Nearly all of the former Soviet republics have adopted native languages that were suppressed during the communist era at the expense of Russian. This is affecting Russia's influence over the commonwealth of independent states.

A set of new research data contests the Malawian government’s claims that nearly all of the country’s urban citizens have access to clean water and sanitation.

At least 1.5 billion people aged 10 to 25 -- the largest generation of young people in history -- will need sexual and reproductive health services, says the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Illegal capital flight in the form of corrupt, criminal and illicit commercial proceeds out of developing economies could be as high as one trillion dollars a year. Not only does it dwarf the 50 billion dollars in development assistance that rich countries disburse annually but it is largely facilitated by the western financial system of tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions.

In landlocked Laos, pregnancy brings with it the spectre of death. South-east Asia’s poorest country has recorded over 700 women dying every year due to complications during childbirth.

A solar-powered aircraft will take flight next month from Switzerland with hopes ultimately to circle the Earth in 2012, without fuel, and stopping every five days only to change pilots.

Few critics of the United Nations' often skewed balance of power have matched the outspoken fury of the revolutionary priest who led the world body's principal organ until Monday.

The newly elected Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) plans to open government organisations to the foreign press, party member Kuniko Tanioka revealed in an interview with IPS.

Tea lovers around the globe may soon have to pay more for every cup of their favorite beverage. That is, assuming tea plantation workers in one of the world’s major tea-producing countries get their demand for a significant increase in their daily wages.

Bolivian President Evo Morales wound up a three-day official visit to Spain Tuesday with a financial aid commitment from the Spanish government - in the form of a debt-for-development swap - and a reciprocal agreement to allow Bolivians and Spaniards resident in each other's countries to vote in local elections.