WASHINGTON, Sep 17 (IPS) - In the wake of a renewed diplomatic push on the Iranian nuclear front, shared interests in Iran's backyard could pave the way for Washington and Tehran to work toward overcoming decades of hostility.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sep 17 (IPS) - Crop yields in Brazil, an agricultural powerhouse, are set to decline as a result of climate change, according to the most complete diagnosis yet of climate trends in this country.

NAIROBI, Sep 17 (IPS) - As Kenya's deputy president William Ruto and co-accused journalist Joshua Sang resumed their trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, Sept. 17, many in this East African nation were debating if the trial will continue to its end as four more witnesses withdrew from testifying on Sept. 15.

KAMPALA?, Sep 17 (IPS) - As the ink dries on a 3.6 million dollar agreement between Uganda and the World Bank to support the country's preparations for REDD, some analysts are pessimistic over the mechanism's potential.

BUCHAREST, Sep 17 (IPS) - Street protests are snowballing in Romania against a Canadian-led gold mining project in the Rosia Montana area in the Apuseni Mountains. More than 20,000 people joined a protest march in Bucharest on Sunday, and thousands in other Romanian cities took to the streets.

WASHINGTON, Sep 17 (IPS) - Nearly 350 international civil society organisations are urging countries taking part in new negotiations towards an agreement on "trade in services" to abandon the effort, warning that the accord would negatively impact on universal access to and national regulation of public services.

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 16 (IPS) - After an intense investigation of the military attack on civilians in Syria last month, a U.N. team of arms inspectors has reached a predictable conclusion: the deadly attack had all the trappings of the widespread use of chemical weapons.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sep 16 (IPS) - Reported U.S. spying on Brazil's Petrobras oil firm revived the controversy over opening up the company, a symbol of Brazilian sovereignty since the 1950s, to foreign investment.

QATAR, Sep 16 (IPS) - A top policewoman in southern Afghanistan has died after being shot by unknown attackers, months after her predecessor was also slain in similar circumstances.

BUENOS AIRES, Sep 16 (IPS) - To maintain its trade surplus, Argentina continues to control imports – a strategy that has bolstered its national industry but is questioned by importers, partners in the Mercosur trade bloc, and rich countries.