US: We shot down Iranian unmanned aircraft in Iraq
THE Pentagon has claimed that US jets shot down an Iranian unmanned surveillance aircraft last month over Iraqi territory.
Transport-Cuba: Nearly there
HAVANA, Mar 17 (IPS) - Cuba's transport crisis finally appears to be coming to an end, after three years of substantial investments and reforms, although future economic growth could pose new challenges.
Iraqi unions announce new confederation
At the first International Labor Conference ever held in Iraq, three of the country’s major labor organizations announced the formation of a new labor confederation.
Sierra Leone: Diamond miners choose cassava over carats
KOIDU, 16 March 2009 (IRIN) - In Sierra Leone plummeting diamond prices, dwindling reserves, consistently poor working conditions and a lack of regulation are driving diamond workers to start farming, youths told IRIN.
World crisis slams Mexico
Like every other country on the planet, Mexico is being hit hard by the world financial and economic crisis. As in other relatively poor countries, the impact is shaping up to be especially hard on those who have already lost the most from the neoliberal policy package of free trade, privatization and austerity.
Nicaragua: Cleaning up the worlds biggest toilet
MANAGUA, (IPS) - After dumping its untreated wastewater into lake Managua for more than 80 years, the capital of Nicaragua has started to clean up the huge source of water in this country, where 80 percent of fresh water sources are polluted.
Gaza probe demand
Sixteen prominent jurists have called on the United Nations to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Israeli troops and Palestinian guerillas during Tel Aviv's recent Gaza onslaught.
Nestle India seeks permanent ban on workers freedom of assembly
The management of Nestle India filed injunctions simultaneously in four courts in three states seeking a permanent ban on all union meetings, gatherings and rallies within 200 metres of its factories in Moga, Samalkha, Ponda Goa and Bicholim. These are the four Nestle factories in India that are unionized, with 1,350 members represented by the IUF-affiliated Federation of All India Nestle Employees.
A peoples victory in El Salvador
The people of El Salvador made history March 15 by electing Mauricio Funes as the country’s next president. Funes’ election marks a seismic political shift in this war-torn and poverty-stricken nation.
World forests rapidly disappearing biofuels a major driver
ROME — In a reaction to the alarming data released March 16 in the 2009 State of the World's Forests report by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Friends of the Earth International and the Global Forest Coalition, two leading networks of environmental and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations, called on world governments to take immediate action to halt deforestation and forest degradation.
