World figures demand freedom for Cuban Five
HAVANA (Prensa Latina) More than 500 well known intellectuals and world figures have signed a letter to US President Barack Obama to demand immediate freedom for five Cuban antiterrorists unfairly jailed in the United States.
Biotech industry accused of masking decline in GM crops
Campaingers accused the biotech industry on Tuesday of using misleading figures to mask declining cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe.
Advocacy groups fear new wave of homeless
ATLANTA, Georgia, 5 Feb (IPS) - Homeless advocates in the United States say if the new Congress and the Barack Obama administration do nothing, many more low-income people already teetering on the brink could end up living on the streets over the next two years.
Love letters dying out as people favor romantic texts
THE art of romance is dying out in Britain, with the majority of us preferring to say 'I Luv U' in a text message rather than compose a romantic letter or poem to a loved one, the National Trust claimed on Monday.
Nissan to shed 20,000 car workers
JAPANESE car manufacturer Nissan declared on Monday that it is slashing 20,000 jobs or 8.5 per cent of its global workforce.
Financial speculators and the food crisis
Original source: DUBAI, 8 February 2009 (IRIN) - A food security expert has said that the involvement of financial markets in basic food commodities was the biggest factor in the worldwide food price hikes over the past couple of years.
Trade unionists unite to debate crisis of capitalism
Original source: TRADE unionists from across the country gathered at the Communist Party of Britain's headquarters in Croydon over the weekend to debate the impact of the current capitalist crisis.
Rally calls for moratorium on school closings
CHICAGO — Hundreds of teachers, parents, students, union leaders and local activists rallied here Jan. 28th at the Chicago Board of Education building against the board’s plan to close, consolidate, phase out and “turn around” more than 20 schools. Protesters led a march downtown chanting, with signs in hand, speaking out against the measure which, they say, will displace students and teachers, throw communities in turmoil, put hundreds out of work and undermine public education in Chicago.
Sudan: Conditions getting worse for Darfur civilians
NAIROBI, 4 February 2009 (IRIN) - Conditions for civilians caught up in fighting between the Sudanese government and rebels in the South Darfur town of Muhajiriya are getting worse, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned.
Crunch hits Germany
Reposted from Morning Star GERMANY is facing a dire economic crisis. Following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in the United States last September, it became apparent that German banks also had large amounts of toxic real estate credits in their portfolios.
