TORONTO, Aug 16 (IPS) - Once upon a time, the Sheba (Seba'a) Kingdom (today's Yemen) had a prominent queen. Women, in the presence of men, were held in a higher position, literally.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15 (IPS) - Robust data collection, integrated policies, and an accelerated push towards a green economy with a gender focus topped the agenda at a conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, that brought together policymakers, experts, and advocates from across the Asia-Pacific region.

NAIROBI, Aug 15 (IPS) - In the heart of Nairobi, as tear gas clouded the streets, the line between journalists and protesters blurred in the eyes of Kenyan law enforcement. A wave of anti-government protests, ignited by opposition to a proposed finance bill, has spiraled into violence, with journalists increasingly caught in the crossfire between police and protesters.

ROME, Aug 15 (IPS) - Corinne Fleischer, WFP's regional director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, describes Gaza as "a terrible situation getting worse." Over the past two weeks, 21 United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution points have been closed under evacuation orders.

HOVE, United Kingdom, Aug 14 (IPS) - The outgoing Executive Director of Uniting to Combat NTDs reflects on a decade at the helm of a global advocacy organisation dedicated to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Over the last ten years, I have been privileged to witness incredible progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) – a journey marked by unwavering dedication, resilience, and hope.

DHAKA, Aug 14 (IPS) - Justice for all those who died and suffered injuries during the recent student-led quota reform movement in Bangladesh and reforms to the systems to ensure that this justice takes place are not negotiable, an adviser to the Bangladesh interim government, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, told IPS in an exclusive interview

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 14 (IPS) - I've just come back from the north of Afghanistan. I asked the women I met what they want the world to know about their lives.

One woman, Nasima told me: "I was married at 16. I couldn't finish school. My hope was that my daughter's life would be better. Now I'm worried her life is going to be worse. To those who are still listening to our voices, please help us fight for our freedom."

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug 14 (IPS) - When history repeats itself, the first time is a tragedy; the next is a farce. If we fail to learn from past financial crises, we risk making avoidable errors, often with irreversible, even tragic consequences.

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Aug 13 (IPS) - Local informal food markets feed millions of urbanites in bustling African cities, but the consequences of tainted food could be illness and death for unsuspecting consumers.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 13 (IPS) - Thirteen years since becoming an independent state, South Sudan faces profound humanitarian challenges. South Sudan's first Independence Day was imbued with a great sense of hope.