Portside

At Cairo conference, opposition figures and left-leaning economists decry current government's commitment to free trade, call for ending Egypt's 'neo-liberal' agenda

The Nov. 24 blaze in Bangladesh killed 112 garment workers and increased pressure on Wal-Mart and other Western retailers to help improve factory conditions and take more direct responsibility for their suppliers. Clothing bound for Wal-Mart and Sears was found in the charred ruins. Both companies have said suppliers used the Tazreen factory without their permission and were fired.

Reebok drops rapper after date-rape lyrics; Justin Bieber thinks Anne Frank would have been a fan; Trayvon Martin targets used for shooting practice; Mattel won’t make Black Barbie party supplies; Robot warriors coming soon; Indians leave the rez for unhappy city life; Americans still love libraries; Asians shouldn’t start to eat like Americans; The Nordic countries are reinventing their model of capitalism: Discuss!

Hundreds of workers at web bazaar Amazon’s central depot in Germany have walked out on strike in protest over working conditions and pay. Around 500 people protested on Tuesday at the box-crammers' Bad Hersfeld site, which is one of seven distribution points in the country. It is the first time Amazon workers have launched industrial action in Germany.

We will run next year because the alternative is too awful to contemplate

Hugo Chavez's economic policies were successful but a close vote means the new president cannot become complacent

Here’s the good news: Women vote, and they won’t stand for these attempts to shove us back to the 50’s.

World is unprepared for changes that will see parts of Africa turned into disaster areas, say food experts.