Bolivian President Evo Morales Oct. 13 led the opening rally at a cross-country march from the city of Caracollo, Oruro department, to La Paz in support of a referendum on the country’s pending new constitution. “If from here we begin… Read moreBolivia: Evo leads march for new constitution
The International Court of Justice Oct. 15 gave Georgia approval to open a suit charging Russia with a campaign of ethnic cleansing in and around the separatist enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The ruling was hailed by Georgia’s attorneys… Read moreWorld Court to hear Georgian case on ethnic cleansing
Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged rocket and rifle fire for about an hour Oct. 15 in a border skirmish over claims to the 900-year-old mountaintop temple known to Cambodians as Preah Vihear and to Thais as Khao Phra Viharn. At… Read moreTwo dead as Thai-Cambodian border conflict escalates
Renewed fighting between the Congolese army and forces loyal to a renegade general Laurent Nkunda has displaced more than 100,000 people in eastern Congo since August, according to UN officials, who describe the situation as “catastrophic.” The fighting has mainly… Read moreRwanda behind “catastrophic” Congo fighting?
Saudi Arabia is mediating between Taliban and Afghan officials to prevent Pakistan from sliding into civil war and to wean the Taliban away from al-Qaeda, anonymous diplomats told Reuters. “They want to help because Pakistan is frightening. They fear what… Read moreSaudis in secret talks with Taliban?
A report issued Oct. 14 by Amnesty International (AI) links the large number of executions in Saudi Arabia to flaws in the Saudi judicial system. The report, titled “Affront to Justice: Death Penalty in Saudi Arabia,” noted a significant increase… Read moreAmnesty: Saudi executions rise, reveal flaws in justice system
A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed vehicle into a police station in Pakistan’s northwestern Swat valley Oct. 16, killing three officers and wounding 15. (Reuters, Oct. 16). Later that day, a suspected US missile struck a house in Tapargai, South… Read moreUS bombs Pakistan —again?
Fifteen anti-war protesters were arrested on disorderly conduct charges outside the presidential debate at Long Island’s Hofstra University Oct. 15. A skirmish broke out between protesters and mounted police at the gates when police refused to allow anti-war Iraq veterans… Read moreAnti-war protesters arrested at presidential debate
More than 900 million people in developing countries face starvation as food prices soar, a new report from Oxfam finds. Spiraling inflation in the cost of basic foods, such as rice and cereals, have pushed an extra 119 million people… Read moreOxfam: 900 million face starvation worldwide
The number of Christian families who have fled the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in the past week has reached 1,350, Nineveh provincial authorities said Oct. 15. Fourteen Christians have been slain in the past two weeks in the city…. Read moreIraq: attacks on Christians continue in Mosul
Latin American markets continued to be shaken by a global financial crisis set off in September by bad mortgages in the US. On Oct. 7 the stock exchange in Sao Paulo, Brazil, fell 4.66%; Mexico‘s market was down 3.97%; stocks… Read moreLatin America: more shocks from global crisis
Several large operations by federal and local Mexican police from Oct. 7 to Oct. 9 broke up protests by striking teachers and their supporters in Morelos state, south of Mexico City, leaving dozens of people detained or injured. Morelos teachers… Read moreMexico: police repress teachers’ strike in Morelos
