News headlines in April 2009, page 13

President Barack Obama had promised that his administration would be different. His, he said, would be a listening, caring one, even though like previous United States leaders, he came to the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago bearing gifts - no doubt hoping for support for his new initiatives.

When heads of districts describe efforts to fight sexual violence as a waste of resources, it raises questions about the leadership’s commitment to deal with the matter.

The melting of glaciers resulting from climate change and the lack of adequate water management policies seem to be the main causes behind the water shortages that are fuelling conflicts in Peru.

The United Nations anti-racism conference will begin next Monday in a climate of uncertainty, despite last-minute diplomatic negotiations that managed to iron out differences that separated at least two blocs: Western and Muslim states.

Cuba, the only country excluded from the Fifth Summit of the Americas opening in Port of Spain on Friday, received strong backing for its demand for unconditional talks with the United States from eight governments of the region gathered in the northeastern Venezuelan city of Cumaná.

U.S. green groups hailed Friday's formal finding by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that carbon dioxide and several other greenhouse gases 'endanger' public health and welfare as a landmark – if long overdue – step toward slowing global warming.

The Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has warned that the current financial crisis is threatening to claim another casualty: international migration.

Government officials, business leaders and non-governmental organisations agreed in Brazil on the need for rich countries and companies to 'pay' the people of the Amazon jungle as 'providers of environmental services' for contributing to the fight against climate change by not deforesting.

Reports vary about how many people actually showed up at Tax Day Tea Party rallies in dozens of cities across the United States on Wednesday, Apr. 15 - the deadline for paying taxes in the U.S.

Lawyers for a Guantanamo detainee who claims he was held and tortured in one of the 'black site' secret prisons run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is demanding that the CIA preserve cells and interrogation paraphernalia there as evidence of mistreatment.