Halliburton announced April 9 all of the commitments of its subsidiary working in Iran have been completed and it no longer has operations in the country. In January 2005, the company announced it would not accept new contracts in Iran… Read moreHalliburton quits Iran
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) is meeting in Doha, Qatar, to discuss the possibility of forming a body that would represent gas producers and exporters in the global market, with some leaders calling for a cartel that would function… Read moreNext: global gas cartel?
Ethiopia admitted for the first time April 10 that it detained 41 suspected terrorists from 17 countries. The statement comes a week after the Associated Press reported that terror suspects had been transferred from Kenya to Somalia and then to… Read moreSomalia “renditions”: Ethiopia admits it
Chad’s government reports a rebel convoy of “more than 200 vehicles with armed elements” attacked from Sudanese territory April 9, resulting in heavy fighting that has left “many” dead. (AlJazeera, April 9) Recent violence in eastern Chad has killed hundreds… Read moreChad: displacement crisis escalates
From Newsday, April 8: Two hit-and-runs in two different boroughs A pedestrian in Manhattan and a motorcyclist in Brooklyn were each critically hurt after hit-and-run drivers struck them Saturday, police said. The Manhattan incident happened after a 24-year-old man had… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
An Ethiopian judge dismissed charges of attempted genocide and treason against 111 people arrested after 2005 election protests. Among those cleared were journalists and publishers. Amnesty International called the charges “absurd,” and adopted the accused as “prisoners of conscience.” The… Read moreEthiopia: journalists cleared of “genocide”
When Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo was freed from Taliban captivity last month in exchange for prisoners, it made global headlines—if only as an opportunity to portray the Italians as weak-willed. The Afghan journalist he was abducted with was sold down… Read moreAfghanistan: Taliban behead journalist
We certianly hope that the expressions of Shi’ite-Sunni solidarity in this story are not exaggerated—or insincere. From AP, April 10 via Turkey’s Zaman: Tens of thousands draped themselves in Iraqi flags and marched through the streets of two Shiite holy… Read moreIraq: Sunnis join Moqtada’s march against occupation
From AP, April 8: Mother’s high-speed chase leads to baby’s death 9-month-old ejected from SUV when woman crashes trying to evade police ALVARADO, Texas – A woman led police on a 25-mile high speed chase until she crashed into a… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
Gunmen opened fire on Shi’ites April 6 in Parachinar, a remote town in northwestern Pakistan, triggering gunbattles between majority Sunni and minority Shi’ites that have left at least 40 dead and 43 wounded. Some Shi’ites retaliated, burning down Sunni-owned shops… Read morePakistan: sectarian warfare rocks Tribal Areas
Stepping up the assault on the Iraqi city of Diwaniya, believed to be a stronghold of Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army, US occupation forces launched an air strike on a supposed safehouse April 7. At least six people, including two women… Read moreIraq: US bombs Shi’ites
Luz MarĂa González Armenta, leader of Defense and Promotion of Human Rights-Emiliano Zapata (DEPRODHEZAC), is free but still facing charges after being arbitrarily arrested March 30 at a protest vigil outside the municipal presidency office in the Mexican border city… Read moreMatamoros human rights worker free …for now
