The press is abuzz with the June 26 release of the CIA’s “family jewels,” nearly 700 pages of documents concerning domestic meddling, foreign assassinations and other real and potential violations of the Agency’s charter that then-director James Schlesinger ordered compiled… Read moreThe CIA’s “family jewels” and historical irony
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he is strengthening his army in preparation for an attack by regional rival Eritrea. “Our defence forces have the capacity to deter aggression and to repulse it if it occurred,” Zenawi told Ethiopian members… Read moreEthiopia: ready for war with Eritrea
Ethiopia’s Federal High Court will hand down sentences to 38 imprisoned opposition leaders and journalists on July 9, the body has announced. Following reports that members of the opposition facing charges of “genocide” and attempted coup d’etat signed a document… Read moreEthiopia won’t budge on arrested activists, journalists
The Paris-based media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) castigated the international community June 27 for “indifference” to a media crackdown in Eritrea. “Because of the world’s indifference, we are reduced to just watching, appalled and powerless, as the authorities… Read moreEritrea: press crackdown condemned
From Reuters, June 25: Man, 80, killed after round-Japan bike tour An 80-year-old man on the verge of completing a round-Japan cycling tour was struck and killed by a truck only a few hours ride from his home, police say…. Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips have opted to abandon their heavy crude oil projects in eastern Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt rather than cede majority ownership and operating control to the state-owned oil company PDVSA, Venezuelan officials announced June 26. President Hugo Chavez had… Read moreExxon quits Venezuela
The Special Investigator (Fiscalía Especial) for the Acteal massacre in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas has announced the discovery in a cave of two AK-47 rifles which are believed to be those used in the Dec. 22, 1997 slaying of… Read moreChiapas: arms used in Acteal massacre discovered
Subcommander Marcos of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) has arrived back in the Chiapas rainforest after concluding his tour of Mexico’s northern states in the second phase of the “Other Campaign.” Arriving first in the Chiapas highland city of… Read moreZapatistas back in conflicted Chiapas
President Felipe Calderon has initiated a sweeping purge of Mexico’s federal police forces, replacing nearly 284 senior and middle-level commanders. The move was announced June 25 by Public Security Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna. “We are conscious that Mexicans demand honest,… Read moreMexico purges federal police
Eritrean state radio reports that fifty-three weyane (Ethiopian) soldiers, including officers, have defected to Eritrea over the last few months. The soldiers are said to include three lieutenants, a second lieutenant, a sergeant, four corporals and 14 lance-corporals, who all… Read moreSomali, Ethiopian defections to Eritrea?
The UN has now vindicated the recent findings of a British study on the roots of the Darfur conflict. From Guardian Newspapers, June 25: LONDON — The conflict in Darfur has been driven by climate change and environmental degradation, which… Read moreDarfur crisis linked to climate change: UN
Somali police fired on a crowd of people trying to storm a food warehouse in Mogadishu June 25, killing five civilians, witnesses reported. Hundreds of people had gathered at a police station that was serving as a food distribution center,… Read moreSomalia: police fire on food riot
