United Nations : Expansionary policies needed to avoid a new recession (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The world stands on the brink of a double-dip recession and a "lost decade" for many countries, and there is need for a concerted and coordinated expansionary policy alternative, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has said.

United States : Worries mount over blowback of Israeli attack on Iran (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
A former senior adviser on the Middle East to the last four US presidents says that "the negatives far outweigh the positives" of war with Iran and the United States should augment Israel's nuclear weapons delivery systems to dissuade it from attacking the Islamic Republic.

United States : Obama rejects giant Keystone pipeline scheme (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
In a decision fraught with political risk, US President Barack Obama Wednesday rejected the permit for the proposed giant Keystone XL pipeline project, insisting that his administration needed more time to determine whether it served the national interest.

Japan : Pushing nuclear exports after Fukushima (PRIV)
(IPS, Tokyo)
Japan plans to boost civilian nuclear exports even as it tries to appease its population angered at radiation leaks from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, crippled by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, last year.

Communications : Websites black out over "SOPA censorship" (PRIV)
(IPS, Doha)
The number one rule young journalists are taught when starting radio broadcasting is simple: No dead air. Cough into the microphone if you must, but don't allow silence to creep in.

United Nations : From peacekeeping to partisan policing? (PRIV)
(IPS, Toronto)
The image of United Nations peacekeeping operations has become seriously tarnished in recent years, say some independent experts who monitor the UN missions around the world.