IPS Inter Press Service - Global AffairsIPS, civil society's leading news agency, is an independent voice from the South and for development, delving into globalisation for the stories underneath.OIL: Prices Won&39;t Be Falling Anytime Soon- (Found June 29, 2008 ) UNITED NATIONS, Jun 28 (IPS) - Although some policy-makers have blamed producing countries for steadily rising oil prices, many experts say more fundamental factors are a growing demand-supply imbalance, a weak dollar, and market speculation.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43003 G8: Climate Change High On Summit Agenda- (Found June 29, 2008 ) TOKYO, Jun 28 (IPS) - The leaders of the world&39;s most industrialised nations are now arriving in Japan for the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, Jul. 7-9. In the northern mountain resort of Lake Toyako they will confront challenges of climate change, the food shortage, and development, especially in Africa. Other agenda items are likely to include Japans recent bilateral summit with Hu Jinatao of China, as well as measures to control rising global fuel prices and nuclear proliferation.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42998 POLITICS: Illicit Drug Crops Still Soaring- (Found June 29, 2008 ) UNITED NATIONS, Jun 26 (IPS) - Recent major increases in supply from Afghanistan and Colombia threaten a recent stabilisation in the world's illicit drug market, according to the U.N.'s World Drug Report 2008 launched Thursday.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42984 DISARMAMENT: 2020 Vision Aimed at Dismantling Nukes- (Found June 29, 2008 ) UNITED NATIONS, Jun 26 (IPS) - Jun 26 (IPS) - When leaders of the world&39;s eight most industrialised nations -- the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia, known as the G8 -- hold their annual summit meeting in Hokkaido next month, they are likely to reject a seemingly backhanded invitation: a visit to the Peace Memorial Museum in the city of Hiroshima.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42980 BIODIVERSITY: O Sponge, Your Names Are Many- (Found June 29, 2008 ) KINGSTON, Ontario, Jun 25 (IPS) - The Breadcrumb sponge found on floats and rocks in most oceans has been "discovered" 56 times, the first dating to 1766. And 56 different scientists over the span of 250 years have had the satisfaction and pleasure of giving the lowly sponge 56 different names.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42964 CORRUPTION: Graft Sapping Precious Water Resources- (Found June 29, 2008 ) UNITED NATIONS, Jun 25 (IPS) - The world's growing water crisis -- with nearly 1.2 billion people lacking a steady water supply and more than 2.6 billion without adequate sanitation -- is fundamentally a crisis of governance, with corruption as one root cause, says a new report by Transparency International.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42962 |