after a concerted civil society campaign highlighted the failure of the existing privatised, deregulated bus service.

CUBA-VENEZUELA: Making Biofuels Without Wasting Food

The governments of Cuba and Venezuela are planning to move forward together on biofuels production, but they will rely on producing alcohol from sugarcane, in order to spare food crops.

CHILE: Criminal Responsibility of Teens in Limbo

The law on juvenile criminal responsibility that will enter into force in Chile on Jun. 8, one year later than originally planned, is in need of major adjustments if it is to be enforced successfully, according to experts.

FOOD-CUBA: Anxious About What to Eat

One of the main worries of the average Cuban family is food, which costs about two-thirds of their income, according to several studies.

LABOUR-CHINA: Lure of Cities Often Ends in Despair

China's rapid development and modernisation has come at a terrible human cost for the country's millions of domestic migrant labourers, who are living in cities in appalling overcrowded conditions and are exposed to dangerous working environments, says a report released Thursday by Amnesty International.

CULTURE-INDONESIA: Ethnic Chinese Find New Acceptance

After banning its public celebration for almost 30 years Indonesia this week took the symbolic step of recognising Chinese New Year as a national festival.

PERU: Lax Sentences Bode Poorly for Fight Against Corruption

Authorities in Peru expect the Chilean Supreme Court to decide on the extradition request for former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), wanted for crimes against humanity and corruption, by the middle of this year.

HAITI: Poor Residents of Capital Describe a State of Siege

Nearly two months since U.N. troops began launching heavy attacks that they say are aimed against gang members in poor neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince, roadblocks and barbed wire remain in place and the atmosphere is grim.

BRAZIL: Epidemic of Fake Kidnappings

When the voice on the telephone threatened to kill her daughter, the 83-year-old Brazilian did not hesitate. "Ok, kill her, but kill her good and dead, because then you'll go to hell, which is where those who do this to a mother belong," she shouted.

FILM: Few Oscars for Mexicans, But They Made Their Mark

The 79th Oscar awards ceremony left Mexico with a bittersweet taste. Films by Mexican directors were nominated for Academy Awards in 16 categories, but only earned four - for art direction, cinematography, make-up and musical score. Nevertheless, Mexicans made their mark.

ENVIRONMENT-INDONESIA: Jakarta Floods Linked to Illegal Constructions

The worst ever floods to hit the Indonesian capital, which submerged 60 percent of the city and killed 85 people earlier this month, are being attributed to uncontrolled construction rather than unusually heavy rain, by a broad spectrum of analysts here.