India gets ready for 'Third Front' in polls
Indian voters cast their ballots in round one of parliamentary elections on Thursday amid Maoist violence that left at least 17 dead. In the first of five phases, over 140 million people voted in large swathes of northern and eastern India, including impoverished rural areas affected by violent insurgencies.
Mexican literature at the crossroads of three cultures
Mexican literature, guest of honour at the 2009 Paris Book Fair, feeds on indigenous, Latin American, and international influences, presenting a literary production that could make one appreciate globalisation.
South Africa: New ideas at 4th national AIDS conference
DURBAN, (PlusNews) - South Africa's fourth national AIDS conference opened in the east-coast city of Durban this week with calls to scale up AIDS programming in a country that still has a long way to go in reversing the epidemic.
Nigeria: Maritime union holds conference despite attack
Despite last Friday's bloody attack on their secretariat by suspected hoodlums, members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), will tomorrow hold their national delegates conference to elect a new set of officials to run the affairs of their union for the next four years.
World Notes: India, Iraq, Turkey, Haiti and Cuba
India: New left electoral coalition is formed Iraq: Marshland crisis continues Southern Africa: Trade talks contentious Haiti: Aristide party fights for election participation Cuba: Bonds tightened with Central America
GUINEA-BISSAU: Teachers strike over non-pay
BISSAU (IRIN) -- Intermittent teacher strikes that have disrupted the school year since October 2008 are on again as most of the country’s teachers went on strike on 19 March over salary arrears, according to the Union of Teachers.
Iraqi women suffering silent emergency, survey finds
BAGHDAD (IRIN) - Marking International Women’s Day on 8 March a new survey has painted a grim picture for Iraqi women who it says are suffering a “silent emergency” as they endure insecurity, poverty and a lack of basic services.
Jobs, justice and climate: what the G20 must do to ensure global economic recovery
As G20 finance ministers gather in the UK today (Friday) to agree the world's response to the economic crisis, the Put People First platform has released a blueprint charting a path out of global recession that places jobs, justice and climate at the centre of global action.
US: Time to ratify women's treaty, groups urge
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 8 (IPS) - Rights activists in the United States are urging their newly-elected government to support global initiatives aimed at protecting women’s rights.
Kids' cough medicines don't work, warns drugs watchdog
Parents have been warned that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines do not work on children under 12 and can even cause side effects such as hallucinations.
