EGYPT: Women and Men, Shoulder to Shoulder

The momentous events of Tahrir Square, Egypt also signify a huge step forward for gender equality in the region, women's rights activists said Friday.

“New Egypt” the Wild Card in Stalled Mideast Peace Process

The ability of the United States to broker a successful Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement will hinge on the future of Israeli-Egyptian relations, a panel of experts at the Palestinian Centre argued here Thursday.

China Learns to Live With Inflation

At Mr. Ma’s fruit and vegetable shop, located in a historic hutong alleyway a few blocks from the Lama Temple, the impact of China’s growing inflation is evident. In recent months, the prices of Mr. Ma’s products have soared. Eggs have gone from RMB 7 (6.5 RMB to a dollar) to RMB 10 per kilogram. Tomatoes have almost doubled. Cabbage has tripled.

HEALTH-BURMA: Global Fund Back With New Hope

Burma’s transition from an overt military rule to a civilian administration of retired generals is getting a shot in the arm from a former critic of the junta – the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

U.S.: Neo-Con Hawks Take Flight over Libya

In a distinct echo of the tactics they pursued to encourage U.S. intervention in the Balkans and Iraq, a familiar clutch of neo-conservatives appealed Friday for the United States and NATO to "immediately" prepare military action to help bring down the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and end the violence that is believed to have killed well over a thousand people in the past week.

U.S. Lays Out Sanctions on Libya as “First Step”

As the bloodshed of protestors in Libya continues unabated for the eighth day in a row, the White House took its strongest stance against Muammar Gaddafi's regime Friday, announcing that the United States will impose unilateral sanctions and has suspended its embassy operations in the oil-producing country.

U.S.: Workers, Students Vow to Fight on in Wisconsin

Despite heavy protests against Republican Governor Scott Walker's 'Budget Repair Bill', the Republican-controlled State Assembly in Wisconsin abruptly passed the bill - which would strip the labour force of its collective bargaining rights - early Friday morning.

Saudis to Offset Libya Oil Shortfall

Saudi Arabia has increased oil production to compensate for the fall in output from Libya, as the popular uprising against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi continues to grow in that North African country.

Libya Faces Expulsion from U.N. Human Rights Council

The widespread condemnation of continued military atrocities against civilian demonstrators in Libya over the past week is paving the way for two of the harshest punitive measures against the repressive regime of Muammar el-Gaddafi: expulsion from the Human Rights Council and war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Peace Before Women’s Rights, or Women’s Rights Before Peace?

1325. It's a combination of digits that might not mean much to the majority of the world's population, but these four numbers are a crucial tool in the global struggle for gender equality.

ARGENTINA: Proposal to Go after Clients of Sex Trafficking Victims

An Argentine government proposal to crack down on clients benefiting from the trafficking of persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation has unleashed a heated debate between feminist organisations that support the idea and sex workers who are opposed to it.

UN Rights Envoy Faces Balancing Act in Cambodia

A United Nations rights envoy says Cambodia must accelerate the pace of its democratic reforms, but it’s unclear how much sway he holds with a government that has become increasingly resistant to international criticism.

Central America Hopes for Answers from Obama

Central America is cautiously hoping that the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to El Salvador Mar. 22-23 will give tangible form to Washington's commitment to protecting immigrants and fighting organised crime in the region, analysts told IPS.

Never Tip the Army in Egypt

Abu Mustafa Al Matriah and Abu Ahmed Abu Amrah, both Bedouins in Northern Sinai are thankful to the army that they can complete their daily deliveries without having "to pay so much baksheesh" (gratuity).

UN Women Celebrates Launch as Leading Player in Gender Equality

After years of planning, fundraising and consultations, U.N. Women was officially launched Thursday evening to much celebration.

EU: Family Ties with Rich Cousin Germany Turn Bittersweet

In terms of economics, the European Union (EU) includes one country - Germany - that is both friend and foe to the 27-member community, and their relationship has turned markedly bittersweet on the road to recovery after the global economic crisis.

In Search of an African Revolution

Demonstrations are continuing across the Middle East, interrupted only by the call for prayer when protesters fall to their knees on cheap carpets and straw mats and the riot police take a tea break. Meanwhile, in 'darkest Africa', far away from the cameras of international mainstream media, reports have surfaced of political unrest in a host of sub- Saharan nations.

Brewers Pledge to Cut Water Use

Beer manufacturers sell nearly 548 million litres of brew each day, but with every bottle, they are using many times that amount of water on a planet facing mounting resource challenges.

RIGHTS-CUBA: Tension on Anniversary of Hunger Striker’s Death

The first anniversary of the death of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata, after an 85-day hunger strike, was marked by the usual tensions between internal dissident sectors, supporters of the government of President Raúl Castro, and Cuban authorities.

Patriarchy and Fundamentalism Two Sides of the Same Coin

While "fundamentalism" has become something of a buzzword in the past few years, particularly in the West in connection with Islam, it in fact exists in every region and religion, and has a set of common characteristics, say activists who have studied the question for years.

U.S.: Environment Agency Moves to Regulate Carbon Dioxide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun the initial stages of a process that may lead to the federal agency's first regulations to limit emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants and oil refineries.