Nonprofits and NGOs
Brazil protesters occupy controversial Amazon dam
Mar 21, 2013 11:14 EDT
More than 150 fishermen and indigenous people on Thursday began occupying one of four construction sites for Brazil's huge Belo Monte dam in the Amazon, the lawyer for a group fighting the project said.
Zimbabwe charges top activist, denies rights crackdown
Mar 08, 2013 13:37 EST
Zimbabwe police charged a top rights activist with a litany of offences Friday, her lawyer said, but the government denied a widespread crackdown just days before Zimbabweans vote on a new constitution.
Fiji leader shrugs off 'torture' video
Mar 08, 2013 03:43 EST
Fiji's military leader vowed to stick by his men on Friday, dismissing international concerns about an online video that appears to show two men being tortured by officials.
Zimbabwe police summon top rights activist
Mar 07, 2013 12:23 EST
Zimbabwe police Thursday have summoned a prominent rights activist for questioning, weeks after a police raid on her organisation ahead of key polls, a lawyer said Thursday.
Zimbabwe police to crack down on civic groups
Feb 25, 2013 10:56 EST
Zimbabwe police vowed Monday to pursue a crackdown on civic society organisations, saying some Western-backed groups posed a "serious security threat".
Spaniards plan 'citizens' tide' against austerity
Feb 22, 2013 11:22 EST
Public workers, small political parties and non-profit organisations will stage protests Saturday against government austerity measures in dozens of Spanish cities, with the biggest demonstration expected to be held in Madrid.
Gold gifts mystify tsunami-wracked Japan city
Feb 22, 2013 04:41 EST
A Japanese city devastated by the 2011 tsunami disaster remains mystified more than two weeks after receiving anonymous gifts of gold bars worth over $300,000.
Zuckerberg, Brin join forces to extend life
Feb 20, 2013 17:09 EST
Famed founders of Internet rivals Google and Facebook joined forces on Wednesday to back big-money prizes for research aimed at extending human life.
EU eases Zimbabwe sanctions
Feb 18, 2013 16:44 EST
The European Union agreed Monday to lift some of its punishing sanctions against Zimbabwe as a reward for ongoing political reforms, but the move brought a furious response from President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.
Mystery gold gifts for tsunami-wracked Japan port
Feb 16, 2013 04:13 EST
A Japanese city devastated by the 2011 tsunami has received anonymous gifts of gold worth more than $250,000 in a phenomenon dubbed a "goodwill gold rush" ahead of the second anniversary of the disaster.
EU set to ease Zimbabwe sanctions
Feb 15, 2013 15:34 EST
As Zimbabwe prepares to vote on a new constitution, EU nations are working on a deal to reward Harare by lifting some of the bloc's punishing sanctions against members of the regime, diplomats said Friday.
Ashe medals, memorabilia sold on anniversary
Feb 07, 2013 01:54 EST
Trophies and treasures belonging to black tennis icon Arthur Ashe, including the passport he used to enter apartheid-era South Africa, sold at auction on the 20th anniversary of his death.
Foreign NGOs operate with caution in Syria
Feb 04, 2013 08:00 EST
Finally they've arrived -- nearly 2,000 kerosene heaters for thousands of displaced Syrians facing a bitingly cold winter in camps in rebel-controlled areas in the northwest of the country.
Colombia's FARC rebels say they will free captives
Feb 02, 2013 15:42 EST
Colombia's leftist FARC rebels said Saturday that they will free two captured police officers and a soldier whose abductions had become a source of tension at peace talks with the government.
From teeth to trophies, Ashe estate up for sale
Jan 30, 2013 14:03 EST
The estate of tennis legend Arthur Ashe will be auctioned next Wednesday on the 20th anniversary of his death, with items from his wisdom teeth to prized trophies up for sale for the first time.
Israel to boycott UN rights review: ministry
Jan 29, 2013 10:18 EST
Israel will boycott Tuesday's UN human rights review despite requests from Washington and a coalition of Israeli and Palestinian NGOs that it take part, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Mozilla unveils preview smartphones in new push
Jan 22, 2013 10:24 EST
The Mozilla Foundation on Tuesday unveiled two preview smartphones as it invited developers to try its new open-source mobile operating system challenging Apple's iOS and Google's Android.
Activist disappearance strikes fear into Laos civil society
Jan 16, 2013 11:07 EST
One month after a prominent activist mysteriously vanished, Laos' nascent civil society is living in fear despite the communist regime's vow it had nothing to do with his disappearance.
Iran denies behind cyber attacks on US banks
Jan 11, 2013 04:41 EST
Iran has denied US media reports it carried out cyber attacks on US banks, the official IRNA news agency said Friday, quoting a statement from Tehran's UN mission.
'Crackdown' on Sudanese rights, cultural groups
Jan 02, 2013 14:50 EST
Sudanese rights and cultural groups said on Wednesday they are under attack after the closure of four non-governmental organisations last month, adding to concerns over freedom of expression.
