ARGENTINA: Huge Loan to Flow into ‘Open Sewer’ River

Local residents and environmentalists are eyeing with cautious optimism a major loan from the World Bank to the Argentine government to clean up the Matanza-Riachuelo river that runs through Buenos Aires - the country's most polluted waterway.

CLIMATE CHANGE: U.N. Launches “Seal the Deal” Campaign

Growing U.S. support for U.N. initiatives is raising hopes among those who want to see the world community take immediate and concrete action to tackle climate change, although their optimism is also tinged with scepticism.

POLITICS: Mexican Cartels Armed by U.S.

Many of the firearms fuelling Mexican drug violence originated in the United States, says a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released Thursday.

POLITICS: Is West Undermining Summit on Financial Crisis?

When a Western diplomat was asked whether his country would be represented by a head of state at next week's U.N. summit meeting on the global financial crisis, his response was tinged with sarcasm and contempt.

POLITICS: India Takes Security Concerns to Shanghai Summit

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit at Yekaterinburg Tuesday appears to have been motivated chiefly by the security environment in the region shaping up around Washington’s ‘AfPak’ policy.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Big Carbon Players Jockey for Advantage

Political and business leaders may agree in principle that climate change is a serious threat, but there is a startling lack of consensus and a 'you-go-first' attitude on taking action, even amongst a small group of high-level decision makers disconnected from their cell phones here in the Arctic.

CLIMATE CHANGE: China Rallying South to Defend Right to Development

As the December deadline for reaching a global climate deal in Copenhagen approaches, China is claiming leadership - rallying emerging economies to defend their rights to development and strike bargaining positions with rich nations.

POLITICS: Iranians Keen on Improved Ties with U.S.

More than three out of every four Iranian citizens favour improved relations with the United States, according to a major survey conducted less than one month before this Friday's presidential elections in Iran by a U.S. non-governmental organisation, Terror Free Tomorrow (TFT).

ENVIRONMENT: Oceans Fast Becoming a Garbage Dump

The growing problem of marine litter is harming oceans and beaches worldwide and authorities must act now to reverse and prevent further environmental degradation, said a report released Monday, World Oceans Day.

POLITICS: U.S.-China Deal Crucial for New Climate Treaty

Cooperation between the U.S. and China was at the forefront of discussions this week in Washington at two events focusing on the possibilities of a bilateral relationship between the two countries on cutting emissions.

POLITICS: Developing Countries Fight for Say at U.N. Crisis Meet

The postponement of a major U.N. General Assembly conference to address the global economic crisis and its impact on development is seen by some civil society groups and analysts as a sign of the conflicting interests between the world's richest and poorest countries.

CLIMATE CHANGE: U.S., China Seek Common Ground

As the slew of U.S. officials visiting Beijing continued with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s visit this past weekend, it is clear the Barack Obama administration is taking a much more active approach to relations with China than in years past. This shift is probably most clear, and most crucial, in the field of climate change.

US-CUBA: Obama Still Moving Cautiously Toward Normalisation

Sunday's announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Washington will begin talks with Cuba on bilateral migration issues and resume direct postal service between the two countries suggests the new administration of President Barack Obama intends to proceed cautiously toward normalising ties with the Caribbean nation, according to veteran experts here.

INDIA-US: Thorny Times Ahead Despite Nuclear Deal

Although Manmohan Singh, the man who steered through the landmark Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal, has been voted back to power, there is little sign that his second term as prime minister will see the same geniality between the world’s two major democracies.

POLITICS: Indo-US Nuclear Deal May Cost Congress Party Election

As the ruling Congress party casts about for allies, faced as it is with the distinct possibility of a splintered electoral verdict, its bosses may well be regretting the day it fell out with India’s communists over the contentious Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal.

POLITICS: Maritime Treaty Would Boost U.S. Interests, Report Says

The U. S. should quickly accede to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, according to a new Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) report.

POLITICS: Summit of Americas Ends with a Whimper

There is only one signature on the Declaration of Port of Spain, out of 34 slots.

JAPAN: Tensions Rise Over North Korean Rocket

Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF) have been readied to shoot down a North Korean satellite-fitted rocket if it disintegrates or veers over its territories early next month.

POLITICS-JAPAN: On Trial 60 Years Later

Although it concluded more than 60 years ago, the Tokyo War Crimes Trial is still a live issue today - in Japan as in the world at large.

CHINA: Calm Over Planned North Korean Missile Launch

Amid signs of mounting tensions on the Korean peninsula over Pyongyang’s nuclear standoff, China has remained calm and seemingly reluctant to use strong words of criticism for its neighbour and long-time communist ally.

ECONOMY-CHINA: Chance to Reform IMF in EU-US Split?

Differences between the United States and Europe over how to restore global economic growth have given rise to speculations here on whether a failure to agree on a grand strategy at the upcoming G20 summit might create room for China to assert its national agenda.