FINANCE: Self-Policing of Extractive Industries a "Dismal" Failure Charles Fromm WASHINGTON, 9 Mar (IPS) - An international initiative that seeks to reform how governments profit from their natural resources should not reduce its existing standards of membership solely because candidate countries have been reluctant or incapable of meeting them, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday. more...   POLITICS: U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Web Services Eli Clifton WASHINGTON, 9 Mar (IPS) - After U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's January address on the role of internet freedom in U.S. foreign policy, the Barack Obama administration appears to be taking the first steps to introduce specific legislation and policies to exploit the role of the internet in opening up those countries ruled by oppressive or authoritarian governments. more...   RIGHTS: Fewer Jobs, Less Money, Same Old Story Haider Rizvi UNITED NATIONS, 9 Mar (IPS) - "What do I get from them? Nothing but bullsh*t," says Nupur Acharya, reflecting about how she is treated by her husband and two grown sons on daily basis. more...   HAITI: U.S. Acts Quickly on Debt Relief Ahead of Preval Visit Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 8 Mar (IPS) - With U.S. President Barack Obama preparing to host Haitian President Rene Preval at the White House Wednesday, Congress is moving quickly to show support for far-reaching debt relief and additional aid for the earthquake-stricken Caribbean nation. more...   BIODIVERSITY: CITES Faces Political Storm over Tuna Ban Matthew Berger WASHINGTON, 6 Mar (IPS) - The vast majority of the species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, live on land, but as marine species come under increasing pressure from unsustainable fishing and a range of climate change-related threats that focus is beginning to shift. more...   HAITI: Experts Urge Sea Change in "Culture of Aid" William Fisher NEW YORK, 5 Mar (IPS) - A delegation of human rights experts is preparing to visit Haiti to assess the human rights and aid situation in the earthquake-crippled nation and to urge the international community to follow a series of guidelines they have prepared to help donors' to "overcome the mistakes of the past." more...   U.S.: Grassroots Groups Get More Bang for Donors' Bucks William Fisher NEW YORK, 4 Mar (IPS) - While "community organising" has become a punch line for late- night comedians since the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, the activity "delivers enormous benefits to communities," according to a new study conducted by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). more...   US-IRAN: Debate Over Military Action Against Iran Gains Steam Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 3 Mar (IPS) - While the ongoing U.S. military "surge" in Afghanistan continues to capture the headlines, Iran's nuclear programme – and how best to deal with it – is rapidly emerging here as this year's biggest foreign policy challenge. more...   AFGHANISTAN: Traffickers Step Up Import of Heroin-Making Chemicals Sananda Sahoo WASHINGTON, 3 Mar (IPS) - Drug traffickers are increasing imports of precursor chemicals used for processing opium poppy into heroin and morphine, according to a new State Department report released here Monday. more...   US-IRAN: Looming Sanctions Could Hit Major Oil Firms Sananda Sahoo WASHINGTON, 28 Feb (IPS) - Earlier this month, Iran's ambassador to India said that his country continues to import gasoline from a private Indian oil refinery, even though the firm, Reliance Industries Ltd., had promised last year that it would stop gasoline exports to Iran, fearing U.S. sanctions. more...