SULEYMANIA, Iraqi Kurdistan, Aug 07 (IPS) - "The Islamists' announcement that god supported the killing of Kurds in Syria made us react," recalls Farouk Aziz Khadir. This 60-year-old Iraqi Kurd is ready to take up arms to defend his kin in the neighbouring war-torn country. And there are many more like him.

COLOMBO, Aug 07 (IPS) - As he stood on the westernmost edge of Colombo's new harbour expansion, it was hard for Priyath Bandu Wickrema - the man tasked with reinventing the port as a regional giant - to cap his enthusiasm.

QUEQUEÑA, Peru, Aug 07 (IPS) - Some 40 multicoloured tents were set up to showcase the fruits of community-based rural development projects in the main square of this village in southern Peru during a visit by IFAD president Kanayo Nwanze.

MEXICO CITY, Aug 06 (IPS) - If marijuana is legalised in the Mexican capital, as the local government proposes, this country would have to review its adherence to the three international drug control treaties, a trail already blazed by other nations.

NEW YORK, Aug 06 (IPS) - Ask a random New Yorker what their city is famous for and "composting" is about as likely to make the list as "cheap housing" and "warm winters". But if it is up to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, this will soon change.

GENEVA, Aug 06 (IPS) - The current discourse on Global Value Chains by key proponents and also the World Trade Organisation (WTO) secretariat is that developing countries should liberalise - in goods and services - and conclude a trade facilitation agreement.

WASHINGTON, Aug 06 (IPS) - In the last decade, several countries in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region have had the opportunity to experience economic growth and establish redistributive fiscal policies aimed at reducing poverty, reducing inequality and improving the coverage and quality of health, education and social protection services.

MOSCOW, Aug 06 (IPS) - Traditionally the bulk of migrant labourers in Russia's Far East have come from China, with a few North Koreans mixed in. But of late, workers from Central Asia have been pushing their Chinese competitors off the lowest rung on the labour ladder in eastern Siberia.

BRUSSELS, Aug 06 (IPS) - The world's largest international policing organisation Interpol is being used by governments to track down political opponents and human right campaigners, an IPS investigation reveals.

TAIPEI, Aug 06 (IPS) - A broad coalition of Taiwanese labour, human rights and other civil society organisations are campaigning to block legislative ratification of the controversial Cross-Strait Services Trade Agreement signed Jun. 21 by representatives of Taiwan and China.