IPS Inter Press Service

Mitch Moxley

BEIJING - Expanded overseas bureaus, more Chinese and foreign-language editorial products reaching global audiences and now, a reformatting of the country’s most widely read English-language newspaper. These are signs of the expansion of China’s state media, one that President Hu Jintao has described as an "increasingly fierce struggle in the domain of news and opinion".

US-CHINA:Trade War Heats Up

ENVIRONMENT:Blame on Chinese Dams Rise as Mekong River Dries Up

CHINA:Binge-drinking Culture Turning from Fun to Lethal

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Scepticism Greets Human Rights Plan
Feizal Samath
COLOMBO - Pressured by the west and international groups over its human right record, the Sri Lankan government is close to finalising a roadmap on safeguarding civil and political liberties.

EAST AFRICA: Impatient EU Pushes for Progress on EPA Trade Deal
Adam Robert Green
BRUSSELS - The European Commission (EC) is increasing the pressure on the East African Community (EAC) to sign the free trade deal known as an economic partnership agreement with the EU.

CHINA: State Media Pushing for a Global Voice
	Expanded overseas bureaus, more Chinese and foreign-language editorial products reaching global audiences and now, a reformatting of the country’s most widely read English-language newspaper. These are signs of the expansion of China’s state media, one that President Hu Jintao has described as an "increasingly fierce struggle in the domain of news and opinion".

CLIMATE CHANGE: A Year On, Little Change in Political Climate

Q&A: Sri Lanka Remains Defiant of U.N. Chief

EAST AFRICA: Impatient EU Pushes for Progress on EPA Trade Deal
	The European Commission (EC) is increasing the pressure on the East African Community (EAC) to sign the free trade deal known as an economic partnership agreement with the EU.

POLITICS-SUDAN: African Leaders Call for Peaceful Elections

NIGERIA: Acting President Consolidates Power Amid Unrest

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Scepticism Greets Human Rights Plan
	Pressured by the west and international groups over its human right record, the Sri Lankan government is close to finalising a roadmap on safeguarding civil and political liberties.

CHINA: State Media Pushing for a Global Voice

RIGHTS: JSOC Interests Snag Plan to Free Afghan Detainees

EAST AFRICA: Impatient EU Pushes for Progress on EPA Trade Deal
	The European Commission (EC) is increasing the pressure on the East African Community (EAC) to sign the free trade deal known as an economic partnership agreement with the EU.

ECONOMY: Greek Crisis Impacts the Balkans

DEVELOPMENT: 'Aid Industry is Part of the Problem'

LATIN AMERICA: Still a Long Way to Go, for Black Women
	At the age of 17, Meybelin Bernárdez is clear about the future: "When I finish my studies, I'll return to help my community get on its feet," the young Garifuna woman from Honduras, who is studying medicine in Cuba, says without hesitation.

MEXICO: Kidnapping - A Growing Risk for Central American Migrants

GUATEMALA: Ok for Ex-President's Extradition to US Just One Step

IRAQ: Seculars Gain as Religious Parties Lose Ground
	Iraq's largest secular bloc appears to be the biggest surprise of the parliamentary elections at a time when some of the most well-known religious groups and figures have sustained great losses, preliminary election results so far indicate.

MIDEAST: 'Day of Rage' Engulfs Palestine

WORLD CUP: But South Africa Will Win

RIGHTS: JSOC Interests Snag Plan to Free Afghan Detainees
	An initiative to revise the procedures for reviewing the cases of detainees in order to free marginal insurgents and innocent Afghans has run afoul of the interests of officers of the powerful Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in defending their role in earlier detention decisions.

U.S.: Families Sue Over Guantanamo Deaths

NIGERIA: Acting President Consolidates Power Amid Unrest

CLIMATE CHANGE: A Year On, Little Change in Political Climate
	This time last year, United States federal legislation on climate change was starting to take shape, seemingly more pressing matters were taking up the bulk of U.S. policymakers' time, and a major climate conference was looming at the end of the year.

KENYA: Trying to Rebuild Communities After Floods

NEPAL: Crippling Power Outages Throw Life Out of Gear

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Scepticism Greets Human Rights Plan
	Pressured by the west and international groups over its human right record, the Sri Lankan government is close to finalising a roadmap on safeguarding civil and political liberties.

CHINA: State Media Pushing for a Global Voice

RIGHTS: JSOC Interests Snag Plan to Free Afghan Detainees

KENYA: Trying to Rebuild Communities After Floods
	After torrential rains and floods claimed lives in Kenya’s North Rift region, hundreds of displaced people are now in dire need of relief aid.

KENYA: State Insists Counterfeit Law’s No Threat to Right to Life

WEST AFRICA: Stopping the Polio Virus

MEXICO: Kidnapping - A Growing Risk for Central American Migrants
	The increase in kidnappings of Central American migrants crossing Mexico on their way to the United States will be brought up at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) current session next Monday.

DEVELOPMENT: 'Aid Industry is Part of the Problem'

PERU: Priest on Campaign Trail Defrocked