News headlines in April 2013, page 9

WASHINGTON, Apr 19 (IPS) - Despite repeated pledges of his determination and enthusiasm for resolving the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian impasse, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's recent trip to the region has provoked more scepticism than hope among observers in Washington.

MANILA, Apr 19 (IPS) - With little sign of a meaningful diplomatic breakthrough on the South China Sea horizons, coupled with a dangerous escalation between Vietnam and China in the disputed waters, the Philippines has faced an added crisis over the Malaysian state of Sabah.

KARACHI, Apr 19 (IPS) - From the local butcher, to the pavement fruit vendor, to the cobbler sitting beside his tools on Elphinstone Road, a busy street in the heart of Karachi, one question is on everyone's lips: Who will win the upcoming elections on May 11?

JOHANNESBURG, Apr 19 (IPS) - There is growing optimism that the countries of Southern Africa are within months of concluding negotiations with the European Union on a major new trade deal, after years of hesitant progress and frustration.

WASHINGTON, Apr 18 (IPS) - A long-awaited legislative proposal to reform the United States' immigration system is sparking frustration on both the left and right here, but is widely being seen as a centrist compromise bill that will now energise all sides as debate in Congress begins Friday.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr 18 (IPS) - Representatives of social movements and communities affected by Brazilian mining company Vale's operations have bought shares in the company, to make their voices heard.

WASHINGTON, Apr 18 (IPS) - Ian Henderson's death announcement Apr. 15 in Bahrain brings to an end the life of a British expatriate who was the architect and supervisor of the harsh internal security policies of the al-Khalifa ruling family since the early days of independence over 40 years ago.

MEXICO CITY, Apr 18 (IPS) - Mexico plans to expand shale gas exploration this year, but it could run into a shortage of water, which is essential to hydraulic fracturing or fracking, the method used to capture natural gas from shale rocks.

TEL AVIV, Apr 18 (IPS) - Fireworks went off over the Tel Aviv skyline this week as thousands of flag-waving Israelis marked the 65th anniversary of their country's founding. At the same time, a smaller group of Israeli activists explored the other, most often ignored, side to their country's creation: the forced displaced of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

Apr 18 (IPS) - In the face of rampant rhino poaching in South Africa, some conservationists and private rhino farmers are lobbying for removal of the international ban on rhino horn trading and the creation of a legal market, to quell poaching.