Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick has made quite a name for himself this year as a conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat. But he's not conservative enough for Republicans. Two GOP challengers are already on the campaign trail and the party has made

A federal lab in Washington State is asking for bids on an unmanned, silent boat that could gather data on the ocean. The project is classified.

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire says the state's projected budget shortfall is the worst in 80 years. The latest estimate was released yesterday.

PAUCARÁ, Peru, Nov 21 (IPS) - As if he were showing off a treasure, Dionicio Sarmiento holds up his seed potatoes with a smile. "Look how nice they are, all ready to plant. It'll be a good harvest," says the

In the parlance of our times, the term "Idiocracy" means a nation run by idiots--and the term "idiot" is defined by the dictionary as "an utterly foolish or senseless person" who exhibits "a mental age of less than three years

PORT-LOUIS, Nov 21 (IPS) - "We lived like fishes in the water. We were not lazy. We worked hard. We lived a very natural way of life by eating fish and green vegetables and fruits that was abundant in the

BANJUL, Nov 21 (IPS) - The Beijing Platform for Action in 1995 set out an agenda to address gender equality in priority areas, including poverty, education, and health care. It also committed governments to address violence against women, equitable access

KABUL, Nov 21 (IPS) - A Taliban fighter infiltrated the Afghan police force, killing seven Afghan officers and British soldiers. Similar attacks have taken the lives of U.S. troops.

BEIRUT, Nov 21 (IPS) - October and November have been bloody months for Lebanon's migrant domestic workers - over the last five weeks nine women have died. Most deaths have been reported as suicide.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 20 (IPS) - A special U.N. summit of world leaders, scheduled to take place next year, is expected to make "a final push" to help reach the world body's widely-touted development goals by the targeted date of

HAVANA, Nov 20 (IPS) - The impacts of climate change on human health will require new approaches to development, based on mitigation and adaptation programmes in line with policies that ensure equal access to health care.

MEXICO CITY, Nov 20 (IPS) - The families of three young women murdered in Ciudad Juárez, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua on the border with the United States, had to wait eight years for justice, which they finally

GABORONE, Nov 21 (IPS) - When Kgomotso Mogami threw her name into the hat to contest the Gaborone Central parliamentary seat it was easy for many people to write her off.

COPENHAGEN, Nov 20 (IPS/IFEJ) - Whether a new internationally binding treaty to reduce greenhouse gases and forestall climate change will be signed next month remains to be seen. What is clear though, is that if there is a place in

TEMUCO, Chile, Nov 20 (IPS) - "This lie has got to end," said a sobbing Luisa Marilef, a 55-year-old Mapuche woman who says her son's arrest and prosecution under Chile's anti-terrorism law was part of a set-up by the police

MEXICO CITY, Nov 20 (IPS) - Although it is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Latin America and the Caribbean, after Brazil, and will be hosting next year's United Nations climate meeting, Mexico is heading to the Cophenhagen

Olevels could be reintroduced to English schools as growing numbers of pupils take the traditional exams overseas.

Oxbridge demands very high Alevel passes and produces many students with good degrees very few of whom drop out. Where is the problem wonders Simon Heffer.

London is about to host its biggest chess tournament in 25 years. As the game enjoys an internetinspired renaissance Max Davidson meets some of the Grandmasters of tomorrow.

THE Liberal Democrats have been told they can keep a donation of £2.4 million from a convicted fraudster.